Powders and pills were voted mere drugs in the market, and the holders of vials were pronounced lucky dogs.

Johnson must have known enough of sailors to make some of his medicines palatable--this, at least, Long Ghost suspected.

Certain it was, everyone took to the vials; if at all spicy, directions were unheeded, their contents all going one road.
The largest one of all, quite a bottle indeed, and having a sort of burnt brandy odour, was labelled--"For Daniel, drink freely, and until relieved." This Black Dan proceeded to do; and would have made an end of it at once, had not the bottle, after a hard struggle, been snatched from his hands, and passed round, like a jovial decanter.
The old tar had complained of the effects of an immoderate eating of fruit.
Upon calling the following morning, our physician found his precious row of patients reclining behind the stocks, and doing "as well as could be expected." But the pills and powders were found to have been perfectly inactive: probably because none had been taken.

To make them efficacious, it was suggested that, for the future, a bottle of Pisco should be sent along with them.

According to Flash Jack's notions, unmitigated medical compounds were but dry stuff at the best, and needed something good to wash them down.
Thus far, our own M.D., Doctor Long Ghost, after starting the frolic, had taken no further part in it; but on the physician's third visit, he took him to one side, and had a private confabulation.