A Prescription for Life – Jerome K. Jerome

Summary

The narrator goes to the British Museum to read about hay fever. He finds a medical encyclopedia and starts reading about many diseases. As he reads, he begins to believe he has every illness listed—typhoid, cholera, diphtheria, and even rare ones like St. Vitus’s Dance. The only disease he doesn’t have is housemaid’s knee, which makes him feel disappointed. Worried, he visits his doctor. The doctor checks him quickly and gives him a prescription. But when the narrator takes it to the chemist, he learns it’s not medicine. The note simply says: eat well, drink water, walk daily, sleep early, and stop reading things he doesn’t understand. The narrator follows the advice and feels better. He learns that he wasn’t sick—just imagining it.

Malayalam

Narrator ഹേയ്‌ഫീവർ‌നെക്കുറിച്ച് വായിക്കാൻ British Museum-ൽ പോകുന്നു. അവിടെ ഒരു medical encyclopedia കണ്ടിട്ട് പല diseases-നെക്കുറിച്ചും വായിക്കാൻ തുടങ്ങുന്നു. വായിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കുമ്പോൾ ടൈഫോയ്ഡ്, കോളറ, ഡിഫ്തീരിയ, St. Vitus’s Dance പോലുള്ള rare diseases എല്ലാം തന്നെ തനിക്കുണ്ടെന്ന് feel ചെയ്യുന്നു. Housemaid’s knee മാത്രം ഇല്ലെന്ന് മനസ്സിലാകുന്നത് അദ്ദേഹത്തെ അല്പം disappointed ആക്കുന്നു. Tension ആയി, അദ്ദേഹം doctor-നെ കാണാൻ പോകുന്നു. Doctor quick check ചെയ്ത് ഒരു prescription കൊടുക്കുന്നു. പക്ഷേ chemist-നെക്കൊണ്ട് check ചെയ്യുമ്പോൾ അത് medicine അല്ലെന്ന് മനസ്സിലാക്കുന്നു. Note-ൽ എഴുതിയിരിക്കുന്നത്: eat well, water കുടിക്കുക, daily walk ചെയ്യുക, early sleep പോകുക, മനസ്സിലാകാത്ത കാര്യങ്ങൾ read ചെയ്യുന്നത് stop ചെയ്യുക. അദ്ദേഹം ആ advice follow ചെയ്തു, health improve ആയി. താൻ sick അല്ലെന്ന്—just imagination മാത്രമാണെന്ന്—അദ്ദേഹം finally realize ചെയ്തു.

Conversations

Conversation 1: At the British Museum

• George: Excuse me, where can I find books on hay fever?
• Library Assistant: Try the medical section—third shelf on the left. There’s a big encyclopedia there.
• George: Thanks. I think I might have hay fever. My nose has been acting strange.
• Library Assistant: That’s common. Lots of people get it during spring.
• George: Hmm… these symptoms sound serious. I think I have every one of them.
• Library Assistant: Every symptom? That seems unlikely.
• George: No, really. And now I’ve read about typhoid fever—I’ve had that for months!
• Library Assistant: Maybe you’re just overthinking it?
• George: Overthinking? I’ve got cholera, diphtheria, and even St. Vitus’s Dance!
• Library Assistant: Sir, I think you need a doctor more than a book.

Conversation 2: At the Doctor’s Clinic

• Doctor: Hello, George. What seems to be the problem?
• George: I won’t waste your time listing my diseases. I’ll just tell you what I don’t have.
• Doctor: That’s… unusual. What don’t you have?
• George: Housemaid’s knee. That’s the only one missing.
• Doctor: And you believe you have everything else?
• George: Yes. I’ve read the medical encyclopedia. I’m a walking hospital.
• Doctor: Let me check your pulse.
• George: I already tried. I couldn’t find it. My heart’s stopped too.
• Doctor: Let me hit your chest—just a quick test.
• George: Ow! That was rude. You didn’t warn me.
• Doctor: You’re fine, George. You need rest, not medicine.

Conversation 3: At the Pharmacy

• George: Hello. I have a prescription from my doctor.
• Pharmacist: Sure, let me see it.
• George: Here you go. He says it’s urgent.
• Pharmacist: Hmm… I’m afraid we don’t stock this.
• George: What do you mean? You’re a chemist, aren’t you?
• Pharmacist: Yes, but this isn’t medicine. It’s advice.
• George: Advice?
• Pharmacist: “Balanced diet, water every two hours, ten-mile walk daily, sleep by 11.”
• George: That’s it?
• Pharmacist: And one more thing: “Don’t stuff your head with things you don’t understand.”

Diaries

George’s Diary

Today I went to the museum to read about hay fever. I thought I had it. I found a big book and started reading. Soon I saw that I had many other diseases too—typhoid, cholera, diphtheria, and more! I even had one called St. Vitus’s Dance. I read every page and found only one disease I didn’t have: housemaid’s knee. I felt sad about that. I went to see my doctor. He looked at me, hit my chest, and gave me a note. I took it to the chemist. It was not medicine. It said: eat well, drink water, walk every day, sleep early, and stop reading too much. I will try it. Maybe I’m not sick after all.

