The Evening critic., 1882-03-04
THAT RICH EXPERIENCE.
a Free Press Interview SuSisined
and ITS source Revealed.

A few months ago an in,ervisw with a
prominent and well-known physician for
merly 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 he divulged were of
SO unusual a nature as to cause no little
commoiion among those who read them,
and many inquiries were raised as to the
genuineness Of the interview and the
validity of the statements it contained.
The name Of the physician was at that time
suppressed at bis own request. The seal of
secrecy, however, can now be removed, as
the important and interesting letter which
appears below will abundantly show. In
order, however, that the reader may better
undcis stand this letter n few extracts arc
herewith given from the interview in ques-
ton.
After an exchange of courtesics and
few "reminiscences about the war, in which
the Doctor was prominent surgeon, the
reporter remarked upon the Doctors i'm
proved appearance, upon which he said:
ayes, have improved in health since you
last saw me, and hore also in many other
ways. One thing, however, have succeeded
in doing, and it is one of the hardest things
for any one, and especially doctor, to
do, and that is, have overcome my preju-
dices. You know there are some people
who prefer TO remain in the wrong rather
lHlu tthuoMlNheC tht TlRuL.
Such prejudice leads to bgotry Of the
worst order. Now, am a 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
l knew you in Detroit, l would no sooner
have thought of violating the code Of ethics
laid down by the profession, or Of prescrb
ing anything out of the regular order, than
l would Of amputating my hand. Now,
however, 1 prescribe and advise those
things which l believe to be adapted to
cure, and which my experience has proven
TO be SUCH"
How did you come to get such hereti-
cal Ideas as these, doctor?'
ooh, they are the result of my expert
erce and observation. 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 of as
many of my patients, with a complication
| of troubles, including dyspepsia, and conse-
| quently imperfect kidneys and liver, aud
| feared / should have to give up my prac-
tice. For months suffered untold agonies.
Dull, indefinite pains in various parts of
| the body a lack of interest in everything
| around me; a loss of appetite headaches;
all these disagreeable symptoms were added
| to painswhch were both acute and constant.
Sick as i 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 revelation to me.
| That was the starting point, and my preju-
dices faded rapidly after that | can assure
| you. l went to reading extensively, and
| analyzing more extensively, and since that
time ] have discovered many things of real
value TO humanity. Why, only a few days
ago | advised a lady who was suffering
from serious female difficulty and dig
placement TO use the same remedy which
cured me. l saw her this morning aud she
is nearly well, the pain and Inflammation
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 Improvement 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
mepts in medicine as well. Thousands of
people die every year from supposed
typhoid fever, rheumatism or other com
plaints, when in reality it is from trichina,
caused by eating poorly-cooked and dis
eased pork. Thousands of children are dy-
ing every year from dropsy as the apparent
sequel to scarlatina, when in reality il is
from diseased kidneys which have become
weakened by the 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 OF
not have demonstrated to my own satis-
faction that they arc true, and | propose to
stand by them, no matter how much oppo-
siton l 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 himsel
by suppressing the manifest truth, is ua
worthy the name of man, and unworthy
the confidence of the public whom HI
serves"
The above are some Of the prncipa
points in the interview referred to. Nov
for the sequel. The following outspokei
letter from the doctor himself, which ha
Just been received, is published in full:
Editor Detroit Free Press:
Some time ago reporter of your pape
had an interview with me, which he sale
he would like to publish. / consented OF
condition that you would not mention m,
name until gave you permission. | hay
now accomplished the purpose had il
mind, and wish to say to you (Which yo,
cal publish or not, rs you see fit that hat
| utDhttt ioi u lOuk tlnlt WHttntT WOult
shake of some OF the professional fetter
which bound me with Others for years, ant
tell the truth, or not. When / looked back
and thought Of the tortures like thos
described by Dante in his trip to the infer
|, nal regions, which l endured from dys
pepsia, and recalled how much / would hay
given at that time for the relief which
have since obtained, / determined that
' would take the step so long meditated, an
! thereby discharge duty TO my fellow
! men. If | could thereby save one poo
mortal one night OF the terrible suffering
endured, would be fully satisfied, be til
|. other consequences what they might.
, My dyspeptic condition was produced b
B. torpid liver, which did not, as a cons,
quence, remove the bile from the bloot
p This produced arrangement of the stomach
y Inflammation OF its coats, dyspepsia, const
! patton, headache, depression of spirits. yel
low complexion, fat covered eyes, chillsan
a fever in short, ! was miserable to the la.
n degree. appealed in vain to my books,
;. my skill and TO my fellow physicians. I'll
II mystery of my i'll health grew deeper.
Travelled everywhere Exhausted all autho
J. lied expedients-but to no purpose
II When in this frame of mind, desperatel
:. in need Of help, but expecting none, one
q my unprofessional friends called any attel
tiOn TO some unusual cures wrought by
D. prominent remedy aud urged me to try
e | emphatically declined. But secretly, az
lr ] Nth tho II rtn datarni m tiau thaf I AVon