I remark it, as a flaw in our civilisation, that we have not the proper horror of disease.

Now I, for my part, have washed my hands of it; I have renounced my laureation; I am no doctor; I am only a worshipper of the true goddess Hygieia.

Ah, believe me, it is she who has the cestus! And here, in this exiguous hamlet, has she placed her shrine: here she dwells and lavishes her gifts; here I walk with her in the early morning, and she shows me how strong she has made the peasants, how fruitful she has made the fields, how the trees grow up tall and comely under her eyes, and the fishes in the river become clean and agile at her presence .-- Rheumatism!' he would cry, on some malapert interruption, 'O, yes, I believe we do have a little rheumatism.

That could hardly be avoided, you know, on a river.

And of course the place stands a little low; and the meadows are marshy, there's no doubt.