Natasha'sillnesswassoseriousthat, fortunatelyforherandforherparents, theconsiderationofallthathadcausedtheillness, herconductandthebreakingoffofherengagement, , grewvisiblythinner, coughed, and, asthedoctorsmadethemfeel, , talkedmuchinFrench, German, andLatin, blamedoneanother, andprescribedagreatvarietyofmedicinesforallthediseasesknowntothem, butthesimpleideaneveroccurredtoanyofthemthattheycouldnotknowthediseaseNatashawassufferingfrom, asnodiseasesufferedbyalivemancanbeknown, foreverylivingpersonhashisownpeculiaritiesandalwayshashisownpeculiar, personal, novel, complicateddisease, unknowntomedicine—notadiseaseofthelungs, liver, skin, heart, nerves, andsoonmentionedinmedicalbooks, (asitcannotoccurtoawizardthatheisunabletoworkhischarms) becausethebusinessoftheirliveswastocure, , aboveall, thatthoughtwaskeptoutoftheirmindsbythefactthattheysawtheywerereallyuseful, (theharmwasscarcelyperceptible, astheyweregiveninsmalldoses), buttheywereuseful, necessary, andindispensablebecausetheysatisfiedamentalneedoftheinvalidandofthosewholovedher—andthatiswhythereare, andalwayswillbe, pseudo-healers, wisewomen, homeopaths, , forsympathy, andthatsomethingshouldbedone, , , , andthehopeofreliefandtheexpressionofitsmother', assuringherthatitwouldsoonpassifonlythecoachmanwenttothechemist'sintheArbatandgotapowderandsomepillsinaprettyboxforarubleandseventykopeks, andifshetookthosepowdersinboiledwateratintervalsofpreciselytwohours, neithermorenorless.
