The weekly Louisianian., 1872-12-07
GOV. SEWARD i AND DRUG MEDICATION.
By R. T. TRAIL, N. D.
rFrom the Science of Health:1

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stances Of interest to those who ar
seeking truth in medical science
There is nothing in the history o
the case to account for the death
and unless we can find it in th.
medication, we must assign it K
that ever-convenient mystery o
mysteries, a "mysterious Provi'
dence."
Some Of the readers of The Sci
ence Of Health may recollect that, g
short time before the attempted as
sassination Of Mr.. Seward in Wash
ington, while Secretary of State, he
was thrown from his carriage and
severely bruised. He had not re-
covered from the prostration when
the attempt was made on his life
A writer in one of the medical jour
nails argued that the assault on the
feeble invalid was really beneficial
to his health. It operated like a
restorative. It "roused up" the
vital energies. The patient needed
a stimulant, and the assault and
battery" answered the purpose ad-
mirably.
Preposterous as this notion will
seem to many of our readers, it is
perfectly consistent with the whole
drug system. Is it any worse to
"rouse up" a sick person by stab
bing, or pounding, or shooting him
externally (provided you do not
spill too much bloody, than by
poisoning him internally? There
may be some difference; but that
little il, in, favor of the external
treatment. Flagellation, burning,
blistering, netting, etc., have been
resorted to in the collapse of chole-
ra, to grouse up" the dormant or
exhausted vitality. If this style of
medication, in it's effects on the
vitality Of the patient, is essentially
different from the administration
of stimulating drugs internally, we
fail to comprehend it. Apply the
lash to spirited horse, put arsenic
in his mouth, or turpentine in his
ears, or mosquitoes on his skin, or
brandy in his stomach, and he will
for a time manifest corresponding
degree Of "augmented vitality"
according to medical books, but of
expended vaalaty according to ma
ture.
Mr.. Seward died suddenly and
This, however, is
not uncommon for men of his age.
Nor can we always tell why or how
,uch persons die. But, in Mr..
seward's case, there seem to be
rood and conclusive reasons why, |
Independent Of medical treatment,
10 should not have died at that
ime, and certainly not in that man
Ter. As we reason from the facts,
he conclusion is inevitable that the
Medication sent him out of the
7orld. We attach no blame to his
MUSICIAN, DR.. Dimon. He treated
he patient according to his system.
That was all he could do. It was
ust what he should have done.
The treatment may have been the
'atient's misfortune, but it was not
he doctors fault. It is not DR..
)imon that we are criticising, but
be principle Of drug medication.
Mr.. Stewards original ailment was
of the liver, to the ex-E
mt Of inducing chills in the form
tertian ag1e. This is rarely dan
erous, and never suddenly fatal. I
ut Mr.. Seward died Of congestion j
the lungs This was no part Of !,
70 case except SO far as the treat
ent> produced il. Congestion of !
70 liver, even to the extent Of pro- t
1cing paralysis, is not Immediately
.ngerous; but congestion Of the !
ngs is When severe, it stops the I
eathing: When severe, it is at {
nded with much pain, great Diff h
lty Of breathing, expectoration, t
d more or less cough. The i
ugh, however, is much less violent q