sam^ Thomson-JBoxanist. %;.,:;,,.,/<■„.„„,//,,„./«■,■ ,.>„,,,,„/;„.. „-,//, /,,,„.,<■/, NEW GUIDE TO HEALTH; OR, BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. CONTAINING A COMPLETE SYSTEM OF PRACTICE, UPON A PLAN ENTIRELY NEW J WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE VEGETABLES MADE USE OF, AND DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARING AND ADMINISTERING THEM TO CURE DISEASE. * TO WHICH IS PREFIXED A NARRATIVE LIFE AND MEDICAL DISCOVERIES/ OF THE AUTHOR. SECOND EDITION. / BY SAMUEL THOMSON. BOSTON: «, - - r f ~ •* PRINTED FOR THE AUTHGB, BY E. G. HOUSE) Ao. 13, Merchants-Hall 1825. \A'3' T DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, to wit.- District Clerk's Office. BEit remembered, that on the thirtieth day ofNovember, A.D. 1822, in the forty-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 proprietor, in the words follow- ing, to wit: New Guide to Health ; or, Botanic Family Physi- cian. Containing a complete System of Practice, upon a plan entirely new ; with a description of the vegetable* made use of, and directions for preparing .ind administering them to cure dis- ease. To which i« prefixed a narrative of the Life and Medical Discoveries of the author. By Samuel Thomson. In conformity to ihe Act of Congress of the United States, en- titled •' AnAct for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Pro- prietors of such Copies, during the time therein mentioned ;" and also to an Act entitled " An Act supplementary to a" Act, enti- tled an Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Gbpies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprie- tors of such Copies during the times therein mentioned; and extending the Benefits thereof to the Arts of Designing, Engraving and Etching Historical and other Prints JOHN W. DAVIS, Clerk of MasT. District. AD J 'Ell TISEMEXT. TO THE PUBLIC. The preparing the following work for the pre** has been a task of much difficulty and labour, for to com- prise in a short compass and to convey a correct un- derstanding of the subject, from such a mass of materi- als as I have toeen enabled to collect by thirty yea is practice, is a business of no small magnitude. The plan that has been adopted I thought the best to give a cor- rect knowledge of my system of practice ; and am con- fident that the descriptions and directions are sufficient- ly explained to be understood by all those who take an interest in this important subject. Much more might have been written; but the main object has been to confine it to the practice, and nothing more is stated of the theory, than what was necessary to give a general knowledge of the system. If any errors should be dis- covered it is hoped that they will be viewed with can- dour; for in first publishing a work, such things are to be expected ; but much care has been taken that there should be no error, which would cause any mistake in the practice, or preparing the medicine. 4 ADVERTISEMENT. Many persons are practising by my system who are in the habit of pretending that they have made great im- provements, and in some instances it is well known that poisonous drugs have been made use of under the name of my medicine, which has counteracted its operation. and thereby tended to destroy the confidence of the public in my system of practice, this has never been authorized by me. The public are therefore^cautioned against such conduct, and all those who are well dis- posed towards my system, are desired to lend their aid in exposing all such dishonest practices, in order that justice may be done. Those who possess this work, may by examining it be able to detect any im- proper deviations therefrom; and they are assured that any practice which is not conformable to the directions given, and does not agree with the principles herein laid down, is unauthorised by me. PREFACE. WRITTEN BY A FRIEND. Thereis no subject in which the great family of man- kind have a deeper interest, than that of medicine ; to lessen tbc sum of human suffering by alleviating pain and removing those diseases that all are subject to, is a duty of the greatest importance of any undertaking that man can engage in. Health is the greatest blessing that can be enjoyed in this life ; and to be deprived of it takes away all our pleasures and comforts and makes every thing in this world appear a dreary waste. This will readily be admitted by every one; but in what manner disorder can best be removed or prevented, is a subject that ha;- engaged the attention of many wise men, who have exis'ed in different ages, from the earli- est times to the present day, without, as we humbly conceive, very much benefiting mankind by their labors. Their enquiries it would seem have been directed to the investigation of visionary theories, of the form and curi- ous construction of the body and member*, upon me- chanical principles ; to the neglect of what is of the greatest importance, a correct and useful practice by a direct application to the cause of disease. This is like pursuing a shadow and losing sight of the substance ; for there are certain causes and eflects in the works of crea- tion that are beyond the comprehension of man, and the general principles of animated nature are as correctly known by the whole human family as by the most wise and learned. »<2 u PREFACE. In the different ages of the world the medical faculty have been very prolific in forming systems of Ihe theory and practice of medicine. One man buids up a system for another that comes after him to pull down, who erects one of his own, which is followed for a time and is then supplanted by another. They have gone on in this way, almost every age producing a new system, to the present time ; each one pronounces the other to be wrong, they certainly cinnot all be right, and the most natural conclusion is that they are all wrong; for no good has resulted from all they have done, but on the contrary it has tended to produce much confusion and doubt, in the minds of all who seek to gain a correct knowledge of the subject. The best evidence of this is the bad success that has attended the regular faculty in all their practice, for they do not pretend to a knowl- edge of a certain remedy for any case of disease; and it is readily admitted by the most distinguished men in the profession, that there is no art or science so little un- derstood and miserably conducted as that of medicine. The way to become a fashionable doctor at the pres- ent day is to spend three or four years in what they call reading physick, when they receive a degree and a di- ploma from some medical society. This time is spent in learning the latin names of the different preparations of medicine, according to the plan adopted by the facul- ty, as also of the different parts of the human body, with the names, colours and symptoms of all kinds of disease, divided and subdivided into as many classes and forms as language can be found to express ; and sufficient knowl- edge of the nature of medicine to know how much poi- son can be given without causing immediate death. With these qualifications and a little self-importance, they commence their medical career, as ignorant of what is really useful in curing disease, as though they had been shut up in a cloister all the time. Their heads are filled with the theory, but all that is most important in the removal of disorder, they have to learn by practice, which can never be learnt in any other way. Those patients who are so unfortunate as to come under their care become subjects for them to learn upon and have PREFACE. / to suffer from their experiments. After pursuing this course for many years, they begin to learn that their practice has been wrong ; and it is a fact well known, that all our old and most experienced physicians, who have become distinguished in the profession, make use of but very little medicine ; prescribing principally simples, with directions how they may cure themselves; the greater part of their patients, are such as have been am down and had their constitutions destroyed by the im- proper treatment they have received from the young and inexperienced part of the faculty. This picture may be considered by some as highly coloured; but if prejudice is laid aside and viewed with candour, it will be found not to be far from the truth. There are no doubt many exceptions among the prac- tising physicians ; but their manner of treating disease by bleeding and blistering, and administering mercury, arsenic, nitre, antimony, opium, &c. is directly opposed to nature, and cannot be justified by any principles found- ed on natural causes and effects. Another serious dif- ficulty exists, which is that the people are kept ignorant of every thing of importance in medicine, by its being kept in a dead language, for which there can be no good reason given. Dr. Buchan has made some very good remarks on this subject, to show the impropriety ot such a practice, and gives it as his opinion, that if phy- sicians would write their prescriptions in the language of our own country and lay medicine more open to the people, much good would result from it. In the new Pharmacopoeia got up lately by the medical societies m this country, an entire new arrangement is made and new names adopted, which is to be revised every ten years; this will completely keep the people in ignorance ot the medicine they use, when prescribed by the faculty. There can be not the least doubt but there is medi- cine enough grows in our country to answer all the pur- pose> necessary in curing every disease incident to the climate, if the people had a knowledge of it; but the doctors have so much influence in society, and manage their affairs with so much art for their own profit and praise, that the common people are kept back from a 8 PREFACE. knowledge of what is of the utmost importance for them to know. If any man undertakes to pursue a practice diffeiing from'what is sanctioned by the regular faculty, let him show ever so much ingenuity in his discoveries, or be ever so successful in curing disense, he is hunted down like a wild beast; and a hue and-cry raised against him from one end of the country to the other. There must be some reason for all this more than an aim to the public good; for the people are certainly capable of judging for themselves, whether what is done for them removes their complaint or increases it. It is not un- reasonable we think to conclude, that it arises from a fear that the craft is in danger. Nothing could more fully exemplify the above opin- ion than the treatment which Dr. Thomson has received from the medical faculty, during the whole of his prac- tice. He has been persecuted and pin sued with all the malice of demon-, for no other cause that can be imag- ined, than because of his extraordinary success in curing disease, which has tended to enlighten the people, and do away their blind confidence in the infallibility of doc- tors. This opposition has not been from the people at large, for all who have been attended by him, and those who have had a correct knowledge of bis system of prac- tice, are not only we'd satisfied, but are thoroughly con- » vinced of its superiority over the practice of the doc- tors; and some of the faculty who have examined the subject, allow the discovery to. be original and ingenius, and that the principles upon which it is founded are cor- rect. If the physicians generally had, instead of trying to destroy him and his practice, enquired into and made themselves acquainted with his improvements, and treat- ed him with that couitesy due to every ingenius man, who devotes himself to the advancement of the arts ami sciences, they would have received much useful infor- mation on one of the most important branches of the medical art, that is of the medicinal virtues of the veget- ables of this country, with the best method of preparing and administering them to cure disease; but they seem to consider every thing relating to the subject as a sort PREFACE. * of holy ground, on which no one has a right to tread, but the regularly initiated. Dr. Thomson began his practice as it were from ac- cident, with no other view than an honest endeavor to be useful to his fellow creatures; and had nothing to guide him but his own experience. He not having had an education, has received no advantages from reading books, which left his mind unshackled by the visionary theories and opinions of others ; his whole studies have been in the great book of nature, and his conclusions have all been drawn from that unerring guide ; by this he was enabled to form correct opinions of the fitness of things His first enquiry was to know of what all ani- mal bodies were formed, and then to ascertain what caus- ed disease ; after being satisfied on this head, the next thing was to find what medicine was the best calculated to remove disease and restore health. For this he look- ed into the vegetable kingdom, where he found a large field for contemplation and for the exercise of his enquir- ing mind. Here by an invention of his own, that of as- certaining the qualities and power of vegetables by their taste, he was enabled at all times to find something to answer the desired purpose ; his apothecary's shop was the woods and the fields. In his practice it has always been his first object to learn the course pointed out by nature, and has followed by administering those things best calculated to aid her in restoring health. This is unquestionably the only correct course that, can be pursued with any chance of success, for all the good that can be expected by giving medicine, is to assist nature to remove the disease. The success with which his practice has been attended has astonished all who witnessed it, and has led the people to wonder how a man without learning could perform what could not be done by the learned doctors; this is not strange, for people most generally form their opinions by what is fashionable, without examining into the na- ture of things. A man can be great without the advan- tages of an education ; but learning can never make a wfse man of a fool; the practice of physic requires a knowledge that cannot be got by reading books, it 10 PREFACE. must be obtained by actual observation and experience. It is very common with the doctors to call all those who practice and have not been regularly educated to the profession, quacks, and empirics. The deffiniton of the word quack, is an ignorant pretender; and those who are entitled to thi* appellation, are best known by the knowledge they possess in their profession, and the success with which they pursue it; and there may be probably more ignorant pretenders found among those who have received a diploma than in any other class. An empiric is one who is governed in his practice by his own experimental knowledge; and Dr. Thomson can have no reasonable objection to be honoured by this title, for there is nothing valuable in the whole range of the medical science, but what has been derived from this source. In ancient times the man who could dis- cover any thing that proved to be useful in curing dis- ease, was entitled to honourable notice and a reward for his ingenuity, without regarding whether he was learned or unlearned In this wav the faculty have ob- tained all their knowledge of vegetable medicine, and if they had confined themselves to this it would have been much better frr the people, than to make use of those poisonous minerals, which have been the production of the learned, and is the only addition they have been able to make to the "litetia Medica. In the following work Dr. Thomson has endeav- oured to embody in a small compass, and to convey to the public in as plun and simple terms as he was capa- ble, a correct knowledge of his system of practice, with his manner of treating disease, together with a description of all the vegetable productions of our own country that he ha* found to be useful in curing disorder, and the btst mann;t of preparing and adminstcring them. It will be found of the greatest importance to the peop!<' ; being the result of thirty years constant praciice, in attending on all kinds of dis- ease common in this country It offers to the puldic an opportunity to make themselves suffh iently acquainted with the subject, to enable every one who avails himself PRLFACE. 11 ©fit, to become his own physician, with a trifling ex- pense. To introduce a new system of medical practice and to make an entire change of the public opinion on so im- portant a subject, is an undertaking of too great magni- tude to be effected without much difficulty, let its supe- riority over all others be ever so great; for whoever undertakes it must expect to have to contend against the interest of a large class of the community, and the pre- judices of the whole. That Dr Thomson has been able to effect so much, is more surprising, than that he has not done more, for he has laboured under many diffi- culties besides being opposed by a powerful combination, whose interest it is 10 keep the people back from adopt- ing his practice. He has been obliged to satisfy the people of what is for their interest, as well as for their peace and happiness, against their own inclinations ; and has pursued his own plan with wonderful persenerance, and with an honest and determined zeal to do what he thought to be his duty. He seems to have had in view mor the public g>md than hi* own interest, for h s whole plan hiS been to give inform ad has recieved but xevy sm^ll com- pensation for alt his labours; the p-cuniary benefit that he has realized for his practice and rights sold, would be no temptation to any one-to undergo the hundredth part of what he has suffered from persecution. N •* ithstanding ..11 the difficulties Dr Thomson has met with, and all the .pposiliou he has had to contend against, his system is m ide use of by the people general- ly in many plac- e, and is fa^u spreading in all parts of the United .. tates. Yv herever the people become acquaint- ed with it ttu-y universally a !opt it, and consider it of the greatest value. ; so much so, that there are hundreds who would not be deprived of the information they have recievt:i! for any sum of money whatever. In several towns large societies have been formed of those who 12 PREFACE. have purchased the rights, and who obligate themselves to assist each other in cases of sickness; where this has been the case, great benefit has been derived and the success of the practice has been complete. This seems to be the bc-t plan for introducing a correct knowledge of the system and practice among the people, and putting it in their power to derive the most advantage from its use; and if a few of those men who have the most influence in society, would examine into the subject with impar- tiality, they would readily be convinced of its superior usefulness, and by taking an interest in diffusing a knowl- edge of the practice among the people, they would con- fer a greater benefit on mankind than by any charitable act they could perform. There has been one great obstacle in the way of a general extension of a knowledge of the practice, for the want of some means to convey correct information how to prepare and administer the medicine, with the best manner of treatment in curing disease; and also to prevent all who adopt this system of practice, from be- ing imposed upon by those who pretend to make use of it without a proper knowledge of the subject; for there are quacks under this system as well as others. This is obviated by the following work, in which it is thought will be found sufficient explanations and directions to en- able any one who pays strict attention to them, to make use of the practice with safety and success. 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 obliged to pass over again, as it were, many scenes, which we might wish to have forgotten, and relate many particulars, which, though they may seem very important to our- selves, yet would be very uninteresting to t\v reader. 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 1 had such a wish; but as I have been the greater part of my life engaged in one of the most important pursuits, and which is of more consequence to the great human family, than any- other that couid be undertaken by man ; that of allevi- ating human misery, by curing ail cases of disease by the most simple, safe and certain method of prac- tice, I think the public will be interested to know something of me, and the cause of ray 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 indespensibly uocessary; but I ;h ill take the liberty to disagree a little with them in this particular; for, although learning may be a great advantage in ac- quiring a profession, yet iha? alone will never make a great man, where there is nc natural gift. By giving a short skttch of the early part of my ex- istence, and relating those accidental circumstances that have occurred during my life, and which were princi- pally the cause of my engaging in the. healiug art, will enable the public to judge more correctly, whether I 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 of the cases 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 Alsted, coun- ty of Cheshire, and State of New-Hampshire. My fa- ther, John Thomson, was born in Northbridge, county of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts ; he was twen- ty-five years old when 1 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 yea* 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 labor for support. My father had bought a piece of wild land on credit, and had to pay for it by his labor in what he could make off the land, which caused us gre;it hardships and deprivations for a long time. As soon as 1 began to form any correct ideas of things, my mind was much irritated ky the impressions made on it by my parents, who, no doubt with very good inten- tions, filled my young head with all kinds of hob-goblins and witch-stones, which made a very deep impression en 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 their children any thing but the truth ; for young children naturally believe whatever their parents tell them, and when they frighten them 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 tho=e sto- ries are falsehoods, they will naturally form very 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 religious 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 itvvas, 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 ni'md3 of younr children, correct ideas of things, and not mislead their understandings by telling them falsehood" ; for it will be of the greatest importance as respects their future conduct and pu-suits in life. When I was between throe and four years old, my father took me out with him 10 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 1 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 forgot. There was an old lady by the name of Ben* 16 Narrative of the Life, Sfc. 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 were good for; and I used to be very curious in my en- quiries, and in tasting every thing that I found. The information 1 thus obtained at this early age, was after- wards of great use to me. Sometime in the summer, after I was four years old, being out in the fields in search of the cows, I discov* ered a plant which had a singular branch and pods, that I had never before seen; 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.' Thia plant is what I have called the Emetic Herb, and is the most important article 1 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- truction. 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 pm poses is secured to me by patent, and my right to the discovery Of Samuel Thomson. l'r 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. 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 father's severity towards me made me very unhappy, for I was constantly in fear Lest he should call and 1 should not hear him, in which. case, he used to punish me very severely. 1 continued. in this situation till 1 was eight years old, when my bro- thers be^an to be some help, whit h 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. Th.j greatest part of this winter we had to live in the barn. In July ray father had got a ,mrt of the roof of a new house covered, and we moved into it; which was- more comfortable than the barn. About this time my mother wa« taken sick, and wascairied to Mrs. Benton's for her to take care of, where *he remained for sever- al ivei'U, during which iime, by using such means as this old iady 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 1 had to go a con- siderable distance onYoot to meeting, and the rest of the day was kept on my feet in hearing him read thecate? b 2 18 Narrative of the Life, &c. Ghism, creed and prayers, so that I had little lime 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 1 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 1 was about ten years old, there was a school a little more than a mile from my father's, where 1 had th« 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. 1 took a great dis- like to working on * 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 I underwent, and the severi- ty which my father used constantly to exercise towards me from the time 1 was five to ten years old. At that time, I used to think that if I ever had any land I would aot plough it; and if my father's treatment of me was the effect of his religion, 1 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 kis religious duties, praying night and morning, and Of Samuel Thomson. IS sometimes three times a day. He was a man of violent and quick temper, and when in his fits »f passion, my mother used frequently to remind him of certain part* of his prayer; such as this, which I never forgot: u May we live soberly, righteously, and godly, in the present evil world." bhe was a woman much respect- ed in the town where we lived. About the time I was fourteen years old, my father left the baptist 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 I had great reason to rejoice, for he was like another man in his house. He continued to enjoy the same belief with much comfort to the time of his death, which took place in August, 1820, aged 76.. My mother remain- ed many years in the full belief of the salvation of all men, and continued so till her death. Sometime, during the year that 1 was sixteen years 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 I was soon after disappointed in my hopes, f >r they said I had not learning enough, and they did not know how to spaie 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 spend my days in working on a farm, which made me very unhappy. I had little learning and was awkward and ignorant 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 1788, when I was in my nineteenth year, my father purchased a piece of land on Onion river, in the State of Vermont, 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 2© Narrative of the Life, $fc. 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 tol- erably well till the id of December, when I had the mis- fortune to cut my ancle very badly, which accident pre- vented me from doing any labor for a long time, and al- most deprived me of life. rl he 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 dispanvd of; the Doctor said he could do no more for me ; my father was greatly alarmed about me, and said that if Dr. Kilteridge. of Walpole, could be sent for, he thought he might help me; but I told him it would be in vain to send for him.' 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 plaistcr 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 eights sieep, nor did I eat any thing. This accidental remedy was found through necessity, and was the first time the mother of invenlion held forth her hand to me. i he Qf Samuel Thomson. 21 success which attended this experiment, and the natu- ral turn of my mind to those things, I think was a prin- cipal cause of my continuing to practice the healing 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 if I thought I eould 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 first day of Jan- uary, 1789, we began our journey. There was very lit- tle snow, and the road rough, which caused the sled to jolt very much and ray sufferings were great. It was very doubtful with niy father, and likewise with me, whether I 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 stopped all night, there was a woman whose situation appeared to me so much worse than my own, that 1 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 miser- able situation. Her side and shoulder 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 was hollow. At a place where we stopped on the third night, a circumstance had occurred 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 or. Sunday night, and did not wake again till Tuesday morning, having slept thirty six hours. On awaking, she had no idea of having slept more than one night; but began to make preparation for washing, as was the custom on Mondays, till she was informed that 22 Narrative of the Life, &{c. they had washed the day before. Her health was good and she never after that required more sleep than •ther persons. When we got on to the high land there was consider- able snow, aod we got along much more comfortably. I 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 pity for me in my distressed situation ; but they all thought that I should not live to get through the journey The doctors had advised to have my leg eut off, as the cnly 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. 1 preferred 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 1 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 answered, a sick man. The devil, repli- ed he, 1 want no sick man here. 1 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 1 was happily disappoint- ed, for he look 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 1.- re 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 thought of my situation. What do I think? said he, Why I think he will die---and then looking very pleasantly at me, said, though 1 think young man, Of Samuel Thomson. 23 you will get well first. In the morning* he dressed my ancle again and gave me some salve to use in future ; and my father asked him for his bill, which was, 1 think, for our keeping and his attending me, about fifty cents. A great contrast between this and what is charged at the present time by our regular physicians; for they will hardly look at a person without making then, pay two or there dollars. I have been more particular in describing this interview with Dr. Kitteridge, on account of his extraordinary skill in surgery, and the great name he acquired, and justly deserved, among the people throughout the country. His system of practice was peculiarly his own, and all the medicines he used were prepared by himself, from the roots and herbs of our own country. He was a very eccentric character and uncouth in hia manners; but he possessed a good heart, and a benevo- lent disposition. He was governed in his practice by that great plan which is dictated by nature; and the un- common success he met with is evidence enough to sat- isfy any reasonable mind, 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 sisters, were much rejoic- ed to see me, though grieved at my distressed 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 father gave 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, and he had the liberty to take such stock as he pleased. 24 Narrative of the Life, £c. He then made preparations and removed to Onion fi- ver, and left my mother and sister in my care. Soon after 1 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 dispaired of. 1 he disease turned in and seated on her lun^s, and she nev- er recovered her health. .Several doctors attended her without doing her any good; her cough was very se- vere and her mouth was sore, and she was greatiy dis- tressed 1 attended upon her under the direction of the doctors, and took the cough aud had much the same symptoms. She continued to grow worse daily ; the doctors gave her over, and gave her disease the name of gali 'ping consumption, which I thought was a very appropriate name—for they are the riders, and their whip is mercury, opium and vitriol, and they galloped her out of the world jn about nine weeks. She died on'he ISth 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 jetting help, and he thought he could cure me ; but I told him I had observed the. effect his medicine had on m/ 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 galloped 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 syrrups 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 women's help, 1 was obliged to hire such as 1 could get. which proved a disadvantage to my interest, and 1 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, 1 was married to Susan Allen. We were both young and had great hardships to encounter, but we Of Samuel Thomson. 26 got along very well, and both enjoyed good health un- til our first child was born, which was on the 4th day of July following. My wife was taken ill on Saturday, and sent fi>r help; she lingered along till Sunday night, when she became very bad; her situation was dange- rous, and she was in hand constantly the whole night, until sunrise the next morning, when she was deliver- ed: but her senses were gone. During'the whole night it was one continued struggle of forcing m.ture, which produced so great an injury to the nervous sys- tem, as to cause strong convulsion fits in about an hour after her delivery. The witnessing of this horrid scene of human butchery, was one great cause of my paying attention 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 seventh was sent 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. 1 heard one of them say that his experience in this case was worth fifty doll rs. 1 found that fhey .were trying their practice by experiments ; and was so dis- satisfied with their conduct, that at night 1 told them what I thought; and that I had heard them accusing each other of doing wrong; but I was convinced that they had all told the truth, for they had all done wrong. They all gave her over to die, and I dismiss- ed them, having seen enough of their conduct to con- vince me that they were doing more hurl than good. After they were gone, I sent for Dr. Watts and Dr. Fuller, who were called root doctors. They attend d her through the night and in the morning about the same hour that they began, the fits lef h r. 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 Ler, she was entirely senseless, and was raving distracted for three da\s; and then be- came perfectly stupid, and lay in that sitmiiion for.'hree days; she then laughed three days, and then cried ihiee C 26 Narrative of the Life, <§*e. days; after which she seemed to awake like a persoa from sleep, and had no knowledge of what ha I 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 fi>r 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 dec- 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 sure4o have a long sickness; so he paid hi* rent and keeping very easy. This doctor lived on my farm seven years, during which time I had a very good knowl- edge 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 practicing, 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 drugd, 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 1 met "with, and was constantly m the habit of tasting every thing of the kind I saw; Of Samuel Thomson. 9R aad 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 I discovered myself. This practice of tasting of herbs and mots has been of great advantage to me, as 1 have always been able to ascei lain what is useful for any particular disease by that means. I was often told that I should poison my- self by tasting ever thing I saw; but 1 thought 1 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 necessary for medicine. 1 had but very little knowledge of disease at this time; but had a great inclination to learn whatever I had an opportu- nity ; and my own experience, which is the best school, had often called my attention to the subject. The herb wTiTch I had discovered when four years old, I had ofen met with; but it had never occurred to me that it was of any value as medicine, until about this time, when mowing in the field with a number of men one day, I cut a s^rig 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 six rods, he said that he believed what 1 had given him would kill him, for he never felt so in his life. I looked at him and saw that he was in a most profuse perspiration, being as wet all over as he could be ; he trembled very much, and there was no more colour in him than a corpse. I told him to go to the spring and drink some water ; he attempted lo go, and got as far as the wall, but was unable to get over it, and laid down on the ground and vomitted sever- al times. He said he thought he threw off his stomach two quarts. I then helped him into the house, and in about two hours he ate a very hearty dinner, andj in the afternoon was able to do a good half day's labour. He afterwards told me that he never had anything do him so much good in his life; his appetite was remarkably good, and he felt better than he had for a long time. 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 have met with, to great ad- vantage,that it is a discovery of the greatest importance.. 88 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 advise 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; thi«, with half the firm, containing abodt one hun- dred and twenty-five acres, was all the property I pos- sessed, and 1 was mostly clear of debt. Soon after, I purchased of my father the other half of the farm, for | which I gave six hundred and thirty-six doHais, payable in stock, one half in two years and the other in four. In order to meet these payments, I purchased calves and colts ; but it proved hard for me, as they brought when the payment became due dut little more than the first cost, after having to keep them two years : I offer- ed them to my father for what the hay would have sold for they eat the last year, but he woujd 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-'hree cents in three years, with interest I his 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 1 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 1 finally beat him; he lost his noie and 1 recovered damage for his taking my cattle and horses. This was the first time I had any thing to do with the law, and in the whole it cost roe 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 is 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 Thomson. 29* aver saw. He tried his utmost skill to prevent putri- faction, 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 earst and one of her eyes was cover- ed with it and closed; the other began to swell and turn purple also, 1 ask*d the doctor if he could not keep the canker out of this eye; but he said it would be of no use, for she could not live. 1 told him that if he couid do no more, 1 would try what I could do myself. I found that if the canker could not be stopped immedi- ately she would be blind with both eyes. She was so distressed tor breath that she would spring straight up on end in struggling to breathe 1 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 couid 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 follow- ed this plan, steaming her every two hours, for about a week, when she began to gain. Her eyes came open, and the one that was the worst, was completely covered with canker, and was as white as paper. I used a wash of rosemary to take off the canker -r and when the scale came off, the sight came out with it; and it entirely per- ished. The other eye was saved, to the astonishment of- all who saw her, particularly the doctor, who used fre- quently to call to see how she did. He 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 has enjoyed good health to this time. This was the first of my finding out the plan of steaming and using cold water. After this 1 found by experience- that by putting a hot stone into a thing of hot water,. leaving it partly out of the water, and then pouring: viaegar on the stone, was an improvement. Care should* be taken not to raise the heat too fast; and I vwed t C2 30 Narrative of the Lifet fyc. put a cloth wet with cold water on the stomach, at the same time giving hot medicine to raise the heat inside; and when they had been steamed in this manner as long as I thought they could bear it, then rub them all over with a cloth wet with spirit, vinegar, or cold Water, change their clothes and bed clothes, and then let them go to bed. A short time before this daughter was sick, my oldest son was born, and was very weakly in consequence of his mother's having previous to his birth, what is called a three months' fever, which experience gave me a pretty good knowledge of the practice of the doctors'in prolonging a disease; fori never couid reconcile myself to the idea, that a doctor could be of any use if the fe- ver must have its course, and nature had to perform the cure, at the same time the doctor gets his pay and the credit of it. It the patient's constitution is so strong as to enable them to struggle against the operation of the medicine and the disorder, they will recover; but if not they run down in what the doctors call a galloping- consumption. The doctor proceeded in this way with my wife until I was satisfied of his plan, when 1 inter- fered and dismissed him. As soon as she left off taking his medicine, she began gradually to gain her health and soon got about. When this son was about six weeks old, he was at- tacked wito the croup, or rattles, he was taken a iit- tle before sunset with a hoarseness, w.ts very much clogged with phlegm, and breathed with so much diffi- culty, that he could be heard all over the house. 1 sent for the doctor, and he attended him till about ten o'clock at night without doing him any good, and then went away, saying that he would not live till morning. After he was gone, 1 was again obliged to call on the mother of invention, and try what 1 could do myself. I searched the house for some rattlesnake's oil, and was so fortunate as to find about three or four drops, which I immediately gave him and it loosened the phlegm,and he soon began to breathe easy ; by close attention through the night, the child was quite comfortable in the morn- ing. The doctor came in the next day and expressed great astonishment on finding the child alive; and was Of Samuel Thomson. 31 anxious to know by what means he had been relieved from so desperate a situation. On my informing h:rn, he seemed well pleased with the information; and ob- served that he was willing to allow, that the greatest knowledge that doctors ever obtained was either by ac- cident or through necessity, ho the discovery of a cure for this desperate disease by necessity, was of great use both to me and the doctor; notwithstanding, however, the information he gamed of me, instead of giving me credit for it he charged me for his useless visit. 1 was in the haidt at this tune of gathering and pre- serving in the proper season, ali kinds of medical herbs antl roots that 1 was acquainted with, in order to he able at all times to prevent as well as to cure disease; for I found by experience, that one ounce of preventative was better than a pound of cure. Only the simple ar- ticle of mayweed, when a person has taken a bad cold, by taking a strong cup of the tea when going to bed, will prevent more disease in one night, with one cent's expense, than would be cured by the doctor in one month, and one hundred dollars expense in their charges, apothecaries drugs, and nurses. I had not the most distant idea at this time of ever engaging in the practice of medicine, more than to as- sist my own family; and little did I think what those se- wre trials and sufferings I experienced in the cases that have been mentioned, and which 1 was drove to by ne- cessity, were to bring about. It seemed as a judgment upon me, that either myself or family, or some one livin0- with me, were feick most of the time the doctor lived on my farm, which was about seven years. Since 1 have had more experience, and become better ac- quainted with the subject, I am satisfied in my own mind of the cause. Whenever any of the family took a cold, the doctor was sent for. who would always either bleed or give physic. Taking away the blood reduces the heat, and gives power to the cold they had taken, which in- creases the disorder, and the coldness of the stomach causes canker; the physic drives ali the determining powers from the surface inwardly, and scatters the canker through the stomach and bowels, which holds the cold inside and drives the heat on the outside. 38 Narrative of the Life, fa. The consequence is, that perspiration ceases, becausfe internal heat is the sole cause of this important * vacu- ation; and a settled lever takes place, which will con- tinue as long as ihe coid keeps the upper hand. My experience has taught me that by giving hot medicine, the internal heat was increased, and by applying the steam externally, the natural perspiration was restor- ed ; and by giving medicine to clear the stomach and bowels from cank r, till the cold is driven out and the heat returns, which is the turn of the fever, they will recover the digestive powers, so that food will keep the heat where it naturally belongs, which is the fuel that continues *he fire or life of man. After the doctor, who lived on my farm, moved away, I had very little sickness in my family. On the birth of my second son, which was about two years from the birth of the first son, we had no occa-ion for a doctor ; my wife did well, and the child was much more healthy than the others had been ; and i have never employed a doctor si.xe ; for I had found from sad ex- perience, that they made much more sickness than they cured. Whenever any of my family were sick I had no difficulty in restoring them to health by such means as were within my own knowledge. As fast as my chil^ dren arrived at years of discretion I instructed them how to relieve themselves, and they have all enjoyed good health ever since. If parents would adopt the same plan, and depend more upon themselves, and less upon the doctors, they would avoid much sickness in their families, as well as save the expense attending the employment of one of the regular physicians, whenever any trifling sickness occurs, whose extravagant charges is a grievous and heavy burthen upon the people. I shall endeavour to instruct them all in my power, by giving a plain and clear view of the experience I have had. that they may benefit by it. If they do not, the fault will not be mine, for I shall have done my duty. 1 am certain of the fact, that there is medicine enough in the country within the reach of every one. to cure all the disease incident to it, if timely and properly ad- ministered. At the birth of our third son my wife was again gis- Of Samuel Thomson. 33 en over by the midwife. Soon after the child was born, she w.s taken with ague-fits and cramp in the stomach ; she was in great pain, and we were much a armed at her situation. 1 proposed giving her some medicines, but the midwife v\ as much opposed to it; she said she wished to have a doctor, and the sooner the better. I immediately sent for one, and tried to persuade her to give something which 1 thought would relieve my wife until the doctor could come ; but she objected to it, saying that her case was a very difficult one, and would not allow to be trifled with ; she said she was sensible of the dangerous situation my wife was in, for not one out of twenty lived through it, and probably she would not be alive in twenty-four hours from that time. We were thus kept in suspense until the man returned and the doctor could not be found, and there was no other within six miles. I then came to the determination of hearing to no one's advice any longer, but to pursue my own pfan. 1 told my wife, that as the midwife said she could not live more than twenty four hours, her life could not be cut short more than that time, therefore three would be no hazard in trying what 1 could do to relieve her. 1 gave her some warm medicine to raise the inward heat, and then applied the steam, which was very much opposed by the midwife; but I persisted in it according to the best of my judgment and relieved her in about one hour, after she had laid in that situa- tion above four hours, without any thing being done. The midwife expressed a great deal of astonishment at the success I had met with, and said that I had saved her life for she was certain that without the means 1 had use'd, she could not have lived. She continued to do well and soon recovered. This makes the fifth time I had applied to the mother of invention for assistance, and in all of them was completely successful. I hese things began to be taken some notice ot about this time, and caused much conversation in the neigh- bourhood. My assistance was called for by some of the neighbours, and I attended several cases with good suc- cess, i had previous to this time, paid some attention to the farrier business, and had been uselul id that line. This, however, gave occasion for the ignorant and ere- 34 Narrative of the Life, &ci dulous to ridicule me and laugh at those whom I attend- ed; but these things had little weight with me, for I had no other object in view but to be serviceable to my fellow-creatures, and 1 was too firmly fixed in my de. termination to pursue that course, which I considered was pointed out as my duty, by the experience and ma- ny hard trials I had suffered, to be deterred by the fool- ish remarks of the envious or malicious part of society. The last sickness of my wife, I think took place in the year 1799. and about two years after she had another son and did well, making five sons that she had in suc- cession ; she afterwards had another daughter, which was the last, making eigh> children in the whole that she was the mother of: five sons and three daaghters. 1 mention these particulars in order that the reader may the better understand many things that took place in my family, which will give some idea of the experience and trouble 1 had to encounter in bringing up so large a family, especially with the many trials I had to. go through in the various cases of sickness and troubles, which are naturally attendant on all families, and of which 1 had a very large share. The knowledge and experience, however, which I gained by these trying scenes, 1 have reason to bless God for, as it has proved to be a blessing not only to me, but many hundreds who have been relieved from sickness and distress, through my means ; and I hope and trust that it will eventually be the cause of throwing off the vail of ignorance from the eyes of the good peopie of this country, and do away the blind confidence they are so much in the habit of placing in those who call themselves physicians, who fare sumptuourly every day; living in splendour and magnificence, supported by the impositions they prac- tice upon a deluded and credulous people; for they' have much more regard for their own interest than they do for the health and happiness of those who are so unfortunate as to have any thing to do with them If this was the worst side of the picture, it might be borne with more patience ; but their practice is altoge- ther experimental, to try the effect of their poisons up- on the constitutions of their patients, and if they happen to give more than nature can bear, they either die or Of Samuel Thomson. 35 become miserable invalids the rest of their lives, and their friends console themselves with the idea that it is the will of God and it is their duty to submit; the doctor gels well paid for his services, and that is an end of the tragedy. It may be thought by some that this is a highly coloured picture, and that I am uncharitable to apply it to all who practice as physicians; but the truth of the statements, as respects what are called re- gular physicians, or those who get diplomas from the medical society, will not be doubted by any who are ac- quainted with the subject, and v ill throw aside preju- dice and reflect seriou.-ly upon it—those whom the coat suits 1 am willing should wear it. There are, however, manv physicians within my knowledge, who do not fol- low the fashionable mode of practice of the day, but are governed by their own judgments, and make use of the vegetable m.dicine of our own country, with the mode of treatment most consistent with nature; and what is the conduct of those who have undertaken to dictate to the people how and by whom they shall be attended when sick, towards them? Why, means that would disgrace the lowest dregs of society, that sav- ages would not be guilty of, are resorted to for the purpose of injuring them, and destroying their credit with the public. 1 have had a pretty large share of this kind of treatment from the faculty, the particulars of which, and the sufferings I have undergone, will be given in detail in the course of this narrative. Sometime in the month of November, 1802. my chil- dren had the meazles. and some of them had them very bad. The want of knowing how to treat them gave me a great deal of trouble, much more than it would at the present time, for experience has taught me that they are very easy to manage. One of the children took the disease and gave it to the rest, and I think we had four down with them at the same time. My third son had the disorder very bad; they would not come out, but turned in, and he became stupid. The canker was much in the throat and mouth, and the rosemary would have no effect. Putrid symptoms made their appear- ance, and 1 was under the necessity of inventing some- thing for that, and for the canker. I used the steam of 36" Narrative of the Life, Sfc. vinegar to guard against putrefaction, and gold thread (or yellow root.) with red oak acrons pounded and steeped together, for the canker. These 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 1 pursued the same mode of treat- ment, with similar success ; hut the disease had so ef- fected his lungs, that I feared it would leave him in a consumption, as was the case with my mother. He could not speak loud for three we.'ks. ' 1 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 I learned the nature of the meazles; and found it to be canker and putrefaction. 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, 1 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 putrefaction 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 Hedding, in the neighbourhood. iShe had been for many years addicted with the cholic, and could get no relief from the doctors. 1 attended her and found the disorder »\ as cained by canker, and pursued the plan that my former experience had taught me, which relieved her from the pa o, and so far removed the cause that she never had a. other attack of the disease. In this case the cure was so simply and easily performed, that it became a Of Samuel Thomson. subject of ridicule, for when she was asked about it, she was ashamed to say that I cured her. The pop- ular 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 thi*> family for several years, and always answered the desired purpose; but my practice was so simple, that it was not worthy of notice, and being dissatisfied with the treatment I received, refused to do any thing more for them. After this they employed the more fashionable practitioners, who were ready enough to make the most of a job, and they had sickness and ex- pense 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 on- ly had the credit of it, but for this job and one other sim- ilar, 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 ex- pense, if done in this way, to a simple and natural re- lief, with a trifling expense. Soon after this,l was called on to attend a Mrs. \v ether- by in the neighbourhood, who had the same disoider. 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 tempora.y one by stupifying her with opium and giving physic, which kept her along till nature could wear it off, when she would get a Intle better for a few days, and then have another turn. After hearing of my curing Mrs. Redding, they sent for me ; I gave her my medicine to remove the canker, and steamed her which gave relief in one hour. She had a very larffe family to attend to, having thirteen chddren, and bctlre she had recovered her strength she exposedher- self and had another turn ; 1 attended again and relieved her in the same manner as before ; but she could not wait till she gahied her strength, and exposed b^rseU S8 Narrative of the Life, &c. again as before, took cold, and had another turn. Her husband said 1 only relieved her for the time, but did not remove the cause, and being dissatisfied with what I had done, he sent for a doctor to remove the cause ; who carried her through a course of physic, and reduc- ed her so low, that she lingered along for eight weeks, being unable to do any thing the whole time ; they then decided that she had the consumption, and gave her over to die. After the doctors had left her in this situation as incurable, she applied again to me; but I declined doing any thing for her, as I knew her case was much more difficult than it was before 9he applied to the doctor, and if I should fail in curing her, the blame weuld all be laid to me, or if she got well I should get no credit by it; for which reasons I felt very unwilling to do any thing for her. After finishing my forenoon's work, on going home to dinner I found her at my house waiting for me, and she insisted so much upon my un- dertaking to cure her, and seemed to have so much faith in my being able to do it, that I at last told her if she would come to my house and stay with my wife, who was sick at the time, 1 would do the best I could to cure her. She readily consented and staid but three days with us; during which time I pursued my usual plan of treatment, giving her things to remove the can- ker, and steaming to produce a natural perspiration ; at the end of the three days she went home, taking with her some medicine, with directions what to do for her- self, and in a short time entirely recovered her health. in less than a year after she had another child, which was a conclusion of her having children or the cholic, and she ever after enjoyed as good health as any wo- man in the neighbourhood; but this cure was done in so unfashionable a way, that they were hardly willing to acknowledge it, and they would not apply to me for relief when any of their family were sick, till they had failed in-getting it in any other way. In about a year after the above case, one of this family, a young man about sixteen years old, was at- tacked with a fever; the doctor was sent for, who fol- lowed the fashionable course of practice, and reduced Jihn with mercury and other poisons,, so that he linger- Of Samuel Thomson. 39 ed along for three or four months, constantly growing worse, till the doctor said it was a rheumatic fever, and afterwards that he was in a decline. He had taken so much mercury that it had settled in his back and hips, and was so stiff that he could not bring his hand'i lower than his knees. By this time the doctor had given him over as incurable, and he was considered a fit subject for me to undertake with. They applied to me and I agreed to take him home to my house, and do the best I could to cure him. It was a difficult task, for I had in the first place to bring him back to the same situation he was in when he had the fever, and to destroy the effects of the poison and regulate the system by steam- ing, to produce a natural perspiration ; by pursuing this plan, and giving such things as 1 could get to restore the digestive powers, in two months he was completely restored to health; for which I received but five dol- lars, ana this was more grudgingly paid than if they had given a doctor fifty, without doing any good at all. In the spring of the year 1805, I was sent for to go lo Woodstock, in Vermont, to attend a young woman, who was considered in a decline, and the doctors could not help her. I found her very low, not being able to set up but very little. I staid and attended her about a week, and then left her, with medicines and directions what to do, and returned heme. In about a month I went again to see her and found her much better, so that she was able to ride to her father's, which was above twenty miles. All this time 1 had not formed an idea that 1 possessed any knowledge of disorder or of medicine, more than what I had learned by accident; and all the cases I had attended were from necessity ; but the success I had met with and the extraordinary cures I had performed, made much talk, and were heard of for fifty miles around. I began to be sent for by the people of this part of the country so much, that I found it impossible to at- tend to my farm and family as I ought; for the cases I had attended, 1 had received very little or nothing, not enough to compensate me for my time ; and I found it to be my duty to give up practice altogether or to make a business of it. I consulted with n.y wife and asked 40 Narrative of the Life, &c. the advice of my friends, what was best for me to do ; they all agreed, that as it seemed to be the natural turn ©f my mind, if I thought myself capable of such an important undertaking, it would be best to let my own judgment govern me, and to do as I thought best. I maturely weighed the matter in my mind, and viewed it as the greatest trust that any one could engage in. I considered my want of learning and my ignorance of mankind, which almost discouraged me from the under- taking ; yet 1 had a strong inclination for the practice, which seemed impossible to divest my mind of; and 1 had always had a very strong aversion to working on a farm, as every thing of the kind appeared to me to be a burthen ; the reason of which I could not account for, as I had carried on the business to good advantage, and had as good a farm as any in the neighbourhood. I fi- ns!!y excluded to make use of that gift which I .thought the God of nature had implanted in me ; and if I pos- sessed such a gift, I had no need of learning, for no one can learmthat gift. 1 thought of what St. Paul says in his epistle to the Corinthians, concerning the different gifts by the same spirit; some had the gift of prophecy, Another, the gift of healing, to another the working of miracles. I am satisfied in my own mind, that every man is made and capacitated for some particular pmsuit in life, which if he engagei in it, he will be more use- ful than he would if ho happens to be so unfortunate as to foljow a calling or profession, that was not allotted,to him by his maker This is a very important consider- ation for parents, not to make their sons learn trades or professions which are contrary to their inclinations and the natural turn of their minds; for it is certain if they do, they never can be useful or happy in following them. I am convinced myself that I possess a gift in healing the sick, because of the extraordinary success I have met with, and the protection and support Providence has afforded me against the attacks of all my enemies. Whether I should have been more useful had it been my lot to have had an education, and learned the profes- sion in the fashionable way, is impossible for me to say with certainty; probably I should have been deemed more honourable in the world ; but honour obtained by Of Samuel Thomson. 