Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-08-09

HCIcHt mdStcI vi OHOCtdW W cApidIil
myself / lifted glass to my mouth,
and pretended TO empty il, then gave a
short yell, clapping my hands over my
stomach, staggering. jerking my hands
and feet about, as iell on the floor, re-
repeating the yells, then turned on my
face, and lay still, as though | was dead.
But to my chagrin, all this did not seem
to affect the Indian with that horror that
intended; but on the contrary, he grun-
ted out series. of ughs, expressive OF
his satisfaction, saying
"Ugh: Tuba want to get drunk too. I"
The dinner hour arriving, dismissed
old Tubby, and arranging my toilet,
walked up to the dwelling-house, near
half mile distant, where was detained
several hours by the presence of COM
pany; to whom | was forced TO do the
honors, the doctor not having returned.
AT length l got released, and returned
to the Office, resolving to suspend my
stndies until could have talk with my
preceptor. For, even on my ignorant
mind, the shadow of a doubt was falling,
as to whether there might not be some
mistake in my understanding Of his Ian
guage.
Entering the Office, my eyes iuvolun-
tarily sought the solution Of Arsenic
Father of purges and pukes, it was gone!
"Tubba, you're gone case. ! ought
TO have hidden it. l might have known
he would steal it after smelling the whis-
ky. Poor fellow; it's no use to try and
find him; he's struck straight line for
the swamp. Poor fellow! It's all my
fault" Thus upbraiding myself for my
carelessness, walked back into my bed.
room. And my astonishment may be
imagined, when discovered the filthy
Indian tucked in nicely between my
clean sheets.
To all appearances he was in des-
perate condition, the fatal bottle lying
Rugged closely in his embrace, nearly
empty. He must be suffering awfully,
thought |, when humanity had triumphed
over the indignation felt at the liberties
he had taken; but, Indian-like, he bears
it without a groan. Well has his race
been called the "Stoics of the wood, the
men without tear" But must not let
him die without an effort TO save him
| don't know what to do myself, so Ill
call in DIR. B.. and away posted. But
DIR. Is. was absent; so was DIR. L.; and
in fact every physician of the town.
Each Office however contained one or
more students; and as half loaf is bet
ter than no bread, speedily informed
them Of the condition of affairs; and
quickly, like flock of young vultures,
we were thronging around the poisoned
Indian, to what we would soon have
rendered the harvest of death.
"Stomach pump so instanti!'' said
one. "Sulphas Zinc; cum Decoction
,abacum!' said another. 'Venesection!'
suggested a third. "Puke of Lobelia"
suggested a young disciple of Thompson.
who, self-invited, had joined the conclave
-'Lobelia. Number six, pepper tea,
yaller powders, say!'' "ruln him out!
turn him out! what right has young
Roots in mineral consultation! Turn
him out!'' And heels over head, out Of
the room, through the middle door, and
down the office steps, went Young
Roots, ,"-impelled by the whole body
of the enraged sregulars," save myself,
who, determined amidst the array of
medical lore not TO appear ignorant,
wisely held my tongue, and rubbed the
patients feet with creased rag. Again
arose the jargon OF voices.
'Sulphas Zinci-S,omach, Arteri,
pump. otomymus.--legs-hot-toddy
bleed Observation-Disclosures blster--fat-
irons-open his--windpipe.'
But still said never word, but rub
bed his wondering whether ! would
ever acquire as much knowledge as my
fellow-students showed the possession of.
By the by, was the only one that
was doing anything for the patient, the
others being too busy discussing the case
to attend to the administration Of any
one of the remedies proposed.
Il say stimulate. The system is
sinking screamed a tall, stout-looking
student; as the Indian slid down towards
the foot of the bed.
s.Bleeding is manifestly and clearly in
dicaled," retorted bitter rival in love as
well as medicine. "His muscular action
is too excessive" as Tubba made an in
effeciual effort to throw his body up to
the top of the musquito bar.
"Bleeding would be as good as mur :
der" said Number One.
"Better cut his throat than stimulate
him - cotd Nuuhar sHwn