Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-04-17
ssEDITOR's BACK STAIRS"
The Interesting Views or the Late DR..
j. q. Holland.

The columns OF the newspapers ap-
pear to be flooded with proprietary
medicine advertisements. AS we cast
our eve over them, it brings to mind
an article that was published by the
late DR.. Holland In Scrfbner's Monthly.
He says: Nevertheless, 1t is fact
that many of the best proprietary
medicines Of the day were more sue
csssful than many physicians, and
most OF them, it should be remembered
were at first discovered or used in
actual medical practice. When, how
ever. any shrewd person, knowing their
virtue, and forseeing their popularity,
secures and advertises them, then, In
the opinion of the bigoted, all virtue
went ont of them"
Is not this Rbsurdp
This great man appreciated the real
merits OF popular remedies, and the
absurdity Of those that derided them
because public attention was called TO
the article and the evidence OF their
cures. II the most noted physician
should announces that he had made
study of any certain organ or disease
OF the body, or make hts sign larger
than the code size, though he may
have practiced medicine and been a
leader IN all medical cOunsels, notwith-
standing all thus, if he should presume
To advertise and decline to give his dis
ccyery to the public, he would be pro-
uouuced a quack and humbug, al
though he may have spent his entire
lie and all his available funds In per-
feCtiug his Investigations.
Again We say, absurd"
II an ulcer is found upon ones arm,
and IS cured by some dear old grand
mother. outside Of tue code, It will be
pronounced by the medical profession
al ulcer of little Importance But If
treated under the code. causing sleep
less nights for a month, with the
scientific treatment, viz, plasters,
washes, dosing with morphine, arsenic
and other vile substances, given to
prevent blood poisoning OF deaden
pain, and vet the ulcer becomes malig-
uaut, and ampuJatiOn is made neces-
sGry at last, to save life, yet all done
according 10 the "iSms' of the medi-
cal code, this Is much more gratifying
10 the medical profession, and adds
more dignity to that distinguished
order than to be cured by the dear old
graudmOther'5 renedy.
This appears like a severe arraign-
meut, yet we believe that it expresses
the true standing Of the medical pro-
fessIgu in regard to remedies discovered
outside of their special ''isms." One
Ok Tie most perplexing things OF the
day IS tue popularity OF certain RENE
dies, especially Warmers Safe Cure,
which We lind for sale everywhere.
The physician Of the highest standing
is ready to cOucede its merits and sus-
tain the theories the proprletors have
mads-tuat Is, that II benfGS III most OF
the ailments Of the human system
because it assists In putting the kid
ueys in proper condition, thereby aiding
Ia throwing OH the impurities OF the
blood, while others with less honesty
and experience derlde, and are willing
10 SEQ their patient die scientifically,
and according TO the code, rather than
have him cured by this great remedy.
Yet We notice that the popularity OF
the medicine continues to grow year
10y year. The discOverer comes boldly
before the people with Its merits, and
proclams them from door 10 door in
cur opinion much more hOnorably than
the physician who, perchance, may
secure q patient from some catastrophe,
anu is permitted To set bone of an
arm or a finger, which he does with
great dignity, yet SO very soon after
takes the liberty to climb the editors
back stairs at o'clock in the morning
to have it announced in the morning
paper that "Dr. SO-and-so was in at
tendance - thus securing for his benefit
a beautiful ana free advertisement.
We shall leave it to our readers to
say which IS the wiser and more honor
able.