New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-11
Tribune Finds Victims of
Consumption First Take
Patent Medicines.
INQUIRY MADE AT
RIVERSIDE HOSPITAL
Many Patients Dose Them
selves with Whiskey,
1t Is Affirmed.

IN recent Vlslt 10 the riverside
Hospital, on North Brother Island,
where sufferers from contagious dis
eases are treated under the auspices of
the Department Of Health of New York
City, the Tribune's representative in
terviewed upward OF two hundred of
the consumptives at the institution.
Some were in the last stages-incur-
able-and some were so near the point
of death that to relieve their sufferings
psin-allaying drugs had to be admin
istered.
The writer went there. solely for the
purpose Of learning how many of the
unfortunate victims OF the white plague
were its victims because they had de-
layed proper treatment and dosed
themselves with so-called patent medi-
cines, advertised as remedy or cure
for consumption, or, as some of these
qusck medicine advertisements are
worded. "and for all disease leading to
consumption
The investigation showed the crying
need Of laws, municipal, state and ma
tional. to curb the evil wrought by the
so-called patent medicines. Here are
the patent medicines most frequently
used by the patients before they began
to have the tuberculosis treated prop
erly by physicisns:
Eckman's Alternative, Father Johns
Medicine, Pepto-Mangan. S. S. S.. Piso's
Cure for Consumption (Piso's no longer
describes itself as a consumption cure,
but it's insidiously worded advertise
ments still mislead consumptives to use
it under its new name), DR.. Pierce's
Golden Medical Discovery, Peruna,
Hyomei, Creosat- Carbonate, A. D. s.
cough preparations and many varieties
of cough and cold remedies put up by
druggists. But what impressed the
Tribune's representative most was
this:
Whiskey and Consumption.
That a large number of the male
consumptiyes volunteered the infor-
nation that they had drunk whiskey
before they became consumptive and
after they learned they had the disease.
"It used to help little" said one Of
the patients.
These volunteers as to their whiskey
habits were for the most part men who
had been drunkards. One of these,
whose larynx was destroyed by the whis-
key he had drunk, whispered-he could
not speak out loud-the following when
asked if he had taken any patent medi-
cines:
"The only medicine ever took was
booze"
DR.. David Bluestone, who was ac-
companying the reporter, said to the
pate
"That is probably what sent you
here"
"Yes, I guess that's right" said the
consumptive.
When the examination Of the pa
tients in DR.. Bluestone's wing of the
institution had been completed the
reporter asked if whiskey played any
considerable part in the causes of con-
sumption.
"Yes, a very lage part replied DR..
Bluestone. "But DR.. Westmoreland can
give you some statistics on IT, because
an inquiry along those lines was made
here under his direction some time
ago"
Later the question was put TO DR..
Westmoreland, the director Of the hos
pital.
"Our investigation made on this ISL
and" said DR.. Westmoreland, showed
that So per cent of the consumptives
were or rather had been alcoholics.
Whiskey is a menace 20 one with weak
lungs and positive danger to con-
sumptiyes. II used to be used he-e,
but we threw it out four years ago,
and have had better results since. IL
a stimulant is needed in the treatment
of consumption, far better stimulants
than whiskey can be found"
Now. there is one remedy which is
advertised throughout the country as
"a true medicine" and is recommended
for use in many diseases. notably
tuberculosis. This is called Dufy's
Pure Malt Whiskey, and is manufac-
tured by the Duffy Malt Whiskey Com
psny, Of Buffalo.
More Light on Malt.
Until the pure food and drugs act
stepped in and put a stop to the
CLAIM made on behalf OF Duffy's Pure
Malt Whiskey IL was advertised as
pstent medicine, and that il would
cure consumption.
While its old slogan was 1T cures
consumption," its new one is equally
c.,cbv. The new slogan Of the former
consumntion cure-it is practically the
same whiskey now that II was then-is
"Gct Duffy's and Keep we'll
II is at present conducting eam-
con,ioued on page s. column
oAYs I'M JAIL FOR REFllliNG