Connecticut western news., 1897-02-25
A LITTLE MISTAKE.

A LITTLE MISTAKE.
 That doctors commit mistakes is not generally known, although cases from time to time find their way ir-so 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- sampting to take Turkish bath in his own room by enveloping himself in blanket and sitting over spirit lamp. However, when a 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, natural ap- prehension may we'll pervade the public mind Protection in the matter is ex- tremely simple, as the following narra- tive will show:
 About 8 o'clock on June evening victoria drawn by a pair of high step ping bay horses drove up to celebrat- cd 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:
 "Please make up this prescription md send it at once. would.wait and sake it myself, but am just going out so dinner. It is very important. ''
 The assistant bowed, took up the pre- scription and then seemed to hesitate.
 Well" said the lady, who seemed If highly nervous, irritable disposi- ion, ''well, what is the matter?'
 II am afraid, madam returned the assistant, "that I cannot dispense this prescription. ''
 "Oh, nonsensep' replied the lady That is what they said at - in Mayfair. so brought it on here. sup pose Dr. Blank knows what he pre- scribes.
 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 pharmacopnia-
 "Oh, nonsenser' repeated the lady. commencing to batter 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 I will get it prepared elsewhere ' The assistant was loath to part with the paper.
 ''H you will allow me, madam" he said, II will take cab to Dr. Blanks, and if he confirms the prescription I will then prepare it.
 "No. will not, returned the lady, who was now in a state of extreme irri- tation. "I 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- tion and hurried out
 | The assistant was seriously perturbed- /, The mistake ill the prescription was a grave one-so grave indeed that the ad- ministration of 8 single dose would probably prove fatal within two hours. l 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 inn 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 il 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 bel of the doctors house in Harley street The footman who opened the door sai6 Dr. Blank was out.
 "Where was he?''
 Really the footman did not know "Very important, was it?''
 Ahl We'll, then, he (the footman must inquire. This he leisurely proceed ed to do. And the chemists 8 assistant who was of an imaginative turn, amused himself by picturing meanwhile tn, death of the patient; the professions ruin of himself, the Mayfair chemis and the great physician; the grief an, self reproach of the lady, who, despit
 her wayward. irritable and careless de . meanor, was evidently fond of her hus
 band And he had already arrived at th
 coroner 's jury's verdict of manslaughte
 when the footman returned with the in {. telligence that his master was dining il
 Maida Vale. The cab soon whirled tn
 errant knight of the pestle and morta into the Edgeware road and drew up 8
 one of the large houses which lie on tn
 right hand side of Maida Vale immedi
 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
 another wait occurred, which preyed O }. the already irritated nerves of ou
 friend even more than the previous on ,. at Harley street. At last the door opened }, and the doctor entered. He was a daL per little man, about 5 feet 5 in height
 with pale, thin face and hair and mus 10 tache the color of tow. His clear. stet l. blue gray eyes saved his appearance fror e being insignificant. He looked inquil
 ingly at the assistant, who, lowing, said
 "I am dispenser, sir, at Messrs. - = At about o'clock this e, ening lady
 Mrs. -. presented 8 prescriptio
 dgned by you in which potassl arsenic
 was ordered in three dram doses. "
 "Good Godp' cried the physician !. "Is it possiblea' ............ ...- '' "There can be no doubt of it, ," rt ? piled the assistant, ''as the prescriptio '' was refused by another chemist.
 The doctor walked hurriedly up an down the rOOm