"I suppose one has a greater sense of intellectual degradation after an interview with a doctor than from any human experience"

In this quote, Alice James is revealing her belief that an interview with a physician can be an especially humbling and degrading experience. She recommends that the intellectual element of this encounter, where one's physical and psychological health is being assessed and evaluated, can leave a long lasting influence on a person's sense of self-respect. This sensation of destruction might stem from the vulnerability and power imbalance intrinsic in a doctor-patient relationship, where the physician holds the understanding and authority over the patient's well-being. James suggests that this experience can be more mentally taxing than any other human interaction, highlighting the significance of the medical professional's role in our lives.