"you have come to learn about the big fight your peace-loving Uncle is
going to make. I am fighting for others, not for myself, and I hope we
will win this fight.
"I will show you the enemy, he is in ambush." My eyes were wide open
when Uncle said that. Uncle John walked quickly over to a shelf and took
down a bottle of "Soothing Syrup." I wondered what he was going to do,
when he returned and said, "This bottle holds one of the greatest
enemies of little innocent children. It contains opium. Opium is a
poison. Little babies don't need it. Sometimes a mother will give too
large a dose, and kill her little one. The mother does not know that the
'soothing' part of the syrup is opium.
"The English people have told the makers of such stuff that they must
take the opium out of it, or label the bottle _poison_. Much of this
kind of medicine is sold. The people do not know how harmful it is. I am
going to fight this enemy of little babies to the last ditch.
"Some of the well-known captains of regiments of these fake cures are
known as 'Compounds,' 'Bitters,' 'Kidney Cures,' 'Cough Cures,' 'Asthma
Cures' and 'Liver Regulators.' These are mighty captains, and flaunt
their false colors in the daily newspapers which come to our firesides.
Many of them contain alcohol. 'Corn Cures' and 'Skin Foods' are little
corporals in the army of the enemy.
"The great generals are the fake consumption cures which are advertised
in so many daily papers and magazines. Their shot and shell are the most
dangerous, because they attack those already weak. They rob persons of
the judgment to choose such allies as Fresh Air, Food and Rest. They are
not even brave soldiers--they strike the weak and ignorant.
"_These_, my boy, are the enemies I am going to fight--in the trenches
and out. I am buckling on my armor and sword. Will you join me, and help
to put down quacks and patent medicines of all kinds?"
QUESTIONS
1. Give the names of some patent medicines you
know.
2. What do nearly all patent medicines contain?
3. Will you promise to help in stopping the use of
patent medicines?
THE FIVE BEST DOCTORS
The five best doctors anywhere,
And no one can deny it,
Are Doctors Sunshine, Water, Air,
Exercise and Diet.
These five will gladly you attend,
If only you are willing;
Your mind they'll cheer, your ills they'll mend,
And charge you not one shilling.
GLOSSARY
To facilitate the pronunciation of the words in
this glossary the correct syllabication has been
indicated. Of course, it is expected that the
teacher will assist the pupil where any difficult
combinations occur.
AC'CI DENT--an event which is unexpected.
AD'E NOID--growth between the back of the nose and
the mouth, which prevents or disturbs breathing
through the nose.
A JAR'--open.
AL LIES'--friends.
AM' BUSH--secret or concealed place where troops
lie in wait to attack unawares.
AN'TI TOX'IN--against poison.
AWN'ING--a covering stretched upon a frame and
used as a shelter from wind or sun.
BAC TE'RI A--very small plants; some bacteria
cause disease.
BOAST'ING--bragging.
CAP'TAIN--a leader.
CAR'GO--load; freight carried by ships or other
vessels.
CAR'PEN TER--one who builds houses, ships, etc.
CEL'E BRATE--to keep a festival holiday.
CLEV'ER--having skill; good-natured.
COL'O NY--of, or pertaining to, a colony or
colonies; the thirteen British colonies which
formed the United States of America.
CON'QUER--overpower; win.
CON SUMP'TION--progressive wasting of the lungs.
CON TEMP'--scorn; to despise.
COR'PO RALS--lower officers in an army.
CRYS'TAL--pure, transparent; resembling crystal.
DE STROY'--to kill; to break up the structure of a
thing.
DIS AP POINT'--defeated of expectation or hope.
DRAG'ON--a large serpent; legendary animal.
DREAD'NOUGHT--a fearless ship.
DREAM--a series of thoughts, images or emotions
occurring during sleep.
DU'TY--that which is required by one's station or
occupation; any assigned service or business.
EN GI NEER'--one who manages an engine.
ENG'LISH--the people of England.
