(ton Jt/>>f 'fti-jSj. 
                      NEW


          GUIDE TO  HEALTH;


      *                OR,
                        I



                    CONTAINING


    A COMPLETE SYSTEM OF PRACTICE,


              On a Plan entirely New;


WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE VEGETABLES MADE USE

  OF, AND DIRECTICNS FOR PREPARING AND ADMIN.

         ISTERLNG THEM, TO CURE DISEASE.


                TO WHICH IS PREFIXED,





                      OF THE


 LIFE & MEDICAL  DISCOVERIES


             OF  THE AUTHOR.
       erfjfrtr E&ftfon.



                          v/
BY SAMUEL. THOMSON. Y
          ~   •■»■• .
            ■n/*7/f  J'


Printed for the Author, and Sold By him at No. 4, Clark Street;
      and by the Agent. Office of the Investigator,
                 Merchants' Hall.

                    1832.    *
          J. Howe, Printer, Merchants Row. 

       Z3tatrtct of |»as8arfmsett0....to toit:
                              DISTRICT CLERK'S  OFFICE.
     Be it remembered, That on the thirtieth  day of Novem-
 ber, A. D. 1822, in the forty-seventh  year of the Independence
 of the  United States, of  America, Samuei, Thomson, of the
 ■aid District, has deposited  in this Office the Title  of a Book,
 the right  whereof he claims as Author and Proprietor, in the
 ■words following, to wit:
   "New Guide to Health; or, Botanic Family Physician.  Con-
 taining a complete System of Practice, on a plan entirely new;
 with a description of the vegetables mad^ use  of, and direction!
 for preparing and administering them to cure disease.  To which
 i» prefixed, a Narrative of the Life and Medical Discoveries of
 the author.   By Samuel  Thomson."
    In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States,
 entitled, "An Act for the  Encouragement of Learning, by secur-
v-iug the Copies  of Maps,  Charts and Books, to  the Authors and
 Proprietors of such Copies, during the times therein mentioned :"
 and also to An  Act entitled " An  Act Supplementary to an Act,
 entitled, An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by secur-
 ing the  Copies of Maps, Charts, and  Books  to  the Authors  and
 Proprietors of such Copies during  the  times therein mentioned;
 aarl extending the benefits thereof to the Arts of Designing, En-
 graving and Etching Historical and other Prints."
                                  JNO.  VT.  DAVIS,
                   Clerk  of  the District of Massachusetts. 
AEyyiaaaasissaiBsm*
                TO THE PUBLIC.

  The preparing  the following work for the press, has
been a task of much difficulty and labour, for to  com-
prise in a short compass, and to convey a correct under-
standing of the subject, from such  a  mass of materials
as I have been enabled to collect, by thirty years  prac-
tice, 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 sufficiently
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 improper
 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 unauthorized by me. 
0>I3I3I?il<@lS»
                 Written by a Friend.

   There is no subject in which the great family of man-
 kind have a deeper  interest, than that  of medicine;  to
 lessen the 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 man-
 ner  disorder can best be removed or prevented, is a sub-
 ject that has engaged  the  attention  of many wise men,
 who have existed in  different ages, from the  earliest
 times to  the present  day, without, as  we humbly  con-
 ceive, very much benefitting mankind by their labours.
 Their inquiries, it would  seem, have been directed  to
 the investigation of visionary theories, of the  form  and
 curious construction of the body and  members,  upon
 mechanical 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  effects in the works of
 creation, that  are beyond  the compreheasion  of man,
 and  the general principles of animated  nature areas
 correctly known  by  the whole human  family as by the
 most wise and learned.
  In the different acres of the  world, the medical faculty
 hare been very prolific  in forming systems of the theory
and practice of medicine.   One man builds up a system 
6                    PREFACE.
 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 cannot 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  understood and miserably  conducted, as that  of
 medicine.
   The way to become a fashionable doctor at the present
day, is to spend  three or four years  in what they call
reading physic,  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 fac-
ulty, 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  suffi-
cient  knowledge of the nature of medicine to know how
 much poison can be given  without  causing immediate
 death.  With these qualifications and a little self-impor-
 tance, 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 prac-
 tice,  which can ■ never  be  learned  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 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, 
PREFACE.
7
that all our old and  most experienced physicians, who
have become distinguished in  the  profession, make  use
of but very little medicine;  prescribing principally sim-
ples, with directions how they may cure themselves ;
the greater part of their patients, are such as have been
run  down, and had their constitutions destroyed by the
irnproper 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
founded on natural causes and effects.  Another serious
difficulty exists,  which  is, that  the people are kept ig-
norant 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 impro-
priety  of  such a practice, and  gives it  as his opinion,
that if physicians 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 in 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 of 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
purposes 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 man-
age their affairs  with so  much  art, for their  own profit
and praise, that the common people are  kept  back from
a knowledge  of what is of the  utmost importance  for
them to  know.   If any  man undertakes to pursue a
practice differing from what is sanctioned by the regular 
8
PREFACE.
 faculty, let him show ever so much  ingenuity in his dis-
 coveries, or be ever so successful in  curing disease, 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 in-
 creases it.   It is not  unreasonable, we  think, to con-
 clude, that  it  arises from a fear, that the craft  is in
 danger.
   Nothing could more fully exemplify the above opinion
 than  the treatment which Dr.  Thomson has  received
 from the medical faculty, during the whole of his prac-
 tice.   He has  been  persecuted and pursued with all the
 malice of demons, for no  other  cause  that can be im-
 agined, than  because  of  his  extraordinary success in
 curing disease, which has  tended to enlighten the peo-
 ple, and  do away their blind confidence  in the infalli-
 bility  of doctors.   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
 his system of practice, are  not  only well satisfied, but
 are thoroughly convinced  of its superiority over  the
 practice of  the doctors ;  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 correct.   If the  physicians generally
 had, instead of trying to destroy him  and his  practice,
 inquired into and made  themselves  acquainted  with his
 improvements, and treated  him  with  that courtesy due
 to every ingenius  man, who devotes  himself to  the ad-
 Tancement  of  the  arts and sciences, they would  have
 received  much useful  information on one of the  most
 important branches of  the  medical art, that is, of the
 medicinal virtues of the vegetables 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 of holy ground, on which
bo 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 endeavour to 
PREFACE.
9
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 inquiry was to know of what all animal
bodies were formed, and then to  ascertain what caused
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  in-
quiring mind.   Here, by an invention of his own, that
of ascertaining 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 follow-
ed 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 dis-
ease.  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 ex-
amining into the nature of things.   A man can be great
without the advantages of an education;  but learning
can  never make a wise  man  of a fool; the  practice  of
physic requires a knowledge that cannot be got by read-
ing  books,  it must  be obtained by actual observation
and experience.
  It is very common  with the doctors, to call all those
who practise, and have not been regularly educated  to
the profession, quacks, and empirics.  The definition  of 
10                   PREFACE.
 the  word quack, is  an ignorant pretender;  and those
 who are entitled to this 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  honou/able notice, and a reward
 for his  ingenuity, without, regarding whether  he was
 learned or unlearned.    In this way the faculty have ob-
 tained all their knowledge of vegetable medicine, and if
 they had confined thesnseves to this, it would  have  been
 much better for 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 Materia Medica.
   In the following work, Dr. Thompson has endeavour-
 ed to embody in  a small compass, aud to convey to the
 public, in as plain and simple terms as he was capable,
 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 has found to be useful in curing  disorder, and  the
 best manner of preparing and administering  them.   It
 will be found of the greatest  importance to the people;
 being the result of thirty years constant practice, in at-
tending on  all kinds of disease common in this country.
 It offers to the public an opportunity to make themselves
 sufficiently  acquainted with the subject, to  enable every
one who avails himself  of it  to  become his own  physi-
 cian, with a trifling expense.
   To introduce a new system of medical practice, and
 to make an entire change of the public opinion on so
important a subject, is an undertaking of too great mag-
 nitude to be effected  without much  difficulty,  let its
 superiority over all others be ever so  great; for who* 
PREFACE.
11
ever undertakes it,  must expect  to  have to  contend
against the interest of a large  class of the community,
and the prejudices 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 difficulties, besides being opposed by a pow-
erful combination, whose interest it is to keep the people
back from adopting 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  in-
clinations ; and has pursued his own  plan with wonder-
ful perseverance, and  with  an  honest and determined
zeal, to do what he thought to be his  duty.   He  seems
to have had in view more the public good than  his own
interest, for his whole plan has been to give information
to the people, as well as to relieve them from  disease;
and to put it in their power to cure themselves and fam-
ilies in all cases of sickness,  without being  under  the
necessity of employing a doctor.   In pursuing this ob-
ject, he has spent the best part of his days, and has re-
ceived but very small compensation for  all his labours;
the pecuniary benefit that he has realised for  his prac-
tice and rights sold, would be no temptation  to any one
to undergo the hundredth part of what  he has suffered
from persecution.
   Notwithstanding all the difficulties Dr.  Thomson  has
met with, and all the opposition he has had to contend
against, his system is made use of by the  people  gener-
ally, in many places, and it is  fast spreading in all parts
of the (United States.   Wherever the people become ac-
quainted with it they universally adopt it, and consider it
of the greatest value;  so much so, that  there are hun-
dreds  who would not be deprived of the information they
 heve received, for any  sum  of money  whatever.   In
several towns, large societies have been formed of those
who have purchased the rights, and  who obligate  them-
selves 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 best plan for introducing  a correct
 knowledge of the system and  practice among the people,
 and putting it in their power to derive  the most advan- 
12                ^ PREFACE.
tage from its use ; and if a few of those men who have
the most influence in society, would  examine  into the
subject with impartiality, they would readily be  convin-
ced of its superior usefulness, and by taking an  interest
in diffusing a knowledge of the practice among the peo-
ple, they would confer  a greater  benefit on  mankind,
than by  any charitable act they could perform.
  There has been one  great  obstacle in the way ol 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
prerent  all who adopt this system of practice, from being
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
enable any one  who pays  strict  attention to them, to
make use of the  practice with safety and success. 
sma&iisaTii
                OF THE


LIFE, &c. OF SAMUEL THOMSON.
   THERE is, nothing, perhaps, more unpleasant than
to write one's 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 the 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 I had such a
wish ; but as I have been the greater part of my life en-
gaged in one of the most important pursuits, and which
is of more consequence  to the great human family, than
any other that could  be  undertaken by man;  that of al-
leviating human  misery, by curing all cases of disease
by the most simple, safe, and certain method of practice,
I think the public will be interested to know  something
of me, and the reason of my having taken  upon myself
so important a calling, without  being regularly educated
to the profession,  which  is thought by the  world to be in-
dispensably  necessary ; but I  shall take the  liberty to
disagree a little  with them in  this particular; for, al-
though learning may be  a great advantage in  acquiring
a profession, yet that alone will  never make a great man,
where there is no natural gift.
   By giving a short sketch of the early part of my exist-
ence, and relating those accidental circumstances that
have occurred  during my life, and  which were princi-
pally the cause of my engaging in the healing art, will
enable the public to  judge  more  correctly, whether  I
             2 
14           Narrative of the Life, fyc.
have taken that course, in fulfilling my duty in this life,
which the God of nature hath pointed out for me.  In
doing this, I shall endeavour to give  a plain and simple
narrative of facts as  they  took  place, and relate only
those particulars of my life, with such of the cases that
havs 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 February 9, 1769, in the town of Alstead,
county of Cheshire, and State of New Hampshire.  My
father, John Thomson, was born  in Northbridge, county
of Worcester,  and State  of Massachusetts ;  he was
twenty-five years old  when I was born.   My mother's
name was  Hannah Cobb;  she  was  born  in Medway,
Mass. and was four years older than  my father.  I 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 married Samuel  Hills, and lives in  Surry, New
Hampshire, and my two  brothers live  in Jericho, Ver-
mont.  My youngest sister married Waters Mather, and
lives in the State of Ohio.
  That  country was a wilderness when I was born ; my
father had began there about a year before, at which
time there was no house within three miles  one  way,
and about one the other;  there were no roads, and they
had to go by marked trees.   The snow was very  deep
when they moved there,  and my mother had  to travel
over a mile on snow shoes through  the  woods to get to
their habitation.  My  parents were poor, having nothing
to begin the world with; but had to depend upon  their
labour  for support.   My father had  bought a piece of
wild land on credit, and had to pay for it by his labour in
what he could make off the land, which caused  us great
hardships and deprivations for a long  time.
  As soon as I began  to form any correct ideas of things,
ray mind was much irritated by the impressions made on
it by my parents, who, no doubt' with very  good  inten-
tions, filled my young  head  with all kinds of hob-goblin
and  witch-stories,  which  made a very deep  impression
on my mind,  and which were not entirely eradicated 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  those  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 kuocker to carry us off.  While they were absent
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 happened;
but instead of letting  us know what it was, they told us
it was the knocker they had told  us of, and that or the
bear would always come, if we were wicked, and did not
mind and do as they told us.  It was several years after
that my reason  taught me that this knocker, as they call-
ed it, was a  wood-pecker that came  on the end of the
house.    Parents ought  to be  careful to impress on the
minds of young children,  correct ideas of things,  and
not mislead their understandings  by telling them false-
hoods ; for it will be of the greatest importance as re-
spects their future conduct and pursuits in life.
   When  I was  between three  and four years old, my
father took me out with him to work.   The first business
I was set to do  was to drive the  cows to  pasture,  and
watch the geese, with other small chores, which occu-
pation kept me all day in the fields.  I was very curious
to know the names of all the herbs which I saw grow-
ing, and what they were good for; and,  to satisfy my
curiosity  was constantly making inquiries of the persons
I happened to be with, for that purpose.   All  the infor-
mation I  thus obtained, or by my own observation, I care-
fully laid up in my memory, and  never forgot.  There
tvas an old  lady by the name of Benton  lived near us, 
16           Narrative of the Life, fyc.
 who used to attend our family when there was any  sick-
 ness.  At that time there was no such thing as a Doctor
 known among us, there not being  any within ten miles.
 The whole of her practice was with roots and herbs, ap-
 plied to the patient, or given in hot drinks,  to  produce
 sweating ;  which always answered the purpose.   When
 one thing did not produce 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 became 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 inquiries, and in tasting every thing that
I found.   The information I thus obtained at this  early
age,  was afterwards 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 opera-
tion produced was so remarkable, that I never forgot it.
I afterwards used to induce other boys to chew it, merely
 by way of sport, to see them vomit.   I  tried this  herb
 in this way for  nearly twenty years,  without knowing
 any thing of its medical virtues.   This plant is what I
 have called the Emetic Herb, and is the most important
 article I make use of in my practice.  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 poi-
 son,  having never been known to fail to counteract the
 effects  of the most  deadly  poison, even when taken
 in large quantities  for self-destruction.    There is  no
 danger  to  be apprehended from its  use, as it  is per-
 fectly harmless  in  its operation,  even  when  a  large
 quantity is taken;  it operates as an emetic, cleanses
 the stomach from all improper aliment, promotes an  in-
 ternal heat, which  is immediately  felt at the extremi-
 ties, and produces  perspiration.    The  exclusive  right
 of using this plant for  medical purposes is secured to
 me by patent, and my right to  the  discovery has never
 been disputed ;  though the  Doctors  have done every 
                 Of Samuel  Thomson.             17

 thing  they could to destroy the credit  of it,  by false
 statements, representing it to be a  deadly  poison, 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 per-
 fectly  convinced from  near thirty years  experience  of
 its medical properties,  that the discovery  is of incalcu-
 lable importance, and  if properly  understood by the
 people will be more  useful in curing the  diseases  inci-
 dent 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 I should not hear  him,  in which
 case, he used to punish me very severely.   I continued
 in this  situation till  I  was  eight years  old, when my
 brothers began to be some help, which took part of the
 burthen  off from me.   We suffered great  hardships and
 lived very poorly; but  we always had something to eat,
 and were contented, for we  knew of nothing  better; a
 dish of bean-porridge and some potatoes,  were  our con-
 stant fare, and this  was  better than many others had.
 The greatest part of this winter we  had  to live  in the
 barn.  In July my father had got a part  of the roof of
 a new house covered, and we moved into it; which was
 more comfortable than the barn.   About this  time my
 mother was taken sick, and was carried to Mrs. Benton's
 for her to take care of, where she remained for several
 weeks, during which time, by using such  means as this
old lady prescribed, she recovered.   At this time I had
 never been  to school,  or had any chance whatever to
 learn to  read.  My  father kept  me  constantly at work
all  week days, and on Sunday I had  to  go a con-
siderable distance on foot to  meeting, and  the rest of
the day was kept  on my feet in hearing him  read the
catechism, creed aud  prayers, so that I had little time
to rest on that day. 
18
Narrative of the Life, Sfc.
  The winter I was eight years  old, I  was very  sick
with the canker-rash ;  but was attended  by the widow
Benton, who cured me by making use of such medicine
as our country afforded, and I was in a short  time able
to be about.   After I had got well, my mind was  more
attentive to the use of roots and herbs as medicine, than
ever.   I had at that time  a very good knowledge of the
principal roots and herbs to be found in that part of the
country, with their names  and medical uses; and the
neighbours were in the habit of getting  me to go with
them to show them such roots and herbs as the doctors
ordered to be made use of in sickness, for  syrups, &lc.
and by way of sport they  used to call me doctor.   While
in the field at work I used often to find the  herb, which
I tasted when four years old, and  gave it to those who
worked with me, to see them spit and often vomit; but
I never observed any bad effect produced by it, which
simple experiments eventually led  me  to  observe the
value of it in disease.
  When I was about ten  years old, there  was a school
a little more than a mile from my father's, where  I  had
the  opportunity  of attending for one  month.    The
weather 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  country
was  new  and  people  poor, and the  opportunity for
children to get learning very small.   1 took a great dis-
like  to working on a farm, and never could  be recon-
ciled to it;  for nothing  could strike me with greater
dread than to hear the name of a plough, or any other
thing used on a  farm  mentioned.  -  This I have always
attributed to the hardships I underwent, and the severity
which my father used constantly to exercise  towards
me from the time I was five to ten years old.    At  that
time, I used to think that if I ever had any land 1  would
not plough it; and  if my father's treatment of  me was
the effect of his religion, I never wished  to  have  any
This was when he was under the strongest influence of
the baptist persuasion, and used  to  be very zealous in
 his  religious duties, praying night and  morning,  and
 sometimes three times a day.  He was a man of violent 
Of Samuel Thomson.
19
and quick temper, and  when  in his fits  of passion, my
mother used frequently to remind him of certain  parts
of his prayer;  such  as this,  which I  never forgot:
" May we  live soberly, righteously, and  godly, in the
present evil world."  She was a woman much respected
in the town where we lived.
   About the  time I  was fourteen  years old,  my father
left the baptist persuasion  and  embraced  that of uni-
versal 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  remained many years  in the  full   belief  of
the salvation  of  all men,  and  continued so  till her
death.
   Sometime during the year  that  I  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,
for they said I had not learning enough,  and they did
not know how to spare me from my work, which de-
pressed 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 work-
ing 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 
20           Narrative of the Life, Sfc.
four days after our arrival, we were  enabled to cleaf 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 tolera-
bly well till the 2d of December,  when I had  the mis-
fortune to cut my  ancle very badly, which accident pre-
vented me from doing any labour for  a long time, and
almost deprived me of life.   The wound was a very bad
one, as it split the joint and laid the bone entirely bare,
so as to lose the juices of my ancle  joint to such  a de-
gree as to reduce  my strength very much.    My father
sent for a Doctor Cole, of Jericho, who ordered  sweet
apple-tree 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 despaired of; the doctor said he could
do no more for me;  my father was greatly alarmed about
me, and said  that if Dr.  Kitteridge, of Walpole,  Could
be sent for, he thought he might help  me ;  but I told
him it  would  be in  vain  to send  for  him,  for I  could
not live  so long as  it would  take to go  after  him,
without 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 I thought would help  me.   He anxious-
ly inquired what it was, and I told him if he could find
some comfrey root, I would  try  a  plaster 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 plaster  was  prepared by my direc-
tions and applied  to my ancle, the side  opposite 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  suppura-
tion, which broke in about three weeks ;  during which
time I did not have three nights sleep,  nor did  I eat any
thing.    This accidental  remedy  was found  through
necessity, and was  the  fir?t time  the mother of in-
vention held  forth her  hand  to me.   The success 
Of Samuel Thomson.
21
which attended this  experiment, and the  natural turn
of my  mind  to  those things, I think was a principal
cause of my  continuing to practise 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 could
bear the  journey, if  he should  place me on a bed laid
in a sled.   I answered that I  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 Janu-
ary,  1789, we began our  journey.   There was very
little snow, and the road rough, which caused the sled
to jolt very much, and my sufferings were great.   It was
very doubtful with my father, and likewise with me,
whether 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 twenty
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 I felt much en-
couraged.   She had been sick with a fever, and the
doctor had given so much poisonous medicine, to  break
the  fever, as  he called it, she was left in a most misera-
ble situation.   Her 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 on 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, Sec.
they had washed the day before.   Her health was good
and she never after that required more sleep  than other
persons.
  When we got on to the high land there was considera-
ble  snow, and 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  gener-
ally, 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
cut  off, as the only means of saving my life, and all those
who saw me during  our journey, expressed  the same
opinion; and I think  it  would have been done  had I
given my consent; but I positively  refused  to agree to
it, so the plan was  given up.   I  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  I was
carried 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, re-
plied he, I want no sick man here.   I was much terri-
fied  by his coarse manner of speaking, and  thought if
he was so rough in his conversation, what  will  he be
when he comes to dress  my wound;  but I was happily
disappointed, for he  took off  the dressing  with great
care, and  handled  me very  tenderly.   On  seeing the
strings that were in the wound, he exclaimed, what the
devil are  these halters here for ?  My father  told him
they were  put in to keep the sore open.   He said he
thought the sore open  enough  now, for it  is all  rotten.
Being anxious  to  know  his opinion of me,  my father
asked him what he thought of  my situation.    What do
I think 1  said he, why I think he  will  die; and then
looking very  pleasantly at  me, said, though I  think
young man, you will get well first.    In the morning he
I 
Of Samuel  Thomson.             23
dressed my ancle again, and gave me some salve to use
in future; and my father asked him  for his  bill, which
was, I  think, for our keeping  and his attending  me,
about fifty cents.   A great contrast between this  and
what is charged at the present time by our regular phy-
sicians ; for they  will hardly  look  at a person without
making them pay two or three  dollars.   I have  been
more particular  in describing this interview  with Dr.
Kitteridge, on account  of his extraordinary  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  his manners;
but he possessed  a good  heart, and a  benevolent  dis-
position.   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
satisfy 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 re-
joiced to see me,  though grieved at my distressed situa-
tion ; and never was any one more  in need of the ten-
der 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
constant care, I was enabled in the spring to attend to
the business at home, so that  my father left me in charge
ef the farm, and went with my brother  to Onion rivet,
again to work on  his land.
  On the 9th of February, 1790,1 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.
He then made preparations and removed to Onion river, 
24
Narrative of the Life, Sfc.
and left my mother and sister in my care.  Soon after I
took a bad cold, which threw me into a slow fever.  In
the month of March  we all  had the  meazles, and my
mother had what the  doctors called the black kind, and
was so bad that her life was despaired of.   The disease
turned in and seated  on her lungs,  and she never recov-
ered her health.  Several doctors attended her without
doing her any good.  Her cough was very severe and
her mouth was sore,  and she was greatly distressed.  I
attended upon her under the  direction of the doctors,
and took the cough, and had much the same symptoms.
She  continued to grow worse daily; the doctors gave
her over,  and gave  her  disease the name of galloping
consumption, which  I thought  was a  very appropriate
name; for they are the riders, and their whip is mer-
cury, opium and  vitriol, and they galloped her out of the
world in about nine weeks.  She died on the 13th day
of May, 1790.
  I was at this time  very low  with the same disorder
that my mother died  with, and  the doctor  often impor-
tuned me to take some of his medicine ;  but I declined
it, thinking I had rather die a  natural death.   He tried
to frighten me by telling me it was the  last chance of
getting  help,  and he thought  he could cure me;  but I
told him I had observed  the effect his medicine had on
my mother, for she constantly grew worse under the ope-
ration of it, and I had no desire to risk it on myself.  I
have always been of  the opinion, that if I had followed
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 syrups  of such things  as I had the
knowledge 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, I  was obliged to hire such as I could get,  which
proved  a disadvantage to my interest, and I thought it
would be best to find some person who would take an
interest in saving my  property.   On  the 7th day  of
July, 1790, I was married to Susan Allen.   We were
beth young, and had  great hardships to encounter,  but we 
Of Samuel  Thomson.             25
 got along very well, and both enjoyed good health until
 our first child was  born, which  was on  the  fourth day
 of July following.   My wife was taken  ill on Saturday,
 and sent  for help;  she lingered  along till Sunday night,
 when she'became very bad; her situation was  danger-
 ous, and  she was  in  hand  constantly the  whole night,
 until sunrise the next morning, when she was delivered ;
 but her senses were gone.    During the  whole  night it
 was  one  continued struggle of forcing nature, which
 produced so great an injury to the nervous system, as to
 cause strong convulsion fits  in about  an hour after  her
 delivery.    The witnessing  of this horrid scene of hu-
 man butchery, was one great cause of my paying atten-
 tion to midwifery, and my practice has since been very
 successful in it.
   Her fits continued and  grew  worse;  there were  six
 doctors attended her that day, and a 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.   I heard
 one of them say that his experience  in  this case was
 worth fifty dollars.   I found that they were trying their
 practice  by experiments;  and was so dissatisfied with
 their conduct, that at night  I 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 dismissed them,  having seen
 enough of their conduct to convince me  that they were
 doing more hurt than good.
   After they were  gone, I sent  for Dr. Watts  and Dr.
 Fuller, who  were called  root doctors.   They attended
 her through the night, and  in the morning about the
same hour that they began, the fits left her.   She had
 in the whole, eighteen of the  most shocking convulsion
 tits that had been ever seen  by any one present.   The
•spasms were so  violent  that it jarred the whole  house.
After the  fits had left  her, she was entirely senseless,
and was raving distracted for three days;  and then be-
came perfectly stupid, and Jay in that situation for three
days; she then laughed three days, and then cried three 
26           Narrative of the Life, Sfc.
days; after which she seemed to awake  like a person
from sleep, and had no knowledge of what had  passed,
or that she had been  sick, or had a child.    These two
doctors continued to attend her, and used all the means
in their power to strengthen the nervous  system.   She
gained very slowly, and it was a long  time  before she
got about;" but she never got entirely over it.   This
sickness put me back in  my  business very much, and
the expense was above two hundred dollars.
  In about a month  after my wife had recovered from
her sickness, she was attacked  with  the cholic, which
required  all  my attention, and that of the  two doctors
who attended her before ;  but  all  our exertions  ap-
peared to be in  vain, for the disease  had  its regular
course for several days and then  left her.   These at-
tacks continued once  a month, or oftener, and  it was so
much trouble to go for the doctor so often,  as I had to
during these turns, that I let a  young man who studied
with Dr.  Watts, have a house on my farm, so as to have
him handy ;   but  I soon found that by  having  a doctor
so near, there was plenty of business for him;  for there
was not  a month in  the year  but what I  had.  some-
body sick in  my  family.   If a child was attacked with
any trifling complaint, the doctor was sent for, and they
were sure to have a long  sickness; so he paid  his rent
and keeping very easy.   This doctor lived  on my farm
seven  years,  during  which  time  I  -had a very  good
knowledge of all the medicine he made use of, and  his
manner of curing disease, which has been of great use
to me, in  finding out  the use, or  rather the abuse  and
imposition of a family doctor, as the family, is of no use
to the doctor, unless  they are  sick, and  it is for his profit,
if not sick, to make  them so.   During the  first  of his
practice, he used chiefly roots  and  herbs,  and his suc-
cess  was very great in curing canker and  old  com-
plaints;  but he afterwards got into the fashionable mode
of treating  his patients, by  giving  them  apothecary's
drugs; which made  him  more popular  with  the  faculty,
and less  useful to his fellow creatures.
   My mind was bent on learning the  medical  proper-
ties of such vegetables as I met with, and was constant-
ly in the habit of tasting every thing of the kind I saw ; 
of Samuel  Thomson.              27
and having a retentive memory I have always recollect-
ed the taste and  use of all that were ever shown  mo
by others, and likewise of all  that  I  discovered myself.
This practice of  tasing of herbs  and  roots has been of
great advantage to me, as I have always  been able to
ascertain what is useful  for any particultu  uia^cwo,  \>y
that means.   I was often told that 1  should poison my-
self  by  tasting every  thing  I  saw; but I thought I
ought to have as much knowledge  as a beast, for they
possess  an instinct to  discover what  is good  for food,
and what is necessary for medicine.    I  had  but very
little knowledge of disease at this time ; but had a great
inclination to learn whatever I had an opportunity ;  and
my own experience, which is the best school,  had often
called my attention to the subject.
   The herb which I had  discovered when  four years
old,  I had often met with; but it had  never occurred to
me that it was of any value as medicine, until  about this
time, when mowing in the field with  a  number of men
one day, I cut a sprig of it, and gave  to the man next
to me, who eat it;  when we had got  to the end  of the
piece, which was about six rods, he said that he believ-
ed what I 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 to go,
and got as far as the wall, but was unable to get over it,
and laid down on the ground and vomited several limes.
He said he thought he threw off his stomach two quart*.
I then helped him into the  house,   and  in about  two
hours he ate a very hearty dinner, and  in  the afternoon
was able to do a good half day's labour.   He afterwards
told me that he never had any thing do  him so much
good in his life; his appetite was remarkably  good, and
he felt better than he had for a long time.   This circum-
stance 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 advantage, that
it is a discovery of the greatest importance. 
 28           Narrative of the Life, Sfc.

   In March, 1794, my second daughter was born ;  and
 nly wife had no medical assistance except what I could
 do for her, with the advice of the  doctor  who lived on
 my farm.   After this she was never again afflicted with
 the cholic.   In the course of this year the  lease of my
 faiiicrs  iid~)T or the farm expired, and we  made a di-
 vision of the  stock.   My half was five  yearlings  and
 half a colt; this, with  half the  farm,  containing about
 one hundred and twenty-five acres, was all the property
 I possessed, and I 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 dollars, 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 payments became due, but little  more than the
first cost, after having to keep them two years ;  I  offered
them  to my father  for what the  hay they ate the  last
year would have sold for, but he  would  not agree to it.
I settled  with him,  however, and paid   him according to
contract.   I afterwards purchased of a neighbour  a
small  piece of  land, which incommoded me  by keeping
the sun from my house part of the forenoon; for which
I agreed to pay him seventy-three dollars  and  thirty-
three  cents, in three  years, with interest.  This turned
out a  troublesome affair for me, for when~I came to  pay
the interest the  second  year, the note was  more than
when  first given, having been altered;  and I refused to
pay any thing.    When  the note became due, I would
pay no more than what it was given for, and  it was sued
and  my  cattle  and  horses were  attached.   It went
through a course of law and cost us both  a  great  deal
of expense and trouble ; but I finally beat  him ; he  lost
his note and I  recovered damage for his taking my cattle
and horses.  This was the first time I  had any thing to
do with the law, and in the whole it cost  me about  one
hundred  dollars; but it was a good lesson, and has been
worth to me the expense.
  When my second daughter was about two years  old
she was taken  sick, and had what 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 ever; 
                   Of Samuel Thomson.             29

   saw.   He tried his utmost skill  to prevent putrefaction,
   which  he feared  would take place;  but after using
   every exertion in his power, without doing her any good,
   he said he could do no more, she must die.   She  was
   senseless and the canker was to be  seen in her mouth,
   nose, and ears, and one of her eyes was covered with it
   and closed;  the other began to swell and  turn  purple
   also.   I asked the doctor if he could  not keep the can-
   ker out of this eye ; but  he  said it would be of no use,
   for she could not live.   I told him that if he could do
   no more, I would try what I could do myself.   I found
   that if the canker could not be stopped immediately, she
   would be blind with both eyes.    She was so  distressed
   for breath that she  would spring  straight up on end in
   struggling to breathe.  I sat myself in a chair, and held
   her in my lap, and  put a blanket round us both; then
   my wife held a hot  spider or shovel between my feet, and
   I poured on vinegar to raise a steam, and kept it as hot as
   I found she could bear, changing them as soon as they
   became cold ; and by following this plan for about twenty
   minutes, she became comfortable and  breathed easy.  I
   kept a cloth wet with cold water on her eyes, changing
   it often, as it grew warm.   I followed this plan, steam-
   ing her every two hours, for ^bout 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; and when the scale came  off, the
   sight came out with it;  and it entirely perished.  The
   other eye was saved, to the astonishment of all who  saw
   her, particularly the doctor,  who used frequently 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 en-
   joyed good health to this time.  This  was the first of my
   finding out the plan of steaming and  using  cold  water.
   After this I found by experience that by putting a  hot
   stone into a thing of hot water, leaving  it partly  out of
   the water, and then pouring vinegar on the stone, was an
   improvement.   Care should be taken not  to  raise  the
   heat too fast;  and I used to  put a  cloth  wet  with cold
                3* 
30           Narrative of the Life, 6fc.
water on the stomach, at the same time giving hot medi-
cine 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 theirclothes 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 ; for I  never could reconcile myself
to the idea, that  a doctor could  be of any use, if the
fever 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.  If the patients' 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  I 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 with the croup, or rattles.   He was taken  a little
before sunset  with a hoarseness, was  very  much clog-
ged with phlegm, and breathed with so much  difficulty,
that he  could be  heard all  over   the  house.    I  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, I was again obliged to call  on the mother
of invention, and try what I could do myself.  I search-
ed the  house for some rattle-snake'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
morning.  The doctor came in the next day and express-
 ed great astonishment on  finding  the child alive ; and
 was anxious to know by what means  he had been re- 
Of Samuel  Thomson.
31
lieved from so desperate a situation.   On my informing
him, he seemed well pleased with the information; and
observed that he was willing to allow, that  the  greatest
knowledge that doctors ever obtained was either by ac-
cident or through necessity.  So 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 gained of me, instead of giving me
credit for it, he charged me for his useless visit.
  I was  in the habit at this time of gathering  and pre-
serving in the proper season, all kinds of medical herbs
and roots that I was acquainted  with, in orderto be able
at all times to prevent as well as to cure disease ;  for I
found by experience, that one ounce of prevention was
better than a pound of cure.  Only the simple article 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
severe trials and sufferings I experienced  in the  cases
that have been mentioned, and which I  was drove to by
necessity, were to bring about.   It seemed as a  judg-
ment upon me, that either myself or family, or some one
living with me, were sick  most  of the  time  the  doctor
lived on my farm, which was about seven years.  Since
I have had more experience, and become better acquaint-
ed  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 all  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.
The consequence is, that perspiration ceases, because 
32           Narrative of the Life, SfC.

internal heat is the sole cause of this important evacua-
tion ;  and a settled fever  takes  place, which will  con-
tinue  as long as the cold  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 restored ;
and by giving medicine to clear the stomach and bowels
from canker, till the cold  is driven out and the  heat re-
turns, 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 con-
tinues the 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 occasion 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  since ; for  I had  found from  sad
experience, 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 children  arrived  at years  of discretion, I  instruct-
ed 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 attend-
ing the employment of one of the regular physicians,
whenever any trifling sickness  occurs, whose  extrava-
gant 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 expe-
rience 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.   I am certain of the  fact, that there is medi-
cine enough in the  country  within the reach  of every
one, to cure all the disease incident to it, if timely and
properly administered.
   At the birth of our third son, my wife was again given
over by the  midwife.   Soon after the  child was born, 
Of Samuel  Thomson.
33
 ■me was taken with ague fits and cramp in the stomach ;
 she was in great pain,  and we were much alarmed  at
 her situation.  I proposed giving her some medicines,
 but the midwife was 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 I 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 advise any longer, but to pursue my
 own plan.  I 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
 there would be no hazard  in trying  what I  could do  to
 relieve her.   I 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  I
 had used, 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.
  These things began to be taken some notice of 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  useful in that line.
This, however, gave occasion for the ignorant and cred-
ulous to ridicule me and laugh at those whom I attend- 
34           Narrative of the Life,  Sfc.
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 I was  too firmly  fixed in my
determination  to  pursue that  course,  which I consid-
ered was pointed out as my  duty, by the experience
and many hard trials I had suffered, to be  deterred  by
the foolish 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
eon and did well,  making five sons  that she  had in suc-
cession ;  she afterwards had another  daughter, which
was the last,  making eight  children in the whole that
she was the mother of; five sons and  three  daughters.
I 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 I 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  I had a very large  share.   The knowledge  and
experience, however, which I gained  by these  trying
scenes I  have reason to be satisfied with, 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 veil of ignorance from
the eyes of the good people 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  sumptuously every day ;  living  in splendour  and
magnificence, supported by the impositions  they prac-
tise upon a deluded and credulous people ; for they.have
much  more  regard for their  own  interest than they
have 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 altogeth-
er experimental, to try  the effect of their poisons upon
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 gets 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 practise as physicians;  but  the
truth of the statements,  as respects what are called reg-
ular physicians, or  those  who get diplomas from  the
medical society, will not be doubted by  any  who  are
acquainted with the subject, and will throw aside preju-
dice and  reflect seriously upon it—those whom the coat
fits I am  willing should wear it.   There are, however,
many 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 medicine 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 at-
tended when sick, towards them?  Why, means that
would  disgrace the lowest dregs of society, that  savages
would  not be guilty of,  are resorted to  for the purpose of
injuring them, and destroying their credit with the public.
I have had a pretty large share of this kind of treatment
from the  faculty, the particulars of which,  and the suf-
ferings 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 measles, 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 I  was under the  necessity of inventing  some-
thing  for  that, and for the canker.   I used the steam of 
36           Narrative of the Life, fyc.
 vinegar to guard against  putrefaction, and gold thread,
 or yellow root, with red oak acorns pounded and  steep-
 ed  together, for  the canker.   These  had the desired
 effect; and by close attention he soon got better.   The
 second son was  then  taken  down pretty  much in the
 same manner, and I pursued the same mode of treat-
 ment, with similar success; but the disease had  so  e£
 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 weeks.   I could get noth-
 ing that would help him for some  time, till at last I gave
 him several portions of the emetic herb, which relieved
 him and he soon got well.   During this sickness we suf-
 fered 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 measles ; and found it  to  be
 canker and putrefaction.   This experience enabled me
 to relieve  many others in  this disease, and likewise in
 the canker-rash; in these  two disorders, and  the  small
 pox, I found a looking-glass, in which  we may see the
 nature of every other  disease.   I had  the small pox in
 the year 1798, and examined its symptoms with all the
 skill I was capable of, to ascertain the nature of the dis-
 ease ; and found that  it was the highest stage of canker
 and putrefaction  that the human  system was  capable of
 receiving ;  the measles the next, and the canker-rash the
 third ;  and other disorders partake more or less of the
 same, which I 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 measles, I
 was sent for to see a  woman -by the  name of Redding,
 in the neighbourhood,  . She  had  been for  many  year*
 afflicted with the cholic, and  could  get no relief from
 the doctors.  1 attended her and  found the disorder was
 caused by canker, and pursued the plan that my former
 experience had taught me, which  relieved her from the
pain, and so far removed the cause that she never had
 another attack of the disease.   In this  case the pure
 was  so simply and easily, performed, that it  became  a 
Of Samuel  Thomson.             37
 subject of ridicule,  for when she  was asked  about it,
 she was ashamed to say that I cured her.   The popular
 practice of the physicians had so much influence on the
. minds of the people, that they thought nothing could be
 right but what was done by them.   I attended' in  this
 family for several years,  and always  answered the de-
 sired purpose ;  but my practice was so simple, that it
 was  not  worthy of notice, and  being dissatisfied  with
 the treatment I received,  I refused to do any thing more
 for them.   After this they employed the  more fashion-
 able  practitioners, who were ready enough to make the
 most of  a job,  and  they had  sickness  and expense
 enough to satisfy them, for one of the sons was  soon
 after taken sick and was given over  by the  doctor, who
 left him to die;  but after  he left off  giving him medi-
 cine he got well of himself, and  the doctor  not  only
 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 relief,
 with  a trifling expense.
   Soon  after this,  I  was  called on to  attend a Mrs.
 Wetherbee,  in the neighbourhood,  who had the  same
 disorder.   She had been afflicted  with the colick for
 several years having periodical turns of it about once a
 month ; had been under the care of a number of  doc-
 tors who had used all  their skill without affording her
 any relief, excepting a temporary one  by  stupifying her
 with  opium and giving physic, which kept  her along till
 nature could wear it off,  when  she would  get a  little
 better for a few days, and then have another turn.   Af-
 ter 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 large family to attend to, having  thirteen children,
and before she had recovered her strength she exposed
 herself  and  had another  turn ;  I  attended  again  and
relieved  her in the  same  manner  as  before;  but  she
 could not wait till she gained her "strength, and exposed
              4 
38
Narrative of the Life, Sfc.
herself again as before, took cold and had another turn.
Her husband said I 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
reduced 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 she applied
to the doctor, and  if I should  fail in  curing her, the
blame would all be laid to  me, or if she got well I should
get no credit by it; for which reason I  felt very unwil-
ling  to do any thing for her.   After finishing my  fore-
noon's work, on going home to dinner,  I  found her at
my house, waiting for me, and she insisted so much upon
my undertaking 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
wif§, who was sick at the time,  I 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 canker, and steaming to produce a natural  perspi-
ration ;  at the end of the three days she went home,
taking with her some medicine, with directions what to
do for herself, 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
colick, and she ever after enjoyed as  good health as any
woman 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
him 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  hands 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  ef-
fects of the poison and regulate the system by steaming,
to produce a natural perspiration; by pursuing this plan,
and giving such  things  as I  could get to restore  the
digestive powers, in two months he was completely re-
stored to health ; for which I received but  five dollars,
and 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
to 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 home.   In about a month, I
went again to see  her, and  found her  much belter, so
that she was able to ride to her father's, which was above
twenty miles.   All this  time I had not formed an idea
that I possessed  any knowledge of disorder or of medi-
cine, 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, I 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 my wife and asked 
40           Narrative of the Life, fyc.
 the advice of my friends, what was  best  for me to do;
 they all agreed, that as it seemed to be the natural turn
 of 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 I had a strong inclination for the practice, of
 which it seemed impossible to divest  my mind; and I
 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
 finally concluded  to make use of that gift which I thought
 nature, or the God of  nature had implanted in me;  and
 if I possessed such a gift, I had no need of learning, for
 no one can learn that gift.   I thought of what  St. Paul
 says in his epistle to the Corinthians, concerning the dif-
 ferent  gifts by  the same  spirit;  one  had the gift of
prophecy; another, the gift of healing, another, the work-
 ing of miracles.   I am satisfied  in  my own mind, that
 every man is made and* capacitated  for some particular
 pursuit in  life, in which, if he engages, he will be more
 useful than he would if he happens  to be so unfortunate
 as to follow a calling or profession, that was  not conge-
 nial to his disposition.   This  is a  very  important con-
 sideration 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 I have been
 afforded 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 profession in the
 fashionable way, is impossible for me to say with certain-
 ty ; probably I should have been deemed  more honoura-
 ble in  the world ; but  honour  obtained by learning, with- 
                Of Samuel  Thomson.              41

out a natural gift, or capacity, can never, in 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 the 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 I am1 ready to deny;  or that a man cannot
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 sup-
port, as it is contrary to  reason and common sense.   We
have  many examples  of some of  the greatest philoso-
phers, physicians, and divines the world  ever knew, who
were  entirely self-taught ; and who have done more
honour, and been greater ornaments to society, than a
million of those  who have nothing to  recommend them
but having their heads crammed with learning, without
sense enough to  apply it to any great or useful purpose.
   Among the practising physicians, I have found, and
I believe it to be a well known fact, that those who are
really great in the profession  and have had the most ex-
perience,  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 treatment
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 oppor-
tunity to converse, have  treated  me with all due atten-
tion and civility;  have  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, have  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 not had
the advantages  of learning,  and  a degree at college.
This vclass  compose  a large  proportion  of the medical
faculty throughout our country ; they have  learned just
enough to know  how  to  deceive  the people, and  keep
them  in ignorance, by covering their doings under an 
42           Narrative of the Life, Sfc.
unknown language to their patients.   There can be no
good reason given why all the technical terms in medical
works are kept in a dead language, except it be to  de-
ceive and keep the world ignorant of their doings, that
they may the  better impose  upon the credulity of the
people;  for if they were to be written in  our own  lan-
guage, every body would understand them, and judge for
themselves; and their poisonous drugs would be thrown
into the fire before their patients would take them.   The
ill-treatment that I l^ave received from  them, 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 malice by circulating all kinds of false
and ridiculous reports of me  and my practice, in  order
to destroy my credit with the people ; and I am sorry to
say that I 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 reflecting
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 goverment
in  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 had received from
experience.  I deemed it necessary, not only as my own
guide,  but that whatever discoveries I should make in
my practice,  they might be so adapted to my plan 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 observations  and  the natural
reflections of my own mind, unaided by learning or the
opinions of others.   I took nature for my  guide,  and
experience as my instructor;  and  after  seriously con-*
sidering every  part  of the  subject,  I  came to certain
conclusions concerning disease  and the whole animal
economy, which more than thirty years  experience has
perfectly satisfied me  i&, the only correct theory.    My 
Of Samuel  Thomson.*.             43
practice has invariably been conformable to the general
principles upon which my system is founded, and in no
instance have I had reason to  doubt the correctness 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 be removed by  one general
remedy, is the foundation upon which  I have erected my
fabric, and which I shall  endeavour  to explain in as
clear and concise  a manner as I am capable, with a hope
that it may be understood  by my readers, and that they
may be convinced of its correctness.
  I 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 state was the  only  way  by which  health could
be produced ;  and that after restoring the natural heat,
by clearing the system of all  obstructions and causing a
natural perspiration, the stomach would digest the  food
taken  into it, by which means the  whole body is nourish-
ed and invigourated, and heat  or  nature  is  enabled to
hold .its supremacy;  that  the  constitutions  of all man-
kind  being essentially the same,  and differing only in
the  different  temperament of  the same  materials of
which they are composed; it  appeared clearly  to  my
mind, that all disease proceeded from  one general cause,
and might  be cured by one general remedy ;  that a
state of perfect health arises from a due balance or tem-
perature of the  four elements; but if it is by any means
destroyed, the body  is  more or less  disordered.    And
when  this is the  case, there is always an actual diminu-
tion or absence  of the  element of fire, or  heat;  and in
proportion to this diminution or absence, the body is af-
fected by its opposite, which is cold.  And I found that
all disorders which the human family were afflicted with,
however various  the symptoms, and different the names
by  which they are called,  arise  directly from obstructed
perspiration, whiph is always caused  by cold, or want of
heat;  for if there is a naturaj heat,  it is imposible  but
that there must be a natural perspiration. 
44           Narrative of the Life, 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  conformity
to this  universal plan of curing  disease; for it must, I
think,  be  certain and self-evident to  every one, that
whatever will  increase  the  internal  heat, remove  all
obstructions of the system, restore the digestive powers
of the  stomach, and produce a  natural  perspiration, is
universally applicable in all cases of disease, and there-
fore may be considered as a general remedy.
   The first and most 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,)  I found  would effectually cleanse  the
stomach, and would very  effectually 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 experience, and
trying  every thing  within  my knowledge,  to gain this
important point, I fixed upon the medicine  which I have
called  No.  2, in my patent, for that purpose ; and after
using it for many years, I 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 ob-
structions, so as  to produce a natural  digestion of the
food, which will nourish the  body, establish perspiration
and restore the  health of the patient.    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, putrefaction
 commences, and if not checked by medicine,  or  if the
 natural constitution is not strong enough to overcome its 
Of Samuel-Thomson.
45
  progress it will communicate to the blood, when death
  will end the contest between  heat and cold, by deciding
  in favour of the latter.   I  have  made use o/.fc.gjreat
  many articles, which are useful in removing canker j-rbut
  my preparation called No. 3, is the best for that purpose,
  that  has. come  to my knowledge;  though many other
  things may be made use of to good effect, all of which I
  shall .gjve particular description of in my general  direc-
  tions hereafter.
    Having endeavoured to convey  to my readers  in  a
  brief manner  a correct idea  of the general principles
  upon which  I formed my system  of practice, I shall
  now give some account of the success I  met with in the
* various cases that came under my care, and the difficul-
  ties and opposition that I have had to encounter in main-
  taining it till this time, against all my enemies.
    My  general  plan of treatment has been in all cases
  of disease, to cleanse the stomach by giving No. 1,
  and  produce  as great an internal  heat as  I could, by
  giving No. 2, and when necessary, made use of steam-
  ing,  in  which I have  always  found great  benefit, es-
  pecially in fevers;  after  this,  I  gave No. 3, to clear
  off the. canker.; and  in  all cases  where  patients had
  not previously become so far  reduced as to have noth-
  ing to  build upon, I  have  been successful  in  restor-
  ing them  to health.   I found that fever was  a disturb-
  ed state of the heat, or more properly, that  it was caus-
  ed by the efforts which nature makes to throw off dis-
  ease, and therefore ought to  be  aided in its  cause,
  and treated as 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,  accord-
  ing to the state of the  system;  but  that all  fevers pro-
  ceed from the same  cause, differing only in the  symp-
  toms; 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  the stream, and every thing will take
  its natural course.
    During the year 1805,  a very alarming  disease pre-
  vailed in Alstead and Walpole, which was considered thq 
46
Narrative of the Life, Sfc.
yellow fever, and was fatal to many who were attacked
byit.  I was called on, and  attended  with very great
success, <not losing one  patient that I attended ;  at the
same time nearly one half of those who had  regular
physicians, died.   This  disease prevailed for  about
forty days, during which time, I  was not at home but
eight nights.   I was  obliged to be nurse as  well  aa
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
under my own  immediate  inspection.   I pursued the
same general plan that  I  had  before  adopted; but the
experience I had from this practice, suggested  to me
many improvements, which I had not before thought of,
as respects the manner of treatment of  patients to effect
the objects I aimed at in  curing  the disease, which was
to produce a natural perspiration.  I found great benefit
in steaming in the manner that  I  had discovered and
practised 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 sick, 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 people
against  my practice;  but I would ask all the  candid
and reflecting  part of the people, the  following ques-
tions, and I will leave them to their consciences to give
an answer; which is the greatest  quack, the one who 
Of Samuel  Thomson.
47
relieves them from their  sickness by  the  most simple
and  safe 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 medicine,
which  only tend to prolong  (he  distress of the patient,
till either the strength of his natural constitution, or
death relieves him 1
  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 his 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 I did was to  strip  off the
cords from his legs; and then gave medicine to get as
great an internal heat as I 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, 1805,1 attended a Mrs. Goodell,
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 proper
subject for me to undertake with.   I,  with a great  deal
of reluctance, undertook with her at her earnest solici-
tation  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 I was  sent for to attend a woman
who had been  in  a dropsical  way  for  a number of
years.    The disease  bad  of late gained with  rapid 
48           Narrative if the Life, fyc.
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  I was sent for in
great haste, with a request that I would  attend as soon
as possible, as they expected she would not live through
the day.   I  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 I 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  many
false statements about it,  that I  got no  credit for the
cure.  This woman's  brother had said that her husband
wanted to kill her or he  would not  have sent for  me.
Such kind of ingratitude was discouraging to me; but it
did not prevent me from persevering in my duty.
  A  short time after  the  above  case happened, that
woman's brother, who made the speech  about me, was
taken very sick,  with what  was called the yellow  fever,
and sent for me.   I attended him  and asked  him if he
wanted to die.    He said no ; why do you ask that ?  I
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 I 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 morn-
ing,  found his fever had turned, and he was quite com-
fortable, 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.   I 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 without
so long a run  as  their brother had.   I was as anxious
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 comfortable,
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 was 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 before, I
found that the doctor had  been  there and  told them
that  I did not know what was the matter with the child;
and  had persuaded them to give him the care of it.   He
filled it with  mercury and  run it down ;   after  having
given as much mercury inside as nature could move, and
the bowels grew silent, he then rubbed  mercurial  oint-
ment on the  bowels as long as  it  had  any effect;  after
which he agreed  that  the  child  had  the  cauker  very
badly; but he still persisted in the same course  till the
child wasted  away and died, in about two months after it 
50
Narrative of the Life, fyc.
was first taken sick.   After the child  was dead, its^pa-
rents were willing to allow that I understood the disorder
best.  The doctor got twenty-five dollars for  killing 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 other 18 years of
age.   The  mother had lain in her bed most part 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.  I 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 I  ever witnessed.   The young 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 mistep 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 wagon, 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 wagon.   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 sideling,
and rather than  turn over,  she  would start her foot
unexpectedly.   After  exercising her in this way some-
time, 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 
of 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 for 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 I accomplished what I undertook, and relieved these
two unfortunate orphans from their burthen ; which was
more satisfaction to me  than  to  have received a large
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 tolera-
ble 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, I  attended  meeting.    In
the afternoon during service, a young woman  was taken
in a fit and carried out of the meeting-house.   I went
out to see her and found that she  had  been subject  to
fits for some  time.   She  was much bloated, and  very
large, weighing about three hundred.  A few days after,
her friends brought her to my house,  and were  very'
urgent that I should  undertake to  help  her ;  but I told
them I was satisfied that it would be a very difficult un-
dertaking,  and I did not feel  willing to  engage in  it;
but they were so urgent, I agreed  to  do what  I could
for her.  Every time she  took medicine, when I  first
began  with her, she would have  a strong convulsion
fit; but I soon got her to sweat freely, and her fits were
at an end.  By persevering in my usual  plan of treat-
ment, I got a natural perspiration, and her other  evacu-
ations  became  regular; she  was  considerably  reduced
in size, and I have never heard of her having  any  fits 
52        -   Narrative of the Life, Sec.

