Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-08-09
GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH
THE MEDICINES.

"NOW, Dir. j enSas, salu my KIM
preceptor.a few days after had got reg
ularly installed into the Office. "your first
duty must be 10 get acquainted with the
different medicines. This is Dispen-
satory--as you read of drug, you will
find the majority mentioned on the
shelves, take it down and digest'-hcre,
unfortunately for the peace of mind and
general welfare of loafing Indian, who
hung continually around the Office, seek
ing what he might devour, or rather
steal, the doctor was called away in a
great hurry, and did not have time TO
finish his sentence. so stake il down and
digest were the last words that remain
ed in my mind. stake it down and
digest" BY the father Of physic, thot'
|, this study of medicine is not the pleas
ant task l anticipated-raiher arduous
in the long run for the stomach, should
Judge, to swallow and digest oil the
medicines from Abracadabra TO Zinziber.
Why, some of them are vomiis, and I'd
like TO know how they are 10 be kept
down long enough to be digested. Now,
as for tamarinds, or liquorice, or white
sugar, might 60 them; but aloes, and
rhubarb, and castor oil, and running your
finger down your throat, are rather disa-
greeable any way you can take them
I'm in for il, though; | suppose its they
way all doctors are made. and have no
claims to be exempted. And now for
he big book with the long name.
| opened it upon the list of the metals.
Reading them in the order that alphabet
ical arrangement entitled it TO, was "Arse-
mic: deadly poison. Best preparation.
Fowler's solution. Symptoms from an
overdose, burning in the stomach, great
thirst, excessive vomiling," &C., &c.
With eyes distended to their utmost ca.
pacity, read the dread enumeration of
its properties. What! take this internal
medicament down, digest it, and run the
chances of its not being an overdose!--
Can't think Of il moment. Ill go back
to my plough first; but then the doctor
knew all the dangers when he gave his
directions; and was so precise and partic-
ular cannot be any mistake. III take a
look at it anyhow, aud hunted il up
AS the dispensatory preferred Fowler's
solution, selected that. Expecting TO
find but a small quantity, ! was somewha,
surprised when discovered il in four
gallon bottle, nearly full. ! took opt the
stopper, and applied j. cautiously to my
nose. Had it not been for the label,
bearing, in addition to the name. the
fearful word '.Poison," and the ominous
skull and cross-bones. would have
sworn it was good old Bourbon whisky.
Old Tubba, the Indian was sitting in the
Office door watching my proceedings
with great deal of interest. Catching
the spiri,nous odor Of the arsenical solu.
tion, he rose up, and approached me ca
gerly, saying
"Ugh, Injnn want whisky; give Tubba
whisky; bring wild duck-so many
holding up two of his fingers.
Tie temptation was strong, must con.
fess. The medicines had to be tested
and | felt very much disincIined to depaI
this life Just then, when the pen feathers
OF science had just commenced displa
cling the soft down Of ducklingdom.-
But this Indian, he is of no earthly ac
count or use to any one; no one would
miss him, even were he to take an over
dose. Science often has demanded sac
r;fces, and he would be willing one
but-it may kill him. cant do il; I,
kill man before ! get my diploma woult
be murder. A jury might not SO pro
nounce it, but conscience would.
cant swallow it, and Tubba must not
These were the thoughts that flashes
through my mind, before | replied to ,h
Indians request
"Indian can't have whisky; Tubs
drink whisky-Tubba do 80"