The Doctor’s Diary

George came to see me today. He said he had every disease except housemaid’s knee. He looked very worried. I checked his pulse. It was fine. I hit his chest and looked at his tongue. He was healthy. I gave him a note. It was not for medicine. It said: eat good food, drink water, walk every day, sleep early, and stop reading things he doesn’t understand. George is not sick. He just read too many things and got scared. I hope he listens to me. He needs rest, not pills. If he comes back next week with housemaid’s knee, I will send him to a farm. He is funny, but also a little silly.

The Chemist’s Diary

A man came to my shop today. He gave me a note from his doctor. I opened it and read it. It was not a medicine. It said: eat well, drink water, walk every morning, sleep early, and stop reading too much. I smiled. He looked confused. I told him I am a chemist, not a hotel or a food shop. He laughed too. I think the doctor gave him good advice. Many people want pills, but they really need rest and good habits. This man was not sick. He was just worried. I hope he feels better soon. If he comes back asking for housemaid’s knee medicine, I will close the shop early!

Unjumble

Jumbled Events 1

• He realized he had all the symptoms of the first disease he read.
• Jerome began reading about hay fever in a medical encyclopedia.
• He found he had typhoid fever for months.
• He discovered he had St. Vitus’s Dance.
• He decided to investigate his condition alphabetically.
• He grew interested in his case and continued reading.
• He felt frozen with horror and despair.
• He concluded he had every disease except housemaid’s knee.

Answers

• Jerome began reading about hay fever in a medical encyclopedia.
• He realized he had all the symptoms of the first disease he read.
• He decided to investigate his condition alphabetically.
• He felt frozen with horror and despair.
• He found he had typhoid fever for months.
• He discovered he had St. Vitus’s Dance.
• He grew interested in his case and continued reading.
• He concluded he had every disease except housemaid’s knee.

Jumbled 2

• He found Bright’s disease in mild form.
• He felt insulted for not having housemaid’s knee.
• He decided to be generous and do without housemaid’s knee.
• He found he had gout in its worst form.
• Jerome read about ague and believed he was sickening for it.
• He discovered serious complications of cholera.
• He believed he was born with diphtheria.
• He realized he had suffered from zymosis since boyhood.

Answers

• Jerome read about ague and believed he was sickening for it.
• He found Bright’s disease in mild form.
• He discovered serious complications of cholera.
• He believed he was born with diphtheria.
• He felt insulted for not having housemaid’s knee.
• He decided to be generous and do without housemaid’s knee.
• He found he had gout in its worst form.
• He realized he had suffered from zymosis since boyhood.

Jumbled 3

• He tried to feel his heart but it had stopped beating.
• He patted himself all over but felt nothing.
• He tried to look at his tongue and saw only the tip.
• He became convinced he had scarlet fever.
• He imagined himself as a walking hospital.
• He wondered how long he had to live.
• He tried to feel his pulse but couldn’t.
• Jerome sat and pondered his medical uniqueness.

Answers

• Jerome sat and pondered his medical uniqueness.
• He imagined himself as a walking hospital.
• He wondered how long he had to live.
• He tried to feel his pulse but couldn’t.
• He tried to feel his heart but it had stopped beating.
• He patted himself all over but felt nothing.
• He tried to look at his tongue and saw only the tip.
• He became convinced he had scarlet fever.

Jumbled 4

• The doctor checked Jerome’s pulse.
• The doctor hit Jerome on the chest unexpectedly.
• He explained how he discovered his illnesses.
• Jerome decided to visit his doctor friend.
• He thought the doctor would benefit from his complex case.
• He told the doctor he had everything except housemaid’s knee.
• The doctor butted Jerome on the side of the head.
• The doctor wrote a prescription and handed it over.

Answers

• Jerome decided to visit his doctor friend.
• He thought the doctor would benefit from his complex case.
• He told the doctor he had everything except housemaid’s knee.
• He explained how he discovered his illnesses.
• The doctor checked Jerome’s pulse.
• The doctor hit Jerome on the chest unexpectedly.
• The doctor butted Jerome on the side of the head.
• The doctor wrote a prescription and handed it over.

Jumbled 5

• The pharmacist read it and handed it back.
• The pharmacist said he couldn’t help.
• Jerome learned the pharmacist was only a chemist.
• He found it advised a balanced diet and regular water.
• It included instructions for daily walks and early bedtime.
• Jerome took the prescription to a pharmacy.
• Jerome read the prescription himself.
• It warned against stuffing his head with things he didn’t understand.

Answers

• Jerome took the prescription to a pharmacy.
• The pharmacist read it and handed it back.
• The pharmacist said he couldn’t help.
• Jerome learned the pharmacist was only a chemist.
• Jerome read the prescription himself.
• He found it advised a balanced diet and regular water.
• It included instructions for daily walks and early bedtime.
• It warned against stuffing his head with things he didn’t understand.