 since.   The cause of her fits was  taking  sudden cold,
and all perspiration and the greater part of  other evacu-
ations ceased, leaving the water in her body.
   In the  fall of 1805,  I was sent  for  to  go  to  Rich-
mond, to see the family of Elder Bowles, who  were all
sick  with  the dyssentary ;  and  Mrs.  Bowles  had  a
cancer on her  breast.    I  relieved  them of their  disor-
ders by my usual mode of practice; and gave the woman
medicine  for the cancer,  which relieved  her.   I had
occasion  to visit her again, and the tumour was  about
the size  of an egg ; but by following my prescriptions,
it was dissolved without causing  any pain, and  she has
been well for  twelve  years.   I then  practised  in  dif-
ferent parts of Royalston and Warwick, and  my prac-
tising in  these  places, was the way that my  mode of
sweating for the spotted fever, came to  be known and
practised by the physicians in Petersham.   I had dis-
covered the benefit  of steaming  by  trying  it upon my
daughter  two years Before,  and had  been constantly
practising it ever since ; but  the doctors, though  they
condemned me and  my  practice, were willing  to  intro-
duce it and take the credit to  themselves as an  impor-
tant discovery.
  After returning  home,  I was sent  for  to  attencT a
woman in the neighbourhood, who had  been under the
care of a celebrated doctor, for a cancer in her  breast.
He had tortured her with his caustics,  till her breast
was burnt through to the bone ; and by its corrosive na-
ture, had caused the cords to draw  up  into knots; he
had likewise burnt  her leg  to the cords.   She had been
under  his  care  eleven weeks;  until  she  was  much
wasted away, and  her strength  nearly gone.   In this
situation the doctor  was willing to get her off his hands,
and  wished me to take charge of  her.   After some
hesitation, I consented, and attended her three weeks,
in  which  time 1 healed up her  sores, and cleared her of
the humour so effectually, that she has fever  since enjoy-
ed good health.
  While  attending  upon this case, another  woman was
brought to  me  from Hillsborough,  who  had a cancer
on the back of her neck.  1 dissolved the tumour, and
cured her by applying  my cancer balsam, and the com- 
Of Samuel  Thomson.
53
rnon course of medicine, in  three weeks, without any
pain ;  and she has ever since enjoyed good health.
   About this time I was  called on to attend a woman in
the town where I lived.   She was an old maid, and had
lately been married to a  widower, who was very fond of
her.  She had  been much disordered  for many years,
and was very spleeny;  she had been under the  care of
several doctors without receiving any benefit.  I  visited
her several times and gave general satisfaction ; so much
so that she allowed that I had done her more good than
all the others that had attended her.  A short time after
I  had done  visiting her, the old man came out one
morning to my house at sunrise, and I  being  about  six
miles from home, he came with all speed where  I was,
and said he wished me to come to his  house  as  soon as
possible, for his wife was very sick.    I told  him to re-
turn, and  I would be there as soon as he could.   I soon
after sat out, and we both arrived there about the same
time;  and I was  very much astonished  to  find his wife
about her work.  I was asked into another room by  the
old man and his wife, and he said she had something to
say to  me.  She  then  said that  " if I could not attend
her^ without giving her love powder, she did not wish  me
to attend her at all."   I  was  very much astonished  at
her speech,  and asked what she meant.   She said that
ever since she had taken  my medicine  she had  felt  so
curiously, that she did  not know what to make of it.
The old man affirmed to the  same, and he thought that
I had given  her love powder, and did not know what  the
event might be.
   This foolish whim of the old man and his wife, caused
a great bluster, and was food for  those  idle minds, who
seem to take delight in  slandering their neighbours; and
was made a great handle  of by the doctors, who  spread
all kinds of ridiculous  stories about  me during my  ab-
sence in the summer of 1806.  In the autumn, when I
had  returned  home, I  found that  a certain  doctor  of
Alstead, had circulated some  very foolish and slander-
ous reports about me and the old  woman, and  had given
to them so much  importance, that many  people believed
them.   I found  that I could prove his assertions, and
sued him for  defamation ; supposing  that  by appealing 
54           Narrative of the Life, Sfc.
to the laws of my country I could get  redress; but I
was disappointed in my expectations, for I was  persuad-
ed to leave the case to a reference, and he had  raised
such a strong prejudice in the minds of the people against
me, that they were more ready to favour a man  whom
they considered great and learned, because he had been
to college, than to do justice to me ;  so they gave  the
case against me, and 1 had to pay the cost.   After this,
I refused  to attend those people who  had assisted  in
injuring me, and gave them up to their fashionable doctor.
A curse seemed to follow them and his practice; for  the
spotted fever prevailed in this place soon after, and  the
doctor took charge of those who had  sided  with him
against me, and if he had been a butcher and used  the
knife, there would not have been more destruction among
them.  Two men who swore falsely in  his favour, and
by whose  means he got his cause, were among his first
victims; and of the whole that he attended, about nine
tenths died.   He  lost upwards of sixty  patients  in  the
town  of Alstead in a short time.
  I  attended  the  funeral of a young  man, one of his
patients, who was sick  but twenty-four  hours, and  but
twelve under the operation of his medicine.  He was as
black as a blackberry, and swelled so as to be difficult to
screw down the lid of the coffin ; when I  went into the
room  where the corpse was,  the doctor followed me,  and
gave directions to  have the coffin secured so as to pre-
vent the corpse being seen ;  and then  began  to  insult
me, to attract  the attention of the people.    He  said to
me, I understand, sir, that  you  have  a pv.ent to cure
such di>orders as that, pointing to the corpse.   I said no,
and at the same  time intimated what I thought of him.
He pat on an  air of great importance, and said  to  me,
what can  you  know about medicine ?  You  have no learn-
ing ;  you cannot parse one sentence  in  grammar.   I
told him I never knew that grammar was made use of as
medicine; but if a portion of grammar is so much  like
the operation of ratsbane, as appears  on  this corpse, I
 should never wish to know the  use of it.   This  unex-
 pected application of the meaning of  what he said, dis-
pleased the medical gentleman very much; and finding
 that many of  the people present had  the  same opinion 
Of Samuel Thomson.
55
that I had, it irritated him so much, that  he threatened
to horsewhip me; but I told him that he  might do what
he pleased to me, provided he did not poison me  with
his grammar.   He did not attempt to carry his threat
into  execution, so I have  escaped his  whip and his
poison; but the people were justly punished for their in-
gratitude and folly, in preferring death and  misery, be-
cause it was done more fashionably, to a mode of prac-
tice by which they might relieve themselves in a simple
and safe manner.
   I have been more particular in relating these circum-
stances, in order to show my  reasons  for  refusing to
practice so near home ;  for I had been in constant prac-
tice among them for four  or five years,  and had  been
very successful, not having lost  one patient during the
whole time.  My house had been  constantly filled with
patients from all parts of  the country, for  which I had
received very little  pay;  myself and  family were  worn
out with nursing and attending upon them;  so that I
was compelled  in a measure, to leave home to free my-
self and family from so  heavy a burthen.   Besides, I
felt it more a duty to  assist the people  in those  parts
where I had been treated  with more friendship, and had
received more assistance through my troubles, than what
I had experienced from those whom I had reason to con-
sider as under  the greatest obligations to me.
   In the spring of the  3'ear 1806, I came to a determi-
nation to  go to New York, for  the purpose of ascertain-
ing  the  nature of the yellow fever, having been im-
pressed 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.   I
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 third 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 weather
was very  hot on the land, I suffered with the cold.   We
arrived at New York in  eight days; and  the weather
was extremely  hot when I landed ;  this   sudden  change 
56
Narrative of the Life, Afc.
produced a powerful effect  on my feelings;  the cause
of which 1 was satisfied in my own mind, was in con-
sequence of the cold I had  experienced  on the  water,
having reduced  the natural heat  of the body; thus,
coming into a very warm  atmosphere, the external  and
internal heat were upon nearly an equal scale, and when
there is an exact balance, so as to  stop the determining
powers to  the  surface,  mortification immediately takes
place, and death  follows.   This is the  cause  why the
fever rs so fatal to those who go from the  northward into
a warm climate.
  On my arrival, I 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 I
could  have an opportunity to try the effect of my med-
icine  and  system of practice on  the  prevailing fever.
They  told me that I could;  but that I  could get no pay
for it by law.   I went to  see Dr. Miller, who  was then
President of the  board of health,  and had some con-
versation  with him upon  the  subject.   He  told me
the same as the Mayor had, and inquired 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 West Chester 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
a Quaker  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 1 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 I gained so much strength, that the next  day
I was able to return to the city of New York.   On my 
Of Samuel  Thomson.
57
arrival there, I was so weak that it was with the greatest
difficulty I could walk to my boarding house, which
was about  forty rods from the place where we  land-
ed.    1  immediately  took  Nos. 2 and 3, steeped, and
No. 4;  in  a short time, I began  to have  an appetite;
the first food that I took was a piece of smoked  salmon,
and  some  ripe  peach sauce.   I soon  recovered  my
strength and was able to be about.  This satisfied  me
that I 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 medicine as  will increase
the fever or inward heat, to such a degree as to get the
determining power  to  the  surface,   by which  means
perspiration will take place, and which is called  the
turn of  the fever ;  if this is not accomplished either by
medicine, or by  nature being sufficient to overcome the
disease, mortification will  be  as certain a conseqence as
it would  be if a person  was strangled.   The reason
why they  lose their strength in  so short a  time, is be-
cause it depends wholly upon the power of inward heat;
and as much as they lose of that, so much  they lose of
their strength and activity.
  I had a good opportunity to prove these facts, and to
satisfy myself, by attending upon  a Mr.  M'Gowan, who
had  the yellow fever.    He  was the  teacher of  the
Roman Catholic school,  and an acquaintance of Mr.
Kavanagh, with whom I boarded, and who recommened
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 I told them that it was a favourable symptom.  After
being in  this situation about an hour, perspiration  began
and he  grew easy ; the next  day he  was out about his
business.    The effect in  these cases is exactly similar 
58           Narrative of the Life, fyc.
to a person being recovered after having been  drown-
ed.    The  cold  having overpowered  the inward  heat,
all sensation or feeling ceases, and of course  there  is
no pain ; but as soon as the* heat begins to increase 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  restored
to her empire.
  I will here  make a few remarks upon the food taken
into the stomach, which is of the utmost  importance to
the preservation of health.  While I was  in New York,
I took  particular notice of their  manner  of living ; and
observed that  they subsisted  principally  upon  fresh
provisions,  more particularly the poorer class of people;
who are in  the habit in warm  weather of going to market
at a late  hour of the  day, and purchasing fresh meat
that is almost in a putrid state,  having frequently been
killed the night previous,  and  being  badly cooked, by
taking it into the stomach,  will produce certain  disease;
and  I  am  convinced  that this  is one of the  greatest
causes that those  fatal  epidemics prevail in  the hot
season, in our large seaports.   Mutton and lamb is often
drove a great distance from the country, and having been
heated 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
market on a hot day, will turn green  under the kidneys
in two or three hours, and taken into  the stomach will
putrify 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
preventive  of disease.   One  ounce of putrid  flesh  in
the stomach  is  worse  than the effect produced  by  a
whole  carcass on the air by  its effluvia.   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 been
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 of Doyle, who had the fever-and-ague.
This  disease gives a complete  view  of  my  theory of
heat  and cold; for it is about an equal balance between
the two, heat keeping a little the upper hand.  He had
been  afflicted  with this distressing disorder about four
months; he  had the fits most of the time every day and
was very bad.   I  began by giving him  such medicine as
I usually gave to  increase the inward heat of the body,
which subdued the cold, and gave  heat the victory over
it;  and by strictly attending  him in this 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 of such a  disorder being cured in four days.
  A gentleman whom I  had formed an  acquaintance
with, by the name of James Q.uackenbush, who  had
the care of the state 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 practise in the neigh-
bourhood ; but declined most part of the applications in
consequence of the treatment I had received from them,
which has been  before related.  In November I went
to Plum Island to collect medicine ; on my way I called
on  Joseph Hale,  Esq. of Pepperell, and  engaged him
to come down  with his wagon in about,  three weeks,
to bring back what medicine I should collect.  I went
by  the way of Newburyport; and  after  being on the
Island  three or  four days, collected such  roots as I
wanted and returned to that place.   While there, being
in a store in conversation with some persons, there came
in a man from Salisbury mills, by the name of Osgood,
who stated that he was very unwell, and  that  his  wife
lay at the point of death, with the lung fever;  that she 
60
Narrative of the Life, Sec.
 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 had
 nothing to do, I told him I 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 I thought that I could
 help her she had no objection.  I gave my opinion that
 I could, and  undertook, though  with some reluctance,
 as I was in a strange place and no one that I knew.  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 neigbourhood, who thought very favourably
 of me  and my practice ; but it  soon came to the ears
 of Dr.  French, who  was very much  enraged  to think
 one of  his patients, that he  had given over,  should be
 cured by one  whom he called a quack; and attempted
 to counteract  the public  impression  in my  favour, by
circulating a report that the  woman was getting better
 and sat up the greatest part of the  day  before I  saw
 her; but this was denied by the woman's husband,  and
known  by  many to be false.
  While I  remained  in (his place, waiting  for Mr. Hale
 to come down with his  wagon to  carry home my med-
icine, I was called on to attend several cases, in  all of
which I was very successful; most of them were such
as had been given over  by the doctors.   One of them
was the case of a young man, who had cut three of his
fingers  very badly, so as  to  lay open  the joints.   *Dr.
 French had  attended him three  weeks, and  they  had
got  so bad that he advised him to have them  cut  off as
the  only alternative.    The  young man applied to me
 for  advice.    I told  him if I  was in his situation, I
should  not  be willing to  have them  cut off till I  had
made  some further trial  to  cure  them without.   He
requested me  to undertake  to cure  him, to which  I 
Of Samuel  Thomson.
61
 consented and began by clearing the wound of mercury,
 by washing it with weak lye; I then put on some drops,
 and did it up with a bandage which  was kept wet with
 cold water.   While I was  dressing the wound, a young
 man, who was studying with Dr. French,  came in and
 made a great fuss,  telling the  young man that  I  was
 going to spoil his hand.   I told him that I was account-
 able for what I was doing, and that if he had any advice
 to offer I was ready to hear him; but he seemed to have
 nothing to offer except to find fault, and  went off, after
 saying that Dr. French's bill must be paid very soon,  I
 continued to dress  his hand, and  in ten  days he  was
 well enough to attend to his work, being employed in a
 nail factory.  Soon after,  I saw him there at work, and
 asked him how his fingers did;  he said they were 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  I thought
 that  enough  for us both, and I should charge  him
 nothing.   His mother was a poor widow depending on
 her labour and that of her  son for a living.   I remained
 in this place about two weeks, and the people were very
 urgent that I should stay longer; but Mr. Hale  having
 arrived, I left them  with  a promise that I would visit
 them again in the  spring.    We arrived at  Pepperell,
 where I remained several days with Mr. Hale, who was
 an ingenious blacksmith and  a chemist,  having been
 much engaged in the preparation of mineral  medicine.
 He had  an inquiring turn of mind  and  was very en-
 thusiastic in his  undertakings;  although he  prepared
 medicines from minerals, he acknowledged that he was
 afraid  to use them  on  account of his  knowing their
 poisonous qualities.  I convinced him of the superiority
 of my* system of  practice, and instructed him  in the  use
of my medicine,  so  that he engaged in it and soon had
as much practice as he could attend to ; being so well
satisfied  of its general  application to the cure of all
cases of disease,  that he  looked  no more for it in his
 mineral preparations.
   In  the winter  of 1807, I went with my wife to  Jeri-
cho, Vermont, to visit  my father and friends who lived
         6 
62           Narrative of the Life, Sec.
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, he was taken in a fit.  His feet  and hands were
drawn in  towards  his body,  his jaws were set, his head
drawn back, and every part of him  as completely fixed
as a statue.  The  first difficulty was  to  get him to take
any thing ; his jaws were set as tight together as a vise.
I took a solution of 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 as  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
directions, 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 con-
vinced from this  circumstance, that the cause of all
cramps o'r spasms of this kind, is seated in the stomach,
and that all applications for relief in such  cases  should
be made there;  as  it will be of no service to  work on
the effect  as long as the cause remains.
   Before  returning home, I was called  on by  Captain
Lyman, of Jericho, to  advise with  me  concerning his
 son, who  had a fever  sore on his thigh, with which  he
had been  afflicted  for seven years.   He  had  been at-
tended by all the doctors in that part of the country to
no advantage.   They had decided that the only thing
 which could be  done to help him, was  to lay open his
 thigh and scrape the bone.  I  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 that it would not
do, and was very urgent that I  should  undertake  with
him.   I told him that  it was impossible  for  me  to stay
at that time;  but if his son would go home with me, I
would  undertake to cure him ; to  which he consented,
and the young man returned with me ;  which was in the
month of March.  I began with him by giving medicine
to correct and strengthen the system ; bathed the wound
with iny rheumatic drops, or No.  6, sometimes  bathing
with cold water to  strengthen it, and after proceeding in
this manner for about  a month, he was  well enough to
do some work; he remained with  me till  August, when
he was entirely cured, so that he was able to  return to
his father's on foot, a  distance of one hundred miles.
   In the fall  of  this year, the dyssentary, or camp dis-
temper, as it  was called, was very  prevalent in the above
named town of Jericho ;  and was so mortal that all but
two who had the disease and were attended by the doc-
tors died, having lost above twenty in a short time.  The
inhabitants were much alarmed, and held a consultation,
to advise what to do;  and being informed by the young
man above mentioned, that I was  at home, they sent an
express for me, and I  immediately made arrangements to
comply with  their request.  In twenty-four hours 1  start-
ed, 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  taken  upon
themselves the care of the  sick;  they informed me that
there were about thirty then sick, and wished  me to un-
dertake the care of them.   I agreed to take  charge of
them on condition that I could have two men to assist me;
this was complied  with, and I commenced my practice
upon" thirty in the course of three days.   The disorder
was the most distressing of any that I had ever witnessed.
One man had been speechless for six hours, and was sup-
posed to  be dying ; but on my giving him some medicine
to warm  him, he seemed to revive like an insect that was
warmed by the sun after  having laid in  a  torpid  state
through the winter.   I had but little medicine  with me,
and  had  to use such as I could procure at this place.  I 
61           Narrative of the Life,  Sec.
 found the cause of the disease to be coldness and canker;
 the digestive powers being lost, the stomach became clog-
 ged so that it would not hold the heat.   I made use of
 red pepper steeped in a tea of sumac leaves, sweetened,
 and sometimes the bark and berries, to raise the heat and
 clear off the canker, which had the desired effect.  After
 taking this 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 con-
 trived to have sit over a steam ; and this repeated as oc-
 casion 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.  I pounded
 thenxfine, then  made a tea of black birch bark,  and
 after cleaning them, by putting  them into this hot  tea,
 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 an-
swered a good purpose.   I continued to  attend upon my
 patients, aided by those appointed to assist  me, and in
eight days I had completely subdued th" disease.  They
all recovered except two, who were  dying  when I  first
saw them.   I gave the same medicine to the nurses and
those exposed to the disease, as to them that were sick,
 which prevented their having the disorder.   The same
thing will prevent disease that will cure  it.
   After finishing my practice at this place, I  was  sent
 for and went to the town of Georgia, about thirty miles
 distance, where I practised with general success for one
 week, and then returned to Jericho.    Those patients
whom I had attended, were comfortable, and soon entire-
 ly recovered.  The doctors were not very well pleased
 with my success, because I  informed the people how to
 cure themselves, and they have had no need of the# as-
 sistance in that disorder since.   They circulated reports
 for twenty miles round, that I killed all that I attended ;
 but the  people were all perfectly satisfied with  my prac-
 tice, and were willing to give me all credit for  my skill,
 so their malice towards me was of no avail.
   About this time  being in the town of  Bridgewater, Vt.
 I was called on to see a young man about eighteen years 
Of Samuel Thomson.
65
ol 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  my usual manner by giv-
ing 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  I  staid, insisted  on my going to see his
father-in-law, who had the rheumatism very bad,  hav-
ing 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 al>out 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 at-
tended by a doctor, who seemed very willing for my ad-
vice ; I carried her through a course of my  medicine,
and  the doctor  staid to  see the operation of it; he
seemed well pleased with  my  system of practice, and
gave me much credit, saying that I wt» 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 I 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 to, I went to
Salisbury Mills,  where  I was very cordially welcomed by
all those who had been attended by me the season be-
fore.   I was called on  to practise in this  place and
Newburyport, and my success was so  great that it caus-
ed much alarm among  the doctors, and a  class of the
people 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 had given over, and
those being cured by me, had a tendency  to  open the 
66           Narrative of the Life, Sec.

eyes of the people, and give them a  correct understand-
ing of the  nature of their practice, and convince them
that a simple and speedy cure was more for their interest
and comfort, than long sickness, pain, and distress; be-
sides 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 consti-
tution of the patient.
  Among those doctors who  seemed bo much  enraged
against me,  for  no other reason that I could learn, than
because I had cured people whom they had given  over,
and instructed  them  to  assist  themselves when  sick,
v ithout having to apply to them ; there was  none that
made themselves so conspicuous as Dr. French.   I 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 op-
portunity 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 instru-
ments to injure me ;  but a large proportion of  the peo-
ple were friendly to me, and took great interest in my
safety  and  success.   The doctor  and his adherents
spread all  kindi nf ridiculous reports  concerning me
and my practice, giving me the  name  of the  old wiz-
zard ;  and that my cures  were  done under  the power
cf witchcraft.    This  foolish whim  was too ridiculous
for me to undertake to contradict, and I therefore rather
favoured it merely for  sport;  many remarkable circum-
stances took place tending to strengthen  this belief, and
some of  the silly and weak-minded  people really believ-
ed  that  I  possessed  supernatural  powers.  This will
not appear so strange, when  we  take into  view, that
the  people  generally  were  ignorant of my system  of
practice, and when they found that I could cure  those
diseases  thlt the doctors, in  whom they had been in the
habit of  putting all their  confidence,  pronounced  as in-
curable ;  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  supernat-
ural in i'.. 
Of Samuel Thomson.             67
  A man who was one of the friends of Dr. French, and
who had been  very  inimical to me,  doing  all in his
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.   Knowing that
his  object  was to insult, I returned for answer, that he
must send for Dr. French, and if he could not cure it, I
would come, for that was the way that I had  to practise
here.  It so happened that the calf died soon after, and
his  youngest child was taken suddenly and very dan-
gerously sick.  Not long after  he found another calf
dead in the field, and about the same time his oldest son
was taken sick.  These things happening in such an ex-
traordinary manner,  caused him to reflect on  his conduct
towards me, and  his conscience condemned him, for try-
ing to injure me without cause.  He had  the folly to be-
lieve, or the wickedness to pretend to believe, that it was
the effect of witchcraft;  and wishing to make his peace
with me, sent me word, that if I  would  let his family
alone, he  would never do or  say any  thing  more to my
injury.    This I  readily assented  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 conversa-
tion among  the gossips, and  idle busy-bodies  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 belonged to a family that were
 my enemies, she, to insult me, asked  me  to tell  her for-
 tune.   I consented, and knowing  her character not to
 be the  most  virtuous, and  to amuse  myself at her ex-
 pense,  told what bad taken place between her and a
 certain  young mau the night  before.    She seemed
 struck  with astonishment; and said that she  was con-
 vinced 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 to tell her any more.
    I practised 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 attended  in
 different  parts of the country, and was very successful in
 my mode of practice, particularly in places where the 
68           Narrative of the Life, Sec.
dysentery and fevers were most prevalent; never failing
in any instance of giving relief, and completely putting a
check to those alarming epidemics, which caused so much
terror in many places in the interior of the country.
  In the  year of 1808,1 went again to Salisbury, and on
my  way there, stopped 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 imme-
diately called on to practise in that place and the adja-
cent towns.   Many came to  me from  different  parts,
whose cases were desperate, having  been given over by
the  doctors,  such as humours, dropsies,  mortifications,
fellons, consumptions,  &c.    Fevers were  so quickly
cured, and with so little  trouble, that many were  un-
willing to  believe they had the disease.   My success  was
so great that the 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 to frighten 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
I saw through these tricks, and avoided all their snares.
It seemed to be his determination, if he failed  in  de-
stroying my practice, to destroy me.   Being in company
one day at Salisbury village, with Mr. Jeremiah  Eaton,
of Exeter, whose wife was under my care for a dropsi-
cal  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.   I asked why Dr. French
did  not attend him ; he answered that he  had rather
have me ; being convinced  from  the  appearance of
things, that  it was an  attempt  to put some trick upon
me, I refused to  go, and the man returned.   In a short 
Of Samuel Thomson.             69
time after, Dr. French  came into the village,  and Mr.
Eaton, who was present when they came after me, asked
him what ailed  the  young man  at  his' house;  he said
nothing, but that he was as well as any body.  This re-
vealed the whole  secret.   Mr. Eaton then asked him
why he caused me to be sent for so many times,  under a
false pretence.  He said to see if I dared to come  into
his neighbourhood;  that he  did not care how  much I
practised on that side of the  river ; but if I came on his,
he would blow my brains out; that  I  was  a  murderer
and he could prove it.   Mr.  Eaton observed that 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 con-
sequence ; that his wife was under  my care,-and if I
was a murderer he ought to  see it.   Dr. French again
repeated the words,  with many threats against me, and
showed the spite and malice  of a savage.
   Mr. Eaton and others of my friends considered my life
in danger ;  and  came immediately to me  and related
what had been said by the doctor ;  and advised me  to
be on my guard.  I had to pass his  house every day  to
visit my patients ; but  did not consider myself safe  in
going in the night, nor in the day  time  without some
one with me.   I continued in this  manner for several
days, and finding his malice  towards me to  be  as great
as ever, and still  continuing his threats ;  with the ad-
vice of my friends,  I was induced to have resort to the
law for protection.   I went  to Newburyport and enter-
ed  a complaint against  him before a magistrate, who
granted a warrant, and he was  brought before  him for
a  trial.   My case  was made out  by fully proving his
words; he  asked for an adjournment for three hours  to
make his defence, which was granted.  He then brought
forward evidence in support of his  character, and prov-
ed by them  that he   had always been  a  man  of his
word.   The justice told  him that he thought he proved
too much, and to his disadvantage, for it had  been fully
proved that  he had made  the  threats alleged  against
him, and to  prove that  he was a man  of his word,
went to satisfy the  court that the  complaint  was well
grounded.    He  was  laid  under  two hundred  dollar
bonds to keep the peace  and  appear at the next court 
70           Narrative of the Life, Sec

of common pleas.   He appeared at the next court, was
ordered to pay all the costs, 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 means 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.
   1 continued to practise in  this place, and had as many
patients as I could possibly  attend  upon, notwithstand-
ing the opposition I constantly met with from the doctors
and their friends ;  for with all their arts and falsehoods
they were not able  to prevent  those  labouring under
complaints, which they had found could not be removed
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 particular 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 breaking
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 violent  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.  I carried him through
a course of  my medicine, and  made use of every means
in my power to raise the inward  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.             71
kept him in that situation as much as  possible, and  it
went down gradually so as to hold a  natural proportion
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 bad been
long in a consumption, and had been given  over.   She
was perfectly cured ; and  they are now living in good
health and are ready to testify  to  the  truth of these
statements.
   Previously  to my difficulty with  Dr. French, as has
been  before mentioned, Mrs. Eaton and another woman
by the name of Lifford, came to me at Salisbury Mills
from  Exeter.   Their complaint was  dropsy; and were
both  desperate  cases, 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  declin-
ed doing any  thing  for them,  and  sent  them away,
stating  that  there  was no  place that they could get
boarded.  They went away as I supposed to go home ;
but they soon returned, and said they had found a place
 where they could  stay, and  a  young woman had agreed
to nurse them.   I undertook with them very reluctant-
 ly ;  but could  not  well  avoid it.   I  gave them  some
 medicine, and  it operated favourably on  both, especially
on Mrs. Lifford ; then gave strict orders to  the nurse,
 to attend them attentively through the night, and  keep
 up a  perspiration ; 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  my  directions neglected.    Mrs.  Lifford  was
 quite poorly ; and stated to me that the nurse had neg-
 lected her, and that she had got her  feet out of bed ;
 her perspiration had  ceased,  and other symptoms  ap-
 peared unfavourable.
   I attended upon her through the day and did all I could
 to relieve her,  but could not raise a  perspiration  again.
 She  continued till  the next night  about midnight and
 died.  My hopes of doing her any good were small; but
 think that if she had  not been neglected by the  nurse, 
 72          Narrative of tlte Life, Sec.

 there might have been some small chance for her, as the
 first operation of the medicine was so favourable.   Her
 bowels were in  a very bad state, and had been almost in
 a mortified condition for three weeks, and what  passed
 her was by force, and very black.
   This caused  great triumph  among my enemies, and
 Dr. French tried to have  a jury on  the  body ; but be
 could not prevail; for the circumstances were well  known
 to many, and all  that knew any thing about it, cleared
 me from all blame.   The nurse said that I did all I
 could, and if there was any blame it ought to fall  on her
 and not on me.   So they  failed in their attempt to make
 me out a murderer;  but  this case was  laid up to be
 brought against me at another time.   This shows what
 may be done by the folly of people, and the  malice and
 wickedness of designing men, who care  more for their
 own interested ends, than  for the  health and  happiness
 of a whole community.  The fashionable educated  doc-
 tor may lose one half his patients without being blamed ;
 but if I lose  one out of several  hundred of the most
 desperate cases, most of which were  given over  as in-
 curable, it is called murder.
  Mrs. Eaton remained under my care about three weeks,
 in which time she was reduced in size eight inches, she
 then returned home to Exeter.  I  had  several cases of
 dropsy and consumption from the same town, about this
 time, who  were  all  relieved;  all of them  were  very
 solicitous for me to go to Exeter and practise.  As soon
 as I could get the patients under, my care in a  situa-
 tion to leave them, I  left Salisbury Mills, and  went to
 Exeter, and  commenced practising  in my usual way,
 and  was applied to from all parts.    I had not so many
 to attend as I bad in  some places; but they were all
of the most desperate nature, such as had been given
over by the doctors, in all  of which I met with  great
 success.   Many of the cases had been attended by Dr.
Shephard ;  he had attended with me upon his patients
 at Salisbury;  was a  very plain candid  sort  of a man,
 and treated me with much civility.   I  well  remember
 his first speech to me, which was in the following words :
"Well,  what are you  doing here, are you  killing or
 curing the people ?"  I replied, you  must judge  about 
Of Samuel Thomson.
73
that for  yourself.   "Well,"  said  he,  "I  will watch
you, not for fear of your  doing harm, but  for  my own
information ;  I wish  you well, and  will  do you all  the
good  I can."   I always  found him  candid and friendly,
without any hypocrisy.   He once called on me to visit
with  him one  of  his  patients in  the town where he
lived, who had  the rheumatism in  his back and hips.
The doctor had attended him  about two months, and
said he had killed the pain, but  his  back was stiff, so
that he could not bring his hands below his knees.   I
attended  him  about  forty-eight hours,  and then went
with him to see the doctor, which was half a mile ;  the
doctor appeared to be much pleased to see him  so well,
and have the use of his limbs;  for  he could stoop and
use them as well as  he  ever could.  He said  that he
was'as glad for the young man's sake as  though he had
cured him himself.    He frequently came  to see Mrs.
Eaton, whom I was attending for the dropsy;  and  ex-
pressed much astonishment at the  effect  the medicine
I gave had in relieving her of a disease which  he had
considered incurable.    At one tjme when conversing
with her upon her situation, and finding  her so  much
better, having been reduced in size  above fifteen inches,
he  expressed himself with some  warmth  on the  occa-
sion,  saying that  it was what  he  had never  seen or
heard of being done before, and what he had consider-
ed  impossible to be done  with  medicine.   Addressing
himself to me with much earnestness, inquired how it
was that I  did it.  I replied,  you  know  doctor that  the
heat had gone out of the body, and  the  water had filled
it up; and all I had to do.was to  build  fire  enough in
the body to boil away the water.  He  burst into a laugh,
and said that it was a system very short.
  While practising in Exeter, I had many desperate
cases from the different parts of the country, and from
Portsmouth.  One from the latter place I shall mention,
being different from what I  had before  witnessed.  A
woman applied to me who had  the  venereal, in conse-
quence, as she  stated,  of having  had a bad husband ;
which I believed to be true.  She  had  been attended
by the doctors  in Portsmouth  for nearly  a year, who
had filled her with mercury, for  the purpose of curing 
74           Narrative of the Life, Sec.
the disorder till the remedy had become much worse
than the disease.   Her  case was alarming, and  very
difficult; she was brought on a bed, being unable to sit
up ; and seemed to be one mass of putrefaction.  I pro-
ceeded with her in my usual  way of treating all cases
where the system  is greatly  disordered,  by giving medi-
cine to promote perspiration, steaming to  throw out  the
mercury^ and restore the digestive powers ; and in three
weeks  she returned   home  entirely  cured.   Another
woman came to me from the same place, who had been
sick five years, which had been in consequence  of hav-
ing had the same disease, and the doctors had filled her
with mercury to kill the disorder, as they called  it, then
left her to linger out a miserable existence.  When she
stated her case to me, I  felt very unwilling to under-
take with her, apprehending that it would be very un-
certain whether a cure could be effected, having been
of so long standing ;  but  she insisted upon it so  strong-
ly, that I could not put her  off.    After attending upon
her three weeks, however, her health was restored, and
she returned home well;  and in  less than a year after,
she had two children  at one birth.   She had not had a
child for eight years before.  This disease is very easily
cured in the first stages of  it, by a common course of
medicine, being nothing  more than a high stage  of can-
ker seated in the glands  of certain parts of the body,
and if  not  cured, communicates to the glands of the
throat and other parts; by giving  mercury the whole
system is completely disordered, and although the  dis-
ease may disappear, it is  not cured ; and  there  is more
difficulty in getting the mercury out  of the body of one
in this situation, than  to cure  a dozen  of  the  disease
who have not  taken this dangerous poison.
   While in Exeter, I  had a case of a young man, son of
Col., Nathaniel Gilman, who was in a decline.    He was
about  fourteen years  old,  and had  been troubled with
bleeding at the nose.   They had made  use of such pow-
erful astringents, with corrosive sublimate snuffed up his
nose, that the blood vessels in that part  seemed to be*
shrunk up, and his flesh much  wasted  away ;  I  carried
him through a course of medicine, and  gave an equal
circulation of blood through  the  body, and  stopped its 
Of Samuel  Thomson.             75
  course to the head; then  raised a natural  perspiration,
  restored the digestive powers, and regulated the system,
  so as to support the body with food instead  of medicine.
  In a short time he recovered his health so that he  com-
  manded a company of militia at the alarm at Portsmouth,
  during the late war.
    My success while at this place, and the  many extra-
  ordinary  cures I performed,  gained  me  great credit
  among  the people;  but  the  medical  faculty became
  much alarmed, and made  use of every  artifice to preju-
  dice them against me.  The foolish stories about witch-
  craft, which had been made a  handle of  at Salisbury,
  were repeated here,  with a thousand other ridiculous
  statements for the purpose of injuring me ; but I  treat-
  ed them with contempt as not  worthy my notice, except
  in some instances, to amuse myself with  the credulity
  of the  ignorant,  who  were foolish enough to believe
  such nonsense.    I will relate one circumstance for  the
  purpose of showing  upon what grounds  they founded
  their belief of my possessing  supernatural powers, and
  which caused much talk among the  people at the time
  it happened.  Mrs. Eaton, where T boarded, had a five
  dollar bill stolen  out  of her pocket book.   She  made
  inquiry of all the family, who denied having any knovvl-
' edge of it.   A girl that lived in  the family denied it so
  strongly, that I  thought  she discovered guilt, and  led
  me to believe that she had  taken the money.   I pre-
  tended that I could certainly discover who stole  the
  money,  which was believed by many;  and told Mrs.
  Eaton in presence of all the family, that  if I did not tell
  who took it by the next day at twelve  o'clock, I would
  pay the amount  lost myself.  In the evening I had them
  all called into the room, and took the bible and read
  from the law  of Moses the penalty for  stealing; then
  took  the purse and  put  it  into the place and shut the
  book and gave  it to Mrs. Eaton, with  strict injunction
  to put it  under her pillow and let no one touch it; and
  that the person who stole the money could have no peace
  nor rest till he or she confessed  his er her guilt.   They
  then all retired to bed.  As soon as it was daylight in the
  morning the girl came down stairs crying, and went to the
  bed where Mrs. Eaton lay, and confessed that she took 
76
Narrative of the Life, Sec.
the money ;  saying that  she had  not  slept any during
the ni^ht, as  I  had said would  be the case.   It will
be unnecessary to inform the reader, that this wonderful
discovery was  brought about  by the effect of a guilty
conscience on  a credulous and weak mind.
   While I was at Exeter, a woman brought her  son to
me,  who had  a fever sore, so called, on  his hip; he
had been in  this  situation so  long, without any  assist-
ance, that his legs had perished, and  he was so  much
wasted away by the continual discharge of the sore, and
his nature had become so far spent, that  I  felt perfectly
satisfied that a  cure  was  impracticable,  and declined
undertaking with him.   This honest declaration on  my
part  very  much affronted  the  boy's  mother,  and  she
turned  against me and did  me  all the hurt she  could,
because I would  not undertake to  do what  I knew was
impossible for  any one to accomplish.    She went with
her son to a  fashionable  doctor,  who said he would cure
him out of spite  to me.   They continued  with the doc-
tor several   weeks,  till  the expense amounted to about
fifty  dollars; the l.ul  continued to  grow  worse  till  he
died.   This woman seemed  satisfied with having  her
son d'u\ after spending fifty dollars, because it was done
in a fashionable  manner; but my  refusing  to undertake
to cure  him, was sufficient reason for her to circulate
all kinds of  false  and  ridiculous  reports  about  me.
However strange this may appear, it is no more  strange
than true, for this is but  one out of many hundred simi-
lar cases, where  I have  received injury,  when I was en-
titled to credit, by being honest  and sincere in  my  en-
deavour to do  what I conceived  my  duly towards my
fellow creatures.
   About this time, among the rest of my troubles, I  met
with a new difficulty  with  an apprentice that I  had
tiken,  by the name of William Little; whom I had taken
from a  state of  poverty  and  sickness, cured  him,  and
supported him  for two years, until  he had gained knowl-
edge enough  of my medicine  and  system of practice
to be  useful to  me, he then  proved dishonest.   While
I  was  absent  from home, he collected all the money he
could, and sold all my medicine, and then went off.   On
my return   I found my debts collected and my medicine 
Of Samuel  Thomson.             77
gone, so that I was obliged to go back immediately, to
collect more before I could attend to my practice.   This
was the first time I had met with difficulty by employing
agents; but since then 1 have had  experience enough
to satisfy me of the difficulty of trusting to other people;
having found but very few of those I have been  under
the necessity of employing, who have proved  trusty and
honest.   I have suffered much pecuniary loss in this
way, besides in  some instances, those I have assisted
and given instruction to, so as to be  useful  in  the  prac-
tice, have become my enemies,  and been  made instru-
mental to destroy me.
  A son of Mr. John Underwood,  of Portsmouth, was
brought to  me while at Exeter, who  had  what is  called
a scalt head.   He had been  afflicted with it for nine
years.    The doctors had  been applied  to, to no  pur-
pose; and  when he brought him to  me,  agreed to give
a generous price if I would cure him.   1 took charge
of him and  after pursuing my usual plan of treatment
three weeks, he  returned home perfectly  cured, and  has
not since had  any appearance of the disease.   This
man had the meanness, in order to  get  clear of paying
any thing for curing his son, to turn against me and  my
practice, although he had acknowledged that I had saved
his life, and had recommended me to many others, whom
I had relieved ; yet to get clear of paying a trifling sum
according  to  his  agreement,  he did all he  could to
injure me, and  through his  influence many  were  kept
from being cured.   He was taken  sick,  and notwith-
standing he had said so much  against my  medicine, he
applied to some who  had the right of using it, and was
relieved thereby.
  Sometime towards the close  of the summer, while I
was at Exeter, I was sent for to go to Portsmouth to see
a young man by the name of Lebell, who was in a  very
dangerous situation,  supposed  by  his friends to be in a
dying state, having been given over  by Drs. Cutler and
Pierpont at ten o'clock that morning.   I arrived  about
two in the  afternoon.   He  had been attended by  the
two  doctors above  named  for upwards of a month to
cure the venereal ;  they  had filled  him with mercury,
so that he had swelled all over with the poison.    The
              7* 
78           Narrative of the Life, Sfc.
doctors pronounced it to be the  dropsy.   His legs had
been scarified to let  off the  water ;  the disorder and
the mercury had gained the power, and nature had sub-
mitted.  I at once-pronounced it to be a desperate case,
and told the French Consul, who had the care  of him,
that I could give no encouragement that I could do him
any good ;  but he was very solicitous  for me to do  some-
thing for him.   I told him the only chance was to raise
perspiration, and  that twenty-four hours would  deter-
mine his case ;  for he  would either  be better  in that
time, or be dead.  The idea of perspiration caused him
to urge me to try.; and he said if I  could effect  it,  he
would give me one  hundred dollars;  the  doctors had
tried  for a month and could not  succeed.   I gave him
some medicine, then  put  on  the clothes  by degrees,
until he was shielded from the air, and  he sweat  freely
in about an hour.  The  two doctors were  present and
seemed  astonished at my success ; they walked the room,
talked low, then went out.   I  staid with  him till six
o'clock, and  the symptoms seemed  to be  favourable ;
he sweat profusely, and spit  much blood.   I told the
nurse to keep him in the same situation till I returned,
went out and was gone about an hour, and  come  back
again with Mr. Underwood.   When we came into the
room, found that the doctors had taken him out  of bed
and sat him in a chair, and opened the  window against
him.   I told them that their conduct would  cause his
death, and I  would do no more  for him/;  but  liould
give him up as their patient.
   It appeared to me  that they were afraid I should cure
him, and thus prove the superiority of my practice over
theirs, for they had tried a month to get a perspiration
without success, and I had done it in  one  hour.   The
man fainted  before I left the  room.   I went  home with
 Mr. Underwood an J staid that night,  and  left  them to
 pursue  their own course ; the  man died before morn-
 ing.   Instead of getting the  hundred  dollars as was
 agreed, I  never got  a cent for all my trouble of coming
 fifteen miles and returning back again on foot;  and be-
 sides this loss,  afterwards  when I  came  to be perse-
 cuted by  the faculty, the  above  two  doctors  gave their
 depositions against me, in which I  was informed they 
Of Samuel  Thomson.
79
swore that I killed this man, notwithstanding they had
given him over to die  the  morning  before  I  saw him,
and  fhey had taken  him  out  of my hands, as above
staled.   On  being informed  that they were trying  to
support a complaint against me, I got the  depositions of
Mr. Underwood  and others,  who were knowing to the
facts, to  contradict these  false statements ; on finding
that  I was determined to oppose thern, and prove what
they had sworn to be  all false,  they thought  proper to
drop the matter ; but  I was  informed they had sworn
that  my medicine was of a poisonous nature, and  if it
did not cause the patient to vomit soon after being taken,
they would certainly die. -  It is  unnecessary for me to
contradict this, for its incorrectness  and absurdity is too
well known to all who have any knowledge of the medi-
cine I use.
   I  was  frequently in Portsmouth to visit those who had
been sent to  me  to be attended  upon at Exeter.   Some-
time in  September in  1808, when there, I was called on
to visit Mr. Richard Rice, who was sick with the yellow
fever, as it was called.   The reason for  his sending for
me,  was in consequence of having heard  the reports of
the doctors, that I sweat my  patients to death.   He con-
ceived an idea that if he could  sweat, he should be  bet-
ter ;  but they would  not  allow him to be kept warm,
taking the clothes off of him and keeping the windows
and  doors open ;  no fire  was permitted in the  room,
while he was shivering  with the cold.   The plan was to
kill  the fever, and to effect this with more certainty, the
doctor had  bled him, and told his sister  that he  had
given him as much ratsbane  as he  dared to give, and if
that did not  answer he  did not  know what would.
   1 began to give him  medicine a little before  night,
 and in one hour perspiration took  place.   He  was so
 weak that he was unable to help himself.  In the morn-
 ing  the  doctor proposed to bleed him ; but he  was dis-
 missed.   I was with him till  the symptoms were favoura-
 ble, and then left him in the care of three persons whom
 I could  confide in.   After  I  was  gone,  Dr.  Bracket*
 came into the room where the patient was, in a  great
 rage saying that they were killing him ; for the mortifica-
 tion would soon take place  in consequence  of keeping 
80           Narrative of the Life, Sec.
him so warm.   He was asked by one of those present, in
which case mortification was most likely to take place,
when the blood was cold and thick, or  warm  and thin.
He suspected some quibble and would not give an  an-
swer ; and it was immaterial which  way  he  answered ;
for in either case he had no grounds to support an argu-
ment upon, but what might be easily refuted.   After he
had failed in the interference  with those  who had  the
care  of the patient, he went to his wife and  other rela-
tions, and tried to frighten them ;  but he did not succeed,
for they were well satisfied with what was doing.
   The patient was much out  by spells, sometimes  im-
agining himself to be a lump of ice ; but my directions
were pursued by the person I left  in charge of him dur-
ing the night, keeping up a perspiration, in the morning
he was much  relieved and  had his right mind.  He  had
no pain except in the lower part  of the bowels ; to re-
lieve which he was very  anxious that I should  give him
some physic; I opposed this, being  confident that it
would not do  in such putrid cases.   He was so urgent,
however, I 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 giv-
ing 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  was much more dillicult than  at
first, and it was with  the greatest  attention that  1 was
able to keep off the mortification for twelve  hours that
he was kept back by taking this  small dose  of physic.
I kept up the  perspiration through Friday  and Saturday,
and on Sunday morning when  I  called to see him, be
was up and dressed;  on asking how he did,  he said f.s
strong as you are, and took me under his arm and  car-
ried me across the room.   On  Monday he was downy on
the wharf attending to his business.                '
  This cure caused considerable talk in the  town j and
because it was done so quick, the doctors said that ^here
was but little ailed  him, and  he would  have got Well 
Of Samuel Thomson.
81
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, how can a
man who has no learning and never studied physic,
know how to cure  disease.   Mr. Rice, however, gave
me credit for the cure, and was  very grateful for it, and
I 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.   I conversed with him
upon  the subject, and explained the  principles  upon
which  my system was founded ;  how every thing acted
under  the nature and  operation of the four elements,
and by one  acting  upon  another, caused all  motion;
how the clement of fire by  rarrifying water  and air
keeps the whole creation in motion ; how the tempera-
ment of the  body, by adding or diminishing  heat and
cold would promote  either life or death.   After hearing
my explanation, he  became satisfied of its correctness,
and confessed that my  natural  gift  was of more  value
than learning.   He then made known to me his in-
firmities, and wished me to take the care of his family,
and give him and his wife  such  information  as would
enable them to  attend  upon  themselves and  family in
case of sickness.    I readily agreed to this, and soon
after carried some of the family through with the medi-
cine, 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  judgment  without fear.   After she had gained
the information, 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 long 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 gout; and had been  in some instances  confined
by it for six months at a time, and for six weeks not able
jo sit up, much of  the time  not  able  to lift  his hand 
82
Narrative of the Life, Sec.
to his head.   He had been constantly under the care of
the  most skilful 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 warrrf weather, before he could  get
about.  When the warm weather come, he  would crawl
out in the sun side of the  house,  and  in  this way  he
gradually gained his strength;  after this he  was afflicted
with a violent burning  in the  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 with 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 troubles
his  assistance was of the greatest  importance to me, and
I shall ever feel grateful to him and his  family for  their
goodness.
  Soon  after  I went to Portsmouth, I was sent for to go
to Deerfield,  where the  dysentery prevailed, and  had
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  dis-
tance was twenty-eight miles.   We started a  little be-
fore 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 I could help  them.
She begged of me to save her  husband's life if possible.
I told her that I could not tell whether they  were dying, 
Of Samuel  Thomson.             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 soon grew 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
neighbourhood;  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 was very bad ;
on taking the medicine, the operation was so  violent,
that the neighbours were much  frightened, and  left  the
house, and were afraid  to come nigh us, leaving us to
die altogether.   I soon got better and was able to carry
Mr. Fulsom through for the first time ; which  relieved
him, and  he soon got better.  In the mean time a small
child was brought home sick, that  had  been  carried
away to prevent it from taking the disorder.   It was so
far gone, that the medicine would have no effect upon it,
and it soon died.  All that were not in a dying situation be-
fore 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 recovered and
three died.   Two years after, the death of these three
children was brought against me on a charge of murder.
   All that I ever received for my trotible in these cases,
was fifteen dollars; there was  no credit given  me  for
curing the fifteen out of eighteen, when the  doctor  had
lost all  that he  attended; and  although he had given
over three to die,  I  cured one of them  twelve hours
after.   When I left this place  the doctor  adopted  my
mode of practice as  far as he knew it, particularly in
sweating, and about one half lived.   Notwithstanding
all this, the doctor, as I was informed, made oath that
the three children  died in  consequence of taking my
medicine; and the good minister of the parish, I  was
also informed, testified to the same thing ;  though I am 
84
Narrative of the Life, Sec.
confident that neither of them knew any thing about me
or my medicine.   A judgment seemed to follow  this
clergyman, for a short time after he had lent his aid in
promoting ihe prosecution  against me,  a circumstance
took place in his family, which if it had not been done by
a fashionable doctor, might have  been called  murder.
His wife was  at times troubled  with a pair!* 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 practise  in  Portsmouth and  vicinity
during this autumn, and while there, was sent  for to go
to Salisbury to see a child that had been  attended by a
woman for several days, who I  had given information to,
but they said  the perspiration would not hold ; and they
wished for further information.   On seeing the child, I
at once found that they had kept about an equal balance
between the outward and inward heat ;  when they gave
medicine to raise the inward heat and  start the  deter-
mining power to the surface, they at the same time kept
the outward heat so high  as to counteract it.   After ex-
plaining to them the difficulty,  I raised the child up and
poured on to  it a pint of cold  vinegar, and  it immedi-
ately revived.  Applied no  more  outward heat, but only
to shield it from the air ; and gave  the warmest  medi-
cine inward, on the operation of  which, the child grew
cold and very much distressed.  As soon  as  the inward
heat had gained the full power, and drove the cold out,
the circulation became free, and the child was relieved
from pain  and fell asleep ; the next day the heat was as
much  higher than  what was  natural, as it had been
lower the day before ; and  when heat  had gained  the
victory over cold,  the child  gained its strength  and was
soon about, perfectly  recovered.
  I had not practised in  Salisbury before, since I went
to Exeter, which was in  June,  and my returning  there 
                Of Samuel Thomson.              85

