NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE Bethesda, Maryland ^rQ / /] Surgeon General's Office JUxX)X\J:XX\ X J ! Wiry is- N« -?&© J SAM^ THOMSON-J102HJYIST. t^s&d •SA*<*de'm a-ns/Vi tr/r//e >,,,;„„/,„,, „„■//,' /„„,„/, -y....."y U,-,„.Jr/-;< 9*/f6f>. 7 A NARRATIVE, OF THE LIFE AND MEDICAL DISCOVERIES OF -~^ SAMUEL THOMSON; CONTAINING AX ACCOUNT OF HIS SYSTEM OF PRACTICE. AND The manner of curing Disease with Vegetable Medicine, m UPON A PLAN ENTIRELY NEW ', TO WHICH IS ADDED An Introduction to his Ne-jj Guide to Health, or Boiani< Family Physician, containing the principles upon which the system u founded, [with remarks on Fevers, Steaming, Poison, 4»c. WRITTEN J'.V Huia&r. /_> L. ^ v v ^ ♦ BOSTON:^ *$6/ngtei ;"' PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BT*T. G. H0U9K, -X Ab. 18, Cornhill. 1822. DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, /. wit : District Clerks Office. BEitrem«mbered, that on the thirty-first day of July A. D. 18 2, in the farty seventh year of the Independence of the United States of America, Samuel Thomson, of the said District, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as author and proprirtor, in the words following, to wit; A Narratire of the Life and Medical Discoveries of Samuel Thomson, containing an account of his System of Practice, and the man- ner of curing disease with vegetable medicire, upon a plan entirely new; to which is added an introduction to his new guide to health, or botanic family physician, containing the principles up- on which the system is founded, with remarks on fevers, steaming, poison, &c.—Written by himself. In conformity to the Act of Congress of tha^Inited States, en- titled'l An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Map?, < harts, and Books, to the Authors and Pro- prietor! of such Copies, during the time therein mentioned ;" and also to an Act entitled " An Act supplementary to an Act, enti- tled an Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprie- tors of such Copies during the times therein mentioned ; and ex- tending the Bentfits thereof to the Arts of Designing, Engraving and Etching Historical and other Prints. JOHN W, DAVIS, Clerk of Miss. District. I.DO T-H52y\ ADVERTISEMENT. It was my original intention to have published my system of practice with the narrative, making a com- plete guide to the whole of my practice ; and give such instructions and directions as would enable those who purchase rights, to have it in their power at all times, to relieve themselves and families from pain and sickness, without having to be at the risk and expense of employ- ing a doctor; but the delay, which has been unavoida- ble, in preparing the work for the press, has prevented my getting it out so soon as I had contemplated, or could have wished. Many of my friend^ have expressed a de- sire to obtain the narrative, before the whole work could be completed : and as the directions for preparing and usin? the vegetable medicine and the manner of treating disease according to my system, i= a distinct thing from the other part; being intended to be sold to those only who purchase the rights, I have thought proper to alter my first plan and publish the work as far as is printed, for the information of the public at large. This contains the whole of the narrative of my life, as far as it is con- nected with my medical practice, end the treatment I have met with from those who have opposed me, with my persecutions and sufferings, in bringing my system and medicine into use among the people ; and a number of statements from those who have experienced its useful- ness It contains also, the introduction to the other part, in which is fully explained the principles upon which the system is founded, and remarks upon fevers, steaming, poi-ons, &.c. By a careful examination of this narrative the reader will be enabled to form a correct understanding of my whole system of practice and the different vegetables that I make use of in curing disease ; and will be found to contain much useful information on the subject gener- ally. The other part, which is intended us a book of ADVERTISEMENT. practice, will be completed in the course of two months, and those who have purchased rights, or may purchase them, can then have this and the narrative bound togeth- er, or separate, as they may choose ; or if they purchase the narrative now, will be supplied with the book of practice when completed. The preparation of the medicine contained in my sys- tem, and the administering them agreeably thereto, 1 claim as my own discovery; all of which will shortly be secured to me by patent. Those who wish to purchase the right of using them in their families, may obtain them by applying to me, or to K. G. House, No. 18, Cornhill, E. Darling, No. 21, Back-street, Boston, or to my other agents in different parts of the country. — <£> ■ — Some persons having set up a claim to the use of Hemlock bark as an improvement on my system, I pub- lish the following extract from a certificate, which was received too late to be inserted in its proper place, to show that I have made use of it for a number of years past. "■ In the year 1812, I was very sick with a consumption, which F had been labouring underfor six months, and b ad employed sev- eral doctors, but to no purpose ; they finally told me that medi- cine could be of no use to me, *nd indeed I thought I should not live a month. I received medicine and directions how to use it. of Dr. Samuel Thomson, which soon relieved me of my disor- der and restored me to perfect health. He ground a large quan- tity of hemlock bark in my mill in 1814, which he told me was for medicine, and I have often used it as such since, and found it very good. I have frequently used his medicine for myself and others, and think it the best that was ever discovered by man ; I have not called on a doctor since I had a knowledge of it and am sure I never shall. TOPPIN MAXWELL. Portsmouth, July -27, 1822- OF THE LIFE, &c. OF SAMUEL THOMSON. J HERE is nothing, perhaps, more unpleasant than to write ones own life ; for in doing it we are oblig-' i to p i--s over again, as it were, many scenes, which wu m'^h: wish to have forgotten, and relate many particulars, which, though they may seem very important to our- selves, yet would be very uninteresting to the rea'- r. It is not my intention to attempt to write a history of my life, nor would it be in my power to do it if I had such .\ wish ; but as I have been the greater part of my life eiii,fa.<■;••'<■! in one of the most important pursuits, one which is of more consequence to the great human family, than any other that could be undertaken by man ; that of ai.uvi- ating human mi-ery by curing the disease of our coun- try, by the most simple, snfe and certain method of prac- tice, I think the public will be interested to know something of me, and the cause of my having taken up- on myself so important a calling, without being regular- ly educated to the profession, which is thought by the world to be indispensably necessary; but I shall take the liberty todisagee a little with them in thi> p-vticular; for, although learning may be a great advantage in acquiring a profession, yet that alone will never make a great man, where there is no natural gift By giving a short sketch of the early part of my exist- ence, and relating those accidental circumstances that have occurred during my life, and which were princi- pally the cause of my engaging in the healing art, vil< enable the public to judge more correctly, whether I B 14 Narrative of the Life, -c. have taken that course in fulfilling my duty in this life, which the God of nature hath pointed out for me. In do- ing this I shall endeavour to give a plain and simple nar- rative of facts as they took place, and relate only those particulars of my life, with such cases of disease that have come under my care, as will best convey to the reader the most correct information of my system of practice in curing disease. I was born Feb. 9, 1769, in the town of Alstead, coun- ty of Cheshire, and State of New-Hampshire. My fa- ther John Thomson, was born in Northbridge, county of Worcester, and State of Ms^sachusetts ; he was twen- ty-five years old when I was born. My mother's name was Hannah Cobb ; she was born in Medway, Mass. and was four years older than my father. 1 had one sister older than myself, and three brothers and one sister younger, who are all living except my second brother, who died in his fourteenth year. My oldest sister mar- ried Samuel Hills, and lives in Surry, New Hampshire, and my two brothers live in Jericho, Vermont. My youngest sister, married Waters Mather, and lives in the State of Ohio. That country was a wilderness when I was born; my father had began there about a year before, at which time there was no house within three miles one way, and about one the other; there were no roads, and they had to go by marked trees. The snow was very deep when they moved there, and my mother had to travel over a mile on snow shoes through the woods to get to their habitation. My parents were poor, having no- thing to begin the world with ; but had to depend upon their labour for support. My father had bought a piece of wild land on credit, and had to pay for it by his labour in what he could make off the land, which caused us great hardships and deprivations for a long time. As soon as I began to form any correct ideas of things, my mind was much irritated by the impressions made on it by my parents, who, no doubt with very good inten- tions, filled my young head with all kinds hob-goblins and witch stories, which made a very deep impression on my mind, and which were not entirely irradicated for many years. I mention this as a caution to parents, not Of Samuel Thomson. 15 to tell theif children any thing but the truth; for young children naturally believe whatever their parents tell them, and when they frighten thcni with such stories, for the purpose of making them behave well, it will most generally have a very bad effect; for when they arrive at years of discretion, and find that all those sto- ries are falsehoods, they will naturally form \ery unfa- vourable opinions of their parents, whose duty it is to set them better examples. My father and mother were of the baptist persuasion, and were very strict in their religion* duties. They at- tended meeting every sabbath, and my father prayed night and morning in his family. One day they went to meeting and left me and my sister at home alone, and told us that if we were wicked they should send the bear or the knocker to carry us off. While they were ab- sent I was at play, when we heard a hard knocking on the outside of the house, which frightened us very much, and when they came home I told them what had hap- pened; but instead of letting us know what it was, they told us it was the knocker they had told us of, and that or the bear would always come if we were wicked and did not mind and do as they told us. It was several years after that my reason taught me that this knocker as they called it, was a wood-pecker that came on the end of the house. Parents ought to be careful to impress on the minds of young cfiildren correct ideas of things, and not mislead their understandings by telling them falsehoods; for it will be of the greatest importance as respects their future conduct and pursuits in life. When I was between three and four years old, my father took me out with him to work. The first busi- ness I was set to do was to drive the cows to pasture and watch the geese, with other small chores, which occupation kept me all day in the fields. I was very curious to know the names of all the herbs which I saw growing, and what they were good for; and to satisfy my curiosity was constantly making enquiries of those persons that 1 happened to be with, for that purpose. All the information I thus obtained, or by my own ob- servation, 1 carefully laid up in my memory and never fiorgot. Thene was an old lady by the name of Ben- 16 Narrative qftlte Life, fyc. ton lived near us, who used to attend our family when there was any sickness. At that time, there was no such thing as a Doctor known among us; there not be- ing any within ten miles. The whole of her practice was with roots and herbs, applied to the patient, or given in hot drinks, to produce sweating; which always answered the purpose. When one thing did not pro- duce the desired effect, she would try something else, till they were relieved. By her attention to the family, and the benefits they received from her skill, we be- came very much attached to her; and when she used to go out to collect roots and herbs, she would take me with her, and learn me their names, with what they wefe good for; and I used to be very curious in my en- quiries, and in tasting every thing that I found. The information I thus obtained at this early age, was- after- wards of great use to me. Sometime in the summer, after T was four years old, being out in the fields in search of the cows, I disco- vered a plant which had a singular branch and pods, that I had never seen before; and I had the curiosity to pick some of the pods and chew them, the taste and operation produced, was so remarkable, that I never forgot it. I afterwards used to induce other boys 'to chew it, merely by way of sport, to see them vomit. I tried this herb in this way for nearly twenty years, without knowing any thing of its medical virtues. This plant is wdiat I have called the Emectic Herb, and is the most important article I make use of in my prac- tice. It is very common in most parts of this country, and may be prepared and used in almost any manner. It is a certain counter-poison, having never been known to fail to counteract the effects of the most deadly poi- son, even when taken in large quantities for self des- 1 ruction. There is no danger to be apprehended from its use, as it is perfectly harmless in its operation, even when a large quantity is taken—it operates as an eme- tic, cleanses the stomach from all improper aliment, promotes an internal heat, which is immediately felt at the extremities, and produces perspiration. The ex- clusive right of using this plant for medical purposes is secured to me by pater t, and my right to the discovery Of Samuel Thomson. 17 has never been disputed; though the Doctors have done every thing they could to destroy the credit of it, by false statements, representing it to be a deadly poi- son, and at the same time they knew to the contrary, for they have made use of it themselves for several years, and have tried to defraud me of the discovery, by giving it the name of Lobelia, which is well known to be a poisonous root, no way resembling this plant. I feel perfectly convinced from near thirty years expe- rience of its medical properties, that the discovery is of incalculable importance, and if properly understood by the people, will be more useful in curing the diseases incident to this climate, than the drugs and medicines sold by all the apothecaries in the country. At five years of age my father put me to hard work, and was very strict, using the greatest severity towards me. I used to suffer very much from pains in my hips and back, being lame from my birth, and the hard work made me so stiff, that in the morning it was with diffi- culty I could walk. My father1- severity towards me made me very unhappy, for I was constantly in fear lest he should call and I should not hear him, in which case he used to punish me very severely. I continued in this situation till 1 was eight years old, when my bro- ther- began to be some help, which took part of the burthen off from me. We suffered great hardships and lived very poorly ; but we always had something to eat, and were contented, for we knew of nothing better; a dish of bean porridge and some potatoes, were our con- stant fare, and this was better than many others had. The greatest part of this winter we had to live in the barn. In July my father had got a part of the roof of a new house covered, and we moved into it; which was more comfortame than the barn. About this time my mother was-taken sick and wascarried to Mrs. Benton's for her to take care of, where she remained for sever- al weeks, during which time, by using such means as this old lady prescribed, she recovered. At this time I had never been to school, or had any chance whatever to learn to read. My father kept me constantly to work all week days, and on Sunday I had to go a con- derable distance on foot to meeting, and the rest of the b2 18 Narrative of the Life, $-c. day was kept on my feet in hearing him read the cate- chism, creed and prayers, so that 1 had little time to rest on that day. The winter I was eight years old, I was very sick with the canker-rash; but was attended by the widow Benton, who cured me by making use of such medicine as our country afforded, and I was in a short time able to be about. After I had got well my mind was more attentive to the use of roots and herbs as medicine than, ever. I had at'that time a very good knowledge of the principal roots and herbs to be found in that part of the country, with their names and medical uses; and the neighbours were in the habit of getting me to go with them to show them such roots and herbs as the doctors ^ ordered to be made use of in sickness for syrups, &c. and by way of sport they used to call me doctor. While in the field at work I used often to find the herb, which I tasted when four years old, and gave it to those who worked with me, to see them spit and often vomit ; but I never observed any bad effect produced by it, which simple experiments eventually led me to observe the value of it in disease. When I was about ten years old, there was a school a little more than a mile from my father's, where I had the opportunity of attending for one month. The wea- ther was cold and the going bad, which caused me to make very slow progress in my learning ; but the chance we considered a great privilege, for the coun- try was new and people poor, and the opportunity for children to get learning very small. I took a great dis- like to working on a farm, and never could be recon- ciled to it; for nothing could strike me with greater dread than to hear the name of a-plough, or any other thing used on a farm mentioned. This 1 have always attributed to the hardships 1 underwent, and the severi- ty which my father used constantly to exercise towards me from the time I was five to ten years old. At that time, 1 used to think that if I ever had any land I Would not plough it; and if my father's treatment of me was the effect of his religion, I never wished to have any. This was when he was under the strongest influence of the baptist persuasion, and used to be very zealous in Of Samuel Thomson. If) his religious duties, praying night and morning, and sometimes three times a day. He was a man of violent and quick temper, and when in his fits of passion, my mother used frequently to remind him of certain parts of his prayer ; such as this, which I never forgot: •• May we live soberly, righteously, and godly, in the present evil world." She was a woman much respected in the town where we lived. About the time I was fourteen years old, my father left the bapti-t persuasion and embraced that of univer- sal salvation—By grace are ye saved, through faith not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. If he ever ex- perienced a change of heart for the better, it was at this time; his love to God and man was great, and 1 had great reason to rejoice, for he was like another man in his house. He has continued to enjoy the same belief with much comfort to this time. My mother remained many years in the fall belief of the salvation of all men, and continued so till her death. Sometime during the year that I was sixteen year3 old, I heard my parents say, that as my mind was so much taken up with roots and herbs, they thought it best to send me to live with a Doctor Fuller, of West- moreland, who was called a root doctor. This pleased me very much, and in some measure raised my ambi- tion ; but 1 was soon after di-appointed in my hopes, for they said I had not learning enough, and they did not know how to spare me from my work, which depressed my spirits and was very discouraging to me. I now gave up all hopes of going to any other business, and tried to reconcile myself to -pend my days in working on a farm, which made me very unhappy. I had little learning and was awkward and ignornant of the world, as my father had never given me any chance to go into company, to learn how to behave, which caused me great uneasiness. In the year 1700, when I was in my nineteenth year, my father purchased a piece of land on Onion river, in the. State of Vernont, and on the 12th day of October he started from Alstead, and took me with him, to go to work on the land and clear up some of it to build a house on, as it was all covered with wood. In about ■$0 Narrative oj the Life, <$-c. four days after our arrival, we were enabled to clear a small spot and to build us a camp to live in ; we had to do our own cooking and washing; our fare was poor and we had to work very hard; but we got along toler- ably well till the 2d of December, when I had the mis- fortune to cut my ancle very badly, which accident pre- vented me from doing any labour for a long time and al- most deprived me of life. The wound was a very bad one, as it split the joint and laid the bone entirely bare, so as to lose the juices of my ancle joint to such a de- gree as to reduce my strength very much. My father sent for a Doctor Cole, of Jericho, who ordered sweet appletree bark to be boiled, and the wound to be wash- ed with it, which caused great pain, and made it much worse, so that in eight days my strength was almost ex- hausted ; the flesh on my leg and thigh was mostly gone, and my life was dispaired of; the Doctor said he could do no more for me ; my father was greatly alarmed about me, and said that if Dr. Kitteridge, of Walpole, could be sent for, he thought he might help me; but I told him it would be in vain to send for himi, for I could not live so long as it would take to go after him, with- out some immediate assistance. He said he did not know what to do—I told him that there was one thing I had thought of, which I wished to have tried, if it could be obtained, that 1 thought would help me. He anx- iously enquired what it was, and I told him if he could find some comfrey root I would try a plaister made of that and turpentine. He immediately went to an old place that was settled before the war, and had the good luck to find some ; a plaister was prepared by my directions and applied to my ancle the side op- posite to the wound, and had the desired effect; the juices stopped running in about six hours, and I was very much relieved ; though the pain continued to be very severe and the inflammation was great ; the juices settled between the skin and bone and caused a suppuration, which broke in about three weeks ; during which time I did not have three nights sleep, nor did I eat any thing. This accidental remedy was found through necessity, and was the first time the mother of invention held forth her hand to me. The Of Samuel Thomson. 21 success which attended this experiment, and the na- tural turn of my mind to those things, 1 think was a principal cause of of my continuing to practice the heal- ing art to this time. Our stock of provisions being now exhausted, and my wound somewhat better, my father was very anxious to return to Alstead. He asked me ill thought 1 could bear the journey if he should place me on a bed laid in a sled. I answered that 1 was willing to try.— He immediately went to work and fixed a sled, and put me in it on a straw bed ; and on the 1st day of Janu- ary 1789 we began our journey. There was very lit- tle snow, and the road rough, which caused the sled to jolt very much and my sufferings were great. It was very doubtful with my father, and likewise with me, whether 1 should live to perform the journey ; but we proceeded on however, without any thing important happening, except wearing out the runners of our sled and having to make new ones, and accomplished twen- ty miles the first day. At a place where we stoped all night there was a woman whose situation appeared to me so much worse than my own that I felt much en- couraged. She had been sick with a fever, and the doctor had given so much poisonous medicine, to break the fever, as he called it, she was left in a most misera- ble situation. Her .- i< Ic and -boulder were in a putrid state, and in full as bad a condition as my ancle. My father in dressing my wound had drawn a string through between the heel-cord and bone, and another between that and the skin ; so that two thirds of the way round my ancle it was hollow. At a place where Ave stopped on the third night a circumstance had occured which from its novelty I think worth mentioning. A young woman who lived in the family had discovered a strong inclination to sleep more than what is common ; and had expressed a wish that they would let her sleep enough once. She went to bed on Sunday night and did not awake again till Tuesday morning, having slept thirty six hours. On awaking she had no idea of ha\ing slept more than one night ; but began to make preparation for washing, an was the custom on Mondays, till she was informed that 22 Narrative of the Life, «$•<-'• they had washed the day before. Her health was good and she never after that required mere sleep than other persons. When we got onto the high land there was consider- able snow, and we got along much more comfortably. 1 had to be carried in on the bed and laid by the fire, every night, during the journey. - The people general- ly where we stopped treated me with kindness, and showed much pitty for me in my distressed situation ; but they all thought that 1 should not live to get through the journey. The doctors had advised to have my leg cut off, as the only means of saving my life, and all those who saw me during our journey expressed the same opinion ; and I think it would have been done had I given my consent ; but I positively refused to agree to it, so the plan was'given up. I prefered to take my chance with my leg on to having it taken off ; which resolution I have never repented of to this day. On arriving in Walpole, my father proceeded imme- diately to the house of the famous Dr. Kitteridge, to have him dress my wound, and get his opinion of my situation ; he not being at home and it being nearly dark, we concluded to put up for the night, and I was car- ried in on my bed and laid by the fire. The doctor soon came home, and on entering the room where I was, cried out in a very rough manner, Who have you here ? His wife answere8, a sick man. The devil, repli- ed he, I want no sick man here. I was much terrified by his coarse manner of speaking, and thought if he was so rough in his conversation, what will he be when he comes to dress my wound; but I was happily disappoint- ed, for he took off the dressing with great care and han- dled me very tenderly. On seeing the strings that were in the wound, he exclaimed, what the devil are these halters here for ? My father told him they were put in to keep the sore open.—He said he thought the sore open enough now, for it is all rotten.—Being anxious to know his opinion of me, my father asked him what he t hought of my situation. What do I think ? said he, W hy I think he will die—and then looking very pleasantly at me, said, though I think young man 0/ Samuel Thomson. you will get well first. In the morning he dressed m; ancle again and gave me some salve to u-e in future ; and my father asked him for his bill, which was, I think, for our keeping and his attending me, about fifty cents. A great contract between this and what i* charged at the present time by our regular ph)s:< ans ; for they will hardly l< ok at a person without making them pay two or three dollars. I have been more particular in describing this interview with Dr. Kitteridge, on account of his extraordinary -kill in surgery, and the p;reat name he acquired, and justly deserved, amor.g the people throughout the country. His system of practice was peculiarly his awn, and all the medicine he u edwere prepared by him ?eIt."Troartne roots and herlis of our own country. He was a very eccentric character and uncouth in his man- ners ; but h» posses-ed a good heart, and a benevolent disposition. He wa« governed in his practice by that great plan which is dictated by nature ; and the uncom- mon success he met with is evidence enough to satisfy- any reasonable nrnd. of the superiority of it over what is the practice of those who become doctors by reading only, with their poisons and their instruments of torture. We left Walpole and arrived at our home about noon, and my mother, brothers and isters, were much rejoic- ed to see me, though grieved at my dixtn-ssed situation ; and never was any one more in need of the tender care of friends than I was at this time. My mother proved to me the old saying, that a friend in need is a friend indeed. My case was considered doubtful for some time. I was from the first of December to the first of March unable to walk; but by good nursing and con- stant care;, I was enabled in the spring to attend to the business at home, so that my father left me in charge of the farm and went with my brother to Onion river, again to work on his land. On the 9th of February 1790, I was twenty-one years of age, and my fatliergave me a deed of one half of his farm in Alstead, consisting of one hundred and twenty-five acres; and I carried it on for three years, wad he had the liberty to take such stock as he pleased. 24 Narrative of the Life, 6,'c. He then made preparations and removed to Onion ri- ver, and left my mother and sister in my care. Soon after I took a bad cold, which threw me into a slow fe- ver. In the month of March we all had the meazles, and my mother had what the doctors called the black ^kind, and was so bad that her life was despaired of. The disease turned in and seated on her lungs and she nev- er recovered her health. Several doctors attended her without doing Tier any good; her cough was very se- vere and her moctli was sore, and she was greatly dis- tressed. I attended upon her under the direction of the doctors, and took the cough and had much the same symptoms. She comnued to grow worse daily; the doctors gave her over, and gave her disease the name of galloping consumption, which I thought was a very appropriate name—for they are the.riders, and their whip is mercury, opium and vitriol, and thojy gallopped her out of the world in about nine weeks. She died on the 13th of May, 1790. I was at this time very low with the same disorder that my mother died with, and the doctor often impor- tuned me to take some of his medicine ; but I declined it, thinking I had rather die a natural death. He tried to frighten me by telling me it was the last chance of getting help, and he thought he could cure me ; but I told him I had observed the effect his medicine had on my mother, for she constantly grew worse under the operation of it; and I had no desire to risk it on myself. I have always been of the opinion, that if I had follow- ed his advice, I should have been gallopped out of the world the same as my mother was; and I have never repented of my refusal to this day. After my mother died, I undertook to doctor myself, and made some syrups of such things as I had the know- ledge of, which relieved my cough; and with the warm weather, I so far recovered my health, as to be able to work some time in June. Being without-womens help I was obliged to hire such as I could get, which proved a disadvantage to my interest; and I thought it would be best to find some person who would take an interest in saving my property. On the 7th day of July, 1790 I was married to Susan Allen. We were both young and had great hardships to encounter, but we got along Of Samuel Tliomson. 