Wichita eagle., 1888-08-22
THE FAMILY or COSsRS.
Growth Of rernicious Habit-Enriciing
Patent Medicine Proprieters-


2ateut Medicine Proprieter>-
"Drink it; it can't hurt you"
Unless you happen 20 be person with
strong will of your own, this injunc-
ton, with its accompanying assurance.
Is likely to do the business, and YOU
straightway take the first step in tho
broad avenue which feads To the great
and ever growing community Of dosers.
1t is probable that Americans are greater
sufferers from the dosing habit than tho
people of sny nation on the footstool,
and it would be difficult 10 say what
nostrum they would not grasp at and
greedily gulp down, provided it were pus
up in an attractive form, with name--
no matter what-blown in the bottle.
And there is good reason for this pre-
objection for patent proprietary potions.
In the first place, bottle of medicine.
although claiming TO be specific for
but one disease or one class Of disorders.
is shown also TO be radical cine, or
helpful, or at the least innocuous in any
or all other forms of bodily derange-
ments; and as this fact is testified to, net
only by the dealers, who OF course havo
no interest in deceiving the public, but
by an endless array of unsolicited testi-
monials from clergynlen, who, it would
seem, indulge in this variety of literature
as IA recreation from excessive labor i'll
the soul saving department of industry;
from actors, actresses, singers and other
show people, who thsrefrom receive in
cidental notoriety; from respectable
druggists. Whose position of middiemen
is merely an adventurous circumstance
and not TO be urged against their known
disinterested conduct outside Of business
and after business hours; and. generally,
from unknown and unknowable persons
whose last and usual place cf abode IL
the greatest possible distance from tho
city or town III which you happen tn
live.
Then the Inducements for copioi.s
Ebation are generous to fault, but this
is not the fault OF the proprietor. Quite
the contrary. While the temperate doser
is forced to pay 81 lawful money for
each and every bottle OF the syrup. elixir,
bitters or whatever appellation the rnecii-
cine affects, the regular and approved
doser is offered special terms-Sg for SIX
bottles-so that, beilc being given an
opportunity to indulge lis dosing propcn-
sites TO the full, he hes the satisfaction OF
knowing hat tue moro 81 tho stuff he
devours the clore money lie IL soving.
and, conversely. the more saving hc is.
the greater the opportunity for dosing
which IL vouchsafed him. Thus, ty ono
stroke, he is building up both bis fortunes
and his health.
And then il is so handy 90 have m tho
house! Could anything bc more con
venient than to have in onsis cupboard
the wherewith 70 cure rheumatism,
coughs, cok.s, neuralgia, cbilDlziBs,
cancer, ringworTn. consurnption. e0rns
and kidney complaints. WHEN that where
witi..l Is comprised within tho conven.
ic-t cpmpsss Of one quart bottle five tn
the gallon. and especially when, az II by
special providence. II usually happens
thatsymptoras of "a the dSseases named
are ever present within the house which
has that ptiissant bottle in ~ cnpboardl
There are. TO 30 saire. inerednlous per-
sors who hold that this psrT~tau dosing:
does no good; but these douos-s should
consult few ot the cczsuussys Of TIA
paseflt Yne1icines. ana hear I'D conszn-
ers testimony a. 20 how much better
they fed during .ie do1ng persod. which
generally Essts tho ytzr round, and bow
depressed they frr. when they abstain
for q daypr tro. The eoubt<rs shouIi
also examine the ba.k aco0gDss Of tia
manufacturers and dealers IN propri@tary
specifics. and TIE roo.us II shes- spaoioos
and beautifully adorned hooses and their
ex.e1f:ve grounds. II they shall then
ssxers that patent medicines do 20 good,
they are dcubt;rs Thouzses i,11esd. and
il were idle 20 further ds,ru,z the s4A,sss
with Aeu.-Baston TrsnarrtrA.