C.: "Well, my man, what's the matter with you?"
Patient: "Please, sir, I've got pains all over me."
C.: "Oh, all over you, are they? That's bad."
Then during the pause it was evident that something was being mixed up, and I could hear C—— say: "Here, take this, and come again in the evening." (Exit patient.)
Then C—— said to himself: "I don't think he'll come again; he has got two drops of the croton. Skulking rascal, pains all over him, eh?"
"I never heard the voice of that patient again," said Captain Hobart; "in fact, after a short time we had no cases of sickness on board."
C—— explained that what he served out, as he called it, was croton oil; and that none of the crew came twice for treatment.
The ship's discipline was generally well maintained at sea, but instances of insubordination in port were of almost daily occurrence. These were dealt with usually by the first mate, or, as he was designated, the chief officer. But some of the incorrigibles were brought before the commander for treatment and something like this colloquy, which I take partly from Punch, would ensue: