D'ye hear
that, Jane? This day makes him heir of Huntercombe and Bassett."
The nurse brought word that Master Bassett was not very well this
morning.
"Let us look at him," said Bassett.
He got out of his gig, and went to the nursery. He found his little boy
had a dry cough, with a little flushing.
"It is not much," said he; "but I'll send the doctor over from the
town."
He did so, and himself proceeded up to London.
The doctor came, and finding the boy labored in breathing, administered
a full dose of ipecacuanha. This relieved the child for the time; but
about four in the afternoon he was distressed again, and began to cough
with a peculiar grating sound.
Then there was a cry of dismay--"The croup!" The doctor was gone for,
and a letter posted to Richard Bassett, urging him to come back
directly.
The doctor tried everything, even mercury, but could not check the
fatal discharge; it stiffened into a still more fatal membrane.
When Bassett returned next afternoon, in great alarm, he found the poor
child thrusting its fingers into its mouth, in a vain attempt to free
the deadly obstruction.
A warm bath and strong emetics were now administered, and great relief
obtained. The patient even ate and drank, and asked leave to get up and
play with a new toy he had.
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