r to Core a Ratt&essake's Bite.—If the ihould be bitten, it immediately digs a a the ground, in which it lies until the ig disappears. I have always found this r remedy the best one which can be re- to for the bite of a rattlesnake. A young f my acquaintance was once bitten, and I iately dug a hole in the ground, eightesn deep, into which the leg was placed and d with earth. At first he experienced no )ut in a short time it became so severe was compelled to hold him down, but in lours he fell asleep. After sleeping two he awoke, and the leg was .entirely free ain. Upon removing it from the earth, it ry white, and the poison was all drawn Philip Tome, an old Hunter, Trapper, Interpreter, etc. medy fob Ague—As this is the"^ iany are troubled with the ague >erhaps your readers would like to kno e, safe and sure cure. Put a teaspoon ;rated wild turnip into^wo tablespoons •randy, sweeten and take just before th.eS s on. Try it a few times, and you will ,moreague.—-Rural New Yorker. jerkat? mtf> ®a?ette> PHILADELPHIA: :URDAY, APRIL 24, 18 ft 8 Breed —Among the recent arrivals at this a Sicilian barque. She is now lying at the Cheftaut street. She brought a cargo of and lemons of the very finest description. Drought a quantity of live stock not repre- i her bills of lading—a few myriads of cock- of a style and proportions which cannot do e than improve the species now known here A NEW PLANT IN THE SOUTH. From the Macon, Ga., Telegraph, The-attention of the public, and especi- ally the planters, has been directed of late to ., strange plant that has made its appeal • ance since t lie close of the war. It appears to be a dwarf clover,; nd has spread rapidly throughout this State, and, it is said, the entire'southern Slates. It is very thitrf jet, ■ches are from two a'nd half to three inches i covering the earth, as it were, with a beau- tiful carpet of green. It is much relished by cattle, and is a complete exterminator of Bermuda, joint sedge and other grasses. In middle Georgia it is very abundant, and attracts nui'k attention. It was not seen , before the'war. an / '*#&$ 4 Ah$*m SHORES fi^TUftURTUB 4ND ADVENTURES FROM HIS YOUTH UNTIL 1318, IN THE FIRST PART. IN PART THE SECOND) A VALUABLE, VEGETABLE, MEDICAL PRESCRIPTION, WITH A TABLE OF DETERGENT AND CORROBORANT MEDICINES TO SUIT THE TREATMENT OF THE J'-lhtiu DIFFERENT CERTIFICATES;:!;: ' <*>//;■/' VERSAILLES, KY. Printed by John H. Wilkins, Commonwealth. Offico. 1825* 4£ .\»JJJl4t 14 ^>:-£ To a person sincerely interested in the advancement of society aid of his country, it will be a very pleasing idea to reflect on the rapid progress and dissemination of leaning and politeness, which, within the present age have so pecu- liarly distinguished the inhabitants of these United States. We see the ruthless and wild savage, whose manners are roug \ and disposition cruel, softened and made smooth, and the mi.id expanded and enlightened by the advancement of society and education. Whatever may be the situation of society in other parts of the world, in this country, we may boast of our superiority to those illiberal prejudices, which not only cramp the juices, but sour the temper and disturb all the pleasing intercourse of society. With us, in tliii happy country, education is no longer confined within the schools of the wise, but like all the greatest blessings which heaven has bestowed on us, it becomes as universal as useful. This general diffusion of knowledge is the effect of that hap- py constitution, which is the pride and boast of the Ameri- can people. Tlie author of this work has principally applied to the productions of nature for the remedies by which he has ef- fected his great and principal cures. To the herbs and roots which grow in nature's garden, on the mountains and forests does he apply for the means by which he performs the many cures, which the living now can attest—Tliese he now offers to the public, which has been the result of a long—extensive and a very successful experimental prac- tice among all ranks and ages in this country. The object of the following treaties, is to suggest the proper means for preventing the numerous train of evils incident to the hu- man family—the means which he has found effectual when complaints have laid hold of the patient, and to remove the prejudices of opinion arising from ignorance against the au- thor. While reasoning and experiment has been applied to f 4 J almost every other branch of science and which has been with peculiar advantage applied to many other branches of me- dicine, tiiere can be nothing urged why the same reasoning and experiment may not be exercised to shew the powerful efficacy of nerbs and roots which^bas hitherto been little un- derstood and too much dispised and neglected by arbitrary custom and ignorant prejudice. Every improvement in the use of herbs and roots, must take its rise from more just ideas concerning their nature and the different causes which pro- duces the different complaints, and by a proper attention to this, nofonly the method of cure may be much adorned, but what is still more important, the prevention of these distress- ing and dangerous complaints may often be effected. The author in prosecuting this work may seem to pay more particular attention to some minute circumstances than ti ley may really seem to deserve. But let the reader reccollect that the slightest reasoning drawn from real observation may be of more utility/and may give greater information to ©.judicious inquirer, than the most extensive theory produ- ces, drawn from hypothesis alone. We too often dispise what is simple and plain, for the sake of those fancies of the mind which may be given at pleasure. The author has wrote a short sketch of his life in the first book with a few cases of his trials from his youth, both in sickness and in health, and has concisely given directions how to make dif. f 3rent kinds of diet drink. In Book 2nd. he has given more extensive directions how to make diet drink.?—Essences and decoctions, so plain and with such herbs that every farmer can procure without trouble, and such as will cure Ulcer?, Sores and Kings-Evils. Those who have furnished certifi- cate-, state their situation—how they were restored to healui and by whom. He then describes their complaints, and the means by which they were restored in each particu- lar case—He refers to the recipts used in such cases, and to avoid mistakes, furnishes a poetical index, directing the rea- der to each complaint—in which, such receipts were used. The author has acquired much of his information from a v man that was raised with the Indians—also, from an old India*, and from his mother, who was an Indian Doctoress. He has also received considerable information from two . :?> inent Physicians. He has given his own receipts for tho e of oUei y-Aj sitians, ;u;d oth^i -. he has bought, and litis made to crtr>?idcrn>:!e improvements from his own practical obeerva* tion. He has occasionally intersperced his work wiih pie- ce of poetrv, to divert the mind a;id to alleviate the situa- ti«»" of the patient. The author has supplied hinrWf wit!-. ;> good Librarv. of the most approved Medical Authors, to which he has frequent reference in difficult ard important cases. He treats of the various complaints incident to the human family. He lias exhausted more labor: ard spent more time on the consumption than a^v other complaint, in consequence of having Inst, a wife by that disease. He sometimes feels like the king- of Israel whe- the Syrian mon« arch requested him to heal Naaman. Kings 5. v. 7. Odire consumption whose resistless power Dost youth and age without remorse devour, How oft dost thou the virgins bloom displace And plant deaths image in her lovely face; How oft in vain the doctors skill are tried ^ With herbs and roots cull'd from the mountain side5 Or on the plains in rich profusion grow, Or shed their fragrance in the vales below. Not all Arabia's drugs nor spicy gums; Not all the balms that from old China comes, Can blunt the point of thy corrosive dart, When thy fell poison rankles in the heart; In hope of health, all hope forever flies, And God's own image by consumption dies, Ti•>•" husband, father, wives and children nv> 'a, But dust they are, and must to dust rc;-.u-a. t>" igned for thy releaf, Oh! man! Oft I've reflected, on this plan, Car-less of gain, I seek your health, T^ prove I love thee, more than wealthy O ly peruse this book a-"l see, Prn\id what I've wrote for thee. P member that, for thy success, I h' this book my skill express. C tained in those receipts, youl find^ H w I have beale-i the human kind. A'^e vour complaints, of deepest hue, R nember those receipts will shew, D'"ecti ons that are herein given, Ca - hf a guile to children even. As God has called me, I remain, Rebuking both disease and pain, The way that I my cures perform, Each one may practice without harm* Remember that the herbs and roots, Subdues the sharpest pains that shoots. B lieve this book the truth contains, O • vou by it will reap no gains. O' ! that the men! and ladies too, K.uew wha.'i this book wiy b:ii,jr to vv?^ DEATH. As the body without the spirit is dead, Jeremiah 2. 26 va Dead signifies one whose soul is separated liv-m his body, ei- ther by a natural or violent death and Naomi said u1 to her two daughters-in-law, go return each to her mothers house, the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with he> dead and with me, Ruth 1. 8. v. Often there are deatns by sword, by famine, by pestilence, by thunder, natural ai d by accident; and behold there came a great wind from the wilderness and smote the four corners of the house ard it fell on the young men and they are dead, Job 1. 19. v. It is appointed unto men once to die. Well what is death? there is something solemn in the very nam , hu: O who can tell what death is? none of our relations or neighbours re- turn from the grave to inform us. We must learn its na! ire, its cause and its consequences from the faithful word ofG d, We may see something of it in our dying friends. We may see the hasty progress of some fatal disease; the pains, the groans, the agonies of the dying—we have observed, we have seen many a man cut down in the midst of life, hearty, strong and cheerful one week, the next a pale, cold, lifeless corpse, lying in his coffin & carried to his grave, & some cut offwithout a moments warning, and the next moment in eternity. How true is the scripture ? all tlesh is grass & the goodliness thereof ast; e flower of the field; in the morningitflourisheth,in the ev- ening it is cut down and withered. How frail is man ? at i. is best estate he is vanity, he is crushed sooner than the mo:h. Wnat awful separations does death make? it removes us at once from our nearest relations and dearest friends—we s n it our eyes to all the world. Death puts a sudden period to the great, of all their pomp and power, and the rich of all their possessions. For man bringeth nothing with him i, o the world, it is certain he can carry nothing out. Death ia universal—Other evils are partial, but all men die; for wi iat man is he, that liveth and shall not see deat'.i? Death haa feigned in ail ages and though hi early times seme men iiv» ■f8] cdmany hundred years, yet they all died at test. T\^th reigis in all countries, as certainly as the tide ebbs a:.a flows, so one generation passeth away and another cometh. Tiiis is the way of all flesh; the grave is the house appoint- ed for all living; there is no discharge; in this war we must needs die. Death is in itself awful. The fear of death, the agonies of death, the ghashly appearance of the d-aad, the sad change that takes place in the body, which renders it offensive and obliges us tohurpyit out of our sight; the coffin, the shroud, the cold grave, the crawling worms, the sordid dust; all these are terrible things to nature. But what makes death a thousand times more terrible, is that it is the effect of Gods anger. O death, thou strange mysterious power Gi'tentimes seen, yet never understood, but by ths It.communicative dead! what art thou? The active mind of man that soars aloft, And worlds exotic finds or thinks he finds The dread clouds attempt to pass in vain, Lost and bewilder'd in the horrid gloom. Sae returns more doubtful than before, Of nothing certain, but of labour lost. All that is made must be destroyed; , All that is born must die; Child of mortality, whence comest thou, And vdiy do thy tears overflow? What simptons of grief hang like clouds on thy headi The cause of thy grief let me know. Since thou dost enquire for the cause of my grief, Tire truth unto you I will tell, Thy good council perhaps may afford some relief, And the force of my sorrow repel. __^ The ro?e I have seen in its beautiful bloom, Its leaves to the sun did display, While the bee, busy robber did rifle its sweets, Ad bear them in triumph away. I returned and beheld the beautiful rose V\ as dyed by the beams of the sun, A languid affluvia form it arose, But its beauty and gkry were gone* f» J The injects fve seen in the beams of tlie 6$5» i: ray'd in their gaudy attire, H'hile in mystic dances, meandering they run, And sparkle like lightning or fire. ! returned, and behold that the evening breeze Had swept them away like a dream; The pike and the swallow vast numbers did sieZe, And millions were drown'd in the stream. X tall stately tree grew erect on the green, And spread its fair branches around; The birds on the boughs in vast numbers were seen* And the beasts in its shade on the ground. I returned, and behold, that the tooth of old time, Had into the heart made its way, The branches were lopp"d by husbandman's axe, It mouldered and fell to decay. A man I have seen in the bloom of his youth, He leaped, he walked around, Banned of wisdom, of virtue and truth, And his heart did with gladness abound. I returned and beheld that creations fair king, Upon the cold ground was laid dead, His hand could not handle, his voice could not sing4 His beauty and glory were fled. My father and sister have resigned their breath, And of my own children three. The wife of my youth fell a victim to death, And left me six small children distress'd. I weep because death, the destroyer of man. Is spreading his terrors abroad; And seems discomposing the beautiful plan, That was laid by the wisdom of God. Tnis world at the best is a prison to many, Wnile through its dark dungeons they rove^ In vain t\v. y look round hat never can see The wife or the husband that's gone. g v ;> % 0 cease mournful mortal, O cease to repine, h<:i with sorrow thy breast dis<~-mpo:e, Thy station is fixed by wisdom divine, And the depth ofhis councils,who knows? Can wisdom and power have faults in his plan, Can one single purpose be cross'd? The designs of a God, there's no mortal can scan, In the depths of his wisdom we're lost. All friends and relations forego every murmering thought, Nor suffer thy heart to complain, Thy companion for a blessing, to life was brought, And God has recalfd them again. Then cheerfully take what his bounty still gives, And thankfully lift up thy voice, Since praise is a tribute he freely receives, Let thy heart in his goodness rejoice. From trouble and sorrow death will thee discharge, And free thee from sorrow and pain, The sphere of thy knowledge will greatly enlarge^ And bring thee to thy companions again. Then fly to the chamber of sickness and pain, Be thy childrens father and friend; Return to the duties of life once again, Till death aii I T labours shall end. RESURRECTION. The resurrection s ex ressly taught in the old and new Testament. David pake of the Resurrection of Christ, and them that !nn a \,. in tne nrst resurrectio? , is or shall be, also, in the likeness o' his Resurrrction;but it appears, that the resurrection was a doctrine unknown to the Jews; no future ..ewaids or punishments were threatened or pro- mised in the law, or hv hie prophets. To obedience were * promised long life, riches, honor, victorv over their enemies, Sic. while the reverse was threatene"! r.g. 'nstdisobedience . in the bo. k of Job. 20, 25, 26, 27, v. these seem to be a p!ain allusion to the resurrection} for 1 know that my Ke- [ii-3 ^eeiner Tiveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upco the :art' , and thaugh after my kin, warms destroy this bo- rlv. yet in my flesh shall I see God. This was held by the P a "'sees before the Saviour made his advent among them, but so little was it known prior to the coming of Cnrist, that Paul boldly asserts, that he hath brought life and immortal- ity to light through the ga pel; then let us view this antidote against the gloomy prospects that death and the grave pre- sents to our view, those that have lost a loving wife, a hinder child, an affectionate parent, with weeping eyes and aching hearts, standing on the verge of the grave. The coffin that contains the dear remains of his once loving and much loved friend! See it sinking slowly down; his children's eyes as well as his own looking through showers of tears like sunr- mer's sun through watery clouds; the dull clods begin to tumble on the coffin, shutting the door of this dark recep- tableofthe dead; sympathising friends and neighbours min- gle their tears and a gloomy silence prevails; an important question arises, viz. is this the last of herorhimheldsodear? no, no, no the cheering sun of hope breaks tiirougb the cloud, a voice speeks to the inmost soul, I am the Resurrection and the life. Charming sound—it scatters the gloom from the heart of my weeping friend—glorious Resurrection, he cries. In the belief of thee we can see through the dark clouds that hover over the tomb. Think not that this is the last of my departed companion—think not that the pit has shut its mouth upon him or her forever. Friends the glori- ous morning of the resurrection vvill dawn on the night of the grave: Then shall all friends and kindred Burst their tomb with sweet surprise, And in their Saviour's image rise. T'Tow my friends view and behold the pious Watts, what La r It when his enraptured soul exclaimed, Then let the last loud trumpet sound, And bid our kindred rise, Awake ye nations under ground, Ye saints ascend the skies. Hail glorious and blessed morn, had thou powelfal voice .that wakes the sleeping dead, thy power was shewn at the grave of Lr^arus, an4 over tb*e md.3W6 son they come at 'd:j (Vij bidding, mountains shall burst at thy command and the dark abysses of the sea yield up their dead. Bold rebellion, base backsliding stop your course and think with dread in destruction, there is no hiding death.— Hell and the grave will give up their dead; I am the resur- rection and the life. Hail, all hail thou once despised Na- zarene, son of Mary and of God, hail our spiritual Sampson, who entered the dark recesses of death and the grave and carried away its bars and doors; death greedily swallowed the bait of thy humanity and was caught on the hook of thy divinity with warrior's scars, deep wounds, and blood raised from the dead again. I see my everlasting Lord, my God who died from death to set me free. We understand that the trumpet will sound and all the sons and daughters will come forth, all kindred tongues and languages that ever has been learned or will be learned while time lasts, and every eye shall see when Paul first reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled. Did aheathen judge tremble and shall a christian be stupid and unaffected? but if we are wise we will act like Noah, who being warned of God of things no* seen as yet, moved with fear builded an ark to the saving of his family. If unwise we will be like his infidel neighbors who laughed him to scorn, and perished in the flood, and we shall have to die the second death if we are found Christless, speechless, helpless and hapless. How will their heads hang down and their knees knock together, O what pale faces, quivering lips and fainting hearts! O dreadful day when the earth shall tremble, the stars falling, the trumpet sounding, the dead raising, the elements melting and the world on fire, but this will be joy to an humble believer in Christ Jesus. As we have many friends and relations departing this life, some husbands leaving widows and orphans; this will shew my heart feels a sympathy for all in distress, as I have experi- enced the loss of father, sister, wife and three children and many other relations; but am blest with another loving companion that is a wife to me and a mother to my children; but like Job, one of Gad's afflicted race, thou can only cheer the drooping sou) and soothe the dying in the prospectof im- mediate death and spread a smile on the cold cheek of the sinking body. Yes my friends I know what you feel; yes I know you feel the soul sorrowful; soul burst from its bonds at the Kioru than magical sound of the word "resurrection. CI3J Farewell he cries, farewell for a while, ir-v much loved cor.;- panion or child, but not forever; the eartn . uui he dissolv- fd, the mountains melt away, the glorious sun shall cease r.o shine, the pomp and grandeur of kings and their tare ; s shall he found no more at all, but thou shall flourish in im- mortal youth where we shall see as we are seen and know as we are known. Keep on my dear children, your eavt'.uy and your heavenly father watches over sleeping dust, you shall be brought back from the land of the enemy; the dead shall hear the voice of the son of God and coma forth, hv- eryland that abounds with venemaus serpents, abound*. with antidotes against their ill effects; the resurrection is the cure for death. Few and evil have the days of our pii= grimage been; In early life our sun in clouds arose, And when quite young both of our fathers died, Left us alike among our friends and foes; The world our way and providence our guide; Too often left our way, wav'd course to steer, E'er right from wrong we fairly could discern, We went too oft we know not why or where, And many painful lessons had to learn. Our hearts when tender to each other mov'd# We felt it so but did not know the cause, We'knew but only knew that sure we loved, Quite simple children led by nature's laws, At length that spark we scarcely had perceived, Was fan'd by nature to an ardent flame, We for and in each other only lived, Thus in the law and humble walks of life, Our short and tedious journey we began. A man well pleased that he had got a wife, The wife well pleased that she had got a man. Some joys 'tis true we met with in the way, But they too oft were interspereed with pain, For it is certain that in life's short day, The web of life is seldom woven plain, Where Allegheny clifts its ponderous head, We have encamped on its rocky side, 'On winter snows our equipage have spread, While wolves and panthers round our lodging cryed, While no black crimes our conscience's distress., We lav folded in each others arms. MM Her father, mother, brother and her sister Potff, By a consumption to the grave was hurl'd, A id last September death has call'd for her, And almost left me friendless in the world; Their grand-ma sinking by a weight of years, Like the poor widowed melancholly dove, T lat on the waiving branches rides forlorn* Alas! old Jacob I can see thy tears, And hear thy heart with manly sorrow groan; In a strange land no friend thy bosom cheers, And thy lov'd Rachael is forever gone. May all my children follow truth divine, The way to dory that the pure has trod, Then shall I say they are no longer mine, The church their mother and their father God. A man comparatively speaking maybe deemed asleep du- ring the whole course of his life, until he recognises the ap- proach of death, when, from a view of his present or future state every faculty of life is roused from that leathargy. We ere all put in this world to fill up some sphere, from the king on the throne down to the beggar. Let all try to improve his talent according to what is given him. Let all trades or prnfessions assist each other in time of need, in sickness or in health. If a physician should fall sick, council thy bsother,, exciiange trips when he is sick. This proverb, truly might apply, And I might save my pelf; That when I have a sad complaint^ Physician heal heal thyself. But if the reader should inclin" This proverb to apply, I'd ask him who is qualified, When given out to die. Let sad disease with violence Upon your vitals sieze, Your stomach burn and brains inflame^ Then practice if you please. If this apology prove faint, Suffice it will to say9 t<9] £. noble heart is well display^ tn acting in this way. To cultivate true friendliness, Between two fellow chips; No better way can be devised, Than by exchanging trips. I thank the Lord for every thought, That mov'd toward this great end, That in this way I saught relief, And have relief obtained. Tnen let mechanics, farmers, quacks, And every other grade, Learn some good moral from these lines* And give each other aid. For Jesus said when here on earth, Dont study saving pelf; Love both your friend and enemy. And neighbour as thyself. I was lorn on the South Branch if Potomac, in the State cf Virginia, on the 17th day of July, A. D. 1786. I have been informed by my father, who was an Englishman, and born in the City of London; and was regulaaiv bred to the practice of physic. He has told me that he had a wife and tnrce children in Europe; but unfortunately lost his wife; after which, he came to America, (the garden spot of the world,) and here took my mother to wife, who, (from the best information I can obtain,) was the daughter of an English- man, but her mother was a half Indian. My parents had but one child beside myself, which was a daughter, whose name was Mclinda. Unfortunately for my poor father, he bei ame badly crippled by a log, .which fell on him whilst lifting; whereby he became a cripple all his days. This cir- cumstance rendered him unable to follow his avocation, ex- cept immediately in the neighbourhood; the benefits arising fro-n wnich practice, was not sufficient to support his family. He then resolved to follow shoemaking for a livelihood.-— He was a very poor man it is true, but I believe a very good honest Methodist; who wished to do unto all men as he weald they should do unto him. My parents went on for ea:no years together rejoicing in harmony and peace; hut for my part, I was as prone to evil as snarks are to fly up- wards. It may not be uninteresting to give an account of some of my acts when a child; as it may he some advantage to those who, may have children of a similar turn to deal with. I have been informed by my parents,that when I first began to crawl, that I was so vile in disposition, that if they would not gratify ma, by giving me tea-cups and sau- cers to play with^tlan 1 would appear to fly into a pet and g Hop around the house on ail fore* like a tarripia, as hard a^ I could, for several times before I would stop. I never shall forget a circumstance that happened one day in the time'of harvest, at my fathers. I was in one of my tantrums, galloping around the house with a cat in my ha a-ls, seeing my mother take, off* a large pot of bacon a^d crhnage from over the fire. I waited until she had take .the haron and cabbage out: then as soon as she turned around to pet it on the table, I slipped to the pot, and plunging the p >or cathead and ears into the boiling liquor; the result of which was a dead cat, and a <-c hied child. Now if nnr readers should be so miimppy as to have to [17 J !eai wr,h a child of my disposition, let them remember, that j. stitch in time saves nine; and that if they spare the rod, The child ie spoiled; so the indulgent parent may withhold the rod until even an excessive application will fail to have iia desired effect. I once heard of a young man, who had committed a crime; and his father undertook to correct him for it, but he invited his father to walk out of the house with him; and, when they had come to a small twig,he told his father to bend the twig, which he accordingly did; he then turned to a large sapling, and desired him to bend that; to which the old man replied, he was unable; then, neither are you able to bend me, re- turned the son: but if you had have bent me when I was young and tender, like that little twig, I would not have departed from that position when I came to be a man. This anecdote is too true, for I confess it was too much the case with me. But it appears that I was not only a dis- obedient, but an unfurtunate child; because, from what my mother tells me, I must have suffered vastly when young.—• She informs me that she frequently worked in the field, (as do most of the women who live in that country;) and that she would tie me to her back, and work in that way until she became almost exhausted with fatigue, then she would wrop me up and lay me down on the cold ground in a corner of the fence, and when she would return to me, she fre- quently found my clothes frozen to the earth. These are some of the scens I passed through before I could recollect- But at length I became capable of observation and reflec- tion; when I recollect going with my parents to meeting once; where 1 heard the people preach and praise God very much. The day following, my mother being in her garden at work, I stood up in a chair and began to preach to the cats, calling upon Jehovah to come down to these poor sinners, (alluding to the cats,) but at this moment I was interrupted by my mother's stepping in, who was about to give me the rod, but was prevented by an old man who just came in and told her not to whip me, for I might be a man when they were all dead. The circumstance of being detected in my folly, and narrowly escaping correction, incensed me very much against the cats. It had been but a few days before that I had seen a poor old man put in his silent tomb. I therefore resolved to try some such experiment with the cats: so on the next da^l took one of the cats (after digging a hole in the ground like the one I had seen the old man put C t U j 'n) and hurried the cat in like mar at:. Toe .'ay following I went to see how my cat locked, but when 1 op-meci toe grave, she rolled her eyes up so frightfully, that I madu haste and covered her up again and never returned anyoneae to examine hey. This was wretchedness to perfection; to treat a poor animal with such barbarity. We had but one poor cat left, which in a few days got her head fast in a black-jack, which caused her to jump and caper about the house most horribly, which frightened me vastly; my moth- er exclaimed that it was a witch, but for my part, I thought that it was tiie spirit of the cat which I had just hurried. I thought that if I had have cut off her head, that she could have come as well with her head in her mouth, as she could have burst through the ground, and come from the dead.— In fact, I cant describe my feelings. I now began to have some knowledge of right and wrong, and of course, knew myself to be very bad; though I was hut very small. I re- solved to do better, but I soon would forget my vows, and return as it were to my wallowing in the mire-again. Irec- collect that once in the spring of the year, when my mother was preparing her garden, and sowing her seed, that I went with her and observed closely what she was doing. It hap- pened so that she left her seed and hoe in the garden, and went into the house about her business. Her absence pre- sented an opportunity forme to engage in mischief; which opportunity was no sooner offered than embraced. I took the hoe and dug several holes in the ground—I them took the seeds, placed them in the holes and covered them up.— My mother soon returned, and on missing her seed (know. ing my mischievous turn) accused me with having them, but I denied it to the last. She gave me a few stripes to no ef- fect; but in a few days the seed told the truth by making their appearance. hough I had lied, I now confess I de- served the rod severely—not so much for taking the seed, as telling the lie. The reader will discover by this, that "when a child is whipped and receives not enough to humble it, the rod does more harm than good. The truth of this I am induced to know by woful experience. My father had an orphan boy bound ty him, who in the absence of my father and mother caught a horse of my father's on which the orphan boy and a cousin of mine got, and after galloping him around the field for some time, rode up to the door and dismounted; my cous- in ran into the house and picked up a pet owl and threw on r w * ♦>.o he-\ which cic-aahim to kick the orphan; which hrajre the rim of his belly. Wejointly agreed to keep this a secret horn my parents. The boy remained in a bad way i. yx'ivA time,with high fcvei's and severe pain; vet no one told the cause; nor was it ever found out until just before his death. It is in this way that, wicked children bring on themselves calamities which would not happen if they were brought up in a proper manner. Fori have often heard it said and that of a truth too, that evil communications cor- rupt good morals. And as a good name is so much easier lost than gained, we should by all means endeavour to keep our children out of bad company. I knew a boy once, who kept bad company until he fell into evil practices. Being one day from home he stole some water-melions; when he re- turned to his mother, instead of giving him the cowhide, she received the mellons. Shortly afterwards he stolen. hoe—then a silver spoon—his mother received both with gladness. It was not long after, heihre he commenced hig- way robbery, and then to the gaikows. Just before he jump- ed off the cart, his mother pushed in amongst the crowd to see him, when he exclaimed, O mother! mother! if you had have corrected me for the first theft I committed, instead of receiving the plunder, I should not now be here. Good God! what ought to have been her feelings? This was far from being the case with me, for my parents instructed me, hoth in honesty and the fear of the Lord. Notwithstanding this I would steal into my mother's milk box and drink all her cream. But I was caught at my tricks one day by an old woman who lived with us, and she gave me a complete ilogging, which done me as much good as a. dose of medi- cine would a sick person; hucause it came when needed and was well administered. This whipping made me calm for a while, but still I remained evil in disposition. In this juve- rile period of mm life I was certainly very ungovernable.-"- About this period one of my fathers horses was st.lading at food, when I crept up behind him and stuck my knife in his hag, which caused him to kick me on the side of my head, which was very near finishing my course in this world; for it caused the blood to run out of my nose, mouth and ears. I was confined for some time with very little hopes of recovery. A few months after placed me dn my feet again; but I assure you I did not use my knife in that way any more. This convinces me, that bought wit is best, if it is not fcaugki too de .:—:':i the harm jeme me the print of his nailes ■■•' I to learn, instead of letters, aad lam sure chat I shall nevuf forget the lesson as long as I live. Tnus you .nay olten see those who entertain high opinions of themselves, as it re- spects their knowledge and ingenuity in mischief, brougnt to misfortune and shame like little Richard and his knife. Behold vile Dick, whilst creeping up, With pen-knife in his hand, With which he sticks the horse's leg, Whilst he at food doth stand: The horse thus pricked,you may suppose, As he was at his food, Did give poor Dick, a horrid kick, Whilst he behind him ~t ood, Down fell poor Dick, with screams and cries; As you may well suppose, With mangle head and bunged up eyes, And bleeding ears and nose. From this dear youth pray warning take, And keep from tricks like this, I beg you will your ways forsake, Like Dick did in this case. When I was about twelve years of age I accompanied my father to Baltimore, and just before we came to the City, we came to where the convicts from the penitentiary were at work on the turnpike-road. They presented an aspect which I had never heard described, nor ever fancied. Some of them were chained around the legs; others, around their necks, while some were handcuffed; some were digging, whilst others were working at the wheelbarrow, and there did not appear to be more clothes on the whole company, (the guards excepted) than would have cloathed one mam The guard appeared to be in battle array, with their cutlas- ses and other warlike implements. As we passed the com- pany some of the convicts, (some of them) would ask us for a piece of bread, others for tobacco, &c. but we were debar- ed from bestowing any thing on them. We lay near their camp that night, where we could frequently hear the guard cry "all's well, all's well.', I declare if I thought the place of torment in the other world, was as intolerable as the pen- itentiary, I would most fervently pray the Almighty God to keep us all out of it, by his saving grace, whieh teaches us to dojustice, love mercy, and walk humbly before God,-— t2l] And mav we he chrcctcd into an honest path ami like go, 5 iR-publicans provide well for our families, supplying tiiem with warm fires of cold winter nights, a plenty of tonuhrta- ble clothes, a table affording every necessary of life: wi net we are blessed with a handsome, merry and honest wife. There is not a nobler ornament in this life than mug. iky,, combined with industry and ingemmv,it must produce hap- hmes,: Yea thrice happy is the person in whom these meet, for how sweetly must their days glide awa van ! if they have the blessing of God, they must have abnesi a real at J sensi- ble paradi-e on earth. But alas! there are a great many who are like the poor convicts, experience something like a per-anny even whilst in this worm. Ihetwith.*landing al] this, we reached Baltimore; where 1 was much pleased with the bmldrngr, and ncvelkes of the Ciry. Before I had ad- vanced very far into the town, I saw some little boys licking some empty sugar barrels, and being uncommonly fond of sugar myself, I took a hand with them; hut had net been there long before soinocf the noise a hreed f lion me and gave me a nice trimming; which induced me to knave them and return to rr.v father. We then returned home, and shortly afterwards began to arrange his business v/i#i a view of removing to Virginia, (rent being very high ana bavin;- our water to haw! about a mile;) he therefore closed his bu» sinessand started to Virginia: but in cur mute wc experi- enced very hard times, on account of the r.carci !y of provis- ion and water. We sometimes gee-^ a. high as four-pence per quart for water. I reccri!-act th.-t ike aimy commend- ed by General H. Lee, which was marching; againts h o in- surgents or whiskey boys, (as they were raked) was in Win- chester: I became so much attached to the musick that 1 would have followed the array, could I have escaped from my parents; but I thank mm God for preventing my des.'ssn; being put into execution. As we travelled we experi-. need hard times indeed, on account of the scarcity ofhoth money tmd mxvision. We would call for provision, and the reply w.aiJ be, that there was a plenty ahead ..-1' us; and in this wan, we would travel three days sometimes without getting any thing for ourselves or horses; at length we came to an old Methodist, who*provecl to he a friend indeed. He de- scribed a corn field that lay about a mile in front of us, ami immediately on the road ; from which, he told my father to take as much as would answer his purpose that nisrht, and directed him where he could ,~et more.on the road; he also pave us what meal and meat would last us urml we, -ovm! purchase more; and in this way we scuhmd on to Virginia, where my father bought two hundred acres of land and set- tled on it: but our hard times was not over yet, for we had to give five dollars per barrel for corn, and a shifting par pound for bacon, and very little to be commanded at to.at price. Under these circum dances wc suffered vastly, for I have seen my parents set over thorn last hoe-cake begging each other to eat it, (when they knew not where the next was to come from,) at length they would both cry heartily; I also about the same time, saw cows which had* died in the raire skinned and eaten by the neighbours: Indeed, we thought we were well off if we could get a slice of meat to' eat with our greens. But these times did not last long, tili t/ant began to vanish before plenty as darkness docs before the rays of the sun. At length I was entered to school, to a very good teacher; but the result was but sorrow. I was a wiciic-d chap and would quarrel and fight with the rest of the schollars; to the neglect of my business, which caused the teacher to use the rod, but to no efmct. He then tried to cow me by causing me to stand on a block, for an hour at a time, pointing my fin- ger at a certain hole in the wall; but this done no good. He then offered me money as an inducement to obedience, but in vain were all his attempts. I have heard it said that mo- ney would make the old wife trot; but it appears it would not make Dick dutiful. So at length, I was known by the ap- pelation of devil Dick, h was about this tmm my poor old mother began to kiss black betty too often, and indeed my own taste was inclined to it; for I vyould go a mile or two for whiskey for her, in the absence of my father, which provok- ed him very much: so that vdncn she returned one r.ight a- hout three sheets in the wind, he shut the door and ferbn.de her entering, which so enraged her, that she caught up an axe and stove the deer open; a.t this my father sprang to ins gun and presented it at her breast, at which instant I siermd the gun in my arms, near the muzzle and raised it uo, at which time it firedjand blew a hole through the dom, and burned the hair on my head considerably; but as God would have it, there was no murder done; nor did ir even deter my mother from hard drink; but she has followed it closely from, that day to this: and I must acknowledge, that in the early 'part of my life it was too much the case with m-v-elf; but einrn .that I have cm*:• vr.r-ra that interne- :r■incr nr ^d mas dk» r*>j eoru and ruin, to ml those who pursue it. Experience haa Droved this fact, that drunkards and gluttons, shall not live out half their days: therefore, fly from these evils you; g reader, for tney are adders that will sting you to death! Be- hold how nmuy souls have fallen victims to intemperance! and we must admit, that, those who trample upon the laws of nature, and make themselves more than beasts, should ex- pect seine untimely end. How many instances does histo- ry give us of this kind ? and how many do we daily behold with our own eyes? Wherein men begin firmly,but in the end are destroyed by their own intemperance. We have a very striking example in Alexander the great, who conquer- ed nations, and yet was conquered by the influence of in- temperance ; and so put an end to.both his conquests, and ids life. What a horrid spectacle is the drunkard ? he brin'gs on his system a heavy load of loathsomness and diseases. There are few who know all the desperate sorrows that are created by drunkeness; but, if I am not mistaken, it in- flames the blood; causes the eyes to be sore; it causes drop- sies, gouts, scolding wives, empty dishes, naked children, weedy cornfields, bad fences, hollow-horned cows, broken shins, bruised heads, black eyes, bloody noses, empty purs* es and bad reputations. But if drunkards could see the evil of their ways, as two men did who were about to commence law, in a very heavy case with each other, it would be well for them. Two men, once were about commencing a law suit. One of them Went to a very eminent lawyer, with a view to employ him; but the lawyer let him know that he was already employed in the case; but reccommended a cer- tain lawyer, who he said was superior to himself; and propos- ed sending a letter by him to the other on the subject. The man took the letter; but on his way it came into his head that he would break the seal, and see what one lawyer had written to the other: and behold! the letter read something like this: Ther's two fat geese lives in the west, Those nests are feathers of the best; Do you pluck one, and I the other; Lawyers you know, must pluck a brother To be great, or rich, 'tis plain, The lawyers all must live by gain; "Two such as these you'll rarely find, Pray do not be too over kind, r 24i Evm '.duck as Lag ab ther's a fcath.e?> Ger.d home two naked fools teenier- So the man pursued his journey no farther, but wen* to his antagonist, and shewed the letter, which induced their: to came la a compromise. Now if the drunkards would Como to ihi^ compromise with their throats, and keep at a reme "table distance from ardent spirits, it would be a nies- tad"liunfCo But alas! how many are there who never desist ire m their divination until it proves their everlasting over- throw I have a handsome wife at heme. And much about her modesty; So oftentimes abroad I rome, While she's at home as you may scz-, rd'eat shortly Pme induced to think, Her heart is filled with jealoussy; And consequently fellow din !:, Fmm all my troubles to get from •• At length I fell into a fray! And got myself immensely heat; Ida fact before I got away, I scarcely could maintain my feet; My eyes, my nose, my ears, my head, 'Were mangled much and bruishl sorej To meet my wife, my greatest dread, I knew the-result was uproar. Thus.yc-u see it is like rain, if you will keep out of it you n v ...\ not'be wet by it. It is also like law, for if you will hiee fr<. x it, your money will not be drawn from your pock- ets to pay fee* bills. But alas! dissipation steals on a man Ike deep on the smc>.-ore. As adoor creaks on its hinges, in. turns the sluggard on Lis bed; crying a little more sleep, a L'tdm m.me slumber, and a little more of folding the hands i -other, for sleep. So he lets half his days pass without am. rational improvement of his time. 1 hoard of an old lady once, who was in the habit of kis- cing klack bettv very frequently, until she began to pat her men, and at last she would cry out reach me the bottle John, far the more I drink the better I feel. hut one blessing is, if you dont hug the bottle it will not or:yr- a Pe!.i:a to vcu; • ::d the iarther you keep two ruffi. [26] cna apart, the less danger there is oftheir rioting. And again, {he less spirits we drink the more friend we will have.— When I was about fifteen years of age, I conceived myself a man, and started one day to hunt chesnets. In my rout I calle'd in at one of the neighbours, where there was a plen- ty of spirits, and shortly after I had been there, seven or eight more youngsters entered also, and after making prety free with my neighbour's spirits, my head began to feel ve- ry light, which caused me to flee to the woods and there as- ^cend a large chesnut tree which had been lopped, and there fell a sleep. I reccollect when I awoke every thing appeared to turn around very fast; and after puking I fell asleep again,andhowI got down from the tree I cannot tell. This circumstance gave me a dreadful shock, to think of the danger I had been in, and the peculiarity of my escape.-— This induced me to make a promise against dringing ardent Spirits. But shortly after this I went to a frolick, and for- got my former promises, and soon got tipsy and slipped off to an old house, and crept under some straw. Shortly af- ter there came a woman and sat over me, and in a few min- utes there came a man and sit with her. They talked and sported for some time. I declare the burden was great, but I endured it until the man got up and went out. Whether it rained or whether it was designed for a bath house I will not say; hut the fact is, that the dew had fallen or the mist came, so that I found it was no place for me, and I began to rise. What else could I have done, seeing I was about to suffocate? The circumstance of my raising the straw un- der the woman so alarmed her, that she sprang like a deer, and screamed like a distracted person; making her escape to the house for her life. I heared of an old lady once, who had a drunken husband, who had tried every means to dissuade him from this de- testable practice, but to no effect. (Seeing him very drunk one day) took him upon her back one day and carried him to church and put him in a vault, and there left him. When she thought he had came too himself, she returned: knock- ing at the vault; at which her husband hailed, saying who is there? To which she replied, it is me with a meal for a dead man. Why gentle sir, replied the husband, a bottle or two of good spirits would be much more acceptable than a kershaw of any kind. This was a shocking reply to the poor woman; finding that every effort of the kind had failed aer. Now ses her smiting on her breast, exclaiming oh? f*S} wretched woman that lam! My days are m'tiel, and m/ pleasures are gone. My device has proved of no effi ct, for my husband is no better; but is growing worse, for he can- not make a mealewithout spirits. It is a fact, but too true, there are but very few who are acquainted with the pov er of habit; but those who have experienced, must acknowl- edge that use is second nature; and in fact, a vile or evil habit steals on a person before they are aware of it: and when once acquired are not easily shaken off, and it h ot- ten the case,that it can prevail on us to abandon a beloved lass, with whom we have been in the habit of associating for some time. So strong and powerful are their charms that even the pangs of death, with all its accumulated ter- rors is sometimes unable to deter us all, though we know the consequences will prove fatal. Great God! what an im- mense struggle it requires to root out ancient and corrupt practices. It is like cutting off the offending member and casting it away. It is proven to a demonstration, that the immoderate use of ardent spirits, is more baneful to our commonweath than devastation and war. For drunkeness is the annoyance of modesty,the trouble of civility, the spoiler of wealth, the de- struction of reason. It is also, the brewers agent, the ale- house-keepers benefactor, the beggars companion, and the officers perplexity. A drunkard is his wife's woe, his chil- dren's sorrow, and resembles more the brute than the man. But when I consider the case of a real sot, I would ad- vise him not to make any rash promises relative to drink, for he will be as sure to break them as he lives. But as for myself, I nevei was beastly drunk but three times in my life. The last time, I lay limber for the space of three hours without a hope being entertained by the spectators of my recovery. But I recovered, and I then vowed never to drink any more spiri uous h quors, unless I was by myself or in company; and not then unless I chose, and I have found it just as good apromise as I could make. How often have you seen men get drunk and abuse their tender wives and children, and perhaps cause them to flee to fence corners or to hunches of weeds for protection, and many times neighbours have to interfere to save tleir lives. Then what is the result (when he gets sober and is told of his conduct) he swears that another drop of ardent spirits shall never pass down his throat during life. But soon af. ter, he again m&ets witb-hia old wsipar^a at a grog-shop; t*n ho tolls his corrcanions he cant drink any thing on ecccufit of his oath, but his mouth begins to water; he then desires his companions to tie his heels up to the joist and let his head hang down, and by this means he can save his oath, aa the spirits must run up instead of down. After this is re- peated two or three times, he entirely forgets his oath; geta as drunk as ever, returns home and treats his family as bad as ever. His conrfield you will find in the hands of Major Crah-gra?s and Sheriff Cucleberry. But he thinks never mi id, for the Lord will provide for sots, fools and spend- thrift. Those circumstances make me break forth in the follow- in£ poetical strains, composed for the purpose. THE DRUNKARD'S LOOKING GLASS, Ccpernicious too, like the rest, Believed there was wisdom in wine; And thought that a cup of the best, Made reason the brighter to shine. When I was both healthy and young, I thought I would act the big man$ So often would quaff the full bowl, And fondle the bottle and can. At length I loved hetty so well, That into my noddle she steals, And what is more horrid to tell, She often does trip up my heels* Adas! what an evil it is, So often to drink to excess^ It robs me of credit and cash, And brings on me shame and distress, Tve shamefully treated my wife, Which makes her dejected and sad; My children have nothing to eat, And nothing wherewith to be clad. My fences are going to rack, My farm is over run with the weeds? Thus for a substance I lack, And all by my a"*n horrid de.e ecovery. But to die and meet an angry God, in an un- prepared state, was an idea too shocking to be borne.— Son. said I was poisoned, and one of my neighbours went to an Indian doctor and got medicine for poison, but this had no effect. I then sent to a doctor by the name of White, who administered to me without any good effect. There was a physician who lived in about half a mile of us, who had been aniolimate acquaintance of my father'-, and who was a very warm friend of mine. This doctor caused a glister to be made of green bitter gord guts, which he ad- ministered to. me, which caused the swelling to subside, and proved that he had properly judged of the complaint, for in three or four hours I discharged better than a gallon of blood and corruption, with a great many pieces of skin, from the size of a quarter of a dollar to a half. He then applied a large blister plaster to the pit of my stomach—keeping eve- ry door open to give me air, for my pulse was nearly gone, andio fact, I died away several time. But! retained my senses perfectly, and frequently heard the by standards say I was dying. At length the Doctor came to me and observ- ed it was Useless to flatter me any lormcr, that I would coii» E [ 34 j irmue thus to die and recover until about m.ohdgnt, at vcmm. time, h.c tnoimm 1 y ouhi make mv final exit from U is world. But no was mbmkeo, furwmch I am vein thaimmi, x.a, I hecame so lean thai a person might almost see my < ve- balls through the lids. Ami if J eat any thing it was him hot emiters on mv stomach, ioy three months I could Lake no sustenance but young fowls noimd ioa jelly, and that with- out bread. Many times,! cried heartily when, 1 sav. the rest of the family enjoying health, and partaking ot the comforts of a aood appetite, while I was deprived ci the blessing of participation. 1 then sent to a water Doc or, who sand a greater part of my liver was destroyed, and that I must consequently die in a short time. This was vein un- pleasant news to a poor aiiiicmu person, with their soul sink- ing in dispab . with bodily disease,and the apprehension of shor'h, i.aving to appear before an incensed though nicickul God, to give an account of the deeds done in the Oody, and to hear that awful denunciative; of depart ve cursed into e- verlastmg fire, prepared for the devil and his angcis; where there shall be v,reepin.g, and wailing and g;ashing of teeth. I do assure you dtar reader in such a case as this was the patient has sufficient difficulties to contend with without the addition of a sin sick soul. It is an awful thing to re" fleet on seeing our friends lingering around our bed, wait- ing to take their final farewell—to feci your tongue cleave to the rough of your mcufn, and the blood settling under your nales—yours cleekj ale, your lips blue, and your hands clinched, and your breathing perceptably growing shorter. To finish this portrait, your beloved wife and children with grief too mighty for vent; hanging their heads in silent but soul bursting sorrow, whilst there is no hope of passing an- other day in their beloved society; and last and most of all, a consciousness th v,e re not prepared to meet our Sa- viour in peace, in a ft world than this, when we shall hear the last loud trum '+ sound, calling the nations, both greatand small, to the judmnm.(meat of God. Then death hell and the grave will have to yield their dead, and every hone will re-unite with its bone. There will be none so great as to escape, nor yet any so small as to be foggotten • but every human being will be brought before the burning bar of God. Then shall we receive that awful denuncia don of depart ye workers of iniquity, I now you not. These were my reflections as it re peeled time and eternity. Mv disorder continued to rage for fear or five menth:-. 4.t nightn ! «^0 i i mas trn'j'" ■■: -v?fh a violent disentary-*-v. ifh violent pfcina i ,im •' --els and-reast. One day I walked out about two I' mdivd -sards, where I mat one of mv old comrades, who was c e-ddnmhiv frightened at me, as imagining he had seen a a.i?ari J ion. He said be was certain I v.as dead, and lie t - saw my spirit. In fact, three or four times during this sp.oh,j iaiarri ni myself dying, at.which times I hade nm f' -.d« fa- e-o-elk The only relief I received from this burm lot ••^nninav omm', was to take the top crust of a hot In id ^r;'-no-cake rtec-ped in vmogar. and bind to the place v\]U a Hrt'y At length mv serves became so weak, a.'d my s^'fi'cm so -,-dm-md, that my hip bones became very sore. Tup '■■x^-utirdi g pad of which, so fir exceeded the heat in mv -Oomno^ that, mv meast freoueriy'ecame blistered v■•'■^^■\f pm-cep+ior of the pain, which blisters at. length be- came bo-go nmd g sores. I generally had inward levers, a swelling m ■■ m fact, and a had dvsentary, but no cough of co^soauence. 'a^ a- weak trenhling in my lungs, and a rth" '.niTT ar.d pad station at mv heart \n- CipTiq; t,^-]i;vr] to a ?)hvrickri, who sent me mercury* yd ir' T tlnev : way; and applied to a friend who I knew to h'- «H!ful i eras in make me a diet drink* Toe camped- tiou -."7s i* t haws: a handful of dew-berry briar roots, a hnrdfu! of h-. -dock roots, a handful of the inside of thebark of wild <-bro- v. a»bandfulof the inside bark of sassafras, and a hn- dnd •'" white ash tops put in a vessel, to which was ad- d 1 t-o g d'oon of water, placed over a fire and boiled half nrnv. This I made uce of far mv constant drink, using no imgs tmsb, or sweet milk during the lime. The intent of {■in* nmdb doe was to cleanse and puiify the blood. I also te.->'c fifteen drops of+he essence of pepperruint.in a little wa- *;'r. in.4 Pono---1 went t<> bed. This was.to enliven the blood arnl created such a violent twicbing ami jerking in my r.e-vpa. that vou cord 1 see the '-n- fuils; abstah-ing fram cider, bacon,sweet milk and cabbage. when I commenced taking this medicine, I was bloated, had a bad appetite,sallow complexion, night sweats, and a'dys- entary, but this removed them all. My constant drink wis made thus; I put iii'iy new nails in a bason, in whicii I kept my constant drink. Td- supplied the water with mim J qua! ides. Notwithstanding I recovered very fast to all appearauc>-; jet, there remained a soreness in my breast for three years; eluimgymch time, I had to live on beef, pigs, chicken?, ryo mush and buttermilk: rye bread lightered, rice, imported molasses, light wheat bread, &c. There thevicommenced witanie a stomach ache, like the heart burn, af-cr eating I was troubled with a disptq.sv, da- tuieacy or wind passing through my bowels; inaa uour or two it appeased as if I would belch up all I had eate> , and some times a dry tickling cough. I then got a quart of good rye v hi, aey, and put a gill of good clean tar in it and a ma spoonful of salt- peter. Of this medicine, I took a dram two or three times nr day; and when the bur emg or belching toon-place, 1 swallowed a half tea spoonful of adauber salts': inabout a week or ten days, I became in tolerable goad health. I then made a weak lye of cwder s» • ll lime, and* took a little three or four iimes perday, in a little sweet milk. I then beat stone coal fine and took as much as would lay on the point of a case knife, in a little watom from which course I became considerably relieved. 1 then sold my land and moved to Botetourt county where I established a shop and got a pretty good run ofcus! on, but in consequence of my health being very much impair- ed, I was not able to bear the fatigue neceh :oby resuhhg from such a practice. I continued there inn or six months, having great success* I then moved to Kentuc- ky, and knowing my bodily infirmity, I resolved to with- hold my medical. skill from the puhlick. On mv re mo* ving to this State, I settled in Lincoln county/ where one of my near neighbours had a i.erro woman who was in a very low way; tine Doctor who attended her, oavho* giv- en her out tonic, I thought that I could 1 elp her, and e u> ceived it to be my duty to make the oxperbnmt, I adminis- tered to her, and she soon recovered, frmi, which circum- stance the news soon spread through the neighberboe d, shortly after vriiich the people began to flock to me hem didferent directions, and in this way I was forced into prac- tice in this State, and have great reasons n> thank God for the success wfTh which my labours base been crowned. So evanslve has been my practice, that it has been a difficult. task forme with the aid from two, to lour active Sbadeids, to prepare medicines, write prescriptions, and administer- and this is the case without any diminution, -up to the pre- sent day. I began poor in this zcor'd, and still remain re- I'Jy father left me a handsome little estate, hut by the mis- .'na. n^soiem, of the persons whom lie chose as his mmm^ [38 j tors, it was ah lost to me, except one bund re u acre? of ome- ned five pounds in case. Oee < f me adufs was-a Me- thodist preacher, and the other a class leader in the same society. Tney both commenced merchandizing and m pro- cess of time, run through ooth their O'XM and my estate, ws- cept w oat has been aoove uanmd. The preacher after- wards hind at his taoie, and the ot or ennmn to utter pover- ty. Thus aave 1 seen poor orphans treated.in this world, whb.m makes me break out in the following poetical stiains: This is the very best world tiiat we live ia, To lend, to spend, or to give in : But, to beg, to borrow, or get a man's own, 'Tis the very worst world, mat ever was known. Ever since this circumstance, I iiavc paid very dear for fm wit, which lias brought me to the following conciu o -u:j w ■ och I am also under an obligation to the pool for. Since man, to man, is .so unjust. *Tis hard to know, whom I may trust; I've tru-ted maay to my sorrow, So pay to da-, 1*11 trust to-morrow. _JBv n.e adoption of this plan, I have bee: emnhle-.l to Soo'ozo through the woile pretty well; germ-milo having mmey enough to nay my debts, ami where-viiluiil to sup- part mv family, fhit f ■ ere experienced as much hardship m d addiction, as any man living of my ag.n I once was travelling ia a cold drisly .spell of weather, ami had in walk very fast, to keep myself warm; at length it commen- ced snowing very fast, and continued until the snow became half lag d'jep: and I continued walking until the cold. sweat ran dowi my body profusely. At length I became so sleepy I concindod I should be compiled to lay down and take a nap, my joints became so sthf that I could scarce- iv moya one'loot before the other. But by the mercies of God,] wascua' but to reach-a house ef kind friend?-, who milked their oovm, and caused rre to drink plentifully of w urn milk, they also put'my f t and legs into soring wa- ter, and nf:1- d. my joints who s.wv, and flannel cloths ve ich admi -stored considerable relief, so on the next day I fid-, onm smart, cxrepi a ;bhmers in my juwr which re- mained for sever: d day--. Io the sp-hig I went alone to hunt duel;: on the idoaneal: river, while 1 was out I went 'o L -J J i.v.n on my gun, and a: that instant it fire a and burned the hair off the side of my head. A few days after, I was on the lank of tone same river ard fell or slipped down and cut the main, aiaeryof my leg, I filled me Wound with gunpow- der, and bound it up wit;, my h.andkeienief, at wmch lone, ! fiii,ted, fell, and rolled into the very edge of tne rover. When 1 came to, and found myself in ink dangerous situ- ation I was very much alarmed, and I mouthy rejoiced at this glorious escape, ban, oh! my reader, this is tt.c >vay that the gracious Lord often manifests, his goo-daws -ml power. 1'im earth was: not from nature brought, Nor sprung from dark abyyss; But by the power of every thought, Declares the work is iris. He governs all, both great and small, And cadis the stars by name; s just so he views the smallest dews, Which power and mercy frame. When prelates frown and press us down, And death appears in view; We in that hour shrunk at the frown, And for his mercies sue. His power doth save from dismal grave, By his Almighty word; When storms affright, in gloomy night, And lightnings blaze abroad. When e're his power like thunder roll, And all our thoughts confound; We fall and on his mercy call, Like beggars to the ground. Behold his power, in perrii's hour, Our threatened lives secure; Whale others sink, beneath the bi lak3 And fall to rise no more. When honours How, and riches grow, As tho' 'twould ne'er be night; t*hn spirits climb, oh' joyful hum; We'rlike the morning bright. When darkest shades, of death pervades* And spoil our happy birth; The hand that gave, prepares the grave, And sinks it to the earth. In dismal deep, we there must weep, "Till lie who gave us breath; 'Doth hear our cry, forbids to die, And frees from threatning death* lie bid? us learn, his bowels yearn, To teach us alibis ways; He sets -us free, that we may see, His chief peculiar grace. "When in the savag? toils lost, No friei dly arm to save; Almighty power, in dangers hour. Rescue us from the grave. Thy eye of might, in dangers night, When foes o ir souls surround, Doth se^ the tear, of humble prayer, Then let thy grace abound. Wlm; hell and all her spightful power?. Stood dreadful in the way; To rescue those vile lives of ours, He gave his own away. Vk i ras God, what can we pay, for favours so divire; Dear Iwnl we give oumelves away, To lie forever thine. I have been three tiro vs severely auTicted with the flux. The first time, I relieved myself by a medicine made thus: I got a handfull of the bark of the roots of black gum, a handfull of the roots of blackberry briars, a handfull of the roots of mulleu, a handfull of the twigs of white oak, •and a handfull of the bark of the roots of black haw : an .d put them in a in...' of watei mai boiled them well, I then (41 ) Strained it, and boiled it down to the consistency of molaSfr 3es; of which I took a table spo nfull three, or four times pei' day, and every night I took as much dysentary powders, as would lay on the point of a case knife, in a little water. The powders were made thus: I broke the point of an egg poured out the white, then filled it up with table salt; stir- red the salt and the yolk of the egg well together, then roas- ted it in the embers until it became perfectly dry, black am bard; I men took it out, and pulverised it to a very fine powder-. 1 tnen took a strong tea, made of the seed of green planting for my constant drinic, m) con. ,ant diet being mut- ton and mutton soup, I sometimes boded hour ior six hours in aier, then pounded it and boiled it in new milk; some- times when I dreaded an inflamation, I injected witn cold spring water; and at other times with chicken soup, with a little opium in it. This gave me relief.—The second time I was attacked, was with the grey flux, for which 1 took a table spoon full of salt dissolved in a little warm water, for three mornings in succession. But at the first appearance of this complaint,.I took a table spoonfull of glauher salt, three times per day. My diet was mutton, and soup. I also took ten drops of laudanum every night, in a little fen- nel seed tea, this made a perfect cure in a few days. The thud and last time, I had this complaint it was attended with avioientsick stomach;for which my treatment was as follows: I put twenty grains of ipacacuanha, and a half ta- ble spooi hull of glauber salts in a half teacup of warm wa- ter, of wnich 1 took a large table spoonfull every minute, untill it puked me twice freely, I then drank salt chicken soup, which turned it downwards, I then burned the oack bone of a mutton, until it was as white as chalk, which I pul- verised well I then took a spoonful of the powder and put it into a pint of new milk, and boiled it down to half, a pint of which I drank two or three times per day, which perfectly restored me to health. Some time in the fall fol- fowing, I was at a log-rolling where we were rollmg a lar lo* down a hill—the log had a limb or s og about the mnmie of it, which snag caught in my cloatncs and threw mo over before it, and rolled over me, nut there happened to bo a gully where I fell, or I must have been crushed into attorns. J have also had three several attacks of the billious fever, which I shall treat of hereafter. My life indeed, is an event- ful one of afflictions, accidents and misfortunes. I once had the m»m leader and small bone of my leg cut into by acci- f 'i'J ) dent. A shot gun once disc1 urged, was so directed as t& lodge part of its contents in m breast. I was rich g a horse once, woicli mi away witi ne, end striking a tree, mashed my left leg and dislocated my knee. And many other ouch accident, which I shall mit naming, for the sake of leevi« By hard study and loss of sleep, with bodily imbecilitv I once brought on myst If the Ennui, or H vpo. It n t-h' h be andss to ..ame -ems of its effects. It reducer my r lL e- tite so that I hardly eat enough to support nature. ! feit disposed to be retired, and ramoled through the mestio .■« 6ome woods I ccuiu t\> d—navmg no desire to at -md to- a« y business; ad it appeared at length, as t; ough a pain weal strike me through the heart, so that I could > ot leep n. c than an hour in the course of the right, and often was a: i to close my eyes in sleep, for fearl should awake in etc mi- ty. My heart often fluttered and throboed to that degre , I was conscious I should never see the sun rise-again in mis world. ¥ hen it this situation I felt disposed to mil my we- ling to every acquaintance I met. 1 wished to know if they had ever had ?uch feeling*, and if they said they had, it would be a; alleviation to me for some time. I often would have pains in my breast and a doll"ets all over me. Jf{ liappe >ed to'-car of any person who was in a bad situation, I would immediately e. nceive myself to be similarly situa- ted. Cheerful ( ora any had a very good influence in d ri- patmgmy gloom; audi found a eventful remedy: light diot and g< n ' company. But. to say his is a real disorder un- eoia ected with any other I cannot. Beer use, when the sysn o- is released from any cause; such as hard drink,colds, feve - -, dropsies, gouts, night air, loss of sleep, incessant siu* dyi g, loss of friends, scolding ct mpardons. &c. it is (with but lev exceptions) the only time when this complaint makes its appeara ce. The reason is, the body and mind are so inseparably co ei e d that one cannot suffer without the other participatin it. Some people have tat en up the idea, that this complabo > entirely of the mind, but this opinion is erroneous. I knew a man once who had 'ac a severe spell of sickness, who was attended by an old Doc- tor until the fever wa* broken, and while the patient's sys- tem and nerves were yet weak, he conceived his belly to be full of young ducks; which he said he could hear ard mel reedo i , The physician endeavoured to dissuade him from this ouii-iyn, but to us efleet, At length, with the; vm -^ ( *> ) *ms physician he sent for another of the faculty, who ?urs house for some young ducks, winch he ,ui in the no- ce« ary n d, where he kept them cov°red Wit . a cloth: so that when the patient's medicine worked, according to his expectation he saw a number of young ducks in the pot:; which he supposed had come from him. He was then curi- ous to know how the ducks could have accumulated m his h.dlv. To whicii the Doctor readily replied, he supposed he had eat a great many eggs in his time, which had collec- ted and hatched; which explanation entirely satisfied the patient, and in a short time he was as well as he ever was in his life; but never could be prevailed on to eat another egg. S>> if'you eradicate from the mind its vain imaginations the complaint is easily removed. Another m-taoce. I knew once of a man, when recovering from a very severe spell of sickness, imagining thathe had a Colder with alibis tools in his be'dv and could absolutely hear him at work mending old shoes. He would then appear to be in immense pain. At some times he would cry out he is now hammering his leath- er, and would ask those about him, if they did not also hear him. A Doctor at length came to see him, and brought a set of shoemaker* tools with him, and a naked boy, who he hid behind the door—having administered to his patients puke.—just before it began to opearte, he caused the pa- triot to be blindfolded, and when the operation commenced, would drop one tool after another,—at length, at one of the har let exertions of the patient, the naked boy was dropped in front of him, and the ndage jerked off just as the boy woo making his escape out at the door.' Tins entirely re* m wed the hypo, and the man soon wait to business as usual. S'-rne have concluded that their legs and feet were glass; and were consequently afraid to walk or use them in any case, unless it was with the utmost precaution, least they -boot'! break to pieces. There was once an old Urine Doctor, who imagined him- self ill. and put some of his water into a p*ual for the purpose of ascertaining the nature of his complaint. But whilst he Was walking out (with a view of giving his urine time to set« il,od there came in a woman who lived about the house, m;h (44) imagined from circumstances that she wag m a stirie c; prog* nancy; and oo clu h b this would he a favourable omportu* nity to ascertain the fact. Sue therefore discharged tie phial 01 its contents,and filled it up with her own wmm .--*- When the Doctor returned (riot suspecting any thing of what had transpired,) bis consternation was inexpressi bo to find from the appearance of tne urine, that I e was in a state of pregnancy,and idund the organization and structure of i ri sys tern'he saw no chance of delivery. He became almost Iran. tio at the discover, ami nothing saved 'urn absolute dkpan, hut the discovery of the real facts, as they transpired. I once knew an old gentleman (who was immensely sub*. ject to life ennui) who went to bed in the same room where a very small boy slept. Rising early in the morning, he, by accident got hold of the boys pantaloons instead of his own; but when he could not insert even his foot into them, he im« mediately concluded he was enormously swelled. He fell to the floor—awaked the whole house, with a most tremen- duous roar—when the family summoned by the noise, dad alighted a candle, and entered the room, they found him in what he thought the agonies of death. On being asked what was toe matter, his astonishment was incredible. Wait's he matter! says he; why can't you see what's the matter. lam lied as big as an ox. I cannot get my big tee 1 to my pantaloon-. They convinced him that he had been at- tempting to put on the pantaloons of the little boy; ard he instantly recovered. Aid now my dear readers if either you or m\ di nad have suffered what either the Doctor, or old genii -.man did with thier opinion on. the subject, we might have been worse alarmed than they were. I have known four or five men in the course of my life who would work with as much judgment, and talk with as much reason as any person, yet if they saw two or three men coming to their 'muse, they would flee to the woods with all possible speed; nor would they work near a road, for fear of loosing their fives, and consequently, ther wives had to transact all kinds of business; and what rendered the circumstance more singular, this, disposition was generally contracted after the persons had grown up. With such men a woman must lead a most uncomfortable life; and indeed, was I a woman, I should as soon apprehend one of those fanaticks ought kill me as not. I heard of a man once wno became so desperately in love with a young woman, that on her denying him, (al- though he had ever bcaii considered a prudent man,an<3 <4*'> Upnagel his estate well,) yet he became so extravagant, r* to patiently sit for three months on a goose egg. If tin y aa nottnehvpo.it was very much like it, if not worse. S una persons have thought they were bewitched, Hag ridden, or that there was a spell laid on them; while ofevs have imagined themselves almost gone with the consump- tion. Seme have conceived that their hearts did not, eat rt ail; whilst others have imagined it to beat too fast, a d some too slow. Some have said they had large wens in their throats, whicii frequently rose up in their wind pii s. pertrud.id their sides. I would ari: you my kind reader^ whet wr you would think this a budily or mental disease; or will you side with me in opinion, of its being a complai t of both body and mind? I heaid of ao old man who ha" be-. come so low that he had not walked i'oi- better than a year; about which time, there was a man buried in a grave-yard., not far h on where he lived,. In a few nights after there was a couple of rogues undertook the execution of a ohm they had formed, of stealing some sheep and robbing a mill of some flour. When the one who was to steal the dour had accomplished ids part of the business, he returned to this meting-house where the man had been buried, with a vie ? of waiting for ids comrade. The old gentleman who had bean so long unable to walk, concluded hat evening,that he must pay a visit to a neighbour of his, and prevailed on a young man who lived in tie family to take him on his back and carry him. It so happened that their prUh led ia-m■> dietely by foe meeting-house where the rogue with his rio ;r was waiting for his comrade, with the sheep; and seeing a person advancing with a pack on Ids back, vow reasonably concluded it was his assoc.ate with the steep: whcreuooa he cried out; is he fat, or lean. This so affrighted the Vo ngman, that throwing the old man to the ground; he exclaimes,fat, or lean,you may have him; and made ali pos- sible haste home. Tiien! i .o.m belugas much alarmed, as he was, forgot that he had net walked for sac ha length of time, and not only walked, but ran, and arived at home neoriy as soon as the young man. This convinced I'm of his fodv, and he ever after walboi as well as any man efhis age. In this way ma y persons give way and declir.e into a wretched state, which in- ; one . r eir blood, destroys their appetites,and brings on c.e •emmtio.os, dropsies, fevers and all kinds of nervous disorders. Tim circimiv.amoy of the old man. reminds me ofarimila: tnf m'e which happened to me in one of my rrave'bh wu'e- i " ■'" elate. I called one night at an old can tie, (foi ! ■ -'» jrm wpere there was no person about the house, except a •\oTip" woman, who-aidherparentsliad just w.-dked out- nwi !n consequence of her being vcrv lively. I aeked her leave to c'av all night; w! ic'h she refused, but" said if I wouui stake five dollars against mv accommodations, that if I beat her lumping, three iuoms. t should have my money and stay for r,.-,rhW. To thkU readily ag.-ed;—counted the money do -non a table, and she jumped first—her i on -d jump bare- l brought her to the door. I then took the stand, and at i e thirdlump, spraeg clear out of the house-; at which tiwc,she slammed too the door, and made it fast on the in- side. I used all the rhetoric I was master of to gain admit- tance, but all to no purpose. I then went off with a sad countenance and dejected spirits. When I got to < he end of the lane,I took a path that led down to an old will, where I resolved to soend the night; and af er make g some yvf, examination for a place to sleep, I deposited my body in the ley >er. Some time after this *ame you ng lady came in with a cV-he, and a handkerchief full of cakes, and sat dawn in tiie mill. A few minutes after, there came a young man, v, no hod a bottle of wine, and sat by her. After a few com- phmemts, she told him how sue had served a traveller triat -evening m getting his mooey,a. d shook the money at the voung man; to which, he replied, that trick is worth a dozen kis-cs; and taking her in his arms, commenced hugging and kissing her. In the mean tinea. I was peeping over the edge "of the ^ on per, which caused it to turn upside down with me iv dor it, close by this loving couple. The fall stunned trie v much, but when I recovered and got up, I heard the v; ang wom.an running through the creek, crying, stop John,stop John, toe Devil will .catch me. I was now or -re than compensated for my mortification and misfortune; for I got their cash to bear my expenses on my journey, a bot- tle of good wine to cheer my spirits, and.a plenty of fine lusciouscakes to nourish my weary body; so I bundled up with haste and pursued my journey. This circumstance shook off the hypo entirely, for by thri, I filled rrm belly, replenished my purse, and cheered my soul* as this also proved that the longest lane mast have a t?:rn or a 'errni nation. Mv opinion of the hypo is, that it is very hard to ex'erndoiate, when it. has once taken good hold, ■it becomes engratiatcd. and is in a measure second nature (■tf >. The Hysterics is the same, and operates on the system m» the same way. The only thffererce is, the hypo or ennui, attaches itselfto the male, and the hysterics to the female sex, I once visited a lady, who had been dying for three years; in which time, she had been attended by several phy- sicians. Some had administered, others bad advised the cold bath, riding in a carriage, &c. 'nut all to no purpose. She eat heartily, ye: hod to be belm-d mo and down, on d some person was compelled to move evon '^er feet. She had to be turned eight or ten times m a ni-.-.-, tor fear she sb mid pro- or stick to the hod, as she said; or at others, fcr fear she should die when- they were all asleep. At some times she said she was choaking to death; at others, there was such a load at her heart; and at others, that her heart flut- tered as if it would jump out of her mouth. At some imes, she would complain, that she must burn up with heat, a d at others, that she mas freezi g to death; and frequer ly imagined she could see time blood settled under her ■ ailes,, and that her feet and hands were as cold as ice; and it" she heard of any uncommon complaint or death, she would in> mediately conceive she had the same complaint, or was a- bout to nice: with an untimely end in the same way. And if her husband went out and chanced to stay a little over the time she expected him, back, she would conceive he did not love her, or that he \va« tired of her, and wanted her to d' -t that he was in love with -one other person, and would sooa forget her, if she was dead. But every bodv knew her hus- band to be kind and affectionate to her. I knew am>t er Woman who had a slight spell of sickness, and after having nearly recovered, there came in a preacher of the gospel cu& of hcjr lxea#dy. by which she was able to ■t -e 5 frh ••■-i a small path the darkest night that ever caniis -ri-^ on any other subject, she conversed with ease, daoncy, a ra .ionaliy, [presume thai all mc world will with me ac- knowledge this complaint to be imaginary, f called once I o tin: a woman, who a few days .no fore trad oeen delivered 0; .-a infant. On entering the house, I advanced touie bed 8;he, a nl asked her how she felt. See toid me she was ;n complete torment—-that my coming was in vain—that all trie physicians m the world could not save her life, for to t o~ merit s; e -uoul-.i go in a very short time. She said if I could only see tne sight sac had -non, it wont 1 shock me, al- though 1 had the stoutest heart in the world: and atfirmed lie i.tie devil was then watting for her with a c .am. On! Said she, his eyes are like balls of fire, and lis teeth like a most vigorous dog, grinning at me. Sometimes, she would cry out, there was two devils; at other times,she would screu- •• ouh,and appear to be fighting something. Some of tie : nn.ctniors said • ne was outof her head; '■■•> wrack she re- plied, ahd said, soo. was not. To prove which, s ' of the noigiibours went to trie bed and asked her if she knew them? Son answered that she did, and proceeded to name them correctly, and called them distinctly by their several names. Her child, which was then lying in. the cradle, siie said, w old shortly die and go to glory, where she never could enter o see it morn. Oniric day following, some of the family we d to the cradle to feed the cnild, and found it dead, as tne mother had predicted. But she herself con- ti nued in a strange way lor sn vena 1 days and then departed triia life with all the horrors imagination can depict. Which.er tlii-: was, revelation immediately from heaven, or the effects of a distempered imagination, I am not prepared to say; but should be truly glad to know. ■ I once attended an old man who was supposed to be a£ feted with what is called St.. Anthony's fire; he was n o.rie out .vita small blisters all over from head to foot, which at h-ngth became a solid scab, and fevers raged througn bis v noie system; oh face itself, was as red as blood. I in tna- f:; iasiai.ee e "hinia table spoonfull of salts, which ope* ra ed very well, I then washed him in a decoction made tour; I took a handfull of dogwood bark, a handfull of rattle r< ots, a handfull of mullen, and a handfull of some sour dock r . am! boiled them all together ia water, and washed bin. vet i in it warm, and in about an hour, I washed him wrilin v, arm tar water, and then anrmintc ,.1 him with ao (49) yiiriment made tb.Qs; I burned mussle shells well and beat them to a fine powder, which .soaked well h water, I ^ then poured oil* the water and mixed it well with* sweet oil. J washed him well three times a day with the washes and annointed him with this ointment. I made him drink freely of tar water, and when he began to mend, I made a v eak But soon we'll have to part. T Then lend tome your friendly aid, Give sight unto my eyes; That I may gain the chiefest life Which never fades and dies. There's nothing here that's worth our coxee? Compared to that above; Then let Us view the things more near. And live in perfect love. For few and evil are the days, Of man while hereon earth; Vet eagerly each one displays, His talents from his birth. But could we turn our thoughts from nicV, To that which is more dear; How soon would virtue us entice, And evil banish far. I do desire to live in peace, Which God doth justify; And may my usefulness increase Until the day I die. I know it is my hearts delight^ To do what good I can; As far as God has gave me sight, I'll heal tnesoas of man. DIRECTION FOR GARDENING, &o The month of January is the proper season for to lop and purge superfluous branches from fruit trees, and uncov- er their roots, it is also a proper time to set all kinds of quick sets and fruit trees, in the new moon of this month—> and care should be taken to set the same side of the trees to the north, that grew there before; a mild spell of weath- er in this month when the moon is decreasing, is a proper time to dig and plough your gardens, drench weakly cattle, and for your horses take weak ley made of hickory twig ashes, and mix in their food two or three times per week. (#>> v^ihraary—in this month you may set, cut, and lay qulri* sets, plant roses, vines, and hops, and all fruit bushes, sow peas,beans, onions, furnish your gardens with sallads, cleanse fruit trees from moss, canker, and superfluous branches,, remove grafts and young fruit trees, in the last quarter of the moon.