1883 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
465 
“Reiifl and. Reflect.” 
Agriculturist begins with the present number, will doubt¬ 
less be interested in knowing something about what 
has long since become a distinct and important Depart¬ 
ment of this Journal. Away back in its early history, 
the settled policy was adopted of admitting to the adver¬ 
tising columns no advertisers who were not so reliable 
that the editors would themselves patronize them if in 
want of what they offered at the prices asked; and no 
announcement of articles which were believed to be 
harmful or useless was allowed. Among other things 
thus excluded were the so-called “ Patent Medicines,” 
secret remedies, and the like. This, of course, shut, out 
a very profitable source of income. Such preparations 
cost but a trifling part of the price placed on them. The 
makers, depending on working upon the fears and anx¬ 
ieties of the people, were willing and able to pay lib¬ 
erally for the use of the press to catch the eye of the 
public, and present a list of “ symptoms ” so varied that, 
almost every person would find something to suit his oi¬ 
lier real or imagined complaint.—In short, the advertis¬ 
ing columns were edited in one sense, the rule being to 
admit nothing which the Editors would be unwilling to 
have come before the eyes of their own families and 
those of their most intimate friends. This policy, con¬ 
tinued for almost a third of a century, is still maintained, 
and nothing in the shape of deception or quackery in 
medicine, or in any other form, is admitted. 
SWINDLING FARMERS AND OTHERS. 
The editors' daily observation taught them that while, 
in one form and another, all classes are constantly sub¬ 
ject to imposition, the swindling fraternity give special 
attention to farmers and their families, because in rural 
communities the people know and trust each other's 
word more implicitly than in the more densely popu¬ 
lated cities and towns where rogues most do congregate. 
Being themselves honest, they are less likely to suspect 
dishonesty in others. To protect our country readers, 
special attention was given to exposing the methods and 
schemes of these swindlers, first in separate items, and 
afterwards in a regular department of “ Sundry Hum¬ 
bugs.” The usefulness of this Department is now, as in 
many years past, recognized almost daily by our read¬ 
ers everywhere, and especially in the West. It has, in 
the estimation of our older readers, saved to the country 
many millions of dollars. 
EXAMPLES. 
The specific cases reported to us in which our warn¬ 
ings have been useful are almost innumerable. Some 
have been on a large scale. For example, the country 
was flooded with a most taking announcement of a 
new grass seed ; bags and parcels amounting to three 
hundred thousand dollars were being put up, and 
orders for nearly this amount were received. Be¬ 
fore its delivery the discovery and exposure of the 
swindle by this Journal killed the whole thing. In an¬ 
other case the sale of a new esculent, to the amount of 
a quarter of a million dollars, was killed by a humorous 
engraving in our columns, and in the same way a large 
manufactory of fraudulent fertilizers was squelched. 
Many pages would be needed to simply enumerate the 
vast multitude of humbugs killed off, or greatly miti¬ 
gated, by this department of the American Agriculturist, 
and it will be kept up. 
LIBEL SUITS 
have been constantly threatened, and a large number 
begun, to intimidate us, and a few have been carried 
through, involving large legal expenses—one of them 
lasting four years at an expense of thousands of dollars; 
but in evert case these ended in our complete vindica¬ 
tion. When we have called parties swindler's, and they 
have insisted upon our proving them so, it has been 
done to their satisfaction. In a suit long pending, the 
parties asked the court to mulct us in twenty-five thou¬ 
sand dollars for denouncing their land scheme, and be¬ 
gan suit for it. They do not seem anxious to press the 
suit, though we have offered to loan the money to pay 
their expenses. But the truth, well proven, is what they 
do not want. Our rule is to investigate before striking, 
and then submit to no intimidation. The mistakes have 
been remarkably few. 
The above is the heading of a north-western “ Mutual 
Relief Association.” We have “ read,” and also did ‘‘re¬ 
flect,’,’ and quite agree with the lawyer who sent it, say- 
saying; ‘‘ I call it any way a humbug.” We can not 
give space to the programme, which is very long, its 
chief object being to get fees from the members. To 
this and all similar concerns, we say—“Don’t.” 
