ABSTRACT
The winter of 1851 was not a good time for the new doctor in Vemdalen, Johan Ellmin. He did not only have to adjust to life in a new environment, he also found his sleep disturbed. One night during Easter, he heard noise from the yard at the farm where he rented a room. A group of youngsters were trying to convince the young farm maid to leave the farm and come with them, and Ellmin soon found himself in a dispute with the intruders. This was neither the first nor the last time this happened, nor was it the only problem the doctor had to face. Placed in an unfamiliar and unfriendly environment, far away from family, friends and colleagues, it was perhaps not surprising that he was often ill at ease.
