Doctor Tim - The Mystery of the Chest of Dynamite

Summary

---

Harold’s Old Time Radio

Episode: Doctor Tim – The Mystery of the Chest of Dynamite

Release Date: May 9, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Duration of Main Content: 00:30–13:25

---

Overview

This episode revisits a thrilling and educational story from the golden age of radio: “Doctor Tim – The Mystery of the Chest of Dynamite.” Dr. Tim, a doctor-turned-detective, is pulled from a peaceful mountain vacation into a medical emergency involving a dangerously ill child. The episode weaves together suspense, medical education, and a strong message about the dangers of medicine misuse, all delivered in a lively, engaging tone.

---

Key Discussion Points & Story Progression

The Mountain Vacation & Unexpected Trouble

• Setting the Scene (00:30–01:42):
  Dr. Tim, accompanied by his young friends Jill and Sandy, is persuaded to go on a mountain hike during their vacation.
  • “You couldn't have asked for anything nicer than the way that day started out… But if we hadn't started off on that hike, I’m getting ahead of myself.” – Dr. Tim, 00:30
  • Jill insists that Dr. Tim practice what he preaches about exercise, rallying for an adventurous day.

Encounter at the Farmhouse

• Discovery of the Emergency (03:03–05:01):
  The trio stumbles upon a worried old farmer in need of help; Dr. Tim quickly deduces someone is seriously ill inside.
  • “I knew one thing. The fight was now with death.” – Dr. Tim, 06:05
  • The old man’s confusion and distress set the tone for the urgency to come.

The Critical Diagnosis & Improvise to Save a Life

• Assessment and Desperation (06:11–07:17):
  Dr. Tim assesses the ill child—they are gravely unwell, showing symptoms of high fever, sore throat, and possible poisoning.

  • “First off, it seems to be some kind of poisoning… The fight was now with death.” – Dr. Tim, 06:11

• Resourcefulness Amidst Isolation (07:12–07:17):
  With no adults who can drive, young Sandy steps up to retrieve Dr. Tim’s critical medical supplies, despite not being of legal driving age.

  • “You won't need a license. Sandy, I've got to have that medical bag… Now run. Run. Over the mountain as you've never run before.” – Dr. Tim, 07:12

Realization: The True Danger

• Dangerous Medicine (08:31–10:31):
  The old man has been giving Jimmy (the sick child) adult doses of sulfa drugs meant for himself, not realizing the risk. Dr. Tim is outraged at the careless use of medicine.
  • “You’ve been giving this child an adult dose of sulfa for five days.” – Dr. Tim, 09:11
  • “More people have been killed by taking the wrong drugs than are killed in any war.” – Dr. Tim, 09:24

The Tense Wait & Innovative Medicine

• A Desperate Solution (11:10–12:25):
  Dr. Tim anxiously waits for Sandy to return, preparing to use a spinal anesthetic—a risky but potentially life-saving measure inspired by wartime medicine.

  • “It will probably save Jimmy’s life. In the last war, a lot of soldiers took an overdose of sulfur… the anesthetic itself often seemed to start the kidneys working again.” – Dr. Tim, 11:36

• Happy Resolution & Lesson Learned (13:14–13:25):
  Sandy returns as the hero; the medicine saves Jimmy, and the old farmer, now contrite, destroys his medicine chest, vowing to keep such “dynamite” away from the household.

  • “Okay Doc, I done it. I tore that medicine chest plum out of there. Ain’t gonna have no more dynamite around here. No siree bub.” – Old Man, 13:14

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Medication Misuse:

  “More people have been killed by taking the wrong drugs than are killed in any war.”
  – Dr. Tim (09:24)

• On the Perils in the Medicine Cabinet:

  “I'd like to take the contents of half the medicine chests of this country and dig a pit and bury them… Medicine chests or chests of dynamite, that's what.”
  – Dr. Tim (10:02)

• Community Response:

  “Okay Doc, I done it. I tore that medicine chest plum out of there. Ain’t gonna have no more dynamite around here. No siree bub.”
  – Old Man (13:14)

• Medical Innovation:

  “The anesthetic itself often seemed to start the kidneys working again without the operation.”
  – Dr. Tim (11:54)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:30 | Introduction to Dr. Tim and setting up the hike | | 03:03 | Discovery of the farmhouse and encounter with the old man| | 06:11 | Dr. Tim assesses the sick child | | 07:12 | Sandy volunteers to fetch the medical bag | | 08:31 | Revelation about the medicine given to Jimmy | | 09:24 | Dr. Tim’s passionate warning against drug misuse | | 11:36 | Dr. Tim explains the spinal anesthetic solution | | 13:14 | The old man’s epiphany and destruction of medicine chest|

---

Tone and Language

The episode maintains a blend of suspenseful, earnest narration with moments of warmth and humor. Dr. Tim’s voice alternates between calm authority, building tension, and passionate advocacy (“Oh, what’s the use? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lose my temper.” – Dr. Tim, 10:32).

