The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-08-29
ARSENIC As A MEDICINE.
ELEANOR KiRK'S LETTER.

1856 Lafayette-ave. Brooklyn, June %. 1885,
Among the questions Just received is the follow
ing from new correspondent: "You inyeigh so
strongly against arsenic in face and scalp lotions"
the lady writes, ''that am anxious to know what
you think of it as medicine In the hands OF
scientific physician"
exceptional cases, as IS also strychnine, and
have no call TO critcise the work OF a scientific
physician" but have seen more mlschlef result
from the use OF arsenic than could tell II wrote
a week. Does it stand to reason that the use OF
such deadly drugs can be salutary? have case
in mind now, yea, verify, case right under my
a cose in point, and will answer my correspond
ent's question practically. A stubborn cough,
ana asr%n nos ~ d general break
ing down OF the whole system-certainly condl-
tion alarming in every respect. The best physi-
clans had been tried In vain. But JOB had his adj
yisers. $50 and see my DOCTOR" they said. HE
is specialist in pulmonary troubles, and VIII
build you right up" So the poor patient dragged
himself to the last one recommended, and re-
turned with four prescriptions. one containing ar
senic, and one strychnine. besides various other
aver walked alike on four legs. The first result was
Just what knew it would be-the1 Inability OF the
stomach to retain food. This cut of the last
hope. for if the poor, weak body could not De
nourished. II there could be no slight opposition
made to the rapid decay of the tissues, the outlook
was certainly not cheering. At last, however, the
threw the deadly stuff away. Now, physicians
had utterly failed to benefit this case, and my ad-
vice was TO stop every kline Of medicine and build
stances had made me a daily visitor at one OF our
finest hospitals for some months, and the contrast
between the treatment q majority OF these pa
tents and the patients d private physicians was
most remarkable. had seen patients brought
from the operating rooms after most serious work,
and in some cases put on fulI dlet, without
drop of Observation-Disclosures Liquid Food was
administered with common diet three or four
times day. This is an extract OF beef, mutton
and fruits containing blood corpnsGes; soluble
ais, acids and salts. Do not forget that in the
most of these cases no medicine was given. 1t
may have been an Illogical and an unjust INFER
ence but could not help the thought that these
hospital patients must be got rid of TO make room
for others who were waiting, and that as medi-
cine would retard their recovery, they were given
no medicine, but were Just simply and naturally
nursed back to health. do, however, sincerely
bellies that my inference is correct one. Well as
everything else had been tried. and the patient
was about so far on the down grade as 1t was pas
sible for him to go without funeral, L suggested
the hospital treatment, May 20, and 1t was adopt
ed with results that were little less than magical.
In less than two weeks there was decided
change In the condition and appearance of the pa
tient. Every bad symptom was modified. The
gain continued, with now and then slight re-
lapse-of course a system reduced to such eX-
tremities conld not be expected to rally without
an occasional protest-but that was not discour-
aging. When the patient commenced to gain In
weight. then / knew that common sense had
triumphed. Now, knew from my hospital ex-
perience, and this remarkable experience of one
months use in my own family, that Murdock's
Food will build up the tissue, enrich the blood
and strengthen the muscles and nerves. As
SAID before, in desperate cases, arsenic may be
called for but its use Is altogether toocommon. Mer
and women take medicine because they are too
lazy or too ignorant to take proper food. When
the situation becomes alarming, then the friends
of the patient lose their heads and forget that
drugs will not answer for food, and that the nu-
trltive supply must be equal 70 the demand,
ELEANOR KIRK.
aus MW&Stf