This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1854 Excerpt: ...of sarsaparilla? Are they not too frequently "educated" men--members of the clerical calling, for instance, more " philanthropic" than discreet 1 Are there not members of the bar who are sometimes equally out of their element t Professor Dickson mentions a judge in one of our Southern States who had contracted the ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1854 Excerpt: ...of sarsaparilla? Are they not too frequently "educated" men--members of the clerical calling, for instance, more " philanthropic" than discreet 1 Are there not members of the bar who are sometimes equally out of their element t Professor Dickson mentions a judge in one of our Southern States who had contracted the habit of taking an incredibly large number of cathartic pills as regularly every morning as his breakfast; and we frequently hear of individuals who are sadly addicted to dosing themselves, and swallowing in particular combinations of calomel, jalap, and gamboge, to an extent that is really monstrous. Instances of this kind are so exceedingly common as hardly to need mentioning; but in this connection it may not be improper for me to advert briefly to one or two recent and melancholy cases strikingly in point, as tending to illustrate the absolute madness of such a mode of life. There are doubtless many in the community who recollect with what profound sorrow the whole country heard of the sudden death at Boston, a few years ago, of Hugh Swinton Legare, one of the most accomplished scholars, jurists, and statesmen our country has ever produced. It is now perfectly well settled that the fatal termination in this case was owing to the long-continued use of purgative medicines in large quantities, and among them some of the most violent drastic-cathartics. A terrible disorder, of which I may perhaps give some definite idea by styling it a double knot in the intestinal canal, was the result of this practice: a malady wholly beyond the reach of the ablest members of the healing fraternity. In the case of Mr. Legare, outraged nature finally sank under an unequal conflict; and thus fell an illustrious victim to that absurd and miserab...
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