Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-07-28
The Nostrum Fallaov.

When child complains of headache las
sltude, or want ofappetite, the nurse con-
cludes that he must "take something" If
the complexion Of Il young lady grows ey-
cry day palcr and pastier, her mother will
insist that she must get something" to MI
rify her blood. If the baby squeals day and
night doctor is sent for and is expected
to prescribe something" What that some
thing should be the parents would be una
Die to define, but they have vague idea
that it should come from the drug store, and
that 1t cannot be good unless it is bitter or
nauseOus. Traced to its principles. their
theory would be about this: sickness and
depravity are the normal condition. of our
nature; salvation can come only through
abnormal agencies: and u remedy in order
to be effective, should be us anti-natural as
possible" Perfectly logical from q Scriptu.
raj point of view. But Nature still persists
III following her own laws. Her physiologi.
cal laws she announces by means of the in
stlncts which man shares with the humblest
OF his fellow creatures, and health is her
Tree gift to all who trust themselves to the
guidance of those instincts. Health is not
lost by accident, nor can it be repurchased
at the drug store. 1t is lost by physiologi-
cal sins, and can be regained only by sin
ming no more. Disease is Natures protest
against gross violation of her laws. Sup-
pressingt the symptoms of a disease with drug
means to silence that protest instead of re-
moving the cause We might as we'll tryto
eNtlngulsh fire by silencing the fire bells;
the alarm will soon be sounded from another
quarter, though tn first bells may not ring
again till the belfry breaks down in general
ttnr ~
though liberal enough to be apparently
plastic are in reality US inexolable as time
and grlritation. We cannot bully Nature.
we cannot defy her resentment by n fresh
provocatlon. Drugs may change the form of
the disease. e.. modify the terms of the
protest-but the law cannot be baffled by
complicating the offence before the drug
ged patient can recover, he has to expiate 4
double sin-thc medicine and the original
cause of the disease. But shall parents look
on and let sick child ask in vain for help
By no means. Something is certainly wrong,
and has to be righted The disease itselfis
q cry for help But not for drugs. Instead
of taking something" something ought to
be DONE and oftener something habitually
done ought to be omitted. If the baby's
stomach has been tormented with ten nurs-
lngs day, omit six of them omit tea and
Soice Holh 'he young lauyS menu stop the
dyspeptics meat rations, and the youngsters
grammar lessons after dinner. But open the
bedroom windows, open the door, and let
your children take romp in the garden or
OH the street. even OH snow covered street
Let them spend their Sundays with an un-
Gle who has Il good orchard or, send for a
barrel of apples Send for the carpenter.
and let him turn the nursery or the wood.
shed into gymnasium. If the baby won't
stop crying, something ought to be done
about it. Yes, and as soon as possible : re.
move the straightjacket apparatus, swad-
ding clothes, petticoat and all, spread u
couple ofrugs in q comfortable corner, and
give the little martyr chance to move his
clamped limbs; let him roll, tumble and
kick TO his hearts content, and complete his
happiness by throwing the paragoric-
out of the window.