—Be cautious about letting of blood or taking of physick in this month. If a warm day comes, be careful not to strip off your clothes, or catch cold carelessly, be- cause the warm air in this month is not lasting, but often deludes us to our predjudice. In the month of March, (re* garding the wind and weather) you may-engraft fruit trees, cut quick sets, cover the roots of your fruit trees whicbj were opened in January or December, with rich earth . Yoti ought also to sow oats, barley, parsnips, onions, carrots,, plant mellons, cucumbers, and all kinds of pot herbs, slips8 artichokes, and sage, and sow all kinds of garden seed* And in this month get the counsel of your physician, for it is good to purge and let blood. In April, you may sow hemp and llax, set and sow all kinds of herbs, restore tho liberty of the industrious bees, by opening their hives, get tan bark, and let good housekeepers attend to their gardens and dairies, In gardening, ne'er this rule forget, To sow when dry, but set when wet. The use of medicine becomes now seasonable, as alset does blood letting, it is also prudent to abstain from wine, be- cause many diseases are taken thereby. In the month of 5 lay, labourers of all kinds, almost, should begin to think about work. In the beginning of this month, you should sow, and set those tender summer herbs, which would not endure the former cold weather, you should now weed your gardens and corn fields, prune trees—rising early in the morning, let every garden, field and hedge, produce food and medicine. Sage tea, and butter, makes a very good break- fast, clarified whey, with sage and scurvy grass therein, is also very fine, as well as wormwood beer. In the full moon \n June or July, gather your herbs, to dry for the whole season. Set rosemary, and galiflowers; sow lettuce and radishes, two or three days after the full of the moon, and they will not go to seed. Shear your sheep in increase of the moon, and. let an active life, and light diet,, be your practice, while you refrain from lying on the cold ground, yr taking hearty draughts of cold water, when your blood", ;s warm. July*-now with thankfulness reap your harvest. (tb) C&A In this month, get rue, wormwood and gall, and strr-'ff Upon your floors to keep away fleas. In the full of the moon gather your flowers and seed, but dry them more in the shade than sun. Beware of getting suddenly hot or «jold, as thereby many distempers are taken when not per- ceivable at the time. In August, when the moon is new, you must sow your winter herbs, gather garden seeds near the full of the moon, you should not sleep shortly after ea- ting, you should beware of taking medicine, or letting blood, in the dogdays, particularly if the air be hot, but if otherwise, you may use either with safety. In the month of September, gather your hops, if they be of a brown co lour, and the weather be fair, and the hops dry. Kill bees, remove slips, and set flowers, between what is called the two Lady days, remove trees from September till Februa- ry, especially when the weather is warm and still. Cut quick sets, gather ripe fruits, sow small grain, winter pars- nips, and carrots, set roses, strawberry?, &c. and as the fall approaches, provide warmer clothes and throw them loose- ly about you, to prevent what you otherwise might repent, it is also a safe month, to physic in. October—In the first of this month, you should finish sowing your wheat and rye, remove your plants and trees about the new of the moon, and mark your trees and plants, and set them the same way that they stood in the nursery; or else the cold will be apt to kill them. You should cut your roses but once in two years, if you want to keep a good stock of them. Now a- bout the last of this month you should button those clothes Gpon you in good earnest, which you only threw about you with indifference a few weeks ago, which conduct will be a good preventative against the bad effects of fogs, colds, &c. which is so common in this season of the year, and it would be very well to counsel your Doctor, in this month, as we'd as your tailor. November—it is now time to uncover the roots of you? fruit trees which should remain so, until March, and should your hogs be very fat, kill them near the full of the moon, and it is said that meat will bear boiling better, than if it was killed at any other time. The bes? medicine in this month, is warm clothes, an active life, and good wholesome victuals and drink. December—in this month, when the moon is in its last quarter, it is good time to fall timber, yon Would also do well to cover all your flowers and herbs from the weather, with rotten Imm* dang; and pay pood attea* (c;> tloft to your stock, seeing that they lack for racking to 0.0^ and as it respects yourself, you should keep good fires by your house, making use of a good glass of mint sling, or nectar, instead of a bath, a well spread table, instead of an apothecary's shop, hot meats and soups, instead of physics.. Now I have given some instructions to farmers and garden- ers, which if attended to, they will never regret it. My lather practised after this rule, for many years, and tha- with great success. OF SIGNS FROM THE PULSE. With regard to motion, there are only four kinds, vtzJ: Great, Small, Quick Slow; from whence arise two more, viz: Violent and Weak, because a pulse may be said to be hard or soft, which only respects the artery, and not the motion, therefore, therejis another well worthy of note which is the convulsive, with a tremulous subsultory motion, as it the artery was drawn upwards, which in acute fevers, is a presage of death, and may justly be called the dying pulse r. yet a pulse may be termed, frequent or rare, eqiu 1 or une- qual, or intermitting. The two former, only regards the succession and series of motion^ and the latter the succeso sion and order. Some writers inform us that the dis- tinctions are numerous, as strong, violent, great, full, long* short, hard, soft, little, empty, weak, low, frequent, rare., creeping, vermicular, formicating, caprizating, trcamhan's undulating,myurous, serrated, dicrotous, manifest, obsctir-■* intermitting, and unequal: in most of which there is a distinc- tion made without any difference. By myurous is7meant u gradual ascent from little to great, and then a like descent from great to little. A dicrotous pulsation, is when a single heat seems a little interrupted, so as to make a kind of a double beat. The myurous, formicating, vermicular, tremv ulous, caprizating, serrated, dicrotous pulses agreeable to Galen, are nothing but pulses which are more or less une- qual, and which vary in their mixture, order, and succession* as when the beat is first small, then great, afterwards quich, fend then slow. An equal pulse is caused by the influx of a a due quantity of blood from the veins into the auricles of the heart, and from thence into the ventricles, and is a reg- ular efflux from the ventricles into the arteries which renders the motion of the heart equal and moderate. A great pel is that wherein the artery fmi gn ndiy dUaicd. and is con. :■& by a copious afflax of blood to the heart and a like eftV shoo into the arteries. A little pulse, is so called when the dillatationof the artery is but little felt, and shews that but a small quantity of blood is sent to the ventricles of the heart, and that the diastale is small, as also, that the effu- sion into the heart is the same. A quick pulse is known by a frequent beating of of the artery, whicii is produced by a more speedy retiux of the. blood from the veins to the heart. A pulse is said to be slow when the beating of the artery is perceived to be less frequent than usual, which shew that the reflux of the blood from the parts to the heartris retard- ed in its motion. A strong or violent pulse is when it is great and quick at the same time, and happens when a large quantity of blood is carried to the heart by the veins, and is more than ordi- narily rapid. A weak pulse is when it is small and slow, and shews that the quantity of blood sent back to the heart, is small and retarded in its course. Ahard pulse is when the artery itself feels more tense retinent or hard. A soft pulse denotes the artrey to be soft---------, and relaxed. The-sc two last may be sometimes natural in different ages, and temperaments. An unequal pulse is when the beating ©f the artrey is sometimes great, somestimes small, some times quick, sometimes slow, sometimes weak and some- times violent. An intermitting pulse is when the pulsa- tions are interrupted, (i. e.) when after two beats the third rails, or after three the fourth fails, &c. and is caused by some obstacle, or impediment, from grumous blood, or po- ripus concretions in the vcnticles, or auricles, or when thick blood is forced in too great an abundance into the heart and for a while suspends its systole. From experi- ments, it appears, that if the body weigh 140 pounds, that eighty of it will consist of fluids. Suppose then, that pulse beats seventy times in a minute, it will then beat four thou* sand two hundred times in an hour, and one hundred thou^ t-.aud and eight hundred times in twenty-four hours; and if wo allow the great artery of a strong mam to be capable of :. meiving an ounce of blood at every pulse, the whole mass will circulate at least three times in an hour, and seventy- two times in twenty-four hours, or more accurately, almost seventy-nine times in the aforesaid space. It is also worth observing, that the pulse is greater and quicker in a man than in a woman, and also in billions and sanguine bilious '•mperaments, than hi the phlegmatic and melancholly- .1^ ( &5 'he lean and slender, than in the fat tin J obeie. In irtfanfS the pulse is quick and soft; in young persons, harder, greats er, and more violent; in the old, the pulse is great, bornev* i.at hard and slow. Loud speaking or ascending steep places, renders tie resperation intense, whicii enlarges and quickens the pulse. In watching, the pulse is more sensible, but in sleep, more languid and slow: the drinking of hot tea, coffee, or the like, quickens the pulse, as also does plentiful meals. Terror renders the pulse unequal, little and contracted—joy, fre- quent and great—anger, quick and hard—sadness, s-low, email, deep,, and weak. When the wind has been long in the West or South, and changes to the North or East, the pulse becomes more tense, vigorous and large; as also, when the quick-silver rises in the barometer, but in thick cloudy and rainy weather, with a Southerly constitution of the air; and when the life is sedentary, the sleeps long, or the sea- sons autumnal, the pulse becomes lauguid and small; and the perspiration impeded. In May the pulse is great; in the middle of the summer quicker?but not so strong; in the win- ter hard and large. Drastic purges render the pulse hard, quick and weak; preparations of steel, aud the bark, ren- ders it more robust and great; violent medicines amplify and increase it; balsamics, aromaties, and generous wine, en- large the pulse, which was before slow and small; acids and nitrous things alloy and appease the pulse's violent motions :t opiates and narcotics, make the pulse small and weak, as well as impair the strength; corrosive poisons render it smatt contracted, hard and frequent,and some hours before death, it is hardly perceptable. When the pulse is small and de- pressed from a redundance of blood,'bleeding will rendes the pulse vigorous and quick—baths greatly increase \tt and when they are a little too hot, they are followed by pal- pitations of the heart and pains in the head: pediluvia or bathing of the feet at bed time, increase the motion of the blood and arteries. An intermitting pulse has been deemed dangerous and fatal, and yet it frequently happens in case9 of the hypocondria, violent passions, cholics, great flatulen- cies, &;c. without any bad event; and here it may be observ- ed, that the presence of a physician often puts the patient in- to a flutter, and therefore should have time to become com- posed before the pulse is examined; otherwise great mis- takes may happen, and the most accurate way to examine a jujse is, to compare it with a watch or a clock, which has a ■&mcrnd hand. A frequent pules is a peculiar symptom of i* iever, and there are bat few in whicii it isnotsomewhat hard, except in the malignant, attended with sweats, in whicii case, it is undulous, with great dejection of strength. At the commencement of a continual fever, or aparoxbm of an mtermiLtunt, the puke is frequently small, and tense, wiiich increases the state, and then it is violent, but in the decliha- rio.n, the tension and quickness remit. If the pulse is weak and quick, or violent and qtaick about the seventh, ninth and eleventh days, with a shivering and coldness of the extrem- ities, with tlun watery urine, it portends a fatal phrenzv.— A small, frequent and quick pulse, is of a very ominous pre- sage, and indicates an internal infiamation, tending to a sphacelus, and if it is likew ise unequal, and intermitting, it foretells danger of speedy death. In the beginning of a quarter, the pulse is little, hard, frequent and unequal, and in the stale of a tertian and burning fever. In a synocha, it is great and quick. Before the eruption of the spots in the email pox and measles takes place, the pulse is hard and frequent, which after the eruption ceases, unless in the con- S'luent small pox, for then it continues many days longer, und returns again after the suppuration in the secondary fe- ver, and gradually returns to its natural state. In malig- nant and spotted fevers, the pulse is small, quick, weak and Co-draried, with great loss of strength, when it becomeB r.eft and undulous, with large sweats, and urine like that of sound persons, it predicates death. In inflamatory fevers, with pain as the perippeumony, it is generally hard, 'and frequent, and sometimes great. In catarrhal and slotf fevers the pulse is fuMer and quicker in the evening than any other time. In madness, phrenzy and melancholly, the pulse varies much, it is quick, slow, robust, languid, or ui> equal turns, and beats strongly in the head with a racking lancinating pain. In the apoplexy, epilepsy and hemiplexy, the pulse is generally hard and frequent, and sometimea CT'\af. In the lethargy, sapor and disposition to a syncope, it is soft, rare and languid, and at length becomes so slender, that it is scarcely perceptible and at length with a cold »swcat closes the scene. In the palpitation of the heart and convulsive asthma, the pulse is languid and unequal, and if they proceed from a polypus concretion, in the heart, it will Intermit, then the pulse is frequently small, and a little hard, Which indicates the flux of the menses or haermornbaids, Vhen they begin to flow, itjs quicker and larger, Th$ ( 05) ^nlse is quick and hard in spasmotic, hypocontriao, andhyri •eric affections, as also, in the cholic and stone, when it be- gins to grow large and soft, it shows that the spasms are ceas- ing. In the dysentary, the pulse is small and frequent, but when joined to a fever, it is great. In the lueje, veneria, scurvy, cachexy, and dropsies, the pulse is somewhat weak n nd languid. It is a great fault in Doctors not to give them- selves time to feel the pulse sufficiently, for after ten pulsa- tions they may perceive an unequality, or intermission; nor ri it sufficient to feel the pulse in one wrist only, for both oughtto be felt; as also, that in the temples and neck; be- cause, sometimes there is a difference in the pulsations of the different arteries of the system. THE MORBID EFFECTS OF POISONS IN THE A1R„ Exhalations from stagnent and corrupt waters may be iustly reckoned of the poisonous kind, in consequence of which, those persons who live in low, wet marshy places, are rnore liable to agues, measles and small pox of the worst kind, as also, to pestilential and spotted fevers. Floods and inundations are bad for the same reasons, especially in hot seasons and countries. Very wet and warm seasons are very unwholesome. Endemic and epidemic diseases which reign in certain places under certain constitutions of the year, generally owe their origin to various exhalations and rilthiness in the air. In this class are acute fevers, with ex- arethemata or eruptions on the skin, of all kinds, such as the small pox, measles, tertains, quartars, double, tertian, burn- ing fevers, pleurisies, opthaemias, quinseys, caturhal fevers, as well benign as malignant, coysipolatious disorders, rheu- matisms, gout, diarhoeas, dysentaries and bastard pleuri- sies. We learn from observation, that the seasons are most sickly when there has been excessive rains, followed by some very hot days, immediately succeeded by very cold weather; and if it happens in the spring or fall, it is so much the worse. Marshy waters are a fruitfuf seminary of ver«- minous putrifaction, as will readily appear to every curious enquirer. If there are a great number of insects in the air, they are both the cause and presage of malignant diseases, in this both ancient and modern physicians agree. Putrid and stagnant waters abound with efluvia of a saline caustic and volatile nature, which exhale partly from the waters them- selves, and partly from the insects, turgid with a volatilp (ee-) salt. There are also, mineral exhalations, which are \e:> pernicious to persons whose nature are not easily determin- ed or known, but by the effects. Camp diseases, which, arc the worst of all kinds, are chiefly to be ascribed to bad exha- lations; yet it is very certain that famine, contkw d watch- ing, constant fatigues and incongruous aliment seldom fail toco-operate therewith. Those who expose themselves to the air early in the morning or just after sun set, often feci the effects of virulent exhalations, which often fall wild the dew and fog, and are hurtful to both animals and plants.—^ Hence, the danger appears in sleeping in the open jair in those unhealthy places, and how necessary it is to drain all boggy and marshy places, which are situated near towns, for the purpose of maintaining the health of tne inhabitants. Tne north and east winds greatly cleanse tiie air from nox- ious exhalations. Temperance and things which strength- en and promote perspiration, may prevent the injuries ari- sing from putrid exhalations. I now shall state a few facts concerning the consumption, explaining to my reader how it is that this complaint steals On thepatient, unawares, and also how, and with what suc- cess I have treated this complaint, as well as several other certified cases, and cures which have come under my care; and I flatter myself that I have been as successful as any physician whatever, who has not had a better opportu- nity of acquiring medical* information than myself; not that I feel disposed to sound my own trumpet of praise, but in- sert those certified cures, with my manner of treatment, with the intent of giving the public all the medical knowl- edge that lies in my power; as I purpose quitting practice shortly. There has come under my notice and care, a great many cases which appeared to be out of the reaco ofmed • nd for my part, acknowledge that I tried to turn; them h— eme by giving them receipts and directing them to retu a they got better. - Some would not be put offin this way, and uh innately, through the bles- sing of God and my medb ine became sound persons. Thus I have been an instrument in the hands of the living God, in raising several from a bed of languishing; who I thought was certainly out of the reach of medicine; while on the otner hand the. o as been some whose cases did not appear at all doobt'hl, who received little or no benefit fi am mv medicine, and in those fatal cases I have generally discovered that their drie.as.es were hem-dhmry, er nvocemd/rd from their ay.- (67) casters; so in cases where the consumption runs in families, there is but little or no hopes of performing a radical cure- and where it is well seated in the system, the pro ability of recovery is not much greater. It is a flattering com,riaint and creeps on the patient like a thief in the night, and indeed, it is becoming one of the most prevalent complaints incident so the inhabitants of the western country; for I am of the o- pinion that one sixth of the deaths amongst us are occasion- ed thereby, and it is a stubborn fact, that the number of its victims increase rapidly. It is the province of physicians to account for, (and try to put a stop to,) the progress of this disorder. The effects of this disorder upon the human mind are of tiie most serious nature, and consequently demand general attention. The circumstance of this complaint, be= ing so flattering and yet so fatal as we really find it to be, while we have in view its prevalency and increasing pro- gress, renders it a circumstance demanding the most serious attention and active ingenuity of any other now existing a- mong us. There is nothing more common than to hear per- sons whose nerves are somewhat weak, and they a little de- bilitated in some way or other, cry out that they have got the consumption, and believe it so firmly and it is very diffi- cult to convince them otherwise, but when you see a person that really lias got the consumption, the tone is quite differ- ent, for they are generally inclined to say that they have got a bad cold, cough or phthisic, and probably add that they are afraid it will turn to the consumption. So it deludes the: mind and reduces the system, till at length they will begin to drink a little hoar-hound tea or a little tar water; then go to business, and take fresh cold, which lays them up for a few days. They then turn into sweating, saying that they have been so often, and this spell will soon wear off; but the next is probably worse. They then hear that such a man or such a woman has a receipt which is infallible, which when tried, proves unprofitable. At last the fevers begin to rise, and night sweats begin to make their appearance; they then conclude that such quackery will not do—thev must get the advice of a Doctor, and at length, the patient mmewhat cast down, begins to think or dread that they have got the consumption coming on them; when, in fact, at the same shm\ they are in the last stage; but the Doctor not willing to discourage thorn, gives them a little tonic medi- cine to strengthen them. One Mr. Whitaker, who was a fr.wi of smoa uridezritandir-rr, and rioh travelled a grwy dead (OQf through the world; under whose notice had came numbed in this unhealthy state, (viz:) the consumption, and on whose return home to his friends with the same complaint, givfcj the following; advice: I know that the generality of mankind are so far from having any formidable apprehensions of the consumption, that they think it affords a most happy opportunity to pre- pare to meet their God. and in hopes of dying such a lin- gering; death, too often alas! puts off that which their con- science tells them is their duty, and which they would nor for the world have left finally undone; but when they thiiiF: of the fever, the nalsv, the anpoplexy, or the cholie, they are vae'lv alarmed—fear chills their blood and weakens all their nerves, ^wd tbev are almost induced to seek the face and fa- vor of God; but as to tb^ consumption, it carries no terror with it, and mdeed, so far from it, that tbev think if they could be so haopv as to die with this complaint, all would he wHl enough—-thinking that they would then have a plen- ty of time to reject on their past lives, to humble themselves before thn Lord—to anolv to the blood of .Tesus, and the frrace of the ; smiles only that it may the mora delude. Courteous reader, this is not the ra h hasty conclusion of a recluse immersed in his closet, but the deliberate opinion of one who has passed through all the various stages of this most deceitful disorder; and bottomed on his own observa- tion, duri 'V? a loot? course of trial—0f one whose firm per- suasion, it is concerning his own soul; that if he had not have been prepared to meet his maker before he fell rib he would have hcnr\ undone for ever: though no one was car- ried on in a manner, apparently more favorable and whom exr>ormn<^ makeslirnas certain, that if thou trust to it fir making thy neace with God ;t will n« certainly undo thee.— fk"w- with me chrhtain reader, while I offer ynu some or those rpisonr, which have induced me te be of an (.pinion so ■-<>ro dhim-ait from that possessed by the generality of mar.- (no) person rende/Oii fretful by a long coume of sufi*;>ring, then. condemn thy former hopes; but if thy eons mence -.eh mee fetter, whicii I am persuaded it will, I nitreri; you not to. pur- sue one step farther, a course which may oe attended with the worst of consequences. Oh! remember that awful de- claration, that the hail shall sweep away the refuge of fives, and ttie waters shall overflow the hiding place, and your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement witti hell shall not stand when the oveflowhig scourge shall pass through, then shall ye be trodden down. The reason why, I presume that this disorder has been thought so favourable to the great work of faith and repentance, is, that it is in itself extremely dangerous, yet attended with no great pain, apparently and generally continues for a ve>" Ty long while; hence I suppose it has come to be thought fa- vourable both as affording calls to thoughtfulness, and time for exercising it. It must be confessed that there ap- pears to be something special in this circumstance, one would immagine (considering how fatal all kinds of consumptions are) that they would at once alarm all persons siezed with them, and put them on an immediate attention to the things which belong to their peace, in which case, they would gen- erally have considerable time for it, yet surprising as it may appear, this, is so far from being the ease, in fact, that it has passed into a common proyerb, viz: thai a consumptive. man never thinks himself in danger of heath. The cor- rectness of which proverb, I scarcely knew or allowed until taught by experience; but I am .now convinced that it is an awful truth deserving the attention of all thorn who depend upon this season for repentance. This disorder alarms others, but it -oldom creates much alarm to the patient himself, until he comes to the very last stage of it; and perhaps not then: neither, as nothing is more common than for a consumpted person to die on their chair or couch. To this insensibility a variety of things contribute, one, is the gradual and uninterupted manner in which this distemper progresses. When the impetuous warrior abruptly breaks into a country, he creates instant terror wherever he approaches, even the most ignorant and simple are alarmed and conclude on making use of every means of defence in their power: whihl he who proceeds more cautiously by safe steps, notwithstanding he may give itrreat occasion of alarm, yet the inhabitnts t^l the garrison who are apprised, of rim im.-jer ccureeJy ever trimm ib ;m. ( • - > ftho arcctp.rm-u until they see all arm:ml them roaay -c; crumble into ruins; thus when the furious emisariesof that great conqueror, Death, make tneir appearance, such as the fever, the plague, the apoplexy, the palsy, &c. they excite instantaneous alarm, in fact, their suojects cannot have tne least apprehensions of their approaomvitnout ter- ror; but the consumption, gives no sue it aim uy its approach- es are so gradual, that it does not appear l->' rio^deata much ueaier to view than whilst in perfect hcaltn. On the first attack of the consumption, what is more, than for a person to say, I have only got a little cough, or a slight fever, it will leave me again, \ have often such complaints before now and never was any the worse for them, in fact, colds gene- rally affect me in this way, but I shall be better in a few days. And indeed it is quite likely that his complaint does abate a little in a few days, and he concludes that he fven- tirely well; but to his dismay it returns again in a few day? —i.e. still hopes and talks as before, he sees his flesh was- ting a w.y, and feels his strength failing, but hopes soon to get rid of his cough, fever, and sweats; and then says he will recover his fiesh ao.t strength without a doubt. Thus he goes on deluding himself, while all amoral him, see hw danger plain-enough, and would, enable him to do the same ri, tint a person's flesh and strength depreciates moderately until towards the last; therefore, the patient should com- pare himself not by what he was yesterday, or the day be- !ore, but by some more distant period, which in such cir- cum.dances, people are seldom disposed to do. It is natural 1 oehe.vo for every person to make use of the shortest peri- ad to compare themselves. Tiie conclusion is very obvioui —in consequence of the slow progress of this disorder, bu: little alarm is created, seeing that it affords hope for futuri- ty, which other disorders does not give time for. The pa- tient finds himself indeed growing weaher and weaker,yet he argues that it is owing to the excessive heat of the sum- mer, saying, that in the autunm he wiri get better, and per- haps indeed he does feel himself somewhat recruited by that mild season. Teen winter makes its appearance, when he becomes confident that it will brace him up;'nut to the contrary, he finds his cough increasing by the sea- son, finding that enmincment contributes further to baal; down bis constitution. Well, he yet hope*, and his friends encourages him to hope that the spring will sot all righ*. -ind deliver him from all his rewphwri. ' An \ in this \W-- (^ ) hos loving zvA kin j friends will encoara0„ inn; on to ids cri-, ing hours, for the purpose of keeping tneir spirits up, tv cults the patient is entirely easy about the aflairs of eitner .soul or body. There was a young lady once under my care, who when I first went to see her, told me that she warned me to be plain with her, that she might prepare for a bet- ter world; I told her as it was her wist;. I would teii her my opinion, but not to take it hard,- for we all come from ili^ dust, and to dust v. e must return, and that God had ap- pointed that all men once, should die, and after death to judgment, aid that there was something to carry us all out of tiie world, and that I was suspicious that the comprint which she had, was to end her days. After which she ^lie- ved a while, and made this reply: "That I had cured many people who were past going about, with the consumption, and thather's was nothing but cold, and that if the men- strual complaint was brought on, that she whouid be a well woman ,•"" at which time she had the swelling of the feet and legs, greenish yellow spots on the arms, subject to spells of puking at almost every term of cotnghing, severe night sweats, a troublesome dysentary, wiin the palms of i-e-r hands, and souls of her feet dry and husky—the phlegm which she discharged would sink in water, or stain a cloth of a yellow colour, hot fevers, sore throat, .shortness of breath, and a throbbing at the heart. On the next day, ia the morning her friends took me out privately, and told nm not to discourage Iter,-and when I returned to the ho use mho: with a smile told me, that I was the man who could cure hem but she continued on in this way, sometimes better, and sometimes worse, for two months, and the day before she died she was so smart that she sat up and made a dress lew her child, and said that she thought that she would get well and her frieds still encouraged her to the last, speaking ;* word of hope, love would forbid despair—lookout, they would cry, beyoud the gloomy damps while winter haugo heavy on nature and congeals her power, look cheerfuliyp forward to the vital influence of the returning spring. Thtm do our friends fatally flatter us with the hopes of a May sun beam, whilst not one of them are kind enough to give us a hint of these bleak North-east blasts which we an: si- experience before the arrival of that reviving season, by which so many thousands of souls who are hurried every spring into an awful eternity, and so many more so, broken '4'j-vm as soon io f-U a prey vo the heat of the summer. Oiri { 12 *, ^y-h mndno:?, s":ch f:\c^ are fatal indeed. But tnis :3 iiot the only instance in which our friends lend their cruel nssistanco, to help forward the delusion of this naturally too delusive disorder, for when you are under dominion of this complaint some friend will bring you a remedy, as he says, for the consumption, which has cured this, that, and the oth- er person, and never was known to fail, if taken in time, if you have faith in such nostrums, it will just serve to keep your hop-, in exercise, till the event deceives you, and proves that it is a broken reed which pierces the hand in- stead of supporting it. Another, bids you not to be dis- couraged, assuring you that nothing more common, thah for persons to continue weakly for a long time, and afterwards recover their health; for I, myself, says another friend, heard of a man who recoved after being confined to bis house for the space of five years; and when recovered a lit* tie from one of your paroxisms incident to this disorder, your friends are sure to tell you, that you look much better than when they saw you last. And this they will continue not only in the Commencement of this complaint, but even to the very last, if they can recollect any period in which von looked worse than at the present, and in fact, as it is known to be one of the most fatal diseases in the world, and the situation of those who are siezed with it, consequently most hopeless, so there is no condition in which a person can be placed, wherein it seems to be more the united views of all around them to keep out of sight as much as possible every ri.-'.ag which might have atendency to alarm the patient, and indeed if any should be so much their friend, or so candid .is to tell them the probability of their death, and it in any way depress their spirits, ten to one if such a person is not Tmptoutof the room, or advised to avoid such conduct.— ButO deluded patient! let me tell you, that the consump- tion is a flattering complaint and don't you depend too much on yourself nor the arm of man, for it is too certain n fmt, that your friends of different stamps will get about you to keep no your spirits, or in other words to keep off re* Section, and in this respect they are too successful. Thus do friends and disorders apparently join to keep the patient ignorord of his true case, thereby preventing him from ma.' king any spiritual, improvement on their inch of time. My dear reader, you know this is but too often the case, and no (doubt you can witness it with a solemn heart, having lost a oring wife, erhucV:rid. by this complaint under the very r^) fb.:iX:h;;XdX)e< tiftera is unsound, there is great reason to rem that the u>:A sequences will prove fatal. Three patients have come u * der my notice with this complaint, two of which, dieu spib ting of blood, the other died with bloody corruption, passing downwards through him. These had a violent cough, gi eat thirst, pain in the side, high fevers, and shortness of breath. Doctor Townsend states, "of the dropsical swelling of the abdomen, or belly, the swelling is tense, scarcely elastic, but fluctuating when considerable; the patient has great thirst, scarcity of urine, and some degree of fever." It has the same causes, says Doctor Townsend, both proximate and remote with anasarca, but the most usual sources from whicii it is derived, is the morbid effbrions of the liver, occasioned eh tiier by the sudden application of cold when the body has been heated, or by indolence and a sedentary life, or by the abuse of acids, or by the unseasonable exhibition of powerful astringents in haemornheiges and intermittant fevers, or by hard dri iking. In cases of ascites, it is not uncommon to ob- serve toe spleen, or in other words, pancreas, and the nus» enteric gland=, as well as the liver enlarged, and schirrous; but agreeable to the opinion of Huffman, the former are af< feeted merely by consent of the latter, which is the biscus, or organ by intemperance. Sauvage has not less than twen- ty-nine species of ascites which Doctor Cullan has very pro- perly reduced to two, viz: Ascites abdominalis, and ascites saccatus. First, ascites abdominalis, with a uniform swel- ling of the abdomen and evident fluctuation, relaxation and debility; ascites, saccatus, with the swelling ofthe abdomen at first partial, and less evident fluctuation, not preceded by paleness, restlessness, loss of appetite, or other symptoms of relaxation and debility, nor attended with thirst or scar- city of urine, and is considered as being incurable by Dr. Townsend. I have tried the state of different causes and stages of the ascites, and now proceed to state the regimen and med- icine, as practised on Mrs. Ruth Wray. In the first place, I got a good handfull of cammomile dowers, and a pint of fresh butter, (neither washed nor salted,) and put into a skil- let and stewed them slowly down together, until the butter berime an oil, with which I had her abdomen side and rioort ribs well annointed, and rubbed before a hot fire, j no* before she went to bed. I also got a handfull of horse ra . dish roots, a handfull of parsley roots, two table spoonfukri of mustard sso4, cue sr^o-riod! if nhm~d nitre, v-ci c* &::-?.U < $r > basuhVfi of alieumpnne, and put in three pmri of hard o^- pie cider, and gave her two spoonfulls three times per day, for ten days; and for her constant drink, 1 gave her ate a^ made of the roots of summer grape vires, debarring her fn>m coffee, salt, bacon, and sweet milk, directing her to live on. such as dried beef, mutton, squirrel, rice, biscuit, Irish potatoes, &c. The pain soon began to abate, while her urine increased considerably, her weakness and the swelling still continuing nearly the same. I then gave he? a dose of calomel and jallop, which appeared to reduce the swelling considerably, on trie next day { gave her a dose of caster oil, with ten dropsof laudanum, well mixed together, which had a very good effect, but she still remained weak. I then put into a quart of wine, a spoonfull of pulverised columbo, a spoonfull of Jesuit barks, half a table spoonfull of jentian roots, a handfull of.cammomile flowers, and a fourth of an ounce of the el'mer of vitriol, of which I gave her a dram, three or four times a da v, which strengthened her vastly in a short time, and when the medicine was half exhausted, I added another pint of wine, and in nine or ten days, the swelling appearrd to return again. I then burnt egg shells in an oven, until they were nearly black, then beat them as fine as possible, and searched them through a silk handkerchief, and made a mixture thus:-—a half a pint of egg shell powders, a pint of jallop, and a pint of the cream of tartar; which I mixed well together, and gave her a tea spoonful three times per day, and to take a dram of the bitters whenever she felt weak at the stomach, and when the water did not expe.ll freely, by both urine and stool, I gave her a table spoonfull three times per day, and then let rest a day or two, and when she was not taking the powders, I gave her a medicine made thus: I beat a tea spoonfull of squills to a fine powder, and mixed well with three tea spoonfulls of refined nitre, and gave her as much as would lay on the point of a case knife, each night, in a little honey, just before her going to bed. Forbidingthc use of cider spirits and all hi mis of smoked or salted diets, and of the first powders, (i. e. those made of egg shells, jab lop, cream of tartar, &c.) did not expell the water fast e m-ugh, I mixed eqal quantities of eggshell powders, cream of tartar, and jallop together and gave her half a table spoonfull two or three times a day, which started the wa- ter afresh, and after it was nearly all expelled, she complain- ed of a great soreness ali through the abdomen, which is very common, It would not be amiss here to ri: the rea- der know which is the best way to give the above powder?; which is in a little warm water. When the water v am nearly expelled, I mixed fifteen grains of squills, ten of «>pri trm, forty of cabnm 1, and one hundred of nitre, well U-geth«. er, and gave her of the mixture seven grains eve m so oh i, in a little sugar, for three nights in succession; riroehbog the use of any other medicine, or hog meat, or sweet milk, or cold wde?* which produced a plentiful discharge of wa- rn-, and on the third night, she was taken with a violent cramp in her breast and side, and in fact nearly all through lier whole system. To relieve her, I put her over the steam of warm water, and made her grasp a roll of brimstone ;n each hand and gave bora teaspoonfull oi Bate man's drops in a little clean white hen dung tea, winch soon cau- sed the pain to abate and be continued to mend wiy fast. 1 then got a handfull of camrnomiie flowers, a handfull of sweet medley, a handfull of burvine, and a little pulverized columbo, and steeped it into a quart of whiskey, of which she took half a table spoonfull > h- ye times a day; continuing t'ae first ointment in the manner first directed, guarding a- gainstvheatingherself over the fire &c. And with this re- gimen, medicine and treatment, she scon became sound and wrih £ few tines of Poetry composed on the abate ccm:jrimbri> Behold a female, in distress, Arfiicted with the ascites, Her system sweh'b and rack'd with pain,. While.she upon her bod is lain; The Doctors they have bad their will, While rioriroens have tried tneir skilly And yet the undent's growing worse, So what to do they're at a loss; Observe ibe last al \ e r ■ tative, hriney all agree she cannot- live; So then to me she is conveyed, To see if I could give her aid; With all my might to work I went,, And used my skill to the extent; And through God's mercy did direct^- \ The means w d.ch did a cure peridot. So notwithstanding I'm abused. ( n) Ann by Some folks my means ttiuhtl^ V■"'. as God calls me I remain Rebuking be di disease and pane. GARRARD COUNTY, K.v * DO CERTIFY, That in the year of our Lord 18:--^ 1b.a. I was taken with the dropsy, and became very low. 1 sent for a Doctor, and mev ded a little, but never left me, but still grew worse far two years, I then applied to Doctor R. Carter, who gave me medicine from which I recruited very much, so that I thought I was nearly well, but it retur- ned again and swelled all over ray system. So that it ap- peared that there was no chance for my recovery, even my eyes were swelled like bladders of water, and my feet and legs swelled to that degree that they bursted and run a- great deal. Then Doctor Richard Carter began to ad- minister medicine to me again, at which time I could not He down nor walk at all,and when he applyed the moans in the evening—against the morning following, I had dischar- ged about a gallon and a half of dropsy water, and he con- tinued to give me medicine, until I became sound and well, and have not taken any of his medicine for about thirteen months, during wiiich time I have been perfectly well. IV hen I commenced taking medicine of Doctor Carter 'i was about fifty years orimo, and since that I have had a fmc daughter. I do also cerri'y that I had a child about six years old who was taken with cold chills and high fe- vers, who became so low, that ;bie could not speak a vrcrnt for a whole day, so that we had all given her out to die in, Consequence of which we had spoken to a man to bring her burying clothes, I likewise applied to Doctor Carter, for her, who sent some medicine which we gave according to his direction,but saw no visible change. I then gave her soma of the drops which he bad sent, and she became easy k» a short time, and confined to mend every day until she got quite well. I do certify that I also had a daughter who who had a white swelling in dier leg, which wag hollow from the knee to the ancle, and oat of which came rixboai pieces of bone, and this same Doctor Carter attended on her and she has got nearly well, so that it don't hinder at all from walking. I also visitedEliza Lamr- who Doctor Carter attended on, and who wasgivenout ;e* o-bo by all of the family with wkmn rim lived, so that- J. sm •:• t &) for hef parents to r-bme end see her die, butHo^mr War'te> come and attended on her, by which she got immediate re- lief and soon got well, likewise another young woman at the same house by the name of Sarah Silvy, was in a deplo- rable condition, so that she would die away with'fits, and' for a long time there would no appearance of life. Doctor Carter attended on her also, and she soon got well. Givea Under my hand this 6th March, 1817. SARAH LASURE. Attest, Henry Rogers, Richard Wright, Nathaniel Lewis, Fanny Lfwis, Casander Lewis, Samuel Lewis, John Wolfsqale. Mrs. leisure's complaint wasthe dropsey, and 1 shall only state its treatment in the last case, because I did not keep a journal of the first. Her dropsey was of the anasarca, woicb generally begins with a swelling of the feet and ancles to- wards night, which for some time disappears in the morning. In the evening the parts affected, if pressed with the fin- ger will pit: the swelling generally ascends and occupies the trunk of the body—the arms and head and afterwards rim breathing becomes difficult, while the urine depreciate-, and the thirst increases; the body commonly bound and the perspiration greatly obstructed, to which exceed torper, heaviness; a slow wasting fever and a troublesome cough; tha last of which is generally a fatal symptom, as it shows that the lungs are affected; it is likewise a preternatural collec- tion of serous fluid in the cellular membrane immediately under the skin, says Doctor Townsend, and usually appears br t in the lower extremeties towards night, but disperses before morning. The urine is diminished in quantity while the thirst increases and becomes intense, atrpley or weaknes3 without hectic fever; all the fat with oily portion of the mar- row is carried off by absorbents or strong doses of different m ■ licines. I will state a few more of the causes to be more pa nicular, and then proceed to the treatment of the both re* mote and proximate. A preternatural collection of serous fluids, whether in the cellular membranes or in the cavities of the body is caused by absorption falling of exhalation, in these ceils, and cavities, and this effect may be produced, either by increased effusion from the exhalent arteries or /.h--m. dimdni.shed action qyf the absorbents, but as in dron? {to) sies the lymphatics and theoracic ducts, are much enlarge3? it is clear that absorption is increased, although not in pro* portion to the inhalation and that therefore, the cause of thd * dramy is in the exhalents. Increased effusion from the ex- halents may arise from their relaxation, which may be occa- sioned by fevers, whether typhus or protracted intermit- tents; by grief, by excessive evacuations of any kmd ; by the several species of intemperance, by indolence, or inactivity, or by drinking only stagnant water. Superabundance of serum in the blood may be occasioned by all the above men- tioned cases, by a penurious diet, by a profuse haemorrhage, by repeated venesection, by weakeeed powers of digestion, defective chylification, aad diminished energy of the lac- teals, by an interruption of the watery excretions of either urine or of perspiration or by jaundice. It might be thought the the superabundant serum would more readily pass by the kidnies, as it does in healthy subjects; then by the exha- lent arteries, but when the stimulous of well exegenerated blood is wanting, the kidnies become torpid, then their vi- tal action ceases, and the quantity of urine is diminished ; so from a continued pressure on the veins, as in cases of preg« nancy,obstinate flatulence and scerrous tumours increases the determination of the blood to the exhalent arteries, ia which cases, dropsies are merely symptomatic, for when the ob- struction is removed, the dropsy ceases: from the stimulous of inflamation, a blow on the testicles produces an inflama- tion, the consequence may be dropsy of the tuneca vi- ginahs, or that which invests the testicle and spermatic cord. A child's brains inflames andhydracaphalus ensues, viz: a de- position of fluid in the ventricles of the brain, pleuritis or pleurisy frequently terminates in bydrothorax or a paleness of the face and paritoneal inflamation in the ascites; and it is in this way that the cold water drank by dancers and rea- pers, when hot by exercise, produces the dropsy.— Mr. Crookshank says that he has often taken fifty or sixty pints of water away from a patient, wb.ich had collected in abdomen in the few days which the peritoneal i oflamation lasted, during the usual species of the puerperal fever. He very probably remarks, that when the arteries of that part has once acquired a habit ->f increasing their secretions, that they commonly continue for a consideiable time, or the lym- phatics may be so altered by the inflamation as not to absorp in proportion to the discharge made by the exhalents. The proximate cause therefore of the dropsy i= not as Sydenhaflj {<■•*•} conceives the serous fluid as collected in the ceils: VwU diminished ton-c in the system, as stated by Doctor riuiian: J.t. T o first c.,m ow" to relate is Saran hnsu > , ami as I nave -mmd the symptoms of, and diUhrenf causes which tnav produce tms complaint, a- plainly as possible in every fciancli iherepfj—it is sufficient to soy that the following is the reaime.^ means and manner with which * treated the complaint, when I was first called in to see this patient, her legs were bursted, her eyes shut up and tlm water plainly to be seen t<-rough the "skin. The first thing that I gave her wa- powder-- made thus: I -took fifteen grains of .squills, ten grains of opium-, forty grains ofcalom-.d, one hundred of refined .jiwre, all well pulverised in a spice \non:;r, as fine as possii le.aad mixed together, of which I gave her eight grain- in a little sugar every night for three nights, debar- ring er f om the use of cold water, sweet nii'ik, and hog sn-o. ., direc:i> g n-r to keep out of damp air, ahoy-- g her to make use of 'rickens, squirrels, or the broth of either,as well as Irish pots i.oes, &c. Every rooming and noon I gave iter alfa ial-n- -poom'rb) of powders in a little warm water, mado thus. I browned egg sellsin an oven until they were amut as bluek as burnt coffee, and beat them to a fine pow- der and senrcaed ib rough a sslk handkerchief, and combin- ed with a gill of said powders, a gill of jallop and a gili of nc cream of tartar, which I mixed thoroughly together, and against the third day the swelling had considerably assuag- ed. I still continued the powders, (made of ogg-shclk, e d three times a day, in doses of half a table spoonfull. di -so,v- ed in « little warm water; the dropsy water not appearing to expell quite fast enough, I gave her a dose of the powders made of squiills, opium, &e, and in the course of nine or ten day;• the 'swelling became vastly assuaged; at which time the system and stomach were both very weak, for the strengthening: of whic p 1 got a handfull of the bark of die roots of dog-wood, as much of the bark of the root of yellow poplar, and as much of the roots of sassafarilla, and put in- to ten, gallons of water, and boiled it down to a quart, sm,ohi« ed it. and gave her balfa tabic spoonfull three times per day, with balfa table spoonfull of Madeira wine, and every day or two. J gave her a dose of the powders made of •org* shells* jallop, &c increasing the dose of diet drink and wine slowly to a table spoonfull ret each, forbidding the use -i 'bog meat or sweet milk; but 3; roe i, g her to make use of a • ;y oth- er light diet that agree? with hor. in taking tb.5*, sh>J C "& ) 'lengthened very fait, whiie her appetite increased in pro> por ion; but if thesvve!ii"g seemed to ricrease, I would c» job the liquid for a day or two, continuing the large pow- ders as her strength would permit, until the ovoiling entire- ly disappeared, and when 1 had reason to believe the water was entirely expelled, I gave her of the following prepara- tion, to prevent its return, viz: I got half a gallon of strong a;qde vinegar, and two ounces of black snake root?, and a go.wi chance of rusty iron, and put them all into an iron pot and boiled it half away, then strained it, and added a pound of brown cane sugar and an ounce of retried nitre, and one pint of wine, and stewed it down to 3 half pints, of which I gave her a table spoonfull, as oftenas she eould bear it with- out ueiug sick. This strengthened her and chaeged her system and put the bio ad in a real good state. This rc= ceipt has cured several in a very distre-^ed condition,in the course often days. I then took one nut of the oil of beaver caster, a handfull of camomile flowers, a table spooifullof pulverised columbo, and put in a quart of wine, and gave her balfa table spoonfull three times per day, and in a short time her menses flowed properly and regularly, so that she soon beta me in a pregnant state, and was safely delivered, ami has been hearty ever sine. This woman aged fifty years, The dropsy had, as it appears; Who was laid low and almost gone, Until her legs did burst and run. While at the point of death she lay, Without the hope of the next day; Then by t full of the same tea, three times per day, and made use of caster oil occasionally, to keep its bowels open, and it sooi recovered its health to the astonishment of all who saw it, POETRY. Return, O God of love return, Earth is a tiresome place; How loo g shall we, thy children mourn, Our absence from thy face. Let Heaven succeed our painful years, Let sin and sorrow cease; And in proportion to our tears, So let our joys increase. Thy wonders, to thy servants show, Make thy own work complete; Then shall our souls thy glory know, And own thy work is great. The third case is airs. Lasure's oldest daughter, with the white swelling on her leg; whicii appeared to me that the flesh was all rotten from the bone, from the ancle to the Icnee, except the skin on the out side; five or six holes were just ready to break out. In the first price, I larced her leg, which, ran vastly. I then gota considerable quantity of the inside bark of slippery elm, as much of the inside bark of the roots of dog-wood, and as much of the inside bark oflynn, boiled it all well together, until the ooze became strong. I then thickened it with flour and new milk, and applied a fresh poultice three times per day. I then got and broke a- bout a dozen new laid hen eggs in a clean skillet, >vobri I sat over a hot fire, where I fried and stowed them, until they appeared as if they would burn up, ad the oil' -eg.au to run out of them. I then took off the skillet a id pressed t-e <--ggs &p to one side, and thereby extracted all the oil that I couldj ( tk>) which I mixed with the same quantity of .Brihkh oil mo! cm-* nointed her leg well, before the application of the poultice j I also put a tea spoonfull of the sugar of lead, and half a tea spoonfull of red precipitate in a pint of water, and washed out tier leg once or twice per day. This course I pursued for two weeks, and same times changed the wash, by substituting dog-wood ooze. This course of practice eradicated the iufiamotion entirely, ap- peased the pain and assuaged the swelling. I then chang- ed the poultice, and adopted one made of flax seed, new' milk and rye meal, I then made a wash in this way, viz: I got a quart of spirits, to which I added two table spoonfulls of English rosin, a large tea spoonfulhof camphor, and a piece of castile soap as large as a partridge egg, with which I washed the sore twice per day, and sprinkled a little red precipitate in the holes, and applied some precipitate salve j ard in this way, I healed up the sores;but there would at times small splinters of bones work out, and cam e small sores but I ddi kept on the salve which healed all the sores up, except one large hole just above the ancle, in which I discov- ered a loose bone, I then split the leg, ard took out a piece of her shun bone, as large as your finger, after which she boon got about again, and the place soon herded up, and ehe can run or walk nearly as well as ever. This poor girls leg was swelled large, When first committed to my charge j She came to me with aching heart, For to relieve her pain and smart j I quickly then did do my best, To ease this girl v no was distressed; And soon some medicine did give, Whicii did this poor girl soon relieve5 I often by this plan have cured, When pain could scarcely be endured; S i by God's grace, this girl can tell, That she is hearty, sound, and well. The 4th case was that of Eliza Lasure who had the bi- lious fever, and was about half grown. She had violent fevers, a distressing misery in her sh-mnch, a dryness of the skin; the feet and bands peeled, cold chilis at times, no appetite, and an aching' in tne bones; the first thing I done was to give her a dose of ipecacuanha, and when it (fco-y c^crated upwards sufficiently three or four times. I pare her a dose of sails, and some cinnamon bark tea, and ap- plrid. a blister to the pit of the stomach, and masted poke roots to the seals of her feet and on the same night gave be, a strong tea made of seneca snake root, with a little rnlinec nitre in it. This treatment broke the fever, and sue re- mained in a moderate sweat. The day following, I made her drink freely of ground ivy tea, and for her con- stant drink 1 put a tea" spoonfull of the cream of tartar to a pint of water; also fifteen drops of the elixer vitriol in a lit- tle water two or three times per day, keeping her bowels o- pv.-i: with caster o'd;-and if the fever appeared to rise, I gave tenor twelve drops of the sweet spirits of nitre in a little water two or three times per day, prohibiting her from drinking any thing cold, and when the fever appear- ed to be entirely broke, I got a handfull of the bark of the root of yellow poplar, a handfull of the bark of the roots of dogwood, and a handfull of the roots of yellow sassapha- rilho which I put in a pot to ten gallons of water, & boiled i down to half a gallon, then strained it, and simmered it dowi to. a pint,, and added a pint of wine, aud gave her a tea spoonfull three times per day, and as she strengthened, I ir creased the dose to balfa table spoonfull three times a day I debarred her from the use of cider, spirits, milk, and br con, and cautioned her against going in the wet or damp ai and she soon became sound and well, and has remained s-a ever since,. This Lady the fever had, as you may plainly find, Which did reduce her vastly, in V dy and in mindj She lacked for a stomach, while fevers burnt within, Sal pains did rack her system, and dryness of the skin; Her feet and hands by rivers, were pooled lear all o'er, Sure such a sad condition, was never k; ovmi before; Then quickly application,to me theii parents made, To see if Vd the knowledge, to give their otripringaid; And by Jehovah's blessim>, much aid I did afford, And thus relieved her quickly, until she was restored; Thus with my simple physic, bye often done the same, And yet do my opposers, still try to blast my fame. The fifth, was that of Sarah Silvy, who was in a distress- ed situation, with fits, with which she would die awrm, and remain apparently dead for some time. These spasms -e oukl return about every full and change of the mooji. It, * '( 8? > «.-> my opinion that the cause of thmc srim no-, -.van tn at' fount of the mcnsorual discharges net undoing its appear- ance on her at mi early enough pi riod of life. This discbarge ought to make its appearance with a]] health} females at the -arrival of twelve or fifteen years of mo and combmxe until they are fony-five Or fify years of age. nd as il is natural to their sex^ they can-not be ! cabby within', it, and even mother ought to instruct their drugh- ters at tins period, t'~u by so den g, it often has, and si ill may- have a good effect, and if the mother is the least intelligent. she-may by observation, tell when this complaint ri about ©r ought to commence, because, at this time they have a consideratnle some of heat,and weight with a dull pair in tie loin , a swelling and hardness of the breast?, with t'ae headache, loss of appetite, uncommon wem-rne, sof the limbs, paleness of the lane, and often a slight''degree of te-- mi-bo' feelings, followed immediately by cold obHri. a ilui* riring at the heart, and a numbness of the tlesh, who vari- ous hysteric anth-ervous affections, and likewise faanv fa- tal complaints tako place, such as, drophes consumptions,, spot- en the skin, and sometimes fits—likewise in healthy women there ha considerable difference, for the discharge of some, return so regularly as not to vary a day, or may fee an hour, while others will vary several days, without any meoove-ucT ee, and while ii terminates on some in a few hours, it continues on others from one to ten day s, but aia intermediate time, (h e.) from three to six days, is the most ysuai which tbey continue. But we will return to the case of Sarah iSilvy. In tar first place, I gave tier eight o; rains of jallap in a little water and directed her to drink plentifully of chicken soup, well salt, ih during that day,- butto abstain from cold water, milk, ■md nog meat, by this treatment she was worked very yolk, after wo'-cP riie appeared to be considerably better, but the fits still continued, but not so severeri. On the second day Ibhdher; an.I j;uvc her some tonic ■ medicine, (viz.) a str.:! o bitter,made of columbo roots, orange peelings, jeii**- tian roots, cnnimnmile flowers, and a piece of beaver eas- terns large as a partridge egg, all of which ingredients,'I stewed in madeira wine, of wb.ich I gave her a good dram three or four tinier }r^v day, just as -she could bear it, direct- ing her to live as light as possible, to abstain from the-uso of hog meat,cider, spirits, and milk, .-nod I directed her -to soak her feet in warm water and wheat bran. This course 2 ijoT eh her yaorri, so rim-t \w firi rim an to abate, I t-ritt r ^ a ) continued the same treatment for about fen day.-, and fhfeft got iron \yo" roots, tin ;:y, boarhound, the twigs of spice wood, and boiled to a strong ooze and batbied her feet and legs in it every other night, having them well rubbed torn her knees d'>vv.-ard-and then wrapped in bed.conti nil g bleeding her every three or four days in the foot. S'm now only had =pasmr. at times. I then gave her two grains of cal- omel and two of alloes, every night for three nights, in a tittle snore, disallowing the use of cold water,milk, or ba- con, brd it her drink freely of a tea made of cammomile fiowcrs, and yavc her a dose of caster oil to work if off, I then pulverized birch bark, fennel seed, and pechoon roots, to a line p': w der, and to a quart of hard cider, I added a ta* M 'opoo >fidi o id a half of each of the powders, and gave her a table sroor mdi three times per day, forbiding the use of bacon ermilk, but all ovad her to make use of any other &ght diet, -v ich agreed wit'iiher; In a pint of fresh but-or which was neither washed nor salted, 1 stewed a handfull of cammomile flowers, until the butter became like oil, and directed her abdomen to be well rubbed downwards before, a hot fire, and annointed with it, just before going to bed. By the time she had made use of half this medicine she was entirely free from fits, but had a severe pain in the stomach like a cholic, which was very severe at times, for whicii I put apiece of asa.ftetida as large as a pullet egg in a mortar with a tea spoonfull of aloes, and a tea spoonful! c: roeubarb, on which I poured a little spirits at d beat to the consistency of pills, and gave her a pill as large as a pea two or three times per day, according as necessity rceuhed, md in a short {ime she had a good appetite, a regular dis- tbnrgo of themo-sos, and every appearance of the fits mini-bed, and I believe she .vo- restored to perfect health, :m;d hope that in a short time she will make an affectionate oride for some worthy man, because in such cases as hers it is thought to be of service to marry, (if tiiey have age on their side) notonly for company sake, but to promote health. At this time many changes takes place in the constitution and appearance .of women; the complexion is hsmrovc-u, 1hnir consonancebec-mes more expressive and animated, "(heir attitudes more grata mi, their conversation more a- groeableemd intelligent, and in fact, the very tune of their voices become more harmonious and agreeable to the ear, and they abandon their childish pursuits and amusements. Incomenorialmp; on the above "rccommendo-d prevent^ (•TO fkve against the return of Miss Silvy's complaint* I am to duced to insert the following lines. ON A WEDDING NIGHT. O call the bridegroom to the bride, All decked inker beauteous pride; May all the pleasures and the sweets, Which does attend the genial sheets; And Hymen's chains aid loving bands, * Be now resigned into their hands. And may soft joys now them re-wed, And be the curtains of their bed; And may fair honour and delight, Now crown their day, and grace their nighti While thus their oft repeated kisses, Unite in both their happy wishes; And may the mild embrace of love, B- soft and sweet as Venus' dove. B t, oh! the raptures of that night, Wnat sweet concussions of delight; Now in each other's arms involved, Tiiey lay confounded and dissolved; Body's mingled, sexes blending, Which shall be the most contending; Darting fierce and flaming kisses, Thus plunged into boundless blesses. t DO CERTIFY, That in July 1814, Iapplyed to Doc- tor Richard Carter, when I was in a distressed condition, and had been under three Doctors, and given out by them all. My complaint was a distressed ulcer, which was called by some, the fistula. Doctor Carter worked with me, and relieved me more than ever I expected to be relieved by a- ny Doctor, ai d I dont expect it ever will return to injure me. I was also taken in a consumpted manner,ai d I e*° came very low, and I supposed that it originated from the medicine which I took from other Doctors in the case of the fistula. Doctor Carter attended on me also, with the consumption, and I mended surprising!), and soon became Sound and well, and am now as fleshy as ever I was in my life, but not quite so strong. I do give Doctor Carter the praise for my relief, with the blessing of God. If this should be disputed, I appeal to a number of my friends and Neighbours who five in Madison county liy. who were eye- e ™) ^fitiiesses to the eircumstance, for it oftentimes was rep..- ted in the neighborhood of Drowning Creek that I war. dead, but I'nave been well six months I do certify 1 he a- bove tobe true. Given under my hand, this 10th April 1817. RICHARD BENTON, Attest, Martha Kelly, John Wolfskill, Henry Rogers, Andrew Hood, Giles Kelly, Samuel McMatten. The fistula is a serous ulcer of that part which communi- cates most frequently with the urethra or the urinary pas- sage, which runs from the neck of the bladder down the penice. This is not strictly confined to ulcers of this kind in the perinaeum organ of generation, it is also applied to sores of a similar nature opening into the scrotum which cover the testicles, or terminating in any part of the pe- nice. The fistula is of that species of sinus in which the edges of the sore become hard and callous, but custom now applies it indiscriminately to every ulcer which is not superficial, but lies deep, and discharges its contents by one or more narrow openings in the external teguments. In Consequence of the latitude given to the meaning of the term fistula, a great variety of appearances are exhibited under this general denomination of fistula in perinaes. In some instam.es, a single opening i< met with in one part or other of the perinaeum or penis discharging matter mix- ed with the urine, and thus without any hardness or inflama" tionof the contiguous parts; but in others instead of this simple form of this disease along with one or more exter- nal openings communion mg with the urethra, by which all or at least the greatest ar' f the urine passes through. Toe parts contiguous to these openings are very much dis- eased. In some instances, they are found nearly in a hard! callous state, without much enlargement; but in others they are not only exceeding bard, but much swelled, infla- med and very painful, in a few cases this hardness and en- largement is confined to a small space, but most frequently when the disorder has ''men of long standing, it extends near- ly from the annus or fundament to the scrotum, or, integu- ments which cover the testicles, reducing the pmmaeurn, or the space between the annus, and organs -f genera -.\. scinch is moist, to a state of collasity or m. dness. In ma* (*» ) ny instances, the malady does not stop here, but the aca^ turn aad forepart of the penis are liable to be effected by i$ and when tlie urine unfortunately escapes into the cellokr substance of the parts, particularly when it lodges in any part of the scrotum, it is apt to terminate in a great deal of mischief, as a considerable part of the urine and sometimes all of it is evacuated by sores of this nature. They are on every occasion productive of much distress and merit the greatest attention of those who profess rial! in this complaint. In the treatment of this disease, the cau- ses which gave rise to it, ought first to be considered, they are generally as follows, wounds and other injuries of the uretoo a, and bladder from external violence in whatever manner they may be produced from some cause or other however, it happens in a few instances that the urine does not flow freely by the penis, and as it finds a ready passage by the wound, it continues to come off in this manner, until tiie edges of the sore becomes callous. The disorder in question, is produced in some cases of this nature, a direct communication is kept up between the neck of the bladder and the sore; but in others the urine passes first into the urethra, and from thence is discharged by the wound into the perinaeum. This disease is sometimes the conse- quence of incisions made in the urethra, for the purpose of extracting stones lodged in it; when the wound closes not up, but continue open, and give vent to the urine, which may continue for a considerable time. Inflamation in any part of the urethra, let the cause be what it may, if it ter- xninates in an abyss is very apt to corrode the membrane of the canal, and to produce a sinuous opening at which the urine is discharged along with pus, this species of the dis- order may be remarked as not an unfrequent conscqn. nee of virulent gonomheia for when the inflamation spreads a- tnag theperenaeum towards the annus if it be not quickly removed by blood letting, and such other- means as is ne>» • cessary to employ in such cases, it will be very apt to ter- minate in supuration. Absesses which form originally in the soft parts about the annus, are known to give rise to it, in communicating inflamation and stricture terminating in eupuration to the cellular sulotance, connected with the urethra. This disease sometimes induces obstruction of tlie urethra by impeding the natural discharge of the urine and frequently gives rise to other diseases. It may be thus &duced by a variety of causes? and the first thing for the v ^ ) p^ysici&n to do, is to ascertain the source from which it o* riginated, and then apply suitable means. The fistula is sometimes brought on by longar.d severe spells of tlie piles*, and various other causes, such as hard riding,hard drink ng, bruises, laes-venerie, or the venerial disease, scrop1 ula, kings evil, or scurvy, and except we know the primary cause, a permanent cure cannot be expected for it is highly necessary to first give suitable medicines to remove the cause bv which it was produced, and then with simple means ad good management, it will cease and then we may look for a cure, particularly if it proceeded from any of the aforesaid disorders. The next plan to fall on, is to remove the effects of the disorder out of the system, and of course the fistula will alter; then apply mild ointment and salve, Most authors recommend the surgical application of the knife, or instrument, &c. but 1 would earnestly advise all who wish to acquire further information on the subject, to read Doctor Cooper on surgery; Doctor Benjamin Bell's first volume on surgery,and Doctor Townsend's works,from which source they will get a more full account, than I can give in this small work, although. I have given as short and plain account on the subject, as circumstances would per* mit, I shall now proceed to lay down the mamicrin which I treated Mr. Richard Benton's fistula. The Doctor who at- tended 01: Mr. Benton before myself, had given him a great deal of mercury, and the fis'ula had become a hard callous and in'the course of a night it would grow outhalf an inch, and in the day the Doctor would eat it erf with wet fire,so as fast as he would eat it down in the day, just so much it would grow in the night, aid in this way he suffered for a month or two. In the first place I got 2; at which time I applied to a Doctor in Virginia, wno was called a great surgeon, and he applied a blister plaster all over my ?-; g, &. caused it to be distressed sore, and it continued on ve- ry bad. 1 was on Wayne's campaign from the year 1792 until the year 1794, and a great many of the Surgeons of the army tried their skill on my leg, but the most they could do, was to heal it up, but it would soon break out again, and after it would heal up, it would swell and innanie to such a degree as to throw me into violent fever', and cause, me to nuke, until it would break out again; and in the year 1794, I got the same leg broke; the bone was set and my leg got well, except the old ulcer, which, continued sore, a u iu the year following, I went to Detroit and applied to four emi- nent physicians, and none of them could cure it. They would heal it for a little while, but the least hurt or expos- ure would put it in the same condition again. In the year T;816, it got so bad that it threw me into such a condition, that my life was despaired of. I then sent for a Doctor who relieved my inward complaint, but done nothing to my leg; but it still continued to swell until it bursted in several pla- ces and turned black, and it was supposed that a mortifica- tion was taking place. I then sent to Doctor Richard Car- '.' c, v, ho administered medicine, and my leg mended very fast and soon got well, and the skin has been broke three Jrines since, and healed up of itself; which it never did be- fore. Since whicii. I have been, as sound and hearty as ever 1 was, and my leg appears clear of fevers, and a good skin remains on it, and I think that first and last, that my leg aas mot tne an hundred pounds. I do certify Uie tibove to be \ (ttf) -ftjie-, atia1 my If g has been well about a year, ifiven untie5 my hand, this 7th April 1817. SAMUEL TATUM. Attest, Henry Rogers, John Anderson, Nancy Anderson, Catharine Tatum. Now the first thing in consideration is to state a few thing3 widen will produce sore legs, for there are many causes, from wbic'n they originate, and for many ages back, there has been but few authors who have treated but slightly on tine subject, anal it has been thought one of the most difficult ca- ses to relieve. I have bad great success in cases of this kind and have relieved many. Sore legs are often brought on by a general debility, and hard labor; violent and long strain- ing, standing a long while under a heavy burthen. Wash- er-women and those who are mostly on their feet are sub- ject to sore legs, because the blood vessels and muscular fi- bres, muscles, vessels and nerves of the legs are so overstretch- ed that cither a rupture or such a languid action in the ves- sels are induced so that an accidental wound from any cause whatsoever, even the scratch of a pirn a briar, or a bruise will induce an inflamation, swelling and fever, turn purple, or bkmk and sometimes blister. This is not the only causes which produce sore legs; for hard drinking of almost every description is liable to have this effect. When persons la- bour hard, drink spirits pretty freely, lift hard, and take hearty draughts of cold water when their blood is thus in,, is often the causes of sore legs, if not a liver complaint; but this is not always the case, for by hard drink, high living, and an indolent fife; the gout in the legs is often produced, which commences with pains, something like the rheuma- tism, which sometimes causes the legs to inflame, turn to running sores, and even to a mortification. Sore legs are connected with a morbid, infectious, corrupt state of the- whole system. The correctness of which position, may be- established by reverting to the sources from which they pro- ceed, all of which act more or less upon every part of ihe- system, for it is a stubborn fact, that fevers, dyser sbe-^ consumptions, and appoplexys, have all been frequently oc- casioned by the suppression of a habitual discharge from sore leg^ the cause of which, is debility in those organ.-, by which tiieir vessels were more easily excited into action and efurian by the stimulous of the plethara of fullness of the > 96 ) Ve?sels,mdtmeu upon the system by fonfbmmeot of the ffu> ids, which were f cmerlv discharged from the leg, in form af pus or matter which can onlv d> barm where there is pre- vious debility through the system. This shows that st ■•« legs, often prove the outlet of m-my general disorders, and all the medicines which effect their" removal, act more or loss upon the whole system. The best method, is to keep the svstem cool and open with salt-, cream of tartar ;n d swoe- spirits of nitre, (from fifteen to twenty drops ofn,e latter in a little water, ri sufficient for a patient,) cool and pure air, bathing in cold water, usi g a flannel band;o>■.->„ hi. d letting, taking a table spoonfull of the juice of elder berries, twice or three times per day, made as thick as tar, applying a poultice made of the same kind nf juice and roots of elder aid sooc-make roots-, thickened with light whe at bread crumbled fine, with a little of.the sugar of lead in it. It is well to keep Ike leg higher than the body, on a stool, chair, or something of the kind; abstain in. g from spirits, ci- der, beer, and smc bed or salted meats, drinking nothing stronger than butbmmilk whey or water. It is also very good to make a poultice of oat-meal, new milk and a little burnt dirt out of the back, beat fine and put in it and appli- ed twice per day. All of the above mentioned applications and regimen are very necessary in cases of sore legs; but I will now proceed to lay down the ma-m.er in which I treated Mr. Tatum's sore leg; and he that wishes to be more en- ligtened on this subject, (if I mistake not) may read the fol- Seo ng medical authors, viz: Rigbv, Rus'a Underwood, Pry* sick and Brooks; but the most of their applications are mild and softening poultices; opium and mercury, which I have not experienced in cases of this kind, except a few of his poultices, which I found to he very serviceable. In the a- bovc certified ca-m, I applied in the first instance a flam el «loth, wet in ether to his leg. three or four times per .to', and then washed the leg well in sugar of lead water. I tiien got a double handfull of swamp lillies, a ha; afull of the bark of the roots of sassafras, a double handfull of the in- side bark of slippery elm, a double handfull of the roots of lymo, and boiled them all well in water until it became a ] December Hth, 1817. $ I DO CERTIFY, That I had the consumption, and a dreadful cough for about two years, so that I was reduced to nothing but skin and bones,comparatively speaking; and in the first of August 1816, Doctor R. Carter began with me, and I mended very fast, and recruited so that I got, as I think nearly as fleshy as ever I was. I can stand to work at my business as well as any person of my age and sex. I likewise had a rising on my shoulder, which commenced with an itching and burning, and was eighteen days liefore it dis- charged any matter, and in the eighteen nights I never slept to do me any good; it then turned to eating and eat a place aa large as the top of a tea cup, and for two days after, Doctor Carter applied his medicine, I did not feel it; but after tiiata it was very sore, but the said Doctor Carter cured it up9 and it appears to be sound, but when I hurt myself ititchea a little. ELIZABETH BOLIN, Attest, Sarah Lasure, John WolpskilIj, Anprew Hood, George Bast* N <'9V) f will state Mrs. Bolin's case which she was i» as near as i Can. In the first of her illness, I thinkher complaint was the phthisic; but by heats and colds it turned tp a pulmriary Complaint, i. e. a consumption, which came on her by heats and colds. She frequently had anoppte^ion in her nreust, With a very great shortness of breath. She coughed mostly uf evenings afid mornings, and spit a great ileal of tough, thick corruption, whicii wassometimes of a frothy nature. Her thirst was great, and hectic fever very considerable. - She had also night sweats, a burning in the palms of her hands, tind'solesof herfeet, a dryness of the skin, pran in the sideand sometimes she would puke by coughing; but neither the dys- entary nor swelling of the feet had taken place. In the first place I gave her five grains of calomel, one of squills, and one of refined nitre, in a little sugar, just before she went to bed at night; debaring her from the use of hog meat, sweet mill;, cmd cold water. The second night I gave her a dose of csalts in warm water, and the third day I gave her a linuoi- i'ce, made thus: I got a handfull of the bark of the roots of sassafras, a handfull of the roots of comphrcy, a handfull of the roots of horse reddish, a handfull of the roots of green plantain, a handfull of the roots of spikenard, a handfull of the bark of sycamore, a handfull of white plantain, and a Iiandfull of the roots of sassapharilla, and put them all into a vessel with five gallons of water, and boiled the strength out, then strained it and added half a gallon of honey, a table fcpoonfull of salt peter, and a quart of cider, and simmered it dowm slowly to half a gallon, then added the fourth of an ounce of elixer vitriol to each quart. I then gave her half a bible spoonfull of this liquorice three times per day, with n tea spoonfull of sweet oil mixed with it, and continued in- creasing the dose of liquorice slowly, until it became as much £is a table spoonfull, three times per day, and every tentli day, I gave her four grains of the small powders, such as was used in Ruth Ray's dropsy, viz. made of calomel, nitr , opi- um, Squills, &c. and continued the same for three days in succession. I continued t us mode of treatment for forty day g in which time, she took just twelve doses of the pow- der- emitting the liquorice while taking the powders. She al; ■• ;,>ok te.- or fiibceo drops of the sweet spirits of nitre, in a lithe water, two or three times per day, if her fevers ap- pe-insd to rise high. She was also directed to live light, oa sucti as soups and fresii meats; but by no means tomake use of high seasoned victuals. I then made her a tonic thus: (93) ■;'}..-' a handfull of the bark of the root of sassafras, a handfull of thebark of t:he root of dog wood, and a handfull of the bark of the root of yellow poplar, and put the whole into ten gallons of water and boiled it slowly down to half a gal- lon; then strained it and boiled it down to a pint, and gave her a tea spoonfull three times per day, in about a table spoonfull ofMaderie wine. I dis-allowed the use of hog nma , sweet milk, salted old butter, cider and spirits, and by the time she had taken three pints of this liquorice and an ounce phial of the tonic, she became well, fleshy and free from the cough and oppression in her breast;"and remains so until now, and can execute her business as well as she fi- ver could. The second case was an ulcer on the back of her shoul? der, which had turned to a rose cancer; which is truly a dis- tressing disorder, and when they begin to eat, they rise a little above the skin, and turn the inside out, and spread a good deal like a mush-roon; having a kind of reddish colour, discharging a kind of greenish or yellow matter; sometimes clear water, and sometimes a kind of bloody paz, or matter, with an itching or burning in the sore, particularly about the edges; the veins around it look of a blue cast: pains shoot at times from it, with a little stinging, and after it is cured, it is often the case, that there will shooting pains at- tend the parts which were affected for some months after it is well, which often keeps the patient distressed in mind, when there is not the least danger; but there are many who lets a corcinama or cancer, run on them until it terminates in the foulest kind of ulcers, before they will under-go the operation of a cure in any way, until at length it effects the muscles, and the muscles being attached to the bones, may affect the bones, and even the glans and vessels which are very numerous, and which extend to the neighboring parts, and are connected one with another, and to other parts of the system, by a cellular structure which is the connecting medium of every part of the system, and when this is the case, the gig is over, and the patient will take chills and fe- vers, and perhaps will almost conclude that he has got the fever and ague; but it is only a token that he will need his coffin very shortly, for all medical means will then fail, in consequence of the effects of the disorder having dissemina- ted itsels throughout the whole system. I will now insert the manner in vyhich I treated Mrs. Bo- tih's cancer; which was as follows: In the first place, I wet C *&>) •Jtujnch of cotton in the elixer vitriol and put it in the cm>. cer, bound it up and let it remain until the morning follow- ing. I then beat a tea spoonful] of brimstone, a tea spoon- ful of coperas, a tea spoonfull of blue vitriol, and a tea spoon. full of dried beech nuts, all well mixed together, and filled the cancer up pretty well with this mixture. That eve- ning I made a poultice of the bark of dog wood roots, the bark of sassafras roots, and swamp lillies, by boiling t em well in water and thickening the ooze with oat-meal, ad applied it to the cancer that night. The next morning and evening and the morning following the sore looked clean and the edges began to break and part from the sound flesh. I then mixed well a tea spoonfull of the sugar of lead' with half as much red precipitate, and sprinkled it that evening round the edge, where the separation was taking place, and repeated at the next morning; and the evening following, I applied the poultice again. On the next morning, I put in a consi- derable quantity of the sugar of led, and that evening the whole body came out, which had considerable roots. I the • put into a skillet, a gill of tallow, half as much bees wax, and a table spoonfull of sweet oil. I then put the skil- let on the fire where it remained until all was melted, then took it offand added a tea spoonfull of red pricipitate, and Btired all well together, until it became cold. I then ap- plied a plaiste? of it twice per day, and sprinkled a little- red precipitate once per day. With this treatment it healed very fast and there appeared to rise small lumps in it like proud flesh; to remove which, I wrapped a little cot- ton around the end of a little stick and wet it with aquafor- tis, and touched the lumps and edges of the sore as often as necessary. Sometimes I washed it with salt and water and sprinkled jusuit barks in it. At other times, I washed it in water where led had been boiled, and sometimes in castile soap suds. (Considering the size of the sore,) I am inclin* ed to think there sgarcely ever was such a place cured in less time. In cases of this kind it is ariviseable to give the patient a dose of salts ore a wee.k, and let blood, take barks, or a tea made of dog wood bark, especially when ths patient is gross and inclined to be feverish. This woman was brought low and weak, Consumpted so she scarce could speak: But by my simple means and skill, She is restored sound and well, Lr.kciwisc ehe had a Cancer t?ofl (101 > tfith which she knew not what to <3e^ But by the means which I prepare, She nothing has now but the scar. BACK CREEK, GARRARD COUNTY l£r.> L, ember 16, 1817. § I DO CERTIFY, That I was in a distressed conditio^ find that four Doctors has attended on me without contribu- ting any relief, and in fact, wdiile taking medicine from i .re- ef them, I got so much worse, that all my neighbors gave my out to die; and in fact, it was a doubt with them whether 1 could ever reach Doctor Carter's or not; but I got there with difficulty and took his medicine, and nave been taking -of it about eight weeks, and have mended greatly, and more than ever I expected to have done, far the medicine which I have taken; and feel myself a well woman, to what I was when I applied to him. The complaint was an inward one. Giv- en under my hand. SARAH CAMP. Attest, Joseph Wray, John Wolfskill, Julia Wray, Anerew Hood, Cantly Wallace. Mrs. Camp's complaint was the Hydrometra or Dropsy of the womb. This complaint p'oceeds sometimes from v/inh, sometimes from water; the abdomen swells, and increases slowly, so that persons often mistake it for pregnancy. } once knew a woman with this complaint who had a mid- wife called in three times, and consequently to no effect, la cases of this kind, the swelling is raised by the gathering of water, from moisture mixed with the menses. I knew one rdn swelled gradually and appeared hard from the layer part of the abdomen in a hard ridge, to the alimettary canal or stomach, and remained in that condition for some months t £p that she was not able to help herself, and yet had her men- ses every month regularly, with as severe pains as a woman in labour, and when I got to her, (which was after having bten sent for) there were three mid-wives collected; two of which agreed with me in saying that the woman was not rrith child; but the other swore that she would shove us *.-.. fine child in two weeks; to which I replied that if tlie re was no game in the mountains the hunters miirht lay up tiieir gm> tmq. if the: a ri a chUa p.e « pugx you find h: the better-'or; C vck) Chs never found it, and the woman has s.nce bo cattle o^ e_1 and well. This reminds me of a circumstance which happened with a gentleman who was very desirous of becoming rich; and who, on account of his not progressing as fast as he im- agined, became in a melancholy state, and appointed three or four times when he should die. He at leogto sent to a water doctor, about whose house there lived a yenog wo- man who was in a pregnant state, and who poured out the gnni lemans urine privately and put in her own. After a wbile, the old Dutch Doctor put on his spectacles and ex- amined the vial of urine. He told the bearer that it must be a woman's urine, who was in a pregnant situation, but be affirmed that it was not—however, he returned nod told the gentleman what the Doctor had said. The genileman concluded that it was a fact,thai he was in a state of pregnancy, and would soon go to shut-eye town. But it happened that this gentleman, for a particular purpose, stepped out and placed himself against an old stump, and just at the critical moment, out jumped a rabbit from the stump, which he owned for his child, but it being rather fleet far the old man, it escaped, and he returned to the house with great joy, &c. But to the subject of the hy- drometra or dropsy of the womb again, which was Mrs. stamp's ca.se. When this complaint proceeds from wind, it is termed tympaoites, which I shall write more particu- larly about, towards the latter part of this work. The symrooms are a swelling of the hypogastrium or lower part of the belly, without suppression of urine or pregnancy, attended with fluctuation, and somewhat resembling tlie gravioe aterus, to these symptoms, Sauvage has added bor- b •-•vgmus or rumbling noise- hi the intestines and continual d-ficult respiration without sense of stricture, accompanied with cough, uncommon footer of the stools, obstructed cata- nainia, pain in the abdomr-1, and loins, ringor, fob ml, symp- toms, softness, and flaciditv of the breasts, and difficulty in either walking or bending the body forwards. Tins afflic- Pi -n of toe womb is sometimes the cause of abortion, or m^carriage, when the placenta, or after birth is left behind for this may degenerate into a congeries of hydatidesor watery bladder-. Bladders of this nature have been found in the abdomen of womnni afflicted with the dropsy, but the uiunnrried and barren, are more subject to it. than the maj* rind and child bearing women. ( 103 J **£here are but few authors who treat on this disease. *fi& Tow use. ! and Boerhaave gives the most infoi matte., on u/e euOject. Tne iiCit vhing in consideration is to lay down the man- ner in which 1 treated Mrs. Camp's case. The first medi- cine I gave her, was made thus: I put a gallon of hard ap- ple cider into a pot and added a handfuli of pine tops, near- ly as much of the roots of yellow sassapharilla, a handfull of whi.e plantain, and a large handfull of rusty nails, and boded them all slowly in the cider, till it was reduced to a quart, I tnen strained, and bottied it, and added a table bpoonfuli of salt petre, and gave her half a table spooniuil of this medicine three times per day, and increased slow- ly to double the quantity three times per day, and fortnd hermaking use of hog meat, sweet milk, cider, spirits or any. high seasoned diet, as well as to guard against damp air and' heating herself over the the fire. Thh course was follow- ed for about ten days, I then changed the treatment, (viz.) I mixed equal quantities of the cream of tartar and jab p together, and gave her a tea spoonfull of it, three times pet day in a little water, and twenty drops of the sweet spirits of nitre three times per day, hi a little water. This course was continued for about a week, during which time, she seemed to mend very fast. In the third, and next place, I got a handfull of the roots of summer grape vine, and as mucii of the roots of parsley, as much horse radish roots^ and double this quantity of water melon seed, and a hand- full of marsh mallows, put them all into water, and boiled the strength well out of the herbs, &c. then strained the syrup and added a pint of honey, a quart of cider, a tea spoonfull of salt petre, and then simmered it down to a quart, and added a tea spoonfull of squills. I gave hes first a tea spoonfull three times per day, and increased it slowly to a large table spoonfull three times per day, and aa much refined nitre as would lie on the point of a case knife, in sugar. This course of treatment, broke loose the water. I then got a quart of wine, to which I added a table spoon- full of Jesuit barks, a tea spoonfull of pulverised columbo, half a table spoonfull of pulverised jentian, the fourth of ao ounce of the elixer vitriol, and a piece of' assafoetida as large e- a partridge egg; I gave her a tea spoonfull three times per day at first, and increased the dose slowly as she strengthened, until it became as much as half a table spoon- Qii three; times per day, and when tUri was half gone I a.d° (Vfc>) %a& a pint of wine to it, and in case of a sestiveness, If g&tffc' Ilex salts or caster oil. Twice while she was under my car© Igaveher eight grains of calomel at bed time, in a little sugar, and if it did not work off well,'I made her take free- ly tlie next day of jallap and cream of tartar, not permit- ting her tomake use of any thing cold, and I forbid nor .iog meat, and sweat milk on the next day. This is every tiling that I administered in this case, that is worthy of attention. She has physicians four employed, And while with them, like to have died j But last of all she came to me, To see if she could healed be; While of a cure she did despair, 9 My means with care I gave to to her; And by God's mercy I am sure, I did her health to her restore. PAINT LICK, GARRARD COUNTY, Kt.) January i'2c/, 1818, $ 2 DO CERTIFY, That my sister was taken last sun* der, two years ago with a violent flowing of the menses, and continued in that state almost continually, until 181G, at which time she was an object of pity; she was about fifty-five or sixty years of age. She was often taken in such a way that we thought she would not live from one day to another, and she had spasms in which we thought life was gone and it was in this situation that she applied to the Indian Doctor, (Carter;) and at that time you could not see the least appearance of blood in her lips, or hard- ly in ner whole system, she was also bloated all over the whole system, and Doctor R. Carter attended on her in 3816, and with his skill, and the blessing of the Creator of Qs all,she has got sound and hearty, and has remained so all, this Summer and Fall,and looks fleshy, has a good colour, and can attend to her business as well as ever she did in "her life, (considering her age.) And I give God thanks for all his mercies which he extends to all the sick and aiflcted in all quarters of the world, and pray, that Dr. R.Carter's means may still be blest while he remains on earth, and that the Lord may prepare his soul for glory hereafter, and that all who attends on the sick may meet with the smiles of Heaven, hi their efforts to promote their fellow creatures liSAltb. ( 105) Given from under our hands, this day and date before Written. JAMES SPARKS. MARY VASSER. WM: DUNNE AY. Attest, Andrew Hood, Martha Bobbitt, William Coopes. N. B. This certificate was certified by James Sparks, her husband, William Dunneay, her brother, and Mary Vasser, her sister. I am now about to treat upon a difficult case, which was the approach of old age; at which period, women generally cease to menslrutite, but the time of this cessation is com- monly regulated by the original early or late appearance of » the menses. With those who begin to mensturate at ten or twelve years of age, the discharge will often cease before they arrive to the age of forty-five or fifty, but if the first appearance be protracted to sixteen or eighteen years of age, independent of disease, such a woman may continue to mensturate until they have passed the fiftieth and even the approach of the sixtieth year of their age; but in this country, the most common time of this cessation is between the forty-fourth and forty-eighth year of their age, after which, women never bare, or of they do, it is something ex- traordinary, and would cause as much astonishment as the circumstance of the rabbit jumping out of the old stump did, when the man was standing against it and thought he was delivered of a rabbit. By this constitutional regulation of the menses, the prop- agation of the species are in every country confined to the most rigorous part of life, and if it was not so, it would fre- puently be the case, that children would become parents, and old women might have children when they were not a- ble to supply them proper or sufficient nourishment. If an old woman, upwards of fifty years of age should gain her health and become in a state of pregnancy after having been barren for many years, she would then begin to think that she was in a desperate situation; thinking that she is too old, yet acknowledging that something is the matter, and fearing that it is to take her life. Here comes on low spir- its, palpitation at the heart, and all the train of hypocondri- cal affections, and she keeps a greater uproar than the peo- ple did when the mountain was in labour, before it was do- ( 105 ) livered of the mouse. I thus write because I have been an eye witness to three similar cases, and found it as difficult to make them believe that they were pregnant, as it was that old granny was walking in the air with her feet upwards. I have endeavoured to shew you something of a change which takes place with women at the approach of old age, and shall now proceed to inform you of the situation in which Mrs. Sparks wras when she first^came under my care. Mrs. Sparks was a woman of a soft delicate habit, bad experienced much fatigue, a long duration of the flowing of the menses, and bad frequently a pain in her hips and loins, and became bloated all over like a person who had the dropsy through their whole system. In fact she had the dropsy in the addomen and complained of a pain in the side, with a little tickling cough, the hectic {ever, and night 6weats slightly, with a frequent thirst. In the first place I gave her a table spoonful of the juice of green plantain, three times per day, and put a tea spoonfnl of the cream of tartar into a pint of strong cinnamon bark tea, and gave her of it to drink frequently as necessity required, to keep her bowels moderateiy open* I gave her a grain of opium every night, and five grains of epecuanha, to be put into five table spoonfuls of water, and directed her to take a spoonful eve- ry two hours until gone. The next day I gave her a spoon- ful of the same mixture every three hour0, and so continu- ed for three days; which treatment checked the menses. 