All Bedlam Courses Past (part two hundred thirteen)

All Bedlam Courses Past

Chapter Eight

Things Relative

(part two hundred thirteen)

The second item the silent Phelan produced was a single-page statement from Regina’s physician. His name was Kammer; he had treated Mrs. Demrose for perhaps two years. Finding his records on this patient, he amended imprecision to a first visit in July of 1887. More nearly…why, very nearly!…three years. In fact, he had seen little of her. He had prescribed a careful diet (he did not prescribe drugs if no alleviation of symptoms were proved, and diet was the preferred treatment for gout). He had supplied her with booklets, with menus for all seasons and any circumstance of travel. He had advised her to hire a cook and cease the dangerous practice of ordering restaurant food. He had advised exercises for the circulation, simple stretches she might have done in her chair, avoiding the bearing of weight on the bad foot.

The ulcer to the right foot had been forming for some time; it had appeared as such at the end of winter. When he said “as such”, Dr. Kammer meant as a suppurating sore, which he could have known about only when she at last sought his help. Mrs. Demrose had told him of various patent medicines tried, many lauded; practitioners—apparent geniuses—consulted, a fortune teller among them. She had said all these things in her chattering way, and he had not listened closely. He had visited her at her home on December 14, 1889. Mrs. Buckley had asked if he could cut away the bad part.

The ulcer, Dr. Kammer was willing to state in his medical capacity, caused her pain. Also, she had stated herself to be in agonies. He had told her she was in peril of losing the foot, that the corruption which had caused the ulcer could not be “cut out”. She must follow her proper diet. She must not sit all day and be carried about. He would prefer her a vegetarian, although small portions of meat on alternate days might be allowed. If (he had said this to Arnulfa), she manages her diet well, she may to a degree regain use of the foot. She must give up alcohol, yes, even “watered down” alcohol in the form of punch. He had impressed all these things on Arnulfa, who was obedient, and as to the washing of the foot, the applying of the ointment, the proper times and procedures for these things, impeccable. Arnulfa, it was his understanding, had done the stretches for Mrs. Demrose, lifting and manipulating the leg until—this was his own opinion—Mrs. Demrose signaled her boredom. Arnulfa was a good servant, but her personality was the weaker.

Asked about the Carruthers product, Dr. Kammer had said: “No.”

No, he was not familiar with it; but this tincture would be a sugary syrup, only too palatable, as such potions are invariably.

The tincture came to the Demrose home by the two-dozen. A downstairs maid had given this word to Monaghan; as well, that Arnulfa carried upstairs at least one bottle per week, if not more.

“I did not wish to place Miss Zucker so that she would lie to me. Which she would have done, her pride not having it, a copper’s knowing the private habits of her mistress. I sampled the tincture myself. Treacly, to be sure, and Mr. Schnitz, who is able to assay the alcohol content, rates it eighty-proof, undiluted. Besides alcohol, the product contains laudanum.”

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Bedlam

All Bedlam Courses Past (part two hundred fourteen)

(2025, Stephanie Foster)