Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-03-07
THAT RICH EXPERIENCE.

THAT RICH EXPERIENCE.
A Free Press Interview Sustained and It's
Source Revealed.
Detroit Free Press
A few months ago an interview with
prominent and well known physician, FORM
erly resident of Detroit, but now living
in New York, appeared in the columns of
this paper. The statements made by the
doctor and the facts lie divulged were of so
unusual nature as to cause no little COM
motion among those who read them, and
many inquiries were raised as to the genu-
ineness of the interview and the validity OF
the statements it contained. The name Of
the physician was at that time suppressed
at his own quest. The seal of secrecy,
however, can now be removed, as the i'm
portant and interesting letter which appears
below will abundantly show. In order,
however, thst the reader may better under
stand this letter, few extracts are here
with given from the interview in question
After an exchange of courtesies and a few
"reminiscences about the war, in which the
doctor was prominent surgeon, the re-
porter remarked upon the doctors i'm
proved appearance, upon which he said:
s'Yes, have improved in health since
you last saw me, and I hope also in many
other ways. One Sing, however, 1 have
succeeded in doing, and it is one of the
hardest things for any one, and especially
doctor, to do, and that is l have overcome
my prejudices. You know there are some
people who prefer to remain in the wrong
rather than acknowledge the manifest right
Such prejudice leads to bigotry of the
worst order. Now, am physician, and
of the ''old school" order, too /; but have,
after years of experience and observation,
come to the conclusion that truth is the
highest of all things, and that if prejudice
or bigotry stand in the way of truth, SO
much the worse for them-they are certain
to be crushed sooner or later. Why, when
I knew you in Detroit, I would no sooner
thought of violating the code of ethics laid
down by the profession, or of prescribing
anything out of tie regular order, than 1
would of amputating my hand. Now, how
which I believe to be adapted to cure, and
which my experience has proven to be
How did you come to get such hertical
ideas as these, doctor ?"
ooh, they are the result of my expe-
rience and observation. l obtained my first
ideas upon the subject, though, from hav-
ing been cured after all my care and the
skill of my professional brethren had failed
to relieve me. Why, was as badly off as
many of my patients, with a complication
of troubles, including dyspepsia, and con-
sequently imperfect kidneys and liver, and
l feared should have to give up my prac
tice. For months I suffered untold agonies
Dull, indefinite pains in various parts of the
body; lack of interest in everything
around me; a loss of appetite; headaches;
all these disagreeable symptoms were added
to pains which were both acute and con-
slant. Sick as was, however, / became
restored to health in a most surprising
manner and in an incredibly short space of
time, and it was this that proved.a revela-
ton to me. That was the starting point,
and my prejudices faded rapidly after that
l can assure you. 1 went to reading extern
sively, and analysing more extensively, and
since that time l have discovered many
things of real value to humanity. Why
only few days ago I advised lady who
was suffering from serious female difficulty
and displacement to use the same remedy
which cured me. I saw her this morning
and she is nearly well; the pain and infam-
nation are all gone and she is around as
usual. We have no right in the medical
fraternity to sit back and declare there is no
such thing as Improvements or advancement,
or that we have monopoly of the remedies
which nature has given to mankind. There
are great changes going on in every depart
ment of life, and there are great develop
ments in medicine as well. Thousands of
people die every year from supposed ty-
phoid fever, rheumatism or other complaints,
when in reality it is from trichina, caused
by eating poorly cooked and diseased pork.
Thousands of children are dying every year
from dropsy as the apparent sequel to scar
latina, when in reality it is from diseased
kidneys which have become weakened by
tie fever they have just had"
Well doctor, you have got some new
truths here, certainly, but they sound very
reasonable to me-"
well, whether they are reasonable or
not, have demonstrated to my own salts
faction that they are true, and propose to
stand by them, no matter how much oppo-
sition may raise by doing SO. ANY man,
be he politician, preacher or physician, who
is SO considerate of his pocket book or of
his own personal ends as to stultify himself
by suppressing the manifest truth, is UNI
worthy the name of man, and unworthy the
confidence of the public whom he serves"
The above are some of the principal
points in the interview referred to. Now
for the sequel. The following outspoken
letter from the doctor himself, which has
just been received, is published in full:
Editor Detroit Free Press.
Some time ago a reporter of your paper
had an interview with me, which he said he
would like to publish. 1 consented on con-
dition that you would not mention my name
until gave you permission. 1 have now
accomplished the purpose I had in mind,
and wish to say to you (Which you can pub
lish or not as you see tit) that had de-
bated for a long time whether would shake
off some of the professional letters which
bound me with others for years, and tell the