44? learning, without a natural gift, can never fn my opinion make a man very useful to his fellow-creatures. I wish my readers to understand me, that I do not mean to con- vey they idea, that learning is not necessary and essential in obtaining a proper knowledge of any profession or art; but that going to college will make a wise man of a fool, is what 1 am ready to deny ; or that a man can- not be useful and even great in a profession, or in the arts and sciences, without a classical education, is what I think no one will have the hardihood to attempt to support, as it is contrary to reason and common sense. We have many examples of some of the greatest phi- losophers, physicians, and divines the world ever knew, who were entirely self-taught; and who have done more honor and been greater ornaments to society* than a million of shose who have nothing to recommend them but having their heads crammed with learnin-, without sense enough to apply it to any great or useful purpose. Among the practicing physicians, I have found, and 1 believe it to be a well known fact, that those who are really [great in the profession and have had the most experience, condemn as much as I do, the fashionable mode of practice of the present day, and use very little medical poisons, confining themselves in their treat- ment of patients to simples principally, and the use of such things as will promote digestion and aid nature; and many of them disapprove of bleeding altogether,. Those of this description, with whom I have had an opportunity to converse, have treated me with all due attention and civttity; haye heard me with pleasure, and been ready to allow me credit for my experience ; and the discoveries I have made in curing disease. The opposition and abuse that I have met with, has been uniformly from those to whom I think I can with pro- priety give the name of quacks, or ignorant pretenders ; . as all their merit consists in their self-importance and ' arrogant behaviour towards all those who have Dot had i the advantages of learning, and a degree at college. ■. This class compose a large proportion of the medical i faculty throughout our country: they have learned just \ enough to know how to deceive the people, and keep, them in ignorance, by covering their doing* under:■.$« 4S Narrative of the Life, Sue. language unknown to their patients. There can be no good reason given why all the medical works are kept in a dead lauguage, except it be to deceive and keep the world ignorant of their doings, that they may the better impose upon the credulity of the people ; for if it was to be written in our own language every body would understand it, and judge for themselves ; and their poisonous drngs would be thrown into the fire before their patients would take them. The ill-treat- ment that I have.received from thaaflsj has been mostly where 1 have exposed their ignorance by curing those they had given over to die; in which cases they have shown their malace by circulating all kinds of false and ridiculous reports of me an my practice, in order to destroy my credit with the people ; and I am sorry to say that 1 have found many too ready to join with them, even among those who have been relieved by me from pain and sickness. Such ingratitude I can account for in no other way, than by the readiness with which the people follow whatever is fashionable, without reflect- ing whether it be right or wrong. After I had come to the determination to make a business of the medical practice, I found it necessary to fix upon some system, or plan for my future govern- ment rri the treatment of disease ; for what I had done had been as it were from accident, and the necessity arising out of the particular cases that came under my care, without any fixed plan; in which I had been governed by my judgment and the advantages I h-ul received from experience. I deemed it necessary not •nly as my own guide ; but that whatever discoveries I should make in my practice, they might be so adapted to my plau, as that my whole system might" be easily taught to others, and preserved for the benefit of the world. I had no other assistance than my own observ- ations and the natural reflections of my own mind, un- aided by learning or the opinions of others. 1 took na- ture for my guide, and experience as my instructor; and after seriously considering every part of the subject, I came to certain conclusions concerning disease and the whole animal economy, which thirty years' experiences has perfectly satisfied me is the only correct theory. &f Samuel Thomson. 45 My practice has invariably been conformable to the general principles upon which my system is founded, and in no instant e have 1 had reason to doubt the cor- rectness of its application to cure all cases of disease when properly attended to : for that all disease is the effect of one general cause, and may he removed by one general remedy, is the foundation upon which I have erected my fabric, and which 1 shall endeavour to explain in as clear and concise a manner as I am ca- pable, with a hope that it may be understood by my readers, and that they may be convinced of its correct- ness. 1 found, after maturely considering the subject, that all animal bodies are formed of the four elements, earth, air, fire, and water. Earth and water constitute the solids, and air and fire, or heat, are the cause of life and motion. That cold, or lessening the power of heat, is the cause of all disease—that to restore heat to its natural stale was the only 'way by which health could be produced: and that after restoring tbe natural heat, by clearing the system of all obstructions and causing a natural perspiration, the stomach would di- gest the food taken into it, by which means, the whole body is nourished^and invigorated, and heat or nature is enabled to hold its supremacy—*that the constitutions of all mankind being essentially the same, and differing only in the different temperament of the same materials of which they are composed ; it appeared clear to my mind, that all disease proceeded from one general cause and might be cured by one general reiuedy—th it a *tate of perfect health arises from a due balance or tem- perature of the four elements ; but if it is by any means destroved, the body i* more or les» disordered. And when "this is the case, there is always an actual dimin- ution or absence of the element of fire, or heat; and in proportion to this diminution, or absence, the body is affected by its opposite, which is cold. And 1 found th.tall disorders which the human family were afflicted with, however various the symptoms, and different the names by which they are called, arise directly from ob- structed perspiration, which is always caused by cold, or want of heat; for if there is a natural heat, it is ioir possible but that there must be a natural perspirationi 44 Narrative of the Lifet Sfc> Having fixed upon these general principles, as the only solid foundation upon which a correct and true understanding of the subject can be founded, my next business was to ascertain what kinds of medicine and treatment would best answer the purpose in conformi- ty to this universal plan of curmg disease ; for it must, 1 think, be cortaia, and self-evident to every one, that whatever will increase the inte.n.il heat, remove all obstructions of the system, restore the digestive pow. rs of the stomach, and produce a natural ;>erspiration, is uuiversaliy applicable in ali casus of disease, and there- fore may be con>idered as a general remedy. The first and mos' important consideration, was to find a medicine that would establish a natural internal heat, so as to give nature its proper command. My emetic herb, (No. 1,) 1 found would effectually cleanse the stomach, and would very essentially aid in raising the heat and promoting perspiration; but would not hold it long enough to effect the desired object, so but that the cold would return again and assume its power. It was like a fire made of shavings ; a strong heat for a short time, and then all go out. After much experi- ence, and trying every thing within my knowledge to gain this important point, 1 fixed upon the medicine which 1 haye called No. 2, in my patent, for that pur- pore ; and after using it for many years, 1 am perfectly convinced that it is the best thing that can be made use of to hold the heat in the stomach until the system can be cleared of obstructions, so as to produce a natural digestion of the food, which will nourish the body, es- tablish perspiration and restore the health of the pa- tient. I found it to be perfectly safe in all cases, and never knew any bad effects from administering it. My next grand object was to get something that would clear the stomach and bowels from canker, which are more or less effected by it in all cases of disease to which the human family are subject. Can- ker and putrefaction are caused by cold, or want of heat; for whenever any part of the body is so affected by cold as to overpower the natural heat, purtrefaction commences, and if not checked by medicine, or the na- tural constitution is not strong enough to overcome its Of Samuel TJiomsaa.. 4j progress it will communicate to the blood, when death will end the contest between heat and cold, by decid- ing in favour of the latter. I have made use of a great many articles, which are useful in removing canker; hut my preparation called No. 8, is the best for that purpose, that has come to my knowledge ; though ma- ny other things may be made use of to good effect, all of whfch 1 shall give particular description ©f in my general directions hereafter. Having endeavoured to convey to my readers in a brief manner a correct idea of the general princi- ples upon which I formed my system of practice, I shall now give some account of the success 1 met with in the various cases that came under my care, and the difficulties and opposition that I hove had to en- counter in maintaining it till this time, against all my ememies. My general plen ©f treatment has been in all cases of disease, to cleanse the stomach by giving No. 1, and produce as great an internal heat as 1 could, by giving No. 2, and when necessary made -use of steaming, in which 1 have always found great benefit, especially in fevers; after this, 1 gave No. S, to clear off the can- ker ; and in all cases where the patient had not previ- ously become so far reduced as to have nothing to build upon, I have been successful in restoring them to health. I found that fever was a distuibed state of the heat, or more properly, that it was caused by the efforts which nature makes to throw off disease, and therefore ought to be aided in its cause, and treated a6 a friend ; and not as an enemy, as is the practice of the physicians. In all cases of disease I have found that there is more or less fever, according to the state.of the system; but that all fevers proceed from the same cause, differing only in the symptoms ; and may be managed and brought to a crisis with much less trouble than is generally considered practicable, by increasing the internal heat, till the cold is driven out, which is the cause of it. Thus keeping the fountain above tfce stream, and every thing will take its natural course. During the year 1805, a very alarming disease pre vailed in Alstedand Walpole, which was considered the 4.(3 Narrative of the Life, Sfc. yellow fever, and was fatal to many who were attacked by it. I was called on and attended with very great success, not losing one patient that I attended; at the same time those who had the regular physicians, near- ly one half of them died. This disease prevailed for about forty days, during which time 1 was not at home but eight nights. I was obliged to be nurse as well as doctor, and do every thing myself, for the people had no knowledge of my mode of practice, and I could not depend upon what any person did, except what was un- der my own immediate inspection. I pursued the same general plan that I had before adopted; but the expe- rience 1 had from this practice, suggested to me many improvements, which I had not before thought of, as respects the manner^>f treatment of patients to effect the objects I aimed at in curing the disease, which was to produce a natural perspiration. 1 found great bene- fit in steaming in the manner that I had discovered and practiced with my little daughter; but I found by ex- perience, that by putting a hot stone into a spider or iron bason, and then wetting the top of the stone with vinegar, was an important improvement, and with this simple method, with a little medicine of my own pre- paring, answered a much better purpose, than all the bleeding and poisonous physic of the doctors. While I was attending those who were sickj and they found that my mode of treatment relieved them from their distress, they were very ready to flatter and give great credit for my practice ; but after I had worn myself out in their service, they began to think that it was not done in a fashionable way ; and the doctors made use of every means in their power to ridicule me and my practice, for the purpose of maintaining their own credit with the people. This kind of treatment was a new thing to me, as I did not at that time so well understand the craft, as I have since, from hard earned experience. The word quackery when used by the doctor against me, was a very important charm to prejudice the peo- ple aganst my practice ; but I would ask all the candid and reflecting part of the people, the following ques- tion, and I will leave them to their consciences to give an answer—Which is the greatest quack, the one who, Of Samuel Thomson. 4j relieves them from their sickness by the most simple and s.ife means, without any pretentions to infallibility or skill, more than what nature and experience has taught him ? or the one who, instead of curing the dis- ease, increases it by administering poisonous medicines, which only tend to prolong the distress of the patient, till either the strength of his natural constitution, or death relieves him ? I was called upon to attend a man by the name of Fairbanks, who lived in Walpole; he was taken with bleeding at the lungs. I found him in a very bad con- dition; the family judged that he had lost nearly six quarts of blood in twenty-four hours. He was in de- spair, and had taken leave of his family, as they con- sidered there was no hopes of bis living. The doctor was with him when I first entered the house; but he fled at my approach. Both his legs were corded by the doctor, and the first thing 1 did was to strip off the cords from his legs; and then gave medicine to get as great an internal heat as 1 possibly could produce; got him to sweat profusely; then gave him medicine to clear the canker ; and in four days he was so well as to be able to go out and attend to his business. Sometime in October, 1805, I attended a Mrs. Good- ell of Walpole ; she had been confined and had taken cold. The most noted doctors in the town had attended her through what they called a fever, and she was then pronounced by them to be in a decline. After three months practice upon her, they had got her into so des- perate a situation, that they gave her over, and said that her case was so putrid and ulcerated that it was utterly incurable. She had in addition to the rest of her diffi- culties, a cancer on her back. In this desperate situa- tion, it was thought by her friends that she was a prop- er subject for me to undertake with. I with a great deal of reluctance undertook with her at her earnest solicitation and that of her husband ; but met with much greater success than I expected. In four weeks she was able to be about the house and do some work. In the same year 1 was sent for to attend a womaa *vho had been in a dropsical way for a number of years. The disease had of late gained with rapid 48 Narrative of the Life, 8[c. progress. Her husband had previously conversed with me upon the subject and said that he had applied to Dr. Sparahawk, and others, and they had agreed to make a trial of mercury. I told him that it would not answer the purpose; he said he was afraid of it himself; but the doctors said there was no other possible way. The doctor tried his mercurial treatment for several days, which very nearly proved fatal; for 1 was sent for in great haste, with a request that I would attend as soon as possible, as they expected she would not live thro' the day. 1 found her situation very distressing; she said it appeared'to her that she was full of scalding wa- ter. She began to turn purple in spots, and it was expected that mortification had taken place. In the first place 1 gave her about a gill of checkerberry and hemlock, distilled, which allayed the heat immediate- ly. This answered the purpose, till I could clear her stomach, and by the greatest exertions, and close atten- tion through the day, I was enabled to relieve her. I attended her for about a week, and she was so far recov- ered as to enjoy comfortable health for twelve years. Notwithstanding this desperate case was cured, to the astonishment of all who witnessed it, the doctors had so much influence over the people, and made so inmy false statements about it, that I got no credit for the cure. 1 his woman's brother had said that her hus- band wanted to kill her or he would not have sent for me. Such kind of ingratitude was discouraging to tne; but it did not prevent me from persevering in my duty. A short time after the above case happened, that wo- man's brother, who made the speech about me, was ta- ken very sick, with what was called the yellow fever, and sent for me. 1 attended him and asked him if he wanted to die. He raid no ; why do you ask that? 1 told him, that i should suppose from the speech he made about my being sent for to his sister, that he did, or he would not have sent for me, if he believed his own words. He said he thought differently now. I attended him through the day with my new practice. To sweat him 1 took hemlock boughs, and put a hot stone in .the middle of a large bunch of them, wrapping the whole in a cloth and poured on hot water till i raised a lively Of Samuel Thomson. 49 steam, and then put one at his feet and another near his body. I gave him medicine to raise the inward heat, and for the canker; after attending him through the day, I went home ; and on calling to see him the next morning, found his fever had turned, and he was quite comfortable, so that he was soon about his business. I was about this time sent for to see a child in Surry, a neighbouring town, which was taken very sick, and was entirely stupid. 1 told the father of the child that it had the canker, and made use of my common mode of practice for that difficulty. Being sent for to go to Walpole to see two young men who had been taken the day before with the prevailing fever, I left the child, with directions how to proceed with it. I then started for Walpole, and found the two young men violently attacked with the fever. They had a brother who had been attended by the doctor for above four weeks for the same disease, and was then just able to sit up. It was thought by all, the two that were attacked last, were as violently taken as the other was; and they ex- pressed a strong wish, that they might be cured with- out so long a run as their brother had. 1 was as anx- ious as they were to have a short job, and exerted all my powers to relieve them, which I was enabled to do that night, and left them in the morning quite comforta- ble, so that they were soon able to attend to their work. The brother who had the doctor, was unable to do any thing for several months. The doctor was paid a heavy bill for his visits; but my cure was done so quick, that ( it wa« thought not to be worthy of their notice, and I never received a cent from them for my trouble. On returning to the child that I had left the day beforp, I found that the doctor had been there and told t! m that I did not know whit was the matter with the chad; and had persuaded them to ^ixe him the care of it He filled it with mercury and run it down ; after having gi- ven as much mercury inside as nature could move, and the bowels grew sdent, he then rubbed mercurial oint- ment on the bowels as long ;s it had any effect ; after which he agreed that the child had the canker very badly; but he still persisted in the same course till the child wasted away and died, in about two months after it E ,. ■ "*: 50 Narrative of the Life, &e. was first taken sick. After the child was dead its pa- rents were willing to allow that 1 understood the disor- der best. The doctor got twenty-five dollars for kil- Jing the child by inches, and I got nothing. In the spring of 1805, a Mrs. Richardson was brought to my house. She was brought in her bed from West- ford, Vermont, about 130 miles; and was attended by a son and daughter, the one 21 and the oth. r 18 years of age. The mother had Iain in her bed most patt of the time for ten years. All the doctors in that part of the country had been applied to without any advantage; and they had spent nearly all their property. 1 under- took with her more from a charitable feeling for the young man and woman, than from any expectation of a cure. Their conduct towards their helpless mother, was the greatest example of affection of children to a parent, that 1 ever witnessed. The voung man stated to me that his mother had been a year together with- out opening her eyes; that when she could open them, they thought her almost well. She was perfectly help- less, not being able to do the least thing; not even to brush off a fly, any more than an infant. She had laid so long that her knee joints had become stiff. I began with her by cleansing her stomach, and pro- moting perspiration ; after which, I used to try to give her some exercise. The first trial I made was to put her bed into a wheelbarrow and lay her on it; when I would run her out, till she appeared to be weary; sometimes I would make a misstep and fall, pretending that I had hurt me ; in order to try to get her to move herself by frightening her. After exercising her in this way for a few days, I put her in a waggon, sitting on a bed, and drove her about in that manner; and when her joints became more limber, I sat her on the seat of the waggon. She insisted that she should fall off, for she said she could not use her feet; but the driver would sometimes drive on ground that was side- ling, and rather than turn over, she would start her foot unexpectedly. After exercising her in this way sometime, I put her on a horse behind her son; she at first insisted that she should fall off; but when I told her she was at liberty to fall, if she chose, she would Gf Samuel Thomson. 51 not, choosing rather to exert herself to hold on. When she had rode a few times in this way, I put her on the horse alone, and after a few trials she would ride very well, so that in the course of two months she would ride four miles out and back every day. She used to be tired after riding, and would lay down and not move for six hours. I continued to give her medicine to keep up perspiration, and restore the digestive powers, and to strengthen the nervous system. I attended her in this way for three months, and then went with her and her son and daughter to Manchester ; she rode upwards of thirty miles in. a day, and stood the journey very well. I never received any pay Tor all my trouble and expense of keeping them for three months, except what the two young, people did more than take care of their mother; but 1 accomplished what 1 undertook, and relieved these two unfortunate orphans from their burthen ; which was more, satisfaction to me than to have received a l>rge sum of money, without doing any good. I saw this woman three years after at the wedding of her son,* and she was quite comfortable, and has enjoyed a tolerable degree of health to this time, being able to wait on herself. On my return from Manchester I stopped at Walpole, and it being on the Sabbath, 1 attended meeting. In the afternoon during service, a young woman was take New-York, for the purpose of ascer- taining the nature of the yellow fever, having been impressed with the idea, that this disease was similar to that which had been prevalent in different parts of the country, only differing in causes which were local 1 made arrangements with a man to take charge of my farm, and on the 26th of June started for Boston, where I took passage for New-York, and sailed on the 3d of July. In passing through the Sound, I was very sensi- bly affected by the cold chills I experienced in conse- quence of the sea air; having never been on the salt water before, this was new to me ; although the wea- ther was very hot on the land, I suffered with the cold. We arrived at New-York in eight days ; and the wea- ther was extremly hot when 1 landed; this sudden o£ Narrative of the Life, $c. change produced a powerful effect on my feelings ; the cause of which I was satisfied in my own mind, was in consequence of the cold 1 had experienced on the wa- ter hiving reduced the naturalheat of the body; thus coming into a very warm atmosphere, the external and internal heat were upon nearly an equal scale, and wh-'.n there is an exact balance, so as to stop the deter- mining powers to the surface, mortification immediately takes place, and death follows. This is the cause why the fever is so fatal to those who go from the north- ward into a warm climate. On my arrival 1 looked round to find a place to board, and took up my lodgings with a Mr. Kavanagh, an Irishman, and a Roman Catholic. After spending some time in viewing the city, I applied to the Mayor of the city, and to the Board of Health, to ascertain whether 1 could have an opportunity to try the effect of my medicine and system of practice on the prevail- ing fever. They told me that I could; but that I could get no pay for it by law. 1 went to see Dr. Mil- ler, who was then President of the board of health, and had some conversation with him upon the subject. He told me the same as the Mayor had, and enquired of me in what manner I expected to give relief; I told him my plan was to cause perspiration. He said if I could cause them to sweat, he thought there was a good chance to effect a cure. After spending several days in New-York, I went to Westchester Creek to procure some medicine. I thought that I was going to have the yellow fever, for I felt all the symptoms, as I thought, of that disease ; my strength was nearly gone, my eyes were yellow, and a noise in my head; my tongue was black, and what passed my bowels was like tar. I was among strangers, and had little money; I went to the house of aquaker woman, and asked her to let me stay with her that day ; she gave her consent. Had but little medi- cine with me, and could find nothing that I could relish but salt and vinegar; I used about half a pint of salt and double that quantity of vinegar, which gave me relief, and 1 gained so much strength, that the next day I was able to return to the city of New-York. On my Of Samuel Thr.msofy. 5J arrival there,! was so weak that it was with the great- est difficulty I could walk to my boarding house, which was about forty rods from the place where we landed. 1 immediately took Nos. 2 and 3, steeped, and No. 4, in a short time 1 began to have an appetite ; the first food that I took wa6 a piece of smoked sal- mon, and some ripe peach sauce. Soon recovered my strength and was able to be about. This satisfied me that 1 had formed a correct idea of this fatal disease; that it was the consequence of losing the inward heat of the body, and bringing it to a balance with the sur- rounding air; and the only method by which a cure can be effected, is by giving such medecine as will in- crease the fever or inward heat, to such a degree as to get the determining power to the surface, by which j means perspiration will take place, and which is called the turn of the fever; if this is not accomplished ei- ther by medicine, or by nature being sufficient to over- come the disease, mortification will be as certain a con- sequence as it would be if a person was strangled. The reason why they lose their strength in so short a time, is because it depends wholly upon the power of inward heat; and as much as they lose that, so much they lose their strength and activity, I had a good opportunity to prove these facts and to satisfy myself, by attending upon a Mr. Mc'Gowan, who had the yellow fever. He was the teacher of the Ro- man Catholic school, and an acquaintance of Mr. Ka- vanagh, with whom I boarded, and who recommended him to my care. He was attacked about noon, was very cold, and had no pain ; his eyes were half closed, and appeared like a person half way between sleeping and waking; he lost so much strength that in two hours he was unable to walk across the room without stagger- ing. I began with him by giving Nos 2 and 3, to raise the inward heat and clear the stomach, and in an hour after getting him warm, he was in very extreme pain, so much so that his friends were alarmed about him; but 1 told them that it wa- a favourable symptom, ^f- ler being in this situation about an hour, perspiration begin and he grew easy; the next day he was out about his business. The effect in these oases is exact-' 39 Narrative of the Life, &.cv ly similar to a person being recovered after having been drowned. The cold having overpowered the in- t ward heat, all sensation or feeling ceases, and of course there is no pain ; but as soon as the heat begins to in- V, crease so as to contend with the cold, sensation returns, and the pain will be very great till the victory is gained by heat having expelled the cold from the body, when a natural perspiration commences, and nature is restor- ed 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 1 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 Iamb 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 affluvia. Much more might be said upon this important subject; but I shall defer it for the present, and shall treat more upon it in another part of the work. It is a subject that has bee.n too much neglected by our health officers in this country. Of Samuel Thomson. 59 While in the city of New-York, I attended an Irish- man by the name uf 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 upper hand. He had be*n ;iffl'Cted with this distressing disorder about four months i 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 bv strictly attending him in this way 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 ot such a disorder being cured in four days. A gentleman whom I had formed an acquaintance with, by the name of James Quackenbush, who had the care of the stale prison warehouse, finding how I had been treated, invited me to go to his house and live with him, which I thankfully accepted. I was treated with much kindness by him, for which he has my most sincere thanks. ?On the 16th of September I started for home, and took passage on board a^packet for Boston, 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 m the neigh- bourhood ; but declined most part of tha applications in consequence of the treatment 1 had received from them, which has been before related. In November I went to Plum Island to collect medicine; on my way 1 called on Joseph Hale, Esq. of Pepperell, and engaged him to eome down with his waggon in about three weeks to bring back what medicine I should collect. I went bv the way of Newburyport; and after being on the island three or four days,-coIlected 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 wire lay at the point of death, with the lung fever j that she CO Narrative of the Life, $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, 1 told him 1 would, and we immediately started in the chaise for his home, which was about six miles. On our arrival he introduced me to his wife as a doctor who made use of the medicine of our country ; and asked her if she was willing that I should under. take to cure her. She said if 1 thought that I could help her, she had no objection. I gave my opinion that « I could, aud undertook, though with some reluctance, as I was in a strange place and no one that I knew. I proceeded 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 j. cured by one whom he called a quack; and attempted i\ to counteract the public impression in my favour, by circulating a report that the woman was getting better ■ and sat up the greatest part of the day before 1 saw her; but this was denied by the woman's husband, and known by many to be false. While I remained in this place, waiting for Mr. Hale to come down wilh his waggon to carry home my me- ■ dicine, I was called on to attend several cases, in all of j which 1 was very successful; most of them were such /IS as h«id 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 week-i, 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. 1 told him that if I was in his situation, I should not be willing to have them cut off till 1 had made some further trial to cure them without. He requested me to undertake 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 : 1 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 s1 tidying with Dr. French, came in and made a great fuss, telfing the young man that I was going to-j oil his hand. I told" him that I was accountable for what was doing, and that if he had any advise to offer I was ready to hear him ; but he seemed to have nothing to offer except to find fault, and went cff, after saying that Dr. French's bill must be paid very soon. I continued to dress his hand, and in ten days he was well enough to attend his woik, being employed in a nml factory. S,on after, I saw him there at woik, and asked him"how his fingers did, he said they were per- fectly cured ; 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 1 thought that enou»h for us both, and I should charge him no- thing. His mother was a poor widow, depending on- herlabour and that of her son for a living. I remain- ed in this place about two weeks, and the people were very urgent that 1 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 Peppe- rell, where I remained several days with Mr. Hale, who was an ingenious blacksmith and a chymist, having been much engaged in the preparation of mineral me- dicine. He had an enquiring turn of mind and was very enthusiastic in his undertakings; although he pre- pared medicines frcm minerals, he ackmv, k cU ed ih; t he was afraid to use them on account ot Ins knowing their poisonous qualities. 1 convinced him ol the su- periority of my system of practice, and instructed him in the use of my medicine, so that he engaged m it and soon had as much practice as he could attend to ; being so we,I satisfied of its general application to the cure of all cases of disease, that he looked no more lor it in his mineral preparations. ■/•*>■ lu the winter of 1807, I went with my wife to Jeri- cho Vermont, to visit my father and friend*, who lived. F G2 Narrative of the Life, cy*c. 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 is 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 be 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 Nos 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 came 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. I 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 Jerico, to advise with me concerning his son, 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 thincr which could be done to he'p him, was to lay open his thigh and scrape the bone. 1 told him that I did not see how they could do that without cutting the great Of Samuel Thomson. 63 artery, which lay close to the bone, where they would have to cut. He said he was satisfied th^t it would not do, and was very urgent that I should undertake with him. 1 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. 1 began with him by giving medicine to correct and strengthen the system ; bathed the wound with my rheumatic drops, or No. 6, sometimes bathing with cvdd water to strengthen it, and after proceeding in this manner fur about a month, he was well enough lo do son-e 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; m.(! was so mortal that all hut 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 held a consultation, to advise what to do; and being informed bv the younc man above mentioned, that I was at home, they sent an express for me, and 1 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 refused to take any thing from the doctors. I had an interview with the selectmen of the town, who had tak- errupon 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 1 could have two men to asti-t me ; this was complied with, and 1 commenced mv practice upon thirty in the course of three days. TIk disorder was the most distressing of any that I had ever .vltnessed. One man had been speechless for six Lt-.-.i-s. and was supposed to be dying ; but on my giving him son e medicine to warm him, he seemed to revive l.ke an '.sect that was warmed by the sun after having li-.id in a torpid state throught the winter. 1 had but little medicine with me and had to use such as 1 could 64 Narrative of die Life, <§'C procure at this place. 1 found the cause of the disease to be coldness and canker; the digestive powers being lost, the stomach became clogged so that it would not Bold the heat. 1 made use of red pepper steeped in a tea of sumach leaves, sweetened, and sometimes the bark and berries, to raise the heat and clear off the can- ker, which had the desired effect. After taking (his tea, those who were strong enough, I placed over a steam, as long as they could bear it, and then put them in bed. Those who were too weak to stand I contrived to have sit over a steam ; and this repeated as occasion required. To restore the digestive powers, I made use of cherry stones, having procured a large quantity of them, that had been laid up and the worms had eaten off all the Outside, leaving the stones clean. 1 pounded them fine, then made a tea of black birch bark, and after cleaning them, by putting them into this tea hot and separating the meats from the stone part, made a syrup by putting from two to three ounces of sugar to one quart of the liquor; this was given freely and answered a good pur- pose. I continued to attend upon my patients, aided by those appointed to assist me, and in eight days I had completely subdued the disease. They all recovered except two, who were dying when I first saw them. 1 gave the same medicine to the nurses and those ex- posed to the disease, as to them that were sick, which prevented their having the disoider. The same thing will prevent disease that will cure it. After finishing my practice at this place, 1 was svnl for and went to the town of Georgia, abuut thirty miles distance, where I practiced with general success for one week, and then returned to Jericho. Those patients whom I had attended, were comfortable, arrd soon entire- ly recovered. The doctors were not very well {'leas- ed with my success, because J iuformed the people how to cure themselves, and they have had no need of their assistance in that disorder since. They circulated re^ ports for twenty miles round, that 1 kiled all that 1 at- tended; but the people were all perfectly satisfied with my practice, and were willing to give me ail cicdit for my skill, so their malice towards me was of no avail. About this time bemg in the tuw.i of Bridgwater, VL Of Samuel Thomson. 65 I was called on to see a young man about 18 years of age, who had lost the use of his arm by a strain ; it had been in a perishing condition for six months. The flesh appeared to be dead, and he carried it in a sling; his health was bad. Being unable to stop to do any thing for him at this time, he was sent to my house. I began with him in ray usual manner by giving him warm medicine, and bathed his arm with the oil of spearmint; in about ten days he was well enough to use his arm and do some work; in about two months he was entirely cured and returned home. In the spring of the year 1807, I went to Salisbury, according to my promise when there the fall before. On my way there I stopped at Pelham; the man at whose house 1 staid, insisted on my going to see his fa- ther in law. who hud the rheumatism very bad, having been confined two months. I attended him three days, when he was able to walk some, by the assistance of a cane ; he soon got about and was comfortable. While at this place I was sent for to a young woman, sick of a consumption; she had been a long time attended by a doctor, who seemed very willing for my advice; I car- ried her through a course of my medicine, and the doc- tor staid to see the operation of it; he seemed well pleased with my system of practice, and gave me much creht, saying that I was the first person he ever knew that could make his medicine do as he said it would. I was sent for to attend several cases of consumption and other complaints at this time, in all of which 1 met with success, and gave general satisfaction to the people. After stopping at Pelham three weeks, in which time I had as much practice as I could attend, I went to Sa- lisbury mills, where I was very cordially welcomed by all thosa who had been attended by me the season be- fore. I was called on to practice in this place and New- buryport, and my success was so great that it caused much alarm amongst the doctors, and a class of the peo- ple who were their friends, who did all they could to injure me, and destroy my credit with the people. A considerable part of the patients, who were put under my care, were such as the doctors hud given over, and those being cured by me, had a tendency to open the f2 6,6* Narrative of the Life, ^*c. eyes of the people, and give them a correct under- standing of the nature of their practice, and couvince them that a simple and speedy cure was more for their interest and comfort, than long sickness, pain and dis- tress; besides having to pay exhorbitant doctors' bills, for useless visits and poisonous drugs, which have no other effect than to prolong disease, and destroy the natural constitution of the patient. Among those doctors who seemed so much enraged against me, for no other reason that 1 could learn, than because I had cured people whom they had given over, and instructed them to assist themselves when sick, without having to apply to them; there was none that made themselves so conspicuous as Dr. French. 1 had considerable practice in his neighbourhood, and was very successful in every case; this seemed to excite his malice against me to the greatest pitch; he made use of every means in his power, and took every opportu- nity to insult and abuse me both to my face and behind my back- A few of the inhabitants who were his friends joined with him, and became his instruments to injure me; but a large proportion of the people were friendly to me, and took great interest in my safety and success. The doctor and his adherents spread all kinds of ridiculous reports concerning me and my prac- tice, giving me the name of the old wizzard; and that my cures were done under the power of witchcraft. This foolish whim was too ridiculous for me to under- take to contradict, and I therefore rather favoured it ■lerely for sport; many remarkable circumstances took place tending to strengthen this belief, and some of the Silly and weak-minded people really beliered that I possessed supernatural powers. This will not appear »o strange, when we take into view, that the people generally were ignorant of my system of practice, and when they found that 1 could cure those diseases that the doctors, in whom they had been in the habit of put- all their confidence, pronounced as incurable ; and that I could turn a fever in two days, which would often take them as many months, they were led to believe that there was something supernatural in it. A man who was sue of the friends of Dr. French^ Of Samuel Thomson. 67 and, who had been very enemical to me, doing all in Iris power to injure and ridicule me, sent word one day by a child, that his calf was sick, and he wanted me to come and give it a green powder and a sweat. Know- ing that his object was to insult, I returned for answer, that he must send for Dr. French, and if he couid not cure it, 1 wouid come, for that was the way that I had to practice here. It so happened that (he caif died soon after, and bis youngest chihl was taken suddenly and vers dangerously sick. Not long after he found another call dead in the field, and about the same time hi.- oldest son was taken sick. These things happening in such an extraordinary manner, caused him to reflect on hid conduct towards me, and his conscience con- demned him, for trying to injure me without cause.- He had the folly to believe, or the wickedness to pre-' tend to believe, that it was the effect of witchcraft ; and wishing to nuke his peace with mo, «ent me word, that if 1 would let h.s family aiune, he. would never do or say any thing more to my injurj'. This I readily ♦fcsented to; and his children soon after getting well, though there was nothing very extraordinary in it, as it might all be easily accounted for by natural causes ; yet it afforded much conversation among the gossips, and idle busybodies in the neighbourhood ; and was made use of by my enemies to prejudice the people against me. Being in company with a young woman who be- longed to a family that were my enemies, she, to insult me, asked me to tell her fortune. 1 consented, and knowing her character not to be the most virtuous, and to amuse myself at her expense, told what had taken place between her and a certain young man the night before. She seemed struck with astonishment; and said that she was convinced that I was a wizzard, for it was impossible that I could have known it without the devil had told me. She did not wish me tell her any more. I practiced in this place and vicinity a few months and returned home to attend to my farm for the rest of the season. While at home I was sent for, and at- tended in different parts of the country, and was very successful in my mode of practice, particularly in places; where the dysentery and fevers were most prevalent ^ 68 Narrative of the Lifr, <&c. neve1' failing in any instance of giving relief, and com- pletely putting a check to those alarming epidemics. which caused so much terror in many places in the in- terior of the country In the year of 1800, went again to Salisbury, and on my way there s'opped at Pelham and attended and gave relief in several cases of disease. On my arrival at Salisbury Mills, where I made it my home, I was im- mediately called on to practice in that place and the adjacent towns. Many came to me from different parts, whose cases were desperate, having been given over by the doctors, such is humors, dropsies, mollification-:, fellons, consumptions, iv.c. Fevers were so quickly ru- ed, and with so little trouble, that many were unwilling to believe they had the disease. My success was so great that thp people generally were satisfied of the superiority of my mode of practice over all others. This created considerable alarm with the doctors, and those who sided with them. Dr. French seemed to be much enraged, and having failed to destroy my credit with the people by false reports, and ridiculous state- ments of witchcraft, shifted his course of proceeding, and attempted tofiighlen me by threats, which only tended to show the malice he bore me; for no other reason, that I could conceive of, as I had never spoken to him, than because of my success in relieving those he had given over to die. He would frequently cause me to be sent for in great haste to attend some one in his neighbourhood, who was stated to be very sick: but 1 saw through these tricks, and avoided all their snares. It seemed to be his determination, if he failed in des- troying my practice, to destroy me. Being in compa- ny one day at Salisbury village, with Mr. Jeremiah Eaton of Exeter, whose wile was under my care for a dropsical complaint, I was sent for four times to visit a young man at the house of Dr. French; the last time a man came on horseback in the greatest haste, and insisted that I should go and see him. 1 asked why Dr. French did not attend him ; he answered that he had rather have me ; being convinced from the appear- > ances of things, that it was an attempt to put some trick upon me, I refused to go, and the man returned. La a Of Samuel Thomson. ■ 6.9 short time after Dr. French came into the village, and Mr. Eaton who was present v. hen they came -after me, askod him what aded the young man at his house; he said nothing, but that he was as well as any body. This revealed the whole secret. Mr. Eaton then asked him why he caused me to be sent for so many time?- under a false pretence.— lie said to see if 1 dared to com-: in- to his neighbourhood—that he did not cave how much 1 practiced on that side of the river; but if I came on his he would blow my brains Mil— that I wa= a murder- er and he could prove it. Mr. Eaton observed tint it was a heavy accusation to make against a man, and that he ought to be made to prove his words, or to suffer the consequence—that his wife was under my care, and if 1 was a murderer he ought to see to it. Dr. trench again :-'M-;ated the words, with many threats against me, and slnmed the spite and malice of a s;»v;:ge. Mr. Eaton and others of my friends considered my life in danger; and came immediately to me and rela'ed what had been said by the doctor; and advised me to be on my guard. 1 had to pass his house every day to visit my patients; but did not consider myself safe in goint him, and to prove that he was a man oi h,s w0nl. went to satuiv the court tha: the complaint was w,Mi -rounded. He"was l.-id under two mmured uoliar boiKuTto keep tiie peace and appear at the next couit 70 Narrutlsc of the Life, §c of common plea?. He appeared at the next court, was ordered to pay all the co.-ts. and was discharged from his bail. This was an end of our controversy for that time: but his malice continued against me long after; seeking every mean- to destroy me and prevent my practising, that he could devise : but proceeded with more caution, which caused me a great deal of trouble and much suffering, as will be hereafter related I continued to practice in this place, and had as many patients a-I could possibly attend upon notwithstanding the opposition I constantly met with from the doctors and their friend*: for with all their arts and falsehoods they were not ;d>le to prevent these labouring under complaint* which they had found could not he remov- ed by the fashionable mode of treatment, from applying to me for relief; none of whom but what were either cured or received great relief by the practice. Some of the most extraordinary cases I shall give a particu- lar account of for the information of the reader. Mr. Jabez True, the minister of Salisbury, was afflict- ed with what the doctors called nettle-rash, or what is commonly called St. Anthony's fire. He stated to me that it was caused by fighting fire, about twenty-five years before, and that he had been subject to a break- ing out ever since; which at certain times was very painful and troublesome, as it felt like the sting of bees, and would swell all over his body. He had applied to all the doctors in those parts for their advice, but got no assistance from them. I told him that he had heated himself to such a degree by violont exercise and being exposed to the fire, that there was nearly a balance be- tween the outward and inward heat, and then cooling too sudden, the inward heat had fallen as much below the natural state as it had been above it before, and the only way to effect a cure was to bring him into the same state as he was in when fighting the fire. He wished me to undertake his case. 1 carried ban through a course of my medicine, and made use of every means in raw power to raise the inv.ard heat, pursuing my plan with all zeal for two days: when he became alarmed, and said he felt as though he should die, for he felt the same as he did when he was fighting the fire. I then Of Samuel Thomson. T) kept him in that situation as much as possible, and it went down gnuli.aiiy so as to hold a natural pioportion of heat. My plan succeeded so completely, that he was perfectly cured and has enjoyed good health ever since. I attended upon his wife at the same time, who had been long in a consumption, and had been given over. ^he was perfectly cured ; and they are now living in good heahh and are ready to testify to the truth of these statements. Previously to my difficulty wih Dr. French, as has been before mentioned, Mrs. Eaton and another woman by the name of Lifford, came, to me at Salisbury mills from i'.xeter. Their complaint was dropsy ; and were both desperate case*, having been given over by the doctor who had attended them. Mrs. Eaton was swell- ed to such a degree, that she could not see her knees as she sat in a chair, and her limbs in proportion. I felt unwilling to undertake with them, as I considered there would be but little chance of a cure ; and d. clined do- ing any thing for them, and sent them away, stating that there was no place that they could «et boarded. They went away as I supposed to go horn-; but they soon returned, and said they had found a place where they could stay, and a young woman had agreed to nm se them. 1 undertook with them very reluctantly; but could not well avoid it. I gave them some medicine, and it operated favourably on both, especially on Vlrs. Lifford ; then gave s'rict orders to the nurse, to attend them attentively through the night, and keep up a per- spiration; but she almost totally neglected her duty, spending her time with the young people. On visiting them in the morning, I was very much hurt to find re- directions neglected. Mrs. Lifford was quite poorly; and stated to me that the nurse had neglected her, and that she had got her feet out of bed ; her perspiration had ceased and other symptoms appeared unfavourable. I attended upon her through the day and did all I could to relieve her. but could not raise a perspiration a charge of him dur- ing the night, keeping up a perspiration, in the mom- ing he was much relieved and had his right mind. He had no pain except in the lower part of the bowels; to relieve which he was very anxious that 1 should give him some physic; 1 opposed this, bein* confident that it would not do in such putrid cases. He was so urgent, however, 1 gave him some, which operated very soon ; and the consequence was, that it reinforced his disorder,. and threw him into the greatest distress. He asked for more physic, but I told him that I would not give him any more, for I was satisfied of the impropriety of giving it in such cases, and I have never given any since. It checked the perspiration, and drew the determining powers from the surface inward ; so that I had to go through the same process again of raising perspiration, and vomiting, which vvas much more difficult than at first, and it was with the greatest attention that I was able to keep off the mortification for twelve hours that he was kept back by taking this small dose of physic. 1 kept up the perspiration through Friday and Saturday, and on Sunday morning when I called to see him, he was up and dressed; on asking *how he did, he said as strong as you are, and took me under his arm and car- ried me across the room. On Monday he was down on the wharf attending to his business. This cure caused considerable talk in the town, and because it was done so quick, the doctors said that there was but little ailed him, and he would have got well Of Samuel Thomson* Ci himself if he had taken the physic and been left alone ; but those who saw it were convinced to the contrary ; others doubted, and said among themselves, bow can a man who has no learning and never studied physic, know how to cure disease. Mr. Mice, however, gave mc credit for the cure, and was very grateful for it, and 1 made his house my home, when in Portsmouth, and was treated with much respect. • He introduced me to his uncle, Alexander Rice, Esq. a man of respectability, and high standing in that place; who at first could not believe that so valuable a discovery could be made by a man without an education 1 conversed with him up- on the subject, and explained the principles upon which my svstem was founded—how every thing acted under the n;'ttire and operation of the four elements, and by one acting upon another caused all motion—how the element of tire by rarifying water and air keeps the whole creation in motion—how the temperament of the body, by adding or diminishing heat and cold would promote either life or death. After hearing my expla- nation, he became satisfied of its correctness, and con- fessed that my natural gift was of more value than learning. He then made known to me his infirmities, and wished me to take the care of his family and give him and his wife such information asVould enable them to attend upon themselves and family in case of sick- ness. 1 readily agreed to this, and soon after carried come of the family through with the medicine, and gave them all the information in my power, of the principle, and the medicine with which it was done. Mrs. Rice undertook the management of the business; she was a kind and affectionate woman, possessing a sound judg- ment without fear. After she had gained the informa- tion, she wished me to attend to carrying her through a course of the medicine, for a bad humour, called the salt rheum, which she had been Ions; afflicted with ; she was attended a few times, which effected a complete cure. . Major Rice had been for many years subject to turns of the o-out; and had be<-n in some instances confined by it fo°r six months at a time, and for six weeks not able to sit up, much of the time not able to lift his hand 32 Narrative of the Life, fyc. to his head. He hid been constantly under the care of the most skillful doctors, who would bleed and blister, and physic 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 iu 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 al- most 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 troubled \vith the burning of the stomach since. He has told me since, that if he could have been as sure of relief, when he was first subject to the 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 benefitted 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 trou- bles his assistance was of the greatest importance to me, and 1 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 become 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 there 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 1 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 Sumuel Thomson. 83 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 so* n giew better by taking my 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 were 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 should be treated in a better manner than I had been, that I consented, and remained with them about ten days. I caught the disorder myself and vvas 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, were 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, the death of these three children was brought against me on a charge of murder. All that 1 ever received for my trouble in these cases, was fifteen dollars; there was no credit given me for curing the fifteen out of eighteen, when the doctor had lost ail that he attended ; and although he. had giv- en over three to die, I cured one of them twelve hours after. When 1 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 1 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 Narrative of the Life, Sfc formed, testified to the same thing; though I am confi- 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 alter he had lent his aid in promot- *j ing the prosecution against me, a rircumstance took place in his family, which if it had i ot been done by a fash- ionable doctor, might have been called murder. 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 out 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, vvas sent for to go / to Salisbury to see a child that had been attended by a woman for several days, who I had given information to, J; but they said the perspiration would not hold ; and they wished for further informatidn. 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 power 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, 1 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 arid 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 m-ich 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 practised in Salisbury before, since I went j Of Samuel Thomson. 8a 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; I did not appear against him, and when the case was called the court discharged him and his bail, on his paying the cost. The 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 (hat the defendant made the assertion,that i was guilty of murder and he could prove it. His lawyer admitted the fact, but pleaded justification on the part of his client, and brought witnesses un the stand to prove that what he had said was true. The young woman who nursed Mr3. 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, which 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. I had no knowledge of ever seeing this woman, and have since ascertained that she was not at the house bqt once during the sickness, and then did not go into Che room where the sick were ; and her exaggerated account must have been made up of what she had heard others say. These things were a complete surprise to me, not thinking it possible that people could he 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 Lij'e^ §c. me if there was time, but not expecting that the cause would have taken the course it did, was unprepared. There appeared to be a complete combination of the professional craft against me, of both the doctors and lawyers, and a determination that I should lose the cause, let the evidence be what it might. My lawyers gave up the case without making a plea ; and the judge gave a very partial charge to the jury, representing me in the worst point of view that he possibly could, saying that the evidence was sufficient to prove the facts against me, and that if I had been tried for my life, he could not say whether it would hang me or send me to the state prison for life. The jury of course gave their verdict against me, and I had to pay'the ccst of the court. The counsel for Dr. French asked the judge whether a warrant ought not to be issued against me, and be compelled to recognize to appear at the next court, to which he answered in the affirmative. This so fright- ened my friends, that they were much alarmed for my safety, and advised me to go out of the way of my ene- mies, for they seemed to be determined to destroy me. I went to Andover to the house of a friend, whose wife I had cured of a cancer, where I was very cordially re- ceived, and staid that night. The next day I went to Salisbury-mills, and made arrangements to pay the costs of my unfortunate law suit. In the fall of the year 1808, I was sent for to go to Beverly, to see the wife of a Mr. Appleton, who was the daughter of Elder Williams, the Baptist Minister in that town, and was very low in a consumption. She had formerly been afilicted with the salt-rheum on her hands, and had applied to a doctor for advice; he had advised her lo make use of a sugar of lead wash, which drove the disease to her lungs, and she had been in that situation for a long time, and very little hopes were en- tertained of her ever being any better. I carried her through a course of the medicine, with very good suc- cess. 1 remained in Beverly about a week; and while there, became acquainted with Mr. Williams, and also Mr. William Raymond, to whom I afterwards gave in- formation of my practice and he assisted me to attend on my patients. Then returned to Portsmouth, where Of Samuel Thomson. 