The Press., 1890-03-20
AN EXPERIENCE WITH THE ELIXIR.

During the recent furore over Dr. Brown-Sequard's alleged discovery of a means by which the old might be madt young and life prolonged indefinitely, ex periments were made by medical men Ill almost every city with view to testing the effect of the injection. When the ex periments with the so-called life giving fluid were made in Philadelphia at the Med.co- ChiurgIcal College the writer was sent by the newspaper with which he was connected to report the results of the ex- periments. After the physician in charge of the clinical demonstration had injected the fluid prepared from the glands of two young lambs into the arms of several de- crepit specimens of humanity, asked one of the subjects to describe the symptoms attendant upon the operation, and upon the statement of him and the others thai they were unable to do so appealed to the doctor. The doctor professed ignorance, as he had not tried it on himself, and sug- gested that the best way to learn of its et. fects would be by experience.
 'I like to operate on newspaper men, y he said, "as they are able to describe the effects more vividly than any other class oi people"
 Acting upon his suggestion, I took off my coat and began to roll up the sleeve oi my left arm. But the doctor stopped me by saying that the effect would be better if my right arm was operated upon instead of my left.
 "Oh, mo-" he assured me; Git will hurt about as much as the prick of a needle. J I was perfectly willing to become martyr to that extent in the interests of science and my paper, and promptly barred my or A<& ', r When the point had been injected in my flesh and as the dark liquid was slowly oozing into my arm I suddenly asked the doctor if there was any danger.
 "An abscess may possibly form as the result of the presence of any septic mat ter, or blood poisoning may ensue."
 "What r I ejaculated, not prepared fo1 such an answer.
 "Well," said the doctor, "the danger is but slight and could only re-occur if the injection were improperly prepared or through carelessness i'll its use. But sucL a result would hardly be possible, as myself have supervised the preparation ot the elixir"
 The doctor seemed confident, and as the inj. ctlon was already coursing through my veins l let hlm continue the operation. For about 8 quarter of an hour we talked about the elixir, and when arose to g. the doctor asked my symptoms. Ireplie0 hat felt nervous. The dociOr laugu nd sad that symptom was probably due to apprehension of blood poisoning ol some other unpleasant result. Reassureo by his laugh, went back to the office au. rtpurted to the city editor what l ha, done. His comment was terse and to the polnt, but far from the encomlums l eX pected. 1t was:
 "You-fool."
 He told some of the other people in tht office, and before night was greeted witt d "Ba-a" every time spoke to one o ny fellow reporters, and tender inqulrie, were made as to whether or not my horu' were sprouting yet.
 About twelve hours after I was inocu lated was attacked with sudden uizz uess of the head and slight vertigo. M, head became confused and l was compel ed to he down. Nausea followed, and fo about an hour and half l was almos helpless. My arm swelled rapidly, au, any attempt to exercise It was exceedtngiy painful. About two hours later Was ab., Go reach Car with the assistance of . friend. During the ride was forced t, stand up for the greater part of the distance and when one of the seats was vacated sank into it almost falnting. Although usually fast walker, the elixir had exhil arated me to such an extent that afte leaving the car went pok1og along tn, street at a snail's pace, and was obliged tt rest occasionally on doorstep and be tn, subject of suspicious glances from a stray policeman, who afterward told me that h, | followed me home.
 When had at last succeeded in drag ging my weary bones home went to bed being assisted to undress by friend wh, | was thoroughly alarmed at my condition It was quite an half hour before l dropped to sleep, and after four hours of sleep awoke weak and dizzy and unable to ge any further rest. Assistance was needed lu undressing, and l was unable to ca anything for breakfast. By afternoon tn vertigo had disappeared, and again, at tn advice of my friends, l went to the office. | l afterward went to the doctor, and bar ing my arm exhibited the limb. It hat swollen to about one and half times it usual size.
 "Oh, that's all right" said the doctor. | He had just announced that an absces had resulted in three of the cases of inoc ulation, and blood poisoning might ensue 1 Ao enSA0 oAAy NoASOA HI my SooC anxiously inquired, not much treasured b. the cheering news.
 Possibly you may have one, were tn words of encouragement.
 He gave me prescriptions for quinin' and lotion of laudanum and lead water and told me to use lodIform freely. spent the rest of the day on lounge m tn city editors room.
 --rhe next day was informed that I ha, all abscess, and after the doctor had lance, l It he gave me two more prescriptions all, told me to pouitice my arm, changing i every two hours. Septic intoxlcatlon hat resulted, he said, and it was with som difficulty that I retrained from asking hln If ne had been careless or negligent m tn preparation of the fluid, for ne had sail only in such cases would unfavorable re suits be likely.
 For the next ten days I went aroun, smelling like an aputhecary's shop, mn gled odor of iodiform, faxeeed, laudanum vaseiine, zinc ointment and other drug accompanying me, and causing my friend Go grasp their noses firmly in their hand at my approach.
 mad quite an experience with my pou
 ices. Tue first was made at home, ali when it was tune to change 1t was a, tn office. The office boy boy brought GU of tepid water from nearby restaurant
 aud three fellow reporters, kind thoug bnngilng surgeons, dressed my wounds mlxlng twice as much fiaxseed as needt