Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-05-20
"The travellers replied in the affirmative.

Ihe travellers replied In the amrmotiYe.
"'Do you know by what secret he prolonged hIs
life to the ripe old age of nine hundred and sixty
nine years z"
The travellers professed their profound igno.
rance. Forthwith the old Arab fumbled, with his
ebon hands, about the folds of his turhan. and pres
emily drew therefrom tattered piece of parehment
so dirty, besmeared with grease and discoiored by
age that the Arab characters Written upon it could
be deciphered only by the most practised Arabic
scholar. One of the travellers happened to be q
proficient in Arabic He begged the old man to al
low him to peruse the precious document To this
the willy Arab consented, on the condition that it
should remain in his own hands, and that he should
receive O large of money for allowing the gen.
tleman TO transcribe its contents These prelmina-
ries having been arranged, the party entered the
nearest tent and the travellers became possessed OF
the invaluable life-preserver. On their return to
England, the travellers entered into negotiation
with the present proprietor of the recipe, who offers
his
METHUSALEH PILLS
to the British public, at thrtecnpence halfpenny
per box None genuine unless signed by the
proprietor, John Prattles. Agents wanted for every
part of the world. N. B.-The Methnsa.eh Pills
are carefully made up after the Methusaleh Receipt
from particular herbs, known only to the proprietor
of this invaluable medicine As proof of the eff
cacy and wonderful properties of the Methusaleh
Pill, her Majestys Government have granted to the
proprietors, to the exclusion of all pretenderS the
use of splendid RED AND BLACK STAMP. All
pills pretending to be Methusaleh Pills, without this
stamp, are forgeres and all imitation of itis felony
This notable prospectus was eoncocted in the back
parlor of Mr.. Prattles house. MIR. Prattes had not
been printer all his life for nothing; he had pick
ed up with his types the trick of editorshp and
revised the schoolmasers rough draft with skill
Mr. Prattles then wore paper cap and an apron.
He published his prospectus adding now and then
new bits to give it additional zest. At time il
was headed
" CHEAT THE uNDERTAKERs, AND LIVE SIX HUNDRED
YEARS.!
Another, the prospectus began with
I" LIFE PROLONGED TO AN INDEFINITE PERIOD BY THE
METHusALEH PILLS."
In few years MIR. Prattles a of proper
ty. In time, he able to sneer at Professor
Smith, with his tool, my Lord Peterborough.
When some foolish old man, in remote district,
ticularly called to Prattes' ratent. by statement
the part of the frm that the instance Of longev-
ity in question was undoubtedly the effect of the
Methusaleh receipt, Prattles pocketed his shlngs
and smiled at the world-he laughed and won To
make all square, far possible, he went to
the length of few charity dinners and subscribing
a few pounds in aid of hospital and other funds.
Prattles pills sold prodgiously. Whenever u
doubt was expressed respecting their efficacy it was
slenced by reference to the sanction of her Meestys
government, whose mark picturesquely adorned each
box to prove the genuneness of the Methusaleh
pills just as plate and jewelry stamped by the
assay authorities to show the standard excellence of
the gold or silver. Publicly Mr.. Prattles complain
Gu thaG inc government charged him three halfpence
per impression, for these ''Hal Marks - privately,
he whispered that to them he owed his fortune.
Like all those who have much Mr. Prattles
ted more After he had exported millions of his Me-
thusaeh pills to every corner of the Queens colon-
al dominions, he attempted to introduce them into
foreign medicine markets. To his chagrin, he found
that in other country in the world but in these do
minions Except the u S. of America) were articles
of that description allowed to be vended-much less
are they sanctioned for the sake of paltry revenue
On the contrary, individuals, Mr. Prattles learnt
tinent, severely punished; even newspapers who
advertise them, are fined. Although he met with
native patent medicines during bis travels on the
Continent, yet they real remedies having all
been submitted to board of government officers,
distinguished for their proficiency in pharmacy and
medicine, who decide whether the non professional
public can be safely trusted with them or not. Mr..
Prattles, however, made brilliant fortune by his
gullible countrymen.