code: def validate_timeout(timeout)
        unless timeout == nil
          raise TypeError, "'timeout' must be nil or a Numeric" unless timeout.is_a?(Numeric)
          raise ArgumentError, "'timeout' must not be negative" if timeout.negative?
        end
      end
docs: Validates a timeout value
   @api private
   @param timeout [nil,Numeric]
   @raise [TypeError] if +timeout+ is not +nil+ or +Numeric+
   @raise [ArgumentError] if +timeout+ is negative
   @return [void]