SPRING TONICS by O. C. Godsmark

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 9, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 15.

SPRING TONICS.

By O. C. Godsmark

BY O. C. GODSMARK, M.D.

The use of “alteratives,” “spring tonics,” “blood purifiers,” etc., as the warm weather approaches, having become such a habit or supposed necessity with so many, the matter justly demands our attention at this special season of the year. That the systems of many do become so clogged with impurities during the winter as to require special attention at the approach of warm weather, we are well aware; and it is with the desire to help this very class that we call attention to the causes that, either singly or combined, have produced this condition.

While we do not feel ourselves specially called to expose “medical frauds,” decry charlatans, or denounce as “quacks” all who do not agree with our ideas of the medical art, yet we would warn our friends against the use of the many preparations thrust upon the public, bearing the various titles of “Tonics,” “Alteratives,” “Blood Purifiers,” “Bitters,” etc.; for many of these are in no sense whatever true to the name they bear. Only recently a most wonderful (?) remedy came under my observation, the formula of which had been given to the medical fraternity by an eminent physician, and was indorsed as containing wonderful curative properties; but I noticed that four of the five ingredients were rank poisons, requiring but a few grains of any one of the elements to equal a fatal dose. Of course it was so prepared that the amount taken would not manifest these serious effects immediately, but what can be the final effect of continually taking virulent poisons, in small (medicinal) doses, even tho the system may, in its efforts to expel the intruder, manifest for a time a degree of activity that may be mistaken for returning health. Cheap whisky, calomel, quinine, and arsenic make up much of the medicinal properties of many of the patent medicines sold under the most alluring and promising advertisements. Better by far were the old root and bark bitters that our grandmothers used to make and force down their children in the days of long ago; for whatever were their merits or demerits, they were not deadly poisons, nor so advertised as to extort needed means from suffering humanity.

With many the idea obtains that the spring time is especially unhealthful; and with many families this is all too true; but it need not be so. Let us look at one of the many causes that produces this condition, and then see if we can not take the steps necessary to avoid the difficulty with our own families; and perhaps a little judicious missionary work along this line may not be out of place. A blood purifier! Yes, a good purifier is absolutely needed at this season; and unless we make a thorough application of it, our blood will most certainly become loaded with the germs of disease. But what shall it be, and how shall we take it? Let us see. There is the back yard, back kitchen, drain pipes, back steps, cellar way, and surroundings generally, that all need purifying before we can hope to have very pure blood. As warm weather comes on, the air will become pregnant with the foul gases escaping from these places, and, tho we may not be able to perceive any odor from them, yet it is there and needs purifying. The back yard of many houses during the present winter has been made the receptacle of slops from the kitchen, crumbs from the table, and decaying vegetables from the cellar. They have been carried, perhaps but a few rods from the door, a little at a time, and so have been accumulating during the long winter; and the same warmth that causes the ice and snow to disappear, causes the myriads of germs that have been lying dormant during the cold weather to multiply and fill the very air in which we live; and so we become exposed to their attacks.

Let the work of purifying begin at once. Do not wait until the grass begins to grow, but as fast as the ice and snow release their hold on the bits of boards, chips, and rubbish generally, let it be raked into piles and carted off. There will be enough to do after a while in raking away the dead leaves, weeds, and grass that have blown about the fence and buildings near at hand. The cellar way, that perhaps has been banked over with straw or covered with strips of carpets to keep the vegetables from freezing, needs thorough cleaning out. Let the sun’s rays and pure air reach every corner and crevice about the place, as they are nature’s best purifiers. The collection of old boards, boxes, barrels, pails, etc., that is so often allowed to adorn the back yards, only adds to the unhealthfulness of the surroundings and should never be allowed to remain.

In our next we will consider a number of “blood purifiers” that we can heartily recommend, after which we will notice a few “tonics” and “alteratives” that will also be helpful at this season of the year, giving with each the exact formula, as we have in this case, so that none may be misled.

Bedford, Mich.