MODERN TRIAL BY ORDEAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1176, 10 May 1884, Page 3

MODERN TRIAL BY ORDEAL.

A gentlemen who some years ago acted as surgeon to several friendly societies in the county of Durham relates the follow ing ancedote of what occurred between himself and one of his rustic constituents. A member of an Oddfellows’ Lodge came one evening for advice at the usual hour of consultation. The symptoms were duly detailed, and the surgeon prescribed a mixture which contained two grains o tartrate of antimony in eight ounces of water. The patient on arriving home took a dose of his medicine, but was annoyed to find that it had so little taste, and that moreover it presented no solid material to be shaken up. On submitting the bottle to his wife, she also, on tasting, pronounced it to be 1 nowt but watter. ’ He then took counsel with some of his brethren, who were not very favorably disposed towards the doctor, and, yielding to their advice, entered a complaint to the lodge. In due time the doctor received from the secretary a notice to attend and answer Brother Jones’ charge to the ©fleet that he had been supplied with water instead of medicine. In reply to this notice the surgeon asked the secretary to intimate to the aggrieved brother that it would be necessary to have the medicine produced, in order that he might have a fair chance of rebutting the charge. When the night arrive! there was a goodly attendance of members, and the lodge having been formally opened, Jones was asked to stand forth and prefer his charge against the doctor, which he did, alleging that the bottle produced was given to him for medicine, and contained nothing but water. After he had finished his statement, the surgeon proclaimed to the meeting that if Jones was sincere in his belief that there was nothing but water in the bottle he could have no objection to drinking the contents at one draught. The Chairman and brethren thought this a reasonable proposition, and put it to Jones accordingly. Jones was evidently not quite prepared for this crucial test of his belief, but could see no way out of it. After a little hesitation he consented. The contents of the eight ounce mixture were transferred to a tumbler and he quaffed them off. The doctor then intimated to the chairman that ho might proceed with any other business until the medicine had time to take effect. After the lapse of about half an hour Jones began to exhibit signs of internal disturbance, and a basin was brought for his convenience. It soon become manifest to the brethren that there must have been something more than water in the mixture. The doctor submitted that he had effectually upset both Jones and his allegation, and quitted ihe lodge in triumph, Chambers’ Journal.