87 I was constantly called on to practice, and had all the most desperate cases put under my care,in all of which I met with very great success. After staying here about two weeks I returned to Beverly, to see Mrs. Appleton and other patients there, and found them all doing well: was called on to attend many desperate cases ; in all of which I effected a cure, except one, who was dying before I was called on. While practising in Beverly was called on by a Mr. Lo- vett, to attend his son, who vvas sick, as they supposed with a bad cold, some thought it a typhus fever. I was very much engaged in attending upon the sick at the time, and could not go with him; he came after me three times before I could go. On seeing him found that he complained of a stifl neck, and appeared to be very stupid, and had no pain. His aunt who took care of him, said that he would certainly die, for he had the Fame symptoms as his mother who died a short time befo'.e. I gave some medicine which relieved him; the next day carried him through a course of the medicine, and he appeared to be doing well. Being called on to go to Salem, I left him in the care of Mr. Raymond, with particular directions to keep in the house and not ex- pose himself. This was on Wednesday, and 1 heard no- thing fcom him, and knew not but what he was doing well, till the !--unday afternoon following, when 1 was informed that he was worse. I immediately enquired of Mr. Raymond, and learned from him that he had got so much better, he had been down on the side of the water, and returned on Friday night; that the weather was very cold, (being in the month of December;) that he had been chilled with the cold, and soon after his re- turn had been taken very ill; he staid with him on Sa- turday night, and that he was raving distracted all night; that he had not given any medicine, thinking that he was too dangerously sick for him to undertake with. 1 told the young man's father, that it was very doubt- ful whether"! could do any thing that would help him: but that I would try and do all 1 could. I found that the patent was so far gone that the medicine would have no effect, and in two hours told him that 1 could not help his son, and advised him to call some other ad- 8$ Narrative of the Life, Sfc. vice; this was said in presence of Elder Williams, and Mr. Raymond. Mr. Lovett made answer that if I could not help his son he knew of none who could ; and was very desirous for me to stay with him all night, which I did, and stood by his bed the whole time. He was much deranged in his mind till morning, when he came to himself, and was quite sensible. I then again request- ed the father to send for some other doctor, as I was sensible that I could do nothing for him that would be any benefit. He immediately sent for two doctors, and as soon as they arrived, 1 left him in their care. The two doctors attended him till the next night about ten o'clock when he died. 1 have been more particular in giving the history of this case, because two years after it was brought as a charge against me for murdering this young man. The father and friends expressed no dissatisfaction at the time, in regard to my conduct, except they thought I ought not to have neglected the patient so long; hut it was a well known fact, that I at- tended as soon as 1 knew of his being worse, and that the whole cause of hid second attack was owing to his going out and exposing himself, and could not be im- puted as any fault of mine. In the latter part of December 1808, I was sent for to attend Elder Bowles, the Baptist minister of Salem. 1 was introduced to him by Elder Williams, and found him in bed, and very weak and low, in the last stage of a consumption ; all hopes of a recovery were at an end —his doctors had left him as incurable. He asked my opinion of his case; 1 tohl him that 1 could not tell whether there was a possibility of a cure or not till after using the medicine ; being doubtful whether there was mortification or not. He vvas a man very much respected and beloved by his people, and the public anxiety was very great about him. He expressed a strong d-'-sire that I should undertake with him; but I declined doing any thing until he consulted his deacons and other members of his church, who were his parties ular friends, and their advice taken ; which being done, they offered no objection, but wished him to act his own mind, and whatever ihe result should be they would be satisfied. He replied that he was convinced that he Of Samuel Thomson. 89. could not live in his present situation more than a week, and therefore his life could not be shortened more than that time ; and it was his wish that 1 should undertake to cure him. His strength was so far exhausted that it was with the greatest exertions and difficulty that they could get him to sit up about three minutes in a day, to have his bed made. I gave his friends as correct an account of his disorder and the operation of the medicine, as I could; and that 1 did not wish to do any thing which might cause reflec- tion hereafter; but they promised that let the result be what it might they should be satisfied and would not think hard of me. On these conditions I undertook, and told them that twenty-four hours time would decide whether he lived or died. I began to give the medicine in the morning, which had a very calm and easy opera- tion ; the emetic herb operated very kindly, and threw off his stomach a large quantity of cold jelly, like the white of an egg; the perspiration moved gently on and was free ; the internal heat produced by the medicine fixed the determining power to the surface, and threw out the putrefaction to such a degree that the smell was very-offensive. Mr. Bowles had a brother present who was a doctor; he observed that he did not know whether the medicine made the putrefaction, or whether it made visible what was secreted in the body; but he was soon convinced on that head, for when the medicine had cleaned him, all this putrid smell ceased. While the medicine was in the greatest operation the perspiration brought out the putrefaction to such a degree, that the nurse in making his bed vvas so affected with it, that she fainted and fell on the floor. 1 attended on him for about three weeks, 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 fast, considering the season of the year being unfavourable. I gave him my best advice and left directions 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 see Mr Bowles, and found him soiar recovered as to be able to ride out, and in good spirits. He soon gained J&= eO Narrative of the Life, <$-c; - health, and is now well and ready to give testimony of the facts as 1 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 shali mention of ,«. 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 1 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 medicines and directions, and occasionally visited her. My plan of treatment was followed with much -attention and zeal for six months, before I 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 1 possibly could; this caused much alarm among her friends, as they thought she would certainly 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. During 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. 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 1 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 course of practice made her worse. 1 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 ot which had been given over by the doctors, were at- tended by me about this time, which it will be unneces- sary for me to particularize ; all of them were either completely cured or essentially relieved and made com- fortable by the system of practice. One case I shall, however, state, being rather of an extraordinary na- ture, to show the absurdity of the fashionable manner of treating disease by the doctors of the present 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 manner 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 lace, while all the extremities were cold; this produced a deceptive appearance of health, and caused those who judged by outward appearances, to doubt whether there was any disease; so that she had not only to bear her own infirmities, but the reproaches of her acquaintances. 1 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 vessels, and they being much extended by not having heat enough to give it motion, leads the doctors into the erroneous idea, that there is too much blood, and resort to the practice of bleeding, which reduces the strength of the patient, and increases the disease. There is no such '32 Narrative of the Life, &e. thing as a person having too much blood, no more than there is of having 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 1 could never -reconcile with common sense. After 1 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 onre exhibited a true picture of her sit- uation ; 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 flesh, and in a short lime was completely restored to health. I was about this time called to attend a woman who was very severely attacked with the spotted fever, i he first appearance of it was a pain in her heel, which 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 th::n 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 from the air, giving her Nos, 1 and 2, and keeping her in a moderate steam, she in a short time came to her senses; and the symptoms were 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 1 had another case of a child which the doctor had given over. When 1 came to this child it vvas senseles*, and I expected in a mortified state; I gave it the hottest medicine 1 could get,with the emetic; it lay about six hours silent, before the medicine had kindled 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. 1 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 tlu- 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- tor 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 as he was dead the doctor"! 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 ascrew-au- $4 Narrative of the Life, $c. ger. This was readily seized upon by the doctors, ami 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 med- icine 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 I had cured were un- willing to own it, for fear of being laughed at for ems ploying me. The circumstance of the death of the above mention- ed Capt. Trickey, vvas 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 slop to their career for that time. I 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 had attended on those who were given over as incurable, and they died, whether 1 gave them any medicine or not, the report was immediately circulated that they were killed by me, at the same time the regu- I ir doctors wou'd lose their patients every day, 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 people, tint 1 killed them. I could mention a great number of cases of the cures that I performed, if I thou^u it necessary; but my in- tention is to give the particulars of such only as will Of Samuel Thomso/i. 5>> have the greatest tendency to convey to the reader the most correct information of my mode of practice, with- out repeating any that were 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 I am capable to do from memory ; in order to show what I have suffered from the persecutions ot some of the me- dical faculty, for no other reason, as I conceive, than that they feared my practice would open the eyes of the people, and lessen their importance with them; by giving such information as would enable .them to cure themselves of disease without the aid of a doctor; and from many others, who were 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. Many of the latter, however, have since been convinced of their er- ror, have a very favorable 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 I remained a few weeks, and returned back to Salisbury; on my way there 1 made several stops in different places where 1 had before practised, to see my friends and to give in- formation to those who made use of my medicine and practice. On my arrival at Salisbury, my friends in- formed me that Dri French had been very busily em- ployed in my absence, and that he and a deacon Pecker, who was one of the grand jury, had been to Salem, to the court, and on their return had said that there had been a bill of indictment found against me for wilful murder. They advised me to go off and keep out of the way ; but I told them I should never do that—for it 4hey had found a bill against me, the government must prove the charges, or I must be honorably acquitted. About ten o'clock at night Dr, French came to the place where I stopped, with a constable, and made me a prisoner in behalf of the commonwealth. I asked the constable to read the warrant, which he did ; by this I 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, the next morning. I was then taken by the constahle to Dr. French's house, and keep- ers were placed over me to prevent me from escaping. While at his house and a prisoner, Dr. French 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 two 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 I was at 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 vvas 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 1 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 I 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 honorably 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. 97 press, saying that I was a murderer, and that I had murdered fifty and he could prove it—that 1 should be either hung or sent to the State prison for life, and he would do all in his power to have me convicted. 1 was then put in irons by the sheriff, and conveyed to the jail in Newhuryport, 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 a table, and nothing but a miserable straw bunk on the floor, with one poor blanket which had never been washed. I 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 stifled with the smell. J tried to rest myself as well as I could, but got no sleep that night, for I felt something crawling 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 situ- ation. My spirits and the justness of my cause pre- vented me from making any lamentation, and I bore my sufferings without complaint. At breakfast time I was called on through the grates to take our miserable breakfast; it consited of an old tin pot of musty coffee, 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 ns 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 >-ee me, and on witnessing my miserable situation he was so much affected that he could scarcely speak. He brought me some provisions, which 1 vvas very glad to receive; and when I described to him my misera- 98 Narrative of the Life, §-c. ble lodgings and the horrid place I was in, he wept like a child. He asked liberty of the jailer to furnish me with a bed, which was granted, and brought me one, and other things to make me more comfortable. The next day I wrote letters to my family, to Dr. Fuller, and to Judge Rice, stating to them my situa- tion. The bed which was brought me 1 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 were left, his poor wife would come and beg to carry to her starving children, who were dependant 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 1 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 advise of my friends, and Judge Rice undertook to attend to the busi- ness and do every thing to get the prayer of the peti- tion granted. He followed the business up with great zeal and did" every thing that could be done to effect the object. 1 think he told me that he or the lawyer, Mr. Bartlett, had rode from Newhuryport to Boston. fifteen times in the course of three weeks, on the bu- siness At length Judge Parsons agreed to hold a spe- cial court at Salem, on the 10th day of December, to try the cause, which was one month from the day I Of Samuel Thomson. 09 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 1 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 were 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 Newhuryport. On thanksgiv- ing day we were taken out of our cell and put in a 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 were of the filthiness and bad condition of the prison, in which we all agreed. Before it was dark I and my companion were waited upon to our fihhy den again. There was nothing in the room to sit upo.- higher than the thickness of our bed ; and when 1 wrote any thing, 1 had to lay on my belly, in which situation I wrote tha Medical Circular, and several other pieces, which were afterwards printed. After I hail been in prison about two weeks, my son- in law came to see me ; I had before my imprisonment sent for him to come to Portsmouth on some business, and on hearing of my being in prison he immediately came to Newhuryport, to see me. He seemed much more troubled about my situation than 1 was myself. I felt perfectly conscious of my innocen£e~|md was sat- isfied that I had done nothing to merit sueff cruel treat- ment ; therefore my mind vvas free from reproach ; for 1 had pursued the course of duty, which I con- ceived was allotted me by my maker and done every thing in my power to benefit my fellow-creatures. These reflections supported me in my troubles and persecutions, and was perfectly resigned to my fate. 100 Narrative of the Life, Sfc. About this time a lawyer came into the prison and read to me the indictment, which was in the common form, that I with malice aforethought, not having the fear of God before my eyes, but moved by the instiga- tion of the devil, did kill and murder the said Lovett, with lobelia, a deadly poison, &c.; but feeling so per- fectly innocent of the charges, which the bill alleged against me, it had very little effect upon my feelings ; knowing them to be false and that they had been brought against me by my enemies, without any provo- cation on my part. In the morning of the day that was appointed for me to be removed to Salem for trial, I was taken out of my loathsome cell by the jailor, who gave me water to wash myself with, and 1 was permitted to take my breakfast by a fire, which was the first time I had seen any for thirty days, and could not bear to sit near it in consequence of its causing me to feel faint. As soon as I had eat my breakfast the iron shackles were brought and put on my hands, which 1 was obliged to wear till I got to Salem. The weather was very cold and the going bad; we stopped but once on the way, the dis- tance heing about twenty-six miles. On our arrival I was delivered over to the care of the keeper of the prison in Salem, and vvas confined in a room in the se- cond story, which was more comfortable than the one 1 had left. I was soon infoimed that Judge Parsons was sick, and had put off my trial for fen days ; so I had to reconcile myself to the idea of being confined ten days more without fire. However I was not with- out friends; Elder Bowles and Capt. Russell came to see me the first night, and Mrs. Russell sent her servant twice every day with warm coflee, and other things tor my ccmfort, for which 1 have always been grateful; and Mrs. Packjns whom I had cured of a dropsy, sent for my clothes to wash against the day of my trial. Many of my friends came to Salem to attend my tri- al ; some as witnesses and others to afford me any as- sistance in their pover. A few days before my trial, Judge Rice and Mr. Bartlett, whom I had employed as my lawyer, held a consultation with me, as to the ar- rangements necessary to be made ; when it was docid- Of Samuel Thomson. 101 ed that it would be best to have other cousel; and Mr. Story was agreed upon, who engaged in my cause. 1 had also engaged Mr. Bannister of Newhuryport to assist in the trial; but he was of no benefit to me, and afterwards sued me for fifty dollars at fifty miles dis- tance, to put me to great expense. In order to be prepared for the trial, my counsel held a consultation together and examined the principal witnesses in the defence. Mr. Bowles, Judge Rice, and several others gave great satisfaction as to the value and usefulness of the medicine, and the variety of cures that had been performed with it within their knowledge. Dr. Fuller of Milford, N. H. was present and made many state- ments in my favour as to the value of the medicine, and advised to have Dr. Cutler of Hamilton summon- ed, which was done. Every thing was done by my friends that vvas in their power to assist me and give me a chance for a fair trial, for which I shall always feel very grateful. On the 20th day of December, 1809, the Supreme Court convened to hear my trial, at which Judge Par- sons presided, with Judges Sevvall and Parker, assist- ant Judges. The case was called about ten o'clock in the morning, and the chief justice ordered me to be brought from the prison and arraigned at the bar for trial. I was waited on by two constables, one on my right and the other on my left, in which situation I was brought from the jail to the court-house and placed in the bar. The court-house was so crowded with the peopie, that it was with much difficulty we could get in After 1 was placed in the criminal seat, a chair was handed me and I sat down to wait for fur- ther orders. Here I was the object for this great con- Gourse of people to look at; some with, pity, others with scorn. In a few minutes I was directed to rise and hold up my right hand, to .hear the indictment- read, which the grand jury had upon tlreir oaths pre- sented against me. It was in common form, stating that I had with malice aforethought, murdered Ezra-. Lovett, with lobelia, a deadly poison, i was then di- rected by the court to plead to the indictment, guilty op not guilty—I plead not guilty, and the usual forms jeu 102 Narrative of the Life, <$-c. such cases, were passed through, the jury called and sworn, and the trial commenced. The solicitor general arose and opened the case on the part of the commonweal h, and made many hard statements against me, which he said he was about to prove ; he stated that I had at sundry times killed my patients with the same poison. The first witness call- ed to the stand on the part of the government, was Mr. Lovett, the father of the young man that I was ac- cused of killing. He made a tolerable fair statement of the affair in general, particularly of coming after me several times before I could attend; though I think he exaggerated many things against me, and told over several fictitious and ridiculous names, which people had given my medicine, by way of ridicule, such as bull-dog, ram-cat, screw-auger, and belly my-grizzle; all which had a tendency to prejudice the court and jury against me ; and I also thought that he omitted to tell many things in my favour, that must have been within his knowledge; but there was nothing in his evidence that in the least criminated me, or supported the charges in the indictment. The next witness called was Dr. Howe, to prove that 1 bad administered the poison alleged in the in- dictment. He stated that I gave the poison to the said Lovett, and produced a sample of it, which he said was the root of lobelia. The Judge asked him if he was positive that it was lobelia—he said he was, and that 1 called it coffee. The sample vvas handed round for the court to examine, and they all appeared to be afraid of it, and after they had all satisfied their curi- osity, Judge Rice took it in his hand and eat it, which very much surprised them. The solicitor general asked him if he meant to poison himself in presence ©f the court, He said it would not hurt him to eat a peck of it, which, seemed to strike the court with as- tonishment. Dr. Howe was then called at my request for cross-examination, and Mr. Story asked him to de- scribe lobelia, how it looked when growing, as he had sworn to it by the taste and smell. This seemed to put him to a stand, and after being speechless for several srunutes, he said he had not seen any so long, he should Of Samvel Thomson. 103 not know it if he should see it at this time. This so completely contradicted and did away all thp.t he had before stated, that he went ofl the stand quite cast down. Dr. Cutler was called on to inform the court what the medicine was that Dr. Howe had declared so posi- tively to be lobelia, and after examining it, he said that it appeared to him to be marsh-rosemary, (which was the fact.) So far, all they had proved against me wa» that I had given the young man some marsh-rosemary, which Dr. Cutler had declared to be a good medicine. Some young women were brought forward as wit- nesses, whom I had no knowledge of ever seeing be- fore. They made some of the most absurd and ridicu- lous statements about the medicine, that they said I gave the young man, that were probably ever made in a court of justice before—some of which were too inde- cent to be here repeated. One of them said that I crowded my puke down his throat and he cried murder till he died. '1 his was well known to be a falsehood, and that the story was wholly made up by my enemies as well as v. hat had been before stated by those women, for the purpose of trying to make out something a- gainst me. 1 had two unimpeachable witnesses in court ready to swear that I never saw the young man for more than fourteen hours before he died, during all which time he was in the care of Dr. Howe ; but by not having an opportunity to make my defence, in con- sequence of the government not making out their case against me, could not bring them forward. John Lemon was the next witness brought forward on the part of the Commonwealth, and was directed to state what he knew about the prisoner at the bar. He stated that he had been out of health for two years, being much troubled with a pain in his breast, and was so bad that he was unable to work ; that he could get no help from the doctors; that he applied to me and 1 had cured him in one week; and that was all he knew about the prisoner at the bar. By this time Judge Parsons appeared to be out of patience, and said he wondered what they had for a grand jury, to find a bill on such evidence. The solicitor general said 104 Narrative of the Life, 4'C. he had more evidence which he wished to bring for- ward. Dr. French was called, and as he had been the most busy actor in the whole business of getting me indict- ed, and had been the principal cause, by his own evi- dence, (as 1 was informed,) of the grand jury finding a bill against me, it was expected that his evidence now would be sufficient to condemn me at once; but it turned out like the resc to amount to nothing. He was asked if he knew the prisoner at the bar; he said he did. He was then directed to state what he knew about him. He said the prisoner had practiced in the part of the country where he lived with good success; and his medicine was harmless being gathered by the children for the use of the families. The judge was about to charge the jury, when the solicitor general arose and said, that if it was not. proved to be murder it might be found for manslaughter. The judge said, you have nothing against the man, and again repeat- ed that he wondered what they had for a grand jury. The charge was given to the jury, when they retired for about five minutes and returned into court and gave in their verdict of not guilty. I was then honorably acquitted, without having had an opportunity to have my witnesses examined, by whom I expected to have proved the usefulness and importance of my discovery before a large assembly of people, by the testimony of about twenty-five credi- table men, who were present at the trial; besides contradicting all the evidence produced against me. After the trial was over 1 was invited to the Sun tav- ern to supper, where we enjoyed ourselves for the evening. When we sat down to the table, several doctors were present, who were so offended at my be- ing acquitted, that they left the table, which made me think of what the scripture says, that " the wicked flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a lion." During the evening 1 consulted with my friends up- on the subject of prosecuting Dr. French and making him pay damages for his abuse to me when a prisoner at his house, in saying that I had murdered fifty and Of Samuel Thomson. 105 he could prove it; and after having had a fair chance and having failed to prove one, it was thought to be a favorable opportunity to make him pay something for his conduct towards me, in causing me so much suffer* ing, and for the trouble he had made me and my friends. A prosecution was agreed upon, and to bring the ac- tion in the county of York, Judge Rice agreed to be my bail, and likewise he undertook to pay my lawyers and witnesses for the above trial, and paid Mr. Bart- lett forty dollars that night. Mr. Story was paid twenty dollars by a contribution of my friends in Sa- lem. I staid at Mrs. Russell's that night; 1 had but little sleep, for my mind was so much agitated, when I came to consider what I had gone through, and the risk I had run in escaping the snares of my enemies; with the anxiety of my family till they got the news of my acquittal, that sleep fled from my eyelids, and I was more confused than when in prison. The next day I went to Salisbury, and stopped with Mr. Osgood, where I was first arrested. Mrs. Osgood and a young woman who had been employed by me as a nurse, assisted to clean my clothes, and clear me of some troublesome companions i had brought with me from the prison ; and when I had paid a visit to all my old friends, who were very glad to see me, I went to Portsmouth, to recover my health, which was very much impaired, by being confined forty days in those filthy and cold prisons, in the coldest part of a remark- ably cold winter. My friends attended upon me, and carried me through a regular course of medicine ; but the first operation of it had little effect, in 'conse- quence of my blood being so much chilled, and it vvas a long time before I could raise a perspiration that would hold. I am confident that I should not have lived through the winter in prison, and believe that this was their plan; for which reason they managed to have me indicted for murder; knowing in that case there could be no bail taken, and there would be no court at which I could be tried, for nearly a year, 1 should have to lay in prison that time, and that 1 should pro- bably die there, or in any case they would get rid of me for one year at least, whether there was any thing 106 Narrative of the Life, Sfc. proved against me or not; and that in that time the doctors and their dupes would be enabled to run down the credit of my medicine and put my practice into disrepute among the people; but I have been able by good fortune and the kind assistance of my friends, to defeat all their rdans. Most of those that have been instrumental in trying to destroy me and my practice, have had some judgment befall them as a reward for their unjust persecutions and malicious conduct towards me. 1 was credibly informed that Deacon Pecker, one of the grand jury that found a bill against me, went with Dr. Ftench, to hunt up evidence to come before himself, in order to have me indicted. A short time after 1 was put in prison, he had a stroke of the pal- sey, and has remained ever since, one half of his body and limbs useless. Dr. French one year after I was acquitted, was brought to the same bar in which 1 vvas placed, and convicted for robbing a grave yard of a dead body, which it was reported he sold for sixty dol- lars. He lost all his credit, and was.obliged to quit his country. In the month of January, of 1810, I returned home to my family, and staid till I had in some measure re- covered my loss of health by imprisonment. In March I returned to Portsmouth, and after taking the advice of my friends, made arrangements for my prosecuting Dr. French. The prosecution was commenced and he vvas summoned before the court of common pleas, in the County of York. Judge Rice undertook the principal management of the business, and became my bail. The action was called and carried to the Su- preme Court by demurer, which vvas to set at Alfred, in October. I attended with my witnesses, and ex- pected to have gone to trial; and after waiting sever- al days to know what the defence was going to be, the counsel for the defendant made their plea of justifica- tion. I found that their plan was to prove that I had murdered sundry persons whom I had attended, and by that means to make it out that any one had a right to call me a murderer; and that for this purpose, Dr. French had been to every place where I had practis- ed, collecting every case of the death of any that I had Of Samuel Thomson. 107 attended in this part of the country, and had made out - eight cases, all of which have been before mentioned in this narrative, most of whom had been given over by the doctors as past cure, and the others known to be desperate cases. He had obtained the depositions of all that were prejudiced against me, and had collect- ed a mass of evidence to support his defence. After finding what their plan was, it was thought necessary for me to go to all the places where they had been, and get evidence to contradict these highly coloured and exaggerated statements, and was under the necessity of requesting a delay of the trial for one week, which was granted? 1 proceeded immediately and took the depositions of those who were knowing to the facts ; but found that these were not sufficient and went again to Deerfield and summoned two men to appear at court and °ive their verbal testimony. When 1 had got rea- dy to come to trial, the defendant was not ready and got it put off to the next term, which would be hold- en at York the next year. In the spring, before the setting of the court, I went to the clerk's office to find what the depositions were that were filed against me ; and the whole appeared to be a series.of exaggerated statements, made by those who were governed by their prejudices, without having but very little, if any know- ledge of the facts, more than what they obtained by hearsay. This caused me to redouble my diligence and get witnesses to appear on the stand to contradict their testimony, on each case they had alledged against me. On the day appointed for the trial, every thing was prepared on my part, to have a fair hearing. Judge Parsons was on the bench, and seemed, as I thought, to be determined to have the case go against me; for he appeared to know every thing that was to be in the defence before hand. I made out my case by proving the words uttered by the defendant, which were m my ► ' declaration. They then proceeded in the defence, to make out the eight cases of murder, which were al- ledged against me. The first was the case of a man by the name of Hubbard, of Eliot, who had been dead above two years, the particulars of which I have be- IDo Narrative of the Life, 8[c. fore stated. The witness brought to support this case, told a very lamentable and highly coloured story; and I brought on to the stand, a very respectable wit- ness, who completely contradicted the whole state- ment. The next cases brought up were the three children of Mr. Fulsom, of Deerfield, the particulars of which have been before related. A number of depositions were read, which the defendant had obtained of those that had been my enemies, and who knew nothing of the matter more than hearsay reports among them- selves. They gave a very highly coloured account of my treatment of the children; so much so, that it would appear by their stories, that I had taken them in health and had roasted them to death; never saying a word about the fifteen that I cured, some of which had been given over by the doctors. To rebut the evidence that was produced to prove that I had killed those children, 1 brought on to the stand, two respectable witnesses, who were knowing to all the circumstances, being present at the time of my attending the family. They gave a correct and particular account of all the circumstances as they took place—of the situation of the family when I first saw them, and the violence of the disorder—how the doctors had lost all their pa- tients that had been attackod with the disorder before I came—with the number that I cured by my mode of practice ; and that the doctors afterwards adopted my plan, and saved the lives of a number by it. The judge interrupted them and read some of the deposi- tions over again ; but these witnesses stated, that they were not true, and went on to give some of the par- ticulars of the opposition I met with in my practice from those very persons whose depositions had been read, when the judge seemed put out, and attempted to stop them, saying they had said enough. They said that having sworn to tell the whole truth, they felt it their duty to do it. They next brought on the cas-e of a woman who had died at Beverly, that 1 had attended, and with it the case of Ezra Lovett, who 1 had been tried for mur- dering. I was very glad to have this case brought up Of Samuel Thomson. 109 again, as I wished to have an opportunity to prove all the facts relating to it, which I had been prevented from doing on my trial, in consequence of being acquitted without making any defence. The evidence brought forward to support this case, were the depositions of those who had testified against me on my trial at Salem ; they were pretty near the same as then given* After those depositions were read, I had called on tojhe stand Elder Williams and Mr. Raymond, who gave all the par- ticulars of my attending upon the young man, as has been before related, which completely contradicted all the. depositions they had read in the case. The Judge interrupted these witnesses and read the deposition of the girl, who stated that I crowded my pukes down the patient's throat and he cried murder till he died. They both positively testified, that there vvas not a word of it true; for when he died, and for twelve hours before, he was under the care of Dr. Howe, during which time I did not see him. As to the woman in Beverly, whom they tried to make out that I murdered, it vvas proved by these witnesses, that she was in a dying condition when I first saw her, and that I so stated it as my opin. ion at the time,and that my medicine would not help her. The next case was that of Mrs. Lyfford, who died at Salisbury, the particulars of which have been before given. The evidence brought to prove this case of murder was the deposition of the woman who nursed her, and by whose neglect the patient took cold, at'ter the medicine had a very favourable operation, and ap- pearances were much in her favour; in consequence of which she had a relapse, and I could not produce any effect upon her by the medicine afterwards. This wo. man confessed at the time, that she was the only one to blame, and that no fauk ought to be attached to me ; but she afterwards vvas influenced by Dr. French to turn against me, and made threats that she wouid swear to any thing to injure me. After her deposition was read, I brought witnesses on the stand, who completely contra- dicted every thing contained in it; but the judge read her deposition to the jury, and directed them to pay at- tention to that in preference to the witnesses on the stand. The eighth and last case wa3 that of the son of Thoma-, K j 10 Narrative of the Life, $'C. Neal of Portsmouth, who was very violently attacked, and was attended by Dr. Cutter. I was called on at night to attend him, and thought there was a possibility of helping him ; but the man whom he lived with would not consent that 1 should do any thing for him, and I went away, after telling them that he would be either worse or better before morning, and if he was worse he would die. 1 was called to visit him in the morning, and was informed that he vvas worse, and that his mas- ter had consented to have me attend upon him. 1 told his father it was undoubtedly too late; but he insisted upon it so much, I attended, and told them the chance was very small for doing him any good, as 1 considered it a desperate case. After being very hardly urged by his friends. I gave him some medicine, but it had no effect, and about sundown he died. The doctor who attended him was brought forward to prove that I mur- dered the patient. If I recollect rightly, he swore that the patient had the dropsy in the brain, and that fhe disorder had turned and he was in a fair way to recov- er ; but I came and gave him my poison pukes and kill- ed him. I brought forward evidence who swore to the facts as I have above related them, and that the doctor would give no eucouagement of helping the patient. The father of the young man gave his evidence, and staled that his son vvas in a dying situation when I gave him medicine ; but the judge interupted him, and asked if he was a doctor, to which he answered no. He then said the doctor has stated that his disorder had turned and he was getting better—are you going to contradict the doctor—and thus managed to do away his testimony. I luve thus given a brief sketch i.f the evidence in the eiodit cases, which were attempted to be. proved as murder, in order to make out justification on the part of the defendant, with my defence to the same, in as correct a manner as I am able from memory; and am confident that every circumstance as I have related it, cau he substantially proved by living witnesses. After the evidence was gone through, the lawyers on both sides made their pleas, making the case on my part as good and as bad as they could. The Judge then gave his charge to the jury, which was considered by Of Samuel Thomson. Ill those who heard it to be the most prejudiced and par- tial one that had been ever heard before He made use of every means to raise the passions of the jury and turn them against me ; stating that the defendant was completely justified in calling me a murderer, for if 1 was not guilty of wilful murder, it was barbarous igno- rant murder; and he even abused my lawyers for tak- ing up for me, saying that they ought to he paid in screw-augers, and bull dogs. The people that were present were very much disgusted at his conduct, and they expressed themselves very freely upon the sub- ject; it vvas said by some that our courts instead of being courts of justice had become courts of prejudice. One man said that he hoped Judge Parsons would never havcj another opportunity to set on a cause ; which prediction turned out true, for he soon after had a stroke of the pal- sy, and as I am informed died before the next court met. The jury brought in their verdU t of justification on the part of the defendant, and throwed the whole costs on me, which amounted to about two thousand dollars. When 1 found how the case vvas going lo turn, I went to Portsmouth, and soon after made arrangements to pay the costs. Judge Rice was my bail and undertook to pay all the bills that I had not paid at the time. On my settlement with him I owed him six hundred dollars for money that he had advanced on my account; for which 1 had no way to secure him, but by giving him a mort- gage of my farm ; which I did, and it was put on record, and never known to any of my friends till 1 paid it up. He charged nothing for all his time and trouble, through the whole of my persecutions and trials, for which and for his kindness antl friendship on all occasions, I shall ever consider myself under the greatest obligations. Sometime in the spring of the year previous to this trial at York, a young man came to me at Portsmouth, by the name of Alfred Carpenter, from the town where my family lived ; he was recommended to me by his neighbours, as being lame and poor, and wanted my assistance. I took him out of pity and instructed him in my mode of practice, under the expectation that it would be a benefit to him and thereby he would be able to assist me in attending the sick. Uil Narrative of the Life, tifc. About the first of June, 1811,1 received a letter from .Eastport, where 1 had been the fall before and shown some of my mode of practice. Some of the people in that place were so well satisfied with it, that seven men had subscribed their names to the letter, requesting me to come the>e and practice in the fevers, which pre- vailed in those parts. I left the care of my business at Portsmouth with Mr. Carpenter, my apprentice, and immediately took passage for Eastport, where 1 arrived about the middle of June. 1 was very gladly received by those who had wrote to me, and by those with whom I had become acquainted when there before,. 1 agreed lo practice under the protection of those who had sent tor me, until I had convinced them of its utility, to which they consented, and promised me all the assistance in their power. 1 was soon called on to practice, and had all the most desperate cases that could be found, in all of which I met with very great success. There was, I think at that time, five practising doctors on the island, among whom my success in curing the sick caused great alarm; and I soon experienced the same determined opposition from them, with all the arts and plans to de- stroy me and my practice, that I had experienced from the same class of men in other places. In order to show some of tru-ir conduct towards me, 1 shall relate the particulars of some of the cases 1 attended; but most of the numerous cases which 1 had under my care, were so nearly similar to those that have been already given, and my mode of treating them being about the same, that it will be unnecessary to repeat them J vvas sent for to visit a Mrs. Lovett, who vvas the daughter of Mr. Delisdernier, at whose house 1 attend- ed her. She had the dropsy and had been under the care cf one of the doctors, till he had given her over as incurable. 1 went to see her in company with the doctor; but we could not agree as to the cause and remedy. I asked him several questions concerning the power of the elements, and the effect of heat on the human system. He answered that the elements had no- thing to do with the case. After giving him my ideas on the subject which all appeared to be new to him, 1 told him that the contending powers in this case was between Of Samuel Thomson. 113 the fire and water; and if I could get heat enough in the body to make the water volatile, it could not stay in the body. He said that any thing warm would not ** answer for her. I then asked him how he thought the hottest medicine would do. He said it would produce immediate death. I then told him that if I did any thing for her, I should administer the hottest medicine I could give. Finding there would be a disadvantage on my part in doing any thing for her, as the doctor and 1 could not agree, 1 left the house. 1 was followed by the fa- ther and mother and the doctor, who all insisted on my returning; but I told them that notwithstanding the doctor had given her over, if I was to attend her and She should die, they would say that I killed her. They promised that let the consequences be what they might no blame should be alleged against me. Upon which 1 agreed that 1 would stop on condition that two of my friends should be present as witnesses to what was said, anJ see the first process of the medicine, which was agreed to and they were sent for, and heard the state- ments of the doctor and family. A Capt. Mitchell from New-York, was also present, and heard the conversation between me and the doctor ; and being pleased with the principles that I laid down, which excited his curiosity so much that he expressed a wish to be present and see the operation of the medicine, and staid accordingly. The doctor pretended, to be going, away till after I had given the first medicine, and appeared to be very busy going out and. coming in,, and had much conversa- tion with Mrs. Lovett, the husband's mother, who was the nurse. After the first medicine hud done, which. operated very favourably, gave directions what to do, and particularly to keep the patient in perspiration during the night, and left medicine for the purpose ; w:- then went home. In the morning I called to see Her and to my surprise found her sitting with: the window- up, and exposed to the air as much as possible; on: examination I found that no medicine had been used. On enquiry. I found that the doctor had been in fre- quently to see her; and on asking why they had not; followed my directions, the nurse appeared very cross,. and said she would not take any of my me dicine* h b2 114 Narrative of the Life, Sfc. fold them that they had not killed h*r, hut 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 attended 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. I left the patient in his care and he attended her faithful- ly through the day; at night 1 visited her and found the swelling began to abate. He continued 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 woman and the husband all turned\ against me, and I never received any thing for my trouble but their abuse and slander. The woman's fa- ther 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 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 feelings, as to be willing to have the woman die, in order to have the opportunity to take me up for murder; but two women who were present w^en she told the story, gave their deposition proving the facts as above stated. I continued my practice on this island, at Lubeck, and on the main, paying my most particular attention to those w£o sent for me, and wanted information. I practised 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 whether a society could be formed. They expressed their entire satisfaction, and wished to have a society formed; a meeting was called for that purpose, and 16 signed the articles at the first meeting. After this a jaeeting was held every week, at which a lecture was Of Samuel Tlwmson. 115 given for the purpose of giving information, and for the admission of members; and eight each week was ad- ded during the summer. In the fall I went hack to Portsmouth to attend to my business there, and see to the society which had been formed in 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 Eastport; and sometime in the month of October, 1 set sail for that place, taking with me my apprentice and Stephen Sow- ell. On my 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 practice. 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 woman before mentioned, as the nurse of her son's wife, whom I cured of the dropsy. '1 his old woman vvas a singular character ; and was called a witch by the people; 1 have no faith in these kind of things, yet her conduct, and certain circumstances, that took place, were very extraordinary, and puzzled and astonished me more than any thing I 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 tome and said that the medicine he gave would not have its usual effect; that the emetic instead of causing them to vomit would make them choak and almost strangle. I attended them myself, 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 w ould 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 left to 116 Narrative of the Life. Re- build upon. 1 can give no reason for this strange cir- cumstance, satisfactory to myself, or which 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 vvas said the old woman would be in great distress. It caused much conversation among the neighbours ; they believed it to be the power of witch- craft;'and that the old woman had a controul over the destinies of the man and child, and was determined to- destroy them in order to get her revenge on me. 1 have no belief in these thugs; but must confess that her strange conduct, and the extraordinary circum- stances attending the whole affair, baffled me more than any thing 1 had ever met with before. 1 was un- able (o 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 agent, to injure me by causing in some way or other poisonous medicines to be administered to them in order v 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 I have been certain that such things have been done by the faculty, and their enmity and uniform oppo-ition to my practice, both at this place and elsewhere, as well as the confession made by the old woman, would tend strongly 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. 0 Of Samuel Thomson. 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, Esq. a man who has been particularly friendly to me on all occasions. 1 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 was 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 practised some time, then went to see my family, where I remained the rest of the winter, in which time 1 was employed in collecting and preparing medicine. 1 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 this spring, and also fur practice. After arranging my business, 1 concluded to return to Portsmouth ; a short time before I came away, a Mr. Whitnev came to me for assistance, and purchased a right. About the same time a Mr. McFadden applied also for assistance, who had the consumption. I left them both under the care of Mr. Carpenter, and immediately sailed for Portsmouth, where 1 arrived in safety. Soon after my arrival there, 1 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, and I made the best ar- rangements of my business I could, leaving Mr. Carpen- ter with directions, if there should any thing happen in IIS Narrative of the Life, <§'c. consequence of the war, so as to be necessary for him to leave the island, to come fo Portsmouth. Before leaving the place, 1 called on him for some money, and all he couid pay me was sixty-four dollars, which was but one dollar more than I 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 which time I had constant practice, and formed some regulations for the society, which was es- tablished there, for the purpose ofgreater facility in com- municating information of my system of practice to the people who wished my assistance. In the fall of this year 1 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 others ; 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, aid they run out against my practice, saying I deserved o pay. ^ This sort of treatment I have met with from a certain class of people in all places where I have prac- ticed. I was treated with much attention when they were in danger from sickness; but when 1 had cured them I was thought no more or. This kind of ingrati- tude I have experienced a pretty large share of durai" my practice. In the month of October, having got my business ar- ranged, and a stock of medicine prepared, 1 returned to Eastport. On my arrival there I 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 down. I found there was no regulations of the business in the Of Samuel lliomson. 119 shop, and the property I had, chiefly gone. I was obliged to pay every attention to the sick men that had been left in this manner without assistance; I attended Mr. Harvey, and got him well enough to go home in a few days; and Mr. McFadden was so put to it for breath and was so distressed, that I had to be wifh him night and day for six weeks and three days, when Mr. Car- penter returned. Previous to this I found that Mr. Mc- Fadden had put his farm into the hands of Mr. 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 tak- en a deed in his own name, and that all the bills and ac- counts for his practice and medicine in my absence were in his own name. I asked him for a settlement and he re- fused; I then asked him what he meant by his conduct; he said he owed me nothing, and bid me defiance, saying if 1 chose I might take the steps of the law. I could not conceive what he- meant by treating me in this manner, till after making further enquiry 1 found that he had for- med 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, or any 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 beT-re I had any knowledge of his intentions, he had robbed the shop of all the accounts, notes, bills, and all other demands, so that 1 knew no more about the busi- ness than a stranger. I 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 ;»sked 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 sickness. He said I must look to him for my pay. I told him that it was very singular that my apprentice had become my roaster in one year ; he denied that he was my appren- tice, and said that he was a partner ; but J had said in order to encourage him *o be faithful and do well by me, lie should have half the profits of the practice, and that 120 Narrative of the Life, $-c. I had no idea of his having the whole of my property, because 1 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 I had nothing to do with it; he called a witness and forbid my hnving 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 the 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 of 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 logs by the dishonest conduct of this man was 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 for 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 ail this, for him to turn against mc and treat me in the manner he did, was 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; and likewise I found that there was another p!ot got up to destroy me; a petition had been sent on Of Samuel Thomson. 121 to the Legislature to have a law passed against quacke- ry, in which I was named; and there can be no doiibt 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 was 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 I had to encounter, the more firmly I was fixed in my determination to persevere unto the last. When 1 had maturely considered the subject in all its bearings, and exercised 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 suffering and great expense had given me a just claim to, from being wrested from me—I finally came to the conclusion that there was only one plan for ma 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 iaws of any state. After coming to the conclusion to go on to the sent* of government and apply for a patent, made all necessa- j ry preparation for the journey, and started from Ports- j mouth on the 7th of February and arrived at Washing- j ton on the 23d. The next day after my arrival I waited on Capt. Nicholas Gilman of Exeter, showed him my | credentials and asked his advice, what I must do to obtain my object. He said that he thought it could not be made explicit enough lo combine the system and prac- tice, without being too long; he however advised me to carry my petition to the patent * ftice ; which was then under the controu! 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; I called again the next day, and he said the peti- 122 Narrative of the Life, fyc. tion was not right—that I must specify the medicine, and what disorder it must be used in—he said that those me- dicines in general terms to cure every thing, was quack- ery—that 1 must particularly designate the medicine, and state how it must be used, and in what disease. 1 then waited on Martin Chittenden, late governor of Vermont, who was at Washington, and asked his assist- ance ; he was from the same town where my father lived, and readily consented. We made out the specifi- cations in as correct a manner as we could, and the next day 1 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. 1 ap- plied again and asked him for my patent; but he said I had not got the botanic names for the articles, and referred me to Dr. Mitchell of New-York, who was in the House of Representatives. I applied to him, and requested him to give the botanic names to the articles mentioned in my petition. He wrote them and I car- ried them to Dr. Thornton; but he was unable 10 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, 1 went and the doctor wrote the same word again and then wrote, or " Snap-draggon ;" which 1 carried to Dr. Thornton, and requested him to put in the patent • my names, and record it for himself snap-draggon, or any other name he chose. He then talked about sending me to Philadelphia, to Dr. Barton, to get his names. I found he vvas determined to give me all the trouble he could, and if possible to defeat my getting a patent, and I intimated that I 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 went 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 vvas good for nothing. 1 told him that I puid for the patent and if it was good for nothing it vvas my loss. After much tr ,uble I got it made out according to my request, and the medicine to be used in fevers, cholics, dysen- teries, and rheumatisms; he then asked me if I wanted Of Samuel Thomson. 123 any additions, and 1 told him to add, " the three first numbers may-be use in any other case to promote per- spiration, or as an emetic," which he did. 1 then had to go to the treasury office and pay my money and bring him duplicate receipts. After all this trouble I 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 day after I TTarT'completed my business, 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 ceremo- nies were over I went to the stage office and found that the seats were all engaged for a fortnight; and vvas 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 Drs. Rush and Barton, to confer with them upon the subject of introducing my system of practice to the world. I spent considerable time with Dr. Bar- ton ; but Dr. Rush was so much engaged, that 1 was unable to have but little conversation more than stating 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. 1 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 1 should do so, they would take the discovery to themselves and deprive me of all credit or benefit from my labors; and asked him if he thought that would not he the case. He said it might with some, but he thought there were some of the profession 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 should be pleased, and would do justice to me and the cause. I accordingly left some of the medicine with him, with directions how to use it: but before 1 received J 24 . Narrative of the Life, fyc. \ any return from him he died; and Dr. Rush also died ! sometime previous ; by which means I was deprived of the influence of these two men, which I was confident would otherwise have been exe ted in my favour. During my interviews with Dr. Barton, we had much tonversation upon the subject of the medical skill, and he being quite sociable and pleasant, I expressed myself very freely upon the fashionable mode of practice, used by the physicians of the present day. He acknowledg- ed there vvas no art or science so uncultivated as that '•>f medicine. I stated to him pretty fully my opinion of the absurdity of bleeding to 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 vvas 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 followed by the more ignorant class of the faculty, mareiv because it has been recommended in some par- ticular cases by a great man, has, I have not the least doubt, destroyed more lives than has ever been killed by powder 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, cariied dea-lh in th^ir 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 Dpium. 'hey were 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- mage 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 cases provided; and prepared and published a handbill, Of Samuel Thomson. 125 in which I gave a description of the nature of disease on the constitution of man; and also the conditions of dis- posing of the right of using my system of practice; and- taking a number of the handbills with me, sat out for Eastport, where 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 slock of medicine, and made an agreement with Mr. Mowe, the young man that I had employed since Car- penter vvas dismissed, t© continue-the practice for me,. and take charge of my business at this place. My ex- penses for his wages, hoard, and shop rent was about one dollar per day; and the amount of the practice and sale of medicine, was about one hundred dollars per month. While at ^Eastport I met with a loss, which I 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 fiftydollar bills and went to the post-office and gave them to the post master, 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 in Portsmouth, and no traces of. it could be found. I had strong suspicions that the post master at Eastport destroyed the letter and kept the money. I made arrangements to enquire further into his conduct; hut shortly after he fell from a precipice and was killed, which put a stop to pursuing the sub- ject any further; so it turned out a total loss to me. After settling my business in Eastport, I 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 newspapsrs, and had handbills printed'. and circulated among the people, giving the conditions =. on which I should practice and the manner of seUUng/a.