THE BITER BIT.
THE newspapers contain an account of frauds on yourrse medical prac- titioners, who by artful misrepresentations of the value of a profes- sional business, have been induced to purchase it at much more than its worth. This statement lets out some of the ugliest secrets of the trade : for example, it is said of a young man who was duped as de- scribed at Peckham, that he saw a lady in the apothecary's shop, whose exterior indicated rude health, and whosa name yet appeared in every page of the day-book as a debtor for medicines of very opposite properties.
"In explaining this seeming inconsistency, the advertiser stated, that the patient was one of that profitable class of the slaves of physic called hypochon- driacs, and would produce, if properly worked up, a plentiful business to a man who knew how to agree with all her suspicions."
The lady, of course, was a mere performer in the cheat : but is the purchaser_ who meditated profit by such means to be pitied for his bad bargain ? He did but intend, according to the statement before us, to take advantage of the weakness of the hypochondriac, as the trickster took advantage of his simplicity. Tempted by the peospect of overreaching, he was himself overreached. It is not ill to see the greedy pursuer caught in his own spriuge.
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