The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-01-25
0EDITOR,S BACK STAIRS"
The Interesting Views Of tho Late DR.. j.
e. Holland.

The columns Of the newspapers appear 70
be flooded with proprietary medicine adVer-
tsementa As we cast our eye over them, 1t
brings to mind an article that was published
by the late DR.. Holland in .Scribner's Month
IN. He says: "Nevertheless, it is fact that
many Of the best proprietary medicines OF the
day were more successful than many physl'
clans, and most of them, it should be re-
mcmhered, were at first discovered or used in
actual medical practice When, however,
any shrewd person, knowing their virtue, and
foreseeing their popularity, secures and ad-
vertises them, then in the opinion OF the
bigoted, all virtue went out of Them"
Is not this absurdl
This great man appreciated the real merits
Of popular remedies, and the absurdity OF
those that derided them because public
attention was called to the article and the
evidence of their cures, II the most noted
physician should announce that he had made
q study of any certain organ or disease OF the
body, or make his sign larger than the code
and been a leader in all medical counsels,
notwithstanding all this, if be should presume
to advertise and decline to give his discovery
to the public, he would be pronounced q
quack and humbug, although he may have
spent his entire life and his available funds
in perfecting his Investigations.
Again we say, absurd"
If an ulcer is found upon ones arm, and Ii
cured by some dear soul Of a grandmother,
outside of the code, it will be pronounced by
the medical profession an ulcer of little i'm
portance. But if treated under the code,
causing sleepless nights for a month, with the
scientific treatment, viz, pasters washes,
dosing with morphine, arsenic and other vile
substances, given to pevent blood poisoning
or deaden pain, and yet the ulcer becomes
malignant, and amputation is made necessary
at last to save life, yet all done according to
the "isIns" of the medical code, this is much
mole gratifying to the medical profession,
and adds more dignity to that distinguished
order than to be cured by the dear old grand
mothers remedy.
This appears like a severe arraignment,
yet we believe that it expresses the true
standing of the medical profession in regard
to remelics discovered outside of their special
''isms" One of the most perplexing things
of the day is the popularity of certain RENE
dies, especially Warmers safe cure, which we
find for sale everywhere. The physician of
the highest standing is ready to concede its
merits and sustain the theories the proprle-
tors have made-that is, that it benefits in
most of the ailments Of the human system
because it assists in putting the kidneys in
proper condition, thereby aiding in throwing
off the impurities OF the blood, while others
with less honesty and experience deride, and
are willing to see their patient die scient nc
ally, and according to the code, rather than
have him cured by this great remedy.
Yet we notice that the popularity OF the
medicine continues to grow year BY year
The discoverer comes boldly before the peo-
pie with its merits, and proclaims them from
door to door in our opinion much more hon
orably than tbs physician who, parchance,
may secure a patient from some catastrophe,
and is permitted to set bone of an arm or 3
finger, which he does with great dignity, yet
very soon after takes the Ii. erty to climb tho
EDITORS back Stair at O'Clock IN the morning
to have it announced in the morning paper
that 'Dr So-and,so was in attendance" thus
securing for his benefit beautiful and free
advert sement.
We shall leave It to our readers to nay
which is the wisar and more honorable.