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 that the
defendant made the assertion, that I was guilty of mur-
der and he could  prove  it.   His  lawyer admitted  the
fact, but  pleaded justification on the part  of his client,
and brought witnesses on the  stand  to prove that what
he had said was true.   The young woman  who nursed
Mrs. Lifford, and by whose neglect she  took cold, swore
to some#of the most ridiculous occurrences concerning
the death of that  woman, that could be uttered, which
were perfectly contradictory to every thing she  had be-
fore confessed to be the truth.   Another young woman,
the daughter of a doctor at Deerfield, made  a state-
ment  to make it appear  that I was  the cause of the
death of  the three  children, who died as  has been  be-
fore related.  I had  no knowledge of ever  seeing this
woman, and have since ascertained that she  was not at
the house but once during the sickness, and then did
not go into the room  where the sick  were;  and  her  ex-
aggerated 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 be induced to make
such exaggerated statements under the  solemnity of an
oath.   I could have brought forward  abundance of tes-
timony to have contradicted the whole evidence  against
me  if there was time, but not expecting that the  cause
             8 
86
Narrative of the Life, Sec.
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  law-
yers gave up  the  case without making a  plea ;  and
the judge gave a very partial charge to  the jury, repre-
senting 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
rny 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
cost 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 L^went to
Salisbury Mills, and made arrangements to pay the cost
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 afflicted  with the salt rheum  on her
hands, and had applied to a doctor for advice ; he had
advised her to 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 o»tirseof the medicine, with very good suc-
cess.  I  remained in Beverly about a week ;  and  while
there, became acquainted with  fvlr. 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 practise, 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, wivs  called on by a Mr.
Lovett, to attend his son, who was 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 stiff 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
same symptoms as his mother  who died  a short  time
before.   I  gave  some  medicine which  relieved him ;
the next day carried him through a course  of the  medi-
cine, and he appeared to be  doing  well.   Being called
on to go to Salem, I left  him in the  care  of Mr. Ray-
mond, with  particular directions to keep in  the  house
a'nd no^xpose himself.   This was on Wednesday, and
 I heard nothing from  him, and  knew  not but what he
was doing  well,  till  the Sunday  afternoon  following,
when I was informed that he  was worse.   I  immedi-
ately inquired 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 return had been  taken  very ill; he  staid
with him on Saturday night, and  that he was  raving
distracted all night; that he had  not  given any medi-
cine, thinking that he was too dangerously sick  for him
to undertake with.
   I  told the young man's father, that it was  very doubt-
ful  whether  I could do any thing that  would  help him ;
but that I would try and  do  all  I could.    I found that
the patient was so  far gone that  the  medicine would
pave no effect, and in two hours told him  that  I  could 
88           Narrative of the Life, Sec.
not help his son, and advised him to call some other ad-
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 re-
quested the father to send for  some other doctor, as  I
was sensible thatl could do nothing for him that would
be any benefit.   He immediately sent for two doctors,
and as soon as they arrived, I  left him  in  their care.
The two doctors attended him  till the next night  about
ten o'clock when he died.  I 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;  but it was a well known  fact, that I at-
tended as soon as I knew of his being1 worse, and that
the whole cause of his second attack was owing to  his
going out and  exposing  himself, and could  not be  im-
puted as any fault of mine.                  0
   In the latter part of December, 1808, I was  sent for
to attend Elder Bowles,  the Baptist minister  of Salem.
I 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 ; I told him that I  could tiot  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 was a  man  very much re-
spected and  beloved by his  people,  and  the public
anxiety was very great  about  him.   He expressed  a
strong desire 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 particu-
lar friends, and their advice taken ; which being  done,
they offered no objection, but wished him to act his own
mind, and  whatever the result  should be  they would  be 
Of Samuel  Thomson.
£9
satisfied.   He replied that he  was convinced that he
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 I 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
I 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 oold 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 offl^nsive.   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
broughfcout the putrefaction to such a degree, that the
nurse in making his bed was so affected with it, that she
fainted  and fell on the floor.    I  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 so far recovered as to be able  to
ride out and in good spirits.  He soon gained his health,
              8* 
90
Narrative of the Life, Sec.
and is now well and ready to give testimony of the facta
as I have related them.
   In the season of 1809, I suffered much.   In the first
part of the summer, I attended many patients of old com-
plaints ; in particular one case that I shall mention of a
young woman in Kittery  in a consumption.   She had
been confined to her house four  months ;  her flesh was
exhausted and she 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 cough, which was very distressing.  I could give
her friends no encouragement of a cure ;  but the young
woman and her friends were so urgent, that I undertook
with her.    Her  courage was very great, and she took
the medicine and followed all.my directions with  great
perseverance.   She Said  she  wished that  it might either
kill or cure, for she did not desire  to  live in the  situa-
tion she was then in.   I left her medicine 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 that would hold
more than six hours.    She then  had what was  called a
settled fever; and I gave her  medicine to get  as great
an internal heat  as I  possibly could;  this causq^  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 good 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, who  had the  rickets  very bad, so
that she was grown much out of  shape.   I  carried them
both through 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.             91
and have enjoyed perfect health  since.   This woman
paid me the most liberally of any  that  I  had attended,
and has on all occasions manifested her gratitude for the
assistance I afforded her.   Another woman from  the
same town  applied to me,  who  had a cancer on  her
breast.  She had been under the care of several doctors,
who had by their course of practice made her worse.   I
undertook with her and by giving  medicine to check the
canker and  promote  perspiration, effectually relieved her
from the disease.  Many other desperate cases, such as
consumptions, dropsies, cancers, &c. most of which had
been given over by the doctors,  were attended by me
about this time, which it will be unnecessary for  me to
particularize ;  all of them were either completely cured
or essentially relieved and made comfortable by the  sys-
tem of practice.  One case I shall, however, state, being
rather of an extraordinary nature, 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
face, 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.
I kindled heat enough in the body to throw off the  use-
less  water,  which  gave the  blood  room  to  circulate
through the whole system,  instead  of circulating as it
 had done before,  only in the large  blood  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 two much  blood, and resort to the
practice of bleeding, which reduces the  strength of the
patient,  and increases the disease.   There is no  such 
92
Narrative of the Life, Sec.
thing as a person having too much blood, no more than
there is of having too much bone, or too much  mti6e!e,
or sinews ; nature contrives all things right.  The blood
may be too thick, so as not to circulate, and is  liable to
be diseased like all  other  parts of the  body ;  but how
taking part of it away can  benefit the rest,  or  tend in
any  way to remove the disease, is  what I  could  never
reconcile with common sense.   After I had carried  this
woman through  a full operation of the medicine,  and
got the heat to hold, so as to  produce a  natural perspi-
ration, she at once exhibited a true picture of her situ-
ation ; instead of appearing to be so fleshy and well as
she had done, she fell away and became quite  emacia-
ted ; but as soon as  the digestive powers  were restored
so that food could  nourish her body,  she gained  her
strength and flesh, and in a short  time was completely
restored to health.
  I was about this time called to attend  a woman who
was very severely attacked with the spotted fever.  The
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 than half an hour  she  was sense-
less and cold ; about this time I saw her and  examined
well the cause of the disease ; I was well  satisfied that
it was the  effect of cold having overpowered the inward
heat.   By confining her 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 at-
tend to her work.
  The same day I had another case of a  child which
the doctor had given over.   When I  came to this child
it was senseless, and I expected in a mortified  state ; I
gave it the hottest medicine I 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, all of  which lived.   Because my pa-
 tients did not die, the doctors  said they  did not have the
 fever.  In this they had  much the advantage of me, for
 there could be no doubt  of theirs all having it, as  death
 was,  in most of the cases under their care, on their side
 and decided the question.   I  have had  a great number
 of cases of the spotted fever under my  care, and in all
 of them used the remains of heat as a friend, by kindling
 it so  as to produce heat enough in the body to overpower
 and drive out the cold ; and have never failed of success,
 where there was any chance of a cure.
   Sometime this  season  I was sent for to attend Captain
 Trickey,  who was very sick ;  I examined him and was
 confident that  I could not help him, and  took  my hat
 in order to leave the house.    His family insisted on my
 stopping and doing something for him ;  but I  told  them
 that I thought  he was in a dying state, and  medicine
 would do no good.  I told his son that  in  all proba-
 bility, 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 doctor
 came, and said that his  breathing short was in conse-
 quence 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 doctors
 and their  friends spared no pains to spread  the  report in
 every direction, that I had killed this man with my screw
auger, a cant name given to  my emetic   herb, in  conse-
quence of one of my patients when under  the  operation
of it,  saying that it twisted in  him like   a  screw auger. 
94           Narrative of the Life, Sec.
This was readily seized upon by the doctors, and made
use of for the purpose of trying to  destroy the reputa-
tion of this medicine by ridicule ;   they  likewise gave
similar names to several other articles of my medicine
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 whom I  had cured were un-
willing to own it, for lear of being  laughed  at for em-
ploying me.
  The circumstance of the death of the above mention-
ed Capt. Trie key, was seized upon  by the doctors and
their friends, and the most false and absurd  representa-
tions made by them through the country, with the inten-
tion of stopping my practice, by getting me indicted for
murder, or to drive me off; but my friends made  out a
correct statement of the facts, and had them  published^
which put a stop to their 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 ten-
dency 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 1 had attended  on  those who were
given over as incurable, and they died,  whether I gave
them any medicine or not,  the report was immediately
circulated that they were killed by me, at the same time
the regular doctors would 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
submitted to without a murmur ;  but if one happened to
die that I had any thing to do with, it was  readily re-
ported by those interested in  destroying my  credit  with
the people, that I killed them.
   I could mention a great number of  cases of the cures
that I performed, if I thought it necessary ;  but my in-
tention is to give the particulars of  such only as will 
Of Samuel  Thomson.             95
 have the greatest tendency to convey to the reader the
 most correct information of my mode of practice, with-
 out repeating any that were treated in a similar manner,
 to those already given.  I shall now proceed to give the
 particularsof one ofthe most  important circumstances
 of my life, in as correct  and impartial a manner as I am
 capable of doing  from memory ;  in order to show  what I
 have suffered from the persecutions of some of the medi-
 cal 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 them-
 selves of disease  without the aid of a doctor ; and from
 many others, who were governed altogether by the preju-
 dices they had formed against me  by the  false reports
 that had been  circulated about my practice, without
 having any other  knowledge of me.   Many of the latter,
 however, have since been convinced of  their error, have
 a very favourable opinion of my system, and  are  among
 my best friends.
  After practising 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, I made several stops in  different places where I
 had before practised, to see my friends and  to give infor-
 mation to those who made  use of my medicine and prac-
 tice.  On my arrival at  Salisbury, my friends informed
 me that Dr. French had  been very  busily  employed  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 if they had
 found a bill against me,  the government must prove the
 charges, or  I  must be  honourably 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 him  to be 
96           Narrative of the Life, Sec.
examined, the next morning.   I was then taken by the
constable  to  Dr. French's  house,  and  keepers were
placed over me to prevent me from escaping.   While  at
his house and a prisoner, Dr.  French took  the  oppor-
tunity to abuse and insult me in the most shameful man-
ner that can  be  conceived  of,  without any provocation
on my part;  he continued his abuse to me till between
two and three o'clock, when he took his  horse  and set
out for Salem to get the indictment.  After he was gone,
I found on  inquiry of the constable, that  after  he had
been before the grand jury and caused me to be indict-
ed, 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 doctor, who
was a justice of the peace,  before whom he made oath,
that he had probable  ground to suspect, and did suspect,
that I had with  malice aforethought, murdered sundry
persons in the course  of the  year  past,  whose  names
were unknown to the complainant; upon which a  war-
rant was issued against me, and I was arrested, as be-
fore stated, in order to detain and keep me in  custody,
till the indictment could be obtained.
  In the morning I was brought before the said justice,
and he not being ready to proceed  in  my  examination,
the court was adjourned till  one o'clock ;  when  I was
again brought before him, and  he said he  could not try
me until  the  complainant was present, and adjourned
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
easily 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
taken up as a malefactor, and was determined to be con-
victed  as such, or honourably  acquitted.   Just  before
night, Dr. French arrived  with a Sheriff, and  ordered
me to be delivered up by the constable to the  Sheriff;
and after Dr.  French had again vented his spleen upon
me by the most  savage abuse  that  language could ex- 
Of Samuel  Thomson.             97
 press, saying that I  was.a  murderer,  and that I had
 murdered fifty, and he could  prove it;  that I should be
 either hung or sent to the State  prison for life, and he
 would do all in his power to have me convicted.  I was
 then put in irons by the sheriff, and conveyed  to the
 jail in Newburyport, and confined in a dungeon, with a
 man who had been  convicted of an assault  on a girl
 six years of age, and sentenced to solitary confinement
 for one  year.  He seemed to be glad of company ; and
 reminded me of the old saying, that misery loves com-
 pany.   I 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.    1 was put into
 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.   1
 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, inquired 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 situa-
 tion.   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 consisted 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 us till three
o'clock in the afternoon, when we had  about an equal
 fare, which was all we had till the next morning.   The
 next day Mr. Osgood came  from Salisbury to  see me,
and on  witnessing my miserable  situation, he was so
mueh affected, that he could scarcely speak. He brought
me 6ome provisions, which I  was  very glad to receive;
and when  I described to him my miserable lodgings, and
             9 
98           Narrative of the Life, Sec.
the horrid place I was in, he  wept  like a  child.   He
asked liberty of the jailor 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 situation.
   The bed which was brought me, I put on the old one,
and allowed my fellow sufferer a  part of it, for which
he was very thankful.   I had  provisions enough brought
me by my friends for us both, and I gave  him what  I
did not want; the crusts and  scraps that were  left, his
poor wife would  come and beg, to carry to her  starving
children, who were dependent on her,   Her  situation
and that of her husband were so much worse than mine,
that it made  me feel more reconciled to  my fate ; and I
gave her all I could spare, besides making his condition
much more comfortable, for which they expressed a great
deal of gratitude.
   In  a  few  days after my  confinement, Judge Rice
came to see me, and  brought  with him a lawyer.   On
consulting 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
1  should  not  live that time, and their  ends would be
fully answered.
   I sent on a petition  agreeably to the advice of my
friends,  and  Judge  Rice  undertook to attend to the
business and do every thing to get the prayer of the pe-
tition granted.  He followed  the business up with great
zeal, and did every thing that  could  be done  to effect
the object.   I think he told  me that he or the lawyer,
Mr. Bartlett, had rode  from Newburyport to Boston
fifteen times in the course of  three weeks, on the busi-
ness.    At length Judge  Parsons agreed to  hold  a
special court at Salem, on  the 10th  day of December,
to try the cause, which was one month from the day I 
Of Samuel Thomson.              99
was  committed.   My friends were  very  attentive  and
zealous in my cause, and every preparation was made
for the trial.
  During this time  the weather  was very cold, and I
suffered greatly from that cause, and likewise  from the
badness of the air in our  miserable  cell, so that I  had
not much life or ambition.   Many of my friends came
to see me, and  some of them 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 Newburyport.   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, rob-
bers, 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  ofthe prison,
in which we all agreed.   Before  it was dark I and  my
companion were  waited upon  to our filthy den again.
There was nothing in the room to sit upon  higher  than
the thickness of our bed ;  and when I wrote any thing,
1 had to  lay on my belly, in which situation I  wrote the
Medical  Circular, and several other pieces, which were
afterwards printed.
  After I had been in prison about two weeks, my son-  •
in-law  came to see me.  I had before  my imprisonment
sent for him to come to  Portsmouth on some  business,
and  on hearing of my being in  prison, he  immediately
came to  Newburyport to see me.   lie  seemed much
more troubled  about my situation than  I  was myself.
I felt perfectly  conscious of  my innocence and was sat-
isfied that I had done nothing  to  merit such cruel treat-
ment ; therefore my mind was free  from  reproach ; for
I had  pursued the course of duty, which  I conceived
was allotted me by my Maker, and  done  eve/y thing in
my power  to benefit my fellow-creatures.   These re-
flections supported  me in my troubles and  persecutions,
and  I was perfectly resigned to my fate. 
100          Narrative of the Life, Sec.
  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 break-
fast by a fire, which was the first time  I had  seen any
for thirty days, and could not bear to sit near it  in  con-
sequence of its causing me to feel faint.   As soon as I
had eaten my breakfast, the iron shackles were  brought
and put on my hands,  which I was obliged to wear till I
got  to Salem.   The  weaiher  was  very cold, and  the
going bad ; we stopped but  once on the  way, the dis-
tance being about twenty-six miles.   On  our arrival, I
was delivered over to the care of the keeper of the prison
in Salem, and was confined in  a room in the second
story, which was more comfortable  than the one I had
left.   I was  soon informed that  Judge Parsons was sick,
and had put off my trial for ten days ; so I had to  re-
concile myself to the  idea,  of being  confined ten days
more  without fire.  However I was not without  friends ;
Elder Bowles and Capt. Russell came to see me the first
night, and Mrs. Russell sent her servant twice every day
with warm coffee, and other things for my comfort, for
which I have always  been  grateful;  and Mrs. Perkins,
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 trial;
some as witnesses, and others to afford me any assistance
in their  power.    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 arrange-
ments necessary to be made ; when it was decided that 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            101
it would be best to have other counsel; and  Mr. Story
was agreed  upon, who  engaged  in  my cause.   I  had
also engaged  Mr. Bannister, of Newburyport, to assist
in the trial; but he was of no benefit to me,  and after-
wards sued  me  for fifty dollars, at  fifty miles distance,
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 medi-
cine, and the variety of cures that  had been perform-
ed  with it within their knowledge.   Dr. Fuller,  of Mil-
ford, N.  II. was  present  and made many  statements
in  my  favour, as  to the value of  the medicine,  and
advised to  have  Dr. Cutler,  of Hamilton, summoned,
which was done.    Every thing was done by  my friends
that was 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 Parsons
presided,  with Judges  Sewall  and  Parker, assistant
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 peo-
ple, that it was with  much  difficulty we could  get in.
After I  was placed in the criminal  seat, a  chair was
handed  me and I sat  down to  wait  for further  orders.
Here I was the object for this great concourse 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 their oaths presented against  me.  It was in
common form, stating that I had with malice  afore-
thought, murdered Ezra Lovett, with lobelia; a  deadly
poison.   I was then directed by the court to plead to the
indictment, guilty or not guilty ;  I plead not guilty, and
              0* 
102          Narrative of the Life,  Sec.
the usual forms in 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 Commonwealth,  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 called
to the stand on the part of the government, was  Mr.
Lovett,  the father of the  young man  that I  was accus-
ed 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  1 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 of 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
I  had  administered the poison  alleged in  the indict-
ment.   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
I called it  coffee.   The sample  was  handed  round for
the court to examine, and they all appeared to be afraid
of it, and  after they had  all  satisfied their curiosity,
Judge Rice took it in his hand  and  ate it, which  very
 much surprised  them.    The  Solicitor  General asked
 him if  he  meant  to poison  himself  in  presence of the
 court.   He said  it would not hurt him  to  eat a peck
of it, which seemed to  strike the court with  astonish-
 ment.   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
 minutes, he said he had  not seen any so long, he should 
Of Samuel Thomson.             103
not know it if he should see it at  this time.   This so
completely contradicted and did  away all that he had
before stated, that he went off 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  was, 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 before.
They made some of the  most absurd and  ridiculous
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 indecent  to  be
here repeated.   One of them said  that I crowded my
puke down his throat, and he cried murder till he died.
This was  well known to  be  a falsehood, and  that the
story was  wholly made up by my enemies, as well aj
what had  been before stated by those women, for the
purpose of trying to make out something against me.  I
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 op-
 portunity  to make my defence, in consequence  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 I/had cured him
 in one week ;  and that was all he knew about the  pris-
 oner 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 he had more evidence which
 he wished to bring forward. 
104
Narrative of the Life, S/c.
  Dr. French was called, and as he had been the most
busy actor in the whole business of getting me indicted,
and had been the principal cause, by  his own evidence,
as I 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 turn-
ed out like the rest, to amount to nothing.   He waa
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 practised  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,
ypu have nothing against the man,  and again repeated
that he  wondered what they had for a grand jury.
  In his charge\to the jury,  the Judge stated that  the
prisoner had  broken  no  law, common or  statute, and
quoted  Hale, who says, any person may administer medi-
cine with an intention to  do good;  and  if  it  has  the
contrary effect from his expectation, and kills the patient,
it is not  murder, nor  even manslaughter.   If doctors
must risk the lives of their patients, who would practise?
He quoted another clause of law from Blackstone, who
says, where no malice is,  no action lies.*

  * As the learned Judge could find no law, common or  statute,
to punish the accused, he  directed or advised those present to
stop this quackery, as he called it, and for this purpose, to peti-
tion the Legislature to make  a law that should make it penal for
all who should practise without license from some  medical col-
lege ; to debar them of law  to collect their debts ; and  if  this
should not answer, to make it penal by fine and imprisonment.
  This hint, thus given by the Judge, was  seized upon  first in
Massachusetts; from thence it has spread to nearly all the States
in the Union. From this source may be traced all  those  uncon-
stitutional laws which have been enacted in relation to this sub-
ject, and all those vexatious suits which I have had  to attend in
many of  the States, from Massachusetts to  South Carolina, more
or less almost every year since.  But I have been able to  break
them down by  my patent being from higher authority,  which
Judge Parsons could not prevent, or perhaps he never thought of.
He however made his own report, and handed it to the reporter, 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            105
  The charge being given to the jury, they retired  for
about five minutes and returned into court and gave  in
their verdict of Not Guilty.
  1 was then honourably acquitted, without having had
an opportunity to have my witnesses examined, by whom
1 expected to have proved the usefulness and importance
of my discovery before a  large assembly  of people,  by
the testimony of about twenty-five creditable men, who
were present at the trial;  besides contradicting all  the
evidence produced against me.   After the trial was over,
I was invited to the Sun  Tavern  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 being  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 righte-
ous are bold as a lion."
   During the evening I consulted with my friends upon
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 1 had  murdered  fifty, and
he could prove it; and after having  had a  fair chance,
and having failed  to  prove  one,  it  was thought to be a
favourable 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  action
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. Bartlett forty
dollars that night.  Mr.  Story  was paid twenty dollars
by a contribution of my  friends in  Salem.    I staid at
Mrs. Russel's that night; I 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.
 which is published in the 6th volume of Massachusetts' Reports,
 and is resorted to by all  the  enemies ofthe practice, for a de-
 fence against the system. 
106          Narrative of the Life, Sec.
  The next day I went to  Sailsbury, 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 remarkably
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 consequence of my
blood  being so much chilled, and it was a long time be-
fore I could raise a perspiration  that would  hold.  I am
confident that I should not have lived through the winter
in prison, and believe thatthis 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, I should  have to lay in prison during that
time, and that I  should probably  die there ; or in any
case, they would get rid of me  for one year  at  least,
whether there was any  thing proved against me or not;
and 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 plans.  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  con-
duct towards me.   I was credibly  informed that Dea-
con Pecker,  one of the grand jury that found a  bill
against me, went with Dr. French,  to hunt up evidence
to come before himself, in  order to have me  indicted.
A short time after I was put in prison, he had a stroke
of the palsy,  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 I  was  placed, and  convicted  for  rob-
bing a  grave  yard  of a dead body, which it  was  re- 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            107
ported he sold  for sixty dollars.  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  arrangments for prosecuting  Dr.
French.   The prosecution  was  commenced  and he
was  summoned before  the court of common  pleas, in
the County of York.    Judge  Rice undertook the prin-
cipal management of the business, and became my bail.
The  action  was called and  carried  to  the  Supreme
Court by demurer, which was  to  set at Alfred, in  Oc-
tober.   I attended with my witnesses,  and expected to
have  gone to  trial; and after waiting several days to-
know what the  defence was going to be, the counsel for
the defendant made their plea  of justification.   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 mur-
derer ; and that for this purpose,  Dr. French had been
to every place  where I had practised, collecting  every
case  of the death of any  that I had  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 preju-
diced against me, and  had  collected 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 contra-
dict these highly coloured and  exagerated statements,
and was under the necessity of requesting a delay ofthe
trial for  one week, which  was  granted.   I  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

  * I do not pretend that these things followed  on account of
their treatment to me ; but I only 6tate them as matters of fact;
for ao it happened. 
103          Narrative of the Life, Sec.
 men to appear at court and give their verbal  testimony.
 When I had got ready to come  to trial, the  defendant
 was not ready,  and got it put  off  to  the next term,
 which would be holden 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 wefe
 filed against me ;  and the whole  appeared to be a series
 of exaggerated statements,  made by those who were gov-
 erned by their prejudices, without having but  very little,
 if any,  knowledge  of the  facts,  more than  what they
 obtained by hearsay.   This caused me to  redouble my
 diligence to get witnesses to appear on the stand to  con-
 tradict their testimony, on each  case  they  had  alleged
 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 beforehand.   I made  out my case  by proving
 the  words uttered by the  defendant, which were in  my
 declaration. They  then  proceeded in the  defence, to
 make out the eight cases of murder, which were alleged
 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 before stated.
 The witness brought  to support  this case,  told  a very
 lamentable and highly coloured  story ;  and I brought
on the stand a very  respectable witness, who completely
 contradicted the whole statement.
  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, 6ome of which  had been
 given  over  by the  doctors.   To rebut the  evidence 
Of Samuel  Thomson.
109
that was  produced  to  prove that I had killed  those
children, I brought on to the stand, two respectable wit-
nesses, who were knowing to all the circumstances, be-
ing 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 patients
that had been attacked 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 inter-
rupted them and read some of the depositions over again ;
but these witnesses stated, that they were  not  true, and
went on to give some of the particulars  of the  opposi-
tion I met with in my practice from those  very persons,
whose depositions had been read, when the Judge seem-
ed 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 case of a woman who  had
died  at  Beverly, that I had attended, and  with it the
case of  Ezra Lovett, whom I had been  tried for mur-
dering.   I was very glad  to have this  case  brought  up
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 to the 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 was 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
               10 
110
Narrative of the Life, Sec.
time I did not see him.   As to the woman  in  Beverly,
whom they tried to make out that  I  murdered,  it was
proved by these witnesses, that she  was in a  dying.con-
dition when I first saw her, and that  I so stated it as
my opinion at the time,  and that  my medicine  would
not help  her.
  The next case was that of Mrs.  Lifford,  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, after
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
woman confessed at the time, that she was the only one
to blame, and that no  fault ought to be attached to me;
but she afterwards was influenced by Dr. French to turn
against me, and made threats that  she would swear to
any thing to, injure me.   After her deposition was read,
I brought witnesses on the stand, who completely con-
tradicted every thing  contained  it it; but  the  Judge
read her  deposition to the jury, and  directed them to
pay attention to  that in preference  to  the witnesses on
the stand.
  The eighth and  last  case was  that of the  son of
Thomas  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 pos-
sibility of helping him;  but the  man with  whom he
lived, would not consent that I 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.    I was called to  visit  him in
the morning, and was  informed that he was worse, and
that his master had  consented to have me attend upon
him.  I 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  I
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 sun-down he died.  The  doctor 
Of Samuel Thomson.            Ill
who attended him was brought forward to prove that I
murdered the patient.  If I recollect  rightly, he swore
that the patient had  the  dropsy  in  the brain, and that
the disorder had turned and he was  in a fair  way to re-
cover ;  but I came and gave him my poison pukes and
killed him.  I brought forward evidence  who  swore to
the facts as I have above  related them, and  that  the
doctor would give no encouragement of helping the  pa-
tient.  The father of the young man gave his evidence,
and stated that his son was in a dying situation  when
I gave him medicine ;  but  the Judge interrupted him,
and asked if he was  a doctor,  to  which he answered
no.  He then said the doctor has stated that his  disor-
der  had  turned, and  he was getting better;  are you
going to contradict the doctor? and thus  managed to do
awa,y his testimony.
   I have thus given  a brief sketch of the  evidence  in
the eight 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,
can be 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 those
who heard it, to be the most prejudiced and  partial 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 f stating  that the defendant was  completely
justified in calling me a murderer, for if I was not guilty
of wilful murder, it was barbarous ignorant murder; and
he even abused my lawyers for taking up for me,  say-
ing that they ought to be 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 subject; it was said  by  some,  that
our  courts, instead of being courts of justice, had be-
come courts of prejudice.   One  man said that he hoped
Judge  Parsons would never have another  opportunity  to
«et on a cause ; which prediction turned out true, for he 
112
Narrative of the Life, Sec.
soon after had a stroke of the palsy, and as I am inform-
ed, died before the next court met.    The jury brought
in their verdict of justification on  the part of the  de-
fendant,  and throwed the  whole  costs on me, which
amounted to about two thousand dollars.
   When  I found  how the  case  was  going to turn, I
went to Portsmouth, and soon after made arrangements
to pay the costs.   Judge Rice was my bail and under-
took 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 I had no way to secure him, but  by giving
him a mortgage of my farm ;  which I did, and  it was
put on  record, and never known  to any of «ny. friends
till I had 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 and friend-
ship 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  Porti::r.outh,
Ly t!:c ;ianie 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 as-
sistance.   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.
   About the first of June, 1811, I  received a letter from
Eastport,  where I  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 there and practise in the fevers, which prevail-
ed in those parts.    1 left the  care  of my business at
Portsmouth,  with  Mr. Carpenter,  my apprentice, and
immediately took  passage for  Eastport, where  I arrived
about the middle of June.   I was very gladly received
by those who had  wrote  to me, and by those with whom
I had become acquainted when there before.   I agreed
to practise under the protection of those who  had sent
for me,  until I had convinced  them of its  utility, to 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            113
 which they consented, and promised me all  the  assis-
 tance in their power.  I was soon called on to practise,
 and had all the most desperate cases that could be found,
 in all of which I  met with very great success.   The
 first cases I  attended  in  presence of the committee,
 were five desperate  cases of consumption.  These pa-
 tients were all relieved in three weeks, and were all liv-
 ing  this present year, 1831.   While  attending  these
 people, I was called upon  to attend a young man on
 board a vessel, who  had his foot bruised  to pieces  by a
 block falling from mast-head, weighing thirteen pounds.
 It being done five days before I saw him, it was mortifi-
 ed, and the whole body in convulsions.   I took off three
 toes and set  the  fourth, and cured him  in  five weeks
 with the usual practice.  While attending him, I had to
 pass a doctor's shop.  A scythe was thrown at  me, point
 first, about the distance of  two rods.   It passed between
 my feet without doing any  injury.   In  consequence of
 this assault, I sent word to all the doct6rs who had op-
 posed me, that for the politeness with which  they had
 treated me, I would  compensate them by taking off the
 burden of being called up at night, and  thus  breaking
 their rest, and would give them the chance of  laying in
 bed until noon, without being disturbed by their patients.
  I was  called on the night following to attend  a woman
 in child-bed.  I attended according to my promise, and
 let them  rest; and if I had remained there, they might
 have rested until the present time, as I attended to all
 branches in practice.
  There was, I think at that time,  five practising  doc-
 tors 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 destroy me and my practice, that I had
 experienced from the same  class of men in other places.
 In order  to show some  of their conduct  towards me,  I
 shall  relate the  particulars of some of the cases I at-
tended ;  but most of the numerous  cases  which I  had
under my care, were so nearly similar to those that have
been already given, and my mode of treating them be-
ing about the  same,  that it will be unnecessary to re-
peat them.
              10* 
114
Narrative of the Life, Sec.
  I was sent for to visit  a Mrs. Lovett, who was the
daughter of Mr. Delisdernier, at whose house I attend-
ed her.   She had  the  dropsy, and had been under the
care of one of  the  doctors, till he had  given her over
as incurable.    I 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
nothing to do with the  case.  After giving him my ideas
on the subject, which all appeared to be new to him, I told
him that the contending powers in this case was between
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 I
 could not agree, I left  the house.   I  was followed by the
 father 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 I
 agreed that I  would stop on  condition  that two of my
 friends should be  present as witnesses to what was said,
 and 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 1
  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 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            115
the nurse.   After the  first medicine  had done, which
operated very favourably, I gave directions  what to do,
and  particularly  to keep  the patient  in  perspiration
during the night and left medicine for that purpose ; we
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 inquiry 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 medicine.   I
told them that they had not killed her, but I did not
thank  them for their good will any more  than if they
had done it.   I was about leaving the house, as I found
my directions would not be  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  I 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 father aid 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 tvomen,
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
doctor, and it was  agreed to go contrary to  my direc-
 tions, and the doctor  said she  would die in the  course
ofthe night;  and that he should take me up for murder,
 and that she must be an evidence.   This  appeared to
be almost incredible, that they should be so void of all hu-
man  feelings, as  to be willing to have the woman die, in
order to have the  opportunity to take  me  up for mur-
der ;  but two women who were present when she told 
116          Narrative of the Life, Sec.

the story, gave  their depositions proving the facts as
above stated.
  I continued my practice on this Island, at Lubec, and
on the main, paying my most particular attention to those
who 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 form-
ed ; a meeting was called for  that purpose,  and sixteen
signed the articles at the  first meeting.   After  this,  a
meeting was  held every week, at which a  lecture was
given for the purpose of giving information, and for the
admission of  members; and eight each week was added
during the summer.  In  the fall I went back to Ports-
mouth to attend  to  my business there, and  see  to the
the society which had been formed in  that place.
  After   staying in  Portsmouth a  few  weeks  to give
information to the people,  and procuring a stock of medi-
cine I made arrangements to  return to Eastport; and
sometime in  the month  of October, I set  sail for that
place, taking with  me  my  apprentice and Stephen
Sewell.   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.  I took a small shop and  put  into  it  a  good
assortment of medicine, and attended to practice  till  I
had got Mr. Carpenter introduced among the  people.
   While practising here,  I  frequently heard ofthe abuse
and scandal towards  me and my practice,  from  Mrs.
Lovett, the old woman before mentioned, as the nurse of
her son's wife, whom I cured of  the dropsy.   This old
woman was a singular character, and was called a witch
by the people ; I have no faith in these  kind  of things,
yet her  conduct, and  certain circumstances,  that  took
place, were very extraordinary, and puzzled  and aston-
ished me  more  than any  thing  1 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 
Of Samuel Thomson.
117
his child, which was sick and had fits.  He came to me
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.
1 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 would lay in fits, for a whole night,
and nothing would have any effect upon it; in the morn-
ing it would come out of them and appear to be quite
bright and lively.    I had never known the medicine to
fail of producing  some effect before, where the patient
was not so  far gone  as not  to have life  enough left to
build  upon.   I 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 was said the old woman would be in great
distress.  It caused much conversation among the neigh-
bours; they believed it to  be the power of witchcraft;
and that the old woman had a control over the destinies
of the man and child,  and was  determined to destroy
them in order to get her revenge on me.   I have no be-
lief in these things;  but must  confess that her strange
conduct, and the extraordinary  circumstances attending
the whole affair, baffled me more than any thing 1  had
ever met with before.   I was unable to do  any thing for
these two patients, except sometimes by a temporary re-
lief; they continued to grow  worse,  and  finding it not
in my power to do them any good, I 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 whiph 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
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 
118          Narrative of the Life, Sfc.
 have been  done by  the  faculty,  and their  enmity and
 uniform opposition to my practice, both at this place and
 elsewhere, as well as the confession  made  by the  old
 woman, would  tend  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 I think that enough has  been said
 on the subject,  and shall  leave it to the public  to decide
 between us.   There were five doctors at Eastport when
 I went there, who had  a plenty of  business; but  my
 success was so great, and the people became so well
 satisfied of the  superiority of my system of practice over
 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.   I told him
if he would be faithful in my business and in selling med-
icine, that he  should  have  half the  profits  after the
money  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 I was
employed  in collecting and  preparing medicine.  I re-
turned  to Portsmouth  in the spring of 1812, and after
making the necessary arrangements, I set sail for East-
port, where I arrived about the first of May.   I made a
settlement with  Mr. Burgin, and paid him sixty-three dol-
lars for the  board of Mr. Carpenter, and for shop rent.
Then  furnished the shop with a complete stock of med-
icine, 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
for practice. 
Of Samuel  Thomson.
119
  After arranging my business, I  concluded to return
to Portsmouth;  a short time before I came away, a Mr.
Whitney 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  imme-
diately sailed for Portsmouth, where I  arrived in  safety.
Soon after my arrival there, I found there was going to
be a war with Great Britain ;  in consequence of  which,
I returned 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 arrangements of my business  I could, leaving Mr.
Carpenter  with directions, if there should   any thing
happen in consequence of the war, so as to be necessary
for him to leave the Island, to come  to Portsmouth.
Before leaving the place,  I called on him for some money,
and all he could  pay me  was sixty-four dollars, which
was  but one dollar more than 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 summer; during which  time I had v
constant practice, and  formed  some regulations for  the
society, which was established there, for the purpose of
greater facility  in  communicating information  of  my
system of practice to the people who  wished my assis-
tance.   In the  fall of this year I published my pamphlet
of directions, as  many were urgent that I  should  not
leave the place destitute of the  knowledge of my prac-
tice  and medicine.   Many persons who had been  the
most urgent for me to give  them  information, now be-
came the most  backward, and complained that  the re-
strictions  were too  hard with  regard 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 relieved them
quick,  they thought it worth  nothing,  and they  run
out  against my  practice,  saying  I deserved no pay. 
120          Narrative of the Life, Sec.
This sort of treatment  I  have  met with  from a  cer-
tain class of people  in all places where I have practis-
ed.   I  was  treated with  much attention when they
were  in danger  from sickness;  but when I  had cured
them  I  was  thought no  more  of.   This kind of  in-
gratitude I have  experienced  a pretty large share of
during my practice.
   In the month of October, having got my business  ar-
ranged, and a stock of medicine prepared, I returned to
Eastport.  On my arrival there 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
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 with 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 inquiry into the business I found that  he  had
taken a deed in his own name and that all the bills and
accounts for his practice  and medicine in my absence
were in his own name.   I  asked  him for a settlement
and he refused ;  I then asked him what he meant by his
conduct;  he said he owed me nothing, and bid me defi-
ance, saying if I chose I might take the steps ofthe law.
I could  not conceive  what he meant by treating me in
this manner,  till after making  further inquiry, I found
that he had formed a connection in a family; that he
had been advised to take the course he did, and as I had
no receipt  for the property,  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  before  I had  any knowledge of
his intentions, he  had  robbed the shop  of all  the  ac- 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            121
counts,  notes, bills,  and all  other  demands, so that  I
knew no more about the business 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 asked  him why it should be  willed to 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
master in one  year;  he denied that he was  my appren-
tice, and said that he was  a partner ; but I had said in
order to encourage him to be faithful and do well by me,
he should have half  the profits of the  practice, and that
I had no idea of his having the  whole of my property,
because I made him this promise.  All  I could say I
found would have no effect, for the  more I tried  to rea-
son with him, the more obstinate and  impudent he was.
He even went so far as to  say that the shop and all that
was in it was his, and that  I had nothing to  do with it;
he called a witness and  forbid my having any concern in
the shop.    I found there was no other way for me, but
to turn  him out and  get rid of him in  the best manner I
could ;  to effect which I applied to the owner ofthe 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 loss 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
of very little benefit to me; and had instructed him hi my
             11 
122          Narrative of the Life, Sec.

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
assist me in supporting my system of practice,  bat to
benefit himself; and after all this, for him to turn against
me 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
plot  got up to destroy me ; a petition had been sent on
to the Legislature, to have a law passed  against quacke-
ry, in which I was named ;  and there can be no  doubt
but  that 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  steer.  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 I 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 me
to pursue with any chance  of success; and  that was
to go on to  Washington,  and  obtain a patent for my
discoveries;  and put myself and medicine under  the
protection  ofthe  laws of my country, which would not
only secure to me the exclusive right to  my system and
medicine, but would put me above the reach  of the laws
of any state. 
Of Samuel Thomson.            123
   After coming to the conclusion to go  on to the seat
of .government and apply for a patent,  made all necessa-
ry preparation for the journey, and  started from Ports-
mouth on the 7th of  February, and arrived at Washing-
ton on the 23d.  The next day after my arrival, I wait-
ed on Capt. Nicholas Gilman, of Exeter, showed him my
credentials, and  asked his advice, what I must do to ob-
tain my object.  He  said that he. thought it could not be
made explicit  enough to combine the  system  and prac-
tice, without being too long ;  he  however advised  me to
carry my petition to  the patent office; which was then
under the control of Mr.  Monroe, Secretary of State.
I went to the patent  office, and found that Dr. Thornton
was the  Clerk,  and  presented him my petition.   He
asked me many questions, and  then said I must  call
again; I called again the next day, and he said the peti-
tion was not right;  that I must specify the medicine,
and what disorder it  must be used in ;  he said that those
medicines in  general  terms  to  cure  every thing,  was
quackery; that I must  particularly  designate the medi
cine, and state how it must be used,  and in what disease
i then waited  on Martin  Chittenden, late governor o«
Vermont, who was at  Washington, and asked  his as-
sistance  ; 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 I carried them to  the patent office, and gave
them to  Dr. Thornton ;  he complained much about its
being too short a system, and>cput me off once more.   I
applied 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 carried them to Dr. Thornton ; but he was unable to
read  some of the names, one in particular, he said  1
must go again  to Dr.  Mitchell, and get him to give it
in some other words, and not tell him that he  could  not
read it.   I went, and the  doctor wrote the same  word
again,  and  then  wrote, or " Snap-dragon;" which I
carried to Dr.  Thornton, and  requested  him  to put  in 
124
Narrative of the Life, Sec.
the patent my names, and record it  for himself,  snap-
dragon, or any other name he chose.    He  then  talked
about sending me to Philadelphia, to Dr. Barton, to get
his names.
   I found he was determined to give me all the trouble
he could, and if possible to defeat my getting a patent,
and I intimated that 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 was
good for nothing.   I told  him that I paid for the patent,
and if it was good for  nothing it  was  my loss.   After
much trouble, I got it made out according to my request,
and the medicine to be  used in fevers, colics, dysen-
teries and rheumatisms; he then asked me  if I wanted
any additions, and I told  him to add,  "the three first
numbers may be used in any other case to promote per-
spiration, or as an  emetic," which he did.  I then had to
go to the treasury office and  pay  my  money and  bring
him  duplicate receipts.   After all  this trouble,  I  at
length succeeded  in obtaining my patent  according to
my request, which was completed and delivered to me
on the third day of March, 1813.
  The  next day  after  I had  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 engagted for a fortnight ; and was
obliged  to stay till the 13th before  I could get- a passage.
I then took passage in the stage and came on to  Phila-
delphia, where I remained several  days for the purpose
of seeing 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 I 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- 
Of Samuel  Thomson.
125
ter gentleman.  I asked him many questions concerning
my system and patent, and requested his  advice of the
best mode of introducing it.  He advised  me  to  make
friends of some celebrated  doctors, and let them try the
medicine and give the public such recommendation of it
as they should deem correct.   I told him that  I feared
that if I should do so, they would take the discovery to
themselves and deprive me  of all credit or  benefit  from
my labours; and  asked him  if he thought that would
not be the case.    He said it might with some, but he
thought there were  some  of the 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 deserve.   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 I received 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 exerted in
my favour.
  During my interviews with Dr.  Barton, we had  much
conversation upon the subject of the  medical  skill,  and
he being quite sociable and pleasant,  I expressed myself
very freely upon the  fashionable mode of practice, used
by the physicians of the present day.   He acknowledged
there was no art or science so uncultivated as that of
medicine.   I stated to  him pretty fully my opinion of
the absurdity of bleeding to cure disease ; and pointed
out its inconsistency,  inasmuch as the same method  was
made use of to cure a sick man  as to kill a well  beast.
He laughed and said it was strange logic enough.
  While in  the  city  of Philadelphia, I examined into
their mode of treating the  yellow fever;  and  found to
my astonishment that the treatment  prescribed by Dr.
Rash 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 ofthe faculty,  mere-
              11* 
126          Narrative of the Life, Sec.
ly because it has been recommended  in some particular
cases by a great man, has, I have not the least doubt, de-
stroyed 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 effect of
bleeding, mercury, and other  poisons, carried death in
their countenance ;  and on conversing with them, they
said they had never been well since they had the fever ;
that they took  so much mercury and  opium,  they were
afraid that they were in a decline.
  After remaining in Philadelphia about  two weeks, 1
wenfin the stage to New York, where I obtained a pas-
sage in a coaster, and arrived  in Portsmouth on the 5th
day of April.  Immediately after  my arrival  at  Ports-
mouth, I gave public notice  in the  newspapers, of my
having obtained a patent, and forbid all  persons tres-
passing upon it  under  the penalty of the law  in  such
cases provided ;  and prepared and  published a handbill,
in which I gave a  description of the  nature  of disease
on the constitution of man; and  also  the  conditions of
disposing 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
people,  which caused  considerable  stir among  them,
particularly with the doctors, who seemed surprised that
I had obtained a patent.   I again called  on Mr. Car-
penter 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
medicine by different names.   I furnished my shop with
a stock of medicine, and made an  agreement  with Mr.
Mowe, the young man that I had employed  since Car-
penter was dismissed, to continue  the practice for me,
and take charge of my business at this place.   My ex-
penses for his  wages, board,  and  shop rent,  was about
one  dollar per 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 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            127
Tlice, in part payment for what  I  owed  him, took two
fifty dollar bills and went to the post-office and gave them
to the post 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
letter 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  inquire further
into his conduct, but shortly after  he fell from a preci-
pice and was killed, which put'  a  stop to pursuing the
subject any  further;  so  it turned out  a total loss tdjjpie.
   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
ray patent in the newspapers, and  had handbills printed
and circulated among the people, giving  the  conditions
on which I  should  practise, and the manner  of selling
family rights, to those who wished the use  of my prac-
tice and medicine ;  and that I should attend  to  no case
except 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 board-
ed, and a right  of using the medicine  for himself and
family ; and gave information to several of his workmen.
Soon after making myself known, I  had a great number
of desperate 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
physicians; and I experienced the same  opposition from
them that I had met with in  other places.   1 was fol-
lowed 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
Capt. John  Alden, to attend his wife, who was in a very
alarming situation.   She  was in a  state of pregnancy,
and  had the dropsy,  and was then as she supposed,
several weeks over her  time.   She had been in the same 
128          Narrative of the Life, Sec.

situation once before, and was delivered by  force, and
came very near losing  her  life; the doctors gave it as
their opinion that if she should ever  be so again,  she
would certainly die.   I told him that I did not attend
on any except those who wished to purchase the right, in
which cases I would give them the information.   I 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 down, was  obliged  to get  im-
meHltely up again.   I carried  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  was 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
alarmed the doctors, that  they circulated  a story at  a
distance, where the facts were not known, that I was
so  ignorant of this woman's  situation, that I 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 teeth, and as soon as it reached
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.    I
found that  I could not restore him till I could rarify or
lighten the air;  I laid him across the laps of 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- 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            129
mersed  in  hot water; while 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 vigour of life  and action was
restored.
   I  was called  on to attend a woman who had a relax,
and  in  a few visits restored  her to health.   One night
about midnight I was sent for to visit this  woman in con-
sequence of their being alarmed about her, the  cause of
which I could never  learn; for on my arrival she was as
well as usual.   I 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.  I was persuaded that I
should not  live three days unless I could  get some relief.
I had no pain and every thing. I took passed through me
in two minutes; nothing seemed to  warm me.   I sent
and obtained some butternut  bark, boiled  it,  and took
some as strong as it could be made ; as soon as it began
to operate 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 soon relieved.
   While at Portland I was sent for to see a Mr. Mason,
who was very sick, and it  was 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 they almost  killed  him.   I
had the hardest trial to save  his life of any one I ever
attended ;   and  was obliged to  carry him  through a
course of 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 was decided that he was going to recover under
the operation of the medicine, one who pretended  to be
his friend gave  him  a  bottle of pepper vinegar; I had 
130
Narrative of the Life, Sec.
made a free use of this article in his case, and be  took
some of what was given him by this friend, and he soon
grew worse.   The man who gave him the pepper vine-
gar  often inquired how he did,  and when  told  that he
was worse, he would say that I should kill him.  1 could
not  ascertain  the reason of this  patient being affected
in the manner he was, till Mr. Sewell  took some of the
same, and was immediately taken in the same  manner
as the sick man.   He  took medicine and got over it,
and, a short time after, took some more, and was attacked
in a similar manner.  I then began to mistrust that there
was something in the pepper vinegar, and on examining
it, was satisfied that it had been poisoned to destroy the
patient  in  order to take  advantage of  me.   1 was
Obliged to carry them both through a course ofthe med-
icine, and they afterwards had  no such turns.
  This patient, after about three month's close attention,
gained so as to enjoy a comfortable state of health.   The
undertaking was very tedious on rny part; I  should be
bardly willing to go through the same process  again, lor
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
stomach 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.   I
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 peo-
ple  generally 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
attended by Mr. Sewell, and in a short time restored to
a comfortable state of health, which  gave them great of-
fence ; and some of them published in the  newspapers, 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            131
part of my trial for  murder, in  order to prejudice  the
public against me.  I prepared an answer, but thev had
so much  influence with the printers,  that I 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
unprincipled conduct, managed to keep the people blind
to the benefit  they might receive from  the  use  ofthe
medicine, for the purpose of keeping up their own credit
and making  them tributary to themselves, without re-
gard to the public good.
   This season I went to Eastport and collected some
money to pay my  friend  Rice;  and  thinking  to make
some profit, laid it out in fish, and sent it to Portland,
consigned to my friend Fickett.  _ When I went there
myself, sold the fish to him.   I afterwards made a settle-
ment with him, and took his note for one  hundred and
sixty-three dollars, which he agreed to pay Judge Rice ;
as he was going to Boston in a short time, and he would
call on him at Portsmouth for that purpose.  I then went
home to 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 disappoint-
ed in my expectations of paying this  demand, and it ap-
peared to me that all my hard earnings would be sacri-
ficed to pay the expense of persecutions ; but my friend
Rice was very indulgent; and instead of complaining,
did all he could to encourage me and keep up my  spirits.
   In the fall of the year 1813, I  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  ex-
pense, 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  12th day of November.
On my arrival I made inquiry concerning my affair with
Carpenter, and ascertained what  proof I could obtain to
support an action against him  for the property he had
wronged  rne out of; and after  making an  unsuccessful 
132
Narrative of the Life, Sec.
attempt to get my account books out of his  hands,
brought an action against him for the property left in his
possession ; this being the only way in which  I could
bring him to an account.  After much time and expense,
I at last obtained a judgment against him, got out an ex-
ecution, which was levied on the land  he  had unjustly
got a deed of, and it was finally appraised to me ; and
after having to get a writ of ejectment to get Mr. Tuttle
out of possession of it, who claimed it under a pretended
deed from Carpenter, to prevent it  from being attached,
I at last got the farm which had cost in  getting it more
than it was worth ; so I had to put  up with the loss of all
my earnings at Eastport for two years,  with the  loss of
medicine sold  by Carpenter, all of which  amounted to
not less than fifteen hundred dollars.
  I returned to Portland, where I remained to attend to
ray practice and the society that had been formed there,
for considerable time; and after settling and  arranging
my business as w^ll as I could, left  Mr.  Sewell in charge
of 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 apply-
ing to me for them.   I 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  stoek ; when absent the great  fire took
place at Portsmouth, and all  my stock  of medicine was
consumed.   This was a very serious loss to me, not only
in a  pecuniary point of view, but it disarranged  all  my
plans, and  put it out of my power to supply those who I
knew depended upon me for  all such  articles as were
most important in the practice.   The season  was so far
advanced that  it was impossible to obtain  a new  recruit
of most of the  articles; and I was obliged  to collect  a
part of what had been sent to different  places, in order
to be able to supply irf  the  best manner I could, such
demands for medicine, as I should  be called on for.  In
doing this I was put to  great trouble and  expense,  and 
Of Samuel  Thomson.
133
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 ad-
vantage of by my enemies to injure me all they could.
   I sent in the estimate  of my loss, by the committee,
who had  the  charge of  the money contributed  to  the
people in different parts, for the relief of the sufferers by
the fire, and afterwards called  on them, with an expecta-
tion 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 en-
counter, and  while I was at Portsmouth using all my ex-
ertions  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 Port-
land, that the doctors had obtained  one of my books of di-
rection, which was published  expressly for the informa-
tion of those who purchased the right of using  my sys-
tem of practice, and had  some knowledge of it  by  ver-
bal and other instruction, had printed  an edition of it,
and advertised  them  for sale at  37}  ceVits a copy.
They stated in their advertisements, that " this invalua-
ble work which had heretofore been selling for  twenty
dollars,  may  now  be  had for thirty-seven and a  half
cents ;" and sent them to all places where my societies
had  been  formed, and my practice  had been introduced,
for the purpose of putting me down and  preventing the
use of my medicine; but after all this pitiful  attempt to
do me the great, injury  which they so fondly anticipated,
they gained nothing by it, except it was  the contempt of
all the honest part of society, who  were knowing to  the
circumstanoes.   To put a  stop to these practices,  and
prevent  the public from being  imposed upon,  I caused a
notice to be published  in the  Portsmouth  and Portland
papers, cautioning the people against buying these books,
or making use of the medicine, and trespassing  on  my
patent, under the penalty of the la"w in such  cases pro-
vided ; and also offered a reward of fifty dollars  to  any
one  who  would give information  of any  doctor,  who
              12 
134          Narrative of the Life, Sec.
should trespass on my patent, and ten dollars for any
one  who  should  be  found guilty of selling the  books.
This put a stop to the 6ale  of the  books, and prevented
them from doing me  any injury by  this trick ;  for  those
concerned in this disgraceful  manoeuvre, were compelled
to acknowledge that  my agents could sell more books at
twenty dollars, than they  could at  thirty-seven  and a
half cents.
  I continued in  Portsmouth, after the loss I met with
from the  fire, informing  the  people in that  place and
vicinity, until I collected  another assortment of medi-
cine, during  which  time  fifty members were  added to
the society there.   I appointed Mr. John Locke as my
agent in Portsmouth, and the society accepted of him as
such, to take the  management of the  practice  and sup-
ply them with medicine ;  I agreed to allow him twenty-
five  per  cent  on the  sale of rights,  and in eighteen
months he added  about forty members to  the  society.
He conducted himself with  the  greatest  propriety in
performance of all the duties  assigned him, and in this,
as well as in  all other concerns, which I had  with him,
has given me the  highest satisfaction.   I mention this
tribute of praise to his fidelity, the more readily, as he is
one of the very few whom I have put confidence in, that
I have found honest  enough to do justice to me and the
people.    It has generally  been the  case, with those I
have appointed as agents, that as soon as they have been
sufficiently instructed to attend to the practice with suc-
cess, and  give satisfaction to  the people, that they have
made it a matter of speculation ; and have,  by all the
means that they could devise, attempted to get the lead
of the practice into their  own hands, and deprive me of
the credit and profits of my own discovery ; and when I
have  found out  their  designs,  and  put a stop to their
career, by depriving them of their agency, they have
uniformly turned  against  me and  done every thing in
their power to injure me  and destroy the credit  of the
medicine.*   This kind of conduct has been a very seri-
ous evil, and has caused me  much trouble and expense,
besides destroying the confidence of the people  in the

