THE POTENTIAL POTATO.

Free Lance, Volume XIV, Issue 720, 18 April 1914, Page 4

THE POTENTIAL POTATO.

A Lowly Tuber Acquires New Dignity. SUPERSTITIOUS or credulous people have long attributed a certain, medical or magical efficacy to the common or garden potato; but now science has confirmed the general idea, and the potato acquires new dignity as a sort of force in. therapeutics. Science does not yet admit that carrying a bit of raw potato in the trousers-pocket will cure rheumatism; but it has proved that a hot poultice of raw potato juice absorbs fluid synovitis (that sounds fine, whatever it means), and is useful in cases of rheumatism, lumbago, and bruises. Wherefore, let the late and jaunty one that stumbles take note that what he needs for the discolouring eye is not raw steak, but raw potato. The lady with the sore heart might feel better if she took some potato juice in milk. It is probably- good for swollen joints, although unhappily not for swollen heads. If it proves good for appendicitis and tired stomach, the chemists alone will be sad; for what will then become of paraffin? _ If you mention paraffin to a druggist just now, his eye lights up as he licks his lips. But how could a chemist do a highly profitable, trade in ootatoes ? If science doesn't watch itself, the druggists will be angry.