Middletown transcript., 1896-09-05

| ogy into England, burned himself t
death while attempting to take Tul
kish bath in his own room by envelor
| ing himself in a blanket and sittin
over spirit lamp. However when
man poisons himself it is his own pc
culiar business which is involved, bu
when he takes to poisoning Others, no
with any malicious intent, but simpl
in error, natural apprehension ma,
well pervade the public mind. Pro
lection in the matter is extremely sim
pie, as the following narrative will
show:
About s O'Clock on June evening {
victoria drawn by pair of high step.
ping bay horses drove up to celebrated
chemists shop in Bond s. rect, and ar
elegantly dressed lady of about 2t
years of age descended from the car.
riage. She walked hurriedly through
the shop into the dispensing depart.
ment, and, throwing a piece of paper
on the counter, said
"Please make up this prescription
and send it at once. l would wait and
take it myself, but l am just going out
to dinner. 1t is very important"
The assistant bowed, took up the
prescription and then seemed to hesi-
tate.-
"Well," said the lady, who seemed
Of highly nervous, irritable disposi-
tion, 'well, what is the matter?'
81 am afraid, madam" returned the
assistant, "that cannot dispense this
prescription.
"Oh, nonsense!'' replied the lady.
"That is what they said at-i1 May
fair, SO I brought it on here. I suppose
DR.. Blank knows what he prescribes. -
Doubtless, madam; but, although
DR.. Blank is one of the most eminent
of his profession, / dare not make up
this prescription, as the strength at
which the drug is here ordered is not
allowed by the British pharmacopeia.
tOh, nonsense!" repeated the lady,
commencing to patter on the floor with
her small foot. "This is monstrous.
Here is my husband waiting for medi-
cine Of the utmost Importance to his
condition, and two chemists assistants
think they know better what is good
for him than one of the leading men of
the College Of Physicians. Give me
the prescription, and I will get it pre-
pared elsewhere. !" The assistant was
loath to part with the paper.
''If you will allow me, madam" he
said, 81 will take cab to DIR. Blanks,
and if he confirms the prescription
will then prepare it,"
s.No I will not,n returned the lady,
who was now in state of extreme
irritation. ~ will not my husband is
In serious condition, and / shall be
late for dinner. / have already lost
half an hour, and 1 cannot have further
delay" With that she snatched up
the prescription and hurried out.
The assistant was seriously perturbed
The mistake in the prescription was
grave one-so grave indeed that thead-
of single dose would
prove fatal within two hours. 1t was
possible that some young or inexperi-
9nced assistant at some small chemists
overawed by the great name of the
physician and by the lady's imperious
manner and elegant attire and equi-
page. would be found to dispense it.
Then trouble would ensue, which
might be stopped now. Thinking
.hus, the assistant told his fellow
worker in the dispensary that he would
90 to DIR. Blanks, and, hurrying into
Bond street, jumped into the first pas
ing hanson, and in five minutes was
ringing the bell of the Doctors house
in Harley street. The footman who
opened the door said DIR. Blank was
put.
"Where was hep'
Really the footman did not know.
very important, was it2n
Ahl Well. then, he the footman)
must inquire. This he leisurely pro-
,eeded to do. And the chemit's assis-
tant, who was of an Imaginative turn,
himself by picturing mean
while the death Of the patient; the pro-
ruin of himself, the Mayfair |
chemist and the great physician; the |
grief and self reproach of the lady, |
who, despite her wayward, irritable |
and careless demeanor, was evidently /
fond Of her husband. And he had al
ready arrived at the coroner's jury's
verdict Of manslaughtsr when the foot
nan returned with-the intelligence
hat his master was dining in Mazda
Vale. The cabscop shiiled the errant /
Knight of the pesle and mortar into The
road aud drew up at one of
he large houses which lie ON the right
land side OF Mazda Vale immediately
lfter passin the canal. Dinner was
,vidently in full progress, and The foot
nan showed the assistant into an ante
'oom with no very good grace. Here
mother wais occurred, which preyed
IN the already irritated nerves of our
riend even more than the previous one
It Harley street. At last the door
,pened, and the doctor entered. He
vas dapper little man, about s feet s
. height, with . pale, thin face and
lair and mustache the color OF tow.
lis clear, steel blue gray eyes sav. d
lis appearance from being Insignificant.
de looked inquiringly at the assistant,
Who, hoWing, said