ER'RAND--a trip to carry a message or do some
special business.
FAKE--anything prepared for the purpose of
deceiving; trick.
FA'VOR--a kind act; kindness.
FEAST--a meal of abundant and satisfying food; a
rich treat.
FEE'BLE--weak physically.
FORE'FA THERS--one who comes before another in the
line of direct descent; especially a male
ancestor.
FREIGHT--goods carried from one place to another.
FRE' QUENT LY--at short intervals.
FU'EL--anything that feeds fire.
FUR'NACE--a structure in which heat is produced.
FUR'NISH--to provide; to give.
GEN'ER AL--an officer who commands an army or any
body of troops.
GIN--a machine for separating cotton fibres from
the seeds.
GLAND--an organ of the body.
HELMS'MAN--a man who steers a boat.
HOS'PIT AL--a place where sick and afflicted are
cared for.
I'CI CLE--a rod of ice formed by the freezing of
drops of dripping water.
IN'DI AN--member of one of the aboriginal races of
North, South and Central America.
IN FECT'ED--to taint; to contaminate; to give
disease.
IN I'TI ATE--to introduce.
IN'JURED--damaged; hurt.
IN'NO CENT--free from; clean; pure.
IN TES'TINE--that part of the digestive tube below
the stomach; bowel.
JOUR'NEY--passage from one place to another.
KNIGHT--a man of gentle birth, bred to the
profession of arms.
LAX'A TIVE--a gentle purgative, having the power
to loosen the bowels.
MA LA'RI A--(old meaning, bad air), a disease, the
cause of which is carried by the mosquitoes.
MEAD'OW--low or level land covered with grass.
MER'CY--the act of relieving suffering.
MI'CRO SCOPE--a magnifying instrument for seeing
very small objects, such as germs.
NEC'TAR--the honey of plants.
NO'BLE--a man of lofty lineage.
O'PI UM--a poisonous powder gotten from the poppy
plant.
OR'GAN--any part performing a special work.
OX'Y GEN--a chemical substance in the air
necessary to life.
PALE--lacking in color.
PAS'TEUR--a French scientist who studied and told
us much of germs.
PI AZ'ZA--a porch.
PLAGUE--a disease of Asia; a pestilence.
POL LUTE'--to make unclean.
POI'SON--a substance taken into the body which
injures or kills.
PNEU MO'NI A--an inflammation of the lung tissue,
caused by a germ.
PUR'GA TIVE--a medicine which purges or cleans out
the alimentary canal.
QUACK--a pretender to medical skill.
RAID--to make war on.
RA'TIONS--food; a ration; amount of food used.
REG'I MENT--a body of soldiers.
REIGN--to preside over; to rule.
REL'A TIVES--near of kin.
ROY'AL--kingly; pertaining to kings.
RUB'BISH--trash; waste.
SEARCH'LIGHT--a powerful light used on ships.
SMOTH'ERED--prevented from breathing.
SOL'DIER--a member of an army.
SOOTH'ING--to make quiet.
SQUAD'RON--several war vessels detailed for
service.
STIM'U LANT--something which excites or spurs on.
TRENCH--a large ditch.
TY'PHOID--a long slow fever, caused by a germ; it
can be prevented by cleanliness.
U'NI FORM--special dress, usually with braid and
buttons.
VAC CI NAT'TION--producing a mild form of a
disease to prevent a severe form.
VEINS--tubes that carry blood to the heart.
VEN'TI LATE--to supply with fresh air.
VES'SEL--a ship.
VIC'TO RY--act of overcoming an enemy in battle,
or an opponent in a contest.
VIR GIN'I A--an eastern state in the United
States.
WARE'HOUSE--storehouse.
WEAP'ON--any implement used for offense or
defense.
WHOLE'SOME--healthy.
WIND'PIPE--a tube that carries the air from the
throat to the lungs.
WITH'ERED--dried up.
ZINC--a metal.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors repaired.