Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-31
IA.
(Signed) lB.

A striking example OF the proverb, "A
man who is his own lawyer has fool
for a client" That doctors commit mis-
takes as well as lawyers is not so gene
rally known, although cases from time
to time find their way into the news
papers DR.. Carpenter, who may be said
to have introduced the scientific study
Of human physiology into England,
burned himself TO death while attempting
10 take a Turkish bath in his own room
by enveloplng himself in a blanket and
sitting over spirit-lamp. However,
when a man poisons himself, 1t Is his own
| peculiar business which Is involved; but
when he takes TO poisoning others. not
with any malicious intent but simply in
error a natural apprehension may well
peryade the public mind. Protection In
the matter is extremely simple, as the
following narrative will show
About o'clock on a June evening. a
Victoria drawn by pair Of housekeeping
bay horses, drove up to a celebrated
chemists shop in Bond street, and an
elegantly dressed lady of about % years
of age descended from the carriage. She
walked hurriedly through the shop into
the dispensing department and, throwing
a piece Of paper on the counter. said:
"Please make up this prescription and
send II at once would wait and take
Il myself, but / am just going out TO
dinner; II is very important"
The assistant bowed. took up the pre-
scrlption, and then seemed to hesitate.
well" said the lady, who seemed Of
highly nervous. irritable disposition, well,
what is the matter"
II am afraid. madam" returned the as
sistant. that I cannot dispense this pre-
scription."
"Oh. nonsense" replied the lady; that
is what they said at - I'm Mayfair, so
brought IT on here. / suppose Or. Blank
knows what ne prescribes."
Doubtless. madam; but although Dr.
Blank is one OF the most eminent Of his
profession dare not make up this pre-
| scription, as the strength at which the
drug Is here ordered is not allowed by the
British Pharmacopoeia."
"Oh, nonsense" repeated the lady, COM
mencing TO patter on the floor with her
small foot: this is monstrous. Here is my
| husband waiting for medicine OF the ut
most Importance to his condition, and two
| chemists assistants think they know bet
ter what is good for him than one Of the
leading men OF the College of Physicians.
| Give me the prescription, and 1 will get
Il prepared elsewhere" The assistant was
loath to part with the paper.
IF you will allow me, madam" he said,
IT will take a cab 10 DR.. Blanks. and II
he confirms the prescription L will then
prepare IT,"
mo. will not" returned the lady. who
was now in state of extreme irritation,
II will not, my husband is In a serious
condition, and / shall be late for dinner.
have already lost half an hour, and I
| cannot have further delay" With that she
snatehed up the prescription and hurried
out.
The assistant was seriously perturbed.
| The mistake I'm the prescription was
grave one, so grave indeed that the admin
/ istration OF a single dose would probably
prove fatal within two hours. 1t was pos
sible that some young or inexperienced as
sistant at some small chemists. overawed
| by the great name OF the physician and
| by the lady's imperious manner and ele-
CANT attire and equipage, would be found
1 to dispense it. Then trouble would ensue,
which might be stopped now. Thinking
thus, the assistant told his fellow-worker
In the dispensary that he would go to DR..
! Blanks, and hurrying into Bond street,
Jumped into the first passing hanson. and
in five minutes was ringing the bell OF the
Doctors house, in Harley street. The foot
man who opened the door said Or. Blank
| was out.
Where was hep"
Really the footman did not know. Very
| important was it?
Ali well then, he (the footman) must
inquire. This he ieisurely proceeded 10 do
and the chemists assistant. who was Of
! an imaginative turn, amused himself by
picturLng meanwhile the death Of the pa
tient, the professional ruin of himself, the
Mayfair chemist, and the great physician,
| the grief and seif-reproach Of the lady,
who, despite her hayward, irritable, and
careless demeanor, was evidently fond Of
her husband; and he had already arrived
| at the coroners' jury's verdict OF man
slaughter when the footman returned with
the intelligence that his master was dining
| I'm MAZDA Vale The cab soon whirled the
Grant knight OF the pestle and mortar
into the Edgeware road, and drew up at
| one OF the large houses which lie on the
/ right-hand side Of MAZDA Vale, immediate
ly after passing the canal. Dinner was
evidently in full progress. and the foot
man showed the assistant into an ante
room with no very good grace. Here an
other wait occurred which preyed on the
| already irritated nerves OF our friend. even
more than the previous one at Harley
street. At last the door opened, and the
Doctor entered. He was a dapper little
man, about feet In height. with pale.
thin face, and hair and moustsche the
color Of tow. His clear. steel-blue gray
eyes saved his appearance from being in
significant. He looked inquiringly at the
assistant who. bowling. said
Il am a dispenser. sir al Messrs.
- At about o'clock this evening a
lady. Mrs. -. presented prescription.
signed by you. in which POTASH arsenica
was ordered in three-drachm doses"
Good Godr' cried the physician; SIS 1t
possible?"
There can be no doubt OF H." replied
the assistant, "as the prescription was
refused by another chemist"
The Doctor walked hurriedly up and
down the room.
"Can it have been altered?" he NUT
tered.
IT looked carefully for that but there
was not the slightest sign OF an erasure.
No. sir" continued the assistant; II am
afraid 1t Is little mistake on your part.
only fear that II may be made up and
administered. and. therefore. went at
once TO your house. and. learning where
you were, came on here"
quite right. quite right" said the
Doctor. Have you a cab waiting? That's
} well. TIL go with you at once 10 the pa
tient."
1t took but few minutes for the Doc
tor 10 make his excuses and return ready
for departure. and the cab. once more in
motioi. turned towards the nelghborho0d
OF Eaton Square. The house al which IL
now pulled up betokened far greater
wealth than either OF the other two at
which II had stopped since chartered In
Bond street: bur an air of quletude. pc
culiar 10 residences in which lie invaliis
In very critical condition, pcryaded the
place. The street door was opened noise
lessly by footman before the occupants
OF the cab were fairly on the doorstep,
and the Doctor was shown into a room
on the ground floor. which answered the
purpose OF a library as much as such
| rccr,a usually IN In Inudon hOlses