St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-05-11
"EDlToR'S BACK STAIRS"


ne 1nesroseing Views u the Late DR.. J
G. Holland.
Tho columns Of the newspapers appear u
be 1ooded with proprietary medicine adver
tisements. As we cast our eye over them
| It brings 70 mind m article that was pub
lished BY the late Dr.. Holland in Scribner'.
Monthly. He says: Nevertheless, it is .
fact that many Of the best proprietary med
tcines Of the day were more successful than
many physicians, and most Of them, ],
should be remembered, were at first dis
covered or used in actual medical practice
When, however, any shrewd person, know
ing their virtue, and foreseeing their pop
ularssy, secures and advertises them, then
In the opinion Of tho biyoted, oil virtue
went out Of them"
Il not this absurdi
This great man appreciated the reaI
inertia Of popular remedies. and the absurd
ity Of those that derided them because pub
Nc attention was called to the article and
the evidence Of their cures. II the most
aoted physician should announce that no had
made study II any certain organ or dis
ease Of the body. or make his sign larger
than the code sue, though he may have
practlced medicine and been leader In I'll
medical counsels, notwithstanding all this
II be should presume advertise and de
cline to give his discovery to the puolic, be
would b lrouounced Quack and hum
bug, although b. may have spent his entire
life and all his available funds in perfectin &
his Investigations.
Again we say, absurd"
II an ulcer is found upon ones arm, and
. cured by some dear old Grandmother,
outside Of the code, it will be prom DUN cec
BY the medical profession an ulcer Of little
importance But il treated under the code
causing sleepless nights for = month, with
the scientific treatment, viz, plasters
washes, dosing with morphine, arseni,
and other vile substances, given 70 proven
blood poisoning or deaden pain, and vet tho
ulcer becomes malignant, and amputAtior
i made necessary at last to save life. ye,
al done according to the "isms" of tho
medical code, this IS much moro gratifying
to tho medical profession. and aids mor,
dignity 70 that distinguished order than Il
be cured by the dear Old grandmother :
remedy.
This appears like . severe arraignment
vt we believe that It Expresses tho true
staudinGof the medical profession in regard
to remedies discovered outside OF theii
special ''isms." Ono Of the most perplexing
things Of the day is tie popularity Of certain
remedies, especially Warmers Safe Cure.
which we fad for sale everywhere. Tn'
physician q the highest standing is ready
TO concede its merits and sus ain the theories
the proprietors have maic-that Is, that j,
benefits In most Of tho ailments Of the HI
man system becauseit assists in putting th.
kidneys in proper condition, thereby siiin:
in throwing on the impurities OF the blood
while others with less honesty and exper
ience deride, and aro willing to see Their
patiept die scientifically, and according &
tho code. rather than have him cured by this
great remedy.
Yet we notice that the popularity OF the
medicine continues to grow year by year
Tho di.coverer comes boldly before the PEG
ple with its merits, and proclaims then
from door to door in our opinion much NOR.
honorably than the physician who, per
chance, may secure q patient from some
catastrophe, and is permitted to set bone
Of IN arm or . finger, which he does with
great dignity, set very soon after takes the
liberty 70 climb tho EDITORS back stairs ut !:
O'Clock in the morning TO have 1t announced
in the morning paper-th that "Dr. So-and g.
was in attendance" thus securing for his
,ercfits beautiful and free advertisement
We shah leave It to our reafers to sa!
..tich II the wiser and more honorable.