Shore Leave

Late one night, an internist receives a call from an unknown number. Remembering his oath, he answers and finds an old raspy woman on the line, the Madame of the local bordello, who begs him to help. Down at the wharf he finds the Madame completely confused and scared pointing at her girls who are all visibly ill.

Examining the first girl he finds her dizzy and nauseous, but none the worse for wear. The second is similar, though she seemed a bit dehydrated. A third however was extremely hypertensive and at the point of collapse. Turning to the Madame, he began questioning her.

Internist: "Did anything new or strange happen recently?"

Madame: "Why yes, we had some men on shore leave recently."

Internist: "And did they all service them?"

Madame: "Well Jenny, the first girl is new, so we started her on one. Mary's a bit more experienced, so she took on three. And Helen, well she's always popular, so she had at least five."

Internist: "Do you remember anything specific about these men?"


The Madame paused, deliberating, and then suddenly shouted in realization, "They were as salty as they come!"