*- 126' Narrative of the Life, <§'c mlly rights, to those who wished the use of my practice and medicine ; and that 1 should attend to no case ex- cept such as wished to purchase the rights, to give them information, and prove the utility of the medicine. I gave the information to Mr, Fickett, where we boarded, and a right of using the medicine for himself and family ; 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 physi- cians ; and I experienced the same opposition from them that I had met with in other places. I was followed by them, or their spies, and all kinds 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, I was called on by - C^apt. John Alden to attend his wife, who vvas in a very alarming situation. She was in a state of pregnancy and had the dropsy, and was 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. 1 ex- plained to him the principles upon which my system was founded, and he purchased a right; after which I attended upon his wife, and found her very low; she had not laid in bed for three weeks, being so put to it for breath when she lay dovvn, was obliged to get im- mediately up again. I cariied her through a course of the medicine every day for five days, during which she was reduced in size about eight inches ; her travail then came on natural, and in about two hours she vvas deliv- ered 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 farmed the doctors, that they circulated a story at a Of Samuel Thomson. 127 distance-, where the facts were not known, (hat 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 Nos. 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 teethvand as soon as it reach- ed the roots of his tongue, his jaws came open ; 1 then poured down more of the medicine, and soon after swallowing it, his senses came to him, and he spoke ; he appeared like a person waking 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—1 laid him across the laps cf three per- sons, shielding him from external air with a blanket, and put under him a pan with a hot stone in it about half im- mersed 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 natural vigor of life and action was restored. 1 was called on to attend a woman who had a relax, and in a few visits restored her to health. One night about midnight was sent for to visit this woman in con- sequence of their being alarmed about her, the cause of which 1 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 same dis- ease ; and was so bad as not to be able to do any thing for myself. Mr. Sewell attended upon me and did all he could, which had no effect. 1 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 me in tw* minutes; nothing seemed to warm me. i sent.and obtained some butternut bark, boiled it) 128 Narrative of the Life, Sfc and took some as strong as it could be made; as soon as it began to operatej I followed it with brandy and loaf sugar burnt together, till it became a syrup ; this soon put me in pain—I then followed my general rule of treatment, and was sojn relieved. While at Portland was sent for to see a Mr. Mason, who was very sick, and it vvas expected that he would not live through the night. He had been attended by the doctors 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 thev almost killed him. 1 had the hardest trial to save his life of any one I ever attended ; and vvas obliged to carry him through a course ot' medicine two or three times a week for three months, besides visiting him every day. The doctors said he would certainly die, and if he did, they meant to take me up for murder; and every means were, re- sorted to, by discouraging him and other ways, to pre- vent his getting well; and when he got so as to be about. and it wa* decided that be was going to recover under the operation of the medicine, one who pretended to be his friend gave him a bottle of pepper vinegar—1 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 enquired how he did, and when told that he was worse, he would say that I should kill him. I could not ascertain the reason of this patient being af- fected in the manner he vvas, 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 mis- trust that there was something in the pepper vinegar, and on examining it, was satisfied that it had been poison- ed 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 slate of health. The undertaking was very tedious on my part; I should be hardly willing to go through the same process again, fox Of Samuel Thomson. 129 any sum 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 give No. 1 and No. 2, and throw all of it out of the sto- mach that can possibly be done; and by steaming keep the heat of the body above it—all other poisons can be eradicated by the common course of medicine. 1 was called on to 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 gen- erally were well satisfied with its utility; my friends were very zealous in introducing it among the people ; but my opponents were not slack in doing every thing in their power to prejudice the public against me and the medicine. The doctors seemed much troubled at the success of the practice, many having been cured who were given over by them.—One woman, who had been unable to walk for about nine months, after having been confined, and the doctors could not help her, was attend- ed by Mr. Sewell and in a short time restored to a com- fortable state of health, which gave them great offence ; and some of them published in the newspapers, part ot my trial for murder, in order to prejudice the public against me. 1 prepared an answer, but they had so much influence with the printers, that 1 was unable to get it inserted ; they had the meanness to circulate the report that I acknowledged the fact, because I did not answer their statement. Thus have the faculty, by such un- principled 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 cred- it and making them tributary to themselves, without re- gard to the public good. This season I went to Eastport and collected some mo- 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 1 went there myself, sold thp fish 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- in* 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, Sfc. see my family, and in about six months after, returned to Portsmouth, and on calling on Judge Rice found to my surprise that Mr. Fickett 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 of paying 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 Eastport; 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 I 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 posses- sion ; this being the only way in which I could bring him to an account. After much time and expense 1 at last obtained 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 hav- ing to get a writ of ejectment to g-et Mr. Tuttle out of possession oi 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. 1 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 Thomson. 131 or all my affairs there, and in January 1814. returned to Portsmouth, which place I 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. 1 had laid in a large stock, the value of which I estimated to be about one thousand dollars. I 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 rny stock of medicine was consumed. This was a very serious loss to me, not only in a pecuni- ary point of view, but it disaranged all my plans, and put it out of my power to supply those who I knew de- pended upon me for all such articles as were most importaut in the practice. The season was so far advanced that it vvas 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 to supply in the best manner 1 could, such de- mands for medicine, as I should he called on for. In do- ing this I was put to great trouble and expense, and in order to make myself 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 societies in different places, and was taken advantage of by my enemies to injure me all they could. 1 sent in the estimate of my loss, to the Committee, who had the charge of the money contributed by the peo- ple in different parts, for the relief of the sufferers by the fire, and afterwards called 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 by the fire, and other difficulties I had to encount- er ; and while 1 was at Portsmouth using all my exertions to replenish my 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 Narrative of the Life, «$•t enough to do justice to me and the people. It has generally been the case, with those 1 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 prac- tice into their own hands, and deprive me of the credit and profits of my own discovery ; and when 1 have 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 in the beneficial effects of the medicine and practice, and keeping back the information necessary for its being properly under- stood by them. This, however, has not been the case with all that I have entrusted with the care of my busi- ness 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 oflence, by his faithful and upright con- duct, to some members of the society, who wanted to reap all the advantages and profits without any labor or expense. 'I hey 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, ancl sold it one third higher than I did. I told them that I had been obliged to raise the price in con- sequence of my loss by the fire, and that he was not to blame for it. '1 hey, however, pers.sU-d in their com- plaints and after finding that they could not make n e turn against h.m, they turned against me. After making further inquiries info the subject, I satisfied my si If ot their reasons for wishing Mr. Locke turned out of the M 13-1 Narrative of the Life, fyc. agency. A man by the name of Holman, whom I had four years previous cured of a consumption, as has been before related, and to whom 1 had given the information and authorised to form a society at Hopkinton, where he had practised three years without making me any returns, had returned 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 number of the society, who joined with him in effect- ing 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 1 understood their designs and refused all their offers. At the next annual meeting of the society, Holman was chosen their agent without my consent, and I re- fused to authorise him to give information ; for he had deceived me before by saying on his return to Ports- mouth, that he could not form a society at Hopkinton, which I had found out to be false; and many other things in his conduct had caused me to be much dissat- isfied with all he did, that I declined having any thing further to do with him. He persisted in practising 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. Locke's agency, and was in a very prosperous condition 1 had good reason to believe that Holman vvas 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 o-ave salt petre and other poisons, under the pretence that by giviug 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 rilling the fire place with snow and ice. After preparing the stomach in this way. the me- dicine would have no beneficial effects; and he would then place1 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 had, and thus used Of Samuel Thomson. 135 his influence to destroy the credit of my medicine in their minds, and make them believe that I had deceived them. His practice turned out very unsuco s-fnl, and he lost many of his patients. He had lost more in six months, than I had lost in six years, which I imputed entirely to his bad conduct. After my return, finding how things were situated in regard to the practice ; that all the credit I had gained by seven years' labour, had been destroyed in eighteen months, led me to make a particular enquiry into the cause. On visiting his patients I found seme of the pills made of saltpetre, and also some opium pills, which he had been in the habit of administering secretly to his patients under the name of my medicine ; and after col- lecting an assortment of his poison, 1 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 givm tobacco when called on to administer my medicine ; all of which satisfied the society so well of the baseness of the conduct of their agent, that they immediately pass- ed a vote dismissing him from his agency. A committee was appointed to investigate the whole of his conduct, and publish 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. I wa.s never able, however, to get this committee to meet and attend to the duty assigned them by the society, although they confessed themselves satisfied of the truth of my charges against Holman, and of the injury I had sustain- ed by his conduct; and after waiting six months and finding that they were more willing that I should suffer, than that the blame should fall where it justly belong- ed, I left them to their more fashionable practice, and withdrew all my medicine fn.m the place. In the spring of the year of 1814, 1 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. I look him with me and went to Surry, where we continued through the 136 Narrative of the Life, 4*c 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 vist and collect some articles of medicine, that could not be obtained in Surry. After my return Mr. Mowe went to Portsmouth, and 1 remained at home till after the harvesting was over, then went to Portsmouth, to collect medicine, and attended lo 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, whom 1 had attended the year before at Portsmouth. I went with all speed and found his wife sick with a consumption. 1 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 returned to Portsmouth, and sent Mr. Mowe to Guildford to practice and give information to those who had purchased the rights, where he remained till spring. During the time Mr. M owe was at Guildford, he was very successful in the practice, and made some remark- able cures. Great opposition vvas 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, which had been stolen from a woman and published at Portland, without my knowledge. In this manner my system of practice in the hands and under the superintendance of those who were endeavouring to destroy me, became popular in Guildford and the towns adjacent; and had become so important, that a general invitation vvas given throughout the neighbouring towns fur the people to come and join them in the great im- provement of restoring the health of mankind Thus did these profession il gentlemen tamper with my rights and the credulitVof the people, for the pitiful purpose of injuring me, by pretending lo sell all my information for two dollars, for which I asked twenty ; and in their Of Samuel Thomson. Vol 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 roe a letter giving information of the trans- action, and I went there to see to it; on my arrival I conversed with those who had purchased their rights of me' or my agent; they informed me 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 was 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—I told them that 1 thought people joined societies to get information and not to give it. I employed an atiomey to proceed against those who trespassed, and have them punished according to law in such cases provided, and returned to 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, 1 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 Gulph Stream, and we were two hundred miles south vf our port;, on getting: inlo a warmer latitude the weather became warmer,, when we were enabled to get clear of the ice with which the vessel was 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 bcnes 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. I was re- quested by the captain and crew to do something to re,*- 138 A'arrative of the Life, 8$c. 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 weath- er was so rough that we could seldom keep any in the caboose on deck. 1 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 medi- cine to take I had with me, 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 as- tonishment of all the hands on board. When 1 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 was able to attend 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 consists 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 suf- ficient to give nature 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 Of Samuel Thomson. 13.9 can no mortification ever return from the limbs to the body, any more than a log can float against a stream. In the case above slated, before I began to do any thin°- for the man, 1 duly considered his situation; he had°been almost chilled to death by the extreme cold weather, so that his limbs h. d very little warmth from the body, not enough to bring them to their feeling, un- til the warm weather raised a fever on the limbs faster than in the body, and in pi oportion 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 system be disordered, and the parts that have been injured will be extremely painful, and by a contin- ued 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 has become so much disordered, that they die after all. This may, 1 am confident, be avoided by understanding my plan of treatment and pursuing it with zeal, particu- larly 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 waiting for me ten .lays. The next morning we started in the stage tor Philadelphia, where we arrived that evening, and went to a boarding house and put for the night. In the mornino- we went in search of Elder Plummer, with whom fhad engaged the fall before, to go to Philadel- phia • we found him in the course of the forenoon, and lie 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 ; al which 1 attended and gave a lecture; there was a large collection of peo- ple attended this meeting, 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 1 was endeavoring 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, Sfc. that cold was a promotion of life, and that bleeding-was" beneficial to preserve life also. I answered him by stat- ing, 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 i\vin went on ami conchuled the explanations I wished to make, which gave general satisfacion lo the people preseut ; 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 rigl '. When we had completed our business at Philadelphia, we went on to Washington, wheie we remained several days, and had a view of the ruins of the public buildings, which 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 I attend- ed his wife when practising 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 ot 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 forme, 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 went to Alexandria, where we remained about a week, in which time I collected some Cyprus bark, which is known there 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 pas- sage with him and return to that place. Arrangements were made for Mr. Locke to return by land; and I Of Samuel Thomson. 141 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, and other places where so- cieties had heen formed, or rights sold to individuals, to give information to the people; and in all places where I 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£ cents. I was under the necessity of putting an advertisement in the papers, cautioning the people against this imposition, which put a stop to their sale ; but great pains were taken by my enemies to circulate them among the people; and this is the way that some of my articles of medicine came to be made use of through the country in colds, such as cayenne, ginger, &.c. In 1815 I published 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 fall 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. This is the last time I have collected any of this article, and as it becomes scarce, think 1 shall not make any more use ofit. It is too cold and binding, without using a large share of bayberry bark and cayenne with it, to keep the saliva free. I have found other articles as substitutes, which answer a better purpose, such as hemlock bark, which I have of late made use of, and found very good, white lily roots, witch-hazle and raspberry leaves', and 6umach berries; the last article is very good alone, steeped and sweetened, and is as pleasant as wine ; it is good for children in cases of canker, especially in long cases of sickness when other articles become disagrees ble to them. 142 Narrative of the Life, #c. 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 in 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 was 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. 1 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 operation 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 them as long as they could bear it; then rubbed them over with 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 set them up on end, and rub as before mentioned, change their clothes and 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 part of the filth that has been discharged through the pores and add to what remains of the disorder. This precau- tion is all 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 has been thrown off by the operation of the medicine. The mirse or those who at- tend upon the sick, are also in danger from the same cause, and should be particularly careful to guard against taking the disoider by breathing in the foul vapour from the bed clothes, 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 disease has engendered in the body. To guard against this, take some hot bitters and keep a piece of ginger root in the mouth, occasionally swallowing some of it, when most exposed; also take a tea spoonful of Nos. 2 and 3. steeped in hot water, when going to bed; one ounce of preventative in this way, is better than a pound of cure when sick. After relieving these four casts, 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 1 was not 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 asked 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 fore part of February, m which month 27 died, in March 14, and 5 in April, making in the whole 40 in three moolhs 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- 1 \ t Narrative of the Life, Sfc. ccived 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. 1 sot n 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 I gave 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 limo1, 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 twelfth part of the inhabitants that were at home. The truth of the above statements is authenti- cated by the certificates of the Selectmen of the town and other respectable inhabitants, which will be inserted in another part of the 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 I was attending upon her husband, and treated me and him in a most abusive manner, saying that she would die sooner than take any of my medicine, or have any thing to do with me. ' ftershe had vented her spite to her own satisfac- tion, she went home, vvas 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 TTiomson. 145 I formed those who purchased the rights, into a soci- ety ; and they chose a committee, whom I authorised as agents to sell rights and medicine; but this caused a jealousy among the rest of the members, who said I gave privileges to some more than to others. I have formed four societies and given them certain privileges, 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 enjoy by having their diseases cured and their minds relieved from the alarming consequences of a disease, with a trifling ex- pense. 1 have since altered my plan, and now have but one society. Every one who purchases a right for him- self and family, becomes a member of the Friendly Bo- tanic Society, and is entitled to all the privileges of a free intercourse with each other, and to converse with any one who has bought a right, for instruction and as- sistance in sickness, as each one is bound to give his as. sistance, by advice or otherwise, when called on by a member. In this way much more good can be done, and there will be much more good will towards each other, than where there is any money depending. 1 had now been in practice, constantly attending up- on those laboring under disease, whenever called on, for about thirty years; had suffered much both in body and mind, from the persecutions I had met with, and my unwearied exertions to relieve the sick ; and to establish my system of practice upon a permanent basis, that the people might become satisfied of its superiority over that which is practised hy those styled regular physi- cians; putting it in their power to become their own physicians, by enabling every one to relieve them- Ives and friends, from ail disease incident to our country, by making use of those vegetable medicines, the p-oduce of our own country, which are perfectly safe and easily obtained ; and which, if prep.rly understood, are fully sufficient in all cases of d.stase, where there can be any chance ot cure, without any danger of the pernicious, and often fatal consequences attending the administering 146 Narrative of the Life, <$-c. those poisons that the fashionable doctors are in the habit of giving to their patients. After having discovered a system, and by much labor 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 I might reap some benefit from my discovery, to support me in my old age, having by a long series of attendance on the sick, both as phy- sician 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 1 became acquaint- ed with Elias Smith, who was recommended as a man in whom 1 could confide, and who was every way qualifi- ed 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 consequence of his often changing his religious princi- ples and engaging in different projects in which he had been unsuccessful, he was now without a society or any visible means of supporting himself and family. He readily engaged with me, and promised to do every thing in his power, to promote my interest and extend the usefulness of my system of practice. | 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 others. 1 put the utmost confidence in his honour, and spared no pains in communicating to him, without any reserve whatever, all the knowledge 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, I should be rewarded for my trou- ble, by his faithfully performing his duty towards me ac- cording to his promise. 1 shall make no remark upon my being disappointed in all my expectations in regard Of Samuel Thomson. 147 to Mr. Smith's conduct, and the treatment I received from him after he had gained a knowledge of the prac- tice from me, to enable him to set up for himself; but shall proceed to give a short account of what took place during my connection with him. The first case I attended with him vvas in his own fa- mily. His son had the itch very badly, so that he wa, nearly one half of him one raw sore. They had Vied the usual remedies without,any benefit. I showed him the use of No. 3, to wash with 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 skin is off; to prevent which 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 of the drops, shaken together, on loaf sugar. By pursuing this treatment one week this boy was entirely cured. The next case, vvhiclrwas the first we attended toge- ther out of his house, vvas a young woman who had the ague in her face. I showed him the whole process of curing this complaint; which was done by putting a small quantity of No. 2 in a cloth, and placing it between her cheek and teeth; at the same time giving her some of Nos 2 and 3 to take, and in two hours she was cured. I was constantly with him in practice from February till June ; during which time we attended many bad cases with great success. A Mrs. Grover came to his house to he attended, who had the dropsy. She had been giv- en over by her doctor as incurable, and vvas 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 occasionally once or twice a week till she was cured., She was thus attended under my inspection for three weeks, and in four was entirely cured; for which she gave Mr. Smith about forty dollars. In this case 1 did a great part of the la- bour and he got the pay. About the third time of car- rying her through a course of the medicine, I was ab- sent; her symptoms appeared unfavourable, and he got 148 Narrative of the Life, 8fc. 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 vvas forward of him in in- formation, seemed to fix in Mr. Smith's mind a dislike to her e-ver 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 was in a declining way, and had taken a great quan tity 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 before taken operated and run him down with a relax ; then the dysentery set in and he suffered much with pain and had discharges of blood. I gave Mr. Smith directions to use injections, to clear his bowels of canker and prevent mortification; but he neglected 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 relieved the patient. He remained and was 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 was perished, and was in poor circumstances, having paid all he had to the doctor; he wanted relief, but said he could pay nothing for it unless he vvas cured, so that he could earn something by his labor. Mr. Smith asked me if 1 vvas willing to assist to cure him on these terms, to which 1 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 encour- agement. The medicine was done about ten o'clock; he vvas then steamed and washed all over with pepper- sauce. He complained bitterly of the heat and threw Of Samuel Thomson. 149 hims.df on the bed ; I took a tea spoonful of good cay- enne, and put in two spoonfuls of pepper sauce and gave it him to take. 'I his 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 Com- mon. His arm vvas restored and he was well from that time ; he afterwards, 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 her joints v. ere grown out of place ; and 1 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 lor relief in complaints oflong 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 per^'iraticn and a fresh colour, showing an equal and natural circuLtion ; but did not sicken cr cause her to vomit, as is the case most generally. I mention this to show 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 vvas 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 nurse lived with her She had more experience than he had ; I had put the utmost confidence in her, and she had in many instance-! 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 Ks. make his own inferences.—Sometime in May, while i board, d with Mr. Smith, 1 lost my pocket book, which: contained upwards of thirty dollars in b.ank 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 fo*e it^, »2. 150 Narrative of the Life, <$Y. except in his house. 1 lost it between Friday night and Monday morning, during which time 1 attended a woman in his chamber, and several times had my coat off, which appeared to me to be the only time that it could be taken, or that I could lose it. '1 he 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 likely 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 that 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 ac- knowledged, that he has become convinced beyond a doubt, that this woman was not guilty of taking the things which 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 circumstances happened,his son Ira came home, after being absent about four years ; but vvas 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 lo 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 informed him Of Samuel Thomson. 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 ray assistance, said that he expected Ira had kill- ed himself. He showed 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 st;.irs. I di- rected them to lay him on the hearth, and took a bottle from my pocket, which contained a strong preparation of Nos. 1, 2, and 6—took his head between my knees his jaws being set, and put my finger between his cheek and teeth, and poured in some of tbe*medicine from the bottle; as soon as it reached the glands of his throat, his jaws became loosened, and he swallowed some of it —in five 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 seemed in some measure to return ; he clothed him, took him to Taunton and introduced him info practice as an assistant. He did very well till his mother-in-law arrived there, when a difficulty took place between them, and he went off. His father advertised him, for- bidding all persons from trusting him on his account. He vvas absent four years, when he 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 vvas obliged to seek an assylum among strangers. lie staid in town several days, became de- lected, in consequence, as he said, of the treatment he had met with at his father's house, went 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. 1 continued with Mr. Smith, as has been before men- tioned, giving him instruction, till the first of June, when 1 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 I was 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 he sold; which was ten dollars for 132 Narrative of the Life, $-c. - each right, for giving the necessary information to tho.^c who purchase;!, and collecting the pay. Hi- principal d.'peudanco at this time vvas upon me and the practice, for his support. He paid me one half of what he re- ceived for family rights as he sold them. '1 he first of July I contemplated going home to get my hay; but Mrs. Smiih expecting lo he confined soon, vvas very urgent that 1 should slay tiil ai'u-r she was sick, which detained me three weeks. 1 siaid accordingly and at- tended her through her sickness, for which they gave mvJ great credit and praise at the time. 1 then went home to atL-ud to my farm and get my hay ; after which 1 returned to Boston, and in the fall went to Cape-Cod, to attend to some business ('-ere, and on my return to Boston, I found Mr. ."Mnith's youngest child sick With the quinsey, or rallies; he had done all he could and given it over to die. The women hid taken charge of the child, after ho had given it up, and had given it some physic. When I saw the child 1 gave Some en- courage merit of a cure, and they were very desirous for me to do something for it. 1 told them they had done very wrong in giving physic, for it was strictly against my orders to ever give any physic, in cases where there was canker. They observed that there was no appear- ance of canker. 1 told them it would never appear when they gave physic, for it would remain inside, till mortification decided the contest. 1 began with the child by giving No. 2, which caused violent struggles and aroused it from the stupid stale in which it had laid, until the moisture appeared in the mouth; then gave some No. 3, steeped, and Nos. 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, because I brought the child out of its stupid state, and restored its sense of feeling, 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 1 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 went out. of town. I returned the Of Samuel Thomson. 15J 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 several 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 with the tea again, putting the swab down lower in the throat which caused it to gag, and while the throat was open, put it down below the swallow, and took off scales of canker, then rinsed 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 struggle for breath, and ap- peared to be in great distress, similar to a drowned person coming to life. In its struggling for breath discharged considerable phlegm from its nose and mouth; 1 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 had 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 for me. 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 heat turned inward and drove the cold on the outside ; this produces such a sudden change in the whole system, that a person unacquainted with the practice would suppose 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 steam 154 Narrative of the Life, <§'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 vvas very suc- cessful in his practice, which caused great alarm among the doctors ; they circulated all kinds of false and ridicu- lous reports about his practice^ to break him up ; but not succeeding, they raised a mob and twice broke open Mr. Smith's house, in his absence, and frightened his family. In the spring of this year Mr. Smith moved to Scituate, to preach there and attend to practice; andthe 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. 1 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 return- ed 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 1 could and took what he chose to offer at his own price.—He let me have two old watch- es at one hundred dollars, and an old mare at eighty, which was for medicine at cash prices. 1 gave him all the chance of selling rights and* medicine, in hopes that he would be able to do better by me. I often had re- quested him to deliver lectures on my system of practice, as this had been a favourite object w ith me in appointing Of Samuel Thomson. 155 him agent; hut never could prevail with him to do any thing in that way. Another important arrangement I had made with him was, that he was lo assist me in prepar- ing for the press, a work to contain a narrative of 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 ofl* 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 business, and turning ev- ery thing to his own advantage. I continued lo 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 was two or three thousand dollars worth at a time, in the house. He charged me three dollars per week for board, for 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 lour hundred dollars; 1 asked him for a due bill for 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 1 had for secu- rity. In the fall of the year 1820, I 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 and chaise, and that if I did not have it, somebody else would. 1 took the horse 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- 4. counts, about square, as to the medicine he had given me credit for. He made out a statement of fifty-seven fami- ly rights that he had sold at twenty dollars each, twenty- three of which he had never paid me any thing for ; his plea for not paying me for them was, that he had not 156 Narrative of die 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 necessary information to the purchasers. In the winter of 1819, I went to Philadelphia, and previous to my going made arrangements 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 necessary to give a complete and full description of my system, and the manner of prepar- ing and using the medicine; and I directed him to se- cure the copy-right according ?<» 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. 1 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. 1 had no fo*ea 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 advantage; for he has since attempted to satisfy the public that my system was no system ; and has brought forward this very book, which was printed under his own inspection and arranged by him, as apart of his proof that I vvas incapable of man- aging my own discoveries, and of communicating the ne- cessary information in an intelligible manner to make my system of practice usv-ful to those who purchase the rights. It is a well known fact, that some of the most es- sential parts of the directions was to be verbal; and I had allowed him ten dollars each, to give the proper in- structions lo all those to whom he sold the rights. Another circumstance that I have recently 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 Thomson. 15? printed in the name of Samuel Thomson as author and proprietor. What his intentions were in thus publishing a false certificate, I shall not attempt to explain ; but leave the reader to judge tor himself If I had been taken away, he possibly might have came foward and claimed under it a right to all my discoveries, and e^en- tually to substitute himself in my place as sole proprietor. From that time he ueglected 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 assi-t him in practice and prepare medi- cine, and while with him he prepared 38 bottles of the rheumatic drops, which by agreement he was to have of me ; he also directed him to take the metcrials 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, was that he owed me so much now that he was afraid he should never be able to pay me. 1 thought his taking the preparing and selling my medicine to himself, vvas 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 promised them important instructions and cheap medicine. He was appointed pres ident and treasurer, and after he had obtained their rnonev,the meetings were discontinued and the society v. .s 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 advetti-ed, without my knowledge or con- sent, in the liera.l, a periodical work published by him at that time, -L proposals toi publishing by subscription, a 1 (> !: to conlaiu the whole of the system and practice discov red by Samt.el Thomson, ..nd secured to him by patent—The price to subscubers to be five dollars—By 158 Narrative of the Life, Sfc. 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 promise of them at five. 1 went to him to know what he meant by his conduct, in issuing these pronosas; he plead innocence and said he h;td 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 us-ng the me- dicine secured to me by patent; the price;to subscribers to be ten dollars, including the right to each cf using the same for himself and family. Mr. Smith undertook to write the proposals and get them printed ; after they were struck ofl", I found he had said inth< m. by Samuel Thomson and r'lias >mith ; all subscribers to be returned to him. I asked him what he meant by putting his name with mine—he said in order to get more subscribers. 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 pres3—he said he thought we were to write it together—1 ask 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 hie name to it without my consent or know- ledge. He then intimated that he thought he was lo 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 we would agree upon a price afterwards—I told him no—I must know his price first. He said he could not tell within fifty dollar*. I tfo.-n told him we would say no more ab«>ut it. Thia conversation together with his c»nduci in regard lo the proposals, conviced me be- yond all doubt, teat his design was to de-troy me and take the whofo business to himself. I felt unwilling to (5H3t him any longer, and took all my books and manu Of Samuel Thomson. 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 whole system of practice. My system of practice and the credit of my medicine, was never in a more prosperous condition, than when I began with Mr. Smith, to instruct him in a knovvledge of ali my discov eries and experience in curing disease ; and appointed him agent. The people wherever it became known, were every day becoming convinced of its utiiity, and the medicine vvas in gr« at demand—family rights sold readily, and every thing se- med to promise complete success in diffusing a general knowledge ot the practice among all classes of the people; but under his manage- ment, the whole of my plans have been counteracted, and mv anticipations in a great measure have been frus- trated. By his conduct t-wards 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 peccniarv point of view, but the peo- ple at l-irge are deprived of the blessings that m ght be derived by a correct knowledge 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 he greatly benefitted thereby. I tried to get a settlement wiih Mr. Smith, for the me- dicine he had prepared and sold, and also 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 vvas no chance of ob- taining an honorable settlement with him, about the first ofFebuary 1821. I took all my medicine from his house and discontinued all connection or concern with him. I was then, after waiting about four years for him to assist me in writing, which vvas one of my greatest objects in appointing him agent, obliged to publish a pamphlet, in which I gave some of the principles upon which my sys- tem was founded, with explanations and directions for my practice, and also to notify the public that I had appoint- ed other agents, and caution all persons against trespass- ing on my patent. 160 Narrative of the Life, &/-C. He continued to practice and prepare medicine, bid- dig me defiance. I made several attempts to get an honorable settlement with him, without success, 1 em- ployed three persons to go to him and offer to settle all our dfficul'y 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 advertisement in the papers, giving notice that I had reprived him of all authority as my agent; and cautioning the public a- gainst receiving any medicine or information from him under any authority of mine. He redoubled his dili- gence in tresspassing, and prepared the medicine and ad- vertised it for sale under differnt names from what I had called it.—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 tresspass on my pa- tent, to be tried at the Circuit Court, at the October term 1821. The action vvas continued to May term, when it was called up and the judge decided that the specifica- tions in the patent were improperly made out, not being itifficienly 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 could make out new specifications and obtain a new patent from the gov- ernment. Mr. Smith his lately published 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, ex- cept what is taken from other authors, but what he has obtained from my written or verbal insti uctions ; and still he has the effrontery to publish it to the world as his own discovery, without giving me any credit whatever, except he has condescended to say, that "Samuel Thomson has made some imperfect discoveries of disease and medi- cine, 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 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. D is also a well known fact, that he had no knowledge of medicine, or of curing disease, until 1 instructed him; and if what he says be true, the effect has been very remakable, in as much as his magnet ical 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 important crisis in the grand plan for which 1 have spent a great part of my life, and suffered much, to bring about; that of establishing a system of medical practice, whereby the people of this highly favored country may have a knovvledge 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 endeavor- ed to make a correct and faithful statement of his con- duct and the treatment I have received from him; eve- ry particular of which can be substantiated by indispu- table testimony if necessary. 1 now appeal to the public, and more particularly to all who have been benefitted by my discoveries, for their aid and countenance, in support- ing my just rights against all encroachments, and secur- ing to me my claims to whatever of merit or distinction 1 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 honorable and fair measures to accomplish what my life. has principally been spent in fulfilling. 162 Narrative of the Life, «§*c. Additions to second Edition—Nov. 1825. Since the first edition of my narrative was published, some circumstances have occured which 1 think worth relating ; and shall, therefore, continue to give the read- er an account of all those things relating to my system of practice, and the success it has met with, up to the present time. After having failed in my attempt to obtain justice, by prosecuting hilias Smith for trespass, as has been before related, I found it necessary to adopt some new plan of proceedure in order to meet the universal opposition I have in all cases met with from not only the medical faculty, but from all those who belong to what are call- ed the learned professions. Judge Story decided that the action could not be sustained, because the specifica- tions in my patent were not so explicit as to determine what my claim was. He said it contained a number of recipes, which no doubt were very valuable; but I did not say what part ot it I claimed as my own invention. llow far this opinion was governed by a preconcerted plan to prevent me from maintaining my claim as the original inventor of a system of practice, and proving its utility in a court of justice, it would not be proper, for me to say; but 1 have an undoubted right to my own opinion on the subject; besides I had it from very high authority at the time, that this was the fact, and that I should always find all my effoits to support my claim, frustrated in the same manner. When I obtained my patent, I had good legal advice in making out the speci- fications, besides it vvas examined and approved by the Attorney General of the United States; and it was said at the time of the trial, hy several gentlemen learned in the law. to be good; and lh;V the very nature and meaning of the patent was, that the compounding and using the articles specified in manner therein set forth, was what 1 claimed as my invention. There was, however, no other way for me to do, but to obtain another patent; and immediately after the above decision, I set about getting one that would meet the objections that had been made to the first. In mak- ing new specifications,' I had the assistance of several Of Samuel Thomson. 163 gentlemen of the law and others, and every precaution was taken to have them according to law; but whether my second patent will be more successful than the first, time must determine. It embraces the six numbers, composition or vegetable powders, nerve powder, and the application of steam to raise perspiration; and to put my claim beyond doubt, I added at the end as fol- lows, viz :—•'• The preparing and compouudmg the fore- going vegetable medicine, in manner as herein describ- ed, and the administering them to cure disease, as here- in mentioned, together with the use of steam to pr-.duce perspiration, I claim as my own invention." My second patent is dated January 28, 1823. —"""^ In obtaining a patent, it was my principal object to get the protection of the government against the mach- inations of my enemies, more than to take advantage of a monopoly ; for in selling family rights--,! convey lo the purchaser the information trained by thirty years prac- tice, and for which I am paid a sum of money as an equiv- alent. This I should have a right to do if there was no patent in the case. Those who purchase the right have all the advantages of my experience, and also the right to the use of the medicine, secured to me by patent, and to the obtaining and preparing it for themsolv.-s, without any emolument to me whatever. And in ail the numerous cases where I have sold rights, there has been very few instances where any objections have been made to paying for them, where notes had been given, and these were by those who had been persuaded by men opposed to me and my practice, and who had in- terested views in doing me all the injury they couul; but where suits have been commenced to recover on notes given for rights, it has been decided that tne de- mind is good in law, and the plea set up of no value re- ceived is not valid; because the information given, and the advantages received, is a valuable consideration, without any reference to the patent right. In all cases where a person possesses valuable information from his own experience or ingenuity, there can be no reas- on why he should not have a right to sell it to another as well as any other property; and that all contracts made in such cases should not be binding, provided there is no fraud or deception used. 164 Narrative of the Life, reat measure, the sum of human misery. But 1 think those gentlemen who Of Samuel Thomson. 167 have gained any knowledge from my practice, for which 1 have suffered so much for introducing, ought, in jus- tice, to allow me some credit for the discovery. It has been my misfortune to meet with not only op- position in my practice, but to suffer many wrongs from some with whom I have had dealings, and this in many cases where those who have attempted to injure me were among those that I considered under obligations to me. I have related a numfo r of cas s in the course of my narrative; but the di-position in many still seems to continue. In selling tamiiy rights, 1 have always been as liberal to purchasers a- !foy could wish, pa ticularly where 1 was convinced their circumstances made it in- convenient for them to pay the money down; and have been in the habit of taking notes payable at a conven- ient lime. This has occasioned me considerable loss; but in most cases the purchasers have shown a disposi. lion to pay if in their power, hav treated me with a p-oper respect, and have b en grateful for the favor; with these I have hem sattsfod, and to one has had reason to complain of my want of generosity towards them. There has been some, howe>er, who have taken a dif- ferent course, and have not only refused to c mply with th^ir conn act; but have, notwithstanding they have con- tinued to use the med.cme, t uned against me and have tried to do me ail the harm in their power. Such con- duct has cau-jed me some considerable vexation and trouble. ^ t At the time I failed in my attempt against Elas Smith, in cousequence of the deci-ion against the correctness of the specifications of my patent,a-* has been before re- lated, I had a number of not; s for rights so!', among them wet* two against a perscau who had pivv lou-ly expressed great zeal in my cause ; for a right for him- celf and one for his fn.nd. Durinjj the pending f-he trinl, he took sides with o m>ke out one of the greatest cases of deception and fraud ever known ; but when he came lo hear the wdence in support of my claim, and the great credit .;:ven to my medicine and practice, by many respecta'i'e witnesses, he altered his tone very much, and 1 hope became convinced of his erroneous impressions ; and seemed to abandon this part of the defence, placing his dependence on the question of law, as to the failure of the. patent. this question the judge seemed not willing to decide alone, and the case was continued for argument before the full court, on this point. The case was argued before the three Judges, who all agreed in the opinion, that the decision of the Circuit Court did n»t affect the patent right; but was a mere suspension, in consequence of an informality in the spec- ifications, which did not debar me from recovering ac- cording to the contract. After this decision another hearing was had,and another attempt made to prove that the defendant had not »'en furnished by me with the necessary information lo enable him to p. actice with safety; but in this he failed altogether; for it vvas prov- ed that he had the privilege of being a member of the Friendly Botanic Society, and had aUo all the advanta- ges that oth* rs had, and that he did not improve it, was his own fault. It was lso proved that he had been in the constant practice of using the medicine inhis fmily, and prepared and offered it fo. sale to others. In the course of the examination, El as Smith was brought for- ward by the defendant to prove, as I presume, that I Of Samuel Thomson. 160 was not capable of giving information on my own system of practice ; but his testimony was so contradictory, to say the least ofit, that it did more harm than good to the defendant's cause. There was also a doctor of the regular order introduced in the defence ; but he seemed to know nothing about the practice or the case before the court, and of course his evidence amounted to very little, as his opinion upon a subject that he knew noth- ing about, was not of much value, and was very prop- erly objected to by the plaintiff's council. In the course of the trial, a great number of gentlemen of undoubted veracity, were brought forward to prove the utility of my system of practice, who gave the most perfect testimony in its favor. Several staled, that they were so well convinced of its superiority over all others, and they were so well satisfied with the benefits they had derived from its use, that no sum of money whatev- er would induce them to be deprived of a knowledge of it. Among the witnesses, an eminent physician of Bos- ton, who has on all occasions been very friendly and shown a warm interest in support of my system of prac- tice, voluntarily came forVard and gave a very fair and candid statement in favor of its utility, the value of my discoveries, and the important additions I had made to the Materia Medica. The judge took several days to make up his judgment, and finally decided in my favor, giving me the full amount of my claim ; thus settling the principle, that obligations given for family rights were good in law. This was the first time I have ever had a chance to prove the utility of my medicine and system of practice before a court of law ; having always before been prevented by some man- agement of the court. A knowledge of the vegetable medicine that 1 have brought into use in curing the diseases incident to this country, and what the faculty call, my "■ novel mode of practice," is fast gaining ground in all parts of the United States; but in no part of it of late, has it been more com- pletely successful, than in the State of New York, not- withstanding the virulent opposition the doctors in that state have made lo its progress. They have succeeded in getting a law passed by their legislature, to put a sl< p i;o Narrative of the Life, Src. to quackery, as they call all practice, except by those who get a diploma from some medical society established by law; depriving all others the right of collecting their demands for medical practice ; and they have also gone one step further than any other state, by making it pe- nal for any one who is not of the regular order to sell medicine to the sick ; imposing a fine of twenty-five dol- lars on all who offend; thus taking away from those who are so unfortunate as to be sick, all the right of de- termining for themselves, who they shall employ to cure them, or what medicine they shall make use of. The Medical Society of Pennsylvania made an attempt to get a similar law passed in that State ; but the good sense of Gov. Shultz put a stop to it, for which he is enti- tled to great praise. After they had managed to get it through the legislature, he refused to sign it, and returned the bill with his reasons ; the principal of which vvas, that he considered it altogether unconstitu- tional ; and it is to be hoped that the enlightened states- man and scholar, now Governor of New York, will use his influence to stop the interested and monopolizing schemes of the medical faculty in that important and en- terprising state. The remarkable extension of the practice in the state of New York, was in a great measure owing to accident; and proves what I have found to be the case in many other places, that where it has met with the greatest op- position from the faculty, the spread of a knowledge of its utility, has been the most rapid and permanent. In the year 1821, my son, Cyrus Thomson, who had settled in Ohio, vvas passing through the State of New York, on a visit to his friends; while in Manlius, he stopped to see a man who I had authorised to practice, and while there was requested by him to go and see two patients he had been requested to attend; both of them had been given over by the doctors as incurable. One of them was found to be past help, very little was done for her, and she soon after died. The other was cured by the use of the medicine- The death of the above per- son was taken advantage of by the doctors, who circu- lated a report that she was murdered by the medicine that had been given her. This produced a strong excite- Of Samuel Thomson. 171 ment among the people, who knew nothing about the facts; a warrant was got through the influence of the doctors, and my son and the other man were arrested. My son was thrown into prison, and the other was put under bonds of a thousand dollars to appear at the next court. The first, however, after laying in jail three day0 was enabled to give bonds, also, for his appearance. Being thus prevented from pursuing his journey, he set himself down in the town where the above occur- rence took place, and went into practice. The perse- cutions of the faculty gave him friends, as it led the peo- ple to enquire into their conduct, and being satisfied of their motives, did all they could to protect him and in- crease his practice. His success has been greater than in any other part of the country, the practice having spread over a country of more than two hundred miles in extent; and his success in curing disease has been very great, having lost but six patients out of about fif- teen hundred. This has caused the faculty to follow up their persecutions, in order to drive him out of the coun- try ; but he is too firmly established in the good opinions of the people for them to effect their object. I have another son established in the practice at Albany, who has been very successful in introducing the knowledge ofit there ; and a number of gentlemen of the first re- spectability are taking a strong interest in promoting its success. A writer has lately come forward and published a se- ries of numbers in the Boston Patriot, under the title of " Eclectic," who appears well qualified, and seems dis- posed to do me and my system of practice justice, by laying before the people a correct view of my case. The practice is now gaining a respectable standing in all parts, and particularly in Boston, where Mr. John Locke has lately established himself and is getting a great run of practice. He has accommodations lo receive patients at his house,and is well qualified to give relief to the sick. 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 1 thought worthy of being recorded, in as concise and plain a manner as I vvas capable; and iff Narrative of the Lifo %e. 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 narative. and their publication in the work seemed necessary, to convey a correct knovvledge of many state- ments therein given, to show the safety and success with which various diseases have been cured by others, who have had no other knowledge of medicine than the in- structions received from me ; and will, I trust, be suffi- cient 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. CERTIF1CATFS AND STATEMENTS, C.0NCEUN1NG THE fHn.\TMENT AMD CURE OF M1E/.SE, T'NDSR THK SYSTEM OK WlACTiCE MSCOVEIIED BY Dr.. SaMUKI. Thomson. The following documents have been voluntarily corn- municatcJ to mc by persons of respectable standing in soc'.ety, as evidence of their zeal in promoting a cause in which they take a deep interest; and on whom the ino.