Hogue explains that the boy had chewed his father's tobacco and was given too much bismuth subnitrate as an antacid, causing a blue tinge; the carbonic acid component of the soda would relieve his stomach ache.
The boy had chewed his father's tobacco. This is what Hogue explains. Hogue was given too much bismuth subnitrate as an antacid. Hogue was causing a blue tinge. The carbonic acid component of the soda would relieve his stomach ache.