  * A further notice will b« taken  of this agent in another place. 
Of Sctmuel  Thomson.
135
beneficial effects of the medicine and  practice, and
keeping  back the information  necessary  for its  being
properly  understood by them.   This, however, has not
been the case with  all that  I  have entrusted with the
care of my business as  agents, for some of them have
been uniformly honest and  faithful, both  to me and to
those to  whom they have given  the information.
   While Mr. Locke was acting as my agent, at  Ports-
mouth, he gave offence, by his faithful and upright con-
duct, to  some members of the society, who  wanted to
reap all the advantages and profits without any labour or
expense.  They made complaint  to me of his  conduct,
and wished him turned out: but on asking them for their
<• barges  against him, they said he speculated on the medi-
cine, and  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.  They, however, persisted in  their com-
plaints, and after finding that they could not make me
turn against him, they turned against ine.   After making
iurther inquiries  into the subject, I satisfied myself of
their reasons for  wishing  Mr. Locke turned  out of the
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 I had given the information,
and authorized 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 control of the  practice out  of my hands, by
offering to buy the right for the county, and many other
ways; but I understood their  designs, and  refused all
their offers.
   At the next annual meeting of the  society, Holman
was chosen  their agent without my consent,  and I re-
fused to  authorize 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, 
136          Narrative of the Life, Sec.
 which I  had found  out  to  be false; and many other
 things in  his conduct had caused me to be  much dis-
 satisfied with all he did, that I declined having any thing
 further to do with him.   He persisted in practising, and
 in eighteen  months, hy  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.    I had good reason
 to believe that Holman was employed by my enemies  to
 break me  up in this place, and  destroy the  credit of the
 medicine ; for when I was absent, I ascertained  that he
 gave salt-petre and  other poisons, under the pretence
that by giving it the night before it  would prepare the
 stomach for my medicine  to be taken in  the morning.
 This was  like preparing  over night to build a fire  in
the morning,  by  filling  the  fire-place with  snow and
ice.  After preparing the stomach in this way, the medi-
cine would  ljave  no  beneficial  effects ;  and he would ,
then place the patient over a steam,  which caused  them
to faint.   In this way he proved to the members of the
society that my mode  of practice was bad, and thus used
 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  unsuccessful, 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 inquiry into the
cause.   On visiting his patients I found some of the pills
made of salt-petre, and also, some opium pills, which he
had  been  in the habit of administering secretly to his
patients under the name of my medicine ; and after col-
lecting an assortment  of his poison, I  called a meeting
 of the  society, and proved to them that  he  had made
 use of these  poisons  under  the pretence of giving my
 medicine; and  also that he had confessed to have given
 tobacco when called on to administer  my medicine ; all
 of which satisfied the society so well of the baseness if 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            137
 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 was
 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 sus-
 tained  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 be-
 longed, I left  them to  their more  fashionable  practice,
 and  withdrew all my medicine from the place.
   In the spring of the  year of  1814, I wrote to Mr.
 Mowe,  my agent at Eastport, to leave that place, in con-
 5oquence of the war becoming troublesome, and come
 to Portsmouth.  He came up in May.  I took him with
 me and went to Surry, where we continued through the
 summer, and he assisted me in carrying on my farm and
 collecting an  assortment  of medicine.   In  August  we
 went to Onion River, where my father resided, to make
 a visit, and collect some articles of  medicine, that could
 not be obtained in Surry.   After my return, Mr. Mowe
 went to Portsmouth, and I remained at home  till after
 the harvesting  was  over,  then went to Portsmouth, to
 collect  medicine and attended to some  practice.  Some
 time in  December, I returned home and found an ex-
 press had been there for me to go to Guildford, sent  by
 Mr.  Davis,  whom I had  attended the year before at
 Portsmouth.   I  went  with all speed and found his wife
 sick  with a consumption.  I attended her a few days to
 give  them information, and sold him the  right of using
 the  medicine; and also sold some rights to others; I
 then returned  to Portsmouth, and sent Mr. Mowe to
 Guildford to practise and give information to  those who
 had purchased the rights, where he  remained till spring.
   During the  time Mr. Mowe was at Guildford, he was
verv  successful in the practice, and made? some remark-
              13* 
138          Narrative of the Life,  Sec.
able cures.   Great opposition was made to his practice,
by the doctors,  and all  the  false representations made
about it that they  could invent, to prejudice the minds
of the people against the medicine and stop its being in-
troduced among them.   After this another plan was got
up to  injure me ; societies were formed in  the manner  I
had formed mine, and members  were admitted for two
dollars'; the only information given them was to furnish
each member with one of the pamphlets, containing my
directions, which  had been stolen from a womau and
published at Portland, without my knowledge.   In this
manner my  system of practice, in the hands and under
the superintendence 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 was given throughout the neighbouring towns
for the people to come and join  them in  the great im-
provement of restoring  the  health of mankind.   Thus
did these  professional gentlemen tamper with  my rights
and the credulity of the people,  for the pitiful purpose
of injuring me, by pretending to sell all  my information
for two  dollars, for which I asked twenty ; and in  their
hands called it  honourable scientific knowledge.   After
these trespasses had become open and general, and the
people had been invited  to join in it, my agent at Guild-
ford,  wrote me  a letter giving information of the 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 tbey wished my ad-
vice,  whether they should attend a general meeting whioh
wa3 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 I thought people joined
societies to get information,  and not to give it.   I em-
ployed an attorney to proceed  against those  who tres-
passed, and have  them  punished  according  to law, in
such cases provided, and returned to Portsmouth.  And
here  the  matter rested, as I  heard of no further trespass
in  that  quarter. 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            139
  In the month of February, 1815,1 had an application
to go to Philadelphia and introduce my societies and sys-
tem of practice in that city.  Thinking it not proper to
go alone, I made an agreement with Mr. John Locke, to
go with me ; and after we  got every thing  prepared, he
started on the seventh in the morning to go in the stage,
and I chose to go by water, and sailed the  same day in
a vessel for New York.    We had a  long and  tedious
passage, suffering' very much from the cold.   We had a
gale of wind which blew us off into the Gulf Stream,
and we were two hundred miles south  of our port; on
getting into  a warmer  latitude  the  weather  became
warmer, when we were enabled to get clear  of the ice,
with 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  bones  of
his hands and feet were coming in pieces ; his suffering
was so great that the tears would run from his eyes, and
the sweat down his cheeks with  the  pain.   I was re-
quested by the captain and crew to do something to re-
lieve him.   I agreed to  do the best I could for him, in
the cold and comfortless situation wc were  in.   There
was no place to keep a fire under decks, and the weather
was so rough  that  we could seldom keep  any in  the
caboose  on deck.   I was obliged to administer the medi-
cine according to  my judgment in the best manner I
could.   In the first place I procured  handkerchiefs and
cloths enough to wrap his hands and feet up in  several
thicknesses, then wtet  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 medicine
to take I had with me, and repeated it to  keep the in-
ward 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 
140          Narrative of the Life, Sec
 I got the fountain above the stream ; and in about two
 hours, freed, him from all pain, to the surprise and aston-
 ishment of all the hands on board.   When  I  come to
 take off the cloths, the blood had settled under the nails
 and under the skin, which came off without any blister
 being raised, and before we  arrived at  New York, he
 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 having 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 sup-
 port and warmth, and when you cannot raise the fountain
 sufficient 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
 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 stated, before I began to do  any
 thing for the man,  I duly considered his  situation ; he
 had been almost chilled to  death by the extreme cold
 weather, so that his limbs had  very little  warmth from
 the body, not enough to bring them tQ their feeling; until
the warm weather raised a fever on the limbs faster than
in the body, and in proportion as the heat in the extremi-
ties 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 continued
application of such means, the  fever  or outward heat will
increase by the current being turned inward, till mortifi-
cation takes place, when the limbs have to be  taken off
to 6ave life ; and in most cases the body  has become so
much disordered, that they die after all.    This may,  I 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            141
am confident, be avoided by understanding my plan  of
treatment and pursuing it with  zeal, particularly in all
cases of burns or freezing.
  On my arrival at New York, I found Mr. Locke,  who
had come in the stage, and had  been waiting for me ten
days.   The next morning we  started in the stage for
Philadelphia, where we arrived  that evening, and went
to a boarding house and put up  for the  night.   In the
morning  we  went  in search of Elder Plummer,  with
whom I had engaged the fall before, to  go to Philadel-
phia; we found him in the course of the  forenoon, and
he expressed much  joy at our arrival.   He preached a
lecture that evening, and appointed a meeting at the
same place the next evening for me; at  which I attend-
ed and gave a lecture; there was  a large collection  of
people attended this meeting, and I gave  a full and ex-
plicit explanation of the principles upon which  my sys-
tem  is founded.    There  were  two medical students
present, and while I was endeavouring to give a view of
the formation of the animal creation out of the  four ele-
ments ; 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, that cold was  a promotion of life, and that
bleeding was beneficial to preserve life also.   I answer-
ed him by  stating, that admitting his doctrine to be true,
an animal that had the blood taken from it and  was fro-
zen, would be the liveliest creature in the world.   This
unexpected retort caused a laugh, and the two medical
gentlemen left the room.  I then went on and concluded
the explanations I wished to make, which gave general
satisfaction to  the  people present; and  sixteen signed
the  articles of agreement that  night, to  obtain the
knowledge  of the  medicine and practice, to  whom I
engaged to give information by lectures.   We remained
there  about a week, in which time about twenty bought
the right.
   When we had completed our business at Philadelphia,
 we went on to Washington, where  we  remained several
 days, and  had a view of the ruins  of the public  build-
 ings,'which  had been destroyed by the  British,  when 
142
Narrative of the Life, Sec.
they took possession of that city, about six months pre-
vious to our being there.  While at the capitol, I had an
interview with General  Varnum, and  some conversation
passed between us concerning the pipsisway,  which had
been found useful in a case of cancer for which  I at-
tended his wife when practising at  Pelham, in  the  year
1807.   He said that it having  been  found so useful in all
cancerous cases,  he thought it ought to be published in
the newspapers or almanac, for the  benefit of those who
were afflicted with this dangerous disease, and  express-
ed a wish that I would do it.   I told him that I thought
it would  be better for him to publish it than for me, and
he consented ; and  the next year he published it in the
almanac, 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  quaking-asp, on  account of the  constant
shaking of its leaves.  While at this place I fell in com-
pany with Capt. Davis, of Portsmouth, and agreed to take
passage with him and return to that place.   Arrange-
ments were made for Mr. Locke to return by land ; and I
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 propec
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,
Charlestown, South Reading and other places where so-
cieties had been 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, sell-
ing at 37£ cents,  I  was under the  necessity  of putting 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            143
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 directions,  and secured the  copy right; but this  was
reprinted 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 quantity,
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 I  shall make  no more use
of it.   It is too cold and binding, without using a large
share of bayberry bark and cayenne with it, to keep the
saliva free.    1 have found other articles as substitutes,
which answer a better purpose, such  as hemlock bark,
which I have  of late made use of and found  very good,
white lily roots,  witch-hazle and  raspberry  leaves, and
sumach berries ;  the  last article is very good  alone,
steeped and 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  disagreea-
ble to them.
   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
practice 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
expressed a wish to have me try my medicine.  I put a
 blanket round him and put him by the fire;  took a tea
spoonful 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 water, when cool enough  to  take, added  a
tea spoonful of the  rheumatic drops ; he  took it and in 
144
Narrative of the Life, Sec.
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 yictory,  the canker
was destroyed,  and he was  comfortable and soon got
well.
  I attended three other persons in one house, who had
been sick a longer time, and had taken  other medicine,
so that it was more difficult to cure them.  I  steeped No.
3, and poured off half a tea cupful 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
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, rub them as before mentioned, and 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
taking back any part of what  has been  thrown off by
the operation of the medicine.   The nurse or those who
attend upon the sick, are also  in danger from the same
cause, and should be particularly careful to guard against
taking the disorder by breathing in the foul vapour  from 
                Of Samuel  Thomson.            145

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, occasion-
ally  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 prevention, in
this way is worth a pound of cure when sick.
   After relieving these four cases, I  was sent for to at-
tend a woman, who had been sick for a long  time ;  I
declined attending any more unless they would  buy the
right.   This displeased her so much, because I was not
willing to practise and cure all of them for nothing, that
she abused me  for my declining  to  attend her.   Two
men bought the  rights, and they asked me  how much  I
would  take for the right of the whole town.    I 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, in which
month twenty-seven died,  in March, fourteen, and five
in April, making in the whole, forty-six in three months
in this small place.   I left some medicine with those who
had  purchased the rights, and returned to Boston.
  Within  a week after my return from Cape  Cod, I re-
ceived  a letter from Eastham, to come there  as  soon  as
possible;  I took  a stock of medicine  and  went on there
as quick as 1 could;  and on my  arrival found that the
fever had  again made its appearance among the people,
with double  fatality.   I  soon found enough ready to
purchase the twenty rights, for which I had offered to sell
the right of the  whole town.   I  attended  on many of
those who had the disease, in company with the two men
who had purchased the right  of me when here before,
and instructed them how to carry the patients through a
course of  the medicine ; and they attended and gave in-
formation  to others; when  they could meet  together,  I
gave information by lectures; those who got  the infor-
mation attended  wherever they were wanted.   I pursued
my usual mode of treatment, by administering the jnedi-
             13 
146          Narrative of ihe Life, Sec
cine to promote a free perspiration, and when nesessary,
steamed and gave injections, cleansed the  stomach, and
cleared off the canker;  the success in curing this alarm-
ing disease was very great.   I  staid about two weeks,
during which time there were attended with my medi-
cine, thirty-four cases, of whom only one  died, the rest
got well.  At the same time,  of those who  were attend-
ed by the regular doctors, eleven out of twelve died, mak-
ing in the whole upwards of fifty deaths in a short time in
this place, which was about one twelfth part of the in-
habitants that were at home.    The  truth of the  above
statements is  authenticated  by the certificates of the
Selectmen ofthe 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 attend-
ing 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.   After she had vented her spite to her  own
satisfaction, she went home, was taken sick on the way,
and was one  of the  last who died with  the  fever at
this time.  The people generally, treated me with kind-
ness and respect, and took great interest  in  my cause ;
and the success  of my system of  practice, in  reliev-
ing  them  from  this  alarming  disease, gave universal
satisfaction.
   I formed those who purchased the rights, into a socie-
ty ; and they chose a committee, whom I  authorized 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
members.   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 hav-
 ing their diseases  cured, and  their minds  relieved from
 the alarming consequences of a disease, with a trifling 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            147
expense.  I have since altered my plan, and  now  have
but one society.   Every one  who  purchases a right for
himself and family, becomes a member of the Friendly
Botanic Society, and is entitled to all the privileges of a
Tree intercourse with each other, and to  converse  with
any one who has  bought a right, for instruction and as-.
sistance insickness, as each  one is  bound to  give his
assistance, by advice or otherwise,  when  called on by a
member.   In this way much  more good  can  be  done,
and there will  be much more  good-will towards each
other,  than where there is any money depending.
   I had now been in practice, constantly  attending upon,
those labouring 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 un-
wearied 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  by those styled regular physicians ;
putting it in their power to become their own physicians,
by enabling every one to  relieve  themselves and friends,
from all disease incident to our  country, by making use
of those vegetable  medicines, the produce of our own
country, which  are perfectly safe and easily obtained ;
and which, if properly understood, are  fully sufficient in
all cases of disease, where there can  be  any  chance of
cure, without any danger of the  pernicious, and  often
fatal consequences attending  the administering  those
poisons that the fashionable doctors are in the habit of
giving  to their patients.
   After having discovered a system, and by much labour
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, I 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  infor-
mation to those who should purchase the rights, which 
148          Narrative of the Life, Sec.
would enable me to retire from practice and receive a
share of the profits as a reward for  my long sufferings.
After considerable inquiry, I  became  acquainted  with
Elias Smith, who was recommended as a man in whom
1 could confide, and  who was every way  qualified  as
a suitable  person to  engage  in  the undertaking.  I
found him in Boston, and  in very poor  circumstances;
having been for many years a public preacher, but  in
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 use-
fulness of my system of practice.
  I sold him a family right in December, 1816, and was
in his family during the whiter, for  the purpose of in-
structing him in the practice,  to  qualify him to attend
upon the sick, anxl give information to others.  I 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, 1 should be rewarded for  my  trou-
ble, by his  i'aithfiilly performing his duty towards me,
according to his promise.  1 shall  make no remark  upon
my being disappointed in all my expectations in  regard
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 connexion with him.
  The first case I  attended with  him was in his  own
family.  His son had the itch very badly, so that he was
nearly one half of him one raw sore.   They had  tried
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 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            149
 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 treat-
 ment one week this boy was entirely cured.
   The next case,  which was the first we  attended to-
 gether out of his house, was a young  woman,  who had
 the  ague in her  face.    I showed him the whole pro-
 cess of curing this complaint: which was done by put-
 ting a small quantity of No. 2 in a cloth, and placing it
 between her  cheek and teeth;  at the same time giving
 her sorqe 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 be attended, who had  the dropsy.   She had
 been given over by her doctor as incurable,  and was so
 much swelled as to be blind, and her body and limbs in
 proportion.   Mr. Smith  undertook  her  case under ^my
 direction, and carried her through a course  of the  medi-
 cine every day for nine days, and then occasionally once
 or twice a week till she was cured.   She was thus at-
 tended under  my inspection  for three weeks, and in
 four was entirely cured;  for which she gave Mr. Smith
 about forty dollars.  In this case I  did a great part of
 the labour and he got the pay.   About the third time
 of carrying her through a course of  the medicine,  I was
 absent; her symptoms appeared unfavourable,  and he
 got frightened ;  a nurse woman, to  whom  I had  given
 information, and who had more experience than he had,
 came to his assistance, and by  using injections relieved
 her, and  prevented  mortification.   The circumstance
 of this woman proving  that she was forward  of him
 in information, seemed to fix in Mr.  Smith's mind  a dis-
 like to her ever after, as his subsequent treatment of her
 will  show, the particulars of which will be hereafter
 related.
  Another case was of a man that came to his house,
 who  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,
              13* 
150          Narrative of the Life, Sec
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  he 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 was cured, so  that he could earn something by  his
labour.   Mr. Smith asked me if I was willing to assist to
cure  him on these terms, to which I agreed.   We car-
ried  him through a course ofthe 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 was then steamed and washed all over with pepper-
sauce.  He complained bitterly of the  heat and threw
himself on the bed ; I took a spoonful of good  cayenne,
and put in two spoonfuls of pepper-sauce  and gave it to
him  to take.   This raised  the  inward  heat  so  much
above  the  outward, that in  two minutes he was quite
comfortable; and in the afternoon he went on the com-
mon.  His arm was 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
were grown out of place :  and I assisted  in attending
her.   She had never taken much medicine, which made 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            151
it the easier to cure her,  as we had nothing to do  but
remove the disease, without having to clear  the system
of poisonous drugs, as is the case in most of those who
apply for  relief in complaints of long standing.   She
was  carried  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-
spiration and a fresh colour, showing an equal and natu-
ral circulation; but did not sicken or cause her to vomit,
as is the case most generally.   I  mention this to show
that the emetic qualities of the medicine will not oppe-
rate where there is no disease.   She was then steamed
and washed, and went out of doors, being entirely cured
of her complaint.
   Sometime the  last of April or  first of May, a woman
that was a relation ofthe 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, instances
 proved  her superiority in a knowledge of the practice
over him.   A singular circumstance took place, the par-
 ticulars of which 1 shall  relate, and leave the  reader  to
 make his own inferences.   Sometime in May, while I
 boarded  with Mr. Smith, I lost my  pocketbook, which
 contained upwards of thirty dollars  in bank  bills, and
 notes to the  amount of about five  hundred dollars.  I
 made strict search for it and advertised it in the  papers,
 but have  never gained any information of it or the  con-
 tents to this day.   It was in my coat pocket, and I could
 think of  no  way in which I had been exposed, or could
 lose  it, except  in his house.   I  I6st it between  Friday
 night and Monday morning, during which time I  attend-
 ed a woman iri 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.   The only
 persons present  in the  room were  Mr. Smith and his
 wife, and the nurse;  I had no suspicions of any  person
 at the time.  About ten days after, being alone with Mr.
 Smith, he asked me if I ever mistrusted the nurse being
 dishonest.   I told him no, for if I had I should not have
 introduced her  as a nurse.   He then said that there had 
152
Narrative of the Life, Sec
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 pocketbook  as to
take the things she had undoubtedly stolen.   The  cir-
cumstances which  he related and the interest he seemed
to take in my loss, convinced me beyond  a  doubt that
this woman had taken my property.   During this con-
versation 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 acknowledged  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 was not treated with  that affection  a child expects
to receive in a father's house, he was sent off to seek
lodgings where he  could.   About twelve o'clock he re-
turned, not being able to obtain lodgings, and called up a
young man who boarded with Mr. Smith, made a  bitter
complaint, on account of the treatment he received from
his father, which he attributed to be owing to  the  influ-
ence of his mother-in-law ;  he took  a phial and drank
from it, and  soon  after fell on the floor.   The young
man being alarmed, awaked his father and informed him
of the circumstance; before he  got  to  his son he was
senseless, and stiff in every joint.   I was in bed in the
house, and Mr. Smith came immediately to me, and re-
quested  my assistance, said  that he expected Ira had
killed 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 stairs.  I
directed 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, 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            153
his jaws being set, and put my finger between his cheek
and teeth, and poured in some of the 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 father
seemed in some  measure  to return ;  he clothed  him,
took him to Taunton, and introduced him into 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, forbidding
all persons from  trusting him on his account    He was
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 was obliged to seek an asylum  among strangers.  He
•^taid in town several  days, became dejected, in conse-
quence, as he said, of the treatment he, had met with  at
his father's  house,  went  over to Charlestown, took a
quantity of laudanum, and was found  near the monu-
ment senseless; was  carried  to  the alms-house, where
he died.
  The morning after he  died, his father came to see
the corpse, and, as I was informed by  a person  who
heard it, said that if  he had been  present one  hour be-
fore he died he could  have saved  his life ; for, said he,
" I once administered medicine to  him and  saved his
life when  he had taken a similar dose," and, putting his
hand on his pocket, said,  " I always carry medicine  in
my pocket for  that  purpose."    He neither  took him
home, nor put in the paper the cause of his death.   The
notice in the paper was, " Died  suddenly,  in Charles-
town, Ira  Smith, son of Elias Smith, Boston."
   After Ira  went away the last time, I  frequently heard
Mrs. Smith say that if she could only hear that Ira was
dead, she should be satisfied.   The season before he re-
turned, an account of his death appeared in the Palla-
dium of Boston, stating  that Ira  Smith  died in Upper
Canada.  How this account originated'is yet unknown,
as  Ira said  he  had  never been  there.  However, his
father seemed to make great lamentation at this unfor- 
154          Narrative of the Life, Sec.
tunate news, and mentioned it in one of his sermons in
Clark Street.   In the spring following I saw Ira in New
York, and informed Mr. Smith's family that I had seen
him ; but he did, not proclaim it in the meeting as he did
the news of his death.  Neither did he exclaim, in  the
words of an ancient father of a prodigal, " My son who
was dead, is alive, and who was lost, is found."
   In June following Ira came to me, instead of going to
his father's house.    I  found  him lodging two nights,
and then got him into business in  Col. House's printing
office, where he worked some days before he went to his
father's house.   When  calling there to see his brothers
and sisters, he  said something  took place between  him
and his step-mother,  which so  disgusted  him that he
threatened  before the workmen in the office to  destroy
his own life.  They laughed at  his pretensions,  but he
insisted on doing the  deed, which  he did in a few days
after, and thus  ended  this disgraceful tragedy.
   I continued with Mr.  Smith, as has been  before men-
tioned, giving him instruction, till the first of June, when
I  appointed  him agent, with  authority  to sell  family
rights and medicine.  An agreement was drawn up and
signed by both  parties, in which it was  stipulated,  that
I was to furnish him with medicine, and allow him twen-
ty-five per cent, for selling ; and  he was to haye fifty per
cent, for all the rights he sold ; which was ten dollars for
each right, for giving  the necessary information to those
who purchased, and collecting the pay.   His principal
dependance at this time was 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.  The first of
July, I  contemplated  going home to get my hay; but
Mrs. Sniith expecting to  be confined soon, was very
urgent that I should stay till after she was sick, which
detained me three weeks.   I staid accordingly, and at-
tended her through  her  sickness,  for which  they gave
me great credit  and  praise  at the  time.   I then went
home to attend  to my farm and get my hay ; after which
I returned to Boston, and in the fall went to Cape Cod,
to attend to some business  there, and on my return to
Boston,  I found  Mr.  Smith's youngest child  sick with
the quinsy, or rattles; he  had  done  all  he could,  and 
Of Samml  Thomson.            165
given it over to die.   The women had taken charge of
the child, after he had given it up, and had given it some
physic.   When I saw the child I gave some encourage-
ment of a cure, and they were very desirous for me to do
something for it.  I 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 appearance of canker.
I told them it would never appear when they gave physie,
for it would remain inside, till mortification decided  the
contest.
   I began with the child by giving No. 2, which caused
violent struggles and aroused it from the  stupid state 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 1 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 I knew the child's situa-
tion best, and that I had saved its  life.   I considered
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 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 
156          Narrative of the Life, Sec.
time, and it soon began to struggle for breath, and ap-
peared to be in great distress, similar to a drowned  per-
son coming to life.  In its struggling for breath discharg-
ed considerable phlegm from its nose and mouth; I then
gave some  more of the emetic  with  canker  tea, which
operated favourably ; in two hours it was able to nurse,
and it soon got well, to the great joy of the father  and
•mother, who said that the life of the child was saved by
my perseverance.
  Soon after this  child got well, which was in the fall of
the year 1817, Mr. Smith moved to Taunton.  Previous
to his removal, a man from that place  by  the  name of
Eddy,  applied to him to  be  cured  of a bad humour,
caused by taking  mercury.  I  assisted in attending  upon
him part ofthe time.   Mr. Smith began with him, and
on the turn of the disorder, the man and he got fright-
ened and sent for me.  He had been kept as hot as he
could bear, with the medicine,  for six  hours,  which in-
creased 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  prac-
tice  would suppose they  were dying;  but there is  no
danger to be apprehended, if proper measures are taken
and persevered in by keeping up the  inward heat.    In
such cases  steaming is  almost indispensable ;  for which
reason I have  been obliged to steam 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 quan-
tity of  medicine, renewed his stock, and stored  the re-
mainder with him.  He had sold several rights, and was
very successful in his practice,  which caused great alarm
among the doctors; they circulated all kinds  of  false
and ridiculous 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 fright-
ened his family. 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            157
   In the spring of this year, Mr. Smith moved to Scituate,
 to preach there and attend to  practice ;  and the medi-
 cine left with him, I consigned to Mr. Eddy, by his re-
 commendation.  The amount of the medicine was about
 one  hundred 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
 Plymouth 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 set-
 tlement with him.    I had  let him have medicine as he
 wanted it, trusting him to  give me credit  for what he
 sold or used.   I  think he had given me credit, so that
 the balance due me at this time, for what  he  had, was
 four hundred dollars.   He was unable  to pay me any
 thing, and I returned to Boston.
   Mr. Smith afterwards removed his  family to Boston,
 and  in the fall of the year 1818, he said that he was not
 able to pay me any money, but he  would let  me  have
 such things  as he could spare.  I was disposed to be as
 favourable towards him as I  could, and  took  what he
 chose to offer at lys own price. He let me  have two old
 watches at  one  hundred  dollars, and an old mare  at    ■>
 eighty, which  was for medicine at cash prices.    I gave
 him  all  the chance  of selling rights and  medicine, in
 hopes that he would be able to do better by me.  I often
 had requested  him to deliver  lectures on my system of
 practice, as this had  been a favourite object with me in
 appointing him agent; but never could prevail  with him
 to do any thing in that way.   Another  important ar-
 rangement I had made  with  him was, that  he was to
 assist me in  preparing 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 off and prepare it
 in a  correct  manner to be printed;  but  he put me off
 from time to time, and was never ready to attend  to it.
 All this time I never had any suspicion of his  having a
design to wrong me, by usurping the whole lead of the
business, and turning every thing to his own advantage.
  I continued  to keep medicine at his house, which he
had free access to, and took it when he  pleased, giving 
158          Narrative of the Life, S/c.

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 onJ v
eighty dollars for medicine the year  past.   On a settle-
ment with  him at this time, 1819,  he  owed  me  about
four  hundred dollars ;  I  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.    I took a memorandum from his
book of what was due me, which was all I had for securi-
ty.  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, some-
body else  would.  I took the horse and chaise at three
hundred dollars, and  the hundred dollars  I  agreed to
allow on Mr. Eddy's account, made  us, according to his
accounts,  about square,  as to the medicine he had given
me credit for.  He made out a statement  of fifty-seven
family 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 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 pre-
paring and using the medicine;  and I directed him to
secure the  copy-right according to law.   I left the whole
care with him, to arrange the matter, and have it print- 
Of Samuel  Thomson.
159
 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
 incorrectly and badly printed.  -I asked him the reason
 of this, and  he said a part of the copy had got  mislaid,
 and the printer had not done his  work  well.    I had no
 idea  at the time, that he had any design in  having this
 pamphlet printed in the manner it was ; but his subse-
 quent conduct would justify  the belief, that he had  pre-
 vious tothis, formed a plan  to  usurp the  whole of my
 system of practice, and turn every thing to his ovvn ad-
 vantage ; for he has since attempted to satisfy the  pub-
 lic, 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 a  part of his
 proof, that  I  was  incapable of managing my own dis-
 coveries, and of communicating  the  necessary informa-
 tion in an  intelligible manner to make my system of
 practice useful to those who purchase the rights.   It is
 a well known  fact,  that some  of  the most  essential
 parts of the  directions was to be verbal; and I had al-
 lowed him ten dollars each, to give the proper instruc-
 tions to 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 printed in the name of Samuel Thomson,  as  author
 and proprietor.  What his intentions  were  in thus  pub-
 lishing a false certificate, I shall not attempt  to explain ;
 but leave the reader to judge for himself.  If I had been
 taken away,  he possibly might have  come  forward  and
 claimed under  it a right to all my discoveries, and event-
 ually  to substitute himself in  my place as sole proprietor.
 From that time he neglected  the sale of rights, and turn-
 ed his attention mostly to practice and preparing his  ovvn
 medicine.    During the summer of 1820, he employed
 Mr. Darling  to assist him in practice,  and prepare medi-
 cine,  and while with him he prepared thirty-eight bottles
of the rheumatic drops, which by agreement  he was tq 
160          Narrative of the Life, Sec.

have of me ; he also directed him to  take  the materials
from my stock, which was  in his house, and  prepare
twenty-five pounds 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.   I thought his tak-
ing the preparing and selling my medicine to  himself,
was a very singular way to pay an old debt.
  In May 1820, Mr. Smith collected  together  those in
Boston who had bought rights of me  or my agents, and
formed them into a society, under a new name ;  he wrote
a constitution, which  they  signed ;  and the  members
paid one dollar entrance, and were to pay twelve and a
half cents per month assessment, for  which he promised
them important instructions and cheap medicine.    lie
was appointed president and treasurer, and after he had
obtained their money, the meetings were discontinued,
and the society was  broken  up in the course  of nine
months.  In this he appears  to have  taken the  lead of
all those who had  purchased the right of me, and make
them tributary to himself.
  In November I  returned from the  country .f.nd found
that he had advertised, without my knowledge  or con-
sent, in the Herald, a periodical work published by him
at that time, " proposals for  publishing by subscription,
a book to contain  the whole of the  system  and  practice
discovered by Samuel Thomson, and  secured to him by
patent.  The price to subscribers to be five dollars.   By
Elias Smith."   This  mostly stopped  the sale of rights,
for no one would purchase a right of  me or my agents at
twenty dollars, when  they had the promise of them at
five.   I went to him to know what he meant by his con-
duct, in issuing these proposals ;  he plead innocence,
and said he had no improper design in doing it.
  I was now under the necessity of doing something in
order to counteract what had  been done by Mr.  Smith,
in publishing the above proposals;  and came to the de-
termination to issue new proposals for publishing  a nar-
rative of my life as  far as related to my practice, with a
complete description of my system  of practice in curing
disease, and the manner of preparing  and using the med- 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            161
 icine secured to me by patent; the price to subscribers
 to be ten dollars, including the right to each of using the
 same for himself and family.   Mr. Smith undertook  to
 write  the proposals and  get  them  printed ; after they
 were struck off, I found he had said in them, by Samuel
 Thomson and Elias Smith ; all subscribers to be returned
 to him.  I  asked him  what  he meant by putting his
 name  with mine ; he said in  order  to get more subscri-
 bers.   I said no more about it at that time, and let them
 be distributed.
   When I settled with him the last time, I asked him
 what he would charge me to  prepare my manuscript for
 the press ; he said he thought we were to write it to-
 gether ; I asked  him  what made  him think so; he said
 because his name was on the proposals with mine ;  I ad-
 mitted this;  but  told  him the reasons  he  had  assigned
 for putting his name to it without my consent or knowl-
 edge,   lie then intimated that he thought he was  to be
 a partner with me ; I asked him  what I 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 dollars.   I  then told him we would
 say no more about it.  This conversation, together with
 his conduct in regard to the proposals, convinced me be-
 yond all doubt, that his design was  to destroy me, and
 take the whole business to himself.   I felt unwilling to
 trust him any longer, and took all my books and manu-
 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 1
 began  with Mr. Smith, to instruct him in a knowledge of
 all my  discoveries and experience  in curing disease; and
 appointed him agent.   The people wherever it became
 known, were every day becoming convinced of its utili-
 ty, and the medicine was in great  demand; family rights
sold readily, and every thing seemed to promise complete
              14* 
162          Narrative of the Life, Sec
success in diffusing a general knowledge of the practice
among all classes of the people ;  but under his manage-
ment, the whole of my  plans have been  counteracted,
and my anticipations in  a great measure have been frus-
trated.  By his conduct towards  me,  in his attempt to
take the lead of the practice out  of my  hands, and de-
stroy  my  credit with  the  public,  has not only  been a
serious loss to me in a pecuniary point of view, but the
people at large are deprived of the blessings that might
be derived by a correct knowledge  of my discoveries;
and have  it in their power to relieve themselves from
sickness and pain with a trifling expense, and generations
yet unborn be greatly benefitted  thereby.
   1 tried to get a settlement with Mr. Smith,  for the
medicine he  had prepared and sold, and also for the
rights he  had not accounted to me  for,  with the affairs
that remained unadjusted between  us; but could not get
him to do any thing about it;  and  finding there  was no
chance of obtaining an  honourable settlement with him,
about the first of February, 1821,  I  took  all my medi-
cine from his house and discontinued all  connexion or
concern  with him.  I was then,  after v/aiting about four
years for  him to assist me in writing, which was one of
my greatest objects in appointing him agent, obliged to
publish a pamphlet, in which I gave some of the princi-
ples upon which my system was  founded,  with explana-
tions and directions for  my practice, and  also to notify
the public that I had  appointed other agents^, and  cau-
tion all persons against trespassing on my  patent.
   He continued to practise and  prepare  medicine, bid-
ding me defiance.   I made  several attempts  to get an
honourable settlement with him, without success.  I em-
ployed three persons to  go to him and offer to  settle all
our difficulty by leaving it to a reference; but he re-
fused to  do any thing;  continued to trespass, 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 deprived him of
 all authority as my agent;  and cautioning the public
 against  receiving any medicine  or information from him 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            163
under any  authority of mine.   He redoubled his dili-
gence in trespassing, and prepared the medicine and ad-
vertised it for sale under different 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 trespass  on my
patent, to be tried at the Circuit Court,  at the October
term, 1821.   The action  was continued to May term,
when it was called up and the Judge  decided that the
specifications in my patent  were improperly made out,
not being sufficiently explicit to found  my action  upon'.
In consequence of,which I  had to become non-suited,
and stop all further proceedings againsf him, till I could
make out new  specifications and obtain a  new patent
from the government.
   Mr. Smith has 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 instructions; and still
he has the effrontery to publish it to  the  world as his own
discovery, witliout giving rne any credit whatever, except
he has condescended to say that "Samuel Thomson has
made some imperfect discoveries  of disease and  medi-
cine, hot has not reduced any  thing  to a regular sys-
tem."   This assertion will appear so perfectly ridiculous
to all those  who have any knowledge  of my practice,
that I shall forbear making any comment upon i*.  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, are the  same as mine.  It
is also a well known fact, that he  had  no knowledge of
medicine, or of curing disease, until I instructed him ;
and if what he says be true, the effect has been very re-
markable, in as  much as his  magnetical attraction  has
drawn all the skill from me to  himself, by which  he has
taken upon himself the title of Physician, and left me
nothing but the  appellation of Mr. Thomson, the imper-
fect projector. 
164          Narrative of the Life,  Sec
   I have been more particular in describing Mr. Smiths
 conduct, because it has been an  important crisis in the
 grand plan for which I  have spent a grea.t part of my
 life, and  suffered much, to bring about;  that of estab-
 lishing a system of  medical practice, whereby the people
 of this highly favoured country may have a knowledge
 ofthe means by which they can at all times relieve them-
 selves 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 endeavoured to make a correct
 and  faithful statement of his conduct, and the treatment
 I have received  from  him ;  every particular  of which
 can  be substantiated by indisputable testimony if neces-
 sary.  I  now appeal to the public, and more particularly
 to all who have been benefitted  by  my discoveries, for
 their aid and countenance, in supporting my just rights
 against all encroachments, and securing to me my claims
 to whatever of merit or distinction I am honourably 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  deceit-
 fully with me;  but shall persevere in  all  honourable
 and  fair measures to accomplish what my life  has pru>
 cipally been spent in fulfilling, 
                 ADDITIONS

  To the Second Edition....Nov. 1825.

  Sinct. the first edition of my narrative was published,
some circumstances have occured which I think worth
relating ; and shall, therefore, continue to give the reader
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 Elias Smith for trespass, as has been before
related, I found it necessary to adopt some new plan of
procedure 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 called
the learned professions.   Judge Story  decided that the
action could not be sustained, because the specifications
in my patent were not so explicit as to  determine what
Iny  claim was.  He said it contained a number of re-
cipes, which no  doubt were very  valuable ; but I  did
not say what part of it I claimed as my own invention.
How 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 I 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 thatl
should always find  all  my efforts to support my claim,
frustrated in the same  manner.   When I obtained my
patent, I had good legal advice in making out the specifi-
cations, besides, it was examined and  approved  by the
Attorney General of the United States ;  and it was said
at the time of the trial, by several gentlemen learned in
the law,  to be good ;  and that the very nature and mean- 
166          Narrative of the Life, Sec
ing of the patent was, that the compounding and  using
the articles specified  in  manner  therein  set forth, was
what I 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
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  compounding 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 produce
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,  I convey to the
purchaser the  information gained by thirty years prac-
tice, and for which I am paid a sum of money as an
equivalent.  This I should have a right  to  do,  if there
were 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 them-
selves, without any emolument to me whatever.  And in
all the numerous cases where 1  have sold rights,  there
have 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
interested views in doing me all  the injury they could ;
but  where suits have been  commenced  to  recover on
notes given for rights, it has been decided that  the  de-
mand is good in law, and the plea set up of no value re- 
Of Samuel  Thomson.             167
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 reason 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.
  When a suitable opportunity offers,  I shall  avail my-
self of my patent rights, for the purpose of stopping the
people being imposed upon by those who pretend to
practise  by  my system, having no  authority from  me,
and have not a correct knowledge of the subject; but
are tampering with all kinds of medicine  to the injury
of their patients and the great detriment of the credit of
my system of practice ;  for  when  they happen to be
successful, they arrogate to themselves great credit  for
the cure ; but when the patients die, it is all laid to the
door of my system.  The doctors  are ready enough to
avail themselves of these cases, and  to publish exagger-
ated accounts of them, to  prejudice the  minds of the
people against me.  Whenever I again make an  attempt
to vindicate my rights, by appealing  to the  laws of my
country, I  am  determined,  if possible, to take such
measures as shall give me a fair chance to obtain justice.
All I ask is, to have a fair opportunity to prove my med-
icine  to be new  and useful, which  is all the law requires
to make the patent valid.   In  doing this, I shall spare
no expense to have the most able counsel in the  country
engaged, and shall not stop at any  decision  against me,
till  carried to the highest judicial tribunal in the country.
  It is a matter of much  gratulation to me, and a balm
for all my sufferings, that  my system of practice is fast
gaining ground  in all parts  of the country.   The peo-
ple wherever it  is introduced, take a lively interest in
the cause, and family rights sell rapidly ; and  all who
purchase give much credit to the superior  and  benefi-
cial effects of the medicine   above  all others.  The
prejudices of those who have been opposed to it seem
to be fast wearing away before the light of reason  and
common sense.   A number of gentlemen  eminent for 
168          Narrative of the Life, Sec.
their  scientific researches and usefulness  in  society,
have  become  advocates  for the cause ;  and  although
they may not be perfectly converted so as to give up all
their former opinions, yet they allow  that the system is
ingenious and  philosophical,  and  that the  practice is
new and safe.
  In introducing  my new mode of practice to the peo-
ple  of this country, I have  never sought  the  patronage
or assistance of the great;  and the success  it has  met
with has been altogether owing to its own merit. . There
has been no management or arts used to deceive or to
flatter the vanity of any one ; but in  all  cases  have en-
deavoured to convince by  demonstrating the truth, by
the most plain and simple method of practice, to effect
the object aimed at, and to cure disease by  such means
as I thought would cause the least trouble and expense.
This, probably, has been  one of the  greatest causes of
the opposition  I  have met with  from the  people ;  for
they have been so long in the  habit of being  gulled by
designing men, and the  ostentatious  show of pompous
declarations and  high  sounding words,  backed  by the
recomendations of those they have  flattered  and deceiv-
ed,  that nothing brought forward in a plain and simple
dress seems worthy ot\notice.   If I had adopted a more
deceptive plan, to suit the follies of the  times, I  might
have been more successful;  but I  am satisfied I should
have been less useful.
  There is one thing which I think cannot be matter
of doubt, that I have been  the cause of awakening a
spirit of inquiry among the people  of this  country,  into
the medical  practice and the fashionable manner of treat-
ment in curing disease, from  which great benefits  will
be derived to the  community.   Many new contrivances
and plans  have been  introduced  by different men, to
produce perspiration  by  steam and  other methods, by
the use of vegetables, which unquestionably have taken
their origin from my practice.   When I began to make
use of steam, a great deal of noise was  made about  it
throughout the country, and I was called the  steaming
and sweating doctor, by way of ridicule.   It was  even
stated by the doctors, that I steamed  and sweat my pa-r
tients to death.  This no doubt led some ingenious men 
Of Samuel  Thomson.             169
to investigate the  subject by experiments, and on  dis-
covering that it was  useful in restoring health to the
afflicted, particularly in scrofulous  complaints, different
contrivances have been introduced to apply steam to the
sick.   Jennings' vapor bath  was highly recommended
and considerably used a few years ago;  J>ut it has been
found not to be safe in cases where  there is a high state
of inflammation, without the use of my medicine to first
produce an equilibrium in the system.   A  man by the
name of Whitlaw, has lately introduced what he calls his
medicated vapor bath, which has made  considerable stir
among the medical faculty.
   It seems that this Mr.  Whitlaw, from what I can learn
of him  from his publications, about six  years  ago went
from this  country  to  England, and there  introduced  a
new system of  practice, and became celebrated  in cur-
ing all kinds of scrofulous complaints and diseases of the
glands,  by means of his  method of applying steam and
the use  of decoctions from American vegetables.   How
he got his knowledge, or what first induced him to fix
upon this  plan,  I know not; but it seems, as far as I can
understand him, that  he has adopted my system of prac-
tice as far as he has been  able to get a  knowledge of it.
He says something about gaining his  knowledge from
an Indian in this country; but this is too stale to require
any notice.  One of the great principles upon  which
my system is founded, is, that all  disease  originates in
obstructions in  the glands, and  if not removed becomes
scrofulous ;  and the only remedy  is to  remove  the ob-
structions by raising perspiration by steam and hot med-
icine.   In all  my practice, for nearly forty years, there
has been  nothing that I have succeeded more completely
in, than the cure of scrofulous complaints, such  as salt-
rheum,  St. Anthony's fire, scalt head,  cancers,  king's
evil, rheumatism and  consumption.
   It  appears that  the above gentleman  has  met with
great success in England, and that he has  had the sup-
port and patronage of many of the  first men in the king-
dom, who have liberally  contributed to the  support of
an asylum for  the  cure of the poor, and  that  his suc-
cess has given  universal  satisfaction.   And it also ap-
pears that he has met with abuse from the  medical fac-
               13 
170
Narrative of the Life, Sec.
ulty, both there and in this country.  This was to be ex-
pected, and is the best evidence of its utility.   I  feel no
enmity towards those who are benefiting by my discove-
ries, and it gives me much pleasure to think that I have
been instrumental in introducing a new system of medi-
cal practice, by which I feel  confident  so much  benefit
will be derived  by relieving in a great measure, the sum
of human misery.    But I think  those gentlemen  who
have gained any knowledge from my practice, for which
I have suffered so much for introducing, ought, in justice,
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 number of cases in the  course  of my
narrative ;  but the  disposition  in many, still seems  to
continue.   In  selling family rights, I  have  always been
as liberal to purchasers  as they  could  wish, particularly
where I 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 convenient
time.  This has occasioned me considerable  loss ;  but
in most cases the purchasers have shown a disposition to
pay if in their power, have treated me with  a proper re-
spect, and have been grateful for the favour ; with these
I have been satisfied, and no one  has had reason to com-
plain of my want of generosity towards them.   There
have  been  some, however, who have  taken a different
course, and have not only refused  to comply with their
contract, but have, notwithstanding they have continued
to use the medicine, turned against me and have  tried to
do me all the harm  in their  power.   Such conduct has
caused me  some considerable vexation  and trouble.
   At the time I failed in my attempt against Elias Smith,
in  consequence of the  decision against the correctness
of the specifications of my patent, as  has  been  before
related, I had a number of notes  for rights sold, among
them were  two against a person, who had  previously
expressed great zeal in my cause, for a right for him-
self, and one for his friend. During the pending of the 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            171
trial, he took sides with Smith; and  after the decision,
came to the conclusion, or, as I suppose, was told  by
Smith, that the notes could not be collected by law, and
refused to  pay them.    I did not wish to put him to cost,
and  therefore let the business rest, in hopes  he  would
think better of it and pay me according to contract; but
after waiting until the  notes were nearly outlawed, and
he still refusing to pay, I put one of them in suit, and
the action was tried  before  the Boston Police Court.
The defence set  up was, that the contract was void, in
consequence of the failure  of the patent; and also that
there was no value received.
   The trial was before Mr. Justice Orne, and was man-
aged by  Mr. Morse, for the plaintiff, and Mr.  Merrill, for
the defendant.   On this trial, as on all others in which
I have been engaged, there seemed to be the  same fixed
prejudice against me and my system of practice.   The
defendant's lawyer opened  the defence with  all the old
slang about quackery,  alluding to the  report of my trial
for murder, and that he was going  to make out one of
the greatest cases of deception and  fraud ever  known  ;
but when he came to  hear the evidence  in  support of
my claim, and  the  great credit given to my medicine
and practice, by many respectable witnesses,  he  altered
his tone  very much, and I hope became convinced of
his erroneous impressions ; and seemed to  abandon this
part of the defence, placing his dependence on the ques-
tion 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 not affect the patent right; but  was a  mere
suspension, in consequence of an  informality  in the
specifications, which did not debar me from  recovering
according to the contract.   After this  decision, another
hearing was  had,  and another attempt made to prove
that the defendant had not been furnished  by me with
the necessary information to enable  him to practise with
safety;  but in this he  failed altogether; for it was prov-
ed that he  had the privilege of being  a member  of the 
172          Narrative of the Life, Sec.

