It has been said that faith in the doctor is half the battle. Shop-window cures, however, require more than faith; they demand credulity. Nothing catches a man more than a pretended confidence; and of this among vendors of medicines, patent or not patented, there is no lack. It is astonishing how one is able to persuade oneself into a belief in accordance with one’s wishes. Barnum’s definition of a humbug was, “A man who gives you your money’s worth, but induces you to deal with him by some plausible tale connected with his goods.” Shakespeare asked, “Can’st thou not cleanse the stuffed bosom of that perilous stuff which bears upon the heart?” This is not to be done by nostrums, and not always by doctors. Notwithstanding the vigorous declarations of vendors of nostrums, they do not appear quite sure of themselves. For the names of eminent medical men are freely used--among others, those of Brodie, Blundell, Jenner, Clark. This recalls to mind an anecdote of the Duke of Wellington and Dr. Locock. Meeting one day the Duke said, “Confound you, Locock! I’ve almost poisoned myself by taking your pulmonic wafers!” “Ah!” answered Locock, “and I have lamed myself by wearing Wellington boots!”--_Globe in C. and D._
Alizarine, blood albumen, arseniate, bi-arseniate, chlorate and stannate of soda, tannic acid, tartar emetic, chlorate of potash crystals, gum gedda, gum barberry, grey tartar, fustic extract and quercitron or extract of oak bark, when imported by the manufacturers of cotton and woolen goods for use in their own factories only; and grey tartar, fustic extract, and quercitron or extract of oak bark, for the manufacture of colours, are admitted free of Customs duty until the end of the next session of Parliament.
Sulphate of alumina and alum cake, used as a substitute for alum by paper-makers, are placed on the list of articles that may be imported into Canada free of Customs duty.
Sumac, when imported to be used for dyeing or tanning purposes, i.e., manufacturing purposes, not further manufactured than crushed or ground, is placed on the list of articles that may be imported into Canada free.
Camwood, when imported to be used for dyeing or tanning purposes, i.e., manufacturing purposes, not further manufactured than crushed or ground, is also placed on the list of free articles.