The Baptist headlight., 1893-11-17

methods of the day.
1t was agreed that If Amlck succeeded IN
curing the test patients he should he given
full and free credit for the same and that If
he failed the treatment should receive mer-
tied condemnation. Full reports OF the
progress of the tests were to be published
frequently until the end of the undertaking
and the patients either died or got we'll.
Acting on this plan The Post advertised
for patients and secured several. including
one of chronic asthma of 81 years standing
and others of consumption which had pro-
gressed into the third stage. The treatment
of all the cases was persistently carried on
for over six months. The progress of the
test was duly chronicled and become familiar
to all the people of the Ohio Valley and con-
tiguous States Marked interest was eH-
cited and the outcome was as anXlously
awaited by the public as by the unfortunate
patients themselves.
After the lapse of the time mentioned the
Post stated that all of the test patients were
alive and we'll.
At the present time one of these test pa
tients is living at North Bend, o.. while an
other resides on West Fourth Street. Clncln-
natl, and is continually praising the Amlck
cure as final relief from long continued
trouble, and the third who gained 81 pounds
in six weeks has become giant IN strength
and lives now on Main street.
Just before the test of the Amick cure
took place. as narrated. DR.. Koch the cele-
brated German physician and scientist had
announced a cure for tuberculosis, which,
when thoroughly tested, proved to be inetfi-
cient and the collapse of the general eXpec-
tation which had followed koch's announce
ment, made it difficult for Amicks treat
ment to find favor.
Nevertheless considerable umber of ply
sicians noting the apparently favorable
progress of the tests, and convinced by the
sincerity of Dr. Amick, by the fact that he
declared himself willing to send free TO all
regular practitioners sample outfits of his
medicines, with directions of treatment of
test cases, concluded to experiment for them
selves. and to this end send for medicines
and directions.
While their test cases were progressing IN
various parts of the country. other physi-
clans, who thought to get rid of patients
whom they could no longer treat with any
show of success, sent the same to Amick.
determined to shift all responsibility upon
him, and perchance cause failure of sys-
tenn of treatment which would make ON un-
favorable comparison with their own.
Some of them declared that Amick's re-
fusal to make public his formula of medi-
cines was great wrong and ltselfsuggested
q mOney-makinG spirit, rather than broad
and humanitarian character.
Amick replied to these critics that his
reason for keeping the fomula secret was to
prevent tinkering of inefficient doctors, who
by adding to or subtracting from the medi-
cines would achieve varied results, in the
main disastrous, and the whole system
would, in time, be thrown into dlsrepute.
1t was new theory of practice, which was
confronted by the opposition of old time
ideas and prejudices, and every safeguard
was needed that could be devised to keep
the medicines and method of applying them
free from innovations. until such time as
the treatment should become universally APP
proved and accepted, when the formulas
might, without further restraint, be freely
given to the world.
DR.. Amick, in the early days of his expert
ments, was beset with doubts and fears as
to the final outcome, and he was greatly
troubled over some of the desperate cases of
consumption sent to him by other physicians
for treatment. He scarcely knew himself
the virtues of the treatment he had origi-
mated, and trembled lest many deaths should
occur on his hands and discredit the treat
ment
But large percentage of the third stage
cases sent to him improved visibly under
his care, and finally ended in recoveries.
Others died.
The fame of Amick s new treatment had by
this time become generally ditfused through
out America, and vast numbers of letters
of inquiry came pouring iii upon the Gin
cinnati physician from the north, south east
fact that he had become famous.
A Cincinnati correspondent of the New
York Recorder called the attention of that
journal to the Amick test cases which had
been conducted by the Cincinnati Post and
as the Recorder was in the field with an offer
of 81 900 prize for the demonstration of a
successful method of curing tuberculosis. an
arrangement was made with DR.. Amick for
a public test in New York.
The Recorder selected 10 Dafientg whom
DIR. Amick took under his care, with the
ultimate result that all but one were pro-
nOunced cured, and the Recorder having
satisfied itself of the fact of their recovery
paid Amick the thousand-dollar prize.
This triumph of the Cincinnati discoverer
was not unalloyed with bitterness. however
EnviOus persons and others who practiced
medicine under the old time rules and regu-
latlons, seeing the rise of Amick's new treat
ment, opened fire upon him through the
columns of certain journals and endeavored
to convince the public that somehow or
other the doctors discovery VAS not all it
claimed to be. He had long practced med
icine in Cincinnati however. and had been
of excellent reputation in the craft So
1nnuendos fell fiat, more especially when
his brother, the well-knowu Prof. NJ. r..
Amick, also of the Cincinnati College Of
Medicine and Surgery. came out and associ-
ated himself in the new treatment. bringing
with him the ripe results of twenty-five
years medical labOrs.
DIR. W. X. Amick did not at the time de-
clare. nor does he do so now that his treat
ment Is an infallible one. He insists that
no extrayagant claims shall be made for it,,
and asserts that not more than 20 per cent
of third stage cases can receive any lasting
benefit from his medicines. He does. how
ever. declare that the treatment II almost d
specific in the earlier stages of coasunp-
tion where the directions given by him ara
carefully observed and d, complication Of
other diseases Is present.
Since the close of the tests made hv The
Post and the Recorder. many other new~ra-
pers throughout the United States have con
Quoted similar tests, and so have numerous
hospitals and sanitariumz
The Minneapolis Times. speaking editori
ally OF the spread of the Amick cure. Gays:
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