Apoth.—“And is No. 3 no better?”
Nurse.—“He wants nothing further, for in two or three days he will be dead.”
Apoth.—“How is No. 7?”
Nurse.—“I don’t understand his complaint. The patients tell me he has not been able to sleep for the last four nights; he has no appetite, and is continually vomiting.”
Apoth.—(Making up some tincture of opium, which he gives to the nurse.) “There, that is to make him sleep. I know nothing about the other symptoms. What does No. 8 say for himself? has his dysentery diminished?”
Nurse.—“No, it has rather increased, and it will probably be all over with him this evening, so he wants nothing more; but No. 9 may be discharged to-day.”
Apoth.—“How is No. 35?”
Nurse.—“I think he ought to be bled, for the inflammation increases.”
Apoth.—“I will have nothing at all to do with venesection, for I might be placed in the same unpleasant position as Dr. Ali Effendi, from whose pay three hundred piasters were deducted, because he divided the artery in performing the operation, and the soldier was invalided. Is there no increase?”
Nurse.—“Three patients; two fevers, and I don’t know what is the matter with the third, but my comrades think it is gout.”