The OiKcial Postal (liuide, 
gives, besides all information about Post Offices, a list, 
revised monthly, of those persons and firms officially 
designated as “Frauds.” These are parties who are 
believed to be in dishonest business and are not allowed 
to use the U. S. mails. Of course every one engaged in 
business sufficiently large to warrant it, has a copy of 
this “ Guide.” Others who receive tempting or suspic- 
ous circulars or letters, before they reply to them, will 
do well to go to the nearest Post Office and consult the 
“ Guide” for the list of “ Frauds ” it contains. 
5Setlical “Institutes.” 
“ G. C. H.” Sherburne Co., Minn., and others. We 
have reason to believe that the Boston “Institute” is 
a quackish concern. We know that it has offered to 
cure a person for a stated price, which no physician fit 
to be trusted will do. Its book “ The Science of Life, 
or Self Preservation ” is a miserable affair, calculated to 
make a well man sick. Its author claims to have had 
experience and observation: “ such as surely never 
before fell to the lot of man,” which is modest, to say 
the least. He says at the end of an introduction which 
is “Highly Important to the Reader;” “Let my last 
words of solemn warning be: Avoid all Quacks, 
Charlatans, Empirics, Pretenders and Bogus Medi 
cal Institutes throughout the Republic.” So say 
we—and begin by severely avoiding the “Institute" that 
sends out this miserable, so called “ Science of Life.” 
A of Medical Matters. 
The colleges issue Diplomas to those who go through 
a full course of medical study. Some holders of these, 
who fail to secure a lucrative practice at once, and lack¬ 
ing in principle, go into quackery under the shield of 
their diplomas, which there are no legal means for 
annulling by the colleges issuing them. The number is 
not large, but their power and influence is larger than 
that of ordinary- quacks. They publish “Heralds ” and 
“Journals,” and have the legal right to add “M. D.” to 
their names. They are all the more dangerous because 
they have some knowledge of medicine, and they 
ought to be suppressed. The only safe course is to 
avoid all advertising doctors. Their claim to have any 
knowledge or methods not known to the profession is 
humbug. Avoid their “Institutes” and “Universities.” 
Give no heed to those who travel from place to place 
like circuses, with show-bills, picturing the deformities 
they have cured. Those who thus violate the obligations 
of their degree are not to be trusted. There is much mis¬ 
taken prejudice against young doctors. The young man, 
fresh from the colleges and hospitals, full of enthusi¬ 
asm. ana well versed in modern methods, may be quite 
as likely to be useful to a patient as a much older man 
who has become rusty in the routine of a country prac¬ 
tice. Our advice is, employ the best doctor at hand, 
young or old. Avoid all who advertise to possess any 
special knowledge or powers, especially those who will 
treat diseases by mail, in patients they have never seen. 
Ofliciiil itbout Bitters. 
The officers of the Revenue Department of the U. S. 
Treasury, being suspicious as to some of the articles 
sold as “Bitters,” had them examined by a chemist. The 
analyses showed that their suspicions were well founded, 
and that the preparations were really alcoholic beverages, 
disguisedas “ Bitters.” We are informed that revenue 
officers, all over the country, are to receive a circular, 
cautioning them to be on their guard against violations 
of the revenue law, in the form of “ Bitters.” 
BUT WHY STOP AT BITTERS ? 
The American Agricult wist, years ago, showed that a 
large share of the “Tonics,” “Elicits,” “ Sarsaparillas,” 
“Health Restoratives,” and other nostrums, owed their 
alleged efficacy to the alcohol they contained and were 
really “ tipples” disguised as medicines, under various 
names. The revenue officers should not stop at the 
stuff labelled “Bitters,” as a large share of the bottles 
with other labels, are Sold in violation of the revenue 
laws. These advertised “medicines” when taken by 
weakly persons, seem to do good, and forthwith a certifi¬ 
cate to that effect is written to the proprietor of the nos¬ 
trum, and through the influence of this name, others are 
induced to take it. These persons, without knowing it, 
have taken a thrice daily “toddy” uuder false pretences. 
Physicians may find it necessary to prescribe wine 
and other stimulants, but they are not given under any 
disguise of names. When they are prescribed, the phy¬ 
sician knows exactly what he is giving, and what to ex¬ 
pect from the administration. Those who follow our 
advice, to let all “ proprietary” or secret medicines 
alone, will run no risk of incurring habits of intem¬ 
perance while they think they are taking medicines. 
