Chapter 10 Summary

In the morning, Eliza and her grandfather, who has brought Dr. Kerr, an educated physician, join Mattie. Dr. Kerr examines Mrs. Cook and quickly pronounces a diagnosis of yellow fever, also vituperating Mr. Rowley's supposed medical skills. Dr. Kerr insists that Mrs. Cook be bled, though Mattie disagrees. Citing Dr. Rush, a prominent local physician, Dr. Kerr insists that bleeding is the only hope for Mrs. Cook. He then takes a lancet and bleeds Mrs. Cook of 20 ounces of blood. When Mrs. Cook regains consciousness, she demands again that Mattie be excluded from the sick room. Dr. Kerr agrees, and takes Mattie downstairs where he arranges for her to be sent to the country for at least several weeks. Mattie requests her mother accompany her, but Dr. Kerr explains that all towns and villages surrounding Philadelphia are refusing to allow fever patients to...