by Bill Graham

In a faraway land, if you drink poison, the only way to save yourself is to drink a stronger poison that neutralizes the weaker poison. The king who rules the land wants to make sure that he possesses the strongest poison in the kingdom in order to ensure his survival in any situation. So, the king called the kingdom's pharmacist and the kingdom's treasurer. He gave them each a week to make the strongest poison. At the end of the week, each will drink the other's poison followed by his own. (The king did not hire women.) The one who survives is the one who has the stronger poison!

The pharmacist went straight to work and considered strong herbs like the Poison Hemlock pictured to the right.

The treasurer knew he had no chance since the pharmacist was much more experienced in this field. Instead, he made up a plan to survive and make sure that the pharmacist died. On the last day, the pharmacist suddenly realized that the treasurer would know he had no chance, so he must have a plan. After a little thought, the pharmacist realized what the treasurer's plan must be, and he concocted a counterplan to make sure he survives and the treasurer dies.

When the time came, the king summoned both of them. They drank the potions under his watchful eye as planned. The treasurer died. The pharmacist survived, and the king didn't get what he wanted.

What exactly happened there?