25 very well, and both enjoyed good health until ourfirst child was born, which was on the 4th day of July fol- low ing. My w ife wa* taken ill on Saturday, and sent for help ; she lingered along till Sunday night, when she became very bad; her situation was dangerous, and she was in hand constantly the whole night, until sunrise the next morning, when she was delivered ; but her senses were gone. During the whole night it was one continued struggle of forcing nature, which pro- duced so great an injury to the nervous system, as to cause strong convulsion fits in about an hour after her delivery. The witnessing of this horrid scene of hu- man butchery, was one great cause of my paying atten- tion to midwifery, and my practice has since been very successful in it. Her fits continued and grew worse ; there were six doctors attended her that day. and a sevent h was sen for; but she grew worse under their care; for one would give her medicine, and another said that he did wrong—another would bleed her, and the other would say he had done wrong, and so on through the whole. I heard one of them say that his experience in this case was worth fifty dollars. I found that they were trying their practice by experiments ; and was so dis- satisfied with their conduct that at night I told them what I thought; and that 1 had heard them accusing each other of doing wrong; but 1 was convinced that they had all told the truth, for they had all done wrong. They all gave her ovr to die, and I dismiss- ed them, having seen enough of their conduct to con- vince me that they were doing more hurt than good. After they were gone, 1 sent for Dr. Watts an<. Dr. Fuller, who were called root doctors. They attended her through the night and in the morning about the same hour that they began the fits left her. She had in the whole eighteen, of the most shocking convulsion fits that had been ever seen by any one present. The spasms were so violent that it jarred the whole house. After the fits had left her, she was entirely senseless, and was raving distracted for three days; and thru became perfectly stupid, and lay in that situation for three days ; she then laughed three days, and then cried three day.-,; 26 Narrative of the Life, fyc. after which she seemed to awake like a person from sleep, and had no knowledge of what had passed, or that she had been sick, or had a child. These two doctors continued to attend her, and used all the means in their power to strengthen the nervous system. She gained very slowly, and it was a long time before she got about; but she never got entirely over it. This sickness put me back in my business very much, and the expense was above two hundred dollars. In about a month after my wife had recovered from her sickness, she was attacked with the cholic, which required all my attention and that of the two doctors who attended her before ; but all our exertions ap- peared to be in vain, for the disease had its regular course for several days and then left her. These at- tacks continued once a month, or oftener, and it was so much trouble to go for the doctor so often, as I had to during these turns, that I let a young man who studied with Dr. Watts, have a house on my farm, so as to have him handy ; but I soon found that by having a doc- tor so near there was plenty of business for him; for there was not a month in the year but what I had some- body sick in my family. If a child was attacked with any trifling complaint, the doctor was sent for, and they were sure to have a long sickness; so he paid his rent and keeping very easy. This doctor lived on my farm seven years, during which time 1 had a very good know- ledge of all the medicine he made use of, and his man- ner of curing disease, which has been of great use to me. Finding that I had a natural turn for medical prac- tice, he spared no pains to give me all the information in his power ; but I had no thought at that time of ever practising, except it was to be able to attend my own family. During the first of his practice he used chiefly roots and herbs, and his success was very great in cur- ing canker and old complaints ; but he afterwards got in- to the fashionable mode of treating his patients, by giving them apothecary's drugs, which made him more popular with the faculty, but less useful to his fellow creatures. My mind was bent on learning the medical proper ties of such vegetables as I met with, and was constantly in the habit of tasting every thing of the kind 1 saw ; Ot' Samuel Tlicmson. 27 and having a retentive memory I have always recol- lected the taste and use of all that were ever shown me by others, and likewise of all that 1 discovered myself. This practice of tasting of herbs and roots has been of great advantage to me, a- 1 have always been able to ascertain what is useful for any particular disease by that means. I was often told that 1 should poison my- self by tasting every thing I saw ; but 1 thought I ought to have as much knowledge as a beast, for the Creator had given them an instinct to discover what is good for food, and what is nece-sary for medicine. I had hut very little knowledge of disease at this time ; but had a great inclination to learn whatever I had an opportuni- ty; and mv own experience, which is the best school, had often called my attention to the -ubject. The herb which 1 had discovered when four years old, I had often met with ; but it had never occurred to me that it was of any value as medicine, until about this t'.me, when mowing in the field with a number of men one day, 1 cut a sprig of it, and gave to the man next to me, who eat it; when we had got to the end of the piece, which was about s.x rods, he said that he be- lieved what I had given him would kdi him, for he ne- ver felt so in ins life. I looked at him and saw that he was in a most profuse per-piration, being as wet all over as he could be ; he trembled very much, and there was no more colour in him than a corpse. 1 told him to go to the spring and drink some water; he attempted to go, and got as far as the wall, but was unable to get over it, and laid down on the ground and vomitted se\ er- al times. He said he thought he threw off his stomach two quarts. I then helped him into the house, and in abont two hours he eat a very hearty dinner, and in the afternoon was able to do a good half days labour. He afterwards told me that he never had any thing do him so much good in his life ; his appetite was remarkably good, and he felt better than he had for a long tune, This circumstance gave me the first idea of the medical virtues of.this valuable plant, which I have since found by twenty years experience, in which time I have made use of it in every disease I ha.e met with, to great ad- vantage, that it is a discovery of the greatest importance. 28 Narrative of the Life, <$'C In March 1794, my second daughter was born; and my wife had no medical assistance except what I could do for her, with the advice of the doctor who lived on my farm. After this she was never again afflicted with the cholic. In the course of this year the lease of my father's half of the farm expired, and we made a division of the stock. My half was five yearlings and half a colt; this with half the farm, containing about one hun- dred and twenty-five acre", was all the property I pos- sessed, and I was mostly clear of debt. Soon after, I purchased of my father the other half of the farm, for which 1 gave six hundred and thirty-six dollars, payable in stock, one half in two years and the other in four. in order to meet these payments, 1 purchased calves and colts; but it proved hard for me, as they brought when the payment became due but little more than the first cost, after having to keep them two years; I offer- ed them to my father for what hay they eat the last year would have sold for, but he would not agree to it. I settled with him however, and paid him according to contract. I afterwards purchased of a neighbour a small piece of land, which incommoded me by keeping the sun from my house part of the forenoon; for which I agreed to pay him seventy-three dollars and thirty-three cents in three years, with interest. This turned out a troublesome affair for me, for when I came to pay the interest the second year, the note was more than when first given, having been altered; and I refused to pay any thing. When the note became due, I would pay no more than what it was given for, and it was sued and my cattle and horses were attached. It went through a course of law and cost us both a great deal of expense and trouble ; but I finally beat him ; he lost his note and I recovered damage for his taking my cattle and horses. This was the first time 1 had any thing to do with the law, and in the whole it cost me about one hundred dollars; but it was a good lesson and has been worth to me the expense. When my second daughter was about two years old she was taken sick, and had what was called the canker- rash. Dr. Bliss, Who lived on my farm was sent for, and he said she had that disorder as bad as any one he Of Samuel Thcrnion. -9 ever saw. He tried his utmost sk.ll to prevent putrifac- tion, which he feared would take place ; but after using every exertion in his power without doing her any good, he said he could do no more, she must die. She was senseless and the canker was to be seen in her mouth, nose and ears, and one of her eyes was covered with it and closed ; the other began to swell and turn purple also. I asked the doctor if he could not keep the can- ker out of this eye ; but he said it would be of no use, for she could not live. I told him that if he could do no more, I would try what I'could do myself. I found that if the canker could not be stopped immediately she would be blind with both eyes." She was so distressed for breath that she would spring straight up on end in struggling to breathe. I sat myself in a chair, and held her in my lap, and put a blanket round us both; then my wife held a hot spider or shovel between my feet, and 1 poured on vinegar to raise a steam, and kept it as hot as I found she could bear, changing them as soon as they became cold ; and by following this plan for about twenty minutes, she became comfortable and breathed easy I kept a cloth wet with cold water on her eyes, changing it often, as it grew warm. I followed this plan, -teaming her every two hours, for about a week, when -he began to gain. Her eyes came open, and the one that was the worst, was completely covered with can- ker, and was as white as paper. I used a wash of rose- mary to take off the canker ; and when the scale came off, the sight came out with it; and it entirely perished. The other eye was saved, to the astonishment of all who saw her, particularly the doctor, who used fre- quently to call in to see how she did. lie said she was saved entirely by the plan I had pursued, and the great care and attention paid to her. She entirely recovered from the disease, with the exception of the loss of one eye, and ha- enjoyed good health to this time. This was the first of my finding out the plan of steaming and using cold water. After this I found by experience that by putting a hot stone intq a thing of hot water, leaving it partly out of the water, and then pouripg vinegar on the stone, was animproveme.ru Care should) be taken not to raise the heat too fast; and I used tc > C2 30 Narrative of the Life, <$*ed the steam 01 36 Narrative of the Life, #c. vinegar to guard against putrifaction, and gold thread (or yellow root.) wth red oa't acorns pounded and steeped toge'her, for the canker. The-e had the de- sired effect; and by close attention he soon got better. The second son was then taken down pretty much in the same manner, and I pursued the same mode of treat- ment, with similar success ; but the disease had so ef- fected his lungs, that 1 feared it would leave him in a consumption, as was the case with my mother. He could not speak loud for three weeks. I could get no- thing that would help him for some time, till at last I gave him several portions of the emetic herb, which re- lieved him and he soon got well. During this sickness we suffered much from fatigue and want of sleep ; for neither my wife nor myself had our clothes off for twelve nights. This was a good fortnight's school to me, in which 1 learned the nature of the meazles ; and found it to be canker and putrifaction. This experience en- abled me to relieve many others in this disease, and like- wise in the canker-rash; in these two disorders, and the small pox, I found a looking-glass, in which we may see the nature of every other disease. I had the small pox in the year 1798, and examined its symptoms with all the skill I was capable of, to ascertain the nature of the disease ; and found that it was the highest stage of can- ker and putrifaction that the human system was capable of receiving—the meazles the next, and the canker-rash the third; and other disorders partake more or less of the same, which 1 am satisfied is a key to the whole ; for by knowing how to cure this, is a general rule to know how to cure all other cases; as the same means that will put out a large fire will put out a candle. Soon after my family had got well of the meazles, I was sent for to see a woman by the name of Redding, in the neighbourhood. She had been for many years afflicted with the cholic, and could get no relief from the doctors. I attended her and found the disorder was caused by canker, and pursued the plan that my former experience had taught m'e, which relieved her from the pain, and so far removed the cause that she never had another attack of the disease. In this case the cure was so simply and easily performed, that it became a Of Samuel Thomson. S7 subject of ridicule, for when she wa^ asked about it, she was ashamed to say that 1 cured her; the po- pular practice of the physicians had so much influence on the minds of the people, that they thought nothing could be right but what was done by them. I attended in this family for several years, and always answered the desired purpose ; but my practice was sosimple, that it was not worthy of notice, and being dissatistied with the treatment I received, refused to do any thing more for them. After this they employed the more fa-hionable practitioners, who were ready enough to make the most of a job, and they had sickness and expense enough to satisfy them, for one of the sons was soon after taken sick and was given over by the doctor, who left him to die ; but after he left off giving him medicine he got well of himself, and the doctor not only had the credit of it, but for this job and one other similar, his charges amounted to over one hundred dollars. This satisfied me of the foolishness of the people, whose prejudices are always in favour of any thing that is fashionable, or that is done by those who profess great learning; and prefer long sickness and great expense, if done in this way, to a simple and natural relief, with a trilling ex- pense. Soon after this I was called on to attend a Mrs. Wether- by, in the neighbourhood, who had the same disorder. She had been afflicted with the cholic for several years, having periodical turns of it about once a month ; and had been under the care of a number of doctors, who had used all their skill without affording her any relief, excepting a temporary one by stnpifyng her with opium and giving physic, which kepi her along till nature could wear it off, when she would get a little better for a few days, and then have another turn. After hearing of my curing Mrs. Redding, they sent for me; I gav» her my medicine to remove the canker, and ste •- i her, which gave relief in one hour. She had a . , very great till the victory is gained by heat having expelled the cold from the body, when a natur- al perspiration commences, and nature is restored to her empire. I will here make a few remarks upon the food taken into the stomach, which is of the utmost importance to the preservation of health. While I was in New-York, took particular notice of their manner of living; and observed that they subsisted principally upon fresh pro- visions, more particularly the poorer class of people; who are in the habit in warm weather of going to mar- ket at a late hour of the day, and purchasing fresh meat that is almost in a putrid state, having frequently been killed the night previous, and being badly cooked, by taking it into the stomach, will produce certain disease ; and I am convinced that this is one of the greatest causes that those fatal epidemics prevail in the hot sea- son, in our large seaports. Mutton and lamb is often drove a great distance from the country, and having been heat and fatigued, then are cooled suddenly, which causes the fat to turn to water; and often when killed are in almost a putrid state, and the meat is soft and flabby. Such meat as this, when brought into the mar- ket on a hot day will turn green under the kidneys in two or three hours, and taken into the stomach will pu- trify before it digests, and will communicate the same to the stomach, and the whole body will be so affected by it, as to cause disorders of the worst kind. If people would get into the practice of eating salt provisions in hot weather and fresh in cold, it would be a very great preventative to disease. One ounce of putrid flesh in the stomach is worse than the effect produced by a whole carcase on the air by its effluvia. Much more might be said upon this important subject; but I shall deter it for the present, and shall treat more upon it in another part of the work. It is a subject that has been too much neglected by our health officers in this country. Of Samuel Thomson. 5H While in the city of New-York, 1 attended an Irish- man by the name of Doyle, who had the fever-and-ague. This disease gives a complete view of my theory of heat and cold: for it is about an equal balance between the two, heat keeping a little the uper hand. 1 le had been afflicted with this distressing disorder about four months ; he had the fits most of the time every day, and was very bad. I began by giving him such medicine as I usually gave to increase the inward heat of the body. which subdued the cold, and gave heat the victory over it; and by strictly attending him in this w.i\ four days, he was completely cured. Being short of money I ask- ed him for some compensation for my trouble ; but he refused, and never paid me a cent; observing that he must have been getting well before, for no one ever heard of such a disorder being cured in four days. A gentleman whom 1 had formed an acquaintance with, by the name of James Quackenbush, who had the care of the State prison warehouse, finding how I had been treated, invited me to go to his hou-e and live w ith him, which I thankfully accepted. I was treat- ed with much kindness 'by him, for which he Ins my most sincere thanks. On the 16th of September I started for home, and took passage on board a p-icket for lio.-ton, where I ar- rived in five days: and on the 26th reached my home, after an absence of three months, and found my family well. I was often called on to practice in the neigh- bourhood ; but declined most part of the applications in consequence of the treatment I had received from them, which has been before related. In November I went to Plum Island to collect medicine ; on my way I call- ed on Joseph Hale, Esq. of Pepperell, and engaged him to come down with his waggon in about three weeks, to bring back what medicine 1 should collect. I went by the yvay of Newburyport; and after being on the is- land three or four days, collected such roots as I want- ed, and returned to that place. While there, being in a store in conversation with some persons, there came in a man from Salisbury mills, by the name of Osgood, who stated that he was very unwell, and that his wife lay at the noint of death, with the lung fever; that she 60 Narrative of the Life, 4»c. had been attended by Dr. French, who had given her over. One of the gentlemen standing by told him that I was a doctor, and used the medicine of our own coun- try. He asked me if I would go home with him and see his wife ; as I was waiting for Mr. Hale, and no- thing to do, I told him I would, and we immediately started in his chaise for his home, which was about six miles. On our arrival he introduced me to his wife as a doctor who made ir-e of the medicine of our country; and asked her if she was willing that 1 should undertake to cure her. She said if 1 thought that 1 could help her, she had no objection. I gave my opinion that I could, and undertook, though with some reluctance, as I was in a strange place and no one that I knew. 1 proceed- ed with her in my usual method of practice, and in about fourteen hours her fever turned, and the next day she was comfortable, and soon got about. This cure caused considerable talk among the peo- ple in the neighbourhood, who thought very favourably of me and my practice ; but it soon came to the ears of Dr. French, who was very much enraged to think one of his patients, that he had given over, should be cured by one whom he called a quack ; and attempted to counteract the public impression in my favour, by cir- culating a report that the woman was getting better and sat up the greatest part of the day before I saw her ; but this was denied by the woman's husband, and known to many to be false. While I remained in this place, waiting for Mr. Hale to come down with his waggon to carry home my medi- cine, I was called on to attend se-teral cases, in all of which I was very successful; most of them were such as had been given over by their doctors. One of them was a case of a young man, who had cut three of his fingers very badly, so as to lay open the joints. Dr. French had attended him three weeks, and they had got so bad that he advised him to have them cut off as the only alternative. The young man applied to me for advice. I told him that if 1 was in his situation, I should not be wilhng to have them cut off till I had made some further trial to cure them without. He re- quested me to undeitake to cure him, to which I Of Samuel Thomson. 61 and began by clearing the wound of mercury, by wash- ing it with weak lye; I then put on some drops, and did it up with a bandage which was kept wet with cold wa- ter. While I was dressing the wound, a young man who was studying with Dr. French, came in and made a great fuss, telling the young man that he was going to spoil his hand. I told him that I was accountable for what was doing, and that if he had any advice to offer I was ready to hear him; but he seemed to have nothing to offer except to find fault, and went off, after saying that Dr. French's bill must be paid very soon. I con- tinued to dress his hand, and in ten days he was well enough to attend to his work, being employed in a nail factory. Soon after I saw him there at work, and asked him how his fingers did, he said they were perfectly cur- ed ; he wished to know what my bill was for attending him. I asked him what Dr. French had charged, and he said he had sent his bill to his mother amounting to seventeen dollars ; I told him I thought that enough for •is both, and I should charge him nothing. His mother was a poor widow, depending on her labour and that of her son for a living. I remained in this place about two weeks, and the people were very urgent that I should stay longer ; but Mr. Hale having arrived, I left them with a promise that I would visit them again in the spring. We arrived at Pepperell, where I re- mained several days with Mr. Hale, who was an ingeni- ous blacksmith and a chymist, having been much engag- ed in the preparations of mineral medicine. He had an enquiring turn' of mind and was very enthusiastic in his undertakings; although he prepared medicines from minerals, he acknowledged that he was afraid to use them on account of his knowing their poisonous quali- ties. I convinced him of the superiority of my system of practice, and instructed him in the use of my medi- cine so that he engaged in it and soon had as much prac- tice as he could attend to; being $o well satisfied of its general application to the cure of all cases of disease, that he looked no more for it in ilia mineral prepara- tions. In the winter of 1807, I went with my wife to Jeri- cho, Vermont, to visit my father and friends, who lived F 62 Narrative of the Life, fyc there. While there I was called on to see a number who were sick, among whom was a young man that had been taken in what was called cramp convulsion fits. He was first taken on Sunday morning, and continued in fits most of the time till Tuesday; he was attended dur- ing this time by the best doctors that could be procured, without doing him any good. They could not get their medicine to have any effect upon him ; he continued in convulsions most of the time, every part of him was as stiff as a wooden image ; after trying every thing they could, they gave him over. His father came after me, and just as we entered the room where the young man was, he was taken in a fit. His feet and hands were drawn in towards his body, his jaws were set, his head drawn back, and every part of him as completely fixed as a statue. The first difficulty was to get him to take any thing; his jaws were set as tight together as a vise. I took a solution of No. 1, 2, and 6, as strong as it could be made, and putting my finger into the corner of his mouth, making a space between his cheek and teeth, poured some of it down; and soon as it touched the glands at the roots of his tongue his jaws cam<* open, and he swallowed some of the medicine; which had such an effect upon the stomach, that all the spasms immediately ceased. I left him some medicine with di- rections, and he entirely recovered his health ; I saw him three years after, and he told me that he had not had a fit since the one above described. 1 was convinc- ed from this circumstance, that the cause of all cramps or spasms of this kind, is seated in the stomach, and that all applications for relief in such cases should be made there ; as it will be of no service to work on the effect as long as the cause remains. Before returning home I was called on by Captain Lyman, of Jericho, to advise with me concerning his sou, who had a fever sore on his thigh, which he had been afflicted with for seven years. He had been at- tended by all the doctors in that part of the country to no advantage. They had decided that the only thing which could be done to help him, was to lay open hia thigh and scrape the bone. I told him that I did not see how they could do that without cutting the great ar- Of Samuel Tliomson. 63 terv, which lay close to the bone, where they would have to cut. He said he was satisfied that it would not do, aud was very urgent that I should undertake with him. I told him that it was impossible for me to stay at that time ; but if his son would go home with me, I would undertake to cure him; to which he consented, and the young man returned with me ; which was in the month of March. I began with him by giving medicine to correct and strengthen the system ; bathed the wound with my rhumatic drops, or No. 6, sometimes bathing with cold water to strengthen it, and after proceeding in this manner for about a month, he was well enough to do some work; he remained with me till August, when he was entirely cured, so that he was able to return to his father's on foot, a distance of one hundred miles. In the fall of this year, the dysentary or camp distem- per, as it was called, was very prevalent in the above named town of Jericho; and was so mortal that all but two who had the disease and were attended by the doc- tors died, having lost above twenty in a short time. The inhabitants were much alarmed, and hefd a consultation, to advise what to do ; and being informed by the young man above mentioned, that I was at home, they sent an express for me, and I immediately made arrangements to comply with their request. In twenty-four hours I started and arrived there on the third day after, and found them waiting %with great anxiety for me, having re- fused to take any thing from the doctois. I had an in- terview with the Selectmen of the town, who had taken upon themselves the care of the sick; they informed me that there were about thirty then sick, and wished me to undertake the care of them. I agreed to take charge of them on condition that I could have two men to assist me ; this was complied with, and I commenced my practice upon thirty in the course of three days. The disorder was the most distressing of any that I had ev-er witnessed. One man had been speechless for six hours, and was supposed to be dying; but on mv giving him some medicine to warm him, he seemed to revive like an insect that was warmed by the sun after having laid in a torpid state through the Winter. I had but lit- tle medicine with me and had to use such as 1 could pror t 64 Narrative oj the Life, h effected a complete cure. Major Rice, had been for many years subject to turns of the govt; and had been in some instances confined >y it for six months at a time, and for six weeks hot nhle to sit up, much of the time not able to lift u's hatv1 «8 Narrative cfthe Life, 4»c. to his head. He had been constantly under the care of "the most skillful doctors, who would bleed and blisterj and physick him, till his strength was exhausted; after attending him in this way through the winter, they said he must wait till warm weather, before he could get about. When the warm weather come he would crawl out in the sun side of the house, and in this way he gra dually gained his strength; after this he was afflicted with a violent burning in his stomach, which was almost as troublesome as the gout. After he had the right of my medicine, he had fre- quent turns of the gout; but no attack of this disease has continued more than twenty-four hours, before he was completely relieved; and he has been but little trou- bled with the burning at the stomach since. He has told me since, that if he could have been as sure of re- lief, when he was first subject to this disease, as he is now certain of it in twenty-four hours, he would have been willing to give all he was worth. This family has been so much benefited by the use of the medicine, that no sum of money would be any temptation to them to be deprived of it. This man has never been lacking to prove his gratitude to me ; in the time of my troubles his assistance was of the greatest importance to me, and I shall ever feel grateful to him and his family for their goodness. Soon after I went to Portsmouth, I was sent for to go to Deerfield, where the dysentery prevailed and had be- come very alarming. A young man by the name of Fulsom came after me, and said that the doctor had lost every patient he had attended, that seven had died, and many were sick—that his father and two brothers were given over by the doctor that morning to die. The young man seemed so anxious, and was so much frightened that I concluded to go with him; the distance was twenty-eight miles. We started a little before night, and arrived thcf-e about ten o'clock. I found the father and the two sons, as bad as they could be and be alive; they were stupid and cold. I told the mother that it was very uncertain whether I could help them.. She begged of me to save her husband's life if possible. I told her that I could not tell whether they were dying; Of Samuel Thomson. or whether it was the deadly effect of opium. I gave them all medicine—the two children died in about three hours, but Mr. Fulsom soon grew better by taking the medicine. I had not only the sick to attend to, and do every thing myself; but the opposition of all the neigh- bourhood ; there was eight of the family sick, and if I went out of the house, some person would open the doors and windows, which would cause a relapse ; while perspiration continued they yvere easy, but as soon as they grew cold the pain would return and be very vio- lent. In the morning I was preparing to come away ; but the father urged me so hard to stay, promising that I sflould be treated in a better maimer than I had been. that I consented and remained with them about ten days. I caught the disorder myself and was very bad ; on taking the medicine the operation was so violent that the neighbours were much frightened and left the house, and were afraid to come nigh us, leaving us to die altogether. I soon got better and was able to carry Mr. Fulsom through for the first time ; which relieved him and he soon got better. In the mean time a small child was brought home sick, that had been carried away to prevent it from taking the disorder. It was so far gone that the medicine would have no effect upon it, and it soon died. All that were not in a dying situation before they took the medicine yvere relieved and got well. I attended some that had the disorder in other families, all of whom got well; fifteen in the whole re- covered and three died. Two years after, thedeath of these three was brought against rne on a charge of mur- der. All that I ever received for my trouble in these cases, was fifteen dollars; there wa- no credit given me for curing the fifteen out of eighteen, when the doctor had lost all that he had attended ; and after he ha# giv- en over three to die, I cured onefof them twelve hours after. When I left this place the doctor adopted my mode of practice as far as he knew it, particularly in sweating, and about one half lived. Notwithstanding all this, the doctor as I was informed made oath that the three children died in consequence of taking my medi- cine ; and the good minister of the parish, I was also in- 84 Nuii\,:-\.coftheLijt, $-c. formed, testified to the same thing; though 1 am conn- dent that neither of them knew any thing about me or my medicine. A judgment seemed to follow this clergy- man, for a short time after he had lent his aid in promot- ing the prosecution against me, a circumstance took place in his family, which if it had not been done by a fash- ionable doctor, might have been called mu rder. His wife was at times troubled with a pain in her face, something like a cramp ; a certain doctor said that he could help her by cutting. He used the knife and other instruments of torture for four hours, which stopped her speech, and let loose the juices that filled the flesh from her breast, so that the blood and water crowded o«t of her ears in striving for breath. She remained in this distressed situation about seven days and died. This information I had from two respectable men, who were present at the time of her sufferings and death. I continued to practice in Portsmouth and vicinity during this autumn, and while-there was sent for to go to Salisbury to see a child that had been attended by a woman who I had given uiformatian to for several days, but they said the perspiration would not hold; and they wished for further information. On seeing the child, I at once found that they had kept about an equal balance between the Outward and inward heat; when they gave medicine to raise the inward heat and start the deter- mining poyver to the surface, they at the same time kept the outward heat so high as to counteract it. Af- ter explaining to them the difficulty, I raised the child up and poured on to it a pint of cold vinegar, and it im- mediately revived. Applied no more outward heat, but only to shield it from the air; and gave the warmest medicine inward, on the operation of which the child grew cold and very much distressed. As soon as the inward heat had -gained the full power and drove the cold out, the circulation became free, and the child was relieved from pain and fell asleep; the next day the heat was as much higher than what was natural, as it had been lower the day before ; and when heat had gained the victory over cold, the child gained its strength and was soon about, perfectly recovered. I had not practiced in Salisbury before, sjnre I went Of Samuel Thomson. 