The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1888-01-07
.EDiToR.s BACK STAIRS. :.
The Interesting Views of the Late DR.. J
q. H0ffnud

q. Holland.
The columns of the newspapers appear to
be flooded with proprietary medicine adver-
tisementS As we cast our eve over them it
brings to mind an article that was published
by the late DIR. Holland in Scribners Month
". He says Nevertheless, it i fact that
many Of tbs best proprietary medicines OF the
Gay were more successful than many physi-
clans, and most Of them, it should be re-
membered, We're at first discovered or used in
actual medical practice. When, however.
any shrewd person, knowing their virtue, and
foreseeing their popularity, secures and adj
vertses them, then in the opinion Of the
bigoted, all virtue went out OF them.
Is not this absurdi
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, IL the most noted
physician should announce that he had made
n study of any certain organ or disease OF the
body, or make his sign larger than the code
size though he may have practised medicine
and been a leader in all medical Counsels,
notwithstanding all this, if he should presume
to advertise and decline to give his discovery
to the public, he would he pronounced
quack and a humbug, although he may have
spent his entire life and hi, available funds
in perfecting his investigations.
Again we say, absurd"
l
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 ''isms' Of the medical code this is much
moIe 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 appea like severe arraignment,
yet We believe that it expresses the true
standing of the medical profession in regard
TO remedies discovered outside Of their special
'isins. One of the most perplexing Thugs
OF the day is the popularity of certain RENE
dies, especially Warmers safe cure, which we
lind for sale everywhere. The physician OF
the highest standing Is ready to concede it's
merits and sustain the theories the proprie-
tors have made-that is, that il benefits in
most Of the ailments of the human system
because II 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 scientific
ally, and according to the code, rather than
have him cured by this great remedy.
Yet We notice tllat the popularity of the
medicine continues to grow year by year.
The disco, erer comes boldly before the peo-
pie with It's merits, and proclaims them from
door 10 door in our opinion much more hon
orably than the physician who, perchance,
may secure patient from some catastrophe,
and is permitted to set IA bone OF an arm or a
finger which he does with great dignity yet
very soon after takes the liberty to climb the
III -, Il
60 have il announced in the morning paper
that 'Dr So-and-sO was i'll attendance" thus
securin for his benefit a beautiful and free
advert sement
We shall leave ii to our readers to say which
$ tho wiser and more honorable