Not that either of her patients was exacting; they were both too ill and miserable for that.

It is the self-pitiful, self-coddling invalid that is exacting.

Such, I suspect, require something sharper still.
Tom groaned and tossed, and cursed himself, and soon passed into delirium.

Straightway his visions, animate with shame and confusion of soul, were more distressing than even his ready tongue could have told.
Dead babies and ghastly women pursued him everywhere.

His fever increased.