ABSTRACT
In Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, Rochester’s guest at Thornfield Hall, Mr Mason, is attacked with a knife and bitten. Shaken and bloodied, his wounds are attended to at the house by the local surgeon, Carter. Later, Rochester instructs the surgeon to take Mason with him and to care for him until healed, but, prior to their departure, he insists on medicating Mason himself. Rochester sends the eponymous heroine to fetch a vial of cordial, and proceeds to dispense the remedy despite the presence of a ‘medical man’:
‘Now, doctor, I shall take the liberty of administering a dose myself; on my own responsibility. I got this cordial at Rome, of an Italian charlatan – a fellow you would have kicked, Carter. It is not a thing to be used indiscriminately, but it is good upon occasion: as now, for instance. Jane, a little water.’
He held out the tiny glass, and I half filled it from the water-bottle on the washstand.
‘That will do; – now wet the lip of the phial.’ I did so; he measured twelve drops of a crimson liquid, and presented it to Mason.
‘Drink, Richard: it will give you the heart you lack, for an hour or so.’
‘But will it hurt me? – is it inflammatory?’
‘Drink! drink! drink!’
Mr Mason obeyed, because it was evidently useless to resist. He was dressed now: he still looked pale, but he was no longer gory and sullied. Mr Rochester let him sit three minutes after he had swallowed the liquid; he then took his arm –
‘Now I am sure you can get on your feet’, he said – ‘try.’
The patient rose.
‘Carter, take him under the other shoulder. Be of good cheer, Richard; step out – that’s it!’
‘I do feel better’, remarked Mr. Mason. 1
