Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-08-28
A LITTLE MISTAKE.

time to time find their way into tn,
newspapers DIR. Carpenter, who may
be said to have introduced the scientif,
study of human physiology into Eng
land, burned himself to death while ut
tempting to take Turkish bath in hi
own room by epveloping himself in ,
blanket and sitting over spirit lamp
However, when u man poisons himsel
It is his own peculiar business which ii
involved, but when he takes to poison
ing others, not with any malicious in
tent. but simply in error, natural ap
prehension may we'll pervade the public
mind. Protection in the matter is ex
tremely simple, rs the following nara
tive will show
About 8 o'clock on June evening Q
victoria drawn by IL pair Of high step
ping bay horses drove up to celebrat'
cd chemists shop In Bond street, and
an elegantly dressed lady Of about 30
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 1t ut once. would wait and
take 1t 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 IL the matterp'
81 am afraid, madam" returned the
assistant. that 1 cannot dispense this
prescription.
"Oh, nonsense" replied the lady.
'"That is what they said ut - in
Mayfair, so brought it on here. sup
pose Dr. Blank knows what he pre-
scribes.
Doubtless madam; but, although
DIR. Blank il one OF the most eminent of
his profession, dare not make up this
prescription, MS the strength ut which
the drug is here ordered is not allowed
by the British pharlnacopnia. "
"Oh, nonsensep' repeated the lady,
commencing to patter ON the floor with
her small foot. '"This is monstrous.
Here il my husband waiting for medi
cine of the utmost Importance to his
condition, and two chemists assistants
think they know better what is good foi
him than one OF the leading men Of the
College Of Physicians. Give me the pre-
soription, and I will get it prepared
elsewhere Tho assistant was loath to
part with tho paper.
III you will allow me, madam, he
said. II will take II cab to Dr. Blank 81,
and IL no confirms the prescription ]
will then prepare it. "
mo, will not, " returned the lady,
who was now In state of extreme irri-
tation. ~ will not. My husband is In a
serious condition, and shall DO late for
dinner. / have already lost half IN
hour, and 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 IA
grave one-so grave indeed that the nd
ministration OF single dose would
probably prove fatal within two hours
1t was possible that some young or in
experienced assistant at some small
CHEMISTS overawed by the great name
of tho physician and by the lady's i'm
perious manner and elegant attire and
equipage, 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 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 footman who opened the door said
DR.. Blank was ont.
Where was her.
Really the footman did not know.
Very important. was it?'
Ali Well. then, he (the footman)
must inquire. This he leisurely proceed
cd to do. And the chemists assistant,
who was Of All imaginative turn, amused
himself by picturing meanwhile the
death Of tho patient; tho professional
ruin Of himself, the Mayfair chemist
and the great physician; the grief and
self rcproach Of the lady, who, despite
her Maynard, irritable and careless de-
meanor, WIS evidently fond of her hus-
band. And he had already arrived at the
corOncr'R jury's verdict Of manslaughter
when the footman returned with tho in.
telligence that his master was dining in
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 inmedi.
ately after passing the canal Dinner
was evidently in full progress, and tho
fo0tman showed the assistant into an
anteroom with no very good grace Here
another wait occurred, which preyed on
the already irritated nerves Of our
friend even more than tho previous one
ut Harley street. At last tho door opened,
and the doctor entered. He was dap
per little man, about feet in height,
with pale, thin face and hair and mus
tache the color of tow. His clear, steel
blue gray eyes saved his appearance from
being insignificant. He looked inquir-
ingly at the assistant, who, bowling, said I:
II am dispenser, sir, at Messrs. -.
At about s o'clock this evening lady,
Mrs. -, presented prescription
signed by you in which POTASH arsenica
was ordered in three dram doses.
GOOD Godt" cried the physician.
sis 1t possiblef"
There can be no doubt Of it," re-
piled the assistant, "as the prescription
was refused by another chemist "
The doctor walked hurriedly up and
down the room.
Can it have been alteredT' he NUT
tered.
II looked carefully for that, but there
was not the slightest sign Of AN erasure
No, sir, ;" continued the assistant II
am afraid it is little mistake on your
part. l only fear that it may be made