European and Asiatic Turkey. 271 



elapsed since my interview with the Vizier, and nothing remark, 

 able had occurred. On the morning of the thirteenth day, my 

 servant brought in my pipe and coffee as usual ; I had nearly 

 finished the cup, when I perceived an unpleasant taste, which 

 excited my suspicion ; I immediately took an emetic, and hur- 

 rying to the apothecary of the forces, he immediately recognised 

 in the cup nearly two drachms of corrosive sublimate, upon 

 which I swallowed the whites of several eggs, and experienced 

 no further bad effects. Though the favour I enjoyed at court, 

 and the prominent station to which I had been advanced in the 

 medical department of the army, had made me an object of 

 envy to many, each of whom might wish to see me removed, 

 yet it was but too evident, that the blow aimed at my life had 

 descended from a high quarter, and, accordingly, I used every 

 exertion to obtain a passport (buerouldi), and, at last succeed- 

 ing, hastily quitted Turkey." 



Such attempts as that made on^ the life of Dy Oppenheim are 

 very frequent in Turkey, and are too often successful. Hence, 

 it is usual, when speaking of any one who has become remark- 

 able for power, influence, or wealth, to observe, " He will pro- 

 bably soon die of poison r Hence, also, the avidity with which 

 the rich cultivate the friendship of every newly arrived physi- 

 cian, particularly of a Frank. They are anxious to purchase 

 his services, in order that he- may not be employed by others to 

 poison them. Of course, where poisoning is so frequent an oc- 

 currence, the feelings of a Turk of rank are by no means en- 

 viable, particularly when he is sick. It is then that he suffers 

 mortal fear of being poisoned, and to prevent such a disaster, 

 he always takes the precaution of making either the physician 

 or a slave take part of the medicine by way of trial. The ill- 

 ness of the master thus sometimes undermines the constitution 

 of the slave, who is found in this extraordinary service to un- 

 dergo a long-continued series of vomitings and purgations. Of 

 course, they at least must offer up sincere prayers for his reco- 

 very. When a bottle of physic is opened, and the dose mea- 

 sured out, it is again immediately sealed up with the master^s 

 private seal, to prevent the introduction of any poison. It is 

 for this reason also, that the Turks are so fond of getting me- 

 dicine from the hand of the physician who has made it up, for 