Friendly Botanic Society, and had also all the advantages
that others had, and that if he did not improve it, it was
his own fault.  It was also proved that he had been in
the constant practice of  using the medicine in his family,
and prepared and offered it for sale  to  others.  In the
course of the examination, Elias Smith was brought for-
ward  by the  defendant, to prove, as I presume, that I
was not capable of giving  information on my own system
of practice; but his  testimony was  so  contradictory, to
say the least of it, that it did more harm than good to the
defendant's cause.   There was also a doctor of the regu-
lar 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 nothing about,
was not of much value,  and was very properly objected
to by  the plaintiff's counsel.
   In  the course of the trial, a great number of gentle-
men   of undoubted  veracity, were  brought forward to
prove the utility of my system of practice, who gave the
most perfect testimony in its favour.   Several stated, '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
whatever would induce them to be deprived of a knowl-
edge of it.  Among the witnesses, an eminent physician
of Boston, who has on all  occasions  been very friendly,
and shown a  warm interest in  support  of my system of
practice, voluntarily came  forward and  gave  a very fair
aud candid statement in favour of its utility, the value of
my discoveries, and the  important additions 1 had made
to the Materia Medica.
   The Judge took several days to make up his judgment,
and  finally decided  in  my  favour,  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, be-
fore   a court of law; having  always before been  pre-
vented by some management of  the court.
   A  knowledge of the  vegetable medicine  that I have
brought into  use in curing the diseases  incident to this 
Of Samuel  Thomson.             173
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 to  its progress.    They have succeeded
in getting a law passed by their Legislature, to put a stop
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 penal
for any one who is not of the regular order, to sell medi-
cine  to the sick ; imposing a fine  of twenty-five dollars
on all who  offend ;  thus taking away from  those  who
are so unfortunate as to be sick, all  the  right of deter-
mining 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 entitled
to great praise.    After they had managed to get  it
through the Legislature, he  refused  to  sign  it, and re-
turned the bill with  his reasons ; the principal of which
was, that he considered  it altogether  unconstitutional ;
and it is to be hoped that the enlightened statesman and
scholar, now Governor of New York,* will use his in-
fluence to stop the interested and monopolizing schemes
of the medical faculty in that important and enterpris-
ing 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, was passing through the State of New York, on
a visit to his friends ;  while in Manlius, he stopped to
see a man whom  I  had authorized to practise, and while

  * The  late  Governor Clinton.
             15* 
174          Narrative of the LifcT Sec.

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 person
was taken advantage of by the doctors, who circulated a
report that she was murdered by  the medicine, that had
been given  her.    This produced a strong excitement
among the people, who knew nothing  about the facts;
a  warrant  was obtained,  through the influence of the
doctors, and my son  and the  other  man  were  arrest-
ed.   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  days, 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 persecu-
tions of the faculty gave him  friends, as it led the people
to inquire into their conduct,  and  being satisfied of their
motives, did all they could to  protect him and  increase
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 ex-
tent; and his success in curing disease has been very
great, having lost  but six patients out of  about  fifteen
hundred.  This has caused the faculty to follow up their
persecutions, in order to drive him out of  the country ;
but he is too firmly established in the good opinion 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
of it  there;  and  a  number  of gentlemen of the first
respectability x are taking a strong interest in promoting
its success.
   A  writer has  lately come  forward  and  published   a
series of numbers in the Boston Patriot, under  the title
of " Eclectic," who appears  well qualified, and seems
disposed to do me and my  system of practice justice,.
by laying  before the people a  correct view of my case. 
                Of Samuel Thomson.            173

  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 every
particular that I thought worthy of  being recorded, in
as concise and plain a manner as  I  was capable ; and
am  not without a hope that  my endeavours to promote
the  public good,  will be duly appreciated.   Some cer-
tificates and statements of cases that  have been attended
under my system of practice, from  those who  have been
my  agents, or who  have  purchased  family rights, and
have  had long experience in  the  effects produced by a
use of my medicine, are subjoined.*  They furnish much
useful information  on the subject,  and  will convey a
more correct view of the success which has attended the
administering my medicine, and following the mode of
treatment recommended by my system of practice, than
could be given in  any other manner.  Reference  has
been  made to some of them  in the  course of the  forego-
ing narrative, and their publication in  the work seemed
necessary, to convey a correct knowledge of many state-
ments therein given, to show the safety 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.

                 Our Family Doctor.
   Few families, particularly in cities, and villages, think
they can do without a family doctor.   But of what use
is a family, other than his own, to  a  doctor, unless there
be  sickness ?  Hence it is for the interest of the  doctor,
if the family are not sick, to make them so.  The family
doctor has too often an opportunity of doing this with im-
punity ;  without detection, and  without even exciting
suspicion.  Even contagion is often spread abroad which
might have been cured by an old,  or even a  young wo-
man at home.
* These certificates are now very much condensed 
176          Narrative of the Life, Sec
  " Behold, how great a matter, a little fire  kindleth !"
James iii. 5.  For example.   A  child is taken with the
belly-ache.   The family doctor is sent for, who  pro-
nounces its  disorder to be  worms, gives  calomel  and
jalap to destroy them, which reduces the child very much.
The next visit, bleeds it, to lay the fever, then gives it a
fever  powder composed of nitre, opium and camphor,
once in two hours.   The patient now lays in a stupid,
senseless posture, with crimson spots on the cheeks, de-
noting  putrefaction.   The doctor  is again sent for in
haste, who now pronounces  it to be  the  putrid fever.
The bleeding is repeated, and the fever powders continu-
ed.   The nerves become convulsed, and the  doctor is
again sent  for, who pronounces the disorder to be the
putrid nervous fever, and that it has become contagious;
the child  dies, the  family, worn out with  fatigue, and
being much alarmed, begin to become sick, and  by the
time the corpse of the  child  is interred, are all down
with the disorder.   The doctor now  has much employ,
the neighbours are called  in  to watch, the putrefaction
runs high ; the neighbours, one after  another, take the
disorder, and return home sick ; the doctor is called,
business gains rapidly in consequence of the same treat-
ment, until the fever has gone through the whole village.
All thank the doctor for his incessant attention and kind-
ness ; and he boasts of wonderful  success, having lost
but fifty out of one hundred and fifty !  His bill is paid
with the greatest satisfaction.   By this time  the doctor
can build his house without sitting down " to count the
cost."   [Pause.]
  What is the cause of all this village sickness?  Re-
member the text.   " Behold  how great a matter a little
fire kindleth."   A child was  taken with the belly-ache;
and had no doctor been known,  the  mother, with  one
gill of pepper and milk, could have cured the child, and
saved all this slaughter of the scourge of a family doctor.
  Is not this  the cause of the spread of so  many conta-
gious  disorders which  prevail unaccounted for ?  If so,
learn wisdom by the evils which others  endure; study
the nature of disease and how to remove it, and never
trust your own life, nor that of a child,  in the  hands of
what is  called a family physician. 
ADDITIONS
 To the Third Edition....August, 1831.

  In the year 1825, " The Friendly Botanical Society
in Boston," being destitute of a practitioner, wished me
to appoint an agent, whom 1 thought competent, to take
the lead in practice, and  sell  my  medicine.   I recom-
mended Mr. John  Locke, of  Portsmouth, as  has  been
before related,  in whom I had  put the utmost confidence.
He was sent for by the committee, and moved here in
the summer of that same  year.  I gave him twenty dol-
lars, and others of the committee, and members  gave
him something  handsome for his encouragement.   I
agreed to furnish him with all  the medicine, either  used
or sold by him, at stipulated prices, to give advice when
needed, to furnish him with books for the sale of family
rights, and to give him ten  dollars for every right sold  ; and
for the medicine, I was to wait one year before demand-
ing payment.   At the end of the  year, my principal
agent, Col. House, ahd the three committee, looked over
Mr. Locke's account, in my  absence, and reported to
me, that in their opinion, Mr. Locke  bad not made  as
much as he ought, and proposed for me to give him the
privilege of making the medicine used in his practice.
I indulged them in this proposal, and granted their re-
quest for one year.  But, availing himself of this inch
of indulgence, he took the liberty to prepare and sell for
his  own profit to all that should call on him   for medi-
cine.   At the end  of this year, in my absence, my  prin-
cipal agent, as committee, gave him liberty  to proceed
in the manner  he  had done.   I continued to give advice
as usual through this year, frequently calling on the  com-
mittee to revoke the liberty they had given  Mr. Locke,
to prepare and  sell my medicine for his own profit, with-
out rendering me any account.  In these two years, by 
178         , Narrative of the Life, Sec.
my assistance, and that of my agent and committee, Mr.
Locke seemed to be well established in the business, and
boasted of his great success, not having lost a patient in
two years.  But at the same time he seemed to lose sight
that I had been any benefit to him, and rather paid his
whole attention to the committee.
  In all this time,  I had never thought or  mistrusted
that there was a plot laid against me, either by him, my
agent, or the  committee, or with all combined, nor until
about the end of the second year, which now  seems but
too obvious.    Having recently returned from the West,
I was at Mr. Locke's house, and showed  him a news-
paper which  contained an account of the  masonic out-
rage at Batavia.   After reading it, he  flew into a great
passion, and accosted me as though I had made the story.
I tried  to argue the case with  him;  but in  vain.   He
called me by  as many hard names as he could well think
of, and occasionally, the  words " lie" and "  fool" were
in the compound.   I did not think that I had merited
such treatment, having rendered him my service and ad-
vice gratuitously, for two years.  He seemed to be so inde-
pendent, that he said that he wanted nothing of me, nor
cared any thing for me.    I retorted that I wanted noth-
ing of him except an honourable settlement.   This set-
tlement never came to a close until the fall of the year
1830, and then only in  part.   He rendered an account
of upwards of forty rights which he  had  sold, and  for
which he settled by my deducting about one  quarter of
my share; but as for  the medicine which he has pre-
pared and sold for his own benefit,  he refuses to give me
any account thereof.   So much for this inch of indul-
gence.   Such conduct appears to me to be rather hard,
especially after all I and the society had done for him, to
enable him to assist me  in my old  age.   But instead of
this, with the assistance of the committee, and my prin-
cipal agent, they have taken the lead of the business out
of my hands  as far.as they were able to do it.
  I have tried repeatedly to get a  settlement with  Col.
House, my principal agent, but cannot effect it.  He has
paid me nothing for the large number of rights sold in
about ten years, nor will he render  any account.  I know
not how many books he has sold, as he took them when- 
Of Samuel Thomson.            179
ever he wanted, in my absence.  When I called on him
last to settle, he said he had  lost his  account  of credit.
Here is the result of ten years agency !  Besides which,
I lent him and his  partner, ten years ago, two hundred
dollars, one of which he has paid in  printing, the other
he refuses to pay.  I might mention many other circum-
stances which would  go to  show a decided hostility
against me, and a determination to raise Mr.  Locke, if
possible,  at my expense; but I forbear,  for they  have
neither built him up, nor put me down.   I have paid no
attention to all this opposition;  but  have kept  on in a
straight forward  course, attending to the preparing of
good medicine  and  supplying all those who  wished
for it.
   I have thought much on the  opposition and abuse I
have met with here from those whom I considered my
best friends, and what I could have done to  merit  it in
their estimation.    I will not undertake to say how  far
masonry has been  concerned in these transactions, but
certain I am that it commenced with  Mr. Locke, on my
innocently showing him a newspaper which  contained
an account of a masonic outrage.  I  thought  no more
harm in this than as though  I had showed him a paper
which contained an account of the murder of Mr. White.
Did Mr. Locke resent  this because  he was a mason ?
And why did my  agent  and committee  from  this time
possess such sympathy for him, and conspire against me,
insomuch that when  an  Infirmary was talked of, they
would not subscribe a cent unless Mr. Locke  could be
at the head of it?  I think  that my agent and two  of
the committee  are masons, and  that  Mr. Locke is a
mason, if so, four out of five  against me  were  masons,
and whether masonry has had any effect on  the  mind
and conduct of these gentlemen, I shall leave the  rea-
der and the public to draw their own  conclusions.  It is
to be hoped that the good people who belonged to the
society, which the  president and committee have suffer-
ed to be broken up by not calling the annual  meeting,
for the choice of officers  agreeably to the constitution ;
the good people who took no part in the  above transac-
tions, and who have had  no part in  the  destruction  of
the society, will make every effort for its resuscitation, 
180
Narrative of the Life, Sec.
hoping that it will die no more; bat that it will live to be
useful to the  sick and infirm, and  be an ornament to
generations yet unborn.
  It is expected that arrangements will  be made for the
delivery  of Botanic lectures, when the society will re-
vive and  put on strength until the learned, as well as the
unlearned, shall join to revolutionize the medical world.
  I shall not go  into any  further particular  details of
agents, but only take a general view in the western parts
of the United States.
  Since  my last edition was printed in  Boston, I have
been  six times m and through the State of Ohio.   In
the year 1825, I appointed Charles Miles, as agent in
Ohio, and furnished him  with  seventy-two  books for
family rights.  On his way home he purchased a number
of counterfeit books, of David Rogers, of Geneva, I un-
derstood about one hundred, more or less.    He  went
down into the central  part of the State, and in the course
of eighteen months,  sold  about ten thousand  dollars
worth of rights, and  imposed on the inhabitants at a
great rate.   Some he sold for seventy-five dollars, some
twenty-five, others twelve, and he would  leave but one
book  for four rights.    When  he came round again,  he
would borrow my book and leave the other, and sell my
book  again to another set of four or five: and so con-
tinued until he had sold all mine, and nearly all the others.
In the fall of 1826, Horton Howard caused  a letter  to
be sent to me, giving an account of Miles' conduct, and
requesting  me to come on to see about it.   I arrived in
January, 1827, and,  following after Miles, I found his
conduct  to be as  had  been  stated.   I published hand-
bills,  and otherwise showing that he  had no authority
from  me to do as he  had done.   I revoked  his agency,
and pacified the rage of the people as well as I could, by
restoring the  family right to those to whom  he had  so
improperly  sold it, and besides this, I  lost a great part
of what he owed me.
  In January of the same year, I made Horton Howard
agent for the Western country, with authority to print
my  book, and in three and a half years he had printed
about six thousand copies, and sold about four thousand
rights, with the assistance of his sub-agents, amounting 
Of Samuel  Thomson. •           181
 in all to about eighty thousand dollars.   I tried at several
 different times  to come to an honourable settlement with
 him, until August, 1830, at which time  he  utterly refus-
 ed to give me an account from  the beginning.   I then
 had but one alternative, either to bring an action against
 him in the court of chancery, or else take what  he  was
 willing to give.  I chose the latter, by which I sacri-
 ficed about seven-eighths of what should have been com-
 ing  to me.   I took his notes for four thousand dollars,
 in  two annual payments,  two thousand  dollars each
 year.   I revoked his  agency  in  two days afterwards,
 August 9, 1830, and appointed four other  agents in his
 stead, and took about two thousand copies of books, and
 left  them  with my other agents.
   The practice has spread rapidly in the  southern  and
 western States, which  has so much alarmed the doctors,
 that they have succeeded in getting laws  passed, in al-
 most all the States, to prevent the  spread of my practice.
 This has caused me a great deal of trouble and expense,
 and has been of no great benefit \o them.    It has been
 like whipping fire  among the leaves, which only tends
 to spread it the faster.   The law is most severe in South
 Carolina, where a suit was attended two years ago.  The
 fine is five  hundred dollars for each offence, besides im-
 prisonment.   This violent  outrage roused the patriotic
 spirit of the people, insomuch that the doctor who brought
 the complaint dared not come before the court to support
 it, and requested of the court leave of absence, which
 was granted him.  The defence was made on the ground
 of the patent, and by  proving  the utility of the  medi-
 cine ;  and the case was decided in favour of the defend-
 ant.    If persecutions  must take  place, let persecutors
 go the whole extent of their power, as in the present
 case,  and  the  rights of the people will  be defended.
 Had I not obtained a patent, the people could not have
 defended their rights ;  but must have bowed down to the
 power of the doctors, they having the law on their side,
 as to a dagon.
  But the dernier resort of the  doctors will  be to get my
 practice intq  their own hands, and under their own man-
agement, if possible.'  Finding  that I should succeed in
my Botanic practice, certain individuals of them have
             16 
182          Narrative of the Life, Sec.

set up what they call a reformed college, in New York,
where  they  have adapted my practice  as  far as they
could obtain a knowledge of it from  those who  had
bought the right of me, and would forfeit their word and
honour to give them  instruction.    And  finding that the
Botanic practice gained  very fast at the West, they have
established a branch of their reformed college in Worth-
ington, Ohio.   I saw Dr. Steel, last winter, who is the
President of that Institution, I was introduced  to him
by Mr. Sealy, a  member of the  Senate, and Dr. Steel
was  introduced to me as President  of said college.   I
asked him if he was President of that reform which was
stolen from Thomson, in New York.   This seemed  to
strike him dumb on the  subject.   At  the same place, a
few  evenings after, I was introduced to one of the prac-
titioners under this reform, who studied and was educat-
ed at the college in  New York, and was one of  the in-
structers at  Worthington.  I asked him if he ever saw
any  of my books in the college in New York.  He said
he  had accidentally  seen one there.    I  replied, then
you  accidentally confess that my books were studied in
that college.  I then asked him whether they used the
lobelia.   He said they did.  I then named the cayenne,
rheumatic drops, bayberry and nerve powders.  He con-
fessed  they  used them all in manner and form, as I had
laid down in my books,   lam therefore, satisfied that if
my  medicine were  taken from  them, their Institution
 would not be worth one cent.   But, to  have bought the
right,  would have been too mean for  such  dignitaries;
 but, to steal it from  a quack, was, perhaps, in their esti-
 mation, much more  honourable! ! !  Every honest man
who hears  any of the  doctors speak of those  colleges
 with approbation, ought to upbraid them with these facts.
   In 1827,  while instructing H. Howard, of whom men-
 tion has been made  above, I was introduced to Governor
 Trimble, and gave  him  a right.  He had a consumptive
 wife, whom the doctors  could not  help.  I gave him a
 sample of medicine, and what instruction I could.  He
 went home, and finding  her  worse, and no person  un-
 derstanding the medicine within fifty miles, he took the
 book and carried her through a course,  and repeated it;
 and she soon got well.   His  wife  and  nurse cured two 
Of Samuel Thomson.            183
other women with the same sample of medicine I gave'
him.   The enemies of the practice, said that they should
advertise him as a steam doctor.   He said they need not
take that trouble, for he would do it himself.
   The practice has gained  a respectable standing in
nearly all the States in the  Union, and  also in Canada.
A man by the name of Henry S. Lavvson, has published
my Guide to Health, in Buffalo, and sold them in Canada;
and thus made a great speculation from my discoveries.
   In 1829,  Mr. Samuel Robinson, delivered before  the
members of the Friendly Botanical Society, in  Cincin-
nati, Ohio,  a series  of fifteen  lectures  on  " Medical
Botany,"  denominated the Thomsonian system of prac-
tice.   He is entitled to much credit for this service done
to the system.   Those lectures were  delivered without
my knowledge, being at the time a thousand miles from
that place.   Horton Howard obtained them, while act-
ing as my agent,  paid for them out of my money, secur-
ed the copy right in his own name, and printed an edition
of them, which he sold for his own benefit.  This book
gave a great spread to the sale of rights".   I have since
secured the copy rijht in Boston, and printed an edition
of two thousand  copies, which are' selling from fifty to
sixty-two and a half cents a copy.  They contain much
information, relative  to  the  practice  of  medicine,  as
taught in medical colleges, and found in medical authors;
not to be found elsewhere in  so small  and so cheap a
work.
   During the agency of Horton  Howard, to wit, in July,
1829, while I was at Columbus,  he  returned  from  the
South, and was so unwell  that he wrote  to his  wife at
Tiffin,  about eighty-four miles, that  if she ever wished
to see him  alive, to come without delay.   I  attended
him the next day through  a  thorough  course  of medi-
cine, and relieved him, insomuch that I have not heard
of his being  sick  since.  His  wife arrived in about four
days, when, finding him about house, and well, she took
him around the neck and burst into tears.   I retorted in
her behalf, saying, "you are not half so bad as I hoped
you would be."   This tended to dry  her  tears, and it
passed off with a  laugh.   The  next day we all calcu-
lated to go North, towards the lake.   The day before 
184          Narrative of the Life, Sec.
we were to start, about twelve o'clock, he had word that
Iris son-in-law, Samuel Forrqw, was at the point of death,
and requested that some  of the family would come  as
soon as possible.    Mr. Howard and wife concluded to
go, and insisted on my going with them.   I with much
reluctance consented,   We started at three o'clock, on
Friday, with  two horses and a  wagon, and arrived there
on  Saturday, about sun-set,  a  distance  of eighty-six
miles.  Mr. Horton drove all  the  way, night and  day,
notwithstanding  he was calculating to die about five or
six days before.  We  found Mr. Forrow very sick ;  but
one of the patent doctors was  there.  I  gave him  but
little that  night, merely a pinch of  cayenne,  as snuff,  as
he had the catarrh,  and was much stuffed on the lungs.
In the morning, Sunday,  I  carried  him through a course
of medicine,  which roused the opium, that remained in
his system, into action, as though it had  been but just
taken.  He tumbled and  thrashed  about in his  frenzy
for about four hours, when  he  became composed.   He
was then steamed,  when the medicine operated,  which,
together with the heat, roused the  physic into  action,
which run him hard with a relax.   I tried to restore the
digestive powers, but could not on  account of his  not
being clear.  I was obliged to carry him through a second
course in  thirty-six  hours, instead  of going forty-eight,
as I had calculated.   We began with him at dark.  But
as'soon as the medicine took  hold  ofthe opium, it  re-
newed its operation, which continued eight hours.   His
relatives stood on their feet, about ten  in number, ex-
pecting to see him die before  morning.   I lay down on
the floor until the flounce began to  abate.   During  six
hours there was not one second that he  was still.   He
continually called for  water, and drank about ten quarts
in the course of  the night.   About three o'clock in the
morning,  he  began to be  a little stiller, resting  two or
three seconds at a  time.   He began to inquire who those
black people  were, which  he  fancied  were there, and
what they were there  for,  and many other  similar  ex-
pressions, which showed that his senses  were returning,
but were not  yet regular.   I then told Mr. Howard and
the family, that they had  better go  to bed, and I would
attend him, with one of his sisters, the remainder of the 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            185
ni^ht.   The medicine then began to operate, after the
opium had all distilled off.   He vomited powerfully about
eight times,  when he appeared to be clear of disorder.
I filled him well with  milk-porridge, and  was in readi-
ness to steam  him when  the  family arose.   He was
steamed, ate breakfast, and rode out in the course ofthe
day.   I  prepared a  syrup for  his relax, of the black
cherry root  bark, made  into a  strong tea, as strong as
the same quantity of  bark pounded would  make ;  I then
added pench or cherry stone meats pounded, then added
one pound of loaf sugar, and one pint of brandy, which
made two junk bottles of syrup, to drink on  the  way.
On Wednesday, about ten o'clock, Mr. Howard and wife,
 Mr. Forrow and wife, and myself, started for Columbus,
and staid at Wanesville that night, about fourteen miles.
He stood the ride well, as air  and exercise, wuen the
disorder is removed, are as necessary for patients as their
food.  Ho  was persuaded to stay on Thursday.   On
Friday we travelled to Charlcstown, about thirty miles,
and arrived at  Columbus  on Sunday about noon.   In
the  afternoon,  Gov. Trimble,  paid him  a visit, taking
great interest in his welfare.   Mr. Forrow was a noted
man in the State, being a surveyor and superintendant
of the Dayton  Canal.   The  governor seemed  highly
pleased at the unexpected recovery of the  man, and the
more particularly when I told him that it  was just one
week that day since I administered to him on a suppos-
ed  dying bed,  and  that  he had since  been conveyed
eighty-six miles in a wagon, and was able to walk about,
and was clear of disease.   He staid at Columbus but
fvo days, when he went on with Mr. Howard to  Tiffin,
about as much further, and arrived safe in four days, his
health still gaining.    I  staid there with him about four
days, and then  started across the woods to New Ha van.
He paid me  twenty-five dollars ;  but  I would  not have
taken the risk again for five hundred.    In fact  it was
risking my ovvn life to save his.
  Thus 1 have  given a few prominent items, though but
a small proportion of my  experience, sufferings, perplex-
ities and difficulties,  since  the  second edition  of this
work was published.   But much of that which operated
to my disadvantage, as an  individual, served  to  extend
             16* 
186          Narrative of the Life, Sec
the knowledge and practice of the system.   This gives
me consolation in the midst of all my trials;  and con-
sidering the Botanical practice as being now well  estab-
lished, I think it is time for me to retire from the field
of contest  and  war  with either  learned  ignorance  or
legal opposition.
   I have collected.about three hundred weight  of the
golden seal the year  past, and a  large quantity of cay-
enne from the island of Madagascar ;  nearly three tons.
I have sent to  the  southern States nearly twenty bar-
rels, floured, which is a great help in the  agues  of that
country.
   And here it is proper to remark, that great impositions
are practised on what is called  the American cayenne.
The doctors have declared it to.be poison, ami destruc-
tive to health, and I  think they have made it  as  bad as
they have represented it to be.    It appears to be mixed
with some red paint or mineral.   When  burnt, it leaves
about  two-thirds of the quantity, of the blackest  sub-
stance.  When taken inwardly, it produces violent vom-
iting, and ought to be shunned as a mad dog.   There
is but little or none  sold at the  groceries for ordinary
purposes but of this kind.  The  only safe way to detect
the poison, is to try it by burning.  If it be pure, there
will be a proportion  of ashes as of other vegetables, and
of a light colour ;  if it be bad, the ashes will not only be
black, but there will be double, and perhaps  tribble or
quadruple  the quantity there should be  for the quantity
burnt.
A brief summary of  the  Certificates and Statements
      which accompanied the two former editions.

  The  system  and practice of Dr.  Samuel Thomson
having been so long before the  public, and  the  numer-
ous certificates given  in  the two first editions of  hia
Narrative being so well known  and understood, it is
thought not expedient to give them here in full;  but only
the substance of them abridged, and in lieu thereof, to
add some new and more recent cases.—Ld. 3d ed. 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            187
  Of the cases already published, it  is proper to men-
tion that of the Dysentery,  in Jericho, Vermont,  in
October,  1807, where but two out of twenty-two, lived,
that were under the care ofthe regular physicians.  Dr.
 Thomson was  sent for,  130  miles;  he arrived in five
days;  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.   Testified  by
 John  Porter.  A case of Salt Rheum, of thirty years
 standing, cured in Portsmouth, May, 1813.   Certified
 by Elizabeth Marshall.   The case of Spotted Fever,
 in  Eastham, county of Barnstable, Mass. where upwards
 of forty had died by the 1st of May, and  but  few lived
 who had the fever.   Dr. Thomson was called on for  as-
 sistance ;  sold the right of using his medicine to several
. individuals, who, in one  month,  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.  Testified by Philander Shaw, Minis-
 ter of Eastham; Obed Knowles, one of the Selectmen;
 Samuel Freeman,  Do. ;   Harding Knowi.es, Justice
 of the Pence, and Joseph Mayo, Ageut for the Socie-
 ty, and Post  Master.  A case of Rheumatism, of long
 standing, and many others, more  than twelve of a con-
 sumption, one of mortification, one. of a "dropsy, one of
 numb-palsy, and others of divers diseases, testified by
 Alexander  Rice, Kittery, Nov. 20, 1821.
    Five cases of consumption, supposed  to be desperate,
 were relieved in the course of three  weeks, and all of
 them restored to health.   A case of the dropsy, consid-
 ered  hopeless, was cured in one  week.   Testified by
  John Burgi.v, Jerry Biirgin, and Solomon Rice, East-
 port, July 20, 1321.   The character and respectability
 of the  above witnesses  are  confirmed by J.  R. Chad-
  bourne, Justice of Peace.   The  case of  Seth Mason,
  Portland, whose case was truly a desperate one, and his
  recovery  exceeded  all expectation.   Also,  the  case of
  Mrs. Sally Keating, of the same place, who, after being
 doctored  a whole year by the first physician in Portland,
  had been given over as incurable.    She was recovered 
188          Narrative of the Life, Sec

to an excellent .state of health.   Testified by S. Sewell,
Scarborough, Jan. 1, 1822.  Several other similar cases
are testified by S. Sewell, not necessary to  be  here par-
ticularized.   A number of cases, several of which, the
patients were given over as incurable by the regular phy-
sicians, were-all  relieved and cured by Dr. Thomson, as
testified by Jabez  True,  Elder of the Baptist Church
in Salisbury, Dec. 5, 1821.
  The case of Elder  Bolles was a very extraordinary
one.    He was supposed  to be in the very last stage of
a consumption, and was  cured.   John  Lemmon wan
also cured of a consumption;  Isaac Perkins'wife was
cured of a dropsy of.a desperate nature; all  of which
cures are  testified by William  Raymond, who  says, "all
these cures I was well knowing to, having been done at
that time ;"  which statement is also  confirmed  by Rev.
E. Williams, not only as it regards Elder  Bolles, but
also  as  it regards  Ezra Lovett, on  account of whose
death, Dr. Thomson was indicted for murder, and tried
for his life, about a year afterwards ; but he  was hon-
ourably acquitted, without  having an occasion, or even
an opportunity of making his defence.  Mr. Lovett was
first relieved, then experienced a relapse of his disorder,
in consequence of taking cold, by walking out  some dis-
tance on  a very cold  day, in the month  of December.
Dr. Thomson was sent for; but on seeing him, he im-
mediately  expressed doubts of his  being able to help
him.   He gave him medicine which  had no effect;  and
two respectable physicians were sent for, and came, un-
der whose care he was  twelve hours before he died.  Yet
such was the malice and prejudice of the doctors, that
they  seized upon  this case, and tried  to make it out
murder, in order to destroy both  Dr.  Thomson and his
practice.
  Next follows a  long statement of the diseases  and
manner of treatment, by Dr. Thomson's system and di-
rections, and the benefit received under the administra-
tion of his  medicine ; by Stephen Neal, Esq. of  Eliot,
Maine.    A similar statement by John  Raitt,  of the
same place, Eliot, Nov. 28, 1821.
  The case of Mary Eaton, which was  a dropsy,  had
been pronounced hopeless by a consultation of  four doc- 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            189
tors.   She continued, however, under  the care of Dr.
Sheppard, until he said her complaint  was  beyond the
reach of medicine, and that she could not continue over
three weeks.   At this time, May, 1808, she says, " I
went to see Dr. Thomson, and in three  weeks I was re-
duced about fifteen inches in bigness.   I returned home
and have gained until this day ;  and am now  enjoying
a better state of health than  I had before  enjoyed for
sixteen years."    (Signed) Mary Eaton, Exeter, Nov.
20,  1821.
   An extraordidary  case of  Asthma, of Mrs.  Hannah
Coleman, who had applied to  six physicians without re-
ceiving  any beneficial effect, by using  Dr.  Thomson':"
medicine, she was enabled to lay in bed and rest com-
fortably  for twelve years, as  testified  by her  husband,
Ephraim Coleman, Ncwington, Doc. 3, 1821.
   A young man in Roxbury, who from some cause un-
known,  had  taken ratsbane  with the  intention of de-
stroying himself, was so  relieved that the next morning
he was quite comfortable.  Dr. P.  who had been called,
said there was no more chance for him  to live than there
would be if his head  were cut off.   After he was reliev-
ed, Dr. P. called to see him and expressed  great aston-
ishment that he was alive, saying that there was not one
case in a thousand that a man could live under similar
circumstances.   Testified by Elijah  Simons, who ad-
ministered the medicine  that  gave relief, and  who says,
" I attended him three or four days, and he is now so
far recovered as to walk about  the room."   Roxbury,
Feb. ltd, 1821.
                Additional Testimony.           v
   AlthouTh there is  no real  occasion to add  any more
testimony" by way of certificates, yet as my case is more
recent, and my name may have  some weight,  I feel it a
dutv I owe to the public, as well as to  Dr.  Thomson, to
state it, which I do as editor of the present edition of
Dr. Thomson's works, 1831.
   I have for many years been opposed to, and latterly
very much prejudiced against, every thing which  savor-
ed of quackery, which prejudices were  greatly strength-
ened by having once been egregiously  imposed upon by
a quack doctor, (I forbear giving his name for his rela- 
190          Narrative of the Life, Sec.
tions  sake, though  he is now not living,) of whom I
bought the skill, as  he  said, of  curing  cancers;  but
which proved to be nothing but a gross imposition on the
public; hence, after trying the experiment on  several,
without effect,  though it  would effectually remove tu-
mours not cancerous, I declined  the practice altogether,
lost my trouble, together  with what 1 had  paid for  the
skill,  besides experiencing the  mortification of having
been  thus duped by a man void of principle and  moral
honesty.
   It  was  under these feelings, that the  Thomsonian
system was first recommended for my daughter  who had
what  had been first  called a white swelling, then a fever
sore,  but lastly, by Dr. Thomson, a mercury sore, on her
arm,  in the  elbow  joint,  for  nearly  four years.   The
best encouragement she could get from the regular phy-
sicians was, either to  have it amputated to save life, or
(which was the advice of  Dr. Warren) to lay by entire-
ly and not to use it.   She thought she should be in  a
manner useless herself, without  her arm;  for it was her
right  arm, and if she was not to use  it, she might  lose
it almost as well as  not.    Under these impressions she
was induced  to  try the Thomsonian system, under the
direction of Mrs. Holman.  It was soon found  to have a
salutary effect. , In a very  few weeks  it was better than
it had been before for more than three years.   A great
part of the time her arm had been so stiff that she could
not raise her hand to  her head.  It is now entirely well,
and her general  health much improved ; better than  it
has been for  a number of  years ; for  she  has been  sick
every few years with fevers, or with what was called the
liver complaint, ever since she had the typhus  fever in
1812, when  she was  but  a child.   The favourable re-
sult the medicine  had on her, softened  the prejudices
very much, which I  had, till then, entertained against
it; though they were not entirely removed, nor was she
entirely well, when  I  was  attacked with  the  fever  and
ague, which I considered  but a presage to the  return of
the fever I had last  fall, which I  caught in  travelling on
the Erie Canal, and from  which  I did but  just recover.
After the second attack with the ague, I was taken down
with  the bilious fever,  and  was more violently seized 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            191
than I was last fall ;  and had I received the same treat-
ment which I did then, I have no idea that I could have
recovered, as my fever-at that time  run twelve days be-
fore  it formed  a crisis; and then it was three weeks after
that, before 1  was  able  to be about"   But  under the
Thomsonian system, the crisis was formed in  just about
forty hours from the time I commenced taking the medi-
cine ; at which time, I lay, as I have been informed, for
I could  not measure the time, seven or eight hours in an
entirely  unconscious state;  after which  I fell into  a
sweet sleep, and  awoke  in  the  morning free from all
fever, and have had none since.
   After about ten  days, however,  the  chills returned;
but  without any fever, which I had regularly every other
day  for  four or five weeks.   To wear out these,  I pursu-
ed the regular courses of medicine, every few days', not
omitting injections, as often  as  I felt  any  occasion for
them, till the chills left me entirely, and I am now happy
to say that I am not aware that I have any disease about
me,  or that I ever enjoyed better health.  All, therefore,
that my life is now worth to me, and all that I  am now
enjoying, or shall hereafter enjoy, I  must impute, in the
first instance,  to the Thomsonian system, together with
the  skill  and  faithfulness  with  which  it was applied;
which,  it is but justice to say, in the  most critical mo-
ment, the  medicine that apparently saved  my life, was
applied  by Mrs.  Holman ; for  although Dr. Thomson
had  been sent for in the night, yet before he arrived the
danger  was in a manner over.
   Whether the  relapse  I took was  in consequence of
taking cold, or in consequence of the mercury and other
poisons which I  had formerly taken, and from which my
system  was not entirely cleansed, I shall not  undertake
to say ;  the doctor says, the latter ;  I  have only stated
the facts as I felt and experienced them; and should  it
be the means of giving others confidence to try the sys-
tem  in the most  difficult cases, it will answer the object
I have in view  in thus making them more publicly known.
It is true, the pain of the disease, or of the operation of
the medicine,  or of both, was at first most excruciating ;
but this did not discourage me from trying it again, when
I took a relapse; and the operation  became  more and 
192          Narrative of the Life, Sec.

more mild, as the disease went off, till it was attended
with but very little inconvenience.
                             ABNER KNEELAND.
                      NOTICE.

   I hereby appoint Abner Kneeland, editor of the
 Boston  Investigator,  Agent,  generally, but  not exclu-
 sively, throughout the United States, to receive and an-
 swer my letters, to sell the  Rights to my Botanical Sys-
 tem of Practice in  Medicine, and my Books containing
 a Narrative of my Life and System  of Practice, and to
 attend to all matters and things expressed or implied in
 the  above  agency, especially during my  absence, the
 lame as I should or could do if present, and  the agenciei
 of E.  G. House and John Locke, are  hereby revoked.
                             SAMUEL  THOMSON.


                   TO THE PUBLIC.
  Thk Subscriber  having been appointed Aeont for Dr. Samuel
 Thomson, as above stated, all letters intended for the  Doctor, may bo
 addressed cither to him or to the Subscriber, as all the  Doctor's letters
 come into the box of the Investigator, and of course into the hands of
Ihe Subscriber, who will keep family Rights, with the  Books contain-
 ing the System of Practice constantly for sale at the Investigator Of-
 fice, Merchants'  Hall, Congress Streetj and who will appoint sub-
 agents, with the advice and consent of the Doctor, when, ancf wherever
 they shall be thought necessary, and as soon as he can make arrange-
 ments for the  purpose, will also keep the Medicine for sale at the
 same prices, and as low as it ran be bought of the Patentee, and the
 patronage in this line, which the public are disposed to give, will be
 gratefully received by the public's obedient servant,
                                   ABNER KNEELAND.

          PATENT BOTANICAL MEDICINE.
  Prepared and sold by the Patentee, and MARY GOODRICH, Wo.
4, Clark Street; also bv JOHN MARSH & CO. Nos.  96 & 98,  State
 Street j AMOS B. PARKER, No. 18, Dock Square, and ELIAKIM
DARLING, No. 52, Salem Street.
   Thomson's Wine Bitters,
        "      Composition Powders,
        "      Rheumatic Drops,
        «*      Vegetable  Pills,  &c.
   Best of Cayenne,
   Also, Books and Family Rights. 
sisr^pipaiasassra
        To the Third Edition of the Narrative,

Containing  some new remarks which may be pleasing, if not
  profitable, to the reader ; and add to  the bigness of the book,
  if not to the stock of knowledge.
                  Cultivation of Bees.
   As honey adds to the quality of medicine, as well as to
 enrich our food, I think a short  treatise  on this subject
 may add one particle to the stock of useful knowledge.
   About twenty years of my life, from the age  of from
 thirty to fifty years, I  attended  to  the keeping of bees.
 I  had a good farm, and used to calculate that  the profits
 of a swarm of bees was as much as that of a cow.
   After about fifteen years, 1 found that there was some
 lack on my part to enable them  to  be  as industrious as
 was their  nature  and  disposition ;  as it  is obvious to
 every person who has paid any attention  to the subject,
 as well as my own observation, that during the  heat of
 the summer, and  at  a time when the  white clover is
 mostly in  bloom,  from which  more  honey is obtained
 than all the other flowers  of the field, that a great part
 of the bees are on the outside of the hive, and are idle.
 I then took the matter  into consideration, to ascertain
 the cause why so industrious an  insect as the bee should
 be idle in the best part of the season for making honey;
 and I found the fault to be  in their owner, not in the
 bees.   I had made their hive much  too small, being only
 large  enough for a quart of bees, when I had put in a
 swarm of nearly half  a bushel ;  so  that their  hive was
 nearly one  third  full  of bees,  and thereby prevented
 them  from  having room to work.   The space which was
small  at first, was soon filled with honey, and  the  bees
that had no room were crowded on the outside, to give
room  for the rest.  Hence the cause of all this idleness.
              17 
194          Narrative of the Life, Sec
   In the fall of the year, the owner of bees will try the
weight of his hives, and if in any one he thinks there is
not honey enough to winter the bees, he will take them
up, and thus  save  from five to ten pounds  of honey ;
when at the same time, if the owner had made the hive
large enough, so that all would  have had room to work,
they would have made from fifty to a hundred pounds  of
honey;  would have had enough to  live on through the
winter, or, if taken up, would have  been a valuable prize
to the owner.    This  mode  of raising bees is too much
like the labour of mankind.  A few industrious ones la-
bour,  and many lazy  or idle  ones help eat up all'the
profits; and if any starve, or are taken  up,  the  Indus-
trious ones suffer as much as any;  with mankind,  gen-
erally, more.  But  to remedy this evil with bees, is much
easier than to remedy it with mankind.
   A few of the last years of my keeping bees, I made
some improvement,  in order to aid and assist this profita-
ble insect in the making of honey.   I did it in the fol-
lowing manner.   Instead of making  my hives to  hold
from a  bushel  to  a bushel and a half, I made  the  first
to hold three  bushels, and  put in  a  swarm  from one
of my small hives, and made my observations.    I noticed
in the summer,  that there were no idle bees.   In the fall,
I found it heavy, but not full.   They  wintered  well.
The next season, they worked well; but did not swarm.
This hive did so well, I put a swarm into a  four bushel
hive this season.  They worked well until fall,  at which
time I found the other  large  .hive, which had the work
of two seasons,  full.   I had  previously learned that one
good hog of eighteen months old, was worth  more  than
three shoats at six months old.    I  concluded to try the
same rule with the  bees.   I  took  up  the old hive, and
took out  160  pounds  weight of the handsomest comb I
ever saw.   I followed the same plan with the other large
hive, and at eighteen months old, I  found that  full  also.
I then took it up, and took out two hundred weight  of
honey, equal to  the other.   In this way  I was .satisfied
that by putting a swarm into  a large hive every year, and
have one to take up. was as much better than  to  make
small  hives, as to have one good  hog instead of two  or
three shoats. 
Of Samuel Thomson.-           195
  I did not try the experiment long enough to know to
what extent this mode of cultivating bees might be car-
ried.  But  I  am  satisfied that if I had kept either of
those swarms over, after they were full, that I should not
only have had  a  swarm from  that hive, but that they
would  have .iiled  one of equal size the first  season.
Then by increasing the size  of the hive to that of the
swarm, and keeping but a few  swarms, they may be all
equally good.  But be careful not  to overstock ;  for bees
may be starved in this way as well as other stock.
   I will here relate an anecdote,  which may  be of use
to some.    At the time of my  taking up my  first large
hive, we asked some  neighbours  in, to eat honey.   I
gave  away about  one hundred weight of honey, with
biscuit and butter answerable.   Before the season came
round, I bought a few pounds in presence of one of the
men who partook most liberally ofthe bounty.   He ask-
ed, "Have you got rid of all your honey?"  I  replied,
" Yes."  " Why," said he, " you should not have been
such a fool as to have given it all  away."  Here I made
a notch in my memory.  The next fall I took up my bees,
and carried honey  enough to  Walpole, to fetch  ten dol-
lars.  This I thought better than to be twitted for giving
it away.   However, in the  course of the fall, I was in
company with  the  same man; he asked, " Have you
taken up your bees?"  "Yes," was the answer.   He
rejoined, "And did you ask  in the .neighbours to eat
honey V  My answer was, " No;  I carried it to Walpole
and sold it."   He replied, " Why, they say  you are a
hog for not asking them."  I replied,  " You have learn-
ed me a  lesson, which I had  not  thought of;  when I
gave my honey all away, I was a fool;  and when I kept
it, I was a hog; therefore, unless  I am  a hog  at  least
half of the time, I cannot live."   The conclusion is this.
When a  man begins the world, if he  means  to escape
censure, he must observe a proper  medium  between be-
ing a  hog  and a fool, in the  estimation of his neigh-
bours, but  if he has any thing which to them will be as
sweet as  honey, he must not keep  all, nor give all away.
   Question.   Why is  an industrious man  in old age,
like a hive  well filled with honey, in  the fall of the
year ? 
196
Narrative of the Life,  Sec.
  Answer.    Because all the drone bees who have been
idle  all summer, in  time  of harvest wish to eat  as
much honey in winter as those who laid it up.   The
old man, when he  comes to be  past labour,  sees  his
children  and grand-children hover  round him, to suck
the honey the old  man  has earned ;  and they are very
apt to inquire of each other  how  much  the old man is
worth ; begin  to try the weight  of  his  iron  chest, or
wherever he keeps  his money, as the owner  does his  bee
hives, and say, in a low voice, " Don't you think he  has
about done gaining?  1  fear he  will begin  to spend on
the interest, if not on the capital.  Now would be a good
time to take him up, if it could be done  and not expose
ourselves."   But the lesson of Mr.  White, in Salem,
who  was taken up for the same purpose,  will be a hard
lesson to all such, during the present generation at least.
What then is best to be done ?  I  know of no better way
than to let old people live as long as they can, and let them
be as comfortable as they can, while  they live; for not-
withstanding the natural disposition of men, generally, is
nearly the  same, the risk in taking up old  men prema-
turely, like taking up  bees for the sake of their  honey, is
much greater than  the risk that  they will live, naturally,
to spend all their earnings.
  Every thing^s in motion ;  all  our hopes  are in pros-
pect, moving onward,  nothing backward.   The inquiry
is, ''How  much will father leave for us?" not "what
shall we do for our parents?"  Hence it is wisdom,  if.a
man has it, to keep  enough in  his own hands, for his
own  wants, and not to rely too much on  the goodness of
any  one, even his own children.
     When to set Fruit Trees, and lose no growth.
   About the middle  of October, trees have generally
done growing for  that season;  yet they are still green
And full of leaves.   Taken up at this time, which is the
most proper time, they will  become well rooted before
spring.   It will  be necessary to  cut round and take up
as much dirt as you conveniently  can, and set the root
well down in the ground, and pack it  close, so that the 
Of Samuel  Thomson.             197
wind will not shake them.  A stake  may be useful until
they become well rooted.   If the. weather is dry, they
should be watered often, for a few days.   As soon as
they will stand all day,  without wilting, they are out of
danger.   They will get so rooted before spring, as to
lose no growth ; but will grow just as well as though they
had not been moved.    They  are  the  most sure, if set
when small.
     Bad consequences of Stoves in Tight Rooms.
   I  visited a  friend in  Vermont, whose daughter was
unwell;  her bed was near a large stove  in  the  kitchen,
where the work of the house was done.  While the
doors were frequently opened, during the day, there ap-
peared no bad effects from the dry air;  but at  evening,
when the house was shut, the  young woman grew much
distressed, and about ten o'clock, she had a violent con-
vulsion fit, and continued at intervals through the night.
I was satisfied that the stove was the cause, or the dry
air from  it; but  I  could not convince the family  that
such was the fact.    I  tried to have her removed out of
the room, and I succeeded in the  course  of  the day.
Her senses were gone, and her recollection  did not re-
turn for some  days.  The cause I  attribute to the water
being dried out of  the air, and her  glands grew dry by
inhaling the dry gas.   In a  healthy state we throw off
moisture with  the  breath, and  inhale as much more from
the atmosphere.   This  keeps the lungs refreshed with
moisture.  When  they grow dry, it causes fits.
   I will  here name another case, for further illustration
or proof of this supposition.    Mr. John  M. Williams, of
Baltimore, had a child taken sick about  three o'clock in
the morning.   They got up, made a fire in the stove in
the kitchen, and after  administering to the child, put it
in the cradle near  the stove.   They then proceeded to
prepare their breakfast,  and when  it was ready, I came
into the room, in which I could scarcely get my breath,
it was so warm.  All set round the table.  The child in
the cradle began to groan at every  breath, and after con-
tinuing so for a short space, went into a convulsion fit.
               17* 
198
Narrative of the Life, Sec
 The family were much alarmed.   I told them the fit wa»
 cause'd  by the stove.   I opened the door,  the child
 was carried to it, the cry was, what shall we do /  I told
 them  to give it some of the 3d preparation.  They tried
 to give it; but they spilled it in the bosom, as the jaws of
 the child were set.   I told them to give me a spoon.   I
 put my linger  between the cheek and teeth, and poured
 in the liquid, and crowded it back to the throat, which
 let the jaws loose, and the child swallowed  enough  to
 make it vomit.  The fit was off, and 1 ordered it into my
 chamber, where was a fire.  It had no more fits.  I  fol-
 lowed it with medicine, and carried it  through that fore-
 noon.  The senses of the child did not return till noon.
 The next day,  it was well.  So efficacious was  the course
 pursued.  One of th6 neighbours said, that he was glad
 the case happened ; not on account of the child, but for
the benefit of all  present; for if  I had not been there,
they would not  have known the cause of the fit.   Had the
 child remained in the room, the  probability is, it would
not have lived till  noon.  And the cause being  unknown,
no remedy would  have been known for others  in a simi-
lar predicament.
   There are similar cases from   burning  charcoal in  a
tight room, in which case, it sometimes happens that no
sensible effect  is experienced,  till the  senses of the per-
son affected  is gone.   Others coming into  the room,
persons have been often found  dead or senseless.   As
this is most generally the effect, it makes these cases the
more alarming; and people ought to be more careful
against such exposures.   Men who work in furnaces in
cold weather,  and  who often drink  too  much  ardent
spirits, and  then  crawl  away under the roof, to find  a
warm place, have often suffered the same consequences
by stupor or death.
  Not many years ago, I was informed that in the hos-
pital, the doctors had kept the rooms  for  the  sick, to  a
certain warmth, by stoves, regulated by the thermometer,
so that one sick  person shoild  have  the same heat as
another.  This would  not answer for all, even  in a state
of health.   This plan, as I understand did not succeed.
The patients died very fast, insomuch that  the disorder
was called the plague.   They  might have  truly said, 
Of Samuel  Thomson.             199
perhaps, the plague of the doctors!  I understand that
they have pulled down all their  stoves, and substituted
fire places, from which time the  plague, of the  stoves if
you please, " was stayed."   And should  the plague of
the poisons, and the bleeding, be stayed also, the people
would have a greater cause for rejoicing than the Rus-
sians had at the defeat of 'Bonaparte, at  the burning of
Moscow.  And should the fatal practice of bleeding and
poison cease, and the people die with old  age, the only
cause of death, casualties excepted, naturally incident to
man, then would death have a greater respit than  it has
had since  the time  the great butcher,  Sydenham, first in-
troduced the  murderous  practice of bleeding into  the
world.   A certain  writer  says,  " During  the course of
one hundred years, more died by the  lancet  alone, than
all who perished by war in the same period."   Another
writer says, " The  lancet has slain more than the sword,
and mercury, more than powder and ball."
 Value  of Guards and Sentinels  in  War or Peace, and
      the danger of their Signals being  neglected.
   Guards and sentinels have been the principals of safety
 ever since human beings learned the art of war;  and it
 is to this art of safety we are  probably  indebted for our
 independence.   By  this means  was the  treachery of
 Arnold detected, and the plots of our enemies defeated1.
 And even in time of peace, when  the  enemy is  either
 conquered or driven out, forts and  breast works are still
 necessary, that they may be in readiness in time of war.
   One of the greatest sentinels who have  been set to
 guard  the  welfare of  this nation,  Thomas  Jefferson,
 erected a permanent fort in the constitution, against the
 clergy, and the church  and state party, who,  were they
 not sufficiently guarded, would bring the people of this,
 as they have of other countries, under religious bondage.
 Another sentinel has recently distinguished  himself, in
 defending the fort of Jefferson, against  the  church and
 state party, armed with  their Sunday mail petitions; but
they have been defeated by the  watchful eye of Col. R.
M. Johnson,  armed with the constitution of equal  rights. 
200          Narrative of the Life, Sec.
   Many  useful lessons  may be learned from the Scrip*
tures;  not excepting the Apocrypha;  where we find
some, to  say the least, which are as  useful as any other
parts.  For this purpose I would refer the reader to  the
13th chapter of Judith.
   In this chapter may be found the result of silencing
the guard, and sentinels, whereby through the deceit and
influence of one woman, the destruction  of  a whole
army, of about 160,000  soldiers,  was effected.   No
other possible means could have subdued them.   See
the account.
   I have referred to this chapter, to  show what incalcu-
lable mischief may arise from such neglect;  with a view
at the same time to awaken the people from  their drow-
siness, and to arouse them to  double their diligence in
placing their guards and  sentinels, or  else stand them-
selves, to guard their rights and liberties, which are in as
much danger  of being  destroyed  ultimately, if not  so
speedily, as the great army under Holofernes, was, but a
short time previous to their destruction.'   And  yet  the
people seem to rest as safely as did the  army to which I
have just alluded.
   There is a power and influence as much to be guard-
ed against now, as  there was  then,  and the vigilance of
all our guards will not be more than  sufficient to protect
the people.   Let them watch the secret workings of our
enemies; especially those who  appear as  friends to our
faces, and see what  they are about  in the dark.   Re-
member the light sayings and dark doings of Judith.
While the army thought they were in safety, sudden  de-
struction came upon them.
   Look ! See the rapid  strides of the clergy!!  Behold
all their secret  working among the women and children
of our land !!!  And the men have no sentinels to guard
themselves.   I think we never had  more need to be on
our guard than  at the present time.  As with the priest,
so with the doctor;  the  people are  crammed with  the
poison doctrines of the one, and the  poison drugs of the
other, without giving them any chance to  examine and
taste for themselves.   The priest crams them  with his
own ignorance  and  superstition; and the effects are de-
lirium and suicide.    The doctor crams them with  his 
Of Samuel  Thomson.             201
 poison ; and the effects are pains, lingering sickness, and
 death.  When  dead, the doctor often takes the whole,
 or nearly  the whole, of the  little property remaining;
 and the widow and orphans become subjects of the poor-
 house, or go out as servants.   The question is, who is
 to be blamed?   All, all are to be blamed.    The priest,
 the doctor, and  the  lawyer, for deceiving  the people ;
 and the people, for being deceived  by them.   But what
 must now be the remedy? Where  it is not too late, the
 remedy must be the same as  it should have been in the
 first place.   But see.
    Let us inquire, in the first place, what  are the senti-
 nels, both external and internal, which nature has placed
 to guard the body from injury ? And how are these sen-
 tinels displayed ?  We  will  suppose the danger is first
 perceived  by a  certain  sound, or  some trifling noise.
 This, of course, is first perceived by  the'ear, which says,
 " Eyes, look !"  The call is  instantly obeyed ;  and  if
 there appears to be danger, and flight is thought to be the
 best mode of escape, the whole body is summoned, and
 says,  "Legs, carry me off as fast, as you can."  These
 orders are obeyed as regularly as though a general  gave
 the command.   The senses of seeing, hearing, tasting
 and smelling, are the sentinels; which, with  the nerves
 and muscles,-constitute the whole army,  either for de-
 fence  or retreat; and they are subject to the commaud
 of each other.
   The sentinels of the internal structure, or those which
 are to judge of what is be swallowed, begin with the
 eye;  and if it  be pleasant to the eye, it passes  to the
 nose, the next sentinel;  if the pass be right, that  is,  if
 the flavour  be  agreeable, it goes to the taste; where,  if
 nothing disagreeable is perceived, it is  carried from the
 tongue to the swallow.   Here are two roads, the one to
 convey the food  to the stomach, the other to  convey the
 air to the lungs ;  the  business of  the sentinel here, is
 to prevent either  from taking the wrong road ;  for should
 either, and especially the food, take the wrong road, it
 is  thrown back with a great explosion.   When the  food
 is  received into the stomach, it  undergoes  a  general in-
spection.  If any thing treasonous, that is, uncongenial
to  health, is found in it, an uneasiness is almos^ the im- 
202          Narrative of the Life, Sec
mediate consequence, perhaps pain and sickness, and it
is often sent back without consulting any of the guards
or sentinels;  for it is general orders.   And if the gen-
eral gives orders for any to pass or re-pass, without being
hailed by the sentinels,  such orders must  be obeyed.
And if the general loses  his head, and thereby his whole
army  is defeated, it is no  fault of the guards  and senti-
nels, as in the case of Judith and Holofernes.
  Nature has placed all the  guards and sentinels in the
body, which are necessary for its safety and  protection j
and the mind is so constituted, that it is capable of judg-
ing of all the signals which these sentinels give; but the
devil,  which is only another name for  imposture and
fraud, that is, learned ignorance, falsehood and art, are
always at variance with  simple  and  natural  principles ;
the same as honesty and  dishonesty  are opposed to each
other.   Now, of what use is such reasoning to the peo-
ple ?  None, until they can be brought back to a simple
state of nature.  Here the devil, or false learning, under
the name of doctor, with his elegant cloak and powder-
ed head, comes in and upsets the whole  system of plain
simple truth, and introduces his learned falsehood.   Tells
the people that those  sentinels  which nature  has set in
the body are  all false; learning is  the  only true guide;
and urges them to throw by all their natural ideas, and
hear  to learning, popular customs  and fashions ;  and
then they will be respected by the popular classes; that
is, by the  doctor, minister and  lawyer,  and  the  great
dons around whom those learned professions fawn, and
whom they like to flatter. Pay us, and we will attend to
your most important concerns.   Attend  to  your labour
in building our houses, and making our rich clothing and
furniture; cultivate the  soil; raise  the fatted calf, the
poultry, and the flour, to feed us; and we will pray for
your  souls,  doctor  your bodies, and make  your wills.
You must not attempt to  do any of these things for your-
selves, for you  have not sufficient learning.
  Now, look, fellow labourers, and see to what a condi-
tion these three learned crafts have  brought you  at the
present day.   The learned doctor has knocked down all
your natural sentinels, and has  passed  the poison down
your throats as though it was as innocent as breast-milk 
Of Samuel  Thomson.             203
is for the infant, until you are dying off like swarms of
rats, and with  the  same poison.   Then, in addition to
the poison, he draws out your blood, to cure, as does the
butcher the blood of the beast, to kill;  and which often
produces the  same effect.   This is what you have gain-
ed by suffering the doctors to knock down  all your nat-
ural sentinels,  and  to  substitute  learned fools  whose
senses are  below the grade  of  the  beast.   When the
beast  tries  his food, by the sentinels ofthe eye and nose,
he  is  never  deceived.   Nature  always tells the truth.
And when wild beasts go  according to the dictates of
nature, they  are more successful in raising their offspring
than  are mankind in raising  theirs by art.   For the
beast  will neither  eat poison  themselves, nor force it
down the throats of their  offspring.   But mankind, by
the prejudice of false learning, will both eat poison them-
selves, and force it down  the throats  of their children
till they by this means execute death upon them in their
own arms.   This is done by giving wine poisoned with
antimony,  or  the  tartrite of antimony,  called  tartar-
emetic.    So much  is mankind reduced below the grade
of the beast  by the force of education.   Were parents
to take a lesson from a child  two years old, and abide by
it,  it  would  be of greater use  to the rising generation
than all that  ever came from the college  by the three
crafts  I have  named.   It will  be  remembered that a
child  of two  years old is troubled and  makes  a mourn-
ful complaint at the sight of blood, from  the slightest
wound, even if he feels no smart from it;  or when taken
by a doctor from another.   His senses tell him that there
is something wrong  in it,  and applies to those whom he
thinks his  friends, to remedy the evil.   The child is not
only  afraid  of the  blood, but also of the doctor who
takes it.   Should parents  from this lesson, learn to keep
the doctor away, and to   keep  the  blood  in  the body,
where it belongs, for the preservation of life and health,
for the space of twenty years, then  visit the grave-yard,
and examine the monuments  of the  dead, and see if
three-fourths of the inhabitants died under  thirty years
of age, this,  I think, would strike conviction  to the de-
luded world. 
  204          Narrative of the Life, Sec.