85 to Exeter, which was in June, and my returning there seemed to give Dr. French great offence. He had been to see the child mentioned above, and tried to discour- age the people from using my medicine; and threaten- ed them that he would have them indicted by the grand jury, if they made use of any without his consent ; his threats however had very little effect, for the people were well satisfied of the superiority of my practice over his. About this time the bonds for his good behaviour were out; 1 did not appear against him, and when the case was called the court discharged him and his bail, on his paying the cost. This action was brought on a complaint in behalf of the commonwealth ; but I had caused another action of damage to be brought against him, which was carried to the Supreme Court, and tried at Ipswich the spring following. I employed two lawyers to manage my case, and brought forward two witnesses to prove my declaration, who swore that the defendant made the assertion, that I was guilty of murder and he could prove it. His lawyer admitted the fact, but plead justification on the part of his client, and brought witnesses on to the stand to prove that what he had said was true. The young woman who nursed Mrs. Lifford, and by whose neglect she took cold, swore to some of the most ridiculous occurrences concerning the death of that woman, that could be uttered, yvhich were perfectly contradictory to every thing she had before confessed to be the truth. Another young woman, the daughter of a doctor, at Deerfield, made a statement to make it appear that I was the cause of the death of the three children, who died as has been before related. 1 had no knowledge of ever seeing this woman, and have since ascertained that she was not at the house but once dur- ing the sickness, and then did not go into the room where the sick were; and her exaggerated account must have been made up of what she had heard others s»# These things were a complete surprise to" me, not thinking it possible that people could be induced to make such exaggerated statements under the solemnity of an oath. I could have brought forward abundance of tes- timony to have contradicted the whole evidence against H 86 Narrative of the Life, u him for about three yveeks, in which time he was able to set up two or three hours in a day; his food nourished his body, and his strength gained very fa-t, considering the season of the year being unfavourable. I gave him my best advice and left direction- how to proceed, and re- turned home to my family to spend the rest of the win- ter with them, i returned in the spring to <~t:e Mr. Bowles, and found him so far recovered a^ to be able to ride out, and in good spirits. He soon gained his H 2 90 Narrative ej the ife, $-c. health, and is now well and ready to give testimony of" the facts as I have related them. In the season of 1809, I suffered much. In the first part of the summer, attended many patients of old com- plaints ; in particular one case that I shall mention of a young woman, in Kittery, in a consumption. She had been confined to her house four months; her flesh was exhausted, and had a violent stricture of the lungs, which she said seemed as though there was a string that drawed her lungs to her back ; this caused a dry, hacking couch, which was very distressing. I could give her friends no encouragement of a cure ; but the young woman and her friends were so urgent, that I undertook with her. Her courage was very great, and she took the medicine and followed all my directions with great perseverance. She said she wished that it might either kill or cure, for she did not desire to live in the situa- tion she was then in. 1 left her medicine and directions, and occasionafly visited her. My plan of treatment was followed with much attention and zeal for six months, before 1 could raise an inward heat which would hold more than six hours. She then had what was called a settled fever; and I gave her medicine to get as great an internal heat as I possibly could ; this caused much alarm among her friends, as they thought she would cer- tainly die. I told them that the heat holding, which was the cause of the fever, was the first favourable symptom that I had seen in her favour. She soon gain- ed her health, to the astonishment of all her friends and acquaintances. She continued to enjoy her health till the next season, when she had another turn of the fever. I attended her in my usual way, and raised the heat till it completely overpowered the cold, when she was en- tirely cured, and has ever since enjoyed good health. Puring this summer a woman applied to me from a neighbouring town, who had the dropsy, and brought with her a little girl, that had the rickets very bad, so that she was grown much out of shape. I carried them both thro' a course of the medicine, attended them for three or four weeks, and then gave the woman infor- mation how to relieve herself and the girl, occasionally visiting them; they both recovered of their complaints Of Samuel Thomson. 1>1 and have enjoyed perfect health since. This woman paid me the most liberally of any that I had attended, and has on all occasions manifested her gratitude for the assistance I afforded her. Another woman from the same town applied to me, who had a cancer on her breast. She had been under the care of several doc- tors, who had by their cdurse of practice made her worse. I undertook with her and by giving medicine to check the canker and promote perspiration, effectually reliev- ed her from the disease. Many other desperate cases. such as consumptions, dropsies, cancers, &,c. most of which had been given over by the doctors, yvere attend- ed by me about this time, which it will be unnecessary for me to particularize; all of them were either com- pletely cured or essentially relieved and made comfort- able by my system of practice. One case I shall how- ever state, being rather of an extraordinary nature, to show the absurdity of the fashionable manner of treat- ing disease by the doctors of the pre-ent day. A young lady applied to me who had been much troubled with bleeding at the stomach. She stated to me that she had been bled by the doctors forty-two times in two years; and that they had bled her seven times in six weeks. So much blood had been taken from her, that the blood vessels had contracted in such man- ner that they would hold very little blood; and the heat being thereby so much diminished, the water filled the flesh, and what little blood there was rushed to her face, while all the extremeties were cold ; this produced a deceptive appearance of health, and caused those who judged by outyvard appearances, to doul.t whether there was any disease ; so that she had not only to bear her own infirmities, but the reproaches of her acquaintances. I kindled heat enough in the body to throw off the use- less water, which gave the blood room to circulate through the whole system, instead of circulating as it had done before, only in the large blood y essels, and they being much extended by not having heat enough to give it motion, leads the doctors into the erroneous idea, that there is two much blood, and resort to the practice of bleeding, which reduces the strength of the patient, and increases the disease. There is no such 92 Narrative of the Life, $-c. thing as a person having too much blood, no more thai; there is of ha. ing too much bone, or too much muscle, or sinews ; nature contrives all things right. The blood may be too thick, so as not to circulate, and is liable to be diseased like all other parts of the body; but how taking part of it away, can benefit the rest, or tend in any way to remove the disease, is what I could never reconcile with common sense. After I had carried this woman through a full operation of the medicine, and got the heat to hold, so as to produce a natural perspi- ration, she at once exhibited a true picture of her situa- tion; instead of appearing to be so fleshy and well as she had done, she fell away and became quite emaciat- ed ; but as soon as the digestive powers were restored, so that food could nourish the body, she gained her strength and tV-iu and in a short time was completely re-tored to health. I was about this time culled to attend a woman who was very severely attacked with the spotted fl-ver. 1 he first appearance of it was a pain in her heal, yvhich soon moved up to-her hips and back, from thence to her stomach and head; so that in fifteen minutes her sight was gone, and in less than half an hour she was sense- less and cold ; about this time I saw her, and examined well the cause of the-disease ; I was well satisfied that it was the effect of cold having overpowered the inward heat. By confining her fiom the air, giving her No. 1 and 2, and keeping her in a moderate steam, she in a short time came to her senses ; and the symptoms yvere exactly similar to a drowned person coming to, after having life suspended by being under water. As soon as the perspiration became free all pain ceased, and she was quite comfortable ; in twenty-four hours the disease was completely removed, and she was able to attend to her work. The same day I had another case of a child which the doctor had given over. When 1 came to this child it was senseless, and expected in a mortified state ; I ga*'e it the hotest medicine I could get, with the emetic ; it lay about six hours silent,, before the medicine had kmlled heat enough to cause motion in the stomach and bowels, when it began to revive, and what came from it Of Samuel Thomson. 93 was black and putrid; the bowels just escaped mortifi- cation. The child was soon well. These two cases were both cured in twenty-four hours time. When the spotted fever first appeared in Portsmouth, the doctors had five cases and all of them died. I had five cases similar which all lived. Because my patients did not die, the doctors said they did not have the fe- ver. In this they had much the advantage of me, for there could be no doubt of theirs all having it, as death was, in most of the cases under their care, on their side and decided the question. I have had a great number of cases of the spotted fever under my care, and in all of them used the remains of heat as a friend, by kindling it so as to produce heat enough in the body to overpow- er and drive out the cold ; and have never failed of suc- cess, where there was any chance of a cure. Sometime this season I was sent for to attend Captain Trickey, who was very sick; I examined him and was confident that I could not help him, and took my hat in order to leave the house. His family insisted on my stopping and doing something for him; but I told them that I thought he was in a dying state, and medi- cine would do no good. I told his son that in all pro- bability, he would not be alive over twenty-four hours, and that he had better go for some other help, for I could do him no good. I told the wife that I should give no medicine myself, but as they had some'in the house that they knew the nature of, she might give some of it to her husband, which she did. Two doctors were sent for—the first one that arrived bled him, and he soon breathed very short, and grew worse ; the other doc- sor came, and said that his breathing short was in con- sequence of the medicine I had given him; but by this he did not gain credit, for all the family knew to the contrary; and the woman soon after told me of his speech. The patient continued till the next day about ten o'clock and died. Soon a% he was dead the doctors and their friends spared no pains to spread the report in every direction, that I had killed this man with my screw-auger, a cant name given to my emetic herb, in consequence of one of my patients when under the oper- ation of it, saying that it twisted in him like a screw-au- 94 Narrative of the Life, <$•<:. ger. This was readily seized upon by the doctors and made use of, for the purpose of trying to destroy the re- putation of this medicine by ridicule—they likewise gave similar names to several other articles of my me- dicine for the same purpose, and represented them as the names by which i called them. They had likewise given me several names and titles, by way of reproach; such as the sweating^ and steaming doctor—the Indian doctor—the old wizzard—and sometimes the quack. Such kind of management, had a great effect on the minds of many weak minded people ; they were so afraid of ridicule, that those who 1 had cured were unwilling to own it for fear of being laughed at for employing me. The circumstance of the death of the above mention- ed Capt. Trickey, was seized upon by the doctors and their friends, and the most false and absurd representa- tions made by them through the country, with the inten- tion of stopping my practice, by getting me indicted for murder, or to drive me off; but my friends made out a correct statement of the facts, and had them published, which put a stop to their carreer for that time. 1 con- tinued my practice, and had a great number of the most desperate cases, in most of which I was successful. The extraordinary cures I had performed had the tendency to make many people believe, that I could cure every one who had life in them, let their disease be ever so bad; and where I hadattended on those who were given over as incurable and they died, whether I gave them any medicine or not, the report was immediately circulated that they were killed by me, at the same time the regu- lar doctors would lose their patients every da}', without there being any notice taken of it. When their patients died, if appearances were ever so much against their practice, it was said to be the will of the Lord, and sub- mitted to without a murmur; but if one happened to die that I had any thing to do with, it was readily reported by those interested in destroying my credit with the peo- ple, that I killed them. I could mention a great number of cases of the cures that I performed, if I thought it necessary ; but my in- tention is to give the particulars of such only as will Of Samuel Thomson. 95 have the greatest tendency to convey to the reader the most correct information of my mode of practice, with- out repeating any that yvere treated in a similar manner to those already given. I shall now proceed to give the particulars of one of the most important circumstances of my life, in as correct and impartial a manner as 1 am capable to do from memory ; in order to show what I have suffered from the persecutions of some of the me- dical faculty, for no other reason, as I conceive, than that ihey feared my practice would open the eyes of the people, and lessen their importance with them; by giving such imformation as w;ould enable them to cure themselves of disease without the aid of a doctor; and from many others, who yvere governed altogether by the prejudices they had formed against me by the false re- ports that had been circulated about my practice, with- out having any other knowledge of me. Manv of the latter, however, have since been convinced of their er- ror, have a very favourable opinion of my system, and are among my best friends. After practicing in those parts through the season of 1809, I went home to Surry, where 1 remained a few weeks, and returned back to Salisbury ; on my way there I made several stops in different places where I had before practised, to see my friends and to give in- formation to those yvho made use of my medicine and practice. On my arrival at Salisbury, my friends in- formed me that Dr. French bad been very bu-ily em- ployed in my absence, and that he and a deacon Pecker, who was one of the grand jury, had been to Iralem, to the court, and on their return had said that there had been a bill of indictment found against me for willful murder. 'Ihey advised me to go off and keep out of the way ; but I told them I should never do that—for if they had found a bill against me, the goveniment must prove the charges, or 1 must be honourably acquitted. About ten o'clock at night Dr. French came to the place where 1 stopped, with a constable, and made me a prisoner in behalf of the commonwealth. I asked the constable to read the warrant, whxh he did ; by this 1 found that Dr. French was the only complainant, and the justice who granted the warrant ordered me before 96 Narrative of the Life, 4*c him to be examined, im ne-d morning. I was then taken by the constable m !>,- ■' .--ich*3 hoi < , and keep- ers were placed over niv : * vent '^r com» scoping. While at his house and a pr.somT, Dr t'rench took the opportunity to abuse and insult me in the most shameful manner that can be conceived of, without any provoca tion on my part; he continued his abuse to me till be- tween t-.o and three o'clock, when he took his horse and sat out for Salem to get the indictment. After he was gone, I found on enquiry of the constable, that af- , ter he had been before the grand jury and caused me to be indicted, he came home before the bill was made out, and finding that«l was in Salisbury, fearing I might be gone, and he should miss the chance of gratifying his malicious revenge against me, he went to a brother doc- tor, who was-a justice of the peace, before whom he made oath, that he had probable ground to suspect, and did suspect, that I had with malice aforethought, mur- dered sundry persons in the course of the year past, whose names were unknown to the complainant upon which a warrant was issued against me, and I was ar- rested, as before stated, in order to detain and keep me in custody till the indictment could be obtained. In the morning I was brought before the said justice, and he not being ready to proceed in my examination, the court was adjourned till one o'clock ; when I was again brought before him and he said he could not try me until the complainant was present, and ad- journed the court again till near night. The constable took me to his house in the mean time, and put me in a back room and left me alone, all of them leaving the house. When they came back, some of them asked me why I did not make my escape, which I might very ea- sily have done out of a back window ; but 1 told them that I stood in no fear of the consequence, having done nothing whereby I ought to be punished; that I was tak- en up as a malefactor, and was determined to be con- victed as such or honourably acquitted. Just before night Dr. French arrived with a Sheriff, and ordered me to be delivered up by the constable to the Sheriff; and after Dr. French had again vented his spleen upon me by the most savage abuse that language could ex- Of Samuel Thomson 9"J press, saying that I was a murderer, and that I had murdered fifty and he could prove it—that I should be either hung or sent to the State prison for life and he would do all in his power to have me convicted. I was then put in irons by the sheriff, and conveyed to the jail in Newburyport, and confined in a dungeon, with a man who had been convicted of an assault on a girl six years of age, and sentenced to solitary confinement for one year. He seemed to be glad of company; and reminded me of the old saying, that misery loves com- pany. 1 was not allowed a chair or table, and nothing but a miserable straw bunk on the floor, with one poor blanket which had never been washed. 1 was put in- to this prison on the 10th day of November, 1809; the weather was very cold, and no fire, and not even the light of the sun, or a candle—and to complete the whole, the filth ran from the upper rooms into our cell, and was so offensive that i was almost stiffled with the'smell. I tried to rest myself as well as I could, but got no sleep that night, for I felt something crawl- ing over me, which caused an itching and not knowing what the cause was, enquired of my fellow sufferer; he said that it was the lice, and that there was enough of them to shingle a meeting-house In the morning there was just light enough shone through the iron grates to show the horror of my si- tuation. My spirits and the justness of my cause pre- vented me from making any lamentation, and 1 bore my sufferings without complaint. At breakfast time 1 was called on through the grates to take our miserable breakfast; it consisted of an old tin pot of musty cof- fee, without sweetening or milk, and was so bad as to be unwholesome ; with a tin pan containing a hard piece of Indian bread, and the nape of a fish, which was so hard I could not eat it. This had to serve us till three o'clock in the afternoon, when we had about an equal fare, which was all we had till the next morning. The next day Mr. Osgood came from Salisbury to see me, and on witnessing my miserable situation he was so much affected that he could scarcely speak. He brought me some provisions, which I was very glad to receive ; and when 1 described to him my miser- 98 Narrative of the Life, fyc. able lodgings and the horrid place I was in, he wept like a child. He asked liberty of the jailer to furnish me with abed, which was granted, and bronght me one, and other things to make me more comfortable. The next day 1 wrote letters to my family, to Dr. Fuller, and to Judge Rice, stating to them my situa- tion. The bed which was brought me I put on the old one, and allowed my fellow sufferer a part of it, for which he was very thankful. I had provisions enough brought me by my friends for us both, and I gave him what I did not want ; the crusts and scraps that yvere left, his poor wife would come and beg to carry to her starving children, who were dependent on her. Her situation and that of her husband were so much worse than mine, that it made me feel more reconciled to my fate; and I gave her all I could spare, besides making his condition much more comfortable, for which they expressed a great deal of gratitude. In a few days after my confinement Judge Rice came to see me and brought with him a lawyer. On con- sulting upon the case, they advised me to petition to the Judges of the Supreme Court to hold a special court to try my cause, as there would be no court held by law, at which it could be tried, till the next fall, and as there could be no bail for an indictment for murder, I should have to lay in prison nearly a year, whether there was any thing against me or not. This was the policy of my enemies, thinking that they could keep me in prison a year, and in all probability I should not live that time, and their ends would be fully answered. I sent on a petition agreeable to the advice of my friends, and Judge Rice undertook to attend to the bu- siness and do every thing to get the prayer of the pe- tition granted. He followed the business up with great zeal and did every think that could be done to effect the object. I think he told me that he or the lawyer, Mr. Bartlett, had rode from Newburyport to Boston fifteen times in the course of three weeks, on the bu- siness. At length Judge Parsons ageed to hold a tpecial court at Salem, on the 10th day of December, to try the cause, which was one month from the day I Of Samuel Thomson. 99 was committed. My friends were very attentive and zealous in my cause, and every preparation was made for the trial. During this time the weather was very cold, and I suffered greatly from that cause, and likewise from the badness of the air in our miserable cell, so that I had not much life or ambition. Many of my friends came to see me, and some of them yvere permitted to come into the cell; but the air was so bad and the smell so offensive, that they could not stay long. My friend Dr. Shephard came to see me and was admitted into our dungeon. He staid a short time, but said it was so offensive he must leave me; that he would not stay in the place a week for all Newburyport. On thanksgiv- ing day we yvere taken out of our cell and put in « room in the upper story, with the other prisoners, and took supper together; they consisted of murderers, robbers, thieves and poor debtors. All of us tried to enjoy our supper and be in as good spirits as our con- dition would permit. The most of their complaints yvere of the filthiness and bad condition of the prison, m which we all agreed. Before it was dark I and my companion yvere waited upon to our filthy den again. There was nothing in the room to sit upon higher than the thickness of our bed ; and when I wrote any thing, I had to lay on my belly, in yvhich situation 1 wrote the Medical Circular, and several other pieces, which were afterwards printed. After I had been in prison about two weeks, my son- in-law came to see me ; I had before my imprison- ment sent for him to come to Portsmouth on some bu- siness, and on hearing of my being in prison he im- mediately came to Newburyport, to see me. He seemed much more troubled about my situation than I was about myself. I felt perfectly conscious of my innocence and was satisfied that I had done nothing to merit such cruel treatment; therefore my mind was free from reproach; for I had pursued the course of duty which I conceived was allotted me by my maker and done every thing in my power to benefit my fel- low creatures. These reflectiowas peorted me in my troubles and persecutions, and was perfectly resigned 100 Narrative of the Life, r -'"' take any of my medicine. I told them tfe*' 2 K '14 Narrative of the Life, 'yc killed her, but I did not thank them for their good will any more than if they had done it. I was about leaving the house, as I found my directions would not be attend- ed to by the nurse ; but Capt. Mitchell was very urgent for me to continue. I told him that if he would attend upon her and see the medicine given and every thing done according to my directions, I would continue, to which he agreed. 1 left the patient in his care and he attended her faithfully through the day ; at night I visit- ed her and found the swelling began to abate. He con- tinued his care of her, and in three days she was able to go up and down stairs, and in one week she was well. By the influence of the doctor, the women and the hus- band all turned against me, and I never received any thing for my trouble but their abuse and slander. The woman's father and Capt. Mitchell, however, gave me all credit for the cure, and they both purchased a right. About a year after at a private assembly of women, this Mrs. Lovett the mother-in-law of the sick woman, gave an account of the whole transaction, and stated that i there was a private interview between her and the doc- tor, and it was agreed to go contrary to my directions, and the doctor said she would die in the course of the night ; and that he should take me up for murder, and that she must be an evidence. This appeared to be al- { most incredible, that they should be so void of all human icelings, as to be willing to have the woman die, in or- der to have the opportunity to take me up for murder; but t»vo women who were present when she told the story, gave their depositions proving the facts as above stated. I continued my practice on this island, at Lubcck, and on the main, paying my most particular attention to those 1 who sent for me, and wanted information. 1 practiced under their inspection about five weeks, and then told them that I had done enough for a trial, to prove the use of the medicine, and should do no more till I knew whe- could be formed. They expressed their on, and wished to have a society formed ; called for that purpose, and sixteen sign- ed the of^jgg a|- ^he first meeting. After this a meeting was held evt^, week5 a't which a lecture was given for ther a society Sj^tire satisfacti a >^>iing was Of bainuel 'ln:,:n.;•:.; ll-» the purpose of gi\ ing information and the admission of members, and eight each week was added during the summer. In the fall I yvent back to Portsmouth to attend to my business there, and see to the society which had been formed at that place. After staying in Portsmouth a few weeks to give in- formation to the people, and procuring a stock of medi- cine, I made arrangements to return to F.n iport ; and sometime in the month of October, I set sail for thai place, taking with me my apprentice and Stephen Sow- ell. On our arrival, I introduced Mr. Carpenter as my apprentice, and got Mr. Sewell into a school as an as- sistant ; in which he had fifteen dollars a month, and all his leisure time he attended to gain information of the praciic2. 1 took a small shop and put into it a good as sortment of medicine, and attended to practice till 1 had got Mr. Carpenter introduced among the people. While practising here I frequently heard of the abuse and scandal towards me and my practice, from Mrs. Lo- vett the old wom.in before mentioned, as the nurse oi her sons wife, who I cured of the dropsy This old woman was a singular character; and was called a witch by the people ; I have no faith in these kind of things, yet her conduct, and certain circumstances, that took place, were very extraordinary, and puzzled and aston- ished me more than any thing'l had ever met with, and which I have never been able to account for to this day. Mr. Carpenter was attending a man, where this woman often visited, who had the consumption, and his child, which was sick, and had fits. He came to me and •aid that the medicine he gave would not have its u-ual effect; that the emetic instead of causing them to vomit would make them choak and almost strangle. I attended them mvsolf, and on giving the medicine it would operate on the man, and not on the child at one time, and the next time on the child and not on him. Sometimes the child would lay in fits, for a whole night, and nothing would have any effect upon it ; in the morn- ing it would come out of them and appear to be quite bright and lively. I had never known the medicine to fail of producing some effect before, where the patient was not so far gone as not to have life enough leftto 116 Narrative of the Life, «$*c. build u^on. I can give no reason for this strange cir- cumstance, satisfactory to myself, or yvhich would be thought reasonable by the readers. The old woman, before mentioned, was frequently in and out of the house where the man and child were, and seemed to be very much interested about them ; when she was gone the child would frequently go into violent fits, and when I steamed it, it was said the old woman would be in great distress. It caused mm h conversation among the neigh- bours ; they believed it to be the power of witchcraft; and that the oM woman had a controul over tie destinies of the man and child, and was determined to destroy them in order to get her revenge on me. I have no belief in these things ; but must confi s* that her Strang1 conduct. and the extraordinary circumstances attending the whole affair baffled me more than any thing I had ever met with before. I was unable to do any thing for these two patients, except sometimes by a temporary relief; they continued to grow worse, and finding it not in my power to do them any good, left them and they both soon after died. Whether the extraordinary circumstances attending the two cases above stated, were caused by a stratagem of the doctors, in which the old woman was- made their a^ent, to injure me by causing in some way or other poisonous medicines to be administered to them in order to prevent my medicine from having any salutary effect, is what I do not feel disposed to assert as a fact; but the many cases in which 1 have been certain that such things have been done by the faculty, and their enmity and uniform opposition to my practice, both at this place and elsewhere, as well as the confession made by the old woman, would tend sdrongly to confirm such a belief. I could mention a great number of facts in addition to what I have said in regard to this affair if necessary*. which appeared very extraordinary to me and all who witnessed them ; but think that enough has been said on the subject, and shall leave it to the public to decide be- tween us. There were five doctors at Eastport when I went there, who had a plenty of business; but my suc- cess was so great and the people became so well satis- fied of the superiority of my system of practice over Of Samuel Tlwmson. 