DISPENSING ON BOARD SHIP.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8962, 2 May 1891, Page 2

DISPENSING ON BOARD SHIP.

Curious yarns are spun J about tho method of dispensing followed by dlvera captains on deep water. The sea lawyer usually found in a ship's forecastle fondly asserts that eaoh bottle of the medicine oheat ' bears a distinguishing number, and upon this foundation proooods to build the follgwiug story, whioh'Mß redolent of the salt sea. An illiterate shipmaster, having consulted his book of medioal instructions,' found that a streng dose from nilaiber six bottle was the proper remedy for a sick sailor standing bofore bim. Number six, however, bad bean in great request during the passage, and not a drop remained. For a moment the amateur dootor was at a loss. An inspiration opportunely oaused his corrugated brow to smoother). He mixed together portions from bottles number two and number four on the striotly arithmetical principle that two aud, four make six ! Deponent sayeth not what effeot, if any, the droadful deooction' had upon the seamen. Another story tells equally against the sister service. It is related that a lieutenant, in command of one of Her Majesty's gunboats, deemed the responsibility of the charge of a medicine ohest too much for him. Immediately she was off soundings the gallant- officer mustered all hand*, and divided, tho contend of the chest equally, so that each bad "his whack and na pair." There are two other naval yarns in this connection well worth mentioning. A tnan-of war dootor, whoso namo Is unfortunately lost to posterity, had a simple method of locating a man's ailment aud alleviating it (s»yo tho mark) by drastic find infallible remedies. He would tie a piece of tapa around the waist of tlia poiuplaining mariner, and oommand him to deolaro , whether hii pain existed above or below the tape. If aboyo an ometio, and if below a dose of salts followed as a matter of course.