Elephantosis
Sir: Having just participated in the International Congress on the History of Medicine in London, I am in a position to make a remarkable diagnosis on one of your reporters. The truth about Mr Fairlie (What a name for so impartial an observer!) is that he is suffering from an . acute case of elephantosis. This obscure condition, attributed by most authorities to an excess of the bilious and atrabilious humours, is characterised by hallucinations, phobias and confusion of fiction with fact.
I must warn you that the prognosis, although gloomy, is not necessarily fatal. I suspect that this patient will get progressively worse during the next two months, but should recover — ever, so slowly — after the great shock of the crisis of November 7.
Morris H. Safferon 912 Fifth Avenue, New York City, USA
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