The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-09-07
A LITTLE MISTAKE.

That doctors commit mistakes is net
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 Eng
land, burned himself to death while at
tempting to take Turkish bath in his
own room by enveloping himself i'll
blanket and sitting over spirit lamp.
However, when man p0isons himself
it is his own peculiar business which is
involved, but when he takes to poison
ing others, not with any malicious in
tent, but simply in error, natural APP
prehension may well pervade the public
mind. Protection i'll the matter is ex-
tremely simple, as the following rarra-
tive will show:
About O'Clock on June evening
victoria drawn by pair of high step
ping bay horses drove up to celebrat.
ed chemists shop i'll Bond street, and
an elegantly dressed lady of about 20
years of age descended from the carriage.
She walked hurriedly through the shop
into the dispensing department, and,
throwing 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 am just going out
to dinner 1t is very important -
! The assistant bowed, took up the pre-
scription and then seemed to hesitate.
well, said the lady, who seemed
of highly nervous, irritable DISPOSE
ton, "well, what is the matter?''
81 am afraid, madam, returned the
assistant. 'that l cannot dispense this
prescription.
"Oh, nonsensei' replied the lady.
''That is what they said at - in
Mayfair so 1 brought it on here. 1 sup
pose DR.. Blank knows what he pre-
scribes "
DOUBTLESS, madam; but, although
DIR. 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 pharmacopRia.
ooh, nonsenser' 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 fol
him than one OF the leading men of the
College Of Physicians. Give me the pre-
scription, and l will get it prepared
elsewhere. p" The assistant was loath tt
part with the paper.
"If you will allow me, madam" hi
said, II will take cab to Dr. Blank S
and if he confirms the prescription
will then prepare it. "
"No, l will not, returned the lady
who was now in state of extreme irri
tation 81 will not. Ny husband is in
serious condition, and l shall be late TO
dinner. 1 have already lost half al
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
grave one-so grave indeed that the ad
ministration of a single dose woult
: probably prove fatal within two hours
1t was possible that some young or in
, experienced assistant at some small
chemists, overawed by the great nam
of the physician and by the lady's i'm
: perious manner and elegant attire AM
equipage, would be found to dispens
it. Then trouble would ensue, whic
might be stopped now. Thinking thus
the assistant told his fellow worker il
the dispensary that he would go to Dr.
Blanks, and, hurrying into Bond street
7 jumped into the first passing hanson
+ and in five minutes was ringing the bel
of the DOCTORS house in Harley street
/ The footman who opened the door sal
DR.. Blank was out.
"Where was hep"
Really the footman did not know
Every important, was it?''
All! Well, then, he (the footman
must inquire. This he leisurely proceed
ed to do. And the chemist assistant
who was of an imaginative turn, amuse
himself by picturing meanwhile tn
death of the patient; the professions
ruin of himself, the Mayfair chemii
G and the great physician the grief an
self reproach of the lady, who, despit
her hayward, irritable and careless de
G meanor, was evidently fond of her hui
= band. And he had already arrived at tn
coroner's jury verdict of manslaughte
when the footman returned with the il
telligence that his master was dining i
Mazda Vale. The cab soon whirled til
Grant knight of the pestle and morta
h into the Edgeware road and drew up {
one of the large houses which lie on til
}. right hand side of Mazda Vale immed
ately after passing the canal Dime
was evidently in full progress, and tn
footman showed the assistant into a
anteroom with no very good grace. Her
q another wait occurred, which preyed O
= the already irritated nerves Of OF
friend even more than the previous Oh
at Harley street. At last the door opened
and the doctor entered. He was daI
r per little man, about 3 feet in heigh