    I return to my text.   The sentinels of life and preser-
  vation, as before mentioned, in the brute animals, never
  deceivj i!v  n    T; ere is none found  dead by poison,
  either acoiu  .ntal or done on purpose.    Their sentinels
  have"  (.n true to them.   Not  so among the dupes of
  learn. J  ignorance, where  they allow their sentinels to
  be knocked  down by the" doctor, and poison to be cram-
  med down their throats; for unless  the  general govern-
  ment of the  stomach should so condemn  his prescrip-
  tions as to throw the poison back  in  spite  of him, the
  patient must suffer ; his sufferings may be long, but gen-
  erally fatal;  and his body will be carried out by the sex-
  ton, in  a coffin, as was the head of Holofernes, in the
  bag, by Judith.   Neither is this the greatest evil, caused
  by these artificial monsters in human shape.  How often
  do we see our children  sacrificed  by being born  artifi-
  cially, instead of naturally ? aided by the pincers of the
  assassin, instead of the  skilful hand ofthe midwife.  All
  their  art, is  to  force nature, instead of assisting her.
  These are some of the  effects of learning, which termi-
  nate in  death.   But there  are others never to be forgot-
  ten.    Cripples  and invalids, dragging  out a miserable
  life, reduced  almost to  a  state  of starvation, for  those
-who survive their unnatural practice.  Besides a tribute
 of twenty dollars for destroying the comfort of a wife
 and the life of a child !   Yet the eyes of the people are
 blinded by the sound of the word learning, and learned
 doctor;  and doubly blinded by the priest, or the parson,
 who will clear the doctor from all blame,  by saying, "the
 Lord  gave, and the Lord," not  the doctor, "hath taken
 away, and blessed" not cursed, "be the name ofthe Lord."
 Had the priest  declared, as often as  it was  really the
 case, that in all  probability the poison, bleeding and
 blistering, had killed the patient, the  doctor craft would
 have been dead more than a thousand years ago.
   Were it possible for mankind to  be brought back  to
 his proper grade, that of other animals, and at the same
 time to exercise all their natural faculties, and have their
 sentinels which have been  knocked down by the doctor
 restored, so as to be as good as  those of the beasts, so
 that the sentinel  of the eye  and  nose  would regulate
 their food and medicine, and prevent any  poison being 
Of Samuel  Thomson.
205
taken either  by themselves or^ their children, for four
generations, the people, I think, would improve in stature
and vigour, and become "mighty men of renown;" such
as we read of in olden times, before the poison doctors
had destroyed the natural senses of our race ;  or at least,
so perverted them that they  cease  to be subservient to
their  natural use.   But, on  the contrary, should the
hood-winking system" be continued, and the people con-
tinue  to degenerate,  in every sense of the word, so far
as their health  and  bodily faculties  are  concerned, for
four generations to come, as they have  for  two genera-
tions  past, they will become  more like a race of monkeys
than  like  human beings.
   From this source of  poisons  may be  traced those
hereditary and family consumptions we hear so often men-
tioned.  If traced back, it will be  found  that the family
consumption began  with the  family doctor  ; and so it
will continue as long as you employ one.  A  treatise on
the family doctor may be found on page 175, of this work.
The family consumption  was  made with tho.se families
to whom the  doctor  gave the  fever when  he spread  it
through the village.   Those who did not die,'were left
worse than dead.  The poison left in the system caused
them to linger out a  miserable life in pain and torment;
and the doctor gets clear by stating that they have all died
with  the family consumption.   If you wish to keep clear
of a  family consumption, keep clear  of a family doctor.
   The priest is  equally  guilty of knocking down the
sentinels of the mind and understanding, as  the doctor
is of  knocking down the external and  internal sentinels
of the body.    Death, in many instances is the effect  of
both.   Bleeding and poison on the  one hand, and insan-
ity and suicide on the other.   Both of them  cause a
grievous tax  on the people ;  and the  lawyer  sweeps the
board in collecting their bills and his fees.
   Thus I have shown in part, the evils arising from giv-
ing up the guards and sentinels of  the labouring class of
the community, and substituting the three crafts to watch
over  them, and to "eat them that  are fed,  and clothe
themselves with their wool;  but they feed not the flock."
They call themselves " shepherds ;" but they are " wolves
in sheep's clothing." 
206           Narrative of the Life, Sec.
   Why Meat will not Putrefy in very hot, or very eold
                       climates.
   Meat will not putrefy in Arabia, nor in South America,
 nor at the North or South Poles.   Where the climate is
 so hot as almost to roast meat, it will not putrefy, as in
 Africa or South  America.  Where the  sand will roast
 an egg in fifteen minutes, there the carcases dry  up,
 and do not rot.   So, on the North or South  Poles, where
 every thing is frozen, there is no putrefaction.   But half
 way  between freezing and roasting, there is  putrefac-
 tion.  Much beef is dried on  the  sand in Brazils, with-
 out  any salt, and used  at sea  as fresh beef.   The cause
 why  meat will not putrefy in either very hot, or very cold
 climates,, as I apprehend, is, the water evaporates in  the
 one case, and congeals to ice in the  other,  so suddenly,
 that the meat has no chance to  decompose, as in either
 case  it becomes hard.
   The myrrh from  Africa, is better than from Turkey
 or Russia, as the climate is steadily hot,  and the  myrrh
 is of a more spicy smell, and  is much  more  powerful
 against all mortifications and putrid sores than that from
 the  Straits ;  and is  of a  much  higher  price.    There
 being no trade up the rivers, to the interior part of the
 country, all that is  to be  had, is  brought by the Arabs
 to Mora  or Madagascar.   The cayenne from Madagas-
 car is better than  that  from the West  Indies, as it  is
 more steady in its operation, and  better  against  putre-
 faction ;  and in not fluctuating from  a calm to a hurri-
 cane, as is that from the West Indies.  The latter, often
 so frightens the people  who take it, especially in  a cold
 state of the body, that they never dare to take any more.
 It is seldom the case with  that from Africa.
   Beware of the American, which is manufactured, and
coloured.  It is poisoned, as I have  remarked elsewhere.
Proposals for a Revolution in  the  practice of Medicine.
  People have paid doctors for being sick, for about four
thousand years.   Let them now turn about, and pay for
their health, which is much more  reasonable.   Let the
doctor enter into contract with the head  of a family, to 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            207
keep the family in  health, for  a certain  sum, for each
member  of the family, for one  year; conditioned that
for each  day's sickness in the family, by any member
thereof, the doctor, shall  forfeit twenty-five cents, to be
deducted from the sum agreed upon.  Hence all  the ac-
count there is to be kept, is, the number of days of sick-
ness there is in the family, in order to know what amount
there is to be deducted from the sum agreed upon.  And
to prevent any imposition  on the doctor, by the  family,
any one saying, " I am sick,"  to save twenty-five cents;
the doctor must be called, and they must  go through a
regular course of medicine, or  else not  have  any allow-
ance made for their sickness.   But if they comply, the
doctor must not only attend them for nothing, finding hie
own medicine, but also pay them twenty-five  cents for
every day they are sick;  to  be deducted at  the  end of
the yeaf, from his salary.   Were this  plan  generally
adopted, it would save nine-tenths of all  the  sickness of
our country.


                     Numbpalsy.
   In looking over my Narrative  and  Guide to Health, I
find that this disease has been  overlooked, and not treat-
ed upon.  I carried the view in my mind,  that I  had re-
corded the case of my daughter, which happened about
twenty years ago;  and the omission was not discovered
till  it  was too late  to  insert  it in  its proper place.   I
shall, therefore, give it a place  here.
  While 1 was at Portsmouth,  I do not recollect now ex-
actly the year, I received  a  letter from  home, that my
daughter, then about twenty years of age, was sick, and
her life despaired of.   I obtained  and took with me a
bottle of the best pepper-sauce.   When I arrived, she
appeared to be dying, and had so appeared, as they said,
for some days.   Her eyes were set; and she breathed
like one in the last struggles of life.   I was  advised to
do nothing for her.   I  thought it would do no harm to
try the pepper-vinegar.   I therefore poured  a spoonful
of it in her mouth, as it was open.   In about two min-
utes she opened and moved her  eyes.   I then gave her
another spoonful, which  was swallowed.   In  about the 
208          Narrative of the Lift, Sec.
space of ten minutes, she spoke, and said she had had a1
shock of the numbpalsy.   This was  the first  idea we
had of the kind.   After  awaking  like a  person from
sleep, or nearly dead, she  gave a history of its begin-
ning  and progress to the then  present time.   She said
the shock struck  one half of the  body •  and limbs, and
half of the tongue, insensible of feeling; like that caus-
ed by a knock of the elbow.   All one side was full of a
prickling sensation, attended at first "with heavy and  se-
vere pain ;  the pain relaxed, however,  as  the side dead-
ened, and entirely ceased with the feelings ;  and all that
side remained dead,  as to sensation, till the pepper-sauce
was given.  This brought back the pain and prickling
as at the commencement, until  all parts  had become
equalized.   I think I carried her through several courses
of medicine in usual form, until the system became clear
of obstruction, and  the digestive powers restored.   She
soon  recovered, with no other  disadvantage than  that of
the side which  received the  shock continuing  weaker
and more  subject to  cold than  the other.   She has had
two or three of those shocks since.    But by having the
medicine  in the family, and  by the assistance  of the
neighbours who have the right, she has been always soon
relieved, so as not to be confined but a few days.   I saw
her last fall.   She  has now  no  trouble from the com-
plaint, except that above mentioned.  She has a family
of six children, and has done  the greatest  part towards
their  support by practising abroad, under my system, and
by my finding her with medicine and rights to sell.   She
has relieved many of the same complaint.
  1 have given  a history of this  case, only on  account
of the name.  Had the same case appeared without any
name, the treatment under the head of fits,  drowned
persons, and  all  suspended animation would  have an-
swered.   The third preparation is the first resort; then
a full course of medicine, rigourously pursued, in pro-
portion to the deadliness or violence of the disease, until
life becomes equalized  through the body.    The  whole
of the directions above given, is, simply this.   A thorough
course of- medicine administered with  the best articles;
emetic seed,  cayenne, drops,  nerve powder, and bay-
berry, or No. 3. 
Of Samuel  Thomson.            209
              Fever must have its course.
   How consoling must these words  be from the health-
restoring physician, to his  suffering  patient, who wishes
to know how long he must undergo those torturing ad-
ministrations of poisonous physic, salivation, loss of teeth,
together with  bleeding and blistering!  The doctor tells
him that he does not  know; perhaps  nine days; some
fevers  run  longer  than others ;  and it  must have its
course !  I have known a rich man's fever run a hundred
days, when a  poor man's  fever would turn in ten days.
The inflammatory fever, or hot fever, will soon come to
its height,  unless checked with small doses of calomel,
opium, nitre, &c. which tend to prolong it.  With these
applications, the fever may be continued longer or shorter,
as the money of the patient holds out.
   Some  times, before one  fever  turns, another will set
in, until  they have  the  whole list, thirty-seven  and up-
wards.   But  the  patient, will be likely to die before he
has had  half of the above number  of fevers.^   By this
you may see that the doctor does  not pretend to know
any thing Hbw long you will be sick, or whether you will
live or die.   Who, 1 would  ask, has  not  heard part, if
not all, of the above statements, made by the  doctor to
his patients, and yet not feel insulted at all  ?
   Suppose you went to a landlord to doctor your hunger,
and the landlord should tell you that your  hunger must
run from nine to a hundred days,  would you not be dis-
posed to  cuff his ears for the insult?   But  is it not as
much of an insult for the doctor  to  tell  you that your
fever must  have its run, as  for  the  landlord to  tell yoil
that your hunger must have its  run ?  It would be so
considered,  if the people only knew that a fever can be
relieved as  certainly, and almost as  speedily as  hunger.
In either case,  it  would  be, as it  is  with  the  doctor, a
plain confession that they have no remedy.   Then why
should the doctor continue  his visits for  a fee, any more
than the landlord when he has no food ? One is as much
entitled to pick the pockets of his employers as the other.
How long must custom  and superstition become a  law
to ignorance and  credulity ?
              18* 
210          Narrative of the Life, See.
 A  remarkable  Vision, seen  in fhe Nineteenth Century,
   and published for the benefit  of all who believe it «
   reality.
   While  in  silent repose  upon my bed, my mind was
 greatly agitated by a voice, which, in my dream, I heard
 saying, " Poor wretched inhabitants of a free country!"
 And I thought myself awake, and said, what is the cause
 of their wretchedness? As I spake, turning  my eyes, I
 saw by my bed-side, a man clothed in a long white gar-
 ment.  I  thought I  said to him, who are you?  He re-
 plied, " I am Deception."   I then said, why do you give
 yourself this odious  name?  He replied, "White  de-
 notes Purity, Innocence, and a Promoter of Health."
   I then asked him what he was  .in reality; his reply
 was, " I am Death under the name of Life; or Evil,
 under the name of Good."   I then asked  him to appear
 to  me without any cover or disguise;  this  he did, by
 throwing off his white robe ;  all was blackness and dark-
 ness.   1 then asked him what he  represented ; he  said
 "Death !  and  many  of my victims you have known,
 and others you have lately heard of, and will«continue to
 hear of them, until .this mineral  practice is changed.
 Many have  I  destroyed with my deadly weapons, some
 within a few days or hours."
   After hearing all this, I asked him if he was a reality
 or not.  He replied, " T am only the representative of
 many."   This led me to inquire  what he represented ;
 to  which he  replied, " I shall call no names,"  and then
 showed me two pill bags, and said, "These, and what
 is  inscribed  on them,  will  teach  you why I am Death
 under the name of Life, and why I kill under the name
 of preserving life."  I then asked him  what he meant
 by that inscription; he replied, "I  mean those deadly
 weapons  contained in  the  bags ;  the names of which
 are,  according to the  best of my recollection,  Arsenic,
 Mercury, Quinine, Opium,  Nitre, Lancet, and Knife."
    He then added, " These instruments of death are used
 under the pretence of curing diseases, or promoting life;
 and  the men  who use them, you know  have been the
• cause of those who were so  suddenly taken  from their
 friends and all they held dear on earth." 
                Of Samuel Thomson.             211

   Having heard all this, I  asked, why he revealed this
secret to me and not to another ? He replied, " because
I know you are able to write the particulars  which  are
related to you."   He added, " do not fail to publish what
I have related; not only in this town, but  in every di-
rection ; for this business of killing, under the name of
healing, has gone  far, and is going farther; for many
have great wrath, because they think their time is short.
Every thing which has been done  here, and in  other
places, adapted to relieve the sick with the medicine of
our country, which nature  has  so bountifully furnished,
all these things have been despised, and those who  kill
others, cry, Poison !  Poison ! Kill ! Kill.'"
   I asked  him why they cried out in this manner,  when
so few died who used the medicine of our own country,
and when so many fell under their deadly weapons ?  He
replied, "you  remember what  I first stated; they will
talk of pity, if one is likely to be cured, that they may
kill him themselves.    It is not strange for the eagle to
cry death to birds, when the dove is among them, though
he would gladly devour the  dove with  the other birds,
were  it in his  power."
   In  my dream, 1 thought the one who spake to me, said,
"$ enjoin it on  yo« to direct the people  of the country,
to keep in their libraries and reading rooms, three books*
in use among  those who use deadly weapons, viz. The
New  American  Dispensatory, The Medical Dictionary,
and The Medical Pocketbook."
   "Lest you or any other may not happen to find what is
said in the Dispensatory, concerning these deadly wea-
pons, I now repeat a few words written there."  He then
handed me the following, page 285.   Of Nitre,  it  is
said,  This powerful  salt, when inadvertantly  taken  in
too large  quantities, is one of  the most  fatal poisons.
Page  288,  Oxid of arsenic is one of the most sudden
and violent poisons we are  acquainted with.   The lan-
cet we know the use of, and also mercury, which is call-
ed medicine, though poisonous.

  * The first book shows how to prepare medicine ;  the second
explains the dead languages; the third directs'how  much medi-
cine or poison to give. 
212
Narrative of the Life, Sec.
   As these are so, how can people expect to  be profited
by such articles as are acknowledged the most  deadly
poison,  though used as  medicine, in the most  difficult
cases ?  After quoting these  things from the Dispensato-
ry, and making the above remarks, 1  thought  that lie
said,  "do not fail to put them in mind of this important
question ;  What will become of your souls another day ?
You must die as well as other  men, and how can you
answer for the lives of those poor'people who have died
in consequence of taking poison from your hands, under
the name of healing medicine; while you have despised
the medicines which might have relieved them ; and es-
pecially when you did it for filthy lucre?"  When he had
said these words, he vanished,  and I awoke, and behold
it was a dream.
   Fearing I might forget these  things,  I arose  immedi-
ately, and w'rote down the vision according to my recol-
lection1; and, as soon as possible, found  the books.men-
tioned, and to my great astonishment, found every word
in the Dispensatory, which had been related to me.
   The dream, and what  I  found in the Dispensatory,
caused some serious reflections  in my mind.   1 said thus
to myself;  If arsenic, mercury, and nitre, are in their
nature poison, can they in the  hands t>f a physician, be
medicine?   If, when taken by  accident, these things
kill, will they cure when given designedly?  Does not'
mercury go to the same part, of a man  when taken by
accident, as when given by the doctor ?  Surely it does ;
of course it will be poison, and be  injurious  whenever
it is taken.
   These things  are communicated to  the public, that
they may judge of them according to the evidence given
of their  being true or not. 
CONCLUSION.
  Dr. Thomson having gone into the State of New Hampshire,
for a few weeks, and consequently left me, his  Agent, to see to
the completion of his work ; and finding room in the Supplement
to his Narrative, I embrace the opportunity to say a few words.
                    To the Public.
   Friends of Humanity ! '  You hava seen by the fore-
going Narrative, the labours, the trials, the persecutions,
as well  as the anxieties'and vexations which the author
has experienced in bringing his System of Medical Prac-
tice to the state of perfection to which  it has  arrived;
and also in laying it fairly before the public; trials that
would have broken down many hearts, and  worn  out,
long before this, many constitutions.
   You  have seen the system  growing into practice in
spite of all oppoaition , nut only against the inveterate
hate of the doctors, but also against legal enactments;
and that it is calculated  to  put to silence, and even to
the blush, every species of opposition with all those  who
shall give it a fair trial.  You have also seen those, after
having tested the virtues of the system, and  proved its
value, who have been not only ready to rob Dr. Thomson
of his hard earned reputation, and fair  mead  of praise,
but also to build themselves up at  his expense.  All this
you have seen, and much more.   And  it now  remains
to be seen whether' either  you, or the  public, will  any
longer patronize, any  longer uphold, any longer  coun-
tenance, either directly or indirectly, such iniquity, such
ingratitude, such shame-faced  hypocrisy!  How  much
better a person must feel to act in  an open and honoura-
ble way!  And were  you sure that  you could purchase
the same thing, or nearly the same  thing, of those  who
have no right to sell it, and might even  use it with im-
punity,  would you, for the sake of a few dollars, obtain
it clandestinely, and  thus  rob the patentee  of his  just
rights?   It may be thought,  perhaps, that Dr. Thomson 
 214                  Conclusion.

 has already hecome rich by his patent, and therefore can
 well afford to sustain these losses.   Were  this the fact,
 it is no good reason why he should be robbed.  But you
 must consider the immense expense he has been at, and
 is still  liable to bear, to  defend his system of practice
 against legal enactments, and unfounded complaints; to-
 gether  with the losses  he has sustained by unfaithful
 agents.   This is a constant  drawback upon his income.
 The defence of his legal prosecutions, and those of his
 agents, in far distant and remote  states,  as  well tis  in
 almost every state in the Union, as in South Carolina,
 not long since ;  his answers to various slanders by hand-
 bills, the only way, at one tirrie, that he could obtain any
 thing from the press in his favour, even for pay;  and his
 various travels from the Eastern to the Western States,
 and from the North to the South ;  all, all these, and much
 more, are constant out-goes' upon what should, and did
 the public duly appreciate the value of his system, other-
 wise would  be his  fair and honest  gains.  But he has one
 consolation.  His system will live to bless mankind, and
 his name will live with it, yea, be hailed  with  gratitude,
 when Dr. Thomson shall be no  more.   Cold comfort
 this;  when  the subject or object of their gratitude shall
 be in his grave!  Yet  even this is better than nothing;
 and  to  know now, or  to be  firmly persuaded that such
 will be the  fact,  must afford some  present peace,  yea, a
 heart felt satisfaction.    But I hope that it is not too late
 to do the subject of this Narrative justice, even in some
 measure, at least, now while he lives ;  to  make the eve
 of his life as  comfortable  and happy as human nature,
 in a person of his years, is susceptible of being;  and I
 can assure  him and the public, that whatever 1 can do to
 bring about an event so just, and at the  same time  so
desirable,, shall be  faithfully and cheerfully performed;
 for  all that my life is  now worth, either to myself, my
 family, or the public, I consider that both I and they are
 wholly indebted  to the  Thomsonian System of practice.
 And it is with much pleasure that I here once more have
the opportunity  of acknowledging the  gratitude,  and
 pledging the faithfulness of his and the public's humbl-e
 servant,                ABNER  KNEELAND,
         General Agent for  Dr.  Samuel  Thomson. 
             CONTENTS

To the Narrative of Samuel  Thomson.
                        PAGE.
 Dr. Samuel Thomson, em-
     barrassments of, in wri-
     ting his  own Life, ..  13
 His  Birth  and Parentage,  14
 His Caution to Parents, ..  15
 His early propensity to know
     the names of Herbs, ..  15
 His  first discovery of the
     Emetic Herb, ......  16
 His  Father's  Severity to-
     wards  him,  .........   17
 His dislike  to work  on a
     Farm,  ..............   IS
 His want of Learning,  ..   19
 Had his Ancle badly  cut,  20
 An extraordinary  case of
     Sleep, ..............   21
 Of the famous Dr. Kitteridge, 22
 The Death of the Doctor's
     Mother,and hisfirstbe-
     ginning to Doctor him-
     self, ................   24
 His Marriage, ..........   24
 His Wife  taken  ill with
     Fits, ...............   25
 Do. do. with  the Cholic,   26
 Test of the Emetic Herb,   27
 His second Daughter born,   28
 Given over to die,......   29
 Steamed and  restored her,   29
> His eldest Son born,  ____   30
 Attacked with the  Croup,   30
 His second Son born,  ....   32
 Ague Fits and Cramp in the
     8tomaeh of his Wife,
     at the birth of his third
     Son,  ..............  33
 Various  cases of Sickness
     and Troubles,  ......  34
 1802, his Children had  the
     Measles,  ...........  35
 Ca*« of Cholic,.........  36
                        PAGE.
 Case  of Mrs.  Wetherby,   37
 Case of a Young Man,  ..  38
 1805,  Sent  for  to  go  to
     Woodstock, Vt.....  39
 Determines to  go into the
     Practice,  ...........  42
 TheAy Established, .....  43,
 Numbering of the"Medicine, 44
 Alarming Disease,  ......  46
 Several Bad  Cases,......  47
 Case of a  Child, and  two
 '    Young Men, ........   49
 Case of Mrs. Richardson,   50
   " of a Young Woman,   51
   " of Elder  Bowles,  ..   52
 Cases  of  Cancers.......   62
 A Foolish  Whim,  ......   53
 Reasons for  Refusing  to
     Practise  near home, ..   56
 1806, Determines to go  to
     New  York,  ........   55
 Attack of  Yellow Fever,   56
 Case of Mr. M'Gowan,  ..   67
 Remarks upon Food,  ....   68
 Case of Fever-and-Ague,   69
 Returns to Boston,  ......   69
 Case of Mrs. Osgood and
     others,  .............   60
 1807, Goes to Jericho,  Vt.   61
 A number  of Cases, ....   62
 Dysentery, ..............   63
 Evil Reports  circulated, ..   64
 Case of Consumption, ....  66
 Envy of Dr.  French, who
     charged Dr. Thomson
    with Murder, .......  69
Case of St. Anthony's Fire, 70
Cases of Dropsy,.........  71
Other cases of Dropsy and
    Consumption, .......' 7J
Case of Venereal, .......  73
  "of    "     ........  74 
216         Contents  to the
Narrative, Sec
                      PAGE.
Case of Decline, occasioned
by Bleeding at the Nose, 74
of Superstition, ....	75
of Fever Sore, ....	76
of Scalt Head, ---	77
of Mr. Lebell, ....	77
of Yellow Fever, ...	79
of Salt Rheum, .. .	81
of Mr. Fulsom.....	82
of Fashionable Tor-	
	84
of Equal Balance of	
Outward and  Inward
    Heat, ..............  84
  "  of  an  Unfortunate
    Lawsuit,............  85
1808, Case of Mrs. Applet#n,86
Case of Elder Bowles,  ..  88
1809, Case of a Consump-
    tion,  ...............  90
Case  of  Dropsy,  and  of
    •Rickets,  ............/ 90
  "  of Cancer, Bleeding,
    and many others,  ....  91
  "  of Spotted Fever,  ..  92
  "  of Capt. Trickey,  ..  93
  "  of an Indictment for
    Murder,............  95
  "  of Prosecution,  .... 107
1811, Journey to Eastport, 112
Case of a Young  Man on
    board a  Vessel,  .... 113
Of Dropsy, Mrs. Lovett,  114
Of two Children,  fatal,  .. 117
1813, Of the base  conduct-
    of Carpenter,  ,...... 120
Goes to Washington O ob-
    tain a Paten:,  ....... 123
Find Drs. Barton am; Rush
   favourable to his System, 124.
Case of Mrs. Alden,  ..... 127
  "  of Spptted Fever,  .. 128
  "  of Violent Relax,  .. 129
 ' "  of Salt-petre.......129
Loss by Fire in Portsmouth, 132
                      PAGE.
Agency of John Locke, .. 134
   "   of Holman, for the
    Society,............ 135
1815,  Goes to Philadelphia, 139
Case of Frost-bitten Limbs, 139
  "  of Spotted Fever at
    Cape  Cod,  .........143
  " of the same at Eastham, 145
1816, Sold a Family Right
    to Elias Smith,...... 148
Case of Itch, very bad,  .. 148
  "  of Mr. Jennings,___150
  "  of Ira Smith,......152
  "  of Quinsy or  Rattles, 154
  "  of Bad Humour,  ... 156
  "  of Bad  Treatment,  158
Addition to the 2d Edition, 165
New Patent obtained, .... 166
Medicated Vapor Bath, .. 169
A Case at Law,  ........ 171
Case of Imprisonment,  .. 171
Our Family Doctor,  ..... IT.j
Addition to the 3d Edition,
   containing an arcount of
   the conduct of Agents,  177
Case of Samuel Forrow,  184
American  Cayenne,  ..... 186
Certificates,  ............ 186
Additional Testimony,  .. 180
General Agent...........192
Supplement,........... 193
Cultivation of Bees,..... 193
When to Set  Fruit Trees,
  • and lose  no Growth,  196
Bad Consequences of Stoves
    in Tight Rooms,---  197
Value of Guards and Senti-
    nels in War or Peace, 199
Why Meat will not Putrefy, 206
Proposals for a Revolution, 206
Numbpalsy............. 207
Fever must have its Course, 209
A Remarkable Vision, .... 210
Conclusion, ..........<.. 213
To the Public,..........  213 
 

.'s/fj.'/M.iA-m /,/n/Av,rr//'rr  fi/.r/n,r//'i,
'/.J,.;„  . 'A/;:  ytf /fYtfj. 
NEW
         GUIDE TO HEALTH;

                      OR,




                   CONTAINING

 A COMPLETE  SYSTEM OF  PRACTICE,

             On a Plan entirely New;

WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE VEGETABLE.S MADE USE
  OF, AND DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARING AND ADMIN-
        ISTERING THEM, TO CURE DISEASE.

                TO WHICH IS ADDED,

A DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL CASES OF DISEASE
    ATTENDED BY THE AUTHOR, WITH THE MODE
           OF TREATMENT AND CURE.

               STfjirtt 25trCti<ro.



           BY SAMUEL THOMSON.
             Boston:
PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, P.Y J.  HOWE.
               1831. 
     Btatrtct of  S&assacf)Ui8cttB....to  toft:
                             DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE.
  Be' it remembered, That on the twenty-third day of Novem-
ber, A. D. 1822, in the forty-seventh year of the Independence
of the United States,  of America,  Samuei. 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 following, to wit:
  "New Guide to Health; or, Botanic Family Physician.   Con-
taining a complete System of Practice, upon a plan entirely new;
with a description of the vegetables made use of, and directions
for preparing and administering them to cure disease.  To which
is added, a  description of several  cases of disease attended by
the author, with the mode of treatment and  cure.   By Samuel
Thomson."
   In conformity to the Act of the Congress  of the United  States,
entitled, " An Act for  the Encouragement of Learning, by secur-
ing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and
Proprietors of such  Copies, during  the times therein mentioned:"
and also to An Act entitled  " An Act Supplementary to an Act,
entitled, An Act for the Encouragement of  Learning, by secur-
ing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books  to  the Authors and
Proprietors of such Copies during the  times  therein mentioned ;
and extending the benefits thereof  to the Arts of Designing, En-
graving and Etching Historical and  other Prints."
                                 JNO. W DAVIS,
                  Clerk of the District of  Massachu!tit$ 
TO THE  PUBLIC.
   The preparing the following work for the press  has
been a task of much difficulty and labour;  for to com-
prise in a short compass, and to convey a correct under-
standing of the subject, from such a mass  of materials
as I have been enabled to collect by thirty years practice,
is a business of no small magnitude.   The plan that has
been adopted I thought the best to give a correct  knowl-
edge of my system of practice ; and  am confident that
the descriptions and directions are sufficiently explained
to be understood by all those who take an interest in this
important subject.    Much more might have been  writ-
ten ; 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  discovered, it is hoped
that they will be  viewed with candour ; for in first pub-
lishing 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 pre-
paring the medicine.
   Many persons are practising by my system, who  are
in the habit of pretending that they have  made great
improvements, 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 opera-
tion, 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 
4
Agreement.
against such conduct, and all those who are well dispos-
ed towards my system, are desired to lend their aid in
exposing all such  dishonest practices, in order that jus-
tice may be done.   Those who possess this work, may,
by examining it, be able to  detect any improper devia-
tions 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
unauthorized by me.
                   AGREEMENT.

   The Subscriber, who is the discoverer and proprietor
of the system of medical practice contained in this work,
agrees to give,  whenever applied  to, any information,
that shall be necessary to give a complete understand-
ing of the obtaining, preparing and using all  such vege-
tables as are made use  of in said system, to all  tliose
who purchase the right; and the  purchasers,  in con-
sideration  of the above information, and  also  what is
contained in this book, agree in the spirit of  mutual in-
terest and honour not to reveal any  part of said informa-
tion, to any person, except those who purchase the right,
to the injury of the proprietor, under  the penalty of for-
feiting their word and  honour, and  all right  to  the use
of the medicine.  And every person who purchases the
right, is  to be  considered  a member  of the Friendly
Botanic Society, and entitled  to a free intercourse with
the members for information and friendly assistance.
                              SAMUEL THOMSON. 
NEW GUIDE TO HEALTH;
                         OR,




                  INTRODUCTION.

   There are three things which  have in a  greater or
 less degree, called the attention of men, viz.  Religion,
 Government, and Medicine.   In ages past, these things
 were thought by millions to belong to three classes of
 men, Priests, Lawyers, and Physicians.  The Priests held
 the things of religion in their own  hands, and brought
 the  people to their terms ;  kept the Scriptures in the
 dead languages, so that the  common people  could not
 read them.   Those  days of darkness are  done away;
 the Scriptures are translated into our own language, and
 each one is taught to read for himself.  Government was
 once considered  as  belonging to  a few, who thought
 themselves " born only to rule."   The common people
 have now become acquainted with  the great  secret of
 government, and know that " all men are born free and
 equal," and that Magistrates are  put in authority, or
 out, by the voice of the  people, who choose  them for
 their public servants.
   While these, and many other things are brought where
 " common people" can understand  them ;  the  knowl-
 edge and use of medicine, is in a great measure conceal-
 ed in a dead language, and a sick man  is often obliged
 to risk his life, where he  would  not risk  a  dollar;  and
should  the apothecary or his apprentice make a mistake,
              1* 
6
New Guide to Health ;
the sick man cannot correct it, and thus is  exposed to
receive  an instrument of death, instead of that which
would restore 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 physician, who
will nevertheless, very readily  take a medicine which
they know, and whose qualities they are in some measure
acquainted with."
   "Nothing ever can, or will inspire mankind with an ab-
solute confidence in physicians  but  by their being open,
frank, and undisguised in their  behaviour."
   " The most effectual way to  destroy quackery in any
art or science, is to diffuse  the  knowledge  of it among
mankind.    Did physicians write their  prescriptions in
the common language of the  country, and explain  their
intentions to the patient, as far as he  could  understand
them, it would enable them to know when the medicine
had the desired effect; would inspire him with absolute
confidence in the physician ;  and would make him dread
and detest every man who pretended  to  cram a secret
medicine or poison down his throat."
   It is true that much of what is at this day called medi-
cine, is deadly poison ; and were people to  know  what
is offered them of this kind,  they  would absolutely re-
fuse ever to receive it as a medicine.  This I have long
seen and  known to be  true; and  have laboured  hard
for many years to convince  them of the evils that at-
tend such a mode of procedure  with the sick ; and have
turned my attention to those medicines that grow in
our own country, which 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 safety and success, in  the hands of
•J.e people.
  After thirty years study, and repeated  successful  trials
of the medicinal vegetables of our  own country, in all
the diseases incident  to our  climate : I  can with  well 
or, Botanic  Family Physician.
7
grounded assurance, recommend my system  of practice
and medicines'to the public, as salutary and efficacious.
  Great discoveries and improvements  have  been  made
in various arts and sciences since the first settlement of
our country, while its medicines have  been  very much
neglected.   As these medicines, suited to every disease,
grow spontaneously upon our own sofl ;  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 vio-
lently opposed, and my theory and  practice condemned,
notwithstanding the  demonstrative proofs in their favour.
But  those who  thus condemn  have taken  no pains to
throw off prejudice, and  examine the subject with can-
dour and impartiality.    Such as have,  are thoroughly
satisfied 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 are governed by outward appearance, and who
will not stoop to examine a system on the ground of its
intrinsic merit, I expect not encouragement, but opposi-
tion.  But this will not discourage me.   I consider the
discovery I have made, of inestimable value  to mankind,
and intended for the great benefit of those who are will-
ing to receive it.
  Being born  in  a new country, at that time almost a
howling wilderness, my advantages for an education were
very small;  but possessing a natural gift for examining
the things of Nature, my mind was  left entirely free to
follow that inclination, by inquiring into the meaning of
the great variety of objects around me.
   Possessing a body like other  men, I  was led to inquire
into the nature of the component parts of what man is
made.   I  found him  composed of the four elements—
Earth,  Water, Air and  Fire.   The earth and water 1
found were the solids ; the air and fire the fluids.   The
two first I  found  to  be the component parts; the two
last kept him in motion.   Heat, I  found, was life; and 
8              JView Guide to Health;
Cold, death.   Each one who  examines into rt will find
that all constitutions are alike.  I shall ndw describe the
fuel which continues the fire, or life of man. This is con-
tained 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 con-
tinues 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 body
is supported.   The heat is maintained in the stomach
by consuming the  food; and all the body and limbs re-
ceive their proportion of nourishment and heat from that
source ; as the whole room is warmed by the fuel which
is consumed in the fire place.  The greater the quantity
of wood consumed in the fire place, the greater the heat
in the room.   So  in the  body; the more food, well  di-
gested, the more heat  and support through the whole
man.  By constantly receiving food into  the  stomach,
which is sometimes not suitable for the best nourishment,
the stomach becomes foul, so that  the food is not well
digested.   This causes the body to lose its heat; then
the appetite fails ; the bones ache, and  the man  is sick
in every part of the whole frame.
  This situation of the  body shows the need  of medi-
cine, and the kind  needed ; which is such  as  will clear
the stomach and  bowels, and restore the digestive powers.
When this is  done, the food will raise the heat again, and
nourish the whole man.   All the art required to do th'u
is, to know what medicine will do it, and how to admin-
ister it, as a person knows how to  clear a stove and the
pipe when clogged  with soot, that  the fire may burn free,
and the whole room be warmed as before.
  The body,  after  being cleared  of whatever clogs  it,
will consume  double the food, and  the  food will afford
double the nourishment and heat, that it did before.  We
know that our life depends on food, and the stomach be-
ing in a situation to receive and digest it.   When  the 
or,  Botanic Family Physician.          9
stomach and bowels are clogged, all  that  is needed, is,
the most suitable medicine to remove the obstructions in
the system.   All disease  is caused by clogging the sys-
tem ;  and all disease is  removed by  restoring the diges-
tive 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.  v This I  found by
their  practice in my family, until they had five times given
them  over to die.   Exercising my own judgment, I fol-
lowed after them, and relieved my family every time.  Af-
ter finding a general principle respecting  fevers, and re-
ducing 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  information to
the people, and convinced  many that they might  as cer-
tainly relieve themselves of their disease, as of their hun-
ger.  The expense to them to be always able to  relieve
themselves and families,  would  be  but small; and the
medicine they  may procure and prepare themselves.
   This greatly disturbed the learned  doctors, and some of
them  undertook  to destroy me, by reporting that I used
poison; though they made no mention of my using their
instruments of death, Mercury, Opium, Ratsbane, Nitre,   o
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 was indicted as though I had given poi-
son, and a bill  brought  against me for wilful murder.   I
was bound in irons and thrust into prison, to be kept there
through the winter, without being allowed bail.   I peti-
tioned for and  obtained a special court to  try the cause,
and was honourably acquitted, after  forty  days  imprison-
ment.  I maintained my integrity in the place where my
persecution began.  In five years, while vindicating this
new and useful discovery,  I lost five thousand dollars, be-
sides  all the persecution, trouble, loss of health, and re-
proach which has been in  connection with the  losses. 
10             New Guide to Health;
  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, may be per-
verted,  by a  misapplication, into an  administration of
death ;  as the stomach  may be  overloaded, and injured,
even by wholesome food; but nothing that is wholesome
in any case, unless abused, can  be even tortured into an
administration of death.  If, then, a medicine is good in
any case,  it is because it is agreeable to nature, or this
principle  of life, the very opposite of disease.  If it is
agreeable in  one case, it must  be absolutely 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, dif-
fering only in degree.   When disease invades the  frame,
it resists in proportion to its force, till overpowered 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   ap-
proximation to death.   All then, that  medicine  can do
in the expulsion of disorder, is  to kindle  up the  decay-
ing spark, and restore  its energy till  it glows in all its
wonted vigour.  If  a direct administration can be made
to produce this effect, and it can, it  is evidently  imma-
terial what is the name, or colour of the disease, whether
 bilious, 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  knowl-
edge of the  origin  of a malady, and  its  antidote,  lies
the  weightier matters  of this  science.   This  knowl-
edge makes the genuine physician; all without it is real
quackery.
   It has been a general opinion that extensive study and
great erudition, are  necessary to form  the eminent phy-
 sician.    But all this may be as Paul saith, but science, 
or, Botanic Family Physician.         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
Bcience, 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 capacity.
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  they have  read in
books, and to see how much a patient can  bear without
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 man-
kind.   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 poison, &c.
for the purpose of running me and my medicine down,
and to prevent its being used by the  people.   The fact is
well known to thousands who have  used my medicine,
and to which they are ready to attest, that it is  perfectly
harmless, and I defy the faculty to produce one instance
wherein it has had any bad effects.
   It is true that the study of anatomy, or structure ofthe
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 quali-
fy them to administer relief  from pain and sickness, than
to a cook in preparing food to satisfy hunger and nourish- 
12
New Guide to Health ;
ing the body.   There is  one general cause of hunger
and one general  supply of food; one general  cause of
disease, and one general remedy.  One can be satisfied,
and the other removed, by an infinite variety of articles,
best adapted "to those different purposes.   That medicine,
therefore, that will open obstruction, promote  perspira-
tion,  and restore digestion, is  suited to every patient,
whatever form the disease assumes, and is universally
applicable.  And acute disorders, such as fevers, colicks,
and dysentery, 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  ofthe Name.
 What is fever?  Heat, undoubtedly, though a disturbed
operation  of it.   But is there in the human frame, more
than one kind of heat ? Yes, says the physician, strange
as it may appear, there is the pleuritic heat, the slow
nervous heat, the putrid heat, the hectic  heat, the yellow
heat, the spotted or  cold  heat, the typhus or ignorant
heat, and  many other heats; and sometimes, calamitous
to tell, one poor patient has the  most, or  the whole of
these fevers, and dies at last for want of  heat!
   Is fever or  heat a disease ?  Hippocrates,  the acknowl-
edged  father  of physicians, maintained that  nature is
beat; and he is  correct.    Is nature a disease ? Surely
it is not.    What is commonly called fever, is  the effect,
and not the cause of disease.   It is the struggle of na-
ture to throw off disease.   The cold causes an obstruc- 
or,  Botanic Family Physician.         13
 tion, and fever arises in consequence of that obstruction
 to throw it off.   This is universally the case.   Remove
 the cause,  the  effect will cease.   No person ever yet
 died of a  fever! for as death  approaches, the patient
 grows cold, until in  death, the  last spark of heat is ex-
 tinguished.  This the learned doctors cannot deny; and
 as this is true, they ought, in justice, to acknowledge that
 their whole train of depletive remedies, such as bleed-
 ing, blistering, physicking, starving, with all their refrig-
 eratives; their opium, mercury,  arsenic, antimony, nitre,
 &.c. are so many deadly engines, combined jvith the dis-
 ease, against the constitution and life of the patient.  If
 cold, which is the commonly received opinion, and which
 is true, is the cause of fever, to  repeatedly bleed the pa-
 tient, and administer mercury, opium, nitre, and  other
 refrigerents to restore him to health, is as though a  man
 should, to increase a fire in his room, throw a part  of it
 out of  the  house, and to increase the  remainder, put on
 water,  snow and ice !
    As it is a fact, that cannot be  denied, that fever takes
 its  rise from one great cause  or  origin, it follows  of
 course,  that  one method of removing that  cause, will
 answer in all cases;  and the great principle  is  to assist
 nature, which is heat.
    At the commencement of a fever, by direct and proper
 application of suitable medicine, it  can be easily and
 speedily removed, and the patient need not be confined
 long.   Twenty-four or forty-eight hours, to  the extent,
 are sufficient, and often short of that time, the fever may
 be removed, or that which is the cause of it.   But where
 the patient is left unassisted, to struggle with the disease,
 until his strength is exhausted, and more especially, when
 the most  unnatural and injurious  administrations are
 made if a  recovery is possible, it must of necessity take
.a longer time.   These declarations are true, and  have
 been often  proved, and can  be again, to  the satisfaction
 of every candid person, at the hazard of any forfeiture
 the faculty  may challenge.
   Notwithstanding  all these things, how true are ihe
 words of the intelligent Dr. Hervey, who says, "By what
 unaccountable perversity in  our frame  does it appear,
 that we set ourselves so much against any thing that  is
              2 
14
New Guide to  Health;
new? Can any one behold, without scorn. Such drones
of physicians, and after the space of so many hundred
years experience and practice of their predecessors, not
one single medicine has been detected, that has the least
force directly to prevent, to oppose, and expel a continu-
ed fever?  Should any, by a more  sedulous observation,
pretend to make the least step towards  the discovery of
such remedies, their hatred and envy would swell against
him,  as  a legion  of devils  against  virtue;  the  whole
society will dart their  malice at him, and torture him
with all the calumnies  imaginable, without  sticking at
any thing that should destroy him root and branch.  For
he who professes to be a reformer  of the  art of physic,
must resolve to run the hazard of the martyrdom of his
reputation, life and estate."
  The treatment  which the writer  has received from
some of the  learned physicians, since his discovery of
the remedy for the fever, and various other  diseases, is
a proof of the truth of this  last saying of Dr. Hervey.
They have imprisoned him, and charged him  with every
thing cruel and unjust;  though upon a fair  trial, their
violent  dealings  have  come down upon  their  heads;
while he has  not only been proved innocent  before th«
court, but useful;  having relieved many which the other
physicians had given over to die.
  1 will now take notice of the yellow fever.   The causa
of this fatal disease is similar to the spotted fever.  The
cause of death in the latter, is in consequence of its
producing a balance by cold, outward and inward; and
in the former there is a  balance of heat outward and-in-
ward ; both produce the same thing, that is a total cessa-
tion of motion, which is death.   The colour of the skin
has given name to both these diseases.   The yellow is
caused by the obstruction of the gall;  instead of being
discharged through its proper vessels, it  is forced  and
diffused through the  pores  of the skin.   The  same ef-
fects that are produced by these  two fevers  may be ob-
served in the motion of the sea; when the tide is done
running  up, there is  what is called slack  water, or  a
balance of power, and the same thirfg takes  place when
it is done  running down ; when  the  fountain is raised,
the water runs from it;  but when it is lowered the water 
or,  Botanic Family Physician.
15
runs towards it.   The  same cause  produces the  same
effects in the spotted  and  yellow  fevers ; for. when a
balance of power between the outward and inward heat
takes place, death follows.
   Having described the  two kinds of fever  which  are
the most alarming, they being  most fatal, I shall pass
over those of a less alarming nature, and merely observe,
that there is no other difference in all cases of fever, than
what is caused by the different degrees of cold, or loss
of inward heat, which are two  adverse  parties in one
body, contending for power.   If the heat gains the vic-
tory, the cold will be disinherited, and health will  be re-
atored ;  but on the other hand, if cold gains  the  ascen-
dency, heat will be dispossessed of its empire, and death
will follow of course.    As soon  as life ceases, the body
becomes cold, which is conclusive evidence that its gain-
ing the victory is the cause of death.  When the  power
of cold is nearly  equal to that of heat, the fever or strife
between the two  parties, may continue tor a longer or
shorter time, according to circumstances ; this is what is
called a long fever, or  fever and  ague.    The battlo be-
tween cold and heat will  take  place periodically, some
times every day,  at other times, every  other day, and
they will leave off about equal, heat keeping a little tho
upper hand.   In attempting to cure a case of this kind,
we  must consider  whether  the fever is  a friend or  an
enemy ; if it is a friend,  which I hold to be  the fact,
when  the fever tit is on, increase the power  of heat, in
order to drive off the cold, and  life will  bear the rule ;
but, on  the contrary, should cold be considered a friend,
when the cold  fit is on, by increasing its power,  you
drive off the brat, and death must  ensue.    Thus  you
may promote life or death, by tempering cold and  heat.
   Much has been said by the doctors  concerning tho
turn of a fever, and how long a  time  it will run.   When
it is said that a fever will turn at such a time, I presume
it must  mean that it has been gone; this  is true, for  it is
then gone on the outside, and is trying to  turn again anil
go inside, where it belongs.   Instead of following the
dictates of nature and aiding it to subdue the cold, the
doctor uses all his skill to kill the fever.   How, I  would
ask, in the name of common sense, can  any thing turn 
16             New Guide to Health;
 when killed ?  Support the fever and it will return in-
 side; the  cold, which is the cause of disease, will  be
 driven out, and health will be restored.  In  all cases
 called fever, the cause is the same in a greater or less de-
 gree, and may be relieved by one general remedy.  The
 cold causes eanker; and before the canker is seated, the
 strife will take place between cold and heat; and while
 the hot flashes and cold chills remain, it is evidence that
 the canker is not settled, and the hot medicine alone, oc-
 casionally assisted by steam, will throw it off; but as the
 contest ceases, the  heat is steady on  the outside;  then
 canker assumes the  power inside; this is called a settled
 fever.  The truth is,  the canker  is fixed on  the inside
 and will ripen and  come off in a short time, if the  fever
 is kept up so as to overpower the cold.   This idea is new
 and never was known till my discovery.   By raising the
 fever with Nos. 1 and 2, and taking off the canker  with
 No. 3, and the same given by injections, we may turn a
 fever when  we please;  but if this is not understood, the
 canker will ripen and come off itself, when the fever will
 turn and go inside and the cold will i;c  driven out; there-
 fore they will do much better witliout iiny aid, than  with
 a doctor.   The higher the fever runs, the sooner the cold
 will  be subdued; and if you contend  against the  heat,
 the longer will be the run of the fever, and when killed,
 death follows.
   When a patient is bled,  it lessens the heat and gives
 double power to the  cold; like taking  out of one  side of
 the scale, and putting it in the other, which doubles the
 weight, and turns the scale in favor of the disease.   By
 giving opium it deadens the feelings;  the small doses of
 nitre  and calomel tend to destroy what  heat remains, and
 plants new crops of canker, which will stand in different
 stages in the body, the same as corn planted in the  field
 every week, will  keep some in all stages;  so is the dif-
 ferent degrees in canker.  This is the reason why there
are so many different fevers as are named ; when one fever
turns another sets in and so continues one after another un-
 til the harvest  is all ripe, if the season is long enough ;  if
 not, the cold and frost takes them off—then it is said  they
died of a fever.  It might with as much propriety be said
that the corn killed with frost, died  with the heat.  The 
           or, Botanic Family Physician.         17

