Especially during this first season, Doc Adams is portrayed as a ornery malcontent unlike the lovable softy that is Doc Adams later in the series. And in this episode Doc gets so nasty that he even obtains a gun to shoot a peddling medicine man that Doc believes is killing people with his opium laced elixir.
Professor Lute Bone is the one selling the elixir that has already nearly killed a infant. As he pushes his medicine, out of the back of his wagon, he claims that elixir can cure all types ailments. When Hank Stooler tells the Professor that his father is sick, the Professor recommends his elixir that will have his father up and out of the bed in no time. A few days later Hank is back in town seeking to kill the Professor saying that his father had died after taking the medicine. Now Matt has to get involved in the situation.
This was not the most exciting episode by any means. John Abbott was perfectly cast as the peddling Professor but it had more to do with the story that the characters. With Doc Adam's flaws and very little excitement, this episode was lacking. Just not as entertaining as other episodes in this first season.