That is his idea of a medicine; and he thinks that the more he takes of a medicine the better chance he has of getting well.

When I wish to give a peasant several doses I make him come for each separate dose, for I know that if I did not he would probably swallow the whole as soon as he was out of sight.
But there is not much serious disease here--not like what I used to see on the Sheksna.

You have been on the Sheksna ?" "Not yet, but I intend going there." The Sheksna is a river which falls into the Volga, and forms part of the great system of water-communication connecting the Volga with the Neva.
"When you go there you will see lots of diseases.

If there is a hot summer, and plenty of barges passing, something is sure to break out--typhus, or black small-pox, or Siberian plague, or something of the kind.

That Siberian plague is a curious thing.