117 theirs, that they were soon relieved from most of their labours ; and in a short time after three of them had to leave the place for want of employment. I made arrangements to go back to Portsmouth to spend the winter, and to leave Mr. Carpenter with the care of my business and practice at Eastport, under the protection of John Burgin, Ksq. a man who has been particularly friendly to me on all occasions. I told him if he would be faithful in my business and in selling me- dicine that he should have half the profits after the mo- ney yvas collected ; and in December I took passage for Portsmouth. We had a long and tedious passage of eighteen days ; the vessel took fire and our lives were exposed ; but we were fortunate enough to extinguish it without much damage. I stopped in Portsmouth and practiced some time, then went to see my family, where I remained the rest of the winter, in which time I was employed in collecting and preparing medicine. I re- turned to Portsmouth in the spring of 1812, and after making the necessary arrangements, I set sail for East- port, where I arrived about the first of May. I made a settlement with Mr. Burgin,and paid him sixty-three dol- lars for the board of Mr. Carpenter, and for shop rent. Then furnished the shop with a complete stock of me- dicine, to which I added cordials and spirits, the whole of which amounted to about twelve hundred dollars. There was a great call for medicine thi- spring, and also for practice. After arranging my business I concluded to return to Portsmouth ; a short time before I came away, a Mr. Whitney came to me for a—isiance, and purchased a right. About the same time a Mr. McFadden applied also for assistance, who had the consumption. I left then: both under the care of M r. Carpenter, and immediately sailed for Portsmouth, where I arrived in safety. Soon after my arriyal there I found there was going to be a war with Great Britain; in consequence of which I re- turned immediately back to Eastport to settle my affairs. in that place. In a short time after my arrival there, the declaration of war came on, aud 1 made the best ar- rangements of my business I could, leaving Mr. Carpen- ter with directions, if there should ony thing happen in 118 Narrative of the Life, <$-c. consequence of the war, so as to be necessary for him to leave the island, to come to Portsmouth. Before leaving the place I called on him for some money, and all he could pay me was sixty-four dollars, which was but one dollar more than 1 had paid for his board and shop rent. The people were in such confusion it was impossible to get a settlement with any one. I left Mr. Whitney and Mr. McFadden in his care, and left the island about the middle of June, and arrived in Portsmouth in forty-eight hours, where I remained the greater part of the sum- mer; during yvhich time I had constant practice, and formed some regulations for the society, which was es- tablished there, for the purpose of greater facility in com- - municating information of my system of practice to the people who wished my assistance. In the rAT of this year I published my pamphlet of directions, as many were urgent that I should not leave the place destitute of the knowledge of my practice and medicine. Many persons who had been the most urgent for me to give them information, now became the most backward, and complained that the restrictions were too hard with re- gard to their giving the information to ethers; some of whom had never done the least thing to support the practice or me. When any of them were sick they were ready enough to call on me for assistance ; and if I re- lieved them quick, they thought it worth nothing and they run out against my practice, saying I deserved no pay. This sort of treatment I have met with from a certain class of people in all places where 1 have prac- ticed. I was treated with much attention when they were in danger from sickness; but when I had cured them I was thought no more of. This kind of ingrati- tude I have experienced a pretty large share of during ray practice. In the month of October, having got my business ar- ranged, and a stock of medicine prepared, I returned to Eastport. On my arrival there 1 went to my shop, and found that Mr. Carpenter had gone home, and Mr. Mc- Fadden and a Mr. Harvey left very sick, and only a boy to take care of them and the shop. Mr. McFadden was very low with a consumption, and unable to lay doyvn. I found there was no regulations of the business in the Of Samuel Thomson. 119 shop, and the property I had left chiefly gone. , I yvas obliged to pay every attention to the sick men that had been left in this manner without assistance ; 1 attended Mr. Harvey, and got him well enough to go home in a few days ; and Mr. McFadden was so pat to it for breath and was so distressed, that I had to be with him night and day for six weeks and three days, when Mr. Car- penter returned. Previous to this 1 found that Mr. Mc- Fadden had put his farm into the hands of M r. Carpen- ter as security for his attending him in his sickness; and as he had no relations the remainder to go to him and me. On enquiry into the business I found that he had taken a deed in his own name and that all the bills and accounts for his practice and medicine in my absence yvere in his own name, I asked him for asetttement and he refused ; I then asked him what he meant by his conduct; he said he owed me nothing, and bid me defiance, saying if I chose I might take the steps of the law. I could not con- ceive what he meant by treating me in this manner, till after making further enquiry I found that he had formed a connection in a family—that he had been advised to take the course he did. and as I had no receipt for the property, nor no written agreement to support my claim, he could do with me as he pleased, and keep every thing for his own benefit. The night after he returned and before I had any knowledge of his intentions, he had robbed the shop of all the accounts, notes, bills, and all other demands, so that I knew no more about the busi- ness than a stranger. 1 frequently tried to get a settlement with Carpenter ; but he said he had none to make with me. Mr. Mc- Fadden died shortly after, and Carpenter came forward and claimed all his property, saying that it was all will- ed to him. I asked him why it should be willed him, when I had borne the expense and done the principal part of the labour in taking care of him in his sicknt'ss. lie said 1 must look to him for my pay. I told him that it was very singular that my apprentice had become my masterin one year ; he denied :hat he was my aupren- tice, and said that h* was a partn r; but 1 told Dim in order to encourage him to be futhfjl and do well by me, he should have half the profits of the practice, and thai 120 Narrative of the Life, S,-e. I had no htea of his having the whole of my property. because I made him this promise. All I could say I found would have no effect, for the more I tried to rea- son with him the more obstinate and impudent he was. He even went so far as to say that the shop and all that was in it was his, and that 1 had nothing to do with it; he called a witness and forbid my having any concern in the shop. I found there was no other way for me, but to turn him out and get rid of him in the best manner I could ; to effect which I applied to the owner of the shop and got a writing to prove my claim to the possession, and immediately took measures to get rid of him. He made all thp opposition, and gave me all the trouble he could ; he went into the shop while I was absent and began to throw the property out into the street; but I soon put a stop to his career, and secured the property from his reach He still held all my books and accounts, which put my business into such confusion that I was un- able to collect any af the demands that were due ; and the only remedy I had was to advertise him as my ap- prentice and forbid all persons having any dealings with him on my account, or settling with him. My loss by the dishonest conduct of this man yvas very considerable besides the injury to my feelings from his base ingrati- tude to me ; for I had taken him from a state of poverty and distress ; supported him fur a long time when he was •very little benefit to me ; and had instructed him in my system of practice and given him all the information in my power; had introduced him into practice, and given him every encouragement to enable him not only to as- sist me in supporting my system of practice but to benefit himself; and after all this, for him to turn against me and treat me in the manner he did, yvas a deeper wound to my feelings than the loss of my property. After having got clear of Carpenter, I hired a young man whom I had cured and given information to, and put him into the shop, and agreed to pay his board for one year, and then returned to Portsmouth. As Car- penter had bid me defiance, and threatened to sell my rights and give information to any one who would buy of him s and likewise I found that there yvas another plot got up to destroy me ; a petition had been sent on Of Samuel TJiomson 121 to the Legislature to have a law passed against quacke- ry, in which 1 was named ; and there can be no doubt but what the whole object of it was to stop my prac- tice ;—I was at a stand, and put to much perplexity to know what course it was best to stear. I found I had enemies on every hand, and yvas in danger of falling by some one of them. Every thing seemed to conspire against me ; but I had some friends who have never for- saken me : my courage remained good, and my spirits were never depressed; and it appeared to me that the more troubles 1 had to encounter the more firmly I was fixed in my determination to persevere unto the last. When I had maturely considered the subject in all its bearings, and exersised my best abilities in devising some plan by which I could extricate myself from the dangers which threatened me on every hand ; and to prevent those rights, which twenty years labour, with much suf- fering and great expense, had given me a just claim to, from being wrested from me—I finally came to the con- clusion that there was only one plan for me to pursue with any chance of success; and that was to go on to Washington and obtain a patent for my discoveries ; and put myself and medicine under the protection of the laws of my country, which would not only secure to me the exclusive right to my system and medicine, but would put me above the reach of the laws of any state. After coming to the conclusion to go on to the seat of government and apply for a patent, made all necessa- ry preparation for the journey, and started from Ports- mouth on the 7th of February and arrived at Washing- ton on the 23d. The next day after my arrival I waited on Capt. Nicholas Gilman of Exeter, shewed him my credentials and asked his advice, what 1 must do to obtain my object. He said that he thought it could not be made explicit enough to combine the system and prac- tice, without being too long; he however advised me to carry my petition to the patent office ; which was then UBderthe control of Mr. Monroe, Secretary of State. I went to the patent office and found that Dr. Thornton was the Clerk, and presented him my petition. He asked me many questions, and then said I must call again ; 1 called again the next day, and he said the peti- 122 Narrative of the Life, fyc. tioo was not right—that I must specify the medicine, and what disorder it must be used in—he said that those me- dicine in general terms, to cure every thing, was quack- ery—that I must particularly designate the medicine, and state how it must be used, and in what disease. I then waited on Martin Chittenden, late governor of Vermont, who was at Washington, and asked his assistance; he was from the same town where my fatjjer lived, and •readily consented. We made out the specifications in as correct a manner as we could, and the next day I carried them to the patent office, and gave them to Dr. Thornton ; he complained much about its being too short a system, and put me off once more. I applied again and asked him for my patent; but he said 1 had not got the botanic names for the articles, and re- ferred me to Dr. Mitchell of New York, who was in the House of Representatives. 1 applied to him, and re- quested him to give the botanic names to the articles mentioned in my petition. He wrote them and I carri- ed them to Dr. Thornton; but he was unable to read some of the names, one in particular, he said I must go again to Dr. Mitchell, and get him to give it in some other words, and not tell him that he could not read it. I went and the doctor wrote the same word again and then wrote, or " Snap-dragon" ; which I carried to Dr. Thornton, and requested him to put in the patent my names, and record it for himself snap-dragon, or any other name he chose. He then talked about sending me to Philadel- phia, to Dr. Barton, to get his names. I found he was determined to give me all the trouble he could, and if possible to defeat my getting a patent, and I intimated that 1 should go with my complaint to Mr. Monroe, upon which he seemed a little more dis- posed to grant my request, and said he would do without Dr. Barton's names. He then yvent to work to make out the patent, and when he came to the article of myrrh, he found much fault about that, and said it was good for nothing. I told him that 1 paid for the patent and if it was good for nothing it was my loss. After much trouble I got it ma(le out according to my request, and the medicine to be used in feVers, cholicks, dyssm- teries, and rheumatisms ; he then asked me if I wanted Of Samuel Thomson. 123 any additions, and I told him to add, u the three first numbers may be used in any other case to promote pers- piration or as an emetic,*' which he did. I then had to go to the treasury office and pay my money and bring him duplicate receipts. After all this trouble 1 at length succeeded in obtaining my patent according to my request, which was completed and delivered to me on the 3d day of March, 1813. The next Sky after I had completed my busi- ness, was the day of inauguration of the President of the United States ; and I had the curiosity to stay and see the ceremonies on that occasion. After the cere- monies were over I went to the stage office and found that the seats yvere all engaged for a fortnight; and was obliged to stay till the 13th before I could get a passage. I then took passage in the stage and came on to Phila- delphia, where I remained several days for the purpose of seeing Dis. Rush and Barton, to confer with them upon the subject of introducing my system of practice to the world. 1 spent considerable time with Dr. Bar- ton; but Dr. Rush was so much engaged, that I yvas un- able to have but little conversation more than staling my business. He treated me with much politeness ; and said that whatever Dr. Barton agreed to he would give his consent, so that my business was chiefly with the lat- ter gentleman. I asked him many questions concerning my system and patent, and requested his advice of the best mode of introducing it. He advised me to make friends of some celebrated doctors and let them try the medicine and give the public such recommendation of it as they should deem correct. I told him that 1 feared that if I should do so, they would take the discovery to themselves and deprive me of all credit or benefit from my labours ; and asked him if he thought that would not be the case. He said it might with some, but he thought there were some of the profes-ion honourable enough not to do it. I asked him if he would make a trial of it himself, and give it such credit as he should find it to de- serve. He said that if I would trust it in his hands, he 6hould be pleased, and would do justice to me and the cause. I accordingly left some of the medicine, with directions how to use it, with him; but before I received 124 Narrative of the Life, 4*c any return from him he died ; and Dr. Rush also died sometime previous; by which means I yvas deprived of the influence of these two men, which I was confident would otherwise been exerted in my favour. During my interviews with Dr Barton, we had much conversation upon the subject of the medical skill, and he being quite sociable and pleasant, I expressed myself very freely upon the fashionable mode £}f practice, used by the physicians of the present day. He acknowledg- ed there w as no art or science so uncultivated as that of medicine. 1 stated to him pretty fully my opinion of the absurdity of bleeding t» cure disease ; and pointed out its inconsistency, in as much as the same method was made use of to cure a sick man as to kill a well beast. He laughed, and said it was strange logic enough. While in the city of Philadelphia, I examined into their mode of treating the yellow fever ; and found to my astonishment, that the treatment prescribed by Dr. Rush, was to bleed twice a day for ten days. It appear- ed to me very extraordinary to bleed twenty times to cure the most fatal disease ever known; and am confi- dent that the same manner of treatment would kill one half of those in health. This absurd practice being fol- lowed by the more ignorant class of the faculty, merely because it has been recommended in some particular cases by a great man, has, I have not the least doubt, destroyed more lives, than has ever been killed by pow- der and ball, in this country, in the same time. Those I met in the streets who had escaped the fatal effects of bleeding, mercury, and other poisons, carried death in their countenance ; and on conversing with them, they said they had never been well since they had the fever— that they took so much mercury and opium, they yvere afraid that they were in a decline. After remaining in Philadelphia about two weeks, I went in the stage to New York, where I obtained a pas- sage in a coaster, and arrived in Portsmouth on the 5th day of April. Immediately after my arrival at Ports- mouth, I gave public notice in the newspapers, of my having obtained a patent, and forbid all persons tres- passing upon it under the penalty of the law in such cas- es provided; and prepared and published a handbill, in Of Samuel Thomson. 125 which I gave a description of the nature of disease on the constitution of man ; and also the conditions of dispos- ing of the right of using my system of practice ; and tak- ing a number of the handbills with me, sat out for Eastport, yvhere I arrived about the first of May. On my arrival the handbills were circulated among the peo- ple, which caused considerable stir among them, parti- cularly with the doctors, who seemed surprised that I had obtained a patent. I again called on Mr. Carpenter for a settlement, but could obtain none, for his friends advised against it. telling him that he could still pursue the practice in spite of my patent, by calling the medi- cine by different names. I furnished my shop with a stock of medicine, and made an agreement with Mr. Mowe, the young man that I had employed since Car- penter was dismissed, to continue the practices for me, and take charge of my business at this place. My ex- penses for his wages, board, and shop rent, was about one dollar per flay ; and the amount of the practice, and sale of medicine, w as about one hundred dollars per month. While at Easport I met with a loss, which 1 will mention to show the hard fortune I had to contend with. Wishing to send one hundred dollars to my friend Judge Rice, in part payment for what I owed him, took two fifty dollar bills and went to the post office and gave them to the post ma-ter, with a letter directed to Alexander Rice, Esq. Portsmouth, requesting him to secure them in the letter in a proper manner and send it on. The let- ter was never received at Portsmouth, and no traces of it could be found. I had strong suspicions that the post master at Easport destroyed the letter and kept the mo- ney. I made arrangements to enquire further into his conduct; but shortly after he fell from a precipice and was killed, which put a stop to pursuing the subject any further; so it turned out a total loss to me. After settling my business in Easport, 1 returned to Portsmouth, where I stopped but a short time ; and tak- ing Mr. Sewell with me, went to Portland to introduce my practice in that place. On our arrival I advertised my patent in the newspapers, and had handbills printed and circulated among the people, giving the conditions on which I should practice and the manner of selling fa- 126 Narrative of the Life, <$•<:. mily rights, to those who wished the use of my practice and medicine ; and that I should attend to no cases ex- cept such as wished to purchase the rights, to give them information, and prove the utility of the medicine. 1 gave the information to Mr. Fickett, where we boarded, and a right of using the medicine for himself and fa nily ; and gave information to several of his workmen. Soon after making myself known, had a great number of des- perate cases put under my charge, all of which were cured or essentially relieved. My success in the cases I attended, most of which were such as had been given over by the doctors, caused great alarm among those professional gentlemen who are styled regular physici- ans; and I experienced the same opposition from them that 1 had met with in other places. I was followed by them, a;- their spies, and all kind of false and ridiculous reports were circulated among the people to frighten and prejudice them against me and my medicine. Soon after coming to this place, 1 yvas called on by Capt. John Alden to attend his wife, who was in a very alarming situation. She was in a state of pregnancy and had the dropsy, and yvas then, as she supposed, se- veral weeks over her time. She had been in the same situation once before and was delivered by force, and came very near losing her life ; the doctors gave it as their opinion that if she should ever be so again she would certainly die. I told him that I did not attend on any except those who wished to purchase the right, in which cases I would give them the information. I explained to him the principles upon yvhich my system was founded, and he purchased a right; after which I at- tended upon his wife, and found her very low ; she had not lain in bed for three weeks, being so put to it for breath when she lay down, was obliged to get im- mediately up again. I carried her through a course of the medicine every day for five days, during yvhich she was reduced in size about eight inches; her travail then tame on natural, and in about two hours she was deli- vered of a daughter, and they both did well. She was able to come down stairs in one week, and in two weeks was well enough to be about the house. This cure so alarmed the doctors, that they circulated a story at a Of Samuel Thomson. 1 J7 distance, where the facts yvere not known, that I was so ignorant of this woman's situation, that 1 killed her immediately; but the woman and her husband gave me all credit for the cure, and appeared very grateful to me for it. During the summer a son of Capt. Alden was vio- lently seized with.the spotted fever; he was taken very suddenly, when at the pump after water, fell and was brought into the house senseless—I attended him, and his jaws being set, administered a strong solution of No. 1, 2, and 6, by putting my finger between his cheek and teeth, and pouring in the medicine ; squeezing it round to the back of his teeth, and as soon as it reached the roots of his tongue his jaws came open ,1 then pour- ed down more of the medicine, and soon after swallow- ing it, his senses came to him, and he spoke; he appear- ed like a person awaking out of a sleep. As soon as the warm effect of the medicine was over, he relapsed, and life seemed to go down with the heat. 1 found that I could not restore him till I could rarify or lighten the air—I laid him across the lap of three persons, shielding; him from external air with a blanket, and put under him a pan with a hot stone in it about half immersed in hot water; whilst over this steam, again gave the medicine, which raised a perspiration ; and as the heat raised inside life gained in proportion; and when the perspiration had gained so as to be equal to a state of health, the natir- ral vigour of life and action was restored. 1 was called on to attend a woman who had a rela-t, and in a few visits restored her to health. One night about midnight was sent for to vi-it this woman in con- sequence of their being alarmed about her, the cause of which I could never learn ; for on my arrival she was as well as usual. 1 returned immediately home and was soon after taken in a violent manner with the snme dis- ease ; and was so bad as to be not able to do any thing for myself. Mr. Sewell attended upon me and did all he could, which had no effect. I was persuaded that I should not live three days unless I could get some re- lief. I had no pain and every thing 1 took passed through mem two minutes ; nothing seemed to warm me. 1 sent and Obtained some butternut bark, boiled it, 128 Narrative of the Life, fyc. and took some as strong as it could be made ; as soon as it began to operate, 1 folloyved it with brandy and loaf sugar burnt together, till it became a syrup, tins soon put me in pain—I then followed my general rule of treatment, and was soon relived. While at Portland was sent for to see a M*.-Mason, who was very sick,and it yvas expected that he would not live through the night. He had been attended by the doc- tors of the town for a sore on his nose, which was much inflamed ; they had given him so much salt petre to kill the heat, that they almost killed him. I had the hardest trial to save his life of any one that 1 had ever attended ; and was obliged to carry him through a course of medi- cine two or three times a week for three months, besides visiting him every day. The doctors said he would cer- tainly die, and if he did they meant to take me up for murder; and every means were resorted to, by discour- aging him and other yvays, to prevent his getting well; and yvhen he got so as to be about, and it was decided that he was going to recover under the operation of the medicine, one who pretended to be his friend gave him a bottle of pepper vinegar—I had made a free use of this article in his case, and he took some of what was given him by this friend, and he soon grew worse. The man who gave him the pepper vinegar often inquired how he did, and when told that he was worse, he would say that 1 should kill him. 1 could not ascertain the reason of this patient being affected in the manner he was, till Mr. Sewell took some of the same, and was immediately taken in the same manner as the sick man. He took medicine and got over it, and a short time after took some more, and was attacked in a similar manner. 1 then began to mistrust that there was something in the pepper vinegar, and on examining it was satisfied that it had been poisoned to destroy the patient in order to take advantage of me. I was obliged to carry them both through a course of the medicine, and they afterwards had no such turns. This patient after about three months close attention gained so as to enjoy a comfortable state of health. The undertaking was very tedious on my part ; 1 should be hardly willing to go through the same process again, for Of Samuel Thomso*. 129 any sun> whatever. The destructive effects of salt petre is the worst of any poison I ever undertook to clear the system of. The only method I have found successful, is to gi\e No. 1 and No 2 and throw all of it out of the sto- mach that can possibly be done ; and by jstemming k» ep the heat of the body above it—all other poisons can be eradi- cated by the common course of medicine. I yvas called onto attend the sick from all quarters ; but few of them were able to purchase the information, and many who had it have never paid any thing. The people general- ly were well satisfied with its utility ; my friends were very zealous in introducing it among the people ; but my opponent* yvere not slack in doing every thing in their power to prejudice the public against me and the medi- cine. The doctors seemed much troubled at the success of the practice, many having been cured who were giv- en over by them.—One women, who had been unable to walk for about nine months after having been confined,and the doctors could not help her, was attended by Mr. Sewell and in a short time restored to a comfortable state of health ; which gave them great offence ; and someof them published in the newspapers part of my trial for murder, in order to prejudice the public against me. I prepared an answer, but they had so much influence with the printers, that t was unable to get it inserted ; they had the meanness to circulate the report that I ac- knoyvledged the fact, because I did not answer their state- ment. Thus have the faculty, by such unprinci- pled conduct, managed to keep the people blind to the benefit they might receive from the use of the medicine, for the purpose of keeping up their own credit and making them tributary to themselves, without regard to the pub- lic good. This season I went to Easport and collected some wo ney to pay my friend Rice ; and thinking to make some profit, laid it out in fish, and sent it to Portland, consigned to my friend Fickett. When I went there myself sold the ifish to him. I afterwards made a settlement with him and took his note for one hundred and sixty three dol- lars, which he agreed to pay Judge Rice; as he was go- ing to Boston in a short time, and he would call on him at Portsmouth for that purpose. I then went home to 130 Narrative of the Life, fyc. see my family, and in about six months after returned to Portsmouth, and on calling on Judge Rice found to my surprise that Mr. Ficket had not paid the money, that he had failed and there was no chance for me to get any thing of him. So I was again disap- pointed in my expectations ofpaying this demand, and it appeared to me that all my hard earnings would be sacrificed to pay the expense of persecutions; but my friend Rice was very indulgent; and instead of com- plaining did all he could to encourage me and keep up my spirits. In the fall of the year 1813,1 started from Portland to go to Easport; and took Mr. Sewell with me, in order to try to get a settlement with Mr. Carpenter ; as he knew all the particulars of the agreement between us. After suffering many hardships, and being at great expense, in consequence of having to go part of the way by water and part by land, owing to the war that then existed, we arrived there on the twelfth day of November. On my arrival I made enquiry concerning my affair with Carpenter, and ascertained what proof 1 could obtain to support an action against him for the property he had wronged me out of; and after making an unsuccessful attempt to get my account books out of his hands, brought an action against him for the property left in his posession; this being the only yvay in which I could bring him to an account. After much time and expense I at last obtain- ed a judgment against him, got out an execution, which was levied on the land, he had unjustly got a deed of, and it was finally appraised to me ; and after having to get a writ of ejectment to get Mr. rl uttle out of posses- sion of it, who- claimed it under a pretended deed from Carpenter, to prevent it from being attached ; I at last got the farm which had cost in getting it more than it was worth; so I had to put up with the loss of all my earnings at Eastport for two years, with the loss of me- dicine sold by Carpenter, all of which amounted to not less than fifteen hundred dollars. I returned to Portland, where I remained to attend to my practice and the society that had been formed there, for considerable time ; and after settling and arranging my business as well as I could, left Mr Sewell in charge Of Samuel Tliomson. 