Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1877 — Antidotes. [ARTICLE]

Antidotes.

Our attention has been arrested frequently, in crossing the Jersey City Ferry, by a somewhat striking advertisement in the cabin, of an opsum antidote. It is appropriately headed by a symbolical lion going about “ seeking whom he may devour,” bearing on his breast a banner with the inscription, “ Opium habit Cured." Dr. J. B. Mattison, of Brooklyn, N. Y., having a praiseworthy desire to discover the value of this addition to the materi medica. succeeded in procuring a supply of this antidote, which he put into a chemist’s hands for analysis. The result attained was as follows: Water 26.66 Glycerine ..... 66.89 Crystal sulphate of morphia. 4.45 100.00 It is clear that the inventor has not only discovered a new element in materia medica, but a new principle in therapeutics. Our readers hardly.need to be told that “ morphia” is a form of opium. The poison itself is prescribed by thin benefactor as an antidote. Dr. Mattison has examined several of these advertised opium antidotes, all with substantially the same result. A few weeks ago we received, for insertion, in our columns, an advertisement of a remedy “warranted to cure drunkenness.” The advertisement stated that the remedy could be given by a wife or mother to the husband or son without the knowledge of the patient, and with complete efficacy. We declined the advertisement, and a week or two after the gentleman who offered it called to see us. He declared that his specific had been investigated by a committee of the Massachusetts Legislature, and, if we understood him, had been approved by them; and we promised him, on receiving the evidence of that approval, that his advertisement should be inserted in our col - umns. The evidence has not come. We charge him nothing for this advertisement of his remedy. Opium-eating and dram-drinking are acts of vicious self-indulgence. Physical remedies may help the repentant who are seeking to break away from the chains that bind them, but no physical remedy cao cure a man of an appetite who does not wish to be cured’. We advise our readers to shun all such prescriptions. We may add to this that, in general, it is wise to take no medicine except 3uch simple remedies as are in use in every household, unless on the prescription of a well-educated -physician. If, however, you are resolved to prescribe for yourself, at least see to it that you know the contents and character of the prescription. Do not take from an unknown physician an unknown medicine. There are few general rules that do not have some exceptlonsy bat we know of no rule which has fewer exceptions than this one.— Christian Union.