question, whether the heat or cold killed the  patient, is
easily decided, for that  power which bears rule  in the
body after death is what killed the patient, which is cold;
as much as that which bears rule when he is alive is heat.
When a person is taken sick, it is common to say I have
got a cold, and am afraid  I am going to have a fever;
but no fears are expressed ofthe cold he has taken ; nei-
ther is it mentioned when  the cold left him.   The fash-
ionable practice is to fight the remains of heat till  the pa-
tient dies, by giving cold the victory; in which case is it
not a fact that the doctor assists  the cold to kill  the pa-
tient ?  Would it not have been more reasonable, or likely
to  have cured them, when  the  fever arose to throw off
the  cold, to  have helped the fever  and give  nature the
victory over its enemy, when the health would be restored
the same as before they took the cold.
   We frequently  see in the newspapers accounts of peo-
ple dying in  consequence of drinking cold  water when
very warm.   Some fall dead instantly, and others linger
for several hours, the doctors have not been able to afford
any  relief when  called.  The principal  symptoms are
chills, and shivering with cold, which is viewed with as-
tonishment  by those who  witness  it.   Proper caution
should always be observed by persons when  very warm
and thirsty, who  go to a pump to drink, by swallowing
something hot before drinking the water, and swallowing
a little at a time, which  will prevent any  fatal effects.
   This strange circumstance of being cold on a hot day,
and which has never been accounted for in a satisfactory
manner to the public, I shall endeavour to explain in as
comprehensive and plain language as I am capable. The
component parts of animal bodies are earth and  water,
and life and motion are caused by fire and air.  The in-
ward heat is the fountain of life,  and as much as that has
the power above the outward heat, so much we  have of
life and strength, and when  wc lose this power of heat,
our strength and  faculties decay  in proportion; and it is
immaterial whether we lose this power by losing  the in-
ward heat or raising the  outward heat above it, as the
effect is the same.   If you raise the stream level with the
fountain, it stops the current, and all motion will cease, 
18
New Guide  to Health;
and the same effects will follow by lowering the fountain
to a level with the stream.  When the outward heat be-
comes equal with the inward, either  by the  ones being
raised, or the others being lowered, cold assumes  the
power, and death takes place.
  The cause of the fatal effects by drinking cold water,
is because the fountain of life is lost by the stream be-
ing raised above the fountain, or the inward heat low-
ered by throwing into the stomach so large a quantity of
cold water as to give the outward heat the power of bal-
ancing the inward, and  in  proportion as the one ap-
proaches to an equality with the other, so the strength is
diminished, and when equal, they die.
   I shall now make some further remarks on this  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 un-
derstood.  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, or 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 experienced, and will suffer the consequences
 of cold in proportion 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 fever, and in
 drowned persons.   When the inward  and outward cold
 is balanced, life ceases, and the blood   being stopped in
 its motion, settles in spots, which appearance  has given
 name to what  is caMed spotted fever.   The same ap-
 pearances take place on drowned persons, and from the
 same cause.
   The  practice of bleeding for the purpose of curing
 disease, I consider most unnatural and injurious.   Na-
 ture  never furnishes the  body with more blood than ii 
or,  Botanic Family  Physician.         10
 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 experiments have
 been tried by the use of the lancet  in  fevers; but I be-
 lieve it will  be allowed  by all, that  most of them  have
 proved fatal ; and several  eminent  physicians have died
 in consequence of trying the experiment 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  part;  but how  taking  part of it
 away can help to cure what remains, can never be re-
 conciled with  common sense.
   There  is no practice  used  by the  physicians that 1
 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 shave 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
 blister made by flies.  I have witnessed many instances
 where great distress and very bad effects have been caus-
 ed 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 attempted
 remedy becomes much worse than the  disease.
   In support of my opinions  on the subject, I  will giv«
 the following extract from the writings of Dr. Hillary,
 an eminent physician of London.
   " I have long observed that blisters are too frequently,
 and too often improperly used, as they  are now so much
 in fashion.   It  is very probable, that we  have no on«
 remedy, in all the Materia Medica, that is so frequently,
 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  increase the very
 evil, which they are intended to remove  or relieve.   How
often do we see them applied, and sometimes several of
them, by pretended dabblers  in  physic, not  only where 
SO             New Guide  to Health,'
there are no indications  for applying them, but where
the true indication are  against their application ; as,
in the beginning of most  fevers,  and especially those
of the inflammatory, and of the putrid kind,  where, in
the first, the stimulous of the  acrid  salts of the cantha-
rides, which pass  into the blood, must unavoidably in-
crease, both the  stimulous, and the momentum of the
blood, which were too great before,  and so render the
fever inflammatory, and all its symptoms 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 its pu-
trefaction, which is also confirmed  by the putrid alka-
line acrimony  which  they produce in the urine, with
the heat and stranguary, which it gives to the  urinary
passage."
                  ON STEAMING.

  Steaming is a very important branch of my system of
practice, which would in many cases without it, be in-
sufficient to effect a cure.   It is of great importance in
many cases,  but  considered  by the  medical faculty as
desperate;  and they  would  be so under my mode  of
treatment, 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
knowledge of medicine, when through necessity, I dis-
covered the use of steaming, to add  heat or life to the
decaying spark; and  with it I was enabled  by adminis-
tering such vegetable  preparations as  I then had a knowl-
edge of, to  effect a cure in cases where the regular prac-
titioners 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 indispensably
necessary;  and heat  caused  by steam  in  the  manner
that I use it, is more natural in producing perspiration, 
or, Botanic  Family Physician.         21
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 laid 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 cases
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
burning 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
ihem as well  as to have all the trouble  of burning spirit
and turning to the vapour of it,  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 half
immersed; 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 fifteen or twenty 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 to
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  one 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 he made in the same manner, in which
they might be laid and covered with blankets so as to
shield them from thesurroundjng air.  Such contrivances
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 frequent-
 ly necessary, particularly in  complaints that have  been
 of long standing.
   As  I have  frequently mentioned a regular  course of
 medicine, I 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 imme-
 diate relief is needed, Nos.  1, 2, 3, and 6, may be given 
or, Botanic Family  Physician.         23
together.   Injections may be  administered at all  times,
and in all cases of disease to 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 latter is preferable.
   The use of steaming  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
prevented, and  long sickness and  expense  saved by a
very little trouble, by standing over a steam  and follow-
ing the directions before given, till the cold is thorough-
ly 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 be had;  but
is much better  to take  something to raise the  inward
heat  at the  same time.   A  tea  made of mayweed or
pummer-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 sickness.
   Steaming is of the utmost importance in cases of sus-
pended animation, such as  drowned persons; in  which
ease,  place the body  over a moderate steam, shielded by
a blanket, from the weight of the external air, and rari-
fying 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 ex-
tremities.   If this symptom  appears, repeat the dose
several times, 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 ofthe desired ob-
ject, 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 
24            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 neces-
sary as in drowned  persons; such as when  they fall ap-
parently 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 equi-
librium takes place the pain will cease.  In all cases of
this kind, the difficulty cannot be removed without appli-
ed 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, where the patient  has been run down
with mercury, and  left in  a cold and  obstructed state,
liable  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 med-
icine 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 being 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 lungs.
  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 he done in bed with a hot stone,  wrap-
ped  in  cloths wet with water, putting on a little vinegar;
and coverinr them with the bed clorhes 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 thc;m.   If.the child appears languid  and faint, the
outward heat is  high enough ; put a little cold water on
the face or breast, which will restore the strength, then
rub thorn in a cloth wet with vinegar, spirit or cold water,
put on clean clothes,  and put them in bed, or  let  them
sit up as their strength will  permit.   This is safe in all
cases of cold and obstructed perspiration.   It ought al-
ways to be bjruo 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 bruises, steaming is  almost in-
fallible ; and  is  much better than  bleeding, as is  the
common practice, which only tends to destroy life in-
stead of promoting  it.   If the  person  is not able to
stand over the steam, it must be done in bed, as has been
described.   Give the hottest  medicine inside that  you
have, and keep  the  perspiration  free till the  pain  and
soreness abates, and  the strength will be  soon restored.
If the advantages of  this mode of treatment was gener-
ally  known,  bleeding in such  cases, 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 the diges-
tive powers are restored, sufficient to hold the heat by
digesting the food, then the health of the patient will be
restored by eating and drinking such things as the appe-
tite  shall  require.  In this  way the medicine removed
disease, and  food, by being properly digested, supports
nature and continues that heat on which life dependsv
              3 
26             New Guide to Health;
  Some who practise 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';  and to omit it is throwing the labour  upon  the pa-
tient, with  the expense of three or four operations more
of the medicine, than 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
 subject that I wish to bring home to the  serious con-
 sideration of the whole body of  the people of this coun-
 try, and enforce in the strongest manner on  their minds,
 the pernicious 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 years prac-
 tice, I. have had opportunity to-gain much experience on
 this subject, and  am ready to declare that I am perfectly
 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 ofthe 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-
 moying.tne 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 bard to get them out again. 
            or, Botanic Family Physician.         27

   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 peo-
 ple, if they would  examine it and think for themselves,
 instead of believing that everything 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  I have said concerning the articles I
 have named being poisonous and destructive to the con-
 stitution and health of man,  I  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 few 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  with
 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.
   "Oxyd of Arsenic, is one ofthe most sudden and vio-
 lent poisons we are acquainted with.  In mines, it causes
 the destruction of numbers of those  who explore them:
 and it is frequently the  instrument by which victims are
 sacrificed, either by the hand of wickedness  or impru-
 dence.   The fumes of Arsenic are so deleterious to the
 iungs,  that the artist ought to be on his guard to prevent
their exhalation by the mouth;  for if they be mixed and
swallowed with  the saliva, effects will take place similar 
28             New Guide to Health;
to those which follow its introduction  into the stomach
in a saline state;  namely, a  sensation of a piercing,
gnawing, and burning kind, accompanied with an acute
pain in the stomach and intestines, which  last are vio-
lently contorted; convulsive vomiting; insatiable thirst,
from the parch'd and rough state of the tongue and throat:
hiccough, palpitation of the heart and a deadly oppres-
sion ofthe whole breast, succeed next; the matter eject-
ed by the  mouth, as well as the stools, exhibit a black,
foeted, and putrid appearance;  at  length with the mor-
tification ofthe bowels, the pain subsides, and death ter-
minates the  sufferings of the patient."   " When  the
quantity is so very  small as not to prove fatal, tremors,
paralysis, and lingering hectics succeed."
   Notwithstanding this terrible description  of the fatal
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 dis-
eases, says Dr. Duncan, in which white Oxyd of Arse-
nic has been used internally, there is none in which  it
has  been  so frequently and so successfully  employed,
as in the  cure of intermittent 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  head-
aches, 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 for
weeks !  " As an external remedy, arsenic  has long bi:en
known as the  basis of the celebrated cancer powders;
"Arsenic has ever  been applied in substance, sprinkled
upon the  ulcer; but this mode of using it is exceeding-
ly painful, and  extremely dangerous.  There have been
fatal effects  produced  from its absorption."  No other
escharotic possesses equal powers  in  cancerous affec-
tions;  it not unfrequently  amends the discharge, causes
the sore to contract in  size, and cases have been related
of its  having effected  a cure.   But,  says Dr. Willich,
" we are, on the combined testimony of many medical
practitioners, conspicious for their professional zeal and
integrity,  irresistibly induced  to declare our opinion, 
or,  Botanic Family Physician.         29
at least, against  the internal use  of this  active and
dangerous medicine."
   I shall  lea^e it to the reader, to  reconcile, if he can,
the inconsistencies and  absurdities of trfe 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,  to
be in  any shape or form, proper to be used  as medicine;
yet it is a well known fact, that this poison  is in constant
use among the faculty,  and  forms the principal  ingre-
dient  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 antimonial metal is  a
medicine of 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 in  Collyria,
against inflammation of 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 was by many looked upon as
poisonous."  "All the  metalic  preparations are uncer-
tain,  as it  entirely depends on the state of the stomach,
whether they have  no  action  at  all, or  operate with
dangerous violence."    " The  principal general  medi-
cinal application of antimony has been for the use of fe-
brile  affections."  " In the latter 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
acid and potash, is found ready formed on  the surface
of the soil in warm climates."  " Purified  nitre is pre-
scribed with advantage  in numerous disorders.  Its vir-
tues are those of a refrigerent and diuretic.  It is usu-
ally given  in doses from two  or three grains to a scru-
ple, being a very cooling and  resolvent medicine,  which
by relaxing the spasmodic  rigidity of the vessels, pro-
              3* 
30
New Guide to Health;
motes not only the  secretion of urine, but at the same
time 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 quantities,
is one of the  most fatal poisons."  " For some interest-
ing observations relative to the deleterious properties 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 effects upon the human system, of any drug that
 is used  as medicine.  Although the effects produced by
 it are  not so immediately fatal as 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 most 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, there cannot be any other effects  produc-
 ed  by it, than to increase the power of that  enemy of
 heat, and  to lessen  its necessary influence.
    "Opium, when taken into the stomach, to such an ex-
 tent as  to have any sensible effect, gives rise to  a pleas-
 ant serenity ofthe mipd, in general proceeding to a cer-
 tain degree  of languor and  drowsiness."   " It excites
 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 diminish-
 ed ; and even at times, and in situations, when a person
 would naturally be awake, sleep is  irresistably induced-
 In still larger doses,  it acts in the same  manner as the
 narcotic poisons,  giving rise  to  vertigo, headache, tre-
 mors, 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  appear-
 ances  as take place  in an appoplexy."  "In  intermit-
 tents  it is said to have been used with good effect.     it 
or, Botanic  Family Physician.          31
is  often  of very great service  in fevers  of the  typhoid
type."  " In  small pox, when the convulsions before er-
ruption are frequent and considerable, opium is liberally
used."  " In cholera and pyrosis, it is almost the  only
thing trusted to."  " The administration of opium to the
unaccustomed, is sometimes very difficult.  The requisite
quantity  of opium is  wonderfully  different in different
persons and in different states of the same person.  A
quarter of a grain will in one adult, produce effects which
ten times the  quantity will not do in  another.   The
lowest fatal dose to the unaccustomed, 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  destructive 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 there can be no other way to relieve it, but by
removing the cause.  Sleep produced by opium is unnat-
ural, 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 sen-
sible 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 dead-
ening  the sensible organs  of the stomach and  intestines,
and preventing them from performing their natural func-
tions  so  important  to  the maintaining of health and
life.   In all the cases that have come within my knowl-
edge, where  the  patient  has been long in the habit of
taking opium, I have found it almost impossible, after re-
moving the disease, to restore the digestive powers of
the stomach.
   I have made the  foregoing extracts on the subject of
poisons,  for the purpose of giving a more plain and sim-
ple 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  do 
32             New Guide to Health;
that justice to the subject that I could wish, and which its
importance demands; but I am not  without  hope, that
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 endeavour to inculcate, for the benefit of
mankind, and convince them, that  what has a tendency
to destroy life, can never be useful in restoring health.
  In support of what has  been before said on the use
of mercury, I 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 anended 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 in-
flammation, which terminated  in mortification of the in-
testines,  or destruction of not only the  muscles,  but the
bones  of the face.
  " Four cases under these formidable effects of  mercu-
rial ptyalism, were admitted  into  the general hospital,
at Lewistown ; 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 most 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
medicine,  I  will   here give a list  of those  within my
knowledge, viz.  Garden  Hemlock, Night Shade, Apple
Peru, Poppy,  Henbane, Poke-root, Mandrake-root, Gar-
get-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 otherwise, a strong preparation of  No.  1,  with  a
small quantity of No. 2, will be found to be a  sovereign
remedy. 
or,  Botanic Family Physician.         33
  Cases frequently occur in the country, of being poison-
ed 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 medi-
cine ; but I would caution the public agiinst 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
garden  hemlock, Scicuta, and is  recommended  by the
doctors  for many complaints, to be taken or  applied ex-
ternally.  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  timers to  put criminals to death ; but
this was before it was ever thought 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 vege-
tables that I have mentioned  as poisonous.   I wish the
public to understand that  it  is entirely  unauthorized by
me, as there  is nothing in my practice  or writings, but
what  is  directly opposed to everything of a  poisonous
nature being used as a medicine ;  for it has always been
my aim, to ascertain and  avoid the  use of  every thing
except such articles as I  knew byactual  experience to
be agreeable to nature, and also free  from all  danger or
risk in using them to cure disease.    I therefore, caution
the public against putting any  confidence  in such  as
make use of either 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-
tise by my system without having  a  correct  knowledge
of it; 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 Thomsonian 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 forward
more  fashionable.   This is  undoubtedly a  great evil,
for it  makes every thing 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 practi-
tioners, as they will be constantly seeking after new the-
ories.    What should  we say of a  carpenter  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.   The employers  would
soon lose all confidence in him, and dismiss him as an
ignorant 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
uncertain and contradictory, that it is impossible to form 
            or, Botanic Family Physician.         35

 any correct general rule as a guide to be depended upon.
 In order te 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:
   "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 Bacon,
 that medicine  is a science that hath been more professed
 than laboured, and yet  more laboured than advanced, 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
 many  centuries past, one theory overturning another, yet
 each in  its succession promising itself immortality."
   " The application of the rules which the  practitioner
 laye 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 debilitated
 constitutions have paid for the folly of theories'  Follies,
 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 difficulty."
   " In my lectures on the art  of physic,  says Dr. Ring,
 both theoretical and practical, I 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 I
 myself were dangerously ill, I would  suffer any  hypo-
 thetical, however plausible physician, to prescribe for my
 malady, my answer would be no, assuredly no, unless I
 wished to risk  the  loss  of my life.   I could  giire  a  re-
 markable instance of this.
   " Speculation  and hypothesis  are always at variance
 with sound experience and successful practice."
  The above extracts  evince  the pernicious effects  of
 false theory and hypothesis,  which at  the present day,
 constitute nearly the whole art of physic. 
36
New Guide to  Health;
  The following just remarks are copied  from the writ-
ings of the Rev. John Wesley.
  " As theories increased, simple medicines  wpro  more
and more disregarded and disused ;  till, in a course of
years, the greater part of them  were  forg uteri, at  least
in the more polite nations.  In the room of these, abun-
dance of new onus were introduced, by reasoning, spec-
ulative men ; and those more  and more difficult  to  be
applied, as being more remote from common observation.
Hence rules tor 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 ad-
miration, as persons  who were something more  than hu-
man.    And profit attended  their  employ, as well  as
honour.   So that they had now two weighty reasons  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  unin-
telligible 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, neither
the nature nor names of which their  own countrymen
■nderstood."
  " The 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
render it little more than a chaos of error, a tissue of de-
ceit unworthy of admission among the useful  arts and
libera) pursuits of roan." 
                DESCRIPTION

                     OP 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, I 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 much greater number of articles in the vegetable king-
dom, that are useful as medicine, might have been describ-
ed and their medical virtues pointed out, if I had 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 principal
study for  above thirty years;  but to undertake to de-
scribe 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 I have
thought necessary to mention, and giving directions how
to prepare and administer them, is to class .uem under
the  numbers  which form my  system of practice; this
was  thought  to be  the  best way  to give a correct and
full understanding ofthe whole subject.  Each number is
calculated to effect a certain object, which is stated in the
heading to each  as they are introduced ; every article
therefore, that is useful  in promoting such objects will
be described  as  applicable  to the number under which
it is classed.  The three  first are used to remove disease
and the others as restoratives.  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 ofthe articles of which
              4 
38             New Guide  to Health;
they are composed arc given as far as was deemed neces-
sary.   The  manner of applying them will  be hereafter
more particularly stated, when I come to  give an account
ofthe manner of treating some ofthe 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 HERR.  LOBELIA INFLATA OF LIN^EUS.
   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, I claim as my
own discovery.  The first knowledge I ever had  of it,
was obtained by accident more than forty years ago, and
never had any infomation whatever concerning  it, ex-
cept what, I  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 medi-
cal 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 to.  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 use of it in my practice.
  In the course of my practice, a number of the doctors
discovered that the medicine I made use  of, produced
effects which astonished them, and which they could not
account for; this induced them to conclude,  that because
it  was so  powerful in removing disease,  it must be
poison.  This I think can be very satisfactorily account-
ed  for; they have  no knowledge  of any thing  in all
their medical science, which is capable  of producing a
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 
or,  Botanic Family Physician.        39
to produce life and a power to produce death, which are
of course directly opposed to each other;  and whatever
tends to promote life, cannot cause death, let its  power
be ever so great.   In this  consists all the difference be-
tween 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 knowl-
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,
that 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 vegeta-
ble that the earth produces, more harmless in its effects
on the human system, and  none more powerful  in  re-
moving disease and promoting health.
   There is no mention made of this  herb,  by any au-
thor, that I  have been able  to find, previous  to  my disr
covering  it, excepting by Linaeus, who has given a cor--
.rect description of it under the name  of Lobelia Inflata;
but there is nothing said of its medical properties, it is
therefore 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
Emetic Herb  in my practice, they declared it to be a
deadly 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
attempt 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
have  been instructed by me are ready to join,  for the
purpose of 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, ex-
cept in the description of it, which  is nearly correct. 
40             New Guide to Health;
It appears that all the knowledge  he has on the subject,
as to its virtues, is borrowed from others, and  is  proba-
bly derived from the ridiculous  ideas entertained of its
power by those doctors who  knew nothing about it, ex-
cept what they gaiued  by my  making use  of it,  as has
been before stated.   As to its being  dangerous to ad-
minister 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 administered  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 deleterious  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, to 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 effect, is altogether incorrect, and is well known
to be so by all who  have any  correct knowledge on the
subject.
  What  is quoted  in  the  Dispensatory, from the Rer.
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
says, " if the quantity  be a little increased, it operates
as an emetic and then as a  cathartic, its effects  being
much the same as those of  the common emetics  and ca-
thartics."   In this he is mistaken,  for  it is  entirely dif-
ferent from any other emetic  known ; and as to its oper-
ating as  a cathartic,  I never knew it to have such an
effect in all my practice.  And  I certainly ought to know
something  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's 
           or, Botanic Family Physician.         41

being useful in curing disease,  particularly in  the asth-
ma, was obtained from me ;  for when I  was prosecuted,
I was  obliged  to  expose my discoveries  to show the
falsity of the indictment.   Dr. Cutler was brought for-
ward as a witness  at  my trial, to prove the virtues of
this plant, by his  evidence, that  he cured him.self of
the asthma with it.   He says the first information he
had of its being  good for that complaint, was  from Dr.
Drury, of Mar'blehead.   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, I cur-
ed a woman in Newington, of the asthma, who had not
laid 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 enjoyed
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 can
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 herb, and the doctors having  become con-
vinced  of its  value, they come  forward  and  say it  ia
good medicine  in  skilful  hands.    Who, I would ask,
is  more  skilful  than  he who discovered it, and taught
them  how to prepare and  use it in curing one of the
most distressing complaints known ?   If  it is  a good
medicine, it is mine, and I am entitled to the credit of
introducing it into use, and  have  paid  dear for it; if it
is rjoison, the doctors do not need it, as they have enough
of that now.   Dr.  Thacher undertakes to make it ap-
pear that the fatal effects he tells about its producing,
was owing to the  quantity given ; and says I adminis-
tered a  tea-spoonful of the powder; and when  he comes
to give directions  for using  it,  says that  from ten to
twenty  grains may be given  with safety.   It  appears
strange that different terms should produce such different
              4* 
42             New Guide  to Health;
effects in the operation of medicine.   If a  tea-spoonful
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
to describe.   I have  been informed  that there is a poi-
sonous root grows in  the Southern  States, called Lobe-
lia, which has  been used as a medicine ; the  calling thi?
herb by that name, has probably been 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
appearance and medical virtues.    In the United States
Pharmacopoeia, there are 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 be-
lieve the  same thing ; but this is founded altogether upon
conjecture, 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 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
bv the natives  of this country ; but one thing I  am cer-
tain of, that 1  never had any knowledge of  their using
it, nor ever received any information concerning it from
them, or  any one else. 
           or, Botanic Family Physician.         43

   The Emetic Herb may be found in the  first stages of
its growth at all times 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 form, 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, it lifts up its leaves and shoots forth a stalk to the
 height of from twelve to fifteen  inches, with  a number
of branches, carrying up its leaves with  its'growth.   In
July it puts forth small pointed pale blue blossoms, which
 is  followed by small  pods abeut  the size of a  white
 bean, containing numerous very small seeds.   This pod
 is an exact resemblance of the human  stomach, having
 an inlet and outlet higher than the middle ;  from  the
, inlet  it receives  nourishment, and by  the outlet  dis-
 charges the seeds.   It comes to maturity about the  first
 of September, when  the  leaves  and pods turn a little
 yellow ; this is the best time to gather it.  It is  what 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 for
 its inhabitants it may  be  found.    It is confined to no
 soil which is fit for cultivation, from  the  highest moun-
 tains to the 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 appearance ;
 and if the summer and  fall  is very dry the seed does
 not come  up,  and  of  course there will be very  little to
 be found the next  season.   I have  been in search  of
 this herb from Boston  to  Canada, and  was not  able  to
 collect more than two pounds; and  in  some seasons I
 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 guard  to be careful and lay up a good stock
of it when plenty.   In the year 1807, i( I had offered a
 reward of a thousand  dollars for  a pound of this  herb, I
should not have been  able to have  obtained it.   I have 
44
New Guide  to Health;
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 was plenty.
  In seasons when this herb is plenty, it may be  found
growing in  highways and  pastures,  by the side of old
turnpikes, and in stubble land, particularly where it has
been laid down to grass the  year before; when grass is
scarce, it  is eaten  by  cattle, and is hard to be found
when full grown.   It.is a wild plant,  and a native of this
country ; but there is no doubt of its  being  common to
other countries.   It  may be transplanted and cultivated
in gardens,  and will  be much larger and more vigouroua
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
any experiments to ascertain the fact. It is certain that
it is produced  from the seed, and there is no good reason
to suppose that it may not be cultivated in gardens from
the seed as well as  other  vegetables ;  1 think it most
probable, however, from the nature of the plant, that it
will not come  up till  the seeds have laid at least one win-
ter in the ground.
   This plant is different in one very important  particu-
lar, from 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 till it comes to
maturity ; but the best time for gathering it, as  has be-
fore  been mentioned, is when the leaves  and pods begin
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 daytime, and to be shut from
the damp air during the night. When  perfectly dry, shake
out the seed  and sift it through a common  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. 
or, Botanic Family Physician.         45
  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 many different  ways, either by itself or compounded
with other articles.   For  a common dose, take  a  tea-
spoonful of this powder with the same quantity of sugar
in half a tea-cupful of warm water, or a tea of No.  3
may be used instead of the water ; this dose may be
taken 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
scalded; 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 small 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
complaints 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 little about it. ,  For a dose, take from half to
a tea-spoonful. Its effects will  be more certain if about
the same quantity of No. 2, is  added, and in all cases
where there are nervous symptoms, add half a tea-spoon-
ful  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  fine,
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 ; 
46
New Guide to Health;
when taken, to be well shaken together.   This prepara-
tion 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 the 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 loosen-
ed so that the mouth will open ; then give a dose of it,
and as soon as the spasms have abated, repeat it, and af-
terwards 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  measles  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 my agents  cured a man with it who  had been bitten
by a mad dog ; and I have not the least doubt of its be-
ing a specific  for that disease.   For a dose, take a tea-
spoonful.
   Much has been said of the power of the Emetic Herb,
and  some have expressed fears of it on 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 eighty years.   It  is most powerful
in removing disease, but innocent on nature.    Its oper-
ation in  different persons, is according  to their different
tempers, moving with  the natural current of the animal
spirits.    There  is  two cases  where this medicine will
not operate, viz. when the patient  is dying,  and  where
there is no death ; or in other  words, when there is no
disease.   There can be no war where there is no enemy.
When  there  is no cold in the body there 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  calculated to re-
move the cause  and no more, as food  removes hunger,
and drink thirst.   It  clears all obstructions to the ex-
tremities, without regard to the names  of disease, until 
or, Botanic Family Physician.         47
it produces  an equilibrium in the system, and will be felt
in the fingers and toes, producing a prickling 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 generally 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 dif-
ferent 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 repeat it till it produce the wished operation.
In  cases  where  the stomach is cold and very foul, its
operation will  be slow and uncertain ; in  which case
give No. 2, which will assist it  in doing its work.   See
also, page 90, § 11.
   When this medicine is given to patients  that  are in
a decline, or are labouring under a disease of long 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-
erable opium, and this medicine is administered, it wjll
in its operation produce the same appearances and symp-
toms that is  produced by opium when first  given, which
having  laid  dormant,  is roused into  action by  the en-
livening 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 direc-
tion ;  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 
48             New Guide to Health;
 sleep after a good nights rest; be entirely calm and sensi-
 ble as though nothing had ailed them.   It is seldom they
 ever have  more than one of these turns; as it is the last
 struggle of the disease, and they generally begin to recov-
 er from that time.  I have been more particular in describ-
 ing these effects ofthe medicine, as they are very alarm-
 ing to those unacquainted with them, in order to show that
 there is no danger to be apprehended, as  it is  certain
 evidence of a favourable turn ofthe disease.
   The Emetic Herb is of great value in preventing sick-
 ness  as well as curing it; by taking a dose when first
 attacked  by 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 effects to every  part of the body.  It is
 searching, enlivening, quickening and has a great power
 in removing all obstructions; but it soon  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 not be sufficient to remove a  disease
 that has become seated.  To effect this important object
 put me to  much trouble and after trying 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 following with  Nos. 4 and 5 to
 correct  the bile, restore the digestion, and strengthen
 the system, I  have had Tittle trouble in effecting  a cure.
 Directions for preparing &c.—see page 79.


 IVo.  2.—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 unnecessa-
 ry 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- 
            or, Botanic  Family Physician.         49

 portion of salt mixed with  it; this destroys in some de-
 gree its stimulating  effects and makes  it less pungent;
 but it is  not so good for medicine as  in the pure state.
 It is said to be a native of South America and is cultivat-
 ed  in many ofthe West India Islands; that which comes
 to this country is brought from Demarara  and Jamaica.
 It also grows in other parts ofthe  world.  I once bought
 one hundred pounds of it in  the pod, which was brought
 from the Coast of Guinea ;  had it ground at Portsmbuth,
 and it was as  good as any I ever  used.  There are sev-
 eral species that are described under the  name of Cap-
 sicum ; all of which  are about the same, as to their stimu-
 lating qualities.  The pods only are  used;  they are long
 and pointed, are of a green colour till ripe when they turn
 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 vinegar is put to  them,
 which is sold under the name of Pepper-Sauce.  The ripe
 pods ground to a powder is what is used for medicine and
 cooking ; but the  Pepper-Sauce is very good to be  taken
 a6 medicine and applied externally;  the green pods hold
 their attracting power till ripe, and  therefore keep their
 strength much longer when put in  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 all the strength.
   I shall not undertake to  dispute but that  Cayenne has
 been  used  for medical  purposes  long before I had any
 knowledge of it; and that it  is one of the safest and best
 articles ever discovered  to  remove  disease, I know  to
 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  medi-
 cine, till I introduced it,  by making use of  it in my prac-
 tice.   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. The 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 hare beei* 
50             New Guide to Health;
used with success in curing some cases of disease, that
had resisted all other remedies."   All this I am satisfi-
ed 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
into general practice.    In Thacber'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 that 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 1 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 a hot nature; but could  find
nothing that  would  hold the heat any length of  time.
I made use of ginger,  mustard, horse-radish, peppermint,
butternut  bark, and many other hot  things; but  they
were  all more or less volatile, and would not have the
desired effect. With these, however,  and the Emetic
Herb,  together with the aid of  steam, I was enabled to
practice with pretty general  success.   In the fall ofthe
year 1805, I  was out in search of Umbil, on a mountain,
in Walpole, N. H.  I went  into a house at the foot of
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 very 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 use  of.    I put it in
spirit with the Emetic Herb, and gave the tincture  mix-
ed in a tea of  witch-hazel leaves, and found that it would 
or, Botanic Family  Physician.         51
retain the heat  in  the  stomach after puking;  and pre-
serve 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 Newburyport, 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 was dried, which I put into the bot-
tle; this made 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 after-
wards tried it and  found that after  it had expelled the
cold, it  would not  cause pain.   From these experiments,
I became convinced that this kind of pepper was much
stronger, and would be better  for  medical use than the
common red pepper.   Soon after  this  I was again in
Newburyport, and made inquiry, and found  some Cay-
enne ;  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 af-
terwards made use of this  article, and  found it to an-
swer all the purposes  wished ;  and  was  the  very thing
I had long been in search of.  The next year I went to
Portsmouth, and  made inquiries  concerning Cayenne,
and from those who dealt in the article, I learned that it
was brought to this country from Demarara and Jamaica,
prepared only for table use, and that salt was  put 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
state.    I sent also by many others, that  were going to
the places where  it grows, to procure  all they could ;
in consequence of which, large quantities were import-
ed into Portsmouth, much more than there  was imme-
diate  demand  for.   I was not able to purchase but a
small part  of what  was brought, and  it  was  bought
up  by others on speculation, and  sent to Boston ; the
consequence was,  that the price was so much  reduced,, 
52
New Guide to Health;
that  it would not  bring  the  first cost,  which  put  a
stop  to its  being 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
I 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 convinced by
using it, that  all the doctors said about it  was false,
and  it only proved their  ignorance of its medicinal vir-
tues  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 of it in curing the spotted fever, and where  it
was  known, was the only thing depended  on  for that
disease.  I 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
practice ; and can assure  the public, that  it  is  perfect-
ly harmless, never having known it to  produce any bad
effects whatever.   It is  no doubt the  most powerful
stimulant known ;  its power is entirely congenial  to
nature,  being powerful only in raising  and maintain-
ing that heat on  which life depends.   It is extremely
pungent, and when taken sets the mouth as it were on
fire ; this lasts, however, but  a few minutes, and  I con-
sider it essentially a benefit, for its effects on the glands
causes the 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 sweetened,
or the same quantity may be mixed  with either  of the
other numbers  when  taken.   It will produce  a free
perspiration, which should be kept up by repeating the
dose, until  the disease  is  removed.    A spoonful, with
an equal quantity of common salt, put into a gill of vin-
egar, makes a very good sauce, to be eaten on meat, and
will  assist  the appetite and strengthen the digesture.
One spoonful of  this preparation may be taken to good
advantage, and will remove faint, sinking feelings, which 
           or, Botanic Family Physician.         53

some are subject to, especially in the spring of the year.
Pepper-sauce is good for the same purpose.   A tea-spoon-
ful 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 a 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 with
a blanket.  It is good to put on old sores.

                  RED PEPPERS.
   These  are  very plenty  in this  country, being  culti-
vated in gardens, and  are  principally made use of for
pickling; for which purpose the pods are gathered  when
green, and preserved in vinegar.   It is of the same na-
ture as Cayenne pepper, but not  so  strong; and  is the
best substitute for  that article, of  any thing I  have ever
found.  For medical use they should not be gathered till
ripe, when they are of a bright red  colour; should be
reduced  to a fine 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 further descrip-
tion.  It is a very  good  article, having  a warming and
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
articles  to increase the quantity, and is not so strong.
The  best way is  to 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  in-
ternal 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
              5* 
54
New Guide  to Health}
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 consumptive  habit; and  this should be also
done by all who are exposed to any contagion, or are at-
tending on the sick, as it will guard the stomach against
taking the disease.  It may be taken in hot water sweet-
ened, or in a tea of No. 3.

                BLACK  PEPPER.
   This may be used to good advantage  as a substitute
for 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.
See Directions, page 80.
!N"o» 3.—To scour the Stomach and Bowels, and
                remove the Canker.
  Under this head I shall describe such vegetable pro-
ductions as are good for Canker, and which 1 have found
to be best in removing the thrush from the throat, stomach
and  bowels, caused by cold, and there will be more or
less  of  it 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 nu-
merous  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 as are best calculated t# scour
off the canker and leave the juices flowing free.  There
are many articles which  are  good  for this, but  I 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.   I 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 
or,  Botanic Family Physician.
65
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.

       BAYBERRY; or, CANDLEBERRY.
  This is a species of the myrtle, from which wax  is
obtained  from 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, similar
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 medicinal roots ; but those  things that the tops
are used, should be collected in the summer when near-
ly full grown, as then the sap is  in the top.   The roots
should be dug and cleaned from  the  dirt, and  pounded
with a mallet or club, when the  bark is easily separated
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 perfectly dry, should
be ground or pounded to a fine  powder.  It is an ex-
cellent medicine either taken by  itself or compounded
with othet articles ; and is  the  best thing for canker of
any  article I have ever found.   It is highly stimulating
and  very pungent, pricking the glands  and  causing the
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  re-
lieves the head-ache.   It  may be given to advantage in a
relax, and all disorders of the bowels.  When the stom-
ach  is very foul, it will frequently operate as an emetic.
For  a dose, take a tea-spoonful in hot water, sweetened.

          WHITE POND LILY.—The Root.
   This is well known from the beautiful flower which
it bears,  opening only to the sun, and closing  again  at
night.  It grows in fresh water ponds, and is common in 
56             New Guide to Health;
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, splft. into strips, and dried
as has  been directed for the Bayberry root bark.   When
perfectly dry, it should be pounded in a mortar, and pre-
served  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.

           HEMLOCK—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 from 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 bark,  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 of it by chewing, and found  it to answer, made use
of it to good  advantage.  Since then,  have been in con-
stant use of it, 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 freely ; 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 medicine
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 ob-
structions of the urinary passages, and for rheumatism.

          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 of it with Bayberry bark an
No. 3  in  my practice,  for  many years, with good suc-
cess ; but after finding that the Lily root and Hemlock 
or, Botanic Family Physician.
57
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, as no mention is made
of it by any author.   The. first of my knowledge that it
was good for canker, was 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 thf
country ; some of it grows from eight to twelve  feet high,
and has large spreading branches ; the  berries grow in
large bunches, and  when ripe,  are a deep red colour,
of a pleasant  sour  ta.ste ;  and are used  by the country
people to dye with.   The leaves and young sprouts are
made use of in  tanning morocco leather.   For medi-
cine, the bark should be  peeled  when  full of sap, the
leaves,  when  full  grown, and  the berries,  when ripe;
they 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; 
68             New Guide to  Health;
and may be 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 ofthe dry leaves,
or chewing them when green ; have cured several with
it.  This complaint is  caused by canker  eating off the
small blood-vessels, 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 of 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.

           RED-RASPBERRY—the Leaves.

   This is an excellent article, and I believe was never
made use of  as medicine, till discovered by me.  When
at Eastport, 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.  I  gath-
ered a large quantity Of the leaves, and dried  them, and
have been in constant use of it as a medicine ever since,
and have found it an excellent article,  both for canker
and many other  complaints; for relax and  other bowefr
complaints 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  the leaves
sweetened, with milk in it, is very pleasant, and may be
used  freely.   It is  the best thing for women  in travail,
of any article  I know  of.  Give a strong tea of it, with
a little  of 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  tea is good to wash sore
nipples with.   A poultice made  with this  tea and crack-
er, or  slippery elm bark,  is  very good for burns  or 
or, Botanic Family Physician.        59
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 meadow scabish ; it is a wild weedj and grows
in wet land,  by  the sides of brooks;  it has a stalk  that
grows four or five feet high, which is rough and woolly
with a  narrow leaf; and bears a blue  blossom late in
the fall, which remains till the frost  kills it.   The  root
lives through the winter,  and in the spring puts forth
anew   stalk; the leaves at the bottom  remains green
through the  winter.  The roots and top are  used for
medicine ; it has a fragrant taste and smell  like lorage.
It was  the first  thing 1 ever  knew used for canker, and
was given to  me when I had the canker-rash, being con-
sidered then  the  best article known for  canker; I 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 geod 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.  See Directions,  &c.
page 80.



)So» 4.—Bitters, to  correct the  Bile and restore
                     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 
60             New Guide to Health;
 alone, or it may be added to the other articles described
 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 in  this country.   One kind  is called the
 white poplar and  another  stinking poplar; the bark  of
 both  these  kinds are good for  medicine; but the latter
 is the best, being the most bitter.   It has tags hanging
 on the  limbs, which remain on  till it leaves out, which
 is about a week later than the other kind.  It has short
 brittle twigs, which are extremely bitter to the taste.
 The  inner bark given  in tea is one of the best articles
 to regulate the bile  and restore the digestive  powers,  of
 any thing I  have  ever  used.   The bark may be taken
 from  the  body ofthe tree, the limbs or the roots, and the
 outside  shaved  off  and preserve the inner bark, which
 should  be dried  and carefully preserved  for use.  To
 make the bitters, No. 4, it should be pounded or  ground
 fine,  and mixed with the other articles, or it may be used
 alone for the same purpose.  To make a tea, take a hand-
 ful 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-ache, faintness  at
 the 6tomach, and  many other  complaints caused  by bad
 digestion.   Is good  for obstructions of the urine and
 weakness in the loins;  and those of 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.   The
 bark ofthe 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,  carefully dried and
 pounded or ground to fine powder;  and is used as a part
 of  the bitters,  No.  4.   A tea  made  of this  bark  is
 very good for all cases of indigestion, and  may be  free-
ly used. 
or, Botanic Family  Physician.         Gl
BITTER-ROOT, or WANDERING MILK-WEED.

  This. valuable  vegetable grows  in  meadows and  in
hedges," and in appearance is something like buckwheat,
having similar white blossoms ; when the stalk is broken
it discharges a milky substance ; it has two small pods
about the size of the cabbage seed pods, with a silky
substance.  This  herb is wandering, that is, the roots
run about under  ground to a considerable distance and
produces many stalks, which grow up from different parts
of the root to  the height of about  two feet.  The kind
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, where
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.   This root is
vpry bitter  and  is one  of  the  greatest correctors  of
the bile I  know of;  and is an excellent medicine
to remove costiveness,  as it will cause  the bowels
to move in a natural manner.    A  strong  decoction
of  this root,  made by  steeping  it in  hot water,  if
drank  freely will operate  as  a cathartic, and some-
times as an 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 Ro«t.

  This article  grows only  in  the  Western country; I
am  not well enough acquainted with  the  herb, to give
a description of it; but  of the medical  virtues ofthe
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
             6 
G2             New Guide  to Health;

with the bitter root, or may  be compounded with either
or all the articles described under this number,to restore
the  digestive powers. ' See Directions, &x. page 82.
  The purposes for which the  articles described under
this head are used, is  to  regulate the stomach, so that
the food taken into it, may be properly 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 to
keep  up that heat upon which  life depends.
TJfo. 5.—Syrup for the Dysentery, to strengthen
  the Stomach and Boivels, and restore weak pa-
  tients.

  The articles used in this preparation, are the bark of
poplar and  bayberry, which have been described, peach-
meats, or meat3 of cherry-stones, sugar and  brandy.

                 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 digesture ;
for  which purpose I  have made much use of them, and
always to  good advantage.   Made into a  cordial, with
other articles,  in the manner  as  will bg  hereafter  di-
rected, forms one of the  best remedies I know  of,  to  re-
cover the natural tone  of the stomach after long sick>
ness ; and to restore weak  patients,  particularly in dys-
entery.   A tea made  of the leaves of the peach-tree ia
very good  for bowel complaints in children and  young
people, and will remove chplic.

                CHERRY-STONES.

  The meats of the wild  cherry-stones, are very good,
and may be used instead  of the peach-meats, when they 
or, Botanic Family Physician.         63
cannot be had.  Get  these stones as  clean as possible,
when well dried, pound them in a mortar, and  separate
the meats  from the  stones,  which is done  with  little
trouble ;  take the  same quantity as is  directed, of the
peach-moats, and it will answer equally as well.    A tea
made  of the  cherries, pounded with  the stones, and
steeped in. hot water, sweetened with loaf sugar,  to wfiich
add a little brandy, is good to restore the digestive pow-
ers, and create an  appetite-
   Bitter  almonds may be used as a substitute for the
peach-meats or cherry-stones, when they cannot be had.
See Directions, &c. page 82.
]Vo« 6.—Rheumatic Drops, to remove  pain, pre-
    vent  mortification,  and  promote  a  natural
    heat.

  The principal articles used  in  this preparation, are
high wines, or fourth proof brandy, gum myrrh and Cay-
enne ;  for external  application, spirits  of turpentine is
added, and sometimes gum camphor.    The manner of
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 medicinal  uses;  there is noth-
ing sold by them that possesses more  useful and  medi-
cinal properties than  this article ;  though  the  Doctors  ■
seem to have but little knowledge of its virtues.   All
those whom  I  have heard express an opinion upon it,
consider it of very  little value.   When  I obtained my
patent, Dr. Thornton, the clerk ofthe  Patent  Office,..
r.aid it was good for nothing ;*all this,  however, does
not lessen its value.   The first knowledge  I had of it,
was when I was laid up with my lame ancle, at Onion
Rive/  as  has been before related in my narrative.   An
gW man  from Canada, passing that  way, and hearing.
of my  case, called to see me, and  observing the putrid 
 G4            New Guide to  Health;

. state  I was in, told my father  that gum myrrh would
 be good for me, as  it was  an excellent article  to pre-
 vent mortification.   He immediately obtained  some of
 the tincture, and not  having a syringe, he  took some
 in his mouth,  and  squirted  it through a quuTinto  the
 wound ; the smarting was severe for a  short time.   By
 tasting it  himself and  finding  it  a-pleasant bitter,  he
 gave me some to take ;  by using it, there was a favoura-
 ble 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 restoring  my wife,
 when given over  by the mid-wife,  as related  in my nar-
 rative.  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 removed 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 better.    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, particu-
 larly in such  as  were  subject  to  hysterical affection.
 This was  the origin of my rheumatic drops, a  prepara-
 tion which has  proved more  generally useful than any
 one compound I make use of.   In selecting myrrh for
 use, take that of a light brown  colour, somewhat trans-
 parent, 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  of it  should be added to the rheumatic drops,
 when used for the itch or other bad  humours.    It is a
powerful article,  and  should be used with caution, 
*>r, Botanic Family Physician.         65
                 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 I  think  there  is more credit given to it than
■what it deserves.   I have been in the habit of adding
some of it to the  rheumatic drops, when  used  for  bad
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 ; but
there  are other  articles which I make use  of for that
purpose, that  are much  better.   See Directions,  &c.
page 83.
                NERVE POWDER.

American Valerian, or Ladies' Slipper;  sometimes call-
       ed Umbil, or Male and Female Nervine.