1 then mixed half a table spoonful of Jesuit barks, a tea spoon- ful of columbo, a tea spoonful of beat gentian roots, and 2 or 3 pieces of orange peelings in a pint of Madeira wine, and gave her a tea spoonful three times per day, not suffering her to make use of bacon, sweet milk, but any other light cooling diet. This tonic strengthened her, and caused the colour to return in her lips. She continued taking the to- nic for a week, and also a little of the above drink occasion- ally. But when the time rolled round for the menses natu- rally to flow, she was taken with a violent flooding. I then directed the application of wheat flour to the abdomen and groins. 1 beat cinnamon bark and allum, of each equal quantities into a fine powder, and put a tea spoonful to a pint of new milk, and gave of it as circumstances required, i. e. if her menses flowed freely she drank freely, but redu- ced the doses as her menses abated. She also took a medi- cine at the same time made thus: I got a handful of black- berry briar roots, a handful of white oak twigs, a handful of ( 107 ) the bark of the roots of black haw, a handful of the bark of " the roots of black gum, and put them all in a sufficient quantity of water and boiled the strength out, then strain- ed it and boiled it down as thick as tar, and gave her a table spoopful three times per day. As her menses abated, I de- creased the doses, until her menses entirely ceased. I then got a handful of the bark of elder rooots, a handful of sas- sapharilla roots, a handful of green plantain roots, and a handful of beech bark, boiled them all well in water; strain- ed it, boiled it down to a pint and added a pint of wine. I gave her balfa a table spoonful three times per day, and in- creased slowly to a table spoonful three times per day, and thus continued for ten days. I then mixed two grains of cal- omel, two grains of nitre, one grain of squills, with a little English rosin and assafoetida, all of which I worked up into a pill and gave her at night, and followed the plan every oth- er night; during which time, she refrained from cold water, hog meat, and sweet milk; but eat any light diet that her stomach could bear, and after she had taken three of those pills, her menses abated entirely, and her strength consider- ably increased. I then got a handful of feather fue, a hand- ful of sweet bazil, a handful of sweet fennel, a handful of penneroyal, and a table spoonful of callendar seed; all of which, I put in an oven and dried them well over a fire. I then beat them to a fine powder, mixed it well with a pint of honey, and a table syoonful of pulverized steel dust. Af- ter it was well worked, I rolled it out on starch into pills a- bout the size of a homany bean, of which I gave her at first, three per day, i. e. one morning, noon and night and then she took four in the day, and increased gradually until she took as many as six or seven per day, during which time she made no use of coffee,bacon, sweet milk, cider nor spirits; but I allowed her to sup a little hard cider, weakened with water, and sweetened with honey, and with this treatment she became a sound woman. ''When blooming youth is past and gone, O! then old age comes creeping on;" So at this time'tis common fate, That females cease to menstruate; That you her case should plainly know, Her menses to excess did flow; So her disease when well defined, Was with the ascites combin'd; ( 108) She was reduced so very low, Her friends knew not what they should do; But by my skill she found at length, The means by which she gained her strength; Although she was by most give out, Yet I have made her strong and stout; So thus the means which I do use, The worst of ali complaints subdues. TROY WEIGHTS OF SIMPLE AND COMPOUNDS. TROY WEIGHTS. A pound, ftj.} f Twelve ounces, eUhh-12. An ounce, 3j.f T ) Eight drams, 3viii.-8. A dram, 3j.f C0*TAIN \Three scruples, eiih-3. A scruple, 6j. J {Twenty grains, gr. xx.-2Q. WINE MEASURE. A pint, ft". *) CSixteen ounces, gxAi.-16. An ounce, gj. S- contains < Eight drams, 3viii.-^8. A gallon, gal.) (Eight pints, fciii.-8. N. B. liquids are not to be weighed, but measured, un- less it is expressly ordered to the contrary. Note. Likewise, that gut. in any medical author, signi- fies a drop; also, that a common spoonful contains about half an ounce, and that 6 put after any of those characters, sig- nifies half, thus 313, is put for half an ounce; but he handi- est way for common farmers to understand, is the one which I have adopted, i. e. to take the liquids by measure, eithor by the tea or table spoonful, as directed in the receipts in the second part of this book. Likewise the different kinds of powders which I use, and as is mentioned in the second part of this book, is administered in the same way. The following table is intended to show the doses of medi- cines proper for persons of different apoy thus, 'apposing cue dram of any medicine a BntScieui acne for an adult, i. e. ( 109 ) for a person of twenty-one years of age, then m en. RECEIPT THE 1st, Allum is used in floodings, and in long continued fluxes* It is given to grown persons in doses from five to twenty grains. In cases of floodings, beat up cinnamon bark fine with the same quantity of allum, and after both is mixed well together, put a tea spoonful to half a pint of new milk warm from the cow, stir this well together, and take it as necessity requires, reducing the dose as the flooding abates, not to stop too suddenly, abstaining from the use of milk, bacon, spirits, and cider, but use such as fresh beef, mutton, squirrels, fermaty, rice, and cooling teas, such as balm, ground ivy, cinquefoil, &.n. A DESCRIPTION OF THE HERBS USED IN THE ABOVE. Cinqucfoil is an herb which grows in old fields, pasters, or barren ground, and in a goodly degree resemble straw- berry vines, but has five leaves instead of three. This vine runs along the ground, and at some its joints, roots, put out and cleave to the earth. It bear.^ a beautiful yellow flow- er. Ground ivy is a garden herb, but in this country it grows about hedges, ditches, old pastures and fences, and has a round leaf to the stems, and at every stem it takes ( 15B ) fresh foot. This herb is of a dark green cast, the stem or vine being about the size of a small straw, with a purple or white blossom. Balm is a garden herb, and so well known that it needs no description, being nearly in every garden* RECEIPT THE 2nd* Calomel is an excellent medicine, and may he Used as a purge, either alone or combined with jallap; but it is most effectual when given alone. It sometimes when given in too large doses or too often, produces a salivation* The dose should be for a man, from five to twenty grains, for a child two of years old, from two to four grains. If given for worms it may be combined with a little jallap* In all bil- lious fevers is a very useful remedy. The patient ought not to use cold wrater, milk nor hog meat, till it works off* You should work it off with chicken soup well salted, or water grewel seasoned in the same way. If it does not work off well, the safest chance is to work it off the day fol- lowing with a dose of salts or caster oil. RECEIPT THE 3rd. Three grains of calomel given every night for three nights in succession, in a tea' spoonful of English rosin, Well pulverized and mixed in a table spoonful of honey, forbid* ing the use of sweet milk, cider, bacon, spirits, and every cold thing, it is good in women's cases, when the menses a- bate, and the flour albus takes place. The diet should be some kind, and the patient be very careful of taking cold or heating their blood in any way. RECEIPT THE 4th; Ether if applied externally removes pains, and if applied internally, it removes phthisics, hiccoughs, &c. If it is ap- plied to an inflamation and suffered to evaporate, it cools and relieves wonderfully, and if applied to a chronic rheu- matism in a state of confinement, (so as to prevent its evapo- ratio n) as with a cloth wetted with it, and covered with the palm ofthe hand, and repeated, it often proves beneficial. RECEIPT THE 5th. Precipitate of mercury, is either red or white, which if ( 160 ) applied in a dry powder to a foul ulcer, it will cleanse it, and if combined with mild ointment it is a great salve for drying up old ulcers, or sore breasts,nipples, &c. The following is the most correct manner for making precipitate salve, viz. get apoint of hogs lard, a point of sweet oil, half a pound of sheep tallow, and as much beeswax as will so tem- per it as to make it a good pliant salve, all of which you must melt in a vessel, keep stirring it until it becomes mod- erately cool, then add as much red precipitate, (still contin- uing to stir it) as will make it of a tolerably red colour, you may make iteither stronger or weaker as necessity requires, applying the weaker salve as the sore heals up. If it is made for an ointment for the breast or nipples, you should thin it with sweet oil, and anoint the sore or breast, but in the healing of ulcers or cancers, the salve should be spread on a linen cloth, and if it is too severe for the sore, you should put lint in the sore and the salve over it, but if not, let the salve to the naked sore. The patient should puard against getting wet, &c. and if this oitment or salve is rubbed pretty freely over the system it will produce a salivation. RECEIPT THE 6th. Salts of tartar, also called alkaline, is used in making the satuine mixture, viz: take salt of tartar fifteen or tweenty grains, lime juice or vinegar, as much as will saturate it, or till it ceases to eiihrvesee, pure water one ounce and a half, and nirop two ounces, the whole may be taken in the course of four hours, to be repeated as often as necessity re- quires, it may be given also in a simple salution in pure wa- ter, in which shape the dose may be from ten to thirty, or more grains, but should always be sufficiently deluted. Ev- ery three or four grains require an ounce of water. The saline mixture given in its boiling state,frequently corrects vomiting. The simple solution of tartar, relieves heart barns, coin.-, fevers, gives an appetite, and strenghens the sto- mach ; but the patient should not use sweet milk, bacon nor cabbage, nor any other heating diet. RECEIPT THE 7th. Get a double handful of cedar tops, a double handful of fresh studs dung, and a hundred rusty nails, put these all ( 161 ) into a gallon of strong apple cider, and boil it down to a quart, then strain it and put it back in the pot, and add a quart of good Madeira wine, a pound of cane sugar, then simmer it slowly down to a quart, bottle it, and take a spoon- ful three or four times per day, and keep the bowels open with caster oil, or cream of tartar, and now and then a dose of salts to change the purgatives, that they may not lose their virtues, and get a good handful of angelica, and put it to a quart of wine, and take a good dram three or four times a day you are not to drink any cider except it is well worked and add a little water, you must not use sweet milk, bacon, cheese nor strong coffee, but use light drying diet, such as sea biscuit, and fresh meats, and take care of going in wet or damp air. RECEIPT THE 8th. Get a handful of black snake roots, a handful of horse rad- ish roots, a handful of golden rod, a half pint of the ashes of summer grape roots, and fifty rusty nails, to this add two gallons of hard cider, which must be boiled down to a quart, and strain it, and take a table spoonful three times per day. This receipt and the seventh are nearly of the same nature, and is used in dropsical complaints. They are good to ex- pel the water, but the best method is to give this medicine after it is nearly expelled for the purpose of preventing the return of the complaint, and to brace up the system as well as to increase the appetite, the dose may be increased or de- creased, as the strength of the patient will permit. DESCRIPTION. Horse radish is a plant which mostly grows in gardens, and is frequently used at our tables, it effects the organs of both tase and smell with a quick penetrating purgency, it grows about three feet high, has a long broad leaf, some- what resembling the leaf of tobacco, and has a large yellow flower on the top of the stalk. Black or Virginia snake root is an herb well known, and grows in old fields, and by old logs, stumps and the like, as well as in rocky clifts and oak ridges. It grows in large bunches, and has a quantity of fine roots. The stalk grows about six inches high, and considerably leaning, and the leaves put out alternately on each side, resembling ferm. V ( 162 ) Golden rod grows in barren or swampy land, and grows about two feet and a half high, it produces spikes of yel- low blossoms in the month of August, its leaves are modep ately astringent and bitter in their taste. Summer grape vines grow generally in hedges and old fence rows, bears larger grapes, and ripens sooner than the winter grape, and when ripe possesses much le-s acid juice, and its roots is of a slimy sweetish taste wdien chewed. JRECEIPT THE 9tlu Get a handful of the roots of parsley, a handful of horse radish roots cut fine, an ounce of squills, and an ounce of juniper berries, put these to seven or eight gallons of wa- ter, and after it stands ten days, you may then drink as you can bear it, from a wine glassful to a gill three times per day, but you should not take enough to nouciate on your stomach. You should abandon the use of salt, bacon, sweet milk, cider, spirits, fish, &c. you should live on dry cooling diet, giving yourself moderate exercise, riding on horse* back, carriage, slide or the like; this is beneficial in cases of the dropsy and different complaints ofthe womb, suppres- sion of the urine, gravel, &c. This is good in any stage of a dropsy of any kind, i. e. either ascites or anasarca. DESCRIPTION. Parsley is an herb that grows in gardens, and is frequent- ly made use of in different kind of diets. Squills are sea on- ions, oid are obtained in the apothecaries shops. Junh p. v berries or the shrub which bear them, grow in differ- ■'nt parts of Europe, and is imported to America; they pos- sess --. strong though agreeable smell, a pungent sweet taste. The horse radish grows in gardens, and is so well knewn that it needs no description. RECEIPT THE 10th. Get three ounces of China roots, two do. of the shavings of kgmimvifa, the same of gumguicusn, a handful ofthe bark ofthe roots of sassafras, a handful of the roots of yel- low sarsaparilla, an ounce of rock antimony beat fine, and £ied in a linen cloth, and a handful of burdock roots well sliced, pat all the *e into ten gallon* oi ri, orin, and boil them ( 163 ) in an iron vessel, paste an oven lid fin it with wheat paste, and then simmer it down to a gallon, of which you must (ri first a table spoonful throe times per day, iuc: asino same slowly to three times the same quantity just as of should be kept bottled, and lot to stand in a spring or ; water, to prevent its souring, and while you are >■ -k''"<$ it you must refrain from the use of ardent spirits, but iet your trie! be as light as possible, using neither hog meat, sweet iiiiik nor cider, nor any strong or rusty bacon, but make beer of wiieat brand and molasses well yeasted, and use it con- stantly, and for your diet make use of soup made of fowls, squirrels, beef, mutton, veal, shoats, &c. you may also eat of all tho-e difiencnt kinds of meat. The patient should take great care of wet,cold or damp air, or heating himself over the fire or otherwise. This medicine is to be taken in cases of cancers, king's evils, yaws, leprosy, surfeit, ulcers, cattarrhs, white swellings, itch, &c« DESCRIPTION. Guaiacum, the tree from which this gum is obtained, is a native of the West India blands. The wood, gum, bark, fruit, and even, the flowers have been found to possess me- dicinal qualities. From the hardness and beauty ofthis; wood, it is used in various articles of furniture, turning ware &c. It scarely discovers any smell, unless when heated and then it yields a slight aromatic one., Chewed it pro- duces a slight acrimony, biting the. palate or gums. }t is of a deep greenish colour, and sometimes of a redtshline. This gum is obtained by bruising the tree, The wood i3 called liguumvita, and the resin gumguaiacum. Sarsapa- rillaisa root which grows on the side:--of branches, and in hedges, it has a small vine resembling a bramble briar, but quite smooth andj runs around shrubs. Its roots are long and yellow, running just under the surface of the earth,and has a hitter though palatable taste. The imported sarsa- pairila possesses the same medical properties. China root is to be found in apothecaries shops. It is longish and ftfiii of joints, of a pale redish colour, possesses no smell, and but little taste. Sassafras is a tree or shrub which a;row; plen- tifully and is well known in Kentucky. Antimony is a pon- derous brittle mineral,composed of long shining streaks, like needles intermixed with a dark ieady substance. It possesses no manifest taste or smell. Burdock is a wild ( 164 ) herb which grows about old gardens, stables, pa tares,fee. and has very large rough leaves of a bitter taste, it blos- soms in July and August, and has a purplbh blossom, and when it becomes ripe in the fall, it has a rough prickly bur containing small seed. Its roots grow straight down in the ground. RECEIPT THE 11th. Get a good handful of peach kernels that has nearly sprouted, and stew them in half a pint of fresh butter that has neither been washed nor salted, slowly keeping it stired until it becomes a pure oil, then strain the oil from the ker- nels, drop a few drops ofthis in your ear three or four times per day, for three or four weeks, keeping your ear slopped with black wool greased with the same. This is a great oil for the hearing, and after you have used it as directed for three or four months, you should get the oil of an eel and drop five or six drops of that in your ear three times per day, and wash the ear out well once a day with casteel soap- suds, and if the patient is a man, let him get the wax out of a healthy woman's ear, and put in his every night, and take a dose of salts once aweek, refraining from the use of ardent spirits,but avoid exposure of every kind. It is advisable to let blood occasionally, this course has cured when all hope was gone. RECEIPT THE 12th. Get one quart of good rum, a handful ofthe roots of an- gelica, a handful ofthe bark ofthe root of sassafras, an ounce of Rusian caster and an ounce of cinnamon bark. Put these all together in an oven—cover it close with the lid and paste it well, then sit it on embers just so hot as to make it sim- mer and let it continue in this way until it is reduced to half the original quantity. The dose is a table spoonful three times per day i. e. morning, noon and night. The patient should not eat sweet milk nor bacon, nor drink cider nor spirits, but any other light diet that agrees with him. He also should be careful to avoid wet or damp air, or heating his blood in any way. He would do well to let about eight -ounces of blood every full and change ofthe moon. This medicine is wonderful to relieve convulsive fits, and has cured many. If the patient expects relief permanent ( les ) he should continue taking the medicine for a lone; time after the fits disappear, and if he should feel symptom • of a re- lapse, he should take a dose and a half three times per day, for a few days, which will prevent it; and after he has done taking this, he should take the cold bath every morning, du- ring the month of May, if it does not make him chilly. DESCRIPTION. ♦ Angelica is an herb which is frequently planted in gar- dens, but is very often found in marshy ground, glady woods and hedges: it dowers in June and July, and in its growth somewhat resembles wild parsnip: its top and leaves, when young, resembles ginsaiig. Its root possesses a fragrant ar- i.auntie smell, and a bitterish thoua;b. pleasant and warm taste glowing upon the tongue, lips and palate, after having been chewed. Cinnamon bark is brought to us by merchants. TheRusian caster is the inguinal glands of the beaver (a four footed amphibious animal.) Tlie caster which comes from Puisia, is far superior to that obtained in America.—• Sassafras is described underreceipt the tenth, RECEIPT THE 13th. Get a tea spoonful of coperas, a tea spoonful of blue vit- riol, and a tea spoonful of refined nitre: beat all these well together, and add a small portion of white ar-aic—mix it well with the above and mix the whole with good clean tur- pentine that runs out of pine trees, spread a little of this on lint or a fine linen rag, and lay it in the sore. This is an ex- cellent salve for cancers, old ulcers and callows flesh, and iiiiiv be applied as often as necessity requires, but should not he applied to the head or neck, unless it is by the direc- tion of a person of considerable judgment. - RECEIPT THE Mfh. Burn arsenic in a clean skillet slowly, keeping it well stir- red, as long as there arises a fog or stecm from it, then beat it. fine.—Then melt and strain clean rosin that runs out of pine trees, whicii should be done in a pewter or led vessel; then add as much thick cream as will make it ofthe consistency of soft salve, (after having been well wori.ori:) then add a little of the burnt arsenic and mix or work it and the other well together, and it h ri.n.o hi for use, and may / ( 166 ) be spread on a linen rag and after the sore or cancer is cov« ered with a little lint, you may lay the salve over it. 1£ this salve does not eat away the cancer fast enough, you should add more of the arsenic to the salve, and in this way proportion it to suit the case in hand. This is a valuable cancer salve, and will cat out the can- cer and cleanse the sore. It will also cleanse ail kinds of »Icers, and may be applied to sore legs of along sto.nurig. RECEIPT THE 15th. Get the young growth of red or black oak and burn it en si clean hearth, make a strong lie of ofthe ashes, and after it is strained and settled you must boil it down to a sublimate and apply a plaster of it to suit the cancer, but it should not be permitted to stay on more than five minutes at a time. When the pain produced by the application of the plaster has subsided, you rnay then take off the plaster, cleanse out the blood with a sponge, and apply the second, third and so on until you judge it to be killed. Then cleanse it and sprinkle in a little burnt allum, fill the sore with lint and ap- ply a poultice made thus: boil the inside bark of slippery elm well in water^and thicken it with milk and flour. Thi* poultice should be repeated three or four times per day, un- til the cancer comes out by the roots. You should keep the blood which comes out of the cancer while it is eating from touching the sound flesh or edge ofthe sore, if possible.—*■ You should have some draggon's blood, that in case you should eat a vein into, you might be able to stop it. Then make a mild salve of bee's wax, sheep suet and rosin, and apply it once a day, continuing the same kind of a poultioe* winch should be renewed once a day also* RECEIPT THE iGlh. Take fifteen grains of squills, ten of opium, forty of calo- anei, one hundred of refined nitre, and after you have pul- verised each of them separately as fine as they can be made, you may mix them well, beat them together. The dose is, from five to ten grains,to be given at night in a little sugar, torthree nights in succession; but if you design to produce a salivation, you should continue until your gums become sore, then stop, and in two or three days take a dose of salts,, and repeat it about every third day, until it works it off: du- ( 167 ) ring which iime, you must not drink soy cold water. This is good for the consumption, phthisic, palsy, pleurisy, foyers ajid the venerial complaint. If the consumption is in the last stage, it will not answer <* good purpose. You should not eat any hog meat, nor sweet milk while you are taking these powders, but any other light diet that agrees with you. You should guard against exposing yourself in the damp air, or heating, or straining yourself, as well as refraining from the use of spirits, cider, wine, beer.and green fruit. RECEIPT THE 17th. Beat and mix well together, one ounce of steel dust, six ounces of race ginger, a handful of worm wood, a handful of i ac, ana a handful of Southern wood; then mix the whole w;th naif a pint of honey, and roll it out into pills about the rize of a largo grain of spice or Anderson's pills. Take one pili every morning for a week, the second week, one every morning and night, and the third week, take one morning, noon and night; during which time, you should not use any salted meat, I;neon, sweet milk,spirits nor cider, but any oth- er light diet that agrees with you, but be careful of exposing yourself to wet, night or damp air, or any kind of exposure. Those piils are beneficial in the following cases, viz: ner- vous cholic, billious cholic, weak appetite, dispepsy, debili- ty and dropsy, after the water is expelled, &c. RECEIPT THE 18th. Get hard cinder that comes out of a blacksmith's fire, beat it to a fine powder and sieve it. Get refined nitre and treat it in the same way, and coperas likewise, and to every table spoonful of the cinder add a tea spoonful of the nitre and the same of copperas, and to every pint of this mixture add an ounce of antimony, and when it is all mixed well to- gether it is fit for use. The dose is a tea spoonful every night in a little honey, and after a few days you must take a a tea spoonful night and morning, which course maybe continued nine days, and omit nine and so continue for a month or two; during wdiich time you must abstain from the use of sweet milk and bacon, but make use of any other light diet. This medicine is good in cases of all nervous diseases, cholics, dispepsy, gout, worms, &<-, • .. (165) RECEIPT Till; 13th. Get a handful of the inside bark of the tree of white wal- nut, the same ofthe root of white walnut, the same of the roots of elder, and the same of the bank of the roots of dog- word ; boil all these well together in water, strain the shop through a flannel cloth, put it back in a clean vessel and boil it down flowly to the consistency of molastes, then bottle it and add half a table spoonful of refined nitre, shake it well together, and it is fit for use, and may be given from a tea spoonful to a table spoonful three times per day, and should be worked off with gruel or chicken soup; but if you cannot conveniently do this,you may u-e cold water. This medi- cine is called black snap, and will work a passage when all other means fail, and operates with no more severity nor gripings than common cathartics: it is excellent in a cos- tive habit, in all kinds of inflamatory fevers, because it cools the feveis, and promotes; perspiration. It is a quick relief for all kinds of cramp and billious cholics. DESCRIPTION. White walnut is a tree which grows almost all over A- merica, and is most frequently to be found in bottoms, hedg-> es and rich land.- It bears a long, sticky walnut, inclined to ' be sharp at each end, and when unripe has an astringent, bitterish taste, and is used in some parts of the world as a pickle. Elder is a large pithy shrub, which grows very plentifully in this country, and may often he found in pastures, hedges and meadows: It flowers in June and July, and boars forge head? of small, dark, purple coloured berries. Dog-wood is so well known as to require no description. RECEIPT THE 20th. Put a handful of (he bark of yellow poplar, the same of the bark of the roots of dogwood, the same of sarsaparilla roots in a clean iron pot, to ton gallons of water, boil this down to half a gallon, then strain it and after it is settled, poor it ofi'tho drop;?, put it back m the pot again, and boil it down to a pint and add a pint and a half of good Madeira wine. The dose is from a tea spoonful to a table spoonful, three times per day, debaring the patient from the use of ( 169 ) salt, bacon, sweet milk, cr spirits, directing him to live on light cooling diet and to keep out of dews, or damp air. This is a great tonic in all debilitated cases, such as the fever and ague, consumption and yellow jaundice: it is a great medicine to break the hectic fever, and to strengthen the system after a salivation, or going through a course of physic, and for the dyspepsia, and nervous cholic: it also renews the blood and makes it pure. The best way to take it is to take it for some time, and then cease as long, un- less the case is tco urgent. RECEIPT THE 21st. Get a peck of the bark of elder roots, a peck of wild cher- ry tree, half a bushel ofthe bark of sassafras roots, a bush- el of horse radish roots, a bushel of sarsaparilla, and half a bushel of the bark of dogwood roots. Now after all those barks are well dried and finely pulverised, you may put them into a thirty gallon barrel, and pour in twenty gallons of boiling wrater: let this stand where it will keep warm until it works well, and becomes settled—then pour it off and rirain it, and boil it down in an iron pot to ten gallons—then keep it warm until it works again, then boil it dewm to five gallons, and work it as above, then boil it down to one gal- lon, and let it work again. This will become more acid ev- ery time you boil it down, and let it work until it becomes similar to the elixer of vitroil; but far superior to it in cases of the consumption, dropsy, gravel, epilepsy, palsy, fevers, pleurisy and poison. The dose is from half a tea spoonful to half a table spoonful, and may be taken three times per day, in wane or water. You will find it very difficult to make this medicine until you learn how to temper the warmth of it while working. The patient may eat any light diet when taking it, and if a person is travelling and make use of this medicine, they will never take any epi- demic disease, neither will the change of the atmosphere or weather hurt you. RECEIPT THE 22nd. Fill a twenty gallon kettle with sliced elecampane roots, and boil them well in water, pour off the sirop and fill the kettle with water again, and boil the same roots the second time, pour off the sirop as before, then clean your kettle and 1 ( i*o ) stiain all your sirop throrgh a flannel doth, into it. and boil it down to about eight gallons and a half, then strain it into 3'our barrel. Then get green oompluy slice fire and till a ten gallon pot with it, and boil it clown in the same way, un- til you have about six gallons of sirop, then strain it and add it to the same barrel. Then boil half a bushel of angelica roots well to a gallon of sirop, strain it and add it to the bar- rel. Then fill a twenty gallon pot ful of life-everlasting, boil it well in the same way, down to two gallons, and add that to the barrel after you stiain it well. Then boil thirty gallons of spikenard roots in the same way, down to six gal- lons of sirop, strain it and add it to the barrel. Then boil ten gallons of the roots and tops of ground ivy well, strain the sirop in a tub. Then boil five gallons of white plantain leaves well, and strain the sirop in the tub with the other. Then boil the same quantity of heart leaves in the same way and strain the sirop in the same tub. Then put the whole ofthe contents ofthe tub in a vessel and boil it down to two gallons, and add it to the barrel. Then fill a ten gallon pot full of the bark of the roots of yellow poplar, and boil it down and strain it, and then reduce it to two gallons, and strain it in the barrel. Then fill a five gallon pot with mul- len roots and boil and strain it as the rest were done and then strain it in the barrel, when it is reduced to half a gal- lon. This makes in all twenty-eight gallons, to which you must add five gallons and a half of good clean honey, a quart of good Madeira wane, a pound of pulverised colum- bo, a pint of tbe elixer of vitroil, and ten gallons of good ap- ple cider (after boiling it down to trie.) Then let it work well and settle, and if it is too sharp or strong for the pa- tient, you may add more honey. There will be agreeable to this arrangement about forty gallons, about thirty of which, is pure medicine. The dose may be varied as ne- cessity requires, from half a table spoonful to a table spoon- ful, and in most cases should be given morning, noon and night, and in puiminary complaints, coughs, &c. a tea spoonful of linseed oil, sweet oil, or dog's oil should be add- ed to each dose; but if the patient's stomach will not bear it, fresh butter warmed, and neither washed nor salted will make a very good substitute. This medicine is wonderful- ly efficacious in all cases of consumptions, phthisics, hooping cough, measles, a cough proceeding from the last stage of a fever, and a cough proceeding from the dropsey. The pa- tient should not make use of any salted hog meat, sweet ( 171 ) milk, cider nor spirits, but may be permitted to use fresh shoat, beef, chickens, squirrels, mutton,panado, rice, but- ler-milk, and a little water and wine. DESCRIPTION. Sarsaparilla, sassafras and horse radish, are described in the preceding receipts. Elecampane is a garden herb, but may often be found in old fields and lanes, and more espe- cially where the ground is moist and shady: its growth is from two to five feet high: its flowers (which are large and yellow,) are in full bloom in the months of July and August: its seed arc long, narrow and papaverous: its root is thick, carneousand ; yellow without,and wdiite within: possess- ing an acid, aromatic, and somewhat bitterish taste: its smell, when dry, is swreet and agreeable. The leaf of ele- campane is large and somewhat yellowish. Spikenard is a wild herb, and generally grows in hedges, old fence corners, rich sink holes, mountain sides, cliffs, &c. Spikenard is often planted in gardens, in which place it flourishes wonderfully. The height ofthis herb varies from two to five feet, in proportion to the strength of the land: it has avast number of leaves: its stalks vary in their size, some being as large as a man's thumb, and many less: its stalks are forked, and full of joints. The stalks of this herb are of a purple colour, and produces a flower which is very small, bearing berrys very much resembling those born by the shrub elder; possessing a sweet pleasant aromat- ic taste: its roots are long and very commonly as large as a man's finger, and grow in a large bunch at the roots ofthe stalk. The roots have a taste somewhat like tar or turpen- pentine, and is inclined to spongy and stringy. Compbry is a rough, fuzzy garden plant, but grows also wild, particularly, on the banks of rivers, creeks, branches, &c. The leaves ofthis herb are large, and resemble very much, those of water dock; the flowers are of a pale, blue colour; the roots are about the size of a man's finger, or a little larger; black outwardly, and wdiite within; full of a viscid juice, and possesses no particular taste. The stalk ofcomphry grows from two to four feet high. Life-everlasting or old field balsam, is an herb which grows in old fields, meadows, &c. and grows from one to three feet high, has a small, long, fuzzy, frosty coloured leaf. It has small, white blossoms, somewhat larger than camo- mile flowers. The stalk ofthis herb is generally about the ( 1'2) size of a pipe 3tem. The leaves and blossoms of this herb possesses a mild bitter taste and a strong aromatic smell. Heart-leaves or colts foot, is an herb that generally grows in wet, swampy ground, but is seldom to be found in this country, except in the vicinity of Goose creek, Salt works or in the wilderness about Rockcastle. It grows a- bout seven or eight inches high, bears a yellow bloom soon in the spring before the leaves put forth. The leaves ofthis herb resemble hearts and are about as large as the tops of large tea cups, being nearly round, except a. little point at the end; they are very thick and remain green all winter. The leaves of this herb are smooth on the upper side,but hairy underneath; their taste bitter, though some- what mild and slimy, and sheds a sweet balsamic odour. White plantain is an herb that grows in poor, glady, ©ak woods, under dogwood and sourwood bushes. This herb grows in bunches about four inches high, has a whitish, fuz- zy leaf, and imitate very much in its shape the ear of a sheep. Sheep and deer are very fond ofthis herb: its roots arc small and incline to be dry, and appear somewhat slippery when chewed. Mullen is an herb that grows in old fields, pastures, lanes, &c. has a very fuzzy, large, soft leaf, a tall, strait stalk with a long spike of yellow blossoms on the top, affording an a- greeable honey smell, and when ripe, the upper end ofthe stem where the bloom was is compactly covered with small cups, containing a vast number of small seed. The taste of mullen manifests a glutinous quality. It grows from one to eight feet high, and its leaves make an excellent wick for a lamp. RECEIPT THE 23rd. Get thirty gallons of good strong apple cider, and put three table spoonfuls of ground black mustard seed, and a handful of beat horse radish roots to every quart, and three pound of salt petre to the thirty gallons. Fill a ten gallon pot full of dried elecampane roots, and boil them well in water, strain the sirop, and boil the same roots the second time in the same way, strain the twosirops together, and boil it down to four gallons, and add it to the cider, then add a gallon of parsley roots, and let it stand about ten days and it is fit for use, and may be given in doses from the contents of half a table spoonful to a table spoonful, which ( 173) may be given three times per day, and in severe chronic complaints, may be increased to two table spoonfuls three times per day. The diet ofthe patient should be light and cooling, and consequently he or she should abstain from the use of sweet milk, strong coffee, and rusty bacon, and keep out of wet, damp or night air, but breathe freely in the open morning air. This medicine and regimen is good in caser, of sciatic gouts, rheumatism?, palsies, ague, apoplexies, con- vulsivelifs, gravel, dropsies, &c. RECEIPT THE 24th. Fill a ten gallon pot with sour wood leaves, then fill the pot up with water, and boil it, keeping it well stired about. two hours, then skim out the leaves, and fill the pot with fresh ones, and boil and stir them as above, keeping a plenty of water in the pot, then drain them out, and hoi the pot with wild cherry tree leaves, boil them, and manage them in the same way, in the same sirop, still adding water as ne- cessity requires, tiien skim out these leaves, and put a good handful of black snake roots, and boil them well, and take them out, staia and boil the sirop down to the consisten- cy of good thick molasses, then beat brimstone as fine as it can be made, search it through a silk handkerchief, then add a table spoonful ofthe brimstone, and a table spoonful of beat coperas to the sirop, and keep stiring till it gets thick enough to roll into pills, then roll them out about as large as Anderson's pills or an Indian pea, they may be roll- ed out in starch or in their natural state, the common dose is one morning, noon, and night,but if the patient be strong, two may be given at night, and if this should produce a sore- ness, you should reduce the dose until it leaves you, you should not sutler the patient to make any use of sweet milk or bacon, and keep from wet, cold, or damp air. These pills are good for the king's evil, cancers, dropsy, yaws, pleurisy, cachexy, and gout, and is a great tonic after the fever, or fever and ague is broke. RECEIPT THE 25th. Get a half a bushel of the bark of prickly ash root--, a peck of dry poke berries, a peck of the saw dust out of fat pine knots, a pound and a half of dry sencka snake roots, two pqunda and a half of refined nitre, a pound and o. Prif ( 174 ) of lignumvitse, three pounds of beat brimstone, a double handful of dry horehound, and a pound of guiacum; put all those articles to thirty gallons of proof spirits, and let it stand about ten days, it is then fit for use, and may be given from a tea spoonful to a table spoonful three times a day, according as necessity requires. If it is the rheumatism you should just take enough to produce and keep up a gen- tle perspiration, but you should take particular care that you do not take cold by exposing yourself to wet or damp air, heating yourself or taking heavy draughts of cold wa- ter, &c. This medicine is good for the rheumatism, sciatic pains, king's evil, weak nerves, «Src. and is good in the first stage ofthe consumption, pleurisy, biles, surfeit, night mare, and almost any disease ofthe blood. DESCRIPTION. Seneka snake root grows on mountains, glady and dead- ened woods, &c. This root grows nearly as large as a per- sons little finger, and is variously bent and contracted, and appears as if composed of joints, it has a blew stalk, and a blossom very much resembling the tail of a rattle snake. The taste of this root is at first acid, and afterwards very hot and pungent to the taste; infact it resembles in its flavor very much mountain tea or birch bark. RECEIPT THE 2Gth. Get a bushel of dry vervine roots, a bushel of sweet mod- ley, a gallon of camomile flowers, and a peck of elecampane roots finely sliced; all of these must be well dried and put into a cag to twenty gallons of good proof spirits, and after it has stood fifteen days, it is fit for use. The dose is from balfa table spoonful to a table spoon, which may be given in the morning, at noon, and at night. There is no danger in this medicine unless a women should force her menses on her too much. This is a wonderful medicine to remove af- ter pains, and for a woman who has taken cold in childbed, as well as for young women, who has taken cold more par- ticularly if there is a tickling cough, pain in the side, cold- ness of the feet, or pains in the limbs, it is also good in cases ofthe fever and ague, nervous cholic, &c. &c. DESCRIPTION. Vervine is an herb that grows about yards,old bams. ( 175) gardens, he. It grows about three feet high, with a square stein about the size of a pipe stem, with the leaves puting just opposite each other, at the joints the stalk branches out considerably below the top, and has small white blossoms whicii are fully blown in the last of June or the first of July. It may be remarked that the leaves of vervine cross each other, or shift alternately from one side ofthe stalk to the other at every joint, and the roots grow in large bunches of small roots, which possesses a bitter taste. Sweet modlcy grows in gardens, and commonly is about two feet high, having a small green stem,about as large as a large r\e straw, with yellow flowers, about the size and shape of camomile flowers, which possesses an aromatic bitter taste. RECEIPT THE 27th. Boil two bushels of ripe dogwood berries well in water, and strain the water from them; then beat the berries well, and mash the seed as well as possible; then boil them a^ain in water, pour off the water, and squeeze out all the juice you possibly can through a piece of tow linen, then strain all ofthe liquor and juice through a flannel cloth into a clean pot, and boil it down as thick as molasses, then put it in a small cag, and get a balfa gallon of good Madeira wine, balfa pound ofpulverized columbo roots, and two ounces of Jesuit barks, stir or shake this together two or three times per day, for four or five days, then let it settle, and pour off the top, and add it to the cag of dogwood sirop, and shake it well once a day for three or four days, and in ten days it is fit for use, and is a wonderful remedy for all kinds ofcholics, inflamations, cramps, consumptions, child bed fever, fever and ague, inflamation ofthe womb, billious inflamatory, and nervous fevers. The dose is from balfa tea spoonful to a tea spoonful, which should be given three times per day in a little water, while the patient abstains from the use of bacon, but may eat any other diet that agrees with him. RECEIPT THE 28th. Add quicksilver to half an ounce of aquefortis until after it has stood half a day there will be a white sediment in the bottom. (It probably will take near a tea spoonful of ( l<° ) quicksilver.) Then mix a little of the quicksilver, and aquc* foriis with a little hogs lard,and let it stand an hoar or two,stir it a little every now and then, until itbecomes hard enough for salve, which is easily regulated with the mixture of aquefor- tis, ) pains. This root, when dried and powdered and put in old sores, is excellent to heal and cleanse them. When it is boiled to a strong sirop, mixed with honey and v'n.conn,and taken warm going to bed, it is good for colds, coug'os, pleu- risies and for pregnant women, when there exists a flatu- lence or wind on the stomach or bowels, or even when they are subject to the cramp. IPECACUANHA OR BOWMAN ROOT. This root constitutes the mildest and softest puke yet known. You should boil a double handful of this root in a quart of water, down to a half pint, and take a good swallow every two or three minutes, (and drink warm water in the intervals) until it vomits you, and by taking a little salt wa- ter grewel, or chicken soup, it will work off as a safe purge. In cases of a raging fever, or a delerium, you should beat this root fine and wet it with strong vinegar, and bind to the soles of the patient's feet. This course will draw the fe- ver downwards, and thereby relieve the patient. MOUNTAIN BIRCH. Thebark of this tree, when taken internally, is good in scorbutic disorders, and other diseases ofthe blood, and to promote the urinary discharges. It is wonderfully effica- cious when used as a tea, in spasms of the phthisic, and in eases of inward feveis. PUCCOON ROOT. This root, when beat fine and mixed" with honey and a little yeast, is an excellent application to stop a mortification or to cure a horse's sore back. If a handful of this root is boiled in three pints of water, down to a quart, and half a gill given to the patient every three hours, it will give great relief in cases of the dropsy, yellow' jaundice, and in similar cases, and also in cases of a suppression ofthe urine. FENNEL SEED. These seed are good, when taken internally, in cases of a vomiting, sick stomach, cholic in children, griping pains, and has been recommended as an aperient and diuretic. WILD RATS BANE. This herb is good in cases of the flour-albus or whites.— Take a handful, put it in a quart of whiskey, and give the ( 203 ) patient a dram three or four times per day, prohibiting the use of strong diet. This same preparation is good against the rheumatism, coughs, and colds. It is also good when used in a salve for sores and ulcers. When this herb is boiled and thickened with wheat flour and applied as a poultice to any sore or ulcer, it is very good, or when boil- ed with the same quantity of dogwood bark, down to a sirsop it is good to wash the sores with, or for the rheumatism; when made into an ointment. STRAMONIUM, OR JAMESTOWN WEED. This weed is of a poisonous nature, and when used in an ointment, is good in cases of weak nerves, when in the form of a poultice, for white swellings, and when the roots are djied, beat fine and smoked, (the patient swallowing his spittle) it relieves phthisics. If children should suck the blossoms or swallow the seed ofthis weed, it is very apt to produce convulsive fits; to relieve which, you should give a puke of ipecacuanha, or a purge of caster oil, not permitting the patient to drink any cold water. PART THE SECOND, CONTAINING A VALUABLE, VEGETABLE, MEDICAL PRESCRIPTION; WpTH A TABLE OF DETERGENT AND CORROBORANT MEDICINES, SUITABLE TO THE TREATMENT OF THE DIFFERENT CERTIFICATES, With a quotation from different Av.lhor:. ■*— :o :o: :o :o :o ;o:— VERSAILLES, All Pdatedby John H. Wilktns, Common oealth Office, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, \ « DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY. J ' pZ77^Z7:l BE IT REMEMBERED, That on |.': :; § the 27th day of June, in the year of | •• ffid* ©^ ••' § our Lord one thousand eight hundred | •• :* | and twenty-five, and in the forty ninth ^^^^J year of the Independence of the Unit- ed States, RICHARD CARTER of the said District, has deposited in this Office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as Author and proprie- tor, in the words and figures following, to wit: "A short sketch ofthe Author's life, and adventures from his youth, until 1818, in the first part. In part the second, a Valuable, Vegetable, Medical Prescription, with a table of Detergent and Corroborant Medicines, to suit the treat- ment of the different certificates, by Doctor RICHARD CARTER." In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An Act, for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and books to Au- thors a,nd proprietors of such copies, during the times there- in mentioned," and also, the Act entitled "An Act entitled an act supplementary to an act, entitled "An Act, for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Author's and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned," and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and etching, historical, and other prints. JOHN H. HANNA, Clerk ofthe District of Kentucky* lS^m©B¥^l©If* _____s&i j53& 4%k_____ Courteous reader, you have been favoured in the first part of thisbook with a brief sketch of my travels, from my youth up to the year of our Lord 1818; but I have omitted two very-severe conflicts with which I have met. One was that of my being poisoned, from which, I lay bed-fast for the space of five weeks; three of which, 1 was entirely blind; but by the mercies of Heaven, I recovered my health again* The other conflict Mas with the measles. I took cold when the measles were out on me, which drove them in; and in this deplorable situation I remained for the space of three weeks; at which time we all concluded that it was gone fawn-skin with me; and after all other means had failed, I directed an Indian turnip to be scraped fine, and combined with it, as much salt-petre, and as much ofthe flour of sul- phur, and after it was well mixed .together, 1 took as much of it as would lie on the point of a case knife at three times, in a spoonful of honey, for three nights in succession; which caused the measles instantly to return to the surface of the skin, and so remained, until I recovered in a goodly degree^ but ever since that spell, 1 have been subject to a weakness in my breast, by which I am rendered unable to undergo much hardship and fatigue. I find that the surest method for securing happiness in the married life, is to be mutually accommodating; to which end, the parties should look over each others faults, and dwell on their excellencies. Nothing else will do; for we all have our faults, and it is much better to dwell on your own than those of your companion, for by so doing, you grad- ually correct yourself to your own advantage: but if you pry deeply into your companion's faults, you will make dis- coveries which may serve only to lessen your esteem, and of course detract from your happiness. A certain man bought a farm, and after a year or two, in conversation with one of his neighbors, he complained heav- ily of having been disappointed. Did you not see this land (says his neighbour) before you bougt ii? ch yes, I Saw it ( 208 ) frequently. Do you not understand sales? I think I do, tolerably veil. Did you not examine it with care? not so much as 1^should have done. Standing at a certain place, it looked admirable, the fences were new and looked excee- dingly neat. The house had just been painted a stone co- lour with pencclling, the windows were large and elegant, but'I did not examine the sufficiency of the materials, nor the disposition of the apartments. There were in the month of April, two beautiful springs, but since I have lived here they have been dry every year before the middle of June. Did you not enquire of those who lived on the place concerning the permanence of those springs? No, this I o- mitted. Had you the full measure you were promised? yes, every acre. Was the right complete? yes, yes, perfectly good: no man in America can take it from me. Were you obliged to take it up in part of a bad debt? nothing like it sir, for I took such a fancy to it, all at once, that I pestered the man from week to week, to let me have it. Why, really then, says his neighbor, I think you had better keep your complaints to yourself, for cursing.and fretfulness will never turn stone into earth,nor sand into loam. But I can assure you that frugality, industry and good culture will make a bad farm very tolerable,, and an indifferent one truly good. The application is easy and you may occasionally read this ?tory of the land purchaser, to your companion, and if you will act wisely, you will consider on either side, that you are bound to be companions during life. How foolish it is to indulge in disposition and petty quarrels! whoever may have been infault,donot wait one for the other, to she'wmarks of contrition; but rather let it be the emulation between you who shall have the credit of making the first advances to- wards a reconciliation. It sometimes is the case, that after a couple have slept in separate beds, and like two foolish children, have refused to speak to each other for a week or two, or more, they must at length make peace. Well then, it certainly is better to negociate immediately. This is the way the cards are stocked, until at last, they often begin to hate each other, and in fact, they sometime* try to help their maker kill each other; but sometimes they are like the school boy who v, as at prayers, (as the fashion used to be ia schools;) who seeing a rat run down a rope, which was suspended from the joist to the floor, burst out in a hearty laugh. After prayer was over he was called to an account for his mis-conduct, and was consequently hoisted to take ( 209 ) the lash, but was promised by hi? master, to be relieved on his making a good speech; in answer to which, the boy cried out in the following strain: There did a rat for want of stairs, Come down a rope to go to prayers. Now if all parties would look over each others faults, and pass them by, as easy as did the school-master, there would be fewer ill-natured husbands and peevish wives, than there now is. NERVOUS DISEASES, The nervous cholic (or wind in the blood,) is a very dis- tressing complaint; and is said to be one of the mostdiffi-> cult to cure, that the human system is incident to; for its symptoms imitate those which attend almost every other disease to which the human system is subject. The symp- toms ofthis complaint differ on different systems, and in fact, it does not affect the same at every time alike; the patient is often discovering new symptoms that he has never before felt, which confuses his mind very much, and consequently he becomes peevish and fretful, and of course concludes that he is not long for this world. His friends seeing him in this melancholy situation, are very apt to attempt to laugh him out of it, which is very apt tomake bad worse, by impress- ing on his mind an idea that they think there is not much the matter with him but the hypo, and consequently he concludes that he will linger away and die with- out any tenderness being shown him by his friends. The patient begins to reflect on his past feelings, and com- pare them with his present, which still has a tendency to sink his spirits lower and lower. At length his memory and hearing begins to fail him in some degree, and a throbing in the head, and roaring in the ears ensue. The patient of- ten belches up fainty sweet wind off his stomach, sometimes a tough phlegm or white frothy spittle is expectorated. This complaint is produced by sudden heats and cold, hard drinking, broken rest, (or setting up late,) damp countries, longing for riches, hard studying, the loss of friends, distress, loss of a sweet heart, and very often by some other com- plaint, leaving the system in a debilitated and disordered state. There are a great many other causes which pro- mote, and in many instances produce this complaint, (such as,) th« frequent use of coffee, long fasting, &e. The dis- ( 210 j tressed sufferer under this complaint often wants an nppc tite, having a weak stomach, which is sometime mitigated by eating a little; but at other times it makes him worse, his digestion is sometimes quick, and at others he suffers costiveness, and towards the last of the discharge of his ex- crement, a kind of looseness maybe discovered, sometimes his victuals appears to sour on'his stomach, and produce something like the .heartburn. Sometimes there is a kind of resembling noise in the bowels. Sometimes by taking physic there is a black frothy slime, evacuated by digestion-. The patient with this complaint, sometimes experiences sudden flashes of awful feelings passing all over the whole system, which causes great uneasiness and alarm. The patient experiences a difficulty in his urinary dis- charges, which are small and attended with a kind ofburri- ing, and at other times it is free from every impediment, and perfectly transparent. The patient is sometimes af- fected with a straitness (or swelling) in the breast, attended with a difficulty of breathing, and a throbing, (or fluttering) at the heart; sometimes sudden flushings of heat, passes over different parts ofthe system, at other times cold, chilly sen- sations pass over the body, as if cold water had been pour- ed on it, and there are often pains flying through the sys. tern, which sometimes appear to be in the breast, arms, short ribs, shoulder blades, small ofthe back, in the neck, and between the shoulders. The patient has often a swim- ming in the head, aching and diziness in the eyes, aching in the bones, soreness in the teeth, sleepiness in the feet and legs, and a ^twitching in the flesh, like a beef when just bucthered. The patient has sometimes strong symptoms of the gravel. The pulse is very fluctuating, being sometimes very slow, and at others exceedingly quick. Some patients are troubled with the hiccough, attended with a kind of choaking. The patient's sleep is generally unsound, and by no means refreshing, he will often dream foolish dreams, and short in his sleep, frequently afflicted with the cramp in different parts of his system, he appears sometimes to struggle in his sleep, or as if he was smothering to death, sometimes he will have a throbing between the navel and stomach, like the beating of his heart, in consequence, of which some patients have concluded that their hearts had sunk from its proper place, and did not beat in the left side at all. Some have complained of a cracking in their breast- bone, like a joint and a soreness between the skin and bone, ( 211 ) when he rides he feels a weak stich down his side or bow- els below his short ribs, and in fact, the whole system is re- laxed, and the mind is thrown into the most confused state, and ultimately hurried into the most perverse disquietudes, terror, sadness, anger, diffidence, wild imaginations, extrav- agant fancies, &,c. The memory at length becomes short and treacherous, the judgment imperfect, and the patient falls into an unhappy situation, having a continual dread of death on his mind. In this situation he has no resolution topqrsue any one course of treatmant long enough, to.derive any relief from his disorder; but runs from physician to physician, which is one great reason why so many patients of this kind reap lit- tle or no benefit from medicine. Nervous patients are very apt to imagine that they labour under complaints that they are entirely clear of, and will get insulted if their friends undertake to convince them of the true fact. The patient should not make any use of any strong or windy victuals; but should live light, eat small meals partic- ularly suppers; he should eat a small snack between meals, and avoid lying down shortly after eating. He ought to take particular care to ascertain what articles of food disa-? gree with him, and avoid them; and thus change his diet as his stomach requires, for it is a certain fact, that what will suit"the stomach one day may not the next. The patients clothes should be proportioned to suit the weather, and in the winter season wear red flannel; he should ride on horse back into different climates, make no use of spirits, cider, strong beer, salt bacon, fish, beans, nor cabbage. The patient may take a little wine and water occasion- ally, if it does not produce an acid on the stomach; but a- bove all things keep his bowels open with mild medicines, breathe in the open cool air, use the cold bath freely, and rub the skin with flannel. He should be kept in cheery agreeable company, and endeavor to strengthen and purify the blood. If you wish to keep the bowels open and remove the acid of his stomach, you should use magnesice, taken in fennel seed tea, and get a handful of burdock roots, a hand- ful of dewberry brier roots, a handful ofthe inside bark of the roots of sassafras, a handful of wild cherry tree bark, and a handful of white ash tops, put them into a pot with a gal- lon and a half of water, and boil it down to three quarts, and take it for your constant drink; also take fifteen drops of the essence of peppermint mixed with some of this diet drink ( 21? ) every night before you go to bed. If the weather is warm, you should bottle your diet drink, and set it in a spring or spring house, to keep it from souring. The patient should j eat no pork or bacon, nor make use of sweet milk, but may '■ use any other light diet that may agree with him. Or get a handful of young pine tops, half a gallon of strong apple cider, a considerable quantity of rusty iron, and if you cant get it, a handful of nine star roots; put all these together, and boil them until there is but about a pint of the cider; then strain it and bottle it, add the white of two eggs, shake it well together, of this take a table spoon- \ ful morning and night, and take five drops of laudanum on going to bed, The patient while taking this medicine should be guarded against taking cold, or getting wet. Or get a handful of ginseng roots, a handful of orange peelings, and a handful of camomile flowers; put them all in- to a quart of good rye whiskey, and take a dram of that twice or thrice per day. ! Or make water just slippery with lime, and drink a gill or ] two of that per day. Or put a gill of nice tar, to a quart of spirits, and drink of j that two or three times per day. Or take a tea spoonful of glauber salts, every night on go- ing to bed. , Or get a quart of strong apple cider, and a handful of j sawdust out of fat pine knots; put them together, and let ] them stand three or four days, and take a good dram of that twice a day. , Or get a gill of brimstone, a gill of rosin, and add to a ] quart of rum, and take a table spoonful three times a day. Or get an ounce of assafcetida, a tea spoonful of rheubarb, and a table spoonful of alloes; and add to a quart of spirits, and take a half a table spoonful of that three times per day, or so much as will keep the bowels moderately open. Or get a handful ofthe sawdust of light wood, a handful of dried horehound, a handful of dried poke berries, a table spoonful of salt petre, a table spoonful of beat brimstone, a table spoonful of beat rattlesnake root; and add to these three pints of whiskey, take a table spoonful of this night and morning. The patient should live on light cooling di- ets, and avoid all kinds of exposure to cold. This medicine is excellent for the first stage of the consumption, for the rheumatism, and for the pleurisy. New milk and peach brandy has cured, when taken threfl ( 213 ) or four times a day, a patient who had spent all his sub- stance with physicians, Blistering at the pit of the stomach, has often proved effi- cacious, as also has the application of a plaster below the throat, made of camphor, sheep suet and whiskey, beat well together. This preparation makes as good a searcloth as any extant, and is an excellent application to the throat, when there is a soreness in the breast and throat. Now he that wishes relief from nervous diseases, should follow the above recom- mended prescriptions, and ride very frequently on horse back, endeavoring to relieve his mind from every embar- rassment, and amuse it by shifting it from one pleasant thing to another. If the patient's stomach should be weak, and his bowels in a costive habit, he should make use of re ceipt the 62nd. as directed, and it will increase the appetite, expel the wind from off the stomach, and keep the bowels moderately open j or if the complaint has produced a cough, (as is often the case,) and there should be grounds to suspect the approach ofthe consumption, the patient should resort to receipt the 44th, by the use of which the cough may be relieved, the bowels opened, and the wind expelled from his stomach; but af this should fail to keep the bowels open, then give salts, caster oil or the cream of tartar for that purpose. If none of the before mentioned means should afford relief, you may aispect the complaint to be entirely of the mind, and of course the employment ofthe mind should be attended to, and the paiaent not be permitted to run from one doctor to another, until hjs system and bones become ruined by mer? cury,and then he concludes that the rheumatism will soon drag him into his grave. When this is the case the patient is ruined forever: but if the patt.entshould appear to lie de- ceased mostly in bis mental powers, it would be well for him toreadtfhe following extract from Dr. Ewelfs writings? which w^s thrown into poetry by Wm, W. Penny, (a patient pf mine) for the express purpose. POETRY On the treatment of JIvtocondruo. There did reside in yonder's plain, A man whose chief desire was gain; (514) Who by his farm and artful trade, An independent fortune made. 2. His thirst for wealth became so great, That it he could not satiate; But when his disappointment came, His peevishness brought him to shame, 3. That he was dead he did conceit, And on that subject oft would treat; And soon concluded he was dead, So stretch'd himself upon his bed. 4. His tender wife alarmed indeed, Soon for a Doctor sent with speed; The Doctor soon approach'd his bed^ And saw him lying as if dead. 5. His eyes and mouth were nicely clos'd, While on his breast his hands repos'd; His great toes too in contact brought, While thus the Doctor him besoughts 6. How do you do this morning sir? Exclaim'd the Doctor with an air; A question nice the patient said, To ask a man who's lying dead. 7. Not dead the Doctor said and sigh'd? Yes dead, quite dead the man repli'd; The statement sir is just and right, I did decease about midrnight. 3. The Doctor felt his pulse and head, And said Oh! yes, the man is dead; Then whispering to his wife said he, I pray be not alarm'd at me, 9. Then loudly to his servant said, My boy, your master's surely dead; And that he soon should be interr'd, By all his friends is much preferr'd. 10. Your master's large as you know well, ( 215) And shortly will begin to smell; So go with haste to Mr. King, And quickly a large coffin bring. 11. The boy soon with a coffin came, They laid the corpse within the same \ While his poor wife and children too, Did 'round him make a sad to do. 12. The pall bearers were soon appris'd, Ofthis device which waspractis'd; While for a grave they went in search, They took the road that leads to church* 13. They had not far advanc'd that street, Before a man the corpse did meet; Who well had understood the joke, And thus unto the Doctor spoke. 14. Oh! what poor soul is this you have, That you are taking to his grave? Repli'd the Doctor Mr. B------, Has gone from time to'ternity. 15. O! what a pity 'tis he said, But what long since he had been dead," To do him what justice I can, He surely was a wretched man. 16. They'd not much further went that way. Before another man did say, Who in this world, is that you have, Whom you're conveying to the grave? 17. Poor Mr. B----, the Doctor said, Who lived near this is surely dead; The man repli'd, as by he pass'd, The Devil's got his own at last. 18. At this the corpse replying said, You villain, if 1 was not dead, For that remark which you just made, Soon you completely should be paid. ( 2ie ) 19. When they laid down the bier to rest. Soon they by one was thus address'd; Pray what poor corpse have you got there^ Which now is lying on the bier ? 20. The Doctor quick to him repli'd, Our neighbor B----has lately died j To hell he's gone I'm sure, he says, Or else it is a needless place. 51. He hearing this no longer laid, But bursting from his coffin said; I've gone to hell you say, am 1? But wait my fate until I die. 22. But if I am, back I have come, To teach ungrateful men their doom3 At this a frightful race began, Between the dead and living man. 23* A dismal sight, one of the worst, To see a corpse his coffin burst; Spring from bis coffin to his feet, And chase a man along the street. 24. Behold the corpse whose winding shroudj Is flying like a snowy cloud; Pursue a man with all his might, Who does escape with rapid flight. 25. After a lengthy race was ran, Between the dead and living man; The corpse retired to take his rest, Which doubtless proved for the best. 26. After the hypocondriac Was rested, he was taken back; And by high living soon could tell, That he was healthy sound and welb ( 217 ) CERTIFICATE. GARRARD COUNTY, Ky. \ April the 15th, 1818. > I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That I was taken in the latter part of February last, with a pain in my left side, which worked from that through my breast and riomach, and between my shoulder blades; attended with inward fevers, and wind rumbling through my bowels, which would be worse of a morning than any other time. This complaint became so severe at length, thatitdis-a- bled me to tiiat degree, that I could not follow my occupa- tion. I then applied to Doctor Richard Carter, for medical aid; by whose prescription, and the blessing of God, 1 soon began to mend, and in a short time was restored to perfect health. Given from under my hand, this day and date a- bove written. GEORGE GUILLIAMS. Attest, Nathaniel McClure, Isaac Bates, Ca.ntley Wallace, William Bradshaw. Mr. Guilliams's complaint was the dispepsia,(orindiges* tion.) The symptoms of this complaint are want of appe- tite, nausea, vomiting, flatulence, heart-burn,pain in the stomach, costiveness, soreness under the short ribs, and a. dull heaviness through the whole system. These are the general symptoms, of which, the most remarkable, as being always present is a disposition to create wind through the stomach and bowels; but as to want of appetite, it is so far from being present in all cases, that I have known many dis» peptic patients, who perhaps, from the distention of their stomachs, and the stimulous of acescent sordes, have had vo- racious appetites, and have indulged them without restraint. The cause ofthis disease is certainly a relaxation ofthe mus- cular fibres of the stomach; in consequence of which, viscid mucuous is collected, and the quantity of gastric juice di« minished. As to the pre-disposing cause of this complaint, it is evi- dently debilitated fibres, for persons of that description, are most subject to the dispepsia. The occasional cause ofthis disease is, indolence, intemperance in every shape, passions ofthe mind, intense application, unseasonable hours of re- pose, viciated air, and heat in crowded assemblies, haemorr* < 218 ) hages,orIoss of blood and excessive evacuations, the abuse of tea, and exposure to cold fogs. Doctor Townsend states, that in the first place, you should cleanse the sOanach and alimentary cared from visciated muceou, that you may act upon the living fibre; and se- condly, that you should give tonics and astringents; such as bark -md steel, c; take four ounces of Peruvian bark, gen- tian and orange peelings, an ounce and a half each, and brandy half a gallon, digest it for six days in a sand bath, and take five or six drams in the middle of the day. The patient may take of nil the mean-; in the known world, and then gape for more; i. e. and not obtain a cure unless the mind be kept tranquil, and care be taken to avoid all the occasional causes of debility. The patient should rise ear- ly in the mornicg, and breathe constantly in the open air: he should u:e the cold bath and avoid crowded places. Riding horse-back is a great remedy for dispeptic pa- tients, temperance and reasonable exercise is good medi- cine, particularly when the air is dry and healthy. This course of treatment is more likely to administer relief than all the harsh medicines in the world. Doctor Townsend states, that he had a student who lived buried among his books in a close room, for fourteen hours in each day; but in addition to this he had a haemorrhage, by which, he lost many pounds of blood within the space of twenty-four hours. Dispepsia followed, such as I never witnessed, says the Doctor, either before or since. The wind was so great for three hours every day after he dined, that by this circumstance, independent of natural inclina- tion and contracted habit, he was compelled to live alone. From this disposition to flatulence, he was obliged to aban- don the use of wine, and all fermented liquors, as well as fat, butter, vegetables, tea, sugar, and almost the use of bread. He lived entirely oh meats which were roasted almost to a crisp, and toasted bred: while for liquids, he was confined to brandy and water only. Notwithstanding this degree of abstinence, the distressing flatulence continued as long as he confined himself to his books and study, which was for the space of two years at least. He applied to many phy- sicians, but in vain, until Doctor Whytt advised him to take three grains of James's powder every night, five grains of rheubarb every morning and tonic's with astringents in the middle ofthe day. This gentleman had a favorite Spaniel, whicii was always ( 213 ) at his bide. Thri faithful animal, which should have been ranging through the woods, being thus confined, was af- flicted with a most deplorable dkca.se, being troubled ex- ceedingly with flatulence,and borborigmi and wind always in motion, grumbling through the colon. With these symp- tom.-, of dispepsia, poor old rover from being spriariily, be. cnnne remarkable for languor, want of energy, ant"* iepres- sion of spirits. This poor animal was evidently jealous, and suspicious, ir.Fcmuch, that if any person would call poor old rover by his name and speak kindly of him, he would lift up his eye lids; tnea drop them and slink away tp hide him- self. It was a fortunate circumstar.ee, that at this time some friendly persons decoyed this indefatigable student from his books; prevailed on him to mount on horse back and ex- cept of grey hounds, and repair early in the morning to the , field for sport. Poor old Rover followed, but with great reluctance; and by degrees, both the student and his poor old Spaniel contracted a fondness for the sport. The con- sequences were such as might have been readily supposed; and were expected by his friends. By those means a long seperatjon took place between the student and his books; and he thus escaped from the occasional causes of debility; whilst he enjoyed the diversions ofthe field with fresii air, and exercise on horse back, he lost every symptom of his disease, and his faithful Rover participating in the same di- versions, without the asristance of any other tonics or astrin- gents, regained his energy and spirits, r If the reader v. ill recollect what hasbeen already said upon digestion, he will easily understand, that a greater quantity of food being collected in the stomach, than can rib quickly operated upon by a diminished ga-trlc juice, must ferment and produce tii.*t flatulence which would not have subsisted, without ciiber-s'ach a deficiency in the solvent, or such superabundance of matter to be doge sled, and reduced to un-feitnenting irices.and chyle. The reader will pl.-o remember, that the food is not al- ways retained in the stomach, until it h submitted to the ac- tion of that pant; because part of it escapes through the pyrolus, and fermenting through tire whole alimeniary ca- nal, which also produces distention. Hence, we find that dispeptic patients should eat frequently and only so much at a time as they can digest without flatulence; while their minds should be kepi un-imbarassed and free. ( 220 ) This is a true description ofthe dispepsia, by which ynu may discover its effects upon the system of both man and beast. It no doubt appears fabulous to some of my readers, that there should be so great a similarity between the effects of disease on the systems of humans and brutes. But Doctor Rush states, that when the influenzy prevailed in Philadel- phia, the cats kept such a sneezing about the house, that the citizens could scarcely rest of a night, and one of the dogs kept such a coughing that his mistress gave him ten dropsof laudanum, which caused him to lie perfectly se- rene and composed during that night. I will now proceed to insert the manner in which I per- formed a sound cure on MrG. Guilliam, notwithstanding it may appear very simple to some of my readers. I gave him of receipt the eighteenth. He took ten doses, but before he had taken more than five, he was entirely clear of misery. But the best way to proceed, is the follow- ing, viz.* take of those powders for five days and omit five, for the space of a month or two. By sore affliction and distress, the patient is pursud, From day to day by sick'ning pain, and scarce could be rescu'd. His head was sick, his heart was faint, which did reduce him low, So that about his business, he was not able to go. In this condition of distress, became to me for aid, And in six weeks or something more, a perfect cure was made; My medicine, though made of herbs, doth wond'rous cures perform, And yet each one may practice it without producing harm. GARRARD COUNTY, Ky.) May the 3rd, 1818. j I DO CERTIFY, That about the twentieth of March 1817,1 was taken with a violent pain in the right side of mybreat, which soon became so severe, that for several nights, 1 could not sleep or rest in any way, unless I was sitting up. I told my case to a physician, and he prescribed for me, but I obtained no relief. About the first of May, my com- plaint grew worse. I took a violent cough, attended with fe^ ( 221 ) vers and right sweats, all of whicii appeared to come on -\t once. Tlie cough grew worse every day, until at length ! began to spit an abundance of phlegm, mixed with blood; while the fevers increased, and the night sweats grew more severe; which reduced me to that degree, that by the 18th of May, I was scarcely able to walk about, at which time, I left home, and came to see Doctor Richard Carter, of tint county. When I started to the Doctor's, my connexions and neighbors who saw me. bid me a final farewell, (as they have since stated,) concluding that I never would recover,, or even be able to get home again; but on the twentieth of May I began to take ofthe said Doctor's medicine, and be- gan to mend in a few days, and in the course of four weeks 1 returned home, clear of cough, fever and night sweats, to the astonishment of all who saw me. I continued to gain strength until the last of August following, at which time, I was taken with a violent fever and pain in the head. } took some medicine, which I think broke the fever, and im- mediately my body commenced swelling, and soon increas- ed to that degree, that I was not able to bend myself. I was prevailed upon to send for a doctor, who was Dr. P. Major, of Frankfort, and who accordingly waited on me. I think I took of hi3 means for three days, and found no relief; but it rather made me worse. I therefore, resolved to take no more of it. Another physician was sent for. who was a wor- thy, good man. He prescribed for me, and gave me medb cine for several days, which I think gave me great ease; but he could not remove the swelling. I then sent to Doc- tor Carter, (not being able to ride,) who sent me medicine, which, in a few days so removed the swelling, that I was enabled to ride and see him myself, where I remained and took of his medicine until in October, at which time I was clear of the complaint, 1 have gained strength very fast ever since,and am now nearly as fleshy as ever I was; yet, I am not entirely clear of a pain in my breast. I live in Franklin County, near Frankfort. Given under my hand, this day and date above written, • JOHN PULLIAM, Attest, James Toobv, John Woitsk*-^, Jam;:s VY'F/iy, John R. White, William Salle, Cantley Wallace, / i*: n ,-r *i Mr. Pulliams complaint was the consumption, which is described in the writings of Doctor's Townsend, Ewe!! and Buccan. The general symptoms which mark its first stage, are, a slight fever, which is increased by the least exercise, a burning and dryness in the palms of the hands, more es- pecially towards evening, rheumy eves upon awakening from sleep, increase of urine, dryness ofthe skin, as also ofthe feet in the morning, occasional flushing in one, and sometimes in both cheeks, horseness, slight or acute pain in the breast, a fixed pain in one side or shooting painsjin both, occasional sick fainty feelings, deficiency of appetite, and ageneral indisposition to action of any kind. The first appearance ofthis disease vary in different cas- es, but I think that the most common symptom; which char- acterize it, are a cough and spitting of phlegm, resembling matter, of which at length it becomes entirely composed. The general causes which produce this complaint, are ok. structions and inflamations of the lungs, depending most frequently on small tubercles in the substance, which com- ing to superation, bursts aad discharges a porulcnt matter. Sometimes it is induced by a general affection of the sys- tem, and sometimes it is the consequence of other diseases, viz.: cold, measles, small pox, pleurisy, &c. &c. The next thing that comes before us is, to show how the cure was performed on friend Pulliam. The first medicine given was that prescribed in the sixteenth receipt, of which I gave him five grains every night, for five nights. I then gave him a table spoonful of receipt the twenty-second, with a tea spoonful of sweet oil, which he took three times per day for ten days. He also took five drops ofthe sweet spir- its of nitre three times a day, and five di'ops of the elixer of vitroil twice a day; while he abstained from the use of ba- con and sweet milk, but was permitted to make use of any other light diet that agreed with him. The fever and night sweats were soon gone. I then added a table spoon- ful of Jesuit barks, a tea spoonful of pulverized columbo, and a table spoon fa 1 of' pulverized allum, to a quart ofthe 22nd. receipt, of whicii he took half a table spoonful, (with a tea spoonful of linseed oil) three times per day. He took ofthis for some considerable time, while he mended as fast as the nature of the case would permit. He then took a table spoonful of receipt the 22nd. three times per day, for two weeks, during which time, he took also a tea spoonful (-3) ■A r-oceipt the 27th, three times per day, not omitting the use ofthe elixor of vitroil as bofore mentioned. He then returned home with a good appetite, and nearly destitute of a cough. He took with him a quart of the 22nd receipt, which he was to take as above directed, and in this way he was relieved of that distressed complaint (viz.) the consumption. I shall next proceed to take into consideration Mr. Pul- liams last complaint, which was the Anasarca, i. e. a dropsy of the whole system. In the first place I gave him three doses of receipt the 16th, i. e. eight grains per night in a lit- tle sugar for three nights hi succession. On the fourth day he commenced taking of the 39th. receipt, of which he took half a table spoonful three times per day, in a little water, until he got able to ride to my shop. He then took of the powders as directed in the 37th. receipt, and also two doses in a week ofthe lGth. receipt, until the swelling disappeared but during the same time, he took fifteen drops of the sweet spirits of nitre, three times per day in a little water, and when he returned home, he took with bim a quart of the 22nd. receipt, and an ounce phial of receipt the 20th. both of which he took three times per day, as directed in said receipts, and in going through this course of physic, he be- came a sound man, except a pain in his side. Consumptive souls dismiss your fears, And see how God for you appears; 'Though you appear next door to death, Yet he may lengthen out your breafn. This man with one foot in the tomb, Has been reliev'd, and yet there's room. Observe how I restore the sick, And strengthen them when they are weak, The dropsy had friend Pulliam too, And by it was laid very low; But by God's blessing he can tell, That I have made him sound and well. GARRARD COUNTY, KY. } April the 26th, 1818. \ I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, that about three years ago, I was afflicted with the fever, insomuch that my neighbors as well as myself, had concluded that I never should recov- ( 2:4 )' *r, hot J hare g:" GARRARD COUNTY, ICY. > ArRiL the 14tii, 1818. $ 1 DO CERTIFY, That I was out under Governoif Shelby in the late American war, during which tour I suf- fered immensely in lying on the cold ground, &c. &c. and as I returned home, I was taken with a violent dysentary. which wasoccompanied with cold chills, high fevers, and loss of appetite. I still grew wore until I reached home, after which I got better, and continued to mend for a short time, but soon took a relapse and become so violently afflicted that I could compare myself to a man torturing in a pile of burning logs.1* I still continued to grow worse and worse, until I suffer- ed o immensely with a cough and pain in my side, that I scarcely could contain myself in any way at all. I then ap- plied to Richard Carter, (a physician who lives in Garrard County, JCy.) and when he came to me, 1 was entirely out of my senses, (as 1 have been told,) and continued so for the space of four weeks, that I knew but very little of what transpired. Under these symptoms I became so reduced, that I think that I never saw any person lower in my life who afterwards recovered. The said Dr. Carter attended on me throughout my illness. I at length took a very severe shake or chill, and was so likely to have died, that I was given out by all my friends, and I think nearly so by the Doctor himself, but at length I began to mend, and, continued so to do, and that as fast as the nature of the case would permit, until I became sound and hearty, ex- cept a deadness or sleepiness in my legs and feet. I give the said Dr. Carter the praise, under the smiles of Heaven, of performing said cure. We or either of us, do certify the above to be true. Given under our hands, this dav and date above written. ALFXANDER BOYLE, MARY BOYLE. Attest. John Wolfskill, Robert Boyles, Mary Boyles. This complaint of Mr. Boyles was of an inflamatory kind' and somewhat of a putried nature, which in many case* terminate in pleurisies, rheumatisms, consumptions, quin- sies, &c. It is evident that cold produces a disposition to diseases of an inflamatory kind, for those who have been out on long ( 227 ) campaigns, taking violent exercise in sultry weather,or accidenily falling to sleep on the ground, where they were exposed to wet and dry, heat and cold are very liable to diseases ofthis kind, as well as those who live in marshy countries, drink stagnated water, or use spirit--, fast excess- ively, or fatigue themselves greatly. Mr. Boyle had contin- ual fevers, nausea, thirst, delerium, weakness, wasting of the flesh, watchfulness, and his sleep not refreshing, a giddi- ness in the head, an entire loss of appetite, claminess ofthe mouth, excessive heat, excessive and involuntary discharges ' by both stool and urine, wasting sweats, sometimes a cold- ness of the feet, with a fluttering or creeping slow pulse, loss of hearing, pain in the breast and side, and two violent spasms of shivering, similar to those which attend the fever and ague, which symptoms are very dangerous. In the first place I gave him fifteen drops of the sweet spirits of nitre in a little water three times per day, and five drops of the elixer of vitriol in the same way, twice a day; and bound roasted poke roots to the soles of his feet every night, gave him of receipt the 42nd. and 46th. while he**ab- stamed from the use of bacon, sweet milk and cold water. From this course of treatment, he soon began to mend, ard continued so to do very fast. Sometimes when he would be very much distressed with a pain in his breast and side, in which case I gave him five drops of laudanum on going to bed in a little balm tea. In the course of ten days he had so recruited, that he was enabled to walk about a little, but he took a fresii cold, which produced a return of the dys- entary with great violence, but his fever was not very consi- derable. I then gave him of receipt the 52nd. and 56th. and used the sweet spirits of nitre as before, and split a live pullet open and applied hot to the soles of his feet for three or four nights in succession. After he commenced taking this medicine, his fevers never appeared high; but he mend- ed very fast, notwithstanding he appeared delerious, gener- ally talking idle, while his flesh continued to waste away, and his appetite failed. At this time he took chills and a cough, for which deplorable relapse, 1 gave him of the 57th. re- ceipt, and at the same time a tea spoonful of the following composition, viz: equal quantities ofthe sweet spirits of ni- tre and Dr. Robertsons nervous cordial, well shook togeth- er, which I gave three times per day. It may not be amiss to remark that on the reception of the first dose ofthe 57th. receipt, he took a violent shake, which continued for the ( 228 ) space of half an hour: it also may be noted that he began to mend from that time, and had never another shake during his illness, but still continued to mend until he became sound and hearty. It would not be amiss to state that after he had become fleshy and nearly well to all human appearance, there still remained a tengling in his feet and leg-, to re- lieve which, 1 had them well anointed downwards before the fire every night at going to bed, with that ointment de- scribed in the 47th. receipt, while he at the same time took a pint of the 46th. receipt as therein directed. The dysentary entirely left him, and he continued toj strengthen, and regained his senses as usual, and ultimate* ly became a sound man. Affliction'though it seems severe, Is incident to mortals here, For raging fevers scorch and burn, While racking pains play in their turn; The head is sick, the heart is faint, And shivering spasms his complaint; For several weeks out of his head, While friends lament around his bed. Then unto me he did apply, When by his friends gave out to die: And by my means was soon restored, Which gves me cause to praise the Lord. GARRARD COUNTY, KY. ) April the 15th, 1818. ) I DO CERTIFY, That about five years since, I was tak- en with a violent pain in my right shoulder and side, with wandering pains through my whole system, and in the course of half an hour, I became entirely senseless, in which situation I remained for the space of eight or nine days. During this scene I was excessively scorched by fevers, so that there came spots all over my body, and unfortunately for me, one made its appearance in my right eye, which caused it to burst open. The spots on my legs had like to have mortified. My big-toe rotted entirely off at the se- cond joint, and my little toe at its first. Dr. R. Carter at- tended on me during my illness, who took large pieces of rotten flesh out of my leg. Notwithstanding it may appear fabulous, yet it is a fact, to which I cheerfully subscribe, that under the blessing of God the said Doctor was enabled ( 223 ) to perform a perfect cure on me, and I have been as hearty ever since as ever 1 was in my life. I do further certifV. that the-re were a great number of persons in my neighbour- hood, who had the same complaint, all of whom applied to regular bred physicians, and if my memory faih not, there was not any of them who recovered. Given from under my hand this day and date above written ■» ELIZABETH STEEL. Attest, Andrew Hood, Thos. T. IIasleo. Mary Beste. Mrs. Steele's complaint was the Yellow Fever, and I think she suffered more (as it were) than a thousand deaths; for I think that a thousand persons have died without endu- ring as much misery as this woman did during her illness. I shall now proceed to state, Els near as I can, the situation in which this woman was placed by her disease. She was a robust, hail woman, and first broke out all over her body- with pale, purple spots, about as large as a nine-pence, which was accompanied with great debility, heavy moanings, and great thirst. Her tongue, mouth and teeth were covered with a brownish, black crust, somewhat resembling a kind of fur, attended with a continual delerium, quick and offen- sive breathing, great pain in her head and eyes, and be- tween her shoulders, while her countenance exhibited a deadly aspect. Her skin looked of a deep yellow colour, her feet and legs appeared to be very much corded, with vi- olent pains in her back, sides and breast, with great flatu- lence or wind on the stomach. Sometimes there was a to- tal suppression of the urine, and great costivenoss; her ex- crements rather inclined to be of a dark or blackish colour, great acheing and uneasiness in her bones, and when the fever first arose, she broke out in spots. Now if these spots should strike in or disappear immediately, it foretels death. If any person wishes to be more extensively informed re- specting the causes and symptoms of this complaint, they may read Thomas's Practice, or Buccan,on thcsubjecl. I was applied to by Mrs. Steele's father, to whom I indi- rectly refused to administer .any means, pleading my in-ex perience with the complaint, but he replied, that he would not employ any other person, and if I would not undertake her, that he would give her up into the hands of her maker and do no more fo> her. Under these circinnstapces I a- ( 230 ) greed to employ means for her relief; and in the first place, 1 gave her of a mixture made thus, viz: three grains of cal- omel, two of pulverised brimstone, and three of refined ni- tre, which I mixed well together and gave her every morn- ing, f also gave her every night, one grain of c pii'k, tvo of nitre, and one of camphor, whicii was well mixed togetli- er and taken in a little sugar. 