The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1893-12-14
AMICK'S THEORY.
How 1t Conflicts with some Rece,ved
OninianS

- NoHhicus WIN some Received
Opinions.
When the Cincinnati Post undertook. over
year ago, to examine into the causes of
tuberculosis and the methods which had been
advanced for its cure, the idea was 10 SO
thoroughly sift and test alleged ''curesn that
their merit should finally be settled to the
satisfaction of the public.
Or. W. Il. AmIck had Just announced that
consumption could be cured by the use of n
new method, which he proposed tointroduce'
Other doctors In considerable numbers. de-
rided the idea that anything more efficient
IMAM Old school treatment with cod liver oil.
creosoteand the various hypophosphites could
be devised, and some of them entered the
newspapers and medical journals TO say so in
brusque English. Others, again, who were
not so confident that the acme Of medical
science mad been reached, were disposed to
await test of Amc,'s method, before Civ
ing their opinions.
III was Mt this stage of the proceedings that
me Tost conceived the idea of selecting test
cases OF consumption, and also one or two of
asthma for Amick to treat, the doctor having
declared that his formula was equally effect
I've In asthmatic troubles The plan for the
test, as laid down by The Post, and accepted
linally by Amick, was to select from persons
VINO vera Affected with tuberculosis and had
passed oeyond the initial stage and would
therefore be past the assistance of such treat
ment as could be given by the standard meth
DDS Of the day.
1T was agreed that IL AmiclS succeeded I'm
curing the test patients he should be given
iuli ana Tree credit for the same, and that II
he failed the treatment should receive merIted
condemnation. Full reports of the progress
OF the tests were to be published frequently
until the end OF the undertaking and the pa-
tients either died or got well.
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 progressed
into the third stage. The treatment of all tho
cases was persistently carried on for over ak
months The progress Of the test was duly
chronicled, and became familiar to all the
people OF the Ohio Valley aud contiguous
states. Marked interest was excited and the
outcome was as anxiously awaited by the pub
lie as by the unfortunate patients them.
selves
After the lapse of the time mentioned The
Iost stated that all Of the test patients were
alive and we'll.
AZ the present time one Of the test patients
Is living ut North Bend, o., while another re-
sides on West Fourth street, Cincinnati, and
Is continually praising the Amick cure as a
mai relief from long-continued trouble, ana
the third. who galned 80 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 celebrated
German physician and scientist, had an
nounced cure for tuber, ulosis, which, when
thoroughly tested, proved to be inefficient,
and the collapse OF the general expectation
which had followed Koch's announcement.
made IL difficult for Amick's treatment to find
favor.
Nevertheless considerable number of ply
sicans, noting the apparently favorable pro-
gress OF the tests, and convinced by the SINGER
ny OF DIR. Amick, by the fact that he declared
himself willing TO send out free to all regular
sample outfits of his medicines |
with directions of treatment of test cases, |
TO experiment for themselves |
and to this end sent for medicines and direc. |
tons.
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 |
snow OF success, sent the same to Amick. de-
TO shift all responsibility upon him. |
and perchance cause n failure of system OF 4
treatment which would make an unfayora-
BILE comparison with their own.
some OF them declared that Amick's refusal
10 make public his formula OF medicines was
great wrong, and Of itself suggested a mon
ey-making spirit rather than broad and hu.
manitarian character.
Amick replied to these critics that his rea.
son Tor Keeping the formula secret was to
p,cvent Inc unkering OF inefficient doctors.
~, ~ auulng TO or subtracting from the
medicines, would achieve varied results in
The main disastrous, aud the whole svstem
would, 10 time, be thrown inta t,lsrepute II
was new theory OF practice, which was con
rOntcd by the opposition OF oll.t fdaas |