George, William Samuel Harris, and J., the author and narrator are sitting around discussing various maladies. On the subject of health, J. admits he is something of a hypochondriac. He thinks he is suffering everything from housemaid's knee to liver disease. The other two concur that they feel tired and anxious as well. Every ailment J hears about or reads about in an advertisement for patent medicine seems to fit his symptoms perfectly. J's doctor recommends some outdoor exercise and adventure.