Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1891-07-31
BOSTON LETTER.
A Setback to the Medical Pro-
teSSion---The Elixir of Life.
Platform of tte New Socialist
Party---Business Out
look, Etc.

o' lS---buSlneSS Out
look, Etc.
The virtual declaration of DIR. Koch
that his tuberculInc is a failure, is q
scrlons setback To medical science, and
Will have tendency TO make people
more crcdulOus than ever in regard
to what is really known and what is
empirical in the practice of medicine.
The doctor was undoubtedly sincere
in his assertions that he had discovered
destroyer of the bacilli of iubereulous
consumption, and when his remedy
was tried in some cases, it certainly
seemed to confirm, il only temporar-
lily, all that was so confidently Cx-
pcc'ed of it. But it is now conclu-
slvcIy proven that il is worthless "a a
germ destroyer, aud that whatever of
good 1t seemed to accomplish was
based largely on the faith of tho ra-
ticn's treat d, and not on any results
of the remedy. The lvmyh was
quite extensively employed in the
Massachusetts General Hospital here,
and one man treated with it was so
thoroughly convinced hat he had
been cured that lie exhibited himself
i'll one of our dime museums ia a
Iymphatic freak. As | have said, the
failure of one So high up in the science
of Therapeutics as DR.. Koch will be a
hard bow to the medical profession.
but 1t may prove useful lesson TO
would-bC scientists in dcterring them
from launching their theories on the
public before they have proved be-
yond question their absolute infalIi-
biiity. believe that n remedy for
consumption will eventually be dis
covered, and that DR.. Koch's theory
will aid largely in the final develop
ment of it, and also "a firmly believe
that ii is a physiological possibility to
repair the waite OF The human body in
such way as 10 almost indefinitely
prolong life; but it is nothing to the
di, credit of DR.. Koch that he has failed
in his attempt to provide the first, or
to the veteran Brow 1-Scquard that his
elixir of life is wanting in some ingrc-
diem which will extend the duration
Of our existence to an indefinite
period.
We are to have new political
party in the field here in Massnchu-
sctts the coming fnll--thc Social La
Dor party-Nnd a state ticket has been
nominated, as follows: For governor,
Harry W. Robinson of Boston; for
acknowledgements, George Il. Penre
of Lynn; for secretary of state, +.
W. Thcinert of lIolyokc; for treas
urcr and receiver general, Carl Fricde
of Boston; for auditor, :. Pntncy of
Somcrville; for attorney general,
James Waldock Of Boston. Tho ma
tional demands of the party are:
/. The extension Of the cight-hou
law SO Tint it shall apply to all gov
ernmcnt employees and to all govern
mcnt contract work, aud in the manu-
facturc and handling of all supplies,
materials or products purchased by the
government for its own use or used in
the execution of government contract
work
2. That the public domain be de-
Clarcd iualicnablC, and that its i'm
mcnso natural wealth. now dormant,
while millions Of willing workers are
suffering from want in enforced idle
ness, be developed by the government
for the benefit of the whole people,
l,n ,nl lln,firnlt, IL aud ahntttI
remain forever its collective owners.
8. The United States to own, con
struct and operate all interstate rail
roads, canals, telegraph, telephone aud
other means of public transportation
and communication
4. Direct issue of money by the
United States without the intcrven-
ton of banks.
5. Inventions TO be free to all; m
vemtors TO be rcmuucratcd by the ma
ton.
6. Uniform civil and criminal law
throughout the United States; the ad-
miuistration of justice 10 be free of
charge.
The state demands Of the Socialist
Labor patty are thus classified:
/. A constitutional convention.
9. A law reducing the work-day TO
eight hours or less, MS the progress of
production may require, be the en-
ployer the state, n county, munich
pality, n corporation or a private in
dividunl.
8. Compulsory education, industrial
included, of all children to tho age of
| II years, with adequate financial pro-
vision for It's enforcement by the state,
the counties and the municipalities,
and such appropriations for meals,
| clothing, transportation, school ma
terial and other necessities, as will
enable all children TO attond the pub
lie schools.
4. Legal incorporation by the state
of local trade unions and final uHion
of all industries under national organ
ization.
5. Repeal of all rauper, tramp and
conspiracy laws; unabridged right of
combination.
6. The people TO havo the right to
propose laws and to vote upon all
measures of importance, according tc
the referendum principle, their repre-
sentatives to be subject to imperative
mandate from the people, and to re
call by their constituencies.
Accompanying the platform issued
is an appeal to the people in whicl
they say that "oday, $4,000 persons
many of them foreign capitalists anC
non-residents, own one-half the wealtl
Of the United States, In few year
less than that number will own prac
tically all the resources of our grea
| .o.,,,,, 6 ,,o lo1 ,i,ia rnouatrnua eyC