The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-12
PALMY DAYS ron A QUAcK.
ST. John Long and His Cruel Treat
ment For Consumption.
London Illustrated News.

London Illustrated News.
A London medical practitioner has been
charged with using external applications
plasters-to the detriment of his patient.
The allegation reminds one of the case OF
ST. John Long, in 1880, one of the most GU
rious in connection with medical matters
that has ever been brought before a law
court. Mr.. Long had not been educated as
a surgeon, but had attained great celebrity
for his treatment of consumption. He liv-
ed in Harley street and was consulted by
many persons of rank and fortune. His
method, shortly stated, was, in cases OF
internal disease, to cure the malady by
causing an external wound. The effects OF
this treatment were always painful and
often shocking to behold, and It is strange
that under such circumstances he could
have become popular.
A Dublin woman, Mrs. Cashin, came up
to London to consult him concerning the
health OF her two daughters. The younger
was far gone in consumption, the elder
perfectly well. What had happened to her
sister naturally ARMED her, however. and
Long undertook to prevent her falling a
second victim. He applied his remedies.
which gave her intense agony and made
her very ill., and on the tenth day, when
Brodie was called in, she died. The body
Of the poor girl was exhumed and EXAMINE
ed by committee Of doctors.It was shown
that there had been nothing the matter
with her save wound in the back, appar-
emily produced by fire, though the mode OF
infictlng it could not be discovered.
That WAS Mr.. Longs secret. All his pa
tients had to sign book and to promise to-
reveal nothing concerning his treatment,
which comprised inhaling and the applica-
ton of some corrosive fluid. At the inquest
the medical testimony was unanimous
against him, but he had cloud of wit
nesses, male and female, most of them his
patients, who gave evidence in his favor.
Among them was Sir Francis Burdett who
had strongly recommended him to MEM
bers of the aristocracy, including the Mac
quis OF Anglesey. for his govt. Gen. Sharpe
testified to the benefits his wife, suffering
from consumption, had derived from
Longs treatment. The Countess of Buck
inghamshire spoke in the highest terms
of it, as did many members Of parliament.
In the end the coroner's jury returned a
verdict OF manslaughter, which was receiv-
ed In q crowded court with cries of
Shame, shame!" on his trial at the Old
Bailey he was found guilty, but escaped
on paying a fine Of 30 pounds TO the king.
The excitement arising from this affair
had hardly subsidized when, in the follow
Ing September a similar Incident took
place In the case Of Mrs. Colin Campbell
Lloyd, wife of a captain in the royal navy.
The details. however, were much more
shocking; the effects of the corrosive fluid
were even more terrible and had a more
rapid termination. The disease for which
she had been treated was a simple one and
had never been known to prove fatal. Mr..
Long was again found guilty by the coro-
ner's jury and sent for trial. but the NUM-
Der OF witnesses Of high position In his IA
vor was still greater than before, and with
the assistance of the well-known counsel,
MIR. Adolphus, he obtained an acquittal.
He himself acknowledged that he was in
receipt Of from 10000 to $4,000 year,
which, he said, "exctes the jealousy of the
profession" and. Notwithstanding all this
publicity, continued his "rubblng-out' sys-
tenn, as he called (. to the last He even
obtained 100 damages in the court OF COM
mon pleas from someone who had libeled
Il. There is a monument to him in Kensai
Green, erected 10 his memory by former
| patients. Ills case is a most curious exam
PIE Of vogue versus science.