131 of all my affairs there; and in January 181 1, returned to Portsmouth, whxh place 1 made the principal depot of my medicines ; having previous to my returning from the eastward, made arrangements with my agents to sup- ply them, and all others who had purchased the rights, with such medicine as they might want, by their applying to me for them. I had lain in a large stock, the value of yvhich I estimated to be about one thousand dollars. 1 went to Boston and Salem to procure some articles that could not be obtained elsewhere, in order to complete my stock ; when absent the great fire took place at Portsmouth, and all my stock of medicine was consumed. This was a very serious loss to me, not only in a pecuni- ary point of view, but it disarranged all my plans, an I put it out of my power to supply tho-e who I knew de pended upon me for all such articles as were must important in the practice. The -ei-on was so far advanced that it was impossible to obtain a new recruit of most of the articles; and I was obliged to collect a part of what had been sent to different places, in order to be able tc> supply in the best manner 1 could, such de- mands for medicine, as I should be called on for. In do- ing this 1 was pUt to great trouble and expense, and in order to make n.y-elf whole, was under the necessity of raising the price of the medicine fifty per cent; this caused much grumbling and complaint from the mem- bers of the societic- in different places, and was taken advautgae of by my enemies to injure me all they could. I sent in the estimate of my !■•«. to the Committee, who had the charge of the money contributed by the peo- ple in different parts, for the re'ir f of the sufferers by the fire, and afterwards culled on them, with an expectation of receiving my share; but they said my loss was of such a nature that they could not give me any thing, as I should be able to collect another supply the next season, and I never received a cent from them. In addition to my loss bv the fire, and other difficulties I had to encount- er ; and while I was at- Portsmouth using all my exertions to replenish mv stock of medicine, and assist those who were suffering from disease and needed the benefit of my practice, I received information from Portland that the 132 Narrative of the Life, $-c. doctors had obtained one of my books of direction, which was published expressly for the information of those who purchased the right of using my system of practice, and had some knowledge of it by verbal and other insfruction, and had printed an edition of it and advertised them for sale at 37 1-2 cents a copy. They stated in their adver- tisements that''this invaluable work which had heretofore been selling for twenty dollars, may now be had for 37 1-2 cents ;''' and sent them to all places where my societies had been formed, and nvy practice had been introduced, for the purpose of putting -me down and preventing the use of my medicine ; but after all this pitiful attempt to do me the great injury yvhich they so fondly anticipated, they gained nothing by it, except it waa the contempt of all the honest part of society, who were knowing to the circum- stances. To put a stop to these practices and prevent the public from being imposed upon, 1 caused a notice to be published in the Portsmouth and Portland papers, caution- ing the people against buying these books, or making use of the medicine, and trespassing on my patent, under the penalty of the law in such cases provided ; and also offered a reward of fifty dollars to any one who would give infor- mation of any doctor, who should trespass on my patent, and ten dollars for any one who should be found guilty of selling the books. This put a stop to the sale of the ' books, and prevented them from doing rne any injury by this trick; for those concerned in this disgraceful man- oeuvre, were compelled to acknowledge that my agents could sell more books at twenty dollars, than they could at 37 1-2 cents. I continued in Portsmouth, after the loss I met with from the fire,, informing the people in that place and vi- cinity, until I collected another assortment of medicine, during which time fifty members were added to the socie- ty there. I appointed Mr. John Locke as my agent in Portsmouth and the society accepted of him as such, to take the management of the practice and supply them with medicine ; I agreed to allow him twenty-five per cent, on the sale of rights, and in eighteen months he added about forty members to the society. He conduct- ed himself with the greatest propriety in performance of ail the duties assigned him, and in this, as well as in Of Samuel Thomson. 133 all other concerns which I had with him, has given me the highest satisfaction. I mention this tribute of praise to bis fidelity, the more readily, as he is one of the very few who I have put confidence in, that I have found honest enough to do justice to me and the people. It has generally been the case, with those I have appoint- ed as agents, that as soon as they have been sufficiently instructed to attend to the practice with success, and give satisfaction to the people, that they have made it a matter of speculation ; and have by all the means that they could devise attempted to get the lead of the practice into their own hands, and deprive me of the cre- dit and profits of my own discovery ; and when 1 haye found out their designs, and put a stop to their career by depriving them of their agency, they have uniform- ly turned against me and done every thing in their pow- er to injure me and destroy the credit of the medicine. This kind of conduct has been a very serious evil, and has caused me much trouble and expense, besides des- troying the confidence of the people of the beneficial ef- fects of the medicine and practice, and keeping back the information necessary for its being properly understood by them. This, however, has not been the. case with all that I have entrusted with the care of my business as agents, for some of them have been uniformly honest and faithful, both to me and to those to whom they have given the information. While Mr. Locke was acting as my agent at Ports- mouth, he gave offence, by his faithful and upright con- duct, to some members of the society, who wanted to reap all the advantages and profits without any labour or expense. They made complaint to me of his conduct, and wished him turned out; but on asking them for their charges against him, they said he speculated on the me- dicine, and sold it one third higher than I did. I told them that I had been obliged to raise the pr.ce in con- sequence of my loss by the fire, and that he was not to blame for it. They however, persisted in their com- plaints and after finding that they could not make me turn against him, they turned against me. After making further inqu.rks into the subject, I satisfied myself of their reasons for wishing Mr. Locke turned out of the '134 Narrative of the Life, 4-c. agency. A man by the name of Holman, who I had four years previous cured of a consumption, as has been be- fore related, and to whom I had given the information and authorised to form a society at Hopkinton, where he had practiced three years without making me any re- turns, had retured to Portsmouth and practised with Mr. Locke as an assistant. This man formed a plan to have Mr. Locke turned out in order to get his place himself, and had managed so as to gain over to his side a num- ber of the society, who joined with him in effecting this object. They made use of all kinds of intrigue to get the controul of the practice out of my hands, by offering to buy the right for the county, and many other ways; but I understood their designs and refused all their offers. At the next annual meeting of the society, Holman was chosen as their agent without my consent, and I re- fused to authorise him to give information ; for he had deceived me before by saying 0.1 his return to Ports- mouth, that he could not form a society at Hopkinton, yvhich I had found out to be false ; and many other things in his conduct had caused me to be much dissatisfied with all he did, that I declined having any thing further to do with him. He persisted in practicing and in eighteen months, by his treacherous conduct, run down the credit of the medicine and practice, and broke up the society, after it had, the eighteen months previ- ous, got under good-way by Mr. Locks' agency, and was in a very prosperous condition. 1 had good reason to believe, that Holman was employed by my enemies to break me up in this place and destroy the credit of the medicine ; for when I was absent I ascertained that he gave salt-petre and other -poisons, under the pretence that by giving it the night before it would prepare the stomach for my medicine to be taken in the morning. This was like preparing over night to build a fire in the morning, by filling the fire-place with snow and ice. After preparing the stomach in this way, the medicine would have no beneficial effect ; and he would then place the patient over a steam, which caused them to faint. In this way he proved to the members of the society that my mode of practice was bad, and thus Of Samuel Thomson. lo» used his influence to destroy the credit of my medi- cine in their minds, and make them believe that I had. deceived them. 1 lis practice turned out very unsuccess- ful, and he lost many of his patients. He had lost more in sK months, than I had lost in six years, which I imput- ed entirely to his bad conduct. After my return, finding now things were situated in regard to the practice : that all the credit I had gained bv seven years labour, had been destroyed in eighteen months, led me to make a particular enquiry into the came. On visiting his patients I found some of the pills made of salt-petre, and also some opium pills, which he had been in the habit of administering secretly to hi? pa- tients under the name of my medicine ; and after collect- ing an assortment of his poison, I called a meeting of the society, and proved to them that he had made use of these poisons under the pretence of giving my medicine; and also that he had confessed to have given tobacco when called on to administer my medicine : all of which satisfied the society so well of the baseness of the con- duct of their agent, that they immediately passed a vote dismissing him from his agency. A committee yvas ap- pointed to investigate the whole of his conduct, and pub- lish a statement of the same, in order to do away the false impression that had been made on the public mind, and convince them that the bad success of this man's practice, had been owing to his own wicked conduct; and not to any fault in the medicine. 1 was never able, however, to get this committee to meet and attend to the duty asigned them by the society, although thej confess. ed themselves satisfied of the truth of my charges against Holman, and of the injury 1 had sustained by his conduct; and after yvaiting six months and finding that thc\ were more willing that 1 should suffer, than that the'blame should fall where it justly belonged, I left them to their more fashionable practice, and withdrew all my medicine from the place. In the spring of the year of 1814, I wrote to Mr. Mowe, my agent at Eastport, to leave that place in con- sequence of the war becoming troublesome, and come to Portsmouth. He came up in May. 1 took him with me and went to Surry, where we continued through tb< 136 Narrative of the Life, fyc Summer, and he assisted me in carrying on my farm and collecting an assortment of medicine. In August we went to Onion River, where my father resided, to make a visit and collect some articles of medicine, that could not be obtained in Surry. After our return Mr. Mowe went to Portsmouth, and I remained at home till after the harvesting was over, then went to Portsmouth, to collect medicine, and attended to some practice. Some time in December, 1 returned home and found an ex- press had been there for me to go to Guildford, sent by Mr. Davis who I had attended the spring before at Portsmouth. I went with all speed,and found his wife sick with a consumption. I attended her a few days to give them information, and sold him the right of using the medicine ; and also sold some rights to others; I then re- turned to Portsmouth, and sent Mr. Mowe to Guildford to practice and give information to those who had purchas- ed the rights, where he remained till spring. During the time Mr. Mowe was at Guildford, he was very successful in his practice, and made some remark- able cures. Great opposition was made to his practice, by the doctors, and all the false representations made about it that they could invent, to prejudice the minds of the people against the medicine and stop its being in- troduced among them. After this another plan was got up to injure me ; societies were formed in the manner I had formed mine, and members were admitted for two dollars ; the only information given them was to furnish each member with one of the pamphlets, containing my directions, yvhich had been stolen from a woman and pub- lished at Portland, without my knowledge. In this man- ner my system of practice in the hands and under the superintendance of those who were endeavouring to des- troy me, became popular in Guildford and the towns ad- jacent ; and had become so important, that a general in- vitation was given throughout the neighbouring towns for the people to come and join them in the great im- provement of restoring the health of mankind. Thus did these professional gentlemen tamper with my rights and the credulity of the people, for the pitiful purpose of injuring me, by pretending to sell all my information for two dollars, for which I asked twenty ; and in theic Of Samuel Thomson. 137 hands called it honourable scientific knowledge. After these trespasses had become open and general, and the people had been invited to join in it, my agent at Guild- ford wrote me a letter giving information of the transac- . tion, and I went there to see to it ; on my arrival 1 con- versed with those who had purchased their rights of me or my agent; they informed roe of the facts as above related, and said that they had been solicited to join the society, that had been formed; and they wished my ad- vice, whether they should attend a general meeting which,yvas to be held in about a fortnight. I told them'that they had better attend—they then asked me if they should be asked for information what they should do about giving it—1 told them that I thought people joined so- cieties to get information and not to give it. 1 employ- ed an attorney to proceed against those who tresspassed and have them punished according to law in such cases provided, and returned te Portsmouth. In the month of February 1815, I had an application to go to Philadelphia and introduce my societies and sys- tem of practice in that city. Thinking it not proper to go alone, I made an agreement with Mr. John Locke to go with me; and after we got every thing prepared, he started on the 7th in the morning to go in the stage and I chose to go by water, and sailed the same day in a ves- sel for New York. .We had a long and tedious passage, suffering very much from the cold. We had a gale of wind which blew us off into the Gulf Stream, and we were two hundred miles south of our port; on getting into a warmer latitude the weather became warmer, when we were enabled to get clear of the ice with whiph the vessel yvas much burdened, and could set some sail; and we arrived at New York after a very rough passage of seventeen days. During the passage one of the crew had frozen his hands and feet very badly, and when we had got. where the weather became warmer he was in the most extreme pain. He said that it seemed as though the bones of his hands and feet were coming in pieces; his suffering was so great that the tears would run from his eyes, and the sweat down his cheeks with the pain. . 1 was re- quested by the captain and crew to do something to re M 2 138 Narrative of the Life, Re- lieve him. I agreed to do the best I could for him, in the cold and comfortless situation we were in. There was no place to keep a fire under decks, and the weather was so rough that we could seldom keep any in the ca- boose on deck. I was obliged to administer the medi- cine according to my judgment in the best manner I could. In the first place I procured handkerchiefs and cloths enough to wrap his hands and feet up in several thicknesses, then wet them well with cold water, and wrapped his hands and feet as well as I could, wetting them with cold water, and put him in his birth, covered well with blankets, and gave him the warmest me- dicine I had with me to take, and repeated it to keep the inward heat sufficient to cause a free circulation in the limbs; and if his hands and feet grew painful poured cold water on the cloths; and continued this course of treatment, of keeping the inward heat above the out- ward, by raising the one and letting down the other, till I got the fountain above the stream ; and in about two hours freed him from all pain,to the surprise and astonish- ment of all the hands on board. When I come to take off the cloths the blood had settled under the nails and under the skin, which came off without any blister being raised, and before we arrived at New-York he washable to attend to his watch. It was said by the captain and crew that this was the most remarkable cure they had ever known ; and that if he had been attended in the common form,he would have lost his toes if not his feet, besides suffering much pain and a long confinement. It will be necessary to remark that the greatness of this cure consisted in its simplicity; any person could have performed the same, who had come to years of discretion, by adopting the same plan, and many times be the means of saving the amputation of limbs. There is no mystery in it, the whole plan con- sists in keeping the determining power to the surface,from the fountain of the body,which is the stomach; from which all the limbs receive their support and warmth, and when you cannot raise the fountain sufficient to give na- ture its proper course, you must lower the stream, or outward heat, by keeping the heat down on the limbs, and raising the inward heat, when there can no mortifi- Of Samuel Thomson 139 cation ever return from the limbs to the bod\, any more than a log can float against the stream. In the case above stated, before I began to do any thing for the man, I duly considered his situation ; he la 1 been almost chilled to death by the extreme cold wea- ther, so that his limbs had very little warmth from the bodv. not enough to bring them to their feeling, until the warm weather raised a fever on the limbs faster than in the body .and in proportion as the heat in the extremities is raised above that in the body, by applying hot poultices or other similar applications, so much will the whole sys- tem be disordered, and the parts that have been injured will be extremely painful, and by a continued application of such means, the fever or outward heat will increase by the current being turned inward, till mortification takes place, when the limbs have to be taken off to save life ; and in most cases the body ha- become so much disorder- ed, that they die after all This may, I am confident, be avoided by understanding my plan of treatment and pur- suing it with zeal, particularly in all cases of burns or freezing. On my arrival at New York I found Mr. Locke, who had come in the stage, and had been yvaiting for me ten days. 1 he next morning we started in the stage for Philadelphia, where we arrived that e\ening, and went to a boarding house and put up for the night. In the morning we yvent in search of Elder Plurnmer, with whom I had engaged the fall before, to go to Philadel- phia; we found him in the course of the forenoon, and he expressed much joy at our arrival. He preached a lecture that evening and appointed a meeting at the same place the next evening for me ; at w hich I attended and gave a lecture ; there was a large collection of peo- ple attended this meettng, and I gave a full and explicit explanation of the principles upon which my system is founded. There were two medical students present, and while I was endeavouring to give a view of the for- mation of the animal creation out of the four elements; that heat was life and cold death; and that the blood was necessary to life, as being the nourishment of the flesh, and inasmuch as it was taken away so much was life and health diminished, one of them interrupted me and said, 140 Narrative of the Life, 6,-c. that cold was a promotion of life, and that bleeding was beneficial to preserve life also. I answered him by stating, that admitting his doctrine to be true, an animal that had the blood taken from it and was frozen, would be the liveliest creature in the world. This unexpected retort caused a laugh and the two-medical gentlemen left the room. I then yvent on and concluded the explanations I wished to make, which gave general satisfaction to the people present; and sixteen signed the articles of agree- ment that night, to obtain the knowledge of the medicine and practice, to whom I engaged to give information by lectures. We remained there about a week, in which time about twenty bought the right. When we had completed our business at Philadelphia, wre went on to Washington, where we remained several days, and had a view of the ruins of the public buildings, yvhich had been destroyed by the British, when they took possession of that city about six months previous to our being there. . While at the capitol I had an inter- view with General Varnum, and some conversation pass- ed between us concerning the pipsisway, which had been found useful in a case of cancer for which 1 attend- ed his wife when practicing at Pelham in the year 1807. He said that it having been found so useful in all cancer- ous cases, he thought it ought to be published in the newspapers or almanack, for the benefit of those who were afflicted with this dangerous disease, and expressed a wish that I would do it. I told him that I thought it Would be better for him to publish it than for me, and he consented; and the next year he published it in the al- manack, which was the cause of much speculation in this article, and of which I shall give some account in another part of this work. After staying in Washington a few days we yvent to Alexandria, where we remained about a week, in which time I collected some Cyprus bark, which is known fhare by the name of poplar, and what we call poplar, is by them called quakingasp, on account of the constant shak- ing of its leaves. While at this place I fell in company with Capt. Davis, of Portsmouth, and agreed to take past sage with him and return to that place. Arrangements1 were made for Mr. Locke to return by land; and I Of Samuel Thomson. Ill directed him to stop at Washington and get a copy of my patent, then to go on to Philadelphia and remain there as long as it should be necessary to give information to those who purchased the rights, or any that should wish to purchase them in that city, and after paying proper attention to them, to return to Portsmouth. I then went on board the vessel and we set sail; and after a long passage arrived safe at Portsmouth about the same time that Mr. Locke got there. During this summer I visited Eastport, Portland, Chalestown, South-Reading, aud other places yvhere so- cieties had been formed, or rights sold to individuals, to give information to the people ; and in all places where 1 went, found the book of directions, which had been clandestinely obtained and published by the doctors and others, to injure me by stopping the sale of rights, selling at 37 1-2 cents. 1 wms under the necessity of putting an advertisement in the papers, cautioning the people against this imposition, yvhich put a stop to their sale ; but great pains were taken by my enemies to circulate them among the people; and th - is the way that some of my articles of medicine come to be made use of through the country in colds, such as cayenne, ginger, &c In 1815 I pubb-hed another edition of my book of direc- tions, and secured the copy right ; but this was reprint- ed at Taunton, and I advertised it as before and stopped its progress. In the tall of the year 1815, I went to Cape-Cod to procure some marshrosemary, and collected a quanti- ty, carried it to Portsmouth and prepared it for use. 1 his ie the last time I have collected any of this article, and as it becomes scarce, think I shall not make any more use of it. It is too cold and binding, without using a large share of baberry bark and cayenne with it, to keep the saliva free. 1 have found other articles as substitutes, which answer a better purpose, such as hemlock bark, which I have of late made much use of and found very good, white lily roots, witch-hazle and raspberry leaves, and sumach berries ; the last article is very good alone, steeped and sweatened, and is as pleasant as wine; it is good for children in cases of canker, especially in long cases ofsicknes*. when other articles become disagreea- ble to them. 142 Narrative oj the Life, fyc. In the spring of the year 1816, I went again to Cape Cod, for medicine, and found that the spotted fever, or what was called the cold plague, prevailed there, and the people were much alarmed, as they could get no help from the doctors. I told them I had come after medi- cine where they were dying for want of the knowledge how to use it. They were desirous for me to try my prac- tice and satisfy them of its utility. A young man iu the next house to where I was, being attacked with the fever the day before, I went to see him, and the family express- ed a wish to have me try my medicine. I put a blanket round him and put him by the fire ; took a teaspoonful of composition and added more No. 2 and as much sugar,. put it in a tea-cup, and poured to it a wine glass of hot wa- ter, when cool enough to take, added a tea spoonful of the rheumatic drops ; he took it, and in fifteen minutes was in a free perspiration—he yvas then put in bed and a hot stone wrapped in wet cloths put to his feet to raise a steam. I then left him in the care of his friends, with some medicine to be given during the night; they kept the perspiration free all night, and in the morning heat had gained the victory, the canker was destroyed, and he was comfortable, and soon got well. I attended three other persons in one house, who had been sick a longer time, and had taken other medicine, so that it was more difficult to cure them. I steeped No. 3 and poured off half a tea cup full and sweetened it, and added half a tea spoonful of No. 2, when cool enough to take put in one tea spoonful of No. 1, and gave it to each of the patients, repeating it once in fifteen minutes, till they had taken it three times, whether they puked or not in that time—kept a hot stone wrapped in wet cloths at their feet, to keep up a steam; while they were under the opperation of the puking and sweating, gave them as much cider or water to drink as they required—When they had done vomiting, gave milk porridge freely. As soon as they had done sweating, and their strength had returned, got them up and steamed tjiem as long as they could bear it; then rubbed them over yvith spirits, water or vinegar, changed their clothes, and they went to bed, or sat up as their strength would permit. I will here remark for the information of the reader, that when the Of Samuel Thomson. 143 patient is so bad as not to be able to get up, they must be. steamed in bed as hot as they can bear it, then si-t them up on end, and rub as before mentioned, change their clothes an 1 bed clothes. This last direction is important to be attended to, for if their own clothes are changed without changing the bed clothes, they will absorb a pari of the filth that has been discharged through the pores and add to what remains of the disoi.hr. This precau- tion is a'l important in every case of disease and should be paid particular attention to. in order to guard against tak- ing back any part of what ha- been thrown off by the operation of the medicine. The nurse or tho-e who at- tend upon the sick, are also in danger from the same cause, and should be particularly careful to guard against taking the disorder by breathing in the foul vapour from the bedclothes, and standing over the patient when un- der the operation of the medicine, the principal effect of which is to throw off by perspiration and other evacua- tions, the putrefaction that diseas.- has engendered in the body. To guard against thi-, take some hot bitters and keep a piece of ginger root in the mouth, occasionally swallowing some of it. when most exposed; als:i take a tea spoonful of No. 2 and 3, steeped in hot water, when going to bed ; one ounce of preventative in thi- v.av, is better than a pound of cuie when sick. After relieving the-1 four case- I was sent for to at- tend a woman, who had been sick for a long time ; I de- clined attending any more unless they' would buy the right—this displeased her so much, because I was noi willing to practice and cure all of them for nothing, that she abused me for my declining to attend her. Two men bought the right, and they a.sked me how much I would take for the right of the whole town. 1 offered it to them for the price of twenty rights ; but they said that the sickness had so much abated that the alarm was nearly over, and declined my offer. This disease first appeared in Eastham the forepart of February, in which month 27 died, in March 14, and 5 in April, making in the whole 46 in three months in this small place. I left some medicine with those who had purchased the rights and returned to Boston. Within a week after my return from Cape Cod, I re 144 Narrative of the Life, 4*c ceived a letter from Eastham to come there as soon as possible; I took a stock of medicine and went on there as quick as I could ; and on my arrival found that the fever had again made its appearance among the people, with double fatality. I soon found enough ready to purchase the twenty rights, for which I had offered to sell the right of the whole town. I attended on many of those who had the disease, in company with the two men who had purchased the right of me when here before, and instruc- ted them how to carry the patients through a course of the medicine ; and they attended and gave information to others; when they could meet together lgave informa- tion by lectures ; those who got the information attended wherever they were wanted. I pursued my usual mode of treatment, by administering the medicine to promote a free perspiration, and when necessary steamed and gave injections, cleansed the stomach, and cleared off the can- ker ; the success in curing this alarming disease was very great. I staid about two weeks, during which time there were attended with my medicine, thirty four cases, of whom only one died, the rest got well. At the same time, of those who were attended by the regular doctors, eleven out of twelve died, making in the whole upwards of fifty deaths in a short time in this place, which was a- bout one twe!fih part of the inhabitants that were at home. The truth of the above statements is authenticated by the certificates of the Selectmen of the town and other res- pectable inhabitants, which will be inserted in another part of this work. During my stay this time, I attended the husband of the woman who had abused me when here before, at the house of his sister; she came there while 1 was attending upon her husband, and treated me and him in a most abusive manner, spying that she would die sooner than take any of my m. ucine, or have any thing to do with me. After she had vented her spite to her own satisfac- tion, she went home, Was taken sick on the way, and was one of the last who died with the fever at this time. The people generally treated me with kindness and res- pect, and took great interest in my cause ; and the suc- cess of my system of practice in relieving them from this alarming disease, gave universal satisfaction. Of Samuel TJiomson. 