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Poem
August 28, 1802
Rhode Island Republican
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
Humorous narrative poem about a careless naval surgeon who prescribes sea salt water to sailors and falls overboard while visiting shore, prompting a sailor's witty pun that he's been 'shipped into his Medicine Chest.'
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE MEDICINE CHEST
Careless surgeon of a man of war,
Who seldom minded much the sickly tar,
But always, with him whate'er the matter,
Prescrib'd a plenteous dose of sea salt water,
Wishing for once to have a cruise on shore.
A friend, perhaps to visit one or more :
In going down the vessel's lofty side,
He got a slip and plung'd into the tide :
On deck the captain strutting to and fro,
Heard the loud splash and bustle down below;
And calling in a hasty imperious tone,
Desir'd to know what fun was going on.
"Only sir," cry'd a tar who lov'd his jest,
"The doctor's shipp'd into his Medicine Chest."
From a London Paper.
Careless surgeon of a man of war,
Who seldom minded much the sickly tar,
But always, with him whate'er the matter,
Prescrib'd a plenteous dose of sea salt water,
Wishing for once to have a cruise on shore.
A friend, perhaps to visit one or more :
In going down the vessel's lofty side,
He got a slip and plung'd into the tide :
On deck the captain strutting to and fro,
Heard the loud splash and bustle down below;
And calling in a hasty imperious tone,
Desir'd to know what fun was going on.
"Only sir," cry'd a tar who lov'd his jest,
"The doctor's shipp'd into his Medicine Chest."
From a London Paper.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
War Military
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Medicine Chest
Naval Surgeon
Sea Salt Water
Man Of War
Sailor Jest
What entities or persons were involved?
From A London Paper.
Poem Details
Title
The Medicine Chest
Author
From A London Paper.
Subject
Humorous Naval Mishap
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
"Only Sir," Cry'd A Tar Who Lov'd His Jest,
"The Doctor's Shipp'd Into His Medicine Chest."