第 52 节
作者:白寒      更新:2022-07-12 16:24      字数:9321
  is attacked。 The divine spark; the transitory intelligence which holds
  the organism together; which is the source of the will; the
  inspiration of life; has ceased to regulate the daily phenomena of the
  mechanism and the functions of every organ; thence arise all the
  complications which my learned colleague has so thoroughly
  appreciated。 The epigastric region does not affect the brain but the
  brain affects the epigastric region。 No;〃 he went on; vigorously
  slapping his chest; 〃no; I am not a stomach in the form of a man。 No;
  everything does not lie there。 I do not feel that I have the courage
  to say that if the epigastric region is in good order; everything else
  is in a like condition
  〃We cannot trace;〃 he went on more mildly; 〃to one physical cause the
  serious disturbances that supervene in this or that subject which has
  been dangerously attacked; nor submit them to a uniform treatment。 No
  one man is like another。 We have each peculiar organs; differently
  affected; diversely nourished; adapted to perform different functions;
  and to induce a condition necessary to the accomplishment of an order
  of things which is unknown to us。 The sublime will has so wrought that
  a little portion of the great All is set within us to sustain the
  phenomena of living; in every man it formulates itself distinctly;
  making each; to all appearance; a separate individual; yet in one
  point co…existent with the infinite cause。 So we ought to make a
  separate study of each subject; discover all about it; find out in
  what its life consists; and wherein its power lies。 From the softness
  of a wet sponge to the hardness of pumice…stone there are infinite
  fine degrees of difference。 Man is just like that。 Between the sponge…
  like organizations of the lymphatic and the vigorous iron muscles of
  such men as are destined for a long life; what a margin for errors for
  the single inflexible system of a lowering treatment to commit; a
  system that reduces the capacities of the human frame; which you
  always conclude have been over…excited。 Let us look for the origin of
  the disease in the mental and not in the physical viscera。 A doctor is
  an inspired being; endowed by God with a special giftthe power to
  read the secrets of vitality; just as the prophet has received the
  eyes that foresee the future; the poet his faculty of evoking nature;
  and the musician the power of arranging sounds in an harmonious order
  that is possibly a copy of an ideal harmony on high。〃
  〃There is his everlasting system of medicine; arbitrary; monarchical;
  and pious;〃 muttered Brisset。
  〃Gentlemen;〃 Maugredie broke in hastily; to distract attention from
  Brisset's comment; 〃don't let us lose sight of the patient。〃
  〃What is the good of science?〃 Raphael moaned。 〃Here is my recovery
  halting between a string of beads and a rosary of leeches; between
  Dupuytren's bistoury and Prince Hohenlohe's prayer。 There is Maugredie
  suspending his judgment on the line that divides facts from words;
  mind from matter。 Man's 'it is;' and 'it is not;' is always on my
  track; it is the Carymary Carymara of Rabelais for evermore: my
  disorder is spiritual; Carymary; or material; Carymara。 Shall I live?
  They have no idea。 Planchette was more straightforward with me; at any
  rate; when he said; 'I do not know。' 〃
  Just then Valentin heard Maugredie's voice。
  〃The patient suffers from monomania; very good; I am quite of that
  opinion;〃 he said; 〃but he has two hundred thousand a year;
  monomaniacs of that kind are very uncommon。 As for knowing whether his
  epigastric region has affected his brain; or his brain his epigastric
  region; we shall find that out; perhaps; whenever he dies。 But to
  resume。 There is no disputing the fact that he is ill; some sort of
  treatment he must have。 Let us leave theories alone; and put leeches
  on him; to counteract the nervous and intestinal irritation; as to the
  existence of which we all agree; and let us send him to drink the
  waters; in that way we shall act on both systems at once。 If there
  really is tubercular disease; we can hardly expect to save his life;
  so that〃
  Raphael abruptly left the passage; and went back to his armchair。 The
  four doctors very soon came out of the study; Horace was the
  spokesman。
  〃These gentlemen;〃 he told him; 〃have unanimously agreed that leeches
  must be applied to the stomach at once; and that both physical and
  moral treatment are imperatively needed。 In the first place; a
  carefully prescribed rule of diet; so as to soothe the internal
  irritation〃here Brisset signified his approval; 〃and in the second;
