The young doctor now saw his mistake, but consoled himself with the thought that as the wrong tooth was out of the way, there was more room to get at the right one.
Bleeding and a dose of calomel were always considered indispensable by the "old boss," and as a matter of course, Sam followed in his footsteps.
On one occasion the old doctor was ill himself, so as to be unable to attend to his patients.

A slave, with pass in hand, called to receive medical advice, and the master told Sam to examine him and see what he wanted.

This delighted him beyond measure, for although he had been acting his part in the way of giving out medicine as the master ordered it, he had never been called upon by the latter to examine a patient, and this seemed to convince him after all that he was no sham doctor.
As might have been expected, he cut a rare figure in his first examination.

Placing himself directly opposite his patient, and folding his arms across his breast, looking very knowingly, he began,-- "What's de matter wid you ?" "I is sick." "Where is you sick ?" "Here," replied the man, putting his hand upon his stomach.
"Put out your tongue," continued the doctor.
The man ran out his tongue at full length.
"Let me feel your pulse;" at the same time taking his patient's hand in his, and placing his fingers upon his pulse, he said,-- "Ah! your case is a bad one; ef I don't do something for you, and dat pretty quick, you'll be a gone coons and dat's sartin." At this the man appeared frightened, and inquired what was the matter with him, in answer to which Sam said, "I done told dat your case is a bad one, and dat's enuff." On Sam's returning to his master's bedside, the latter said, "Well, Sam, what do you think is the matter with him ?" "His stomach is out ob order, sar," he replied.
"What do you think had better be done for him ?" "I tink I'd better bleed him and gib him a dose ob calomel," returned Sam.
So, to the latter's gratification, the master let him have his own way.
On one occasion, when making pills and ointment, Sam made a great mistake.

He got the preparations for both mixed together, so that he could not legitimately make either.