The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-05
Do The Persons Who PatrOnize
These Concerns Get What
They Pay For?
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.
Are They Rank Frauds, as Has
Been Indiscriminately Charged,
or Is Truth and Honor
Their Basis!

A general statement may also be SO
made as to have all the evil qualities
Of q lie. This remark is of point at
this time in connection with certain
attacks which have been made upon
the patent medicine business. If one
were to believe all that has been said
on this score he would be forced to the
conclusion that businesses which are
the outgrowth of years OF effort bv the
proprietors and which have gained the
confidence of the public during that
period must be classed as rank frauds
But. can anv business, whether it be
patent medicine or the manufacture Of
shoe backing, flourish for many years
without solid worth and merit behind
it 2 The question answers itself. And
so the attack upon the patent medicine
business, to which reference is here
made falls to The ground because Of its
own falsity as applying to all patent
medicine concerns. Still, these charges
are worth examination and refutation
because of the damage they may do to
business which have won the con-
fidence of the public 10y years of hon
orable and honest dealing.
1t is not the purpose of this article to
deny that these methods may be pur-
sued by some men, but there is no
warrant for implying, as was done,
that all patent medicine businesses are
conducted on these lines. Such methods
are sure to reap their reward in speedy
failure, but q business like that of DR..
Ray Y. Pierce, OF Buffalo, could not
exist for So years and reach its present
mammoth proportions if such practices
had been pursued. DIR. Pierce is too
we'll known as a man OF honor to rest
easy under such an imputation. His
business is what it is because he has
always done what he promised to do
and because his famous remedies are
just what he says they are. His estab-
lishment, in Buffalo, consisting OF a
large laboratory and hospital, is one
of the chief points of interest in that
city, and he himself enjoys the con-
fidence and the esteem OF his fellow
townsmen, who have honored him in
various wavs. D.
DIR. Pierce is n patent medicine man
and he is proud OF the good he has
done to his fellow men because he long
since had the courage to break away
from the narrow ethics Of the medical
profession and advertise broadcast the
remedies for men and women which
have made his name famous.
A brief examination OF the methods
of handling the immense number OF
mail inquiries which come into DR..
Pierce's establishment i'll the course Of
a dav will be OF interest and will con-
vince anyone that the general charge
of fraud is without basis so far as be
is concerned. In the first place it may
be said that DR.. Pierce himself does not
pretend to read and answer I'll the
mail that comes TO him. Neither does
any other proprietor of large bust
ness. But he does have a large staif
of graduated physicians and surgeons,
men who are specialists in many lines
OF the profession, who do read these
letters and who do give them their
individual and careful attention.
When an inquiry is received from
some sufferer detailing his symptoms
and giving 4 history of his case 1t is
marked with a number That number
thereafter distinguishes tlnt case, 1t
is sent to the proper physician and by
him is carefully examined. This ply
stefan turns 10 the photograph at his
elbow and dictates an answer. II he
wants further information concerning
the case he asks the inquirer for it. ii
the writer has told him enough TO
enable him to Judge properly OF the
case he answers the questioner in that
light. II the case is one that appar-
entity will be met by either of the
famous Pierce Family Medicines the
patient is so advised. If it is one that
seems to demand some other form of
treatment that treatment is advised,
and, if the patient agree, Il prescrip-
ton is written and sent TO the dis
pensing department and there filed
and the medicine forwarded. Each
physician gives close attention to the
cases which arc presented to him, and
the system is such that further reports
from a patient go uneTingly to the
physician who first had charge of the
case. Each case is handled in all
respects Just as it would be if the doc
tor saw the patient. In cases which
present unusual difficulties and do not
progress as the doctors feel that they
should, the patients are advised 10
come to the Pierce hospital, known as
the Invalids' Hotel. where they undergo
treatment which could not be given
in anv home. The fact that this nos
pital is constantly full is proof Of the
confidence which the public generally
has in DR.. Pierce Notwithstanding all
That is said unfairly against patent med
icines and patent medicine methods.
All letters are treated with absolute
confidence. They are not made the
subject of common comment by the
EMPLOYEES of the establishment. They
are treated just as sacredly as tho con
fessions made to a private practitioner.
Neither are the names OF the writer's or
their letters ever sold for any purpose.
As for the medicines, they are com
pounded from pure roots, herbs and
banks. by skilled chemists and on the
most scientific basis. They are not
cure-alls but are prepared for certain
specific purposes, and millions Of per-
sons have satisfactorily proved their
worth. NAs for alcohol. there is a
standing reward of 5000 for anyone
who will discover any alcohol, opium
or other harmful ingredient in either
the uFavorite Prescription or the
uGoldeu Medical Discovery an} that
is all chat need be said on that point.