San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-02-09
Give the Doctor q Chance.

The number OF wonderful "slmple
specifics" for diseases of various sorts,
now floating through the columns of
the newspaper press, is astonishing. II
one were credulons enough to believe in
them, we do not see why he should not
expect that physicians are to be abol-
ished, and Death himself arrested, by
means of slips cut out OF newspapers.
Some of the remedies seem so harmless
in themselves, and SO well vouched for,
that we have been tempted to giving
them currency in these columns; and this
gives us an additional reason for urging
people to respect the rule, founded on
common sense and experience: ''Every
man to his trade" ..5. 5UF.
We employ cobbler to mend the
children's shoes, and barber TO cut
their hair. We send our watch to the
jewelers., and entrust our business ar
bitrations to lawyer. Why should we
assume the infinitely more complicated
and responsible task of mending or re-
pairing bodies that are out of order, or
of managing our own case in the court
OF Naturep ta nH
We have frequently entered a protest
against the habit of "dosing." Some
people are never contented unless they
are pouring nostrums of some sort
down their throats, or experimenting
with new kind of patent medicine.
Others have nervous and over-anxious
care of their children. If they talk in
their sleep, or sneeze, or have touch
of collie, they must be shut up and "doc-
tored." All this sort of blind, thought
less, ignorant practice is contrary to Ma
ture, and is worse than no medicine.
Warmth, quiet, sleep, and a corrected
diet, will enable people to get well I'M
der proper conditions, from all the or
binary ailments of life. The most that
intelligent physicians do nowadays, in
such cases, is to see that Nature has a
fair chance. They do not give grain OF
medicine where the old-time doctors
used to give pound. 3D.. iH mHt
But in cases of actual and severe ILL.,
ness-dangerous epidemic diseases, and
the like there is no time to lose in ex-
perimenting. Take that dreadful
scourge, diphtheria, for example. 1t
has so baffled the profession that every
intelligent physician eagerly seeks out
and examines all the latest discoveries
in relation to its treatment. The medi-
cal journals and conventions keep the
profession advised of whatever progress
is made in any country, and in all
schools, in the treatment of diphtheria;
and if any physician anywhere is saw
ing 80 per cent. of his patients they will
not be the last to know of it. 1t is a
disease that demands instant treat
ment. If durable at all, one
days start will often save the patient,
when days delay would lose him.
Therefore we say, give the doctor a
chance. If the child suddenly loses
strength complains of pain at the side
of the throat, and water "tastes bad;"
If the breath smells feted, or whitish
spots appear in the throat or on the
back part of the roof of the mouth-any
or all of these symptoms indicate diph-
iberia, and a physician should be called
at once. If some time must elapse be-
fore doctor can be had, the child may
be given solution of Chlorate of Potash
half an ounce in four-ounce vial OF
water, in teaspoonful doses every hour,
and used as gargle in addition when
the child is old enough. This has been
recommended by eminent authority, but
simply as preparatory to the proper
medical treatment. go
As rule it may be said that any UNI
usual and severe symptoms, whether in
children or in adults-such as high few
err; sudden loss of strength, or vitality;
delirium, sharp pains in the lungs, dur
ing the progress of a cold: all demand
prompt and intelligent diagnosis. 1t
is worth Doctors fee in such cases to
know that nothing serious is the matter,
while many a fever IS prevented by a
timely sweat, and many an attack OF
pneumonia-just now SO swiftly fatal in
many places-is warded off by prompt
treatment. 1t is the Doctors business
to treat disease, and he deserves all the
advantages of a fair stakeholder
Rule.
REMEDY FOR NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 1