Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-12
DE. HAMMOND TALKS.
Not an Elixir but TOnic-The Discovery is
in its Experimental Stage.
Snecial dispatch to the Enquirer.


in its Experimental Stage.
Special dispatch to the Enquirer.
WASHINGTON, Aug. s. Complying
with a request from the home office, an
Enquirer reporter called on DR.. Ham
mond this afternoon at his hospital in the
division of Washington known as Mt.
Pleasant, to pick up anything new there
might be about the so-called elixir of
Life
DR.. Hammond is a wholesome looking
man of rather greater than medium size,
and with easy, everyday manners.
When not under provocation be is
probably a gentleman of mild and even
genial behavior, but he is justified III be-
ing somewhat ruffied under the foolish
notoriety into which he has been drawn
through no fault of his during several
days past.
"Doctor - said the Enquirer, 81
called to ask If there is anything new to
say about the remarkable discovery about
which so much has been printed lately.
THE DOCTOR swoRE ROUNpLY.
cit is not a remarkable discovery, -
answered the doctor quickly and emphat-
ically; and then, in language which, I'M
der the circumstances, was parliament
tarv, but which was at times heterodoX,
he proceeded to overhaul the newspa-
pers. His patience seemed to be ex-
hausted. He declared that the sensa-
tional publications about this new prepa-
ration had been outrageous lies, and that
they were not authorized or justified in
any way.
f'Weu, - said the Enquirer man, 81
am here to report you correctly. All
want is the truth, and will tell the public
just what you say
81 wish you would - was the answer,
"and if you can think of any explosives
7 have not used put them in and l will
father them.
NOT AN ELIXIR, BUT A TONIC.
The doctor then explained that the new
remedy was believed to be in the nature
of tonic, which, it was thought, would
be beneficial, especially to old peo-
pie. He denounced as foolish
the story that it was something
that was going to prolong life in
definitely, or restore old people to youth,
or anything of that kind. He declared
that neither he nor DR.. Brown Sequard
have ever called it the g elixir of life, -
or authorized anybody else to give it that
name. He treated the matter in his
conversation as still in the experimental
stage IN response to an inquiry, Ing
said his investigations had been exactly in
the line Of those of DR.. Brown:Sequard
who was the originator. He (Hammondy
used lambs instead of guinea pigs, but
he did not know that guinea pigs were
not as good. -
'EThen, - said the interviewer, by way
Of a clincher, ''this new discovery is to
be regarded simply as tonic. -
Apparently, - assented DR.. Ham
mond, placing much emphasis on the
word and acknowledging that the remedy
| was still experimental from the stand
| point OF tonic.
IDIOTIC INQUIRIES.
DR. Hammond said he had received
hundreds of letters which developed such
a state of popular idiocy that he won
| dered God had not struck them dead be-
fore they wrote. He wanted the Enquirer
to say that he would not answer any OF
these letters.
''Why - he continued, "a Brooklyn
man wrote to me and wanted to take an
agency for the preparation and travel
| about the country and sell it. Now
| that, of course, could not be done. II
| has to be used Immediately. 1t could not
! be kept -