-t implicit reliance may be placed, for veracity and a thorough knovvledge of the subject upon which they treat, i'hey have been selected from a mass of evidence hat might be produced in support of the utility of the sys- tem ; 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 various kinds of disease incident to our contry, mos- Of Samuel Thomson. 173 of which were considered desperate, that have been cur- ed in different parts of the country and at different time*, and under a variety of circumstances, will give a tolera- ble fair view of the success with which the practice has been attended. A remarkable case of Dysentery, in Jericho Vermont, in October, 1807. In September of the year 1S07, this disease prevailed, and was very mortal, so that but two out of twent-two lived 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 his care, and in eight days, by the use of his medicine, the town was 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 personly acquainted with Dr. Thomson, his medicine, and mode of practice, and do say,lhat we have 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 satified with the benefit we and our acquaintance have recieved by being relieved from the above dis- orders. ALEXANDER RICE, STEPHEN NFAL, JOHN ROGERS, RICHARD RICE, BENMNG HALL, HUNKIN LOUD, JOSHUA JONES, THOMAS CLAPHAM. This certifies—That I have from my infancy been af- r a 174 Narrativ of the Lif. $c. flicted with the Salt Rheum, and for thirty years have- had it very bad, which from year to year has been grow- in" worse. But by the use of Dr. Thomson's medicines I have been entirely relieved, and I believe radically curet]. ELIZABETH MARSHALL. Portsmouth, May, 1813. Extract of a certificate from Eastham, county of Barnsta- ble, Mass. containing an account of Dr. Thomson's 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 died. In one house vvas 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 ri"-ht of using his medicine to several individuals of the town, and gave them liberty to administer the same to the sick. In the course of the mouth, 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, Minister of Eastham. OBED KNOWLES, one of the Selectmen. SAMUEL FREEMAN, Do. HARDING KNOWLES, Justice of the Peace. Certificate of the Post Master at Eastham. t 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, A^entfor the Society, and Post Master. This certifies, that at the early age of sixteen, I bad a severe attack of the Rheumatism, which so confined Of Samuel Thomson. HS 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 four 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. I continued to experience every year, similar attack", though less severe, of shorter or longer continuance, till in the year 1802 or 3, it returned again with unusual and alarming violence. The best medical aid was employed, a depletive train of remedies prescribed, which 1 at once commenced. I vvas bled, and the bleeding repeated for several days together; blisters were applied; strong drastic purges often administered ; and my regimen very low antl spare. Thus one intention of the physicians, to wit, depletion, was accomplished, for I was greatly re- 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 was about two years, before 1 could attend to my usual avocations. But all that had been hitherto done, by no means removed the cause of my complaint, for 1 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 mal- ady, 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. 176 Narrative of the Life, &c. Many in the vicinity where I reside, whose cases were very difficult and complicated, to my own person- al knowledge, have been restored to perfect health by this medicine. More than twelve persons of a consump- tion 1 could particularly name ; one of a mortification,one of a dropsy, and one of numb palsy, and others of divers diseases. The cures are truly extraordinary, and what my ears never heard nor my eyes ever 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. It 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 drops, with No. 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 case is serious and demands a partial, or full pro- cess of the medicine, which cleansing the stomach and bowels, removes the cause of pain, and these produce the desired effect. In case of pain in the stomach, side, or bowels, we give sometimes a portion of the composition, No. 3, or No. 2, with hot water; or from a tea spoonlul to a o-reat spoonful of the rheumatic drops and bathe the part with the same ; in cases of obstinacy, and where it is requisite, let the patient go to bed and apply a hot stone to the part, wrapped up with a cloth wet with vine- o-ar, 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 lesser adminis- trations fail, and in violent and alarming attacks, we commence the process by giving Nos. 1. 2, and 3, one after another, or combining the whole and repeating the same two or three times, or more as the case demands, till a thorough operation is performed, and in due tima repeat the process, till the patient is convalescent. v ALEXANDER RICE. Kittery, Nov. 20th, 1821. Of Samuel Thomson. 177 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, with 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 neighbourhood were af- flicted with fevers 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, N. 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, Dr. Thomson came among us, and succeeded in demonstrating the superiority of his system of practice over every other. Five cases of consumption, supposed to be desparate, were 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, was completely cured in one week. In consequence of the success uniformly attending him, about one hundred of the people in this town and vicini- ty purchased of him the right to prepare and use his medicine, for which he has obtained a patent. From that time to the present his medicine has been in constant use with undiminished success, and increasing patronage. In the time of the late war, when the dysentery and oth- er diseases incident to the camp, raged with a fatality which the skill of the faculty could not arrest, many ot 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 danger 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 178 Narrative of the Life, fyc. all; no sick person within our knowledge, who has given it a fair experiment, has ever given it up to seek other remedies. We wish Dr. 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 knowledge of the system for the benefit of the whole community. JOHN BURGIN. JERRY BURGIN. SOLOMON RICE. Eastport, July 20, 1821. Eastport,Washington County, State of Main, July 19, 1821 John Burgin, Jerrry Burgin, aud Solomon Rice, who have subscribed the foregoing, are well known to me, thev are men of respectability and entitled to full faith and'credit. 1. R. CHADBOURNE, J. Peace. 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 1819,1 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 lo grow worse until the following June, when I considered my situation hopeless. The last of June you administered your me- dicine to me, which afforded me great relief. My health has constantly amended, until it appears to be fully established. I ascribe it, under God, to the use of your medicine, and am your well wisher and friend. 1. R. CHADBOURNE. Case oj Selh Mason, Portland. He was attended by Dr. Coffin of that place, but his situation becoming desperate (for th.: messenger said it was thought he could not live two hours) Dr. Thomson was sent for,and 1 attended with him We arrived at the house at about 11 o'clock, and found 'lie patiert in the most anguishing pain r.nd ' room being an open one and quite cold, I c-nciuded the pressure of this cold air might counter- act the operation of the medicine and thus defeat my de- sign. To rem-dy this difficult}, 1 had the child put to bed, and covered all over, and steamed with alarp-e h;< Q 182 Narrative of the Life, fyc. stone wrapped in wet cloths, applied to it, and then re- peated No. 1, 2, and 3. I soon percieved an alteration for the better, the child breathed more free and easy by intervals and continued to do so till towards morning, a- bout 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 healthier child in the town. S. SEWALL, Scarborough, November 20, 1821. Case of Samuel Libbeifs infant child, Scarborough. A new born child of Samuel Libbey'swas 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 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 .No. 1, 2, and 3, freely 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 the least thing 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. SEWALL. Scarborough, December 1, 1821. In the fall of the year 180r, Dr. Samuel Thomson at- tended Mrs. Osgood at Salisbury Mills, who was given over with the lung fever; her fever was turned in about fourteen hours by the use of his medicine and she was soon restored to health ; and in some cases of sores, ex- traordinary cures were performed at that time In the spring of 'SO?,, Dr Thomson returned again to Salisbu- ry and attended to practice; a Mrs. Sawyer, wife of Capt. George Sawyer, was relieved of a consumption, and apprared to have been held up by his medicine for five years; two other women who were supposed .■> be rnori! likely to recover were aUende.i by the regular doctors, and both died in two months. Of Samuel Thomson. 183 Mrs. Sawyer used to express the highest satisfaction in using the emetic herb, or lobelia, and said she should rather be deprived of her bread than of this article and cayenne, which medicine vvas first brought into use in these parts by Dr. Thomson. The emetic he used to give tinctured in spirit, or in powder, which vvas uselul in consumptive and asthmatic complaints. In|the spring of 1808, 1 was relieved of a complaint called the nettlespring, or St. Anthony's fire, caused by overheating myself by fighting fire about twenty-live years before. Several times in a year I 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 med- icine, then steamed me until 1 felt the same as when I fought the fire. I vvas kept with a hot stone at my feet through the night* to keep from cooling too sudden, as he said that had leen the cause of my disoider. This process entirely cured me of this disorder lo this day ; and I have not used any other practice since, and have relieved many very obstinate cases in my family by the same medicine. JABKZ TRUE, Elder of the Baptist Church in Salisbury. Salisbury, Dumber b, 1821. In the fall of the year 1808, Dr. Samuel Thomson was sent for in this town ; I attended with him and was knowing to ail that transpired with Mr. Lovett in his sickness until he die;!, which is as follows: viz—Mr. Ezra Lovett came for Dr. Thomson to visit his son Ez- ra, who was sick of a fever; the doctor could not attend until he had called several limes. He gave him medi- cine fitst on Mondny 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 con- sumption of the liver, and vvas completely cured by one operation and enjoys his health to this day. Mr. Ezra Lovett, jr. vvas so far relieved that the doctor thought he would not need auy more medicine and was called to see elder Bolh-s of Salem ; but gave Lovett strict charge not to go out or expose himself. On the Friday follow- ing he was so well that he ventured out and went down 184 Narrative of the Life, Sfc. the shore to see his friend; the wind was eastward and extremely cold; he had a severe relapse and was much out; continued 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 Bolles. He was accordingly sent for, and on Sunday evening he arrived, and on seeing the young man, he ex- pressed 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 called in to pray with him. In the morning Dr. Thom- son renewed the request to Mr. Lovett lo have another doctor to take charge of his son. He accordingly called in Dr. How and Dr. Fisher, who took charge of him about sun rise in the morning. Dr. Thomson then left him, and those doctors attended him until about ten o' clock the next night, when he died. Notwithstanding Dr. Thomson gave him over in two hours alter seeing him, and the doctors administered their medicine to him for twelve hours, yet about one year after Dr. Thomson w.i> taken up for the murdr of said Lovett and no cred- it given him for the wonderful cure of his cousin, who was attended with him. Elder Bolles was attended at the same time, who was iii the last stage of a consumption, and vvas cured. .'ohn Lemmon was also cured of a consumption—Isaac Perkin's wife vvas cured of a dropsy of a desparate na- ture ; all these cures I vvas well knowing to, having b,en done at that time. WILLIAM RAYMOND. Beverly, December 7, 1821. The following statement of the Rev. E. Williams, the gen- tleman alluded to in the foregoing certificate of IVm. Raymond, has been lately received and is now pub- lished for the information of the public. In the year 1808,1 had a daughter (Mrs. Appleton) in a very declining state of health ; and being on a jour- Of Samuel Thomson. 185 ney from the eastward,in passing through Salisbury,heard much conversation concerning Dr. Thomson s practice, and of several remarkable cures he had performed ; par- ticularly of a woman whom he had raised from appar- ently the last stage of a consumption, to comfortable health. The thought occured to me that he might help my daughter; but to satisfy my own mind, I called to see the woman above mentioned, and found from heroan lips, that what I heard respecting her situation to be correct. On my return to Beverly, I stated to Mr. Ap- pleton and his wife, what I had seen and heard ; and the consequence was that Dr. Thomson was sent for, and came and administered for her ; at the same time observ- ing, '-that he could set a person on their legs, hut they might be too weak to stand"—and had he seen her be- fore she was reduced so low, she might have recovered her health. I ever thought he was instrumental in pro- longing her life ; and her death, which took place some months after, was occasioned by the bursting of a bloody vessel in a severe turn of coughing. 1 being out of health at the time, took his medicine, and thought I ex- perienced much relief, as did several others. 1 well remember that while Mr. Ezra Lovett was un- deVthe care of Dr. Thomson, he was said in a day or two to have got comfortable ^ at which time, Rev. Mr. Bolles of Salem, was very ill and his life almost di?pair- ed of; application was made to me by one of the^ den- cons of the church, respecting my opinion of Dr. Thom- son's practice, and the probability of his being helpful to Mr. Bolles. I was very cautious of giving any direct opinion on the subject, well knowing the prejudices of physicians and people. Very early in the morning of ihe next day, the same deacon called on mediating that Mr. Bolles's case appeared to. be desperate, that the physicians who attended him could afford him no relief, and wished me immediately to bring Dr. Thomson to Sa- lem, to attend on him. I accordingly conveyed him lo Salerji, and introduced him to Mr. Bolles and some gen- tlemen of his church and society, who were present. The result of his visit and attendance on Mr. Bolles was manifest to all his acquaintance, in his speedy relief from his bodily indisposition, and recovery to health. While 186 Narrative of the Life, Sfc. Dr. Thomson was attending on Mr. Bolles, Mr. Lovett experienced a relapse of his disorder, in consequence of taking cold by walking out some distance on a very cold day in the month of December. Dr. Thomson was im- mediately sent for, myself being in the neighbourhood, was called in; Dr, Thomson observed that Mr. Lovett had done very wrong in going out to expose himself in such weather, in his situation, and was very doubtful whether he should be able to help him. Mr. Lovett ap- peared in great distress and partially deranged; at the request of his father, Dr. Thomson administered some medicine, but apparently without any effect. Dr. Thom- son was obliged to return to Salem, to attend on Mr. Bolles, and left Mr. Raymond to slay with Mr. Lovett, who growing worse, two respectable physicians in the place were sent for and came ; whether or not theyjad- ministered any medicine I am not able to say, but on the following day at night, Mr. Lovett died. I have read a statement of Mr. Wm. Raymond, which has been published in Dr. Thomson's Narrative, and so far as my recollection serves, 1 think it to be correct. E. WILLIAMS. Boston, November 15, 1825. A few statements of the diseases and manner of treatment by Dr Thomson's System and directions, and the benefit rceived under the administration of his medicine ; by Stephen Neal, Esq. of Eliot, Me. I am now willing to assert with all the boldness that iruth inspires, that I 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. I 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, aivd in all Of Samuel Thomson. 187 that time he received but very little benefit from any thing done. I was then advised to call on Dr. Samuel Thomson and get his opinion and advice, which I did, he being at that time an utter stranger to me ; 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 under- take d Physicians. The Priests held the things of "religion in thrir own hands, and brought fhe people to their terms; kept the scriptures in the dead languages, so that the common people could not read them. Frgise 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 themselves'k horn only to rule." The common people- have now become acquainted with the great secret of o-overnment; and know that " all men are born free and equal,"" and that Magistrates are put in authority, or out,. bv the voice of the people, who choose them.far there- public servants. While these and many other thing? are brought where- " common people" can understand them ; the knovvledge 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, tfa* apothecary or his apprentice make a mistake, the 6 New Guide lo 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 alleged, (said Dr. Buchan,) that laying medicine more open to mankind, would lessen their faith in it. This indeed would be the case with regard to some ; but it would have a quite contrary effect upon others. 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." ,l Nothing ever can, or will inspire mankind with an ahsolute 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 knovvledge 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 rrtake 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 called 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 a medicine. This I have long seen and known to he true; and have laboured hard for many years to convince them of the evils that attend such a mode of procedure 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 safely 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 tte diseases incident to our climate ; \ can with well or, Botanic Family Physician. ~* grounded assurance, recommend my system of practice and medicines to the public, as salutory 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 the constitution ; as the price of imported drugs is very high ; it follows, whether we consult health which is of primary importance, or expense, 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 condemn have taken no pains to throw off prejudice, and examine (he subject with can- dor and impartiality.—Such as have, are thoroughly sa- ' tisfied of their utility 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 a> e 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 I have made, of inestimable value to mankind, and intended for the great benefit of those who are wil- ling to receive it. Being born in a new country, at that time almost an howling wilderness, my advantages for an education were Aery 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, I was led to enquire into the nature of the compouent parts of what man is made. I fond bun composed of the four elements— Earth, Water, \ir and Fire. The earth and water I found were the solids ; t.ie 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 t an.d 8 New Guide to Health , Cold, death. Each one who examines into it will find that all constitutions are alike. I shall now describe the fuel which continues the fire, or life of mau. 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 ro 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 on all the fevers peculiar to our country,. and always used it as a friend, and that returned the gratitude to the patient. I soon began to give this in- formation to the people, and convinced many that they might as certainly relieve themselves of their disease, as of their hunger. The expense to them tobe'always able to relieve themselves and families, would be but small; and the medicine they may procure and prepare themselves. This greatly distu rbed 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 I found my overthrow was what they aimed at. A plan was once laid to take me in the night, but I escaped. Next I vvas indicted as though 1 had given poison, and a bill brought against me for wilful mur- der. 1 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 caus-e. and was honorably acquitted after forty day* imprisonment. 1 maintained my integrity in the place where my persecution began. In five years, while vin- 10 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 connexion 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 life, the very opposite of dis- ease. If it is agreeable in one case, it must be abso- lutely 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 color 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 knowledge of a name is but the cummin and annis, but in the knowledge of the origin of a malady, and Its an- tidote, lies the weightier matters of this science. This knowledge makes the genuine physician; all without it is real quackery. It has been a general opinion that extensive study and great errudition, are necessary to form the eminent phy- sician. But all this may be as Paul saith, but science, •r, Botanic Family Physician. 11 falsely so called. A man may have a scientific knowl- edge of the human frame, he may know the names 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, with 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 never rival. The practice of the regular physicians, that is those who get a diploma, at the present time, is not to use those means which would be most likely to cure disease; but to try experiments upon what *hey have read in books, and to see how much a patient can bear with- out producing death. After pursuing this plan during 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 patient 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 is said about it; but if one out of hundreds of my patients die, and where the doctors have given them over as incurable, they at once cry out, that it is quackery, that I gave them poi- son, &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 hive 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 and sickness, than to a cook in preparing food to satisfy hunger and nourishing 12 New Guide to Health; the body. There is one general cause of hunger ;md 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 adapted to those different purposes—That medicine, therefore, that will open obstruction, promote per-pira- 4ion, and restore dig stion. is suited to every patient, whatever form the disease assumes, and is universally applicable. And acute disorders, such as fevers, chol- ics, and dysentary, 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 care and accuracy distinguished the different symptoms; but they 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 are a 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 operation ofit. 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 pu?rid heat, the hectic heat, the yel- low heat, the spotted o? cold heat, the typhus'or ignorant heat, and many and other subjects, with a hope that it may be beneficial to mankind. The reason why these extraordinary cases appear so wonderful to the people, is because they are unacquainted with the cause. Why should we wonder at a person being cold on a hot day when we are not, any more than we should wonder at another being hun-, gry, when we have just been eating ; or that others can be in pain, when we are enjoying good health ? The one- is as plain and simple as the other, when understood. The want of inward heat is the cause of their being cold, just as much as the want of food is the cause of hunger, •r the want of health is the cause of pain. One person may have lost the natural power of heat, by an effect which others in similar situations may not have experi- enced, and will suffer the consequences of cold in pro- portion to the loss of inward heat; this is manifest in ■the different degrees of sickness. If the inward heat loses its balance of power suddenly, death is immediate ; which is the case in spotted fevef, and in drowned per- sons. When the inward and outward cold is balanced, life ceases, and the blood being stopped in its motionj settles in spots, which appearance has given name to what is called spotted fever. The same appearances take place on drowned persons, and from the same cause. The practice of bleeding for the purpose of curing disease, 1 consider most unnatural and injurious.—. Mature never furnishes the body with more blood than. or, Botanic Family Physiclun. 19 is necessary for the maintenance of health ; to take away part of the blood, therefore, is taking away just so much of their life, and is as contrary to nature, as it would be to cut away part of their flesh. Many exper- iments have been tried by the use of the lancet in fe- vers ; but I believe it will be allowed by all, that most of them have proved fatal; and several eminent pliy- fiicians have died in consequence of trying the experi- ment on themselves. If the system is diseased, the blood becomes as much diseased as any other part ; remove the cause of the disorder and the blood will recover and become healthy as soon as any other parf; hut how taking part ofit away can help to cure what remains, can never be reconciled with common sense. There is no practice used by the phvsicians that I consider more inconsistent with common sense, and at the same time more inhuman than blistering to remove disease; particularly insane persons, or what the doctors call dropsy on the brain; in which cases they «have the head and draw a blister on it. Very few patients, if any, ever survive this application. What would be thought if a scald should be caused by boiling water to remove disease ? Yet there is no difference between this and a biister made by flies. I have witnessed many instances where great distress and very bad effects have been caused by the use of blisters ; and believe I can truly say that I never knew any benefit derived from their use. It very frequently causes stranguary, when the attempt- ed remedy becomes much worse than the disease. In support of my opinions on tlie subject, 1 will give the following extract from the writings of Dr. Hillary, an eminent physician of London. " 1 have long observed that blisters are too frequent- ly, and too often improperly used, as they are now so much in fashion. It is very probable, that we have no one remedy, in all the Materia Medica, that is so fre- quently, and so often improperly applied, not only in too many cases, where they cannot possibly give any relief, but too often where they must unavoidably in- crease the very evil, which they are intended to remove or n-lieve. How often do we see them applied, and sometimes several of them, by pretended dabblers ia 29 New Guide to Health ; physic, not only where there are no indications for ap- plying them, but where the true indications are against their application ; as, in the beginning of most fevers, and especially those of the inflammatory, and of the pu- trid kind, where, in the first, the stimulus of the acrid salts of the canthindes, which pass into the blood, must unavoidably increase both the stirnulous, and the mo- mentum of the blood, which were too great before, and so render the fever inflammatory, and all its symp- toms worse. " And it is well known that the cantharides contain a great quantity of alkaline semi-volatile salts which pass into the blood, though they are applied externally ; and attenuate, dissolve, and hasten and increase it« putrefac- tion, which is also confirmed by the putrid alkaline ac- rimony which they produce in the urine, with the heat and stranguary, which it gives to the urinary passage." ON STEAMING. Sleiming is a very important branch of my system of practice, which would in many cases without it, be insuf- ficient to effect a cure. It is of great importance in many cases considered by the medical faculty as despe- rate-; and they would be so under my mode of treat- ment, if it was not for this manner of applying heat to the body, for the purpose of reanimating the system and- aiding nature in restoring health. I had but little know- ledge of medicine when through necessity I discovered the use of steaming,.to add heat or life to the decaying spark; and vvi;h it 1 vvas enabled by administering such vegetable preparations as I then had a knowledge of,. to effect a cure in cases where the regular practitioners had given them over. In all cases where the heat of the body is so far ex- hausted as not to be rekindled by using the medicine and being shielded from the surrounding air by a blanket, or being in bed, and chills or stupor attend the patient, then applied heat by steaming becomes indispensibly neces- sary; and heat caused by steato in the manner that i. or, Botanic Family Physician. 21 use it, is more natural in producing perspiration, than any dry heat that can be applied to the body in any other manner, which will only serve to dry the air and prevent perspiration in many cases of disease, where a steam by water or vinegar would promote it and add a natural warmth to the body, and thereby increase the life and motion, which has lain silent in consequence of the cold. Dr. Jennings has contrived a plan to apply heat to the body by a dry vapour, caused by burning spirit, which he calls a vapour bath, the idea of which was I have no doubt, taken from hearing of my steaming to raise the heat of the body. It may answer in some cases and stages of disease ; but in a settled fever and other causes where there is a dry inflammation on the surface of the body, it will not answer any good purpose, and I think would be dangerous, without the use of my medicine to first raise a free perspiration; for when the surface of the body is dry the patient cannot bear it, as it will crowd to the head and cause distress, the same as is produced by burn- ing charcoal, or from hot stoves in a tight room, and will bring on a difficulty in breathing, which is not the case in steaming in my way. This machine can only be used in bed, where the vapour cannot be applied to the body equally at the same time, therefore is no better than a hot dry stone put on each side and to the feet of the patient, for he can turn himself and get heat from them as well as to have all the trouble of burning spirit and turning to the vapour ofit, to get warm by this dry heat. When the patient stands over a steam raised by putting a hot stone in water, which gives a more equal heat all over the body than can be done in any other manner, it can be raised higher, and may be tempered at pleasure by wetting the face and stomach with cold water as occasion requires. The method adopted by me, and which has always answered the desired object, is as follows—Take several stones of different sizes and put them in the fire till red hot, then take the smallest first, and put one of them into a pan or kettle of hot water, with the stone about halt imme.sed—the patient must be undressed and a blanket put around him so as to shield his whole body from the air, and then place him over the steam. Change the 22 New Guide to Health ; stones as often as they grow cool, so as to keep up a lively steam, and keep them over it; if they are faint, throw a little cold water on the face and stomach, which will let down the outward heat and restore the strength —after they have been over the steam long enough, which will generally be about 15 or 20 minutes, they must be washed all over with cold water or spirit and be put in bed, or may be dressed, as the circumstances of the case shall permit. Before they are placed over the steam, give a dose of No. 2 and 3, or composition, to raise the inward heat. When the patient is too weak tr> stand over the steam, it may be done in bed, by heating three stones and put them in water till done hissing, then wrap them in a number of thicknesses of cloths wet with water, and put one on each side and ooe at the feet, occasionally wetting the face and stomach with cold water, when faint. Many other plans may be contrived in steaming, which would make less trouble and be more agreeable to the patient, especially where they are unable to stand over the steam. An open worked chair may be made, in which they might sit and be steamed very conveniently ; or a settee might be made in the same manner, in which they might be laid and covered with blankets so as to shield them from the sarrounding air. Such contrivan- ces as these would be very convenient in cases where the patient would have to be carried through a course of medicine and steamed a number of times, as is fre- quently necessary, particularly in complaints that have been of long standing. As I have frequently mentioned a regular course of medicine, 1 will here state what is meant by it and the most proper way in which it is performed. Firstly, give No. 2 and 3, or composition, adding a tea spoonful of No. 6 ; then steam, and when in bed repeat it, adding No. 1, which will cleanse the stomach and assist in keep- ing up a perspiration ; when this has done operating, give an injection made with the same articles. Where there are symptoms of nervous affection, or spasms, put half a tea spoonful of the nerve powder into each dose given, and into the injection. In violent cases, where immedi- ate relief is needed, Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 6, may be given »r, Botanic Family Physician. 23 together. Injections may be administered at all times and in all cases of disease lo advantage ; it can never do harm, and in many cases, they are indispensably necessa- ry, especially where there is canker and inflammation in the bowels, and there is danger of mortification, in which case, add a tea spoonful of No. 6. In cases of this kind, the injection should be given first, or at the same time of giving the composition, or No. 3. The use of si earning is good in preventing sickness as well as curing it. When a person has been exposed to the cold, and is threatened with disease, it may be pre- vented, and long sit kness and expense saved by a very- little trouble, by standing over a steam and following the directions before given, till the cold is thoroughly thrown off and a lively perspiration takes place ; then go to bed, taking the stone from the kettle, and wrap it in wet cloths and put it to the feet. This may be done without the medicine, when it cannot he had; but is much better to take something to raise the inward heat at the same time. A tea made of mayweed or summer-savory, or ginger and hot water sweetened, may be given, or any thing that is warming. This advice is for the poor and those who have not a knowledge of the medicine ; and will many times save them much trouble and long sick- ness. Steaming is of the utmost importance in cases of sus- pended animation, such as drowned persons; in which case, place the body over a moderate steam, shielded by a blanket from the weight of the external air, and rari- fyin^ the air immediately around them with the steam. Pour into the mouth some of the tincture of Nos. 1, 2. and 6 ; and if there is any internal heat remains, there will be muscular motion about the eyes, and in the extre- meties. If this symptom appears, repeat the dose seve- ral tirnes, and renew the hot stones, raising the heat by degrees; if the outward heat is raised too sudden, so as to balance the inward, you will fail of the desired ohject, even after life appears. This is the only danger of any difficulty taking place—always bear in mind to keep the fountain above the stream, or the inward heat above the outward, and all will be safe. After life is restored, put them in bed and keep the perspiration free for twelve ?4 New Guide to Health; hours, by hot stones wrapped in cloths wet with water, and occasionally giving the tincture as before mentioned, when the coldness and obstructions are thrown off, and the patient will be in the enjoyment of his natural strength. Beware of bleeding or blowing in the mouth with a bellows, as either will generally prove fatal. In many cases of spotted fever steaming is as necessary as in drowned persons; such as when they fall apparent- ly dead ; then the same treatment is necessary to lighten the surrounding air till you can raise the inward heat so as to get the determining power to the surface. Begin with a small stone and as life gains increase the steam as the patient can bear it; if the distress is great, give more hot medicine inside, and as soon as an equilibri- um takes place the pain will cease. In all cases of this kind the difficulty cannot be removed without applied heat to the body, and is more natural by steam than by any other means that can be made use of. In cases of long standing, whvre the patient has been run down with mercury and left in a cold and obstructed state, lia- ble to rheumatism and other similar complaints, they cannot be cured with medicine without applied heat by steam, as nothing will remove mercury but heat. When a patient is carried through a course of my me- dicine and steamed, who has been long under mercurial treatment; and while under the operation of the steam, when the heat is at the highest, the face will swell, in consequence of the poisonous vapour being condensed by the air, the face bv ing open to it. To relieve this, put them in bed. and take a hot stone wrapped in several thicknesses of cloth wet with water, pouring on a little vinegar, and making a lively steam ; put it in the bed and cover the head with the clothes and let them breathe the steam as hot as can be borne, until the sweat covers the swelled part. This will in about fifteen or twenty minutes throw out the poison and the swelling will abate. This method also is of great service in agues and teeth- ache caused by cold ; and many other cases of obstruc- tion from the same cause, especially young children stuffed on the iungs. To steam small children, the best way is to let them sit in the lap of a person, covering both with a blanket # or, Botanic Family Physician. 25 and set over the steam, pouring a little vinegar on the stone : or it may be done in bed with a hot stone, wrap- ped in cloths wet with water, putting on a little vinegar ; and covering them with the bed clothes laid loosely over them; but in this way you cannot exercise so good judg- ment in tempering the steam, as when you are steamed with them. If the child appears languid and faintf the outward heat is high enough; put a little cold wat^t on the face or breast, which will restore the strength, then rub them in a cloth wet with vinegar, spirit or cold wav ter, put on clean clothes, and put Them in bed, or let them set up as their strength will permit. This is safe in all cases of cold and obstructed perspiration. It ought always to be borne strongly in mind to give a child drink often, when under the operation of medicine, or while steaming; if this is.not done they will suffer much, as they cannot ask for it. In all cases of falls or bruizes, steaming is almost infallible ; and is much belter than bleeding, as is the common practice, which only tends to de-troy life instead of promoting it. If the person is not able to stand over the steam, it must be done in bed, as has been describ- ed. Give the hottest medicine inside that you have* and keep the perspiration free till the pain and sore- ness abates, and the strength will be soon restored. It the advantages of this mode of treatment was generally 4 known, bleeding in such case?, or any other to remove disease, would never be resorted to by the wise and prudent. The use of steaming is to apply heat to the body where it is deficient, and clear off obstructions caused by cold, which the operation of the medicine will not raise heat enough to do ; for as the natural heat of the body becomes thereby lower than the natural state of health, it must by art be raised as much above as it has been below ; and this must be repeated until (he diges- tive powers are restored, sufficient to hold the heat by digesting the food, then the health of the patient will he restored by eating and drinking such things as the appe- tite shall require. In this way the medicine removes disease, and food, by being properly digested, supports mature and continues that heat on which life depends. C 26 New Guide to Health ; Some who practice according to my system, boast of carrying their patients through in a shorter time without the trouble of steaming; this is easily accounted for; Steaming is the most laborious part of the practice for those who attend upon the sick, and the most useful to the patient; as one operation of steaming will be more effectual in removing disease, than four courses without it; 4m" to omit it is throwing the labour upon the pa- tient," with the expense of three or four operations more of the medicine th,an would be needed, did the person who attends do his duty faithfully. ON GIVING POISON AS MEDICINE. The practice of giving poison as medicine, which is so common among the.medical faculty at the present day, is of the utmost importance to the public ; and is a sub- ject that I wish to bring home to the serious consideration of the whole body of the people of this couniry, and en- force in the strongest manner on their minds 'he perni- cious consequences that have happened, and are daily taking place by reason of giving mercury, arsenic, nitre, opium and other deadly poisons to cure disease. It is admitted by those who make use of these things, that the ^introducing them into the system is very dangerous and that they often prove fatal. During thirty year's prac- tice, I have had opportunity to gain much experience on this subject, and am ready to declare that I am perfect- ly and decidedly convinced, beyond all doubt, that there can be no possible good derived from using in any man- ner or form whatever, those poisons; but on the other hand, there is a great deal of hurt done- More than nine tenths of the chronic cases that have come under my care, have been such as had been run down with some one or the whole of the above named medical poisons ; and the greatest difficulty I have had to encounter in re- moving the complaints which my patients laboured under, has been to clear the system of mercury, nitre, or opium, and bring them back to the same state they were in be- fore taking them. It is a very easy thing to get them into the system, but very hard to get them out again. or, Botanic Family Physician. 21 Those who make use of these things as medicine, seem to cloak the administering them under the specious pretence of great skill and art in preparing and using them ; but this kind of covering will not blind the people, if they would examine it and think for themselves, in- stead of believing that every thing said or done by a learned man must be right; for poison given to the sick by a person of the greatest skill, will have exactly the same effect as it would if given by a fool.—The fact is, the operation of it is diametrically opposed to nature, and every particle of it, that is taken into the system, will strengthen the power of the enemy to health. If there should be doubts in the minds of any one of the truth of what 1 have said concerning the articles I have named being poisonous and destructive to the con- stitution and health of man, 1 will refer them to the works published by those who recommend their use; where they will find evidence enough to satisfy the most credulous, of the dangerous consequences and fatal ef- fects, of giving them as medicine. To remove all doubts of their being poison I will make a row extracts from standard medical works, as the best testimony that can be given in the case. " Muriate of Mercury, is one of the most violent poi- sons with which we are acquainted. Externally it acts as an escharotic or a caustic ; and in solution, it is used for destroying fungous flesh, and for removing hepetic eruptions; but even externally, it must be used wifh very great caution." Yet, reader, this active poison is used as medicine, and by being prepared in a different form, and a new name given it, (Calomel) its good qual- ities are said to be invaluable, and is a certain cure for almost every disease u Oxyd of Arsenic, is one of the most sudden and vio- lent prisons we are acquainted with, famines, it causes the destruction of numbers of those who explore them: and it is frequently the instiument by which victims are sacrificed, either by the hand of wickedness or impru- dence—The fumes of Arsenic are so deleterious to the lungs, that the artist ought to be on his guard to prevent their exhalation by the mouth ; for if they be mixed «nd swallowed with the saliva, effects will take place. 28* New Guide to Health ; similar to those which follow its introduction into the stomach in a saline state ; namely, a sensation of a pierc- ing, gnawing, and burning kind, accompanied with an acute pain in the stomach and intestines, which last are violently contorted; convulsive vomitting; insatiable thirst, from the parched and rough state of the tongue and throat: hiccough, palpitation of the heart and a deadly oppression of the whole breast, succeed next; the matter ejected by the mouth, as well as the stools-, exhibit a black, foetcd, and putrid appearance ; at length with the mortification of the bowels, the pain subsides, and death terminates the sufferings of the patient."— '- When the quantity is so very small as not to prove fatal, tremor-, paralysis, and lingering hectics succeed." Notwithstanding this terrible description ofthefajal effects of this article, the author says, "though the most violent of mineral poisons, arsenic, according to Murray, equals, when properly administered, the first medicines in the class of tonics." " Of all the diseases, (says Dr. Duncan) in which white Oxyd of Arsenic has been used internally, there is none in which it has been so frequently and so successfully employed, as in the cure of intermittant fevers. We have now the most satisfactory information concerning this article, in the Medical Reports, of the effects of arsenic in the cure of agues, remitting fevers, and periodical headaches, by Dr. Fowler of Stafford.'' "Such are the powers of this medicine, that two grains of it are often sufficient to cure an intermittent that has continued fcr weeks !" —" As an external remedy, arsenic has long been known as the basis of the celebrated cancer pozvders ;—" Ar- sei:ic has ever been applied in substance, sprinkled upon the ulcer; but this mode of using it is exceedingly pain- ful, and extremely dangerous. There have been fatal effects produced from its absorption."—No other escha- rotic possesses equal powers in cancerous affections; it not unfrequently amends the discharge, causes the sore to contract in size, and cases have been related of its hav- ing effected a cure."—But, says Dr. Willich, u we are, on the combined testimony of many medical practition- ers, conspicuous for their profes'ionalzeal and integri- ty, irresistibly induced to declare our opinion, at least, or, Botanic Family Physician, 29 against the internal use of this active and dangeroui medicine." I shall leave it to the reader to reconcile, if he can, the inconsistencies and absurdities of the above state- ments, of the effects of ratsbane ; and ask himself the question, whether it can be possible, for an article, the use of which is attended with such consequences, can be in any shape or form, proper to be used as medicine ; yet it is a well known fact, that this poison is in con- stant use among the faculty, and forms the principal ingredient in most of those nostrums sold throughout the country, under the names of drops, powders, washes, balsams, &c. and there can be no doubt that thousands either die, or become miserable invalids in consequence. " Antimony, in the modern nomenclature, is the name given to a peculiar metal.—The antmionUl- metal is a medicine oi the greatest power of any known substance ; a quantity too minute to be sensible in the most deli- cate balance, is capable of producing violent effects, if taken dissolved, or in a soluable state."—" Sulphureted antimony was employed by the ancients m Collyna, against inflammation ©f the eyes, and for staining the eyebrows black. Its internal use does not seem to have been established till the end of the fifteenth century; and even at that time it w as by many looked upon as poisonous.'1—" All the metalic preparations are uncer- tain as it entirely depends on the state of the stomach, whether thev have no action at all, or operate with dano-erous violence."—" i he principal general medic- inaf application of antimony has been tor the use of fe- brile affections."—In the laiter. stage of fever, where debility prevails, its use is inadmissible." Of the pro- priety of using this metal as medicine, I shall leave it. to the reader to judge for himself. •'Nitre. Salt Petre. This salt, consisting of nitric arid and potash, is found ready formed on the surface of the soil in warm climates.'1—- Purified nitre is pre- scribed with advantage in numerous disorders. Its vir- tues are those of a refrigereut and diuretic. It is usu- ally given in doses from two or three grains to a seru- pie being a very cooling and resolvent medicine, which by relaxing the spasmodic rigidity of the vessels,^r«< *.2v 30 New Guide to Health ; motes not only the secretion of urine, but at the same lime insensible perspiration, in febrile disorders; while it allays thirst and abates heat; though in malignant cases in which the pulse is low, and the patient's strength exhausted, it produces contrary effects.''—This power- ful salt, when inadvertantly taken in too large quanti- ties, is one of the most fatal poisons." For some inter- esting observations relative to the deleterious proper- ties of salt petre, the reader is referred to Dr. Mitchell's letter to Dr Priestly." I have found from a series of practical experiments for many years, that salt petre has the most certain and deadly offects upon the human system, of any drug that is used as medicine. Although the effects produced by it are not so immediately fatal ,is many others, yet its whole tendency is to counteract the principles of life, and destroy the operation of nature. Experience has taught me that it is the moM powerful enemy to health, and that it is the most difficult opponent to encounter, with any degree of success, that I have ever met with. Being in its nature cold, theie cannot be any other ef- fects produced by it, than to increase the power of that enemy of heat, and to lessen its necessary influence. " Opium, when taken into the stomach, lo such an extent as to have any sensible effect, gives rise to a pleasant serenity of the mind, in general proceeding lo a certain degree of languor and drowsiness."—'• It ex- cites thirst, and renders the mouth dry and parched."— " Taken into the stomach in a larger dose, gives rise to confusion of the head and vertigo. The powers of all stimulating causes of making impressions on the body are diminished; and even at time9, and in situations, when a person would naturally be awake, sleep is irre- sistably induced. In still larger doses, it acts in the same manner as the narcotic poisons, giviug rise to vertigo, headache, tiemors, delirium and convulsions ; and these terminating in a state of stupor, from which the person cannot be roused. This stupor is accompanied with slowness of the pulse, and with stertor in breathing, and the scene is terminated in death, attended with the same appearances as take place in an appoplexy."— ■*' In intermittents it is said to have been used with good effect."—" It is often of very great service in fevers of or, Botanic Family Physician. •*{ the typhoid type."—" In small pox, when the convul- sions before erruption are frequent and considerable, opium is liberally used."—'• in cholera and pyrosis, it is almost the only thing trusted to."—*' The adminis- tration of opium to the unaccustomed, is sometimes very difficult. The requisite quantity of opium is wonderful- ly different in different persons, and in different states of the same person. A quarter of a gram will in one adult, produce effects which ten times the quantity will not do in another. The lowest fatal dose to the unac- customed as mentioned by authors, seems to be four grains ; but a dangerous dose is so apt to puke, that it has seldom time to occasion death " From the above extracts it will readily be seen that the use of opium as medicine, is very dangerous, at least, if not do.-lniclive to health; its advocates, it will be observed, do not pretend that it will cure any disor- der, but is used as a paliative for the purpose of easing pain, by destroying sensibility. Pain is caused by dis- ease, and tlure can be no other way to'relieve it, but by removing the cause. Sleep produced by opium is unnatural, and affords no relief to the patient, being nothing more than a suspension of his senses; and it might with as much propriety be said, that a state of delirium is beneficial, for a person in that situation is not sensible of pain. The fact is, opium is a poison, and when taken into the system, produces no other effect than to strengthen the power of the enemy to health, by deadening the sensible organs of the stomach and in- testines, and preventing them from performing their nat- ural functions so important to the maintaining of health and life. In all the cases that have come within my knowledge, where the patient has been long in the hab- it of taking opium, 1 have found it almost impossible, after removing the disease, to restore the digestive pow- ers of the stomach. I have made the foregoing extracts on the subject of poisons, for the purpose of giving a more plain and simple view of the pernicious consequences caused by their being given as medicine, than I could do in any other manner. In this short address it is impossible to d..o that justice to the subject that I could wish, and wbjcj 32 New Guide to Health ; its importance demands; but I am not without hope, thai what is here given will satisfy every candid person who reads it, of the truth of those principles which it has been at all times my endeavor to inculcate, for the ben- efit of mankind, and convince them, that what has a ten- dency to destroy life, can never be useful in restoring health. In support of what has been before said on the use of mercury, 1 will here give a short extract from Dr. Mann's Medical Sketches, which is but a trifle in com- parison with the many cases that he has given of the fatal effects of that poison.—" Calomel should never be administered, unless the patient is so situated that the skin may be preserved in its natural warmth. If this is not attended to during its administration, either the bowels or the glands of the mouth suffered. To one of these parts it frequently directed all its stimulating pow- ers, and induced on one or the other high degrees of inflammation, which terminated in mortification of the intestines, or destruction of not only the muscles, but the bones of the face. " Four cases under these formidable effects of mer- curial ptyalism, were admitted into the general hospi- tal at Lewislown ; three of whom died with their jaws and faces dreadfully mutilated. The fourth recovered with the loss of the inferior maxilla on one side, and the teeth on the other. He lived a must wretched life, de- formed in his features, (when I last saw the patient) in- capable of taking food, except through a small aperture in place of his mouth." There are several vegetables that grow common in this country, which are poisons ; and in order that the public may be on their guard against using them as me- dicine, 1 will here give a list of those within my knowl- edge, viz. Garden Hemlock, Night Shade, Apple Peru, Poppy, Henbane, Poke-root, Mandrake-root, Garget-root, Wild Parsnip, Indigo-weed, Ivy, Dogwood, Tobacco, and Laurel. In case either of these articles, or any other poison should be taken through accident, or oth- erwise, a strong preparation of No. 1, with a small quantity of No. 2, will be found to be a sovereign rem- edy. or, Botanic Family Physician. S3 Cases frequently occur in the country of being pois- oned externally, by some of the above vegetable poisons, in which they swell very much. When this happens, by taking No. 2, or Composition, and washing with the tincture, or the third preparation of No. 1, relief may be speedily obtained. It is a common thing with the doctors to make use of many of the above mentioned vegetable poisons as med- icine; but I would caution the public against the use of them in any way whatever, as they will have no other effect than to increase the difficulty, and injure the con- stitution of the patient; being deadly poisons it is im- possible that they can do any good. No dumb beast will ever touch them, and they are correct judges of what is good for food or medicine. Great use is made in many parts of the country of gar- den hemlock, (Scicuta,) and is recommended by the doc- tors for many complaints, to be taken or applied exter- nally. I have been credibly informed that large quan- tities of this article are collected and boiled down to a thick substance, by the people in the country, and sold by them to the doctors and apothecaries. It is well known to be the greatest poison of any vegetable, and was used in ancient times to put criminals to death ; but this vvas before it was ever thuught of, that the same ar- ticle that would cause immediate death when taken for that purpose, would also cure disease. Many persons that pretend to make use of my system of practice, are in the habit of using some of the veget- ables that I have mentioned as poisonous. I wish the public to understand that it is entirely unauthorised by me as there is nothing in my practice or writings, hut what is directly opposed to every thing of a poisonous nature being used as medicine; for it has always been my aim, to ascertain and avoid the use of every thing except such articles as I knew by actual experience to be agreeable to nature, and also free from all dan»er or risk in using them to cure disease. 1 therefore caution the public a- gainst putting any confidence in styph as make use ot ei- ther vegetable or mineral poison. There has been several cases of death published by the doctors, which they say were caused by those who 34 New Guide to Health; practice by my system; and from the description they have given of the treatment, I have good reason to sup- pose, if there is any truth at all in them, were attended by such as I have before mentioned, pretending to prac- tice by my system without having a correct knowledge ofit; and who are tampering with every kind of medi- cine they can find ; for there is no such treatment of dis- ease, as they describe, ever been recommended by me, or that can be found in my writings or practice. It is very convenient for them, and has become common, to say, when they happen to be successful, it is their own great improvements ; but when the patient dies, it is then laid to the Thomson system of practice. This is unjust, and ought to be exposed: and I ask all those who have a wish to promote the practice, to adopt some means to ascertain the truth, and make it public. THE DOCTORS WITHOUT A SYSTEM. That the doctors have no system is a fact pretty gen- erally acknowledged by themselves; or at least they have none that has been fixed upon as a general rule for their practice. .Almost every great man among them has had a system of his own, which has been followed by their adherents till some other one is brought for- ward more fashionable. This is undoubtedly a great evil, for it makes everything uncertain ; where it is con- stantly changing, there can be no dependence on any thing, and the practice must always be experimental; no useful knowledge can be obtained by the young prac- titioners, as they will be constantly seeking after new theories. What should we say of acarp nter who should undertake to repair a building without having any rule to work by, and should for want of one. destroy the half of all he undertook to repair. i he employers would soon dose all confidence in him, and dismiss him as an ig- norant blockhead. And is it not of infinitely more im- portance for those who undertake to repair the human body, to have?,some correct rule to work by ? Their practice is founded on visionary theories, which are so er, Uoianic Family Physician. 55 uncertain and contradictory that it is impossible to form any correct general rule as a guide to be depended upon. In order to show the opinions of others as well as my own, I shall make a few extracts from late writers on the subject. Speaking of the revolutions of medicines, one says; 41 We have now noticed the principal revolutions of medicine; and we plainly perceive that the theory of medicine, not only has been, but is yet, in an unsettled state, that its practical application is wavering, fallacious, and extremely pernicious ; and taking a survey of the various fortunes of the art, we may well say with Ba- con, that medicine is a science that hath been more pro- fessed than laboured, and yet more laboured than ad- vanced, the labour having been in a circle, but not in progression." " Theories are but the butterflies of the day—they buzz for a while and then expire. We can trace for ma- ny centuries past, one theory overturning another, yet each in its succession promising itself immortality." 