Quacks and quack-medicines.

Date:
[1839]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Quacks and quack-medicines. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    j jveti from their parents, the ignorant poor fancy they can never be jj freed from disease until they have taken “ lots of doctor s stuff,” as , liey term it. This notion is naturally encouraged by tbe village II apothecary, practising under the act of parliament, who dispenses j liis own prescriptions, and therefore does not spare his drugs, which ^prove to him an abundant source of profit. There is another reason why the practice is still pursued of jiving patients an unnecessary quantity of nauseous, and frequently I of poisonous drugs, not only by the apothecary-physician, but by 'craduated medical practitioners as well. The former has a natural Lilesire to sell his drugs at an enormous profit, and has a legal sanc- ,, lion to do so. It is notorious that many of the latter receive a II per-centage upon the profits of the druggists whom they recom- ”^mend ; and that not a few are in actual commercial partnership with a druggist, to whom they always insist upon their prescrip- jtions being sent. Such things are disgraceful to a learned and j liberal profession, and ought to be punished either by suspension , or total revocation of diploma. These partnerships are very fre- ^ quent at fashionable watering-places. THE DIVER. FROM THE GERMAN OF SCHILLER.* Who’ll venture it among ye all, my knights and pages brave, A. plunge into the darksome depths of yonder boiling wave ! 1 A. golden goblet, rich with gems, I cost into the deep, a He who will dive and bring it thence, the shining bowl may keep.” Thus speaks the king, and from the cliff, that flings its rugged pride, [n sullen majesty above Charybdis’ howling tide, A glittering cup of burnished gold he hurled into the sea, ‘ Who is there, then, I ask again, will fetch that bowl for me ?” ' rhe knights and pages hear his words, yet answer none is given ; ‘ They gaze upon the raging sea, then on the smiling heaven, J And no one cares, for golden bowl, to tempt that yawning grave,— j A third time speaks the king: ‘‘ How now ! will none the venture brave ?” “ But all were silent; when a page, of free and gentle blood. And gallant mien, stept forth from where his tim’rous comrades ' stood, Undid his silken sash, and cast his broidered cloak away, ‘ Ladies and lords, in wonder great, the noble youth survey. ;. i And as he neared the rocky verge, and gazed upon the main, t Each wave she drank Charybdis gave, loud-bellowing, back again ; s And still with sound like booming peal, from distant thunder given, ! Forth, forth, from out the black abyss, the rushing stream is driven. It bubbles up, it gurgles forth, it hisses and it roars. As when on raging fire a stream of gushing water pours ; r Wild sheets of foam shoot up to heaven, waves dash into the air, ( As if old Ocean’s pregnant womb another sea would bear ! There many a gallant argosie has sunk, to rise no more, A shattered keel, a shivered mast, are all the waves restore.” And still with ceaseless tempest-roar, like voice of winter blast. Loud and more loud that ocean-strife its deafening din upcast. It bubbles up, it gurgles forth, it hisses and it roars As when on raging fire a stream of gushing water pours ; V'ild sheets of foam shoot through the air, waves thunder toward heaven. As forth from out the black abyss the billowy tide is driven. And see, upon the flood’s dark breast a streak of silver gleam ! A snow-white neck ! a nervous arm divides the rushing stream : ’Tis he ! and lo ! with gesture glad, aloft in his left hand He bears the dear-won bowl, and gains at last the long’d-for land. Long, long and deep, the swimmer breathed ; then hailed the glorious light; Exultingly they welcomed him, both lord and lady bright. ‘‘He lives! from out the whirlpool’s depths, from out a wat’ry grave. Right gallantly has he prevailed his soul alive to save.” He comes ! the joyous crowd gives way. He sinks unto his knee. And to the king presents the cup. The king—well pleased is he— Signs to his daughter fair, and she steps forth with gentle smile. And fills the cup with sparkling wine ; and blushes still, the while. ‘‘ Oh king ! let him rejoice who breathes in rosy light above,” (Thus speaks the youth :) ‘‘ In yonder gulf what living horrors move ! Let no man tempt the gracious Gods, and dare the impious sight; In mercy they have covered it beneath eternal night! “ Down was I dragged with lightning speed ; and from some deep sea cave. Drove forth against me, as I sank, the whirl-stream’s raging wave; It seized me with resistless force, it dashed me round and round ; In giddy circles sweeping on, far through that vast profound. ‘‘ I cried to God, at utmost need, to rescue me from death. And lo ! a sharp rock’s salient point, projecting from beneath ; I grasped it; there the goblet hung, on pointed coral cast. Else had it fallen into the depths of that unfathomed waste. ‘‘For still the purple darkness lay, beneath me, mountain deep ; And there, although to human ear all sounds for ever sleep. The eye revolts at monstrous forms, and shudders to behold Newts, dragons, snakes, and loathsome things, to shapeless masses rolled. “ It teems, that hideous ocean-heU, with black and frightful swarms. There giant polypi stretch forth their thousand slimy arms ; There looms th’ unwieldy cuttle-fish, there haunts the stinging ray. And grinds his teeth th’ insatiate shark—hyena of the sea. 1'At length the stormy Power is laid, and through the foamy rack, Down, down, as if to hell, there yawned a gaping gulf of black ; iiAnd ever as the boiling waves that whirling vortex near, ISucked far adown its darkling depths, their waters disappear. ‘‘ And there I hung; and on my heart with conscious horror smote The dreadful thought, that there, alone, from human aid remote. In the vast ocean-solitude I clung, in helpless dole. Amid that noisome cavern-spawn, the only conscious soul. jNow quick, or e’er tbe swell roll back, the page looks to the sky, •Breathes forth a hasty prayer, and then—that wild and warning I cry! [rhe greedy surge has swept him down, far, far from mortal ken, V And over him mysteriously the waters close again. fAnd now above the water-gulf the waves are calm once more, f From Ocean’s sullen depths alone upsounds the hollow roar, i ‘ Now, fare thee well, high-hearted youth,” thus lords and ladles cried, IWfhile still, with deep and deeper moan, howled dark Charybdis’ I tide. 1 ‘ Cast in thy kingly crown, and say, ‘ whoever brings it me IShall wear it too, and in my stead shall Lord and Sovereign be.’ irhe costly prize seek him who lists ; for who may live to say IjlVhat hidden things that prison-deep shrouds from the light of day.’ Trom the United States Magazine. “ -And while I shuddered at the thought, crept some huge creature on. It moved a hundred joints at once—it snapped at me—’twas done 1 Blinded with fear, I loosed my hold, and then the whirlpool’s might Seized me, but haply swept me up, to safety and to light.” Marvelled the king, and soothly said—“ The goblet is thine own ; This costly ring, too, shall be thine, enriched with precious stone. If once more thou wilt venture down, and bring me word again. Within Charybdis’ deepest cave what wonders may be seen.” With softened heart the daughter heard, and spoke, in fluttering tone— ‘‘ Father, forbear this cruel sport! Bethink thee, he has done What no one dared; and if thy heart’s wild wish thou canst not tame. Let some among your knights step forth, and put the page to shame.”