Patent Medicines

Among me vanous means oí auainmg sudden wealth in this country, the discovery of a popular "patent" medicine has often proved singularly successful. A letter from New York, published in the Charleston Couricr,cites various examples ín point: "Brandreth with hispi!ls,has risen from a poor man, ío be a man of extensivo fortune. He has now at Sing Sing a three story factory for grinding bis medicines. Aloes are carted into it by the ton, and whole cargoes of the pills are despaíched to every part of the Union, . and down every body's throat. He has expended thirly-Jivc (housand dollars in a single year for advertising. Comstock bogan with nothing, but by crowding his patent medicines, has been able to purchase one of .the first houses in Union place, and givcs magnificent soirees suppers, Scc. AiofTat, adding bitters topills, bas run up a handsome fortune of nenrly S300,000. Sherman, taking the lozengo line, has emerged from his Hule shop in Nassau street, into n buyer of lots and houses bv the wholosale. I need not menlion Swaim. of Philadelphia, who, by pouring his panacea into people'sstomnchs, can afíbrd to buy a single penrl headband for hisdaughter worth S20,000, to prove that we are a pill-eating and bitters-drinking people. Your literary man will starve in his garret, wbile your pill-maker will emerge from his garret into a palace."