Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-19

Serious Mistakes that Can be Avoided
by Care-Advice for the Family Circle

In MS recent ADDRESS before the graduating class
OF the National college Of Pharmacy, DIR. f. NJ
Schaeffer gave the following advice about the use
OF medicines In the sick room:
Medicines, like guns, are very good when they
go on at the right time, and hit the proper mark
but very bad when they are INSTRUCTED.
The danger apt to arise from edged tools In the
hands OF children is proverbial but II a child Is
seen playing with a razor to snatch the instru.
ment from its hand is the natural impulse or who
ever sees it with the dangerous plaything
Or, If "crank" with loaded gun parades pub.
lie thoroughrare, the wild glare OF his eye gives
warning Of the danger, and he may be disarmed
But who can suspect danger from the innocent.
looking uid In vial? Clear, 1t may be, and color
less as water or who is warned OF any danger by
Its aspect? Yet accidents" are continually hap
pening, and the 'orginal' obituary poem,
Little Johnnie was our darling,
Pride of all hearts at home.
But an Angel came and whispered
Little Johnnie do come home"
Appears after the sudden translation of some little
sufferer by the agency OF concentrated I've care
lessly left in teacup in the cupboard, or oxalic
acid in mistake for baking-powder, or laudanum
poured into VIAL originally filled with essence OF
peppermint and the original label left unchanged,
or through any OF the modes by which careless
ness causes woe! Now my acquaintance with
angels has been limited, but 1t is safe to say an
angel never whispered any thing OF the Kind, but
the good angel that watches over the little ones
would be much more likely to say something to
those entrusted with their health and lives, and
make them more careful
SO let me- In imitation OF Mr. Punch's lecture
ito those contemplating matrnony," give you a
few domestic ''Don'ts" that may he OF effect to
prevent harm some day.
DOMESTIC DoN'Ts.
Don't get up in the night and take yourself or
give another dose OF medicine without first turn
ing up the light to see the bottle powder plainly
Don't pour out the contents of bottle OF medf-
cine and refill with another fiuid without at once
erasing the Old label and writing the new name
Don't give new medicine without first smelling
and tasting. good plan Is for the attendant to
Sa ose ., ne eUss eIcie very Young cald
tie OF new prescription or an old one renewed)
A mistake which would only make an adult sick
might prove fatal to an infant
Don't repeat dose ortener than written direc-
lions Indicate and, II verbal, write them down for
Don't mind little delay in order to consult the
druggist or doctor II the slightest uncertainty ex-
lists as to the dose or mode Of administration
Every doctor and druggist can relate amusing In
about taking medicines-often harmless but too
frequently serious In their consequences.
SAFE RULE,
which have long practiced, is to read the label
every time you take dose OF medicine or give one
to anyone else even II you have Just set the bottle
down! This may seem trivial and even childish
precaution, but habit OF this kind once formed
Is an absolute protection against danger. There
are persons now living who would give worlds
II they had always acted on this rule, but not
doing so, there came one little moment and It was
forever TOO late!
The sportsman who cultfvates from the start
the habit OF never pointing gun toward himself
or any one else he does not desire to shoot even II
he has just discharged the piece, or has sounded
1t with ramrod and knows 1t to be unloaded, is q
safe man to 90 hunting with. All others are apt
TO prove like the Pickwick1an who let on his gun in
such manner that the entire charge passed over
the small boys head In the exact spot where the
tall Ramekeeper's brains would have been had
that functionary occupied the position he was In
but moment bef0rei
In IKE manner a few simple precautions such as
have been referred TO, would II acted upon, greatly
diminish, II not entirely do away with, the so
called accidents" caused by mistakes In the use
OF drugs Doctors and druggists, being human,
are, OF course, fall1ble, and may make mistakes
themselves; but all the mistakes Of all the doctors
and druggists IN tne country IN period OF ten
that is caused by the domestic mistakes OF single
month.