Zorastro : a romance / by Creswick J. Thompson [pseud.].

  • Charles Thompson
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Zorastro : a romance / by Creswick J. Thompson [pseud.]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    were many customers for cordials, conserves, and juleps; charms to wear against fevers and ague ; talismans to drive away melan- choly and evil spirits, and even love philtres, for which maidens came with blushing faces half-concealed beneath their hoods. To these Karl now attended with befitting grave demeanour, and when Erasmus was absent visiting those who could not come to see him, he would prescribe a clyster or an unguent with as much aplomb as his master. At such times Dulcie would oft steal in through the courtyard door and flit about the old laboratory like a gay butterfly, teasing the life out of the embryo apothecary, and upsetting crucibles and pots in her flight when Karl lost patience and gave chase. One afternoon when Erasmus was out visit- ing a man who was sick of a fever, Karl was occupied in spreading a large plaster of burgundy pitch, the fumes from which almost enveloped him in a dense cloud, when suddenly he felt something tickle his ear. “ Peste on these flies ! ” he exclaimed. “And peste on those who make smoke enough to choke one,” replied a voice at his