New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-26
LIFE AS SEEN BY THE DRUG CLERK
THE ROUTINE OF HIS CALLING is FAR FROM
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO KNOW
A GREAT DEAL.

at might seem the superficial observer that the
life Of a druggist exceedingly monotonous."
said a drug clerk. but from the time that young
man begins his studies In the College OF Pharmacy
10 that day when he Is the master OF y business Of
his own he is likely to get some views OF and ,x-
periences with many phases OF life Just sit down
here and will spin you yarn of some OF the things
that came to me in my early days. My first work as
a drug clerk was in the Italian quarter had been
studying only three months and was not allowed 10
put up prescriptions alone. had TO sleep over the
store and attend those who might come In the
night This was thrustng a great deal OF RESPONSE
billy upon my youth and inexperence; for night
calls generally represent emergency cases. people
who are taken suddenly and violently I'll. or have
taken poison.
.It was a tough neghborhood. The Italian women
used TO bring their sick babies into the store and
want us not alone to sell them the medicine that
the child was in need Of but to prescribe for 1t as
well, one time assisted at minor surgical opera
ton. One afternoon three men, under the influence
OF liquor. came into the store one OF the men had
a bad cut running from the base OF his thumb nearly
I'D to his wrist which required about three stitches
There was another clerk on duty with me that af-
ternoon We told the that he should go to
doctor He answered: Doctor for that? NiXey
What's de matter with you putin de stitches IN
yourself? Go ahead We would not. but he IN
sisted So we got some black thread when we kept
TO sew on an occasional button. waxed It, and took
and the wound healed up BEAUTIFULLY.
.The night bell is supposed to be for cases OF
emergency But you would be surprised at the i'd
eral construction some people put on extreme cases.
7 remember having been called up by man VINO
wanted a bottle Of Ink. / gave him the INK. wnen
ne said 4 say Doc. lend me pencil ana ii sehd
II hack IN the morning The most angelic man Is
ant TO become exasperated when he is rung up
travels a long hall and stairs to find man waiting
at the door for a postage stamp
YTbe how In YOUR fashionable hotel, who always
gives the right man the right coat, or nat or cane
has been much written about. But KNOW young
man who serves behind a soda FOUNTAIN counter III
s,or. that does an immense business In that line the
year round who Is equally wonderful MY a'1eh''h
was arst called to his talent In this way: went
,rro the store one cold day few years ago and
asked for drink Iof hot matted milk. emphasized
ms, order nv sayIrg BE sure that it is hot; red hot.
well I got my drink and 1t was very hot and nice
II was fully two months before was In that neigh-
horhood again When / stepped up to the counter
the Young man gave me quick scrut'nizihg look
and said Red hot? This was no accident, Ior
afterward learned that OF the hundreds .n'n ths,
would be safe to say thousands, OF customers ,nat
thai Young man has during the year, ne not ATONE
remembers their favorite drink. but he remempeIs
whether they like Il sweet or tart, or medium. nuu
no also remembers the peculiar name by when MS
Customers ask for their favorte beverage a..
Then there Is great deal OF asscre',Un nnu Zines
the druggist gets a prescription in when ne -
sure that the doctor has made mistake ear ana tnas
un.sonans drug IL then becomes necessary TO ger
he customer to have the medicine SEM h, nr'nu,
This gives the druggist time to call the doctof up
On the re- ephone and ask further Instructions aooIt
his prescription. II the customer Is wiiiing 10 al
low you 70 send his meaic, rsa hrry the patient
Is very ill-there are many things tnat VIII cause
him to Insist upon having the meoic'he ~ oh'e'