145 I formed those who purchased the rights, into a society; and they chose a committee, who I authorised as agents, to sell right- and medicine; but this caused a jealousy among the rest of the members, who said I gave privi- leges to some more than to others. I have formed four societies and given them certain .j->revilc»-os. by allowing them part of the profits on the sale of rights and medicine ; but as soon as there was any funds, it has always created uneasiness among the mem- bers. Some of the ignorant and selfish, would call for their dividends, as though it was bank stock, instead of feeling grateful for the advantages they injoy by having their diseases cured and their minds relieved from the alarming consequences of a disease, with a trifling ex- pense. I have since altered my plan, and now have but one society. Evtry one who purchases a right for him- self and family, becomes a member of the Friendly Medi- eal Bontanic Society, and is intitled to all the previleges of a free intercourse with each other, and to converse with anv one who has bought a right, for instruction and assistance in sickness, as each one is bound to give his assistance, by advice or otherwise, when called on by a member. In this way much more good can be done, and ^here will be much more goodwill towards each o- ther, than where there is any money depending. I had now been in practice, canstantly attending upon *\ those laboring under disease, yvhenever called on, for a- bout thirty years ; had suffered much both in body and mind, from the persecutions 1 had met with, and my unwearied exertions to relieve the sick; and to establish my Sj'stem of practice upon a permanent basis, that the people might become satisfied of its superiority over that which is practised by those styled regular physicians; puting it in their power to become their own physici- ans, by enabling every one to relieve themselves an 1 friends, from all disease incident to our country, by mak- ing use of those vegetable medicines, the produce of our own country, which are perfectly safe and easily obtain- ed; and which, if properly understood, are fully suffici- ent in all cases of disease, yvhere there can be any chance of cure, without any danger of the pernicious, and often fatal consequeuces attending the administering those 146 Narrative of the Life, <$,-c poisons that the fashionable doctors are in the habit of giving to their patients. After having discovered a system, and by much la- bour and constant perseverance reduced it to practice, in a manner that had given general satisfaction to all who had become acquainted with it, and having secured the same by patent, in order that 1 might reap some be- nefit from my discovery, to 9upport me in my old age, having by a long series of attendance on the sick, both as physician and nurse, become almost worn out, 1 came to the determination to appoint some suitable person, who would do justice to me and the cause, as a general agent, to take the lead in practice, and give the necessary information to those who should purchase the rights, which would enable me to retire from practice, and re- ceive a share of the profits as a reward for my long suf- ferings. After considerable enquiry I became acquaint- ed yvith Elias Smith, who was recommended as a man in whom I could confide, and who was every way qualified as a suitable person to engage in the undertaking. I found him in Boston, and in very poor circumstances ; having been for many years a public preacher, but in conse- quence of his often changing his religious principles and engaging in different projects in which he had been un- successful, he was now without a society or any visible means of supporting himself and family. He readily en- gaged with rne, and promised to do every thing in his power, to promote my interest and extend the usefulness of my system of practice. I sold him a family right in December, 1816, and was in his family during the winter, for the purpose of in- structing him in the practice, to qualify him to attend upon the sick and give information to other;. I put the utmost confidence in his honour, and spared no pains in communicating to him, without any reserve whatever, all the knoyvledge I had gained by my experience, both by practice and verbal instruction; under the expectation, that when he became sufficiently acquainted with the system and practice, 1 should be rewarded for my trou- ble, by his faithfully performing his duty towards rne, ac- cording to his promise. I shall make no remark upon my being disappointed in all my expectations in regard Of Samuel Thomson. T47 to Mr. Smith's conduct, and the treatment I received from him after he had gained a knowledge of the practice from me, to enable him to set up for himself; but shall proceed to give a short account of what took place dur- ing my connection with him. The first case 1 attended with him was in his own fa- mily. His son had the itch very badly, so that he yvas nearly one half of him one raw sore. They had tried the usual remedies without any benefit. 1 shewed him the use of No. 3. to wash yvith to stop the smart of the sores ; then took some rheumatic drops and added about one fourth part of spirits of turpentine and washed him with it; this is very painful when applied where the fkin is off; to prevent yvhich mix with it some of the wash made of No. 3 ; at the same time of applying the above, give some of the composition, especially when going to bed ; and occasionally give about fifteen ot the drops shaken toget'« r on loaf sugar. By pu suing this treatment one week this boy yvas entirely cured. The next case, which was the first we attended toge- ther out of his house, was a young woman who had the ague in her face. 1 shewed him the whole process of curing this complaint; which was done by puting a small quantity of No. 2 in a cloth, and placing it between her cheek and teeth; at the same time giving her some No. 2 and 3 to take, and in two hours she was cured. I was constantly with him in practice from February till Juiip ; during which time we attended many bad cases with great success. A Mrs. Grover came to his house to be attended, who had the drop-y. She had been giv- en over by her doctor as incurable, ami yvas so much swelled as to be blind, and her body and limbs in propor- tion. Mr. Smith undertook her case under my direction, and carried her through a course of the medicine every day for nine days, and then occassionlly once or twice a week till she was cured. She was thus attended under my inspection for three week-, and in four was entirely cured*; for yvhich she gave Mr. Smith about for- ty dollars. In this case I did a great part of the labour and he had the pay. About the third time of car- rying her through a course of the medicine, I yvas ab- sent ; her symptoms appeared unfavourable, and he got 148 Narrative of the Life, <$•? frightened; a nurse woman, to whom I had given infor- mation, and who had more experience than he had, came to his assistance,and by using injections relieved her, and prevented mortification. The circumstance of this woman proving that she was foward of him in informa- tion, seemed to fix in Mr. Smith's mind a dislike to her ever after, as his subsequent treatment of her will show, the particulars of which will be hereafter related. Another case Was of a man that came to his house who yvas in a declining way and had taken a great quantity of physic, before he came, which would not Operate. On taking my medicine, as soon as he began to be warm so as to cause motion in his bowels, the physic he had be- fore taken operated and run him down with a relax; then the dyssentary set in and he suffered much with pain and had discharges of blood. I gave Mr. Smith direc- tions to use injections, to clear his bowels of canker and prevent mortification ; but he n fleeted it until I had told him three days in succession. He then got alarmed and sent for me ; but before I arrived he had given an injection which had relived the patient. He remained and yvas attended about three weeks and went home in a comfortable state of health. This man paid Mr. Smith about thirty dollars. About the same time a man by the name of Jennings applied to Mr. Smith, who had lost the use of one of his arms'by the rheumatism. He had been attended by the doctor for nine months, and had been given over by him as incurable. His arm yvas perished and was in poor circumstances, having paid all he had to the doctor; he is anted relief, but said he could pay nothing for it unless he yvas cared, so that he could earn something by his la- bour. Mr. Smith asked me if I was willing to assist to cure him on these terms, to which I agreed. We carri- ed him through a course of the medicine and steaming twice or three times a week for four weeks, when a cure was effected. The last time he was carried through was on election day, and he expressed a wish to go on the common in the afternoon, to which I gave encourage- ment. The medicine was done about ten o'clock; he was then steamed and washed all over yvith pepper-sauce. He complained bitterly of the heat aud threw himself on Of Samuel Thomson 149 the bed; I took a tea spoonful of good cayenne, and put it in two spoonfuls of pepper-sauce and gave it him to take. This raised the inward heat so much above the outward, that in two minutes he was quite comfortable ; and in the afternoon he went on the Common. His arm was restored and he was well from that time ; he after wards as I have been informed, paid Mr. Smith forty dollars, for the cure. A Mrs. Burleigh came to his house about this time, who had the rheumatism very badly, so that ner joints were grown out of^place ; and I assisted in attending her. She had never taken much medicine, which made it the easier to cure her ; as we had nothing to do but remove the" disease, without having to clear the system of poi- sonous drugs, as is the case in most of those who apply for relief in complaints of long standing. She was carri- ed through the medicine several times and steamed; the- last time I attended her, and gave the medicine three times as usual, which raised a lively perspiration and a fresh colour, shewing an equal and natural circulation ; but did not sickea or cause her to vomit, as is the case most generally. I mention this to shew that the emetic qualities of the medicine will not operate where there is no disease. She was then steamed and washed, and went out of doors, being entirely cured of her complaint. Sometime the last of April or first of May, a woman that was a relation of the nurse, who assisted Mr. Smith, and of whom I have before spoken, hired a room of him and moved into his house, and the nur-e lived with her. She had more experience than he had ; I had put the utmost confidence in her, and she had in many instances proved her superiority in a knowledge of the practice over him. A singular circumstance took place, the par- ticulars of which I shall relate and leave the reader to make his own inferences.—Sometime in May, while I boarded with Mr. Smith, 1 lost my pocket-book, which contained upwards of thirty dollars in bank bills and notes to the amount of about five hundred dollars. I made strict search for it, and advertised in the papers, but have never gained any information of it or the contents to this day. It was in my coat pocket, and I could think of no way in which I had been exposed, or could los« it,, N 2- 150 Narrative of the Life, fyc. except in his house. I lost it between Friday night and Monday morning, during which time I attended a woman in his chamber, and several times had my coat off, which it appeared to me to be the only time that it could be taken, or that I could lose it. The only persons present in the room were Mr. Smith and his wife, and the nurse; I had no suspicions of any person at the time. About ten days after, being alone with Mr. Smith, he asked me if I ever mistrusted the nurse being dishonest. I told him no, for if I had I should not have introduced her as a nurse. He then said that there had been a number of thefts committed since she had been in the house, both from him and other people, and named the articles and circumstances. He further said that the girl who lived with him had said that she thought the nurse was as hkely to take my pocket-book as to take the things she had undoubtedly stolen. The circumstances which he related and the interest he seemed to take in my loss, convinced me beyond a doubt that this woman had tak- en my property. During this conversation with him, he said, that if she did not move out of the house he would. The consequence was thai the family moved out of his house, and I dismissed the nurse from having any more to do with my practice. Since Mr. Smith has taken to himself the lead in my system of practice, he has ack- nowledged that he has become convinced beyond a doubt, that this woman was not guilty of taking the things that she had been accused of; without assigning any reason, as I have been able to learn, for his having altered his opinion. During the time the above circumstance happened, his son Ira came home, after being absent about four years; but was not treated with that affection a child expects to receive in a father's house, he was sent off to seek lodgings where he could. About twelve o'clock he re- turned, not being able to obtain lodgings, and called up a young man who boarded with Mr. Smith, made a bitter complaint, on account of the treatment he received from his father, which he attributed to be owing to the influ- ence of his mother-in-law ; he took a phial and drank from it, and soon after fell on the floor. The young man being alarmed, awaked his father, and iuformed him Of Samuel Tlwmson. 151 of the circumstance ; before he got to his son he was senseless, and stiff in every joint. I was in bed in the house, and Mr. Smith came immediately to me, and re- quested my assistance, said that he expected Ira had kill- ed himself. He shewed me the phial and asked what had been in it—I told him it had contained laudanum. I got up as soon as possible and on going down, met Mr. Smith and the young man bringing Ira up stairs. I directed them to lay him on the hearth, and took a bottle from my pocket, which contained a strong preparation of No. 1. 2 and 6—took his head between my knees, his jaw s being set, and put my finger between his cheek and teeth, and poured in some of the medicine from the bot- tle ; as soon as it reached the glands of his throat, his jaws became loosened, and he ^wallowed some of it— in rive minutes he vomited—in ten he spoke—in one hour he was clear of the effects of the opium, and the next day was well. After this the affection of the fa- ther seemeti in some measure to return ; he clothed him, took him to Taunton and introduced him into prac- tice as an assistant. He did very well till his mother in-law arrived there, when a difficulty took place be- tween them and he went off. His father advertised him forbidding all persons from trusting him on his account. He was absent four years.whenhe returned again to his father's house, and was received in the same cold and unfeeling manner as before, was not allowed to stay in the house, but yvas obliged to seek an assylum among strangers. He staid in lown several days, became de- jected, in consequence, as he said, of the treatment he had met with at his father's house, yvent over to Charles- town, took a quantity of laudanum,and was found near the monument senseless: was carried to the alms-house, where he died, and was buried from there. I continued with Mr. Smith, a* has been before men- tioned, giving him instruction, till the first of June, when I appointed him agent, with authority to sell family rights and medicine. An agreement was drawn up and signed by both parties, in which it was stipulated, that 1 wa- to furnish him with medicine, and allow him 25 per cent, for selling; and he was to have 50 per cent. for all the rights be sold; which was ten dollars for 152 Narrative of the Life, $-c. each right, for giving the necessary information to those who purchased, and collecting the pay. His principal dependance at this time yvas upon me and the practice, for his support. He paid me one half of what he receiv- ed for family rights as he sold them. The first of July I contemplated going home to get my hay; but M rs. Smith expecting to be confined soon, yvas very urgent that I should stay till after she was sick, yvhich detained me three weeks. I staid accordingly and attended her through her sickness, for which they gave me great cre- dit and praise at the time. I then went home" to attend to my farm and get my hay ; after which I returned to Boston, and in the fall went to Cape-Cod, to attend to some bussiness there, and on my return to Boston, I found Mr. Smith's youngest child sick with the quinsy, or rattles; he had done all he could and given it over to die. The women had taken charge of the child, after he had given it up, and had given it some physick. When 1 saw the child I gave some encouragement of a eure, and they were very desirous for me to do some- thing for it. I told them they had done very wrong in giving physick, for it was strictly against my orders to ever give any physick, in cases where there was canker. They observed that there was no appearance of canker. I toW them it would never appear where they gave physick, for it would remain inside, tiil mortification de- cided the contest. I began yvith the child by giving No. 2, yvhich caused violent struggles and aroused it from the stupid posture in yvhich it had lain, until the moisture appeared in the mouth ; then gave some No. 3, steeped, and No. 1 and 2, to start the canker, and cause it to vomit. This soon gave relief. The women who were present accused me of the greatest cruelty, 0because I brought the child out of its stupid state, and restored its sense of feel- ing, by which means the life of the child was saved. The next morning its mouth was as white as paper with canker; they were then all satisfied that I knew the child's situation best, and that I had saved its life. I con- sidered the child so much relieved, that the father and mother would be able to restore it to perfect health, left it in their care and yvent out of town. I returned the Of Samuel Thomson. 153 next day about noon, and found that they had again given it up to die ; its throat was so filled with canker that it had not swallowed any thing for four hours. I was in sus- pense whether to do any thing for the child or not; but told the father and mother I thought if it was mine I would not give it up yet ; they wished me to try. I took some small quills from a wing, and stripped them, except about three quarters of an inch at the point, tied severally of them together, which made a swab, dipped it in canker tea, and began by washing the mouth ; then rinsing it with cold water—then washed w:;h the tea again, putting the swab down lower in the throat whic|& caused it to ga«-, and while the throat was oped, put it down below the swallow, and took off scale- of canker, then rinse 1 again with cold water. Soon as it could swallow, gave some tea of No. 2, a tea spoonful at a time, and it soon began to -;ru"-gle for breath, and ap- peared to be in great distress, similar to a droyvned person coming to life. In its struggling for breath discharged considerable phlegm from its nose and mouth ; I then gave some more of the emetic with canker tea, which operated favourably ; in two hours it was able to nurse and it soon got well, to the great joy of the father and mother, who said that the life of the child was saved by my perseverance. Soon after this child got well, which was in the fall of the year 1817, Mr. Smith moved to Taunton. Previous to his removal a man from that place by the name of Eddy applied to him to be cured of a bad humour, caused by taking mercury. I assisted in attending upon him part of the time. Mr. Smith began with him, and on the turn of the disorder, the man and he got frightened and sent forme. He had been kept as hot as he could bear, with the medicine, for six hours, which increased the heat of the body sufficient to overpower the.cold, the h» at turned inward and drove the cold on the out-ide ; this produces. such a sudden change in the whole system, that a person unacquainted with the practice would suppo-e they were dying ; but there is no danger to be apprehended, if pro per measures are taken and persevered in by keeping Up the inward heat. In such cases steaming is almost indis- pensable ; for which reason I have been obliged to stt'-i^ i->4 Narrative of the L?7V, £c. the patient in most cases where the complaint has been of long standing,especially when much mercury has been taken, as nothing will make it active but heat. This man soon got well and returned home. I furnished Mr. Smith with a stock of medicine, and in the winter paid him a visit, found him in full practice and Mr. Eddy assisting him. I carried with me a quantity of medicine, renewed his stock, and stored the remainder with him. He had sold several rights, and was very suc- cessful in his practice, which caused great alarm among the doctors; they circulated all kinds of faise and ridicu- lous reports about his practice, to break him up ; but not succeeding, they raised a mob and twice b oke pp^n Mr. Smith's house, in his absence, and frightened his femily. In the spring of this year Mr. Smith moved to Scituate, to preach there and attend to practice; and the medicine left with him, I consigned to Mr. Eddy by his recommen- dation. The amount of the medicine was about one hun- dred dollars, and I sent him' a note for twenty dollars, which he collected, and. afterwards went off, and I lost the whole amount. During this season I went to Ply- mouth to visit some there who had bought family rights, and returned by the way of Scituate in order to visit Mr. Smith, look over his books, and have some settlement with him. I had let him have medicine as he wanted it, trusting him to give me credit for what he sold or used. I think he had given me credit, so that the balance due me at this time, for what he had, was four hundred dol- lars. He was unable to pay me any thing and I returned to Boston. • Mr. Smith afterwards removed his family to Boston, and in the fall of the year 1818, he said that he was not able to pay me any money; but he would let me have such things as he could spare. I was disposed to be as favourable towards him as I could and took what he chose to offer at his own price.—He Jet me have two old watch- es at one hundred dollars and an old mare at eighty, which was for medicine at cash prices. I gave him all the chance of selling rights and medicine, in hopes that he wouldbe able to do better by me. 1 often had re- quested him to deliver lectures on my system of practice, as this had been a favourite object with me in appointing Of Samuel Thomson. 155 him agent; but never could prevail with him to do any thing in that yvay. Another important arrangement I had made with him was, that he was to assist me in prepar- ing for the press, a work to contain a narrative ol my life, and a complete description of my whole system. I had written it in the best manner I could, and depended on him to copy it off and prepare it in a correct manner to be printed; but he,put me off from time to time and was never ready to attend to it. All this time 1 never had any suspicion of his having a design to wrong me, by usurping the whole lead of the bussiness, and turning every thing to his own advantage. I continued to keep medicine at his house, which he had free access to and took it when he pleased, giving me credit for it according to his honesty. There wa.-: two or thr.'p thousand dollars worth at a time, in the house. He charged me three dollars per week for board, tor all the time I was at his house, after he returned from the country; and he had given me credit for only eighty dollars for medicine the year past. On a settlement with him at this time, (1819) he owed me about four hundred dollars; 1 asked him for a due bill fv the balance, but he refused to give one—and said that Mr Eddy had received two hundred dollars worth of the medicine, for which he had received nothing, and he ought not to pay for it I agreed to lose one half of it, and allowed one hundred dollars the same as if I had received cash of him. 1 took a memorandum from his book of what was due me, which was all I had for secu- rity. In the fall of the year 1820, 1 had another settle- ment with Mr. Smith and he owed me about four hun- dred dollars, having received no money of him the year past He told me that all the property he had was a horse am! chaise, and that if '. did not have it somebody e!-e would. I took the hor«e and chaise at three hun- dred dollars, and the hundred dollars I agreed to allow on Mr. Eddy's account, made us, according to his ac- counts, about square, as to the medicine he had given rne credit for. He made out a statement of fifty^even fiimi- ly rights that he had sold at twenty dollars each, twenty- three of which he had never paid me any thing for; his »>!ea for not paying me for them was, that he had no* J-56 Narrative of the Life, $c. received his pay of those who had bought them. His agreement with me was, that he should account to me for ten dollars, for each right sold, and he was to have ten dollars each for collecting the money and giving the neccessary information to the purchasers. In the winter of 1819, I yvent to Philadelphia, and previous to my going made arrangments with Mr. Smith to publish a new edition of my book of directions; we revised the former edition and" made such additions as we thought would be neccessary to give a complete and full description of my system, and the manner of prepar- ing and using the medicine'; and 1 directed him to se- cure the copy-right according to law. I left the whole care with him, to arrange the matter, and have it print- ed. On my return to Boston in March, he had got it done ; but in a manner very unsatisfactory to me, for he had left out twelve pages of the most useful part of the remarks and directions, and it was otherwise very incor- rectly and badly printed. I asked him the reason of this, and he said a part of the copy had got mislaid, and the printer had not done his work well. I had no idea at the time, that he had any design in having this pamphlet* printed in the manner it was ; but his subsequent conduct would justify the belief, that he had previous to this for- med a plan to usurp the whole of my system of practice and turn every thing.to his own adyantage ; for he has since attempted to satisfy the public that my system yvas no system ; and has brought forward this very book, yvhich was printed under his own inspection and arranged by him,as a part of his proof that I was incapable of man- aging my own discoveries, and of communicating the ne- cessary information in an inteligible manner to make my system of practice useful to those who purchase the rights. It is a well known fact, that some of the most es- sential part of the directions, was to be verbal ; and I had allowed him ten dollars each, to give the proper in- structions to all those Lo whom he sold the rights. Another circumstance that I "have recenty found out, goes to show a dishonesty in design, to say the least of it. He deposited the title page of the above mentioned pamphlet and obtained a certificate from the clerk, in the name of Elias Smith as proprietor, and caused it to be Of Samuel Tliomson. 157 printed in the name of Samuel Thomson as author and proprietor. What his intentions were in thus publishing a fal-e certificate, I shall not attempt to explain; but leave the reader to judge for himself. If I had been taken away, he possibly might have came forward aud claimed under it a right to all my discoveries, and even- tually to substitute himself in my place as sole proprietor. From that time he neglected the sale of rights, and turn- ed his attention mostly to practice and preparing his own medicine. During the summer of 1820 he employed Mr. Darling to assist him in practice and prepare medi- cine, and while with him he prepared 38 bottles of the rheumatic drops, which by. agreement he yvas to have of me ; he also directed him to take the meterials from my stock, which was in his house, and prepare 25 lbs. of composition, and this was kept a secret from me. The reason he gave Mr. Darling for not having medicine of me according to his agreement, yvas that he owed me so much now that he was afraid he should never be able to pay me. I thought his taking the preparing and selling my medicine to himself, was a very singular way to pay an old debt In May 1820, Mr. Smith* collected together those in Boston who had bought rights of me or my agents, and formed them into a society, under a new name ; he wrote a constitution, which they signed ; and the members paid one dollar entrance and were to pay 12 1-2 cents per month assessment, for which he promi-ed them important instructions and cheap medicine. He was appointed President and Treasurer, and after he had obtained their money, the meetings were discontinued and the society was broken up in the course of nine months. In this he appears to have taken the lead of all those who had pur- chased the right of me, and make them tributary to himself. In November I returned from the country and found that he had advertised, without my knowledge or con- sent, in the Herald, a periodical work published by him at that time, ;t proposals for publishing by subscription, a book to contain the whole of the system and practice discovered by Samuel Thomson, and secured to him by patent—The price to subscribers to be five dollars—By O 158 Narrative of the Life, <$•<:. Elias Smith." This* mostly stopped the sale of rights, for no one would purchase a right of me or my agents at 20 dollars, when they had the premise of them at five. I went to him to know what he meant by his conduct, in issuing these proposals; he plead innocence and said he had no improper design in doing it. I was now under the necessity of doing something, in order to counteract what had been done by Mr. Smith,. in publishing the above proposals; and came to the de- termination to issue new* proposals for publishing a nar- rative of my life as far as related to my practice, with a complete description of my system of practice in curing disease, and the manner of preparing and using the me- dicine secured to me by patent; the price to subscribers to be ten dollars, including the right to each of using the same for himself and family. Mr. Smith undertook to write the proposals and get them printed ; after they were struck off, I found he had said in them, by Samuel Thomson and Elias Smith ; all subscribers to be returned to him. I asked him what he meant by putting his name yvith mine—he said in order to get more su! -cribers. I said no more about it at that time, and let them be distributed. When I settled with him the last time, I asked him what he would charge me to prepare my manuscript for the press—he said he thought we were to write it together—I asked him what made him think so—He said because his name was on the proposals with mine—1 ad- mitted this; but told him the reasons he had assigned for putting his name to it without my consent or know- ledge. He then intimated that he thought he was to be a-partner with me—I asked him what 1 ever had of him to entitle him to an equal right to all my discoveries. To this he made no reply ; but said he would write it, and yve would agree upon the price afterwards.—I told him no—I must know his price first. He said he could not tell within fifty dollars. 1 then told him we would say no more about it. This conversation, together with his conduct in regard to the proposals, convinced me be- yond all doubt, that his design was to destroy me and take the whole business to himself. I felt unwilling to trust him any longer, and took all my books and manu- Of Samuel Tfiomson. 