Litchfield enquirer., 1857-02-19
Anecdoto of Reuben Nathans.

] Aneedoto of Reuben Nathans. We derive the annexed communication from correspondent: There are probably many people now living who remember the celebra- ted quack doctor Reuben Nathans, who, some forty years since, and whose medicines, < the Chinese Balsam of Life, /" and the Celebrated Hair Invigoratirg Lotion," made so much noise at that time. But few, presume, have heard of the anecdote am about to relate concerning him. When the 6 Doctors" medi- eines were first announced to the world, sim pie minded laboring man purchased one bottle of the Lotion and another of the Balsam for l his wife, who had consumptive cough ofmany years standing, and was besides threatened with the total loss of her hair The woman used both remedies according to directions and, as is usual with ignorant people in such cases, thought they were really doing her vast deal of good. The cough seemed to her to be going away rapidly she breathed frcer while her hair appeared to be coming back again thicker than ever AS natural con sequence, she felt very great confidence in the medicines and when her first lot of balsam was all used she sent her husband to get the bottle filled again. The doctor asked the man how the medicine operated "Oh, grandly replied the husband my wfe's coughs e'en-a most gone, and her hairs all coming back again as fiery as ever'
 "Ah,' said the doct or, that's the way my medicines always work. There's no mistake about Mem They're just what l call them the greatest wonders of the age' 'spose you've no objection to give me your affidavit ?
 "Oh, no,' replied the man that's just what my wife wants me to do'
 "The couple then repaired to the mayors office, where al affidavit was drawn up, sworn to and witnessed. On returning to the doc tors shop, the quack took up the empty lot tic Or the purpose Of reflling it. Uncorkiag it, he put it to his nose and slnelled of it.
 "Why. what can this mean ? he exclaimed, in some astonishment ; and then after looking at the label, he smclled of it again Why, sir, this isn't balsam, though the label says so, but the hair lotion ?
 Hair lotion or not" reriied the man, pointing to the bottle, that's what cured my wife's dreadful cough, and the stuff in the other bottle at home is what made her hair grow again !", ,..
 " Strange !! strange w repeated the doctor, with puzzled eosntenance I doa't know what to make Of it. Will you be kinS enough, ST, just to step back and get me tine other Lottle-the hair lotion mean!
 "The man did SC, and soon returned with the lotion bottle. The doctor took it and ap- piled his nose to the mouth
 And this,' said he, is just as snrely the balsam as the other is the lotion. Don't you think there was some mistake on your part, sir? Are you sure that what was in this bot tie made your wife's hair grow again ?"
 H Inst cnrtip Tn, altyn rnpIiad tho man, for alway turned it out while Betsey held the spoon
 "The doctor sat down in chair, and, lay ing finger ca his nose, seemed buried in pro found thought.
 "Ahl 1 see he at length exclaimed and jumping up he filled the empty bottle again There, e. sir said he, giving it to the man and hurrying him to the door, alPs right, sir I was a little bothered, that's all. Call again when that's gone, and you shall have another for nothing.'
 As soon as he had shut the door on his customer, the doctor called in his confidential man from the labyratory'
 Moshes,' said he, we've made great mistake in our guess work, after all. I've been studying yer hard lately, and have just discovered that our lotion is the stuff to cure the coughs and the eonsumptions, and the bal sam is the besht to make the hair grow We must change the labels
 That's unlueky,' replied the man, for we've got four thousand bottles, two tAoysand of each kind, all ready to send away to-mor- row.
 "vel, vel' said the doctor you can change the labels if you hays time ; if not send them of as they are. 'Tisn't mosh natter"