The Doctor's cure
Nasreddin Hodja


One day Molla fell seriously ill. His wife became very frightened and, thinking Molla might die, ran for the doctor.

"Oh, Doctor, my husband is gravely ill. We're very poor and have many children. I'm afraid something might happen to him, and then who will take care of the children?"

On hearing the word "poor," the doctor replied, "Why do you create problems for the poor man? Even if I prescribed medicine for him, how would you pay for it if you don't have any money?"

The wife returned home and told Molla. A few days later Molla recovered. Soon, he headed off to the doctor. "I've come to say 'thank you.' I've recovered, thanks to you."

The doctor replied, "How's that? I didn't treat you."

"And that's the very reason I recovered. Had your ugly breath touched me that day, who knows which cemetery I would be lying in today?"