159 scripts from his house. His subsequent conduct towards me has fully justified all my suspicions, and left no room for a doubt, that his intentions were to take every ad- vantage of me in his power, and usurp my whble system of practice. My system of practice and the credit of my medicine, was never in a more prosperous condition, than when I began w ith Mr. Smith, to instruct him in a knowledge of all my discoveries and experience in curing disease ; and appointed him agent. The people wherever it became known, were every day becoming convinced of its utility, and the medicine was in great demand—family rights sold readily, and every thing seemed to promise complete success in diffusing a general knowledge of the practice among all classes of the people ; but under his manage- ment, the whole of my plans have been counteracted, and my anticipations in a great measure have been frus- trated. By his conduct towards me, in his attempt to take the lead of the practice out of my hands, and des- troy my credit with the public, has not only been a seri- ous loss to me in a pecuniary point of view, but the peo- ple at large are deprived of the blessings that might be derived by a correct knowiege of my discoveries; and have it in their power to relieve themselves from sick- ness and pain with a trifling expense, and generations yet unborn be benefitted thereby. I tried to get a settlement with Mr. Smith, for the me- dicine he had prepared and sold and aho for the rights he had not accounted to me for, with the affairs that re- mained unadjusted between us: but could not get him to do any thing about it—and finding there was no chance of ob- taining an honorable settlement with him, about the first of February 18J1, I took all my medicine from his house and discontinued all connection or concern yvith him. I yvas then, after waiting ab'out four years for him to assist me in writing, which was one of my greatest objects in appointing him agentf obliged to publish a pamphlet, in which I gave some of the principles upon which my sys- tem was founded, yvith explanations and directions for my practice, and also to notify the public that I had rppoint- ed other agents, and caution all persons against trespass- ing on my patent. 160 Narrative of the Life, fyc. He continued to practice and prepare medicine, bid- ding me defiance. 1 made several attempts to get an honourable settlement with him, without success. I em- ployed three persons to go to him and offer to settle all our difficulty by leaving it to a reference ; but he re- fused to do any thing ; continued to tresspass, and made use of every means to destroy my character by abusive and false reports concerning my conduct, both in regard to my practice and private character. Finding that I could get no redress from him. I put an advertise- ment in the papers, giving notice that I had deprived him of all authority as my agent ; and cautioning the public against receiving any medicine or information from him un- der any authority of mine. He redoubled his diligence in trespassing, and prepared the medicine and advertised it for sale under different names from what I had called ft-—I found there was no other way for me to do, but to appeal to the laws of my country for justice, and brought an action against him for a trespass on my patent, to be tried at the Circuit Court, at the October term 1821. The action was continued to May term, when it was called up and the judge decided that the specifications in the patent were improperly made out, not being suffi- ciently explicit to found my action upon. In conse- quence of which I had to become non-suited, and stop all further proceedings against him, till 1 can make out neyv specifications and obtain a new patent from the govern- ment. Mr. Smith has lately publishe d a book, in which he has given my system of practice, with directions for pre- paring and using the vegetable medicine secured to me by patent, and my plan of treatment in curing disease as far as he knew it. In the whole of this work there is not one principle laid down or one idea suggested, except what is taken from other authors, but what he has ob- tained from my written or verbal instructions; and still he has the efl'rontary to publish it to the world as his own discovery, without giving me any credit whatever, ex- cept he has condescended to say, that " Samuel Thomson has made some imperfect discoveries of disease and me- dicine, but has not reduced any thing to a regular sys- tem " This assertion will appear so perfectly ridiculous Of Samuel Thomson. 161 to all those who have had any knowledge of my practice, that I shall forbear making any comment upon it. It is true that he has made alterations in the names of some of the preparations of medicine ; but the articles used and the manner of using them is the same as mine. It is also a well known fact, that he had no knowledge of medicine, or of curing di-ease, until I instructed him; and if what he says be true, the effect has been very re- markable, in as much as his magnetical attraction has drawn all the skill from me to himself, by which he has taken upon himself the title of Physician, and left me nothing but the appellation of Mr. Thomson, the imper- fect projector. I have been more particular .in describing Mr. Smith's conduct, because it has been an import- ant cn-i- in the grand plan for which I have spent a great part of my life, and suffered much, to bring about; that of establishing a s\ stem of medical practice, where- by the people of this highly favoured country may have a knowledge of the means by which they can at all times relieve themselves from the diseases incident to our country, by a perfectly safe and simple treatment, and thereby relieve themselves from a heavy expense, as well as the often dangerous consequences arising from the employing those who make use of poisonous drugs and other means, by which they cause more disease than they cure ; and in which I consider the public as well as myself have a deep interest. I have endeavour- ed to make a correct and faithful statement of his con- duct and the treatment I have received from him ; every particular of which can be substantiated by indisputable testimony if neces-ary. lnow appeal to the public, and more particularly to all who have been benefitted by my discoveries, for their aid and countenance, in supporting my just rights against all encroachments, and securing to me my claims to whatever of merit or distinction I am honorably and justly entitled. While I assure them that I am not to be discouraged or diverted from my grand object by opposition, or the dishonesty of those who deal deceitfully with me; but shall persevere in all honora- ble and fair measures to accomplish what my life has principally been spent in fulfilling. 162 Narrative of the Life, $•(. I shall now bring this narrative, of those events and circumstances, that have taken place in my life, in which the public are interested, to a close ; having stated eve- ry particular that I thought worthy of being recorded, in as concise and plain a manner as I was capable ; and am not without a hope that my endeavours to promote the public good, will be duly appreciated. Some certi- ficates and statements of cases that have been attended under my system of practice, from those who have been my agents, or who have purchased family rights and have had long experience in the effects produced by a use of my medicine, are subjoined. They furnish much useful information on the subject, and will convey a more correct view of the success which has attended the administering my medicine, and following the mode of treatment recommended by my system of practice, than could be given in any other manner. Reference has been made to some of them in the course of the forego- ing narrative, and their publication in the work seemed necessary, to convey a correct knowledge of many state- ments therein given, to show the safety ond success with which various diseases have been cured by others, who have had no other knowledge of medicine than the in- struction received from me ; and will, I trust, be suffici- ent to satisfy every reasonable person how easy it would be for every one to become possessed with the means of curing themselves of disease, without being under the necessity of calling the aid of a physician. Of &nit te> Thoriso:i. 16f CERTIFICATES a:,D STATEMENTS, Concerning the treatment ano cure of disease, under THE SYSTEM OF PRACTICE DISCOVERED IiV Dr. SaMII.I Thomson. The following documents have been voluntarily com- municated to me by persons of respectable standing in society, as evidence of their zeal in promoting a cause in which they take a deep interest; and on whom the most implicit reliance may be placed, for vera-ity and a tho- rough knowledge of the subject upon which they treat. They have been selected from a ma-s of evidence that might be produced in support of the utility of the system ; in fact, certificates of the cure of individual cases might be obtained sufficient to fill a large volume, if thought necessary ; but the following being accounts of the vari- ous kinds of disease incident to our country, most of which were considered desperate, that have been cured in different parts of the country and at different times, and under a variety of circumstances, will give a tolera- ble fair view of the success with yvhich the practice has been attended. ■ 1 remarkable cure of Dyrentary, in Jericho Vermont, in October, 1807. In September of the year 1807, this disease prevailed, and was very mortal, so that but two out of twenty-two liv- ed that were under the care of the regular physicians. The disease seemed to threaten general destruction ; so that there were not enough in health to attend the sick. The inhabitants of the town held a consultation, as to the best mode of proceedure, and agreed to send for Dr. Samuel Thomson, of Surrey, N. H. 130 miles distance, which was accordingly done. In five days he arrived, and I was appointed to wait on him, and attended through the whole. In three days thirty were committed to bis care, and in eight days, by the use of his medicine, the town was 164 Narrative of the Life, <$-c. cleared of the disease, with the loss of two only, who were past cure before he saw them. JOHN PORTER. We the Subscribers, citizens of the state of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, certify—That we have for four years been personally acquainted yvith Dr. Thomson, his medicine, and mode of practice, and do say, that we hate experienced the most safe and speedy relief from complaints common to the inhabitants of this climate ;—such as Hemiplegy, Consumptions, Rheuma- tism, Cholic, Fevers, Stranguary, &c. And that we are well satisfied with the benefit we and our acquaintance have received by being relieved from the above disorders. ALEXANDER RICE, STEPHEN NEA.L, JOHN RODGERS, RICHARD RICE, BENNING HALL, HUNKIN LOUD, JOSHUA JONES, THOxMAS CLAPHAM. This certifies—That I have from my infancy been af- flicted with the Salt Rheum, and for thirty years have had it very bad, which from year to year has been grow- ing worse. But by the use of Dr. Thomson's medicines I have been entirely relieved, and I believe radically cured. ELIZABETH MARSHALL. Portsmouth, May, 1813. Extract of a certificate from Eastham, county of Barnsta- ble, Mass. containing an account of Dr. Thomson's. Medicine. In February 1816, the spotted fever first appeared in' the town ; eight persons, heads of families, within one mile of each other, died in about thirty six hours. In three houses, within one fourth of a mile, ten persons di- ed. In one house was a mother and four children. Six Physicians in this county attended, but to little or no purpose. Upwards of forty had died by the first of May and but few lived who had the fever. In -this month, Dr. Thomson was called on for assistance. He sold the' right of using his medicine to several individuals of the Of Samuel Thomson. 165 town, and gave them liberty to administer the same to the sick. In the course of the month, the men who us- ed the Medicine, relieved upwards of thirty who were seized with this violent disease, with the loss of but one. At the same time and place those who were attended by the regular Physicians, eleven out of twelve died. The above is authenticated by the names of the fol- lowing persons : PHILANDER SHAW, Minhter of Eastham. OBED KXOWLES. one of the Selectmen. SAMUEL FREEMAN, Do. HARDING KXOWLES, Justice of the Peace. Certificate of the Fust .Master of Eastham. I do hereby certify that the above statement of mor- tality in this town, and the success of Dr. Thomson's Medicine, was taken from a journal kept in my house, and is correct. JOSEPH MAYO, Jl^entf-r the Society, and Post Master. This certifies, that at the early age of sixteen I had a severe attack of the Rheumatism, which so confined me to my bed, that I could not bear to be touched or moved, but in the most easy and gentle manner, being in exquisite pain at times and extremely sore in every part of my frame. I continued in this situation about 4 months, and though I had the best medical aid the coun- try afforded at that time, I received little or no benefit, till the opening of the season with its warming and re- freshing influences ameliorated my distressing malady, and it gradually wore away. 1 continued to experience every year, similar attacks, though less severe, of shorter or longer continuance, till in the year 1802 or 3, it returned again with unusual and alarming violence. The bect medical aid was employed, a depictive train of remedies prescribed, which I at once commenced. I was bled, and the bleeding repeated for several days together; blisters were applied; strong drastic purges often administered ; and my regimen very low and spare. Thus one intention of the physicians, to wit, depletion, yvas accomplished, for I was greatly re- 166 Narrative of the Life, 4*c. duced in less than 3 weeks, and my strength and spirits in the same degree And though my pains were re- moved in a great measure, yet my weakness and debility, which were excessive, seemed to be proportioned to my freedom therefrom.—So that I was very far from a state of health.—I was closely confined 5 or 6 months, and it yvas about two years, before I could attend to my usual avocations. But all that had been hitherto .done by no means removed the cause of my complaint, for I continu- ed to be assailed in the same manner each successive year, and confined for weeks together. Till in the year 1808, I became acquainted with Dr. Samuel Thomson, and by a knowledge of his medicine, its use, and the ap- plication thereof, I have always been relieved when as- sailed, in twelve or twenty-four hours to the extent; and have suffered no other confinement from my old ma- lady, or any other, to the present time. My family like- wise have experienced the most beneficial effects from the same medicine, in all the complaints common to this part of the country. I find it to answer all the purposes that medicine can answer, and were it generally used, and its real value known, chronic complaints which I and so many others have labored under, so tedious and dis- tressing would be banished from the earth. Many in the vicinity where I reside, whose cases were very difficult and complicated, to my own personal knowlegde, have been restored to perfect health by this medicine. More than twelve persons of a consumption I could particularly name; one of a mortification, one of a dropsy, and one of numb palsy, and others of divers dis- eases. The cures are truly extraordinary, and what my ears never heard nor my eyes never witnessed to be done by any other medicine. As health is the greatest earthly blessing, from the highest goodwill to mankind, and for the cause of suffering humanity, I wish its univer- sal prevalence. The mode of treatment is according to the case. If a slight head ache a pinch of vegetable snuff at once re- moves the pain. If severe, in addition to the snuff we bathe the head with the rheumatic drops. If it is ob- stinate, and the above applications insufficient; in addi- tion to these, we administer a portion of the rheumatic 0 Of Samuel Thomson 1G7 drops, with Xo. 2, and seat the patient by the fire, shielded from the air by a'proper covering.—This pro- ceedure rarely fails of the desired intention ; but should it,the ca-e is serious and demands a partial, or full process of the medicine, which cleansing the stomach and bowels removes the cause of pain, and these produce the de- sired effect. In case of pain in the stomach, side, or bowels, we give sometimes a portion of the composition No. 3. or Xo. 2. with hot water; or from a tea spoonful to a great spoonful of the rheumatic drops and bathe the part with the same; in cases of obstinacy, and where jl is requisite, let the patient go to bed and apply a lnt stone to the part,wrapped up with a cloth wet with vine- gar, and repeat the dose.—But where the patient chooses and is able, he sets by the fire shielded from the air as above stated. Where in any case, these les-er adminis- trations fail, and in violent and alarming attacks, we commence the process by giving Xo. 1, 2, and 3, one after another, or combining the whole and repeating the same two or three time«, or more as the case demands, till a thorough operation is performed, and in due time repeat the proce-s. till the patient is convalescent. ALEXANDER RICE. Kittery, Nov. 20th, 1321. The undersigned having experienced the benefit of the medicine of our own country, discovered and used by Doctor Samuel Thomson, submit the following facts to the public, witli the hope that those who are suffer- ing with disease may be induced to adopt a course so sim- ple and certain to effect a cure. In the latter part of the year 1810, many persons in this neighborhood were af- flicted with fever- or other fatal diseases, which baffled the skill of the best informed physicians Alarmed at the progress which disease and death were making a- mong us, some of us with our friends, made an arrange- ment to send to Portsmouth XT H. for Doctor Thomson, of whose skill and success we had heard a flattering ac- count. We carried our plan into effect, and in the spring of 1811, Doct. Thomson came amono; us, and succeeded in demonstrating the superiority of his sy-tern of practice o- ver every other. Five cases of consumption, supposed 168 Narrative of the Life, «$•«:. to be desperate, yvere relieved in the course of three weeks, and all of them restored to health, which they Continue to enjoy to this day. A case of the dropsy, con- sidered hopeless, yvas completely cured in one week. In consequence of the success uniformily attending him, about one hundred of the people in this town and vicini- ty purchased of him the right to prepare and use his medxine ; for which he has obtained a patent. From that time to the present his medicine has been in constant use yvith undiminished success, aud increasing patronage. In the time of the late war, when the dysentery, and o- ther diseases incident to the camp, raged with a fatality yvhich the skill of the faculty could not arrest, many of the soldiers applied to Dr. Thomson and were relieved at their own expense, in preference to having the army surgeons. For the fever and ague we believe it to be an unfailing remedy. In new countries it is invaluable, as it can, be administered by any one in the smallest degree acquainted with its use, without dunger to the patient. We are acquainted with many of the difficulties with which Dr. Thomson has had to contend—the interest of some, the ignorance of others, and the prejudice of all, have continually assailed him. With the two first every new discovery will have to contend; experience of the good effects of this system will finally overcome them all; no sick person within our knowledge, who has givvn it a fair experiment, has ever given it up to seek other remedies. We wish Doct. Thomson remunerated for his unwearied labours for the relief of the diseased; and hope the United States will purchase the right, and pro- mulgate a knoyvledge of the system for the benefit of the whole community. JOHN BURGIN. JERRY BURGIN. SOLOMON RICE. Eastport, July 20, 1821. Eas'port,Washington County, State of Main, July 19,1821. John Burgin, Jerry Burgin, and Solomon Rice, who have subscribed the foregoing, are well known to me, they are men of respectability and entitled to full faith and credit. 1. R. CHADBOURNE, /. Peace. Of Samuel Thomson. 169 Eastport, July 14, 1821. Doct. Samuel Thomson, Sir,—You enquire of me relative to the benefits I re- ceived from the use of your medicine. I reply, that in February 1810, I was attacked with a violent cold, which terminated in what I as well as my friends considered to be a consumption—it being a disease which has been fa- tal to many of our family. I continued to grow worse until the followihg June, when I considered my situation hopeless. The last of June you administered your me- dicine to me. which afforded me great relief. My iealth has constantly amended, until it appears to be ful- Iv established. I ascribe it, under God, to the use of your medicine, and am your well wisher aud friend. I. R CHADBOURNE. Case of Seth Mcs-m, Portland. lie was attende I by Dr. Coffin of that place, but his situation becoming decpern?e (for the messenger said it was thought he could not live two hours) Dr. Thomson was sent for, and I attended with him. We arrived at the house at about 11 o'clock, and found the patient in the most anguishing pain and distress. Dr. Thomson admin- istered a portion of the rheumatic drops, and repeated the dose, in about three hours the patient was reliev- 1 ed and freed from pain. After this 1 attended him, and carried him through a regular process of the medicine several times, and in about a fortnight he went out; but he soon experienced a most violent relapse, which again threatened his life. I again applied the medicine in the usual form, which had so favourable effect as to en- courage a perseverance. In about three or four months he was able to attend to his business, and now enjoys as tolerable a degree of health as could be expected, con- sidering the large quantities of nitre he took previous to our seeing him. His head was much affected, and so sharp and acrimonious the matter discharged therefrom, that small bones came away eaten like a homy-comb. To relieve the distress of his head and to enable him to breathe through his nose, which was greatly swelled, I practiced steaming it with pepper sauc^, covering his head with a blanket, and pouring it on a hot stone placed in P 170 Narrative of the Life, <&c. an iron bason on a chair by the bed side. This caused copious discharges of matter, some of which once fell into his eye, which I apprehended would have destroyed it as quick as vitriol, but for a counter application. He likewise discharged a great quantity of putrid blood and corruption from his stomach. His case was truly a des- perate one, and his recovery exceeded all expectation. S. SEW ALL. Scarborough, January 9, 1822. Case of Mrs. Sally Keating, Portland. Her complaints arose from taking cold before or after lying in. She had been doctered a whole year by the first physician in Portland, and given over as incurable when 1 saw her. She was much debilitated, and her left side, if I rightly remember, was in a wasting perish- ing state. After such a length of time, her disorder be- came chronic, and so confirmed as not ea? iy to be re- moved. In my first applications I adnf.iistered the nerve powder, syrup, rheumatic drops, and No. 2, 3, and 4. She took 3 or 4 portions of one or the other of these medicines as her case required in the course of the day. A tea spoonful of the powder to half a cup full of hot water sweetened, was the quantity taken at a time, and an equal quantity of Xo. 2, 3, and 4, separately, was administered in the same manner, and about a great spoonful of the rheumatic drops to a portion. The in- tention of those applications yvas to quiet and strengthen the nerves, and to restore as far as possible the digestive powers, which had been greatly impaired ; and the suc- cess exceeded expectation. 1 his method yvas continued for some time, till the patient at last felt encouraged to try a regular course of the medicine. When some warm medicine was given as preparatory ; No. 3, was steeped and about half a cupful of the decoction made strong and sweetened, to wiiichwas added a tea spoonful of No. 1 and 2, was administered, and once or twice re- peated in short intervals. After the operation was over the steam bath was applied, followed with the cold bath. The effect was highly promising and salutary, and the whole process was repeated seven or eight times at proper intervals; her decaying side was snrpris- Of Samuel Thomson. 171 ingly restored, and she was recovered to an excellent state of health, yvhich she enjoys to this day, S. SEW ALL. Scarborough, January 1st, 1822. This certifies, that for seventeen years past I have been in a very poor state of health, afflicted with a varie- ty of complaints, as fevers, cholic, dysentary, &c. yvhich left me in a low, lingering condition; and although I sought relief from ever quarter I could hear of, and em- ployed ten or a dozen physicians of celebrity, I could find no remedy, till in the year 1813, I had recourse to l)r. Samuel Thomson's system and medicine, and yvent through 3 courses thereof under the administration and direction of Mr. S. Sew a!!, and was from that time able to go to work, and have been ever since, by an occasional process of the medicine. I became a purchaser of the information for my family's use, seven in number, and find it so well to answer the purpose in all cases of sick- ness, that I have not since that time been at a shilling's expence from any other source. THOMAS SEAVEY. Scarborough, November 2, 1821. This certifies that my daughter Mary from her infan- cy to the age of sixteen years, had been afflicted with dispepsia, or indigestion, to such a degree that her sto- mach would scarcely bear the lightest kind of food. Ap- plication was made to medical aid, but without any bene- fit, till in September in the year 1814, she was first un- der the care of Mr. S. Sewall, and was carried eight times throijh the common proce=s of Dr. Sam- uel Thomson's medicine, which with the aid of his other remedies, removed her malady, and restored her to a sound state of health, which she now enjoys. From this time I became a purchaser of the information for the use of my fiimlly, thirteen in number, and have had more or less sickness ; but it has" ever answered the purpose, nor have I had occasion to try any other medicine. ISAAC DEEIUNG Scarborough, November 2, 1821. 172 Narrative of the Life, <$-c. This certifies that for several years past I have been afflicted yvith the chronic rheumatism, and confined from my business eight or nine weeks together, and so very ill as to need watchers, and could find no relief from the faculty. In the year 1813, I became acquainted with Dr. S. Thomson's medicine and found it beneficial. In the year following I experienced a.-i attack of my old rheumatic complaint, and was fully relieved by a course of the above medicine. Finding it so valuable, I have not for myself or family, used any other remedy from that time to the present. JOB SEAVEY. Scarborough, November 6, 1821. Case (f an infant child of Lewis Demotes, Scarborough. This infant had not been born but about 36 hours, when it wasiaken very ill, with difficulty of breathing ; I administered a preparation of No. 1, 2, and 3, but with not the least promising effect. The symptoms became in the highest degree alarming, and threatened a sudden dissolution. The room being an open one and quite cold, I concluded the pressure of this cold air might counter- act the operation of the medicine, and thus defeat my de- sign. To remedy this difficulty, 1 had the child put to bed, aud covered all over, and steamed with a large hot stone yvrapped in wet cloths, applied to it, and then re- peated No. 1, 2, and 3. I soon perceived an alteration for the better, the child breathed more free and easy by intervals and continued to do so till towards morning, about eight hours from the commencement of my first application, when a most thorough operation of the me- dicine took place, and the child was entirely relieved, and restored to perfect health, nor is there at the pre- sent time a hearier child in the whole town. S. SEW ALL. Scarborough, November ZQ, 1821. Case of Samuel Libbeifs infant child, Scarborough. A new born child of Samuel Libbey's was so far given over by the attendant physician, that he said it was not worth while even to dress it, for it could not live. I prescribed for the child, and a young woman by the Of Samuel Thomson. 173 name of Eliza Seavey, acquainted with the medicine, and with nursing, administered. The babe was carried through a process of the medicine four times, and Xo. 1, 2, and 3, freeh given at each operation, and though the state of the child rendered it a very hopeless case, it be- ing very much swelled and the blood so stagnated as to turn of a deep purple over the surface of the whole body^ and although it had not taken th* least tiling till the me- dicine given, yet by perseverance it was recovered, and restored to the most perfect health, which it is in the full enjoyment of at the present time. S. SEW ALL. Scarborough. December 1, 18-1. ° ' _____ u In the fall of the year 1807, Dr. Samuel Thomson at- tended Mrs. Osgood at Salisbury Mills.who was given over with the lung fever; her fever was turned in about four- teen hours by the use of his medicine and she yvas soon restored to health ; and in some cases of sores extraor- dinary cures yvere performed at that time. In the spring of 1808, Dr. Thomson returned again at Salisbu- ry and attended to practice; a Mrs Sawyer, wife of Capt. •George Sawyer, was relieved of a consumption and ap- peared to have been held up by his medicine for five vears; two other women who were supposed to be more likely to recover were attended by the regular doctors and both died in two months. Mr-:. Sawyer used to express the highest satisfaction of using the emetic herb, or lobelia, and said she should rather be deprived of her bread than of this article and cayenne, which medicine yvas first brought into use in these parts by Dr. Thomson. The emetic he used to give tinctured in spirit, or in powder, which was useful in consumptive and asthmatic complaints. In the spring of 1808, I was relieved of a complaint called the nettlespring, or St. Anthony's fire, caused by over heating myself by fighting fire about twenty-five years before. Several times in a year 1 used to have turns of breaking out and swelling as though I had been stung with bees, almost all over, especially in my limbs. The doctor carried me through two courses of his me- dicine, then steamed me until 1 felt the same as yvhen I fought the fixe. I wa- kept with a hot stone at my feet 174 Narrative of the Life, 4-f. through the night, to keep from cooling two sudden, as be said that had been the cause of my disorder. This process entirely cured me of this disorder to this day ; audi have not used any other practice since, and have relieved many very obstinate cases in my family by the same medicine. JABEZ TRUE, Elder of the Baptist Church in Salisbury. Salisbury, December 5, 1821. In the fall of the year 1809, Dr. Samuel Thom- son was sent for in this town, I attended yvith him and was knowing to all^hat transpired with Mr. Lovett in his sickness until he died, which is as follows : viz. Mr. Ezra Lovett came for Dr. Thomson to visit his son Ezra, who was sick of a fever; the doctor could not attend until he had called several times. He gave him medi- cine first on Monday evening, and on Wednesday attend- ed him through a full course, and also a cousin of his, who had been given over by all the doctors in a consumption of the liver, and was completely cured by one opera- tion and enjoys his health to this day. Mr. Ezra Lovett, jr. was so far relieved that the doctor thought he would not need any more medicine and was called to see elder Bowles of Salem; but gave Lovett strict charge not to go out or expose himself. On the Friday following he yvas so well that he ventured out and went down the shore to see his friend; the wind was eastward and extremely cold; he had a severe relapse and was much out; continu- ed to grow worse, and on Saturday night I sat up with him; his father wished me to administer some medicine,but I declined, as he was so sick; I advised to send to Salem for Dr. Thomson, who was attending elder Bowles. He vwas accordingly sent for, and on Sunday evening he ar- rived, and on seeing the young man, he expressed great doubts of his recovery. He administered his medicine and gave his strict attention to him for about two hours and gave him over, as out of the reach of his medicine, and requested his father to send for some other doctor ; but he declined, saying if he could not help him he did not think any doctor could; and requested him to stay all night, to which he agreed. Elder Williams was cal- led in to pray with him. In the meriting Dr. Thomson Of Suiuucl Thomson 175 renewed his request to Mr. i.cvett to have another doc- tor to take charge ofh.s sen. lie accordingly called i:i Dr. How and Dr. Fisher, vho took charge ef him about sun rise in the morning. Dr. Thomson then left him ; and those Doctors attended him until alout It) o'clock the next night, when he died. Notwithstanding Dr. Thon.