The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-09-19

en- tn next. This has been a sort
o of year when / amt dom much of
either"
Monument to Ignorance.
In the yard the government doctor
saw pile of bottles-at least hun
dred of them. 1t was such a mOnu-
ment as stands in many farmyards in
the Southern states, speaking the sub
lection of thousands OF poor white
folk to a patheticaIly fatuous belief
that patent medicines will cure them
Of the ague"-which is what most
of them think they have Many a
poor farmer, working a poor farm i'll
the hope of scraping a living from it.,
spends q large amount of his made
quate income for patent drugs, buy
ing anything that bears a label that
says 1T will cure "ague" and costs 81
a bottle. Some manufacturers Of
patent medicines have tried TO sttmu
late the business among the poor
whites and the negroes in the rural
South by cutting prices, but without
success. The belief is more or less
widespread that any bottle of medi-
cine that costs less than 81 is without
power to cure. The reason for the
extensive use of patent medicines
among the poor white folks Of the
Southern farms is the same as among
all users everywhere. The large per-
centage of alcohol they contain pro-
VideS temporary stimulation and d.
verts attention from disorders which
are not remedied.
The government doctor has been
persistent In teaching these deceived
people that every cent spent for pat
ent medicine brings no return except
detriment-
Beliefs and SupeFstitions,
They marry early, these people of
the Southern farms. By ciTCum-
stance and settled habit they are fixed
to the soil, know OF no other order OF
life than theirs and travel little; 50
cOnsangUineOUs marriages are not I'M
common. Many girls become wives
before they are fifteen. Few live to
what We call ripe old age" Child
bearing is frequent The government
doctor stayed in many homes (hOuses
with but two or three rOOmS) where
there were between five and twenty
children; and near some of these
homes several lay buried. Most of
the children, both boys and girls, dip
snuff, and nearly all of the boys chew
tobacco; many of them are taught by
their parents TO do fl from childhood,
for the belief is current that these
practices protect against disease.
Other peculiar beliefs and super
stitiOnS DR.. Stiles found in different
homes. In a cabin in the Carolina
Appalachians a woman was taken
very sick There was no physician
Several neighbors came. All the win
dows and doors were closed, though
the patient needed fresh air. She
begged relief from her pain. One Of
the neighbOrs said.
Put an AK under the bed that'n cut
of the pain"
Several women rushed out into The
yard and one returned with an ak.
But the husband objected.
If you cut the pain OF short it will
be bad" he said.
So they put a dull ak under the bed,
thinking that would cut the pain less
suddenly.
Frequently, in cases of consump-
ton, a basin of water is placed under
the bed Ito stop the night sweats."
Among both the whites and negroes
DR.. stiles saw tufts of hair on top
Of the head tied with a string to
keep the palate from falling DOWN the
throat" Another belief is that the
wearing of a blue string around the
neck will prevent the swallowing II
certain diseases.
Pure Anglo Saxon.
The government doctor was IOld Dy
some persons in southern cities, VINO
knew of his long visits among these
poor whites for scientific study, thai
he was wasting his time, as they were
mot worth trying to help" or mot |
worth trying to save" He has found |
otherwise.
The blood that flows in their
veins" he says, lis the purest Anglo
Saxon blood in America Their pro
genitors were among the first families |
that came to this country, and the !
TeutOns, Celts, Latins and Slavs who |
have come since and have mingled |
their blood so generally with Anglo !
SaxOnS in the north and west, are
almost unknown in the rural South. !
Beneath the traits which one sees 10y |
a casual glance are to be found others |