Flax Culture: An Outline Of The History And Present Condition Of The Flax Industry In The United States And A Consideration Of The Influence Exerted On It By Legislation (1888)

Brooksted-Hoare possessed a large practice as a specialist for the treatment of women and children. He was altogether a professional pet of society in his especial department. His fees were immense, but only commensurate with his consummate self-complacency. He delighted to talk of the duchesses and notables whom he counted among his patients. The pains and sufferings of Royalty were all subservient to his skill. If his communications concerning them were not always exactly correct, they at least served to extend his importance as a specialist. "I have made a most careful examination in the case of-ahem!- her ladyship-the Countess of Endover-yes-aided by my friend Dr. Proctor here, who is, I believe, your usual family adviser-a most careful and thorough examination. I find-ahem-I find that there is no possible chance of her ladyship ever becoming a mother. A mother-ahem-in her present condition. I have, however, ascertained-ahem-quite beyond the possibility of a doubt, that a trifling-let us say-ahem-a very trivial operation-would remove this-this disability ...»