The record-union., 1896-11-08
A LITTLE MISTAKE.

It is well known that in legal matters
lawyers often commit the most eyre
gious blunders, and at least three Judges
and one Lord Chancellor have had their
wills disputed. Only recently an emf
nent &C, an ornament of the Chan
Gerry bar, left will so very abstruse in
it's construction that his family, all
being on the most friendly terms, called
in three of his late confreres to determine
how the provisions of the will should
be carried out. Their decision in the
matter is worthy of being transcribed:
(Private and Confidential.)
London. March 10, 1S9-.
Dear Mrs. -: We regret that, after
considerable deliberation, we are quite
unable to arrive at a conclusion as to
the manner our late friend wished to
bequeath his estate, and can only sug
gest that probate be paid according to
the demands of the Legacy and Success
sion Duty Department, and that the es-
tate be then apportioned by you in the
manner in which you believe your late
husband desired; taking for your guide
in the matter hfS various conversations
with you on the subject, and altogether
ignoring the provisions of the will. With
kind regards, yours sincerely,
"a, B. and c."
A striking example of the proverb,
"A man who is his own lawyer has a
fool for a clienti" That doctors COM
nit mistakes as well as lawyers is not
so generally known. although cases
from time to time find their way into
the newspapers. DR.. Carpenter, who
may be said to have introduced the
scientific study of human physiology
into England, burned himself TO death
while attempting to take Turkish bath
in his own room by enveloping himself
III blanket and sitting over a spirit
lamp. However, when a man poisons
himself, it is his own peculiar business
which is involved; but when he takes
to poisoning others, not with any ma
licious intent, but simply in error,
natural apprehension may well pervade
the public mind. Protection in the
matter is extremely simple, as the fol-
lowing narrative viii show:
About 8 o'clock on June evening q
victoria, drawn by pair Of high-step-
ing bay horses, drove up to 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 coun-
ter, said:
please make up this prescription and
send it at once. / would wait and take
it myself, but 1 am just going out to
dinner it is very important
The assistant bowed, took up the pre-
scription, and then seemed to hesitate.
We'll" said the lady, who seemed of
highly nervous. irritable disposition,
well, what is the matter?"
Il am afraid, madam returned the
assistant, that 1 cannot dispense this
prescription
"Oh, nonsense" replied the lady; chat
is what they said at - in Mayfair, SO
l brought it on here. l 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 pre-
scription, as the strength at which the
drug is here ordered is not allowed by
the British Pharmacopoeia.
ooh, nonsense" repeated the lady,
commencing to patter on the floor with
her small foot; this is monstrous. Here
| is my husband waiting for medicine of
the utmost Importance to his condition,
and two chemists assistants think they
know better What is good for him than
| one of leading men of the College of
Physicians. Give me the prescription
and l will get it prepared elsewhere" /"
The assistant was 10th to part with the
paper.
IF you will allow me, madam" he
said, Il will take cab to DR.. Blanks,
and if he confirms the prescription I will
then prepare it"
NO I will not" returned the lady.
who was now in a state of extreme irri-
tation, Il will not; my husband is in a
serious condition, and / shall be late
for dinner. 1 have already lost half an
hour, and 1 cannot have further delay"
With that she snatched up the prescrip-
ton and hurried out.
The assistant was seriously perturbed.
The mistake in the prescription was a
grave one, SO grave indeed that the
administration of a single dose would
probably prove fatal within two hours
It was possible that some young or in
experienced assistant at some small
chemists, overawed by the great name
of the physician and by the lady's i'm
perious manner and elegant attire and
equippage, would be found 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 DIR.
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 footman who opened the door said
Or. Blank was out.
Where was he?"
Really the footman did not know.
''Very important, was it?"
All! well, then, he (the footman) must
inquire. This he leisurely proceeded to
do, and the chemists assistant. who
was of an imaginative turn, amused
himself by picturing meanwhile the
death of the patient, the professional
ruin of himself, the Mayfair chemist,
and the great physician, the grief and
self-reproach of the lady, who, despite
her wayward, irritable and carelss
demeanor, was evidently fond of her
husband; and had already arrived at
the Coroner'S juryS verdict of man
slaughter when the footman returned
with the intelligence that his master
vas dining in Mazda Vale. The cab
soon whirled the errant knight of the
pest1e 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, Immediately after pass
in the canal. Dinner was evidently in
full progress, and the footman showed
the assistant into an ante-roo,n with no