h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I recently read the Autobiography of Mark Twain. In it he discusses various illnesses suffered by himself and his family. One remark he made that I found quite interesting was his discussion on whether it was preferable to pay doctors by the visit or per annum. He considered it more advantageous to pay a doctor a yearly fee. If one did become ill, the doctor would provide a treatment and then leave the patient to recover and only return if the treatment did not seem to work. If a doctor was paid by the visit he would bother and pester the patient with all sorts of treatments regardless of the patient's progression extracting further fees upon each visit.

That sounds a lot like "Mark Twain"!

I remember reading about a 19th century naval captain who concluded after a long illness "It is easier to die without a doctor then to live with one!"
As I recall that was from the novel "Mutiny" later made into the film "HMS Defiant"

FS

In another one of Mark Twain's works (one of his fictional pieces) he broke his ankle and was making fun of Christian Science practioners. He was a real card!