The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-07-13
EDITORS BACK STAIRS"
The Interesting Views OF the Late DIR. ]. q,
Holland.

|
| The columns of the newspapers appear IN
be flooded with proprietary medicine adyer
tlseinents. As we cast our eve over them, it
! brings to mind an article that was published
| by the late DR.. Holland in ScritnerJs Month
| ~. lie says: Nevertheless, it is fact that
many of the best proprietary medicines of the
day were more successful than many physi-
clans, and most of them, it should be remem-
bercd, were at first discovered or used in ac-
tual medical practice. When, however, any
! shrewd person knowing their virtue and
1OreSeelng their popularity, secures and adj
vertises them. then, in the opinion of the
bEyoted, all virtue went out of them"
Is not this absurd?
This great man appreciated the real merits
| OF popular remedies and the absurdity of
those that derided them because public atten-
ton was called TO the article and the evidence
OF their cures. II the most noted physician
should announce that he had made a study of
any certain organ or disease of the body. or
make his sign larger than the code size,
though no may have practised medicines and
been a leader in all medical counsels. not
withstanding all this, if he should presume
TO advertise and decline to give his discovery
to the public, no would be pronounced a
quack and humbug, although he may have
spent his entire life and all his available funds
In perfecting his Investigations.
Again VIC say, absurd"
III.
cured by some dear old grandmother outside
OF tue code, it will be pronounced by the med
zeal profession an ulcer of little importance
But if treated under the code causing sleep
less nights for q month, with the scientific
treatment, viz, plasters, washes, dosing
with morphine, arsenic and other vile sub
stances given to prevent blood poisoning or
deaden pain, and yet the ulcer becomes ma
llgnant, and amputation is made necessary at
last, 10 save life, yet all done according to
the ''isms" OF the medical code this is much
more gratifying to the medical profession,
and adds moro dignity TO that distinguished
order than 10 be cured by the dear old grand
mothers remedy.
This appears like q severe arraignment. vet
we believe that it expresses the true standing
OF the medical profession in regard to rene
dies discovered outside of their special
'1sns." Ono of the most perplexing things
OF The day Is the popularity of certain RENE
dies, especially Warmers Safe Cure which
wo find for sale everywhere. The physician
of the highest standing is ready to concede its
merits and sustain the theories the proDrie-
tors have made-that is, that it benefits in
most OF the ailments Of the human system be-
cause it assists III putting the kidneys in
proper condition thereby aiding in throwing
of tine impurities of the blood. while others
with less honesty and experience deridc. and
are willing to see their patient die scientiii-
cally, and according TO the code, rather than
have him cured by this great remedy,
Yet We notice that the popularity of the
medicine continues 10 grow year by year.
The discoTtrCr comes boldly before the peo-
pie with It's merits, and prociaims them from
door to door in our opinion much more hon
orally than the ply sician who. perchance
may secure patient from some catastrophe
and is permitted 20 set bone of an arm or a
finger, which he does with great dignity, yet
very soon after takes the liberty TO climb the
EDITORS back stairs at , o'clock in the morn
ing To have il announced i'll the morning pa
per that DIR. SC-and-so was in attendance"
thus securing for his benefit beautiful and
free advertisement.
We shall leave it TO our readers to say which
is the wiser and more honorable