1 also gave her a strong ria made of spice-wood and ground-ivy; while I debared iicr from the use of sweet milk, bacon and cold water, and had her feet bathed every night in weak lie, and then bound black mustard, beat fine and wet in vinegar, to the soles of * her feet; whicii course I pursued for three days, and then gave her a dose of salts; and by this time, the fever appear- ed to abate a little, while the sp©ts still continued, but be- came paler. She then took violent pains in her neck, shoul- ders and breast. I then gave her five drops of laudanum, three times per day, fifteen dropsof the sweet spirits of ni- tre, three times per day, five drops ofthe essence of penny- royal, three times per day, a pill every night of the twenty- fourth receipt; washed her mouth three or four times per day with the fifty-third receipt, and had her back and shoul- ders well rubbed before the fire every night, with an oint- ment made thus, viz: 1 got a handful of the bark of dog- wood roots, a handful of the bark of sassafras root, a hand- ful of mullen, and a handful of red pepper,all of which, I had boiled down to the consistence of an ointment, and the resi- due I had thickened with rye-meal, and bound warm to her back and between her shoulders, after the ointment had been rubbed on, and as the pain sunk downwards, I follow- ed it with the poultice and ointment, until it got down into her legs and feet. At this time, the spots on her legs ap- peared as if they would mortify; notwithstanding, the fever appeared to be in a manner broke. The danger now appeared to be that of a mortification's taking place in her legs. 1 then got a handful of the inside bark of slippery elm, a handful of the bark of lynn roots, a handful ofthe inside bark of dogwood, and boiled them all well, then thickened this decoction with flour, and applied the poultice around her legs, after putting the sugar of led and red precipitate in the sores. This course soon set the sores to running. 1 then gave her of receipt the eleventh still directing her to live very fight; then went home, and returned to see her in a few days, and cut the rotten flesh out of her legs. The flesh had rotted off her great toe t« ( 231 ) the second joint, and off the little toe to the first joint. I cut off the bones of both her toes, and applied salve of the fifth receipt to them, and salve of the thirty-first receipt to her leg. This was, to be sure, a very severe remedy, but it cleansed the sore, which soon began to heal. I then ap- plied a poultice made of buttermilk, thickened with wheat flour, which made the sores all clean and white. I then ap- plied the salve of the fifth receipt, which soon enabled her to walk about alittle. I then gave her a pint of the forty-fifth receipt, to be taken as therein directed, which brought on her monthly discharges, the ultimate result of which, was a healthy, sound woman. Alas! alas I who can but feel, A sympathy for Mistress Steele? Whose system's rack'd with horrid pain, Which language fails me to explain. Behold her eye to burst and run, While fevers burn and senses gone; And from her feet two toes are lost, WThile from her legs great lumps are tost, In anguish so she scarce could sleep, While friends around her wail and weep; In this afflicted slate she lay, Without a hope from ddy to day. While thus she lay in pain and grief, She sent to me to get relief; And by God's blessing and my skill, She was restored sound and well. MADISON COUNTY, Ky.\ May theAih, 1818. ^ THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That Mr. Warren Parker's wife was taken in Virginia, in the forepart of the year 1816, with a violent rheumatism, insomuch that she became en- tirely helpless. She then applied to two or three Doctors in King and Queen county, Va. but scarcely derived any benefit. She then removed to Kentucky, where she applied to two physicians in Richmond, Ky. but without receivihg benefit. She then applied to Doctor Richard Carter, of Mason county, Ky. who gave her directions, in pursuance of which, she became perfectly cured, after two applications of the means prescribed. Given under our hands this day and date above written; one of us being the father and the '9 ( 232 ) other the brother of Warren Parker; being perfectly ac- quainted with the fact, WYATT X PARKER, mark. JAMES X PARKER. mark. Attest, F.lizabeth Bowling, James Cunning, Andrew Hood, William Lamptoj7. The following are a few symptoms of Mrs. Parker's conv plaint, which was the rheumatism. Doctor Rush repre- sents the gout and rheumatism as being nearly the same, but Doctor Buccan gives a more plain and full account.— He says that the rheumatism has often a resemblance ofthe gout; it generally attacks the joints with exquisite pain and is sometimes attended with inflamation and swelling. It is most common in the spring ofthe year, and towards the end of autumn, and is usually distinguished into acute and chro- nic, (or the rheumatism with and without a fever.) But this woman's rheumatism was of the chronic kind. The causes which produce rheumatisms, are frequently those which are productive of an inflamatory fever, viz; the immoderate use of strong liquors, obstructed perspiration and the like; as well as sudden changescf the weather, and all quick tran- sitions from heat to cold. The most extraordinary case of a rheumatism (wrhere every joint almost in the whole system was distorted) was in a man who used to work one part of the day by the fire, and the. other in the water. Very obstinate rheumatisms have likewise ensued by per- sons allowing their feet to remain wet for a long time, who were not accustomed to it. The same effects are often pro- duced by persons wearing wet clothes, lying on damp beds, sitting or lying on the damp ground, travelling in the night, by excessive evacuations, or the stoppage of customary dis- charges. The same causes may produce other chronic dis- eases, such as the scurvy, venerial disease, obstinate autum- nal agues, &c. The rheumatism is most prevalent in cold, damp, marshy countries, and especially among the poorer sort of peasants, who are illy clothed, and live in low, damp houses, and use coarse, unwholsome food, which contain but little nourishment, and is hard of digestion. The chronic ( 233 ) rheumatism ri seldom attended with any cosiderable degree of fever, but is generally confined to some particular part ofthe body, such as the shoulders, the back, or the loins, which is seldom attended with any inflamation or swelling. Persons in the decline of life, are most subject to the chronic rheumatism, in which cases it often proves extremely obsti- nate, and sometimes incurable. In the first place I directed Mrs. Parker a handful of the bark of the roots of sassafras, a handful of of the roots of young pine, a handful ofthe roots of bitter-sweet, a handful of red pepper, and a handful of good tobacco. These ingre- dients were all well boiled in water, and the sirop to be strained auid add a pint of whiskey, a pint and a half of fresh butter, that has neither been washed nor salted, and stew the whole! down with a pint of red fishing worms to an oil.— 1 directed! her to annoint the affected parts warm by the fire, with this ointment every night at bed time, and in the morning, and to keep the joints which were affected wrap- ped in flannel. At the same time, 6he drank a bitter made thus, viz. she got a handful ofthe saw-dust of pine knots, a handful of the bark of wild cucumber roots, a handful of black snake roots, and put them into three pints of spirits, while she took great care that she did not expose herself to wet or damp air, and lived on light cooling diet; in this way she soon became a sound woman. Behold her joints immensely swell'd, and nerves con- tracted too, While darting pains are un^repelled, piercing her sys- tem through; The sore affliction and distress, that this complaint af- fords, If can't by symptoms now describe, nor yet express by words; From one Doctor to another, she has frequently ap* plied, But never could relief obtain, until my means she tried; When with my means she did commence, great bene- fit she found, And when quite small was her expense, she was both well and sound. BACK CREEK, GARRARD COUNTY, Ky.) May the 3rd, 1818. $ I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That I was taken at nightj E ( 234 )• in my sleep, so that I awoke with a violent pain in my head, back and left side, which raged to that degree, that 1 soon become senseless, and remained so for seven or eight days and nights without any intermission; during which time, 1 was talking idle, and never known to sleep, (as my friends have since told me.) During my illness I was sorely dis- tressed by high fevers. Doctor Richard Carter was sent for, who said that the prospect for my recovery was very gloomy, seeing that I was apparently, as low as I could be to live; but he adminis- tered means, shortly after the operation ofwhich, he said that there was some hopes of my recovery, and accordingly, I soon began to mend, and in a short time, I became sound and well; which I attribute to the blessing of God, togetln er with the skill and attention ofthe said Doctor Carter.— Given from under my hand, this day and date above writ- ten. NATHANIEL AUSTIN. Attest, Obadiah Moore, Jane Moore, John WtoLFSKiLL, Cantlev Wallace. Mr. Austin's complaint was the cold plague, or tiger- gripe.* This is as a serious complaint, and somewhat prev- alent in Kentucky. It stands every citizen in hand to pre- pare himself with means of defence, should he not have an opportunity of calling to his aid a physician. This is a sudden and violent complaint, and if not soon checked, the patient soon may go down to his grave. We very frequently witness such complaints as this, which are generally produ- ced by catching of cold, obstructed perspiration, &c. which depend generally on thechangablene-s of the weather, and variations of the atmosphere, for we do not only seethe weight of the atmospheric air vary with the different sea- sons ofthe year, but we observe it change from almost one extreme to the other,in the space of a day or two, and some- times in the course of a few hours. The best method of guarding against those vicissitudes of the weather iu sickly seasons, is to change the clothes to suit the weather, keep moderate fires when necessary, breathe and exercise in the open air early in the morning: for those who stick the clo- * These nairfes have been given to this disease by the inhabitants ofthis country. ( 235 ) *«est to their rooms in sickly seasons, are apt to render them- > selves so delicate as to feel the slightest change in the at- mosphere, and consequently take pains frequently, with an oppression ofthe breast, attended with coughs, colds, chills, fevers, rheumatisms, agues, &c. We see that there are many minerals, as well as sul- phur chacole and stagnated water in this country, by wdiich, many very malignant disorders are produced. We find that when we have experienced long, damp, hot and foggy spells of weather, the blood becomes gross and heavy. Heat rarities the blood, quickens the circulation and increases perspiration: thus we see those who are in the habit of over heating their blood and cooling themselves sud- denly, labor under the disagreeable consequence which nat- urally result therefrom. Reason itself would teach us that laborers must certain- ly get too hot on some occasions; but they generally have it in their power to cool themselves moderately, which, in a great degree, guards them against those disorders to which they would be more liable. Laboring men should, on quitting work, draw on their clothes and choose a dry place in preference to a damp, one, to cool themselves in, and avoid the too common practice of taking hearty draughts of cold water; because, when your system is very hot, your stomach may be vastly gorged with water before the palate is cooled; to prevent which, you should wash your mouth *and throat with vinegar, or chew fruit and swallow the spittle, or some kind of acid herbs, un- til the palate becomes cool, or hold water in your mouth for two or three minutes, which will have the same effect. You have read the case and condition, in which Mr. Aus- tin was when 1 was applied to for medical aid. The first thing that I gave him was fifteen grains of calomel, three of brimstone and three of nitre, well mixed in a little sugar, and worked it off with chicken soup made moderately salt, during which operation, I debared him from the use of cold water, milk, bacon, &c. This course worked him,com- pletely, but on the day following, he complained of a severe pain in his side and head, for which, I made a pint of whis- key boiling hot, placed the cup which contained it in a chair, set the whiskey on fire and turned the mouth of a still cap over it, while 1 put the arm ofthe cap under the bed clothes, through which, the steem of the burning whiskey was con- veyed to the side where the pain was, and from thence a- i ( 236 ) cross his breast as hot as he could endure it, and then ap- plied a blister plaster to his side and the back of his neck, I I then scarified his temples and drew blisters there-1 then roasted poke roots and applied to the soles of his feet,— This course produced a great change in his system, while his pain and^fevers gradually abated. I then mixed an * ounce ofthe sweet spirits of nitre with the same quantity of Doctor Robertson's stomachic elixir of health, of which, I gave him half a tea spoonful three time9 per day, and ten drops ofthe elixir of vitroil in a spoonful of water as often. j then gave him a strong tea made of ground-ivy, which broke the fever, and in five or six days he was almost clear of pain and fever; shortly after which, his appetite became so good as to require restriction, in which case I directed him to eat often and but little at a time. He soon took a hoarseness, accompanied with a cough, for the relief of which, I gave him a table spoonful of re- ceipt the 23rd. three times per day, and in about an hour af- ter he took each of these doses, he took a tea spoonful of the 21st. receipt, in a table spoonful of ground-ivy juice.— This medicine had the desired effect, so that in a short time he was not only relieved of his cough and hoarseness, but was brought to his former health. This gentleman's wife and daughter was taken in the same way he himself was; both of which cases I treated in the same way, and after having removed their complaints by the above treatment, I gave them of the twenty-fourth receipt, for the purpose of strengthening their stomachs, which course of treatment, as instruments in the hand of a merciful God, restored them all to a perfect state of health. Thus often when you're unaware, disorders on you creep, And often you attacked are, when you are fast asleep; And for example you may read, the stated case above, And view one sleeping on his bed, in wild destraction drove; Hear him exclaiming out aloud, alas what shall I do, My head! my back! as well as side, by pains are pier- ced through; View him deranged by his pain, and never known to rest, For six or eight long days er more, he sorely was dis- tress'd j ( 237 ) 'Though he in this condition lay, expecting soon to go, Eiiherto reign with Christ above, or sink in endless wo; I did my own prescription give, in which relief he found, And shortly he did certify, that he was well and sound. GARRARD COUNTY. ICY.) April the 1st, 1813. $ I DO CERTIFY, That, about four pears ago, I was ta- ken with the king's evil, which run on me for about twelve months, at which time, I applied to a French Doctor, who said that he could cure it in a week or ten days, and who worked with me for about three months, while mv disease grew worse and worse. I then abandoned him and applied to a physician in Montgomery county, who attended on me for about the same length of time, and with as little success. By this time my case became so desperate that I was giv- en out to die by ali with whom I was acquainted; for the hole in my neck was almost large enough to lav a hen egg in, which left the neck bone and large vein of my neck mri- ed, being also very much reduced in flesh. In thri situation I remained for about six months, without the aid of any phy- sician; at length, 1 heard ofthe Indian Doctor, who Jived in Garrard county, whose name is Richard Carter, to whom I applied, and under whose care 1 was for about three weeks, and then returned home, taking some of his means with me, by which, in a short time, I was restored to pefect health without much pain or distress, to the astonishment of all who knew me: and further, that I have never experienced any symptoms of its return since. Given from under my hand, this day and date first above written. SAMUEL PIKE. Attest, John Wclfskill, Cantlf.v Wallace, John Conner, Andrew Hood, Obadiah Moore. The king's evil or scrofula, is a very distressing com- plaint, and is becoming quite prevalent in this country, more especially, among the black people. Doctor Townsend, as well as Doctor Sauvage, enumerates eight species of scro- fula, but Doctor Cullen reduces them to four, viz. vulga- ris, misentirica, fugax, and americni.-a. 1st. Scrofula, vulgaris, which is simple, external and permanent, to which the general description is more par- V ( 2- ) tictilariy applicable, and which frequently terminates in the phthisis. 2nd. Scrofula mkcnterica, ^riiich is simple, though in- ternal, and is-attended with pah} footc,of excrements and often terminates inatrophv, and on deseciioa, the mesente- ric glands are found to be disease;!. 3rd. Scrofula fugax, which is the most simple kind, and is fluctuating in its symptoms, and is occasioned, says Dr. Ctdlen, by ulcers in the head. Saovage states, that it is occasioned by the drying up of the tenon, or the sudden stoopa-^e of purulent drioharoes from the can of children, and his statement is certainly correct, but neither of tnese professors have noticed a very common circumstance, which gives rise to this kind of scrofula in children of an irratible habit, which is lice, which harbour about the nap of the neck, and by their irritation occasion the glands ia the vicinity to swell, but no sooner are these vermin re- moved than the effects subside. 4th. Scrofula americana, which is combined with fram- bcesia, the strumous swellings are in the neck, the black and fungous excrescences in the head. This complaint of- ten proceed from the mearies, blows, bruises, sickly par- ents, sudden heats and chills ofthe blood, marshy countries, agues, hooping-cough, living on weak watery diet, sleeping on damp bed-, and wearing dirty clothes for a considerable length of time. There are generally small knots in this case, which make their appearance under the chin, or be- hind the carsof the patient, winch gradually increase in number and size, and frequently constiluto one large haul cake or lump. These lumps arc generally a longtime in existence before they brake, and when broke they issue a thin watery matter similar to curdled milk. The whole system is subject to this disorder, particularly the arm-pits, groin0, fe^t, legs, hands,evos,breast, &c. as well as the lungs, liver,' splean, bones, rie, and indeed it is very common for the upper lip to enlarge, and in fact, I have known the joints to be swelled as in cases ofthe chronic iheumatism, although not accompanied with as much soreness and pains, yet very much swelled and inflamed, and when formed into an ulcer, its discharge becomes thinner, during its existence, I have seen nine caro> of tins kind, the whole breast of the patient covered with holes or sores, like a honey comb. In scrofulous disorders the patient should live on very light cor ling and nourishing diet, and keep bis bowels mo- ( 233 ) derately open with a sirop made of elder berries, and for his constant drink make use of sliced burdock roots steeped in water, and once a week take a arise of salts, or caster oil, or (what is better) table salt in woator. You have had a de- scription of the case of Mr. Pike, and I will now proceed to describe the manner in which I treated said case. In the first place I got a handful of the inside bark of pine, a handful ofthe inside bark of dogwood roots, a hand- ful of the inside bark of peach tree, and put them all in a put to a sufficient quantity cf water, and boil the strength well out of them, and strain the ooze, and then add a table spoonful of cane sugar, a table spoonful of honey, and a tea ble spoonful of the sugar of lead, and then stew it down to a salve. Twice a day 1 washed this sore with casteel soap suds, then sprinkled in a small portion of jusuit barks, and then applied a plaster ofthe above described salve, and re- peated the same treatment for a week; which cleansed the. sore and caused it to discharge a white mucus. I then got a balfa bushel of mussle shells, burnt them well; beat them to a fine powder, put them in a pot, covered it in water and stirred it well three times per day, for three or four days; I then let it settle, and took a pint ofthe lime water, to which. I added a pint of sweet oil, and a vial of British oil, and shook it all well together until it became thick. Iputa considerable portion ofthis preparation in the sore twice a day, and covered it with a piaster of the 5th receipt. When ever necessity required it, 1 wrapped a little cotton around the end of a goose quill, and wet it in aquefortis, and touched slightly around the edges of the sore, and washed the inside of the sore with a composition made of elixir of virtroil and linseed oil, and after pursuing this course for a. few days, I changed the treatment by washing the sore in a weak salution of blue vitroil, thus I continued to use first one and then the other, for eight or ten days; and put a tea spoonful of pulverized blue vitroil to a pint of water, and gave him a tea spoonful three times per day; forbiding the use of green fruit, cider, spirits, bacon, or bacon greace, new milk, cream, rioc. &.c. and in a short time his neck be- gan to mend, and continued to mend very fast for about two weeks. He then made use ofthe 23th receipt for salve, and kept his sores cleansed with a salution of casteel soap and blue vitroil, during which time he took of receipt the 10th. and when he had taken one pint, his colour began to recover, and his strength to increase, and his sores to heal ( S40 ) very fast, and if his sores appeared to get hard or manifest a callous disposition, I got the inside bark of slippery elm, and the inside barkoflynn roots, and boiled them well to- gether in water, then took out the bark and thickened it with flour, salt and new milk, and applied to the sores, which removed the fever and hardness, after which I applied the salve again, and in this way soon restored him to the enjoy- bient of perfect health, and has never yet experienced any symptoms of return of that distressing complaint; but it should be observed that after a person has had this disorder they should continue to make use of the 10th receipt for a considerable length of time, and carefully avoid exposure to cold wet dews, or damp air, as well as over heating the system in any way; and in fact, it would be very serviceable to prepare a tub of cold water made brackish with salt, and roih in it occasionally, and anoint the neck with rabbits biood as often as convenient, and wear a neck cloth during the winter seasons for several years as a preventative a- gainst taking cold. Ye living men this man behold, in his afflicted state, With his complaint a year or more, till dismal seemed his fate; Then to a doctor he appli'd, who said he would insure, That in a week or two, he would perform a perfect qure: But for three months or something more, with him he had his coarse, But he instead of getting well, did still grow worse and worse, Then to the second he appli'd, who practic'd the same space, But still instead of his relief, more desp'rate was his case; Then view him with his neck bone bare, as was his jug'lar vain, While his recovery all dispaired, before me he was lain, My means \Hth care I did apply, this patient to restore, And in a short and easy way, perform'd a perfect cure. ESTILL COUNTY, KENTUCKY, ) ■Raven Branch, April the 11th;. 1818. $ I DO HEREBY CERTIFY," That my wife was taken with a pain in her head and right hip and thigh, which ulti- mately settled. I then, when she could walk about a little, applied to an eminent doctor for her relief, but he told me ( 241 ) that it was useless to administer any means to her, as it was a doubtful case. I then applied to another Doctor, who administered some means to her, but she got worse every dose she took. Then I applied to the third, who gave some directions, but to no effect. I sent then to a Doctor who lived in Tennessee, who said he could not help her, unless he was with her, and in fact he was doubtful whether he could relieve her or not if he was with her. I saw another doctor whom I ad\isYul with on her complaint, who said it was a doubtful case, because Ue did not believe that she ever could be cured at alb— By this time she had became so low that she had not been out of her bed for eight weeks, the three last of which, she could not bear to be moved in her bed, and lor three months her menstnsal discharge had entirely ceased. In this state of things I applied to Doctor Rich- ard Carter of Garrard County, Ky. who administered means, and on the third day she turned herself in the bed, and in a week or ten days she began to wail: a little, and continued to mend to the astonishment of all her acquain- tances, and at length became entirely well and remained so for about two years when she took another spell of sickness. I then applied to tlie same physician, under whose care she soon was restored to perfect health, and has since been delivered of a fine daughter. Given from under our hands this day and year first above written. his GARRET K GREEN, mark. her POLLY kl GREEN, mark. Attest, Peter Goosv, Polly Vaskr, Andrew Hood, Samuel Vaser, Mary Dun away, Nancy Lilxes. This complaint of Mrs. Green's is truly a distressing one, and many women die in this country with it. It is often brought on a person by exposure in sudden changes of the weather, particularly when menstrous, wading water courses, beating over the fire, washing in warm water and then, while hot and probably in a high per- spiration, rincing in that which is very co! I5 all of these / ( 242) circumstances is liable to produce a suppression of the menses, which is generally accompanied with a florid complexion, usually combined with symptoms very dif- ferent from those whicii occur when the countenance is of a pale appearance, and a course of treatment entirely reverse to that necessary in the former rase is required, because the colour of the cheeks in the first mentioned case is often the flash-of disease instead of the glow of health: this description of patients frequently have a slight cough, pains in the breast, difficulty of breathing, Blight fever and other signs of a consumptive complaint; in which cases, instead of pursuing the common course of treatment, with the view of promoting the .mi nstrual discharge, we must regard the disease and endeavour to give relief by bleeding in small quantities, by antiphlo- gistic and emolient medicines, by a vegetable diet and re- pose, while we forbid all exercise, but that which is of the most easy kind; and then the suppression ofthe men- ses may come under contemplation. The tincture me- lampetic has been strongly recommended, but the prin- cipal benefit is that »vhich it produces by operating as a gentle purge, its other effects being very problimatical. The menses are sometimes suppressed by violent exer- cise, or sudden exposure to cold during the term of their fiow* even in these cases the patient is liable to some dis- ease, such as pleurisy, periptieumony, acute rheumatism, inflamation of the uteris, &c. and under such circumstan- ces the same treatment must be pursued as the particular nature of the case requires, without having any regard to the menses. The first cause of Mrs. Green's disease was an obstruction of the menses, but in its progress it had became complicated, and was (as often is the case) accompanied with a general debility of the system, in which case the menstrual discharge gradually deminishes in quantity; the patient then becomes irregular, and ul- timately ceases entirely to menstruate; the natural result of which is dejected spirits, want of appetite, flushing of heat over the system, slight tickling cough, weakness in the small ofthe back, accompanied with a dead aching misery; sometimes a coldness of the feet, at other times a burning of* the soles of the feet; at sometimes a pressing or bearing down in the lower parts ofthe bowels, great propensity to make water, attended with small discharg- es, and that often attended with a burning, pain in Hlc ( 213 ) nide, tingling in the feet and legs, like little bairds one pins sticking in the flesh, deadness and sleepiness in the flesh, a weakness on the stomach, attended with a pres- ure of wind and dull sluggish feelings all over the system, pat'ticnhirly at the fulls and changes of the moon. I have known sores to break out on different parts of tin; hndy and even effect the bone, among which was a case of a rising on a lady's thigh, somewhat like a white swel- ling, and although it may appear fabulous to the reader, yet it in a fact, that when ever tho usual time for her monthly complaint to come on, the discharge of this ul- rer was rapidly augmented and resembled a menstrous discharge, and when the discharge should naturally a- bate the discharge of this ulcer vastly decreased, and re- seuihied very much rhe dregs of coffee. Another case of this kind came under my notice, in which a lady had an ulcer on her ancle which was vory large, out of which had been taken several pieces of bone. This lady's menses had entirely ceased for the space of three years, dining every month of which time there appeared to bo a regular discharge of a menstruous nature from this ul- cer. She had applied to a great many physicians, but derived no earthly advantage from their applications.— "When slip applied to me she was very fleshy and had a good appetite. I attended on her for a long time with- out any success: but as soon as I brought on her men- strual dischargel found no difficulty in heaTing the sore. I directed Mrs. Green to anoint her hip and thigh With an ointment made thus:—I got a double handful of camomile flowers, a handful of tanzy, a double handful of red pepper, and boiled them well in water, then strain- ed it and added to the sirop a pint of rum, a pint of sweet oil, and stewed it all down to an oil, and then ad- ded a vial of British oil, a tea spoonful of peneroyal oil, and stired it well together. This oil was rubbed on. well by the fire every morning and evening, and she took three grains of calomel, and three grains ofa!loe3 com- bined in a little sugar, for three nights in succession, du- ring whicii time she refrained from the use of milk, hog meat, cold water, &c. and made use of chickens and. chicken soup, beef and beef soup, squirrels, &c. At tin- same time siie stewed a handful of camomile flowers in a pint of fresh butter until it became an oil and anointed her abdomen and cross banc vv
m the above certificate to be true, this day and year first above written. GEORGE LARRISON, NANCY LARRISON. Attest, Samuel Vaser, Joseph H. King, Polly Vaser, Rhoda King, Peter H. Vaser, Thankful Yaser. Mrs. Larrison's complaint was the puerperal (or child bed) fever, a few symptoms of which I will lay down in the first place; and then insert the manner in which I treated ihis woman's case. This fever approaches gradually, commencing at from twenty-four horns, to thirty days, (and sometimes as ma- ny weeks) after delivery. Weak and delicate women, especially those accustomed to genteel life, are most subject to this disease. It commences with a chill, at- tended with nausea, pain in the bead, loss of strength, restlessness, sometimes a dryness ofthe skin, and at oth- ers partially or unusually moist, dryness of the tongue, and it sometimes covered with a black crust, variation of the pulse, being sometimes weak and small, and at others full and tense. Wandering pains are felt in the abdomen, and sometimes they attack the sides, some- what like the pleurisy, and in some cases they extend to the shoulder blades, short ribs, liver, and spleen, and then extend to the bladder and lower intestines. The pain becomes so acute in some instances that the patient cannot bear the weight of the bed clothes upon her.— The face of the patient has a sorrowful appearance, and every word and action, more or less manifests her ex- treme agony of both body and mind. In some cases the patient's abdomen swells, as in cases of pregnancy— pains are felt in the back and buttocks, the legs swell, and at length the breathing becomes diilic ult, and by the loss of strength, will be unable to turn in her bed. Vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes a stubborn costiv- ncss takes the patient off. The lochia are sometimes suppressed, and at others, they continue throughout the disease. When the inflamation is confined to the uteris it is a favorable circumstance. The urine is scanty, tur- bid, and frequently evacuated. Spots appear upon the- ( 2*6) joints, which continue from three to four days, and sometimes in the country for ten, fifteen and twenty days. Although the appearances vary in different patients, yet by this catalogue of symptoms the puerperal fever may be known; and if it should occur, a physician should be called in immediately. I directed Mrs. Larrison to get a double handful of camomile flowers, and stew them in a pint of fresh but- ter that has neither been washed nor salted, until it be- came a perfect oil, with which she was to rub her abdo- men and groins well downwards as warm as she could bear it every hour, and to get a handful of vervine roots, a handful of camomile flowers, and steep them in water, of which she was to make her constant drink. I also gave her three grains of calomel in a little sugar, for- bidding her to make use of any thing cold during its op- eration, but to use warm chicken soup well seasoned with salt, and to keep herself cool, but to guard against the changes of the weather, avoiding carefully every cir- cumstance that would lay her liable to take cold. I then gave her a quart of receipt the 23rd, which she took as directed therein, still making use of the above mentioned tea and ointment, and when her bowels want- ed opening, she took caster oil, or injected witto the ooze of slippery elm bark and new milk, abstaining from the use of bacon, sweet milk, and strong coffee. This course of treatment soon made a sound cure. In cases of an inflamation, I have derived great bene- fit from the use of receipt the 27th, aud that by giving immediate relief. If the patient is strong, and the attack violent, it would not be amiss to let a little blood, proportioning the quan- tity to the strength ofthe patient and violence ofthe dis- ease. I then administered a mild emetic of fifteen grains of ipicacuanha, with one quarter or one half grain of tartarized antimony, and afterwards a gentle cathar- tic, an opiate at night; glisters, fermentations, and an opening draught of sena and manna, and the cream of tartar combined, may be given every day. If the dis- ease be prolonged for several days, it is the more neces- sary that a physician should be employed, because blood Jetting in the common way might be injurious; but where the propriety of bleeding is doubtful an emetic C 257 ) may generally he given with safety. If there be fre- quent or involuntary stools, the administrator should be cautious not to give any thing which may do an injury. In such cases as this an injection of water in which a chicken has been boiled, or, of floar and water boiled to b proper consistency, or flaxseed tea should he often repeated. It requires judgment to determine the propri- ety of correcting this diarrhea. If however, through the debility of the patient, it be- comes necessary to check it, an infusion of columbo root or the flowers of camomile, may be used; as also the starch glister, with an addition of fifty drops of the tinc- ture of opium. Should a hiccoughing ensue, combine one quarter of an ounce of the sweet spirits of nitre, clean water balfa pint, and white sugar at discretion; of which mixture you should give two spoonfuls every two or three hours, while the patient should be permitted to breathe in the pure air. Strict regard should be paid to her cleanliness, while her rest is secured, and silence carefully preserved. It is thought (but not with good reason) that this fever might be communicated by con- tagion, which circumstance, (were it true) would make it necessary for the mid-wife to use the utmost care that she does not convey it from one to another. To make a tea of cinquefail, white plantane, maidens hair, and mountain tea, and drink pretty freely is remar- kably good in cases of this kind. No man can read this passage, and disagree with me, But must say that the fair sex by them should loved be. See how7 this weakly woman, the world to populate. Bore pain, distress and soreness, in her afflicted state. Behold her laying, fainting, and given out to die, And in this situation, to me for help apply, And by God's kind permission, her health I did re- store, Which gives me cause to praise him now and for- ever more. H ( 258 ) GARRARD COUNTY, KiO .March the 28fA, 181 G. J I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That my daughter was taken with the fever, and, for the space of eight or nine days, was not. known to be clear of an immense high fever, which raged with considerable rapidity. 1 ap- plied to a Doctor, but his prescription were of no ciieet. I. then applied to the second, who was equally unsuccess- ful in giving relief. By this time she had became so low, that hc-r eyes and jaws appeared to be set; her eyes in part'nndar, which t-eemed entirely motionless. I thru applied to Dot tor Richard Carter, and in the course of twenty-four hours, the fever was broke, and she continued to mend rapidly from that time on, until she was restored to perfect heai'li, which was but a short lime. And now 1 think it no hardship to give Dr. Carter the credit of performing a sound cure on my daughter, through the indulgence of a merciful God. Given from under my hand, this day and year first above written. ROBERT BURNSIDE. Attest, John Wolf^kill, John [lager Margaret Burnsidc, James Burnside. Andrew Hood. '•Now, Richard, you are about to treat on a very in- tricate case, while there arc mary spies peeping through windows at you: in fact it may be said, mind your eye primus, for all the world is against you; and if some of ihcm was to get it in their power they would put you where the dogs would not bite you." Yes, this has been threatened, but only by a few, half of whom na-.e sine become my friends: but as it respects hear-say, it is a very uncertain author. H.-ausea man once said that he had puked up something as black as a crow, the se- cond said that he pnked something as large as a crow, and the third said that he actual!) did puke a crow. This is the way hear .say multiplies any thing, and conse- quently gives an uncertain sound One man affirmed the earth was balanced on an ex. and another, that it was balanced o:i a turtle. Now if we can find what the ox, or turtle stands on, it will direct us to the mark. So ( 250 ) we find that mechanics of every description arc apt to-. differ; even the old indies differ with each other, with respect to cookery; some being disposed to season theh die s high, while others prut lice a different course. So we find the great secret is to suit the casein hand; and the scripture says he that seeketh shall find. Now if wo discover fever raging in the hiiuian system, the first thing is I > ascertain wlnne the seat is, and if it should be in the stomach, the first thing required is to cleanse the stomach by emetics, cool and renew the blood. But if the seat is in the bowels—the bowels should be cleansed with cathartics, and keep them open with mild purga- tives, injections, and cooling medicines. The patient should beware of a relapse; he should eat little at a time but often, because over charging the stomach very fre- quently produces a relapse. Ishn-1 now proceed to insert my treatment with re- spect to the case in hand, which was the myenteric fe- vco. To every complaint there is a cause and a seat; hence we find that the whole system in many cases be- come affected, for example, take or stop one small wheel fiorn a watch or clock, and see how soon the machine fanlters. Just so it is with the human system. The misenicric glands are conglobate, and arc situated here and there in the cellular membrane of the mesentery.— They are formed of a contortion of lymphatic vessels, connected together by a cellular structure, and having neither a cavity, nor an excretory duct. The chyle from the intestines passes through the mesenteric, glands to the thoracic duct, and is separated from the blood by digestion, and is that fluid substance of which the blood is formed. There are a great many circumstances or causes which may produce the mesenteric fever on the human system. You may, in this little abridged trea- tise, obtain a pretty correct idea ofthe mesenteric arte- ries', plexus of nerves, vein*, &c, as well as the great vein situate at the entrance of the liver, whicii receives the, blood from the abdomen viscera, and carries it into the substance ofthe live;; it is also called a protando, because through it things are carried. It is distinguish- ed into the heportic, and abdominal portion; the former is ramified through the substance of the liver, ami car- ries the blood destined for the formation of the h>U\ ( -o\. j 'rtiiich is returnad by branches to the trunk of the vena cava: the latter is composed of three branches, viz. the splenic, mesenteric, and internal haemorrhoidal veins. The case in hand is the mesenteric fever, which has its principal seat in the intestinal glands, and may, there- fore, be with propriety admissible in this place. It is a fever excited by obstructions in the mesentery, front which circumstance it has its name. Children are sub- ject to it from infancy up to three or four, and even six or eight years. This fever remits, and sometimes has Irregrlar intermissions, attended with loss of appetite, swelled belly, and pains in the bowels, and has often been mistaken for worms. If, therefore, the usual remedies for worms should fail, the child will sooner or later be affected with indigestion, costiveness or purging, irregu-. lar appetite, flushed cheeks, or total loss of colour, im- paired strength and spirits, remitting fever, a hard swel- led belly and emaciated limbs. These symptoms, there- fore, sufficiently specify the disease. It frequently fol- lows the measles and other eruptive fevers. Children that are confined to coarse and unwholesome food, badly clothed, not kept sufficiently clean, are most liable to this disorder, as well as those who are not permitted to take sufficient exercise. Hence we find that negro chil- dren in the southern states frequently perish with this fe- ver. When any symptoms of this destructive disease pre- sent themselves, enquiry should he made into the man- ner of feeding, clothing, and cleanliness ofthe child, and every error in those respects must be rectified; and if the patient has not too long labored under its influence, frequent purging with calomel will of itself perform a cure. In more advanced stages of this complaint it would be best to call in a physician to your aid; but where this is impracticable, you may proceed to give the following bolus; three times, per week; i. e. take two grains of calomel, two-thirds of a. grain of ipecacuanha, six ounces of powdered nutmeg or ginger, all of which must be mixed up in sirop of honey, which constitutes one dose for a child-of from two to four years old; and fifteen or twenty drops of antimonial wine may be given the intervening nights when the calomel bolus is not tfsed. Having continued those remedies till the ftye-; ia ( 261 > removed, hardness of the belly subsided, &c. then tfk* strength of the patient should be raised by the use of the bark, steel, cold bath, bitters made of columbo and or- ange peelings or camomile flowers &c.accompanied with gentle exercise, friction, light nourishing diet, &c. he. All greasy or fat substances should be avoided in this case, as also those preparations of pastry which are gen erally of a clamy nature. This little daughter of Mr. Burnside's was between eight and nine years old. In the first place, I gave her three grains of calomel, one of the flour of sulphur, one of refined nitre, and one of camphor, all of which was mixed well together in a little h oney and warm water, and she was prohibited the use of cold water, milk or ba- con. I had a pullet split open and bound warm to the soles of her feet, and gave her as much pulverised co- lumbo as would lie on the point of a case knife, in a little balm tea, three times a day; and the day following she took two grains of calomel, one of nitre and one of the flour of sulphur, in a little sugar and water, and ten drops of the sweet spirits of nitre in a little camomile tea, three times a day. I then gave her of a decoction made thus:—a handful ofthe inside bark of the root of dogwood, a handful of the inside bark of yellow poplar root, and a handful of yellow sarsaparilla, and put them all in a pot and boiled the strength out in ten gallons of water, down to a quart, and then strained it, and boiled it down to a pint and added it to a pint of wine, and di- rected her to commence taking a tea spoonful, three times a day, and as she strengthened to increase the dose slow- ly to half a table spoonful, and abstain from the use of bacon and sweet milk; but permitted her to live on any other light diet that agreed with her, and to avoid expo- sure of every kind, which completed an entire cure on her., See how this patient was distress'd with fever and with pain, And for eight days or something more, no help she did obtain, Two Doctors were for her employ'd, but still she much worse grew, Until her jaws were lock'd fast, and her eyes were fixed too. ( 2S2 ) To her relief I then did my simple means to pre- scribe, And when one day had passed away, her fever did subside; So soon the blcssrng of the. Lord enabled her to tell, That by the means which I prcscrib'd, she was made sound and well. GARRARD COUNTY, Kr.T June 271A, 1818. J T DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That I was taken, in the year i81-e". with a violent pain in my breast and stomach, which siii! grew worse;—nothing would lie on my stomach except it was very light diet. I councelled wi'h a great number of physicians who were in high re- pute, but none of them appeared to understand my comi plaint. At length I became so law that I was out of all hopes apparently of ever recovering. I then applied to a doctor of Cincinnati, who was said to be very skilful, and who give me medicine for the term of three months, but I still continued to get worse. By this time I could scarcely walk about the house. I then applied to Doctor Richard Carter of Garrard county, Ky. who told mo that my complaint was a decay of the liver; he then com- menced giving me medicine, from which I derive-.! great J benefit in the course of two weeks, and continued to mend so fast that, in three weeks after commencing witii bis means, I returned home, an! by taking some medi- cine with me I was soon restored to perfect health. It has been nearly twelve months since 1 quit taking his medicine, and am now in as good a state of health as ever I was in my life; and I am willing to give Dr. Carter and his means, as instruments in the hand!) of the Lord, the praise for restoring me to my former health. Given under my hand this day and year first a« hove written. JAMES HOLM AN. Attest, William Cope, Joshua Morran, James Cunning, Thomas Grubbs. Mr. Holman's complaint was seated in the liver. He complained of a soreness in his breast, and weakness in I ( 2G3 ) * his stomach; his stomach often appeared to be swelled, and at other times a discharge of wind off his stomach; soaietiines pains under his short ribs; was frequently in a costive habit, and the last of the excrements appeared somewhat laxative, sometimes a soreness in his iiesh ac- companied with a kind of twitching something similar to that of a oeef when the butcher is skinning it. He compiaiued of acid on his stomach, and when he made use of bacon, cabbage, cider, spirits or the like, it would produce such a pain in Is stomach that he scarcely could rest until he puked a vast quantity of sour water; he also complained frequently of a soreness between his shou'ders and under his left shoulder blade, accompan- ied with a iknnl numbing pa.n, and stiffness in his neck, like he had lain with ins neck very crooked. He had stiches or keen pains in his sides, and sometimes a de- gree of pain in his abdomen, as also a throbbing about the navel, like the beating of the heart, whicii throbbing was liable to shift up towards the pit ofthe stomach, and from thence to the side, and under the short ribs; a numbness or sleepiness in the flesh, particularly in the feet and legs; stillness in the joints; a disposition to stretching and gaping, subject to a dull, sleepy, heavy feeling; bad taste in ids m-np'u when he first got up in the morning, a weakness in the eyes, a throbbing in the ears; a soreness between tlie flesh and skin on the breast, burning in the urethra, with .sometimes cider coloured urine; a weakness in the small ofthe back and kidnies; bis veins sometimes appeared swelled fit to burst, and at others sunk and bbie: eating sometimes would relieve the patient's stomach from that gnawing, uneas} feeling to whicii it was subject, but at. other times it made it con- siderably weaker. If he fisted long it produced flatu- lence in the stomach and bowels; he sometimes complain- ed of a weight and acheing about his heart, a dryness of the soles of his feet and palms of his hands, aching in the fi sh kke the approach id* a chill, and if he got his feet wet it would fly through the whole system; lie also complained at times of a slight tickling cough, spasms like the night mare, and subject to dream foolish dreams and start in his .-deep. In thi-> ca-;e tlie nerves are week, the Jiver oppressed, and not a bukkiai-'y of bile to produce proper and rog- ( 264 ) tiiar digestion; and, ineeed, this disorder frequently tcr- ininates in a deep consumption. Stomach worms are sometimes the first moving cause of this disease, so ia sudden changes from violent heatings of the blood to ex- treme cold, as well as taking hearty draughts of cold water wdien the system is very hot; lying ou the cold ground; exeessive fatigue in very hot weather; excessive use uf spirituous liquors; falls, over strains; over load- ing the stomach, and lying down too soon afterwards, &c. &c. All ofthe above mentioned circumstances are liable to produce nervous diseases, and complaints of of the liver. The method of cure is, in the first place, to cleanse and renew the blood, live on light diet, eat but little at a time, and often if required, guard against heats and colds, wear red flannel in the winter next to the skin, travel to a warm climate, abstain from the use of spirituous liquors, avoid the use of harsh purgatives, over heats, anger and strife, and keep your feet warm, "body clean, head cool, and bowels open, and you will live till you die, without an accident like Jona, and af- ter being confined a good while come out at the big end of the horn at last. I shall now proceed to insert the manner in which I treated Mr. Holman's case. The first thing I gave him, was fifteen grains of calomel, and five of jallap, on a fasting stomach, and in an hour and a half afterwards he drank of salt chicken soup, abstaining from the use of any thing cold that day, not even permitted to use milk or bacon. This course worked him well, and bronght a vast quantity of black bile by stool. I then got a quart of wine, and put half an ounce of asafcetida, a tea spoonful of" rheubarb, and two tea spoonfuls of al- loes in it, of which he took half a table spoonful three times a day, and a tea spoonful of receipt 18th, every night. This course I pursued for ten days, which stop- ped the puking to which he was before subject, and kept his bowels moderately open, while his appetite and strength both increased as fast as the nature of the case would justify; but he still complained of inward fevers, for the relief of which, I gave him ten drops of the sweet spirits ofnitre, ina little water three times per day, and forbade his making use of any gross or strong diet. I then gave him a table spoonful of the 19th re= ( 265 ) ceipt, which worked him very well. I then gave him. a tea spoonful of magnesia in fennal seed, or ground ivy tea, three times a day; and also gave him of the 24th re- ceipt, until he complained of soreness in his breast; I then gave him of the 62nd receipt, omitting that ofthe 24th, and continued in the ordinary way to take a quart, still living on light diet, and abstaining from baconsweet milk, cider, and spirits, while he guarded strictly a- gainst taking cold by exposing himself to damp, wet or night air, or over heating his blood in any waj; which course made a sound cure of him. In deep distress and anguish, while given out to die, Behold his friends around him, do both lament and cry; Though several skillful Doctors had been employ'd by him, Yet he, in all his sickness, Was not reliev'dby them. "Now in this sad condition, when walk he scarcely could, He call'd on me for physic, which proved for his good, And by my means, though simple, as your have heard before, This man has often leaped, by reason of a enrc. GARRARD COUNTY, KY. \ March the 29th, 1818. j I DO CERTIFY That I was taken, about three years past, with an excessive spetting of blood, on one morning, and continued so to do as fast as I could dis- charge it, and on the same day, while in this situation, I applied to a Doctor living in Madison County, Ky. who was with me all that night, and who did not relieve me, but after a while it stopped on me of itself; but in a short time it returned on me again; and I spit (or rather puk- ed) a vast quantity of blood, so that every person who saw me in this condition gave me out to die; in fact I was very lowr indeed. I then applied to Dr. Richard Carter, who gave me medicine; and from that time, I commenced mending, and so continued to do very rapid- ly, until I was restored to my former health perfectly^ ( 26G ) which has been about three years since; and I have nover felt the least symptom of the return of the complaint since. Given from under my hand, this day and year first above written. JAMES BURNSIDE. Attest, John Wolfskill, Alexander Wray, Robert Burnside, Margaret Burnside, Andrew Hood. Mr* Burnside's complaint was that which is generally termed haemoptysis violentia, and was rapidly approach- ii;g to a consumption. The heemoptis or spitting of blood is often the moving cause of consumptions. The common symptoms ofthis complaint is coughing up ib-rid or frothy blood, and as it wears off the blood appears darker, and streaked with matter and froth, and usually returns with a violent fit, proceeded commoily by a stricture on the surface of the body, weariness or heaviness ofthe limbs and spirits, occasioned by an af- fection of the nerves and muscles, pain in the back, flatu- lency on the stom-ich, breast and bowels, and a costive habit of body. Persons who have been subject to a bleed- ing at the nose when young, are liable to this disease when in more advanced stages of life, which may easily be augmented and even brought on by violent exertions of the limbs in the heat of passion, falls, bruises, &c, but those pn rsons nmst liable to spitting or puking of blood are such as are slender in their make, with long necks and contracted chests, of an irratible. habit, and subject, in their early age, to a bleeding at the nose, aid particu- larly after they have got their growth, and from the age of twenty-five to thirty-five, years old. The above may not be ail of the occasional causes, because it is not only a species of disease, hot may be promoted and even brought on by sfimuloiH of heat, too powerful exertions ofthe lungs as in coughing, singi, g, blowing musical instruments, strong efforts in the expulsion ofthe foeces, and is often promoted by sudd-n_eh/.n^es i» the atmos- phere. Hence it is the most common at the equinoctial periods. Huffman supposes a determination to the lungs, with impeded returns of bloud by the puhninary ccins, produ- ( 267 ) cing anuirism, and rupture in the arteries, to be the proximate cause of the brcmoptisis; and these affections he conceives to be induced by spasmodic stricture on the internal and external surfaces of the blood. Doctor Townsend states that he has no distinct idea of his mea- ning. Doctor Cullcri enumerates five species of spitting of blood, viz. a full gross habit, violence, phthisis, cal- culosa, and vicaria: but, to my opinion, the phthisis can- not with any degree of propriety be called a specific term, as being expressive either of the effect, or the &ymptom of hasmoptisis as (he primary disease. Per- sons of a delicate make are subject to this complaint, in whicii cases debility is the predisposing cause; and it must be remembered, that the numerous blood vessels 01 the lungs spread out near to the internal surface of the bronchiae cavities or wind pipe, and are situated in a loose celular texture, and covered by a tender membrane so as to be easily exposed, either to an astomos, or a communication of vessels with each other, or to rupture where debility prevails. The occasional causes may be heat, or violent exertion, giving increased motion to the bloods in the vessels ef the lungs, or it may be some me- chanical injury offered to the Jungs themselves. From the proximate, the predisposing, and the occasional caus- es it will be clear that the indications of cure should be; in the fir t place, to avoid heat and violent exertion. 2nd. To promote a determination to the surface of the body. 3rd. To strengthen the habit by gentle exercise, by astringents, by tonics, and by living in a moist air. I have often found great advantage by using a strong in- fusion of oak bark combined with allum. If the pulse be full, frequent, hard, and the heat very much increased, bleeding might be proper, conjoined with cooling laxa- tives, acidulated drinks, absolute rest, vegitable diet, cheerful company, and a light heart; but in such a case, tonics and asstringents are. improper. Doctor Rush recommends refined table salt when the spitting of blood takes place; in which case he directs from a tea spoonful to a table spoonful, and that to be repeated often, and continued for some time after it abates; stating that all the injury produced by the use ofthis article is, that it w'l! excite a degree of sickness en the stomach, thirst*. ! ( 2G3 ) and a burning sensation. The salt must act on the throat and extend its stimulous to the bleeding vessels, and, by giving it a tone, thus check the effusion of blood. This course,the Doctor states, will always give tempo- rary relief, but will not perforin acure if the pause was a consumption. In hysteric cases the vomiting of blood is a very common circumstance, but not a dangerous symp- tom. Mr. Burnside's complaint was occasioned by an ob- struction in the liver and spleen, under which circum- stances there is always great danger of the extravasated blood lodging in the bowels, becoming putrid, and produ- cing dysentaries, in which cases frequent injections made of slippery elm bark and glauber salts is an excel- lent method sf treatment. The first thing used in the present case was a medicine made thus: viz. I took a handful of elecampane roots, a handful of comphrey roots, a handful ofti.e bark of sas- safras, a handful of sarsaparilla roots, a handful of horse radish roots, and boiled them all well in water, strained the sirop from them, and added a quart of hard apple ci- der, a quart of honey, and boiled it slowly down to a quart, then burned a buck's horn to a coal, beat it fine, and added a table spoonful of the powder, and a tea spoonful of saltpetre to the quart of sinp, then put it in a bottle with a tea spoonful of beat allum, and shook it up Well and it was then ready for use. In the first place I gave him two doses of the sixteenth receipt, five grains each dose, two nights in succession: and rfien gave him ha'f a table spoonful of the decoction in the bottle mixed with a tea spoonful of linseed oil, three times a day, directing him to increase the dose slowly to a table spoonful of the medicine in the bottle, three times per day, abstaining from the use of bacon, sweet milk, cider, and spirits: and in case a fever should rise, I directed him to take ten drops of the sweet spir- its of nitre, three times a day, in a little water, during those febrile symptoms; and to guard carefully against exerting himself in any way; and if he should become in a costive habit of body, he was to use caster oil; and should he commence bleeding at the lungs, he was to make use of a strong sirop made of the roots and tops of sage, with the addition of a little honey and allum; and ( 269 ) by tlie time he had taken a quart of the first mentioned medicine he was sound and well. Take notice ofthis man's complaint, the danger in which he stood, "While from his mouth a free discharge was made of his own blood; Observe it first dischard'd like spit, but still grew worse am' worse, Until the portion was enlarg*d, till there became a sluice: In this most hopeless, dismal state, to me he did ap- ply- And by my medicine was heal'd, when given out to die: Although my skill's in herbs and roots, my means are often bless'd, By which I cure the worst complaints, that rage from East to West. GARRARD COUNTY, Kt.1 Paint Lick Creek, 1818. J" I DO CERTIFY, That I was afflicted with a run- ning ulcer or sore on my leg for about one year, during which time, I made many applications, but all were in vain. At length it became so desperate as to render me, in a manner helpless, insomuch, that I applied to Doctor Richard Carter, ofthis county, who administered means which, when applied, took all the skin off my leg from my knee down to my foot, but finally made a speedy and effectual cure: it having been some time since it was ac- complished and yet appears as sound as ever it was.—- Given under my hand, this j9th iV/apch, 1818. JOHN BATES. Attest, John Stephens, William Renfro. There are a great many circumstances which may produce sore legs: sometimes by lifting heavy burthens, and standing on foot for a long time without any rest, sometimes by previous debility, strains, bruises, fevers, cramps, rheumatisms, gouts, dropsies, taking cold after ?."?rcury, measles, &c. &c. Indeed, I have known the C '270 ) worst kind of sore legs produced by the bite of a dog, «, spider, or a snake. I knew a man once who had been bitten on the big toe by a snake; after which, that leg was always larger than tlie other and full of knots, and blue streaks either on the leg or ankle. This man while in this situation went to sec one of his neighbors one evening, and finding the land-lord was absent, he desired to lodge in his nest (it being pretty »vel! feathered , which was accordingly granted him; but, at some untimely hour of the night the land-lord returned home and the whore- monger slyly left the nest, and crept under the bed where there was an old hen with a few young chickens quietly at rest, and it appoars that the old hen was apprehensive of danger herself, for she complimented him with a cool dig right pop in his eye, at which he sprang to.his scra- pers crying <*a dead man; snake bit again;" and in bis sprey blundered over an iron oven; and wonderfully wounded his shin, which was a running sore for many years aftc1*, and at last was cured by the follow ing regi- men. He being advised to pour < old water on bis leg every, morning before sun up,, during the month of May, and to apply a poultice every night made of light wheat bread, boiled in new milk, to his leg, after greasing the sifrface of it with sweet oil, and to abstain from the use of spirits, cider, &c. and to avoid heating his blood in any way: he accordingly tried the experiment and.hapb ly obtained a radical cure. This ulcer on Mr. Bates's leg was occasioned by fe- vers falling in it, and he exposing it to the cold dew and weeds very early in tlie morning, which caused it to in- flame, and swell immensely large, thereby disabling him from attending to his domestic concerns. The flesh on his leg when he came under my notice was so affected that it appeared to be quite spungy. I filled a vial hull" full of aquefortis, and filled it up with the su- gar of lead, and after it had stood a sufficient length of time, I made a little mop, with which I wet his leg all o- ver with the qualified aquefortis: this treatment caused his whole leg to raise in a blister. I then bound it up with a,poultice made ofthe inside barks of dogwood and slippery elm, the roots and tops of swamp lillies and James town leaves, all of which was boiled well in wa- ter, the sirop strained from them and thickened with ( 271 ) new milk and wheat flour, and it may !»<'■ observed, that; J rubbed a little linseed oil over the poultice before I ap- plied it to his leg, and that I applied as many as three fresii poultices in the course ofthe day, i. e. one in the morning, at dinner, and one at night, and for a change, I wouid sometimes boil flax seed to a jelly and make it into a poultice in the same way and apply it to this leg: while thus treated his leg ran a vast quantity of yellow water and as soon as it stopped running I washed it with a weak solution of the sugar of lead, and anointed it with leceipt the fifth, after having softentd it with Bri-^ fish oil; in this way I healed it up, which proved to be a sound cure. GARRARD COUNTY, Ky.1 Paint lick Creek, Ike. 25, 1818. J I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That my daughter, (who was eighteen months of age) had fits for about eight month-, by which she wns vastly tormented, insomuch, that she frequently had as many as twenty-four spasms in the course of a day and night, and some of them re- markably severe. I applied to a man who was reputed as an eminent physician for her relief; but his means proved entirely ineffectual, notwithstanding she was un- der his direction for about eight months; after which I abandoned him, and applied to Dr. R. Carter, whogavq ine medicine for her; since the administration of which, she has never had a paroxism, but has grown very fast ever since. Given from under my hand, this 15th day of February, 1817. RICHARD KIDD. Attest, Peter Storms, Asa Smith, Henry Rogers. There are various kinds of fits, which are disorders of the animal spirits, by which persons are rendered inca- pable of action. Fpilepsies are either convulsions of the parts, attended with a deprivation of the senses, which return from time to time, in fits or paroxisms, which maybe known by the patients failing suddenly down, grinding his teeth, foaming at the mouth, frequently sha- king of his head, and sometimes by an involuntary dis- charge of urine. During the fnft putt of this paroxism ( 272) the patient gnaws his tongue more or less, and at lasl* falls off into a kind of snoreing slumber; and the patient often awakes, as from his common repose, apparently entirely ignorant of what has just past; but within a few hours, or on the day following at least, he will begin to complain of a soreness in bis breast and shoulders, and indeed a patient ofthis kind is very apt to be very forget- ful for a day or two alter a paroxism. Fits is a genus of disease, in the class neuroses, and order spasmi of Cullen, and contains nine species. First. Epilepsia traumatica, arising from an injury of the head.* 2nd. ep- ilepsia a dolore, from pain.- 3rd. epilepsia verminosa, from the irritation of worms: 4th. epilepsia a veneno, from poison: 5th. epilepsia exantheniatica, from the re- pulsion of cuteneous eruptions: 6th. epilepsia a crnditate ventriculi, from crudities of the stomach: 7(h. epilepsia abinanitiorc, from debility: 8!h. epildp-ia uteriiia, from hysterical affections, and, Oth. epilepsia ex anarismo, from anarism. This little girl was (as you have read i?i the certificate above) about nineteen months old, anil was thrown into those paroxisms by the irritation of worms; f,>r the relief of which, I, in the first place, gave her one grain of calo- mel, and one grain of rhubarb combined, in a little sugar at night. During the operation she made use of salted chicken soup, and was prohibited from the use of bacon, milk, and every thing cold. In the second place, I di- rected a quantity of garlic to be beaten up, and bound to the soles of her feet; and if on tie morning following, the medicine had not operated sufficiently, to give her a dose of sena, for the completion of the operalion. In the third place, I gave her about two ounces of the 27th re- ceipt, of which she was to take hail a tea spoonful three times per day, directing hei bowels to be kept moderate- ly open with sena and innnna easier oil, salts. Ac, and notwithstanding you may think Those means too simple to effect so important a cure, yet 1 aver that this is the precise manner in whi< h I treated the dear little child: but I would prefer, it' it was convenient, to give the pa- tient in cases of this kind., a dose of worm seed oil in a little Sugar, on a fasting stomach, in the morning ofthe same day that the calomel, he. is given at night. But lest the practitioner should be at a loss, I will just in- ( 273 ) sert here, that one drop of this wormseed (or Jerusalem oak) oil for each year of the patient's age, for three or four years, and then on in proportion to their strength, is about an adequate dose; in which case the child should be kept out ofthe wet or damp air, and from eat- ing green fruit, &c. &c. This child was much afflicted "With sore convulsive fits, Her friends employ'd a doctor, But no relief it gets; Its fits oft times returned, As Mr. Kid doth say, By w hich it was convulsed, Each hour in the day. In this sad condition, He did apply to me. To see if fits convulsive, Ever could healed be, My means, with my prescription, A perfct cure perform'd And since that very hour, The fits have not return'd. MERCER COUNTY, KY. V June the \2th, 1818. J I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That in the year 1813, I was taken sick, and applied to a physician, who at- tended on me for a considerable. length of time; but ad- ministered very little relief; and I continued very low for a considerable length of time and at length became speechless, and at the same time had a stoppage in my breast, and a continual vomiting; and for eighteen mouths appeared to be out ofthe reach of medscine; at the expiration of which time, I applied to Dr. R. Carter of Garrard county, Ky. by whose means and skill I was restored to my former health in the course of two months. Given from under my hand this 12th June, 1818. ELIZABETH PEARSON. Attest. Fanny Richardson, Mary Bridges, James Bridges, Hannah Bridges, Mary Black, Jane Black. K2 * ( 2f4 ) Mistress Pearson's complaint was thehydrothorax, or dropsy in the chest; whnh is often mistaken for the consumption, dispepsia, a Ihcr complaint, 6ce and there- fore many patients die without a correct knowledge of the complaint. The symptoms of which are as follows, \iz:lr-h in warm water, (and rinse in cold at unseasonable periods) are very subject to this disorder. For there is nothing more natural or common than lo see persons thus heated repair to the cold waier, and there swig down great draught of it, as it were like the o\, anibperhaps at that time large lumps of ice floating abut in it; under which circum- stances the dropsy of the chest is n >t only produced, but t have known persons to fall down dead in less than five minutes after having thus drink heartily of cold wa- ter winn being very hot. In dropsies of this kind, as well as any other, there can be no doubt but, that if the absorbants are excited to \ igoroiis action by consent, and that if 1 he tone ofthe system is restored, the hydro- thorax, like every other species oi dropsy, may be effec- tually cured. Dr. Ferrier informs us that among his forty-three hvdropic patients, (of which he cured thir- ty-three with cream oi tartar) some had the hydrotho- ( 275 ) rax. Dr. Musgrave, Dr. Ruble, and Hippocrates, re- commend taping; although not infallible, they say it is often attended with sucess. Dr. Townsend states that the inhalation of vital air has been found of great ser- vice in this disease; but as respects myself, I cannot say any thing in favor of taping, because 1 frequently find it much morcilifliou.lt to remove a swelling of any kind of dropsy after the patkut has been taped than before the operation has been performed. Mrs. Pearson was in a nnst dreadful condition, to be sure.—She had been severely salivated, so that there were great holes eaten in her >ongue; but I shdl not say whcher it was occasioned by the mercury, >r the dis- ease; but fro n the time of lit being salivated she lost her speech, so that she was not abie to speak louder than a very low whisper, and in fact frequently so low that she could not be understood-, and. as the saving is, her frame was nothing bit skin and bones, indeed when I was first called upon, I refused to undertake- her case, for it appeared to me i hat she would never live tube carried home.. She had been from nine to- eighteen months in this kind of a speechless way, and at the time she applied to me, was without any passage through her either by stool or urine. Bat notwithstanding the pros- pect of her recovery was so gloomy, yet after some lit- tlereflection undertook.h-.-rcase; and in the first place gave her a tea spoonful ofthe sweet spirits of nitre in a little muscle shell lime water, three times a da\ for two daysj and, on the second day at night. I gave her a dose of re- ceipt the sixteenth,and on the dav folhtvving, I got a handful of the roo's of summer grape vine finely sliced, a handful of par-ley roots, a handful of horse radish roots, a handful of the tops of arse smart, and a handful of water melton seed: all of which 1 boiled in three quarts of water down to a q.uai t; then strained it nicely and ad- ded half a pint of honev, a pint of good apple vinegar, and balfa table spoonful of refined nitre. I then sim- mered it down to a quart, of which 1 gave her half a ta- ble spoonful three times per day, and.half a table spoonful of caster oil, once a day in a little wine, with three drops of laudanum in it; and in three days [ increased the dose of diet drink to a table spoonful, and if necessi- ty required, I directed an injection made of the ooze of ( 27G ) slippery elm to be used; and in a short time her digestion became regular, and urine sufficiently plentiful. 1 then gave her of rceeipt'the sixtieth, made weak, to be taken frequently and but little at a time; which course of treat- ment was continued for about ten days, during which time she men led in every sense of the word. I then ga\ e her of receipt the thirty- ninth, as she could bear it, still continuing the diet drink as aforesaid; and living on as light cooling diets as possible, abandoning totally the use of salt, smoked meat, sweet milk, green fruit, cider, spirits. <^r. &o. and at the expiration of ten days she took another dose of the sixteenth receipt. She then took ofthe twentieth receipt for five or six days, omitting all other kinds of medi iue, after when she continued on un- til she had taken a quart in the ordinary way; but dur- ing the taking of this, she manifested every symptom of salivation, except that of her gums becoming sore and teeth loose. At this time she appeared to be clear of ev- ery disease, except a cough, which in cases ef this kind is a very common circumstance, I then gave her a quart of receipt the twenty-fourth, which strengthened her, relieved her cough, and brought on a regular dis- charge ofthe menses, and thus accomplished a sound eure. Alas! she seem'd hopeiess, for eighteen months or more, Nine months of which was speechless, as you have • heard before; In pain and sore affliction, though doctors did attend, She was reduced lower, 'till to me she did send: My skill and means combined, 1 did for her employ, By which she was restored, when given out to die, Although in groves and gardens, my medicine I seek, I thus remove disorders, and cause the dumb to speak. GARRARD COUNTY, KY. 1 June the lll/t, 1818. J" I DO CERTIFY, That in January Jast I was taken with a violent cough, which still grew worse until the C 277 ) 15th of April; at which time it became so had that I was not able to do any kind of work. I then started to Dr. R. Carter for relief, and with great difficulty reached his shop (which was about five miles) having to lie down three or four times by the way! But when I got to the shop, 1 found the Doctor was absent, I then applied to Andrew Hood, (a student of his who gave me medicine; and from the time I commenced taking of it, I began to mend and continued so to do as fast as I could have ex- pected, and have gathered im flesh considerably, and still continue to streugthen and recover very fast of my cough; in fact, it is in a manner well to what it was, or ever I expected to be. I bad a coldness in my feet, a severe pain at my heart and side, a weakness in my back, and a swiming in my head, which was vastly increased by stooping down and then raising up suddenly; I also had been irregular in my menstrual discharge for about eighteen months, but it since has resumed its proper and ordinary course. Given from under my hand this day and year first above written. MARTHA CLAUSE. Attest. Martha Shacklefort, Flizabeth M Mullen, Nancy Bartee, Martha Bartee. Mrs. Clause's complaint was the consumption, which was just about to enter into the last stage. The symp- toms were, a violent cough, which was much worse in tin morning and evening than any other time. She would appear chilly in the morning and towards noon a fever would rise. She was very often induced to puke by severe spells of coughing, especially after eating. She sweat vastly during the night, having a considera- ble burning in tlie soles of her feet and palms of her hands, slight pain and soreness in her breast at times, soinotimes a slight pain in her sideand under her sloul- der blades, a dead aching misery in the small of her back, sometimes a pressing or hearing down in the low- er part of the abdomen, feeling a disposition to make u- rine often, but the evacuations would be difficult and small, fluor albus and numbness in the flesh So we find that she had every symptom ofthe last stage, except a dysentary, swelling oi" the feet, and difficulty of swal- 1 ( 278 ) lowing. Her throat was very sore at times, bnt we can- not say that it was difficult for her to swallow. I am of the opinion that this lady's con nimption was occasioned by her taking no! I when she was meustruous; from which circumstance women frequently injure them- selves, and thereby bring on themselves a decay, in the first place I gave this woman five grains of the lnth receipt for three niglus in -oiccessio-i, and then gave her a quart of the 2 2n.l receipt which greath relieved her cough; and after she had taken that, I gave her a quart ofthe 46th receipt, which strengtiiened her blood, gave her'agood appetite, and broke the hectic fever and night sweats. I then gave her a dose of receipt the third, and a bottle of receipt the 61st, and directed her to get a good handful of camomile flowers and stew them in a pint of fresh butter that has neither been washed nor salted until the butter becomes a perfect oil, which she was to rub on the lower part of her belly downwards, warm before the fire; which course she was to pursue until she had consumed the quart of the 61st receipt; and from the first commencement of her taking medicine she was directed to guard strictly against taking cold, heating her blood, or making use of bacon, sweet milk or any other article that was not of a very light and cooling nature; and this course accomplished a sound cure. Behold this lady in distress, in anguish and in pain, Who still contimfd to get worse, until to me she can e: Observe what good success I had, when first she came to me, I did her sore complaint remove, and from it set her free: As 1 am called by »v»y God, just so I yet remain, Relieving those who are distress'd and easing of tiieir pain. Estill County, Siv^y-nx Camp Crerk, Ky. "> April the 24th 1818. j* WE DO HFRFBY CL ItlTFY, That Mr.----- Hendricks had the dropsy about three years since, which came on him gradually, until he was unable to go ( 279 ) about, or even hold his head up; at length he applied to physicians of great repute, and remained under their care for about six months, and derived no benefit at all, bnt continued to grow worse, and soon became in such a distressed situation that he was out of his senses very often for three months. His thighs and legs became so swelled at last that his trowsers, which were tiglit on them, would have suffered a common sized man to have passed through them, and his belly was swelled to that degree that no person would be capable of conceiving without seeing for themselves; his privates were im- mensely swelled so that they were almost as large as a half gallon measure, lie was, in this situation, coin ey- ed with great difficulty to Dr. lichard Cartel', in Gar- rard County, Kentucky, who attended on him for the space of about four months, during which time he mend- ed very fast, until be was restored to his former health, and could attend to his business as well as any man of his age (being in his sixty-fifth year.) and continued to attend very well to his business for about fifteen months, when, by exposure in lying out on the cold ground, he took a violent cough and towards the last of his illness spit blood and thus deceased. We, or either of us, do certify the above narative to be true. Given from under otsr hands this day and date above written. ALL FN HENDRICKS, NANCY HENDRICKS, RICHARD WEST, Bi T1ILL BAXTER. Attest. William Hendricks, Andrew Hood, Thomas Pursel, Ruth Pursel. Mr. Hendricks" complaint was the anasarca, or drop- sy of the system; which generally c mmences with a swelling ofthe feet an,d amies towards evening, which for aconsiderable time disappears by morning. The swelled part will pit when pressed with the fin- gers. The skin often becomes paler than usual, and the swelling gradually ascends upwards and at length occupies the thighs, bowels and trunk of the body; and as the disorder ad\ances, the face and eyelids becomes more or less swollen or bloated. "When it has become ( 580 ) general through the whole system, the cellular mem- brane of the lungs partakes of the affection, and the breathing at length becomes more or less difficult, which is accompanied by a cough, and if not cheeked tne pa- tient has soon to be proped in an erect post ure t > prevent suffocation. The patient's spittle is sometimes of a wateiy fluid, the urine scarce and high coloured, i i which is deposited a redish sediment, and sometimes of a pale whey colour and discharged more freely. The bowels are generally costive, all hough some patients are troub- led with a dysentary, which sometimes give temporary relief. The testicles often swell to that extent tlnat it would be less burthensometo carry a fifty six than them. The perspiration is often obstructed, tlmt'iirst great, the countenance of a yellow appearance, and a relaxa- fionofthe whole system. These symptoms are suc- ceeded by torpor, heaviness, and a slow fever. The a- bove symptoms generally characterize the anasarca, and were almost indiscriminately present in the present case of Mr. Hendricks, who was swelled larger than any person could have supposed without bursting, I shall now proceed to insert the manner in which I, through the grace of God, was enabled to relieve hi m. In the first place I gave him a dose of the 16th receipt every night, for three nights in succession, and every morning I gave him three grains of pulverized squills mixed with six grains of refined nitre in a little sugar, and at noon 1 gave him a table spoonful of the 37th re- ceipt, forbiding the use of cold water, bacon, and sweet milk, and directed him to be bawled three or four hun- dred yards two or three times per day ina sled. This course brought a vast quantity of water from him. 1 on the fourth day gave him a dose of salts, and continued the squills and nitre for three days more, and put equal weights ofthe sweet spirits of nitre, and Roberson's e- lixir of health together, of which I gave him a tea spoon- ful three times per day, and rubbed his legs well down- wards three times a day to keep them soft and prevent their bursting. By this time his bowels had very much assuaged, and his inspiration much more free and easy. I then'gave, him a dose of the. 16th receipt for two nights in succession, after which he complained of a soreness in his flesh, great thirst and high levers. Then 1 gave ( 281. ) him a pint of the 23d receipt directing him to take a ta- ble spoonful three times a day, and the same sized dose about half an hour after each of these of the 46th re- ceipt. Under this treatment he mended very fast, and soon came perfectly to his reason, while his appetite and urine increased, and his digestion became more regular: but I discovered the swelling seemed to increase a little. I then gave him a dose of the 16th receipt for three nig'ths together, and for a week of the 38th receipt more or less just as he could stand it, and at the same time gave him a pill every night of receipt the 24th. At this time the swelling had nearly disappeared and when I discovered febrile symptoms I gave him the sweet spirits of nitre; and if he complained of a sick stomach, I gave him ofthe elixir of vitriol in a little wa- ter three times a day. Uis nerves and blood by this time had become very weak. I then gave him fifteen drops of aquefortis in a pint of flaxseed tea, which he was frequently to take during the day just so as to con- sume it in the day, and the next day in tlie same way in- creasing five more drops of aquefortis. and so continue every day until he increased to ninety drops in a pint of flax seed|tea,and then decrease five dropsof the aquefor- tis every day in thesaine way until he came down to the quantity to which he began, which was fifteen drops. During the time of his taking the above tea and drops, he used caster oil, salts, or sena and manna, as was ne- cessary to keep his Bowels open: this course caused the water to evacuate vastly; strengthened him very much, and gave him a very good appetite. I then gave him a bottle ofthe 7th receipt, and the same of the 40th, with direction to take of each three or four times a day as di- rected in the receipts; and in this way, under the smiles of Heaven, I was enabled to perform a sound cure. Behold thy fellow man distress'd, With a dropsy complaint; With his whole system vastly swell'd, With sickness near to faint: My body was not larger much Than was this poor man's thigh; Whose body was like to a tub, L2 ( ?82. J And fie gave out to die; In this distressed state was he9 When to me he was brought; And instantly 1 diil prescribe, • While for his health I sought; My means were bless'd, thanks be to God) For which be him ador'd, That such afflicted souls as this, Should quickly he restor'd. MADISON COUNTY, KY. *) Silver Creek, March the 2\st, 1818. J I DO HERnBY CERTIFY, That I was taken down with the consumption, and was attended by Dr. C***, ofthe county aforesaid; but still grew worse until I at length was reduced so low that 1 scarcely could move more than a rod or two without setting down to rest, being scarcely able to get my breath, and still kept lingering for some time, and then applied to the Indian Doctor (K. Carter,) from whose prescriptions I was nearly relieved from my cough in four days but still re- mained very weak. I still continued to take medicine from him until 1 believe f was entirely clear ofthe com- plaint, and have never felt a symptom of it since not- withstanding I was in the 62n«! year of my life. j likewise was attacked with the fever, and applied to the same physician, by wiine means, and the blessing of the Lord. I was soon restored to my former health; in both of wnieh cases 1 certainly could not have surviv- ed much longer, (agreeably to every appearance) for in the, first ca.se whicii was the consumption, I was in a manner nothing but skin and bones, and was given out to die by all oi my acquaintance*; indeed 1 thought that I never should recover. I do certify liie above to be true, * given from under my hand , this nay and year first above written. MARGARET ROSS, Sen'r. Attest. John Wolfskill, Margaret Ross, Anne Ross. Mrs. Rcss' first mentioned case was the consumption, and when I was sent for ali other means had fai-lci*; and C 283. ) from her age, and every other circumstance it might! have been rationally concluded, that she soon must have went the way of all living; believing that the young must die, but knowing assuredly that the old must die: but let our active thought ramble on the circumstances and con- sequences which attend scenes ofthis kind. !V-y soul to think of being hurried from time to an endless eternity is a thought too intolerable to bear. This is the reason why men by nature arc so apt to put the. preparation for meeting their God off, until they are called to stand be- fore their Judge, If the almighty God, out ofthe mnlti— tude of his mercies, pleases to continue us in being un- til we become ripe for the grave, the whole scene," when compared with eternity is in comparison but a span, so | we may join the poet and say i , ** Our life is ever on the wing, i And death is ever nigh, The moment when our lives begin A We all begin to die." \ If we have made peace with God and have faith to- wards our Lord Jesus Christ we may say: " Jesus can make a dying bed, Feel soft as downy pillows are; t . While on bis breast I Jean my head, | And breathe my life out sweetly there." Seeing the uncertainly of life's duration, and the cer- tainty of death, let us endeavor to he ready to go at his bidding, saying from the bottom of our hearts.— »* Let sinners take their course, And chose the road to deathj But in the service of my God, I'll spend my daily breath." m That when death encirdes us in his icy arms, we maj ^ he prepared, by divine grace, to say "Jesus our faitn receives, thy word, And tho' fond nature weep; Grace learns to hail the pious dead, And emulate their sleep. Our willing souls thy summons wait* N With them to rest and praise; So let thy much lov'd presen ce cheery, These separating days*" ( 284 } I shall now proceed to lay down the manner in which I treated old granny Ross in her aflliction and given out to die. In the first place, I gave her five grains of the 16th receipt every night in a little sugar, for four nights in succession; forbidding the use of water, unless the air was taken off by a burnt crust of bread, or something of the kind, but rather recommended the use of tea made of sicaiuore chips. On the fifth day she took three tea spoonfuls of salts, i. e. one in the morning, one at noon and the other at night. I then gave her a pint of receipt the 42 *d, to be taken as directed therein. She had a dysentary or griping, for which, I directed her to boil the inside bark of pine in new milk, and drink it occasionally three or four times a day. This course had a wonderful effect, in removing the fever, curing the dysentary, and measurably relieving her cough. I then directed her to get a handful of elecampane roots, the same of comphrey. the same of the bark of spice wood roots, tlie same of dried horehound, and the same of sar- saparilla roots; all of which she was to put to eight gal- lons of water and boil it slowly down to one; then strain it, and add a quart of honey, a quart of hard apple ci- der, a tea spoonful ef nitre, and half a pint of good Ma- deira wine, and then simmer it slowly down to a quart. To this she was to add balfa table spoonful of pulverised (dried) Indian turnip, and half a table spoonful of cinder soot, (i, e. a kind of shining substance to be found in chimneys, resemoling isinglass') beat fine. Of this me- dicine she was to take balfa table spoonful three times a day, with a tea spoonful of linseed oil, or sweet oil. Du- ring this course she li\ed principally on rye mush, and buttermilk, and soon became perfectly sound, and has never }et experienced any impediment in her lungs. Sometime after this circumstance, she was afflicted with the typhus or nervous fever, in which case the pa- tient sometimes have but little thirst, little heat, weak p ilse. and but little billious matter is evacuated by the mouth. Dr. Tho-nas states that it principally attacks those of veak. lax fibres, those who lead a sedentary life and neglect to use necessary exercise, those who study much, and those who indulge freely in the use of enerva- ting liquors, it is likewise apt to attack those who are ( 285 ) weakened by not using a sufficienf portion of ncutritive food ie,|oi experience; hence it is very prevalent among the poorer class of people. Ow.ng to the relaxed habits of tho««e who live in warm climates; this type of fever frequently orcu»\s. and all other con'inned fevers are apt to (leg' neratr into this or tvphus gravior. The tirst thing to be considered is the symptoms of this fever, and how it progressed on this old lad); and in the second place, the manner of relief: for if this small treatise should fall in rhe hands of those who never have, nor never shall see my fare, it may prove a blessing to them; fheiefore. 