The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1885-02-07
Taking Something.

One spring day when, in common
with about nine-tenths Of my race, l
was suffering from cold, entered
country store and met rough but we'll
meaning man whom I had always
known. As soon as had responded to
his greetings he exclaimed, loudly
enough to be heard by the half dozen
loungers about the store: "Why, yer
got a cold, too! What do yer take for
it," 1 told him nothing, and after
some remark of astonishment at such
state of affairs, he joined the group
around the fire. But / suppose he
heard me cough, for few moments
later, in passing out, he paused mo-
ment in my vicinity, and with the stam-
mering mans indispensable oath,
blurted out louder than ever: "Yerll
have ter take somethin' or yer'll die!"
The incident amused me, and often
think his eager and ignorant faith in
taking sumthin'" is possessed by
many more intelligent and cultured
than he. Long ago, when an extremely
infiammable combustible known as
"fuid" began to outshine the honest old
candle and to blow people out of exist
ence, knew of q man suffering from
rheumatism in the limbs who had it
recommended to him as cure. 1t was
to be applied freely to the affected
parts, and then set on fire. His father
undertook to treat the case, and,
| though skilled in the use of plow and
scythe, he blundered at this task and
burned his patient so badly that for
some time guess he quite forgot his
old trouble. Again, know of man
troubled with some affection of the
throat, who was advised by friend to
take a tablespoonful of kerosene oil
three times per day for two weeks. He
acted upon this advice and injured the
tissue of his stomach so that, in spite OF
the best of medical care he suffered
greatly for years.
There is something rather ludicrons
in such blind and jealous self-tr eat
ment, but when it applies and its
effects fall npon children it becomes
yerv pathetic and one wishes for a so.
ciety for the prevention of cruelty t.,
to infants" Turpentine seems to be
one of the most common Instruments o1
torture, and worms" the excuse for its
application. I heard man say once
that they rubbed it on the throat OF his
little boy until the child lost the power
of speech for some days; and yet this
experience did not save the next child
for they applied it to her throat unit
large red swellings appeared and
warned them to lesist
Another victim l know had SOM
strong stuff forced down her by font
parents who fancied some slight trouble
was caused by worms. The medicine
however, failed to find any, and feeling
called upon to do something, vented it
powers upon her kidneys, and so weak
ened those organs that, though nov
quite large child, she continues t.
suffer from it.
lido not wish to condemn the use o
those time-honored remedies, catnip
sage, smartweed, onions, ETC.. but woul'
urge the householders to give sever
remedies only in severe cases, and the
always under the care of a physician
one who at least ought to understan,
something of their nature and effect
As for the amateur medical treatmen,
let that always be of such kind $
, will do no harm If it fails of doing good
II. H. j., in Michigan Farmer.