- so.i gave him over in two hours after seeing him, and the doctors administered their medicine to him for twelve hours, yet about one year after Dr. Thornsc'i was taken up for the murder cf said Lovett and no credit given him for the wonderful cure of his cousin, who w;;s attended with him. Elder Bowies was attended at the same time, who was in the last stage of a consumption and was cured. John Lemmon was also cured of consumption—Isaac Per- kins's w[fe was cured of a dropsy of a desperate na- ture ; all thesecures I was well knowing to, having been done at that time. WILLIAM RAYMOND. Beverly, December 7, 1821. A few statements of the diseases and manner of treatment by Dr. Thomson's system and directions, and the benefit re- ceived under the administration of his medicine ; by Ste- piten Neal, Esq. of Etict, Me. 1 am now willing to assert with all the boldness that truth inspires, that 1 have made use of the medicine aforesaid for the space of ten years last past, in my own family, and in the time have not used any other medi- cine, or called on any other physician for advice. I have administered the medicine to a great number of my friends and neighbours, which generally produced bene- ficial effects. 1 shall state a few of the many cases and the treatment and advantage received. In April 1810, my son who was in the 18th year of his age, had a Severe attack of the palsy on his left side, his hand was entirely useless—we attended him under the directions of two respectable physicians until some- time in the month of November following, and in all that time he received but very little benefit from any thing done. 1 was then advised to call on Dr. Samuel Thomsqn and get his oppinion and advice, which I did, 176 Narrative of the Life, 4'f- he being at that lime an utter stranger to ine;—I called on the doctor and he came to see my son ; and after some conversation had passed relative to his situation the doctor observed, that it was a very unfavourable season of the year,(the beginning of winter) to undertake to remove the complaint; and he did not appear willing to undertake so arduous a task as that appeared to be ; (his leftside at that time was wholly numb) but said, if by our best exertions we could keep him whcie he then was until the return of warm weather, we then might stand some chance to help him; but if he was neglected until that time, he might not live, 01 if he did his case might be out of the reach of medicine. 1 then conclud- ed fully to try the experiment; and received medicine with directions from the doctor, who shewed me how to apply the same twice or three times. 1 proceeded to follow his directions, which was to place the patient over a steam made by a gallon bason with one quart of water in it, and a hot stone put into the bason, covering the patient at the same time yvith blankets sufficient to keep him from the air, all except his face, and while in this situation gave him a compound of No. 2, and 3, or the composition powder, to keep up the inward heat, promote perspiration more freely and prevent faintness; after pursuing this course as long as the circumstances of the patient could comfortably bear and necessity re- quired, put him into a warm bed, with the hot blankets about him, yvith as many hot stones quenched in water, wrapped in cloths wet with vinegar, as was sufficient to keep up a good degree of perspiration ; then gave a por- tion of No. 1, and when that had its operation placed the patient over the steam again a few minutes, if able to bear it, then bathed him all over instantly with cold vine- gar, or water; then put on dry clean clothes, gave him a warm bed, put a hot stone at his fcet,and gave a portion of the composition powder, to keep up a moderate pers- piration. We continued this process during the winter as often is twice or three times a week. 1 was confident of some gain during this time, but in the spring he mended much faster, so that by the next fall he could walk and use his hand. 1 then concluded that 1 understood seme- Of Samuel Thomson. 177 thing of the use and virtue of the medicine, and I agreed with the doctor to give me the information. My son continued to mend under the administration of the medi- cine until quite relieved of that complaint. November 1813, I attended to a man who had taken a had cold and had an attack of the Rheumatism ; so vio- lently was he seized that he was utterly helpless, not able to stand on his feet, or put his hav I to his mouth. I put him in bed (as he could not stand over a -:eam) with hot stones quenched in water wrapped up in cloths wet with vinegar at his feet, and on each side, which brought him into a tree perspiration, gave him a decoc- tion of No. 2 and 3, which prepared him foi the emetic. I kept him in that situation b hours, in which time the medicine had performed its operation. I then chang- ed his clothes, bathed him in cold vinegar, and he was then able to dres- himself and walk with ease and com- fort, and has been free from that complaint ever irinir of his recovery I was called to attend him. I placed him over the steam, gave him Xo. 2 and 3. then put him in bed with hqt stones around him, sufficient to keep up perspiration, and gave an emetic; when that had operated I changed his clothes, bathed him in cold vinegar, put him in bed, clean and comfortable. I car- ried him through three operation* as above, and in ten days he recovered so far as to ride out; his appetite re- turned and hi> general health amended, and he now en- joys a good state of health. STEPHEN NEAL. Eliot, January 18, 1822. About the year 1809, Dr. Samuel Thomson visited these part*, and made known his system and method of practice in this town (Eliot) and though some unfavour- able reports were spread by his enemies we were con- vinced of their falsity, by the remarkable cures tha< were wrought in our neighborhood and vicinity; and since by a still more special and intimate knowledge of the medicine in our own family ; where we have prove'! to our entire satisfaction its perfect innocence and un- failing beneficial effects. In the year 1810, we pur- chased the information, and have used no other reined} since that lime to the present. Our family is large, 1 1 in number, *and the different members of it hive often been assailed whh disease under one form or other, such J 80 Narrative of the Life, fyc. as fever, cholic, dysentery, spitting of blood, &c. Sic. but by the timdy application of the medicine, the malady whatever form it assume.!, Ins been immediately remov- ed, and the patient restored to usual health. As to the manner af treatment we vary it according to the nature of the attack, whether mild or^ violent. In the first instance of common complaint we generally give some warm article, to wit: a little cayenne and hot wa- ter or composition powder No. 3, sometimes Xo. 2 and 4 combined ; or a great spoonful of rheumaiio drops, with No. 2. When these applications are insufficient, and the symptons violent and alarming, we make use of No. 1, 2 cy* 3, and carry the patient through the whole process of the medicine, and repeat it, as occasion re- quires, till the patient recovers. JOHN RA1TT. Eliot, November 28, 1821. This may certify, thai about the year 1803,1 was sick with the pulmonic fever and was attended by Dr. Tilton. I was braced up by the h irivS, which caused a stricture in breathing and soon began to swell, which progressed for about five years. »vj..m I was in a dropsical habit and continued to grow worse until a jury of four doctors held a consultation and pronounced my case hopeless, giving me over. 1 continued under the care of Dr. Shep- pard, who visited me and said my complaint was beyond the reach of medicine, and I could not continue over three weeks. At this time, in May 1808, I was advised to go to Salisbury to Dr. Thomson. I went to see him although with but little faith, as my case was so despe- rate; my breathing was with great difficulty. Alter being attended through several courses of his medicine, in three weeks 1 was reduced about fifteen inches in bigness. I returned home and have gained until this day ; and am now enjoying a better state of health than 1 have before injoyed for sixteen years. MARY EATON. Exeter, November 20, 1821. Of Samuel Thomson. 181 To the Public. " We the subscribers having an experimental know- ledge of the salutary effects of the medicine of our na- tive soft, discovered and used by Dr. Thomson, can say with art the calmness that truth inspires, that diseases of the most alarming nature have been removed in a short time, by the use of this important and powerful medicinal friend of nature ; its action is powerful in removing the maladies of the human system, and innocently safe in its operation; that within the term of ten years last past, have had a personal acquaintance with the doctor, and at diverse times, and in different diseases, have experienced the superiority of hi? medicine, and the salutary effects that have been produced by it, on persons attacked with the different complaints and diseases incident to the in- habitants of this free country, such as the Palsy, Dropsy, Stranguary, Consumptions. Rheumatisms a^nd the Typhus Fever—Wounds, Brui-< s and Putrified Sores; and can safely say, from the use of it in our own families, and its good effects as adminstered to our neighbours, that we so much prefer it to any other medicine heretofore made ' use of, that incase it fails, we have no encouragement to try further; therefore as friends to the whole human family, we feel willing and can with safety recommend its use to our friends, and the whole world of mankind at large. „ STEPHEN NEAL, 1 ~ , • DANIEL PEIRCE, j ^s(tmres' JOHN ROGERS, Town Clerk. Kittery, Nov. 21,1821. This may certify, that Hannah my wife, had been af- flicted with the Asthma for the space of ten years. I ap- plied to the most eminent physicians, as many as six in number, who used their utmost skill without the least be- neficial effects. She had been unable to lay in'bed for six months at a time, in each year for a number of years, until in the fall of the year 1808, I sent for Dr. Samuel Thomson. He visited her and went with me into the field and gathered some of the emetic plants, bruised 182 Narrative of the Life, 4-c. and tinctured them in spirit, which was his mode at that time of using it. He gave her one spoonful of the tinc- ture and cayenne, which so far relieved her that she lay in bed the greater part of the first night, which yvas the first time for six months, that she had lain in bed. By using the same medicine she has always been able to lay in bed and rest comfortable, for twelve years. I ascribe it under God to the use of this medicine. EPHRAIM COLEMAN. Newington, Dec. 3,1821. A young man in Roxbury, from some cause unknown, took a large dose of ratsbane with the intention of des- troying himself. Dr. P. was called, and on examining into the circumstances, said that there was no more chance for him to live than there would be if his head was cut off. After the doctor had left him, I being present from curb* osity, and having purchased Jhe right of using the medi- cine and practice secured to Dr. Thomson by patent, proposed to the friends of the young man, to make a trial of the same, to save his life. The friends giving their consent, I administered said medicine, which had such a very favorable effect, that the next morning he was quite comfortable. After he was relieved, Dr. P. called to see him, and expressed great astonishment that he was alive, saying that there was not one case in a thous- and that a man could live under similar circumstances. I attended him three or four days, and he is now so far recovered as to walk about the room. ELIJAH SIMONDS. Roxbury, Feb. 23, 1821. HEW ©W2BIB TO HEA&OTS OR, BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. INTRODUCTION. There are three things which have in a greater or •ess degree, called the attention of men, viz: Religion, Government, and Medicine. In ages past, these things were thought by millions to belong to three classes of men,. Priests, Lawyers and Physicians. The Priests held the things of religion in their own hands, and brought the people to their terms ; kept the Scriptures in the dead languages, so that the common people could no' read them. Those days of darkness are done away ; the Scriptures are translated into our own language, and each one is taught to read for himself. Government was once considered as belonging to a few, who thought themselves1,; born only to rule." The common people have now become acquainted with the great secret of government; and know that " all men are born free and equal," and that Magistrates are put in authority, or out, by the voice of the people, who choose them for their public servants. While these, and many other things are brought where " common people," can understand them ; the knowledge and use of medicine, is in a great measure concealed in a dead language, and a sick man is often obliged to risk his life, where he would not risk a dollar; and should the apothecary or his apprentice make a mistake, the 184 New Guide to Health ; sick man cannot correct it, and thus is exposed to receive an instrument of death, instead of that which would re- store him to health had he known good medicine. " It may be alledged, (said Dr. Buchan,) that laying medicine more open to mankind, would lesson their faith in it. This indeed would be the case with regard to seme ; but it would have a quite contrary effect upon othere. I know many people who have the utmost dread and horror of every thing prescribed by a physi- cian, who will nevertheless, very readily take a medicine which they know, and whose qualities they are in some measure acquainted with. " Nothing ever can, or will inspire mankind with an absolute confidence in physicians but by their being open, frank, and undisguised in their behaviour." " The most effectual way to destroy quackery in any art or science, is to diffuse the knowledge of it among mankind. Did physicians write their prescriptions in the common language of the country, and explain their in- tentions to the patient, as far as he could understand them, it would enable them to know when the medicine had the desired effect; would inspire him with absolute confidence in the physician; and would make him dread and detest every man who pretended to cram a secret medicine or poison, down his throat." It is true that much of what is at this day calleJ medi- cine, is deadly poison ; and were people to know what is offered them of this kind, they would absolutely refuse ever to receive it as medicine. This I have long seen and known to be true; and have laboured hard for many years to convince them of the evil* that attend such a mode of proceedure with the sick ; and have turn- ed my attention to those medicines that grow in our own country, which the God of nature has prepared for the benefit of mankind. Long has a general medicine been sought for, and I am confident I have found such as are' universally applicable in all cases of disease, and which may be used with sJlTety and success, in the hands of the people. After thirty years study and repeated successful trials of the medicinal vegetables of our own country, in all the diseases incident to our climate; I can with well or, Botanic Family Physician. 185 grounded assurance, recommend my system of practice and medicines to the public, as salutary and efficacious. Great discoveries and improvements have been made in various arts and sciences since the first settlement of our country, while its medicines have been very much neglected. As these medicines, suited to every disease, grow spontaneously upon our own soil; as they are bet- ter adapted to our constitution ; as the price of imported drugs is very high ; it follows, whether we consult health which is of primary importance, or expence, a decided preference should be given to the former, as an object of such magnitude as no longer to be neglected. Yet in the introduction of those medicines I have been violent- ly opposed, and my theory and practice condemned, not- withstanding the demonstrative proofs in their favor. But those who thus condemd, have taken • no pains to throw off •prejudice, and examine the subject with can- dor and impartiality.—Such as have, are thoroughly satis- fied of their utilty, and superior excellence. From those who measure a man's understanding and ability to be beneficial to his fellow men only from the acquisition he has made in literature from books ; from such as are governed by outward appearance, and who will not stoop to examine a system on the ground of its intrinsic merit, I expect not encouragement, but opposi- tion. But this will not discourage me. I consider the discovery 1 have made, of inestimable value to mankind, and intended for the great benefit of those who are will- ing to receive it. Being born in a new country, at that time almost an howling wilderness, my advantages for an education were very small; but possessing a natural gift for examining the things of Nature, my mind was left entirely free to follow that inclination, by enquiring into the meaning of the great variety of objects around me. Possessing a body like other men, 1 was led to inquire into the nature of the component parts of what man is, made. I found him composed of the four elements— Earth, Water, Air and Fire. The earth and water I found were the solids; the air and fire the fluids. The two first I found to be the component parts; the two last kept him in motion. Heat, I found, was life; and • Q2. 186 New Guide to Health , Cold, death. Each one who examines into it will find that all constitutions are alike. 1 shall now describe the fuel which continues the fire, or life of man. This is contained in two things—food and medicines; which are in harmony with each other ; often grow in the same field, to be used by the same people. People who are capable of raising their food, and preparing the same, may as easily learn to collect and prepare all their medicines and administer the same, when it is needed. Our life depends on heat ; food is the fuel that kindles and continues that heat. The digestive powers being correct, causes the food to consume ; this continues the warmth of the body, by continually supporting the fire. The stomach is the deposit from which the whole bo- dy is supported. The heat is maintained in the stomach by consuming the food; and all the body and'limbs re- ceive their proportion of nourishment and heat from that source ; as the whole room is warmed by the fire which is consumed in the fire-place. The greater the quanti- ty of wood consumed in the fire-place, the greater the heat in the room. So in the body; the more food, well digested, the more heattand support through the whole man. By constantly receiving food into the stomach, which is sometimes not suitable for the best nourishment, the stomach becomes foul, so that the food is not well di- gested. This causes the body to lose its heat—then the appetite fails; the bones ache, and the man is sick in every part of the whole frame. This situation of the body shows the need of medicine, and the kind needed; which is such as will clear the stomach and bowels, and restore the digestive powers. When this is done, the food will raise the heat again, and nourish the whole man. All the art required to do this is, to know what medicine will do it, and how to admin- ister it, as a person knows how to clear a stove and the pipe when clogged with soot, that the fire may burn free, and the whole room be warmed as before. The body, after being cleared of whatever clogs it, will consume double the food, and the food will afford double the nourishment and heat, that it did before. We know that our life depends on food, and the stomach b«- or, Botanic Family Physician. 187 Ing in a situation to receive and digest it. When the stomach and bowels are clogged, all needed is, the most suitable medicine to remove the obstruction in the sys- tem. All disease is caused by clogging the system: and all disease is removed by restoring the digestive powers, so that food may keep up that heat on which life depends. I have found by experience, that the learned doctors are wrong in considering fever a disease or enemy ; the fever is a friend, and cold the enemy. This I found by their practice in my family, until they had five times giv- en them over to die. Exercising my own judgment, I followed after them, and relieved my family every time. After finding a general principle respecting fevers, and reducing that to practice, I found it sure in all disease, where there was any nature left to build on, and in three years constant practice, I never lost one patient. I attended in all the fevers peculiar to our country, and alwavs used it as a friend, and that returned the gra- titude to'the patient.. I soon began to give this informa- tion to the people, and convinced many that they might as certainly relieve themselves of their disease, as of their hunger. The expense to them, to be always a- ble to relieve themselves and families, would be but small; and the medicine they may procure and prepare themselves. This greatly disturbed the learned doctors,and some of them undertook to destroy me, by reporting that I used poison ; though they made no mention of my using their instruments of death, Mercury, Opium, Ratsbane, Nitre, and the Lancet. I considered it my duty to withstand them, though 1 found my overthrow wa* what they aimed at \ plan was once laid to take me in the night, but I escaped. Next 1 was indicted as though I had given poison, and a bill brought against me for wilful mur- der I was bound in irons, and thrust into prison, to be kept there through the winter, without being allowed bail. I petitioned for and obtained a special court to try the cause, and was honorably acquitted, after forty days imprisonment. I maintained my integrity in the place where my persecution began. In five years, while vu> 188 New Guide to Health ; dicating this new and useful discovery, I lost five thous- and dollars, besides all the persecution, trouble, loss of health, and reproach which has been in connection with the losses. It has been acknowledged, even by those who are un- friendly to me and my practice, that my medicine may be good in some particular cases, but not in all. But this is an error. For there are but two great principles in the constitution of things, whether applied to the mind or body: the principle" of life, and the principle of death. That which contains the principle of life, can never be tortured into an administration of death. If, then, a med- icine is good in any case, it is because it is agreeable to nature, or this principle of fife, the very opposite of dis- ease. If it, is agreeable in one %case, it must be ab- solutely so in all.. By the active operation of nature, the whole animal economy is carried on : and the father of the healing art, Hippocrates, tells us, what is< an obvious truth, that Nature is Heat. The principle is the same in all, differing only in degree. When disease invades the frame, it resists in proportion to its force, till over- powered into submission, and when extinguished, death follows, and it ceases to operate alike in all. If then, heat is life, and its extinction death, a diminution of this vital flame in every instance, constitutes disease, and is an approximation to death. All then, that medicine can do in the expulsion of disorder, is to kindle up the decaying spark, and restore its energy, till it glows in all its wonted vigor. If a direct administration can be made to produce this effect, (and it can) it is evidently immaterial what is the name, or colour of the disease, whether billious, yellow, scarlet or spotted ; whether it is simple or complicated, or whether nature has one enemy, or more. Names are arbitrary things, the know- ledge of a name is but the cummin and annis, but in the knowledge, of the origin of a malady, and its antidote, lies the weightier matters of this science. This know- ledge makes the genuine Physician; all without it is mere quackery. It has been a general opinion that extensive study and great erudition, are necessary to form the eminent phy- sician. But all this may be as Paul saith, but science, or, Botanic Family Physician. 189 falsely so called. A man may have a scientific knowl- edge of the human frame, he may know the riames in every language of every medicine, mineral and vegeta- ble, as well as every disease, and yet be a miserable physician. But there have been men without this to boast of, from the earliest ages of the world, who have arisen, blest with the sublimer powers of genius, who have as it were, yvith one look pierced creation, and with one comprehensive view, grasped the whole circle of science : and left learning itself toiling after them in vain. A man never can be great without intellect, and he never can more than fill the measure of his capaci- ty. There is a power beyond the reach of art, and there are gifts that study and learning can n^ver ri-.n'. The practice of the regular physicians that is those who get a diaploma, at the present time is not to use those means which would be most likely to cure disease ; but to try experiments upon what they have read in books, and to see how much a patient can bear without producing death. After pursuing this plan the whole of their lives, they know just about as much as they did when they began to practice, of what is really useful to mankind." If a patients dies under their hands, why, it is the will of God, and they are sure to get extravagantly paid for their trouble and nothing more said about it; but if one out of hundreds of my patient die, and where the doctors have given them over as incurable, they at once cry out, that it is quackery, that I gave them poison, &c. for the purpose of running me and my medicine down, and to prevent its being used by the people. The fact is well known to thousands who have used my medicine, and to which they are ready to attest, that it is perfectly harmless, and I defy the faculty to produce one instance wherein it has had any bad effects. It is true that the study of anatomy, or structure of the human body, and of the whole animal economy is pleas- ing and useful; nor is there any objection to this how- ever minute and critical, if it is not to the neglect of first great principles, and the weightier matters of knowledge. But it is no more necessary to mankind at large, to qualify them to administer relief from pain in sickness, than to a cook in preparing food to satisfy hunger and nourishing 190 New Guide to Health ; the body. There is one general cause of hunger and one general supply of food; one general cause of disease, and one general remedy. One can be satisfied, and the other removed, by an infinite variety of articles, best ad- apted to those different purposes —That medicine^ there- fore, that will open obstruction, promote perspiration, and restore digestion, is suited to every patient, whatever form the disease assumes, and is universally applicable. And acute disorders, such as fevers, cholics, and disenta- ry, may be relieved thereby, in twenty four or forty eight hours, at most. REMARKS ON FEVERS. Much has been said and written upon fevers by the Professedly learned Doctors of Medicine, without throw- ing the most profitable light on the subject, or greatly benefiting mankind. They have been abundantly fruit- ful in inventing names for disease, and with great ease and accuracy distinguished their different symptdfns; but tbey appear quite barren as to the knowledge of their origin and remedy. To the first, but little importance, comparatively speaking, can be attached; the latter is of the highest importance to all classes of people. According to the writings of learned Physicians, there area great variety of fevers, some more and some less dangerous. But to begin with a definition of the Name. What is fever ? Heat, undoubtedly, though a disturbed pperation of it. But is there, in the human frame, more than one kind of heat ? Yes. says the physician, (strange- as it may appear,) there is the pleuretic heat, the slow nervous heat, the putrid heat, the hectic heat, the yel- low heat, the spotted or cold heat, the typhus, or ignorant heat, and many other heats ; and sometimes, (calamitious to tell) one poor patient has the most, or the whole of these fevers, and dies at last for want of heat! Is fever or heat a disease ? Hippocrates, the acknow- ledged father of physicians, maintained that nature is heat; and he is correct. Is nature a disease ? Surely It is not. What is commonly called fever, is the effect, and not the cause of disease. It is the struggle of nature to throw off disease. The cold causes an obstruc or, Botanic Family Physician. 191 tionrand fever arises in consequence of that obstruction to throw it off. This is universally the case. Remove the cause, the effect will cease. No person ever yet died of a fever! for as death approaches the pahent grows cold, until in death, the last spark of heat is extin- guished. This the learned doctors cannot deny ; and as this is true, they ought, in justice, to acknowledge that their whole train of depletive remedies, such as bleeding, blistering, physicking, starving, with all their refrigera- tives; their opium, mercury, arsenic, antimony, nitre, &c. are so many deadly engines, combined with the dis- ease, against the constitution and life of the patient. If cold, which is the commonly received opinion, (and which is true) is the cause of fever, to repeatedly bleed the patient, and administer mercury, opium, nitre, and other refrigerents to restore him to health, is as though a man should, to increase a fire in his room, throw a part of it out of the house, and to increase the remaind- er, put on water, snow and ice ! As it is a fact, that cannot be denied, that fever takes its rise from one great cause or orig.n, it follows of course, that one method of removing thai cause, will an- swer in all cases ; and the great prinpiciple is to assist nature, which is heat. At the commencement of a fever, by direct and pro- per application of suitable medicine, it caa be easily and speedily removed, and the patient need not be confined long. Twenty four or forty eight hours, f0 the extent, are sufficient, and often short of that time, the fever may be removed, or that which is the cause of it. But where the patient is left unassisted, to struggle with the disease, until his strength is exhausted, and more especi- ally, when the most unnatural, and injurious administra- tions are made, if a recovery is possible, it must of ne- cessity, take a longer time. These declarations are true and have been often proved, and can be again, to the sa- tisfaction of every candid person, at the hazard of any forfeiture the Faculty may challenge. Notwithstanding all these things, how true are the words of the intelligent Dr. Hervey, who says," By what unaccountable perversity in our frame does it appear, that we set ourselves so much against any thing that is 192 New' Quide to Health ; new ? Can any one behold, without scorn, such drones of physicians, and after the space of so many hundred years experience and practice of their predecessors, not one single medicine has been detected, that has the least force directly to prevent, to oppose, and expel a continu- ed fever? Should any, by a more sedulous observation, pretend to make the least step towards the discovery of such remedies, their hatred and envy would swell against him, as a legion of devils again-t virtue ; the whole socie- ty will dart their malice at him, and torture him with all the calumnies imaginable, without sticking at any thing that should destroy him root and branch For he who professes to be a reformer of the art of physic, must re- solve to run the hazard of the martyrdom of his reputa- tion, life and estate." The treatment which the writer has received from some of the learned physicians since his discovery of the remedy for the fever, and various other diseases, is a proof of the truth of this last saying of Dr. Hervey. They have imprisoned him, and charged him with every thing cruel and unjust.; though upon a fair trial, their violent dealings have come down upon their heads; while he has not only been proved innocent before, the court, but useful; having relieved many which the other physicians had given over to die. We frequently see in the newspapers accounts of peo- ple dying in consequence of drinking cold water when very warm. Some fall dead instantly, and others linger for several hours; the doctors have not been able to afford any relief when called. The principal symptoms are