1 shall endeavour to be the more plain in laving down its time symptoms, as given by Doctors Thomas. Buckban. l/nhle, and Weatberspoon. Those who keep their houses, cellars, kitchens, ponds, &c. clear of all kinds of filth will be less liable to this com- plaint. The typhus mitaor, generally comes on with a remarkable mildness in all its symptoms, and although the patient experiences some trifling indisposition for se- veral days, vet be pees no reason why he should suspect the approach of any severe disease. At first there are no rigours peredved, there being only a slight dullness, which is not succeeded by any increase of heat, or red- ness ofthe face: on the contrary, the face is unusually pale, and the count nance somewhat sunk He perceives, however, some degree o"' lassitude and debility, with anx- iety, dejection of spirits, loathing of food, and towards evening these affections are somewhat increased. In the course of a few days, and as the disease advan- ces, there arises a difficulty of breathing, an oppression: in the chest, pains in ihe head, accompanied with confu- sion of ideas, great loss of strength, and a disposition to faint on being raised or sitting up. The tongue becomes dry, and covered \vith a dark brown fur, the teeth are thickly incrusted with, the same. The pulse is small, low and frequent, and now and then intermits: cold clammy sweats break forth on the fore- head and bark* of the hands, while the palms burn with heat. The urine is pale and watery like whey. The whole nervous svstem is much affected with tremours, and twitchings, involuntary motions of the muscles, and tendons arise. The patient picks at the bed clothes al- ( 286 ) most incessantly, and either mutters to himself or talk? incoherently: there is seldom, however, any very high degree of delerium; nor is this fe\er ever attended with violent ravings, or with any fullness of the head: but there is generally a dilatation of the puples of the eyes. In the progress of this disease, the system is unequally affected; for sometimes headache, restlessness, and unea- siness prevails in a high degree: while at the same time the tongue is clean and moist; and at other times, while there is no headache, or restlessness, the tongue will be dry and foul, and profuse sweats will burst forth through the pours of the skin. This fever, moreover, is not only thus irregular in af- fecting various parts of the body differently; but is also irregular in its exacerbations; and these instead of ta- king place in tlie evening, will often arise in the morn- ing. Again, the fever is sometimes very violent for the first three or four days, and then diminishes for a time, and then perhaps increases again. Evacuations, such as sweating and purging are very apt to ensue in the course ofthis disease, which never fail to exhaust the patient. In the typhus fever great discharges of saliva, or spittle occurs, but as it now and then continues for a considera- ble time without affording any relief to the patient, it may be concluded that it arises from some accidental cir- cumstance, perhaps not unlike to theptyalism, that some- times takes place in the hysteria. In many instances the spittle is so viscid and ropy as to become very trou- blesome to the patient, and by cloging up the fauces, greatly to impede both deglutition and respiration. In such cases, moreover, the tongue and whole of the mouth are frequently beset with apthous ulcerations. Typhus mitior frequently progresses for several weeks and pro- duces such weaknes as to destroy the patient from that cause alone; or it degenerates info typhus gravior,* but when it terminates favourably, it generally goes off a- hout the fourteenth or twentieth day; perhaps either by diarrhosa, or by a gentle moisture, equally diffused over the whole system. But it often continues more than a mouth and termi- nates without any evident crisis. Profuse evacuations either by sweating or purging, much watchfulness, sink- ( 287 ) ing ofthe pulse, great incoherency of ideas, muttering*, picking at the bed clothes, considerable delitation ofthe pupils of the eyes, involuntary discharges by urine and stool, starting of the tendons, and hiccough-, point out the near approach of death W hereas, on the contrary, the pulse becoming more full and slow, the tongue moist, the resperation free, a gen'le moisture about the four- teenth day, deafness ensuing, humors appearing behind the ears, or miliary eruptions, unattended by profuse sweats being perceived on the bodj., promise a favoura- ble termination. The usual appearances on dissection are a softness and f]aridity of the salids, a dissolved state of the fluids, particularly of the blood, collections ofsanious matter in the different cavities, turgesence and inflamation ofthe thracic and abdomical viscera; and in the interior parts of the brain collections of a serous flu- id. From the very gradual manner in which this fever comes on, the great mildness ofthe symptoms at its corn- commencement an I the tine that usually elapse previous to absolute confinement; it is seldom in the power of practitioners to cut short its progress by a timely exhibi- tion of proper remedies Mistress Ross*" complaint was introduced by a puking. Tlie first thing I gave her was half a table spoonful of salts and ten grains of epicacuanha, in five or six table spoonful-of water every minute, until it operated. I then turned it downwards by giving her high seasoned chrken soup. I then gave her a table spoonsul ofthe juice of ground ivy three times a day, with as much salt petre as would lie on the point of a case knife. She had a severe pain in her bead; for which I applied roasted poke roots to the soles of her feet once a day, and once a day cut a iive pullet open and bound warm to the soles of her feet; and so continued until the pain abated, and in faetenfirely subsided. During her illness I made use of i aster oil, sails, seu.i ai d manna, &,c. for the purpose ofkeejd'g b'er bouels open, and when that failed I in- jected wnb ciiicKen so p. »«i^ar. sw-et oil, or salts. I also ga.e ner lifven (Jr.-p, ot tlie sv, e-et spirits ofnitre, tin i e ti.ne- a day in a liuie a ate;. a a! five drops of the elixir of vitriol two or three times a day in the same way, for the purpose of cooling the system and increas- ( 288 ) ing the appetite. This course broke the fever. I then gave her of receipt the 20th, and receipt the 6th, which kept the fever down and strengthened the old lady so that all who saw her and were apprised of her former situation were astonished. Alas! consumption, sad disease, by which this soul's distress'*!, Who knows the anguish that she feels—the weak- ness of her breast ? To Doctor Clarke she did apply, that she her health might gain, But she continued worse and worse, till on her bed she's lain. In this condition of distress, for her 1 was employ'd, And in the course of balfa week, her cough was nearly destroy'd, She rapidly increas'd in strength, as she did certify, And by my means gain'd perfect health, when given out to die. This woman aged sixty years, the fever a1«o had, # And by the means that I prescrib'd, a perfect cure was made. See how the fever has to yield, unto my simple skill, When God doth bless the means I give, the patient soon gets well. STATION-CAMP CREFK, Ky.*) April the 24th, 1818. J" I DO CERTIFY. That I have a sun who was taken with cold chills and high fevers, a pain in his bead and back. His disease still continued to get worse lor about fourteen days, and until we thought there was but Utile if any hopes of his recovery. I then started to Doctor Richard Carter for medicine, but 1 did not have much reason to expect to find him alive on my return; but when I did return I perceived life in him, but the family were so sure that he was dy ing. or about to die that they had prepared his burial clothes, but seeing there was life I thought there was probably some hopes, so I gave him the medicine as directed, and in fifteen minutes there was a considerable change for the better; and he mended ( 289 ) on rapidly to the astonishment of us all, until he became sound and well. Given from under my hand, this day and date first above written. JOHN RICHARDSON. Attest, James Scrivner, William Parke, Allen Hendricks, William Hendricks. Andrew Hood, This child's complaint was what some people call the dune ague. Doctors Westley, Brooks and Bnckhan, states this fever in a concise manner very correctly: but Dr. Ewell divides it into three heads, viz. intermettent, (or ague and fever) which has previoasly a clear inter- mission, alternating with a return of its paroxisms.— From the length of time between the fits, the species of the fever is distinguished and named. Thus if the fit returns every day, it is termed a quotidian: if every third day a tertian, and if every fourth day a quartan. The ague commences with weakness, frequent stretchings and yawnings, succeeded by sensations of cold in the back and extremities, which continues to increase until the limbs, as well as the body become agitated with fre- quent and violent shiverings. This continues for some- time, during which, a violent pain is felt in the head and back, and a sensation resembling a stricture across the Stomach frequently distress the patient vastly, and the sense of coldness is so great that every effort to obtain warmth proves ineffectual. These symptoms subsiding by degrees, give way alternately to warm flushings which increase uutil a redness and heat much greater than natural is extended over the whole system. The patient at length, is burning with such extreme heat as to be now as solicituous for the refreshing sensation of cold, as he was before to mitigate its violence. After these symptoms have existed for some time they gradu- ally decline: the thirst goes off, the skin is relaxed, and a moisture breaks out on the head, which soon becomes general and profuse; and then slowly abates until it en- tirely ceases. This is the general progress of a regular paroxism of a well formed intermittent; the patient is of- ten left apparently free of disease until the next attack, and whether quotidian, tertian, or quartan, the same M 2 ( 290 ) treatment is in a manuer required. The longer the ague continues, the more it weakens tbp system, and disposes the glandular visr-ra. (as well a.1 er s leen, An.) tu obstruction-. This disease is run much alarming of it- self; vet if it is iujuoi ■•sou .-.!> neat-, li. in a dropsy, nervous dis- eases, liver complaint . &o 1( the pain ut should be subjet to profuse sweats fVom nebilfty. g«\e ten or fif- teen drop f the enxirof vitriol, wo or tnree times a day, in a 'e tea made of balm, ground -ivy, or cinque- foil, s ho use ofthe barks, in wine or water, is a great medicine in tiiis complaint ami when it w ill not yield to this you na> judge the liv i- to be affected, especially if a livid or pale appearance, or of a pale yellow cast, in whi- h case it would be most prudent to give a dose every night of i be 16th receipt, until the gums become sore in s»me small degree, and then give the cream of tartar freely to keep the bowels open, still using the vitroil and tonics prescribed in the 20th receipt. People should wear flannel next the skin during the season in which this complaint is most common, which may prevent its attack, and sometimes remove it. The following is the manner in which I treated Mr, Richardson's comph.int, viz: In the first place 1 added two table spoonfuls of barks to a quart of receipt the £5d. of which he took a table spoonfnl three times a day, and when tie felt tne chill approaching, I gave of a strong tea made of sassafras hark and black snake root, and on the rise of the fever I gave him from ten to fif- teen drops of the sweet spirits of nitre, and with direc- tions to live on light cooling diet and drinks. This soon restored him to p'-rfect health; and the same course has cured many others in a imilar situation, but if the pa- tient's strength would permit, it would be better first to give a dose of ipiracuanha, then one of calomel and jal- lap, and then to proceed as in this case. The approach of this disorder, sad omens did convey, His friends did weep around him, while hopelessly he lay; When hopes of life had vauished, and friends his bed surround, C 291 ) His burial clothes prepared, and no relief is found. In this distress'd condition, I did his case attend, And in a very short time he did begin to mend. Thus when the human judgment, death's sentence will bestow, My-means will.often heal them, though lying very low FAYETTE COUNTY, Ky. > May the 29th, 1818. j" I DO HEREBY CERTIFY,That I was taken with a violent dropsy of the womb, sometime in the summer of 1816. which became so extremely distressing that it was with the utmost difficulty that I could be turned in my bed. I then applied" to the principal physicians of Lex- ington, three of which visited me; all of whom adminis- tered medicine to me, which in a manner cooled my fe- vers, but was of no benefit as to relieving the main dis- ease. In the latter part of the summer, after I had lost all hopes of relief from any other quarter, I sent to Dr. Richard Carter, the Indian Doctor, who sent me medi- cine that, relieved me very much, so that in a short time I was enabled to go to his shop, which was about forty miles where I stayed about seven weeks, at the expira- tion of which time, I believe that the water and swelling was entirely gone; but he gave medicine to,carry with me home, for the purpose of strengthening my system, which I accordingly took, which had the desired effect; and since that time I have been as strong and in as good health as ever I was previous to the dropsieaj attack: and I do believe that with the assistance of Hcvven, Dr. < Carter has saved my life. Given from under my hand this day and year first above writ en MARTHA SIMPSON. Attest, James Canning. « Mrs. Simpson's complaint was the tympanctes and* ascites, which is wind and water in the womb. The symptoms are a soft and spungy, though vastly swelled abdomen, not yielding readily to presure, and sounding when touched or lightly filliped like a drum: and attend with a costive habit of body, leanness in the limbs, bnc C 292 >! no fluctuation. In the commencement of this complaint We observe a hollow rumbling of the bowels, thirst, loss of appetite, pain in the loins, difficulty of breathing, slight cough, quick pulse, a id weakness which brings on the reins. The persons most liable to this disease are chiefly those of a relaxed and irritable habit; such as have been debilitated by profuse evacuations, by inter- mittents, or by the ty pus fever: as also those who have suffered recently by spasmodic and inflamatory affections of the bowels, and more especially women after child birth. It is also sometimes produced by ascites, and morbid affections of the liver, at other times by a stone being in the urinary or gall bladder, and frequently by worms : and in one most curious case which was report- ed to me by Van Sweeten ; which arose from hsemornha- gic efforts after a suppression of the meness, and the ha- emornhoedal flux. It may also be induced by poisons, when they occasion flatulence and spasmodic constirction in the bowels. From what has been said we can not be at a loss for the proximate cause of this disease. There is evidently a preturnatural distention of the intestines by air, which produces loss of tone in the muscular fibres of the parts distended, and from what has been suggested on the pro- cess of digestion, it evidently appears that extraction of this air, or g;ass in the stomach or bowels, is to be attri- buted to some defect cither in quality or quantity of the several fluids, the saliva or spittle, pancreatic juice, or florid which is conveyed into the duodenum, or small guts, and the bile which is mixed with our aliment to as- sist in its reduction to chyle, and to restrain the pro- gress of fermentation in the faeces or alvine excretions while they are passing the intestines. But this alone cannot be the proximate cause of the tympanites, for with this mist be united spasmodic stric- ture in some part of the intestines, which prevents the escape of wind, and this spasmodic structure must cer- tainly be occasioned by irritation ofthe system. Ti»is view is confirmed by anatomical observations; particularly those of PL-items, Littre and Dehjen. These celebrated physicians discovered the colon, or second portion ofthe large intestines distended, or puff- ed up to thssiz1) of a maris thigh-, a.rl the stomach with ( 293 }. the small intestines three times their ordinary size, These distensions were observed in different parts of the alimentary canal, sometimes in the stomach, at others in portions, either ofthe large or smaller intestines, forming constricted cells, and sometimes in all of them together. With air they likewise discover a vast quantity of har- dened faeces or stools. We cannot therefore entertain a doubt as to the nature of this disease. Heister in his extensive practice, which, during forty years, never found air to be the cause of tympbenities iu the cavity ofthe abdomen, until Ruysch shewed him an instance in which it was evident. From this view of the disease in question, admitting its correctness, there can be no doubt but what Dr. < uden should have classed it among the neuroses or nervous diseases, with spasmod- ic affections; but it appears to have been attracted here by dropsy, with which it is frequently combined. It is to be presumed that by this time the reader has ac- quireda pretty correct knowledge, of Mrs. Simpson's case: it therefore, will be a proper time to show the man- ner in which she was restored to health. The first ob- ject in view was to extract the water; to effect which I gave her a dose every night for three nights in suc- cession, of receipt the 16th in a little sugar; with direc- tions for her to avoid the use of cold water, milk and all high seasoned diets, directing her to use chickens, chick- en soup, beef, beef soup, water gruel, he. After this I gave her of the 3?th receipt, with directions to take plentifully, and in case of its producing a nausea or sick stomach, she was to take eight drops ofthe elixir of vit- riol in a little water. This course soon expelled the wa- ter from the abdomen, and increased her strength, so that she w as enabled to ride in a carriage to my shop. At this time the dropsy water was nearly all extracted, yet there was a deficiency in the urinary discharges, and a hard lump low down in the right side of her abdo- men. I then gave her a pint of receipt the 40th, which she was t'dake in the ordinary way three or four times a day; and I got a handful of camomile flowers, beat them fine and added a pint of fresh butter that had neither' been washed nor salted; then stewed it until the butter became a solid oil. With this she anointed the lump and a cross from the navel down, warm before the fire ( 294 ) Hv!°,e a day, which with the use ofthe pint of receipt the 40th, removed the lump in a manner, and restored the u- rine to its proper state. I then gave her halt a pint of receipt the 401 h, which increased her appitite, and slengthened her system considerably. In the next place 1. put a tea spoonful of alloes, a tea spoonful of rheubarb, and a lump of asafuMida as large as a partridge egg into a pint of wine, of which I gave her a table spoonful three times a day, with directions to increase or decrease the dose just as to keep her bowels moderately open, and to continue, the ointment aforesaid, and in addition to this she was to beat tansy fine, simmer it with spirits, and bind to the bottom of her abdomen in the form of a poul- tice, which give her immediate relief; and whenever there was any appearance o. the swelling's returning, she made use of reedpt the 37th. and when the swelling was gone, her ajipe i e which was bad be ame very good. I then gave her balfa gallon of receipt the 34th, to be taken three times per day as therein directed; and half an ounce of the sweet spirits of nitre, which she was to take three times a day ina little water, and ten drops at a dose. This course of treatment made, a sound cure of Mrs: Simpson, and I am pursuaded that this is a very advisable course to pursue in similar rases, for I have re- lieved a considerable number in the same way whose cas- es were very doubtful. The cure of Martha Simpson, to yon I did relate. She had a desp'rate dropsy, and dangerous was her state; To eminent physicians, she often did apply, But still with this disorder, upon her bed did lie. Then when all hopes had vanish'd, but what she had in me, She sent to me for physic, from sickness to be free; I sent her my directions, and medicine with all, Which did so much relieve her, that on me she did call; Then to relieve this patient, my skill and means combin'd, Which did remove her illness, as you may plainly find. ( 295 ) Thus frequently it happens, that God my means dotli bless, When regular bred Doctors doth fail to have success* Paint Lick Creek, Madison County, Ky. *) Jipril the \3th, 1818. j I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That 1 was taken in a v*ry distressing way, about the llth of March, 18 4. I was taken with a violent pain in my head and side, ac- companied with cold chills and high fevers; and sent to Dr. R. Carter for relief, who administered relief to me; and 1 mended as fast as the natnre ofthe cass would per- mit, and in the course of two weeks I was going about; and while at my plough one day I was caught in a hasty shower of rain, by which I was thrown into a relapse, which proved to be vastly worse than the first case, in fact, I believe that my friends as well as myself enter- tained but little, if any hopes of my recovery. I sent in this case also for Dr. R. Carter; and when he came it Was generally thought by those who were present that I Was dying; hut the first medicine that I took gave me ease, notwithstanding I was insensible myself of what Was done. The doctor continued his attention to me, while I continued to mend moderately; but at times I would have severe spasms throughout my sides, head and breast, indeed my whole system appeared to be in a re- laxed state, but the Doctor continued his means until 1 was restored to my former health, and I think it no hardship to give Dr. Carter the praise, (with blessings of an indulgent God) of performing a sound cure; forit was the opinion of all niy friends who saw me, that with- out the medical aid which was afforded me by said Doc- tor, I could not have survived more than a few hours. I do certify the above to be true, given from under my hand this day and date above written. Nathaniel ford. Attest. Jacob Ford, Lucrecy Ford, i- elizabeth Ford, Keziah Ford, Pleasant Ford, Andrew Ford. Mr. Ford's complaint was the cold plague, which came on him with a violent pain in h: left side, and under hi-s { 296 ) short ribs, heavy chills, high fevers, pain in the forepart ofthe head and eyes, and in the back of the neck. In the first place I gave him a dose of calomel and jallap, and worked it off with salt chicken broth; and forbade the use of cold water, milk and hog meat, during the day it was taken, and that night I gave him a sweat from the Steam of burning whiskey through the arm of a still cap, as before described in other cases, but during the pro- gress of this sweat, I made him drink of strong tea made of seneka snake root, with a little spirits andsaU petre in it, and as soon as his breast began to sweet nice- ly. I shifted the steam from that to his hips, he. I then split a pullet and bound to the soles of bis feet, and ap- plied a blister piaster to each ande. By this time he became in a general moderate sweat. I then reduced the portion of his bed clothes by degrees to the ordinary quantity. 1 then got a handful of tansy, a handful of red pepper, and a handful of mustard seed; and boiled them all well in hard cider; then strained it and addded a pint of fresh butter (that has neither been washed nor salteid) and stewed it down to an oil; with which 1 anointed, af- ter having mixed a vial /of opodeldock well with it, his side, neck and head, and gave him ofthe cream of tartar to keep his bowels open, and every night gave him a tea spoonful of Bateman's drops. This treatment broke the fever, and relieved the pains. The next thing I done was to give him a pint of receipt the 20th, to be taken in the ordinary way, which strengthened him so, that he went to ploughing in his farm, where he was caught in a shower of rain while in a warm sweat; by which he was thrown into a relapse, having a violent pain in his head and breast, shortness of breath, and high fevers. In this case I gave him three doses of receipt, the 16th, i. e. one every night for three nights in succession, and gave him a tea spoonful of ;•> >wd rs two or three times a day, (that was constituted of equal quantities of cream of tar- tar and jallap) and when it produced a sick stomach, I omitted it. and substituted raster oil. but all this did not mitigate the violence ofibe pain in his bead. I then shaved his head, and uppdeu a blister plaster all over it, and sweat it with the s.eani of burning whiskey though a still cap as before; whicii with the aid ofthe blister plas- ter removed the pain, but the fever still existed. 1 thcu ( 297 ) gave him of the 6th receipt, in the common way, and gave him. fifteen drops ofthe sweet spirits ofnitre, in a little water three times a day, and the drops ofthe elix- ir of vitroil, about as often and in the same way; and drew a blister on the pit of his stomach, each ancle, and wrist. To this treatment the fever yielded, and he mended rapidly; but in a week or two he was taken with a violent cramp cholic, by which his mouth and stom- ach was vastly affected, so that every breath appeared as if it, would be his last. I had a shoat killed, and took out his gall through a hole in his side while dying, and drenched him with it, which caused a free circulation in his blood, and in half an hour he sat up in his bed, but his stomach still ap- peared corded. Then I took the top crust off a hot wheat hoe cake, and wet it with good strong vinegar, and bound it with a cloth to the pit of his stomach, as warm as he could bear if I then gave him a pint of of tlie following bitters, viz: to a pint of wine I added a tea spoonful of rheubarb, two tea spoonfuls ofalloes, a spoonful of Jesuit bark and a lump of asafajtida as large as half a hen ega;, of which he took a tea spoonful three times per day. This kept his bowels moderately open, subdued the cholic, renewed his system, gave him a good appetite^ and enabled him to go about the plantation. I then gave him a dose of salts, and after it had operated, I gave him a quart of receipt the 34th, which he was to take in the ordinary way. This course restored him to health: since which he has taken a longjourney; has re= turned home and remains sound and well. Behold his flesh with fevers burn; His nerves relax'd, his breath just gone; While round his bed his friends all stands; With briny cheeks and trembling hands, Yet by God's blessings I was brief, To give him health and quell his grief; Although physicians me dispise, My patients yet my skill do prise. GARRARD COUNTY, Ky/1 April the \3th, 1818. J F DO HEREBY CERTIFY That I had a son of a- !N2 ( 298 ) bout two years old, who was distressed with a cancer oi>- his head, which was larger than a dollar, and eaten down to the bone. 1 applied to a Doctor who told me that it must be cut out, and the bone scraped, to which I re- plied that I would as soon see my son dead. 1 then sent to Dr. Richard Carter, who attended on him until he be- came sound and well; and during his practice with him, he extracted four roots from the cancer as large as my finger, and nearly as long. 'Hiis same child also took the dropsy when he was about four years old, by which his body was swelled nearly as large as my body, and when shook the water could be heard very distinctly to shake as if it was in a jug, he had little or no appetite, and complained of being very sore I went to Dr. Car- ter for his relief, who gave me means for him which at one time brought a way a quart of dropsy Water from him; and I think, to speak in the bounds of "reason, that he discharged first and last two gallons of dropsy water, and ultimately was restored to perfect health, and lias remained so for thepspace of six months: not even mani- festing a single symptom,of the return of the complaint. The cancer was cured in three weeks. We do certify the above to be true this day and year above written. RAINY WILLIAMSON, SARAH WILLIAMSON, Attest. John Williamson, Andrew Hood. This child's first case was an eating cancer, which on its first appearance is generally colourless, and is like a lump in the skin, which in the course of time assumes the appearance of a blister, from which issues sometimes a kind of yellow water. This kind of cancer is attended with little shooting pains through it, and into different parts of the adjoining flesh, but ho great anguish is pro- duced from it. Some patients complain of an itching through the sore, but at other times ii will be quite free from any kind of uncomfortable feeling. This con-piaint sometimes fakes place on the lips; in which ease there- win arise a blister, which the patient is sure to break, pick, or bite, when a gluey matter escapes. The place will then heal up, but in a few weeks will break out a- gain in the same way. If a person ever discovers this to ( 299 ) be the rase with them, they should be on their guard, for if it is lightly tempered with it will probably desfry them, like Sampson did bis enemies, for when it gets good root it is sure to take life unless some more rapid disease should step in before it. To remove this ch Id's cancer, I in the first place diped a small cotton mop in aquefortis, and carefully touched all over, and particularly around the edges of the sore tw'n-e a day for two or three days, and then mixed equal quantities ofthe sugar of lead, burnt allum and red precipitate together, and sprinkled a little of it in the sore for three or four days, making use of a poultice (made of a handful of the inside bark of elm, a handful ofthe inside barke of lin root boiled well in water, strained and thick net! the ooze with new milk and flour,) twice a day. The powders and aquefortis killed the cancer, and tin poultice caused it to matter and kept it soft. I in the next place commenced washing it in casteel soapsuds; and after it appeared to be. nearly killed 1 sprinkled a little calomel in it for three or four days in succession. I then omitted ihcpoulliee and cal- omel and other powders, and sprinkled in red precipitate twice a day, and made use ofthe salve of the 5th receipt, until it became sound and well. Tlie second and last case of this child was the dropsy of the system, or anasarca, wiMi which he was sorely af- flicted- The symptoms of this complaint Ims been pre- viously inserted in other ca-:es, and therefore supercedes the necessity of stating it.here. The first medicine I gave this child was five grains of the 16th receipt, for two nights together, and then, ga-c him as much ofthe powders of the 39th receipt as he could stand, and five drops ofthe sweet spirits of nitre three times a day, and for his constant drink made use of a strong tea made of summer grape roots, and the roots, of parsley, yet he sometimes would omit this, and u.^e the cream of tartar in water, and also took one grain of squills, and three of refined nitre in sugar e\ery night, while his diet was light and dry. This course of treatment accomplished, a sound cure on him. This child whose cancers very large, Was now committed to my charge; And in two weeks or sonselhing mom, ( 300 ) I did perform a perfect cure. In two years more, as you have read, The dropsy brought him to his bed: But through the grace of God did I, Remove the cause and make him spry. GARRARD COUNTY, Ky. *) July the \3th, 1818. J* I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That my son, who was about six years of age, was taken with a riolent griping in his bowels, which continned to get worse for about twenty-four hours. I then applied to Dr. R. Car- ter, who gave him a dose of medicine which was soon thrown up. The Doctor aforesaid, then sent caster oil of which I gave him two doses and he puked them up al- so. I then returned back to the Doctor the third time and got some powders, of which he took for two days in succession, and did not yet effect a passage. All this time he appeared as if he would go into fits, strangely rolling his eyes back in his head. I then applied the fourth time to the said Doctor, who gave me a vial of medicine and powders which 1 gave as directed, and in two hours he got relief and continued to mend very fast, so that he soon got entirely well. My wife al o caught cold from which circumstance she was reduced vastly, so that she was not able to attend to her business for eleven weeks, and at length she became so distressed by debility and. a palpitation at the heart, that she could not sleep, her menses having been continually flowing. She applied to all the skillful old wamen in her neighbor- hood, who with all their teas, &c. kc. could not give her relief. I then applied to the said Dr. Carter, who gave her medicine, which soon gave relief, and in a short time became perfectly well, and has since been delivered of twins, after which her breast arose, appeared hollow Hike a honey comb, during which afflicted state she was very sick at the stomach, and scorched by violent fevers; indeed it appeared that there were no prospect of her recovery. The same physician administered means to her, and she soon became sound and well. We both feel hearty in giving Dr. Carter the credit, (with the blessing of God) of performing a sound cure in each ofthe above mentioned cases. Wc or either of us do certify the a- ( soo bove to be true, given under our hands, this day and year, first above writter. JOHN PRUITT, POLLY PRUITT. Attest. Jacob Ford, Andrew Hood, The causa of this child's complaint was the presence of worms; the symptoms of which work in a variety of ways. The patient often has a grinding of the teeth, starting in sleep, a dry cough, bringing up a frothy spit- tle, sighing and suffocating manner of breathing, pain in the side, hiccough, heartburn, vomiting, lax, sudden urg- ings to go to stool, slimy stools, sometimes costivencss, night sweats, sour breatii, flushing of one cheek, itching of the nose, excessive appetite, a disposition to lie much on the bcily, a swelling of the partition of the nose, and of the upper lip, the actual voiding of more or less worms, a wasting away ofthe limbs and whole system, jaundice, headach, deadly snoring in sleep, convulsions, $"e. ecc. The practitioners first aim should be to destroy the worms (whicii is the cause) and then by the aid of a little simple medicine the effect will cease, and the patient re- cover his health. The first thing I gave this child was a dose of receipt the second, which did not operate; on the morning following I gave him a dose of caster oil which he vomited up: I gave him another dose in the morning of the same day which he also puked up: on the third day I gave him a tea spoonful of the cream of tartar in a pint of warm water, with directions to drink as ofton of it as he possibly could, until it opened bis howelsdwhich likewise failed to have any good effect. The dear little creature at this time was in a dreadful condition. I then sent him three grains of calomel, and three grains of jallap, and a vial of receipt the 19th, with directions to give him the calomel and jallap in a little sugar sirop at bed time, and to beat red onions and gar- lick fine, and bind this to his navel, and if that failed to operate against morning, he was to take ofthe vial, i. e. a tea spoonful three times per day. The calomel and jallap failed to operate, he then took ofthe vial which soon had the desired effect in discharging the worms, casing the griping pains, and stopping the puking, which ( 502* ) enabled the child to regain his former state of healthy from which he has never since relapsed. Mrs. Pruit 's complaint was a continual flooding which had been of a long standing, or in other words, this com- plaint may he termed immoderate menstruation. When the menstral discharge comes on too often or continues too long for the patient to maintain her strength, it is called immoderate menstruation. This complaint is most liable to bci'al women of a soft delicate habit; such as use of tea and coffee frequently, or to an execs-; and those w? o do not. take sufficient exercise. It is some- times brought on by excessive fatigue, which may hap- pen to temperate and iudu.-orious women, in either case its approach may be known by a pain in the loins and hips. Observe this symptom carefully, and. on its first appearance let a little blood, and it will prevent (heat- tack for that, time: but for an entire cure observe the following directions, viz. As soon as it is known that this complaint is formed, it will be proper to take blood from the arm. There are but few instances in which this course might not be proper in greater or iesser quan- tities. If excessive labor hi ought on the complaint, rest comes in as an essential remedy. Cool air is highly proper, whicii embraced by placing the patient so as to intercept the. current of air pas ing from a door on win- dow. Cloths wet in cold vinegar and water may be ap- plied to her groin-;, he. which should be changed as they become warm, cold flour applied in large quantises to. the parts, has sometimes succeeded in dangerous cases. Cool drinks, such as tlie decoction of neltle roots, or of the greater comphrey, he. If all these should fail, the bleeding should be repeated where too strong a motion ofthe arteries can be ascertained as the cause. It may be in a general way entirely removed by gentle bleeding, and purging occasionally repealed. If mueh weakness, paleness, a disposition to blood exist, you should give half a grain of opium every six hours, and at intervals of three or four hours give twelve or iiftecn grains of a mix- ture consisting of equal quantities of allum ami gumkino. Naucialc the. siomach with smn.il doses of from one to five grains of ipecacuanha. The medicine first given in the rase of, Mrs. Pruitf, was a dose of sabs, I then made a sirop thus, namely, I ( 50-3 ) got a handful of the bark of black haw root, a handfiil of black berry brier root, a handful of white oak twigs, a handful of common cherry tree twigs, a handful of mulleti roots, and boiled well iu water for balfa day, still filling of it up with water as necessity required. I then strained it, and boiled it down to the consistence of molasses, of which I gave her a table spoonful three or four times a day, tor if required,) but she was not sufXer- ed to make any use of cider, spirits, nor bacon, I also gave her as much ofthe powders of receipt the first, as would lie on the point of a case knife, in a gill of sweet milk, with which it was well mixed, with directions to increase or decrease each medicine as the nature of her case required, strictly guarding against checking the na- tural flow of her menses entirely, and if pains were cre- ated or a bearing down in the lower parts of her abdo- men, she was to add a tea spoonful of the sugar of lead to a gill of sweet oil, and anoint the parts affected, worm and rub them well downwards before the fire, which course made a sound and permanent cure of her. In rases ofthis kind, it would-be necessary to draw a blis- ter on each ancle and waist, and after the disease is re- moved the cold bath would be very necessary to restore Use p'atient to health and strength, as well as the flesh brush and moderate exercise, which should be continued till her health isen irclyse gained, and should a dropsy 'e like to ensue, as frequently is the case, you should give her of the 39th receipt which will give relief. This la- dy's breast became remarkably sore, after having been delivered of twins, and to bring it to a head, I got a dou- ble handful ofthe inside bark of linn mots; a handful of swamp lilly roots, and the same of the bark of dogwood roots; and boiied them all wdi down to a strong ooze, then strained it and thickened it with new milk and wheat flour, and applied it to her breat, after greasing it with sweet oil, which course was pursued twice a day, and which soon brought to a head or heads, for I lanced it in several places, indeed it seemed to be entirely hol- low. I gave her ten dropsof the sweet spirits ofnitre three times a day iu a little water, and a tea spoonful of the cream of tartar put in a pint of water, whicii she us- ed for her constant drink; and gave her a good drink of dogwood bark tea three or four times a li^y, and after (304 ) her breast had run a day or two, it seemed to dry up, and the orifices closed, which was followed by soreness, pains and fevers; I then made a poultice of new milk and light wheat bread, which was well boiled and mashed to- gether, and to every poultice I added and mixed well 'half a table spoonful ofthe sugar of lead, and a large tea spoonful of the sugar of lead into a pint of water, and surangcd some of it in her breast three times a day, until the fever abated and swelling assuaged; I then put a pint of the lie of muscle shell lime, half a tea spoonful of the sugar of lead, and a table spoonful of pulverized English rosin into a vessel together, and suranged that into her breast occasionally until it was well. This child whose age was near six years, \\ as in a dreadful state; With griping pains anol puking spells, Such as I here relate: For his relief I did prescribe, That he might be relicv'd; And in God's own appointed way, Relief has been receiv'd. This lady too was very low, Which did from cold proceed; Her menses to excess did flow, Which she could not impede- In this distressed case did she, To me apply for aid; Who by the blessing of the Lord, A perfect cure has made. Although aflliction is no jest, J lay the reader grins, To hear how 1 the females cure, And cause them to bear twins: And when their breasts do rise and break, As some of them do tell; I like a man forsake them not, Hut cure (hem sound and well. MADISON COUNTY, Ky, \ May the 25th, 1820. J I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That my brother was ■taken with a violent pain in his head, sick stomach, vio- ( 305 ) lent fevers, bad cough, and spittingofblood. He was under the directions of a Doctor from Monday until tha Friday following, but he continued to get wose, and grew weaker very fast, insomuch that we had lost all hopes of his recovery; his jaws being sot, and his mouth and tongue cold, and in fact, he had not been able to speak for half" the day, and indeed we had prepared the clothes to bury him in. I then applied to Dr. Carter for means, and within twelve hours after he had taken it, he began to mend, and continued so to do, as fast as the case could permit until he got well, and he now is as well as ever he was in his life, except the want of strength, which he has not yet regained. We or either of us do certify the a- huve to true, this day and year above written. THOS. FOX, POLLY FOX, Attest. William Cope, C. Wallace, Joseph Helm, A. Hood, Daniel Duncan. This young man who was sick, was by the name of Dcrrat White, and his complaint was the cold fever. His sister and brothcr-in law has described his case as near as necessary, as I have treated on the symptoms of this complaint before. I shall proceed to give a detail of the manner in which I treated this complaint. I gave him a bottle ofthe 22nd receipt, an ounce vial ofthe 27th receipt, and a vial of the sweet spirits of nitre, all cf which he was to take three times per day, i. e. a table spoonful ofthe 22nd receipt, with a tea spoonful of sweet oil three times a day, a tea spoonful ofthe 27th receipt three times a day, and ten or fifteen drops of the sweet spirits of nitre three times a day, all of which medicines Were to be taken within fifteen minutes of each other, i. e. the 22nd receipt, and the others in succession, with- in fifteen minutes of each other. I directed a large pul- let to be killed, cut open, and one half bound hot to each of his feet, and then to heat a pint of whiskey boiling hot, then set it on fire in a chair by the bed side, and turn a still cap over it, and direct the steam thereof through the arm of the still cap and under the bed clothes to the pa- tient, and to move it from one part to another so as not 0 2 1 ( 306 ) to burn him, until it produced a copious swTeat, and then to remove the cap. &c. This course removed the pains from his side and breast, abated his cough, and nearly broke his fever: I then gave him as much ofthe salts of tartar as would lie on the point of a case knife, in half a pint of water, and a pint of vinegar mixed together, and sweetened with su- gar, of which he was to take a table spoonful every hour, and half a table spoonful ofthe 46th receipt three times a day ; while he was to refrain from the use of all salt, or smoked diets, sweet milk, cider, spirits, &.c. &c. and to make his constant drink of ground ivy tea, a strong tea made of beech bark and sycamore chips boiled together. This course accomplished a sound cure. When in his bed were raging pains, his stomach sick and faint, And spitting blood, a dreadful case, and fevers his complaint; And when affliction toucb'd his jaws and did his speech with hold, 'Twas in this sore afflicted state, his mouth and tongue was cold; When round his bed his weeping friends prepar'd his burial ground: Of me he then desir'd to know, if help could then be found, My skill and means was then enploy'd, for to perform a cure: Which with the blessing of my God, did perfect health restore. Paint-Lick, Gapraed County, Ky.") June the 23/ti. 1820. J I DO HFRFBY CERTIFY. That 1 was taken in the month of laM August in lingering condition, which combined uniil the October loiioditg. 1 then began to swell in the abdomen, which coninued to increase for three or lour nu nths. at the expiration of which time I was so \astly swelled, and my .system so weak, that I was unable to attend to my business. I then applied to Dr. R Carter, who commenced giving me niedunne, and in three days afterwards the dropsy water began to evac- < 307 ) uate, and I believe that in the course of twenty-four hours I expelled at least a.gallom. The said Dr. con- tinued to administer means until the water was entirely evacuated I then was taken down with the fever; I had little or no appetite for my victuals, no relish for sleep, so that I was not known to sleep for three weeks. In Ibis time my friends had all given me out to die, indeed I thought myself that I should never recover. The Doc- tor aforesaid attended on me in this case also, by whose skill and means, and the blessing of the Almighty, I think that I have been restored to as good a state of health as I have ever enjoyed for eight years past, if not better. We, or either of us. do certify the above to be true, given from under our hands, this day and date a- bove written. RACHEL CARPENTER, RUFUS CARPENTFR, MvRY CARPENTER. Attest. John Wolfskill, Cantley Wallace, William Cope. Mistress Carpenter's complaint was the ascites, i. e. a dropsy ofthe abdomen I have relieved this lady out of three distressed states of affliction, one of which was stated in my first piece on medicine, so I have abundant reason to praise God for extending bis blessing on me, so as to enable me to relieve her in all of her afflictions, and many other distressed persons who were under his afflicting hand. When I meet with any of those who have been relieved through my instrumentality, they feel as near to me as if they were near blood connexions. I feel sensible that the distributor of all-gifts, has desig- nated to me my talent, and if I impro\e it, and strive for knowledge earestly, my usefulness will increase-to my dying day. I have set forth this little treatise with the impreesion and hope, that it will be beneficial to my fel- low creatures after I return to my mother dust. If any Doctor should fail to have success, who practise in the regular way, I hope he will try my simple plan of treat- ment, not but what I acknowledge learning to be of vast importance, but wish them to remember that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. It is in tubi ( 308 ) case that the regular bred Doctors look down upon iffo with envy and contempt, but look at the circumstance in which Sampson slew the Philistines, a..d also where Moses was hid in the rushes and afterwards became a great man, and led the children of Israel through the Red Sea. All of this is the Lords work and is marvel- ous in our eyes, therefore, let us trust in him forever, for vbdom and power are at his disposal, for be changeth the times and seasons, removes Kings and appoints oth- ers, and aisogiveth wisdom to the wise. A regular bred physician has his plan before him, ami may the Lord smile upon his efforts to relieve the op. pressed and afflicted; but one thing is certain, that he has hot to till and sweat over his garden, nor wonder thro' the groves and wilderness, nor climb the ragged moun- tains and cliifs to obtain his medicine as I do; infact, my means and mode he knows not, and of course he thinks his method is the best, and as I do not pretend to under- stand his mode of prantice very well, I hope he will ai- low mc to repose most confidence in the plan with which I am best acquainted, and pursue my course, seeing that nature has filled our soil with those medicines requisite to remove those disorders which are incident to the in- habitants of our climate or country. Even tlse very dog can empty his maw when he think* lit, by the use of the grass that grows iu his masters yard- JNebuchadnezzar the great King dreamt a dream which could not be interpreted by him nor any of bis wise men, but poor old Daniel done it without difficulty. Jflsus Christ was born in a manger where the horned oxen fed, was ridiculed and abused more than I have c- ver been, and yet be was the greatest physician that c- ver graced the globe; for he caused the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak, the blind to see, the lame to walk, the sick to be whole, and tlie dead to live; in fact, he was a physician of both soul and body, and as long as he stands by mc, and blesses my means, I shall feel it my duty to continue my practice Jet man say what he will; for if God is for me, who can be against me, for I presume its better to obey God than man. Now the following is the manner in which I treated' Mrs. Carpenter's drop- sy. In tlie first place I gave her five grains ofthe 16th receipt, in a little sugar at bed time, and in the nioriiinli '( 309 ) following gave her a table spoonful of receipt the 30 and how it is to operate, and if you ( 310 > are agoing to give him any thing dangerous you shouhl let him know it, and carefully cauti >u hi n agiiust vio- lating your directions, informing iii-n of the dangerous consequences which ai— liable to ensue thereby. Dr. Townsend states that he was led to enquire into the nature of the component parts of what man is made; says he, "I found him to be composed of the four cli- menis, (water, earth,* fire and air.) the earth and wa- ter I found were the solids, the air and ftre the fluids: the two first 1 found to be the component parts, and that the two last kept him in motion: heat I found to be life, and cold death." I shall now proceed to describe the fuel which continues tlie fire or life of man. This is contained in two tilings: Food anil medicine: whicii are in harmony to each other; often grow in the sane field, and are created to be used by the same people. Persons who arc capable of raising their food and preparing it, may as easily learn to collect and prepare all tiieir med- icine, and administer it when it is needed. Our life de- pends on heat; food is the fuel that kindles and contin- ues that heat. The digestive powers being correct, causes the food to consume, which continues the warmth of the body; by continually supporting the fire. The stomach is the deposit from whicii the'whole bo- dy is supported; the heat is kindled in the stomach by its consuming the food; and all the body and limbs receive their proportion of nourishment and heat fr;>:n that source; in the same way that the whole room is warmed by the find which, is consumed in the fire place; the grea- ter the heat is in the room, so in the body; the more well digested food passes from the stomach into the bowels, the more heat and nourishment b. diffused through the whole system. By const: nMy receiving fond into tiie sto- mach, which is sometimes not suitable for tin- best nour- ishment, the stomach becomes f .ul, so thnttiie fond isnot we!! -.ligisted, which causes the body to loose its heat, the app lite then fat's, the bones ach, and the man is sick in every part of his whole system. This situation pf the body shews the need of medicine, which should be of such a nature as would clear the sto- mach and bowels, and restore the digestive powers. *Fire or heat is nature. ( 311 ) When this is done the food will raise the heat again and nourish the whole system of man. All the art required to do this is to know what means will do it, and how it should be administered. Which is represented by a persons cleansing a stove and its pipe when it becomes cloged with ashes and sooi, so as to enable the fire to burn freely, and thereby warm the whole room as before it was disorganized. The stomach after it has been cleansed of every impediment will consume double the quantity that it otherwise would have done, and the same quantity of food will afford double the nourishment. Vi e know that our life depends on food, and having the sto- mach in a suitable situation to receive and digest it pro- perly. When the stomach and bowels become cloged all that is necessary is to administer those medicines which will remove the obstrustions. All diseases are occasion- ed by cloging the system. All diseases are cured by re- storing the digestive powers, so that food may keep that heat on whicii life depends. Mrs. Foxs took a violent cold, which obstructed the system, from whence arose a most deplorable fever or heat, and had the cause not have been removed she would certainly have died for the want of heat. We cannot call this the seat ofthe disease. There is a first cause for this unnatural heat, which either arises from expo-. sure of some kind, or from unwholesome air, such as is often inhaled in bad weather, slaughter-houses, jails, im- pregnated air, and sometime from waters being impreg- nated with some kind of mineral or ore, or from its being affected by stagnation or decayed vegetables, &c. he. And in fact, the complaint will at length become conta- geous. Dr. Thomson says, "is fever or beat a disease?" and 1 say does be not prove that it is not, by the ac- knowledged father of physicians, who says that, "na- ture is heat" and is he not correct? Is nature a disease? Surdy it i - not. What is commonly called fever is the rffect, and not the cause itself. It is the struggle or ef- fort that nature makes to throw off the disease. We will say that cold causes obstructions, and obstructions produce -fevers, thus it appears that if the cause is re- moved the i-ffect will naturady cease We all know that as the patients disease grows stronger he growns weaker, till death ensues, whicii is for the want of beat. If your C 312) fire, which is in an old or much used hearth should cease to consume the fuel, y ou should not throw out a part of the fuel and add snow or ice in its stead; but take out all the fuel, and with your shovel and brush clean the ashes and soot out of the harth and flue, and then your fuel will burn clearly and- with -little, or. no*- trouble, and your house or room consequently resume its former state of warmth; just so in cases of the fever, first cleanse the stomach and bowel:, and then add the necessary medi- cines to hea!, cool, renew, and strengthen the systcn; and we may then reasonably expect the fever, which is the effect, to cease: for it is an old and pretty true max- im, that, a removal ofthe causewill put an end to the ef- fect. I presume that the reader is apprehensive that I have forgotten the case of Mrs. Carpenter, but if I can obtain forgiveness for this intrusion on his patience, I will endeavor to be more concise iu future. This lady's fever was desperately bad, whicii weak- ened her vastly. Her digestion was bad, stomach weak* pains in her back and side, aching in her bones, soreness jn her throat, foul tongue, and jerking in her flesh. The first means administered was five grains of calo- mel, three of the flour of sulpher, and two of refined ni- tre: this I gave her in a little sugar which soon pro- duced a gentle sweat, and evacuated the bile nicely downwards. 1 then mixed a tea spoonful cf the cream of tartar in a pint of water, whicii I directed her to keep about milk warm, and use instead ofspring or pure wa- tcr when thirsty; and also to take of the 6th receipt iu the ordinary way. I also gave her three grains of ni- tre, and the same of the flour of sulpher mixed together in a little sugar at bed time, ten drops of the elixir of vitriol three times per day in a little water, and fifteen drops ofthe sweet spirits of nitre in a little water three times a day. This course broke the fever and gave her a good appetite. I then gave her of receipt the 42nd and -Oth. with directions to take one about half an hour be- fore the other, and to live on light cooling diet, and that to be received in small quantities; I also directed her to keep her bowels moderately open with caster oil, sena and manna, he. and if her stomach became add, she was to lake a lea spoonful of magnesia,, in a little water two ( 313) or three times a day, and in this way she was speedily P restored to perfect health. This woman was afflicted much, as she has certified, And with a dropsical complaint, she had like to have died; Now see her for three months or more, in this distreSs'd condition, And when she was disabled much, to me she did petition; That she to health might be resor'd, was then her chief desire. And quickly to accomplish it, of me she did enquire; I then eugag'd in her behalf, that she might be restored, And in a safe and speedy way, her sad disease was cured. Drake's Creek, Garrard Counj.y, Kt."I June the 12th, 1818. j I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That I had taken cold about three years ago, which ran on me five or six months, after which I began to swell, and continued so to do for four to five months, and until I became unable to walk about. My friends all thought that there were no hopes for my recovery, and indeed I thought myself that there was no probability of my receiving a radical cure. I then applied to Dr. R. Carter, who administer- ed medicine to my relief, and I have not taken any medi- cine since last Christmas was a year, and I have been as sound and hearty ever since as ever 1 was in my life. Given from under my hand this day and year first above 'written. SARAH LAWS ON. Attest. Judieth Dorcss, Elizabeth Chance, John Wolfskill, Margaret Burnsides, Cantly M Wallace, Saml. H. Yesser, William Howard. This lady's complaint was the ascites; (that is") a dropsy ofthe abdomen, whicii has been described in a more earl v part of this work. The first cause of this V2 C S14) complaint was cold, which stoped the menstrual dis- charge and brought on the dropsy: and on account of her blood being in a bad state, her case was rendered much more deplorable and difficult to remove. She complain- ed very much of a sense of weight or bearing dow.i in the lower part of her abdomen, accompanied -.with fre- quent and great inclinations to make urine, which was attended with small evacuations, a soreness in the hips, a hard cake in the side which was at times very sore, particularly at the fulls and changes of tbe moon, at which times she would discharge less urine than at any o her, notwithstanding her propensity to make water was much greater She often complained of a weakness in her back, a dull heavy pain in her forehead, accompan- ied with a giddiness which would very much increase on stooping down or suddenly rising up, a shortness of breath,' weakness, &c. &c The water i ad extended so far upwards that it was with difficulty sh could lie down to take her rest at night, which gave her great uneasi- ness of mind as well as body. This was a desperate complaint and very difficult to remove, having first the aqueous collection to expel, and then the menstrual dis- charge to bring on. It took a tedious time to remove this lady's complaint, while her sufferings were very considerable, for she sometimes had severe pains resem- bling labour pains. The first medicine administered in this case, was from balfa table spoonful to a tablespoon- ful of receipt tne 38th, three times a day for two or three days, and then the same, quantity about as often of re- ceipt the 37th for four or five days. This course was continued for about two weeks, and brought off tlie wa- ter slowly. I then gave her two doses of receipt the 16th, i. e. one dose for two nights in succession, and us- ed receipt the 37th and 38th as before for about a week, which took away the water very considerably, but lelt her system as well as her appetite remarkably weak. I then quit this course, and gave her for ten days of re- ceipt 46th, and got a good dose of camomile flowers, and stewed it in a pint of fresh butter (which had nether been washed nor salted) down slowly to a solid oil, and di- rected her to anoiut her abdomen ami groins well down- wards with it every night. '1 i;is course of treatment caused the cake which was in her bide to evacuate and a ( 315 ) free discharge of urine to ensue. I then gave her a pint of receipt the 9th. which she was to take three times a day in the ordinary way, with directions to take of re- ceipt the 39th, as often and within half an hour of receipt the 9th. This course expelled all of the dropsy water. I then gave her three grains of calomel, and three grains ofal'oes mixed iu a little sugar at bed time, forbiding the use of cold water, sweet milk or hog meat that night or the ensuing day. I then gave her a quart af receipt the 61s.t, and by the time she had taken the half of it in the ordinary way, still using the ointment, her menstrual discharge returned on her, and by the time she had used the balance of the bottle, she was restored to perfect health, and through the tender merceies of kind Provi- dence has enjoyed her health ever since. This prevalent disorder doth ofien fatal prove, And bafle great physicians who cannot it remove; But by my own prescription?, I often do succeed In curing such disorders, and that with ease and speed. GARRARD COUNTY, Ky.| Mar. h 21 st 18 f' a J" I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That I had a little negro girl who was reduced into a lew state of health, and still continued to get worse for abont four weeks, and until all who saw her dispaired of her recovery, and when her mother and my daughter started to Dr. R. Carter's with her, sonv of my neighbours, who were at my house persuaded my daughter not carry her, believ- ing as they said that it would die before they returned; biit notwithstanding their discouraging advise she still persisted in her course, and as soon as Dr. Carter ad* ministered means to the child it began to mend, and con- tinued to get better till in the coins- often or twelve days it was restored to health, and continues to grow ve- ry fast, and has never been afflicted in any way since. I do further certify, that I had a negro boy taken in the same way, but lie was older than the girl, and was much lower, for we had to set up with him all night, and was airaid to send to the Doctor's lest he should die on tlie way, but at last ventured to attempt carrying him, and ( 316 ) fortunately got him there alive, and as soon as he receiv- ed means the child got ease, the fever subsided, and in pine or ten days was able to go about, and now grows finely and has looked promising ever since. I was also taken myself about twelve months ago with a pain in my right side, which would slip across my breast and in'o my bowels, and when one side would be easy, the o- ther would be in misery, so that I could not lie down nor take any rest, in fact, my illness was of such a na- ture, that I was not able for four weeks to lie on a bed. In this situation I went to Dr. Carter's, and it appeared to me that had I not have got some relief, 1 never should have been able to reach my home; but so it was I reach- ed home with great difficulty, and commenced taking medicine under the directions of Dr. Carter, and soon got considerable relief, and when my medicine gave out 1 got more of him which I took, and continued to mend so fast that in a short time I was enabled to move to a place that I had bought, and have never had an attack of the complaint since, and it has been about a year since I was taken. I also had a son who iived about four miles from me, who came to see me, a,nd as taken with a choakingquinsey: a Doctor was consulted, who said that it was his opinion that it would kill him. He lay speechless for about twenty four hours, while every at- tempt to swallow any tiling was fruitless. While he lay in this situation I sent to the Dr. aforesaid, who sent means that gave him ease immediately, caused his throat to brake, and my son soon got well. Given from under my hand, this day and year first above written. P. WILLIAMSON. Attest. Joseph Lees, James Clinton, Garland Edwards, Andrew Hood. Mr. Williamson's negro children mentioned in the a- bove certificate, were afflicted with the mesenteric fever, and was treated as Mr. Biirnsiiles child was: (sec his certificate, page 258,) and soon got well. Mr William- son was iu a most, deplorable situation himself with the billious clndic, as has been correctly described by Doctor "Wesley and Doctor Ruble. This complaint is often at- 1-t?nded with an excessive puking of greenish frothy mat- ( 317 ) t.cr, attended with feverish heat, violent thirst, and a bit-. tcr taste in the patient's mouth. The urine is sometimes scanty, and sometimes a violent pain in the stomach, at- tended with great depression of spirits. Flying pains through various parts of the system are experienced; if not prevented by sufficient pukings orpurgings. Dr. Townsend states that in cases ofthis kind are pro- duced spasmodic sticture in some part ofthe alimentary canal, chiefly in the colum embracing a quantity of har- dened fseces, which are the irritating cause of obstinate costheness. To relieve the spasms, evacuate tlie har- dened fseces, and to sheath the irritated portons ofthe colon, use mucilaginous substances, and strengthen the intestines with tonics; such as receipts the 17th and 20th, and asringents. Glister with a stong ooze made of slippery bark strained, and a table spoonful of glauber salts, or an ounce of linseed oil, and from ten to fifteen drops of laudanum added, and then bathe in warm water, or if the case is not so urgent a flannel cloth wet in strong warm vinegar applied to the pit of his stomach. After the patient's bowels are opened and the puking ceased, lc shouh* take a pil' for three nights in succes- sion, made thus: take three grains of calomel, half a grain of opium, and a peace of casteel soap, sufficient to form the whole into a proper consistence to form the pill; and on the morning following drink sena ten with the tincture of rheubarb, abstaining from the use of cold water, milk or the like, and should make use of light diets, such as fowls, soups, he he. Old Mr. Williamson had no puk- ing, bnt suffered vastly with a costivencss. In the first I gave him a table spoonful of receipt the 19th. for two mornings in succession, which worked well, on the third morning I gave him a dose of caster oil. and then gavo him of receipt the 18th every night at bed time, and half a table spoonful of receipt 'lie 62nd bree times a day, with directions to increase the. dose slowly to a fable spoonful three times a day, unless it produced nausia on the stomach. Young Mr. Williamson's complaint \* as the Cynan- che or qumsey, which is a very distressing complaint and often proves fatal. It operates in various way s on different patients. Dr, Townsend says there are five ( 318 ) different species, but the principle seat ofthis complaint is the throat and the cavity behind the t r.gue. This complaint is called by some angnina infianiato- ria, or sore throat. Dr. Darwin states that the pulse in this case is full, hard, strong, and makes about an hun- dred vibrations in a minute; the fever inflamatory, the u- rine high colored, and senses not much impaired: but this young man complained of acute pains, on attempting to swallow, his pulse was quick and hard, a pain in his head, with other febrile symptoms, he spit a tough ropy phlegm. The swelling and inflamation increased, breath- ing and swallowing became still more difficult, a great distress about bis ears, his eyes became red, and his face very much swelled; in fact, his case became so des- perate, that he was obliged to keep in an erect posture to p event his suffo'a'ing. Sometimes he would strain considerably as if trying to puke, and frequently when lie would attempt to drink he would strangle, and the water fly out of his nose. Under these circumstances there is great danger ofthe complaint's falling into the breast, and so take the patient's life in a few days, or if other complaints should be the cause ofthe quinsey, the case is also doubtful. I shall now proceed to state the manner in which I treated the case under consideration. In the first place I had his mouth washed five or six times a day, with receipt the 53rd, and put a quart of the 22nd receipt in a coffeepot, heated it hot and made liim suck the steam as often as he could bear it. I then got catnip, horehound.spice wood twigs, and slippery elm bark, and boiled them in water to a strong sirop; strained and thickened it with light wheat bread, bound it to his throat as warm as he could bear it, shifted it three or four times a day. and kept his bowels open with mild purges. This course made a sound cure of him, and in- deed many other persons who were in a similar situation. I have pursued this plan and have never failed to effect acure. This method will speedily bring the swelling to a head, or if taken in time scatters it entirely. Columbia-, May 10th, 1818, My worthy Friend: I received your letter dated April the 28th, requesting me to certify the different sick of (sid ) my family who were under your directions as a physi* rian. I answer, in the first place I bad a negro boy poisoned, for whom I applied to a Doctor of Richmond, who attended on him for aboUta year, but to no purpose. I then started with said boy to Dr. Ham. and on my way met with Col H. Rowling, who had, had six ne- groes poisoned, applied to English Doctors, four of his negroes died, and the other two was not expected to live. He then applied to negro George who was said to he master of negro poison, by whose skill or medicine the two were saved. Cob-H. Rowling advised me to apply to said George; I accordingly applied to him, and he un- dertook my boy by the consent of his master Mr. Haw- kins who lived near Lancaster; the said negro attended on my boy fir sometime, almost a year, but all to no purpose. My boy in this time was all deformed iu his hands and fingers, I then applied to you, and in six mom lis my boy was sound and well from every external appearance. His bands, fingers, he. were all well. I also had seven blacks down at once, with the cold plague or influenza fever, two of whom were as I thought out of the reach of all the graduated Doctors in Europe: but God in his Providence, through your skill and means, saved the whole seven. You have also administered means to myself and wife, and also others of my family on different occasions not so very particular, and yet ne- ver without success. I am Sir, your real and sincere Friend, WM. MORRISON, Richard Carter, The first case under consideration in Mr. Morrison's family, is that of a negro boy who was poisoned, as was supposed,. He had lain a long time helpless. Ufa an- cle joint had come out of place, as well as his wrist joints, knee joints, and the joints of his hip. His lead- ers were generally very much contracted. This had be- come a real chronic complairt. He was very low in flesh, had a bad appetite, he. he. My object in the first place was to put his blood in order and strengthen his nerves; to efiect which I gave him a quart of receipt the 20th, to be taken as is therein directed, and reduce him very low, which had the desired effect. 1 then got a (, 320 ) double handful of the roots of young pine, a double hand- ful ofthe bark of elder roots, a handful of tansy, a large twist of tobabro, a handful of tiro bark of sassafras roots, a double, handful of red pepper, a quart of mustard seed, a handful of horse radish roots, ten gallons of water out of a hollow stump; and boiled them all well together down to about a gallon and a half; I then ste>ved it, a id added a quart of hog's feet oil. a pint of turkey buzzard's oil, hilf a pint of sweet oil, a quart of rum, three pints of red fishing worms, a dozen hen eggs, an ounce of pen- croyal oil, a quarter of an ou-ice of opium, and a lump of turpentine as large as a goose egg; I stewed all of these ingredients slowly d >wn to a solid oil; with which I a- jidnned his joints twice a day. after bathing them in warm sp-rits for s ome'hne. I followed this course until his joints all came into their pooper places; I then pro- cu/cd sassafras roots, dried them, and burnt them under a ln>gsh->ad until it became quite hot; then put the boy in it, ami covered it with a blanket, and thus sweated liitn as long as he could stand it, then took him out, gave him half a table spoonful of ilateman's drops and cover- cr him up warmly in a bed. I then gave him of receipt the 22ud and 46th, with directions to take of each three times a day in the ordinary manner, which strengthen- ed him very fast. I then gave him of receipt th:» 25th, and anointed him with receipt the 35th. I pursued this course until he could walk about. Every joint kept in its proper place except his wrist which would slip out sometimes, bat he strengthened so that he could attend to bis business as well as ever, and seemed to regard any kind of hardship as little as before his illness. The other seven negroes that had the cold plague were very low indeed, in fin t, some of them appeared hopeless. They generally complained of pains in their breasts, sides and heads, attended with hard coughs, high fevers, and pains in their limbs. 1 generally gave them a dose of calomel ami jallap. and worked it off with chicken soup, and then got a handful of catnip, a handful of tan- sy, and boiled them well iu water, strained it, and ad- ded vinegar and thickened this with rye meal. 'This poultice I bound to the breast or side where the most a- cute pain wa , as warm as the patient could bear it. After this was done I had their breasts and tides rubed ( 321 ) • with opodcldock and peneroyal oil well mixed together,, and bound roasted poke roots to the soles of their feet, and gave them for their constant drink a strong tea made of bcedi bark and sycamorp chips, and gave thorn a table spoonful of receipt the 22nd three times a day, with a tea spoonful of linseed oil mixed together with it, and also gave them of receipt the 46th throe or four times a day, and made use of ca. d ttif ntous, and ascites, anasarca, dropsy of the chest, or a lethargic supineness: a torpor of the arms is felt pre- ceding partial paralysis, and the distressing scene is (tci-d by suffocation. Dr. Townsend arranges this dis- ease in the same class with those of a nervous kind. Dr, Sa-.ivage- enumerates eighteen species of asthma, whicii is principally from the works of Dr. Huffman,'and anioog the specific symptoms previous to the paroxism, is full- ness and distention ofthe stomach, insipid evacuar'-m , pisecoriiia, a copious discharge at night of limpid urine, weight, anxiety and difficulty of respiration: about two o'clock in the. morning tlie fit commences, and if severe, induces the billious vomiting. The pulse in this case is at first quick and irregular; then weak and intermittent. In the progress of the fit the hands and feet become cold, the face pale, and sometimes heartburn, with palpitation, and the whole scene is dossed by sleep. Baglivi with the utmost propriety, considers this as an affection of tbe stomach. Dr. Why it lias particularly noli, cd sympa- thy with the stomach, when the nerves ofthis organ is af- f'cted by mind, phlegm or crudities as one cause ofthe spasmodic^sthsna. Mrs Morrison's case was. as first stated the spasmodic asthma, and the first medicine that 1 gave her was receipt the 16th, of which I gave her five grains three times per week, for three or four weeks, and at the intermediate times, or when she was not tak- ing that, she took nearly a table spootifd of receipt the 22nd three times a day, with a tea spoonful of sweet oil in each dose, this course rel.eved the wlicezing aud cough, and made her in a manner a new woman. She then took of receipt the 2.7lb, to prevent a return of the ( S23 ) complaint, and renew her blood. I also directed her m rase of a severe attack to resort to receipt the 16th and 22nd again, as above: in this way she gained considera- ble flesh, and the complaint ultimately became very light There were other cases in Mr. Morrison's family to Which I attended, but as they are inserted in separate certificates in this work, the necessity of stating them here is thereby superseded. I shall now proceed to give a few receipts, he. and then attend to some other certificates. A RECEIPT FOR TOO GREAT A FLOW OF TLIE MENSIS. Get white solomon seal finely sliced, three ounces; cinnamon, mace, cloves and annis seed, of each two drams, loaf sugar two ounces, canella aba one dram; pound all the spices together with one nutmeg, and put them into three pints of malaga or port wine, and let it stand a day or two, and then take nearly a gill morning, noon and night. Or get a handful of nettle roots, a handful of the bark of sumack roots, a handful of white oak twigs, a haudful of lungwort, a handful of sweet fern roots: boil them in three quar's of water down to three pints, strain it, sweeten it with cane sugar, and add half a pintof spirits: the dose is a table spoonful two or three times a day; while the patient should live on light diet: Or take bucks horn, brake roots, harts horn, Solomon's seal, comphrey, knot grass, yarrow; of each three ounces: boil them all in three quarts down to three .pints, strain it, sweeten it, and add half a pintof Madeira wine. The dose is a table spoonful or more if required three times a day, while the patient uses strengthening plasters to the pit of the stomach. A RECEIPT For a pain, across the loins and back, and giddiness in the head. Take five drops ofthe spirits of turpentine, in a tea spoonful of sugar for four or five nights in succession, then take a table spoonful of the bark of sassafras root finely powdered, the same of white walnut, the same of black cherry tree bark; put them into . a half, a * ( *-o pint of rum, and take a table spoonful every niglifr at bed time: Or take a sufficient quantity of phy- sic to cleanse the stomach and bowels, and then take a large handful of the queer of meadow roots, boil them in two quarts of water down to three pints, then strain it, and add four ounces of loaf sugar and a gill of spirits, and take ofthis as necessity requires, and you can bear with convenience. AN OINTMENT FOR A BURST. Take angle worms, three gills, bark of elder a hand- ful, bogs lard a pound, and simmer it slowly down to an ointment; strain it, and add to it an ounce ofthe oil of amber, and simmer it again slow'y over a gentle fire, and then stir it until it becomes cold. This ointment should he rubbed on the affected part on going to bed, and take something to guard the stomach, and keep the burst up, so that it comes not down at all. FOR INFLAMED SORE EYES. Apply boiled, roamed or rotten apples, as a poultice' wai m. or a thick apple pearing w hen the patient is lying down in bed: Or worm wood tops, with tlie yolk of an egg, which scarcely ever fails: Or beat up the white of a b-n rgg, with two spoonfuls of white rose water until it becomes a white froth. Apply this to the eye on a fine rag. and continue to renew it so often as to prevent it from getting dry, until the experiment i* fn'\y tried. Blood letting with the u--e of a few small doses ofglau- ber salts is very beneficial in cases of^this kind. A RECEIPT FOR MAKING AN FXCELLENT EYE WATER. Break the end of a new laid hen egg, empty out the contents, except about a tea spoonful ofthe white, to which you must add ten grains of white vitroil, and then fill up the shell w ith rose or rain water, then set it in a sand heat or worm embers to simmer slowly for half an hour, then stiain it through a fine linen rag, and mix it with as much rose water, then put it in a vial,cork it veil and it is fit for use. This is good in cases of tho Most inveterate sore eyes, in which cases you should let I hod, use 4 cooling purges, aud apply an appropriate ( 325 > uantlHy of this water on a fine rag, or the end of your, finger to the patient's eyes three or four times a day, and forbid his g'dng in the wind, sunshine or night air. FOR INFLAMED SORE EYES. he. Take white vitriol and rock salt, of each a table spoonful, calcine them together in an iron ladle or sho- vel, and put this to a quart of wine or river water, and use it iu the ordinary way. A REMEDY FOR A WEAK STOMACH, BAD APPETITE, CHOLICS, he. Take of cinnamon one ounce, of cloves one ounce, mace one dram, orange peel two ounces, raisns and figs, of each four ounces, pound them all well, and put to half a gallon of good spirits; let it stand in a warm place for ten days, shaking it once every day, then strain it and add a gill of imported molasses, and it is then fit for use, and is called tie tincture of spices, and may be taken from balfa table spoonful to a table spoon- ful three times a day, while the patient lives on light cooling diet. A REMEDY FOR A TICKLING COUGH. Take ofthe pills of Rufus one dram, Storax pills balfa dram, oil of aniseedt three drops, mix the whole well to- gether, and make twenty equal sized pills, and give tho patient one or two of them every night, while he'refrains from the use of bacon or sweet milk, and avoids heats and colds, and exposure to wet damp air. This man- ner of treatment i* wonderfully efficacious in stoping the violent tickling " h'ch eontinua ly provokes coughing, a d also to exp s iu a proper way the phlegm which pro- duces this tickling. The following prescription is also very efficacious in the above mentioned case, when taken alternately with the above, that is, they should be both taken at night, but not both on the same night, for the above is good to stop defluctions of humors upon the glands ofthe throat, and promote its discharge by the skin; and the following is calculated to divert it by stool, while the patient should live on nothing but light cooling diet, and ah- add to the same seed half a gallon of wine, let it stand the same length of time, shake it as often, then strain it, and add to it two pounds of Musravado sugar: shake this once or twice a day for a few days, and it is fit for use. A dose of this medicine may vary from half, to a whole table, spoonful, whicii should be taken morning, noon and night, while the patient should avoid all kinds of ex- posure. A REMEDY FOR A CANCER, &c. Get a Irandful of the tops and roots of colutnb■», and af- teryou slice the roots, boil the whole in two gallons of water down to a quart, then strain it, and add a table spoonful of coperas, and the same of table salt, and then simmer the whole down to a powder and beat this fine. These powders arc wonderfully efficacious in cleaning and eating all kinds of cancers, ulcers and old sores, and may be sprinkled in the sore, cancer or ulcer, as the rase may be once or twice a day. You should keep a plaster of receipt tlie 5th over it; and if it should pro- duce an inflamation to any considerable degree, your dionld apply a poultice made of slippery elm bark, wheat Hour and sweet milk. IRYINESVILLE, ESTILL COUNTY, Ky.-) October the 3rd, 1818. J I DO CERTIFY, That I had a son aged six years last May. who was taken with the white swelling about three mouths since. He was first taken while eating bis dinner, with flic white swelling in the small of his back or hip, and one on his leg. I applied to a gentleman who had cured many. He lanced tlie one on his hip, and that on his leg broke with its own accord. That on bis hip dosed uj»*and arose in his groins. He still con- tinued to grow worse; and after we had lost almost all hopes of his recovery, we started with the child to Dr. R. Carter ofthis place, hot it was with the utmost <*i!h> rulty that we reached there, for he died away two or three times on the road, while his eyes appeared to be fixed and sot in his head; but so it was that he came to again. When Dr. Carter began to work with him there appeared to extern! a hollow from bis groin to his hip, under his short ribs and nearly back vo his hack bone, ( 329 ) 'insomuch that there was great danger of its breaking loose iu among his bowels, because the corruption would ooze out at the hole when he would draw his breath; and to speak in the bounds of reason, Dr. Carter has performed as great a miracle in his cure as any physi- cian whatever could have done, for he has cured up the place on his leg, back and groin, so that th?re is no im- pediment now except a soic about as large :cs a dollar, . and about skin deep on his hip, which we keep dean; and it seems to be healing very fast, in fa^t, 1 do not * doubt but what it would have been sound before now, had not the child have taken tlie fever, in which case the said Doctor was so fortunate as to effect a cure. We have had the child here about four months, and are a- bout tw start home in high spirits, flattering ourselves that in a few weeks. Doctor Carter's means and skill will have accomplished a sound cure. Given under my hand, this day and date first above wdt'en. DURRETT PRUICE. Attest. Cantly Wallace, William Cope, Catharine Carter. My first object in the above case was to bring this rising to a head as oon as possible, to effect Which, I filled a still full of arssmart, and extracted the strength by distilation, and then got a double handful of the in- side bark of slippery elm» the same quantity ofthe bark ofdogwood roots, the same of the tops and roots of swamp lillies, and a handful of mullem boiled them all well together, strained the herbs and roots from the li- quid, then put this in two quarts of the spirits of arse- smart, and boiled it down to a jelly, I then got bard burnt dirt out of the back of the'fire place, beat it fine, mixed it with an equal quantity of wheat flour, and with this mixture thickened the jelly to the consistency of a poultice, and applied it night and morning from tlie back to the hip, and continued to repeat it in tlie same way stances likely to over heat the system. A REMEDY FOR A RELAXATION" OF THE SOLIDS, Take ofthe roots of garden colts foot, four ounces, of the shavings of lignumritse three ounces, of comphrey, solomon seal and spikenard two ounces each, elecam- pane roots one ounce, and rasped harts hornthrec ounces, make this, in the usual way, strain it, add a pint of honey and simmer, stir and skim it, and after it becomes cold, add a pint of Madeira or cherry wine. Half a table spoonful ofthis medicine will be a sufficiency to take at once, and may be taken three times a day, while the pa- tient should avoid all kinds of strong drink, &c. A great Cordial to renew and strevgthen the blood. Take a pint of rum, half a pint of water, eight ounces of sugar, two ditto of honey, two ounces of brook liver- wort, pink flowers, and half an ounce angelica roots, and cover them closely in a suitable place, and simmer it down to a thick s'rop. Tiie dose may vary from a tea spoonful to a table spoonful, and should be taken three times a day, while the patient's diet should be such as mutton, beef, squirrels, fowls, sour milk, soups, <§-c. he. Niciiolasville, Jessamin Ct'y- Ky. V September 13, 1818. j Dear Sir, Your letter of the 10th instant, by Mr. G. Lowry, was on this morning handed to" mc, by which J ( 532 ) discover that it is your wish, that I should certify what effect your medicine and treatment had on the complaint I labored under, during tlie spring and summer of 1817. I feel it my duty in answer to your request, to say, that agreeably to my opinion, that your medicine and pre- scriptions, were the means of my recovery from a corn- plaint in my breast, that was thought 'would terminate in the consumption if not speedily stuped. I used no o- tber means than that which was sent from you, and in the course of two or three weeks I was restored toper- feet health, and have continued in good health ever since. Should this letter be of any service to you, you are entirely welcome to publish it, or use in any other way that you think proper, as it is my candid belief that I received great benefit from your means arid prescrip- tions, and fed it a duty also, that I own to you, who has rcderedme essential sirvices. I am, Sir, vours with respect, he. GEORGE WALKER, Dr. R. Carter. Mr. Walker lias described his case so minutely, that you may understand his situation without much com- ment on the subject. It is very probable with me,'that this complaint was brought on him by loud speaking, as he practiced at the bar; and it is the opinion of a great many medical writers, that loud speeking, night walking, and wearing damp clothes, &c. he. will very frequently produce puiminary diseases, and notwithstanding a per- son may expose themselves in these aforesaid ways wit • out receiving any perceivable injury, yet, they, at last may be taken when they are little aware of it, and that at a lime too, when they are not in the habit of expos- ing themselves half as much as they have done in times pad. The following is the manner in which I treated this gentleman's case, viz: I got a handful ofthe bur,; of sas- safras roots, a handful of comphrey roots, a handful of mullen roots, a handful of elecampane roots, a handful of spikenaid roots, and a handful ofthe bark ofthe roots of spicewood: and put all these ingredients into anew earthen crock, and added balfa gallon of honey, balfa gallon strong apple cider, and half a table spoonful of ni- ( 333 *) tre; fhen covered the crock with wheat dough, heat arc out dirt oven very hot,and set the crock in where it re- mained until cold; I then took it out and strained it, and to each quart added a table spoonful of Indian turnip dried and beat, and a spoonful of diider soot Of this medicine he took from half a table spoonful to a table spoonful three times a day, with a tea spoonful of linseed oil to each dose, with directions from me to refrain from the use of sweet milk and bacon, but to use any other light diet that agreed with him, but by no means to ex- pose himself to wet or damp weather, night air or the like, and by the time he had taken one or two bottles-of this medicine he was restored to his health. A REMEDY FOR WEAK NERVES. Take one part of wild, or Indian turnip, and four parts of loaf sugar; pound tliem well together, to tlie consis- tence of a conserve, and take a dose about as large as a nutmeg three times a day. Dr. ADAMS' RECEIPT for THE CONSUMPTION. Take the bark ofthe roots of rose willow, rock pol- lypody, lungwort, (that grows on the south side of an ash tree,) brook, and noble liverworts, comphrey, spike- nard, solomon seal roots, yellow sarsaparilla roots, of each a handful, boil them in a sufficiency of water to ex- tract the strength; then strain it, and sweeten it with honey. This he directs the patient to take three times a day, and from a half to a whole table spoonful at each dose, while he lives on light cooling diet. A remedy for the hectic fever^where the patient spits blood. Take white ash and tamerack bark, bittersweet, spicewood, yellow sarsaparilla, princes pine, and swamp nettle, bark of the roots, of each a handful, boil them slowly in three quarts of water down to three pints; strain it, and add a pint of good honey. The dose is a. table spoonful, which may be taken three times a day. Some physicians sav that the following ought to be the first medicine u.-.ed in pulminary diseases, viz.