Life, 1913-05-22 · page 43 of 48
Life — May 22, 1913 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical article mourns the decline of the old-fashioned American drug store as a cultural institution. The piece humorously traces the drugstore's evolution from its origins (equipped only with a "bronze axe" for cutting roots) through the patent medicine era, when proprietors aggressively sold remedies to customers. The satire's point: modern Americans have discovered easier ways to die (automobiles, trains) than through years of dubious patent medicines prescribed by family physicians. The hardworking druggist of yesteryear, who spent mornings "mortaring and pestling his customers into a premature grave," now merely sells "light literature, creamless soda-water and films"—a comedown suggesting his former role as a purveyor of quasi-lethal tonics gave him greater purpose. The conclusion—that drugstores' only future is becoming "assistant bar-keeper"—implies alcohol may become the next dubious remedy peddled to the public. The satire critiques both the quack medicine industry and American consumer gullibility.
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ig al The Passing of the Drug Store HE old-fashioned drug store, where a man could obtain in a few moments all of the materials for a first-class sickness, to say nothing of suicide, seems to be passing. It has gone through various stages in its development, from the herb to the postal card. The first druggist was equipped only with a bronze axe. He went out and cut up roots, boiled them over a fire and produced a combination hair restorer and physic. From this idea started all of the patent medicin: The fashion of gradually destroying our interiors by the use of drug seems, however, to be passing. We are finding out so many other ways to die. One can be run over by automobiles or railroad trains so much easier than dosing one’s self for two or three years under the advice of a family physician before one can be operated on with the same results. It was not so many years ago that the hard-working druggist put his trusty pharma- copia under his arm in the morning and, pulling down his shutters, passed the day in mortaring and pestling his customers into a premature grave. Now, this gentleman deals out light literature, creamless soda-water and films. There seems to be no hope for him in the future, except to become an assistant bar- keeper. Challenges comparison with any other known mineral water in the world on its record of results. Dr.Roberts Professor Emeritus of Materia low Medica, General Therapeutics, etc., Jefferson College, Philadel phia, ‘said, in “Practical Treatise on Materia Medica and Thera- peutics,”’ 1899, that Buffalo Lithia ‘Water “contains well-defined traces of lithia and is alkaline. It has been used with great advan- tage in gouty, rheumatic and renal affections."* Richmond, Va., ex-President Southern Surgical and Gynecolog- rat Amodation, eer resident ledical Society of Virginia, and - 0 . 5 A Professor of Gynecology and Ab- é ‘HE mirror-like, slippery pavement dorninal Surgery, Medical College \ . affords as sure a footing for the irginia, says: “When lithia i ‘ . Ms Indicated,’ I” prescribe Buffalo \ i f car shod with Vacuum Cup Tires as Lithia Water in preference to the } the fine, dry macadam road. salts of lithia, because it is thera- : ccd peutically superior to laboratory : 4 Whether the surface is wet or greasy, pirentons of lithia, lithia tab- these tires are guaranteed not to skid, , ets, etc. Edward M. University of Vienna, Chicago, Ill. or are returnable at full purchase Eidherr, declares: C7 have found uffalo price after reasonable trial. M.D.,Ph.D., Lithia Water of undoubted service . % Ch.D,Ph.G. in the treatment of Uric Acid D6 ; The thick-walled cups drive deep and Gravel, Chronic Rheumatism and = give positive traction in mud. Voluminous Medical Testimony on request. || [I Paves ey Your discontent with tire service also For sale by tho general drug and mineral || P= : : > Pas fh ends abruptly when you equip Burra LiTara Specs |( 3 = @eNNSYLVANIA Hare (2 sree | ee dunt oebtiees are the heaviest tires of the rated sizes manufactured. Their construction is the strongest. their composition the Scunds Plausible “Pop, why docs the moon get full?” “I don't know. Don't bother me.” “Pop, I guess if the moon would only. stick to the Milky Way it wouldn't get full, would it? "—Lippincott’s. May (on dock): What are you rowing with that trunk in the bow of the boat for, Pat? Pat: Shure, an’ if it was in the stern, Wouldn't I be rowin’ uphill all the time? An’ this way I'm rowin’ downhill all the time!—Yale Record, bid toughest—and absolutely Qilproof—immune from “oil disease.” With each Vacuum Cup Casing goes a definite printed guarantee of 4,000 miles. Their actual rervice mileage averages a far greater distance. At your Dealer—or tertie Pennsylvania Rubber Co., Jeannette, Pa. Pittsburgh, 595 Liberty Avene Minneapolis, 34 5. 8th Street Cleveland, Tey Bical Avenoe Rannse Cay "Mos Sa E Toth Se. Detroit, 234 Jefervon ‘Avenue Omaha, 219, 20th Street Michigan Avenue Seattle, Armour Building Pennsylvania Rubber Company of New York Bway. Boston. 149 Berkeley St. . 41'S. Ervay Street Rubber Co. of California San Francisco, 512.514 Misdion Street Los Angeles, 930 So. Main Street a indepentent Company with an independent seling pay comicbooks.com