14 The application of the rules which the practitioner lays down to himself is direct, and in their choice, no one can err with impunity. The least erroneous view leads to some consequence. We must remember the lives of our fellow creatures are at stake, For how many cruel and premature deaths, how many impaired and debilitat- ed constitutions have paid for the folly of theories ! Fol- lies, which have proved almost always fascinating. The study of a system is more easy than an investigation of nature ; and in practice, it seems to smooth every diffi- culty." " In my lectures on the art of physic, (says Dr. Ring,) both theoretical and practical, 1 have fully proved that there is no necessity for that bane of the profession, con- jecture or hypothesis; and if I were asked whether, if J myself were dangerously ill, I would suffer any hypo- thetical, however plausible physician, to prest ribe for my malady, my answer would be no, assuredly no, un- less I wished to risk the loss of my life. I could give a remarkabie instance of this. *• Speculation and hypothesis are always at variance with sound experience and successful practiced 36. Neze Guide to Health ; The above extracts evince the pernicious effects of false theory and hypothesis, which at the present day, constitute nearly the whole art of physic. The following just remarks are copied from the writ- ings of the Rev John Wesley. ''As theories increased, simple medicines were more and more disregarded and disused; till, in a course of years, the greater part of them were forgotten, at least in the more polite nations. In the room of these, abun- dance of new ones were introduced, by reasoning, spec- ulative men; and those more and more difficult to be applied, as being more remote from common observa- tion. Hence rules for the application of these, and medical books were immensely multiplied ; till at length physic became an abstruse science, quite out of the reach of ordinary men. Physicians now began to be held in admiration, as persons wbo were something more than human. And profit attended their employ, as well as honour. So that they had now two weighty ieasons for keeping the bulk of mankind at a distance, that they might not pry into the mysteries of their profession. To this end they increased those difficulties, by design, which were in a manner by accident. They filled their writings with abundance of technical terms, utterly un- intelligible to plain men. '• Those who understood only how to restore the sick to health, they branded with the name of Empirics. They introduced into practice abundance of compound medicines, consisting of so many ingredients, that it was scarce possible for common people to know which it was that wrought a cure. Abundance of exotics, neith- er the nature or names of which their own countrymen understood." u I he history of the art of medicine in all ages," says Dr. Blane, " so teems with the fanciful influence of su- perstitious observances, the imaginary virtues of medi- cines, with nugatory, delusive, inefficient, and capricious practices, fallacious and sophistical reasonings, as to ren. der it little more than a chaos of error, a tissue of de- ceit unworthy of admission among the useful arts and liberal pursuits of man." DESCRIPTION OF THE VEGETABLE MEDICINE, USED IN MY SYSTEM OF PRACTICE. IN describing those vegetables which I make use of in removing disease and restoring the health of the pa- tient, agreeably to my system of practice, 1 shall men- tion those only which I have found most useful by a long series of practical knowledge; and in the use of which I have been successful in effecting the desired object. A great number of articles in the vegetable kingdom, that are useful as medicine, might be described and their medical virtues pointed out, if 1 thought it would be beneficial; in fact I am confident there are very few vegetable productions of our country, that I have not a tolerable good knowledge of, it having been my princi- pal study for above thirty years; but to undertake to describe them all would be useless and unprofitable to my readers, and could lead to no good result. The plan that I have adopted in describing such articles as 1 have thought necessary to mention, and giving directions how to prepare and administer them, is to class them under the numbers which form my system of practice ; this was thought to be the best way to give a correct and full understanding of the whole subject. Each number is calculated to effect a certain object, which is staled in the heading to ed to remove disease and the others as re-uoratives. There are a number of preparations and compounds, that I have made use of and found good in curing various complaints ; the directions for making them and a description of the ar- D 38 New Guide to Health ; tides of which they are composed are given as far as was deemed necessary. The manner of applying them will be hereafter more particularly stated, when 1 come to give an account of the manner of treating some of the most important cases of disease which have come ■under my care. No. 1.—To cleanse the Stomach, overpower the cold, and promote a free perspiration. Emetic Herb. Lobelia Inflata of Linozus. In giving a description of this valuable herb, I shall be more particular, because it is the most important article made use of in my system of practice, without which it would be incomplete, and the medical virtues of which and the administering it in curing disease, 1 claim as my own discovery. The first knowledge 1 ever had of it, was obtained by accident more than forty years ago ; and never had any information whatever concerning it, ex- cept what 1 have gained by my own experience. A great deal has been said of late about this plant, both in favour and against its utility as a medicine ; but all that the faculty have said or published concerning it, only shows their ignorance on the subject; for there is very little truth in what they have stated concerning its med- ical properties, except wherein they have admitted it to be a certain cure for the asthma, one of the most dis- tressing complaints that human nature is subject lo. It is a truth' which cannot be disputed by any one, that all they have known about this article, and the experiments that have been made to ascertain its value, originated in my making us~e of it in my practice. In the course of my practice, a number of the doctors discovered that the medicine 1 made use of, produced effects which astonished them, and which they could not account for; this induced them to conclude, that be- cause it vvas so powerful in removing disease, it must be poison. J his I think can be very satisfactorily account- ed fur; thay have no knowledge of any thing in all Uxeir medical science, which is capable of producing a or, Botanic Family Physician. 39 powerful effect upon the human system, except what is poisonous, and therefore naturally form their opinions agreeably to this erroneous theory. There is a power to produce life and a power to produce death, which are of course directly opposed to each other; and what- ever tends to promote life, cannot cause death, let its power be ever so great In this consists all the difference between my system of practice and that of the learned doctors. In consequence of their thus forming an er- roneous opinion of this herb, which they had no knovvl- edge of, they undertook to represent it as a deadly poi- son ; and in order to destroy my practice, they raised a hue-and-cry about my killing my patients by administer- ing it to them. Some of the faculty even made oath, (hat it was poison, and when taken into the stomach, if it did not cause immediate vomiting it was certain death. It is unnecessary for me now to point out the falsity of this, for the fact is pretty well known, that there is no death in it; but on the contrary, that there is no veget- able that the earth produces, more harmless in its effects on the human system, and none moi e powerful in re- moving disease and promoting heilth. There is no mention made of this herb, by any author, that I have been able to find, previous to my discover- ing it, excepting by Linseus, who has given a c >rrect desciiption ofit under the name of Lobelia Inflata; but there is nothing said of its medical properties, it is there- fore reasonable to conclude that they were not known till I discovered it, and proved it to be useful. When the faculty first made the discovery that I used the E-. metic Herb in my practice, they declared it to be a dead- ly poison ; and while persecuting me by every means in their power, and representing to the world that I killed my patients with it, they were very ready to call it my medicine and allow it to be my own discovery ; but since their ignorance of it has been exposed, and they find it is going to become an article of great value, an aitempt seems to be making to rob me of all the credit for causing its value to be known, and the profits which belong to me for the discovery. In which some who 40 -New Guide to Health ,- have been instructed by me are ready to join, for the purpose erf promoting their own interest at my expense. Dr. Thacher in his Dispensatory has undertaken to give an account of this herb ; but is very erroneous, except in the description ofit, which is nearly correct. It appears that all the knowledge he has on the subject, as to its virtues, is borrowed from others, and is probably derived from the ridiculous ideas entertained of its power by those doctors who knew nothing about it, except what they gained by my making use of it, as has been before stated. As to its being dangerous to administer it, and that if it does not puke, it frequently destroys the patient, and sometimes in five or six hours ; and that even horses and cattle have been supposed to be killed by eating it accidentally, is as absurd as it is untrue, and only proves their ignorance of the article. He tells a melancholy story about the Lobelia Inflata being admin- istered by the adventurous hand of a noted empiric, who he says frequently administered it in a dose of a tea spoonful of the powdered leaves and often repeated; which he says furnishes alarming examples of its delete- terioas properties and fatal effects. This, there is no doubt, alludes to me, and took its rise from the false statements circulated about me at the time of my trial, (o prejudice the public against my practice. It is true the dose that I usually prescribed is a tea-spoonful of the powder; but that it ever produced any fatal effects is altogether incorrect, and is well known to be so by all who have any correct knowledge on the subject. Wh:it is quoted in the Dispensatory, from the Rev. Dr. M. Cutler, concerning this herb, is, in general, cor- rect, particularly as it regards its being a specific for the asthma■; though he laboured under many mistaken no- tions about its effects when taken into the stomach ; he «u\s, i;if the quantity be a little increased, it operates as an emetic and then as a cathartic, its effects being much ihe same as those of the common emetics and cathartic*." In this he is mistaken, for it is entirely different fiom any other emetic known jVand as to its operating as a cathartic, I never knew it to have such an effect in all my practice. And I certainly ought to 9r, Botanic Family Physician. 41 Snow somthing about it, after having made use of it for above twenty years, and administering it in every form and manner that it can be given, and for every disease that has come within my knowledge. It appears that all the knowledge he and other doctors have got of this herb being useful in curing disease, particularly in the asthma, was obtained from me; for when 1 was prosecuted, I was obliged to expose my discoveries to show the falsity of the indictment. Dr. Cutler was brought forward as a witness at my trial, to prove the virtues of this plant, by his evidence, that he cured him- self of the astlima with it. He says the first information he had of its being good for that complaint was from Dr. Drury of Marblehead. In the fall of the year 1807 I introduced the use of the Emetic Herb tinctured in spirit, for the asthma and other complaints of the lungs, and cured several of the consumption. In 1808 1 cured a woman in Newington, of the asthma, who had not lain in her bed for six months. I gathered some of the young plants not bigger than a dollar, bruised them, and tinctured them in spirits, gave her the tincture and she lay in bed the first night. I showed her what it was and how to prepare and use it. and by taking this and other things according to my direction, she has en- joyed a comfortable state of health for twelve years, and has never been obliged to sit up one night since. The same fall I used it in Beverly and Salem ; and there ean be no doubt but all the information concerning the value of this article was obtained from my practice. After Dr. Cutler had given his testimony of the vir- tues of this he; b, and the doctors having become con- vinced of its va!u*°, they come forward and say it is good medicine in skilful hands. Who. 1 would ask, is more skilful than he who discovered it, and taught them how to pit pare and use it in curing one of the most distressing complaints known? If it is a good medi- cine it is mine and 1 am entitled to the credit of intro- ducing it into use, and have paid dear for it; if it is poison the doctors do not need it, as they hav« inough of that now. Dr, Thacher undertakes to snake »£ i]2- New Guide to Health ; it appear that the fatal effects he tells about its pro- ducing, vvas owing to the quantity given; and says 1 administered a tea-spoonful of the powder; and when he comes to give directions for using it, says that from 10 to 20 grains may be given with safety. It appears strange that different terms should produce such differ- ent effects in the operation of medicine. If a tea spoon- fill is given by an empiric, its effects are fatal; but if the same quantity is administered by a learned doctor and called grains, it is a useful medicine ! This herb'is described in Thacher's Dispensatory Under the names of Lobelia Inflata, Lobelia Emetica, Emetic Weed, and Indian Tobacco; and several other names have been given it, some by way of ridicule and others for the purpose of creating a prejudice against it; all of which has so confounded it with other articles that there is a difficulty in ascertaining what they mean lo describe. I have been informed there is a poisonous root grows in the Southern States, called Lobelia, which has been used as a medicine ; the calling this herb by that name, has probably heen one reason of its being thought to be poison. Why it has had the name of Indian Tobacco given it, I know not: there is a plant that is called by that name, which grows in this country, but is entirely different from this herb both in appear- ance and medical virtues. In the United States Phar- macopeia there is directions given for preparing the tincture of Indian Tobacco; whether they mean this herb or the plant that has been always called by that name, does not appear; but it is probable they mean the emetic herb, and that all the knowledge they have of it is from Dr. Cutler's description. It is said by <- Thacher that it was employed by the aborigines and by those who deal in Indian remedies; and others who are attempting to rob me of the discovery affect to believe the same thing; but this is founded altogether upon con- jecture, for they cannot produce a single instance of its having been employed as a medicine till I made use of it. The fact is it is a new article, wholly unknown to the medical faculty, till I introduced it into use, and the best evidence of this is, that they are now ignorant of or, Botanic Family Physician. 43 its powers ; and all the knowledge they have of it has been obtained from my practice. It would be folly for me to undertake to say but that it may have been used by the natives of this countiy; but one thing I am cer- tain of, that I never had any knovvledge of their using it, nor ever received any information concerning it from them or any one else. The Emetic Herb may be found in the first stages of its growth at all limes through the summer, from the bigness of a six cent piece to that of a dollar and larger, lying flat on the ground, in a round forn, like a rose pressed flat, in order to bear the weight of snow which lays on it during the winter, and is subject to be winter- killed like wheat. In the spring it looks yellow and pale, like other things suffering from wet and cold ; but when the returning sun spreads forth its enlivening rays upon it, lifts up its leaves and shoots forth aslaik to the hight of from twelve to fifteen inches, with a number of branch- es, can ying up its leaves with its growth. In July it puts forth small pointed pale blue blossoms, which is followed by small pods about the size of a white bean, containing numerous very small seeds. This pod is an exact resemblance of the human stomach, having an in- let and outlet higher than the middle; from the inlet it receives nourishment and by the outlet discharges the seeds. It comes to maturity about the first of Septem- ber, when the leaves and pods turn a little yellow; this is the best time to gather it. It is whjt is called by botanists a bienneal plant, or of only two years existence. This plant is common in all parts of this country. Wherever the land is fertile enough to yield support fop its inhabitants it maybe found. It is confined to no soil which is fit for cultivation, from the highest moun- tains to (he lowest valleys. In hot and wet seasons it is most plenty on dry and warm lands—in hot and dry seasons on clayey and heavy lands. When the season is cold, either wet or dry, it rarely makes its appear- ance; and if the summer and fall is very dry the seed does not come up, and of course there will be very lit- tle to be found the next season. I have been in search of this herb from Boston to Canada, and was not able te 44 New Guide to Health ; collect more than two pounds ; and in some seasons 1 have not been able to collect any. I mention this to show the uncertainty of its growth, and to put the peo- ple on their jjuard to be careful and lay up a good stock ofit when plenty. In the year 1807, if I had offered a reward of a thousand dollars for a pound of this he. b, 1 should not h-ive been able to have obtained it. I have seen the time that I would have given two dollars for an ounce of the powder, but there was none to be had; which necessity taught me to lay up all I could obtain when it vvas j i^nty In seasons when this herb is plenty it may be found growing in highways and pastures, by the side of old turnpikes, and in stu&ble laud, particularly where it had been laid down to grass the year before ; when t^rass is scarce it is eaten by cattie, and is hard to be found when full grown. It is a wild plant and a native of this coun- try ; hut there is no doubt of its being common to other countries. It m.iy be transplanted and cultivated in gardens and will be much larger and more vigorous than when growing wild, if some stalks are left it will sow itself, and probably may be produced from the seed ; but how long the seeds remain in the ground be- fore they come up, I do not know, never having made aiy experiments to ascertain the fact. It is. certain that it is produced from the seed, and there is no good rea- son to suppose that it may not be cultivated in gardens from the seed as well as other vegetables; I think it most probable, however, from the nature of the plant,. that it will not come up till the seeds have lain at least one winter in the ground. This plant is different in one very important particu- lar. lV..m all others that I have a knowledge of, that the same quantity will produce the same effect in all stages of its growth, from its first appearance tiil it comes to maturity; but the best time for gathering it, as has be- fore been mentioned, is when the leaves and pods be- gin to turn yellow, for then the seed is ripe and you have all there can be of it. It should then be cut and kept clean, and spread in a large chamber or loft, to dry, where it is open to the air in the day time and to be ot, Botanic Family Physician. 45 shut from the damp air during the night. When per- fectly dry, shake out the seed and sift it through a com- mon meal sieve, and preserve it by itself; then beat off' the leaves and pods from the stalks and preserve them clean. This herb may be prepared for use in three different ways:—viz. 1st the powdered leaves and pods. 2d. A tincture made from the green herb with spirit. 3d. The seeds reduced to a fine powder and compounded with Nos. 2 and 6. 1. After the leaves and pods are separated from the stalks, pound or grind them in a mortar to fine powder, sift it through a fine sieve, and preserve it from the air. This is the most common preparation, and may be given in m.my diffefent ways, either by itself or compounded with oiher articles. For a common dose take a tea- spoonful of this powder with the same quantity of sugar in half a tea-cupful af warm water, or a tea of No. 3 maybe used instead of the water; this dose may be ta- ken all at one time, or at three times, at intervals of ten minutes. For a young child strain off the liquor and give a part as circumstances shall require. There is but one way in which this herb can be prepared that it will refuse its services, and that is when boiled or scald- ed ; it is therefore important to bear in mind that there must never be any thing put to it warmer than a blood heat. 2. To prepare the tincture, take the green herb in any stage of its growth, (if the smal 1 plants are used take roots and all) put them into a mortar and pound them fine, then add the same quantity of good spirits; when well pounded and worked together, strain it through a fine cloth and squeeze and press it hard to get out all the juice ; save the liquor in bottles, close stopped, for use. Good vinegar, or pepper-sauce may be used instead of the spirit. Prepared in this manner it is an effectual counter-poison, either taken, or externally applied. It is also an excellent medicine for the asthma and all com- plaints of the lungs This is the only way in which the doctors have made use of the Emetic Herb; and they acknowledge it to be one of the best remedies in many complaints, that has been found, though they know but 46 New Guide to Health ; little about it. For a dose take from half* to a tea-spoon- ful. Its effect will be more certain if about the same quantity of No. 2, is add*d, and in all cases where there are nervous symptoms add half a tea-spoonful of nerve powder (Umbil) to the dose. 3. Reduce the seeds to a fine powder in a mortar, and take half an ounce of this powder, or about a large spoonful, with the same quantity of No. 2, made finej, and put them in a gill of No. 6, adding a tea-spoonful of Umbil; to be kept close stopped in a bottle for use ; when taken to be well shaken together. This preparation is for the most violent attacks of disease, such as lock-jaw, bite of mad dog, drowned persons, fits, spasms, and in all cases of suspended animation, where trie vital spark is nearly extinct It will go through the system like electricity, giving heat and life to every part. In cases where the spasms are so violent that they are stiff, and the jaws become set, by pouring some of this liquid into the mouth between the cheek and teeth, as soon as it touches the glands at the roots of the tongue the spasms will relax, and the jaws will become loosened so that the mouth will open; then give a dose ofit, and as soon as the spasms have abated, repeat it, and afterwards give a tea of No. 3, for canker. This course I never knew fail of giving relief. It is good in less violent cases, to bring out the meazles and small pox; and if applied to pimples, warts, &c. will remove them. I have cured three dogs with this preparation, who were under the most violent symptoms of hydrophobia ; one of myagenls cure.i a man with it who had been bitten by a mad dog; and 1 have not the least doubt of its being a specific for that disease For a dose take a tea-spoonful. Much has been said of the power of the Emetic Herb, 9'nd some have expressed fears of it oh that account; but 1 can assure the public, that there is not the least danger in using it; I have given it to children from one day old to persons of 80 years. It is most powerful in removing disease, but innocent on nature. Its opera- tion in different persons, is according to their different tempers, moving with the natural current of the animal spirits. Theie is two cases where this medicine will or, Botanic Family Physician. 47 not operate, viz. when the patient is dying, and where there is no death. There can be no war where there is no enemy. When there is no cold in the body th^re is nothing to contend against, and when there is no heat in the body there is nothing to kindle ; in either case therefore this medicine is silent and harmless. It is cal- culated to remove the cause and no more, as food re- moves hunger and drink thirst. It clears all obstruc- tions to the Extremities, without regard to the names of disease, until it produces an equilebrium in the system, and will be felt in the fingers and toes, producing a prick- ling feeling like that caused by a knock of the elbow; this symptom is alarming to those unacquainted with its operation.; but is always favourable, being a certain indication of the turn of the disorder, and they general- ly gain from that time. In regard to the quantity to be given as a dose, it is matter of less consequence than is generally imagined. The most important thing is to give enough to produce the desired effect;—If too little is given it will worry the patient, and do little good; if more is given than what is necessary the surplus will be thrown off, and is a waste of medicine. I have given directions what I consider as a proper dose in common cases, of the different preparations, but still it must be left to the judg- ment of those who use it, how much to give.' The most safe way will be to give the smallest prescribed dose first, then repe.it it till it produce the wished op- peration. In cases where the stomach is cold and very foul, its opperation will be slow and uncertain ; in which case give No. 2, which will assist it in doing its work. When this medicine is given to patients that are in a decline, or are labouring under a disease of b»ng stand- ing, the symptoms indicating a crisis will not take place till they have been carried through from three to eight courses of the medicine; and the lower they have been the more alarming will be the symptoms. I have seen some who would lay and sob like a child that had been punished, for two hours, not able to speak or to raise their hand to their head; and the next day be about, and soon get well. In cases where they have taken consid- 48 Narrative of the Life, &c. erable opium, and this medicine is administered, it will in its operation produce the same appearances and symp- toms that is produced by opium when first given, which having lain dorment, is roused into action by the enlivening qualities of this medicine, and they will be thrown into a senseless state ; the whole system will be one complete mass of confusion, tumbling in every di- rection; will take two or three to hold them on the bed ; they grow cold as though dying; remaining in this way from two to eight hours, and then awake, like one from sleep after a good nights rest; be entirely calm and sen- sible as though nothing had ailed them. It is sel- dom they ever have more than one of these turns; as it is the last struggle of the disease, and they generally begin to recover from that time. I have been more particular in describing these effects of the medicine, as they are very alarming to those unacquainted with them, in order to show that there is no danger lo be appre- hended, as it is certain evidence of a fovourable turn of the disease. The Emetic Herb is of great value in preventing sick- ness as well as curing it; by taking a dose when first attacked hy any complaint it will throw it off, and fre- quently prevent long sickness. It not only acts as an emetic, and throws off the stomach every thing that nature does not require for support of the system; but extends its effect- to every part of the body. It is searching, enlivening, quickening and has a great power in removing all obstructions; but itso-m exhausts itself, and if not followed by some other medicine to hold the vital heat till nature is able to support itself by digesting the food, it will nol be sufficient to remove a disease that has become seated. To effect this important object put me to much trouble, and after tr}ing many experi- ments to get something that would answer the purpose, I found that what is described under No. 2, was the best and only medicine I have a knowledge of, that would hold the heat in the stomach, and not evaporate ; and by giving No. 3 to remove the canker, which is the great cause of disease ; and then follow ing with Nos. 4 and 5 to correct the bile, restore the digestion, and strengthen the system, I have had little trouble in effecting a cure. Directions for preparing these will be hereafter given. or, Botanic Family Physician. 49 No. %.—To retain the internal vital heat of the system and cause a free perspiration. Cayenne.—Capsicum. This article being so well known it will be unneces- sary to be very particular in describing it. It has been a long time used for culinary purposes, and comes to us prepared for use by being ground to powder and a pro- portion of salt mixt with it; this destroys in some de- gree its stimulating effects and makes it less pungent; hut it is not so good for medicine as in the pure state. It is said to be a native of South America and is cultiva- ted in many of the West-India islands; that which comes to this country is brought from Demerara and Jamaica. 11 also grows in other parts of the world ; I once bought one hundred pounds ofit in the pod, which was brought from the coast of Guinea; had it ground at Portsmouth, and it was as good as any I ever used. '1 here are. sev- eral species that are described under the name of Cap- sicum ; all of which are about the same, as to their stimulating qualities. The pods only are used; they are long and pointed, are of a green colour till ripe, when they torn of a bright orange red. When the pods are green they are gathered and preserved in salt and water and brought to this country in bottles, when vine- gar is put to them, which is sold under the name of Pepper-S;!uce. T-ie ripe pods ground to a powder is what is used for medicine and cooking ; but the Pepper- Sauce is very good to be taken as medicine and ap- plied externally; the gieen pods hold their attracting power till ripe, and therefore keep llieir strength much longer when putjn vinegar; as the bottle may be filled up a number of times and the strength seems to be the same; but when the ripe pods are put in vinegar, the first time will take nearly ail the strength. I shall not undertake to dispute hut thai-Cayenne has been used for medical purposes long before I had any knovvledge ofit; and that it is cue of the safest and best *&ticles ever discovered lo remove disease, I know to E 50 Narrative of the Life, fyc. be a fact, from long experience ; but it is equally true that the medical faculty never considered it of much value, and the people had no knowledge of it as a me- dicine, till I introduced it, by making use of it in my practice. Mention is made of Cayenne in the Edinburgh Dispensatory, as chiefly employed for culinary purpo- ses, but that of late it has been employed also in the practice of medicine. 'I he author says that '• there can be little doubt that it furnishes one of the purest and strongest stimulants which can be introduced into the stomach ; while at the same time it has nothing of the narcotic effects of ardent spirits It is said to have been used with success in curing some cases of disease, that had resisted all other remedies." All this 1 am sat- isfied is true, for if given as a medicine it always will be found useful; but all the knowledge they had of it seems to have been derived from a few experiments that had been made, without fixing upon any particular manner of preparing or administering it, or in what disease, as is the case with all other articles that are introduced in- to general practice. In Thacher's Dispensatory the same account is given of Cayenne, as in the Edinburgh, and in almost the same words. I never had any knowledge of Cayenne being useful as a medicine, or lhat it had ever been used as such, till I discovered it by accident, as has been the case with most other articles used by me. After I had fixed upon a system for my government in practice, I found much difficulty in getting something that would not only pro- duce a strong heat in the body, but would retain it till the canker could be removed and the digestive powers restored, so that the food by being properly digested, would maintain the natural heat. I tried a great num- ber of articles that were of hot nature; but could tind nothing that would hold the heat any length of time. I made use of singer, mustard, horseradish peppermint, butternut bark, and many other hot things; but they were all more or less volatile, and would not have the desired effect. V\ ith these, however, and the Erneiic Herb, together with the aid of steam, 1 was enabled to practice with pretty general succe:^. In the fall of the or, Botanic Family Physician. 51 year 1805,1 was out in search of Umbil, on a mountain, in Walpole, N. H. I went into a house at the foot cf. the mountain, to inquire for some rattlesnake oil; while in the house I saw a large string of red-peppers hanging in the room, which put me in mind of what I had been a long time in search of, to retain the internal heat. I knew them to be \ery hot; but did not know of what nature. I obtained these peppers, carried them home, reduced them to powder, and took some of the powder myself and found it to answer the purpose bet- ter than any thing else I had made u-e of. 1 put it in spirit with the Emetic Herb, and gave the tincture mix- ed in a tea of witch-hazle leaves, and found that it would retain the heat in the stomach after puking; and pre- ??rve the strength of the patient in proportion. I made use of it in different ways for two years, and always with good success. In the fall of 1807 I was in Newhuryport and saw a bottle of pepper sauce, being the first I had ever seen; I bought it and carried it home ; got some of the same kind of pepper that w;s dried, which I put into the bottle, this nude it very hot. On my way home was taken unwell, and was quite cold ; I took a swallow from the bottle, which caused violent pain for a few minutes, when it produced perspiration, and I soon grew easy. I afterwards tried it and found that after it had expelled the cold, it would not cause pain. From these experi- ments, I became convinced that this kind of pepper vvas much stronger and would be better for medical use than the common red pepper. Soon after this I was again in Newhuryport and made enquiry and found some Cayenne; but it was prepared with salt for table use, which injured it for medical purposes. I tried it by tasting, and selected that which had the least salt in it. I afterwards made use of this article a:id found it to an- swer all the purposes wished; and was the very thing had long been in search of. The next year I went to Portsmouth and made enquiries concerning Cayenne, and from those who dealt in the article, I learned that it vvas brought to this country from Demarara and Jamai- ca, prepared only for table use, and that salt was put 52 New Guide to Health ■>■ with it to preserve it and make it more "palatable. I became acquainted with a French gentleman who had a brother in Demarara; and made arrangements with him to send to his brother and request him to procure some, and have it prepared without salt. He did so and sent out a box containing about eighty pounds in a pure stale. I sent also by many others, that were going to the places where it grows, to pro Mire all they could: in consequence of which large quantities were imported into Portsmouth, much more than there was immediate demand for. 1 was not able to purchase but a small part of what was brought, and it vvas bought up by' others on speculation, and sent to Boston ; the conse- quence was that the price was so much reduced, that it would not bring the first cost, which put a stop to its l»eing imported, and it has since been very scarce. When I first began to use this article, it caused much talk among the people in Portsmouth and the adjoining towns; the doctors tried to frighten them by telling that 1 made use of Cayenne pepper as a medicine, and that it would burn up the stomach and lungs as bad as vitriol. The people generally, however, became con- vinced by using it, that all the doctors said about it was false, and it only proved their ignorance of its medical virtues and their malignity towards me. It soon came into general use, and the knowledge of its being useful in curing disease was spread all through the country. I made use ofit in curing the spoiled fever, and where it was known, vvas the only thing depended on for that disease. 1 have made use of Cayenne in all kinds of disease, and have given it to patients of all ages and under every circumstance that has come under my prac- tice; and can as;uie the public, that it is perfectly harmless, never having known it to produce any b;id effects whatever. It is no doubt the most powerful stimulant known; its power is entirely congenial to na- ture, being powerful only in raising and maintaining that heat on which life depends. It is extremely pungent and when taken sets the mouth as it were on fire; this lasts, however, buta few minutes,and 1 consider it essen- tially a benefit, for its effects on Ihc glands causes the or, Botanic Family Physician. o3 saliva to flow freely and leaves the mouth clean and moist. The only preparation necessary, is to have it ground or pounded to a fine powder. For a dose from half to a tea-spoonful may be taken in hot water smeetened, or tho same quantity may be mixed with either of the other numbers when taken. It will produce a free perspira- tion, which should be kept up by repeating the dose, until the disease is removed. A spoonful, with an equ;.l quantity of common salt, put into a gill of vinegar, makes a very good sauce, to be eaten-on meat, and will assist the appetite and strengthen the digesture. One spoon- ful of this preparation may be taken to good advantage, and will remove faiut, sinking feelings, which some are subject to, especially in the spring of the year. Pepper sauce is good for the same purpose. A tea spoonful of Cayenne may be taken in a tumbler of cider, and is much better than ardent spirits. There is scarce any preparation of medicine that I make use of in which I do not put some of this article. It will cure the ague in the face, by taking .1 dose, and tying a small quantity in fine cloth, and put it between the cheek and teeth on the side that is affected, setting by the fire covered wjth, a blanket. It is good to put on old sores. Red Peppers. These are very plenty in this country, being cultivat- ed in gardens,^ind are principally made use of for pick- ling ; for which purpose the pods are gathered when green and pr*. served in vinegar. It is of the same na- ture as Cayenne pepper, but not so strong ; and is the best substitute tor that article, of any thing I have ever found. For medical u-,e they should not be gathered till ripe, when the}- are of a bright red colour; should be induced to a line powder, and. may be used instead of Cayenne, when that article cannot be obtained. Ginger. This is a root which is brought from foreign coun- tries, and is too well known to need any farther descrip- e2 54 New Guide to Health; tion. It is a very good article, having a warming ami agreeable effect on the stomach. It is a powerful stim- ulant, and is not volatile like many other hot articles; and is the next best thing to raise the inward heat and promote perspiration ; and may be used with good suc- cess for that purpose, as a substitute for Cayenne, when that or the red peppers cannot be had. It is sold in the shops ground, but is sometimes mixed with the other ar- ticles to increase the quantity, and is not so strong. The l?est way is lo get the roots and grind or pound them to a fine powder. The dose must be regulated according to circumstances; if given to raise the internal heat and cause perspiration, it must be repeated till it has the desired effect. It makes an excellent poultice, mixed with pounded cracker, or slippery elm bark, for which I make much use of it. To keep a piece of the root in the mouth and chew it like tobacco, swallowing the juice, is very good for a cough, and those of a consump- tive habit; and this should be also done by all who are exposed to any contagion, or are attending on the sick, as it will guard the stomach against taking the disease. It may be taken in hot water sweetened, or in a tea of No, 3. Black Pepper. This may be used to good advantage as a substitute lor the foregoing articles, when they are not to be had, and may be prepared and administered in the same man- ner. These four that I have mentioned, are all the ar- ticles I have been able to find, that would hold the heat of the body for any length of time; all the others that I have tried, are so volatile that they do little good. No. 3.-— To sfour the Stomach and Bowelsr and remove the Canker. Under this head I shall describe such vegetable pro- ductions as are good for Canker, and which I have found to be best in removing the thrush from the throat. or, Botanic Family Physician. 55 9tomach and bowels, caused by cold, and there will he more or less ofit in all cases of disease ; for when cold gets the power over the inward heat, the stomach and bowels become coated with canker, which prevents those numerous little vessels calculated to nourish the system from performing their duty. A cure therefore cannot be effected without removing this difficulty, which must be done by such things are as best calculated to scour off the canker and leave the juices flowing free. There are many articles which are good for this, but 1 shall mention only such as I have found to be the best. Several things that are used for canker are too bind- ing, and do more hurt than good, as they cause obstruc- tions. 1 have adopted a rule to ascertain what is good for canker, which I have found very useful; and shall here give it as a guide for others ; that is, to chew some of the article, and if it causes the saliva to flow freely and leaves the mouth clean and moist, it is good ; but on the other hand if it dries up the juices, and leaves the mouth rough and dry, it is bad and should be avoided. Bavbeury ; or Candleberry. This is a species of the myrtle from which wax is ob- tained frum the berries, and grows common in many parts of this country. It is a* shrub growing from two to four feet high, and is easily known by the berries which it produces annually, containing wax in abund- ance ; these grow on the branches close to them, simi- lar to the juniper; the leaves are of a deep green. The bark of the roots is what is used for medicine, and should be collected in the spring before it puts forth its- leaves, or in the fall, after done growing, as then the sap is in the roots; this should be attended to in gathering all kinds of medical roots; but those things that the tops are used, should be collected in the summer when nearly full grown, as then the sap is in the top. The roots should be dug and cleaned from the dirt, and poun- ded with a mallet or club, when the bark is easily sep- arated from the stalk, and may be obtained with little trouble. It should be dried in a chamber or loft, where it is not exposed to the weather ; and when perfect* o% New Guide to Health ; ly dry, should be ground or pounded to a fine powder. It is an excellent medicine either taken by itself or compounded with other articles; and is the best thing for canker of any article I htve ever found. It is highly stimulating and very pungent, pricking the glands and causing (he saliva and other juices to flow freely. Is good used as tooth powder, cleanses the teeth and gums and removes the scurvy ; taken as snuff, it clears the head and relieves the head-ach. It may be given to ad- vantage in a relax, and all disorders of the bowels.—■ Whca the stomach is very foul, it will frequently oper- ate as au emetic. For a dose take a tea spoonful in hot water sweetened. White Poxd Lji.y—The Root. This is well known from the beautiful flower which it hears, opening only to the sun and closing again at night. It grows in fresh water ponds, and is common in all parts of this country where I have been. The best time to gather it is in the fall of the year, when dry and the water in the ponds is low, as it may then be ob- tained with little difficulty. It has large roots, which should be dug, washed clean, split into strips, and dried as has been directed for the Bayberry root baik. Wrhen perfectly diy, it should be pounded in a mortar, and preserved for use. This article is a very good medicine for canker and all complaints of the bowels, given in a tea alone, or mixed with other articles. IL.mlock—The inner Bark. This is the common Hemlock tree and grows in all parts of New England. The best for medicine is to peel the bark Irom the young tree and shave the ross from the outside, and preserve only the inner rhine; dry it carefully, and pound or grind it to a powder. A tea made by putting boiling water to this hark, is a good medicine for canker and many other complaints. The first of my using the Hemlock bark as medicine was in 1814; being in want of something for canker, I tried some ofit by chewing, and found it to answer,made use or, Botanic Family Physician. 5.7 of il to good advantage. Since then, have been incon- stant use ofit, and have always found it-a very good med- icine, both for canker and other complaints of the bowels and stomach. A tea made of this bark, is very good and may be used fieely ; it is good to give the emetic and No 2 in, and may be used for drink in all cases of sick- ness, especially when going through a course of medi- cine and steaming. This, with Bayberry bark and the Lily root, forms No. 3, or what has been commonly called coffee, though many other things may be added, or either of them may be used to advantage alone. The boughs, made into a tea, are very good for gravel and other obstructions of the urinary passages, and for rheumaiism. Marsh Rosemary—the Root. This article is very well known in all parts of this country, and has been made use of for canker and sore mouth. I have made use ofit with Bayberry bark as No. 3, in my practice, for many years with good success; but after finding that the Lilly root and Hemlock bark were better, have mostly laid it aside. It is so binding in its nature that it is not safe to use it without a large proportion of the Bayberry bark. Sumach—the. Bark, Leaves and Berries. This appears to be a new article in medicine, entirely unknown to the medical faculty, a3 no mention is made ofit by any author. The first of my knowledge that it was good for canker vvas when at Onion River in 1807, attending the dysentery ; being in want of something to clear the stomach and bowels in that complaint, found that the bark, leaves or berries answered the purpose extremely well, and have made much use of it ever since. It is well known, and is found in all parts of the country; some of it grows from eight to twelve feet high, and has lar^e spreading branches ; the berries grow in large bunches, and when ripe are a deep red colour, of a pleasant sour taste ; and are used by the country deople to dye with. The leaves and young sprouts are 58 New Guide to Health ; made use of in tanning Morocco leather. For medi- cine, the bark should he peeled when full of sap, the leaves, when full ?rown, and the berries, when ripe; thev should be carefully dried, and when used as part of No. 3. should be pounded and may be used altogether or either separate. A tea made of either or altogether, is very good and may be given with safety in almost all complaints, or put into the injections. It will scour the stomach and bowels, and is good for stranguary, as it promotes urine and relieves difficulties in the kidneys, by removing obstructions and strengthening those parts. I have been in the habit of late years, of making use of this article with Bayberry bark and Lily root, or Hem- lock bark, equal parts, for No. 3, or coffee, and it has always answered a good purpose. Witch-hazle—the Leaves. I found the use of this article as medicine, when I was quite young ; and have made much use of it in all my practice. It is too well known in the country to need any description ; is a small tree or bush and grows very common, especially in new land. A tea made of the leaves, is an excellent medicine in many complaints, and may he freely used to advantage. It is the best thing for bleeding at the stomach of any article I have ever found, either by giving a tea made of the dry leaves, or chewing them when green ; have cured seve- ral with it. This complaint is caused by canker eating off the small blood-vesseis, and this medicine will remove the canker and stop the bleeding. I have made much use of the tea made strong for injections, and found it in all complaints of the bowels to be very serviceable. An injection made of this tea with a little No. 2, is good for the piles and many complaints .common to females; and in bearing-down pains it will afford immediate relief, if properly administered. These leaves may be used in No 3 to good advantage, as a substitute for either of the other articles, or alone for the'Same purpose-. or, Botanic Family Physician. 59 Rf.d-Rasfberry—the Leaves. Thi* is an excellent article, and I believe was never made use of as medicine, till discovered by me. When at Eastporl, I had no article with me good for canker and resorted to my old rule of tasting, and found that these leaves were good for that complaint: made into a strong tea, it answered every purpose wished. 1 gathered a large quantity of the leaves, and dried them, and have been in constant use ofit as a medicine ever since, and have found it an excellent article, both-for canker and many other complaints ; for relax and other bowel com- plaints of children, it is the best thing that I have found; by giving the tea and using it in the injections, it affords immediate relief A tea made of th • leaves sweetened, with miik in it, is very pleasant, and may be used free- ly. It is the best thing for women in travail, of any article 1 know of. Give a strong tea ofit, with a little No. 2, sweetened, and it will regulate every thing as nature requires. If the pains are untimely, it will make all quiet; if timely and lingering, give more No. 2 and Umbil in the tea. When the child is born, give it some of the tea with sugar and milk in it; this prevents sore mouth; and the lea is good to wash sore nipples with A poultice made with this lea and cracker, or slippery elm bark, is very good for burns or scalds ; if the skin is off, by applying this poultice or washing with the tea, it will harden and stop smarting. It may be used in No. 3; as a substitute for other articles, or alone, to good effect. Squaw-weed—Indian name Cocash. This is known in the country by the name of frost- weed, or meaclow scabish ; it is a wild weed, and grows in wet land, by.the sides of brooks; it has a stalk that erows four or five feet high, which is rough and wooly with a narrow leaf; and bears a blue blossom late in the fall, which remain> till the frost kills it, I he root lives through the winter, and in the spring puts forth a new stalk ; the leaves at the bottom remain greea 60 New Guide to Health ; through the winter. The roots and top are used for medicine ; it has a fragrant taste and smell like lovage. It vvas the first thing 1 ever knew used fcr canker, and was given to me when I had the canker-; rish. being con- sidered then the best article known for canker; 1 have frequently used it for that complaint and found it very good. Take the green roots and leaves, bruise them, and pour on hot water; give this tea sweetened. It may be kept by adding a little spirit, and is good for rheumatism and nervous affections. It is perfectly harm- less and may be used freely. It makes a very good bit- ter tinctured with hot water and spirit, and is good for dizziness and cold hands and feet. No. 4.—Bitters, to correct Vie Bile and re- store Digestion. Bitter Herb, or Balmony. This herb grows in wet mowing land by the side of brooks; it is about the size of mint, the leaves some larger; the stalk is four square ; the leaves are of a dark green, of a sweetish bitter taste. It bears a white blossom of singular form, resembling a snakes head with the mouth open. This herb is very good to correct the bile, and create an appetite. A tea of it may be used alone, or it may be added to the other articles de- scribed under this number, which are all calculated to restore the digestive powers. Poplar Bark. There are several species of the poplar tree, that grow common m this country. One kind is called the white poplar and another stinking poplar the bark of bo h these kinds are good for medicine; but the latter is the best, being the most bitter. It has tags hangino- on the hmbs, which remain on till it leaves out, which rs about a week later than the other kind. It has short brittle twigs, which are extremely bitter tthe taste or, Botanic Family Physician. 61 The inner bark given in tea is one of the best articles to regulate the bile and restore the digestive powers, ot any thing I have ever used. The bark may be taken from the body of the tree, the limbs, or the roots, and the outside shaved off and preserve the inner bark, which should be dried and carfully preserved for use. To make the bitters, (No. 4) it should be pounded or ground fine, and mixed with the other articles, or it mav be used alone for the same purpose. 1 o make a tea'take a handful of the bark pounded or cut into small strips and put into a quart mug, and fill it with boiling water, which if taken freely will relieve a relax, head ach, faintness at the stomach, and many other com- plaints caused by bad digestion. Is good for obstructions of the urine and weakness in the loins; and those ot a consumptive habit will find great relief in using this tea freely. Barberry—the Bark. This is a well known shrub, producing red berries, of a pleasant sour taste, which are much used as a pickle, and are also preserved with sugar or molasses. 1 he bark of the root or top is a good bitter and useful to cor- rect the bile and assist the digesture. The bark should be collected at the proper season, curefuhy dried and pounded or ground to fine powder; and is us^d as a part of the hitters (No 4.) A tea made of this bark is veay good for all cases of indigestion, and may he freely used. Bitter-root, or Wandering Milk-Weed. This valuable vegetable grows in meadows and in hedges, and in appearauce is something like buckwheat, having similar white blossom* ; when the stalk is hroi.en it discharges a milky substance ; it has two small pods about the size of the cabbage *<"d pods, w th a sdky substance. This herb is wandering, that is, the roots run about under ground to a considerable d>tauce a.d produces rnanv atalks,which grow up from different parts of the root to"the heighi of about two feet. The kind F 62 New Guide to Health ; that is commonly known by the name of wandering milk-weed, grows only on upland ; there is another kind which grows near rivers and on islands, whpre high water flows over it, this differs some from the other in appearance ; the roots run deep in the sand ; it has leaves and pods like the first, and both are good for medicine. The bark of the root is used. The roots should be dug and dried; and when perfectly dry may be pounded in a mortar, when the bark is easily separated from the woody part. 'Phis root is very bitter and is one of the greatest correctors of the bile I know of; and is an excellent medicine to remove cos- tiveness, as it will cause the bowels to move in a natural manner. \ strong decoction of this root, made by steep- ing it in "hot water, if drank freely will operate as a ca- thartic, and sometimes as aD emetic ; and is most sure to throw off' a fever in its first stages. It should be used in all cases of costiveness. Golden Seal, or Ohio Kercuma—the Root. This article grows only in the western country ; I am not well enough acquainted with the herb to give a de- scription ofit; but of the medical virtues of the root I have had a sufficient experience to recommend it as a very pleasant bitter, and in cases where the food in the stomach of weak patients causes distress, a tea spoonful of the powder given in hot water sweetened, will give immediate relief. It is an excellent corrector of the bile and may be used for that purpose alone, or with the bitter root, or may be compounder! with either or all the articles described under this number, to restore the digestive powers. v The purposes for which the article? described under this head are used, is to regulate the stomach, so that the food taken into it may be proper!} digested ; and I have mentioned enough to enable those who make use of the practice to effect that object, if properly attended to. This is a very important part of the system of prac- tice, for unless the food is digested, it is impossible t« keep up that heat upon which life depends. or, Botanic Family Physician. 63 No. 5.—Syrup for the Dysentery, to strength- en the Stomach and Bowels, and restore weak patients. The articles used in this preparation are the bark of poplar and bayberry, (which have been described) poach-meats, or meats of cherry-stones, sugar and bran- Peach-Meats. The meats that are in the peach stones have long^ been used as medicine, and need but little to be said about them, except that they are of great value to strengthen the stomach and bowels and restore the di- gesture; for which purpose 1 have made much use of them, and always to good advantage. Made into a cor- dial, with other articles, in the manner as will he here- after directed, forms one of the best remedies I know of, to recover the natural tone of the stomach after long sickness ; and to restore weak patients, particularly in dy-entary. A tea made of the leaves of the peach-tree is very good for bowel complaints in children and joung. people, and will remove cholic. Cherry-St one?. The meats of the wild cherry stones are very good an.! m ly be used instead of the peach meats, when they c.iiiijot he had. Oet these stones as clean as possible, w-'<- >> ell dried pound them in a mortar, and separate the rn '.its from the stones, which is done with little trouble; take the same quantity as is directed of the per.ch-meats, and it will answer equally as well. A tea made of the cherries pounded with the stones and steep- ed in hot water, sweetened with loaf sugar, to which add a little brandy, is good to restore the digestive powers and create an appetite. Bitter almonds may be used as a substitute for the peach-meats or cherry-stones, when they cannnot he had. 64 ffew Guide to Health $ So. G.— Kheiimatic Drops, to remove pain, prevent mortification, and promote a natur- al heat. The principal articles used in this preparation, are high wines, or 4th proof brandy, gum myrrh and Cay- enne ; for external application spirits of turpentine is added, and sometimes gum camphor. The manner ot preparing will be hereafter given. Gum Myrrh. This is a gum obtained from a tree which grows in the East-Indies, and is brought to this country and sold by the apothecaries for medical uses: there is nothing sold by them that possesses more useful and medical pro- perties than this article ; though the Doctors seem to have but little knowledge of its virtues. All those who I have heard express an opinion upon it, consider it of very little value. When I obtained my patent, Dr. Thornton, the clerk of the Patent Office, said it was good for nothing ; all this however does not lessen its value. The first knowledge I had ofit was when I was laid up with my lame ancle at Onion River, as has been before related in my narrative. An old man from Canada passing that way and hearing of my case called to see me, and observing the putrid state I was in, told my father that gum myrrh would be good for me, as it was an excellent article to prevent mortification. He immediately obtained some of the tincture, and not havinf a syringe he took some in his mouth and-squirted it through a quill into the wound; the smarting was severe for a short time. By tasting it himself and find- ing it a pleasant bitter, he gave me some to take ; by using; it there was a favourable alteration, both in my bodily health and in the state of my wound. After this I had great faith in this article and was seldom without it. When I came to have a family I made much use of myrrh; it was one of the principal articles used in re- storing my wife, when given over by the mid-wife, as or, Botanic Family Physician. 65 related in my narrative. In several cases of bad wounds and old sores, it afforded great relief; and in what the doctors call worm complaints in children, by giving the tincture when such symptoms appeared, it ren-.oved them. I used it at this time by making a tincture with spirit: but after having a knowledge of Cayenne, I put some of this with it, which made it much littler. I found out by accident that boiling it would prevent the fumes-of the spirit from rising to the head, which would otherwise, in some cases, produce bad effects, particularly in such as were subject to hysterical affec- tion. This vvas the origin- of my rheumatic drops, a. j- preparation which has proved more generally useful than any one compound 1 make use of. In selecting myrrh for use, take that of a light brown colour, some- what transparent, and of a bitter taste, a little pungent. It should be reduced to a fine powder, by being pounded; in a mortar, before used. Spirit of Turpentine. This article is too well known to need any descrip- tion, being used by painters. The only way in which- I use it is in such preparations as are intended for ex- ternal application, in which I have found it useful. A proportion ofit should be added to the rheumatic drop^ ■ when used for the itch or other bad humors. It is a> powerful article, and should be used with caution. Gum Camphor. I shall say but little about this article, as I never found any very great advantages from its use, though I never knew it to do any harm. It is made much use of, and 1 think there is more credit given to it than what it deseives. I have been in the habit of adding some of it to the rheumatic drops, wheD used forbad sprains,and in such cases have found it useful; and I have no doubt but that it may be sometimes given to advantage to warm the stomach, and relieve pain ; bul there are otbe? articles which 1 make use of for that purpose, that are* much better. B-3 6$ New Guide to Health ; Nerve Powder. American Valerian, or Ladie9' Slipper: sometimes called Umbil, or Male and Female Nervine. There are four species of this valuable vegetable, one male and three female ; the male is called yellow um- bil, and grows in swamps and wet land; has a large cluster of fibrous roots malted together, joined to a solid root, which puts forth several stalks that grow about two feet high; it has leaves something resembling the poke leaf. The female kinds are distinguished by the colour of the blossoms, which are red, red and while, and white. The red has but two leaves, which grow- out of the ground and lean over to the right and left, be- tween which a single stalk shoots up to the height of from eight to ten inches, bearing on its top a red blossom of a very singular form, that gives it the name of female umbil. This kind is found on high ledges and in swamps. The red and white, and white umbil, grows only in swamps, and is in larger clusters of roots than the yellow, but in a similar form; its top is similar to the red, ex- cept the colour of the blossom. The yellow and red are the best for medicine ; the roots should be dug in the fall when done growing, or in the spring before the top puts forth. If dug when growing, the roots will nearly all dry up. When the roots are dug, they should be washed clean, carefully dried, and pounded or ground to a fine po.vder, sifted through a fine seive and pre- served from the ;>ir for use. This powder is the best nervine known; I have made great use of it, and have always found it to pro- duce the most beneficial effecl6? in all cases of nervous affection, and in h)sterical symptoms; in fact it would be difficult to get along with my practice in many cases without this important article. It is perfectly harmless and may be used in all cases of disease with safety ; and is much better than opium, which is generally given in cases of spasmodic affection, and which only deadens the feelings and relieves pain only by destroying sensibility, or, Botanic Family Physician. 