Ruin & Extravagance

[jiho]

Hi all,
I have found this aged idiom in a context that puzzles me because i thought i knew the meaning, here i go:

England, mid 19th, an ill person complaining about a doctor that didn't sympathise as he expected: «'Stuff & nonsense' is all he says to my fears of ruin & extravagance».

I thought that was to refer to vices and lust that can ruin your life, and the speaker's fear is clearly his illness (not whisky & women) so i cannot get what the speaker means.

Any help?

Thanks a lot

 

[oregeezer]

'Ruin" can come from many causes - the ill person is afraid that illness will prevent his working and cost a great deal to cure. The two together will leave him so poor he will be ruined.

 

[jiho]

'Ruin" can come from many causes - the ill person is afraid that illness will prevent his working and cost a great deal to cure. The two together will leave him so poor he will be ruined.

Thank you for your response.
Let me ask you something: it makes all the sense to me what you say about ruin, it's clear but, in fact, it was the Extravagance what really puzzled me. As far as i knew, extravagance meant something like 'luxury' and that is the point where i got lost...
What is 'extravagance' exact meaning here?

Thaks again

 

[Anglika]

Spending all your money on unnecessary things.

 

[jiho]

Spending all your money on unnecessary things.

Excuse me if I look a little stubborn , but how is this meaning related to illness (in the pateint's opinion, doctors are a necessary expense). Is it just an idiom (period)?

Thank you

 

[Anglika]

Without much more context, from the one sentence you have given, it does not seem to relate directly to the illness, but to the patient's fears that if too much money is expended [perhaps on his care] and he is ruined, he will be destitute and unable to pay for medical care.

 

[jiho]

Without much more context, from the one sentence you have given, it does not seem to relate directly to the illness, but to the patient's fears that if too much money is expended [perhaps on his care] and he is ruined, he will be destitute and unable to pay for medical care.

Thank You, Anglika.
I think I finally get the point (hallelujah!)... You know... sometimes peolpe stick to a view like knocking the head aginst a wall... That's me, blind boy.

He is clearly speaking about money, just money. He is complaining about the doctor because he doesn't sympathise nor with his illness neither with his fears of having money problems... The doctor is also his father.
That's it. No relation to illness...

Thank You again, patient teacher