专治驼背

In the past, a man claimed to be "a specialist in curing hunchbacks". His signboard read: "I specialize in curing hunchbacks. No matter whether you are hunchbacked like a bow, a shrimp1, a basket for rinsing2 rice or a rice pot, I guarantee that once I start treatment, your hunchback will be cured."

One hunchback saw the signboard, believed it to be true, and asked for treatment.

The doctor neither gave any prescription3, nor let the patient take any medicine. All the medical instrument he had was two boards for pressing. One board was put on the ground, on which the hunchback was told to lie on his stomach. Another board was pressed on and tied tightly with the hunchback. Then the doctor jumped onto the board and trampled4 upon it at random5 with all his might. As a result, the hunchback was straightened, but, alas6, he was "dead and gone" also.

When the hunchback's son learned of this, of course he had it out with the doctor. But the doctor said: "My job is to straighten his back. It's none of my business whether he is dead or alive."

从前，有个人自称“专治驼背”，他的招牌上写着：“本人专治驼背，无论你驼得像弓，像虾，像淘箩，像饭锅，凡是经我医治，保证手到病除。”

有一个驼背，看到招牌，果然信以为真，就请他医治。

他既不开药方，也不让吃药。他所有的医疗器具，就只是两块夹板。他把一块板放在地上，叫驼背趴在上面，用另一块压在驼背的身上，然后用绳索绷紧。接着，他便自己跳到板上，拼命用脚乱踩一番。结果，那个人的驼背算是给压直了，可是他的性命也就“呜呼哀哉”了。

驼背的儿子知道了，自然要与那个医生评理，那医生却说：“我只管把他的驼背弄直，哪能管他的死活!”

1 shrimp

n.虾，小虾；矮小的人

参考例句：

When the shrimp farm is built it will block the stream.一旦养虾场建起来，将会截断这条河流。

When it comes to seafood,I like shrimp the best.说到海鲜，我最喜欢虾。

2 rinsing

n.清水，残渣v.漂洗( rinse的现在分词 )；冲洗；用清水漂洗掉（肥皂泡等）；（用清水）冲掉

参考例句：

Pablo made a swishing noise rinsing wine in his mouth. 巴勃罗用酒漱着口，发出咕噜噜噜的声音。 来自辞典例句

The absorption of many molecular layers could be reestablished by rinsing the foils with tap water. 多分子层的吸附作用可用自来水淋洗金属箔而重新实现。 来自辞典例句

3 prescription

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。

The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

4 trampled

踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯

参考例句：

He gripped his brother's arm lest he be trampled by the mob. 他紧抓着他兄弟的胳膊，怕他让暴民踩着。

People were trampled underfoot in the rush for the exit. 有人在拼命涌向出口时被踩在脚下。

5 random

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。

On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

6 alas

int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)

参考例句：

Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！

Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。