The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-08-21
ARSENIC As A MEDICINE.
ELEANOR KiRK'S LETTER.

ELEANOR KiRK'S LETTER.
7ss IAfsyettsave. Srooklyn, June 20, 1889.
Among the questions just received is the follow
ing from new correspondent: "You inveigh 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 a
scientific physician"
Arsenic is no doubt a very valuable remedy in
exceptional cases, as IS also strychnine, and
have no call to crfticise the work Of scientific
physician" but have seen more mischief result
from the use of arsenic than could tell If wrote
a week. Does 1t stand to reason that the use OF
such deadly drugs can be salutary? have case
In mind now, yea, verify, case right under my
eyes and very dear to my heart which is certainly
a cose in point, and will answer my correspond
ent's question practically. stubborn cough,
that rested not by night or day, the most proflse
and alarming expect0ration, and general break
ing down OF the whole system-certainly condi-
ton alarming in every respect. The best physi-
clans had been tried In vain. But job had his ad-
is specialist in pulmonary troubles. and win
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 strychnne. besides various other
drugs that would kill the strongest animal that
lust what knew If would be@the' Inability of the
stomach to retain food. This cut off 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
consumer Of these poisons realized his danger and
threw the deadly stuff away. Now, physicians
had utterly failed to benefit this case, and my adj
vice was to stop every kline of medicine, and build
up If 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,
drop Of cs s LIQUID Fooa Was
administered with common diet three or four
times day. This is an extract of beef, mutton
and fruits, containing blood corpuscles, soluble
albumen, 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
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 med-
no medicine, but were Just simply and naturally
nursed back to health. do, however, sincerely
bellies that my inference is a correct one. Well as
everything else had been tried, and the patient
was about so far on the down grade as it 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 system reduced to such ex-
eoaa not ee ths to rally Without
aging. When the patient commenced to gain In
weight: then l knew that common sense had
trlumphed. 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 1
said before, in desperate cases, arsenic may be
called fol, but its use is altogether toocommon. Men
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-
tritiye supply must be equal 70 the demand.
ELEANOR KIRK.
au3 MW&Stf