  a hygienic regimen; to set your general condition right。 We all;
  therefore; recommend you to go to take the waters in Aix in Savoy; or;
  if you like it better; at Mont Dore in Auvergne; the air and the
  situation are both pleasanter in Savoy than in the Cantal; but you
  will consult your own taste。〃
  Here it was Cameristus who nodded assent。
  〃These gentlemen;〃 Bianchon continued; 〃having recognized a slight
  affection of the respiratory organs; are agreed as to the utility of
  the previous course of treatment that I have prescribed。 They think
  that there will be no difficulty about restoring you to health; and
  that everything depends upon a wise and alternate employment of these
  various means。 And〃
  〃And that is the cause of the milk in the cocoanut;〃 said Raphael;
  with a smile; as he led Horace into his study to pay the fees for this
  useless consultation。
  〃Their conclusions are logical;〃 the young doctor replied。 〃Cameristus
  feels; Brisset examines; Maugredie doubts。 Has not man a soul; a body;
  and an intelligence? One of these three elemental constituents always
  influences us more or less strongly; there will always be the personal
  element in human science。 Believe me; Raphael; we effect no cures; we
  only assist them。 Another systemthe use of mild remedies while
  Nature exerts her powerslies between the extremes of theory of
  Brisset and Cameristus; but one ought to have known the patient for
  some ten years or so to obtain a good result on these lines。 Negation
  lies at the back of all medicine; as in every other science。 So
  endeavor to live wholesomely; try a trip to Savoy; the best course is;
  and always will be; to trust to Nature。〃
  It was a month later; on a fine summer…like evening; that several
  people; who were taking the waters at Aix; returned from the promenade
  and met together in the salons of the Club。 Raphael remained alone by
  a window for a long time。 His back was turned upon the gathering; and
  he himself was deep in those involuntary musings in which thoughts
  arise in succession and fade away; shaping themselves indistinctly;
  passing over us like thin; almost colorless clouds。 Melancholy is
  sweet to us then; and delight is shadowy; for the soul is half asleep。
  Valentin gave himself up to this life of sensations; he was steeping
  himself in the warm; soft twilight; enjoying the pure air with the
  scent of the hills in it; happy in that he felt no pain; and had
  tranquilized his threatening Magic Skin at last。 It grew cooler as the
  red glow of the sunset faded on the mountain peaks; he shut the window
  and left his place。
  〃Will you be so kind as not to close the windows; sir?〃 said an old
  lady; 〃we are being stifled〃
  The peculiarly sharp and jarring tones in which the phrase was uttered
  grated on Raphael's ears; it fell on them like an indiscreet remark
  let slip by some man in whose friendship we would fain believe; a word
  which reveals unsuspected depths of selfishness and destroys some
  pleasing sentimental illusion of ours。 The Marquis glanced; with the
  cool inscrutable expression of a diplomatist; at the old lady; called
  a servant; and; when he came; curtly bade him:
  〃Open that window。〃
  Great surprise was clearly expressed on all faces at the words。 The
  whole roomful began to whisper to each other; and turned their eyes
  upon the invalid; as though he had given some serious offence。
  Raphael; who had never quite managed to rid himself of the bashfulness
  of his early youth; felt a momentary confusion; then he shook off his
  torpor; exerted his faculties; and asked himself the meaning of this
  strange scene。
  A sudden and rapid impulse quickened his brain; the past weeks
  appeared before him in a clear and definite vision; the reasons for
  the feelings he inspired in others stood out for him in relief; like
  the veins of some corpse which a naturalist; by some cunningly
  contrived injection; has colored so as to show their least
  ramifications。
  He discerned himself in this fleeting picture; he followed out his own
  life in it; thought by thought; day after day。 He saw himself; not
  without astonishment; an absent gloomy figure in the midst of these
  lively folk; always musing over his own fate; always absorbed by his
  own sufferings; seemingly impatient of the most harmless chat。 He saw
  how he had shunned the ephemeral intimacies that travelers are so
  ready to establishno doubt because they feel sure of never meeting
  each other againand how he had taken little heed of those about him。
  He saw himself like the rocks without; unmoved by the caresses or the
  stormy surgings of the waves。
  Then; by a gift of insight seldom