- Take the tops of spicewood and sassafras, the inside bark of young hasswood, or I'm, and buck thorn roots, of each two. ( 334 j ounces, boil them in two quarts of wafer, down to one quart, and sweeten it with honey. The dose may vary from half to a whole table spoonful; which should be taken three times a day. GARRARD COUNTY. Ky. 1818. I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That I was taken in the year 1810, with a complaint supposed to be the con- sumption, under which 1 lingered until I became very low, and after about ten months had elapsed, I appied to a physician from whom I derived some b?r.efit, but did not obtain a cure. I then abandoned his medicine; and lingered on still getting worse, until I lost alt hopes of ever recovering again, four years having rolled a- round and me still getting worse and worse. In this situation I applied to Dr. R. Carter, and as soon as I commenced taking his medicine I experienced great re- lief, and continued taking his medicine for the space of nine weeks, which has entirely relieved me of my com- plaint. It has been three years since I quit taking his medicine, and have been as well ever since, as ever I was in my life, and I must, therefore, give Dr. Carter and his means, with the blessing of the Almighty, praise for restoring me to my health. I am ready and willing to certify on oath when legally called upon, that the a- ?>ove certificate is true. A. HAWKINS. Attest. William Cojjc, Cantly M. Wallace, Katherine Carter. Mr. Hawkins' complaint was the consumption. W;hen 2 was called on, he was about the middle of the second stage. He had cold chills, fevers and night sweats, soreness in his breast, hoarseness, a dry tickling cough, and a pale countenance, having lost very much of his flesh. For cure I got a handful of white plantaine leaves, the same of liverwort leaves, the same of the roots ofpollypody, the same of spiknard roots, the same of comphrey, the same of elecampane roots, and the same of running brier roots; put all these in a sufficient quan- tity of water to boil the strength out of them, then strain- ed it, and added a pint of imported molasses, a quart of ( 335 ) hard cider, and a table spoonful of salt petre; then sim- mered it slowly down to a quart, of which I gave him half a table spoonful three times a day, with a tea spoon- ful of linseed oil in it, with directions to increase the dose slowly to a table spoonful: but before he took this, he took three doses of receipt the 16th in the ordinary way, and then commenced on this as before mentioned, and at the same time used a strong tea made of sycamore chips and beach bark, and in case his fever arose, he took a few drops of tne sweet spirits ofnitre, and elixir of vit- riol two or three times a day ina little water. 'Ibis course broke the fever and night sweats, relieved his rough, and. with the aid of some tonic medicines, and light regimen he was completely cured. A remedy for the consumption when the patient does not sweat. Take tall beadi berry brier roots, the bark of sassa- fras roots, of each half a gallon, put it into a pot with half a gallon of beach bark, and three gallons of water; boil it down to half a gallon, strain it, put it into a clean keg, and then add a quart of molasses and a little stillers yeast, and let it remain until it undergoes a state offer- mentation, it is then fit for use, and may be taken three times a day, and from balfa table spoonful to a table spoonful at each dose, but the patient should abandon the use of high seasoned victuals, and avoid going out in the wet, damp or night air, as well as exposure of every kind. TO PREVENT THE CONSUMPTION. Take camomile, princes pine roots, sanicle, wild coll: foot, and sweet flag, of each a handful, boil them all well together, in four or five gallons of water down to a quart; strain it, and add a pint of rum, a pint of honey, and strain it slowly down to three pints, and take as in the above re- ceipt. FOR A DEPRESSION OF THE BLOOD AND JUICES. Take sarsaparilla, and sassafras bark ofthe roots, moun- tain birch, and black elder bark ofthe tree, of each a -double handful, and a small handful of the roots of rattle ( 336 ) weed: boil them all well in a gallon of water down to three pints; add a gill of rum, a gill of molasses, and take as in the above receipt. FOR COSTIVENESS. Take yellow dock roots, plantane roots and tops, and red clover heads, of each a handful: boil them in a quart of wa- ter down to a pint; strain it, sweeten it with molasses, and take a table spoonful three times a day, until it operates. Then take liore hound and elecampane, of each a double handful; boil it in two quarts of water down to one quart, strain it, and add rum and molasses of each half a pint,and make use of it in tlie same way. For a palpitation ofthe heart with pain and debility. Frst let blood, then take a tea spoonful of pulverized co* lumboroot, in a table spoonful of brandy at half after ten o'clock, and the same at half after four o'clock for three days in succession, and then take of elecompane, garden col's foot and hart leaves, of each a handful; simmer them in half a gallon of water down to three pints; strain it, add two ounces of loaf sugar and a gill of rum, and take a table spoonful three times a day. ESTILL COUNTY, Ky.) October—, 1818. J I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That I was taken in the year 1815, with a pain in my head, situated between my eyes, which was accompanied with a swimming giddiness. I think, as well as I recollect, that I was taken in the month of January. The pain still continued in my head, and when the swimming would come on it would produce very strange feelings, which would last for some considerable time, which alarmed me very much, and as well as I recol- lect sometime in the month of March, I had tlie opportuni- ty of conversing with a physician respecting my complaint, but obtained hut little satisfaction from him, because I did not believe he understood my complaint, so I still continued to get worse until sometime in May, at whicii time I sent to the same physician again. He sent mc some medicine and a blister plaster, to apply- to the back of my neck, and I think that while the blister was running I felt considerably better, but as soon as it dried up I felt us bad us ever. He ( S37 ) also put a seton in my neck which relieved rny head very nun h for about three weeks. My ears then ( ornrr.eia td throwing and appeared to be swelled, and pairs in my jnws aid reck ensued, so that early in Augu>tl become confined to my bed, and for about fourteen months the doctor gave me more or loss mercury, so as just to cause me to spit frec- I), hut once during the time I became severely „ salivated, but received no benefit, but was still severely pained thro' my head, and the greater part of my time for two years was confined to rny bed. 1 then sent to Dr» R. Carter in the month oi November, and in nine or ten days after 1 com- menced taking his medicine, I discovered that I began to mend. I slillcontinued to take of his medicine during the winter, and still ntei.dcd on slowly, but the complaint had previously spread through my whole system, so that I was enabled on last spring to be brought in a carriage to the said Dr. Carter who lives adjoining this place, aid in the course of six weeks 1 became so much better that 1 was en- abled to ride home on horse hack, and afterwards returned again in the same way. I have never experienced such se- vere pains in my head since 1 have beenunder Dr. Carter* as I did before I employed him. When I first employed him J was very low in flesh, and my blood appeared to be in a very bad state; but I urn now mending very hot, ai d flatter myself, that with the blessing of God and Dr. Car- ter's skill, to experience a sound cure. Given from under my hand this day and year first above written. VOLLNDA FIELDS. Attest. William W. Penney, Cantly M. Wallace, John Denneston. This lady's complaint was the king's evil, which has been. before described. Her whole system l.ad become affected with this ci mplaint, and notwithstanding it had ran on her so long, and reduced her so It w ; yet tit re were no external enlargement of glands, nor a tumor in the whole system; the only external effect was a universal hardness ofthe nu- merous fclands of the neck, and at the same time was pre- sent a continual soreness and misery in her breast and head, an impediment in the urinary passage, at times a weakness in the small of her back and hips, weak appetite, and a general debility througneut the whole system. To C S38 ) perform a cure under such circumstances will be extremdy difficult. My first object was to work the effects of mercury out of the svs'.om, strengthen the nerves,and renew the blood; to effect which,! gave her a bottle of receipt the 10th, to be taken in the ordinary way. This so increased her appetite and strengthened her, that she was enabled to stir about a little. After this I gave her a little of receipt the 4Gth to be taken in the ordinary way. The effect ofthis was, that her appetite and strength more considerably increased, while her pains abated in a great measure, the glands on her neck began to soften, and her blood resumed its former free state of circulation through the whole system. She by this time was enabled to ride ina carriage to my shop, and there obtained some of the ointment of receipt the 28th, with which she anointed her neck every night, which per- fectly restored the glands thereof to t!.eir proper slate, notwithstanding the applicotion would sometimes maki her neck somewhot sore. When this ointment become too hard, a« is often the case. She softened it by mixing a little sweet oil with it. At the same time while she was using this ointment on her neck, she took of receipt the 34th for about a week, which siill kept the system in good order. 1 then resorted to a more effectual remedy, which was receipt the sixtieth, of which she took fir abont a weeks, which diffused strength through the nervous system, and increased the appetite. She then returned home with a quart of receipt the 62\d, to be tak- en in the ordinary way, the design of wn idi was to thor- oughly purge the system, and cleanse the stomach, which had the desired effect, for she came back again in the course of two or three weeks, quite fleshly and strong com- paratively speaking, but not free from the disease, for she complained of a pressing or bearing down in the lower part ofher abdomen, with frequent emotions to make water, attended with but small discharges, a swimming in the head, whicii would very much increase on stooping down; a weakness iu her back, and a coldness in her feet. I then gave her of receipt the 61st, in the ordinary wav, and stew- ed a pint of camomile flowers in a pint of fresh butter, until the butter became an oil, and directed her to anoint her ab- domen (where the wdgbt or misery should be) well wann- ed before the fire at bed time every night, and when she expected her monthly evacuation to take place, 1 would C 539 ) give her about ten or fifteen drops of the essence of morni*- tah- tea. This course would cause a free menstunl dis- charge without paio. S>e at length returned home in high spirits, hoping that in a short time she would enjoy her health perfectly. When she was about to return home I gave her a bottle of receipt tlie 23rd, to be taken in the ordinary way,ard I have been told since, that she hasher her health as well as she ever had. Dr. Rice of Lexington informed me not loiigsmce. that he-has never failed curing the king's evil by treating it in the following simple man- ner, viz: give salsoda and Jesuit barks, of each from the half to a whole table spoonful, in some kind ofa bolus three times a day, for three or four weeks; while the patient's diet should be light and cooling. This prescription is cal- culated for a grown person, but the treatment for any oth- er age may be proportioned thereby. This receipt was taken from the writings of Dr. Reece, and no doubt is wor- thy of attention. FOR THE SCURVY AND JAUNDICE. Take three spoonfuls of the juice of scurvy grass, water creases, brook lime and celendiiie; one spoonful of prickly ash berries, and the same of thejuice of blood root, and add it all to a quart of proof spirits. A dose is from half a table spoonful to a table spoonful, and should I e taken three times a day; while the patient avoidswet oi damp air,or the use of strong diets, spirits, cider or the like. FOR THE RHEUMATISM. Fill a three pint hotile full of hops, squeeze them in lightly; then put half a pound of pulverized brimstone in upon the hops, and fill the bottle up with French brandy: let it stand three days, and then take half a table spoonful twice or three limes'a day, shaking of it before you take your dose; and take at the same time of brandy grog. i. e. brandy and water equal qualities of each, in the same way that you take the above. It is said that in this way the Indians cure tlie west kinds of rheumatisms, cramps and the like, but it would be well fir the patient to avoid tak- ing cold while using this medicine. ( 340 ) GARRARD COUNTY, Kr.> April the \lth, 1818. V T DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That I was violently at< tacked some t me in last September was a year past with the fever, which was seven days before my being delivered of a child.' The first symptoms were a soreness and itching in all my bones, and high fevers. Dr. R. Carter attended on me and soon broke the fever; and after I was delivered of my child, I was taken with a severe cough, and violent pains in my back, hips and side, so that I could not bear to be raised in my bed without fainting. The same Dr. attended on me, and I was soon restored. I afterwards was taken with vio- lent pains through my bowel?, accompanied with a kind of cramp. Dr. Carter attended on me in this case likewise, and 1 received speedy relief from my afflictions. We, or either oi us, do certify the above statement to be correct, given form under our hands, this day and year first above written. POLLY WOOLEY, WILLIAM VvOOLLY. Attest, Cantly M. Wallace, James Cunning, Thomas Tholsey, Andrew Hood, William Coil, William Lampton. As this complaint is but very little understood among common people, and but seldom makes its appearance, I would rdvise the patient not to tamper with it, but to call in a physician TO MAKE THE SPIRITS OF LAVENDER. Take one ounce of cinnamon, two ounces of cloves, half an ounce of nutmegs, and three drams of red saunders; ma- cerate them in half a gallon of proof spirits for two days; then add half an out ce ot rosemary oil, then stiain it off the tincture, and add half a pint of water to the drugs; shake it well, and squeeze it as dry as possible, and then add the juice to the rest. HUNGARY WATER. Dissolve as much of the oil of n snmaiy in strong ppirita as will conviently be taken ud. This constitutes hunga? yy water. ( 341 ) FOR A NERVOUS HECTIC FEVER. Take comphrey, solomon seal, and spikenard, of th© roots of each a handful: pound them fine, ad'd them to three pints of cider, and half a pint of molasses: set it in an oven when you put in bread to bake, and let it remain for tne same length of lime, and when it is strained it is fit for use. The dose is a table spoonful, and may be taken twice a day at the commencement, but after the patient strengthens a little he may take it three times a day, while his diet should be rye mush and buttermilk. N. B. The above medicine should be put in a new earthen vessel, and covered closely with wheat dough pre- viously to its being put in the oven. A REMEDY FOR A WEAK STOMACH. Get a handful of the bark ofthe roots of a sweateningap* pie tree, and put it into a quart of wine. The dose is a wine glass foil, and may be taken three times a day. This preparation, or simple tea made of this bark is very useful in all kinds of fevers. AN EXCELLENT OINTMENT FOR THE PITES. Get a handful ofthe tender roots of elder, a handful of the leaves of Jamestown weed, or stramoneum, a handful ofthe heart of plantane, a handful of burdock roots, a hand- ful ofthe tops or roots of mullen, a handful of garden or marsh mallows, a handful of catnip, put all these ingre- dients into a pot, an 1 stew them in one pound of fresh but- ter slowly down to an oil; strain it, let the patient anoint frequently with it; and steam frequently over rusty bacon and chickens when set on fire, A FEW REMARKS ON DISTILLATION. I shall endeavor to lay down a few plans, by which a va- riety ofthe aforesaid herb«, roots, &c. may be brought into a pure state of essence without diminishing their medical properties; and reason says, that it must be much easier to th' physician,and far more paletable to the patient, than when used in the form of diet drinks or sirops. ON SOLUTION. Solution is the method of bringing the chemical princi- ples to light, which is effected in various manners. The C «43 ) first is distillation, which is performed upon bodies cont; ina ing moisture or, such things as may lie reduced into a state of fluidity, in which case the virtue is elevated in vapours to the top of the vessel, by the application of heat, where they condense, and fall down aga'ni in drops into the receiv- er. Second!v, sublimation whh h is an devation or volatil- isation of dry articles by fire, which adheres to the top or Sides of the crucible or matrass. There are tw'o kinds of distillation; the one by ascent as mentioned above, when the fire is made underneath the vessel, and the other by descent, when the fire is made'upon the vessel, by which means the humidity is rarified, and the vapours not being ado to rise, on account ofthe tire being on the top, which thereby repels them, they consequently precipitate and fall to the bottom ofthe vessel.. . Dist> llaiion as well ns sublimation requires several differ- ent degrees of heat, i. e. first, three or four pieces of char- coal 1, about the thickness of a mans finger well fired, se- condly, six or seven such pieces of charcoal in the same way; thirdly, the furnace should bemadeofa common red color by heat; and fourthly, the furnace should be made of a white red colour, or as hot as you can make it. Of dry heats, ashes is the weakest, sand the next, and the _ filings of iron the strongest of all. The most ordinaay vessel used in distilling of waters, spirits and oils, is an alembic or still, which consist of a cop- per vessel, fit t,; contain the matter, while the heat acts on it, and a large head luted theaeto while a long nctk resem- bling that of a swan, the vapors or steam which arises from the boiling matter in the still passes through the neck or arm into a worm, which is placed ina large vessel full of cold water, called a refrigeratory, which serves to con- dense the steam into a fluid form, and in that state runs into the receiver. By this kind ofdistillaiioi, the m re subtile and volatile parts of liquors are separated frcm the grosser, which is occasioned by the force of heat, which causes them to evaporate and attempt to escape in the form of steam. Thus inflamahlo spirits are distilled, and all ofihe more ac- tive parts of vegilabJrs, vvhidi boiling water orspirits ; re capable of extracting, ai-d are suitable to be evaporated with them in the form of vapors; here e we are enabled to obtain (he essential oils of vegetables, in which the whole virtue of aromatics and the spiritus rector, or the peculiar ( 313 ) odour, and flavor of all plants reside; for if a pound of cirh nanto i. isp:jt into boiling water and carefullv distilled, a milky aromatic liquor will escape with a little very fragrant miish oil, sinking to the bottom, replete who the virtues of of the cinnamon. If after this the same decocti >n is re-dis- tilled,( it will aif)rd nothing hut a watery liquor, void nf smell, and destitute of every mark of the spice. The result will be the same if an experiment is made with any other wood or bark whatsoever. The retort is another instilment which serves to extract by distillation, the gross oils of animals, vegetables, quick- silver and mineral acid spirits, which require, a much stron- ger heatthan the former. To the neck of this a receiver is luted, whicii standing out at the furnace, the vapors soon condense in it without the help of a refrigeratory, although in hot weather it sometimes is cooled with wet cloths, or partly immersed ia vessels of cold water. A retort is made of glass, and genera My placed in sand; but when an extra- ordinary degree of heat is required, they are coated with a proper lute and placed in a naked fire. Long necks are a kind of insstuments which are laid on their sides with little or no ascent. Thev are placed in a naked fire, and the necks being put through a hole in the side ofthe furnace with a receiver luted thereto. These instruments serve todis'ill e-the acid spirit of vitriol. The matter remaining in the in- stilment after distillation is called caput mortuum Bal- neum mareal; or tne heat of a water bath, is proper for ob- taining tlie spirits of rosemary or lavender, or such vola- tile, or vinous spirits, as will rise with a less degree of heat, than is required to make water boil. The principal danger in disti'Ltions arises from the gen- eration of elastic air, which either bursts tlie receiver or blows off the head of the still, which has often been attend- ed with bad consequences. The best way to guard against this evil, is to raise the fire slowly, and leave a small hole in the luting, which may be occasionally stopped or opened by means of a wooden plug, or by inserting at the juncture an upright pipe, which must be so long as to prevent the escape ofthe vapours of the distilling liquor: In the choice of simples for obtaining essential oils, you should not depend upon their tastes; for ginger, urum, pepper, mustard and cresses, all of which have strong taste, yield little or no essential oil, which ( 344 ) clearly demonstrates that the piiuijb-s of taste and F.mdl are uoi the sacne: from whence, it fdlous, that medicines of strong taste-, and little or no smell, do not heat the body as much, iior raise such commotions in tlie humours, as those which exoihit as strong smdl, and yield by distillation ' great quantities of essential oil; for instance, fragrant spi- ces, such as cinnamon and doves, heat the system more than such as are much stronger to tlie taste, and have li lie or no smell at all. Some vegetades yield three kinds of oil, «uch as the ceph- alic nervine herbs, for from the seeds of hyssop, origaneum, or balm, a temperate oil my be expressed, affording litlle or no smell; the leaves and flowers, yield by distillation with water, an oil which lias a very agreeable smell, and that which is left in the boUom'of the stil, when dry and distill- ed without water, yields an empyreumalic oil, possessing an acrid taste, andfeeted smell. Herbs and flowers dried gently in tlie shade, afford more oil than when fresh gather- ed: hence, two pounds of dry lavender flowers when distill- ed, will yield an ounce of oil, when if they should have been distilled when fresh, they would not have produced much more than half the quantity; the same may be &aidof Sage, balm, marjorum and mint. Two pounds of a plant should be dried to about on&( pound, for if they are too dry, they yield not only a less quantity, but it is of a thicker consistence, and is higher co- lored, because the more subtile parts ofthe oil have been carried off in drying. River water is the best to macerate the herbs in that you distill, and should be three times the quantity of herbs dis- tilled, and would be necessary to add a quart of salt forevery ten gallons your still contains; and when you empty your still of herbs, you should let the liquor remain, and keep up the proper quantity by adding fresh water and salt as a- bove. The design ofthe use ofthe salt, is to raise the herb from the bottom ofthe still, and prevent its burning. Salt also serves to assist the extraction of the oil, and prevent putrifaction. The maceration in the summer season should only continue about twenty-four hour-, because a longer time would lay the herb liable to putrifaction, especially in herbs turgid with a penetrating oil, such as mint or marjor- um. In distillations ofthis kind one fourth part of the still Should be empty, for when there is a greater vacuity, the ( 345 ) oil will not ascend so easily, and if it is performed with too great a degree of heat, it loses its agreeable smell; and if the still is too full, the liquor will either rise too high, or the oil will have the appearance of being mixed with mud* ar^siig from the particles of the herb, which are thrown uo with the oil. In the first part of the operation a grea- ter degree of heat is required, so. as to make the water boil, without which the oil will very sparingly if at all as- cend, but after it commences running, the fire must be pro- portioned by the size of the stream, lest the vapors should escape through tlie worm before it condenses, and so van- ish and be lost. The fire at first may flame, but afterwards should consist alone of charcoal. The whole process re- quires only four or five hours, because the oil with some water is the first that ascends, and afterwards water alone, having some taste and smell of the herb, and therefore, should he carefully saved, and put back into the still with the next portion ofthe same herb;;. The oils of marjoram and ro cmary, on account of the salts wherewith they a- bouud, should be distilled with a more temperate heat, than that of mint, and mint again more go than th^t of spike, and spike more so than lavender; for it is hardly possible to conceive ofthe effects that the different degrees of heat have on the texture ofthe oils, for if the heat be too intense, the oils acquire a more acrid taste and a stronger smell. As it regards the colour of oils, that of cloves is white, as is also that of sassafras, and cinnamon which on standing, becomes more or less yellowish, and at length redish. The oil of lavender, is clear and limpid, and that of spike of a yellow- ish green. The oils of mint and marjoram are yellowish, but when distilled too hastily they are red. The oil of rue is brown; the oil of wormwood of a blackish green,'arid that of camomile of a fine blue colour. Oils differ also with regard to tiieir consistence. The oil of roses appears to he as thick as butter on the top ofthe water. The oils of wormwood am. yarrow, stick to the leaden pipes through which they pass, and cannot be got from thence without pouring rectified spirits of wine through them, and unless the pipes are well cleansed before you distill other things through them, they will partake of their taste annd smell. Nothing but turpentine yields a greater quantity of oil than savine, for two pounds rightly distilled, will afford five ounces of oil, a pound of nutmegs, aa ounce, and still leave 2T ( S46 ) rt considerable quantity at the bottom of the still, which il the same as that obtained by expression. Hence, it ap- pears that this spice has two kinds of oil, i. e. the expressed, which is more temperate and fixed, and the distilled, t Inch is more subtle. Four pounds of the dried flowers of spike, will afford three ounces of oil, and the same quantity of dried lavender flowers will scracely yield an ounce, and still it has a more agreeable smell than the oil of spike. Four ounces ofthe leaves of mint, will, when slightly dried, afford an ounce and a half of oil, and the same quantity of marjoram will yield scarcely an ounce. Notwithstanding rue has a sharp penetrating smell, yet ten pounds will not yield more than four drams; from which it appears,that it abounds more with a saline than an oily principal. Camo- mile flowers afford but little oil, therefore, that which is pure must be very dear. The seed of anise, dill, carra- way and fennel abound with oil, and yet that which we find in the shops are generally adulterated. It is likewise wor- thy of observation, that all oils have a specific taste and smell, hence, the oils of thyme and savory erode the nose* The oil of wormwood is extremely bitter, and offends the head with its strong smell; and the oil of tansy smells like the herb itself. Herbs will not yield the same quantity of oil at every age, for if rue, mint, thyme, balm or marjoram, is distilled while young and tender, thev w ill afford but a small portion of oil, hut when the heads of flowers begin to appear, the case is very different: hence, it appears that the scarcity or plentitude ofthe oils depend on the vigor and maturity of the herbs from which they are extracted. I shall now proceed to shew the manner in which I have obtained oils of different descriptions. I have a copper still containing about twenty gallons, and of the same shape and constructions as those used in distilling spiritous li- quors, and in which I distill the greater part of my oils. I have also a fire press in which I distill the rest. I let mountain tea lie and wither for about half a day, then fill my still with it, then add two handfuls of salt, a sufficient quantity of water. I commence with a moderate fire under my still, and catch the products in a gallon bottle, where the oil sinks to the bottom. This I let stand for three or four hours, after which, the water or liquid is carefully ( 347) poured off, and the oil which remains in the bottom ofthe bottle is secured in vids. I then add a little of this oil every dav to a vial or bottle of the strong spirits of wine, until I discover that it will not take up ariv more. This is what I call the essence of mou.main (ei; and is an excellent medicine, when a woman has taken cold iu child bed, tiie dose should be from fifteen to twenty drops in a little water, and nviy be taken two or three times a day. This will relieve in extreme cases; may be dso given with great surcess at the time the flow of the menses should take place, in cases where they are difficult and painful, and when, there is a suppression in the urine, fall ofthe womb, and in cases of the fever, where the skin hdrv. This medicine is increasing to the appe- tite, and quite innocent in its nature. SPIKENARD OIL IS MADE THUS: I fill my still with spikenard roots after they are well bruised, then put in about three pounds of salt, a sufficien- cy of water, and distill it briskly, keeping the refrigeratory or worm tub cool, and running the products into a bottle where the oil arises to the top, when it can be taken off and bottled., SASSAFRAS OIL IS MADE THUS: I get a quantity of the bark of sassafras roots, and distill it in the same way as if it was spikenard roots. Put an ounce of spikenard oil, and half as much sassafras oil into a quart of strong spirits of wine, and let it stand a few days. This is a wonderful medicine to cleanse and purify the blood, and is wonderfully efficacious in cas<-= d the phthisic, pleurisy and co isumptin . It is increasing to the appetite, and is also very good in c nses where childreu are subject to the phthisic. The dose for a grown person is from fifteen to twenty drops, which may be taken in ho .• ev three times a day; and for child ma, from one to ten years old, from three to five drops is a sufficiency. This medicine is also a very excellent thing for pregnant women to make use of, it being calculated to strengthen them, and give them an easy delivery. The oil of spikenard, may betaken alone, i. e. four or ive drops three times a day in honey or sugar, and indeed ( 348 ) I prefer it in weak pulminary cases, or in the last stage of a fever, where a cough ensues. These oils, a part are spikenard oil, and sassafras oil, hut when combined and added to the spirits of wine as above, it is called the essence of spikenard. The essence of angelica is obtained by distilling the roots of angelica in the same way a« those of spikenard or sassa- fras, and prepared as follow, viz: t ike an ounce ofthe oil -f angelica, half an ounce of sassafras oil, half an ounce of cin- namon oil, and an ounce ofRuss an caster; to this add thiee pints of alcohol. This is the greatest m diaine in my know'edge for convulsive fits, and should be taken three times a day in a little water, and ten or fifteen drops at each time, while tlie patient should live on very light di- et, and drink also freely of a tea made of mullen roots. Blood letting should likewise be practised, and more es- pecially if the patient is corpulent, just before the fulling and changing of the moon. After this course is practis- ed for a month or two, the cold bath should be taken, and continued for as long a time as the practitioner deems necessary. I never knew this course to fail effecting a cure in but one or two cases. This medicine has made a sound cure of a daughter ofMr. Mortons who lives in Lexington. This medicine is good in eases of cramps, thick blood, hyprocondriac effect ions, nervous diseases, &c. &c. FEMALE ESSENCE, I have made considerable use of a medicine which I call female essence, which is made in tlie following man- ner, viz: 1 fill my stiil with the bark of mountain burch and water, and distill it with mountain tea; the oil of which will sink to the bottom in tlie same way; but will not yield as much oil. I put an ounce of this oil, and half an ounce of sweet anise oil into a quart of alcohol, and Jet it stand five or dx days, and it is then fit for use. This is an excellent medicine in female cases, i e. w here women have taken cold, or their mens r lal discharge le- turtr too often. The dose is from ten to fifteen drops, which should be taken three times a day in a little water. The patient should rub at the same time the lower parts of In r abdomen, or belly, every night before a warm fire, with an ointment made thus. i. e. take a handful of cain- oiniie flowers and stew, and stir tuem well over a slow ( 349 ) fire in a pintof fresh butter, that has neither been wash- ed nor salted. Ibis course wifl seldom fa I giving re- lief. The oil of mint is also obtained by distillation in the same wav, the oil of which swims, and uiav be made into essence by adding of it to good strong spirits as long aa it will take it up. The oil of peneroyal is obtained in the same way as that of mint, and also swims on the liquid. This il is, when mixed with fresii butter, or any either oinunent. a most wonderful remedy for the rheumatism. 1 have re- lieved prodigious eases (where the joints ami leaders have been affected) by rubbing this kind ofoiutmeni on twice or three times a day, and wrapping the affected parts in flannel. I have endeavored to give to give the reader a little in-< formation, as it respects my manner of obtaining the essential oils of herbs, roots, <$*c. and will now insert a few useful receipts, and then give a brief history of my performance by way of a fire press: but uuless the patient or practitioner, follows my directions, they cannot flat- ter themselves with a hope of relief: but to those who have weakly constitutions, 1 would give the following ad- vice: Let wine and women be refused. And supper late, be seldom used: Thy feet keep warm, and thy head cold, And thou may'st live, till thou art old. FOK A DRY OR CONVULSIVE ASTHMA. The juice of radishes often give great relief; as also does a cup of strong coffee, or garlic, either raw, pre- served, or in sirop To drink a pint of new milk every morning and evening, is an excellent remedy, and has cured in cas s of the most inveterate nature; or beat saf- fron well, and take eight or ten grains every night, or take from three to five grains of ipiearuanha every morn- ing for a month if necessary. Five giains will general- ly vomit; but in a violent fit, take a scruple ins antiy. Apple water is an excellent drink in any kind of asth- ma It is made by pouring boiling wafer on apples, The patient's iliet should be of a light and easy digestive nature. Ripe fruits either baked, boiled or roasted, are ( S50 ) Tery proper diets, strong liquors of every kind, but mora especially beer, are all pernicious. If the patient makes use of any supper, it should be very light. All disorders ofthe breast are much relieved by keep- ing the feet warm and promoting perspiration. Exer- cise is also of very great importance, where it is pec-por- tioned by the strength of the patient. Issues or setons are found in gmerd to be of singular service. FOR AN HAEMOPTYSIS, OR SPITTING OF BLOOD. Take two spoonfuls of thejuice of nettles every morn- ing, and a large cup of the decoction of nettles evevy night for a week or mare, or a gill of stewed prunes on lying down at night, f>r two or three nights in succes- sion; or three spoonfuls of sage juice ina little honey; this generally stops immediately, either spitting or voai- iting o. blood T > take balfa tea spoonful of Barba- rities tar on a liynp of loaf sugar at night, is also very beneficial. FOR A VOMITTINGOF BLOOD. Take two spoonfuls of nettle juice; i this will also dissolve blood that is coadgulated in the stomach) or take as much salt petre as will lie on balfa crown, dis- solved in a glass of cold water two or three times a day, CANCER IN THE MOUTH. Boil a few leaves of succory, plantane, rue, and a lit- tle honey, for a quarter of an hour, gargle witli this se- veral times in an hour. This is deemed infallible. FOR THE CHOLIC. Drink a pint of cold water, or a quart of warm water, or camomile tea; or take from thirty to forty grains of yellow orange peel, dried and powdered, in a glass of wa- ter; or from thirty to forty drops of the oil of anise seed on a lump of sugar. FOR THE DROPSY. The paHent should in the first place be well purged. and then take cold bath daily, or rub the parts swelled with------oil by a warm hand, at least one hour in each day. This course of treatment has performed ex- ( 351 ) traordinary cures in many instances. T have knows great benefit received by the patient eating a burnt crust of bread every morning on a fasting toinacb. Senna, cream of tartar, and jallap, when equal quantises of each are well mixed together, and half a dram of the mixture given every morning in a little soup, seldom fails effect- ing a cure, either in windy or watery dropsies. Some patients have been cured by electrification, after having been pronounced incurable. Some patients have been cured in desperate cases, by drinking plentiful y of small beer and cider, without any other medicines. FOR A BURN OR SCALD. Plunge the part burnt or scalded immediately in cold water, and keep it theie for an hour or longer, if neces- sity requires: or if the patient could be immediately elec- trified it would seldom fail to complete acure. A broil- ed onion applied to the part effected, is likewise an ex- cellent remedy. EAR-ACH FROM COLD. In cases of the ear-ach, where it is caused by cold, yon should boil rue, rosemary or garlic, and let the steam ascend through a funnel into the ear, and then stop the ear with wool. DULL SIGHT. Where a persons sight appears to be dull, two or three drops of the juice of a rotten apple dropped in the eye oc- casionally for sometime, frequently has had a good ef- fect. EYE WATER. Put half an ounce of powdered Lapis Calaminaris in- to half a pint of French white wine, and as much white rose water. A drop or two of this water should be drop- ed into tlie eye, two or three times a e'ay. This eye wa- ter is excellent in cases of soreness, weakness, and most diseases of the eyes. EYE WATER. Boil one table spoonful of white copperas, and three spemnfuls of white salt, slightly in three points of pure spring water, aid when cedd put it into large vials and cork them tight, shake it softly, and drop a dropor«two in the eye morning and night. These drops answer the * ( 352 ) Same purpose as almost all the preceding medicines on the subject, being calculated to remove the redness, or a- uy kmil of soreness, pearls or rheums, and indeed, it sometimes restores sight itself. FOR A FEV* R WITH PUNS IN THE LIMBS. Take twenty drops of the spirits of hartuhoru iu a cup of water three times a day, or drink plentifully of ciner.ufoil tea. WORM FEVER. Boil a handful of rue. and a handful of worm wood in water, aod foment the belly with the decoction, and ap- ply the boiled herbs to the belly as a poultice. Repeat this application every night and morning. This course of tnvaiinent has often expelled worms, when the patient would take nothing internally, it is also beneficial in cas- es of fevers of a putrid kind. A FLUX. Receive the smoke of burning turpentine, which is al- so good for tlie bloody flux, and the falling down ofthe fundament: or pur a large brown toasted peice of corn bread into three quarts of water, to which you must add a (Irani of rocheneal, and a dram of the salt of worm wood. The patient should drink the w hole of this in as short a time as is practicable. This treatment rarely fails to cure either kind of flux, cholera morbus or infla- inalion of the bowels: or take a spoonful of plantane seed bruised, morning and evening until the complaint subsides: or take ten grains of ipicaruanha for three nioi eings in succes ion, which is also a sudorific: or boil four ounces of rasped logwood, or fresh logwood chips in three quarts of water down to two, and strain it, and !•d very beneficial: or take four or five drops of laudanum, and apply a poultice of worm wood and red roses to the abdomen, which poultice should be boiled in new milk. In dysentaries, which is the worst of all fluxes, fee** the patient on rice, salt soups, sago, ad sometimes bed." or mutton soups, but abstain from meats, and in order to give a final termination to the complaint, give a table spoonful of melted suet, and omit blood letting. I knew a person once who was cured iu a day, by taking freely of rice milk, and sitting fifteen minutes in a shallow tub having warm water in it about four inches deep. J ,UNDICE IN CHILDREN. For a cure take half an ounce of pulverized rheubarb, and mix with it thoroughly, by long beating, two hand- ful s of well cleaned currants, and of this composition give the patient a tea spoonful every morning. STOUGIITON'S BITTERS. Take of gentain root one ounce, cochenral and saffron of each one dram, of rheubarb two drams, of the lesser cardanron seed, grains of paradise, zedoarv and snake root of eac fa half an ounce, slice the roots and bruise the seed; then infuse them in a quart of good brandy, and add the rinds of four Seville oranges, and when it has stood eight days, rack it off. add a pint and a half more brandy to the same ingredients, and then let them steep ( 554 ) \mt'l the virtue is extracted, then rack it as before, and add it to the fid. These bitters are excellent f >r the stomach, and arc won- derfully adapted for the use of travellers when compelled to use bad water. The dose is from ten to twenty drops, or more, being quite paletable, which may be taken in spir- its either with or without water. I shall now proceed to shew bow I obtain oils by a fire press. I used a common iron pot, capable of containing about eight gallons, which I fixed in a furnace like unto a still, on which 1 pasted an iron oven, with a hole drill- ed in the side of h, for a cap or head, and inserted there- in an old gun brrrel for a worm, and drilled a hole ahout the middle of a quart mug, in which I inserted the other end ofthe gun barrel, and on tlie top of tlie mug, I pasted a glass jar. I then split dry white oak rails as true as practicable, and stowed the pot full, which I runoff by the heat of fire underneath, a? I would in making whis- key, aud done the same way with dried poke roots, Jamestown weed seed ■, and dried elder roots, each of wh ch was distilled separately, and the oils bottled sepa- rately. I tbeo got young pi *e roots, red pepper, tansy, camomile flowers aud radis 1 roots, and boiled them all well iu ten gallons of water, strained it, and added a quart of rum, a gallon ol hogs -fret dl and fresh butter, a pint of turkey buzzard- oil, a q lart of rod fishing worms, and an ounce of asafaj:ida. This I simn.eied, after adding the oib obtained by the press slowly down to a pure oil and bottled it. This il is a wonderful remedy for the rheumatism, cramp, weak nerves, co itracted leaders, pains io the limbs, white swellings. h(. he. This ointment is also excellent in cases ofthe p Isy, when tlie oi's of sas->dr is a d peneroya! is obtained by a fire pre-^s and added to it. Han shorn is also obtained by a fire pr ss from the hoofs and nor is of quadrupeds, as well as from feathers he. During flie operation, the hartshorn collects, and settles on thr sides of the jar, while the oil falls to the bottom. When the op -raioa is over, and .lie j :r removed you should scrape off tie h r'dioin and put if in a clean jar, and take another rever-cd oven it. then bury it in an o- ven of sand, and expuse the ovon to a moderate fire uutii ( 355 ) the salts arise-around the jar, which process purifies th& hartshorn. DIABATES, This complaint is one, with which, the common cla*s. of citizens are but partially acquainted. I have been ac- quainted with several persons who were afflicted with this complaint But as it respects its cause physicians dif- fer considerably. Its symptoms are, a sense of weariness, weakess, dis- inclination to motion, dryness ofthe skin, costb eness, great thirst, voracious appetite, accompanied by appa- rent defect in tlie process of chylificatiou, a gradual ema- ciation of the whole system, with a frequent discharge of urine, containing a large proportion of sacharine and oth- er mat to-, which is generally voided in a quantity far ex- ceeding Lnai which the aliment or fluid introduced into tlie stomach. This complaint has been called by differ- ent names, diabates. meliettis when the urine is of a fra- grant smell, yellowish honey colour, ard a sweetish taste. The persons most su'njcct to this complaint, are those of a feeble constitution, or in the decline of life, hard drinkers, those who have been much exposed to the in- clemency ofthe weather, th se wjio have taken strong di- uretic medicines, experienced excessive evacuations, live intemperately; excessive in venery, immoderate in the use of acids, hard laborers, and those who live on poor vapid diet, as also those, who, from any cause whatever become cowed and depressed in spirits. Several Doctors have written on this subject, who state more fully the different stages of this complaint than I do, viv: Thomas. Buchan, Bolla and Darwin: s'une of whom differ in opinion with the rest, as it respects the seat ofthe disease. Dr. Townsend has treated on this subject in some res: ects very much to my satisfaction. The urine discharged in this complaint, is u ually much more than Ins been visably received. A patient of Dr. Homes drank four pints of water in a day, and passed from eleven to twelve pints of urine. Even solids in- creases u'ine. yet in these complaints, tlie urine discharg- ed frequently exceeds the quantity of meat and drink united. Dr. Dobson mentions a case, in which the patient re- ceived in liquids and solids together, fourteen pounds, ( 35G ) and discharged by urine twenty-eight pounds. The n> rinc in this complaint is sweetish to the taste, and readily passes through the vinus and ascetous fermentations. The urine contains much sugar, aid being fermented with yeast constitutes a liquor re-e bung small beer. It is well known that punch sometimes passes almost as soon as it is swallowed, that asparagus qdekiy gives a peculiar odour to the urine, that iu a very short space of time cassia renders it almost black, and that some liquids pass unchanged. When this at the commencement of the present century was observed by M Morin, ofthe French academy of sciences, he concluded that liquids bad a nearer passage to the bladder than by the iutorh'S and kidneys, to ascertain tlie fact of which, philosophers have tied ligatures around the u'eries of d< gs, and found the pass as if no such operation had been performed on them, and Baron Haller, has particularly mentioned the production of urine after tlie kidneys themselves had been totally destroyed. It has generally been admited that tlie cutaneous obstructions imbibe a degree of mois- ture from the atmosphere. I knew a gentleman who af- ter excessive exorcise quickly guined some pounds in weight; and Dr. Rcil, without exercise in one night ac- quired eight ounces: yet the experiments of Dr. Curric and Gerard, prove cither that there must have been an error in these observations, or that the acquisition of weight was derived through the lungs: Dr. Gregory caused a patient who was diabatic, to be anointed with oil, after whicii the discharge of urine was apparently diminished. But Dr. Farrier particularly states in his late valuable publication, that in two diabatic cases, the patients complained of profuse perspiration, at a time when the urinary dis barge was considerable. And in the case of Clarke, as published by the ingenious Dr. Hallo, it is evident that there was no absorption of fluids by the skin. Then that liquids have a nearer passage from the stomach to the bladder than through the arte- ries and kidneys, appears probable by recent observa- tions. 1 understand that M. Carlisle, an amiable young sergeon, who pursues his ariitomical . researches, with more than common ardour, has lately made ligatures on die pylorus after having filled the stoma* h of animals with aqueous fluids, by which ho lias been convinced up^ ( 357 ) on dissection, that some considerable absorbants more than hitherto discovered pass immediately from that vis- cus, for he found it empty. Mr. Gimbernat, of Madrid, who, when young, dis- sected more bodies than any other an itomist in Europe, detected vessels leading from the stomach, which he was not able to pursue, which induced him to believe that li- quids had a nearer passage than through the arteries and kidneys. Uimer his persusion, he has collected a var'ey of facts, all of which tend to confirm his opinion on this subject. It has often happened that on the examination of stones extracted from the bladder,that some extraneous body has been detected, such as the nucleus, which could not have passed in tlie common way of circulation. Some of these bodies as Vanswieten has very judiciously observed, had been introduced by the urethra. But I apprehend that others are entirely clear from this suspicion. The possibility therefore, still remains, that chyle may find its way unaltered to the urinary ves- sels. On the other hand ifwe admit, with Dr. Bailie, that in diabates the kidneys are morbidly affected, and as Dr. Cullen observes, in a flacid state, and that the arteries ofthe kidneys are preternaturally enlarged, particularly those of the cryptic, or minute glands, which secrete the urine as o! served by Mr. Cruiksbank, we may be in- clined to think, that the proximate cause of diabates, is to be sought for in these vessels. We know that secretory organs in different states se- crete fluids of very different qualities. For instance, the the glands secreting the tears, sometimes afford those of an acrid and corrosive quality. It is also the case with the salivary glands, which, under the influence of mer- cury, no I nger secrete asaponacious fluid. Thus it is with tlie stomach, which by the mere influ- ence of the mine.', ceases for a time to secrete a gastic fluid fit for digestion, in consequence of which, symptoms of dyspepsia immediately ensue, but with the restoration of tranquility there is a restoration ofthe digestive pow- ers. The glands of the breast, when cancerous secrete no longer milk, hut the rao&t offensive and corrosive matter ( 358 ) and not mentioning the wonderful alterations, in the bi7«t produced under the influence of h«-at and cold, of poisons, and of tlie passions ofthe in nd, we may remark the more wonderful changes whicii tnk«- place in the dis- charge of ulcers, for this may be eit >e. inn I orc-u , tlii. k and yellow, or ichorous, paie, watery, acrid and offen- sive to the nostrils. Tne enlargement of the arteries in the criptse of the kidneys, (supposing this fad to exist) w ers, it is said to approach gradually. ST VITUS' DANCE. This is a melancholy disease, and Dr. Ruble says, that young people are most subject to it. It is called St. Vitus' dance, because some devotees of St. Vitus, exer- cised themselves so long in dancing that their intellects were disordered, and could only be restored by dancing again at the adversary of St, Vitus. The symptoms of this complaint are, convulsive motions of the limbs, as if tlie person was dancing. These convulsive, motions are most generally confined to one side, and affecting prin- cipally the arm and legs. When any motion is attempt- ed to be made, various fibiesof other museles act which ought not; and thus an effect contrary to the inten- tions ofthe person is produced. Dr Ruble in this com- plaint gives an < iiM'tir. ihen baiks,iron and other strengtliennig medicines, and makes tlie patient receive the cold bath; which, in my opinion would in many cases be very appropriate treatment: but we should in the first place endeavor to ascertain the proximate cause, before we can be sufficiently qualified to stop the effect. Prac- titioners have generally ben contented with giving eith- er the flowers or zinc, white vitriol, of the colx of ,zinc ( S60 ) precipitated from the latter. But some physicians hav» ordered the c uprum ammoniacum to be given daily, be- ginning with one grain and increasing gradually to three or even four grains twice a day. But in my opinion at- tention should be first paid to the occasional cause by obviating what ever error has been committed in the nonnaturals. and then to the predisposing cause. Dr. White of York, makes mention of a lady, who, by eme- tics brought up a great quantity of phlegm, was cured afterwards by the flowers of zinc: and Dr- W bytt, of Edinburgh, informs us of a girl, aged fourteen years, who was cured by a diarrhoea, during which she dis- charged a vast quantity of vicid mucuous, or slime by stool. I do not mean to suggest that slime in the intestines is the only occasional cause to be regarded, for that would be inconsistant with what has been recently stated, but that both slime and worms, with other irritating causes applied to the alimentary canal, require particular atten- tion, must he obvious to every one who knows any thing respecting spasmodic affections. Yet the attention must not be confined wholly to irritation, aridng from mate- rial causes for there may be mental irritation, or such as affects immediately, the nervous system to be sought for as is stated above, iu various errors resj)3cting the non- naturals, therefore 1st, If any evil passions have been excited, they must be restored. 2nd. If any natural evacuations have been checked, they must be restored. 3rd. If any thing improper has been introduced into the system, or generated there, it must be ejected either by emetics, or chatartirs", or both if occasion require it, after which the flawing p ascription ma be given, viz. Take of the filings of iron two scruples; precipitated sul- phur of antimony one sc ruple, socotorine allocs one dram; sirop a sufficiency to make twenty-four pills, of waieh you may give one every night. At the same time the Augustiira bark, with iron and aromatic spices, as ordered by Dr. Townsend mus' be given twice a day, i. e. take ofthe bark two ounces, filings of iron one ounce, aromatic powder one dram, sirop of ginger sufficient to ( 361 ) form an electuary. The dose may be a lump as large a3 a nutmeg, and may be taken twice or thrice a day. CANCER. I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That about two years ago, I was attacked with a distressing cancer on my lip. I applied to two different physicians, and so far from geting relief that it still grew worse, i then employed two different reputable cancer Doctors, both of whom failed to administer relief. By this time my lip was enterely eaten away down to below the gums, and to my very chinbone, and around beyond each corner of my mouth. About this time a neighbour of mine where I live, in the State of Virginia, advised me to apply to Dr. Carter of Ky. and I feel a disposition of thankful- ness to my merciful creator for bis goodness, for mak- ing use of said Doctor as an instrument in his hand, by which, I trust, I have obtained an entire cure. When the cancer was killed, my chin bone was ina manner naked, and of course destitute of a lip to cover my gums and teeth, but the Doctor healed it up, so fast that the thinskin from near my gums turned over and met the new flesh, which grew on my chin bone, which ultimate- ly constituted a tolerable substitute for my old lip, in so much that I can touch it with my upper lip, but thereis yet a small sore which is not quite healed, but it soon will be entirely sound* Very often when on my road to Dr. Carter, the people endeavored to turn me another way, but to all those who are afflicted as I have been and have tried physicians without success. 1 do advise and entreat to apply to the aforesaid Doctor, who will no doubt render the aid according to his superior skill, for I assure you, my dear reader, that it is with exultations of joy and pleasure that I proclaim so extraordinary a cure as recited in this certficate. Given from under my band, this sxh day of September, 1818. THOMAS IRWIN. Attest. W'iliam Blackburn, Jas. Blackburn, sen, Ja.. Blackburn, jr. William D. Cope, Ruth Miller, Polly Price, Eeziah Purley, kzekiau Ward, VS ( 362 ) Cancers having been the means ofthe deaths of SO many of our ancesters, I hope will be a sufficient apolo* gy, if while treating on Mr. Irwin's case, 1 should men- tion some other cases that have come under my notice; for possibly it may he of service to some persons in whose hands this work may fall, when I am in my cold grave Although my manner of practice as well as means, is so simple and unrefined, that some ofthe gen- try ofthe times snuff at my prescriptions, and lavish on me ridicule and defamation, yet, I still feel hopeful that I shall leave a useful work behind me, and trust that if it is not of that refined polish which is calculated to please the opulent and tasty, that they will lay it by for the use of those whom it my suit: 1 feel a disposition to im- prove to the uttermost the talent that God has given me in this fortunately free country. In acquiring this - knovvledge I have spent the prime of my life, aud des- troyed the best of constitutions. Mr. Irwin's case was, as he has represented. And ihere was also at the same time, a lady under my care, who had a cancer on her breast, by whicii she was consi- derably exhausted. A part e>f the nipple was eat away, and a hole in her breast as large as a hens egg: She also bad a child of'about five months old, w hose under lip was entirely ate off by a eancer, the cause of which 1 attri- bute to its sucking its mother's cancerous breast. I had the good fortune to effect a cure in all three of the above mentioned cases. After I treat briefly on the nature and symptoms of this kind of disease, 1 will lay before my reader the manner in which I performed the cures. In the first place, this kind of cancer bears the appear- ance of a hard glandulous tumour, both painful and ob- stinate, which if not speedily cured assumes the charac- ter of a cancer or tlie foulest kind of an nicer, that dis- tressing disease to which every gland in the glandulous system is subject. The eyes, nose, tongue, palate, lips, groins, exilla, uterus aud breasts of women are the parts most frequently infected, and those in waich its raviges are most severe. In women it commonly appears about the lime when menstruation ceases, and the first alarm- ing symptom is perceived when they move their arms backwards, so as to put the fibres of (he pectoral muscle on the streach. They then on examination discover a ( 363 ) small lump not larger perhaps than a hazle nut, and or** reflection they commonly remark, that two or tbreo months priorto this period they had a small discharge of diood from the nipple, which stained their linen. This symptom proves that some alteration is taking placo in the structure ofthe breast. The tumour continues to enlarge sometimes rapidly, till the whole glandular sub- stance becomes scbirrous. The superficial veins then become conspicuous, and the arteries enlarged aud very black. When the tumour is much enlarged, one part of it appears much softer than the rest, and when ulcerated, discharges a sauious ichor, but no pus. Pain then be- comes constant, the ulcer spreads, and a luxuriant fun- gus arises, which is not easy to restrain. The discharge- usually is copious, excoreats the skin, and produces ex- cruciaating pain, which gradually destroys the patient. Before ulceration takes place in the external surface, the axilliary glands are much enlarged, which arises proba- bly from an obsorption of the cancerous virus, and the tumour which was at first moveable becomes fixed to the pectoral muscle. I gave Mr. Irwin as much salsoda and barks mixed (of each an equal part) as would fill a tea spoon, morn- ing, noon and night, in a little water, and prohibited him from the use of bacon, sweet milk, spirits and cider, and forbid his exposing himself to wet or damp air; and after he had taken this for about a week, he made use of receipt the 23rd. in lue thereof. I also wet a little cot- ton in aquefortis, and put round under his under lip, or where it was wanting a few times, and applied the fol- lowing poultice, via; a handful ofthe inside bark of slip- pery elm, the same of the inside bark of sumach roots, the same ofthe inside bark of pine, the same of the in- side bark ofthe roots of dogwood, and the same of the ro its of swamp lillies, boiled in about three gallons of wa* ter down to about one, then thEkeried the ooze with new milk and oatmeal, and made it into a poultice. This ap- plication took out the inflamation. softened the ulcer and removed the rotten flesh. I then applied little pate lies ofthe aquefortis where I thought it was most requisite, until the cancer was almost killed, and then applied oc- cadonally a little red precipitate and the sugar of lead mixed, of equal parts, sprinkled it lightly in the ulccin. ( 364 ) fcud covered it with a plaster of receipt the 5th. this waft cleansing and healing. When I saw any cancerous ap-* pearance, I repeated the application of cotton wet in aq- uefortis, by touching the c ancerous parts, when requi- site, and at other times 1 washed it wilh Tereton's drops, which left the cancer m a very clean, but raw state, and then to remove the humour, I added a tea spoonful of lapiscalaminaris, forty grains of salnioniac, three tea spoonfuls of corrosive sublimate, and thirty grains of lunarcostie, to a pint of strong spirits of wine, with which 1 washed his cancer carefully every two or three days, taking particular care to prevent any from getting into his mouth, until his bowels become somewhat affected. I then used salts, the cream of tartar and jallap combined, 8{c, plentifully; then washed the ulcer in receipt the sixti- eth, and used receipt the 5th for salve, and on the ap- pearance of a redness or inflamation, I applied a poultice made of the white of an egg, honey, oatmeal and sweet cream, which accomplished the cure of Mr. Irwin, aa specified in the certificate. POETRY ON THE ABOVE, Observe Mister Irwin, Afflicted quite sore; Leave all his connexions, And seek for a cure; Who, through the kind mercies Of our blessed Lord, And my plain prescriptions, Was quickly restor'd. 0, join with our Saviour, Li is Fa! her to praise, For wisdom and mercy, Are in all his ways; For he from the prudent And wise has conrealedj, What unto my weakness He here has revealed; I thank thee, 0 Father, Of earth, aud of Heaven^ Thnt unto tlie simple Such wisdom is giver.; For what thou dost ordc-r^ C 365 > Must surely be right; For even so, Father, It seemed good m thy sightt A SHORT SKETCH ON THE HUMAN BODY." We find the kidneys separate tlie urine from the blood, and are called conglomerate glands, those which serve to perfect the lymph are termed conglobate, thus the glands of the groin, tlie armpits and those of the mesentaryy whl h have no other function, are'said to be conglobat.* 01 the vessels some contain the blood, others th© lymph, others agdn serve to filtrate a particular fluid. TbeSanguiiieous vessels are of two kinds, the arteries and the veins. The arteries are the elastic tubes which pro* ceed from the heart, from whence they receive the blood and convey it to all the parts of the body. They are of a conical figure, whose bases is toward the heart, thus the more the fluid is distant from the heart, the greater function there is, and the slower is the motion, The veins are only a continuation of the last divisions of the arteries, and return the superfluous blood to the heart. The arte; is have two motions, the one of dilata- tion, the other of contraction, the first is called diastole, and second dy stole, these opposite motions form what we call the pulse. The veins have no sensible motion, but they contain valves at certain distances from each other, which hinder the blood from returning back. The art* ries as well as the veins, have trunks at first,.which are divided into greater and small branches. The finest ramifications are called capillary vessels. The capillary extremities of the arteries are united to the capillary extremities of veins. The former transmit the blood whch serves for nourishment, and the latter carry b back to the heart. The lymphatic vessels are divided into arteries and Veins. The lymphatic arteries are small transparent- vessels, much finer than the sanguineous capillary arte- ries, from whence they proceed, and convey an aqueous fluid, called lymptia, to all parts of the body. The lymphatic veins are only a continuation ofthe arteries ofthe the same name, which carry part ofthe lymph a back into the blood. The lacteal vessels are called ly in- whatic veins, because they receive the white chyle fron> i;366> &Tic intestines, being full of lympha when that fluid is abt sent. The canals designed for secretions, are called secreto- I*y and exc retory. rPlie secretory vessels are those which separate a particular fluid from the blood, and are those which principally compose the conglomerate glands. The exc retory vessels are those which receive the secreted fluids and deposite it in certain parts, or carry it out of tlie body. The nerves are white cylindrical cords, which pro-' ceed from tlie brain and spinal marrow. They are cov- ered by tlie duramater, and are distributed into all parts of the body. They are composed of an assemblage of very fine hollow threads, through which a most suitable fluid called animal spirits flow. The nerves are princi- pium of motion and perception, by whicii 1 have thought the soul acts on the body The knowledge ofthe distribu- tion ofthe nerves and their relation to each other is very importanfjhence proceed the lympathetic motions, where- by a disorder in one part shall be communicated to and her aud produce different effects. The absorbent pores are on the surface of the body, which convey certain substances into the body. Hence, when mercury is applied outwardly it produces a saliva- tion; hence also, the water of dropsical patients, or that which is injected into .the belly of a dog may be obsorbed in a shod time, diffusa through the various parts of the body. All parts of the body are covered with membrana adiposa and the skin, which is the common tegumen. The membrana adiposa is a web of several very fine membranous leaves, in which there are an infinite mem- ber of fine transparent vessels or cellular. It is placed on the internal surface of the skin, and enters between the muscles, and has a communication with the pleura and peritonaeum. The sanguineous arteries deposite an oily unctuous juice into these cells, which condensing more or less is called fat. The skin according to the modern anatomists is comp ounded of four parts. The first, and internal is properly the skin, vdiich is compos el of membranous tendinous and nervous fibres, and is full of vessels, which are chiefly lymphatic. This web may be streached greatly every way on its exter- nal surface. Tuere are kinds of small glands set therein, r t 3G7 ) whose excretory ducts open on the external surface of the skin. The first are called miliary, and the second se- baceous. The second part of the skin is called the papil- lary body, and consist as small eminencies, as are seen on the external surface, which are called papillae pyra- midales, they are formed by the capillary ttueads ofthe nerves, distributed in the skin, and are the organs of touching. The third part is the reticular body, it is a mucous substance whicii easily condenses and covers all the skin, it is full of vessels, which form a vascular web fine and subtle. Injections, inflamations or paleness of the skin, prove their existence and communication. The fourth part is the epidermis or scarf skin, it is full of vessels, which form a vascular web fine and subtle; in- fections, ii Herniations or paleness of the skin, prove their existence and communication. This fourth part is a very thin transparent and sensible membrane, and closely attached to the rest, by such fine filaments that they easily break, its use is to defend the nervous papillse from the immediate action ofthe exter- nal bodies, whose impression would be too painful with- out it. This forma tlie external part of the vessels, which rise on the skin in blisters or burning; it easily grows a- gain. The callosities on the feet, hands and knees, are formed by several buninse of this membrane. The skin is pierced with imperceptible pores, part of which answer to the extremities of the arteries, which serve for perspiration. Tlie others are properly the ab- sorbent pores. Tiic colour ofthe skin is different in dif- ferent parts of the world, the cause of which is not abso- lutely known. OF THE FLUIDS WHICH PROCEED FROM BLOOD. The blood is formed by the chyle, from whence pro- ceeds the rest ofthe fluids, wh c > after having been com- pounded in its mass, are separated from it. This separa- tion is called a filtration or secretion. The secretions are made, either by the extremities of the capillary vessels ofthe arteries, as ofthe perspira- tion and the fat, or by means of certain organs, called the < 368 ) tonglomeratl glands, designed for this operation, as tlrosfc ofthe bile, the saliva, and the like. The fluids which are separated from the mass of blood, are divided into three classes. The first comprehends those which are to be mixed with the blood again for dif- ferent uses, such as the fat, synova, the fluids of the per- icardium, the animal spirits, Sfc. these are called recre- ments. The second contains tho^e which are to have no fur- ther commerce with the blood, such as urine, the matter of insensible perspiration, the sweat, kc. these are call- ed excrements. The third is compssed of those, parts of which are to re-enter into the mass of blood, and the other part to be thrown out ofthe course of circulation. Such as the sil- ava, the bile, and pancreatic juice, &c. As those par- take of the two firmer, they are called recremental ex- crements. These fluids are separated from the blood partly to perform function, or for the preservation ofthe body; partly because they are superflu u , and wonld be- come prejudicial. These shall be examined in their or- der. The matter of insensible perspiration is a fine subtle fluid, which exhales from the body in form of a vapour, and proceeds from the whole surface, ard from every cavity.' When it proceeds from the lu gs, it is called pulmonary perspiration; that which flies off from the pores ofthe skin, is called cutaneous perspiration. This evacution is called insensible, because it is im- perceptible to the eye . and yet it is more copious than all of the other evacutions. Many experiments prove its existence. If you pass your finger over the surface of a looking glass it will leave a track of moisture. If you breath upon gla&s, you may perceive it covered with water. The vapours which proceed from the lungs, are in winter condensed by the cold, and form a kind of bluish mist, proceeding from the mouth. Oilier experiments prove that it is more ccpious than the rest ofthe evacua- tions Samtorius observes, that out of eightpounds of aliment, five goes off by insensible perspiration. Hence we may learn how much the animal economy is disorder- ed when this perspiration is stoped by too cold an air, \vhich contracts the pores, or when it is too thick. ( 369 ) As there are no glands which secrete this fluid, it is supposed to proceed from the pores, or extremities ofthe capillary arteries which are excee.dinly small. This e- vacuation is more co do us in winter than in summer, in cold air than before a good fire. Its matter is aqueous and saline, and seems to have a great analogy to the urine, because iu a healthy state, the increase of one diminishes the other. Its use is to preserve tlie supleness of the papillse of the skin. It carries the saline particles off from the blood, and thereby renders it more pure. Besides a free perspiration preserves the body from diseases, and is of extraordinary use in promoting thu'r cure. The disorders which proceed from a suppression of perspiration arc great and dangerous, for it increases the impure juices, and dissolves them to putrifaction and corruption, whence proceed universal diseases, such as, fevers and cochaics, which are tainted with something of malignity. Thus in every season of the year, when perspiration is checked, diseases are generated; hence, in the spring proceed madness, hsemorages, epilipsies, pustules, rheu- matisms, the small pox, measles, catarrhal and continu- al fevers. For when the weather is changeable, as in March, diseases are apt to arise. Even diseases which predominate in summer, such as ardent, billious, continual and intermitting fevers, arc not so much owing to lint or dry, as to a cold damp air, which predominates in the morning and evening. The autumn is apt to bring diseases on accouut of its sudden changes. The diseases which reign in the winter, are certainly owing to intense cold; hence,pa'sies, rheumatisms, gouts ... and diseases of the head. However, dry, serene or ** pure cold weather increases the spring of the fibres, and strengthens the body which is well clothed, gives a pro- per tone to, and increases the strength ofthe parts. The matter of sweat is seperated from the blood by the miliary glands. It is much more gross than that of perspiration, whence in summer, it may be perceived in drops on the skin. Thhe pores through which it pass- es are likewise larger than those of insensible perspira* W3 ( 370 ) tion. While a person is in a sweat, the excretory ducts of the miliary glands compresses the pores of insensible perspiration, whence, a copious sweat diminishes perspi- ration. The sweat is nearly allied to urine. A LIST OF MY STUDENTS AND THEIR ACQUIREMENTS. Andrew Hood and John Wolfscale, were my two first students, they were attentive, and improved consid- erably in my mode of practice. Henry Rogecs another; he stayed but a short time with me, and received but little insight. Wiilliam Cope smother; who made considerable im- provements in pi a-* ire. ' antley M. Wallace another; he made tolerable im- pr vmients for the time. Wm Ri.kfk w, for his chance made good improve- ments Francis C Brady was another student, and an Irish- man. I shall neither say good nor harm of him, his works will shew for themselves. Isaac Wk^tekfuid is my last student. He is a young n.an oi good mother wit, of a sprightly genius and well read. He has been with me between three and four months, and has improved as mue h in that time, as aoy other of my students did in twelve months. To this young man 1 wean to reveal my whole secret. Tdseaie all the students that I ever had, or ever mean to have, except my childr-n. RICHARD CARTER. ( 371 ) OR EXPLANATION OF TECHNICAL TfCRMS. Arabia, .,} Asclepias de cumbers, Ascidum, Angelica, Abdomen, Abrotanum, Absinthinum, vulgre, Agrimouia, Apple peru, Datu a, Strnmonium Asridula, Abortion, Ascetosapratensis Acctum, Aether, Anthelmenticum, Agrus nigra, Alcohol, Allium, Alloessocootrine, Althse, Alumer, Arum triphylum, Amenorrhea, Amylum, Anasarca, Angina, Anisum, Anticardium, Antimonium, Anus, Aphtha?, Apoplexia, Apozcm, f Spinosa, \ P'eurisy root. f P lux root \ Butterfly root &c Vinegar. Angelica, A»changelica° Belly- Common Southern wood, Common wood, Agrimony. < Jamestown weed. Cold mineral water. Miscarriage. Common sorrel. Vinegar. f"A liquor obtained by distillation, J from a mixture of alcohol, and (. concentrated vitriolic acid. Jerusalem oak or worm seed. Black alder. Ardent spirits. Garlick. Pure alloes. Marsh mallow. Alum. Indian turnip. Suppression of the menses. Starch. Dropsy ofthe cellular membrane. Sore throat. Sweet anise, or fennel. Pit ofthe stomach. Antimony. Fundament. Thrush. Apoplexy. Decoction* C 372 ) Allium ccpa, Argentum, Argentum. vivum, Arab a racemosa, Arsenicum, Arthnitis, Ascites, Asafoetida gum, Asthma, Avena, Axungia, Aromata, Artemisia, Astringentai, B- Bard an a, Beta, Belladonna, Bile, Borax, Borborygnous, Botrys, Bufa, Bursa Pastoris, Blue vitriol, Berbaris vulgaris, C. Calamus Aromaticus, Camphora, Carcinoma, Cantharides, Carbonc, Carduus Benidictus, Castoreum, Catamenia, Cataplasm, Catarrh us, Cathartics, Centaurium Minus, Cera, Chamacmelum, Chio turpentine, Cicuta, Onion. Silver. Quicksilver. Spikenard. Arsenic. The gout. Dropsy ofthe belly, Asafcetida. l'h hisic. Oats. Logs lard. Spices. Mug wort. Astrigents. Burdock. Beet. Deadly night shade. Gall. A kind of mineral salt. A rumbling noise in the bowels. Jerusalem oak, A toad. Shepherds purse. Sulphate of copper. Barberry. Sweetflag. Camphor, or Camphtre; Cancer. Spanish flies. Pu e charcoal. Bessed or holy Thistle, The Beaver. Menses. A p ultice, Catarrh. Purgative medicines. Centaury. \\ ax. Common camomile. Cyprus turpentine, Henlock. C 373 ) Cinchona, Cinnamomuin, Colchicuin, Colica, Columba, Coriandrum, Creta, Crocus. Chelidonium Major, Consolida, Cornus Florida, Cochlcaria Armoracea, Chenopodium Botrys, Capsecum Annum, Cochleara Officinalis, Cannalis, Campechense lignum, China, Calophonia, Cedar, D. Diospyros Virginiana, Dumus, Febris, Dens Leonis, F. Elm bis, Elemi, Emeticiumj Enema, Enula Campana, Euj hrasia, F. - Falia, Ferr.im, Filix mas, Filix r oeinina, Flour Albus, i cen iculu m Dulce, Fragaria, Fic-us, Fraxinella, Fraxinus, Peruvian bark. Cinnamon. [from Comnon meadow saf- Colic. Columbo. Coriander, Chalk, Saffron. Cellar dire the greater. Comphrey. Dogwood. Horse radish. Jerusalem or worm seeib Pepper, red or Cayenne. Seurvey grass. Hemp seed. Logwood. Chia root. Rosin, Cedar tops, Persimmon. V ild allspice. Dandelion. Dwarf elder: Slippery elm: F metics: Clyster or glister: Elecampane: Eyeb right: Garden bean?: Iron, a kind of metal: Common male fern: Female fern: The whites: Sweet fennel.- The strawberry; Figtree: Wbite or bastard Dittany: The ash tree; (s:4) G. Gentina, Glycyrrhiza, Granate Cortex, Gratiala, Guaiacum, Gummi Ammoniacum, Gauetheria Procumbens, H. Hsematemesis, Haemoptysis. Hsetnorrhois, Hedera ierrestris, Hepatica Eobilis, Hydrargyrus, Hydrocele, Hydrocephalus, Hydrocardia, Hydrometra, Hydrotborax, Hydrolapathum, Hyssopus, Hystera, Hysteritis, Herpes, I. Ielerus, Incubus, Ipecacuanha, Ischuria, Ischias, J. Jalapium, Juglans, Juneperus, K, Kino, L. Lactuca, Laveidula, Levesiicum, Lileium Album, Li in on, Gentian: Liquorice: [granate: The rind of a Pjiue- Hedge Hyssop: Lignumvitse. Gum Ammoniac* Mountain tea: Vomiting ol blood: Spitting of blood: Piles: Ground ivy: Noble liverwort; Quick silver: ("mafic chord: Dropsy ofthe scrotum or sper- Dropsy of the head: Dropsy of the heart. Dropsy of the womb: Dropsy of the chest: Water dock: Common hyssop: Hysterics: Inflamation of the womb: Herpes: Jaundice: Night mare: Indian pysic, or bowman root: A suppression of urine: f A rheumatic affection \ of the hip joint: Jallap, a root: The walnut tree, Common Juniper: A gumorreasin; Lettuce: Common lavender: Lovage: Swamp lilly: Lemon: (*rs) Lues Venerea, Lujula, Linum, Lixivium, Lumbrici, Liniodendron Tulipepefera, Lichen, Lipulus, Leonurus Cardiaca, Leontodon Farexacum, Venereal disease: Wood sorrel: Flax seed: Lie: Earth worms: Poplar or white wood: Lungwort: Hops: Motherwort: Dandelion: Lnpatlmm Sanguineum Rubrum, Bloodwort striped: Laurus Sassafras, Sassafras: M. Macis, Magnesian Earth, Marjorana Malva, Malva Arborea, Marrubium, Mel, Melissa, Menorrhagia, Mentha Vulgaris, Mentha Peperitis, Meiene Atbainenticum, Millefolium, Millepedse, Morsus Diaboli, Moschus, Mrrus, Myrrha, Monocecia Tetaneti ia, N. Nastertiam Aquaticum, Natron, Nepeta, Nicotiana, Nitre, Nux Moschata, O Obstipation, Obliva, Opium, Mace a spice: Magnesia: Sweet marjoram: Mallows: Hollyhocks: Common white horehound: Honey: Balm: [ses: Immoderate flow of the men- Garden or spearmint: Peppermint: Spygnal: Yarrow: Hog lice, or wood lice: Devils hit: Musk. Mulberry tree: Myrrh: The birch tree: Water cresses: Soda: Nep or catmint. Tobacco: Salt petre: Nutmeg: Costiveness: Olive oil: Juice of poppies; C 376 ) Orijanum, Otalgia, Ostreorum Testae, P. Palpitatio, Papavcr Album, Paralysb, Peptapyllum, Pastinaca Hostenses, Peripneumonia, Persica Mai us, Persicaria Urens, Peruvcanus Cortex, Piper Longutn Pix Liquida, Plentago, Pleuritis, Pleuritis Sparia, Phrenites, Phthisis, Pimento, Piper Nigrum, Puleginm, Podagra, Priapsism, Psora, Ptyalism, Polypodium Filese Mas, Phytobacca Decandra, Pudenda, Puerperal fever, Fyrola Umbellata, Primus Virginiana, Py rosis, Polygala senega radix, Q. Quercus, Qimtidina ague, ") Ojiartau ague, J R. Rachitis, Rhabarbarum, Ribes nigrum, Wild marjoram: Ear ae h Oyster shells: Palpitation of theheart* The white poppy: Parsley: Common cinquefoil: Garden parsnip: Ii.flamation ofthe lungs? The peach tree: Biting arsmart: Peruvian bark: Long or red pepper.- Tar: White plantane; Pleurby: Bastard pleurisy: fbrain: Phrenzy or inflamation of the Pulmonary consumption: Allspice: Black penper: Peneroyab The gouK- [nisi A continual erection of the pe- Theitch: Salivation: Polypody. [root, &c: American nigbt shade; p«ke The parts of generation. Child-bed fever: [wild ratsbane Ground holly, psppsisava, or The wild cherry trt\: Water brash: Seneka or rattle snake root; The oak: { The intermitent fe- ver or ague: The ri< kets; Rnubai ">: Ii.e black current; ( 377 J Ribes rubrum* Rosa Dnmascena, Rosa Rubra, Rosmarinus, Rubeola. Rabus 1 iacus, Ruta, Ran a, Raj) urn, Rau edo, Regius Morbus, Resina, Rubns Vulgaris, S. Saccharine, Salix, Samburus, Sanguis DraconiSj Secuodines, Seneka, Serpentaria Virginiana, Singultus, Spasm, Spasmi, The red current.-. The damask rose: The red oflicenal: Common rosemary; The measles: The rhaspberryv Rue: A frog: A turnip: Hoarseness*- Jaundice: Rosin: The black berry bush.* Sugar: The willow, Tlie elder tree. Dragon's blood: The placenta, or after birth: f The rattle snake root, or \ milk wort.- Virginia or black snake root: Hiccough.* A convulsion: f Spasmodic disorders, form, to j contract. The third order ofthe a.panites, Tansi Carbati, U. Ulcer, dm us, Urethra, U terns, V. Vomica, \ ids vinifera, Scurvy. King's evil. Solomon's seal Tin. Tape worm. Tansy. Dentes. [teeth thro' the gums, Dentition, or uruplion of the Chiau or Cypress turpentine, Venice, turpintine. Common turpentine. The chest. Thyme. Tlie scald head. [els. Griping pairs in the buw- The wind pipe. A disease of the hair. Common maiden's hair: Locked jaw. Coltsfoot, hartleaves. A specie ofthe leprosy. The consumption. Spasm with rapidity. A spiries of continued fever Scald head, A cough. Tympany, Dropsy. Mullen. A sore. Common elm. [urine passes, The channel thro' which tne Matrix, womb. An abscess of the lungs. The rout of summer grape. ( 378 ) Vinum, Wine: Vesica urinaria, The urinary bladder, Y. [berry; Yaws, The African name for rhasp» Z. Zingiber, Giuger. Zona, The shingles. FOR THE DROPSY. Get a handful of centuary, the same of golden rod, the same of ground ivy, the same of pine tops, the same of sarsaparilla roots. f,ie same of burdock root, the same of garlick, tlie sam< of g *pe vine ashes, and about threr or lour pounds of new tails; put all of these artieles in a pot with four gallons of sound strong cider, and boil it down to ten quarts, then strain it, and put it away for use. Tlie patient should take ofthis preparation balfa gill, morning, noon and night, for the first week, then a gill morning, noon and night. His constant drink should bo sound hard cider, but should not use more than three gills per day and night, unless he should be uncommon- ly thirsty, then he may exceed that quantity a little for four or five'days; when the fever will subside and the thirst cease. His diet should be for the most part thick- ened milk, without salt or butler, but for a change he may sometimes use light wheat bread boiled in milk un- til it becomes thick, and that wi bout salt or pepper; or as much well baked biscuit soak* d in hard cider as he pleases to eat; but lie should not by any means wash oi bathe in water during the cure. He should ride on horse hack every day. If this prescription does not remove ♦ he swelling (which is sometimes the case,) he should dissolve an ounce of salt petre in a pint of spring water, a id take a table spoonful three times a day every second day, omiting the other decoction only on thuse days of taking the salution of tlie salt petre. CONSUMPTION. I hrve returned again to that deplorable complaint called the consumption, whclihas swept off so many thousands in the bloc-m as it were of* youth. Perhaps £ may shed some more light to the reader em this interest* in£ subject, having haU a very extensive practice foe tlve c ™ y years, since the first part of this work was committed to manuscript; during which time-I have had several hun- dred consumptive patients under my care. On this part of the subject, I would just observe, that I am of a fixed opinion, that where this complaint is heredjtary, or runs in the family, no rodical cure can posssibly be effected. But that the patient's affections may be mitigated, and life itself apparently prolonged by proper care and ap- propriate prescriptions, there remains with me no doubt. I would here earnestly recommend to all those who have any rersons to suspect this complaint to use good whole- some diet, but to lead a temperate and regular life, re- fraining from every species of dissipation. But what shall I say to the unmarried who have sy mptoms of hereditary consumption? seeing that a married life adds double velocity to this delusive disease. The consumption certainly should be arranged among the most fatal and flattering diseases to which the human family are subject. Indeed, from the intelligence re- ceived from medical authors, newspaper accounts, togeth- er with the vast number of stubbourn facts which our own eyes witness, go to prove unto us, that there are many more persons who die ofthis complaint than any o- thei" in fact, it has been supposedby some, that five have died of the consumption for every one that have died of any other disease. This truly ravaging disease has bid defiauce to the most skillful and learned physi- cians yet known. Here the reader will say, it is unnes- sory to employ means. This I admit, unless they come from the vegetable kingdom. We find that the Indians are subject to the same and similar diseases, to wlndi the whites are, and from their manner of living and ex- cessive exposure, some of them must be more courplbat- ed and violent, and although some of their diseases are of such a nature, as would terminate in a confirmed con- sumption, were the same means, and prescriptions observ- ed that is common in this country. But the consumption is scarcely known among the Indians. I ask what is the reason, why an illiterate set of savages, where there are none but quacks, and they without tartar, mercury, jallap, salts, minerals or even a lance to let blood with, much lesscantharides to draw blisters, can with so much ( 330 ) success encounter with those violent diseases to whida they are subject? The answer is easy, when we re -oi- ler t that the vegetable kingdom is their apothecary shop, reason their counsellor, verbal instructions their author, and a discreet prrctice their graduation. When an In- dian is diseased, speedy aud appropriate means are em- ployed for his relief, and that ina manner without ex- pense, neitlu-r are the means whicii they use ofso power- ful noisonous aod constitution-nrcaking a nature, as those used by the liberally educated physicians iu this civiliz- ed country. This is the way I account for tlie health of this people, and particularly why this co ipfaint so sel- dom visits the uncivilized Iudian tribes. O had I wit and words at will, How might 1 exercise my quill, To treat of lotion, portion, pill, Of drop and dram, and dose and gill, Of blister, glister, drench and swill, For every patient well or ill: Of mortar, crucible and mill, Of lancet, puilikin and drill, Of nmrcury, jallap, tartar, squill, Aid all the noxious drugs that fill The items of a doctor's bill; While faith and charm, and mystery still, With little practice, and less skill, Cures all—that physic fails to kill. So various are no thought is produced from an affection of the lungs where he feels no uneasiness, he only feeling an uneasi- ness about the wind pipe or thorax, which is readily as- cribed to a cold. At an early period there is but little or no fever, and if any. it is very different from hectic fever. The cough is either dry or a little mucus, and is expectorated as in a common catarrh or cold. These symptoms give but little trouble, and are expected to go off as they frequently have done before without medi- cine. However, notwithstanding their mildness, they prove stubborn, rather increasing in violence. The cough is generally dry and most severe at night, produc- ing pain and stitches in the side, pain in the head, and slight rigors, which is increased by the least exercise, attended by a pain in the back and limbs, burning and dryness in the palms of the hands, especially towards e- vening, thin water in the eyes on being waked from sleep, dryness of the skin,, particularly of the feet in the morning, occasional flushing, of sometimes one aud then the other cheek, and.indeed sometimes both, hoarseness and sometimes fainty fits, appetite weakened, languor and reluctance to exercise. The patient can only lie on one side with any degree of ease. These symptoms a e characterestic of an approaching consumption, and should be niped in the bud, or it will soon be too late, too late. For about this time you will observe the complaint to take a change, the cough become more violent, incessant and (!ry, the pain in the breast fixed, and more piercing, tlie difficulty and quickness of respiration is increased, the expectoration becomes more scanty and frothy, the pulse quick, hard and sometimes full and laborous, the fire part ofthe tongue appears whitish, and the back part yellowish, the eyes dull, tlie countenance palled and sick- ly, and restless nights accomplish the symptoms of this disease in its second stage. Quite miserable must be the souhi who nas been so deluded with this complaint as to believe it was nothing but a common cold, easily to be removed by the use of tlie common simple means used for that purpose. But still more miserable must be the for- tune of those who have from time to time suffered the ravages of this distressing monster to prey upon their system, deluded with the symptoms of this flattering and progressive disease, to go on, lulled as it were to sleeg ( 382 } without even frying to check its progress, until their fears are awakened by the violence with which every symptom hath increased. The complaint proceeds with such increased fury by this time, as to deprive him of the balm of sleep by night, for the cough now becomes more severe, so that when he lies down at night be is unable to sleep until morning, when he finds himself in a gentle perspiration, attended with the abatement of every symptom, and a re- mission of a few minutes is allowed him to prepare to meet his sufferings through the day ensuing. His ex- pectoration now increases, he throws up frothy matter streaked with blood; during the fever his cheeks look florid, aud seem as though they were painted. TIip fever increases after eating, especially if he has taken solid food. His face becomes flushed, and he feels a burning in the palms of his hands and soles of his feet. Tuber- cles and ub ers have by this time formed on his lungs, and the slow hectic fever now raises and gently increases with every oilier symptom, until at length the disease is fixed, and coi firmed so as to bid defiance to all the pow- ers of medicine, and the poor afflicted victim lingers out a miserable existence, till at last death sweeps him away, and the places that knew him, know him >o more. And however strange it may appear, yet amidst the horrors and anguish to which the patient is reduced by the insid- ious nature, and almost imperceptible approach of this disease, and its flattering symptoms in its progress thro' its several stages; yet his hopes of recovery seldom aban- don him but for a moment, and indeed they often increase as death draws near. We often see the patient's eyes shrunk, pale spots on the arms and breast, the surface of the skin becoming yellowish, and his finger nails becom- ing incurvated and peaked in the middle. Tliisis caus- ed by tlie sad hectic fever. And furthermore, we often hear him complain of griping pains in the bowels, weak- ness in the limbs, trembling iu the nerves, shortness of wind, swelling of the feet, which he attributed to the want of exercise, saying 1 fear I shall take the dropsy. In this stage ofthe disease the patient's bowels are in some instances costive, and in others qui:e laxative. Some patients retain a good appetite, and crave the strongest diet, while others arc quite to the revere. ( S83 ) Where this complaint runs in families, in most cases it makes its appearance between sixteen and thirty-five, if, therefore, at any period in this interval, a short husky cough should occur, perhaps without any other symptom of coid, and such cough though apparently trivial during the day.