Textual Analysis | More Questions

I remember going to the British Museum one day to research some sort of illness that I thought might be hay fever. I picked up the medical encyclopedia and read all about hay fever. I idly turned the leaves, and began to indolently study diseases in general. I forget which was the first disease I plunged into—some dreadful disease, I know. But before I had glanced half down the list of ‘warning symptoms’, it dawned upon
me that I had all of them.

I sat for a while, frozen with horror; and then, in utter despair, I again turned over the pages. I came to typhoid fever—read the symptoms discovered that I had typhoid fever for months without knowing it. I then wondered what else I had got; turned up *St. Vitus’s Dance—found that I had that too. I began to get interested in my case, and decided to investigate it thoroughly. So I started alphabetically. Read up ague (malaria), and learned that I was sickening for it, and that the worst stage would commence in about two weeks. Bright’s disease, I was relieved to find, I had only in a mild form. Cholera I had, with serious complications; and diphtheria I seemed to have been born with. I carefully went through all the twenty-six letters, and the only malady I could conclude I had not got was housemaid’s knee. I felt rather hurt about this at first; it seemed somehow to be a kind of insult. Why hadn’t I got housemaid’s knee?

Why was this illness left out? After a while, however, less greedy feelings took over. I reflected that I had every other known disease in the pharmacology. I grew less selfish, and determined to do without housemaid’s knee. Gout, in its worst form, had seized me without my knowledge; and zymosis I had clearly been suffering from my boyhood. There were no more diseases after zymosis, so I concluded that there was nothing else the matter with me.

I sat and pondered. I thought what an interesting case I must be from a medical point of view, what an acquisition I should be to a class! Students would have no need to “walk the hospitals,” if they had me. I was a hospital in myself. All they need do would be to walk round me, and, after that, take their diploma. Then I wondered how long I had to live. I tried to examine myself. I felt my pulse. I could not at first feel any pulse at all. I tried to feel my heart. I could not feel it. It had stopped beating. I patted myself all over my body. But I could not feel or hear anything. I tried to look at my tongue. I could only see the tip, and the only thing that I could gain was to feel more certain than before that I had scarlet fever.

I had walked into that reading-room as a happy, healthy man. I crawled out a decrepit wreck. I went to my doctor. He is an old chum of mine, and feels my pulse, and looks at my tongue, and talks about the weather, all for nothing, when I think I am sick. So I thought I would return the favour by going to him now. “What a doctor wants,” I said, “is practice. He shall have me. He will get more practice out of me than out of seventeen hundreds of his everyday patients, with only one or two diseases each.” So I went straight up and saw him, and he said:

“Well, what’s the matter with you?” I said: “I will not take up your time, dear boy, with telling you what the matter is. Life is brief, and you might pass away before I had finished. But I will tell you what is not the matter with me. I have not got housemaid’s knee. Why I have not got housemaid’s knee, I cannot tell you; but the fact remains that I have not got it. Everything else, however, I have got.”

And I told him how I came to discover it all. Then he examined me, and clutched my wrist to check my pulse, and then he hit me over the chest when I wasn’t expecting it—a cowardly thing to do, I think, and immediately afterwards butted me on the side of my head. After that, he sat down and wrote out a prescription, and folded it up and gave it to me, and I put it in my pocket and went out.

I did not open it. I took it to the nearest pharmacy, and handed it in. The man read it, and then handed it back. He said he didn’t keep it.

I said: “You are a chemist?” He said: “I am a chemist. If I were a co-operative stores and family hotel combined, I might be able to help you. Being only a chemist limits me.”

I read the prescription. This was what it said: “A balanced diet, with water every couple of hours. A ten-mile walk every morning. To bed at sharp 11 o’clock every night. And don’t stuff up your head with things you don’t understand.”

I followed the directions, with the happy result— speaking for myself—that my life was saved and is still going on.

The Author

Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927) was an English writer and humorist. Born in a poor family, he faced financial difficulties and personal hardships throughout his early life. Despite these challenges, he pursued a career in writing and acting. His warm and humorous style won him great  acclaim. This extract is taken from Three Men in a Boat (1889), Jerome’s comic masterpiece, which is his most celebrated work.

Let’s Rewind

1. What happened when the narrator began reading the medical encyclopaedia?
2. How did the narrator’s visit to the doctor change his perspective on life?
3. What aspect of the narrator’s character is revealed in the story?
4. How does the narrator’s experience bring out the risks of self-diagnosis and the benefits of taking medical advice?
5. Have you heard of the saying, ‘A healthy mind in a healthy body’. What do you think it means in the light of ‘A Prescription for Life?’

Activity 1

The events of the story have been jumbled. Rewrite them in the correct order.

1. He decides to consult his doctor for help.
2. The doctor examines him and gives him a prescription.
3. The chemist reads the prescription and finds it interesting.
4. Jerome takes the prescription back and reads it for the first time.
5. Jerome leaves the pharmacy feeling hopeful.
6. Jerome goes to the British Museum to learn more about an illness.
7. He expresses his fear to the doctor.
8. Jerome takes the prescription to the pharmacy.
9. There he reads the medical encyclopaedia and believes he has all the illnesses mentioned in it.
10. It was some common sense advice on proper diet and exercise.