R. is unwell and must have leeches applied. The clumsy surgeon burns him with creosote, and he has a terrible day. Since he has not gone out for several days, he feels dejected, but the children cheer him up with their singing, and he himself joins in, singing the hymn “Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele” in three parts with Lusch and Boni.
Creosote (from the Greek “flesh-preserver”), also tar oil, was used in dentistry
Revised English translation by Jo Cousins.