-should increase towards the evening, and con- tinue troublesome during the night, attended with a sense of weight in the chest, producing a degree of ditii- cul y in respiration, which is provoked by any unusual exc it on, and thereby imrea.se tlie cough, and produce a discbarge of blood, or occasion much pain in any part of the thorax with an expectoration of a frothy mucus—if a general lassitude with obscure feelings of indisposition be presented, such symptoms ard feelings may create much alarm. In this incipient stage the patient might by cooling, mild and appropriate medicines, light, cool- ing and healthy diet, and great care, remove that which otherwise may take his life. I shall proceed to the case of my wife, not that she ex- perienced the whole catalogue of symptoms above stated; but that, should any person in whose hands this unworthy work may fall, witness a similar ca^e. he may have the advantage of my skill and experience for tiieir assist- ance, if they are disposed to adhere thereto. Her father, mother, four sisters, one brother, and three uncles have died of this complaint. But sheen- joyed very good health until she was about twenty-five years of age, when she had an attack of the dropsy, in which case the flesh bursted (but not the skin) in many places in her abdomen; but ultimately recovered and con- tinued perfectly healthy in every reject, until she be- came the mother of ten children, yet she seemed to have a weak constitution. In 1820, she seemed the picture "f health, but shortly after took a pain in her head, a weakness in her back, and a slight obstruction in her menses. The first case in consicieaaion was the same complaint that Christ describes in Luke, 14 and 2. and by a mira- cle on the sabbath dav healed the afflicted patient. This dropsical case was cured by putting a handful of hart leaves, a handful of sliced roots of horseradish, a hand- ful of the leaves of aresmnrt beat aud tne juice straiind »ut, a handful of leatherfcw, six clu1.es of gailick, a ( 384 ) spoonful of salt petre, and a handful of rusty nails, these were all put into a half gallon of hard apple cider This patient began on a table Apooonful three times a day, increasing the dose a little at a time to a wine glass three Tries a day. with the addition of at able spoonfal of cream of tartar taken in cold water every other day, and using light sparing diet. When she recovered from the dropsy, she remained well for six years, only weak, and a little tickling cough at times, till she bad five children. She then Had an obstruction of tlie menses, weak back and pain in the head. I gave her three grains of calo- mel, and three grains of alloes mixed and taken for two nights in honey, in conjunction with the warm bath—then the rust of iron put in hard cider and taken three times a day. From this treatment and the use ofthe flesh-brush every night, she got hearty and was delivered of twins, and remained well three years. A CASE OF CONSUMPTION. I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption and the burning ague that con- sume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart, and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.— Levit. 26. 16. The Lord shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflamation, and with an ex- treme burning, and with the sword. Duet. 28. 22. &c. Under these calamities all persons should be as mild as the nature ofthe case will admit; keep their mind com- posed, and be as cheerful une'er their affliction as possi- ble. Keep cheerful company, and take exercise on horse back or in a swing. When tlie patient is tort weak to take exercise on horse back he should ride in a carriage, avoid the evening air, let your diet be of the nourishing kind, and eat no more at a meal than the stomach will ea- sily digest. But above all things, I recommend a cheer- ful mind. We often see people in a low state of health, who are of a cheerful disposition, mend quickly under their affliction; while others, whose bodies are no more affected, but of a dejected mind and of fretful disposition, concerning their complaint or domestic affairs appear to linger in spite of medicine. ( 385 ) The apostle distinguishes two sorts of sorrow, one a Godly and tie other a woi Idly sorrow. Godly sorrow is that which is wrought in the soul by the spirit of God, which arises from a sense of sin. Worldly sorrow occa- sioned by troubles and considerations, which the apostle says worketh death while men bow down under their bur- thens, and througli impatience destroy themselves a9 Ahithophel; Judas, h<. or when men fix their thoughts Upon sad objects, and so afflict themselves with them, ll.»at they bring themselves into diseases which frequent- ly produce death. Therefore, as we se.e sorrow in health sometimes produce fevers, consumptions and a train of nervous diseases, it is our duty to keep as far from the evil as we cam When a person gets in this indarvhoily condition he often reads all medical authors, converses with all he sees, aud if lie finds any one who ha- been operated on or affected as he has been, it re- vive? his spirits—he thinks thee is some hopes for him. After a while he gets his hook again; reads a while and feels his pulse a w.dle, till his mind is scattered. He thinks he feels symptoms of every complaint. He reads until his eyes become \ery weak and almost contracted. Let us take this in consideration, that we may meet with crosses in this life, that we may loose a lovi.'g compan- ion or a tender child, a friend or relation, our property burnt or swept away by a deluge; of course, our grief would be considerable. For a while the grief wears off and we become more cheerful, but our lost we cannot re- gain. Not like a nervous fever, when that wears off we g. in our flesh and strength again by degrees, and so we may our property, if we have our health with industry. What doth Job say?—lor there i? hope of a tree if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender bran- ches thereof will not cease though the root thereof wax cold iu the earth, but man dietn aud waste th away, Job 34. 7. 8.—tO. v. If we have a seri us thought con-"' cerniiiij *he welfare of our souls, we should try to do our duty towards God and man, in as cheerfi.l and meek a manner is becomes a christain; doing justice, 1 v ing mer- cy, and walking humbly before our God. A nnrry heart nirketh a cheeriul countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken. Prov, 15. 13. If we ate in god health, we ought always to have the fear of God before { 386 ) our eyes. Those that are in perfect health may see death bdore others who have been lying on beds of affliction for months and their friends looking every day to be their last. Some dying with drunkenness, palsy or cho- lic, aud thousands swept off in a short lime with the, plague. Independent of our own knowledge, we have a proof from scripture of suddeu deaths taking place; and behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness and smote tlie four corners ofthe house and it fell upon the young men and they were dead, and I only am escaped a- lone to tell the. J >b 1. 19. Aaron stood between tne dead and the living and the plague was stayed. Num. 16. 43. Read Judges 3. 25. v. when they came in ad found their Lord was fallen down dead, and again he came in, behold Sis'era lay dead. Judg 4.22. Thus vve see, that sooner or later, death will be the portion of both young and old, sick and well. We cer- tainly should lay this to heart when vve are well. In sickness we should not lay our condition too much at heart; but be cheerful. This will make the burthen light and be a comfort to our friends. Therefore, the redeem- ed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Zion, and everlasting joy shall be upon their head; they shallontain gladness and joy, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. La. 52. It. v. We often see that trou- ble and sorrow brings on diseases, and if brought on from other causes, the object is to keep up that degree of cheerfulness that the case requires, for sorrow is a pas- sion that contracts tlie heart, sinks tne spirits and, de- stroys tlie health ofthe body. 1 have stated the general symptoms of the consumption and tlie evil I find low spirits produces on the complaint. I am of opinion that those are more melancholy who de- rive this complaint from hereditary entailment, than such as may receive it from repeated colds. This was the case of my wife, she had blue eyes, rather of a florid complexion, contracted chest and high shoulders; her fingers were long, and as she advanced in years, the nails inclined to bend. She grew rapidly in heiglith, but not enough in bulk. From twelve to thirty six is the pe- riod'these symptoms begin to create alarm. If they are women, and ave passed through that period oi life, and should they have taken the taint from their fore parents* ( 387 > then in the general, the disease takes place more rapidly about forty-five or fifty. At the age of about twenty and twenty one is a critical time in life with all females. At that age nature is often obstructed, and this was the sit- uation cf try wife. By the use of wine, barks, steel, bathing the feet in bitter herbs end drinking stinking arris or camomile tea, she would be relieved. Some few months after, while in common health, she was ta- ken with the flour albus, arid by taking a pill of terpen- tine, mixed with honey, as large as a pea, of a night: al- so the white of an egg, with a little wine and new milk in the morning, fasting, and a tea made of serves bark, she always won d be relieved of this complaint. At length she t^ok a slight cough wiih a slight h-click, as if a little pdegni hung at the edge of the epiglottis, which we little regarded. When she became pregnant, these symptoms would leave her. and w Idle she gave suck she would appear perfectly heathy and fleshy, yet the children would appear weakly, bur when they were weaned they would thrive, aud she would decline, and the hectic would agair take place* By e xaminging the pulse, they would be found to be quick, anil < ftoii above eighty in the most favorable state, afer trials, and to- wards night, nearly one hundred. Site complained of her side, she would sometimes lay with more ease on one side, and sometimes witli more on tlie other. At length she experienced slight chills. These continued for some months off and on* For weeks she would be quite clear of chills, and but little pain iu tlie side. This was in the fall, and in this way she continued till the ris- ing of the sap in the spring, when she was attacked with shooting pains in the chest, some i.i es wandaring and uncertain in their seat, sometimes in the stomach, some- times in the bowels, from wind, from indigestion, and from straining of the cough. At length the pain became more fixed in the left side. At this time the cough be- came more frequent, sometime she discharged a little frothy sputum, at other times a greenish mucus, like that which accompanies recent colds. She took of receipt the 20th for two weeks. This broke the cough and loosened the phlegm, and her appetite measurable return- ed, but still she had a pain in her side, chills and wan- dering pains. She theu too!* of receipt the 22nd, which ( 388 ) stoped the pains, and brought her regular in her menstru- al discbarges, and at length she became in a state of pregnancy, carried the fsetes four months, and miscar- ried. Her rough returned with great violence. At this time I gave her mild tonics, such as wine, janson, orange, columbo and camomile flow ers; this gave tone to the sto- mach, and she acquired some strength, bnt in a few weeks the cough returned with a copious discharge of caseous matter which wou!d curdle in water. Chills would often rise, followed by burning beats and copious sweats. A true hectic fever was formed, during whicii the cheeks had a circumscribed spot, of pure florid red. The lips and tubercles in the eye were brighter than when in health. The fever was always augmented after eating, particularly solids, with flushing in the face, and burning beat in the palms of the bauds and soles of the feet. In the morning she would appear to be relieved, but would soon get languid, pale and unrefreshed. There would be a remission of the fever for some hours in the fore noon. In this stage ofthe complaint, sleep appears to give but little refreshment. The pulses are always quicker than natural, yet there is a remission of/ the fevei for some hours in the forenoon, the countenance now gives evident signs of wasting, the eyies arc hollow and languid, the cheeks prominent, the nose sharpe, the patient's flesh ivastcs, (he strength fails, the breathing is short, quick and offensive, sleep little and disturbed, morning sweats more profuse, aid the interval from fe- ver less distinct, the spittle is more loaded with matter, which is brought up more easily and in greater quantity, from a balfa pint to a pint in twenty-four hours. The menses usually cease when the hectic takes place, the bo- dy is often costive, particularly after the morning sweats take place, but about this time also patients, from beino- costhe, have frequent motions, and soon a confirmed diarrhoea follows. Every thingtaken into the stomach quickly returning off by stool, the fever, heat and cough abate of their violence, and morning sweats become less profuse, but if the lax is checked, these return, the strength totally fails, frequent fainting at last comes on, sometimes a slight delirium, the sputum or what is dis- charged, becomes of a dark brown color, and sometimes saneous, the lower extremities swell, and at last death Ill ( 38!> ) do^es the scene in spite of all t e balsoms in the worbL Now to return to my wife's case After a short time a wheezing took place, and a rattling in her left side, her pulse was sometimes from nil.ety to a hundred and eleven, the pain was vio'entin her side, with strong and frequent chills. I gave her from ten to fifteen dropsof the elixir of vitriol in water, the white of an egg, new milk and peach brandy. When the cough was hard, I gave her three or four drops of British oil in honey; and received the: steam of tar and rosin in the lung-, from off live coals, through a funnel, and rubbed her sble with vi- triolic ether, and the spit its of turpentine, if severe, J soon abandoned that course, and used sweet oil. This was repeated every night for ten nights in succession. She then took a spell like the cramp cholir, for which I gave her a doseofepsom salts, by which she evacuated about a gallon of yellow water, resembling dropsy \va- t"r. a vast quantity of slime, and a number of short bones like the ends of ribs. By this time she had become so low that she was not able to go about the house, and was given out to die by most ofthe neighbours. I then gave her tonics, nitre and the salts of tartar, by which she re- rruited considerably; but the corruption could be heard plainly to shaie in her side, and yet but little was expec- torated. I then scarified her in the left (which was tlie afflicted side.) about the end of the lower rib, and then sprinkled a little tartar emetic thereon, and covered it with a plaster of bees wax. This both puked and purged her nicely, in which op- pcration she evacuated between six and eight gills of cor- ruption, like thick butter milk, with a yellowish cast. The place where she was scarified, became a consider- able sore, to which i applied poultices made of new milk, light wheat bread, slippery elm bark, flaxseed, he. pro- perly prepared; and frequently anointed it with opodei- dodi aud British oil, and when it became very red and inflamed, I boiled red bad in strong vinegar, thickened it, with flour, and applied it to the place which received the inflamation and soreness, and in a few days I took out a plug almost as large as a partridge egg. 1 then applied salve and mild poultices to ihe sore, until it was entirely well. I then got pure turpentine, (such'a? ruh» ( 390 ) out of pine trees) fetherfew, camphor, bees wax, English rosin and water, and stewed them all together, down to the consistence of a sear cloth, weich I spread on strong linen and applied to hersid<*; and then got a handful of thebaik of dogwood roots, the same of sarsaparilla roots, the same of elecampane roots, the same of angeli- ca roots, the same of horse radish roots, the some of the bark of yellow poplar rdbt, the same of gentian root*, the same of columbo roots, and the same of the outside bark of shellhark hickory. I put all of the above articles in a pot aud boiled them well in water, then let it settle, poured ofthe dear, and strained it througli flannel, and then boiled it down to a quart, to which 1 added a quart of Madeira wine, three ounces of the elixir of vitriol, half a pint of honey, and a half pound of loaf sugar. Of this preparation she took a tea spoonful three times a day, and tlie first, second aud third mornings it puked her, and on examination, I found tlie discharge to consist of bile and corruption. This medicine also produced a slight sense of debility and moderate dysentary, but no other rermarkable ef- fect. But on the fourth and fifth nights, she sweat pro- fusely, indeed she was as wet as if she had been bathed in water,* but during the day there was no kind of per- spiration observed on her. After that time she felt con- siderably relieved, acquired a toiei able colour, and a reasonable appetite, and her urinary discharges became free, and accompanied with no pad, while the urine re- sumed its proper colour, bbe also became quite regular in her menses, and free from all uncommon pains at the times of menstruation. Her cougii very much amended, her strength and flesh in a considerable degree, and those frightful dreams to whicii she was before subject, entire- ly left her. I will venture here to make a few observations rela- tive to the manner of living, diet, Ac, that is most pru- dent for consumptive persons to observe. *A consump- tive patient should avoid the open air, from an hour by sun in the evening till morning; but should rise early and stir as much as his strength will permit, and if he is too weak to walk, he should ride on horseback, or in a car- riage, in fact, it would be btnst for him to take long journies southwardly, anU should avoid exposure to wet ( 38^ ) and damp air, for the change of climato and water is of- ten productive of much good in this as well as other re- spects. He also should be very particular with respect to his clothing, it being quite important to change his clothes to meet the various changes in the air, endeavor- ing to keep the system from too sensibly feeling tlie ef- fects of those sudden transitions, from one extreme to the other. It would be well to wear red flannel next his skin during the cold and wintery season, and when he wishes to put on chau or fresh clothes, they shm!d be kept under his bed c.othes for two or three days before hand, and then hdd over the steam of burning med before they are put on. He should wear shoes all sunnier, and linen small clothes in freference to cotton. Winn he first leaves off his flannel in the spring, he should have recourse to them again whenever there comes a wet, damp or heavy cool spell of weather, and when tlie weather becomes fair again, he should take them off. It is far better to manage in this way than to wear flan- nel winter and summer. It would be well for him to wear a long corset with a belt under the arms, aud ano- ther attached to the lower end, and fastened round the waist; this, though it may seem quite simple, is of con- siderable utility, keeping the chest erect, aud thereby giving the lungs room to expand. His diet should be of the most light, nourishing and healing nature imaginable. A beer made of malted wheat is excellent for drink or diet, (iet a balfa bushel of wheat bran, a handful of sas- salras bark, (of the roots) the same of ground ivy, the same of balm, the same of camomile flowers, the same of spikenard roots, the same of the roots of Indian ar- row wood; and boil them all well in as much water as that when it is done, there may be about three gallons and a half after it is strained, then add half a gallon of imported molasses, or its equivalent in cane sugar, and when it becomes about milk warm, add a reasonable por- tion of good yeast, ami let it stand until it works well. This constitutes an excellent drink for a consumptive patient; it being quite cooling and healing. It would also he well if convenient for him to lie on a flannel blanket through the cold season of the year, and rover with a * woolen one. But he should not spend too much time in bed day nor night, for it is very weakening and relaxing ( 392 ) io the system. High, dry and airy situations are far preferable to those of the reverse. Decent, genteel and entertaining company should beprefered by the patient, as the system is considerably under the influence of the mind. In every stage ofthis disease, all kinds of ardent spirits, all kinds of spices, high seasoned diet, and every thing of a heating na: ure should be rejected as poison. It would be well for the patient to beat up the white of an egg with half a gill of warm milk from the cow, the same of fresh spring water and a little loaf sugar togeth- er, and take it every miming before sun rise, or drink warm milk from the cow before sun rise, and for his di- et use sour milk, butter milk; any kind of vegetables that are well cooked, and easy of digestion, as well as sea biscuit, toasted bread, honey, jelly of different kinds of fruit, boiled milk and bread, water gruel, milk pottage, cooked apples or peaches, turnips, asparagus, lettuce, dandellion, potatoes, parsnips, rice puddingsj eifher with, or without eggs, as well as puddings of everv kind, all preparations of flour, soups of squirrels, chickens, mut- ton, veal, boiled rice and milk, sago, bdlcd milk and herley sweetened with loaf sugar, he. he. He should eat small meals, and eat often, and thereby avoid over- loading his stomach. It would be well for him to let his drink be light and cooling as possible; such as boiling water poured on toasted brearl, used after settled and cool, rain water boiled, leaving it to settle and eool be- fore using; flax seed tea, a spoonful added to a quart of boiling water sweetened with honey, boiling water pour- ed on dried apples or cherries, buttermilk and water, rennet whey, lemonade; or the following teas, viz.- red centaury, camomile flowers, ground ivy, spicewood, balm, cinquefoil, sage, catnip, sycamore chips, Indian arrow root, the moss of white oak and birch bark. I pursued this course with my wife for about six months prior to the 1st of June, 1822, and it is my opinion, that had she not have been thus carefully managed, she would have died long before that time. However, she had gained a- bout twenty weight of flesh, and her colour had returned considerably; but she still coughed considerably of a night, and the soreness continued to increase in her left side, and against the middle of June a violent dysentry ensued, accompanied with high fevers, with chills, .pains £*2 ( 393 ) in the bowels and side, weakness in the back of the neck and breast; indeed, she lay sometimes speechless for an hour and a'half at a time, from debility and a desperate cough, which become so severe that there was but lit- t'e intermission, against the last of June, during the whole night, and about sun rise, it appeared as if she would strangle to death, but after severe exertion, was soon relieved by coughing up a bone resembling a hogs tush, and about an inch long, and as hard apparently as ady bone I ever saw, and of a blueish colour. It was examined by Doctors, Walker and Renfraw. But what is very mysterious, is that, notwithstanding I wrap- ed this bone carefully in paper, in a few h urs it became soft and crumbly. On the same day that this bone was discharged, she discharged also a vast quantity of corro- sive matter. I then applied a large seaton in her side, which ran iinely, while the cough became somewhat mitigated; but thejfever and ydsentary ssill continued, while she reduc- ed in flesh till the eleventh of July, wuen she weighed only ninety weight. Her appetite at this time was al- most gone, and nothing seemed to do her any good but honey and'sweet oil stewed together,. The following is adapted for the benefit of all young mar- ried ladies. When a man obtains the object in view, a bride, he has gained the prize, and may say, that he has the rib that Adam lost, close by his side; and may exultingly say, that she is his own; and feel as rich in the possession of such a jewel, as if he possessed twen- ty seas, if all their sand was pearl, their water nec= ter, and their roeks pure gold: You're now, Eliza, fix'd for bfe, In other «ords, you're now a wife; And let me whisper in your ear, A wife though fix'd, has cause to fear. For much she risks, and much may lose, If an improper road she goes; Yet think not that I mean to 'fright, My aim is only to delight. To draw the line where prudence grows, "Where folly flies, and pleasure flows, ( 394 ) In short, dear ma'am, you to prevent From nameless ills, which may torment, And keep bright hymen's torch in blaze, And nuptual glare in brilliant rays; And all the fangs of Cupid's dart, Still fastened in your husband's heart. First then i liza, change your life, Your courtship's past, you're now a wife; This change at first, is scarce petxeiv'd, So by past woos be not deceived. She who has on romances fed, And by love sonnets has been led, With whom the end of ardent woo, Is constant pi ate, is constant coo; The nymph again, whom care did teach, To doubt the truth of rapt'r.us speech; She whom exper'ence oft has school'd, And shewn how husbands my be rul'd. Laughs at the whims of fond sixteen, And thinks that wedlock stamps a queen. Though I have ne'er contracted one, I think they've both distracted gonej And do predict that endless strife Will he the lot of either wife. Not that I would infer from hence, That men of feeling, worth or sense, Would ever try to wound or pian, A tender heart with cold disdain, Or e'er descend to storm or blows, For what a female prates or coos: Yet if the wife will fume and fret, And without cause, fly in a pet, Plaguing her plain and placid spouse, About her former woos and vows, His tender sighs and fair pretence, With various charges and comments, I would not swear mere wedlock bands Would guide his temper or bis hands; For when affeections cool away,. The husband's apt to go astray, And answer back if run too close, Which soon from words may come to blows, Maids prais'd and flatter'd all their lives, ( 395 ) Look for the same when they are wives. And think when husband's flattering cease, That love's sweet flame doth fast decrease. Then high for pelts and cold distrust. Doubts, sullen brow and dreams accurs'd, The game goes now, wife's in the dumps, And jealousy at last is trumps. For the sweet flow'rs of fairest dye, Which caught at first each vagrant eye, Still breathing sweets, still blooming gay, Beaut'ous i-n winter as in iVay. For thee this truth the muse has penn'd, The muse—hut more thy anxious friend, The female charms are gone to lure, They catch, 'tis true, but can't secure,, Says Solomon, who paints so fair, Woman's worth and virtues rare; Compares her to a ship of trade, That brings from 'far her daily bread; This may be true, yet as for me, I'll draw a plainer sirnilee: And call a virtuous wife a jem, Which, for its worth we ne'er contemn, Though soon its water, size and hue, Grows quite familiar to the view7, What then ensues? why 'tis the trnth> We think of nothing but its worth. Yet only 'ay this jewel by, From the possessor's careless eye. And hide its lustre's dazling sight; From beaming daily on his sight; I'll stake you any bet you'ill name, When e'er he views his temptingjem, With ergerness and sparkling eyes; He'll mark each new born charm arise, And with the joy he first possess'd, Admire and clasp it to his breast. If women therefore, would be wise, Instead of murmurs, tears and sighs, And sullen moods and scolding frays, When husband's absent for some days; Let every female art conspire, To drive him from the parlor fire* ( 396 > Of all the pests in wedlock life, To live, and plague, and vex a wife, There's none more likely to increase, The bane of matrimonial peace, Than the tame husband always by, With prying and suspicious eye, Mark then when husband's gone to town, And smile when, other wives would frown, He only goes—pray show no spite; To walk, to gain an appetite, And taste a while unknown from care, A change of exercise and air; Observe the pert, the bold, the smart, How different from his own sweetdieari; Return impatient to his home, No husband, but a fond bridegroom. Lastly, Eliza, let me say, That wives should rather yield than sway; A husband's, fixed plans to thwart, Is not the way dominion's got, For kisses order, tears reprove, And teach us rev'rence, fear and love, O! born to soothe and guide the heart, With native softness void of art, Thou whom no pride nor passion sways; Unchang'd by flatt'ry's giddy praise, And thou to whom a trem Ious youth, First spake the tale of love and truth; Blending in passions fondling arms, The bright'ning beams of virtues charms: Pray lend not now a careless ear, But do attend to truth sincere. These lines at least with smiles receive, The last perhaps the bard will give, While pleasure spreads her gaudy train, To lure the trifling and the vaiuj. While passion kills the tedious day, In shaping concerts, cards an I play, . While female love, and youth's fair charms, Shrink from pure passion's ardent arms, And cling to pleasures fand'd bliss, With withering age ami wr tchedness, J5e thine, Eliza, more lefin'd, ( 397 > The pleasures ofthe virt'ous mind, Be then the transports of thy heart, Which love and goodness still impart, The tender glance, the tranquil smile, A husband's sorrows to beguile; The blush of joy divinely sweet. That paints a mothers glowing cheek, The balm that friendship still bestows, The tear that drops for human woes, 4 These—these, Eliza, light the way, And cheer when other charms decay; Conduct through care and worldly gloom, And whisper joys beyond the tomb.—Fraktkliu, TARTAR EMETIC. This is a valuable medicine if properly managed, bnt it may be considered of a poisonous nature, and if not judiciously used,,is often productive of great evil; and in fact, sometimes death. The general symptoms of poi- son by tartar emetic may be reduced to the following, rough metalic taste, viz.* nausea, copious vomiting, fre- quent hiccough, cardialgia, burning heat in the epigas- tric regoin, pains in the stomach, abdominal cholics, in- flamation, copious stools, syncopes, small concentrated and accelerated pulse. The skin sometimes is quite cold, and at others intensely hot, breathing genera'Iy dif- ficult, senses impaired, convulsive motions, very painful cramps in the legs, great prostration of strength, and lastly, death. Sometimes to these symptoms may bo added, a great difficulty in swallowing, and the alvinc excretions do not always occur, which circumstance gen- erally increases the violence of the other symptoms. If the patient has had no vomitings, even after having swal- lowed thirty or forty grains ofthis poison, recourse should be had, says Nancrede, to titellation of the uvula or throat, and lastly, warm water should be given in great quantities. Oil copiously administered sometimes favours vomiting. However, if the administration of those means fail to promote vomiting in a short space of time, the decoction of bark at the temperature of from 30 to 40. should be very copiously administered, and that without delay. This remedy as recommended by Dr. Bcrthallctt, has often proved advantageous. Lucht- ( 398 5 nians has succeeded in causing tartar emetic to be taken in very large doses without the least inconvenience, by combining it with a sufficient quantity of the decoction of bark to de-compose it entirely. He has observed that the de-composition is still more complete when the yel- low bark is employed. Dr. Walker says, that a little weak toddy, will kill the poisonous effects of tartar e- metic. Opium may be employed to great advantage in excessive vomitings, especially if the patient be of a ner- vous temperament. Leeches and even veneral blood-let- ting are of great service; but except we are well ac- quainted with this poisonous article, we had best not make any use of it, but pay the man of skill for his med- icine and services, rather than run the risk of the irre- parable mischief that might otherwise occur. JflTRIC ACID, OR AQUEFORTIS. This article may be considered a severe and sudden poison. About ten years ago, there was a negro woman under my care as a patient with a cancer, who loved spirits too well, and who stole into the cupboard where there was a bottle of aquefortis, which she mistook for spirits, and drank about two table spoonfuls.- She soon felt a great heat and a considerable irritation in the throat down to the stomach, and soon made efforts to vo- mit, was slightly convulsed, and in half an hour she be- came very cold. I gave her in the first place, about half a gill of sweet oil, and shortly afterwards a small quan- tity of sweetened castile soap suds, which produced a co- pious discharge off the stomach; which was considera- bly impregnated with the acid, in so much that it set her teeth on edge, to a very painful degree, while she exper- ienced very acute pains in her bowels. I then gave her a considerable quantity of magnesia, in castile soap suds, which eased the pains and stuped the vomiting, but the vomiting soon returned, though in a milder degree. 1 then gave her a considerable portion of magnesia alone, and repeated the dose every hour. There still remained a soreness in her stomach after the first day. I still us- ed the soap suds, sweet oil, and also gave her a tea made of flax seed, and sometimes used a tea made of slippery elm bark. I also made use occasionally of an iup ct ion made ofthe tea of flax seed and slippery elm bark, with ( 329 ) the addition of a little" sweet oil. This course was ob- served for sometime, and occasionally mild purgatives. On the next, which was the second day, she complained of her ticont being very much swelled, I then let blood, and am nited her throat inside and out witli sweet oil and camosd'e flowers stewed together; and then applied a poultioe made of light wheat bread, to her throat, and on the third day die seemed quite pert. I (hen gave her a strong tea made of summer grape roots, with the ad< dition of a little cream of tartar, and then the magnetia and soap suds. By this time her breath became offen- sive, and a vast number of burnt sloughs made their ap- pearance at tlie lower part of her mouth. On the sixth day she complained of a sense of heat, and an itching all over tlie whole system, which was relieved by the use of a tea made of parsley roots, and she soon resumed her former health. It is reasonable to suppose in cases of this kind, that the stomach should be kept as full as possible of mild teas or drinks, such as flax seed tea, castile soap suds and magnesia sweet oil, he. and if no other shift can be made, plain water or sweet milk would be far better than nothing. If you should suspect a mortification was likely to take place in the bowels or stomach, you should use the lancet freely; copious injections should be fre- quently repeated, and the warm bath. Poultices of a mild nature should be applied to the abdomen moderate- ly warm, while the patient should avoid every thing spir- itoiis and of a heating nature. CANCER SALVE, OR OINTMENT. Get a common handful ofpeneroyal, the same of cam- omile flowers, tlie sanm of mullen, and half a gallon of good apple vinegar. Put the whole in a copper kettle, paste a lid closely on it, and let it simmer slowly for twenty-four hours, and then take out the herbs, strain the liquor and put it back, and ad! a handful of salt, and ngill of honey, and siminerit down as before to a (hick ointment. Then bottle it and keep it well corked; and with a feather you may anoint the ranter, and then spread a little on a rag and apply as a salve twice a day, after washing the place with strong ooze made of dog- { 400 ) wood hark. This medicine would be very good also for sore legs or any other old ulcer. A REMEDY FOR THE DROPSY. Get a handful of gadic, a handful of horse radish, a handful of ground ivy, a liandful of pine tops, a handful of tlie bark of sassafras roots, a handful of the ashes of summer grape roots, and a handful of juniper berries. Put all these into an iron pot with a gallon of good hard cider, paste a lid well on it, and simmer it slowly for twenty-four hours, then strain it, and bottle it, and givu the patient about half a gill three times a day, but you may increase or decrease the portion as the patient is a- ble to stand it: but be should not be suffered to Use any cold water, sweet milk, spirits, cider, bacon nor any o- ther high seasoned diet, but should make use of vinegar and water sweetened with cane sugar or honey, and as light and dry as possible should be the diet. Moderate exercise should be taken, but every exposure ought to be avoided. MAN'S HELPMATE. Who in this world of care and strife, Doth kindly cheer and sweeten life, As friend, companion, and as wife? 'Tis Woman. Who by a thousand tender wiles, By fond endearments, and by smiles, Our bosom of its grief beguiles? 'Tis Woman. From whom do all cur pleasures flow? Who draws the scorpion stings of woe? And makes the heart with transport glow? 'Tis Woman. Who of a nature more refined, Doth soften man's rude stubbourn mind, And make him gentle mild and kinde? 'Tis \Voman6 "Who hinds us all to one another* , A3 ( 401 ) By silken cords of Father—Mother, Of husband, children, Sister, brother? 'Tis Womart= When hours of absence past, vve meet, Say who enraptur'd runs to greet, Our glad return with kisses sweet? 'Tis Woman*. Who by a word, a touch, a sigh, Or simple glancing of her eye, Can fill the soul with ecstacy? 'Tis Woman. Eden she lost, ensnar'd to vice, But well she has repaid her price, For earth is made a Paradise. { By Woman? Bid tne with mandate stern prepare* To cope with famine, death, despair, AH this undaunted I could bear. For Woman. Place me upon some desert shore, Round which tlie ai gry tempests roar, My constant heart should still adore, Dear Woman* Guide me to mountains white with snow, W here chilling winds forever blow, E'en there contented I would go, With Woman. Deep, deep, within the mountain side, I'd dig a cavern for my bride, And with my treasure there reside, My W oman, ( 402 ) ICTERUS OR JAUNDICE. This complaint is common in Kentucky, andin most parts >fthe United States. Sauvagc has divided icterus i .to fourteen species; which Cullen has reduced to five, of which the symptoms are nearly the same, except wheivagall duct is the cause; in Ibis case, Pay states that a cure can scarce be expected. The jaundice often proceeds from vi cul bile or gall stone. Sydenham speaks of a symtomatic jaundice, paoduced by hysteric disc ases, the bite of a spider or viper. Women are more subjoct to this complaint than men. Sometimes it pro- ceeds from flatulency or wind, or from a gravid uterus or scirrhus liver, tlie latter is the most fatal species. Dr. Richter states a case of jaundice, where upon dissection there was no gall bladder found, but in its place there was a small skiny substance without any cavity, the whole liver was full of white concretions, appearently of the nature of calcareous earth, of different sizes, from that of a pea, to that of a cherry. The predisponanfc cause of this complaint is debility, attended with mor- bid irritability, or by torpor. The occasional cause may. he unwholesome food, such as unripe fruits, or an over proportion of legumina with austere and acrid wines, or malt liquor, when the acce- tious fermentation has. proceeded too far. Hard drink- ing, long spdls of the ague, especially-when it is cured by barks. Protracted grief, anger, violent emetics, pre- sureorthe like may cause it. It is more common in warm marshy countries than elsewhere, and in those who lead a sedentary life, or indulge themselves, in anxious thought. It is with some in a degree constitutional, such as are of a more hi lious habit It comes on often with pregnant women, and leaves them again after deliv-. This complaint may continue for many months without much inconvenience to the patient, but on the contrary, it may soon impair the digestive organs, and thereby in- duce an incurable dyspepsia or chronic debility, with general dissolution ofthe fluids, and sometimes a violent 'hemorhoge, which shows that the blood is both acrid and thin; such cases are highly dangerous. We mav be assured by the long continuance ofthe -omnlainh or by feeling the liver and other parts cxter* ( 403 ) sially, whether it arises from any tumor in the viscera oe pancreas, misentary or omentum. Where passions of the mind induce the disease without any hardness or en- largement of tlie liver, or other adjacent viscera, and without any appearance of calculi in the fseces, or on dis- ( section after death, if we find no tumors on any of the viscera, and no gall stone, we are induced to believe that the disease was owing to a spasmodic affection of the hilliary ducts. If gall stones are lodged iu the ducts, it will be known by an acute lancinating pain in the region ofthe liver, which will cease for a time and then return again, together with great irritation at the stomach, and frequent efforts te vomit, ail which symptoms are aggra- vated by a full meal. The calculi or gall stones, are cf ■various sizes, from that of a pea to that of a walnut, and in some cases are voided in considerable quantities, be- ing of a yellowish brown, or green color. The jaundice comes on with languor, inactivity, and lothing of food, wind in. the stomach, or acidities with costiveness. As it advances, the skin and eyes become of a yellow color, a bitter taste in the mouth, with nau- sea arid vomiting ensue, the urine becomes of a i!eep yel- low, the stools are of a pale ash color and sometimes nearly white, there is dull pain in the right hypochou- driuin, whicii becomes acute by pressure on the part. Where the pain is very acute, the pulse becomes bard and full with other febrile symptoms, when it is of long con- tinuance, and proceeds from a crouic affection of the liv- er or other neighboring viscera, it is often attended with anasacous swellings, and sometimes ascites. Win n jaun- dice is occasioned by concretions ubstnu ting the hilliary ducts, and is recent, it is probable that by proper means we may be able to affect a cure. But where it is brought on by lumens of the neighboring parts, or by diseases attended with symptoms of obstructed viscera, our en- deavors will often be unsuccessful. The bodies of those who die of jaundice, are pervaded to the most minute part ofthe celtdar substance with a yellow tinge: aud e- ven the cartililages and bones, and sometimes the brain is tinged. The liver, gall, bladder or adjacent vi.sie* ra, are also generally found affected. A jaundice which affects children soon after birth, and continues for some days, affecting the gums, ha:? ( "iO* ) been supposed to arise from the meconium remaining i«, the intestines, and thereby preventing the flow of biie in them; in which case the patient is languid and indole-nt, sometimes a deep sleep comes on and the patient dies. In all cases of jaundice, there is an itching ofthe flesh, which would seem to show that the bile mixing with the blood produced an irritation in the cellular substance. The stomach and intestines are constantly supplied with mucus by appropriate glands, which lubricates tiieir in- ternal surface, and prevents attrition or adhesion ofthe parts. In a state of health, those secretions are only in sufficient quantity to answer their natural purpose. Bu\ by a relaxation of the solids, tliosc secretions are poured forth in too great abundance, and adhere to the internal furface ofthe alimentary canal; this mucus is at first thin* but the absorbents by taking up the fluid particles ren- der the residue tenacious like glue or skin, lining the in- ternal surface of the alimentary canal, which prevents the bile from flowing into the stomach or intestines, and thereby produces costiveness, for bile is the natural ca- thartic. The effects of grief and fear, is to relax the glands, and of course to augment the flow of mucus; hu- midity which checks the perspiration, causes a determin- ation to the internal gianils, hence the urine flows in grea- ter quantity, and mucus from the nose. When tl^ mor- bid excitement of tlie glands fakes place, the habit is es- tablished, aud they continue to. pour forth their copious streams. In the last stages of this disease, the patient has black spots or streaks over the whole system; in these cases af- ter death, the gall bladder has bee n found to contain nothing but a black vivid bile, resembling pitch. More than a hundred gall stones have been found in one patient after death, in whom there was no symptom of jaundice before death. Keister in describing the bo- dy of a woman after death, found a gall stone as large as a walnut, and the common duct so much enlarged that he could thirst in tiie end of his finger. But one of tne most uncommon cases is related by Vanswiten, of hL mother-in-law, who after repealed paroxisms of jaundice, was suddently seized with a violent pain in the duode- num, followed by syncope, which continued a quarter of on hour; at the end of two days they discovered in the f 405 ) faces a gall stone, as large as the joint ofthe thumb, and two others nearly as large; have passed these stones sire became free from tlie jaundice. Mrs. Floyd, men- tioned by Dr. Johnston, in. his medical essays; after ex- cruciating pain and vomiting for seven hours, voided a gall stone, ;fcer which she had an excessive discharge of bile, buth upwards and downwards, yet she had no ap- pearance of the jaundice.. In the Edinburgh Medical essays, vol. 2. p 303. we find a case where the commo't duct was obstrtutad by a stone, and the gall bladder was distended to such an enormous size as to weigh eight pounds. Sometimes when gall stones cause irritation, aud are yet too large to pass the common duct, nature in herefforts to relieve herself excites inflamation, ulceration, supcration, and the abhesive process to surround (he whole with an impenetrable wall, for tire boundaries are circumscribed by an effusion of coagulating lymph so changed in passing througli the inflamed vessels, that the parts becomes a solid mass surrounding the abscess, See Dr Sanders' most interesting treatise on the disor- ders ofthe liver. Mr. Cline has met with cases where this kind of connexion between the hilliary duct and the contigeous intestines having been perfectly established* large gall stones passed through the aperture, iu con-. sequence of which, the cyst being no longer distended by bile, contracted. Dr. Johnston in his medical essays, p» 207, mentions the case of Sarah Edweil, who after' vio- lent pain in tlie region ofthe gall bladder, passed hillia- ry concretions from an abscess at -the pit of the stomach. TO CURE THE JAUNDICE OR ICTERUS. In tlie cure of jaundice, our first intention should be, to evacuate tlie viscid mucus from the duodenum."} And secondly, to restore tone to the mucous glands. To answer the first intention, if there is no inflama- tion or convulsion ofthe liver use emetics, giving from three to ten grains of ipicacuanha, with a grain or two of tartarized antimony every other morning, tlie emetics may be followed by cathartics, these however, mud rat be drastic or vidt-nt, for such not only defeat our pur- pose in Treating debility, hut their highly stimulating powers excite tne action r.-f the intestinal exhalents, aud arc soon washed away out of the body. Small doses of ( 406 ) calomel may be taken at night, either alone or in com- bination with asafeetida, or mix three grains of calo- mel with twenty ed* asafeetida, and five drops of oil of caraway seeds made into pills, taken at night, and work- ed off next morning with rheubarb and senna warmed with cinnamon and nutmeg: do this twice a week. Dr. Darwin has brought away from thirty to fifty gall stones by camomel, giving six grains at night and tlie oil of almonds or sweet oil in the morning, in the quantity of three or four ounces. The pills recommend- ed by tbe ingenious Dr. Beddoes, in cases of gravel, area powerful detergents. To compose them you must take crystals of saboda coarsly powdered, and exposed to a dry warm air until they crumble into white powder, se- ven drams of this mixed with one ounce of soap, being made into pills, the dose may be from ten to twenty grains twice a day. After we have cleansed the first passage, we must have recourse to tonics to restore the tone of the glands, and mild astringents to lessen their secretions, for should we proceed with evacuents, we should not only debilitate tbe system, but destroy tbe tone of the mucus glands. Sydenham and Hoffman re- commend the filings of iron, taken from five to twenty grains once or twice a day. When the patient can bear it nothing is better than exercise on horse back: this sup- plies the place of emetics and cathartics, in separating viscid mucus from the intestimes, and by promoting in- sensible perspiration it prevents a determination to the mucous glands. Vanswiten judiciously observes, that for want of exer- cise the stomach and intestines become internally cloded with tough phlegm or glutinous matter. But by free re- spiration and alternate action of tbe abdominal muscles, these viscera are shaken, pressed and rubbed as it were together, and by their attrition are effectually cleansed of tiieir morbid contents. Hoffman strongly recom- mends a journey, not merely for the sake of air and ex' ercise, but for the change of scene and cheerfulness, the distance intercepted between the man and his domestic cares, for in jaundice a regard to tranquility is essential to the cure. I saw a man from New Orleans, who had labored under this Complaint for some time, during which he had been salivated three times without any benefit; \ 40t ) lie attended the Mud-lick spring for six weeks; where he had a copious discharge of mucus which continued three weeks, he had no more symptoms ofjaundice, but ob- tained his health and color. Some have had such large discharges of mucus that they thought their intestines Were discharged. I have often given pills of beef's gall, the size of a small shot, with great success when mercury would not act on tbe system. I generally gave them three times a day, and increased the dose if the patient could bear it, or take from a tea to a tabic spoonful of powdered gumgua- cum two or three times a day, mixed in cold water or honey, and every two or three days take a half spoonful of ether, mixed with two tea spoonfuls of turpentine. These are excellent medicines to act on the liver and gall. I have found great benefit from giving three of the blue pills at night, working them off with a strong senna tea and salts, observing to use no bacon or cold water that day, and to keep from cold damp air. When the pain in the side is violent, mix ether and the spirits of turpentine, and rub on the side so as not to inflame the skin, this will also often dissolve gall stones; or mix the oil of worm wood with sweet oil or fresh butter, and a- noint the side as before. Blistering is a temporary re- lief, a spoonful and a half of puccoon roots in powder, put in a quart of hard cider, and take a spoonful throe times a day is good. Keep from sweet milk.- or take fine brick dust, three table spoonfuls put in a quart of boiling water, w hen cold, take this for your constant drink: or a bitters made of wild cherry, dogwood and sarsaparilla. I have had patients in whom all hopes of recovery ap- peared to be gone, wherein the bowels were without ac- tion, and the stomach rejected every thing, the body was filled with black streaks or blotches. One case of my wife was similar. 1 gave her twenty grains of calomel every hour, until shedook a hundred grains, which pro- duced no passage nor even nausea. 1 then got tansy, catnip, horehound, worm wood, dogwood bark and mul- len,of each adouble handful, and boiled them in water, and applied flannel clothes dipped in this, warm to the stomach and side, this produced great relief to her pain, and operated on her bowels. I then gave a clister made thus, take hogslard, salt and sugar, of each a table spoon« ( 408 ) IW1-, a gill of strong tobacco ooze to a pint of chicken soup, which produced copious stools of tough mucus and black bile, which resembled tar. The fomentations, to- gether with senna, salts, <5*o. relieved the spasm for three days, but for three mouths she took no diet stronger than butter milk boiled; as soon as she was able to travel, she went to the Mud lick spring and drank the water for two weeks. From thence she went to the blue lick spring, where she remained three weeks, and by taking a blue pill every three or four nights, to act on the liver and gal!, and taking the water to work it off, occasionally adding a little epsom salts, to make the water more efli- f caciou-i, she regained her health aud flesh to the weight of fifteen pounds in three months. Tlie blue lick water can be carried any distance, and kept any length of time, by adding snme of the mud and charcoal, charcoal would be a great advantage to it, in cases of jaundice, where there are symptoms of dyspepsia. I would therefore adv ise those who can get no relief from any other source, to try tlie blue lick water. A tea spoonful of charcoal taken three times a day, is of service in indigestion, inflamations and pulmonary affections. In tlie jaundice glisters of ginger and a little opium are of service, or a common glister of slippery elm. CASES OF ICTERUS OR JAUNDICE. Case 1. A. B. aged forty, of a lax and irritable habit, was at- tacked by jaundice, at the first appearance of which he observed morsels of undigested food to have passed by stool, then fulness in the epigastric region, followed by white stools and yellow urine; an emetic brought up the half digested food of two days, and with it some morsels of veal unchanged, whicii he had eaten tlie first of those days for dinner; by two grains of charcoal taken every night, in four days he evacuated much vivid mucus, his urine became limped in the night, ali hough yellow thro* the day, but by two doses more of calomel, followed by a tincture of rheubarb, he had many proper stools; fol- lowed by one of mucus resembling jelly, after which by exercise on horse back, he was perfectly restored to health. Three years from this period, in the beginning of Feb- B3 ( 409 ) ruary, after having been frequently wet in riding, life was seized with a pain in the right breast, ofthe same kind that usually proeceds form wind, which he had been subject to. He took an emetic, threw up a tea cupful of pure bile, and was free from pain; but his stools became white, and his urine yellow. He had again recourse to calomel, but without effect, till he increased the dose to ten grains, at night, followed by an aloeiic and alkatine cathartic in the morning. This brought away copious stools ofalvuic heces, followed by a pint of pure mucus resembling jelly, besides much vvhidi wasextremely viv- id. Prom this time the symptoms were a 1 v iated, and by moderate cathartics tlie disease appeared to be per- fectly removed. In the beginingof May in the same year, he was able to walk from twelve to fifteen miles a day without fatigue, till he happened togo ten miles with scorching sum in front, and a cold north wind behind, by whicii he was much exhausted, and the next day perceived at dinner such convulsive motions in his under lip, that whilst eat- ing it incesantly was drawn in between his teeth. At night he was restless, and 'he next day had white stools, yellow urine, constant dullness, with a slow pulse and so weak, as scarcely to be perceived. Strong cathartics were resorted to, with considerable doses of calomel, fol- lowed by tartarized kali, all of whicii nrouglit away much viscid mucus, and relieved the symptoms, but they spee- dily returned. In this situation he applied to Dr. Fothergil of Bath, who considered to evacuate tbe viscid mucus, left the glands lelaxed to pour forth a fresii supply, restored to tonics; with this intention he gave steel, columbo root and aromatics, which soon perfected a cure. Case 2. A counsellor aged flinty-seven, after protracted grief, took to a sedentary life, and instead of wine, his usual beverage was spirits in great abundance. The conse- quence was, that with slow lever, he becameitterical aud lost his appetite. After various medicines had been tried in vain, he took % two emetics, each composed of tartarized antimony one ( 41.0 > grain, with fifleen grains of ipecacuanha, and was per- fectly restored to health. Some years after, jaundice returned with greater vio- lence than before. Rheubarb, bitter extracts, balsoms, sedetives and antispasmodics, all excited nausea and e- ven vomiting. In this situation the only medicine he could bear was a mixture of glauber salts, nitre, vitriol- ated kali and crab claws in wine, and water with lemon juice, in small but frequent doses. He had a cataplasm placed at the region ofthe liver, composed of worm wood, water germander, camomile flowers, and cumin seed boiled in wine. This was applied warm, and when cooled another was applied. At tlie end of two months, lie had a spontaneous discharge of al- vine faeces, dry, clay colored and most abundant, which continued for four days, when they began to assume a yellow colour, and he soon recovered health, appetite and strength. Hoffman observes, that he has always found cataplasms and fomentations, to be highly beneficial in obstinate jaundice. And frequently attended with instantaneous relief of all the symptoms'which have reverted to on the omission of these external applications. Case 3. Baron Vanswiten in his commentaries, related the case of an old lady, aged sixty, who had been icterical for twelve years. At Urst the paroxism.were periodical, but latterly' a confirmed and continual jaundice, tinging the whole body black except the eyes, which were of a deep yellow. By bis orders she persisted in the use of whey with juice of grass in the spring, pa water in summer, and honey with soap in winter. At the end of eigtliteen months, a copious evacuation of argillaceous and most offensive matter, intercepted with calculi, succeeded and continuing for six months with manifest relief of all the symptoms, she was perfectly cured, it must be added, that to support her strength, the professor indulged her in a generous diet. Case 4. A gentleman aged fifty, sedentary and accustomed to good living, yet mixing with a generous diet, much milk and acrid'fruit,, became alter protracted grief, cathectic^ (411 ) His countenance was livid and much suffused with bib-; he lost hi? appetite and st.iength, suffered much by flatu- lence and borborygmain his bowels, had difficulty of breathing, and complained of costiveness. His pulse was weak, sometimes intermittent, and always irregular. Jaundice followed by tbe swelling of his feet, and after a time he became bydroptic. For this complaint ho called a physician, famous for curing dropsy, who gave him an extract of clitarian and enula, one dram, whicii being repeated, evacuated both up and down a great quantity of viscid mucus. On dissection water was found in his chest, and hilliary concretions (from uue ed'which issued three drams) were taken from the gall bladder. The liver and spleen were flacid, and blood in them was. very black. Case 5. A gentleman aged forty, who from his youth had beeit adic'ted to spirits, was attacked with gout. This gentle- man after a fit of anger, was seized with jaundice, by the most distressing symptoms; for at intervals he was tor- mented with most agonising pain in the stomach, about the pytores, attended with cold sweats and a total loss of appetite. By degrees tlie yellow ness of his skin was turned to black, and being repeatedly put into tbe warm bath, all the spasmodic symptoms were not only agra- vated but extended to the urinary bladder, more especial- ly at night, producing iscuria. Atrophy succeeded with extreme debility and coldness ofthe extremities, all which went on increasing, till he paid the last debt of nature. Hoffman abserved on dissection, that the intestines were of a dark colour and much inflated,* the liver hard and of a greenish appearance, the urinary bladder thick- ened and covered with black spots, the gall bladder black and filled with viscid humors resembling pitch, the cystic duct much straitened, and the obdomen with the pylorus and part of tbe colon, tinged of an obscure yellow, and corroded in their external coats. Hoffman in his fourth volume, recorded a curious case of a stubborn jaundice wholly by the repetition of emetics. ( 412 ) :,""} A RIDDLE, No. 1. I have a little more to say, Whicii 1 desire, you would not tell, To one on earth, nor one in hell; Come tell I pray, before you sleep, Whither you can a secret keep. If you can keep it close and snug, Just as atiplcrdoes his jug, I will disclose it unto you Drest in fine garments old and new. *Twas whisper'd in Heaven, and muttered in hell, And echo cought softly the sound as it fell. On the confines of earth, 'twas permitted to rest. And the depths ofthe ocean its presence confess'eh, 'Twas given to man with his earliest breath, Assists at his birth, and attends him in deat Presides o'er his happiness, honor aud wealth, It begins every hope, every wish it must bound, And though unassuming, with monarchs is crownd, In the heap of the miser, 'tis loaded with care, But is sure to be lost, in his prodigal heir. Without it the soldier and sailor may roam, But wo to the vvretched, who expels it from heme; In the whispers of conscience, its voice will be found, Nor e'en in tbe whirlwind of passion be drowned; It softens the heart, and though deaf be the car, 'Twiil make it acutely, and instantly hear; But in shade, let it test like a delicate flow'r, Ob! breath on it softly—it dies in an hour. When I ask a man a question, I'd have him answer, yes or no; Not stop to make some smooth digression, And only answer, may-be-so— 1 always doubt the friendly meaning, Or well perhaps 1 do not know. When for a favor I am suing, I'd rather hear him answer no. When of a friend I wish to borrow A little cash; to hear him say, I've none to day, wait till to morrow, Is worse than if he'd answered nay. C 413 ) Why all this need, of smoothing, What we in fact, intend to show, Why not at once, without palaver, Say frankly, yes, my friend, or no. I from my soul dispise all shuffling, I'll use it not with friend or foe, But when they ask without dissembling, I'll patiently answer, yes or no. And when I ask that trembling question, Will you be mine my dearest miss, I wish to hear no hesitation, To say distinctly, yes sir, yes. DREAMS AND ILLUSIONS. With respect to the phenomena of dreaming, three questions may be propesed. 1st. What is the state of the mind in sleep, or what faculties are suspended, and what faculties continue to operate. 2;d. How far do our dreams appear to be influenced by our bodily sensa- tions, and in what respect do tiiey vary according to the different conditions of the body iu health and in sickness. 3rd. What is the change which sleep produces on those parts of the body, with which our mental operations are more immediately connected, and how docs this change operate in diversifying so remarkably the phenomena, which our minds then exhibit from those which we are conscious in our waking hours, audit" we could know how, or in what state tbe mind results, from the change. whicii sleep produces in the state of the body? Such a steep would, at least, gratify to a certain extent, that dis- position of our nature, which prompts us to ascend from particular facts to general laws, which are the founda- tion of all our philosophical researches, and in the present instance, I am inclined to think, it carries us.as far as our imperfect faculties enable us to proceed. When we wish for sleep, we naturally endeavor to withhold as much as possible, all active exertions ofthe mind, by dis- engaging our attention from every interesting subject of thought. Y"v hen we are disposed to keep 'awake, we natmdly fix our a tention on some subject, which is cai- culat'd to s.'T ; i employment to our intellectual, facul- C 414 ) ties, or to rouse and exercise the active principles of our nature. It is well known that there is a particular class of sounds which is favourable to sleep. The falling of rain, the murmuring of a gentle stream, adui! preacher, or the reading of some uninteresting composition, have this tendency in a remarkable degree. If we examine this dass of sounds, we shall find that it consists wholly of such as are fitted to withdraw the attention of the . mind from other thoughts, and ag-c at the same time not sufficiently interesting to exercise the mind properly. It is also a matter of djservaiion, that children and per- sons of little reflection, who are chiefly occupied about sensible objects, and whose mental activity is in a great measure suspended as soon as tiieir mental powers are unemployed, find it extremely difficult to continue awake, when they are deprived of their usual employ- ment. The same tiling has been remarked of savages, whose time is chiefly employed in bodily exercise. When we are awake we can renew our exertions if we please; but when we are asleep, tlie will loses its influence over all our powers, both of body and mind; by some physical op- eration of the mind, which we shall perhaps never be a- bleto explain. In order to illustrate this matter a little farther, it may be proper to remark, that if the suspen- sion of our voluntary operations, in sleep, be admitted as fact, there are only two suppositions which can be form- ed concerning its cause- first, that the power of volition is suspended; or second, that the will n>scs its influence over the faculties of tlie mind, and those members ofthe body whicii during tin* waking hours, are subject to its authority. If it can be shewn that the former of supposition is not agreeable to facts, the. truth of the latter seems to follow as a natural consequence. That the power of volition is not suspended during sleep, appears from the efforts which we are concious of making while in that situation. We dream for example, that \^e are in danger, and we attempt to call out for as- sistance; the attempt is indeed generally unsuccessful, and the sounds which wc make are feeble aud indistinct; hut this only confirms, or is a natural consequence ' of the supposition, "that iu sleep the connexion between the (415 ) will and Our voluntary operations is disturbed or inter* ccpted." The continuance of the power of volition is de- lnonstrrted by the efforts, however ineffectual to speak. In like manner, in the course of an alarming dream, we are conscious of making an effort to save ourselves by 'flight from an apprehended danger, but in spite of all our efforts we continue in bed. In such cases we commonly dream that we are attempting to escape, and are prevent- ed bv some external obstacle; but in fact, the body is not at that tn-ne subject to the will. In tlie disturbed rest, which we sometimes have, whoti the body is indisposed, the mind appears to retain some power over it, but in these cases the motions which are made consist rather of a general motion ofthe whole body, than a regular exertion of any particular member v of it. With a view to produce a certain effect, it is rea- sonade to conclude, that iu perfectly sound sleep, the mind, although it retrins the power of, volition, retains no power whatsoever over the bodily organs. Our dreams are frequently sugges'ed to us by bodily sensa- tions; and with these it is well known ('rom what we ex- perience while awake, that particular ideas arc frequent- ly strongly associated. A man having a bottle of hot water applied to his feet while a sleep, dreamed he was. making a journey up a mount, and that the ground was so hot that he could scarcely hear it. Another havnga blister applied to his head, dreamed that he was scalped by an Indian. A person of middle age, was troubled with a pain in the liver, he frequently dreamed that lie was cut open, Ills liver taken out aud blisters cut oil", when he would awake tlie pain in his side would be a- cute. 1 once dreamed that I was tied to a stake, and that the ibtmeswere increasing around me so that I jumped incessantly; and when I awoke I was kicking a red hot stone, which took the skin off my feet. Dreams in young people, are more influenced by the prevailing temper than in old age, and vary according to the habit or disposition. This shews that our spirits have some effect on our dreams, as well as our vVaking thoughts. After we have made a narrow escape from some danger, we arc apt to start in our sleep, immagin- ir^ ourselves in danger of falling down a precipice, op ( 416) Some other frightful emotion ofthe mind. A severe mis- fortune often affects our dreams iu a similar wayO If the influence of tlie will during sleep be suspended, the mind will remain as passive, while its thoughts change from one subject to anotlier, as it does during our waking hours, while different perceptible objects are pre- sented to our senses. Our dreams are often influenced by our immediately preceding thoughts. Henee, after thinking on any sub- ject, we are apt to dream of the same. 1 think a dream may be defined in this way. It is a simple act of the mind without reasoning; some may ask why are our dreams often according to reason; I answer, it is because our minds are accustomed to act according to reason; and 'though not guided by reason in sleep,yet acts by custom, according to reason. So also the body acts apparently without the assistance of the mind; when 1 go from my neighbor's towards home, perhaps with, my mind wholly engaged on some interesting subject, here I walk with- out considering at all what I am doing, and yet by cus- tom, I am enabled to go the right way without consider- ing. And so a man plays a musical instrument correct- ly, when his mind is entirely filled with other thoughts. For the sake of explaining my ideas respecting sleeps, I beg leave to introduce this comparison, man is like unto a common wheel; his body like the spindle, and his mind like the rim, which sets the spindle in motion by the assistance of the band; when he is asleep, his mind may act in a small degree, and so may the rim of a wheel be set in motion when tbe band is off, without moving the spindle—the body may act without the command of the will; so may the spindle be turned without the assis- tance ofthe rim; the spindle and rim may both be turned without the band; so tbe mind and body appears to act sometimes without a mutual correspondence, as a person plays an instrument correctly when absorbed in thought. We are often warned of approaching evil by dreams; on the other hand, we read of delusions by dreams, "for in the Multitude of dreams and among words there are also divWs vanities, Ecles. 5. 7. If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying let us go after ('417 ) other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them, Deut. 13. 1. and 2. 1 am against them that pro- phecy false dreams, say eth the Lord, and do tell them, and cause them to err by their lies and by their lightness, yet I sent them not, nor commanded them, therefore they shall not profit this people at all saieth tho Lord, Jer. 23, and 32. God came to Abimeleck in a dieam by night, aid said, "behold thou art but a dead man, for tbe woman which thou hast taken is anotlier man's wife," Gen. 20, 3 and 6. The angel of God spake to Jacob in a dream. Gen. 31, 11. We have many passages in scriptures concerning dreams. Bonaparte compares dreams <>v sleep to death. Dr. Rush considers dreams as a disease of the human mind, and the effVct of imper- fect sleep, or the transcinnt paroxism of delirium. A person after fatigue is apt to dream unpleasantly; after taking several medicines or herbs, such as opium, pop- pics, lettuce, henbane, tobacco or Jamestown weed, are apt to dream distressingly, because they cause an unea- sy sensation in the stomach, which is carried to the brain by sympathy of the parts. Dreams are often the signs of acute diseases; to avoid distressing dreams, or rath- er ;o avoid the occasional cause, we should sleep with no tight bandage about the body, avoid heavy suppers, light, or noise, and keep from offensive drinks, or any thing that would occasion too much or too little stimuli: dreams are often occasioned in the morning by the stimulous of a full bladder, or from aa inclination to make some evac- ua't on. Incubus or night mare is a cause of awful dreams, and of death sometimes, by a stagnation of blood in tbe heart, brain, lungs or liver. Those appear to sleep the soundest who lie on their backs, which causes their blood to stagnate from excess or dimuuition of the propcliug force. People arc often found dead in their beds, who appear not to have strug- gled in death. W e often dream when ue are awake, or in other words, have strange ideas or incorrect no- tions. When we hear a sound it strikes the ear first, and is by that organ communicated to the brajlt* some think to the heart, but the last I think absurd; so the eye communicates the sliape, size, color, he. of objects to tbe mind, and a morbid excitement in cither of these organs ( 418 ) i may occasion a delusion or mistaken idea. People often imagine they see objects and hear sounds, when there. is no such object present, or sound in tbe air. When people are mistaken in this way, it generally indicates a morbid excitement in the brain, whicii sometimes de- li stroys the patient; and hence the ignorant think that their seeing or hearing that which no one else could see, was an omen of tiieir death. When the mind is thus dis- ; ordered, a true impression may be made on the ear or [ eye, and yet be falsly communicated to the brain: people . thus deluded generally think they see or hear objects' which they are most used to see or hear when in a per- fect mind; thus they often think they see their friend and hear him speak, because the impression made on the. H' mind by tbe appearance and voice of our friend, is re- tained by memory, and when our miods are disordered, those impressions are often sot in motion, and vve believe I they are really present; but those sounds or visions are never heard or seen at tlie same time by different pcr- ; sons, which shews that there is no reality in those visions, lam well aware that this idea of illusions may be ap- plied to invalidate the accounts given in scripture of the supernatural voices and objects seen or heard by,the peo- ple, particularly by Daniel, Elisha and St. Paul. But it is not rny intention to invalidate the sacred scriptures, r.or do I think it any more degrading to scripture than fo pretend to cure a disease which is inflicted by provi- dence. If the voices or objects seen or heard by tlie a- postles, were praduced by a change in the natural actions of the brain or other organs, this change, considering its design was no less supernatural than if the objects had been real. It is remarkable that in all cases where mir- icles were necessary to establish a divine commission, or a new doctrine, every circumstance connected. wiJi them was distinctly heard or seen, not by an individual only, but by two or three, and sometimes by several hundred witnesses, in all of whom it is scarcely possible for an il- luson to have existed at the same time. Frto natural causes, the remedies for illusions should be bleeaing, purging and low diet; when the pulse indi- cates excitement in the arterial system, blistering should be used with tonics, cordials and liglit diet, Some pa- tents hear many of tkdr friends at the same time, \vhik> ( 419) In a state of inaction; this fact suggests the advantage of company and exercise, as additional remedies in this dis* ease. EXPLANATION OF RIDDLE No. 1. Saturn's an ancient god that's named; Lethe's a river for olivion famed, In fair Elysium, happy souls do dwell, Il*ast is a point that's known to all full well, Poets are crowned with bay and willow. And balmy sleep, oh! visit oft my pillow. THE HYPOCRITES CATECHISM. 1. What is the chief end of man? To treasure up riches, and cheat all he can, To flatter the rich, the poor to dispise, To follow the fashions—the pest of the wise. 2 To cringe to the great with abject complaisance, And to set all the claims of the poor at defiance, To be a tool for each villain, who has money tq spare, To lie and to flatter, dissemble and swear. 3 To get into office, the public to cheat, And lay all competitor's law at his feet, To accost every beauty, sigh, flatter and swear, Her affections to gain, and then leave to despair, 4 To seduce a fair maid, to accept her embrace, And then on her, heap all shame and disgraec, To slander his neighbor, back-bite and defame, And then on another to father the blame. 5 His wife to corrupt, his bed to defile, And sow discord between, by treacherous guile, To marry a wife, who has abundance of pelf, Then pocket the purse, and enjoy it himself' ;» To promise, and perjure himself without sptme, Regardless, of honor, of scandal or fame, To rake and to tipple, and do a!l sorts of evils, Regardless pf God, of man cr thz Devil. ( 420 ) 7 To silence his conscience, when time is near spent, To ramble and pleasure, and never repent, That those are the chief ends, ofthe thief part of man, I boldly assert it, deny it, who can? PROOFS TO THE CATECHISM. VERSE 1st. But we have this treasure in eathen vessels, Cor. 4, and 7 v. We have treasure in the field of wheat, bar- ley, oil, honey, Jer. 41, 8: so also treasure of gold, sil- ver and brass, Ezek. 28, 4: And this I say, least any man should beguile you, with enticeing words, and fro- wardness in his heart; he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord, Pro v. 6, 14. The passions of this world passeth away, 1st Cor. 7, 31. vekse 2nd. Great men are not always wise, Job. 32, 9. Stand not in the way of great men, Job. 25, 6. I will get me unto great men and speak unto them; a proud look, a ly- ing tongue; and that shed innocent blood; an lieart that diviseth wicked immaginations; feet that be swift in run- ning to mischief; a false witness, that speaketh lies and him that soweth discord among the brothering. . He that oppresseth the poor, reproachetb his maker: but he that hoUoreth him hath mercy on the poor, Prov 14, 31. Blessed is he that considereth the poor, the Lord will de liver him in time of trouble, Psalms, 41, 1. vexse 3rd. Behold the hire of the labourers, w* o have reaped ami cut down your fields, which of you kept back by fraud, crieth; and'the cries of them which have reaped, are en- tered into the ears ofthe Lord of Sabbath, Jam. 5, 4. Flatter with their tongues, Psal. 5, 9- Flattering titles to man. Job. 22, 21. With flattering l»l>9 antl double, heart, Psal. 12, 2. Every one that sweareth shall be cut off, Zech. 5, 3, By swearing, lying, killing and steal- ing, and committing adultery, they break out and blood touchcth blood, Hos. 4.2. ( 421 ) VERSE 4tll. A bastard shall not enter into tlie congregation, Deuf. 23, 2. Aged men, be sober, grave tempered. Aged women likewise, that they may be in behavionr, that they may (each tlie young women to be sober-minded; young men be sober-minded, uncorrupted, Titus 2, 2, to 6 and 7. My son let not them depart from thine eyes: Keep sound wisdom and discretion, Prov. 3, 21. But evil men and seducers shall wax wars, and wars deceiv- ing, and being deceived, 2nd. Tim. 3, 13. And when Shecham the son of ff amor the hitite, saw Dinah, and Jay with her and defiled her, Gen. 34, 3. Backbiters, and hateas of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Rom. 1, 30 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to Lis neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neigh- bor, he that doeth those tilings shall not be moved, Psal. 15, 3. Surely the serpent will bite without enchant- ment; and a babler is no better, Eech 10, 11. verse 5th. Thou shalt r.ot lie carnally with thy neighbors wife, to defile thyself with her, Levit. 18, 20. -Frowardness iu his lieart; he soweth discord, Prov. 6, 14. Thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to they fathers bed; then defiled thou it, Gen. 42, 4. The love of money is the root of a!! evil, 1st. Tim, 6, 10. Ananias and his wife sold a possession and kept hack part of the price, his wife being privy to it, and brought a certain part and lad it at the apostles' feet. Aut Peter said, Ananias, why bath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the holy ghost, and to keep back part of tiie price of the land? Ananias hearing those words fell down and gave up the ghost, Acts, 5, I, 3 and 5. verse Otb. A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speakelh ih-s shall perish. Prov. 19, o. False, witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe cruelly, Psal. 17, 12. A fools mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of bis soul, Prov. 18, 7. There sh«dl be no whore of thy daughters, thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, unto the houso of ( 4:2 ) the Lord, Dcuf. 23, 17 and 13. For a whore is a deep ditcli. Prov. 23, or a narrow pit. Our son is stubborn and rebilious, h'c is a drunkard and a glutton, and will not obey our voice, Dent. 21, 20. The desire accom- plished is sweet to the soul.* but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil, Prov. 13, 19. verse 7th. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron, tst. Tim. 4, 2. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, &c. Shew the work ofthe law ,written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and tiieir thoughts the meanwhile excusing one another, Rom. 2, 15. Unto the pure all things are pure; but unto them that are Je- iilee! and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled, Tit. 1, IZ, Gen. 18, 24^ and 32, v. RIDDLE, No. 2. 1 Ladies behold 1 bring to view, An object old, a subjee new; Quite fresh as flowers in bloom. I hope you'll not push me away, But if I please you, let me stay, And for me make some room. 2 If true, as Welch men all agree, Honor depends on pedigree, Then stand by; clear the way. Retire, ye sons of haughty gower, And the base spawn, of old Glen do vve/', And let me have lair play. 3 What though you boast, from ages dark; Your pedigree, from Noah's ark, Portrayed on parchment nice. In older style—though I was there As before, then I did appear With Eve in Paradise, 4 For I was Adam; Adam I; I was Eve, and Eve was I, ( ^3 j In spite of wind, or weather; Yet mark me: Adam was not I, Neither was "V'rs. Adam I; Unless they were together. 5 Suppose then Eve and Adam talking, With all my heart; but if they'r walking; Here ends all similee; For though I've tongue, and often talk, And also legs, yet when 1 walk, It puts an end to me. 6 Not such an end, but I've breath, Therefore I will to such a death Make but very small objection, For soon I coine again in view; And though a christian, yet 'tis trucj I die by resureciion. 7 My name now ladies, please to tell, For sure, you know mc very well, For I am much in fame. In sprightly song, another year, I hope you'll make it plain appear, What is my real name. A RECEIPT FOR THE SCALD HEAD AND TETTERS. Take two ounces of rosin, two ounces of bees-w7ax, two of honey, four ounces of venice turpentine, one pound and a half of hogs lard, and two ounces of verdigris. Melt the bees-wax first, then the rosin, then add the honey and let it stew awhile together, then add the lapd and let it cool a little, then add the verdigris and stir it well, sim- mer it down again and strain it through thin flannel. A- noint the head once or twice a day, and then sprinkle fine heat charcoal on the head. Before fresii ointment, wash the head well with soap suds. FOR THE DROPSY. This receipt, is chiefly for the anasarca, but is good in any kind of dropsy. Take Senica snake-root, spikenard root, heart leaves, ^ 424 ) and pol!opody, of each one handful; of liver wort two liandfuls, an ounce of steel dust, of vinegar and rum, each one quart; put tliese into an oven and paste on the lid. let it simmer to a quart, take a table spoonful three times a day. Use light diet, such as chicken, squirrel, beef, spice wood tea, and hard crusts of bread; if this decoction is disagreeable, add as much honey as necessa- ry to make it agreeable to take. TO MAKE LAUDANUM. Take two ounces of opium, diluted alcohol twro pounds, let it digest four or five days, then strain or pour off the liquid.—Dobson. THE PAREGORIC ELIXIR. Compound Tincture of Camphor. Take of purified opium and flowers of benzoin, each one dram, camplior two scruples, oil of aniseed one dram, proof spirits of wine two pints; digest four days, then strain it.—lb. THE ELIXIR OF VITRIOL. Take of alcohol two pounds, sulphuric acid or oil of vitriol six ounces; drop the acid gradually in the alcohol, next day add cinnamon one ounce and a half, ginger one ounce; in a week pour it off; and it is fit for use.—lb. THE ELIXIR OF HEALTH. Take of senna leaves two ounces, jallap root one dunce, coriander seeds half an ounce, diluted with three pounds and a half of alcohol; let it digest for seven days, and to the strained liquor add four ounces of double refined sugar. This tiheture is an useful carminative, especially to those accustomed to use spiritous liquors, it often relieves flatulency and cholics where the common cordials have little effect^ the dose is from one to two ounces.—lb. D3 ( 42o ) fcXPLANATlON OF RIDDLE No. J- A hew drop, {nature') an acrostic. A long sequestered vale I roam, D eligbted with approaching day; K stranged from my native home, W ithout a friend to cheer the way; I) ependant only on that power, R eligion holds to human view, O ppressions frown m-ay on me lower, P rosperity change—thongh transient as the dew. MOLASSES BEER. Take an ounce and a half of hops, a gallon and a half of bran, ten gallons of water,* boil the whole an hour, then strain it; aud add, while hot, about three quarts of treacle, and when nearly cold, or blood warm, add a pint of good yeast, then cover it, and let it ferment, and when fomentation begins to subside, pour it off clear from the dregs, and bottle it. Take care to strain out all the bran or it will burst the bottles, this is a great beer for colds, coughs, consumptions and dropsy. Pound in a morter green horehound, squeeze out the juice, to a wine glass of the juice add half a pint of hon- ey, and half a pint of warm new milk; mix these togeth- er, and take every morning fasting; this greatly assists the action ofthe beer in cases of^consumption and asth- ma. TO STOP BLOOD. Take of brandy or common spirits two ounces, castile soap two drams, of pearl ash one dram, scrape the soap fine, and dissolve it in the brandy, then add the pearl ash, and mix it well together; keep it close in a vial, when you apply it let it be warmed, and dip pledges in it of lint and apply to the wound; the blood will, immediately coagulate. A RECEIPT For a fever from the dropsy, or a heat in the abdomen from weakness. Take horse radish roots, rue, worm woad, featherfew and garlic roots, of each one handful, a half pint of grape vine ashes, fifty rusty nails, and a balfa gallon of apple vinegar; slice the horseradish fine, and let the whole be ( 426 ) put together; and stand seven days, then strain or pom* off the liquid, and take from a spoonful to a wine glassful three times a day; cat no fat bacon, and keep from damp air. OPODELDOCK. Take of castile soap powdered, three ounces, camphor one ounce, alcahal or brandy one pint; digest the soap iu the spirits by the fire until it is dissolved, then add the camphor; this is excellent for burns.—Eweil. Ajfeclions common to the external and internal part of generation. The pruritus itching or stinging ofthe internal parts, is a complaint to which women are liable at any period of life, which is productive ofthe most troublesome con- sequence. If it affects the internal parts oris excessive in its degree, it is said to terminate in the womb, and e- ven produces madness. This may be caused from vio- lent cases of the hysterics and its immediate cause, a pre- ternatural irritability ofthe uterus and private parts. It is often caused from a violent desire for coition in women, which usually attend, too great fulness, particu- larly felt from a turgescence ofthe seminal vessels. The delicate and tender are soon injured by slight excesses of this kind, and it brings on a hectic or languid fever. It is sometimes occasioned by a disease or affection of the bladder, and is then similar to the itching of the glands, penis in men. It occurs in pregnant women, especially when the child is dead, or when the menses is about to cease iu old women. This disease is also produced in the uterus from venerial affection, &c. The pruritus is sometimes connected with the flupr albus. It is often ac- companied with an appearance of tension or fulness of these parts, the distress thus arising renders existence almost insupportable, often producing a state of mind bordering on frenzy. If the male have intercourse with females under these circumstances, they are liable to affected with ulcerations on the glands, which has been mistaken for cancers. The means used for the relief of the patient in this complaint, must depend upon the seat, the cause and the degree of tbe complaint. When it happens during preg- nancy, and at all other times if attended with inflamatiou, ( 427 ) it is necessary to bleed, to give gentle laxative medi- cines, and to use sedative implications, of which the best is weak salutions of the sugar of lead, or a decoction of poppy heads, used as a fomentation, or a little vinegar and spirits, or dissolve borax in water and wash the parts, or inject an ooze of red oak bark with a little al- lum. Sometimes great benefit is derived from washing }he parts with water, made with the nitric acid or gum camplior dissolved in olive oil, and drink a strong de- coction of sarsaparilla; but of all the applications I have seen used, none has moje generally afforded relief than cold water frequently applied with a sponge, and occa- sionally made colder with the addition of ice or vinegar,, but this application is not to be used when the menses arc on the patient. If the complaint proceeds from the gra- vel, the cause m:.st first be removed; hut when this com- plaint has been occasioned by an affection ofthe bladder, tbe constant or daily use of a bougie in the urethra, has in some cases effectually cured the patient. If great in- flamation prevails, use slippery elm instead of a bougie, and this will produce vent. PRURIGO. The skin is seldom red or much inflamed, except from violent friction. This complaint is attended with an al- most incessant itching, particularly on undressing, and it hoids some for hours after going to bed, when by rub- bing or scraching a clear fluid oozes from them, and gradually concretes into thin, drak colored scales. The itching does not abate from friction, but the skin is in- flamed from, this opperation. This disease originates without any known cause, it is chiefly in the spring or beginning of summer, affecting chiefly young persons, but none are exempt; producing irritation and prevent- ing tlie freedom of perspiration. The eruption extends to the arms, breast, back and thighs; and is troublesome but not dangerous, sometimes tlie disease causes pains in the leaders and iimbs. It is only removed for a short time by scratching, and at least this remedy fails in con- sequence of the wounds which the nails inflict. Some at- tribute it to gout, others to repelled evacuations, others to scurvy and ulcers improperly healed, some to the drugs offerers, fever aud ague, worms, he. A great ( 428 > many remedies have failed, viz: mercury, salts and sul- phur; lime water, a salution of white vitriol and corro- sive sublimate have been at times ineffectual; I have found great relief from washing in *ar water made strong with I salt. It should be applied milk warm, and when dry, weaken the ointment of receipt the 59th, and anoint over the parts after the tar water is dried in, and take inter- nally of receipt the 25th. The patient should be kept from wet, night air, or from over heating. After using these receipts for a few days and keeping the bowels o- pen with salts, then by making an ointment thus, I have cured many. Put quicksilver in a vial of aquefortis, as much as the nitric acid will dissolve, then mix that with hog's lard, and anoint with that every night, taking par- ticular care to keep from wet or damp air. This oint- ment will cure tetters, scald head, sorelegs, the itch and tbe like. When used to cure the itch, only rub it on the joints. WORMS IN CHILDREN. The symptoms of worms are various, grinding of the teeth in sleep, dry cough, frothy spittle, sighing, choak- ing, pain in the side, hiccough, heartburn* vomiting, lax, endeavoring to go to stool, sometimes costive, >limy stools, night sweats, sour breath, flushing- of tlie cheeks, itching of the nose, craving appetite, lying much o i the belly, swelling of tlie nose and upper bp, a was. ing ofthe flesh, pale or yellow complexion, headach, Siiorinjj in sleep, convulsions,, throbbing of the lieart, fever at times, cold extremeties, pains in the limbs, c iolic-, deadly countenance, &c. We find the lax to bn the Wurit symp- tom. If worms and teething both meet in one ebid; it causes a more stinking breath, i arofinapink rod is a good medicine, simmer half an ounce in n li a pint of water to a gill, strain it, and sweeten it weil with sugar, and give one fourth of it every two or tnrec■ ii.nirs t-> a child four or five years old, and give some mild purga- tive to work the worms off. The pink roni is of a poi- sonous nature if given in too large doses. Aides, Jesuits bark, bear's foot, worm seed, lade salt, vvnn wood and garlic, made into a bitter, and taken every m-irni.ig. cal- omel at night, and castor oil, or senna aid manna tbe next morning to work it off. The rust of iron h, hard ci- der, or steel dust in honey, from five to fiiiecn or thirty ( 42&) grains" every morning, to children between one and tert years old. Tlie pride of China, a table spoonful of fine cut dried roots, put to a pint of water, and boiled to a gill, and give a spoonful every hour to a child between one and ten years old, and work it off next day with salts or castor oil, and make a poultice of rue, worm wood, feathcrfcw auk beef's gall, and bind to the navel. A CASE OF POISON FROM OPIUM. Mr. James Runy of Shelby county, while at my house on a visit, in the fall of 182i, became intoxicated with. spirits, and by mistake took two hearty swallows of laudanum, instead of whisky. In fifteen minutes it. pro- duced symptoms which threated immediate death; he said he never fdt so drunk in his life; he fell into a state of entire insensibility: his whole system appeared to be cramped, convulsions ofthe arms and legs, his eyes clos- ed, countenance pale, breathing slow and sonorous as in- a state of apoplexy. His hands cold, pulse weak, irreg- ular, and very quick. 