The old man told everyone about Dr. Dolittle. Everyone wanted to bring their animals to him. Soon Dr. Dolittle became known as the animal doctor. His sister, Sarah, was happy again because now they had plenty of money. Farmers came from miles away to see him.
"I don’t know what’s wrong with him, Doctor," one murmured.
"I’ve been trying to tell him for weeks now!" the horse complained.
"You must be patient. He doesn’t understand," Dr. Dolittle gently reminded the animal.
"That’s the problem with humans!" said the horse. "They just don’t listen!"
"Now, now, let’s take a look at you," the doctor kindly replied.
"Look! He’s giving me pills for diarrhea!"
The doctor soon realized the horse’s problem. "You have poor eyesight," Dr. Dolittle said.
"YES! I need glasses, not diarrhea pills!" he sighed with relief.
"I’ll get you a pair then," and he wrote in his notebook.
"I like yours. Can I get some like that?" the horse nudged Dr. Dolittle’s glasses.
"Yes, they are rather nice. I’ll see what I can do," said Dr. Dolittle.
A week later, the horse returned with the farmer.
"I got green glasses for you," Dr. Dolittle said as he put them on.
"I just love the color green! Thank you!" he smiled.
"There! How’s that? Can you see better?" asked the doctor.
"Crystal clear! You really are amazing, Dr. Dolittle,"said the horse. Soon it was not unusual to see horses wearing glasses around Puddleby.
All the animals told their family and friends about Dr. Dolittle. His garden was always crowded with animals. There were so many that Dr. Dolittle put up signs for each animal.
"All cows stand here! Horses, there! Sheep, over there, please!" Polynesia called out.
Dr. Dolittle’s other pets helped him, too.
"Hey! It’s not your turn! Get back in line," Jip growled to a straying cow.
"Okay, next horse, please come this way," Gub-Gub called out.
Dr. Dolittle saw the bigger animals in his garden. His office was for the smallest of creatures. Mice, raccoons, badgers, and squirrels all waited in line to see the doctor.
"You’ve got to stop eating food from the garbage," Dr. Dolittle told a little mouse.
"But I’m hungry!" the mouse cried.
"Try to find something fresh like fruits or vegetables then."
The mouse felt better after taking some medicine.
Every night Dr. Dolittle was very tired but he was very happy.
"You’re famous all over Puddleby," said Gub-Gub.
"Famous all over the world," Too-Too hooted.
"Some friends of mine from England have heard of you," explained the owl.
"If only more humans could speak our language," sighed Jip.
"Still, there would never be anyone like Dr. Dolittle," Polynesia remarked.
"ZZZZZZ . . . ," the doctor mumbled.