The Banco Steerer 
now infests every city. The term was originaily applied 
to the fellows who led their victims to a gambling game 
called “ Banco ” or “ Bunko," but now- is applied to all 
who accost strangers for swindling purposes. These 
fellows lay in wait on the streets that lead from the prin¬ 
cipal railroads and steamers, and when they see one 
who is apparently a stranger, step up with extended 
hand, and “How do you do Mr. Smith, how did you 
leave the people in Jonestown.” If the one accosted 
replies; “I am not Mr. Smith, but Mr. Jones, of Smith- 
ton,” he will not go many blocks before he is accosted 
by another as Mr. Jones, who immediately inquires 
about the people in Smithton. It is the object of these 
chaps to induce the stranger, by one pretext or another 
—to see some valuable books he has bought at a sacrifice, 
or something of the kind, to be led to a place where, 
by means of confederates, he is, if incautious, fleeced of 
his money. As this game has been played in Boston on 
so distinugished a person as the venerable Chas. Francis 
Adams, and in New York upon the by no means venera¬ 
ble, but noted, if not distinguished, Oscar Wilde, it is not 
surprising that men who know less of the ways of the 
world should be taken in by it. Once in a while they 
get hold of the w-rong customer. A Mr. Gaston, of Eliza¬ 
beth, N. J., was bailed as “ Jones, old boy.” Mr. Gaston 
gave, intentionally, his real name and went on. He 
was soon accosted by another: “Bless me, if that isn't 
Gaston from Elizabeth.” Mr. G. accepted the proffered 
hand, and when the young man told who his father was, 
remembered all about him. The young man told Mr. 
Gaston that he had won some volumes of Bancroft’s his¬ 
tory, and if he would step around the corner he would 
give him one. Mr. G. walked on. apparently a victim, 
until he came within hailing distance of a police-man. 
to whom he turned over his generous friend. He ap¬ 
peared next morning in court against the fellow, who 
was fined $10—for annoying and molesting a citizen. 
The conduct of Mr. Gaston should serve as an example 
for all who are thus accosted by these rascals. 
TTlie Freedom of tlic Press. 
There is a press in a small town in Pennsylvania that is 
quite too free. The concern calls itself the “Victor Print¬ 
ing Co.” “The Vicious Printing Co.” would be a more 
appropriate title. It offers a long list of books, some of 
them of standard authors, others by authors of no stand¬ 
ing at all, and which are worse than useless. More than 
this, this concern puts out a work that is 
ACTUALLY BLASPHEMOUS. 
It claims that after Moses received the tablets contain¬ 
ing the Laws, the Almighty gave him “certain verbal 
laws” which this wicked book, called the “Sixth and 
Seventh Books of Moses,” is claimed to contain. Sample 
pages are given and are the vilest farago of the nse 
of mystic (called holy) names, and the blasphemous 
use of prayer, often of a kind that can not be quoted, 
that we have ever seen in print. There should be some 
law in the good State of Pennsylvania to put an end 
to this foolish and wicked profanity. 
Not content with trifling with sacred things, this 
“Vicious Printing Co.” offers works which, judging 
from the description given of them, ought not to be 
published. One of these books is entitled “Woman.” 
We can not quote from its published contents and 
keep our pages fit to go into the family. Another is 
“The Lover’s Guide.” “Albertis Parvi” is the title of 
another book containing “Secrets and Mysteries and 
is the real fount for believers in the Supernatural.” 
Another work is “now to Get Rich,” which claims to 
bring “Words of Joy and Hope to the Laboring Millions.” 
But as the thing is a book of recipes for making various 
stuffs, we think that the “millions” will continue to be 
“laboring,” for awhile longer. Another has the title : 
“Beauty’s Secrets, or the Mysteries of a Lady’s Toilet.” 
But enough has been given to show what utter trash is 
sent from this miserable press. This would seem to be a 
proper case for the attention of the Post Office Depart¬ 
ment. Surely such fraudulent publications, which poison 
the minds of the young, should be stopped as certainly 
as those which defraud their pockets. 
