The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1889-04-18
"EDITOR'S BACK STAIRS"
The Interesting Views of the Late DR..
]. G. Holland.

pear to be flooded. with proprietary
medicine advertisements. AS we cast
our eye over then. it brings to mind
an article that was published by the
DR.. Holland in Scribner'S Monthly. |
He says: Nevertheless; it is fact
that many of the best proprietary med
icines Of the day were more successful
than many physicians, and most OF
them, it should be remembered, we're
at first discovered or used in actual
medical practice. When, however,
any shrewd person, knowing their vir-
tue, and foreseeing their popularity,
secures and advertises them, then, in
the opinion Of the bigoted, all yir-
tue 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 attention was called to
the article and the evidence OF their
tcures. II tha most noted physician
should announce that he had made
a study af any certain organ or disease
Of the body, or make his sign larger
than the code size, though he NAV
have practised medicine and been a
leader in all medical counsels, not
withstanding all this, if he should pre-
sumo to advertise and decline to give
his istovery to the public, he would
be pronounced quack and hum
bug, although he may have spent his
entire life ard all his available funds
in prefectinghis Investigations.
: Again we say, "absurb." "
If ian ulcer is found upon ones arm,
and is cured by some dear old grand
mother, outside of the code, it will be
pronounced by the medical profession
an ulcer Of little Importance. But if
treated under the code, causing sleep
less nights for a month, with the scien-
tific treatment, viz, plasters, washes,
dosing with morphine, arsenic and 9TH
vile substances, given to prevent blood
poisoning or deaden pain, and yet the
ulcer becomes malignant, and amputa-
ton is made necessary at last, to save
life, yet all done according to the
"isms" OF the medical code, this is
much more gratifying to the medical
profession, and adds more dignity to
that distinguished order than to be
cured by the dear old grandmother
4 remedy.
8 This appears like severe arraign'
). ment, yet we believe that it expresses
e the true standing of the medical pro
: fession in regard to remedies discover
ed outside OF their special " "isms.
p One of the most perplexing things o
q the day is the popularity of certain
:. remedies, especially Warmers Sat'
Cure, which we find for sale everywhere
y The physician Of the highest standing
is ready to concede its merits and sus
tain the theories the proprietors hav
% made-that is. that il benefits in mos
II OF the ailments OF the human system
IL because it assists in putting the kid
g. neys in proper condition, thereby aid
IS ing in throwing off the impurities c
the blood, while others with less hor
g. esty and experience deride, and al
d willing to see their patient die scier
n tifcally, and according to the cod
of rather than have him cured by tn
We great remedy.
Yet we notice that the popularity (
9. the medicine continues to grow yes
=. by year. The discoverer comes bold
~ before the people with its merits, an
proclaims them from door to door
:, our opinion much more honorab
" than the physician who, perchanc
may secure patient from scme cats
ed trophe, and is permitted to set bon
of OF an arm or finger, which he do
lit with great dignity, yet very soon aft
at. takes the liberty to climb the edito
Iox back stairs at 2 o'clock in the morni
to have it announced in the morni
that cdr So-and-so was in after
nm ance," thus securing for his benefit
AP- beautiful and free advertisement.
III We shall leave it to our readers
ny say which is the wiser and more he
,i"V orable.