The Classics discussion

Hello everybody. I'm alamogal. Just started reading Wives and Daughters, but found myself not very clear on some of the author's meanings. Could someone here help me out?
The following are passages about the old country doctor Mr. Hall and his chronic in Chapter 3:
1.Mr. Hall had had attacks of a suspicious nature. -”rheumatism ” he used to call them; but he prescribed for himself as if they had been gout, - which had prevented his immediate attention to imperative summonses.
2.He had plenty of leisure left to himself now to nurse his gout and cherish his eyesight.
3.To be sure, Mr. Hall had been asked as well; but he was laid up just then with his gout (since he had had a partner the rheumatism had been allowed to develop itself).
I was wondering:
1.What illness exactly did Mr. Hall have? Gout or rheumatism?
2.Please rephrase “which had prevented his immediate attention to imperative summonses' for me; I don't understand what that means.
3.What did Gaskell mean when she said “since he had had a partner the rheumatism had been allowed to develop itself” ?
I would really appreciate it if someone could clarify them for me. Thanks.

Having not read the book, I'll venture a guess on some of these questions.

2. I'm not sure what profession Mr. Hall is in, but I'm reading question 2 as " because of his illness he was not able to attend to any important business or urgent requests.

Hi Sadie,
Thank you so much for your help. Mr. Hall is a country doctor. I think your explanation on question 2 makes perfect sense. I guess this book won't be an easy read for me, because, language aside, I know next to nothing about the historical and cultural background this story takes place in; but I'll try my best to fininsh it.

Wives and Daughters is on my to-read list, maybe I'll pull that one and read it. How far into the book are you? And now knowing that Mr. Hall is a doctor I'll guess on your question number 3. Since Mr. Hall has another physician in his practice who is able to see patients he was able to sit around and thus the gout developed. Or maybe gout is a condition in which the sufferer must rest and allow it to take it's course and therefore he had a partner seeing to patients and so he was able to let the gout develop while resting.

I just started chapter 3. Another reviewer says the story is slow-paced in the beginning but gets more interesting after chapter 2. I hope you would read the book and like it. I think the BBC adaptation is excellent and hope the 600-page original will be very rewarding. :-D

I've seen the adaptation and liked it but haven't read the book. If you like Gaskell I suggest "Cranford". It's an excellent book and miniseries.

Sadie:
I googled 'gout' and “rheumatism”. It seems gout is a more serious ailment.
Maybe Mr. Hall actually had gout, but just as denied his defective hearing, he told people it was rheumatism. Later when he got a partner, he had more time to take care of himself, and “the rheumatism had been allowed to develop itself” (into gout)?

Hi theduckthief:
I'd heard good reviews about Cranford and would definitely like to read the book. Your recommendation just piqued my interest again.

I loved Cranford! So when I finished I tried Wives and daughters, and got about 20 pages in with no clue what was happening.

Plus it's not finished right? I'll try to tackle it sometime soon, but Cranford was an absolute delight!!

I didn't get too far reading W&D last time either. I'll try to pick it up again... and ask more questions too :-D

Hello catherine,
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. They make sense to me now. And I'd like to get back to W&D as soon as I can.