The old farmer’s rural dialect and candid honesty provide comic relief and authenticity, while Jill and Sandy’s youthful energy add urgency and hope.

---

Takeaways

• Medicines can be as dangerous as dynamite if misused.
• Never use prescription drugs not intended for you or prescribed for your specific illness.
• Quick thinking, resourcefulness, and some luck are vital in emergencies.
• You're never too old to learn an important lesson about health and safety.

---

Next Week

Dr. Tim teases next week’s episode: “The Mystery of the Poisoner at Large.”

---

“This is Dr. Tim, detective, saying so long until next week at this same time...” – Dr. Tim (13:25)

---

Transcript

[Spin Quest Advertiser]

Forget everything you had planned for this weekend because you are sitting on your couch and winning from the comfort of your own home. I'm here with Spin Quest where you can play hundreds of slot games, all the table games you love, and you could even win real cash prizes. New users 30 coin packs are on sale for [e-mail] SpinQuest is a free

[Spin Quest Disclaimer Announcer]

to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

This is Dr. Tim, detective, to bring you by transcription, the mystery of the chest of dynamite. You couldn't have asked for anything nicer than the way that day started out. Sandy and Jill, they're special pals of mine, had insisted that this was the day for the hike. Four miles over the mountain and back again. I tried to protect my aging bones by protesting, but it was no use. I was outvoted. Gee, gosh, Dr. Tim, we've already explored everything around the cabin.

[Jill (Companion)]

Well, sure, What's a vacation in the mountains for if you're just gonna sit around and be lazy?

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Besides, it isn't healthy. Everybody needs exercise. Alright, alright, but as a doctor, I resent having my own advice flung in my teeth. I merely said that a certain amount of mild exercise was good for the constitution.

[Jill (Companion)]

That's just it. The hike over the mountain will be just exactly that certain amount and no more.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Oh, my aching back tomorrow. Aw, come on. All right, all right, Jill, you fix up a lunch.

[Jill (Companion)]

You bet I will.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

And Sandy, be sure the car windows are rolled up in case it rains. Okay? You better lock it while you're at it. Never can tell who might come prowling around even this far off the beaten track. And that's how I got myself mixed up in what I like to call the mystery of the chest of dynamite. Because if we hadn't started off on that hike, I'm getting ahead of myself. Anyway, among the unusual features of the mystery, perhaps the chief one was that I got mad. Good and mad. More angry, in fact, than I had in all the years I'd gone through life as a combination of doctor and detective. Because the cheap thing that makes me mad is criminal carelessness and stupidity. Well, anyway, we headed for the mountain.

[Jill (Companion)]

Gee, Dr. Tim, aren't we gonna stop and rest at all?

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Exercise, my dear Jill, is excellent for the human constitution. You said so. Why should we pamper these soft bodies with restful ease when vigorous and health giving stimulation lies right upon our path? Boy, the next time I open my big mouth. Of course, if I weren't about to give out myself, relief is in Sight. I'd walk till you dropped.

[Jill (Companion)]

I'm dropping already.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

However, unless my eyes deceive me, that looks like a farmhouse to the left about a thousand yards away.

[Jill (Companion)]

Oh, boy. Milk. Gallons of it.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Yeah. No, no, no. No milk unless it's pasteurized. Kids, we'll have to stick to canned milk until we get back to town. I was thinking of a nice haystack to stretch out on. With the owner's permission, of course. A picnic lunch in the pasture. Hey, somebody's waving at us.

[Jill (Companion)]

Why, them. He's running from the house and nothing is to come over.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

I still don't. Oh. Oh, yeah, I do. I wonder what's the matter.

[Jill (Companion)]

See, somebody must be in trouble.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Well, get your second wind and follow me. Maybe somebody's been injured. Come on, hurry up. In just a few moments we were getting the story from the old man. He must have been near 70.

[Old Man (Farmer)]

And so when I see you, I was hoping it might be some of the neighbors asked to go for some help or just my doggone luck to have it turn out be some city folks. Say, don't suppose. Not me tonight, Horse.

[Jill (Companion)]

Why can't. Sure.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Me too. Now, just a minute, everybody. This. What's the matter?

[Jill (Companion)]

Matter?

[Old Man (Farmer)]

Why, matter enough. Why, I'm up here all mama sell too darn lame to get on horseback.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Yes, sir.

[Old Man (Farmer)]

And I told that darn wife of mine and that poor daughter too that it just weren't right of taking the only autymobile on the place and going out. Taking off there to the city for a week. Mind you, boy, they ain't even due back or day after tomorrow. If you ask me, that's gonna be too late. Yes, siree, too late. And then they'll blame me.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Now, look. Blame you for what? Is something wrong?

