The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-27
DR.. Pierce sues
". c. 7. u. people
SAYS THAT HIS MEDICINES DO
NOT CONTAIN ALCOHOL
OPIUM, NOR OTHER NARCOTICS
STATEMENTS WERE MADE By
CERTAIN TEMPERANCE PEo-
PIE DENYING THIS.
ASSERTIONS WERE ANNOYING.
More Than That, the Doctor Says,
They Hurt His Business and
He will Try to Recover
Damages.

From THE Buffalo Evening Tmes)
The suits recently instituted by the
Worlds Dispensary Medical Associa-
ton of this city, against certain pro-
pagandists of the W. G. II. T., and
others, had their origin in a conflict of
statement which was at once annoying
to DIR. Pierce, the president of the
above association, personally, and in
furious to his business interests. For
some time the advertisements of DR.
Plerce's Favorite Prescription anu
Golden Medical Discovery" have laid
great stress upon the fact that these
medicines contain no alcohol, and are
absolutely free from opium, cocaine,
and all other narcotics. 1t is generally
known that most put-up medicines
contain a large quantity of alcohol, and
that in other cases liberal use is made
of opium, cocaine, or other narcotics,
the continual use of which is disastrous
to body and mind. 1t was supposed,
therefore. that temperance leaders, es-
peCially the women, would recognize
the fact that the non-alcoholic and
non narcotic character of DIR. Pierce's
medicines gave them a prior claim to
the attention Of all those engaged in
lighting the use of alcohol. But in
stead of this, certain leading temper-
ance women sent out pamphlets in
which they assumed to give the formu-
las of DR.. Pierce's medicines and
claimed that they contained both alco-
hol and opium.
In self-protection and in order to
publicly nail this outrageous falsehood,
there was only one thing to do-bring
suit against the authors Of the libelous
statements This the doctor at once
proceeded to do.
The Ethical Point of View.
From an ethical point of view the
most curious feature of the case is that
the statements as to the alcoholic and
narcotic ingredients contained in the
medicines We're made without first
making any analysis or the medicines,
and were based upon the false fOrmu-
las published in the interests Of parties
antagonistic to Dr. Piercr's business.
The publishers of these false formulas
are also getting their lesson in the law.
The injury to DR.. PierCe'S business
from the circulation of such state
mentS as were made in the pamphlets
above referred to can readily be under
stood. 1t was natural that the temper
ance people to whom these pamphlets
We're addressed should believe in the
statements Of their own leaders, and
accept the fact that the advertising OF
DR. Pierce was fiagrantly false. AS a
matter of fact the falsehood was en-
tirely on the other side, and DR.. Pierce
was quick to support the claims Of his
4, tell, D, m
each and every bottle of the medicine
which on ANALYSIS showed the presence
| of alcohol or narcotics.
Big Staff of Doctors.
Any one who had acquaintance with
Dr. Pierce and the well-known institu-
ton, the Invalids' Hotel and Surgical
| Institute. of which he is chief consult
ing physician, would have known bet
ter than to attack his advertised state
ment, even though published formulas
seemed To controVert his claims. As
one of the largest advertisers in the
United states. Dr. Pierce has also Il
| reputation for the utmost eNaCtness of
| statement. If Dr. Pierce says that he
| has nearly "a score OF associate physi-
| clans ON his staff. you may be certain
| that you will find from eighteen TO
| twenty physicians working with him,
| the indefinite statement being made
because of occasional changes which
| do not honestly permit him 10 say
there are always twenty physicians
| on the staff" If the claim is made on
| behalf Of DR.. Pierce's Golden Medical
| Discovery and 'Favorite Prescription,
| that they contain no alcohol and are
| free from narcotics it may be depended
upon that the statement is exactly
| true. 1t is the same in reference 10
| other matters pertaining to the Worlds S
| DiSpenSary Medical Association. Moth
| ing is overstated and DR.. Pierce owes
| his large success and enormous bust
! ness as much to his absolute integrity
| of word and deed, az tO the genuine
healing value of his medicines III a
recent interview DIR. Pierce said with
reference to the suits at present being
| prosecuted: I'VE are determined 10
stop the publication OF the false for
| mulas of our medicines.
Formulas Never Right.
"These formulas are never even APP
| proXimately right, and generally their
| falsehood extends, not merely to the
| inclusion of alcohol and narcotics, but
| to mis-sta atements concerning every
reputed ingredient of the medicines. A
| notable example of this falsehOod was
| recently brought to our notice. y ply
sician at the head of an institution
| known throughout the United States
publishes so-called health guide. In
| this book, among the formulas Of other
medicines. are given what purpOrt to be
| the formulas of DR.. Pierce's Golden
| Medical Discovery and "Favorite Pre-
scription.' Not one of the medicinal
| ingredients named in these formulas
| enters into the composition of DIR
| Piercc's medicines. There is no excuse
| for such scoundrelism, and no explana-
| tiOn of it except original sin. This
man has Il laboratory at his dispoSali
he could have had an analysis made
| had hn wanted one. He probably did
not want one. A lie was easier thar
the truth, and a great deal handler foi
his purpose.
1t would bc interesting to know
how far the rest of his book may be re,
lied upOn. If the remainder OF the in,
formation it supplies is as utterly un'
reliable as these formulas, it will be &
case of the blind leading the blind' tC
fall into the ditch. As it is, casua
glance at the book recalls that famous
remark, made concerning another %
the brotherhood of stuffed prophets
The gentleman relies upon his imagi
nation for his facts and upon his mem
ory for his wit
I'VE are going after this kind o.
man. We are gong TO show up the un
principled liars. who lend the name anC
influence of the honorable profession
to give weight TO the falsehoods they