The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-03-06
Patient, Physicians and Prescriptions


sick man in Europe was Turkey. just now
, it is as generally admitted that "lhesic man
in America is the Republican party. The
patient had an exceptionally good consitu-
ton. A youth ofstrong vitality was succeeded
by a vigorous maturity. IL Is understood,
indeed, that his loss of health is owing ia a
large measure to his presuming too mucn
upon his extraordinary resources. He has
often been heard to say that "he could stand
ANYTHING" and he has acted of late years ON
; that belief. The result is that forces which,
wisely used and carefully husbanded, might
have assured him a hale and hearty old age,
have been so wasted and abused that he has
fallen apparently into premature decline.
His friends entertain serious anxiety in his DE.
half, often doubling whether he will ever re-
cover, and sometimes even fearing that his
end is very near. Those friends are numer-
Ous They stood, a vast multitude about his
lcradle-which was made, they said, ot the
same material us ''the cradle of liberty"
They watched his advance from promising
childhood 10 performing manhood, predict
Ing great things for him and making much OF
him when the things were done. The friends
did not all manifest their affection in the same
way Some were blind in their devotion, fol-
lowing him with faith which became iniatu-
alton. Others, though not less sincere, were
more thoughtful. taking at times critical
and admonitOry tone, qualifying their enthu.
siasm tor some OF his deeds and warning HIM
OF the possibilities and consequences of mis-
takes. AS usually happens, he preferred the
unquestioning devotion to the unpalatable
advice. All of his friends, however, were
greatly grieved when morbid symptoms de.
velOped. These symptoms were varied, and
began to appear a long time ago. A few Of
the friends felt some uneasiness from the be.
ginning, but the alarm did not become gen.
eral until last November, when the patient
was Frustrated by severe attack, compared
with which all former manifestations OF his
maladay were insignificant. Then, for the first
time, he himself betrayed consciousness of
his condition, and began to think seriously of
medical consultations and a thorough coOrse
of treatment.
| The first physician called in was DR.. urant.
He had but lilile professional experience, and
fur the greater part of his lite had been en-.
gagged IN a very different kind OF business.
For all that, he was the patients family doc
tor (some persons had said that the selec-
ton was one of the patient bluRders,) and of
course his opinion was asked from motives of
courtesy as we'll as of confidence. DR.. Grant
said that il was not his fault the man was sick.
He had always given good advice, and If the
advice had been followed all would have been
well. He had unbroken faith in the "thi d
term" specific. The quacks who have been
trying to persuade the patient not to take the
medicine regularly were responsible for his
feeble condition. Upon careful review of
the case he thought it was best to go on with
the third term" The patient said the dose
was very bitter and he did not believe he
could swallow it.
About this time great deal of advice was
.rp1 trtf al.
professional Some western practitioners
said that the patient needed to be stimulated :
and they recommended initiation" powders
and generous diet of "greenbacks'' The
older and wiser men of tie East said that the
trouble with the patient was he had been
"living too high, and that his system ough;
to be reduced. They regarded "nhatl0n''
powders as poison, and protested against CIV
ing him another "greenback." They pre-
scrbed an astrlngent in the form Of con
traction of the currency" and plain but nour.
ishing food, such as economy and "hard
money These voluntary advisers disputed
holly; the epithets empirical upstairs"
fossils "charlatans," and the like, were
exchanged between the West and the East,
aud the patient might have died before the
dlsputants came t. an agreement.
Dr. Butler, very confident and impudent
duN lSNu DlCCuluR. luStedu Dl
too much blood-letting the last fourteen
years there had not been enough After the
lancet had been used at the south strong
"Civil Rights" plaster should be applied. In
a word, he favored heroic ueatm ent-always
providing that he himself should be the hero
DR.. Wilson, physician OF the "old school,
who had walked the federal p Official hospi
tails for many years, gave his views at length
and with elaboration, after feeling the pa
TENTS pulse, examining his tongue, and in.
curing infinitely into all his symptoms
He considered the case in its pathological
and therapeuticAi aspects. On one point he
was positive: the first thing to do was TO dis!
charge The "family doctor" He did not say
who ought to be employed in his place-and
1t is not difficult TO account for his delicacy
and reserve in that respect he thought that
what the patient most needed was strength to
carry the next Presidential election. The
dozen or two of Liberal Republicans scat
tered about the country would be very
Strengthening if the patient could get the
benefit OF them. There was sound sense in
his advice, although some of the younger
Republican physicians treated it rather scorn.
fully, ami said something about 'old woman"
and "antlquaied notions"
DIR. "Andy" johnson, after desperate
struggle, now appeared at the patients bed
side, with bottle of his celebrated patent
medicine-a mixture of "the Constitution and
flag with thirty-seven stars 1t was war.
ranted to cure or the money returned" He
had tried It as alderman, mayor, senator and
president and he had never known il 10 fail
The merfiment which was Occasioncd by
this incident, and which seemed to afford the
patient a little relief, had scarcely sausided
when the venerable DR.. II. Weed was an
nounced. He had been in very active prac.
tice many years before-a kind OF "kitched
cabinet" practices; had treated some desper-
ate cases, and treated thea in rather desper. |
ate way, but had long since retired upon
competent fortune and everybody was sur
prised when they saw him descending with |
difficulty from his old fashioned gig. He |
was very fluent garrulous, some persons said. |
His opinion was that the patients system |
needed gold. Gold could only be obtained |
from duties on imports. Therefore, put on
such tariff as would stop importations and