Fruits of Culture Part 20

PROFESSOR [to Grossman] May I trouble you? [Hands him a thermometer] At the beginning of the experiment it was 37 decimal 2, degrees.[10] [To Doctor] That's right, I think? Would you mind feeling his pulse? Some loss is inevitable.

[10] He uses a Centigrade thermometer.

DOCTOR [to Grossman] Now then, sir, let's have your hand; we'll see, we'll see. [Takes out his watch, and feels Grossman's pulse].

FAT LADY [to Grossman] One moment! The condition you were in could not be called sleep?

GROSSMAN [wearily] It was hypnosis.

SAHaTOF. In that case, are we to understand that you hypnotised yourself?

GROSSMAN. And why not? An hypnotic state may ensue not only in consequence of a.s.sociation--the sound of the tom-tom, for instance, in Charcot's method--but by merely entering an hypnogenetic zone.

SAHaTOF. Granting that, it would still be desirable to define what hypnotism is, more exactly?

PROFESSOR. Hypnotism is a phenomenon resulting from the trans.m.u.tation of one energy into another.

GROSSMAN. Charcot does not so define it.

SAHaTOF. A moment, just a moment! That is your definition, but Liebault told me himself ...

DOCTOR [lets go of Grossman's pulse] Ah, that's all right; well now, the temperature?

FAT LADY [interrupting] No, allow me! I agree with the Professor. And here's the very best proof. After my illness, when I lay insensible, a desire to speak came over me. In general I am of a silent disposition, but then I was overcome by this desire to speak, and I spoke and spoke, and I was told that I spoke in such a way that every one was astonished!

[To Sahatof] But I think I interrupted you?

SAHaTOF [with dignity] Not at all. Pray continue.

DOCTOR. Pulse 82, and the temperature has risen three-tenths of a degree.

PROFESSOR. There you are! That's a proof! That's just as it should be.

[Takes out pocket-book and writes] 82, yes? And 37 and 5. When the hypnotic state is induced, it invariably produces a heightened action of the heart.

DOCTOR. I can, as a medical man, bear witness that your prognosis was justified by the event.

PROFESSOR [to Sahatof] You were saying?...

SAHaTOF. I wished to say that Liebault told me himself that the hypnotic is only one particular psychical state, increasing susceptibility to suggestion.

PROFESSOR. That is so, but still the law of equivalents is the chief thing.

GROSSMAN. Moreover, Liebault is far from being an authority, while Charcot has studied the subject from all sides, and has proved that hypnotism produced by a blow, a trauma ...

All talking together.

{ SAHaTOF. Yes, but I don't reject Charcot's labour. I know him also, { I am only repeating what Liebault told me ...

{ { GROSSMAN [excitedly] There are 3000 patients in the Salpetriere, and { I have gone through the whole course.

{ { PROFESSOR. Excuse me, gentlemen, but that is not the point.

FAT LADY [interrupting] One moment, I will explain it to you in two words? When my husband was ill, all the doctors gave him up ...

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. However, we had better go upstairs again. Baroness, this way!

Exeunt Grossman, Sahatof, Professor, Doctor, the Fat Lady, and Baroness, talking loudly and interrupting each other.

ANNA PaVLOVNA [catching hold of Leonid Fyodoritch's arm] How often have I asked you not to interfere in household matters! You think of nothing but your nonsense, and the whole house is on my shoulders. You will infect us all!

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. What? How? I don't understand what you mean.

ANNA PaVLOVNA. How? Why, people ill of diphtheria sleep in the kitchen, which is in constant communication with the whole house.

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. Yes, but I ...

ANNA PaVLOVNA. What, I?

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. I know nothing about it.

ANNA PaVLOVNA. It's your duty to know, if you are the head of the family. Such things must not be done.

LEONiD FYoDORITCH. But I never thought ... I thought ...

ANNA PaVLOVNA. It is sickening to listen to you! [Leonid Fyodoritch remains silent].

ANNA PaVLOVNA [to Theodore Ivanitch] Turn them out at once! They are to leave my kitchen immediately! It is terrible! No one listens to me; they do it out of spite.... I turn them out from there, and they bring them in here! And with my illness ... [Gets more and more excited, and at last begins to cry] Doctor! Doctor! Peter Petrovitch!... He's gone too!... [Exit, sobbing, followed by Leonid Fyodoritch].

All stand silent for a long time.

THIRD PEASANT. Botheration take them all! If one don't mind, the police will be after one here. And I have never been to law in all my born days. Let's go to some lodging-house, lads!

THEODORE IVaNITCH [to Tanya] What are we to do?

TaNYA. Never mind, Theodore Ivanitch, let them sleep with the coachman.

THEODORE IVaNITCH. How can we do that? The coachman was complaining as it is, that his place is full of dogs.

TaNYA. Well then, the porter's lodge.

THEODORE IVaNITCH. And supposing it's found out?

TaNYA. It won't be found out! Don't trouble about that, Theodore Ivanitch. How can one turn them out now, at night? They'll not find anywhere to go to.

THEODORE IVaNITCH. Well, do as you please. Only they must go away from here. [Exit].

Peasants take their bags.

DISCHARGED COOK. Oh those d.a.m.ned fiends! It's all their fat! Fiends!

SERVANTS' COOK. You be quiet there. Thank goodness they didn't see you!