204 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. V. No. 11% 



army. Then I jnmped ditches eight feet wide, and 

 sang and laughed when others fell into the water, 

 but now things were changed. Then I had health 

 and youth, now I was far older in health than in 

 years, but I concluded that, being but forty-three, if 

 the belt did all that was promised for it, there should 

 be no reason why I might not live forty years or 

 more yet. So I gave the belt a good chance. I 

 wore it faithfully for tliree months, and tried to help 

 it by covering myself in every likely spot with porous 

 plasters. In that condition I went about my busi- 

 ness, clad in a kind of coat armor to fight microbes. 

 I tried to persuade myself that I was doing exactly 

 the right thing, and set to work to find enjoyment 

 among my roses and to forget my troubles. 



" But it was of no use. My limbs did not consider 

 that much enjoyment. Tlie microbes were unhappy, 

 and would not be appeased. They gave me no rest ; 

 they tortured me unceasingly, and finally they drove 

 me back in despair and desperation to my bed." 



These unhappy microbes were finally ap- 

 peased or destroyed by the ' microbe killer, ' 

 and having generously determined to allow 

 his fellow-men to share in the benefits of 

 his wonderful discovery the Texas seeds- 

 man soon became rich and famous. His 

 book is illustrated by photomicrographs 

 which are supposed to show the microbes 

 of various diseases. The writer is unable 

 to recognize any known disease germ in 

 these photomicrographs, some of which 

 show, more or less distinctly, epithelial 

 cells, granular debris of the various tissues, 

 yeast cells, pencillium spores, etc. 



Another pseudo-scientific ' discovery ' 

 which is largely advertised in the monthly 

 journals is the ' Electropoise,' which is de- 

 scribed as ' a little instrument which en- 

 ables the system to take on oxygen freely 

 from the atmosphere. This addition of 

 nature's own tonic increases vitality, tones 

 up the nervous system, purifies the blood, 

 and by expelling the morbid matter and 

 diseased tissues restores the body to its 

 normal condition— health.' The modus op- 

 erandi of this wonderful instrument is more 

 fully explained in the following published 

 certificate (advertisement in MeClure's 

 Magazine): 



" We are slow to commend new discoveries of any 

 kind, for the reason that so many of them prove to be 

 worthless. But we commend the ' Electropoise ' as a 

 safe and effective health restorer. We do not pretend 

 to explain the philosophy of its workings, but having 

 realized its beneficial effects we can speak of its re- 

 sults. One might conclude, from its name, that it 

 was an electric battery. But it does not generate elec- 

 tricity and is in no sense a battery, belt, sole, or any- 

 thing kindred to them. It consists of a small cylinder 

 called a ' polarizer, ' which is used in connection with' 

 the patient's body by means of a common electric 

 cord. This polarizer causes oxygen from the atmos- 

 phere to be absorbed by the entire surface of the body 

 with great rapidity, the strength of the absorption- 

 being regulated according to the ability of the patient 

 to receive. 



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' ' After a year's use we have this to say in its favor : 

 (1) We have taken no medicine for the year. (2) 

 All traces of la grippe and an old sunstroke trouble 

 have disappeared and no symptoms of either remain. 

 Once or twice, from severe overwork, we have foundi 

 it necessary to hold up for a few days, but in no time 

 for fifteen years have we been better than during the 

 past year. Much of this we attribute to the use of 

 the 'Electropoise.' 



"This notice of the ' Electropoise ' is without solici- 

 tation and entirely gratuitous. We do it for the good, 

 of the afflicted. We have no personal interest in it 

 and are not paid for what we say in its favor. Per- 

 sons desiring further information can address the- 

 agent." — Eev. Wm. McDonald in Boston Christian,' 

 Witness. 



We would suggest to the Rev. Wm. Mc- 

 Donald that he try the following simple ex- 

 periment : Having connected the ' polari- 

 zer ' with his leg by means of the ' common 

 electric cord,' let him place his one hand 

 over his mouth and nose, thus shutting ofl" 

 oxygen of the atmosphere from the lungs, 

 which have been provided by nature to- 

 furnish the necessary supply of this gas. 

 Now let him note by a watch how long the 

 supply of oxygen ' absorbed from the entire- 

 surface of the body ' will answer as a sub- 

 stitute for nature's method of supplying 

 this gas. We venture also to suggest to- 

 the Rev. Wm. McDonald that 'all traces 

 of la grippe and of an old sunstroke 

 trouble' might have disappeared during. 