[Jill (Companion)]

Wrong?

[Old Man (Farmer)]

Why, everything's been wrong since my daughter's husband got killed at their war. Boy, this ain't no place for a little kid. This ain't. I said so 1000 times.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Please. Is somebody hurt? I'm a hurt.

[Old Man (Farmer)]

Why, there ain't nothing here to hurt. Nobody just came down with a sore throat. Of course he did. Nobody can blame me for that if Ms. Mo hadn't gone a trick.

[Jill (Companion)]

I think he means there's a sick kid in that house.

[Old Man (Farmer)]

Why, course there isn't. I've been to telling you.

[Jill (Companion)]

What?

[Old Man (Farmer)]

Oh, good gosh.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Why didn't you say what was the matter? Why didn't you realize that I didn't wait to hear more but left Sandy and Jill explaining to the old man as I dashed inside the house? And found the bedroom sick kid was an understatement. I didn't know what was the matter. But as I stooped down over the bed and got a look at the child, about five years old, I'd guess. I knew one thing. The fight was now with death. Well, I'd been in some tight situations, but never one like this. My car, of course, my medical bag was in. It was several miles over the mountain. The nearest phone was 14 miles away. That child was dying. And for help. I had two kids and a doddering, half scared to death old man. Silently, I worked over the child, trying to ease the breathing, going over in my mind the things that might be wrong, summoning all the knowledge of my lifetime, trying to think what treatment I could give. In a few moments, the old man entered.

[Old Man (Farmer)]

You're kind of sick, ain't he?

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Very sick. First off, it seems to be some kind of poisoning. When did he eat last?

[Old Man (Farmer)]

Well, let me see now. Oh, must have been four or five days. Reckon he ain't wanted nothing since.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

What did he eat?

[Old Man (Farmer)]

Oh, he ain't ate nothing that I ain't at myself. Not been fine except in this darn rheumatism. Seems like every year the darn rheumatism starts. You mean the rheumatism.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Well, child, sore throat, cold, fever.

[Old Man (Farmer)]

Well, he did sort of complain about feeling hot and chilly and said his how his throat was hurting.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

I went over a rapid list in my mind. Diphtheria, none of the signs. Scarlet fever, same. But something toxic, something poison was working in that child's body. And unless I could find out, the end was a matter of hours. The pulse was rapid, Freddy, the breathing difficult, and the temperature. Even without a thermometer, I knew it was dangerously high. Suddenly I had a thought. I turned to the old man. You drive a car?

[Old Man (Farmer)]

Me?

[Jill (Companion)]

Nope.

[Old Man (Farmer)]

Never been behind the wheel one whole life I can.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Dr. Tim, I know I'm not old enough to have a license, but my dad's been teaching me where that car has to be driven. You won't need a license. Sandy, I've got to have that medical bag. And I've got to have the car here in case I decide. We dare move the child and get him to a hospital. And I can't leave. It'd be as bad as murder. You think you could get the car here over that trail we came in on the other day? Well, I think so. I ought to be shot for letting you try. And I'm afraid it means a life. Here are my keys. Catch. Now run. Run. Over the mountain as you've never run before. An hour passed. The child was resting more easily. Jill and I took turns wiping his face and trying to make him more comfortable. With straining ears, I listened for the car. Would Sandy make it? Well, it was too soon to tell yet. Lost in thought, it wasn't until Jill repeated what she was saying to me that it sank into my consciousness.

[Jill (Companion)]

Dr. Tim, the old man says he doesn't want to bother you, but maybe it's time to get Jimmy some more of his medicine.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Jimmy? Strange. I never thought of the child as having a name. And then suddenly.

[Jill (Companion)]

What?

[Old Man (Farmer)]

What was that you said?

[Jill (Companion)]

His medicine. The old man's been rambling on about it since we came.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

With one bound, I was at the door of the bedroom calling the old man. In a moment, he appeared.

[Old Man (Farmer)]

Yes, sir, A fine kind of doctor. Not a giving folks something they can take. Why, that poor little kid in there.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

You've been giving this child medicine?

[Old Man (Farmer)]

Well, of course I have. Real drugstore medicine, too. The dock down there, Seven Mile, he fixed it up for me when I had a sore throat last winter. Same as kid Jimmy here got.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Quick. Let me have that bottle.

[Old Man (Farmer)]

You sure got right here.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

As I turned my head once again to listen to the sound of a motor car, an idea was beginning to shape itself in my mind. If that medicine was what I thought it might be. I snatched the bottle from the old man's hand as he came inside the door.

[Jill (Companion)]

Dr. Tim, what's the matter?

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Sulfur. You've been giving this child an adult dose of sulfur for five days. Yeah.

