The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-05-07
From London Paher.
HUMOROUS LAW CASE.
Court of Common Pleas.
PRIcE Us. GYM

PRIcE U.s. GYM
This was an action brought to recover IL
shiilings, the amount of an Apothecary S bill
for medicines, to cure the de PENDANT, a pork
butchers, GREAT TOE! 1t was con
tended on the part Of the defendant. that
the charges were uDfaiT, aud that they had
been raised 70 ii shiliings merely to afford
an opportunity of bringing an action in the
superior courts. The skin had been rubbed
off the toe by the shoe, though 1t was iusi
nnated, but not supported by the'evidehce,
tn It there nAd been some appearance of
modification Among the charges for the
cure OF the ice there were some tor open
ing draughts The defendants daughter
happened to cut her finger and a1o ion for
the hnger was charged two shillings, while
an opening drxugh' had also been adminis-
eered to her. In addition 70 the charge for
medicines, there was also one of H. Tor at.
tendance, The defendan. had ia d for the
whole IL los; bu, he plaintiff had accep ed
tins, oriy In part, and brought his action for
the rest Nj. Sergeant Shepherd after ad
vising the jury. il case they happened to
| cut their fingers, TO take care of their
bowels, called some .Apothrcaries, to
prove the unreasonableness of the char
ges. these concur ed in the opinion, that
there was something unreasonable in the
bill.
John Dennison, an apothecary, was shown
the bill: he would not charge SIS. Sd. for
the pint lotion. Sergeant Vaughan" Do
! you swear, sir, that you think il ought
not to have been so charged % A. "Not to
all persons do you think OF suppose tina,
I'd charge his iordshp's pork butcher as
much as would his iordship himself Sir
James Mansfield (: Very pleasant informa
tion.' Sergeant Vaughan: pray, sir, how
long ought the pint lotion TO have lasted ?"
a Il heard The Young lady say that she
was to keep her finger constantly wet
Now it shs was at all indus rious, she might
get rid nj it in day" Q. "Do you see
the charges tor opening draughtsH' A.
Yes, see two opening draughs in this
6iil' on two successive days; one on the
fourteenth, am me on the fifteenth. Ieup-
pose, mviocd h. fourteenth missed fir !"
S'rJ Man field g Pray. sir, if the mans
tie vas in me stare You have heard it de-
lscrlbed. would you have ordered hose O
!pening draughts!" A. {" WAY if he was
costive should certainly go boldly to work. %
SIR Mansfield: Look al the charges in
thet dill and say whether or not, if you had
SO ged tor your medicines YOU would
nave made an extra charge for atten
dance - A. No, my lord, as ar of the
certainly would 20 Your tordshtp" Have
You never charged for attendance :" A
Never Greedy; but when / though, it
ought TO be considered, have said so in
modest manner At the foot of the bill" Ser
lgeant Vaughan: Now, sir. you know
6itchers re nt gross habit If tody-they
live we'll" A Yes, sir, 1 hink indeed,
all Professions do that when they can; no
doubt. SIR you uan take your wine" well
now, sir II the oper ing draught on the 18th
missed fire on the bu Cner-s gross body,
don't you thiuk the dose IN The 18th would
be necessary" A.. i think if the first
| took earct, the second was needless."-
| Suppose, now, that surgeon attended !;
are the spirituous lotions for the poul
tice charged too high 20 A. Since
YOU ere only .supposing, l have to inform
you that there are no spirits put in a poul-
tice.''
Two papers were here put in, written
] by MIR Benjamin Bishop. proving the lazy
demand upon the defendant.
M Sergean. Vaughan said since the
person VII" ~rnte those papers was now
dead, he should not comment IN them -
~ RortH'S M ntsl 6onun was an old a
dage, and Mr.. Bishop was now at rest for
ever, TO the great joy OF all his acquain-
lance. The case lac assured the jury, " IS
OF the utmos, importance TO his client, and
II verdict was given only tor 39s. & Cd.
ne by the act of Parliament; would have TO
pay uouolc COStS uuCn II al Oe6n sitQ a..
bout the charges in the Dill the ouenir q
draught had oeen com plaiAed of; and IT " ;
even said hat 100 great Quantity OF i'm
seed meal to make poult,ce tor the de
PENDANTS toes was attempted t. be cha rged
ION Gen.leman' (said oeI geant Waugh
am would ihat could procure this butch
er here! No d"uot he was carcass burst
ing at every pore, and toe that would AXE
! quarter of pound Of meal to poultce
llti TOE! dare say it would cover
Lord WeIlington's position Gentlemen,
you ali know what butcher is! MANY an
opening draught it must have taken to o
pen him, and many a tonic was neces-
sary to shut him up again. AS 10 the
daughter. i. appeared she had her finger
iscortd,"
Sir James Mansfield" Aye and she had
an opening draughi also"
Serge t Vaughan" Oh yes, my Lord.
when "eung lady is delicate. with PIN
pie in her face, or scratch on her finger, a
lille psysic is the only alternative. Cen
uemen. am pleading this day the united
caue of physic and ApOthecaries, and
hope, for the honor Of both, to obtain your
verdict. If his lordship, however, thinks the
charge should be reduced, have no hest
tation in saying, / wish to withdraw the
record
Sir James Mansield-"Y Indeed. then bro
Their Vaughan, / do not think that, consider
ing the charges for medicine, the other
Charges are too HIGH ("