6$ without doing any good. It has been supposed by Ihe doctors to be of a narcotic nature ; but this is a mistake. They have drawn this conclusion, I suppose, from its tendency to promote sleep; but this is altogether owing to its quieting the nerves and leaving the patient at ease, when nature requires sleep to recover the natural tone of the system. Haifa tea spoonful may be given in hot water sweetened, and the dose repeated if neces- sary ; or the same quantity may be mixed with a dose of either the other numbers, when given, and put into the injections; and where there is nervous symptoms it should never be dispensed with. I have thus far given a description of all the impor- tant vegetables made use of in my system of practice, with the manner of preparing and using them. I shall now proceed to describe a number of articles of less im- portance, all of which I have used and found good in various complaiofs. Some of them form a part of my medical preparations, and many others may be used as susbtitutes for some that have been mentioned. They are all of a warming nature and may be used to advan- tage in throwing off disease in its first stages. Spearmint. This is a well known herb, and makes a very pleasant tea, which may be freely used in sickness. The most valuable property it possesses is to stop vomiting. If the Kinetic Herb, or any other cause should produce vio- lent vomiting, by giving a strong tea made of this herb it will stop it, and sit pleasantly on the stomach. Peppermint. This article is very hot in its nature, and may be used to advantage to promote perspiration and overpower the cold. I have frequently used it for that purpose with success ; but it is volatile and wdl not retain the heat long in the stomach. In colds and slight attacks of 68 New Guide to Health ; disease, to drink freely of a tea made of this herb on going to bed, will throw it off'. ' he essence put in warm water is good to give children, and will relieve pain in the stomach and bowels. A few drops of the oil given in warm water, or on loaf sugar, is good for the same purpose. Pennyroyal. This herb grows common in all parts of the country, and is too well known to need any description. It is an article of great, value in medicine, and a tea ofit may be freely used in all cases of sickness. It is.good for the stomach, bein^ warming and cleansing ; if^Trank freely, will produce perspiration, and remove obstruc- tions. In colds and slight attacks of disease it will be likely to throw it off, and prevent sickness. It is very good for children, and will remove pain in the bowels and wind. In going through a course of medicine, a tea of this herb may be given for drink, and will cause the medicine to have a pleasant operation. Summersavory. This herb grows in gardens, and is made use of to sea- son meats in cooking; it is of a very pleasant flavour and of a hot nature. A tea of it is good for colds and may be used freely in case of sickness. There is an oil made from this herb, which will cure the tooth-ach, by putting a little on cotton wool, and applying it to the af- fected tooth. Hoarhound. *V This plant grows common in this country, and is made much account of in removing cough. An infusion made of the leaves, sweetened with honey, is good for the asthma, and all complaints of the lungs. The syrup of this plant will loosen tough phlegm and remove hoarse- ness caused by a bad cold. The hoarhound candy is very useful for such as are troubled with cough, parr ticularly old people, and those that are short winded. or, Botanic Family Physician. C'J Elecampane. The root of this plant made into syrup is good for a cough ; and I have made use of it for that purpose with advantage in many cases, and can recommend it as a safe and useful remedy in complaints of that kind. Mayweed. A tea made of this herb to be drank hot when going to bed is very good for a cold ; and in slight attacks of a fever if used freely and a hot stone put to the feet, will in most cases throw it off. It grows common in old fields, and by the sides of roads. Wormwood. This herb is a very wholesome bitter, and may be taken to advantage in different ways. It is of a hot na- ture, and is good for the stomach, to create an appetite, and assist the digesture. It may be taken in tea, or the green herb may be pounded and tinctured in spirit, which is good to apply to a bruize or sprain. Tanzv. This is a hot bitter herb, grows common in highways,, and is cultivated in gardens. A tea made of this herb is good for hysterics and other female complaints; it will strengthen those that have weak reins and kidneys, and is good for the stranguary, or stoppage of urine.— The green leaves pounded, are good to put on bruizes and sprains, and will allay the swelling. Chamomile. This is a well known herb, the flowers are sold by the apothecaries and are made much use of in a tea for many complaints. It is good given in a tea for bowel complaints, and externally applied, will relieve sprains, bruises, and swellings, and remove callouses, corns, &c. and restore shrunk sinews. 70 New Guide to Health ; Bitter-Sweet. This herb has long been esteemed as a medicine of considerable value for many complaints. It grows com- mon in this country, in hedges where the ground is moist, and the top runs along the ground or climbs on bushes. Its taste when chewed is first bitter, and then sweet, which has given its name. It is said to be a good medi- cine for internal injuries and to remove obstructions, which 1 have no doubt is correct; but the only r way 1 make use ofit is for external application; the bark of the root with chamomile and wormwood makes an oint- ment of great value, which is an excellent thing for a bruise, sprain, catice, swelling, or for corns. Mullen. The leaves of this plant are very good to bring down swelling and to restore contracted sinews, by pounding them and applying them warm to the part affected. For external use, they are an excellent article in many complaints. This herb is too well known to need any description. It is an important article in my strength- ening plaster. Burdock. The leaves of this plant wilted by fhe fire and ap- plied to an external injury, will allay the inflammation and ease pain ; an.i ihey are good pounded and put tin to a bruise or sprain, as it will give immediate relief. it is made use of in the strengthening plaster. Skunk-Cab back. This vegetable grows common m all parts of New- England; it has large leaves something resembling cab- bage, from which and its disagreeable smell, it takes its name ; it may be found in the meadows and wet land. The root only is used for medicine, which should be dug and split into strips and carefully dried ; when dry it should be pounded or ground to a powder. This powder may be taken in tea sweetened, or made into a or, Botanic Family Physician. 71 syrup, or half a tea spoonful may be mixed in honey and taken in the morning, or at night when going to bed. It is good for asthma, cough, difficulty of breathing, and all disorders of the lungs, and with other articles makes one of the best prepara .ons for those complaints 1 have ever found. Wake robin. This plant grows wild in tins country. It has three triangular leaves, from between ttiem it puts forth a na- ked stalk, on the top of which, is a singular stem or pistil enclosed in a sheath, resembling a flower, which is followed ly a bunch of redish berries. The root ii used for medicine, and resembles a small turnip. This root is gxtremeiy pu.igent and stimulating, and is often given for cholic and pain in the boueis, and to expel wind. ! have mostly made use of it for cough and disor- ders of the lungs, for which I have found it a very use- ful article, and it forms part of my composition for coughs. The root should he dried and reduced to a powder, and may be given mixed with honey, or in a syrup. Thoroughwort. This herb is well known in the country, and is made use of by the people in tea for many complaints. It is of a warming nature and is good for cough and other com- plaints of the lungs. It is used in my compound, pre- pared for coughs. Featherfew. This herb is stimulating and is good for histeric com- plaints, and many oiher disorders common to females. It promotes the passage of urine and removes obstruc- tions in those parts. It should be taken in tea alone, or may be added with chamomile, and used to advan- tage in all cases of obstructions. Clivers. This is a sort of joint grass and grows in mowing land, where the ground is wet; it has small leaves at each joint; the stalk is four square and the edges are rough 7% New Guide to Health ; like a sickle. This herb made into a strong tea and drank freely is very good for the stoppage of urine, and may be made use of for all obstructions in those parts to advantage. Black Birch Bark. A tea made of this bark is useful in curing all com- plaints of the bowels and to remove obstructions. I have made much use ofit in dysentury. This tea with peachmeats or cherry stone meats, made into a syrup, is an excellent article to restore patients after having been reduced by that disease, and to promote the diges- ture. It is good for canker and all complaints of the bowels. Evan Root. This is called by some people chocolate root, on ac- count of its resembling that article in taste, and is made use of by some for a common drink instead of tea or coffee. It is good for caDker, and may be used in No. 3 as a substitute for other articles. It grows common in this country and is too well known to need describing. Slippery Elm Bark. The inner bark of this tree is an article of much value, and may be used to advantage in many different ways. There are several species of the elm that grow com- mon in this country ; and there are two kinds of the slippery elm, one the bark is rather hard and tough, and the other is very brittle ; the latter is the best for med- ical uses. The bark should be peeled, the outside ross shaved off, dried, and ground or pounded to a fine pow- der. If used internally, put a tea spoonful of this pow- der into a teacup with as much sugar, mix them well together, then add a little cold wafer and stir it till per- fectly mixed, and then put hot water to it and stir till it forms a jelly thick enough to be eaten with a spoon. A tea spoonful nmy be taken at a time, and is an excellent medicine to heal soieness in the throat, stomach and bowels, caused by canker; or more hot water may be ©r, Botanic Family Physician. -73 put to it and made into a drink, and freely taken for the same purpose. 1 have made much use* of this bark foi? poultices, and have in all cases found it a m st excellent article for that purpose. Mixed with pounded cracker andjginger it makes the best poultice I have ever found ; for burns, scalds, felons, old sons. &c it is the best thing I have met with, to allay the inflammation, ease the pain and heal them in a short time. Balsam Fik. This balsam is obtained from a tree well known in many parts of this country ; it is taken from snrnil blis- ters which foim in the bark. It is of a verv, h>-,>. in- na- ture, and is good to remove internal soreness. It forms an important article in my healing salve. When taken it may be dropped on loaf sugar. Gensang. This root grows wild in this country; and is found plentifully in Vermont. I' v-as f rmeily < ollected for exportation, and large quantities of it were sen' to t hma, where U brought a great price. It is said the people of that coun'ry considered it of great vain.- ; but for what pu.pose they jso it, is 1 believe, only known to them- selves. It is a ner-.ine and may be t.s<-d to advam ;ge in all cases • f nervous aff cti'-n, ehher alone or in:xed with other articles The root hn hi be dug in the fall, dried and reduced to a fine powder; from half to a tea spoonful may be given for a uo>e, in hot water sweet- ened. Snakeroot. n This is a well known articb-, grows wild and may be found in ukm j .iris of this country. If :s of a hot na- tu.e, and is made much use ot in tea, scr meas.es and other eruptions, to keep the disorder out, n«; wi ich ;t is considi-T^d very good; this is owing to hs warning qualities, which ke< ; s the determining powers to the' surface ; which effect may be produced by almost ,iny Strong stimulant; but No. 2, or the compoBiuon pow- 74 New Guide to Health ; ders, is much the best for that purpose. A tea made of this root may be given to advantage in many cases of disease ; it has a tendency to promote perspiration, and is good to remove pain in the stomach and bowels, and expel wind. The roots reduced to powder may be mix- ed with gensang or umbil for all nervous complaints. Mustard. The seed of this herb is principally made use of for culinary purposes, being eaten ©n meat; for which it is ground to a fine powder and mixed with warm water. It is very pungent and of a hot nature ; but is volatile and will not hold the heat long enough to do much good in retaining the internal heat. It is good to create an appetite and assist the digesture; and given in hot wa- ter sweetened, will remove pain in the bowels and stomach. It is frequently used for rheumatism, both in- ternally and externally; but Nos. 2 and S, are much better for that purpose. Horseradish. The root of this plant is mostly used for culinary purposes, and it has some medical properties. It is of a hot nature, but very volatile ; its warming qualities will mostly evaporate before it gets into the stomach. The roots may be given to promote the appetite and assist the digesture. The leaves are sometimes applied to remove external pain, but is apt to raise a blister. Balm of Gilead. This tree is of the species of the poplar and possesses some medical virtues. It resembles the kind of poplar that has been described, having similar tags; but the buds and leaves are larger. The buds bruised and tinctured in spirit, produces an effect something like the tincture of myrrh; and is good taken inwardly as a res- torative, and for bathing sores. The bark scraped from the twigs and steeped in hot water, is a good corrector of the bile, ami vvilUoperale both as an emetic and ca- tharlic ; it is more harsh than the other kind of poplar, but may be used to advantage in many cases of disease. or, Botanic Family Physician. 73 Butternut. This tree grows common in this country, and is well known from the nut which it bears, of an oblong shape and nearly as large as an egg, in which is a meat con-^ taining much oil, and very good to eat. The bark of this tree is used by the country people to colour with. The bark taken from the body of the tree or roots and boiled down till thick, may be made into pills, and op- erates as a powerful emetic and cathartic ; a syrup may be made by boiling the bark and adding one third mo- lasses and a little spirit, which is good to give children for worm complaints. The buds and twigs may also be used for the same purpose, and are more mild. W bite ash bark and balm of gilead may be added, equal parts, and made into syrup or pills Those who are fond ot drastic purges may have their ends sufficiently answered by these preparations, and they are the most safe and harmless of any that I know of; and those who wish to be tortured with blisters, can have them cheap, by bruising the green shell of the nut, or the bark, and applying it where the blister is wanted, keeping the bandage wet, and in three hours they will be complete- ly drawn, and the skin as black as that of an African. This is much quicker and safer than if done with flies and will not cause stranguary. The bark of the butternut is the principal ingredient in Dr. Hawkes's rheumatic and cancer pills, and also of Chamberlain's billious cor- dial, which have been so celebrated for many complaints. It is called by some people oilnut and lemon walnut. Blue and white Vervine. This is a well known herb, growing very common ; it ranks next to the emetic herb, for a puke ; and may be used for that purpose either alone or combined with thoroughwort. It is good to prevent a fever in its first stages. This herb has been used with considerable success in consumption, having cured several cases where the doctors had given them over. It may be used in a tea made of the dry herb, or prepared in pow- der like the emetic herb. 76 New Guide to Health; Pipsisway, or Rheumatic Weed. This herb grows on mountainous land, and on pine plains, where the boxberry or checkerberry is found plenty. It is an ever-green, and grows from three to ■ix inches high, has a number of dark green leaves, about half an inch wide and from one to two inches long, with a scolloped edge ; bears several brown seeds re- sembling all-spice. The tops and roots are used for medicine. The roots when chewed are very pungent, which will be felt for several hours on the tongue, ac though burnt. A strong tea made of this plant is good for cancers and all scrofulous humours, by drinking the tea and bathing with it the parts affected. Another evergreen p'ant, called wild lettuce, grows •n the same kind of land, which possesses much the same medicil properties as the above. It has round leaves, from the size of a cent to that of vt dollar, resembling the common lettuce. The roo's of this plant and of the pipsisway, dried and powdered together, e-qual parts, is good to cure all bad humours. Take a tea-spoonful of the powder in a glass of hot water, and bathe the parts affected with the same; it is also good to restore weak nerves. Goldfnrod. This herb may be found common on pine plains and in hedges ; it grows about two or three feet high, has a long narrow leaf, very smooth and glossy, and a large cluster of yellow blossoms ; it has a sweet spicy taste and smell, resembling fennel or annise There is an oil obtained from this herb good for medicine ; and also prepared in essence, is goi'd for pain in the head, to he taken, or the outside bathed with it. The oil :sgoi d to sce.it the bayberry and bittei-root snuff, which is very good to be taken and snuffed up the nose. There are several herbs that resemble this in appearance, but are very different in smell and taste. or, Botanic Family Physician. 77 Meadow Fern. This is a shrub and grows in meadows and by the side of stagnant water, sometimes growing in the water; it is found in thick bunches, and grows from two to tlffee feet high. When the leaves are off it has a large bud, which is larger on some bushes than others; some of them bear a small bur or cluster of seeds, which when rubbed between the fingers leaves an oily or balsamy substance, having a fr.igrant smell, something like spirits of turpentine. These burs pounded fine and simmered in cream, hogs lard, or fresh butter, is almost a sovereign remedy for the itch, or external poison, and all bad humour sores. When the burs cannot be had take the bush and buds and make a strong decoction; drink of this and wash with the same. This liquor may be prepared in syrup, and by boiling it down may be made into ointment as has been described for the burs; the syrup should be taken and the ointment put on the affected parts. This ointment, or the wash, is good for salt-rheum, or canker sores, and may be used freely. Yellow Dock. The root of this plant is well known, as being made into ointment for the itch. The root9 should be bruized fine in a mortar and put in a pewter bason, add cream enough to make an ointment, keep it warm for twelve hours, be careful not to scald it. Rub it on at night when going to bed. Three times using it will general. ly effect a cure. The foregoing described ointments* together with No. 3, and the rheumatic drops.prepared with the spirits of turpentine, will be sufficient to cure any case of this complaint. Prickly Ash. This is a shrub or bush that grows in the western coun- try, and is well known by the people there. It gr< ws from eight to twelve feet bitii, and bears a berry that grows close to the limbs; it has leaves like the w-h.Ue- e 2. 18 New Guide to Health ; ash. The bark and the berries are used for medical pur- poses. The berries are very p .ngent, and are a pow- erful stimulant, as also the' bark of the top and roots, though not so strong. It should be pounded to a povv- defand steeped in hot water then put into wine or spirit and it makes a very good hot bitter. Take lvvlf a glass two or three times a day; it is good for fever-and-ague, for which it is much used ; and for lethargy, or sleepi- ness, and for cold feet and hands, and other complaints •aused by cold. , Bitter Thistle. This herb is a species of the thistle, and is cultivated in gardens. It is of one years growth, the seed being sown in the spring and it comes to maturity in the fall. The stalk has a number of branches, and a great quan- tity of leaves. The leaf is stone larger than the ('ana- da thistle, with prickles like it; and it bears seeds about the size of the barley corn, with a beard on the end near- ly as long as the seed. The leaves are used for medi- cine, which may be steeped in hot water, and drank like •ther herb tea, or they may be reduced to a powder and taken in molasses or warm water, or in wine or spirit. It is an excellent corrector of the bile, and may be safely used for that purpose. The Cardis Benedictus, or be- loved thistle, is cultivated in the same manner and may be used for the same purpose. Archangel. This herb grows wild in wet land, and may be often found among the grass, and at the edges of plough fields. It grows from four to twelve inches high; the leaves are rather smaller than mint leaves; it bears a kind of bur containing seed, which grows round the stalk at each joint. There are two kinds which grow near each oth- er ; they look very much alike, but. are very different in taste. One is very bitter and the other has no bitter taste, but is very rou';h and of a balsamic taste. They may be used together in a tea or syrup, and answer two important purposes; the rough removes the canker and the bitter is a corrector of the bile. By adding No. 2, the compound contains the thr-.e great principles of the dealing art, viz. hot, rough and bitter. DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARING AND U;ING • VLGETAMjK MhDLClMK. No. 1.—Emetic Herb. The preparation of this herb has been sufficiently de- scribed, for which see page 45. It is prepared and used in three different ways, viz: 1 The powdered leaves and pods. This is the most common form of using it: and from half to a tea spoon- ful may be taken in warm water sweetened; or the same quantity may be put into either of the other num- bers when taken ; to cleanse the stomach, overpower the cold, and promote a free perspiration. 2 A tincture made from the green herb in spirit. This is used to counteract the effects of poison; to he either internally or externally used; and for asthma and other complaints of the lungs. For a dose take a tea spoonful, adding alout the same quantity of No. 2, in half a teacup full of warm water sweetened, and ir> all cases of nervous affection add half a tea spoonful ot neve powder. For the external effects of poison, take the above dose, and bathe the parts affected with the tincture, repeating it till cured. 3 The seeds reduced to a fine powder and mixed with Nos. 2 and 6. This is for the most violent attacks of spasms and other complaints, such as lockjaw, bite ot mad dog. fits, drowned persons, and al cases ot suspen- ded animation, where the vital spark is near y extinct For a dose give a tea spoonful and , epeat i t.1re ef is obtained • then follow with a tea of No. 3, lor canker For children the dose must be regulated according; to their age. If very young, steep a dose of the powder 30 Aew Guide to Health ; in half a tea-cup full of warm water, or tea of raspberry leaves, and give a tea-spoonful at a time of the tea, strained through a tine cloth and sweetened, repeating the dose every ten minutes, till it operates; and give ppnnyroyal, or some other herb tea for drink. No. S.—Gayerme. This is a medicine of great value in the practice, and may be safely used in all cases of disease, to raise and retain the internal vital heat of the system, cause a free perspiration, and keep the determining powers to tha aurface. The only preparation is to have it reduced lo a fine powder. For a dose take from half to a tea- spoonful, in hot water, or a tea of No. 3, sweetened ; or the same quantity may be mixed with u dose of either the other numbers when taken. The dose should be repeated every ten or fifteen minutes till the desired ob- ject is effected, and continued occasionally till health is restored. When this number is given, the patient should be kept warm, by sitting by the fire, covered with a blanket, or in a warm bed. No. 3.—For Canker. Take Bayberry root bark, white pond Lily root, and the inner bark of Hemlock, equal parts of each pounded and well mixed together; steep one ounce of the powder in a pint of boiling water, and give for a dose a common wine glass full, sweetened. If the above cannot be had, take as a substitute sumach bark, leaves or berries, red-raspberry or witch-hazle leaves, marsh rosemary, or either ofjhe other articles described under the head of No. 3 ; they are all good for canker, and may be used together or separate. When the violence of the disease requires a course of medicine, steep one ounce of the above mentioned p.nv- der, No. 3, in a pint of boiling water, strain off a wine glass full while hot, and add a tea-spoonful of No. 2 and the same quantity of sugar; when cool enough to or, Botanic Family Physician. 81' take, add a tea-spoonful of No. I, and half that quantity of nerve powder. Let this dose be given three times, at intervals of fifteen minutes; and let the same com*. pound be given by injection, and if the case requires it again repeated. If mortification is apprehended a tea- spoonful of No, 6, may be added to each dose and to the injections. After the patient has recovered sufficiently from the- operation of the medicine, which is usually in two or three hours, place them over the steam, as is directed in page 21. This operation is sufficient for one time, and must be repeated each day, or every other day, as the circum- stances of the case may require, till the disorder is re- moved. Three times will generally be sufficient, and sometimes once or twice will answer the purpose ; but in bad chronic cases it may be necessary to continue to carry them through a regular course two or three times a week, for a considerable length of time. Great care must be taken to keep up an internal heat, so as to produce perspiration, after they have been through the operation, by giviog occasionally No. 2, or the composition powcter, for if this is not attended to the putient may have a relapse, in which case it will be very difficult to raise it again, as they will fall as much below a natural heat as they have been raised above it by artificial means. During the operation give milk porridge, or gruel, well seasoned, with a little cayenne iu it ; and after it is over the patients may eat any kind of nourishing food that the appetite may crave. A tea-cup full of the tea of No. 3 should be taken night -ind morning to prevent a relapse »f the disease, and during the d iy drink frequently of a tea made of poplar bark ; and'if cslive use the bitter root. As soon as the disorder is removed use the bitters, (No. 1) io correct the bile and i^store the digesture ; and half a wine g'.:-:s full of the syrup,t'No. o) may be taken two o- thivo times a day. which will strengthen the stomach and assist in regulating the digestive pow- ers. 82 New Guide to Health ; The foregoing directions are calculated for the more violent attacks of disease, and such as have become set- tled ; bui those of a less violent nature must be treated according to circumstances. In the first stages of a disease it may be most generally thrown off' by a dose of the emetic herb, with No. 2 to raise a free perspira- tion, followed by a tea of No. 3, to remove the canker, and the bitters or a tea of poplar bark to regulate the digesture. For a sudden cold take a dose of the com- position powder on going to bed, and put a hot stone, wrapped in wet cloths, at the feet, which will in most cases remove the complaint; but if these applications do not answer the purpose, the patient should be car- ried through a regular course as soon as possible.— Steaming is safe anil will always do good, and the injec- tions must not be neglecled, particularly where the bow- els are disordered. In consumption, arid all old linger- ing complaints, jive the composition powder for two or three days before going through a regular course. No, 4—Bitters. Take the Bitter Herb, or BaJ/nony, Barberry and Poplar bark, equal parts, pulverised, one ounce pf the powder to a pint of hot water and half a pint of spirit. For a dose take half a wine glass fuH. For hot bitters add a tea spoonfuful of No. 2. This preparation is calculated to correct the bile and create an apptite by restoring the digestive powers; and may be freely used both as a restorative and to pre- vent disease. When the above articles cannot be had, either of those that have been before described under No. 4. which are all good for the same purpose, may be used as a substitute. No. 5.—Syrup. Take .Poplar bark and bark of the root of Bayberry, one pound each, and boil them in two gallons of water, •r, Botanic Family Physician. 83 strain off and add seven pounds of good sugar ; then scald and skim it,and add half a pound of peachmeats ; or the same quantity of cherrystone neats. pounded fine. When cool add a gallon of good bnndy ; and keep it in bottles for use. Take half a wine glass full two or three limes a day. Any other quantity may be prepared by observing the same proportion of the different articles. This syrup is very good to strengthen the stomach and bowels, and to restore weak patients; and is par- ticularly useful in the dysentery, which leaves the stom- ach and bowels in a sore state. In a relax or the first stages of the dysentery, by using a tea of No. 3 freely, and giving this syrup, it will generally cure it, and will also prevent those exposed from taking the disease. No. 6.—Rheumatic Drops. Take one gallon of good fourth proof brandy, or any kind of high wines, one pound of gum Myrrh pounded fine, one ounce of No. 2. and put them into a stone jug and boil it a few minutes in a kettle of water, leaving the jug unstopped. When settled, bottle it up for use. It may be prepared without boiling, by letting it stand in the jug for five or six days, shaking it well every day, when it will be fit for use. These drops are to remove pain and prevent morti- fication, to be taken, or applied externally, or to be put into the injections. One or two tea spoonfuls of these drops may be given alone, or the same quantity may be put into a dose" of either of the medicines before mentioned ; and may be also used, to bathe with in all cases of external swellings or pains. It is an excellent remedy for rheumatism, by taking a dose and bathing the parts effected with it. In the head-ach by taking a swallow, and bathing the head, and snuffing a little up the nose, it will remove the pain. It is good for bruis- es, sprains, swelled joints, and old sores ; as it will allay the inflammation, bring down swelling, ease pain, and produce a tendency to heal—in fact there is hardly a complaint, in which this usful medicine cannot be used 84 New Guide to Health ; to advantage. It is the best preservative against mor- tification of any thin? I have ever found. For bathing, in rheumatism, itch, or other humours, or in any swelling or extern 1 pain, add one quarter part of spirits of turpentine ; and for sprains and bruises, a little gum camphor may be added. Nerve Powdir. This is the American Valerian, or Umbil, and the prep* ation has been sufficiently described, for which see page 66. I his powder is a valuable and safe me- dicine and m ;y be used in all cases without danger ; and when there are nervous symptoms, it must never be dis- pensed with. For a dose take half a tea-spoonful in hot water sweet-ned ; (,r the same quantity should be put into a dose of either of the other medicine, and also in- to the injections, in all nervous cases. Composition, or Vegetable Powder. T: ke two pounds of the bayberry root bark, one pound of the inner irk of Hemlock, one pound of ginger two ounce- o! Cayenne, t.vo ounces of cloves, all pound- ed fine, sifWl through'a fine seive, ahd we'll mixed to- gether. For h dose take a tea-spoonful of tins powder with an equal quantity of sugar, and put to it half a tea- cupful of boiling wa'-er; to e taken as soon as sufficient- ly cook \h-\ patientbeing in bed, or by the fire covered with a blanket. This composition is calculated for the first stages and in less violent attacks of disease. It is a medicine of much value, and may he safely used in all complaints of male or female, and for children It ,s good for relax dysentery, pain in the slouch a- d bowel*, and to . e- move all obstructions caused by coid, or loss of inward heat ; by taking a dose on going to bed and putting a hot stone to the feet, wrapped in wet cloths, it wii; cure a bad cold, and will generally throw off a dis« as, ,p its first stages, if repeated two or three times. If the svmp- toms are violent, with much pain, add to each dose a ■or, Botanic Family Physician. 83 tea-spoonful of No. 6, and half a tea-spoonful of No, 1 ; and in nervous symptoms add half a tea-spoonful of nerve powder ; at the same time give an injection of the same. If these should not answer the purpose, the patient must be carried through a regular course oi the medicine, as has been before described. Cough Powder. Take four tea-spoonfuls of Skunk Cabbage, two of Hoarhound, one of Wake-robin, one of So. 1, one of No. 2, one of Bayberry bark, one of Bitter root, and one of nerve powder, all made fine and well mixed together. When taken to be mix-d with molasses. Take half a tea-spoonful of the powder on going to bed ; keep warm and continue taking it till relief is obtained, particularly on going to bed. Where the cough has been of long standing, it will be best while taking this prescription, to go through a reg- ular course of the medicine, and repeat it it necessary. Cancer Plaster. Take the heads of red clover and fill a brass kettle, and boil them in water for one hour; then take them out and fill the kettle again with fresh ones and boil them as before in the same liquor. Strain it off'and press the heads to get out all the juice ; then simmer it over fi slow fire till it is about the consistence o![ tar, when it will be fit for use Be careful not to let it burn. When used it should be spread on a piece of blad ter, split and made soft. It is good to cure cancer^ sore lips, and all old sores. Salve. Take one pound of Bees-wax, one do. '"salt Hut'-, one and a half do. of Tu j t-ntuie, twel e ounce* . ■*" Balsam-fir ; melt and simmer ihtoi together; then sir- it off int.. a bason, anu ke-p it for uSv>. It m;\ '- used to heal fresh wounds, I us, scalds and sores, after the inflammation is allayed, and the * i cleansed. H «6 New Guide to Health ; Strengthening Plaster. Take Burdock leaves and Mullen leaves, bruise them and put them in a kettle, with a sufficient quantity of water, and'boil them well; then strain off the liquor, press or squeeze the leaves, and boil it down till about half as thick as molasses; then add three parts of Rosin and one of Turpentine, and simmer well together, until the water is evaporated; then pour it off into cold water and work it with the hands like shoemakers' wax; if too hard put in more turpentine, when it will be fit for use. It should be spread on soft leather and appli- ed to the part affected; and it is good to strengthen weakness in the back and other parts of the body. Volatile Salts. Take crude Sal Amoniac one ounce, Pearlash two ounces, and pound each by itself, mix them well togeth- er, and keep it close stopped in a bottle for use. By damping it with spirit or essence will increase the strength. This applied to the nose is good for faintness and to remove pain in the head ; and is much better than what is generally sold by the apothecaries. Nerve Ointment. Take the bark of the root of Bitter-sweet two parts; of wormwood and chamomile, each equal, one part, when green, or if dry moisten it with hot water; which put into horse or porpoise oil, or any kind of soft animal oil, and simmer them over a slow fire for twelve hours ; then strain it off, and add one ounce of spirits of Tur- pentine to each pound of ointment. To be used for a bruise, sprain, calice, swelling, or for corns. Poultice. Make a strong tea of Raspberry leaves, or of No. 3 ; take a cracker pounded fine and slippery Kim bark pul- verised, with Ginger, and make a poultice of the same. This is good for old sores, whitlows, felons, and for bad burns, scalds, and parts frozen Apply this poultice and renew it, at least as often as every twelve or twenty-four tours, and wash with soap suds at every renewal; wet- or, Botanic Family Physician. 87 ting it in the interim with cold water, or a tea of Rasp- berry leaves, till it discharges; then apply the salve till a cure is effected. Injections, or Clysters. This manner of administering medicine is of the great- est importance to the sick ; it will frequently give re- lief when all other applications fail. It is supposed that the use of them is of great antiquity ; whether this be true or not, the using them to relieve the sick, was certainly a very valuable discovery; and no doubt Ihousands of lives have been saved by it The doctor* have long been in the practice of directing injections to be given to their patients, hut they seem to have no other object in administering them, than to cause a move- ment in the bowels;' therefore it was immaterial what they were made of. According to the plan which I have adopted, there are certain important objects aimed at in the adminis- tration of medicine to remove disease, viz. to raise the internal heat, promote perspbation, remove the canker, guard against mortification, and restore the digestion. To accomplish these objects the medicine necessary to remove the complaint, must be applied to that part where th^ disease is seated ; if in the stomach only, by taking the medicine it may be removed ; but if in the bowels, the same compound must be administered by injection. Whatever is good to cure disease when tar ken into the stomach, is likewise good for the same purpose if giv■ n by injection, as the grand object is to warm the bowels, and remove the canker. In all cases of dysentary, tholic, piles, and other complaints, where the bowels are badly affected, injections should never be dispensed with. They are perfectly safe in all cases, and better that they be used ten times when not needed, than once neglected when they are. In many violent cases, particularly where there is danger of mortifica- tion, patients may be relieved by administering medicine in this way, when there would be no chance in any oth- er. I do, th-refore. most seriously advise that these considerations be always borne in mind ; and -that this important way of giving relief, be never neglected. 88 New Guide to Health ; where there is any chance for it to do good. In many complaints peculiar to females, they are of the greatest importance in giving relief, when properly attended to ; for which some verbal instructions will be necessary, which will readily be given to all those who purchase the right. The common preparation for an Injection or Clyster, is to take a tea-cupful of strong tea made of No. 3, strain it off'when hot, and add half a tea-spoonful of No. 2, and a tea-spoonful of No. 6; when cool enough to give, add half a tea-spoonful of No, 1, and the same quantity of nerve powder. Let it be giv- en with a large syringe made for that purpose, or where ibis cannot be had, a bladder and pipe may be used. They must be repeated as occasion may require till relief is obtained. Many other articles may be used to advantage in the injections; a tea of witch-hazle and red-raspberry leaves, either or both together, are very good in many cases. For canker a tea of either the articles described under the head of No. 3, will answer a good purpose. WThen the canker is removed the bowels will be left sore, in which case, give injections of witch hazle or raspberry leaves tea, with slippery-elm bark. When injections are used to move the bowels only, No. 1 should be left out. It is always safe to add the nerve powder, and if there is nervous symptoms it must never be einited. ——— Stock of Medicine for a Family. 1 oz. of the Fmetic Herb, 2 ozs. of Cayenne, 1-2 lb. Bayberry root bark in powder, 1 lb. of Poplar bark, 1 lb. of Ginger, 1 pint of the Rheumatic Drops. This stock will be sufficient for a family for one year, and with such articles as they can easily procure them- selves when wanted, will enable them to cure any dis- ease, which a family of common size may be afflicted with during that time. The expense will be small, and much better than to employ a doctor and have his ex- travagant bill to pay. or, Botanic Family Physician. .80 GENERAL DIRECTIONS IN CURING OR PREVENTING DISEASE. 1. Be careful to always keep the determining powers to the surface, by keeping the inward heat above the outward, or the fountain above the stream, and all will be safe. 2. It must be recollected that heat is life, and cold death; that fever is a friend and cold the enemy ; it is therefore necessary to aid the friend and oppose the en- emy, in order to restore health. 3. That the construction and organization of the hu- man frame, is in all men essentially the same; being formed of the four elements. Earth and water consti- tute the solids of the body, which is made active by fire and air. Heat in a peculiar manner, gives life and motion to the whole ; and when entirely overpowered from whatever cause by the other elements, death en- sues. 4. A perfect state of health arises from a due balance or temperature of the elements ; and when it is by any means destroyed, the body is more or less disordered. When this is ihe case, there is always a diminution of heat, or an increase of the pow er of cold, which is its opposite. 5. All disorders are caused by obstructed perspiration, which may be produced by a great variety of means; that medicine, therefore, must be adminis'ered, that is best calculated to remove obstructions and promote perspiration. 6 The food taken into the stomach and being well digested, noun-he? the system ami :<.• eps up thai heat on which life depend* ; but bv const -rutty t-;k og t'>o: in- to the stomach, which is somti rnes ooi s-Mtat .u tw nour- ishment, i« becomes ful, so ih t ihe fo< '. i oi well digested; this causes the i>od\ ■■■• ' • s* "' * ' ^ 'is- eas'1 foi'ows. 7. (.'tinker is cause-' by <:<■ ■ e or letis ot it m ali f; -» QO New Guide to Health ; of such articles as are calculated to remove it, as long as there is any appearance of disorder. 8. When the disease is removed, make free use of those things that are good to restore the digestive pow- ers, not forgetting to keep up the inward heat by giving occasionally No. 2. 9. Keep always in mind, that an ounce of preventative is better than a pound of cure; and give medicine on the first appearance of disorder, before it becomes seat- ed; for it may be then easily thrown off, and much sickness and expense prevented. 10. In case of a fever, increase the internal heat by giving hot medicine so as to overpower the cold, when the natural heat will return inwardly, and the cold will pervade the whole surface of the body as the heat had done before ; this is what is called the turn of the fever. 11. If No. 1 should sicken and not puke, there may be two causes for it, viz : the coldness or acidity of the stomach ; for the first give No. 2 more freely, and for the latter, disolve a piece of pearl-ash about the size of a large pea in a wine glasss of water, and let them take it, which will counteract the acidity. If this fails, make •use of the steam, which will open the pores, extract the cold, and set the medicine into operation. 12. In giving medicine to children, give about one half, a little more or less according to their age, of the quantity directed for a grown person. Be particular to offer them drink often, especially young children who Cannot ask for it. 13. Dysentery is caused by canker on the bowels,'for which make free use of the tea of No. 3, with No. 2, and give the same by injection, in the first of the disease, and afterwards give the syrup, (No. 5,) to strengthen the stomach and bowels, and restore the digestive powers. 14. The piles is canker below the reach of medicine given in the usual way, and must be cured by using a wash of No. 3, made strong, and by giving injections of the same, with No. 2. What is called bearing down pains in women, is from the same cause; and must be relieved by injection^ made of witch-hazle or red rasp- or, Botanu- F»^hj Physician. berry leaf tea, sleeped strong, with No. 2, strained-. If this does not give relief, go through a regular course of medicine. 15 Women in a state of pregnancy, ought to be car- ried through a regular course of the medicine, espe- cially when near the time of delivery. W hen in tra- vail, give raspberry leaf tea, with a tea sp-oonlul of the composition powders, or No. 2, and keep them in ax perspiration After delivery keep up the internal heat, by giving the composition powder, or No. 2. This will prevent cold and after pains; if there should be symp- toms of fever, carry them through a regular ccu.se of the medicine, which will guard against all alarming com- plaints, peculiar in such cases. 16. In all cases of a burn, scald, or being frozen, wrap up the part in cloths wet with told water, often wetting them with the same, to prevent their becoming dry, and be careful to give hot medicine, such as No. 2, or the composition powders, to keep up the inward heat- Pursue this plan for twelve hours ; and then, if the skin is off, apply the poultice, or salve. If there should be convulsions, or fever, a regular course of the medicine must without fail be attended to. 17. When a scald is over the whole or greatest part of the body, apply cotton cloth of several thicknesses to the whole body, wet with a tea of raspberry leave*, thoroughly wetting it with the same to prevent it from becoming dry ; and give the hot medicine. When the scald is under the stocking, or any other tight garment, let it remain on, adding more cotton cloths, and wet the whole with cold water as often as the smart of the burn returns. 18. If the skin is off, or in case of an old burn, to guard against canker, apply a poultice of cracker and slippery elm bark, made with a tea of raspberry leaves ; washing it with soap suds, when the poultice is changed, and then with the same tea. When any part is frozen, the same method must be taken, as for a burn. lt>. For a fresh wound, cut, or bruise, wash immedi- ately with cold water and bind up in cloths wet with the same j keep a hot stone at the feet, and take medicine 92 New Guide lo Health ; to raise i gentle perspiration; continue this till the in* flammation is allayed and the wound perfectly cleansed, then apply the poultice or salve till healed. The air must be kept from all wounds or sores, as it will cause pain and prevent them from healing. 20. In sudden and deadly attacks, such as spotted or yellow fever, fits, drowned persons, croup, &c. the heat and activity of the patient is so much diminished, that the common administration will not give relief: the determining power to the surface, being so small, through the loss of internal heat, that it will not give the medicine operation, as its effects are resisted and counterbalanced by the pressure of the external air. To counteract this pressure, keep the room, by aid of a good fire, about as warm as a summer heat; and more fully to rarify and lighten the air, and aid the operation of the medicine, make a free use of the steam bath ; and keep the patient shielded by a blanket, at the same time give occasionally Nos. 1 and 2. This course should be unremittingly persevered in till the patient is relieved. 21. If the glands are dry, so that there is no moisture in the mouth, or if the patient is much pressed for breath, give a strong tea of No. 2, sweetened, and repeat it till the mouth becomes moist. No. 3 should not be used while the mouth is dry; if aay is used, add a large portion of No. 2. 22. Be careful not to have the outward heat too high, by too many clothes or fire ; for if this i- the case, it will cause a balance of the outward and inward heat, and will prevent the medicine from operating by stopping the circulation; and the patient will he very much dip* tressed. When this happens, throw cold vinegar on the face and stomach and give more hot medicine, which will let down the outward heal and raise the inward. 23. If the patient is restless, wet the head and body with cold vine.ar; and if there are ton- uK'fns or spasms, give the nerve powder with No. 2. injections must also be used. 24. ' c er make use of ph>sic in ca-es where there is canker iuude, m u v.-il: lra.> he deiern, nir.g powers or, Botanic Family Physician. 93. inward, and increase the disease. I have seen so many bad effects from giving physic, that I have disapproved the use of it altogether; but if any is given, after the operation he careful to keep up the inward heat, so as to cause a freee perspiration. 25. Avoid all minerals used as medicine, such as mer- cury, arsenic, antimony, calomel, preparations of cop- per or lead; and also nitre and opium. They are all poison and deadly enemies to health. 26. Beware of bleeding and blisters, as they can nev- er do any good, and may be productive of much harm; they are contrary to nature, and strengthen the power of the enemy to health. Setons and issues should also be avoided, as they only tend to waste away the strength of the patient, without doing any good; it is a much better way to remove the cause by a proper adminis- tration of medicine, which will be more certain and safe in its effects. 27. Be careful not to make use of salt petre in any way whatever; it is the greatest cold of any thing that can he taken into the stomach, and vvas never intended for any other purpose th:tn to destroy life. It is a very bad practice to put it on meat, for it destroys all the juices, which is the nourishing part, and leaves the flesh hard and difficult to digest. 28. Never eat meat that is tainted, or any way injur- ed, as it will engender disease ; for one ounce in the stomach, is worse than the effluvia of a whole carcase. Eat salt provisions in hot weather and fresh in cold. 29. Be careful about drinking cold water in very hot weather, as it will tend to let down the inward heat so suddenly as to give full power to the cold. If this should "happen, its fatal effects may be prevented by giving the hot medicine to raise the inward heat above the outward. Be careful also not to cool suddenly, after being very warm in consequence of uncommon exercise. 30. b',. lumber that regularity in diet is very impor- tant to preserve health ; and that if more food is taken into tho stomach, than is well digested, it clogs the sys- tem and causes disease. Therefore be cautious not to eat too much at a t me, and have your food well cookedv 94 New Guide to Health; This is very important to those who have weakly con- stitutions. 31. Ardent spirit is slow poison ; it is taken to stimu- late, but this effect is soon over, and much use ofit de- stroys the tone of the stomach, injures the digestive powers, and causes disease. It is therefore much better, when the feelings require any thing of the kind, to make use of stimulating medicine, such as Nos. 2 and 6, for these will answer a far better purpose. By a strict observance of the foregoing directions, you may save much pain and expense, and enjoy good health and long life, which is the earnest wish of the writer. To make Milk Porridge. Put a quart of water in a kettle, with a proper quan- tity of salt, and while heating, mix a gill of flour in a bowl with water, made thick, and when the water is boil- ing hot, drop this into it with a spoon ; let it be well boiled, then add half a pint of milk. This to be eaten while under the operation of the medicine ; and is also good food for the sick at any other time, especially while the stomach is weak. To make Chicken Broth. Take a chicken and cut it in pieces; put the gizzard in with it, opened and cleaned, but not peeled. Boil it till the meat drops from the bone. Begin to give the bro'h as soon as there is any strength in it; and when boiled eat some of the me.it, Let it be well seasoned. This may be given instead of the milk porridge, and is very good for weak patients, particularly in cases of the dysentery. When the operation of medicine is gone through, I have said that the patient may eat any kind of nourish- ing food his appetite should crave; but the best thing is to take a slice of salt pork broiled, or heef steak, well done, and eat it with pepper sauce ; or take cayenne, vinegar and salt, mixed together, and eat with it, which is very good to create an appetite, and assist the diges- ture. or, Botanic Family Physician. 95 DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL CASKS OF DISEASE, WITH DIREC- TIONS HOW THEY MAY BE CURED. Felons. This sore always comes on a joint, and is often caused by some strain or bruise, which makes a leak in the joint or muscle, and the sooner it has vent, the better. If it is brought to a head by poulticing, the skin being so thick that it will often be caused to break through the back of the hand, before it can get through the skin on the inside. The best way to give it vent, that I have ever found, is to burn a small piece of punk, the bigness of half a pea, on the place affected. If you think the flesh is dead down to the matter, you may prick the point of a needle into the dead skin, and raise it up and cut out a piece under the needle sufficient to let out the matter ; then apply poultice or salve—If painful, wrap it in cloths of several thicknesses, wet with cold water, and repeat this as often as it becomes hot or painful. Take the composition or warm medicine, to keep up an inward heat. . If the sore has been several days coming, and appears nearly ripe, apply a piece of unslacked lime to the part affected, wrap it up and wet the cloth with cold water, till the lime is slacked ; and repeat this till the skin looks of a purple colour: then open it as before direct- ed. This method is more safe and quick in causing a cure, than laying it open with a knife, as is the practice of some doctors. By cutting the live flesh, forms a leak and often spoils the joint; but by searing them by either of the above modes, it secures and prevents the leak, and makes a speedy cure. Freezes and Burns. These two names of disorder are one and the same thing, and require the same treatment. Take a cloth wet in cold water, and wrap several thicknesses round 96 New Guide to Health : or laid ">n to the part, to be kept wet as often as the pain increa rs. Give warm medicine inside. If the scald is. dangerous, carry them through a regular course of medicine as though they had a fever, or any other acute disorder ; keep the cloth or poultice on to secure it from ihe air, from 12 to 14 hours, till the soreness or pain is entirely gone. If the skin is off, a poultice of flour bread wet with any of the articles composing No. 3, and keep it wet with this tea or water till the sore discharges, then wash with soap suds; when dressed wash with the tea of No. 3. and continue the poultice or salve until a cure is effected. A freeze is direct cold, and a burn is attracted cold; for as much as the heat opens the pores more than usu- al, the cold follows and closes them as much more than they were before the operation of the heat—this stops the perspiration from going through the surface, and the water collects under the grain of the skin, which is call- ed blistering; the water applied in the cloth on the out- side, opens the pores and lets the water out by perspira- tion, and the grain adheres to the skin—the pain ceases and the cure is completed. Cure of my Brother's Son of a Scald. He was about 14 years of age, and was taking off from the fire a kettle of boiling cider, the leg of the kettle caught by the log, tipped it forward and poured the cider boiling hot into a large bed of live embers, which covered his bare feet with this hot mass; he was obliged to hold on till the kettle was set on the floor, and then jumped into a pail of cold water, and stood there until his father procured some cloths, which he immediately wrapt his feet up in ; his father laid by the fire to attend to pour on water to keep the cloths filled, which keeps the air from the surface and eases the pain; for .s the water wastes and lets the air to the burn, the pain will increase; but by pursuing this course for about two hours, the pain abated and the boy fell ash-ep. Water was poured on the cloth but two or three times during the rest of the night, and in the morning, preparation was made to dress the wound. or, Botanic Family Physician. W when to the suprise of all present no blister had arisen, nor a particle of skin broken. He put on his stockings and shoes as usual, and went about his work, perfectly well. Case of a boy who was badly Scalded. A lady took off from the fire a tea-kettle filled with boiling water, when her little son, about 6 years old, stepped on the bail and turned the contents on to both his feet, and falling, one hand went into the teakettle ; both feet and one hand were very badly scalded. I hap- pened to be present, and immediately tore up cloth sufficient to do up each part, wetting them with cold water. I then put him in bed and gave him some warm medicine, put a warm stone at his feet, and wet the cloths as often as he complained of pain. In about two hours he fell asleep, after which two or three times wetting the cloths, kept him easy through the night. In the morning en taking off the cloths there was no appearance of blisters, nor any skin broken ; and he put on his shoes aud stockings, and appeared as well as before the accident happened. It had been the de- clared opinion of the family the night before, that the boy would not be able to go to school for a fortnight; but on finding him well in the morning, were hardly willing to believe their own senses, or that the child had been scalded. general Remarks on Burns. Burns are the most easily cured, if rightly managed and understood, of any wounds I ever attended ; and are the most difficult and dangerous, when not understood, and wrongly treated. How often have we seen these sores continue all winter and could not be healed ? as also, burns caused by blisters made with Spanish flies, which amount to the same thing. By not being treated in a proper manner in season, the canker gets in and eats out the flesh, after which what is called proud flesh fills up the sore, The doctor applies his sugar of lead, vitriol and red precipitate to eat out the dead flesh, this affects 98 New Guide to Health ; the cords and draws them out of shape, and many times makes a sore that they cannot cure, which terminates in a mortifying canker sore.—My friends, if you wish to avoid all this trouble, attend to what belongs to your peace and comfort, before it is hidden fr m your eyes; that is, to attend to the canker, which always awaits such cases, and where the skin is off, in all cases of burns or blisters, apply a poultice of cracker, or elm bark wet with a tea of No. 3, until the canker is^one. Sometimes add ginger ; if the inflammation is high add a little of No. 2, with the ginger, keeping the poultice wet with cold water : when the sore discharges ap- ply salve till a cure is effected. I shall aontinue my remarks on burns, by showing the evil consequences arising from blistering. Not long since I knew a case where a doctor drew a blister on a child's breast up to the neck, for being stuffed at the lungs. It lingered with this scald near its vitals, about a week; I was then called to visit the child, and found it to be dying. The mother asked me what I thought was the matter with it; 1 took off the dressing and showed her the mortified flesh all over the blister, and told her that was the disorder. She seemed much sur- prised ; and I then asked her if the child had been scalded and it had mortified in like manner, whether she would have had any doubt of its being the cause of her child's death ? she said that she should not. I gave her my opinion, that it vvas exactly a similar case, and that the child's death was caused as much by the blister as it would have been by a scald. The child died before morning. I had declined doing any thing for it. as I was satisfied that 1 could doit no good; and if I had made the attempt, it would have been said that I killed it. 1 have seen many cases where I was perfectly sat- isfied that the patients died in consequence of blisters, not only on the stomach, but on the head. In many that I have witnessed, where a blister vvas drawn on the head, as soon as it began to draw their senses were gone and did not return till they died raving, or stu- pitied. More than half the cases where the head was shaved and blistered, that have come within my or, Botanic Family Physician. 99 knowledge, have died. I never could see any reason why a scald on the head or body done on purpos,«, should have a tendency to effect a cure, when the person is sick, and the same thing happening to them by accident, when well, should destroy their health or cause their death. If a person should have their head or stom- ach so badly scalded as to take off the skin, we should consider them in the most dangerous condition ; but noth- ing is said about it when drawn on purpose. I shall leave it to the reader to reconcile, if he can, this inconsistency I have known most dangerous strangu. aries caused by blisters on the sides and limbs, and those who applied them did not know the cause, and 1 have been applied to for relief. Mortification of the Limbs. I was called on to go on board a vessel at Eastport, to see a young man. who had a block fall from mast head on his ftfot, weighing 13 1-2 lbs which bruised all his toes to peices except the little one. The acci- dent happened on Friday and I did not see him till the Tuesday following; during which he had neither eat nor slept. His nerves were much affected, and had spasms and convulsions through the whole system. I took off the dressing from his foot and found it black, and the smell very offensive. The captain of the ves- sel* appeared to be very anxious about him, asked me if I could help his foot—I fold him that I must first try lo save his life, for his whole body was as much disordered as his foot. He requested me to do what I thought best. I put a poultice of meal on his foot, and wet the cloth with cold water to allay the heat; then gave him medicine the same as thouga he had been attacked with a nervous fever. The captuin attended him thro' the night, and 1 went to see him the next morning, and found him much better. The captain said he was aston- ished at the operation of the medicine, for that his vom- iting and sweating had carried off all the pain in his body and foot, and had also reconciled the nerves. 1 undid his foot and found that the black and yellow streaks up the leg had disappeared, and on the foot all 10W New Guide to Health; the flesh that was alive seemed to receive fresh sup- port from the body; and the living and dead flesh ap- peared as though two colours were painted by the side of each other. 1 then made a ley of pearlash in warm water, and soaked his foot in it, which caused a slimy glaze all over his foot; this took away all the offensive smell; and 1 washed it with vinegar to kill the alkali and keep it from irritating the skin. The acid cleared ©ff all the slimy matter, so that it wiped clean. 1 then cut off the great toe at the middle joint, and the two next at the upper joint, and set the next, which was bro- ken. I cut none of the flesh but what was dead, to stop in part the putrefaction. 