The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-03-29
THE DRUG CLERK.
How he Gives Antidotes for Avhislsey-- MOI
TO be Trapped into Sureery-Piain
Soda. Hot.

Can you give me something to make
drunken man sober9r asked a woman of
the clerk in Williamsburgh drug store.
She was poorly dressed and carried a pitcher
IN her hand. She was accompanied by a
bashful girl, about IA years of age, who
endeavored TO conceal herself behind the
woman.
The clerk looked wise for moment.
Then taking large bottle from one of the
shelves, he poured small quantity of lq-
uid into glass; He filed the remainder of
the glass with plain soda. The woman was
advised to administer the antidote to the
intoxicated man in one dose. She was pro-
fuse in her thanks, and paying the sum re-
quired, she left the store, followed by her
young companion.
That's m unusual occurrence. is ii not ~
inquired the reporter.
"oh, no; very common" replied the
clerk.
What was it you gave the woman 7"
Merely little aromatic spirits OF am
monia, mixed with plain soda"
"Is that an effectual antido,e for wills.
key"
Wen, that depends entirely upon the
subject. If he has plenty of faith, the arc
matte spirits of ammonia may aid to sober
him. There is nothing in drugs that will
make drunken person sober. The only
eflectual remedy that know of is plunge
into cold water. That usually has the de-
sired effect. A drunken man. however. is
sometimes ready to believe a great deal;
and if l should give one glass of plain soda
and tell him that it was an effectual antidote,
the chances are that he would sober up
| sooner than il he had not taken it. He pulls
through on faith. In fact, | find that one
half of the persons who enter this store have
imGginations like India rubber These are
the people that support drug stores. If
were to tell one that bread taken in the form
of pill was the best stimulant in the store,
he would believe me, probably take few,
and imagine that they made a new man of
him."
What effect will aromatic spirits have
upon drunken man who has no faith ?"
sit has tendency to settle the stomach.
That's about ALL"
AT that moment four young men entered,
all of whom were more or less under the in
huence of liquor, while one of them was
bleeding profusely from cut in the head.
His companions said he had fallen down.
They wanted court plaster. II was given to
them, and then they wanted the clerk to put
it on the cut, but he refused They pleaded
and finally got angry, but it had no effect
upon the drug clerk, He advised them to
go to the hospital. They left, vowing VEN
geance upon the clerk.
Why did yon refuse TO put the sticking
plaster on the mans head ?" inquired the
reporter
.'Fhst, because Tn no surgeon, was the
reply "Second, because it's unpleasant
work, with no reeompense Third, because
| do not know how bad the wound may be,
and lift should result seriously the drug clerk
,..e.,,lsl 10 hls,.,ss fs with.
surgeons criticism would be severe, and it
might make trouble for me- II is not q
drug clerks place to attempt to be doctor
and surgeon
Soon afterward man wearing high hat
and dressed with some care lurched into the
store, and lounging down upon high stool
beside the counter, said that he had been
out celebrating and had drunk little too
much wine. He wanted something to brace
him up. The clerk gazed profoundly at the
ceiling, and then said in voice which should
have inspired confidence
81 guess | can fix you"
dose of aromatic spirits of ammonia
was given to tho man, who drank il down.
He sat still few seconds MS though endeay-
oring TO feel sobering-up sensation, and
then calmly laid his head ON the counter and
went to sleep. The clerk made several fu-
tile attempts to arouse him. policeman
was at length resorted to. and the man was
taken out.
'Do you have many such cases as that y
:" Not often rs bad as that. They are us
ually able to go out again without help,
though some show tendency to stay much
longer than necessary, and | am finally ohlig-
ed to request them to 60
A party of four then entered the store
two gentlemen and two Indies. They wanted
nOl Sotul. utN Sautu Tor the required
syrups, with the exception of one young
man, who leaned against the counter, Twill
ing his cane and pulling his moustache.
"What kind viii you have ?" asked the
clerk.
"oh, he replied, "let me have it plain"
''Plain, and hot, too?" the clerk in
quired.
Hot, of course responded the young
man, with very superior manner
But said the clerk, ''hot soda plan
consists of nothing but hot water"
The young ladies laughed.
g. wish, said the clerk, after the party
had gone, st that had given the smart
young man his hot soda plain. / would
have done so had it not been for the young
ladies'"
One of the most unobtrusiye customers
was policeman, who, winking at the clerk,
said he wanted an antidote for dampness,
internal application. 1t was n very wet
night He got a small soda glass half full of
amber liquid from bottle on the third shelf
NJ y. Sun.