DEVELOPMENT OF THE MICROBE KILLER. 55 



Le, I induced them not to give up taking the remedy. I 

 merely required them not to use any other medicine 

 (except purgatives), but to faithfully take the water, to 

 let me know what progress they made from time to 

 time, and on these conditions I undertook to supply all 

 the medicine that was necessary. All, without a single 

 exception, were cured, provided they came to me in good 

 time. If the doctors abandoned them and they died, 

 no blame could attach to me, so I had nothing to fear 

 from the medical profession. The cases that came to 

 me were all different. Some had local diseases, others 

 described their ailments as being general all over the 

 body. They told me all the}^ had done, the quantity of 

 medicine they had taken without any effect, and the 

 trouble and misery they had gone through. Some told 

 me pitiful tales of how all their money had been spent 

 in doctors' bills and drugs until they were reduced to the 

 last stage of poverty as well as disease. 



But, notwithstanding my astonishing success in the 

 treatment of all forms of disease that came to me, I was 

 very reluctant to jump into the medicine business and 

 to abandon my flowers, amid which I felt like a father 

 among his children. 



During a stay of eighteen years in Texas I had im- 

 proved thirty acres, and had a fine place and a comfort- 

 able home such as is not often seen west of the Missis- 

 sippi. I was fond of country life, gloried in my flowers, 

 fruits, and trees, loved to be among the birds and the 

 fish, and felt all the enjoyment that belongs to the 

 sportsman. There are health and pleasure in a life amid 

 Nature's works which the city resident never enjoys, and 

 I am happiest with them. There are anxieties and 

 cares everywhere, but more independence in the cultiva- 

 tion of the soil than in any mercantile pursuit that can 

 be followed ; and I was loath to give all this up for the 

 toil, vexation, and trouble of such a career as would be 

 before me if I entered upon the business that my suc- 

 cessful discovery opened out before me. Moreover there 

 were other inducements to keep me where I was. I had 