411 his muscles were iu a state of relaxation; and tbe flesh of his arms was very soft, and his jaw fell. I gave him about fifteen grains ofthe blue a itriol dissolved in water and a little spirits. This we got down with great difficulty, for he appealed nearly gone. As soon as he had taken this his countenance changed, and lie became most ghastly, in a few minutes he threw up on a sudden a great deal of brownish fluid, which exhaled a strong smell of laudanum. I then gave him warm water, and lie vomited four times more. We then moved him briskly across the floor, and tlie numb- ness began to ware off, so that lie had some use of bis limbs, but kept his eyes shut, unless waked by a brisk or sudden call. We shook and kept him in motion, not suf- fering him to sleep more than half an hour at a time. In four hours his countenance was more natural, but like a man in extreme intoxication; in the morning he com- plained of a cold sensation at the stomach, with a heat over the rest of the system; he had some degree of cold- ness in the extremities, I gave him repeated doses of as- afeetida, and tlie next day he went home, and soon got well. Alkali, camphor and musk, and even blistering would have been useful; if the above stimulents had not appear- ( 43'0 ) ed sufficiently active; or mustard and vinegar, or horse radish applied to the soles ofthe feet, tea, coffee, lemon juice or the like is good. CASE 2nd. OF OPIUM. Mr. Long from Lexington, came in a few days after the above case had happened. He was taking medicine out of a bottle for the rheumatism, and through mistake took a dram from the same bdtlc of laudanum, thinking it his medicine. He took a table spoonful ofthe lauda- num: I immediately gave him a dose of blue vitriol, whicii puked him quickly, and be experienced no ill ef- fedt from it, except a dull heaviness ofthe head, with in- ward weakness for twelye hours, he felt but little acute pains at all. A CASE OF ARSENIC. Thse des perate poison, we believe, has destroyed ma- ny lives, without any one having a knowledge ofthe cause; for it works in very different ways. Some have been affected no other way than by faiuting, and come to an end. When arsenic is taken into the system, it generally has more or less of the following symptoms. An astringent taste of the mouth, foetid breath, continued spitting, a constriction of the pharynx and osophagus, teeth on an edge, hiccough, nausea and vomiting of a brown, and sometimes boody matter, great anxiety, fainting, heat of the pericordia, inflamation of the lips, tongue, palate, throat or osophagus, the stomach extremely painful, al- vine discharge of a blackish color, and most horrible foetor, pulse small, freejuent, hard, irregular and some- times slow, palpitation ofthe heart, syncope, unquenchable thirst, heat all over the body, or an icy coldness, a sen- sation of a devouring fire in tbe stomach and.,bowels, breathing difficult, cold sweats, urine scanty and red, change of features, a livid circle around the eye lids, swelling and itching of the body, whicii is covored with livid spots, or a milliary eruption; prostration of strength, loss of sensation, particularly in the feet and hands, de- lirium, convulsions, often attended with the falling off of the hair, and cuticle or outside skin, and lastly death. { 431 ) THE CURE OF PERSONS POISONED BY ARSENIC, Should be attempted by filling the stomach with dilut- ing drinks, such as sugar and water, or honey and wa- ter, a quantity of sweet milk or weak teas of any kind; sweet oil an I castor oil have been found useful, giving three or four ounces of sweet oil, and a common dose of castor oil. The throat should be tickled with a feather or the finger, to excclerate vomiting, although giving vo»- niits isdangerous, the stomach being in so inflamed a state that they aggravate the symptoms; if signs of in- flamation take place, the patient should be bled, either by the lancet or leeches, and be bathed in milk warm wa- ter, einolient glisters; antispasmodic drfnks are very useful in this state, the patient shou'd use during the con- valescence, milk, gruel, rice creams and nourishing broths. ON SCOLDING. I think scolding may properly be called a disease, for it causes irritation, quickness of pulse, and violent agita- tion of the tongne. The pulse to each minute a hundred yon'll find, The eyes when inspected, you'd think going blind. In fat ladies you'll find, the eyes much inflamed, A flush on the ceek; yet the cause is not named; Of whiskey or brandy, the breath has a smdl, Whilst the breast with irregular motions will swell; Tlie hands and the arms, to no place are confided, The voice like a trumpet, repleted with wind, Till hoarse from exertion, it dies to a groan, And tears from the eyes of the patient make known, The disease is now ceasing, the patient at ease, Of all persons on earth, now the easiest to please; A look of such languor, a fool would disown, Whilst the seeds of forgetfulness deeply are sown, No trace of what's happened, they seem to retain, But stupid and silent they wish to remain; That scolding's a disease, all quacks must agree, Then next to examine the cause let us see. OF THE PREDISPOSING CAUSES o/SCOLDING. We must first know the cause, that ieads to disease* ( 4S2 ) And then if physicians, we may cure if w'e please; Tlie vascular system is quiek to ascitc, The natural temper in broils takes delight, Unless afterbirth, disapposntments have blighted* Or old aud neglected, the patient's been slighted; Old maidens at balls, will sometimes have fits, And gentlemen at back-gamontr/ losing of hits. THE OCCASIONAL CAUSES. The occasional causes, ofthis horrid disease, Are many, and none that old ladies would please, Kissing is one, that young ladies admire, But if seen by old ones, it excites their ire, A China bowl broke, or a bonnet defaced, An untimely walk, or a gallant embraced; A secret of gallantry, by Betty revealed, Or corsets exposed, which the wife had concealed; The tail of a lap-dog squeezed by a tread, A pint of the bottle that's under the bed, M hich'there was concealed, to brighten her wits; And keep my dearjady's hysterical fits. With a thousand more causes, that often conspire, To keep in a ferment this damnable fire. THE CURE. An inch of good cow-skin, is sometimes applied, A withe of good hickory has often been tried, But all to no purpose, but often makes worse, And causes the patient the doctor to cure; The cat-a-nine-tails, by the sailors is used, A strap, or a horse whip, is often abused; Argumentation is by others prefcred; But this by the patient seldom is heard, When the patient attacks, some silent remain, But this is always found to add to their pain. Take of common sense, thirty grains, and let it dissolve. Decent behaviour one scruple, and firmly resolve Never to fret, whate'er may assail; Ten grains of discretion, we never knew fail, Mixed with due thought, w hen thosymptoms appear, Good advice from a friend; whichthe patient must hear, E3 ( 433 ):.. By way of diet, no prescription I'll make, Milk, cabbage or bacon, the patient may take* But brandy and rum, which has oftened inflamed, *f*V ith w hiskey and gin, should be heartily damned; They excite the nerve which the tougue sets in motion, An exhibits for scolding, most fervent devotion. It is thought, that scolding to females belong, To judge from the symptoms, this idea is wrong; But men have more chance to get rid of the spleen, As they often in taverns, and grog-shops are seen; By spouting and vaporing, this matter's discharged, And by mixing with others the mind is enlarged. Should the scolds of our nation, to Congress be sent, ' And there be permitted this matter to vent; Philips or Curran, would be heard of no more, The eloquence of a Dexter w otld even be poor; Pinkney and Webster, would shrink from the teste, And woman would rule from the East to the West, The scold now continued, a statesman you'd find, To rule nations alone, by the strength of their mind. This last complaint that I have above described, I hope neither sex will be offended at me for what I have said, for it only is intended to amuse the weak and de- bilitated, A good natured scold is good in its place, and oftentimes makes the bes' husbands and wives. We find fire and water the most usefi.l elements when in Subjection; but when they break out of their bounds the most frightful. I think a person may scold and not say a word, by the jesturs and look of the eye, aud tell a lie and not say a word, by pointing the finger the con- trary way. In scripture, scorpions are used in a figura- tive sense, for malicious and crafty men, who scorpion like would torment and kill good inen.«J*c. and thou son of man be not airaid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee,and though ihou dost dwrl! an ong scorpions; he not afraid of tin ir words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house, tzek- 2, 6. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but tl.e kis« touch it, the child immediately flies from it with as much eagerness, as it had before craved it. This evidently shows that there is a, fixed principle in man, which not only craves happi- ( 440 ) nc-ss, but every thing which wears its appearance; for at tbe first sight the child deceived by the dazling beau- ty, thought it to be an object which would please and delight it, but when by the touch it becomes undeceived, it immediately flies from it; for the desire of happiness is two fold; first, it excites us to endeavor to possess eve- ry object which we think can afford pleasure. Secondly, it excites us to fly from every object which we think will inflict pain; and this principle, which wc bring into the world with us, and which makes us so solicitous to em- brace pleasure and fly from pain, is in the soul and not in the body: for if the soul be made to depart from the body, the body will be cold and motionless without, sense of pleasure or pain; but the soul being an emanation of the divinity, would fly to him as to its centre; bearing with it that innate desire of happiness: hence there can be no doubt but that man was made for happiness, and that the desire of happiness resides in the soul, which is the principal part of man; for the soul is susceptible of pleasure or pain separated from the body, and it is also evident, that the body is susceptible of neither, separat- ed from the soul. And to enable us to find out where the object of our happiness lies, and how one may attain it, the Almighty has endued our souls with three facul- ties, and by a right use and application of these three faculties, we will be Jed infalibly to the knowledge and enjoyment of that object after which we so incessantly and ardently thirst. What are those three faculties? Memory, understanding and will. By the memory we are enabled to bring back past transactions and events of life, and present them before the understanding as now passing <>r existing, and tlie understanding is then ena- bled to act upon them by examining and comparing, by pointing out the good to be sought, and the evils to be avoided, and when this is done, then comes in the will to execute the plan which the understanding shall have prescribed. Now I say, if we were, in every occurrence of life, to make a right use of these three faculties ofthe soul, we would infalliably be led into a track which would lead us invariably to tbe knowledge and possession of that object, which our thirsty souls so ardently crave. These faculties ofthe soul can be brought to bear, not onlv on past and present events, but also oa future; and F3 ( 441 ) thus by acting according to the dictates of prudence, we are enabled to make a good use of the present time, to redeem the past, and to provide for tlie future. Now let us take a view of creation, and mark well the decided pie-eminence which the soul of man holds over all terrestial creatures; how near an approach it makes to the celestial spirits: nay, I might even go so far as to say that, in some degree, it holds a pre-eminence over them, and makes a near approach to the divinity. When We have examined the excellencies of the soul, then we will examine how base must be that action, or that se- ries of actions, which debases the. soul as far beneath a state of nonexistence, as a kind providence had decreed it might be raised by a faithful compliance with his will in all things. Let us view tlie earth and its inhabitants, the seas and their inhabitants, tlie air and its inhabitants, and then raise our eyes to those bright and glorious bo- dies, which, day and night, never cease to roll around, and perform the task designed them by their author. And why has he brought those various beings into ex- istence? Was it not with some design? Yes, surely, to act without any design, is unworthy of a rational being; to act with an evil design, is unworthy of a good being; to act with an imperfect design, is unworthy of a perfect being; to act with a limited design, is unworthy of an un- limited and eternal being. But we know for certain, that Almighty God is infinitely wise, and consequently knows what is best: infinitely good, and consequently will do what is best, and is infinitely powerful, and con- sequently is not in the need ofthe' assistance of any one t > enable him to execute his designs; and that his designs arc eternal, even as he is eternal. But what eternal de- signs could the Almighty have upon those short-lived and insignificant beings, which we daily tread to death with- out the least trouble or remorse? What eternal designs could he have upon all those animals which swarm upon the face of the earth? Out of thousmids and perhaps tens of thousand* of different species.of animals, o-nea- lone has he taught to know his name and eternal attri- butes. Ofthe thousands and tens of thousands of living creatures which fly tbrougii tiie air. none is permitted to know whence it has received its being. Ofthe thous- ands and tens of thousands that my in in the ocean, not ( 442 ) one is permitted to know what power brought it into ex~ istcnce. Docs not this appear very much as if the Almigh- ty had forgotten himself, and had acted with imperfect and limited designs when be created those beings, which we deem unworthy of consideration? Ah! true it does, if we content ourselves with a superficial examination: but this is contaary to the dictates of common reason, be- cause we know that he is not a God of whims and chang- es; and that the same reason whicii induced the Almigh- ty to bring them into existence, will cause him to prolong , their existence until that end be accomplished, and as \ that end is eternal, (for it would be unworthy of God to act with any design which is not worthy of himself, and nothing is worthy of'him which isnot eternal,) so also would he continue their existence for an eternal duration, if his designs in creating them bad in the least, terminat- ed in them; and although the designs of the Almighty should terminate in them, and their duration be prolong- ed to an eternity; yet this would be. unworthy ofthe Al- mighty, unless he had had reference to himself, and if he had had reference to himself in creating them, he would have given tliem an opportunity to know his name and eternal attributes, that ihey might thereby be enabled to co-operate with those designs. But since this is not so, let us raise our voices arid exclaim: 0 ye living crea- tures! ye irrational beings; ye thousands and tens of thou- sands, that Jive and breathe on the face ofthe earth, tho' ye live and breathe, yet it is not for yourselves! though ye live and breathe, yet it is not for God, for he has no need for you! 0, ye birds and living insects that fly through the air, though ye have life, yet it is not for yourselves, nor is it for God, for be has no need of you}- O ye sun, moon and stars, ye shine indeed, but not foryourselnes, nor is it for God, "for he has no need of your light. But 0, man, isdliis thy case? All these things have been made for thy instruction and utility, for thee the earth has been spread out, made to stand firm and bring forth its fruits and flowers: for thee the earth is made to swarm with animals and living creatures of various species, some for thy utility, others for thy instruction. There is not an insect so mean and insignificant as not to be able to afford man a lesson of great utility. Let us take an ant and an Alexander, and place then* side by side, and ( 445 I examine which is of the noblest origin. Alexander ana the ant were once shut up in tlie dark womb of nothing,* the all generating hand of God brought them both forth. Therefore, Alexander and the ant are twin brothers, God their father, and nothing their mother. Therefore, O man, where is thy pre-eminence? What hast thou to boast of? Does thy superiority consist in the magnitude of thy body? then the Elephant may exult over thee. Or does it consist in the figure of thy body? Then the pea- cock may exult over thee. But thou art more 'excellent than they: therefore, thy superiority consists neither in figure, size, nor origin, therefore, it does not consist in the body at all; then it must consid in the soul. The soul is the object upon which the eternal designs of God rest. No other part ofthis lower creation is in itself susceptible of an eternal design, because no other part of the creation has been indued with knowledge, to know its author, and how it might co-operate with those eter- nal designs of its author. But as all the designs of God are eternal,and he has created nothing without a design, so those other parts of tlie creation become susceptible of the eternal designs ofGod, and accomplish them through the medium ofthe soul of man, because they all convey to him either utility or instruction; and in this respect, the rose which blooms to day, and fades to-morrow, ac- complishes tbe eternal designs of God, by giving to man this short, but salutary lesson, 'so shall thy days fadea- way.' In like manner does the insect, whicii we tread undemour feet, convey to us this necessary lesson: say- ing, O man, you and I were once enclosed in the dark womb of nothing, the same power that drew out you, drew me out also, and at the same time in which he made me come forth, he could have called forth a being as excellent as yourself, and why did he not do it. Be- cause it did not please him. Why did it not please him? Because it did not appear better iu theeyes of his infinite wisdom. Therefore, O man, if you have not been re- jected and left in your nothingness, know at least that another one equal unto y ou has been rejected, and I brought forth, and if you will not acknowledge that I am as excellent as yourself in quality of created being, at least I will claim a superiority over your equal, which* lias been rejected, and in as much as you, a created being, j tf444 ) and I, a created being, both made by the same power, and out of the same matter, and you cost your maker no more than I, I am on an equality with you, which admits of no dispute, because we are made by the same power, and out of the same matter, and ofthe same price, there- fore you and I are equal. Now if man wishes to know in what his excellency consists, in in what he differs from the other beings of this creation, let-him open his heart to conviction, and he will easily discover that this excel- lency and contradistinction is not in bis body, but it is in his soul; that the body, as has been demonstrated, is on an equal footing with the insects and brutal species; and that the soul is on an equality with the Angels in Heaven, with this difference alone, that their fidility has been tried, and ours is now in probation. This difference alone being supposed, which time will soon dissolve, and if we are found faithful we shall be placed on an equality with the Angels in. Heaven; but if we are found unwor- thy, we shall be placed upon an equality with the rep- robate Angels in Hell. Nay, I might say more—if we are found faithful, our lot will be superior to that ofthe Angels in Heaven; for it is the divinity which there con- stitutes the bliss of those blessed souls, and by. so much the nigher we approach to the divinity, by so much tho greater will be the proportion of our bliss; and the hu- man nature approaches nearer to the divinity than the Angelic nature, therefore the proportion of bliss, attain- able by the human nature, is preferable to that ofthe An- gelic nature; for it is evident that it is the divinity which constitutes the happiness of the blessed. This admits of no dispute, nor can it be disputed, tliat by so much tho nearer vve approach to the divinity, by so much tlie grca* ter will be the portion of our bliss; and who will dare to deny that the human nature approaches nearer to the di- vinity than the Angelic nature, if he will take time tore- fleet that the human nature is inseparately united to the divinity, and how is it possible to approach nigher to a thing than to be intimately united to it? Therefore, I conclude that the soul of man is one of the greatest works of God's creation; and this will appear in a still more convincing light, if we consider in detail how much more God has done for it than he has done for the rest of his creatures. It i° ceatain that Almighty God has existed ( 445 ) from all eternity, happy in himself, but he \va- pleased to bring fi rib ether beings, whicii might be spectators of his glory, and partakers of his bliss. And in order that he might not derogate from infinite perfection, it was ne- cessary that he shouhl lay some condition upon those creatures, from which honor might redound to himself, o herwise he would be acting purely for his creatures a- lon", without having any regard' to himself; and this would be unworthy of him, and God can do nothing un- worthy of himself. And in order that this condition might have the desired effect, it is necessary thnt those creatures should be left free to comply or not to comply with that condition, otherwise there would be no merit on their side; also, no honor to God. Who thanks a man fordoing what he was necessitated to do? or who thanks a man for abstaining from an action, which he could not do? Thus the Almighty, having created tlie angels, laid upon them this easy and agreeable condition; that they should adore him, and sing his praises. This condition, though very easy in itself, was refused by some, who e- lated with their ovvn supposed excellency, thought that if they could raise themselves one step higher, they would surpass their maker; but as the Almighty is infinitely powerful, and unchangeable in his designs, he did not choose to relinquish his just claim to-their tribute, and as they had refused to sing bis praises, it was nothing but just .that he should employ ids omnipotent power, to ex- tort from them his just right, ard this he did, and cast them as far beneath a state of nonexistence, as he had at first raised them above it, and afflicted them with tor- men's for their disobedience, in proportion to the reward with which he intended to repay thdr fidelity; and as tbe designs which induced him to create them are eternal, and tlie reward which he intended to bestow upon them was eternal, so also must the punishment be eternal, which they have deserved for their infidelity. But some will say that it would be better for the Al- mighty to blot them out of existence. I would agree to the same, if I could suppose, that the Almighty had ter- minated in them the designs, which induced him to create them, and had no reference to himself; but as it appears entirely repugnant to the nature of a being of infinite perfection, to be entirely mindful of his creatures, and ( 446 ) forgetful of himself; so also it appears repugnant to the nature of God, to blot any being out of existence, until the cud be accomplished for which it, had been brought into existence; and as the end for which it was brought into existence, is to honor God and be happy with him, so also shall this being exist as long as there is a God to be honored, and one with whom it might have been hap- py; and it also appears unworthy of God, tomake known his perfections to any creature, whicii is not to exist as long as the perfections of God shall exist. It is also re- pugnant to the goodness of Almighty God to do an injus- tice to any one, either to himself or to another. Now if he should create a being and manifest his perfec- tions to it, and this creature should refuse to make him any return for so great a favor, and the Almigh- ty should blot it out of existence, this 'would be do- ing an injustice to himself; for, by creating this be- ing and enduing it with such extcn ive knowledge, he has made this being his debtor; and by blotting it out of existence before this debt is paid, lie has done an m- justice to himself, by robbing himself of bis just right; aud to rob any one of his just right is an injustice, and to commit an injustice is repugnant to the goodness of the Almighty: therefore, it would not be better to blot them out of existence. And if they do not choose to sing the perfections of tlie Almighty, let them cry them. But some may ask if the screams and cries of the damned procure any honor to the Almighty. This, I will an- swer, by asking another question: what do you think does greater honor to a court of judicature, than to know how to distinguish between virtue and vice, and to know how to proportion rewards and punishments according to the merits and demerits of those, over whom it prcdiles? Again 1 will ask: does not every one glorify God, who declares aloud his power, his goodness and the eternity of his duration? Now the damned in hell proclaim a- loud that God is omnipotent, that God is infinitely good, and that he is eternal. And to declare his omnipotent power, they have no occasion to do any thing but to tell what they suffer, because none but a God of infinite pow- er can inflict what they feel. To declare his iufidfo goodness, they need do nothing but say what they suffer, and tell us at the same time, that this is inflicted upna (447 ) them for their vice. For bow can we have a more cer- tain knowledge of his goodness, than by knowing the ha- tred which he bears to vice? and how can we better come at the knowledge of the hatred, whicii he bears to vice, than by knowing the punishment which he inflicts upon it? and who can better tell us the punishment which he inflicts upon it, than those who feel this punishment? Thus they declare to us, in convincing terms; that ho is omnipotent, aud infinitely good; and when they have convinced their heaicrs of his ommpotency, it necessari- ly follows that he is eternal, because no one can terminate his existence, unless it be one, who can exert more power than he; and since he is omnipotent, it neces- sarily follows that there is no one, that has more pow- er than he. And since there is none more powerful than he, it necessarily follows, that' there is no one to terminate his existence; therefore, he must he eternal. Thus, by their screams and cries, they indisputably pro- claim the power, goodness and infinity of God. And if they would have proclaimed these attributes of God in heaven, by their hymns and jubilations, it was all that was required of them, ^nd since they refused to sing these perfeciinns of God, it is nothing but just that they should cry them. This is said principally of the fallen angels, and can only be applied to reprobate man, be- cause he would not tread the track on earth, which would lead him to so great an enjoyment, which he might easi- ly have done, because, the Almighty tells us that his yoke is sweet and his burthen light. I will here leave the reader to his reflections, and pro- / cccd to shew that the Almighty has done more for the souls of men than he has done f«r tho Angels. First, I will observe, that the angels and the souls of men are of the same nature, being spiritual and immate- rial substances; created to the image and likeness of God; aud created for the same end, viz. to praise and glorify their Creator, and partake of his happiness. As the Al- mighty would make trial ofthe fidelity of the angels, so also would he make trial of the fidelity of man; for he will not be served by an unfaithful and unwilling lieart. No sooner had he put man upon trial, than he proved un- faithful; but, instead of leaving him in his fallen state, as he might very justly have done, even as the fallen angels ( 448 ) "bad been left, he promises him pardon upon condition of his repentance: and the son of God, the second person ofthe blessed trinity, offers to pay his ra::som, and the Eternal Father is willing to receive the mediation of bis son. It is not necessary to recount here, the various transactions of our redemption. L t it suffice to say, that the son of the Eternal Father, after having chosen a poor but virtuous virgin for his mother, is born, in tbe rigors of tlie cold season, in a stable; and after having lived a life of labor and true obedience to his parents, du- ring tbe space of thirty years, he begins the more imme- diate work of our redemption, by preachingand confirm- ing his doctrine by .miracles, sucli as making the blind see, the lame walk, and raising tbe dead to life. After having spent three years in this kind of life, he finishes his course by the most cruel death that has ever been known, the particulars of which may be learned from the gospel. He was not yet satisfied with having pour- ed out the last drop of his blood for our redemption, hut lie must raise himself to life and converse with his disciples during the space of forty days. When he had established his church, and given to his apostles the same power that he had received from his Heavenly Father, saying, "all power is given to me in Heaven and on earth" &c. "as my Father sent me, so I send you" he. he promises them that he will send them the spirit of truth, who shall guide them into all righteousness, and that he himself will be with them always, even to the consumation ofthe world. Thus having established his church on a rock, and promised that the gates of Hell shall never prevail against it, he ascends and takes his seat at the right hand of his Father. Now, 0 man! raise thy eyes, admire and wonder, learn how to put a true value upon the things of this world. Learn tlie price of thy body, and the price of thy soul. AH the things of this world serve as a ladder for man to mount to Heav- en. The price of the body of man is the price of a gnat, the price ofthe soul of man is Jesus Christ himself. This suffers no difficulty, for it has been sufficiently shewn that the body of man has no pre-eminence over the in- sects of the air or earth. It is no less evident that the price of man's soul is Jesus Christ, true God and true man, for he has given himself fur our ransom, and he is (*3 ( 449 ) a God of infinite wisdom, and will not give more for a thing than it is worth, for to give more for a thing than it is worth, is a mark of ignorance or folly, but it would be impious in the highest degree to say or signify, that there was ignorance or folly in Jesus Christ, and since that is the price that has been given for tlie ransom of our souls, it is evident that that is the price that our souls must be valued at. Now let us spend a few min- utes in showing how the things ofthis world constitute & ladder, by which man may mount to Heaven. And first, I must inform my reader what I mean by mounting to Heaven by a ladder. I do not mean an ordinary manner of ascending, but I mean that every thing in this world tends in an admirable manner, to elevate our Hearts to God, and to withdraw them from the things ofthis world. If we take a view of our own mortal frame, we will find that its admirable mechanism far surpasses any thing that could enter into the imagination of man. Then if We consider the body only as the case or covering for the soul, we will be induced to believe that the soul is of a far more noble destiny; there we will feel inclined to enquire what is the destiny of the soul. And first, what is the prevailing desire of the soul? it is the desire of happiness. Where is that happiness to be found? Nut in this world, because there is no happiness in this life, Which is not mixed with pain, aud that desire was im- planted in our souls by the same power, which gave them existence. That power is God, and noiieof God's crea- tures are made in vain, therefore, ^there is somewhere an object, which can, and will satisfy that desire, if we do not render ourselves unworthy to find and enjoy it. But what can be the nature of that object? It must be an object of infinite happiness in himself, otherwise he could never confer on us a happiness capable of satisfy- ing our thirsty souls, for they crave happiness bordering on infinity, in fine it must be infinite, in as much as a fin ire being is capable of containing infinity: that is to say, every cavity of our hearts or souls must be full and complete, so that there is no room even for a desire of more happiness. Then nothing but G< d can do it, and in no o'ier place than' Heaven can he be Ibund The Abmdity has placed us in this world, and fixed in our brthbib the de&irc of happiness. He often conveys into C 450 ) our hearts some delightful sensations, as a foretaste ami pledge of that happiness which he has in reserve for us, but these moments of pleasure and delight, he has made of short daration, lest our weak minds might be prevail- ed upon to think that this world was the only place where happiness is to be found. Ah! unhappily, too many are already ofthis mistaken persuasion, and if they are not really persuaded ofthis, at least in their prractice, they make no provision for any other region of bliss. If we cast our eyes upon the earth or the seas, or take a view of the, Heavenly bodies, are we not inclined to go through a similar course of reasoning? The earth affords us a subject of wonder and surprise H<>w can such an immense body of such inconceivable weight, be supported in the air without any thing to rest upon? This question brings us immediately to the power ofthe Almighty. Then the question immediately follows, why does be do it? Not because it is of any real advantage to himself. For he is infinitely happy, rich and powerful in himself. And therefore, he is independent of all his creatures. Is it then for his creatures alone? No. For that would be unworthy of so noble a being as the Al- mighty, to terminate his designs in such ignoble crea- tures, it would be making himself their servant, but he does it for them, having reference to himself, and this reference implies some return on their part; and from whom is that return demanded? Not from the earth, nor its brutal inhabitants, but from man, who is indued with sufficient powers of soul, to know, love and serve his au- thor, and by doing that, man would comply with what is required of him. And in return of his obedience, the Al- mighty would bring him to the wished for place, of per- fect happiness, whicii alone is Heaven, in the eternal en- joyment of God. We see the earth, the air, the seas fill- ed with innumerable animals, some of.-enormous sizes, others so small that the naked eye can scarcely perceive them. Some of tliese are of great utility, others are of no utility, and others again are deadly poisonous; and why is there such a contrast in the works of an omnipo- tent and undiangeable God?. Who has sufficient power to make them all as great as the greatest, and as good as the best? At the same time in which he made the insect, he could'have made a Lion, or even a Solomon, a Da- vid, or a Goliah. At the same time in which he made ( 451 ) £he useless shrub, he could have made a branching tree* whiclrvvould bring forth apples of gold. At the same time in which he made those dim and scarcely perceiva- ble stars, he could have so many glorious suns. But since he has not done this, it clearly indicates to us, that what we term groat or small, are not so in the estima- tion of infinite windoin; that in quality of created beings they are all on an equality, and that which appears great, has no reason to exult over that whicii appears small. Thus man will be kept in his own proper sphere, and happy would it have been for the fallen Angels if they would have been contented to act in the sphere which the Lord had prescribed for them. Also happy would it have been for our first parents, if they had contented themselves in theirs; and happy would it be for us, if we would diligently act our part,,in the sphere which the Lord has prescribed to us. Thus every sbject upon tho earth, or in any part ofthis lower creation, tends admi- rably to raise our desires to Heaven, and in this sense, it may he truly said, that the things ofthis world consti- tute a ladder for man to mount to Heaven. Now let us acknowledge the immense favors of providence. Let us acknowledge that he has done much more for us than for the Angels. And though it might be said that we have many more perils to encounter in our journey to true bliss, than the Angels had in the time of their pro- bation, yet let us acknowledge that we have many more accasions of recalling our minds to the course which we should pursue, for if we feel ourselves ex*cited by pleas- ure, we find pain close by, if we find ourselves depress- ed and ready to sink under our burden of miseries, we find some ray of comfort, breaking in upon our benighled souls. And thus in our prosperity we arc made to fear, and in our afflictions we are made to hope; and hope mix- ed with fear, is a saving hope, which the christian should cherish. This aided by a prudent use of the three fa- culties of our soul, (to wit:) memory, understanding and will, will lead us an invariable track to eternal bliss, which is the true end for which man was created. Perhaps it would not be here amiss, to make a few ob- servations on the use ofthe faculties. Frst, let us call to mind the iufalibiiity, incomprehensibility and nnchauge- ddnicss of the Almighty, in fine, he is infinitely perfect ( 452 ) in alibis Works and ways. Now a bdng of such perfec- tion, will do nothing but what is worthy of himself. And even our creation would be unworthy of him, if bis de- feigns in creating us were not infinitely wise and perfect. And it would yet be unworthy of him, if he did not de- clare those designs to us in a sufficient degree to enahlo usJ*o enter into those designs, and accomplisli the part which is dependent on us. Now this he has sulhciently done, otherwise, he would have acted unworthily of him- self; but this he cannot do. Now in what manner his he declared it to us? Our memory supplies us with an answer, saying, in the old law he spoke to his people by prophets, men immediately inspired by tbe Holy Ghost, who gave them sufficient power to prove their superiori- ty over the prophet of Baal. But our judgment can conclude nothing from this, for we know that the old law is fulfilled and done away, and that the new law has taken place, we also know that all things happened to them in figure, and that in these our latter days we have the realify. Therefore, our memory must bring forth something from the new law, which as far surpasses tha oly, as the substance surpasses the shadow. But ala^! who can flatter himself that he will ever be able to find such a treasure? But unless be finds such, he should ne- ver give himself the least respite from asking, for surely it is some where to be found, and if he finds it not, tlie fault may probably be on his side, and salvation is at stake, and as he is a child of eternity, and the designs which the Almighty had in creating him are eternal, so the evil consequences arising from this neglect will be ex- ternal. But O, man despair not, for it may be found, and we have an assurance of it from Christ, himself. "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find.', But why should 1 torture my mind by asking and seek- ing? Will the Almighty come at my request, or answer to my call? Or has he appointed some one to answer to his name? Is not the Almighty a supernatural being? And is the short sighted reason of limited man capable of comprehending or arriving at that which is supernat- ural, and which so far surpasses our imperfect reason? Truly the Almighty is a supernatural being, and it would be presumption in us to suppose, that, by the lorce and penetration of our reason, we shall ever be able to arrive (453) at as clear a perception of God and his eternal decrees as is necessary to give a mui some peace aud content-. merit of mind, when he reflects that his salvation is at stake. But thus far our short-sighted and limited rea- son is able to be our guide. It can conduct us to that Heavenly born protectress and guide called religion, and she will conduct us invariably to Go 1. Now let us en- deavor to comprehend the true sense and meaning ofthe word religion, for upon it entirely depends our salva- tion. It behoves us to be impartial, lest we deceive ourselves, and take the shodow for the substance. This religion which is to be our guide to God, must be of a supernaturd nature, otherwise under its guidance, we can never arrive at a supernatural end. God is a su- pernatural being, to ascend to God vve must go by a su- pernatural way, and consequently we must have a super- natural guide. Now what is the true import of the word religion? This wc rd proceeds immediately from'the latin word Religc, Rdigare, which in English means to tis hard, to bind or make fast. Now these are the essen- tial qualities of religion, and nothing can exist without its essential qualities, therefore, nothing can justly claim the title of religion which does not fie hard, bind or make fast. Now it is evident that by religion ve are tied hard, bound and made fast. And to whom are we tied, hound or made fast? We are tied, bound and made fa*t to God himself—Father, Son and Holy Ghost. And by what cords are we tied, bound and made fast? We are tied, bound and made fast by the triple cord of faith, hope aud charity. Who is the author ofthis triple cord? Jesus Christ himself. Are they variable and susceptible- of being changed according to every man's fancy? No. They are as invariable as God himself; and woe be unto that man who attempts to mend God's works. These cords are of a supernatural nature, and can no more be changed than God can be changed. How hap- pens it then that there are sonnany religions in the world, all pretending to have faith, hope and charity, and main- taining it from the same book? These indeed have the name of religion; but let us examine if ihey have with it, ihe essential qualities of religion, which are to tie hard, to bind ov make fast; if they have not these essential qual- ities, they have no rJigbn,. because ndbing cau exist. ( 464 ) without its essential qualities. Let us prove this by a fa- miliar example, here is tire. What are the qualities of fire? It contains heat and light, these are its essential qualities. But this which 1 call fire, has heat but no light, therefore it is not fire. Bnt perhaps it contains light but no heat, therefore it can't be fire. Perhaps it contains neither heat nor light, then it is impossible that it can be fire, because fire must have both. Nqw since there cannot be fire, without heat and light, which are its essential qualities, is it not a folly to say there can be religion without its essential qualities, which are to fie hard, to bind or to make just. Now do the various reli- gions dispersed through the world, tie hard, bind or make fasti No, it is quite the reverse with tbe greatest part of those religious sects. Read the gospel and interpret for yourselves, is the universal cry, you may understand as you please, and I will understand as I please; you may go this way, and I will go that way. This is the licence given by the major part of the various denomi- nations, and this they call religion. And where is the tying hard, tlie binding and making fasti There is none. Therefore, there is no religion, because as there can be no fire without beat or light, so also, there can be no re- ligion without tying hard, binding and making fast. Perhaps they may say, the ties are in the lieart; one will say 1 have faith, hope and charity; and another also will say, I have faith, hope and charity, though we should differ in our faith, hope and charity, this we are taught by daily experience, for we know that there are many faiths in tlie world, also there are many hopes for salvation entirely through the merits of Christ, without any condition on their own part. Others again hope for salvation through the virtue and efficacy of their own merits. Others again, with the apostle Paul, think that they must fulfil in their flesh what is wanting to the merits of Christ. Now where there arc such a variety in their faith and hope, there is also a variety in their charity. But we have said above that this triple cord, faith, hope and charity, was as invariable as God i-, in- variable. This triple cord is supernatural, whose au- thor is Jesus Christ. When the Lord told his apostles, those that are not a- gainst us are for us, w by should diflercnt persuasions ( 456 ) dispise each other? Why should we not be true repub- licans when we are in a free land? Those ulso that aro bound ir the essential point, renewed by grace, and tast- ed of the good works of God, and of the power ofthe world to tome, those are bound to God and free from sin, those are heirs to God and joint heirs to Heaven; tho e have the weeding garment on; those are the bride for Heaven .whiM-eever they be. Marriage the union between husband wife, is Senear, that thereby is represented the mystical union, the sacred and spiritual marriage of Christ with his Church, Epb. 5, 3), 3, 32. OF ANIMALS. The God that rules above, it is true, is the object of none of oi.r senses. But reflect what limited capacities animal senses are; many nnimab have but one sense, or perhaps two arc most, touch aud taste! Ought such an animal to conclude against the eviendces of smell, sound and colours? To another species is given the sense of smelling, this in an advance in the knowledge of the powers and propensities of nature, bnt if this favoured animal should infer from its superiority over the class last described, that lie perceived every thing whicii was perceptible in nature; it is known to us, though perhaps not suspected by the animal itself, that it proceeded up- on a false and presumptious estimate of its faculties. To another is added the sense of hearing, which lets in a class of sensations entirely unconceived by the animal before spoken of, not only distant, but remote from any it had ever experienced, and greatly superior to them. Yet this last animal has no more ground for believing that its senses comprehend all things, and ail properties of tlttngs which exist, than might have been claimed by the tribe of animals beneath it. For vve know that it is possible to possess another sense, that of sight, which shall disclose to the percipient a new world; and to sup- pose that this fifth sense comprehends all existing sens- es, is just as unwarautable a conclusion as that which might have been made by any of the different species that possessed fewer, or even by that, if there such be (of which I have no doubt) whicii possessed but one. The conclusion of the one sense, and the conclusion of the five sense animal stand upon the same authority. There may ( 456 ) be more or other senses than vve' have. There may be senses suited to the powers, properties and substances of spirits, these may belong to a higher order of rational a- gcnts, for there is not tbe smallest reason for supposing that we are the highest, or that the scale of creation stops with us. Man is great, but his contracted sphere, Shows that a greater, supports his being here, To day his trident spreads its guady sail, To-morrow, death the tyrant doth prevail. ON MAN. We find that man is above the brutal creation, in sin. ture and knowledge. When God breathed in man the breath of life, man became a living soul. Philoso- phers say that animals and plants have a vegetable soul or principle, by which they increase or diminish in bulk, he. We see the greater part of mankind are endowed with five innate senses—Seeing, feeling, tasting, hear- ing and smelling; we see a few who are curtailed by na- ture in those faculties, and have only four senses; being born both deaf and dumb. But when speaking of man there is an immaterial soul, which is that rational, self- eoncious, indivisibille being, that which actuates, di- rects or disposes in or towards any thing he does; which is endowed with various faculties, by which it remem- bers, distinguishes and performs whatever is done.— There are four elements to compose the body; earth, air, fire and water; and vve cannot comprehend but the soul stands on the same ground. Fire has three elements— light, heat and colour. Water also has three—hail, rain and snow, composing the one element. And may not the Father, Son and Holy Ghost form but one essential aud omnipotent Jehovah, or God? 'Twas God the Father made the world, And Jesus came to save, The Holy Ghost he said he'd send, To soften every grave. Pluck out the sting of death, The captive soul set free; That it may sing its Saviour's praise,, To all eternity, H3 ( 457 ) ON VITAL SPIRITS. The vital spirits are thought by some, to be of three kinds; those in the brain are called animal spirits; those in the heart vital spirits, and those in the liver natural spirits. But others count but two sorts; the animal and the vital, or natural in the mass of blood. The animal spirits are a very fine, thin liquor, which distilling from the blood in the outward or cartical substances of the brain, are by a proper ferment thereof exalted into spir- its; and 'hence thro' the medullar substance of the brain are carried into the nerves, and spinal marrow; by which all actions of sense and motion are performed. The vi- tal or natural spirits subtlest part of the blood, which ac- tuates and nourishes it, and renders it fit for nourish- ment. In chemistry, those liqaids, which by distilation are rendeped very thin are also called spirits. There are three kinds, sulfurieus, acid and saline; the firts as they consist of very oily particles, are easily inflamable: such as spirits of wine, he. The acid consists of acid particles and water, as spirits of vitriol, sulphur, salt, &c. The third, or saline spirits, consists of a valatile salt; as spirits of salamaniack, wine, soot, &c. From those many compounded spirits are made, for various uses and purposes? as acquefortis and aquaregia; but the subject we are on, would take up too much time to treat on. The vital spirits are these which have life and motion, or that preserves or give life and motion, and enables a person collectively, or the several parts dis- tinctly to perform their respective functions. They are the principal parts of the body in which the life ofthe creature is more immediately situated: such as .helieart, the brain, the lungs or the liver. Tbe animal life be- longs to any part of nature that breaths; and is that which actuates man in his motions, senses, faculties, per- ceptions, reflections, &c. aiiu is called the animal faculty. This vital spark was once so pure, That God the creature bless'd; And naught but Satan could allure, Of Paradise possess'd. Eve beguiled, poor Adam eat, The apple so accursed; ( 458 ) 'Twas then they left the Heavenly seat, But Eve was sent outfirst. SPIRIT OF MAN. This is drawing towards something like the human soul, or that invisible being thataetuates a human crea- ture, and consequently rewardable or punishable for whatever action it does in this world, whether good or bad. Sometimes it means angels, whether good or bad, that are messengers, or executioners of the Almighty will. And sometimes it means those imaginary beings, that the enthusiasm or villany of designing people have in- vented to frighten honest, well-meaning persons, and to drive them into a superstitious veneration for charms, prayers, he. that some pretend to sell, as a preventative against such mischievous beings as tbese are represented to be. In Scripture, we find the supereminent spirit, means the Holy Ghost. This is the third person spoken of in the adorable trinity. That enlivening which pro- ceeds from the Father and Son, Mat. S. 16. John 3. 8, John 15. 1.6. The second spirit is taken from the im- mediate inspiration and extraordinary help ofthe spirit of God, Mat. 22. 43. First Cor. 14 15. Third for the extraordinary gift and grace of the spirit, Gal. 3. 2, Fourth for the councils, motions and directions of the spirit, Rom. 8. 1. Fifth spirit, is taken for the reveal- ed nature or spiritual part in man, Mat. 26. 41. Sixth, for spiritual zeal, 1st. Tim. 4. 12. Seventh, for judg- ment, authority and consent, 1st, Cor. 5. 4. Eighth, it signifies pure, holy and spiritual, John 3. 6. Ninth, it is taken for the gospel, which is the ministration of the spirit to turn them from the power of Satan unto God, 2nd. Cor. 30. 6. and 8. Tenth, for the thoughts, af- fection and care, Col. 2. 5. We see instances wherein an evil or good spirit can emanate from one person and be received by another, as easy as the sound of a voice, or the report of a gun; or as the capacity of reverting from one place to another; or as the wind listetb, we hear the sound thereof, but canst not tell from whence itcometh, or whither itgoetb* Sametimes a christian and a sinner will meet: both neighbors, the sinner will upbraid the christian for not being as good as he pretends to be; stating, that the chris- ( 459) tlan will cheat, or defraud as soon as the sinner: Until the resentment of the christian is raised; he receives the spirit of the sinner and they come to blows: this is often the case. The christian it is certain, must have receiv- ed the sinner's spirit, or he never would have let his re- vengeful looks and npprobions language deprive him of that coihposure whicii marked the character of his reign head, the Lord Jesus Christ. But on the other hand, two christians meeting, spirit is good; like an apple that has a dote in it, when that is cut out clear, the rest is so much the sweeter to the taste. Read Num. 11. 17. I will take of the spirit which is upon thee and put it upon them, and the Lord came down in a cloud and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him and gave it unto the seven- ty elders, and it came to pass, that when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied and did not cease. Elijah said, unto Elisha, ask what I shall do for thee before I be taken away from thee, and Elisha said, I pray thee let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me, 1st Kings, 2, 9 and 15. Job said, that a spirit passed before his lace; and the hair of his flesh stood up, Job, 4, 15. Job said there is a spirit iu man, and the inspira- tion of the Almighty giveth them understanding, Job, 32, 8. The body without the spirit is dead, Jas. 2, 36. For a temper, frame or disposition, of soul or spirit, P9al. 51, 10. The spirit that hath made me breath,. Job 33, 4. God is a spirit, 1st John 4, 24. For that which befalleth the sons of men, befalleth beasts also, as the one dieth, so dieth the other also; yea they have all one breath, so that a man hath no pre-eminence above a beast; for all is vanity: all go unto one place, all are of the dust, and all return unto the dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goelh upwards; and the spirit of the beast that goeth downwards to the earth, Prov. 3, 19, 20, 21. Save the spirit of man which is in him, 1st Cor. 2, 11. Into thy hands I commend my spirit, 28, 46. Lord Jesus receive my spirit, 7, 59. A- men. That spark which God did first emit, It glows in man and blossoms yet, His breath the vital spark did give, ( 460 ) And bid the rebel sinner live; Till Christ the all atoning word, For man, should spill his sacred blood, ON THOUGHT. The thought is that act of the mind, or operation of the soul, whereby we perceive or know any thing. A- braham said, because I thought surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will dav me, for my wife's sake, 20, 11. Now Hannah spake in her heart onlyr, her lips moved, but he voice was not heard; therefore E- li thought her drunk, lstSnm. 1, 13. Saul thought to make David fall by the hands ofthe Philistines, 1st Sam. 18, 25. I thought on my ways and turned my- self, Psal. 119, 59. If you will read Mat. 3rd and 1*6. They that feared the Lord spake often one to another: And the Lord barkened, and heard it, and a book oi re- m«mibcrancc was written before him, for them th.it fear- ed the Lord; and that thought upon his name. So we find from reason and scripture, that the soul has power to act, and improve in light and knowledge, to turn frc m sin to holiness, and to be born again. Paul when speak- ing to his brother in the scripture, said when I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, and I thought as a child. But when I became a man, 1 put a- vvay childish things, 1st Cor. 13, 11. We see when man is young, his judgment and understanding are weak, and his thoughts are evil; for thoughts of foolish-, ness are sin, Prov. 24, 9. These continue as rebelious children perhaps until death; others may turn their thoughts from evil to virtue; from sin to holiness, they are then taught by the holy spirit. They then speak and think as men, they are then born again, renewed by grace. They then think of thy loving kindness, Psalm 43, 9. Thou understandeth my thoughts afar off, Ps. 130,3. David also conveyed the idea that there is a something new taken place in the soul of him, who is not a reprobate, Psal. 139, 17. How precious are thy thoughts unto me, oh God! how great is the sum of them; if I should count them, they are more in number than the sands. Search me, oh God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts. Let the wicked man forsake his way; and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and re» ( 461 ) turn unto tlie Lord; and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God and he will abundantly pardon him-. for my thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways my ways, saieth the Lord. For as the Heavens are higher than the earth; so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts, Is a, 55. 7, 8, 9. So man is above the beast, and God is a- bove all. Oh Lord, let our thoughts to thy glory attend, Thou has been our God, and thou wilt be our friendj Thou made us of dust, and to dust we return, Incline our heats, that we wisdom may learn, Let us cling to thy skirt, as Lord over all; And in Jesus' name, we never can fall. ON THE MIND. The mind in general is applied to any rational or thinking indivisible being, as God, Angels or the soul of men. But it is mo9t generally applied to man, that ob- serves, gives attention, takes notice, commands, or bids a person do. so. and so. 1st. The mind signifies the understanding or judg- ment, whereby we may distinguish between good and e- vil, lawful aud unlawful. Read the and Cor. 3, 14. But their minds first were blinded; and until this day re- maineth the same vail untaken away by the old testa- ment, but removed iu the new through Christ, Tit. 1, 15. Unto the pure all things are pure, bnt unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure.* Bnt even their minds and consciences are impure. Amen. 2nd. The regenerate, and the renewed part of man. Read Rom. 7, 27. Thank God through Jesus Christ nm Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. 3rd. The heart. Read Gen. 26, 3.5? Which was a grief of mind unto Isaac, and unto Rebecca, Dent. 18, 17. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself that his, heart turn not away; neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver or gohi. 4ih. The memory. Read Psal. 31, 12, I am forgot- ten as a dead man: out of mind, I am like a broken ves- sel, Isa. 46,8. Remember this and show yourselves ( 462 ) men,.* bring it again to mind 0, ye transgressors. A-» men. 5th. End, design or intention, Psal. 21,27. The The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more so when he bringeth it with a wicked mind. 6th. Wit or soundness of mind, Mark 5, 15. And they came to Jesus, and saw him that was possessed with a devil and from whom the legion had been cast, sit- ting clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid, Luke 8, 35. Then they went out to see what was done, and came to Jesus, and found the man out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind. Amen. 7th. The will, 1st Peter 25 v. Feed the flock of God which are among you; taking the oversight thereof not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. Amen. 8th. Affection, Acts 17,11. These were more no- ble than those at Thesalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scrip- tures daily whether those things were so. Amen. This subject concerning the soul has never been ascer- tained, and but little spoken of. But on account of the recent loss of my companion, I have thought much on it, and have given my readers rny opinion what constitutes the soul of man; from principles and scripture, viz: The spirit, thought and mind. There are many passages in scripture that describe three things, that are perhaps emblematic of the above. My soul, look up and see, Your Saviour's bleeding wonnds; My ear expanded be, Receive Seraphic sounds; The trump has called thee home, To his expanded arms; From thy Saviour do not roam, But feast upon his charms; He bids you come and taste, The riches of his love, He beckons you away, To feast with him above. ( 463) THE DEVIL. l&M ' ~ Z - .-1.- ■ji. -A.~r^: -."-^'.^..■sni :~sA:?:?;AA- -;iKC>a^ ( 464 ) THE HISTORY OF THE DEVIL. This being is accounted a most wicked Angel, thein> placable enemy and tempter of the human family, espe- cial ly,bdievers whom he desires to devour ,1st Peter 5, 8. Be sober, be vigilent, because your adversary the devil is as a roaring lion, going about seeking whom he may devour. 2. He is called Abaddon in Hebrew. Apollyon in Greek; that is destroyer, Rev. 9, 8. By these three was the third part of men killed. By fire, by smoke, by brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. 3. Angel of the bottomless pit, prince ofthis world, John 32, 31. Now is the judgment ofthe world. Now shall the prince of the world be cast out. 4. Prince of darkness, Eph. 6, 12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, a- gainst powers, against the rulers of darkness ofthis world, against spiritual wickeduess in high places. 5. A roaring lion and an adversary, 1st Peter 5, 1. Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary is as a roaring lion walketh; also seeking whom he may devour. 6. A sinner from the beginning, 1st John 3, 8. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sineth from the beginning. 7. Belzabub, Mat. 12, 24. But when the Pharisees heard it, they said this fellow casteth out devils through Belzabub the price of devils. 8. Accuser, Rev. 12, 10. And I heard aloud voice saying in Heaven, now is come salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night. 9. Belial; 2nd Cor. 5, 15. What concord hath Christ with Belialjor what concord or part hath he that believeth with an infidel. 10. Deceiver, Rev. 20, 10. And the devil that de- ceived was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophets are; and shall be tor- mented day and night, forever and ever. 11. Dragon, Rer, 18,7. And there was law in ( 466 .) Heaven, Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and his Angels. 12. Liar, John 8, 44. For you are of them, your father the devil, and the lust of your father. He was,a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there was no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar, and the father of liars. 13. Leviathan, Isa. 27, 1. In that day the Lord Bhali pdnisti with his swonl Leviathan; by piercing the serpent, he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. 14. Lucifer, Isa. 14, 12. How art thou fallen from Heaven, oh Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cast down to the ground! Which did waken the nations. 15. Murderer, John 9, 4. Say unto master this wo- man was taken in adultery, in the very act. 16. Serpent, Isa. 27, 1. 17. Satan, Job 2, 6. And the Lord said unto Satan, behold! he is in thy hands, but save his life. 18. Tormentor, Mat. 18,54. And his Lord was wroth and delivdred him to the tormentor, until Ire should pay all that was due unto him. 19. The God of this world, 1st Cor. 4, 4. In whom the God ofthis world has blinded the minds of them, who believe not; least the light ofthe glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 20. Devil, (this sometimes means idols,) Psalm 106, 37. Yea, they sacrifised their sons, and their daughters, unto devils, 2nd Cor. II, 15. He ordained him priest for the high places, for the devils, and for the calves which he bad made. 21. Devil sometimes means wicked man, John 6, 70. Have I noi chosen twelve, and one of you is a devil. 22. Persecution, R. 2, 10. The devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried. - The word persecution conies from the Greeek Diabo- les, which signifies acalumuiator. or s^ccuser. Who ac- cused us before God, both day and night, Rev. 12, 9, 10. Hence he is called the accuser of the brethren, Rev. 12. And Jesus was led to be tempted by the devil, Matthew 4, 23. ( 466 > This devil so cunning, he rages all day, And most ofthe people, think he is at play; By this he decoys, and leads them as!ray, . And never undeceives them, till sure of his prey. His names like his nature, are various its true, And whoever trusts him, will sure feel the screw Of conscience, if any remain in their breast: "Which often deprives them, of peace, and of rest.- Hope is. the engine, and gain is his meed, By which he persuades them, all things are decreed, If ruin attend you, then curse God he cries, I'll prove to a fraction, the scripture's all lies. If wrath is your portion, why then he looks grave, And persuades all your neighbours, you must be a knave. If happy at home, then why not be great; You are called on to act, you mnst yield to your fate. If miserable, then to the tavern pray fly, Eat, drink and be merry, to-mprrow you die. If humble, and then with your station content, You are a poor sinner, and must need repent, If cheerful, why God a laugh doth dispise.—> I tell you my readers, that Satan tells lies; In Christ put your hope, whene'er he assail. And all his endeavors to ruin must fail; I've tried it, and find if you'll stand to the test, Christ as a Saviour, will always prove best. Be humble, and faithful, and trust in his name; If you don't get to glory, I'll bare all the blame. OF ADAM. We read that God threw Adam into a profound sleep, and whilst he was insensible God took a rib out of his side, of which formed a woman. When Adam awaked he perceived it, and cried out this is bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called by a name de- rived from that of man, because she was taken out of man, Gen. 2, 21, 22. From this we see that woman was created to be a companion, and assistant to man. She was equal to him in authority and jurisdiction, and God gave then rule over all other animals. But after the fall God made her subject to the government of man. Gen, 3, 16, The fall was by eating the forbidden fruit (467) When God called on Adam, he laid it on the woman, the woman on the serpant, and he, a sly cunning old dog, pretended to be speechless: he had no one else to cast the blame on. From which we find that sin has entered into all man- kind, and death by sin. Thus we see when men have sinned, they justify themselves by accusing the Devil; an example set them by Eve. But sin is not a creature, it has neither eyes nor legs, but is evil, and evil is the a- buse of good. If there had never been pure gold in the first place; there never could have been counterfeit. Sin is taken for original corrUption, and the depravity and naughtiness of our nature, which is prone to all evil, Psal. 51,5. Second, from actual sin; which flows from the corruption of our nature, Jas. 1,15. When lust hath conceived in bringeth forth sin. Third, it is taken fsr the guilt and defilement of sin, Psalm 51, 2, Heb. 10, 2. Fourth, for the punishment of sin, Gen. 4, 7. Fifth, sin is taken both for guilt and punishment of sin, Psalm 32, 1. Sixth, the name of sin is often given to the sac- rifices of expiation, to the sacrifice for sin, Luke 3, 25, 29. What is there rendered sin offering, is in Hebrew sin. St. Paul says, that God was pleased that Jesus Christ who knew no sin, should be our vie tim of expla tion, 2nd Cor. 52. The sin is taken for anyfault either in doctrine or life, John 8, 48. Also for infidelity or unbe- lief, 16, 9 Also for a sinful course of life, James 1,15. For the remainder of sin in such as are renewed or re- generated, Romans 6,12. It is also taken for sin great- ly aggravated, John 15, 22, 24* When Adam was first created, And placed in this world as its owner; At first he was wonderful pleased, But how soon he forgot the great donor. Its so with the men of this day, Whenever they meet with a favor; If fortune continues to smile, They love both the gift and the giver* But let her but once wear a frow n, And all the past good is forgotten, Like Eve when the apple she'd eat, Why then^ to be sure it was rotten. CD t"" C 470 ) SLY. We know that it is the nature of a dog to bark aud bite. But there is one dog that has raved through the world, and has done much harm. I shall designate him by the name of Sly. When danger is near, and when thieves brake through and steel, he does little more than growl and whine, and shake his tail. But in the morn- ing when the family rises, and the plunderisgone, he will bark and rave, the whole family are in an uproar, the plantation rings with his sound. The farmer curses his neighbor, and perhaps his wife her husband. But no one curses the dog. The dog once whined around Job's wife, when Job was all full of putrifyiag sores* and she wanted Job to curse God and die, but Job knew the na- ture ofthe brute, and would not be persuaded like Eve, or look back like Lot's wife, when the howling, and bark- ing, and yelling was in Sodom and Gomorrow,and she became a pillar of salt, by disobeying God. This dog goes to church it is snid, and growls when the children cry. He sometimes makes men and their wives lay in separate beds, and stands between and whines, and grins, and mews like a cat, and it is said he roars sometimes like a lion. He is then in a good way, like Delila, when she cliped Sampson's hair, and the Philistines plucked out his eyes. When a young man, and women form an attachment for each other, this dog begins to whine and grin, and is sometimes under their chairs, and is some- times uuder their parents chairs. But stick to it, like Isaac and Rebecca. The voice of preachers will stop his whining, and bring glad tidings. But keep an eye on him, there is now two instead of one. If you do not put on your spectacles and look througli ihe eye of faith the remainder part of your life, you are no more twain, but one flesh. The union between husband and wife, is so near, that thereby is represented the mystical union, the sacred or scriptural marriage of Christ with his church, Eph. 30, 31 and 32. We have heard of these mighty dogs getting foul of the swine, and driving them down into a great ( 471 ) lake. And at another time stopping a woman before the door of an old phophet; and caused her to go in unto him, and for which she would have been stoned to death if she had not escaped tbe staff, which, when presented, he says, thou art more righteous than 1. Solomon says, whosoever loveth instruction, loveth knowledge, but he thathateth reproof is brutish. Solomon says, as a jewel of gold in a swines snout, so is a fair woman without discretion, Prov. 11, 12. This will suffice to show you the nature and disposition of this dog; that you may keep from his jaws. Dog is put for Devil, Psalm 22, 30. De liver my soul from the sword, my darling from the power ofthe dog. This dog bet**ays and leads astray, To ruin and to death; Oh! guard against his willy wiles, Ere you spend your breath. (472) THus dbg is very outrageous. And I think froni name, ways and actions, is a relation of Sly's He is not so old in name or nature; but does much mischief in our land; he barks at every thing. We hear his whin- ing and barking, and growling against laws, against rights, against widows, orphans, men and their wives; setting every thing in an uproar. We hear the sound in the pulpit, with different persuasions. We hear the sound at the bar; he barks loudest when there is no dan- ger near; he is like a wolf or a bear, he can change hid voice according to season. When you are with him, he seems as innocent as a dove, hut when you are out of sight, he compasses you round. If he bites you there is a poison under his tongue that's sweeter than honey, and as strong as a lion. When you are in your bed at night, reposing on your pillow of rest, he is baying of you. M JEven those in their graves do not escape him. The rich he will flatter, The poor he'll dispise; &3 ( 473 ) The old he'll deceive. To the young he'll tell lies* There has many young women been destroyed the re* mainderpart of their lives by the sound of his voice. We see him on his road to the cart house; and what is his business there? . He has made the parson quit his subject; and the lawyer quit his book, the tailor quit his sewing, and tbe farmer quit his grubbing. Some- times he likes the lid ofthe Holy Writ. Be it good, or be it bad, At times it makes the people mad; Sometimes he moves a man and wife, To strive, and take each others life. Sometimes friends he brakes asunder, Alarms poor females with bold thunder. A great deal more 1 have been told, lie done to folks in times of old. He barks and growls more against innocent people*. and more frequently on account of religion than any oth- er. And this is sometimes excused by heathens, Jews, he, against the christian, upon account of some differ- ence in opinion. Ofthe first sort, the church histo- rians reckon .hat at Jerusalem, instigated by Saul, af- terwards called Paul, against Stephen, and other profes^ sors of the faith of Jesus Christ. The second, under the EmperorKero; which began about the year 64, by way of revenge; anil as it was given out for the burning of Rome, which he accused them of, and which lasted until his death in 68. The third, was under Domician, which lasted very severely from 90 to 96, when that Emperor was killed. The fourth, was under Trajan, and alt ho' he put forth no edict against the christians, but a gen- eral ordinance, by which hefordd all assemblies and so- cieties ofthe new religions whi< h occasioned a very bloo- dy massacre, almost continually until the year 116. The fifth, Was under Adrian; aud he published no edict a- gainstthe christians in particular: yet, by strictly com- manding the laws against the new religion to be enforc- ed, they suffered exceedingly. The sixth, was under Antoiiiuc, who upon the account of famine, and other (' 474 ) grievous attlidions, caused the executions to be stuped rn 153. The seventh, was under Marcus Aurelius, which began in 161, and ended in 171, upon the account of the victory obtained by the valour and prayers of a host, the greater part of whom were christians, when he publish- ed an edict, that no christian should be molested on ac- count of bis religious creed, aud if any dare to accuse them they should be burned. Which edict procured him the nppelation of Aurelius the good. The eighth, under Serverus, in 199; upon the account of the crimes and dis- orders of the Jews and Gnosticks, were attributed to the christians, which lasted till 211. From this year to 235, some particular persons suffered martrydom. But the body of the christians enjoyed peace. But in 235 the Emperor Maximus published an edict, that tlie prelates should be severely punished as the authors of the new doctrine. But the governors extend their cruelties to the laity also; which is called the ninth persecution. The tenth, was appointed by the Emperor Decius in 249, which ceased at his death in 251. These are es- teemed the greatest. But those which were afterwards prosecuted by Arians, he. against the other persuasions, were not only equal, but more universal, than what hea- than Rome instituted against the churches under tiieir power. And this spirit ofthe dog, or persecute!* contin- ues still whenever opportunity presents itself, in the pre- sent church at Rome. France Poland, and &c. are living under instances of the barbarity of that spirit of lies, and delusion that reigns amongst the professors of that apostate persua- sion of the religion of love, peace and charity, and uni- versal tenderness taught us, by the example and precepts of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. From this paragraph you may sec how crusty Snap has been, both amongst the heathens and the christians. The dog, read Psalm 22, 16. For the dogs have compassed mo, the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me, they pierced my hands and my feet. Look up my soul, this dog defy, If Jesus is your friend; There can lurk no danger nigh, He'll guard you to the end. ( 475 ) Oh! how vain is all our care, For riches here below, £ ou!d you most beloved of girls, condescend to honor me with a line, informing me whether your mind has fluctuated or no? and whether my presence would be a- greeable at your fathers. I should esteem it a singular condescension, and an unparalleled favour. Time will seem to standstill until I hear from you. Then let me hope you will bid me hasten on the wings of Cupid, and all ;he gods and goddesses of love to embrace, the god- dess of my terresiial destiny. Then frown not, nor bid me stay away, As only in your smiles, is there celestial day. To ennumerate my sensations in regard to yourself, ( 490 ) since I last saw you, would transcend the power of Ian,-, guage. I live in hope, oh! hid me not despair, Heaven contains not so divine a fair. To love, Eliza, cannot be a crime, if to declare it is one, the expiation has been made in person. When first I wafted my passion through the vehicle of language to your listening ear, I had the vanity to believe that I was not heard with indifference, and when we last conversed on that subject, you gave me every encouragement my palpitating heart desired. It is seldom fancy weaves a chain so bright as that which then courted my mental vision. You have my heart, 'tis all I have to give, As only in your smiles, can I with pleasure live, Can you, so cruel spurn a heart that for you dies, And from its own, to your lov'd bosom flies, Then kindly bid this doting passion live, Say for my own, you your heart wiil give* It is wearing rate, my light is nearly entinguished, and I must with a faultering hand, most lovely of created nature, sign myself your most devoted friend and lover- F. DARN LEY. Miss E. K. Eliza, dear, my heart ne'r beat so true* Lur'd by your charms, as now in loving you, Immortal goddess, will you then be mine? Zealous, pure and in your love refined, Angelic soother of my wayward mind. Kings of Kings, oh! hear my fervent prayer, Indulge me with this most divinely fair, Ne'r will I a blessing ask again, Grant but this, if all the rest be pain. P. D. Miss E. K- Rosmart, Jan. 16, 1817. Dear Brother— I have hastly resumed my pen, to re- quest your instant attendance at home, as our father is pronounced by his physicians to be paid hope, (491 ) Oh! how it wrings my soul, to think of parting from so good a father. But we must all die, and he who can g« with that confidence, which onr dear parent expresses, will assuredly be happy. You must ride the horse which the boy now rides, and leave him in Winchester until you return. In haste your brother and friend. ■ J. CAS. Thos. Ca, My Dear Sister— Enclosed you will find a bill on the State Bank, for one hundred dollars, which is all I can spare you at present. You and your dear little children can subsist on that, until I see you, when I shall attempt to make some arrangement to render your situation more comfortable. It makes my heart bleed, to see you the wife of a man, who makes no exertion to support you and his children in decency; and my mortification would not be so great if that was all, but drunken and dissipat- ed habits, must make him extremely unpleasant as a companion. Believe me to be your Most affectionate Brother. K. C= M. D. ( 492 ) This last page, now I address, To all who have read my book through; If you any wisdom possess. You'll find every word of it true. Then if to read^ you're inclined, . And barely have looked at this page, Begin, read trhough, and you'll find What will please you, I dare to engage. To cure, is my greatest delight, When the system is racked with disease, My writing I do in the nigbt, Yet hope that my writing will please. Some are too nice to be wise, And question my skill iu medicine, Some on my physic tell lies, But they, are sure out of their senses. Some call me a quack or a knaye, Bui that never troubles my quiet, There's many a good fellow I save, By aid of the Almighty's fiat. If I am thus low in their minds, Then why not j ray I t me alone, They cry out, the dog must be dead, But still they pelt him with stone. But I tell you, and that not in jest, There's many disoidersl cure, And thousands I yet hope.and trust. If I live, with my life I'll ensure. Some calf me this, some that, Some a Turk, some a Tartar; But this il you'll call me, I'll prove That my name is but RICH'D CARTER. asjiiNBs: Fagi. Death, t Resurrection, 10 The author's life, 1G Directions for Gardening, 68 Of stgns from the Pulse, 61 The morbid effects of poison in the air, 65 The certigcate of Ruth Wray, 74 A treatise on the Dropsy, 75 The certificate of S. Lasure, 79 The treatment of a Dropsical case, 80 The treatment of a Billious case, 83 The treatment of a white swelling, 84 Billious fever—how treated, 85 Apoplatic Fits—the treatment,. 86 Richard Benton's certificate, 89 Fistula in and how treated, 90 Sam'l. Rateem*s certificate, 94 A treatise on sore legs, 95 Elizabeth Helen's certificate, 97 Consumption—how trea ed, 98 Sarah Camp's certificate, } A dropsy in the womb, j 101 James Spark's, he. certificate, 104 A treatise on menstruation, 105 Troy weights, 108 A table to apportion doses of Medicine, 109 Ofthe bad effects of Mercurials, 110 Of sings from the urine, &c. 111 Ofthe crisis, 115. To make mercurial ointment, "1 --------Sulphur ointment, v 117 --------Liniment for burns, J Of IS rheumatism, 118 A re ij/ for weak nerves <5*c. \ Of» ''.ions, he. of diseases, J 119 C! ^ b:d. f ff ds of acids and salted meats, 124 li.*. .; id the brain, 126 ( 494 ) INDEX. Recipe for volatile Plaster, } Page 128 ■------for turpentine GJyster, J Yellow jaundice, ") i Worms in children, J Recipe for the ague and fever,"J ——for convulsive fits, palsies, I 131 ——----Appoplexys, &c. J A treatise on hysterics, 133 Recipie for the gravel, "J ——for old rurmiug sore legs, v 140 ■ to make citron ointment, J ———for phthisic or consumption, "J -----------for consumption, J * ----for a bad cold, ——for the white swelling, 5- 142 Silk weed root, A recipie for weak lungs, ") Acure for the stomach ach, &c, J --------for the consumption,'! A treatise or fluor albus, &c. J A caution to those who drink mineral waters, 145 A treatise on urine, 147 For the billious chollic, 151 Indian Lexicon, 152 Cataract on the eye 153 The best of wives 154 Gutta Serana, 155 Receipt the 1st, 158 A description ofthe herbs used in «*eceipt the 1st, 153 Receipt the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th, 159 Receipt the 6th and 7th, 160 Receipt the 8th with a description of the herbs used, 161 Receipt the 9th with a description ofthe herbs, 162 Receipt the 10th, with the description ofthe herbs, 162 Receipt the 11th and 12th with a description ofthe herbs, 164 Receipt the 13th and 14th, 165 Receipt the 15th and 16th, 16G Receipt the 17th and 18th, 167 Receipt tbe 19th and 20th, 168 Receipt the 21st and 22nd, «Q9 ( 495 ) Index. Page Receipt the 2Srd, 172 Receipt twe 24tii and 25th, 173 Receipt the 26th with the description, - 174 Receipt the 27th and 281 h, 175 Itcce'pt the 9ih and description, 176 Receipt the 30th and 31st, with the description, 177 Receipt ih«* 32nd and 3A.-d, _ 178 Recei,.; the 341 h and 35lh, 179 Receipt the 36.h, 37'h and 38th, 180 Receipt the o9tii and 40th, 181 Receipt the 4i«t, 182 Receipt tbe 42!,.!, 183 Receipt tne 43m and44fh, 184 Receipt the 45rh and 46th, 185 Receipt the 47th and e,i si ript'on, 186 Receipt the 48th and 49th, 187 Receipt the 50th and 51st, 188 Receipt the 52m!, 53rd, 54th and 55th, 189 Receipt t\.e 56th and 57th, 190 Receipt the 58; h, 59th and 60th, 191 Receipt tlie 61st and the description, 192 Receipt the 6^nd—-description of Ipecacuanha, and receipt tlie 63rd, 193 A description of cedar tops—Black snake root,") ig4 ____Horse radish roots h summer grape \ine, J .____Golden rod, Parsley, Juniper berries, squill', China roots, Giiacacum, Sarsaparilla and bur- dock roots, 195 ----The Russian castor, Cinnamon bark, Bbm") . vitriol, Nitre, or Salt petre and turpentine, J ----Slippery elm, Opium, Ginger, Worm wood, Beef's gall, Rue, Southern wood and White walnut 197 .____Eider, Dogwood, Yellow poplar, Wild cher- rv, Elecampane and Comphrey, 198 ——Spikenard, Ground ivy, White plantane, Cincpiefoi!, Hart leaves, Mullen, Collumbo root ami Clack mustard seed, 199 ----Brimstone, prickly ash, Seneca snake root and Indian turnip, 200 -*■ Polly pody. Maidens hair, Mountain tea, Plu- ( 496 ) INDEX. risy root and Angelica, 201 =----Ipecacuanha root, Mountain birch, Puccoon root, Fennel seed and Wild rats bane, 202 —--Stremonium or Jamestown weed, £03 INDEX FOR VOLUME 2nd. Page Nervous diseases—how treated, 209 A poetical description and treatment of hypocon- driac, 213 George Guilliam's certificate, 218 A treatise on dispepsia or indigestion, ib John Pulliam's certificate, 220 The treatment of Pulliam's case—a consumption, 222 Polly Bradshaw's certificate, 223 A billious remittant fever, 224 The certificate of A and M. Boyle, 2^6 A treatise on inflamitory and patrcd Cases, ib E. Steel's certificate, 228 A case of the yellow fever, 229 W. and J. Parker's certificate, 231 A case of the rheumatism, 232 N. Austin's certificate, 233 A case ofthe cold plague or tiger-gripe; 234 S. Pike's certificate—his complaint the king's evil and how treated, 237 G. and P. Green s certificate, 240 Suppression of the menses, 241 David Walden's certificate, <§*c. 244 The yaws—how treated, 245 J* Brown's certificate—His complaint the a- cute rheumatism, 249 G. and N. Larrison's certificate—the puerperal fever, 253 Robt. Burnside's certificate-the mezentern fever, 258 J. Holeman's certificate, who had a liver com- plaint, 262 A case ofthe hoemoptysis violentia, 266 John Bate's case-sore eyes—bow cured, 269 Rich'd. Rid afilicted with epibpses—how treated, 271 Mrs- Pearson's case, a dropsy—how cured, 274 N3 ( 497 ) INDEX. Page Mrs. Clause, laboring under a breast complaint, 277 Mrs. Hendrick—anasarca—how treated, 279 Mrs. Ross—consumption, &c. &c. 282 Jon. Richardson's case-^-the ague, 289 Martha Simpson's case-a tympanetes—the treat- ment, 291 N. Ford's Complaint was the cold plague, 295 R, and S. Williamson's certificate, 297 The case of a child afflicted with a cancer and dropsy, 298 A treatise on worms in children, 301 A treatise on the cold.fever, S05 A case of the dropsy ofthe abdomen, 307 S. Lawson was afilicted with the ascites, 313 A case of the billious cholic, 316 A treatise on poison and the cold plague, 319 Recipies for too great a flow for the menses, 323 ----for a pain of the loins and back and giddi- ness of the head, ib ----An ointment for a burst—for sore eyes, 324 ----for making eye water, ib -— For inflamed sore eyes—for a weak stomach, 325 .---for cholics and a tickling cough, ib ----for nervous cholic—cramp palsies, Src. 327 ----for a cancer, &c. 328 A lad afflicted with the white swelling—the treat- ment, 329 A remedy for the consumption, 330 A remedy for the relaxation ofthe solids, 331 Pulminary consumption—the case of G. Walker, 332 A remedy from weak nerves—Dr. Adams' re- ceipt, for a consumption, 333 A remedy for a hectic fever where the patient spits blood, ib A. Hawkins' case—consumption, 334 A remedy for consumption when the patient does not sweat, 335 ——to prevent the consumption, ib ----for a depression ofthe blood and juices, ib -—for costiveness—palpitation of the heart with pain and debility, 336 ( 498 ) INDEX. Page King's evil, the case of V. Fields, 337 A remedy for the scurvy and jaundice-for the rheumatism, 339 Receipt to make the spirits of lavender—Hungary water, 340 ----for nervous hectic fever—for a weak stomach, 341 An ointment for the piles, ib A few remarks on distillation, ib Solution, ih Receipt to make spiknard oil and sassafras oil, S47 ----to make female essence, 348 ——for a dry asthma, 349 ----for spitting blood—vomiting blood, 350 ----cancer in the mouth-cholic and dropsy, ib ----for a scald or burn—ear-ach—dull sight and eye water, 351 ----for fevers and fluxes, 352 ----for jaundice and bitters, 353 A treatise on diabates, 355 ------on St. Vitus' dance, 359 Thos. Irwin's treatment when afflicted with a can- cer, 361 A short sketch on the human body, 365 ------on the fluids which proceed from blood, 367 A list of students.- 370 A glossary, 571 A cure for the dropsy and consumption, 378 A case of consumption, 384 On tartar emetic, 397 Nitric acid, 3P» Ointment for cancer, 39b> A remedy for the dropsy, 400 Man's help mate, ib A treatise on jaundice, 402 A riddle, 412 Dreams and illusions, 413 Explanation of riddle No. 1. 419 The hypocrites' catechism, ib Proofs to the catechism, 420 Riddle No. 2. 422 A receipt for scald head—tetters and dropsy, 423 ( 499 ) INDEX. Page —to make laudanum—paragoric elixir, 424 —the elixir of vitriol and of health: ib —to make molasses beer—to stop blood, 425 —for a lever from the dropsy, $*c, ib -to make opodeldoc, 426 Affections of the external and internal parts of generation, ib Prurigo, 427 Worms in children, 428 A case of poison from opium, 429 Case 2nd of opium—a case of arsenic, 430 On scolding, 431 The case of poisons poinsoned by arsenic, ib The occasional causes—the cure, 432 Ofanimals, 455 On man, 456 The spirit of man, 458 On theugbt, 460 On the mind, 461 The devil, 463 The history of the devil, 464 -----------of Adam, 466 Sly—the description of Sly, 469 Snap and the description oM.his animal, 472 Wanting and this dogs history, 476 Sheep, 477 Letter of Aserius to Miss Gulney, 481 Tbe answer of Miss Gulney, 482 Letter of Arserius—his satisfation at the answer^c. 483 Letter of Aserius to his friend Desman, 484 Desman's answer, 485 Leiter from a widower to a young lady, 486 .-----from a joung man to tbe friend of his sweetheart, 488 Letter 'mm P- Darnley to Miss E. K. 489 -----of J. Cas—, to his brother, 490 -----of R. C, to his sister, enclosing £100, &c. 491 *' ,1 ■ s f & aitfL..^* ★ * ARMY * * MEDICAL LIBRARY # That cholera will readily yield to med- ical treatment, if that treatment be prompt and judicious, is a well-estab- lished fact. Dr. A. De Grand, a celebra- ted French physician, declares that in nineteen cases out of twenty, cholera is the result of a "choleraticTdjarrhoea" which may always be cured by timely treatment. This information was acted upon in England in former visitations ofthe cholera, and organizations of vis- itors appointed, under the direction of a central medical board, whose duty it was to visit from house to house two or three, or four times daily and inquire in every family for these cases of diarrhoea. .Each visitor carried the proper remedy, and personally attended to its ministration and to the comfort of the patient in his bed. The result of these organizations was that in numerous instances towns lying in the direct tract of the disease did not lose a single inhabitant by cho- lera, though thousands of cases of pain- less diarrhoea were treated. As a remedy for this forerunner of the cholera, Dr. De Grand recommends the use of peppermint tea, of which the pa- tient must drink half a eupfull every quarter of an hour. It is to be taken hot, and with the addition of two table spoonsful of rum or old cognac, together with twenty drops of tincture of cinna- mon. By this means perspiration is produced, and the infusion is to be con- tinued till the motions are checked. Three hours generally suffice for this. If the medicine thus administered pro- mote signs of intoxication, this is to be regarded as a favorable sign of recovery; if it cause vomitings, then it is to be dis- continued, and a small glass of old cog- nac or-of green chartreuse is to be sub- stituted in its place, which is to be taken every quarter of an hour until the pa- tient is relieved. Cleanliness, a plain, nutritious diet, and strict attention to the signs pointed out in the above de- scription of trie early stage of the cho- lera, will enable our citizens to escape the fearful ravages which have marked the progress of the disease in the Old World IP. r %* V'*V* w * - 1 , I'It *>/*, 4 <** --a:\\. ■** 5:: V? "** S&M?^ 1 M«t. 4\%X lib C3l4?s.-*' '( 1 t> B- 5 ,«£,•' AV ♦v-3 • - y;*> ^asAk- >.«Ll