Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-05-12
PATENT MEDICINES AMONG TEE MONA
KEGS

Since daybreak we had, indeed, heard
the sounds of repeated whoops, often ac-
companied by the footing of cow-horn !;
and when we arrived at the market-place
we soon discovered the cause OF the noise.
In opposite corners of the square two
medicine.venders had erected their plat.
forms, and their incessant yells had already
attracted large crowds of the natives. One
of the doctors had decorated his booth with
all sorts of fanciful pictures, and while he
exalted the merits of his medicine, the
mahudis blew their horns, while two
assistants ran to and fro distributing spoon.
fuls and handfuls of blue powder and col
lecting copper coins. The doctor had the
voice of steer, and l noticed that his
sudden whoop sometimes opened the purse
strings of spectators who had listened with
indifference to his quieter remarks.
His rival had no pictures, but talked
with astonishing volubility and attracted
customers by very ingenious device. Be-
hind his platform he had made an inclosure
with chains and ropes and filed it with
troop of sickly looking fellows-cripples,
lepers, and such like-as he could easily
have collected in any back street of the
town. Now and then, in the course of his
fluent harangue, the doctor would stop and
turn toward this cadaverous assembly.
"Have you not all derived great benefits
from the use of my oil % he inquired.
Yes, yes, yes ~ the lepers shouted in
chorus, whereupon the mahud blew his
horn, and the collectors rushed into the
crowd to exchange bottles for coin. At
times the doctor varied his query "Is
there any disease which my oil will fail to
cure"
"No, no, no /" yelled the chorus, and
shower of coin followed as before. At
longer intervals a couple of assistants
would bring large tub from an adjoining
building. and, with the appearance of
strenuous effort, lift it up and exchange it
for an apparently empty pot upon the
stage.
Another barrelful Sold :" then cried the
doctor. "By Allah Whose perfection be
extolled y, there is no medicine like It'll Oh,
the wonderful virtues of my oil j." where
upon the mahud blew his horn vigorously
till coppers showered in from all sides.
Walking toward the gate we overlook
several men whom remembered to have
seen at the stand Of the GILMAN.
w uds 10 tHab Oii BoOl ioi, W lIicHh
l asked young fellow who carried bot
tie Of it in his hand.
He looked at me with surprise. "Did
you not hear what the doctor said ?" he re-
piled 4" it cures all diseases, 80 it cannot
fail to be good for something"
"Tell me, my master" asked an old
burgher, edo you know what that bottle
contains :"
"That cannot tell" said he "but
surely it must be powerful medicine"
"And do you prefer it to the other doc
tors powder 2" asked again.
"Judging from its taste, the potency OF
this oil cannot be exceeded" said he " no
powder in the world could be so bitter and
disgusting"
"Why did you buy that bottle, o
brother of my uncle ?" l asked one other
man, an old fellow with the long hair of
villager.
81 bought it because | saw all the
townsfolk do the same" he replied =" it
must surely be good for something. l
should have bought a larger bottle. he
added, "but the times are very hard. Our
fields are suffering from drought, and on
the western border people are dying with
hunger.-[From "The Travels and Ad-
ventures OF Hakim Ben Sheytan."