Athothis : a satire on modern medicine / by Thomas C. Minor.

mass of practitioners would be totally unable to recognize even a few of the drugs they daily prescribe." "Are all the medicines in this store impure?" de- manded Paulus Androcydes. " They are about as free from adulterations as those we have already noticed," responded Athothis. At this moment two small children—one a boy, the other a girl—entered the store, and walked up to a counter, ornamented with a marble fountain, marked " Pure Soda and Genuine Fruit Syrups." " Poor babies!" said Paulus Androcydes, pityingly. " I have seen the evil effects of these vile manufactured mineral waters and syrups on the infantile digestive apparatus. " How the fluid sparkles and foams!" remarked Atho- this. " Children under the first dynasty indulged in no beverages, save milk and water. They call this liquid soda; yet it contains no soda, and is only distilled water, surcharged with gas, created from sulphuric acid and marble dust, while the pure fruit syrup, supplied to these children of the people, is nothing but chalk and glucose, flavored with tonka bean, and colored with red analine. It is poison !" " The little ones have been to the corner grocery," said Paulus Androcydes ; " for they have a market bas- ket and a tin can for milk. See the character of food furnished moderns. These children have bought " One pound of coffee—half roasted beans and chicory; One pint of milk—half hydrant water; Two pounds of sugar—one half glucose ; One paper of pepper—two thirds gypsum and starch J One pound of lard—containing tallow; One pound of butter—pure oleomargarine; Two loaves of bread—really ! pure.