St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-15
AN ALLEGED ATTEMPT
To Demonstrate the Efficacy
Of the Great Elixir Of
Life,
But Evidently the Experiment
Was Anything But a
Success.
st. Paul Physicians Disposed
to RidieuIe the New
Craze,
Though Several Practical
Tests May Be Made Very
Soon.

Tests May Be Made Very
Soon.
The old and decrepit of the city of st.
Paul are now dwelling in an ecstatic
world of expectancy, as they all hope to
be rejuvenated and made young again.
1t is not by way of baptism, as the
church prescribes, that they are to be
born again, but by means of hypodermic
injections of the fluid that is at present
acting like water on the brain of nearly
every physician in the universe
Brown-Sequard elixir of life" Seers
and sages are quoted as saying that all
people we're gullible and never were so
happy as when they were being gulled.
When the ''blue glass" fad was on, peo
pie surely demonstrated that to be
guiled was to them as great source of
delight as sour biscuit accidentally
discovered is to hungry specimen of
the genus homo, tramp. 1t remains to
be seen whether the "eliXir of life" is
only a thing for the gullible or the fruit
of years of hard work by-at one time
the most celebrated Psychologist Of the
world-Dr. Brown-Sequard. Investiga-
ton into the merits of this purported
physiological phenomenon is now rife.
Everywhere are doctors making expert
mentS, and whether there is really any
thing in the elixir OF not, DR.. Brown
SeQuard will at least have the satisfac-
ton of knowing that he has created
Juror in the world. A number of local
physicians have experimental with the
elixir, but all are little backward In
making their experiments known for
some reason or other. Yesterday
morning a well known local physician
secured young lamb and extracted the
glands which are supposed to possess
the elixir. In the afternoon, accom-
panied by another physician OF equally
good repute, he repaired with his elixir
to a certain Sectarian home for the aged,
located within the city limits. Permis
sion had been obtained from the physi-
clan in charge of; the place to expert
ment there, provided patient could be
found who would consent. An old man,
fully four score and five years of age,
who had been an inmate of the home
for number of years signified his
willingness to have the, experiment
tried on him.. 1t was done accordingly,
about 2 o'clock. in the afternoon, but,
from all appearances, the elixir has not
proved such : a wonderful panacea as
was expected. The patient felt fairly.
well before the operation, but the story
goes that BESTOWED no special change
and certainly no Improvement, after
ward. 1t was impossible to locate the
physicians, as the two who were gener-
ally credited with the experiment re-
fused to answer questions, OF even to
confirm or deny the story.
VIEWS OF LOCAL GALENs.
ST. Paul Physicians Decidedly
Skepticai of the Elixir.
Most of the St. Paul physicians are
very skeptical on the elixir subject.
One or two are willing to try the expert
ment for what is in it, but none could
be found to commend it outright. Many
refused to be quoted in any way, though
others freely gave their views. Some
of the expressions Of opinion follow:
DR.. Henry F. Hoyt-I am, as yet, I'M
able to express an opinion as to the
practical value of the discovery. 1t is
something chat it will take time and
future experience to determine. | am
inclined to the belief, however, that it
is but little more than powerful slim
ulant, and would have no lasting effect.
If such should prove to be the case, the
fluid must be administered from time to
time to have the desired effect, and it
might result in great injury to the sys-
thin. One thing is certain, when nerve
tissues are once destroyed they can
never be built up again by artificial
means. l have prepared quantity of
the elixir, and have everything in readi-
ness to make the experiment. | have
attempted to induce a patient afflicted
with a nervous trouble to accept the
treatment, but as yet he is little Shaky
about it, and | don't know whether he
will submit to it or not.
DR.. j. A. QUINN have no personal
knowledge of the effects of the fluid
upon the human system, but from what
| have read in the medical journals |
do not consider the alleged discovery
proved, and do not believe the elixir of
life has been discovered. -. Still, there
may be something i'll it as medical dis
cOveIy.
DR.. A. B. Ancker-I don't have much
faith in it. 1t don't think it is intended
that man shall discover the elixir of
life. | have made no experiments, as
yet, with the fluid.
DR.. Talbot Jones-I have bad an ap-
plication from gentleman who desires
an injection of the fluid for nervous
trouble, and will perform the operation
soon. Still, | have little faith in the
alleged discovery. and told the patient
so. | do not believe that there can be
IN Of
glands that could have such Il marvel
most of fine tests that have been made it
is simply the effect of mind over mat
ter. The patients have been worked up
to high state of imagination, and after
the infection were fully convinced that
they had received great benefits.
DR.. Ritchie-I can we'll understand
that this Brown-SeQuard elixir may
prove successful as temporary stimu-
liant. but nothing more. However, in
the hands of inexperienced men great
harm may be done. / look upon all
these elIXirs as mere fads. There is in
medicine, as in milliner's fashions, a
constant change going on, What is
popular to-day is almost forgotten to-
morrow. The Brown-Sequard elixir is
now the rage; so was the blue glass
craze few years ago. But who ever
hears of the blue glass theory to-day?
1t will be so with this latest contestant
for public favor. do not look for any
substantial gam to medicine by its adop-
ton, If it ever is taken up generally by
the medical profession.
DR.. Wheaton, think the elixir of
life is all nonsense. It's simply some
fantastic thing emanating from an old
mans brain. AS for its restoring pro-
creative power, it is all b0sh.
DR.. McLaren--Wnen / read DR..
Brown-Seguard's original article on the
virtues of his elixir. thought that he
must be in his dotag4. The elixir is
simply a fashionable remedy and will
soon die away.
DR.. q. r. Me;calf-This elixir of life
l guess is nothing but a heeting show.
| don't believe in il. II vii. gradually
die away the same rs tie now fad Of
curing consumption by injections Of
sujpiiurated hydrogen dir. Wien
bromide u sodium and chlosal7were
Grst discovered, wcrceis were claimed
1or thcin as remedies, bts it Gi,;n'I last
long.