The Portland daily press., 1889-09-04
ARSENIC AS A MEDICINE.
ELEANOR KiRK'S LETTER.


7se Lafayette-ave.. Brooklyn. June 22, 1889.
Among the questions just received Is the follow
ing from new correspondent: "Y0u inveigh so
strongly against arsenic in face and scalp lotions"
the lady writes, that am anxious to know what
you think of 1t as medicine in the hands OF a
scientific physician"
Arsenic is no doubt very valuable remedy in
exceptional cases, as IS also strychnine, and l
have no call to crfticise the work Of a scientific
physician" but have seen more mischief result
from the use OF arsenic than could tell II wrote
week. Does it stand to reason that the use OF
such deadly drugs can be salutary? have case
In mind now, yea, verify. q case right under my
eyes and very dear to my heart, which is certainly
cose In point, and will answer my correspond
ent's question practically. A stubborn cough,
that rested not by night or day, the most profuse
and alarming expectoration, and general break
ing down of the whole system-certainly a condi-
ton alarming In every respect. The best physi-
clans had been tried In vain. But job had his ad-
yisers. go and see my DOCTOR" they said. HE
Is specialist In pulmonary troubles, and will
build you right up" So the poor patient dragged
turned with four prescriptions. one containing ar
senic, and one strychnine. besides various other
drugs that would kill the strongest animal that
just what knew it would be-the. inability of the
stomach to retain food. This cut of the last
hope, for II the poor, weak body could not pc
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
up, II possible, on good nourishing food. Circum-
stances had made me daily visitor at one OF our
finest hospitals for some months, and the contrast
between the treatment q majority OF these pa
most remarkable. had seen patients brought
from the operating rooms after most serious work.
and In some cases put on full diet, without a
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 corpuscles, soluble
alDumen, and Is perfectly free from drugs, miner
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 inter-
ence, but could not help the thought that these
hospital patients must be got rid of TO make room
Tor others who were waiting, and that as medi-
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 it was pas
sble for him to go without funeral 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 VI the pa
uent. Every bad symptom was modified. The
lapse-of course system reduced to such ex-
tremities conld not be expected to rally without
an occasional protest-bnt 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 as, use 10 my own family, that Murdocks
and strengthen the muscles and nerves. AS
said before. In desperate cases, arsenic may be
and women take medicine secaIlse thew are toa
lazy or too ignorant to take proper food. When
the situation becomes alarming, then the friends
81 as mt neG 9 esS sS ana iSt that
tritiye supply must be equal 70 the demand;
ELEANOR KIRK:
au3 MW&Su