The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-09-03
IS IT AN ELIXIR OF L1FE )"


Of course all the newspapers are
discussing this question. But the
fact is that DR.. Brown equard never
gave his extract this name or any
thing like it. From the New York
Independent we find the statement
that after a series of experiments on
old dogs, rabbits and guinea-pigs,
made by injections such as have been
indicated, DR.. Brown-Sequard, who is
seventy-two years old, began expert
ments upon himself. He says that, as
a result of them, he found himself
greatly improved in strength. He
had been able to work in his labora-
tory but half an hour without such
fatigue as compelled him to sit down.
He had been compelled, by fatigue,
after a light dinner, to retire to his
bed, but was troubled with inability
to sleep. He could go upstairs only
slowly and laboriously. The day
after the first simultaneous injection
he found that a radical change had
taken place, and that he could work
in. his laboratory, standing for several
hours. After hard experimental work
in that attitude, continued for three
or four hours, he was able to go
home, eat his dinner, and then write
on a difficult subject for two or three
hours-a thing he had not done for
twenty years. He found himself run
ming upstairs, which he had not done
since he was sixty. That he was
greatly increased in vigor during the
weeks since he began taking the in
jections, May 18th, he could not
doubt. He continued them with good
effect up to June 5th. Then, to re-
verse the test, he ceased using them,
and for four weeks no marked change
occurred; but after July Sd and for
ten days he witnessed an almost COM
plete return of the state of weakness
which existed before the first injec-
ton.
Since that date physicians of stand
ing in every part of our country and
some in Europe have been experiment.
ing. The results have been as varied
as the temperaments, but the, greater
part seem to have found marked bene-
fits to the patient. Some Of the latest
are by physicians in indianapolis, in
different parts of Illinois, Ohio, Mis-
souri,, Maryland and Alabama. Some
of the doctors regard it as merely a
species Of faith cure. To meet this,
DR.. Variot tried the use Of pure wa
ter, at the same time using the same
encouraging expressions and not let
ting the patient know that he was not
using the vital hnid. No good re-
suits followed this trial.
In one instance a man ninety, three
years old was treated at Mechanics
vile, Md. He declared himself
brighter and better than he had been
for years. The elixir was from a
healthy lamb. Three experiments by
the same DR.. leatherman proved
beneficial.
It must take many more expert
ments before the real value of the
elixir can be estimated. OF course, as
has been said, no medicine can re-
verse Tile COURSE O1 uaGuI0. II Ii 20
mere stimulus to the nerve force it is
likely to be followed by reaction. 1t
~ispossible the fluid may be a nerve
food and supply a nutrition which
under the weakened power of diges-
ton and assimilation had not been
otherwise supplied. Ifthis proves to
be the fact, there may be a benefit of
considerable permanency. But intel
ligent persons should avoid giving the
impression that this nutrition derived
from the lambs flesh could work mir
acles.-Farm, Fled and Stockmam.