Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Story
March 31, 1841
Vermont Telegraph
Brandon, Rutland County, Vermont
What is this article about?
At Marlboro' Chapel, a debate between Philadelphia's Dr. Draper (Thompsonian advocate) and Boston's Dr. Watson (pro-bloodletting and mercury) turns contentious when Watson claims extracting 100 barrels of blood and 49 pounds of mercury from patients over 4.5 years. A skeletal victim testifies to harms, inciting audience outrage and disorderly breakup.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
AN UNMITIGATED SANGUINARIAN.
There was a discussion at the Marlboro' Chapel on Wednesday evening, between a Dr. Draper, of Philadelphia, an advocate of the Thompsonian theory, and a person who calls himself "Dr. Watson," who has been practising in this city for several years, and who is an advocate for the free use of the lancet and mercury. This "Doctor Watson," in the course of his remarks, stated that in the course of four years and a half, he had taken from citizens of Boston and vicinity, one hundred barrels of blood, and had administered forty-nine pounds of mercury! How many persons had fallen victims to his abominable mode of practice, was not stated. But one person came forward, a mere skeleton, evidently standing on the brink of the grave, to bear testimony to the pernicious consequences of this "Dr. Watson's" mode of treating diseases. He told a piteous tale, which had the effect of exciting the indignation of the audience against this letter of blood and administrator of mercury, and the meeting was broken up in disorder. It is strange that men and women, claiming to be rational beings, will suffer themselves to be gulled, even to death.—Merc. Journal
There was a discussion at the Marlboro' Chapel on Wednesday evening, between a Dr. Draper, of Philadelphia, an advocate of the Thompsonian theory, and a person who calls himself "Dr. Watson," who has been practising in this city for several years, and who is an advocate for the free use of the lancet and mercury. This "Doctor Watson," in the course of his remarks, stated that in the course of four years and a half, he had taken from citizens of Boston and vicinity, one hundred barrels of blood, and had administered forty-nine pounds of mercury! How many persons had fallen victims to his abominable mode of practice, was not stated. But one person came forward, a mere skeleton, evidently standing on the brink of the grave, to bear testimony to the pernicious consequences of this "Dr. Watson's" mode of treating diseases. He told a piteous tale, which had the effect of exciting the indignation of the audience against this letter of blood and administrator of mercury, and the meeting was broken up in disorder. It is strange that men and women, claiming to be rational beings, will suffer themselves to be gulled, even to death.—Merc. Journal
What sub-type of article is it?
Medical Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Deception
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Bloodletting
Mercury Treatment
Medical Debate
Patient Testimony
Thompsonian Theory
What entities or persons were involved?
Dr. Draper
Dr. Watson
The Victim
Where did it happen?
Marlboro' Chapel, Boston
Story Details
Key Persons
Dr. Draper
Dr. Watson
The Victim
Location
Marlboro' Chapel, Boston
Event Date
Wednesday Evening
Story Details
Debate between Dr. Draper and Dr. Watson on medical theories; Watson boasts of extreme bloodletting and mercury use; a victim testifies to harms suffered, provoking audience indignation and chaotic end to meeting.