The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-11-20
IN THE DRUG STORE.
CHARACTER SKETCHES AT FOUN-
TAIN AND PRESCRIPTION DESK.

Stamp JOke-Trtcks Played by Patrons
as Well as by Clerks and Physicians.
Some st. Louis Samples.
The time honored jokes in the funny
papers about people who buy stamps in
drug store and want them wrapped up
and delivered may be old to the average
reader, but they are new every day to
the drug dispensers. Such ridiculous
things are everyday occurrences.
A we'll known druggist tells Of an
instance when he was night clerk in
west end drug store. About one morn
ing vigorous ring at the night bell
reused him from peaceful slumbers. He
came down wearing one shoe, such mis-
cellaneous clothing as he could pick up
in hurry and a decidedly cross appear
ance. At the door was nicely dressed
lady. Would he kindly sell her a stamp?
She had an important letter which she
must mail, and as she also desired to
catch the 6: 80 train she feared she
would forget it. The stamp was sold to
her, and then very. sweetly and inno-
Gently she inquired if he would not,
since she was in such hurry, walk to
the corner and mail the letter for her.
AS he had worn only one shoe down he
regretfully declined the honor.
The soda dispenser in the drug store
usually sees and enjoys more peculiari-
ties than any Of the drug clerks from
the fact that he is not bothered with
any Of their responsibilities. His great
est trouble is in deciding whose money
he shall take in the case Of young ladies
who drink soda together. IF it were
men, each would be anxious to pay for
the beverages. In the case Of young Ia
dies, however, each is apparently anx-
ious not to pay for the drink. Then they
argue with each other on about this
line: "No, let me pay. - st will not. 7
think I should. " ooh, I'll be awful
angry if you do And all the while,
says the soda dispenser, they are hang.
ing on to their dimes with deathlike
grip The soda man finally solves the
problem by taking the money Of each
and returning the change to each, max
ing it "Cincinnati treat. "
The proverbial joke about the man
who winks his eye at the apothecary
when he wants "stick'' in his soda is
not a fiction. Various excuses are made
to get liquor, but the standard and most
usual is terrible pain in the stomach
or else threatened chill. The druggist
always suggests Jamaica ginger. This
suggestion is never satisfactory, as it is
whisky they want. A favorite trick is
to ask for dose Of calisaya, which, to
be thoroughly effective, must be mixed
with whisky.
The "fiends" who make life miserable
to the druggist are legion. They are
fiends who are addicted to phenacatin,
to bromo seltzer, to quinine, to arsenic,
to strychnine and to morphine. There
are also people who are addicted to the
use of wine of cocoa. The drink contains
quantity of cocaine in solution and
has revivifying effect on the system.
There are quinine fiends who take as
much as $50 grains a day. Not long
since st. Louis physician prescribed
this drug to patient, ordering it to be
put in six powders of 60 grains each.
The patient, lady, took it all in "a
hours, and, strange to say, got we'll.
There are several people in st. Louis
who are addicted to the use of aromatic
spirits of ammonia and vichy. They
drink it with great gusto.
The morphine fend is shrewd and
discriminating buyer. One Of the usual