A fellow with a bad cough comes in to the pharmacy，walks up to the counter and asks for the pharmacist. A young clerk tells him that the pharmacist is not available. The man asks the young clerk if he can recommend anything for his cough. The clerk gives him a bottle of some medicine for his cough. The customer takes a big swig, then after a few minutes，with no apparent relief, he takes another, and another.

一个人咳嗽得非常厉害，他到药房去抓药。当他走近柜台找药剂师的时候，一个年轻的店员告诉他药剂师这会儿很忙。那个人就问这个年轻的店员能不能给他点药来止咳。那个店员就给他一瓶药水止咳，那个人就喝下一大口。过了几分钟，症状没有明显的好转，他就又喝了一大口，接着又一大口。

In a short while, the pharmacist returns，and sees his old friend，the customer with the cough, sitting quietly in a booth near the soda fountain. He says to his clerk that the fellow has never before stopped at the soda fountain.

过了不久，药剂师回来看到他，那咳嗽的老朋友，安静地坐在冰柜旁。他对他的店员说，那个人从来没有在冰柜旁逗留过，现在是怎么回事?

The clerk proudly tells the pharmacist the story of his transaction. The pharmacist looks at the recommended medication and angrily reprimands the clerk for recommending a laxative，instead of cough syrup. The clerk reminds the pharmacist whatever the mode, the medication was effective. The pharmacist replies,"Now, he’s afraid to cough!”

那个年轻的店员把自己处理的办法自豪地告诉药剂师。药剂师看着他给的药，严厉地责备店员怎么能用泻药而不是止咳糖浆来止咳。店员提醒药剂师，不管什么方法，药开始起作用了。药剂师反驳说:“现在他是不敢咳嗽了!”