Report of the trial of Dr. Samuel Thomson, the founder of the Thomsonian practice, for an alleged libel in warning the public against the impositions of Paine D. Badger, as a Thomsonian physician sailing under false colors, before Judge Thacher, in the Municipal Court of Boston, April term, 1839.

  • Samuel Thomson
Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the trial of Dr. Samuel Thomson, the founder of the Thomsonian practice, for an alleged libel in warning the public against the impositions of Paine D. Badger, as a Thomsonian physician sailing under false colors, before Judge Thacher, in the Municipal Court of Boston, April term, 1839. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

    19/64 page 13
    Q,. What right had you to complain of Dr. Thomson, when yon never had any authority from him to make a profit out of his dis- coveries 1 A. I bought a Family Right and the Guide to Heahh. Q. What authority did that give you to use Dr. Thomson's credit in vending the medicines? A. I will tell you, Squire. Here is the agreement—Read it. Wit- ness reads as follows. [Page 4, New Guide to Health.] AGREEMENT. The subscriber who is the discoverer and proprietor of the system of medical practice contained in this work, agrees to give, whenever applied to, any infor- mation that shall be necessary to give a complete understanding of the obtaining, preparing and using all such vegetables as are made use of in said system, to all those who purchase the right. [Here the witness stopped, and said that was his authority. He was told to ^read on, which he did as follows .J — And the purchasers in consideration of the above information, and also what is contained in this book, agree in the spirit of mutual interest and honor, not to reveal any part of said information, to any person except those who purchase the right, to the injury of the proprietor, under the penalty of forfeiting their word and honor, and all right to the use of the medicine. And every person who pur- chases the right is to be considered a member of the Friendly Botanic Society, and entitled to a free intercourse with the members for information and friendly assistance. SAMUEL THOMSON. It was here stated that sufficient time had been occupied with the witness, but he insisted upon going on—and proceeded. As to the Lectures Dr. Thomson charges me about, I wrote the Lectures intending to deliver them, and handed them to Squire Healy to gramntize. Being asked in whose hand writing the Lectures were, says—the corrections were in Squire Healy's hand writing. He thought some ideas might be altered, and I pasted it over with what he wrote. I delivered the Lectures at Milbury, admission 12 1-2 cents. I had a conversation with Mr. Fessenden after I left Nashua, and thought of going to some place. Asked him whether, if I came to Boston, Dr. Thomson would prosecute me about the letter, I now sell Botanic Medicines and Shaker Herbs. I sell every Thomsonian medicine I did when here before. Q,. Do you sell a syrup, and what do you call it? A. I make a syrup, and call it Thomsonian Alterative Syrup. Do not know I have sold it to any one here. I sell no poisons. d. Are there not vegetable as well as mineral poisons, and do you not sell such ? A. I sell Mandrake. The Medical doctors buy it of me. I use the Blue Flag in the alterative syrup. Q,. Were you ever threatened with an indictment for injury to your patients in Boston ? A. I was threatened with indictment for injury to persons' health before I went to Nashua, but I should like they would have tried it, and I would have shown that my patients were cured more than the Medical doctors did theirs. Q,. In your Card published in the Traveller you promised to give a series of facts to answer Dr. Thomson's notice; why did you not do so?
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