1 then put on another poul- tice and ordered it to be kept wet with cold water, and a warm stone wrapped in a wet cloth, to be put to his feet to keep a steam, giving him warm medicines in- side to keep up the inward heat; and by wetting the foot with cold water it kept the determining power to the surface ; thus raising the fountain and lowering the stream. By this treatment it becomes impossible that mortification can go from the limbs to the body, any more than a log that floats over the dam, can go back again into the pond, when the fountain is kept full. The next day I dressed his foot and found that the dead flesh had digested very much ; 1 again soaked it in pearlash and then washed in vinegar as before, which was of great service in allaying the bad smell. I then caused him to be cariied through a regular course of medicine, which completely restored his bodily health : his appetite was good, and all pain and soreness abated, so that he took food regularly and lost no sleep after*, ards, till he got entirely well, which was in ubout four weeks. The captain was a very good nurse, and was faithful in at- tendance on the young man till he got well ; and ex- pressed the highest gratitude for my attention and suc- cess ; and as a proof of his confidence in the medicine, he purchased a right, for which he paid me twenty silver dollars, obse ving at the same time, that he never paid for any thing with moie satisfaction. or, Botanic Family Physician. 101 Old Canker Sores on the Legs. When I was a young man, I was much troubled through the winter, for many years, with sores on my legs. At the'1 commencement of cold weather, if I broke the grain on my shin, it would become a bad sore and con- tinue through the winter; the canker would get into it and eat to the bone, and sometimes spread under the grain like a hum, and feel the same, being extremely sore, with stings and tw inges like a cancer. These sores were so troublesome, that it led me to invent a cure ; finding the cause to be canker, 1 took some of the ar- ticles composing No. 3, steeped strong, and washed the part affected, with it; if there was a bad smell, 1 first washed the sore with strong soap suds, taking off all the loose skin, which vvas blistered with cankery humour, and then washed with a tea of No. 3, to destroy the can- ker and harden the sore : sometimes wettinj it with the drops, If (he inflammation run high and the sore spread fast. I put into it a pinch of tine No. 2; then put on a poultice of white bread and ginger, wet with the above tea, wrapping it up with several thicknesses of cloth9 wet with cold water; welting them as often as dry. so as to be painful ; and not let the sore come to the air tor 24 hours. In this time, if kept well wet and warm, it will discharge ripe matter, and the inflammation and canker will abate. When next dressed, wash first with soap suds as before, then with the tea ; if the soreness is gone you may apply the healing salve, with the wet cloths, if g-oing to bed. to keep out the air; put occa- sionally a hot stone wrapped i.i wet cloths, to ihe feet to !(•([) up a steam, and wetting the sore ifpaiufiil with cold water. Take medirine to keep up the inward heal; such a- composition, or h>>t bitters, and when these.do not :• .svver '.he purpose, go through a coerse of the meci e ne, r<:,d ter>' t aK occasion may require. This method, if perc.?»'ered in, 1 .-e'dom knew to fail of suc- cess. I w:>* culVd to attend a case of this Vr-d, not long since, where the inflammation and pain was very great, and iiisi spreading untie:r the grain of the s.km ; there i 9 i@2 New Guide to Health ; had been applied an elm and ginger poultice, made with tea of No. 3. I opened and only added a pinch of No. 2, and laid on the poultice igain, putting on a wet cloth, and ordered it kept wet with cold water till next morning ; when on dressing it found the inflammation a- bated, the sore discharged ripe matter, and by two dressings more of the same, the cure was completed. Case of the Bile of a Rat, supposed lo be mad. Not long since I was sent for to attend a man who had been bitten on one of his eyebrows by a rat, sup- posed to be mad. The wound healed in a few days, then turned purple round it, as though the blood had settled, and turned more black, until he was blind. He was sick at the stomach, and had a high fever. I carri- ed him through a course of the medicine, but with little advantage. The swelling and dark colour progressed till he was about the colour of a blackberry pie. These appearances led me to suspect that the madness of the rat was caused by eating ratsbane, and communicated this poison to the man by the bite, as he appeared the same as a person 1 had once seen, who had been killed by taking that pois.n. I then washed his face with a strong tea of No. 1 and 2, and gave the same inward with No. 3, carried him through another course of medicine, keeping a cloth on his face wet with the tea as before, to keep out the air when under the operation of the medicine, to sweat his face and throw the poison out. I kept him in a sweat for several days, occasion- ally with his face secured from the air, which method had the desired effect, by bringing the poison out. By continually keeping up the perspiration, the swelling abated; but whenever this was not well attended to so as to keep the determining powers to the surface, the spasms would increase to such a d^ree that his life was frequently despaired of. He was carefully attended in this manner about one month, before I could determine in my own mind, whether the disease or nature, would gain the victory ; after whii h time he began gradually to gain his health, and in about six months he appeared to be clear of the poison. The man was sixty years of or, Botanic Family Physician. 103 age ; and the accident happening in thmfidl of the year, it was much more difficult to conquer this cold and deadly poison, than it would have been in warm weath- er This case convinced me that the cause of mad rati and mad cats, is owing to the rats having been poisoned by ratsbane, the cats eat them and become affected by the poison, which makes them mad, and by biting the people, communicate the poison, from which many fatal consequences have frequently happened. Bad wound in the eye cured. While I was at Eastport, Maine, a man was cutting turf about twelve miles from that place, and acciden- tally had a pitchfork stuck into one of his eyes, by a person who was pitching the turf near him. It passed by the eyebalT and stuck fast in the skull, so that it vvas with considerable exertion that he could draw it out. The eye swelled and closed up immediately, and the people were much frightened and sent for me ; but it so ' happened that i could not go. I gave directions to the man who came after me, to return and carry him through a course of medicine as soon as possible, keeping seve- ral thickness, s of cloth wet with cold water on his eye, and not open it for twelve hours; and to keep him in a perspiration the whole time. This was faithfully at- tended to; and on opening the wound after the above time, the Swelling was all gone, the eye was open, and a large quantity of bl od vvas in the wet cloth, which had been drawn from the eye. They continued the wet cloth, and gave him warm medicine inside, keeping him in a gentle perspiration for the next twenty four hours, which cleared the eye of all the blood, restored rhe sight, and amended his health, that he vvas well in about a week, to the astonishment of all who saw him. Cancer Sores. A concise and general treatise on this violent and of- ten fatal disease may convey some useful ideas on the subject. The cause of this sore U very little mider.-tood. In all sores of an eating iiature there is more or less 10+ New Guide to Health ; canker according to their Yiolence. A Cancer is the highest degree of canker, being the most powerful ef- fects of cold, and consequently the greatest degree of in- flammation, therefore the remedies ought to be those of a warming nature, as the greatest preventatives against canker. Whenever a violent inflammation is discovered, it is supposed that heat causes the difficulty ; hut the fact is, it is only evidence of a war between heat and cold ; for there is no inflammation wh^rc there is perfect health, because heat then bears complete rule; and no disease can take place until the cold makes an attack on the body, which causes an unnatural heaf to oppose an unnatural cold; wherever the cold takes possession the inflammation shows itself, by stopping the circula- tion ; the effect is swelling, inflamed calous, arising from some leak, caused by the natural course being stopped. If it suppurates and discharges, it is called ulcer, bile, and the like, and the canker goes off with the putrefac- tion. If the leak is »o slow as to calous as fast as they discharge, it becomes a hard d -ad lump of flesh, and not having circulation enough to support it, it begins to rot; here the canker shows its eating nature ; being sealed in the dead flesh, and eating on the live flesh, which is intermixed with it, causes pain and distress, in proportion as the body is filled with coldness and canker; if this is sufficient to keep the power above the natural circulation, the patient will continue in Ibis, distressed situation, being eaten up alive, until v?.>rn out with the pain, death comes as a friend lo relieve them This is ihe natural termination of this dreadful malady ; which is far better than to combine rith it the common form of practice in using arsenic, which only helps to eat up and distress the pitient. In order to give a more correct idea of the danger- ous effect of making use of a- senic in cancers, I shall make a short extract from Thatcher's Dispensatory, on the subject —•• \isenic has long been known to be the basis «>f the celebrated cancer powder. It has been sprinkled in substance on the ulcer; but Ibis mode of using it is excessively piinful, and extremely dangerous; fatal effects have been produced from its absorption. or, Botanic Family Physician. lOp This fact I have known in several instances, where Davidson's agents, and others have undertaken to draw out cancers when the patient would absorb enough of this poison, which seating on the lungs, caused them to die with the consumption in the course of one year." My wish in exposing this nostrum, is to benefit those who may be ignorant of the imposition; for it may be relied on as a truth, that there is more or less poison in all those burning plasters, used to cure cancers; and I would advise all to beware of them ; it will be much safer to risk the cancer than the cancer quack. The principal object aimed at is to take out the hunch, and in doing that by the above method, a worse evil is inoculated, which is more fatal than the cancer. The tumour is a mixture of live and dead flesh, and is often under a live skin ; if it is necessary to make an incision through the live skin in order to disolve the dead flesh, the best way is to burn a piece of pu«k on the place, and repeat it till the flesh is dead enoq^h to suppurate. The smart will be but two or three minutes, and not so painful as the arsenic for the same time, which will last for twelve hours. Where the tumour is small, the can- cer balsam, will be found sufficient, by repeating the plaster for two or three weeks, to take out the dead flesh, and remove the canker ; after this is done, apply a ginger and elm poultice wet with a tea of No. 3. If the system appears to be generally affected with the cancer humour, carry them through a common course of me- dicine, and repeat the same while attending to the sore. I had a cancer on my foot about the bigness of an In- dian corn, which had troubled me twice, by acute dart- ing pains and twinges. I cured it by applying a plas- ter of the cancer balsam ; repeating it twice at each time. Where there is dead flesh under the skin, it is best to burn the punk first and then apply the poultice or balsam ; and it is also recommended to always give medicine to eradicate the canker from the system, both before and after the operation on the sore. Three cancers on the breast have come under my care, that I could not cure. One of them was as large as a half peck measure, and grew fast to the breast 106 New Guide to Health ; bone. I carried the woman through a course of medi- cine several times and applied a poultice of butternut shucks, to dissolve the dead flesh, and continued this course for some months, until the bunch had more than half dissolved, and had grown off from the bone, so that it was quite loose; and I was in hopes to ha* e effected a cure ; but she was taken with a fever in my absence, and died. The o'her two I could relieve and keep them free fiom pain, making them comfortable as long as they lived ; but nature was too far exhausted to com- plete ,i cure. I have had under my care many other cases of cancers on the breast and other pai ts of the body, which 1 had no difficulty in curing in the manner before stated. I shall conclude this subject by a few general re- marks, viz : Guard thoroughly against canker and cold- ness— < trend to the canker by a course of medicine, and repeat it—Use the ginger poulth e if the inflamma- tion is great, putting some No. 2, raw in the sore, then apply the poultice, keeping it wet with coid water—not forgetting the composition and .No. 2 inside, at the same time- Let all poisonous drugs, burning plasters, and caustics alone—artend faithfully to the directions here given—honour your own judgment—keep your money— and bid defiance to doctors. Piles—how cured. I was called to attend an elderly man in South Read- ing, who had been confined to the house, and much of the time to his Led, for seven weeks, with the Piles. Seve;i doctors attended him before I was sent for, and he had continued to grow worse. The doctors had operated on one side, and said they must on the other; it was their opinion, as well as hi-, that he was in a de- cline- The side thar they had operated upon was much worse to cure than the other. 1 carried him through a regular course of medicine twice in three days, when he was able to go out of doors. The injection compos- ed of No. 3, steeped, and a small quantity of No. 2, was used i warm tallow was applied freely several times in or, Botanic Family Physician. 107 the day, sometimes washing externally with the same tea. He had been dieted very low ; I restored his di- gestive powers, and recovered his appetite; his sores healed, his general health amended to such a degree, that he was no more confined with that complaint. A little tallow used when going to bed, prevents piles and chafes in young and old. Remember this. Sore Heads in Children, (Scalt Heads.) This sore often comes after having had the itch ; ker- nels form in the neck; it is contagious, being caused by canker and putrefaction. The most effectual way to cure this disease, is to carry them through a course of medicine several times, as the case may require, pre- vious to which, the head should be oiled, and covered with cabbage leaves; or draw a bladder over the head, lo keep out the cold air. The head should be covered so as to make it sweat as much as possible, in order to dissolve the hard scabs. After layi vg all night riie smell will be offensive; wash the bead in soap suds ; when clean, wash it also with a tea of No. 3, after which wash with a tea of No. I. Sometimes anoint it with the Rheumatic drops and nerve ointment—let it come to the air by degrees. Be careful to guard the stomach by giving composition, warm bitters, &c The oint- ment, drops and No. 1, in powder or juice, may be oc- casionally used together or sepa»ate. Continue to wash with soap-suds, and then with No. 3, occasionally, until a cure is effected. Sore tit easts. Some women suffer ve y much from this complaint, which is caused bv cold, occasioning obstructions .n the glands of the breast". When they are swelled, bathe with the rheum itic drops, or pepper vinegar; if this does not remove the swelling, an-! it should be necessa- ry to bring it to a head, apply « poultice of lily root made thick with ginger, or slippery elm bark; a' the same time give the composition powder or No 2, to keep up the inward heat. If the woman is sick, carry 108 New Guide to Health; her through n regular course of the medicine, which will remove the complaint and restore her to health in a short time. I have cured many who were very bad, by pursuing the above p,,in, ai, i never met with d.fficul- ty. I attended a woman in Portsmouth, who had both breast* badly swelled !?he was sitting by the window with it up, and could hardly get her breath ; *he could not bear to have any fire in the room, complaining that it made her faint. I told her that if I could not make her bear heat, I could do her no good. 1 gave her some No. 2. to raise the inward heat, and caused a good fire to be made in the room. The inward heat gained as fast as the outward, and in one hour she could bear as warm a fire as 1 could. I carried her through thrpe regular courses of the medicine in five days, and at the same time applied the lily poultice, which brought them to a head without pain ; and she was soon well. To stop Bleeding. Internal bleeding is from the stomach or lungs, and is caused by canker, or soreness of the stomach ; it of- ten takes place very suddenly, and creates much alarm. The patient sometimes trembles with fright and often has fits of the ague, which is caused by the cold increas- ing in proportion to the loss of blood. In the first place j shield the from them air with a blanket, by the fire, and I give the hotest medicine you have ; if nothing better I can be had, give hot water or any kind of hot tea; and I get a perspiration as soon as possible ; then apply the * steam bath; giving ginger tea, or No. 2, if you have it, \ if not, black pepper. As soon as there is an equilibrium in the circulation, there will be no more pressure of the jf blood to the stomach or lungs, than to the extremities, and the bleeding will cease. It has been my practice in T cases of this kind, to give some of the rheumatic drops, shield them from the air with a blanket, placed by the fire ; then give a dose of the composition powders, and 'i No. 2 ; and if this does not answer the purpose, give a 1 dose of No. 1, which with the steam, I never knew ' fail of stopping the blood ; and by giving medicine to ' remove the canker and restore the digestive powers, J er, Botanic Family Physician. 109 have always been able to effect a cure. The same applications will an-wer for other weakening and alarm- ing complaints in women External bleeding caused by wounds in the limbs, may be stopped by placing the wound higher than the body. One of my sons cut his leg very badly ; I placed him on the floor and took his foot in my lap ; as soon as the wound vvas higher than the body the bleeding ceas- ed. I then poured <»n cold water till the wound was white ; then put in a few drops of No 6, took two or three stitches to bring the wound together, dressed it with salve, and it soon got well with very little sore- ness. \nother case of a little girl, who cut off the main artery of the middle finger, and it bled very fast. I put my thumb above the wound and stopped the blood then poured on cold water with my other hand and washed the wound well; then placed her hand above her he ,d, which prevented it from bleeding, till I could get ready to dress the wound. It bled no more and soon got well. "Rupture. This difficulty is caused by a hurt or strain, which makes a breach in the lough film, or membrane, that supports the bowels in their place, and the intestines come down into the cavity between this membrane and the skin ; being sometimes very painful and difficult to be got back ; and have to.be kept from coming down by ' truss. When tie- bowels come down and remain any length of time, they become swelled, and are very pihitui, causing great distress and danger ; and sorne- tiui^sha^e proved fatal, as they cannot be got up a- gain till th • swelling is removed. This may be effected by a course of the medicine without danger. A Mr. Woodbury of Durham, was troubled with a rupture; his howe's came down, swelled and was very painful ; a doctor was sent for from Portsmouth, who applied a bag of snow, which drove the pa-.n to the stomach and caused puking. The swelling inciv'sed and became very hard. T'he case now becoming des- perate, and the family being alarmed, 1 was sent for, no New Guide to Health ; and on hearing the circumstances, sent some medicine, and gave directions to sweat him as soon as possible.— My directions were faithfully attended to, and a* soOn as he became warm, rthe nerves slackened, the swelling a-iated, all appearance of mortification disappeared, the bowels went back, and in twelve hours he was restored from a dangerous situation, to almost his usual state of health. In this case may be seen the difference be- tween the artificial doctor, and nature's phyician, which is the same as between fire and snow. Ague in the Face. This is caused by cold in the glands of the mouth, which keeps back the saliva till it causes swelling and soreness ; the. canker becomes prevalent at the same time, which causes severe pain in the face and throat. The sooner a cure is attempted the better; to effect this, take a dose of the tea of No. 3, with a tea-spoonful of No. 6 in it, for the canker; then tie a small quantity of No. 2 in a fine piece of cloth, wet with No. 6, and put it between the teeth and cheek, on the side where the pain is ; set by the fire covered by a blanket, and breathe the warm air from the fire ; this will prick the glands and cause the saliva to flow very freely, which will take out the soreness -and relieve the pain. The face may be bathed at the same time with No. 6. If the case is of long standing, Jso that the system is affected, and this does not remove ihe complaint, give a dose of No. 1. If it is caused by decayed teein, fill the hollow with cotton wool, wet with oil of Summersavory, or spirits of tur- pentine, which will deaden the nerve, and stop its ach- ing. This is good in all cases of the teeth ach, and will generally effect a cure without extracting. To relax the muscles in selling a bone. This m>y be done by bathing the part with warm water, and is much better than the method that is gener- ally practised, of extending the muscles by the strength ot several persons, which weakens the part so much that the bones are liable to get out of place again; be- or, Botanic Family Physician. Ill sides the operation causes severe pain to the patient and much trouble to the operator, which is all obviated by my method. Incases where a joint is put out, or a bone broken, give a dose of No. 2, or the composition pow- der, with half a tea spoonful of nerve-powder, which will promote a pespiration, prevent fainting, and quiet the nerves ; then wrap the part in cloths wet with water as hot as it can be borne, and pour on the warm water, (placing a pan undemta'h to catch .t) for a short time, when the muscles will hecome relaxed, so that the bonvs may be but in their pUce with little trouble. I wa--5 ouce\ ailed to a .worn >n who had piv her elbow ouf of j.-.t'it V a fall from her hor-e. Mt' was badly out hein-ri'wUted" about one quarter of the way round. I or'e'Vd *ome wa^rto he made hot immcdiateiy.stnpped her arm, :uid as soon as the water was hot, put a tow- el in a urfe tin pan and poured the hot water en it till well wM; a, soon as cool enough, wrapped it round h. r arm from her wrist to her shoulder; then placed the pan under her arm, Mid pou cd on the water from a pitcher, as hot as she could bear it, for about fifteen minutes. 1 then took.off th=e towel and directed one person to take hold of the arm above the elbow and an- other below, to steady it; and then placed my fingers against ihe end of the bone on the under side, and my thumb against that on the upper side, and by a gentle pressure each way set she joint without pain, or force on the muscles, to the astonishment of all present, who calculated that it would require the strength of several men. I then wrapped it up with the same towel, which had become cold; this brought the muscles to their proper tone and kept the joint firm in its place ; put her arm in a sling and she walked home that night, about a mile, and the next day was well enough to knit all day. „. . , , .. i In case a shoulder is out of joint, I relax the muscles in the same manner, and put the arm over my shoulder and lift up, which has always put the joint in its place, without any danger and with very little pain to the pa- tient : and then by applying cold water, the muscles will become braced, so that there will be no danger of its getting out again. I knew of a case where a man 112 New Guide to Health ; had his hip turned out, and several doctors had exhaust* ed all their skill in vain to set it; when one of my agents being present, undertook it by my plan of treatment, and after he had relaxed the muscles sufficiently, put his knee against the hip joint, and placing his hand on the inside of the knee, turned the leg out and crowded the joint into its place without any difficulty. Poison by Ivy or Dogwood. Many people are troubled with this difficulty every Season, and I have been much affhcted with it myself in my younger days, often being poisoned in such manner as to swell and break out very badly, and knew no rem- edy but to let it have its course, which was almost as bad as the small pox. One of my sons vvas often afflict- ed in this way, and one season was poisoned three times, so as to be blind for several days. I long sought a remedy without success, tiil I found it in the emetic herb. By washing with a tincture of the green plant as is directed in the second preparation of the emetic herb, on the first appearance of the di-ease, is a certain remedy. If the complaint has been for any length of time and has become bad, it will be necessary to take a dose of the powdered erne tic,(first preperation) to clear the system of the poison, at the same time of washing with the tincture. A tea made of the powdered leaves and pods, will do to wash with, when the ti> cture, or green plant cannot be ha 1. The powdered seeds, with Nos. ■2 and 6, (third preparation) may also be used for the same purpose. Jlleasles. This disease is very common, especially among chil- dren, and is often.attended with bad consequences, when not properly treated. It is a high state of canker and putrefaction ; and if the determining powers are kept to the surface, it will make its appearance on the out- side, and go off of itself; but if cold overpowers the in- ward heat, so as to turn the determining powers inward, (he disease will not make its appearance, and the patient will become much distressed, frequently prodncing fatal 9c, Botanic Family Physician. 113 consequences, if some powerful stimulant is not admin- istered to bring the disorder out. To give physic in cases of this kind is very dangerous, as it strengthens the power of cold and keeps the canker and putrefaction in- side, which sometimes seats upon the lungs and causes consumption ; or turns to the stomach and bowels, when they die suddenly, as has been the case with hundreds, for a few years past. I have attended a great many cases of the measles in the course of my practice, and never lost one ; and never have known of any that have died of this disorder, who were attended by any of my agents. When the symptoms make their appearance, give a dose of the composition powder, or of No. 2; then give the tea of No. 3 to guard against canker, and add some No. 2 to overpower the cold ; and when the second dose is given, add No. 1, to clear the stomach and promote perspiration ; as soon as this takes place, the disorder will show itself on the outside. By con- tinuing to keep the determining power to the surface, nature will take its regular course, and the disease will go off without injuring the constitution. If the bowels appear to be disordered, give an injection; and be care- ful to keep the patient warm. I once had a case of a young woman who had the measles ; she lingered with the symptoms four or five days, and then become very sick, turned of a dark pur- ple colour, and a high fever, when I was called to at- tend her. I gave her a strong dose of No. 3 steeped, and put in it a spoonful of the third preparation of No. 1, which caused such a violent struggle that I had to hold her in the bed; but it was soon over, for in about ten minutes she vomitted and a perspiration took place, which was followed by the measles coming out, so that she was completely covered with the eruption. She was soon well and about her work. Small Pox. This disease is the highest state of canker and putre- faction, which the human body is capable of receiving, and is the most contagious, being taken in with the breath, or may be communicated by inoculation, in 114 New Guide to Health; which case it is not so violent and dangerous as when taken in the natural way. The distressing and often fatal consequences that have happened in cases of the small pox, are more owing to the manner in which it has been treated than to the disease. The fashionable mode of treatment in this disease has been to give phys- ic, and reduce the strength, by starving the patient and keeping them cold. This is contrary to common sense, as it weakens the friend and strengthens the enemy ; and the same cause would produce similar effects in any other disorder. All that is necessary is to assist nature to drive out the canker and putrefaction, which is the cause of the disease, by keeping the determining powers to the" surface, in which case there will be no danger. The same manner ol treatment should be used in this complaint as has been directed for the measles. The canker-rash, and all kinds of disease that a person is not liable to have but once, such as chicken-pox, swine pox, &c". are from the same cause and must be treated in a similar manner. Cough. The general opinion is that cough is an enemy to health, and ought to be treated as such ; but this idea I hold to be altogether an error, for it is the effect and not the cause of disease. When the lungs are diseased there will be a collection of matter, which must be thrown off; and the cough is like the pump of a ship, which discharges the water and prevents her from sink- ing; so also the cough throws oft' what collects on the lungs, which if suffered to remain there would soon pu- trify and cause death. It is a common saying, that I have a bad cough and can get nothing to stop it; and the doctor often says, if 1 could stop your cough, I should have hopes of a cure ; but this is as unreasonable as it would he to stop the pumps of a ship, which would cause her to sink the sooner. \sk a sailor what he would do and he would say, keep the pump going till you can stop the leak, and when that is stopped the pump will become useless, as there will he nothing to throw off. Such »edicine should be given as will promote the cough,. or, Botanic Family Physician. US till the cause can be removed, which is cold and canker on the lungs ; after this is done there will be no more cough. If a cough is caused by a sudden cold, it may be removed by taking the composition powder on going to bed, with a hot stone wrapped in wet cloths put to the feet to produce a perspiration, and at the same time taking the cough powder, which will make the patient raise easy, and also help to remove the cause. When the cough has become seated, and the lungs are diseased, they must be carried through a regular course of the medicine, repeating the same as occasion may re- quire till a cure is effected, -at the same time giving the cough powder, especially on going to bed. Whooping-cough must be treated in the same manner; continue to give the cough-powders till cured. Jaundice. Much has been said about the bile, or gall, being an enemy in case of sickness; but this is a mistake, for it is a friend and should he treated as such. It is the main- spring to life, and the regulator of health, as with- out it the food could not be"* digested. When peo- ple have what is called the jaundice, it is the prevail- ing opinion that they have too much bile, and it is said they are billious; this is a mistaken notion, for there is no such thing as being too much gal!, it would be more correct to say there was not enougb. The diffi- culty is caused by the stomach being cold and foul, so 'that the food is not properly digested ; and the bile not being appropriated to its natural use, is diffused through the pores of the skin, which becomes of a yellow col- our. The symptoms are want of appetite, costiveness, faintness, and the patien' will be dull and sleepy ; these are evidence of bad digesture and loss of inward heat. The only way to effect a cure is to promote perspira- tion, cleanse* the stomach, and restore the digestive powers, which will cause the bile to be used for the purpose nature designed it. Nature has contrived that each part of the body should perform iis proper duty in maintaining health, and if there is no obstruction there would never be dis- 116 New Guide to Health ; ease. The gal! bladder grows on the liver and is plac- ed between that and the stomach, so that when the lat- ter is filled with food, the bile is discharged into the stomach to digest it. The bile never makes disorder, for it is perfectly innocent, being nature's friend ; and those appearances called billious, show the effect of disease and not the cause. The gall is a very bitter substance, and it is the practice of the doctors to order bitter medicine to cure the jaundice, and this seems to be the universal opinion, which is correct; but it cer- tainly contradicts the notion that there is too much bile, for if there is too much, whv give medicine to make more 1 I have attended many cases of this kind and never had any difficulty in effecting a cure. My method is to give No. 2, or the composition powders, to raise the in- ternal heat, and No. 1, lo cleanse the stomach and pro- mote perspiration ; then give the bitters (No. 4,) to reg- ulate the bile and restore the digestive powers. If the complaint has been of long standing and the system is much disordered, they must be carried through a reg- ular course of the medicine, and repeat it as occasion may require, at the same time give the bitters two or three times a day till the appetite is good an! the di- gesture restored. Any of the articles described under the head of No. -1, are good, and may be freely used for all billious complaints. Worms. A great deal is said about worms causing sickness, and there is scarcely a disease that children are afflicted with, but what is attributed to worms. The doctors talk about worm complaints, worm fevers, worm cholics, &c. and give medicine to destroy the worms; by so doing they frequently destroy their patients. There was nev- er a greater absurdity than their practice, and the uni- versal opinion about worms causing disease. The fact is they are created and exist in the stomach and bovvels- for a useful purpose, and are friendly to health, instead of being aa enemy ; they are bred and supported by the cold phlegm that collects in the stomach and bowels £ or, Botanic Family Physician. 117 W this is their element; and the more there is of it, the more there will be of the worms ; they never cause dis- dise, but are caused by it. Those who are in health are never troubled with worms, because they are then quiet and exist in their natural element; every one has more or less of them; and the reason why children are more troubled with what is called worm complaints, is because they are more subject to be disordered in th^ir stomach and bowels than grown persons. When chil- dren are sick and their breath srn lis bad, it is said they have worms and every thmg is laid to them ; but this is owing to disease caused by canker, for there is nothing in the nature of worms that can affect the breath. In cases of this kind, the only thing necessary is to cleanse the stomach by getting rid of the Cold phlegm, and re- storing the digestive poweis, when there will be no dif- ficulty with the worms. The common practice of the doctors is to give calo- mel and other poisons to kill the worms ; this must ap. pear to any one who examines into the subject to be very wrong as well as dangerous ; for th« worms can- not be killed by it, without poisoning the whoh contents of the stomach. I once knew of a case of % child who after eating a breakfast of bread ami milk, was taken sick; a doctor vvas sent for, who said it was'caused by worms, and gave a dose of calomel to destroy them, which caus- ed tits; the child vomitted and threw up its breakfast; a dog that happened to e in-the roon>eat what the child threw up; he vvas soon taken sick and died; the child got well. The fortunate accident of the child's throw- ing off its stomach what it had taken, probably saved its life, for if there was poison enough to kill a dog, it must have killed the child. The absurdity of such practice is like the story related by Dr. Franklin, of a man who was troubled with a weasle in his barn, and to get rid of the weasle he sat fire to his barn and burnt it up. I had the following relation from the doctor who attended the cases ; three children had what he called a worm fever; and he undertook to kill the worms. One of them died and he requested liberty to open it to see what would destroy worms, in order to know how to cure the others; 11 & New Guide to Health ; but the parents would not consent. The second died # and the parents consented to have it opened; but after searching the stomach and bowels, to their surprise no worms could be found. The third soon after died. The fact vvas their death vvas caused by canker on the stom- ach and bowels, and the medicine given increased the difficulty by drawing the determining powers inward, which aided the cold to promote the canker. W hero children die by such treatment, the blame is all laid to the worms, and the doctor e>capes censure. 1 have had a great deal of experience in what are called worm complaints; and after having become ac- quainted with the real cause, h.tve had no difficulty in curing all that 1 have undertaken with. 1 began with my own children. One of them u-cj troubled with what was supposed to be worms; I employed a doctor, who gave pink root, and then physic to cany it off with the worms It would shortly after have another turn, which would be worse ; he went en in. Ibis -say and the worms kepi increasing1, till 1 bet ame f-ati.^ied that he was working on the ehect, and neglected tht onus*-, when 1 dismissed him and undertook the cere myself. 1 r->t- lygave the warmest medicine I then knew of to clear off the cold phlegm ; and gave bitter medicine, such as poplar bark, woimwood, lanzy, and physic made of the twigs of butternut, to cleanse the stomach and to cor- rect the bile. By pursuing this plan the child soon got well and was no more troubled with worms. A child in the neighbourhood where 1 lived, about six years old, was taken sick in the morning, and the doctor was sent \ for, who gave medicine for worms ; soon after it had fits and continued in convulsions during the day, and at night died. 1 vvas satisfied that its death vvas hasten- ed if not caused by what vvas given. When the sto- mach is diseased, or when poison is taken into it, the worms try to flee from their danger, which causes dis- tress, and they sometimes get into knots and stop the passages to the stomach. Much more might be said on this subject; but enough has been stated to put those who attend to it on their guard against the dangerous ' Practice cf giving medicine to kill worms- or, Botanic Family Physician. 119 My practice has been and shall recommend to others to do, in case of what is called worm complaints, to give the composition powders, or No. 2, to warm the sto- mach, a tea of No. 3, to remove the canker and the bitters or either of the articles described under No. 4, to correct the bile. If they are bad carry them through a course of the medicine, and give the bitters. When there are nervous symptoms give the nerve powder. Injections should also be frequently given. The but- ternut syrup is very good. If there should be danger of mortification, make use of No. 6, both in the medi- cine given and in the injections. The tap- -worm is from the same cause as other worms, and may be cured in the same manner. They are, when single, about half an inch long and one third as wide ; they join together and appear like tape, and often come away in long pieces of several yards. I was once troubled with them, and used to be font and have no appetite; I cured myself by taking the butternut physic, which brought away several yards at a time ; and by taking the bitter medicine to correct the bile, was never 'roubled with it again. 1 have often heard about people having a greedy- worm ; but this is a mi-taken no'ion, for there was nev- er any such thing. 'J be difficulty is the stomach being cold and disordered, so that the. food is not properly digested, passes off without nourishing the system,, and this creates an unnatural appetite. Remove the cause by warming the stomach and correcting the digestive powers, and there will be no farther difficulty. In the year 18©5, 1 was called to see a young woman v,ho it was supposed had a greedy worm. It was thought to be very large, and would frequently get into her throat and choak her, almost stopping her breath. Her moth- er told me that the day before one of the neighbours was in and told a story abaut a person having a monster in their stomach, which vvas taken.in by drinking at a brook ; this terrible account so frightened her daughter, that the worm rose into her throat and choaked her so bad that she had fits. I took the girl home with me and «-ave her a dose of hot bitters, with some of the 120 New Guide to Health ; nerve powder that night; the next morning I carried her through a course of the medicine as well as 1 knew at that time, which cleared tht- s'omach and bowels and strengthened the nervous system. I told her there was no worm that troubled her, and she had faith in what I said. I gave her medicine to correct the bile and re- store the diges*ure and she soon got well, being no more troubled about the worm. The difficulty was caused by a disordered stomach and want of digesture, which produced spasms in the stomach and throat. Consumption. This complaint is generally caused by some acute disorder not being removed, and the patient being run down by the fashionable practice, until nature makes a compromise with disease, and the house becomes di- vided against itself. there is a constant warfare kept up between the inward heat and cold, the flesh wastes away in consequence of not digesting the food, the can- ker becomes seated on the stomach and bowels, and then takes ho!d of the lungs. When they get into this situation it is called a seated consumption, and is pro- nounced by the doctors to be incurable. I have had a great many eases ot this kind and have in all of them, where there was life enough left to build upon, been able to effect a cure by my •ystem of practice. The most important thing is to raise the inward heat and get a perspiration, clear the system of canker, and restore the digestive power?, so that food will nourish the body and keep up that heat on which life depends. This must be done by the regular course of medicine, as has been directed in all violent attacks of disease, and per- severing in it till the cause is removed. This complaint is called by the doctors a hectic fe- ver, because they are subject to cold chills and hot flash- es on the surface ; but this is an error, for there is no fever about it; and this is the greatest difficulty, if there was it would have a crisis and nature would be nble to drive out the cold and effect a cure ; the only difficulty is to raise a fever, which must be done by su h medi- cine as will raise and hold the inward heat till nature or, Botanic Family Physician. 141 has the complete command. When the patient is very weak and low they will have what is called cold sweats; the cause of this is not understood; the water that col- lects on the skin does not come through the pores, but is attracted from the air in the room, which is warmer than the body, and condenses on the surface ; the same may be seen on the outside of a mug or tumbler on a hot day, when filled with cold water, which is from the same cause. It is of more importance to attend to the preventing this complaint, than to cure it. If people would make use of those means which I have recom- mended, and cure themselves of disease in its first sta- ges, and avoid all poisonous drugs, there would never be a case of consumption or any other chronic disorder. Fits, These are produced by the same cause as other com- plaints, that is, cold and obstructions; and may be cur- ed by a regular course of the medicine, which over- powers the cold, promotes perspiration, and restores the digestive powers. Poison, or any thing else, which gives the cold power over the inward heat, will cause fits, because the natural tone of the muscular power is thereby destroyed, which produces violent spasms on •the whole system. So much has already been said on this subject, that it is unnecessary to say more, to give a correct idea of the manner of cure. St. Anthony's Fire, Nettle Spring, or Surfeit. These are all caused by overheating the system and cooling too suddenly, w hich leaves the pores obstructed, and then by taking more cold will bring on the warfare between cold and heat, when they break out and itch and smart, as if stung by an insect. When the heat gets a little the upper hand, so as to produce perspiration, it will disappear till they get another cold. The only way to effect a cure is to give the hot medicine, and steam till they are brought to the same state of heat as that which first caused the disease, and ben cool by degrees. This I have proved in several instances, and never had 122 New Guide to Health; any difficulty in entirely removing the cause in this way. Make use of a tea of No. 3, for canker, and the bitters to correct the bile, and a little nerve powder to quiet the nerves, and they will soon be restored to perfect health. Slranguary, or Gravel. This disorder is often caused by hard labour, and ex- jposure to cold, in the early part of life ; and wh> n they grow old their heat diminishes, the bile becomes thick, and a sediment collects in the bladder, which obstructs the passages; the glands through which the urine passes, are clogged and become diseased, so tlvit there is a difficulty in voiding the water, which causes great pain. It is seldom that there is a cure in *'ich cases; but relief may be obtained, by a course of the medicine, and making free use of the poplar bark tea. A tea of the hemlock boughs is v ery good; and also 1 have known great relief from using the wild lettuce and pip- sisway, the tops and roots bruised and steeped in hot water. Many other articles that are good to promote the urine may be used to advantage. Dropsy. There are two kinds of this complaint; one is caused by losing the inward heat so as to step the natural per- spiration, which causes the water that is usually thrown off in this way, to collect in the body and iimbs. This may be cured by raising the internal heat and causing a profuse perspir tion, when the water will pass off'in a natural way ; then make use of such medicine as will remove canker and restore the digestive powers, when the food being digested will keep up the natural heat of the body and continue the perspiration. The other kind is caused by cold and obstruction ; but instead of the water collecting and remaining in the body and limbs, a leak forms in the glands and lets it into the Trunk of the body, where there is no vent to let it off. This cannot be cured without tapping, and is very sel-, 4om completely cured. 1 have never known but tv\;« or, Botanic Family Physician. 123- who were in this situation to be perfectly restored. One was a girl who 1 attended; i tapped her and took away seventeen pounds of water ; then swathed her up close, and gave medicine to keep a perspiration ; she did not fill again and was completely cured. The other was a man, he had been tapped twice. I carried him through the course of medicine several times, and gave the juni- per ashes with molasses and gin, which carried off large quantities of water, and he entirely recovered from the disorder. I have cured a number who had the fi.st mentioned complaint, by the common course of medi- .rine ; one woman was cured by taking the wild lettuce, bruised and steeped in hot water. Mention has been made of several cases of this disease in my narrative, which were cured; and enough has been said to give an idea of the cause and manner of treatment. Billious Cholic. The name of this complaint is erroneous, for bill- ious means the bile, and no one ever heard of a bile cholic or pain caused by gall, as it is a friend to health and never caused disease or death. This pain is caused by a disordered stomach and want of digesture ; the sto- mach is filled with canker, which gets into the narrow passage from the stomach, when the action of the bowels cease; after the pain subsides, those parts where it was are very sore. To cure it raise the inward heat by giving the hot medicine, remove the canker with No. 3, and give the bitters to ceriect the bile, and repeat it, till a cure is effected. If the case is bad, carry them through a coui-e of the medicine, and often give injec- tions. Pleurisy. This is a distress-!n»- complaint and is caused by cold, or want cf inweird heat; I never had any difficulty in c-jiii.g it by my con ;nai practice. The only remedy made use of by the doctor is lo 11?; i; this only increa- ses the disease, by reducing the strength of the patient, without removing the caure. 1 was once called to a 124 New Guide to Health ; soldier at Eastport, who had a violent pain in his side j the doctor that attended him, had bled him five times, without removing the pain, which made him so weak that it vvas with difficulty he could be held up in the bed. I relieved him in one hour by a common course of medicine, and bathing his side with the rheumatic drops. It took three weeks to get up his strength, which might have been done in three days if he had not been bled. I vvas called to another case of the kind, of a sol- dier at the same place. He had been bled and a large blister put on his side to remve the pain, which caused a stranguary and he was in great distress. I declined doing any thing for him without the consent of the com- manding officer, who was not present. The soldier beg- ged of me to tell him what to do for the latter complaint, as he could not live so. I told him to take off the blis- ter, which was immediately done, and it gave instant re- lief. By carrying them through a course of medicine, as has been directed for other violent attacks, will cure. all cases of this complaint without danger; and is much better than bleeding or blisters, which increase the dif- ficulty. Relax. This complaint is caused hy indigestion, or loss of the powers of the gall, which becomes thick, in conse- quence of cold, or loss of inward heat, when the stom? ach will be sour. The best remedy is to give No. 2, vvhich will thin the gall; cleanse the stomach with No. 1, and give the bitters to correct the digesture. A dose of the composition powders with a tea spoonful of No. 6,. in it, will in most cases effect a cure. The bayberry and poplar bark is good, and also many other articles that have been described as good to restore the digestive powers. Dysentery. This is a distressing complaint, and is very common, especially among children ; although much has already been said on this subject; yet its importance will justify er, Botanic Family Physician. 125 some further directions. It is caused by cold, which gets the ascendecy over the inward heat so as to draw all the determining powers inward; the stomach is dis- ordered, the digestive powers are lost, the bowels be- come coated with cank. i, the food is not digested so as to afford any nout!- hment or heat to the system, and all the juices flow inward and pass off by the common pas- sage. The canker n.at-•* the bowels very sore, arJ when any thing passes them it causes excrutiating pai>. The best plan of treaim-nt is to carry the patient through a regular course of medicine, and repeat it, if occasion should require, every day till relief is obtained. During the operation give the chicken broth, and au?.r the disease is checked, give occasionally a little brandy and loaf sugar burned together, and a strong tea of pop- lar bark. Give the syrup, (No. 5) two or ihrce times a day until entirely recovered ; and the bitters,(No. 4) may be given nighi and morning to restore the digesture. Care must he taken to keep up the inward heat in the interim, by giving occasionally No. 2 in a tea of No. 3, sweetened. Steaming is very important in this com- plaint, and injections must often be administered. Rheumatism. This complaint is caused by cold obstructing the nat- ural circulation, which causes pain and swelling. It of- ten affects the joints so that they grow out of shape. A cure is easily effected if timely and properly attended to. which must be done by such medicine as will cause perspiration and remove obstruction*. In eommon cases by taking the rheumatic drops, and bathing the partaf. fected with the same will remove the complaint. W hen the case is bad, carry them through a course of the- med.cine and bathe with the drops, repeating it as oc- casion may require till cured. At Ihe same time give a tea of poplar bark or hemlock boughs; and many other article- which have been described as good for this complaint, may also be made use of to advantage. The wout is from the same cause, and the stomach being greasy disordered, and'very sour, which producer l2 126 New Guide to Health ; a burnig sensation. I have cured several cases by the common course of medicine, and giving the bitters to restore the digestive powers. .Sore Lips. They are common in very hot or cold weather,whcn there is nearly a balance of the power of outward and "toward heat, or outward and inward cold, which pro- duces canker. To cure it take a strong dose of a tea of No. 3, with a-tea-spoonful of No 2 in it, when going to bed, and wash them with the same, then wipe them dry to take oft* the matter collected: then wet them again with the tea, and put on as much ginger as will stick, repeat the same again for two or three times, till the eoat is sufficient to keep out the air, when this comes off, repeat the same process again, until the soreness is gone, then wash again with the tea and wipe them dry, and apply warm tallow till a cure is completed. Sore Eyes. Th:s is generally caused by being exposed to sudden changes of heat and cold, which produces canker, and where this is there will be inflammation. There are man; things good for this complaint; but the best that I have found is white pond lily root, marshrosemary, witch-h;tzle and red raspberry leaves ; make a strong ■ tea with all or either, and add one third as much of No. 6, with a little No.2 ; bathe the eyes several times in a day ; every morning put your face in cold water, open gnd shut the eyes till well washed ; repeat this til! a cure is effected. At the same time take the tea to clear the system of canker. Head-Ach. This pain proceeds from a foul stomach, the bile lose9- its powers, the food clogs by not being digested, and the effect is felt in the head, which is the fountain of sense. Sometim-s there is sickness at the stomach; when this happens it i^, called sick head-ach and when they vomit ihe, head is relieved. This proves that the cause is in or, Botanic Family Physician. Ii7- the stomach. It must be cured by cleansing the stomach and restoring the digestive powers. A dose of compo- sition powders, sitting by the fire wrapped in a blanket, will generally give relief; but if it should not, take a dose of No. 1 in a tea of No. 3. and take the bitters to correct the bile ; No. 2 should also be taken to warm the stomach, and if it is sour take the peat lash water. It is very fashionable with the doctors to tell about dropsy in the head, but in this 1 have no belief; for there is no disease in the head but what proceeds from the stomach, except from external injury. If they understood the real cause and would give the proper medicine to re- move it, there would be no difficulty in the head; but when a child is sick they give calomel and other poi- sons, which increases the disease; and if they die it is laid to the dr«ipsy in the heac, and this is satisfactory because the doctor says so. Corns. These come on the joints of the toes and are very - troublesome They may be cured by soaking the foot in warm water till the corn is soft, shave it thin; take a strip of bladder or skin of suet, eight or ten inchesMong, and half an inch wide, rub it till soft ; then soople it well in rattle-snake's oil, or the nerve ointment; wrap it round the toe and keep it on till worn out; if this does not cure repeat the same till the corn is removed. I have seldom known this to fail of a cure. Venereal. The disease that is called by this name is more com- mon in seaports than in the country, because there is a more promiscuous and illicit intercourse of the sexes, than in other places. It is a very high state of canker and putrefaction, which takes hold of the glands of those parts lhat are first affected with it; and if not checked. the whole system will become diseased by the venereal taint. It is more common among seyfaring men, he.- 120. New Guide to Health , cause of their br>ing long absent at sea, and on com- ing on shore, they give free scope lo their passions, without being very scrupulous about the nv< 'nrr of their indulgence. It originates probably with those con- moh women, who have connection with many hri'^ient amen, and going beyond the impulse of nature , ;'ms im- pure connection cau-'Co uncleanness, which produces the disease, and when seated is contagious. The reason why this disease causes so much fright and alarm, is owing to two causes ; the first is the dis- grace that is attached to th* dishonesty in gelfiug it; and the other is the manner in which it has generally be^n treated, in giving mercury to cure it ; the remedy he- comes worse than the disease. That this disorder can- not be cured by any other means is altogether an etror; for I have cured a number of cases by very «imp!e means. The first symptoms felt is a scalding sensation and pain when voiding the urine ; and within twenty- four hours after this is experienced, it may be cured in that time, by applying cold water and making use of the rheumatic drops ; if there is much soreness make use cf ihe tea of No. 5, with the drops in it ; which must be taken as well as applied to the parts. If the disease has been of long standing, and the whole system has become affected, they must be carried thro' a course of the medicine. Where there has been mer- cury made use of, and there is all the attendant conse- quences of such treatment, it is much more difficult to effect a cure ; and is onty done by a full course of the medicine, and repeating it for a number of times ; rais- ing the heat by steam each time as high as they can bear, to throw out the mercury and remove the cankerv at the same time applying the poultice ; then give the bitters to correct the bile. I had a case of a woman who was brought to me on a bed fifteen miles. She was in a very putrid state and as bad as she could well be, with all the consequences that are caused by being filled with im rcury. Different doctors had attended her for eleven nonths a^l she had constantly been growing worse. .ihe had been kept ignorant of her disease till a few days before brought to. •r, Botanic Family Physician.. 129 me, on account of her husband. I carried her through five courses of the medicine in two weeks and applied a poultice of white bread and ginger made with a tea of No. 3. This completely broke up the disorder, and by giving medicine to correct the bile and restore (he di- gesture, she was cured and returned home in three weeks after coming to me. By taking things to restore her strength has enjoyed good health ever since. Anoth- er woman was cured in the same manner, who had been in this way for six years, and unable to do any business. I attended her three weeks, when she was restored to health and returned home. In less than a year after she had two children at a. birth, and has enjoyed good health to this day. This disease may be produced by other means than what have been described. It may be taken in with the breath by being much exposed in attending on those who are in a very putrid stage of the complaint; or may be communicated to parts where the skin is broken, and in many other ways ; when they will have many of the symptoms the same as when taken in the common way. Children will sometimes be affected with the venereal: taint, whose parents have had the disease. A disease similar in appearance, with much the same symptoms^ may be brought on by overdoing and being exposed to the cold. 1 once had the case of n young married man,, who, by straining himself from loading mill logs and being exposed to wet and cold, caused a weakness in the back and loins, and he had what is called a gleet, and an in- flammation;, with all the symptoms common in the venere- al. His wife became affected in the same manner, and they continued in this situation three months, when I was. called to attend them ; and by making use of such things as 1 then had a knowledge of, to strengthen the loins and remove the canker, vvas able to cure both in a short time The man had all the symptoms that appear in the venereal except hard bunches in the groins, called buboes. Th»-.se I am satisfied are caused by mercuryr for I never knew any to have them except they had taken mercury. By syringing with mercury and sugar ef lead, dries the glands and contracts the passage, ani. 330 New Guide to Health J Stops the discharge, when the putrid matter instead of going off, collects in the groin and forms hard tumours, which remain a long time and have to be brought to a head lo let off the putrid matter. Bunches of a similar kind often come on different parts of the body caused by mercury. Much more might be written on this subject, but it is difficult to find proper terms to convey all the direc- tions that may be necessary in all cases. Enough has been said to give to those who are so unfortunate as to have the disease, a general knovvledge of the nature of the complaint and the best manner of effecting a cure ; and to those who are fortunate enough to escape it,any thing further will be unnecessary. Those who purchase a right, or who may apply for assistance, will have such verbal directions as will enable them to effect a cure in all cases of the venereal by a safe and simple method of treatment. MIDWIFERY. This is a very difficult subject to write upon, as I know of no words, that would be proper to make use of, to convey the necessary information to enable a person to attempt the practice with safety. The great impor- tance of the subject, however, induces me not to be si- lent ; and I shall endeavor to make known to the pub- lic such thoughts and conclusions as long experience and much solicitude has enabled me to form, concerning those vyho are suffering and are constantly liable to suf- fer from the erroneous and most unnatural practice of the present day. Toe practice of midwifery at this time, appears to be altogether a matter of speculation with the medical faculty, by their exhorbitant price for attendance. The tax on the poor classes is very heavy ; and this is not the greatest grievance that they have to be;.r, for they are ofren deprived of their wives and children, by such ignorant and unnatural practice as is very common in all parts of the country. Thirty years ago the practice of midwifery was prm- or, Botanic Family Physician. 134 anally in the hands of experienced women, who had no difficulty ; a id there was scarce an instance known in th'-r d.vl .-. L *<■■:.- t .S-'-Oo- C- o (.' ... * ; ^ v '».•_■»■ <$■ '►-' ,>..v. -J