Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-01-03

81 dou't know" said the doctor
bIuntly, and don't know anybody
who does F"
There was sudden silence in the
bar, and the doctor, putting down his
glass, continued with slight professional
precision:
"You see. the Chinese know nothing
Of anatomy from personal observation.
Autopsies and dissection are against
their superstitions. which declare the
human body sacred. and are consequent
ly never practiced.
There was q slight movement of in
quiring interest among the party, and
Cy Parker, after meaning glance at
the Others, went on half ageressively.
half apologetically:
"In course, they amt surgeons like
you, doc, but that don't keep them
from havin their own little medicines,
just as dogs eat grass, you know! Now,
want to put IL to you, a. fair mind
ed man, If you mean 20 say, Jest be.
cause these old women who sarve out
yarbo and spring medicines in families
don't know anything Of anatomy, that
they amt fit to give us their simple and
trail medicines"
But the Chinese medicines are not
simple nor natural" f" replied the doctor
ooolly.
"Not simpler" echoed the party.
clos ing round HIM.
81 don't mean to say" continued the
doctor. glancing around at their Eager,
excited faces with an appearance OF
wonder. that they are positively nox
i0us, unless taken in large quantities,
for they arc not drugs ut all, but Ger.
tainly should not call them simple
Do you know what they principally
are?"
"well, no.. said Parker cautiously.
"perhaps not exactly"
Come little closer, and I'll tell
you.
Not only Parker's head but the 9TH
vrs were bent over the counter. DR.
Duchesne uttered few words in tone
inaudible 20 the rest Of the company.
There was profound silence, broken at
last by Abe Wynford's voice:
"Ye kin pour me ont about three fin
gers o. whisky, barkeep, III take it
straight.
"Same to me. said the others.
The men eulped down their liquor;
two Of them quietly passed out The
doctor wiped his lips. buttoned his coat
and began to draw on his riding gloves.
"I've heerd." said Poker Jack Of
Shasta, with faint smile on bis white
lace, as he toyed with the last drops Of
liquor in his glass, THAT the darned
fools sometimes smell punk A. medi-
cine, eh!"
"Yes. that's comparatively decent,
said the doctor refiectively. ITS only
sawdust mixed with d little gum aud
formic acid.
"Formic acid? Wot's ttat?"
a very peculiar acid secreted by
ants Ii is supposed to be used by them
Extensively in warfare-just az the
skunk. eh."
But Poker Jack Of Shasta had hur-
riedly declared that he wanted to speak
10 n man who was passing and had dis.
appeared The doctor walked TO the
door. mounted his horse and rode away.
| noticed, however, that there was q
slight smile on his bronzed, impassiye
face. This led me 10 wonder If he wac
entirely ignorant Of the purpose for
which he had been questioned and the
effect Of his information. was con
firmed in the belief by the remarkable
circumstance that nothing more was
said Of il. The incident seemed 90 have
terminated there, aud the victims made
no attempt 10 revenge themselves on
See Yup. That they had one and all,
secretly and unknown To each other.
patronized him there was no doubt, bat
at the same time, as they evidently were
not sure that DR.. Duchesne had not
hoaxed them IN regard TO the quality Of
See Yups medicines, they knew that an
attack Oh the unfortunate Chinaman