Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1896-12-30
A LITTLE MISTAKE.

newspapers. LII. OdsA POHo0A, WIZ A"'NJ
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 in a
blanket and sitting over spirit lamp.
However, when man poisons 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, a natural ap-
prehension may well pervade the public
mind. Protection in the matter is ex-
tremely simple, as the following nara
tive will show:
About 8 O'Clock on June evening a
victoria drawn by pair Of high step
ping bay horses drove up to a celebrat-
ed chemists shop in 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:
s'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. Z"
The assistant bowed, took up the pre-
scription and then seemed to hesitate.
"Well," said the lady, who seemed
Of a highly nervous, irritable DISPOSE
ton, ''well, what is the matter?"
81 am afraid, madam returned the
assistant, "that I cannot dispense this
prescription.
"Oh, nonsense!' replied the lady.
''That is what they said at - in
Mayfair, so brought it on here. I sup
pose DR.. Blank knows what he pre-
scribes. I"
Doubtless, madam; but, although
Dr. Blank isrone of the mosteminent 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 phar1nacopeia.' -
I ooh, 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 pre-
scription, and will get it prepared
elsewhere The assistant was loath to
Y,art with tho manor
eff you will allow me, madam" he
said, IT will take a cab to DR.. Blanks,
and if he confirms the prescription
will then prepare it,
"No, I will not, " returned the lady,
who was now in state of extreme irri-
tation. 81 will not. My husband is in a
serious condition, and shall be late for
dinner. I have already lost half an
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 a
grave one-so grave indeed that the ad-
ministration 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
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 cut.
"Where was he?"
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 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 hayward, irritable and careless de-
meanor, was evidently fond of her hus-
band. And he had already arrived at the
coroner's jury s verdict of manslaughter
when the fOotman returned with the 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 Oh the
right hand side of Mazda Vale immedi-
ately after passing the canal Dinner
was evidently in full progress, and the
footman 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 the previous one
at Harley street. At last the door opened,
and the doctor entered. He was a 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:
II am dispenser, sir, at Messrs~--.
At about O'Clock this evening a lady,
Mrs. -, presented prescription
signed by you in which POTASH arsenica
was ordered in three dram doses. -
"Good Godp' cried the physician
els it possible?''
There can be no doubt of it, re-
piled the assistant, ''as the prescription
was refused by another chemist.
The doctor walked hurriedly up aud
down the room.
"Can it have been altered?'' he NUT
tered.
81 looked carefully for that, but there
was not the slightest sign of an erasure
No, SIR, continued the assistant ~
am afraid it is little mistake on you
part. only fesr that it may be mad
up and administered, and therefor
went at once to your house. and, learn
ing where you were. came on here. -
"Quite right, quite right said tn.
doctor. ''Have you d cab waiting
That's well. I'll go with you at once t,