Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-08-14
THE NEW DISCOVERY.

As we gather from the newspapers, and
they know everything, it is an alleged
| discovery by DR.. Brown-Sequard, no.
ted French chemist, who claims that by
| combining the vitaliZing fluids in the
| bodies of animals-dogs, lambs, guinea
pigs, young hogs, and perhaps other
| animals-with distilled water, the in
gradients being pestled together, and
injecting the fluid into the veins of the
old. the Dalsied or the weak. the system
is invigorated and strengthened, and a
freshness of youth pulsates through the
veins.
The discoverer, man past 20, does
not claim that the elixir gives new life,
or that it will prolong life indefinitely,
but he claims that it will build up de-
generated systems and temporarily
make strong those who are weak from
age Oh disease.
DIR. Brown.Sequard's preliminary ex-
Deriments, according to the New York
Tribune, were tried on animals, in order
to prove the innOcuity of the elixir,
which was derived from the blood and
certain glands of guinea-pigs and dogs.
Before using the syringe upon himself,
he tested the decOction by administer
ing it to two superannuated rabbits,
and one old dog. After the dog had re-
ceived twenty simultaneous injections,
without harm, he considered it safe to
operate upon himself. From May 18th
to June 4th he made ten injections in
his arms and legs, using dark reddish
fluid obtained from the glands of very
young healthy dog and several guinea
pigs. The results were most surprising.
Before the experiments upon himself,
he was so weak that he was invariably
compelled to sit after working half an
hour in his laboratory, and for many
years he had been so exhausted after
returning home at six O'Clock as to be
forced at once to go to bed, where he
would be too tired to sleep. After the
experiments he was able to stand for
three or four hours in his laboratory,
and to write in the evening for an hour
and half without feeling sense of
WEAKNESS. Instead of creeping or hob
bling on staircase, as had been his
habit in recent years, he could run up
and down like boy. His arms, test
ed by dynamometer, regained a
strength which they had not possessed
for twenty-siX years. Digestion and
other functions were markedly improv-
ed. With regard to the faculty of in
tellectual labor, which had greatly d.
minished with advancing age. he re-
cords decided return to normal con-
ditions in the prime of life. In brief,
all functions depending on the spinal
chord and nervous centeFs were notably
and rapidly strengthened by the action
of the ''vitalized principles" of the
healthy young dog and the agile young
guinea-pigs.
Having demonstrated IN his own per-
son the efficacy of his rejuvenating med
icine, DR.. Brown-Sequard, like the sci
entific investigator he is, stopped tax
ing it in order to ascertain how long
| the beneficial results would last. For
four weeks there was no marked de-
cline of vitality, but from .inly Sd there
was complete return of the pre-eXist-
Ing infrmitIes and weakness of old age.
AS he was no worse than he had been
before receiving the first injection, be
philosophically accepted the temporary
loss of reinforced strength as a counter
proof of the vitalizing influence exerted
by his elixir for month. With the
borrowed resources of another robust
dog and a few more guinea pigs, he
calmly contemplates, IN writing to the
Lancet, the prospect of another months
lease of youth and manly vigor. He
does not, however, claim the merit OF
discovering the secret of perpetual
youth, but rather of easing the burdens
of old age. He modestly gives the re-
suits to the scientific world as basis
for further experiment, expressing a
belief that while special nutritive ac-
tons, bringing on certain changes in
men and animals, are absolutely fatal
and irreversible, it is possible, by means
of the vitalIzed elements used by him
and the three superannuated Parisians,
to re-endow tissues, muscles and nerve
centers with power once possessed, but
impaired by the weight of years. Pop
ular faith In pr. Brown-Sequard's an
tidote for old age will depend in a large
measure upon his own success in keep
ing himself alive and vigorous by means
of his monthly doses OF dog anu G'linea-
pig. That he will live long, and thrive
on his daFk-red decoction, will be the
desire of all men, whether in their
prime or in their dotage.