[Old Man (Farmer)]

Give it to him just like it says here on the bottle.

[Jill (Companion)]

But, Dr. Tim, I thought the sulfa drugs were good for sore throats and all kinds of infections.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Yes, like rat poison is good for a rat. You sit down and listen. Listen carefully before you murder someone else. More people have been killed by taking the wrong drugs than are killed in any war.

[Old Man (Farmer)]

But the doc told me.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Yes, he told you to take it, not that child. It was your prescription for your illness. You were safe taking it. It wasn't meant for Jimmy. Do you know what's happened to that child?

[Jill (Companion)]

Oh, what, Dr. Tim?

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

He's dying of uremic poisoning. That sulfa drug, too big a dose, has formed crystals in his kidneys, has plugged them up until they can't work for Jimmy anymore. All the poisons, the waste matter from the kidneys have been killing him for days.

[Old Man (Farmer)]

Gee whillaker, Docker. I didn't mean to do anything.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Of course you didn't mean to hurt Him. But you tied the safety valve down on the boiler. Oh, I'd like to take the contents of half the medicine chests of this country and dig a pit and bury them. Evaporated iodine left for goodness knows how long to burn and scar an innocent victim. Poisons taken in the belief they're antiseptics. Sleeping pills that kids get hold of and kill themselves. Ammonia, lye, cleaning fluid right in the medicine chest for folks to drink some night. Medicine chests or chests of dynamite, that's what. And you.

[Jill (Companion)]

You.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Oh, what's the use? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lose my temper. Okay, Jimmy, lie still now. You'll be better. The next half hour was broken only by the softly spoken conversation between Jill and myself as we sped our thoughts to Sandy in the car. A rough job for a kid with no experience in driving.

[Jill (Companion)]

Dr. Tim, can you do something? I mean, when your medical bag gets here?

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

I hope so, Jill. It all depends upon what I did the other day when I left my laboratory.

[Jill (Companion)]

What? I mean, how does that help?

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Well, I have a supply of spinal anesthetic. You know, the stuff you use for operations when you don't want to give ether. You inject it into the spine.

[Jill (Companion)]

Uh huh. I know.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

I think I put it in my bag. I'm praying that I did.

[Jill (Companion)]

Will spinal anesthetic help?

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

It will probably save Jimmy's life. You see, Jill, in the last war, a lot of soldiers took an overdose of sulfur. They didn't know they were supposed to drink lots of water, take baking soda with it. And at first the army doctors thought the only way to save their lives was to operate upon the kidneys.

[Jill (Companion)]

You mean there was another way?

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Sure. The doctors discovered by accident that when they gave the spinal anesthetic to get the soldier ready for the operation, the anesthetic itself often seemed to start the kidneys to working again without the operation.

[Jill (Companion)]

Golly. Then if you do have them in your bag.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Yes, even at that. It's dangerous business, Jill. To inject that anesthetic is dangerous in itself. It really should be done in the hospital. But driving 40 miles over these roads would mean sure death for Jimmy.

[Jill (Companion)]

Listen.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Oh Lord. It has to be Run. Run, Jill. Well, Sandy was the hero of the day, all right. Although I wake up night sometimes in horror at the thought of his wrestling that car over the trail to the ranch. Luck had been with me. That medicine was in my bag. A couple of times we thought we'd lose Jimmy, but he did pull through. But the funny thing was the way my getting sore, acted on the old farmer. As soon as Jimmy pulled over the hump, he had a celebration. I was napping peacefully on the couch when

[Old Man (Farmer)]

okay Doc, I done it. I tore that medicine chest plum out of there. Ain't gonna have no more dynamite around here. No siree bub.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Well, I chuckled to myself, you're never too old to learn. This is Dr. Tim detective saying so long until next week at this same time when Sandy, Jill and I will bring you the exciting transcribed Mystery of the Poisoner at Large.

[Spin Quest Advertiser]

Forget whatever plans you have this weekend because you're staying at home and playing on Spin Quests. And there's never been a better time to sign up than right now. New users get 30 coin packs for just $10. All the table games you love with hundreds of slot games and real cash Prizes. That's at spinquest.coms P I N Q U S T.com SpinQuest is a free

[Spin Quest Disclaimer Announcer]

to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details. Liberty Mutual customizes your car and home insurance. And now we're customizing this rush hour ad to keep you calm, which could help your driving. And science says therapy is great for a healthy mindset, so enjoy this 14 second session on us. I think you've done everything right and absolutely nothing wrong. In fact, anything that hasn't gone your way could probably be blamed on your father not being emotionally available because his father wasn't emotionally available, and so on. And now that you're calm and healing, you're probably driving better too.

[Spin Quest Advertiser]

Liberty. Liberty.

[Dr. Tim (Narrator/Detective)]

Liberty.

[Spin Quest Advertiser]

Liberty.