  There are four species of this  valuable vegetable, one
male arid three female ;  the male is called yellow Umbil,
and grows in swamps and wet land;  has a large cluster
of fibrous roots matted  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 white, and  white.
The red  has but two leaves, which grow out  of the
ground,  and lean over to the  right and left, between
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,  except 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, be-
              6* 
66
New Guide t% Health;
fore 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 powder, sifted through a fine sieve, and
preserved from the air for use. -
  .This powder it the best nervine known ► I have made
great  use  of it, and  have always found  it to produce
the most  beneficial effects, in  all cases of nervous af-
fection, and in hysterical  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
i3 much better than opium, wnich is  generally given  in
cases  pf spasmodic  affection,  and which  only deadens
the feelings, and relieves pain only by destroying sen-
sibility, without doing any good.   #It has been supposed
by the  doctors  to be of a narcotic nature ; hut this is a
mistake.   They have drawn this conclusion, I  suppose,
from  its  tendency to promote sleep; but this  is alto-
gether owing to its quieting the nerves, and leaving the
patient at ease, when  nature  requires sleep to  recover
the natural  tone of  the  system.   Half a tea-spoonful
may be given in hot water sweetened,  and the  dose re-
peated if necessary ;  or the same quantity may be  mix-
ed 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.  See Di-
rections, &c. .page 83,
     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
   importance,  all of which. I have used  and found good
   in various complaints.  Some of them form a part of my
   medical preparations, and  many others may be used as
t  substitutes for some that have been mentioned.  They
   arc all of a warming nature, and may be used to advan-
   tage fn throwing off disease in its first stages. 
or,  Botanic Family Physician.         67
                   SPEARMINT.
  This is a well known herb, and makes a very pleas-
ant tea, which may be  freely  used  in  sickness.   The
most  valuable  property  it possesses, is to stop vomit-
ing.    If the.  Emetic  Herb, or any other  cause should
produce violent 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  foij  that purpose
with success ;  but it is  volatile,  and will not retain the
heat long in the stomach.  In  colds and slight attacks of
disease,  to drink freely of a  tea made of this herb on
going to  bed, will  throw it off.   The essence, put in
warm water,  is good to give  children, ayd  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
 un article of great value in  medicine, and  a tea of-it
 may  be freely  used in all cases of sickness.    It is good
 for the stomach, being warming and cleansing ; if drank
 frqelv, will produce perpsiration,  and  remove obstruc-
 tions.   In colds  and slight attacks of disease, it will bo
 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 '
 season meats in cooking ; it is of a very pleasant flavour
 and  of a hot nature.   A tea  of it is good for colds, and 
68             New Guide to  Health;
 may be used freely in case of sickness.    There  is an
 oil made from this herb, which will cure the tooth-ache,
 by putting a little on cotton wool, and  applying it to the
 affected tooth.

                   HOARHOUND.
   This plant grows common  in  this country, and is
 made  much account of in removing  cough.    An in-
 fusion 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 hoarseness caused  by a bad cold.  The  hoar-
 hound candy is very useful for  such as are troubled
 with cough, particularly old people, and those that are
 short  winded.

                  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
 nature and is good for the stomach,  to create an appe-
 tite, and assist the  digesture.  It may be taken in tea,
 or the green herb may be pounded and tinctured in spir-
 it, which is good to apply to a bruise or sprain.

                      TANSY.

   This is a hot bitter herb, grows common in highways,
 ahd is cultivated  in  gardens.   A tea made of this herb 
or, Botanic Family  Physician.         69
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  bruise!
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.

                 BITTER-SWEET.

   This herb  has long been  esteemed  as  a  medicine
of considerable  value  for many complaints.   It grows
common 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 medicine for internal  injuries and to  remove
obstructions,  whichT have no doubt is correct;  but
the only way 1 make use of it is for  external applica-
cation; the bark of the root with  chamomile and worm-
wood makes an  ointment  of  great  value, which is an
excellent  thing  for a  bruise,  sprain,  calice,  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 the  fire and  ap^
plied to an external injury, will allay the inflammation 
76             New Guide  to Health;
and ease pain;  and they are good pounded and put on
to a bruise  or sprain, as it will  give  immediate relief.
It is  made use of in the strengthening  plaster.   The
leaves are good applied to the feet  in case of fever, to
keep them moist and promote perspiration.

               SKUNK-CABBAGE.

  This vegetable ^grows common in  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  arid wef 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
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 breath-
ing, and all  disorders of the hnigs, and  with other ar-
ticles makes one of the best preparations for those com-
plaints I have ever found.

                WAKE ROBIN.

  This plant grows wild in  this country. . Jt has three
triangular leaves, from  between them it puts forth a na-
ked stalk, on the'top of which, is  a singular stem  or
pistij enclosed in a sheath, resembling a flower, which ia
followed by a bunch of reddish berries.  The root is used
for  medicine, and resembles a small  turnip.  This root
is extremely pungent and stimulating, and is often given
for  cholic and  pain in the bowels, and  to expel wind.
I have mostly made use of it for  cough and disorders of
the lungs, for which I have found it a very useful article,
and it forms part of my composition for  coughs.   The
root should  be dried and reduced to a powder, arid may
be given%nixed with honey, or in a syrup.

               THOROUGHWORT.
                                            f
  This herb is  well known in the country, and is made
use of by  the people in  tea for many complaints.  It is 
or, Botanic  Family  Physician.         71
of a warming nature, and is good for cough and Other
complaints of the lungs.  It is used  in my compound,
prepared for coughs.

                 FEATHERFEW.

   This herb is stimulating and is good for hysteric com-
plaints, and many other 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 g«ass 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
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 of it in dysentery.   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  di-
 gesture.   It is good for canker and all complaints ofthe
 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 common drink instead of tea or cof-
 fee.   It is good for  canker, and may be used in No. 3
 as a substitute for other articles.   It grows common in
 this country arid is too well known to need describing. 
72             New Guide to  Health;
             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 bf the elm  that grow
common in this country;  and there are two kinds ofthe
slipperry elm, one  the bark  is rather hard and  tough,
and the other  is very brittle;  the  latter is the best for  *
medicinal  uses.  The bark  should be peeled, the  out-
side ross shaved off, dried, and ground or'pounded to  a
fine powder.   If used  internally, put a tea-spoonful of
this powder into  a tea^cup  with as much sugar, mix
them well together, then add  a little cold  water and stir
it till perfectly 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 may be taken at  a time,  and
is an excellent medicine  to heal soreness  in the  throat,
stomach and bowels, caused by canker;  or  more hot
water may be put  to it  and made into a drink, and free-
ly ktaken for the saatie purpose.  I have made  much use
of  this  bark for poultices, and have  in all cases found
it a most excellent  article  for  that purpose.   Mixed
with pounded  cracker and  ginger it makes the  best
poultice I have ever found;  for burns, scalds,  felons,
■old sores, &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 FIR.

   This balsam is obtained from a tree well known in
many parts of this  country;  it is taken from small  blis-
ters which form in the bark.   It is.of a very healing na-
ture, and  is good to remove  internal soreness.   It forma
an important article in my healing  salve.   When taken
it may be dropped on loaf sugar.

                    GENTIAN.
  This  root grows wild in this country; and is  found
plentifully in Vermont.    It was formerly collected for
exportation, and large quantities of it were  sent to Chi-
na, where it brought a great price.   It is said the peo- 
           or, Botanic Family Physician.        73

pie of that country considered  it of great value;  but
for what purpose they use it, is, I believe, only known
to  themselves.  It  is a nervine  and may be used to
advantage  in all cases of nervous affection, either alone
or mixed with  other articles.  The root should be dug
in the fall, dried and reduced to a fine powder; from
half to a tea-spoonful may be given for a  dose,  in hot
water sweetened.

                   SNAKEROOT.

   This  is a well known article, grows wild, and  may
be found  in  most parts  of this  country.   It  is of  a
hot nature, and is  made much use of in  tea,  for mea-
sles  and  other eruptions,  to keep  the   disorder  put,
'for  which it is considered  very good;  this is owing
to  its warming  qualities, which keeps  the  determin-
ing powers to  the surface, which  effect may be produc-
ed by almost any strong  stimulant;  but No.  2, or the
composition powders, 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 pro-
mote  perspiration, and is good to remove pain in the
stomach and  bowels, and expel  wind.  The roots re-
duced  to powder  may be mixed with gentian or umbil
for all nervous complaints.

                     MUSTARD.
   The seed of this herb is  principally made use of for
culinary purposes, being  eaten on 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 6, are much bet-
ter  for that purpose. 
74            •<New  Guide to Health;


                 HORSERADISH.

  The root of this plant is  mostly  used for  culinary
purposes, and it has some medicinal  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 medicinal virtues.   It resembles the kind  of poplar
that has been described, having  similar tags; but the
buds and  leaves  are larger.    The bads  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 4wigs  and steeped in hot water,  is a good, corrector
of. the' bile, a"nd  will operate both  as  an emetic  and
cathartic;  it is  more harsh than  the  other  kind of
poplar, but  may be  used to  advantage  in many cases
of disease.

                   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 i« good to give children
for worm  complaints.  The  buds and twigs may also be
 used for the-same  purpose, and are more mild.  White
ash  bark and balm of gilead  may be added, equal parts,
and made  into syrup or pills.   Those  who  are  fond
of drastic  purges may have   their ends  sufficiently an -
swered by these  preparations, and  they are the most 
           or, Botanic Family Physician.         7."

safe  and* harmless "of any that I know of;  and those •
who  wish to  be tortured with .blisters, can hav% 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 completely  drawn,  and  the  skin  as black as
that  of an African.  Tbris" 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' rheumatic and  cancer pills,  and  also
of Chamberlain's bilious cordial, which have  been so
celebrated  for many complaints.  It is called  by some
people oilnut and lemon walnut.
                                  t

         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 pre'
pared in powder like the emetic herb.

      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
six  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 resembling  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, as  though  burnt.  A strong tea  made of
this  plant  is good  for cancers and all scrofulous  hu-
mours,  by drinking the tea  and bathing  with  it the
parts affected. 
76            New  Guide to Health ;
«  Another  evergreen plant, called  wild lettuce, grows
 on the same kind of land, which possesses  much the
 same medical properties as the above.  It  has round
 leaves, from the size of a cent  to that  of  a  dollar,  re-
 sembling a  common lettuce.  The  roots  of this plant
 and  of the pipsisway,  dried and powdered together,
 equal 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.

                   GOLDENROD.

   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 spi-
 cy taste and smell, resembling fennel or annise.   There
 is an oil obtained from this  herb good for  medicine;
 and also prepared in essence, is good  for pain  in the
 head, to be  taken, or the  outside bathed with it.  The
 oil is good to scent  the bayberry and  bitter-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.

                 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
 three 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 bal-
 samy substance, having a fragrant 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 
            or, Botanic Family Physician.         77

 and wash with the same.  This liquor may be prepar- «
ed in syrup, and  by boiling it down may be made in-
 to 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 roots should be bruised
 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 generally
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
 country, and  is  well  known  by the people there.  It
grows from  eight to twelve feet high, and  bears a berry
that grows  close  to the limbs; it  has leaves like  the
 white-ash.   The  bark and the  berries  are used for
 medical  purposes.    The  berries  are very pungent,
 and are a powerful stimulant, as also the bark of the top
and  roots, though not so strong.  It should  be pounded
to a powder and steeped in hot water, then put into wine
or  spirit, and  it  makes  a very good hot  bitter.   Take
half a glass two or three times a day;  it is good for fe-
ver and ague, for which it is much used;  and for leth-
argy, or sleepiness, and for cold feet  and hands, and
other complaints caused 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-
             7* 
78             New Guide to Health i
tity of leaves.   The leaf is some larger than the Canada
thistle, with prickles  like it; and  it bears seeds  about
the size of  the barley corn, with a beard  on the  end
nearly as  long as the seed.   The leaves are used for
medicine, which may  be steeped in hot water, and drank
like other 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
beloved 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 other;
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  rough 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  ofthe bile.  By adding  No. 2,
the compound contains the three  great principles of the
healing art, viz. hot, rough and bitter. 
DIRECTIONS
      FOR PREPARING AND USING

VEGETABLE IVIEDICHYE.
              Wo.  1.—Emetic Herb.

  The preparation of this herb has been sufficiently de-
scribed,  for  which see page  43.   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  be
either internally or externally used ; and for asthma and
other complaints of  the  lungs.   For a dose take a tea-
spoonful, adding  about  the same quantity of No. 2, in
half a tea-cupful of warm water  sweetened, and in all
cases of nervous affection add half a tea-spoonful of nerve
powder.   For the external  effects of  poison, take the
above dose, and bathe the parts affected  with the tincture,
repeating it till cured.
  8. 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 lock-jaw, bite of
a mad dog, fits, drowned persons, and all cases of suspend-
ed animation, where the  vital spark is nearly extinct.
For a dose give a tea-spoonful, and repeat it till relief is
obtained ; then follow with a tea of No. 3, for canker.
  For children, the dose must be  regulated according to
their age.   If very  young, steep  a dose of the powder 
SO             New  Guide to Health;

in half a tea-cupful of warm water, or tea of raspberry
leaves, and  give  a tea-spoonful at a time  of the tea,
strained through a fine cloth, and sweetened, repeating
the dose every ten minutes,  till it  operates; and  give
pennyroyal, or some other herb tea for drink.


                 Ifo.. 2.—Cayenne.

   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 the
 surface.   The only preparation is to have it reduced to
 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 a 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 pound-
 ed 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 of the other
 articles' described under  the head of No. 3;  they are
 all good for canker, and may be used  together or sep-
 arate.
    When the violence of the disease requires a course of
 medicine, steep one ounce of the above mentioned pow-
 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-spoonftil of No. I, and half that quanti-
ty 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 repeat it.   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 giving occasionally No.  2, or
the composition pov/der,  for  if this is not attended  to,
the patient 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 in it; and after it is over,
the patients may eat any kind  of"nourishing food that
the appetite may  crave.
   A tea-cupful of the tea  of No. 3, should  be taken
night and morning, to prevent a relapse of the disease,
and during the day drink frequently of a tea made of
poplar bark ;  and if costive, use the bitter root.
   As soon as the disorder is removed, use the  bitters,
No.  4,  to correct  the   bile and  restore the  diges-
:ure ; and  half a wine glass full of  the syrup, No. 5,
may be taken  two or three times  a day, which will
strengthen the stomach and  assist  in regulating the di«
gestive powers, 
82             New Guide to Health;
   The foregoing directions arc calculated for the more
 violent attacks of disease, and such as have become set-
 tled ;  but 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 carried
 through a regular course as soon as possible.  Steaming
 is safe and will always do good, and the injections must
 not be neglected,  particularly where the bowels are  dis-
 ordered.   In consumption, and  all old lingering com-
 plaints, give the  composition powder  for, two  or three
 days  before going through a regular course.


                   Jfo. 4*—Bitters.

    Take the Bitter  Herb,  or Balmony,  Barberry and
  Poplar bark, equal parts, pulverizedV,"one  ounce of the
« powder to  a pint  of hot water, and half a  pint of spirit.
 For a dose, take  half a wine glass full.  For hot bitters,
 add a tea-spoonful of No. 2.
    This preparation is calculated to correct the  bile  and
  create an  appetite,  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 oi
  those that have  been  before  described under No. 4,
  which are all good for the same purpose, may be used
  as a  substitute.

                   JVo. 5.—Syrup.

    Take Poplar bark ^and bark of the root of Bayberry,
  one pound each, and boil tbem in two gallons  of water,
  strain off and  add seven  pounds of good  sugar; then 
or, Botanic  Family Physician.         83
scald and skim it, and add half a pound of peachmeats;
or  the  same  quantity  of cherry-stone meats, pounded
fine.    When cool, add a gallon of gqod  brandy ; and
keep it in bottles for use.   Take half  a -wine glass full
two or three times 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
particularly useful in the dysentery,  which leaves the
stomach 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 iMyrrh pound-
ed fine, one ounce of No. 2, and put  them into a stone
jug, and bo*l it a few minutes in a kettle of water, leav-
ing 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
casos of external swellings or pains.    It is an excel-
lent  remedy  for  rheumatism, by  taking  a  dose and
bathing the  parts  affected with it.   In the headache,
by taking a swallow, and  bathing the  head,' and  snuff-
ing a little up the nose, it will remove  the  pain.   It is
good for bruises, 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  useful medj- 
84             New Guide to  Health;
cine cannot  be used  to advantage.   It is the best
preservative against mortification of any  thing  I have
ever found.
  For bathing, in. rheumatism, itch, or  other  humours,
or in any swelling or external pain, add  one quarter part
of spirits of turpentine ;  and for sprains and bruises, a
little- gum camphor may be added.        ,

                NERVE POWDER.

  This  is the American Valerian, or  Umbil, and the
preparation has been  sufficiently described,  for which
see page 65.    This powder is a valuable and safe medi-
cine, and may 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 sweetened ; or the same quantity  should  be
put into a dose of either of the other medicine, and also
into the injections, in all nervous cases.

  COMPOSITION 5 or, VEGETABLE POWDER.

  Take two pounds ofthe bayberry-root  bark, one pound
of the inner bark  of Hemlock,  one pound  of ginger,
two ounces of Cayenne, two ounces of cloves, all pound-
ed fine, sifted through a fine  sieve, and  well  mixed .to-
gether.  For a dose, take a tea-spoonful of this powder,
with an equal quantity of sugar, and put to it half a tea-
cupful of boiling water ;  to  be taken as soon as  suffi-
ciently cool, the patient  being 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 be  safely  used in all complaints of
male or female, and for children.   It is good for relax,
dysentery, pain in the  stomach and  bowels,  and to  re-
move all  obstructions caused by cold, 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 will cure
a bad cold, and will generally throw off  a disease in its
first'stages, if repeated two or three times.   If the symp-
toms are violent, with much  pain, add  to each  dose a 
or, Botanic  Family Physician.         85
tea-spoonful of No. 6, and half a tea-spoonful of No. 1;
and in nervous svvnptoms, 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 pa-
tient must be  carried through a  regular  course of 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 No. l,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 mixed  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  regular  course  of the  medicine, and repeat  it  if
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  a  slow fire  till it is about the  consistence of
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
bladder, split and made soft.  It is good to cure cancers,
sore lips, and  all old sores.

                      SALVE.

  Take one pound of Bees-wax, one do.  of salt Butter,
one and a  half do. of Turpentine, twelve  ounces of
Balsam-fir ; melt and simmer them together ; then strain
it off into a basin, and keep it for use.  It may be used to
heal fresh wounds, burns,  scalds and all bad  sores,  after
the inflammation is allayed, and the wound cleansed.
              8 
86             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 shoemaker's wax ;  if
too hard  put in more turpentine, when it  will be fit for
use.   It should  be spread on soft leather and applied 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  to-
gether, 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 qf 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-elm bark pul-
verized, 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
hours, and  wash with soap suds  at every renewal; wet- 
or,  Botanic Family Pfrysician.         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
greatest importance to the sick;  it will frequently give
relief 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 cer-
tainly a very valuable discovery ;  and no doubt thousands
of  lives have been saved by it.  The doctors  have long
been in the practice of directing injections to be given to
their patients, but they seem to have no other object in ad-
ministering them, than to cause a movement 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 perspiration, 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 the disease is .seated ;  if in Ihe 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 ta-
 ken into the  stomach, is  likewise  good for the same
 purpose if given by injection, as the grand object is to
 warm the bowels, and remove the canker..  In all cases
 of dysentery, cholic, 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
 other.   I do, therefore, most seriously advise that these
 considerations  be  always  borne  in  mind  ; and that
 this important  way of giving relief,  be never neglected,
 where there is any chance for it to do good.   In many 
88             NeW Guide to  Health;
 complaints peculiar to females, they are  of the  greatest
 importance in giving relief, when properly attended to;
 for which purpose it is only necessary to repeat what has
 been before stated :  let the remedy be applied with judg-
 ment and discretion  to  that part  where the disease is
 seated.
   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 given with a  large syringe
made for that purpose, or where this  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-nn-p^erry 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.    When
the canker is removed, the bowels  will  be loft  sore, in
which case, give  injections  of witch-hazel 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 omitted.
     STOCK OF MEDICINE FOR A FAMILY.
          1 ounce of the Emetic Herb,
          2 ounces of Cayenne,
          £ lb. Bayberry root bark, in powder,         »
          1 lb. of Poplar Bark,
          1 lb. of Ginger,
          I 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, aud have  his  ex-
travagant bill to pay. 
or, Botanic Family Physician.         89
              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 ; or in other words, oold  is disease ; that fever, is
a friend and cold the enemy ;  it is therefore necessary to
aid the friend and oppose the  enemy, in order to restore
health.
   3.   That  the  construction and  organization of  the
human 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 wholii ;  and  when  entirely overpow-
ered  from whatever cause by the other elements, death
ensues.
   4.  A  perfect state  of health arises from a due bal-
ance  of temperature of the elements ; and when  it is
by any means destroyed, the body is more or  less disor-
dered.  When this is the case, there is always a diminu-
tion of heat, or an increase of the power of cold, which
is its  opposite.
   5.  All  disorders are  caused  by obstructed perspira-
tion,  which  may  be  produced by  a great  variety  of
means; that medicine, therefore, must be administered,
that i$ best calculated  to remove obstructions and  pro-
mote  perspiration.
   6.  The Ibod taken into  the stomach, and being well
digested, nourishes the system and  keeps  up  that  heat
on  which  life  depends ; but  by constantly taking food
into the stomach, which is sometimes not  suitable  for
nourishment, it becomes foul, ^o  that the food  is not
well digested'; this causes the body to  lose its  heat, and
disease follows.
  7.  Canker is caused by cold, and there is always more
or less of it in all cases of disease ; continue to make use
              8* 
90             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 powers,
not  forgetting  to  keep up the inward  heat, by giving
occasionally, No. 2.
  9.  Keep  always in  mind, that  an ounce  of preven-
tion is better than a pound of cure ; and give medicine
on the first  appearance of disorder, before  it becomes
seated ; 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  per.vade 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, dissolve a piece of pearlash about the  size of
a large pea, in a wine glass 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 di-
gestive 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 injections made of witch-hazle or  red  rasp- 
or,  Botanic Family Physician.         91
berry leaf tea, steeped 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, espec-
ially when near the time  of delivery.  When in travail,
give raspberry leaf tea, with a  tea-spoonful of the com-
position powders, or  No.  2,  and keep them in a perspira-
tion.   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 course of
the medicine,  which  will guard against all alarming
complaints, peculiar in such cases.
   16.  In all cases  of a  burn, scald, or  being frozen,
wrap up the part  in  cloths  wet with cold 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 the tea  of raspberry leaves,
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.
   19.  For a  fresh wound,  cut, or bruise, wash immedi-
 ately with cold water, and  bind  up  in  cloths  wet with
 the same; keep  a hot stone at the feet, and take medi-
cine to raise  a  gentle  perspiration ; continue this till 
92              New Guide to Health;
the. inflammation is allayed, and  the  wound perfectly
cleansed, then apply the  poultice or salve,  till heal-
ed.  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 fevers, 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 de-
termining power to the surface, being  so small, through
the loss of  internal  heat, that it will not  give  the medi-
cine operation, as its  effects are resisted,  and counter-
balanced by the pressure of the external air.   To coun-
teract 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 any is used, add a  large por-
tion of No. 2.
   22.  Be careful not to have the outward heat too high,
by too many clothes or fire;  for if this  is the  case.it
will cause a balance of the outward and  inward heat,
and will prevent  the  medicine from operating, by stop-
ping the circulation ; and the patient will be very much
distressed.    When this happens, throw cold vinegar on
the face and stomach, and give more hot medicine, which
will let down the.outward beat, and raise the inward.
  *Keep always in rrfind to give the patient  fresh air  when steaming,
and while going through a course of medicine, by making a quick lire
of shavings, or very light wood,  and opening a  window  at the same
time; as this will immediately change the foul  air in the room, by
driving it out, and supplying its" place bv the fresh  air from  the  sur-
rounding atmosphere.   This modi is essential in all disorders both in
hot weather and in cold.   Steaming is not  cssenUal  in hot weather
except when going through a course of medicine ;  after which  a
shower-bath is good in the morning, as it lets down the outward heat
which gives power to the inward.                             ' 
or, Botanic  Family Physician.         93
    23. If the patient is restless, wet the head and body
  with cold  vinegar ; and if there  are convulsions  or
  spasms, give the nerve powder with  No. 2.   Injections
  must also be used.
    24. Never make use of physic in  cases  where there
  is canker inside, for it will draw the determining powers
  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, be careful to  keep up the inward  heat, so  as
  to cause a free perspiration.
    25. Avoid all minerals used as medicine, such as mer-
  cury, arsenic, antimony, calomel, preparations of copper
  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
 never 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 doiiig iiny good ; it is a
, much better way to remove the  cause by a proper ad-
 ministration 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  gremest cold  of any thing that
 can be taken into the stomach, and was never intended
 for any other purpose than 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'carcass.
 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 jis to give full power to the cold.  If this should
 happen, itslhial 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. 
94
New Guide to  Health;
  30.  Remember that regularity in diet  is  very  impor-
tant to preserve health; and that if more food  is taken
into the stomach, than is well  digested, it clogs the sys-
tem and causes disease.   Therefore be cautious not  to
eat too much at a time, and have your  food well cooked.
This is very important to those who have weakly  consti-
tutions.        .*
  31.  Ardent spirit is slow poison ; it  is taken  to stimu-
late, but this effect is soon over, and much use of it 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
boiling  hot, drop this  into it with a  spoon ;  let it bo
well boiled, then add half  a  pint  of milk.   This to be
eaten while under  the  operation  ofthe  medicine; and
is also good food for the sick, at any other time, espec-
ially 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
broth as soon as there is any strength in  it; and when
boiled, eat some of the meat.   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. 
            or, Botanic Family Physician.         95

  When the  operation of medicine is  gone  through,
I have said that the patient may eat any kind of nour-
ishing food his  appetite should  crave ;  but  the  best
thing is, to take a slice of salt pork boiled, or beef steak,
well done,  and eat it with pepper-sauce ; or take cay-
enne, vinegar and salt, mixed together, and eat with it,
which is very good to create an appetite, and assist the
digesture.


                    DESCRIPTION

 Of several Cases of Disease, with Directions 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 tiie 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 cutout a piece un-
 der the needle  sufficient to let out the  matter; then ap-
 ply poultice or salve.  If painful, wrap it in cloths of seve-
 ral thicknesses, wet with  cold  water, and repeat this  as
 often as it becomes hot or painful.  Take the composi-
 tion 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 r and  repeat this till the  skin
 looks of a purple colour : then open it as before directed.
 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, it 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. 
96             New Guide to Health;
                  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
 or laid on to the part, to be  kept wet  as often  as  the
 pain increases.   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  the  air, from twelve  to fourteen 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 corn-
 posing 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 j
 for as much as the heat opens the pores  more than usual,
 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.
         Care of My Brother's Son of a 'Scald.

   He wa,s 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 
or,  Botanic Family Physician.         97
pain ; for as 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
asleep.   Water was poured  on the cloth  but two or
three times during the rest of the night, and in the morn-
ing,  preparation was made  to dress the wound, when,
to the surprise 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 six  years old,
 stepped on the bail and turned the contents on  to both his
 feet, and falling, one hand went into^the tea-kettle; both
 feet and one hand were very badly scalded.  I happened
 ^to be present, and immediately tore  up cloth sufficient
 to do up  eafth part, wetting them with cold  water.   I
vthen 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 on
 taking off the cloths, there was no appearance  of blis-
 ters, nor  any skin broken ; and he put on his shoes and
 stockings and appeared as well  as before the accident
 happened.   It had been the declared 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 under-
stood, and wrongly treated.   How often have we seen
these'sores continue all  winter and could not be healed?
              9 
98             New Guide to  Health;
 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 i*  called  proud
 flesh lillsTup the sore.   The doctor applies his sugar of
 lead, vitriol and red precipitate to eat out the dead flesh,
 this affects 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 from 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  gone.
 Sometimes add ginger;  if the imflammation is high add a
 little of No. 2, with the ginger, keeping the puoltice wet
 with cold water ;  when the sore discharges, apply  salve
 till a cure is effected.
   I shall continue 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 ;  I  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 was  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 morn-
 ing.   I had declined doing any thing for  it, as I was satis-
fied that I could do it no good ; and  if I had made the at-
tempt, it would have been said that I killed it
  I have seen many cases  where I was perfectly  satis-
fied that the patients  died in consequence of blisters,
not only on the stomach, but on  the  head.   In many 
           or, Botanic Family Physician.         99

that I have witnessed, where a blister was drawn on the
head, as soon as it began to draw, their senses were gone,
and did not  return  till they died raving, or  stupified.
More than half the cases where the head was shaved and
blistered,  that have  come  within  my knovvledge,*have
died.   1 never could see any  reason  why a scald on the
head or body, done on purpose, should have a  tendency
to effect a cure, when the person is sick, and  the  same
tiling happening to them by accident, when well, should
destroy their health  or cause their death.   if a person
should have their head or stomach so badly scalded as to
take off the skin, we should consider them in the most
dangerous condition; but nothing is said  about it  when
drawn on purpose.   I shall leave  it to the reader  to re-
concile, if he can, this inconsistency.   I have known
most dangerous stranguaries  caused  by blisters on the
sides  and limbs, and those who  applied  them did not
know the cause, and I 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 had a block  fall from mast
head on bis foot, weighing 13£ pounds, which bruised all
his toes to pieces except the little one.   The accident
happened on  Friday, and I did not see him till the Tues-
day 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 tj*e
smell very offensive.  The captain of the vessel appear-
ed to be very anxious about  him, asked, me  if I could
help his  foot; I told him that I must  first  try to 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 medi-
cine the same as though he had been attacked with a
nervous fever.   The captain attended  him through the
night,  and I  went to sec him  the next  morning, and
found' him much better.   The captain said he was aston- 
100
New Guide to  Health;
 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.
    I unbound his foot and found that the black and yellow
 streaks up the leg  had  disappeared, and on the foot, all
 the flesh that was alive, seemed to  receive fresh support
 from the body ; and the living and dead flesh appeared
 as though two colours were painted by the  side of each
 other.   I then made  a lie 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;
 uid I washed it with vinegar to  kill the alkali and keep
 it from  irritating the skin.    The  acid cleared  off all
 the slimy matter, so that it wiped clean.   I then cut
 off the great toe at  the middle joint, and the two next
 at the upper joint, and set the next, which was broken.
 I cut  none of the  flesh  but what was dead, to stop in
 part  the putrefaction.  I then put on another  poultice,
 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'inside
 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 1 dressed his foot and found that the dead flesh had
 digested very much ; I  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  carried  through  a regular course of medicine,
 which completely restored his  bodily health ; his  appe-
tite was good, and aH pain and  soreness  abated, so that
 he  took food regularly, and lost no sleep  afterwards,
till he got entirely well, which was in about four weeks.
The -captain was a very good nurse, and  was faithful
in attendance on the young man till  he got well ; and
expressed the highest gratitude  for my attention  and
success ; and as a proof of hfs  confidence in  the medi-
cine, he purchased a right, for which he paid me twenty 
or,  Botanic Family  Physician.         101
silver dollars, observing at the same time, that he never
paid for any thing with more satisfaction.
            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 commencement of cold weather, if I broke
 the grain on my shin, it would become, a bad  sore, and
 continue through the winter ; the canker would get into
 it and eat to the bone, and sometimes spread under the
 grain like a burn, and  feel the same, being extremely
 sore,  with stings and twinges like a cancer.  These sores
 were  so troublesome, that it led me to invent  a cure;
 finding the cause to be canker, I took some of the ar-
 ticles composing No. 3, steeped strong, and washed the
 part affected, with it; if there was  a bad smell, I first
 washed the sore with strong soap suds, taking off all the
 loose  skin, which  was  blistered with  cankery  humour,
 and then  washed with  a tea of No.  3, to destrey the
 canker and  harden the sore;  sometimes wetting it with
 the drops.   If the inflammation run high, and the sore
 spread fast,  I put into it a pinch of fine No. 2;  then put
 on a poultice of white  bread  and ginger, wet with the
 above  tea, wrapping it up with several  thicknesses of
 cloths wet with cold water ; wetting them as often as dry,
 so as to be painful, and  did not let  the sore come to the air
 for twenty-lour  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  sore-
 ness is gone, you may apply the healing  salve,  with the
 wet cloths, if going to bed, to keep out the air; put oc-
 casionally a  hot stone  wrapped in  wet cloths, to the feet
to keep up a steam, and wetting the sore if painful with
cold water.  Take medicine to keep up the inward heat;
such as composition or hot bitters,  and when  these do
not answer the purpose, go through a course ofthe medi-
cine, and repeat as occasion may require.   This method,
 if persevered in, I seldom knew to fail of success, 
102            New Guide to Health f
  I was called to attend a case  of this  kind", not  long
since, where the inflammation and  pain  was very great,
and fast spreading under the grain of the skin ; there
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 again, putting on a wet cloth,
and ordered it kept wet with cold  water till next morn-
ing ; when on  dressing it, found the inflammation abated,
the sore, discharged  ripe  matter, and by two dressings
more of the same, the cure was completed.
    Case of the Bite of a Rat, supposed to 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 bo 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 car-
ried 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 rats-bane, and communicated
this poison to the man  by the  bite, as he  appeared  the
same as a person I had once seen, who had been  killed
by taking that poison.   I then washed his face with a
strong tea of Nos. I  and  2,  and gave the, same inward
with No. 3, carried  him through another course of medi-
cine, 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, thq
spasms would  increase to such  a degree that his life was
frequently despaired  of.   He was carefully attended  in
this manner about one month, before  1 could determine 
or, Botanic Family Physician.        103
in my own mind, whether the disease or nature would
gain the victory ;  after which 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
age; and the accident happening in the fall of the year,
it was much more difficult to conquer this cold and dead-
ly poison, than  it would have been  in warm weather.
This case convinced me that the cause of mad rats  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 peo-
ple, 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 accidentally
had'a pitchfork stuck into one of his  eyes, by a  person
who was  pitching the  turf near him.   It passed by
the eyeball and  stuck fast in the scull, so that  it was
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
h course of medicine as  soon as possible, keeping reveral
thicknesses of cloth  wet with cold water on his eye, and
not  open  it  for twelve hours ; and  to  keep him m  a
perspiration the  whole time.   This was faithfully attend-
ed to ; and on opening the wound after  the  above time,
the svvelling was all gone, the  eye was open, and  a large
quantity of blood was in the wet cloth, which had been
drawn from the eye.  They continued the wet cloth, arid
gave him  warm  medicine  inside, keeping him in a gentle
perspiration for the next twenty-four hours, which clear-
ed the eye of  all  the blood, restored  the sight,  and
amended  his health, that he was well  in  about a week,
to the astonishment of all who saw him. 
104            Nets Guide to  Health;
                    Cancer Sores.
   A  concise  and general  treatise on this violent  and
often fatal disease may convey some useful ideas on the
subject.   The cause of this sore is very little understood.
In all sores of an eating nature,  there is more or  lese
canker, according to their  violence.   A  cancer is the
highest degree of canker, being the most powerful effects
of cold,  and consequently the greatest degree of inflam-
mation,  therefore the  remedies ought to  be  those of a
warming nature, as the greatest  preventives against can-
ker.  Whenever a violent inflammation is discovered, it
is supposed that heat causes the difficulty ; but the  fact
is, it  is only evidence of a war between  heat  and "cold;
for there is no inflammation  where 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 heat to oppose  an  unnatural
cold; wherever  the cold takes possession,  the inflamma-
tion shows itself, by stopping the circulation ;  the effect
is swelling, inflamed calous,  arising from some leak, caus-
ed by the natural course being stopped.   If it supperates,
and discharges,  it is called ulcer, bile, and the like,  and
the canker goes off with the putrefaction.   If  the leak is
so slow as to calous as fast as they discharge it, it becomes
a hard dead lump of flesh,  and not  having  circulation
enough to support it, it  begins to  rot; here the canker
shows its eating nature ; being seated 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  this distressed situation, being eaten up
alive, until worn  out  with  the pain,  death comes as a
friend to relieve  them.    This is the  natural termination
of. this dreadful malady ; which  is  far better than to com-
bine with it the common form of practice in  using arsenic,
which only helps to eat up and distress the patient.
   In order to give a more correct-idea of the dangerous
effect of  making  use of arsenic in  cancers, I shall make
a short extract from  Thatcher's  Dispensatory, on  the
subject.   " Arsenic has long been  known  to  be  the 
           or, Botanic Family Physician.        105

basis of the  celebrated cancer powder.   It has been
sprinkled in substance on  the  ulcer ;  but this  mode of
using it is excessively painful, and extremely dangerous;
fatal effects  have been produced from  its absorption.
This fact I  have known  in  several instances,  whero
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.,J
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 bunch,
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 Jive and dead flesh, and is often
under a live skin  ; if it is  necessary to make an incisiou
through the live skin  in order to disolve the dead  flesh,
the  best  way is to burn  a piece of punk on the place,
ond  repeat it  till  the flesh  is dead enough to  suppurate.
The dinart will be but two or three minutes, and not so
painful as the arsenic  lor 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
plastor 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 med-
icine, 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
tieforo and after the operation on the sore. 
106
New Guide to Health;
  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
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 have effected
a cure; but she was taken with a fever in my absence,
and  died.   The other  two  I  could  relieve  and keep
them free from  pain, making them  comfortable as long
as they lived; but  nature  was too far exhausted to com-
plete a cure.   I  have had  under  my care many other
eases of cancers on the  breast and other parts of the
body, which I 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.  Attend to  the canker  by a course of medicine,
and  repeat it.   Use the ginger poultice if the inflamma-
tion  is great, putting some No. 2, raw in the  sore, then
apply the  poultice,  keeping it wet with cold  water, not
forgetting the composition and No. 2 inside, at the same
time.  Let all  poisonous  drugs, burning  plasters, and
caustics alone.  Attend 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 bed, for seven weeks, with  the  Piles.
Seven 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 his, that he was in a de-
cline.  The side that 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 
           or, Botanic  Family Physician.        107

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; warm  tallow was applied freely several times in
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 sorea
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,
to 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 laying  all night the smell
will be offensive;  wash the head in  soap  suds;  when
clean,..wash-it also with a tea of No. 3, after which wash
with a tea  of No.  I.  Sometimes annoint 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, &lc.  The  oint-
ment,  drops and  No. 1, in powder or juice, may be oc-
casionally used together or  separate.  Continue to wash
with soap suds, and then with No. 3,  occasionally, until
a cure is effected.
                    Sore Breasts.
  Some women  suffer very much from this complaint,
which is caused by cold, occasioning obstructions in the
glands of the breast.  When they  are swelled,  bathe
with the rheumatic  drops,  or pepper vinegar ;, if this
does not remove the swelling, and it should be necessa- 
 108           New  Guide to Health;
                                           •
 ry to bring it to a head, apply a poultice of lily root
 made thick with ginger  or  slippery  elm  bark ; at the
 same time give the composition powder or No. 2,  to
 keep up  the  inward  heat.   If the woman is sick, carry
 her  through a regular course  of Jhe .medicne, 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 plan, and never met with difficul-
 ty.   I  attended a woman in Portsmouth, who had both
 breasts badly swelled.   She was setting by the window
 with it up, and could hardly get her  breath ; she 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, 1 could do her no good.   I 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 aa
 warm a fire  as I could.  I carried her through three reg-
 ular 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 ofthe stomach ;  it often
takes place very  suddenly, and creates  much  alarm.
The patient sometimes trembles with  fright, :rnd  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
shield them from the air with a blanket, by the fire, and
give the  hottest medicine  you have; if nothing better
can be had, give hot water or any kind of hot tea ; and
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
blood to the stomach or lungs, than  to the extremities,
and the bleeding will cease.  It has been my practice in
cases of- this kind,  to give some of the rheumatic drops,
shield them from the air  with a blanket, placed by the 
or, Botanic Family Fltysician.        109
fuse; then give a dose of the composition powders, and
No. 2 ; and if this does not answer  the  purpose, give a
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, I
have always been able to effect a cure.   The same ap->
plication will answer for other weakening and alarming
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 ; 1 placed
him on the floor and took his foot in my lap ;  as soon as
the wound was higher than the body, the bleeding ceased.
I then poured on 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 soreness.  Another case of
a little  girl, who cut  off  the main artery of  the middle
finger, ;ind  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 head, which  prevented  it
from bleeding, till*X  could get ready to dress the  wound,
It b!od no more, and soon got well*
                      Rupture.
  This  difficulty is .caused -by  a  hurt or  strain, which
makes a breach in  the tough  film, or membrane, that
supports the  bowels mi their pla.o, and the intestines
como down into the cavity between this membrane and
the skin :  being sometimes very painful and difficult to
be ;/ot back ; and have to be kept irom coming down by
a truss.    When the bowels come  down and remain any
length of time, they become swelled, and are very painful,
causing great distress and danger ; and sometimes have
proved  fatal, as they cannot be got  up again till the
■(welling is removed.   This may be effected by a course
of tin; medicine without danger.
   A Mr. Woodbury, of Durham,  was  troubled  with  a
rapture^ his- bowels came down, swelled, and was very
              10 
110            New Guide to Health;

painful; a doctor was sent for from Portsmouth, who ap-
plied a bag of snow, which drove the pain to the stomach
and caused puking.  - The swelling increased, and  be-
came  very bard.   The  case  now becoming desperate,
and the family being alarmed, I was  sent for,  and on
hearing the circumstances, sent some medicine, and gave
directions to sweat him as soon as possible.   My direc-
tions were faithfully attended  to, and as soon as he be-
came  warm, the nerves slackened, the swelling  abated,
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 between the ar-
tificial doctor, and nature's physician, 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.  G, 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, so that the  system  is affected, and
this does not remove the complaint, give a dose of No. 1.
If it is caused  by decayed teeth, fill the hollow with cot-
ton wool,  wet with oil  of summersavory,  or spirits of
turpentine, which will  deaden  the  nerve, and  stop its
aching.    This is  good in all cases of the  teeth-ache,
and will generally effect a cure without extracting. 
or, Botanic  Family Physician.        Ill
       To relax the Muscles in setting a Bone.
  This  may 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
of several persons,  which  weakens  the  part so much,
that the bones are liable to get out of place again ; be-
sides, the operation causes severe pain to the patient and
much trouble to the operator, which is all obviated by
my method.   In cases 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 perspiration, 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 underneath to catch it, for a short
time,  when the muscles  will become relaxed, so  that
the bones may be put in their place with little trouble.
   I was once called to a woman who had put her elbow
out of joint  by a fall from her horse.  It was badly out,
being twisted about one quarter of the  way round.  1
ordered some water to be made- hot immediately, stripped
her arm, and as soon  as the water was hot, put  a towel
in a large tin pan and poured the hot water  on it till well
wet;  as soon as cool enough, wrapped it round her arm
from  her wrist to her shoulder; then placed the pan un-
der her arm, and poured on the water from  a pitcher, as
hot as she could bear it, for about fifteen  minutes.  I
then took off the towel and directed one person to  take
hold of the  arm above the elbow and another below, to
steady it; and then placed my fingers against the 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 the 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 wrap-
ped 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 enongh to knit all day.
   In case a shoulder is out of joint, I relax the muscles
in the earne manner, and put the arm over my shoulder 
112
New Guide to Health;
and lift up, whicjt has always put the joint in its place,
without any danger and with very little pain to  tht* 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 h.ui
his hip turned out, and several doctors had exhausted all
their skill in  vain  to set it; when one of my agents be-
ing 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 afflicted with it myself in
 my younger days, ojten 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  almuot  as
 bad as the small pox.  One of my sons was often afflict-
 ed in this way, and one season was poisoned three times,
 so as to be blind for several days.  1 long sought a rem-
 edy  without  success, till I found it in the emetic  herb.
 By washing with a  tincture of the green plant  as is di-
 rected in the second preparation of the emetic herb, o!i
 the first appearance of the  disease, is a certain remedy.
 If the complaint has been for any length of time,  and ha*
 become bad, it will be necessary to take a dose of the pow-
 dered emetic, first  preparation, 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 tincture, or green  plant cannot be
 had.   The  powdered seeds, with Nos.  2 and  6, third
preparation, may also be used for the same purpose
                      Measles..
  This disease  is very common, especially runong chil-
dren, and is often attended with bad consequences; vvher* 
or, Botanic  Family Physician.
U3
ttot 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,
the disease will not make its appearance, and the patient
will become much distressed, frequently prod-acing fatal.
conspquences, 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 powor of cold, and keeps the canker and putrefaction
inside, which sometimes seats upon the lungs and causes
consumption ; or *'irns to the stomach, and bowers, when
they die suddenly, as has been the cru-Q with hundreds,
for a few .years  pn-it.    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 a?ain«t canker, and
add some  No. 2, to overpower  the col I :  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  ?u(-ice.
nature  will t'tke  its rcgnlar course, and  the disease will
po ofl'witliout injuring the constitution.    |f the bowels
appear to be disordered, give an injection;  and be care-
ful to keep the patient warm.
   I oner had a  case  of a young  woman  who had ihe
measles ;  she lingered with the symptoms four pr five
days, and then become very sick,  turned of a dark pur-
ple colour, and had a high fever, when I 'vas  called  to
attend  her.  1 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 strnggJe, that  I had to
hold her in the bed ; but it was soon over, for  in about
ten minutes she  vomited, 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.
             10* 
114
New Guide  to Health;
                      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  which case
 it is not so violent  and dangerous  as  when taken in the
 natural way.  Thedistrcssingandoften fatal consequence?
 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  physic, and reduce  the
 slieugth, 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 noccssary, is to assist nature to drive out the can-
 ker 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
 of 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  cattse, and must be treated in a similar nnnncr.
                       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 effigct, and
not tho 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 off what collects on the
lungs, which, if suffered to remain, would soon putrify
and cau?e 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 I could stop  your cough, I should
have hopes of a cure; but  this is  as unreasonable as it
would be to stop the pumps of a ship, which would cause 
or,  Botanic Family Physician.
115
her to sink the sooner.  Ask a sailor what he would do,
and he would say, keep the pump going till yen can stop
the leak, and when  that  is  stopped, the  pump will be-
come  useless, as there will be  nothing to  throw  off.
Such  medicine should be given as will promote the cough,
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 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, re-
peating the same as occasion may require, 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 be treated as  such.   It is the main
spring to life, and the regulator of health, as  without it
the food could not be digested.  When people have what
is called the jaundice, it is the prevailing opinion  that
they have too much bile, and it is  said they are bilious;
this is a mistaken notion, for  there is no  such thing as
being too much gall, it would be more correct to say there
was not enough.  The difficulty is caused by the stomach
being cold and foul, so that  the  food is not  properly di-
gested ; and the bile not being appropriated to its natural
use, is diffused through the pores of the skin, which be-
comes of  a yellow colour.   The  symptoms are  want of
appetite, costiveness,  faintness, and the patient will be
dull and sleepy ; tlwse are evidences of bad digesture
and loss of inward heat.  The only way to effect a cure
is  to promote perspiration, cleanse the stomach, and re- 
116
New Guide to Health;
store 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  its  proper duty in maintaining  health, and  if
there is  no obstruction  there would  never be disease.
The gall bladder grows on the liver, and is placed be-
tween that and the stomach, so  that  when the  latter  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 ap-
pearances called bilious, 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
dpinion,  which is  correct;  but  it certainly contradicts
the notion that there is too much bile, for if there be too
much, why give medicine to make more? I have attend-
ed 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  internal  heat,,  and
No. 1, to cleanse the stormch  and promote perspiration ;
then give the  bitters, No. 4, to regulate tl- bile sud re-
store the digestive pov.ers.   If the complaint has been of
long standing,  and the system is much disordered, they
must be carried through a regular course of  the  medi-
cine., and repe ;t it as occasion may require, at  the same
time give the bitters two or three time a day, ti!J the ap-
petite is good, and the  digesture restored.   Any of the
articles  described  under the head of No. 4, are  pood,
and may be freely used for all  bilious coirpLints.
                       Worms.
   A great deaf 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, thev
frequently destroy their patients.   There  was  never a
greater absurdity  than their practice,  and the universal
opinion  about worms causing disease.  The fact i< they 
           or, Botanic  Family Physician.        117

 are created, and exist in the stomach and  bowels for  a
 useful purpose, and are friendly to health, instead of be*
 nig an enemy ; they are bred and supported  by the cold
 phlegm that  collects in the stomach and bowels; this is
 their element; and the  more  there is of it, the more
 there  will be  of the  worms; they never cause disease,
 but are caused by it.  Tliose 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 ie called worm complaints, is because
 they are more subject to be disordered in their stomach
 and bowels than grown persons.  When children are sick,
 and their breath smells bad, it is said they  have  worms,
 and every thing is laid to them ; but this is owing to dis-
 ease 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  ofthe cold phlegm, and  restoring  the di-
 gestive powers,  when there  will be no difficulty 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 ba
 very wrong as welL as dangerous;  for the worms can-
 not bo killed by it, without poisoning the whole contents
of the stomach.  I once  knew of a  case of a child who,
 after eating a breakfast of bread, and  milk, was taken
 sick ;  a doctor was sent for, who said  it was caused by
 worms, and gave a dose of calomel to destroy them, which
caused fits; the  child vomited  and  threw up its break-
fast ; a dog that happened to be in the room eat what the
 child  threw up; he was  soon taken  sick and died; the
 child  got well.  The fortunate accident of the child's
throwing  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 ofthe weasle he set fire to his barn and burnt it up,
I had the following 1 elation from the doctor who attended
the cases;  three children had what he called a worm lis 
118
New Guide to Health;
ver; 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 ;
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 was, their death was 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.   Where
children  die  by such treatment, the blame is all laid to
the worms, and the doctor escapes censure.
  I have  had a great deal of experience  in what  are
called  worm complaints; and after having become  ac-
quainted  with  the real cause have had no difficulty in
curing all  that I have undertaken.   I began with  my
own children.   One of them was troubled with what
was supposed  to be worms; I employed a  doctor, who
gave pink root, and then physic to carry it off with  the
worms.   It would shortly after have another turn, which
would be worse ;  he went on in this way, and the worms
kept increasing,  till I  became  satisfied  that  he  was
working  on the  effect,  and neglected the  cause, when
I dismissed him and undertook the cure myself.   I firstly
gave the warmest medicine  I  then  knew of to clear
off  the cold phlegm ; and gave bitter medicine, such as
poplar  bark, wormwood, tansy, 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 I 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.   I  was satisfied that its death was hasten-
ed if not caused by what  was given.   When the stom-
ach 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. 
           or, Botanic Family Physician.        119

who attend  to it on their guard against the dangerous
practice of giving medicine to kill worms.
  My  practice has been what I  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
stomach, 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.  In-
jections should also  be frequently given.   The butternut
syrup is very good.   If there should be danger of mor-
tification, pake use of  No. 6, both in the medicine
given,  and'in the injections.
  The tape-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 faint, 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 troubled
with it again.
  I have often heard about people having a greedy-worm;
but this is a  mistaken  notion, for  there  was never any
such thing.   The 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 1805, I
was called to see  a young woman who  it was supposed
had a  greedy-worrii.  It was thought  to be very large,
and would frequently get into her throat and  choke her,
almost stopping her  breath.   Her mother told me that the
day before, one of the neighbours was in, and told a story
about  a person having a monster in their stomach, which
was taken in  by drinking at  a  brook; this terrible ac-
count  so frightened  her daughter, that the worm rose into
her throat, and choked her so bad  that she had fits.  I
took the girl home  with  me,  and gave her a dose of hot 
 120           New  Guide to Health;

 bitters, with some of the nerve powder that night; the
 next morning I carried her through a course of the med-
 icine, as well as I knew at that time, which cleared' the
 stomach and bowels, and  strengthened the nervous sys-
 tem.   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 restore the digesture, and  she soen
 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 dis-
 order not being removed, and the patient being run down
 by the  fashionable practice, until nature makes a com-
 promise with  disease, and the house becomes divided
 against itself.   There is a constant warfare kept up be-
 tween the inward heat and cold, the flesh wastes away in
 consequence of not digesting the  food, the canker be-
 comes seated on the stomach and bowels, and then takes
 hold  of the lungs.   When they get into this situation, it
 is called a seated consumption, and is pronounced by the
 doctors to be incurable.   I have had a groat many cases
 of this kind, and have in all ©f them, where there was
 life enough  left to build upon, been able to effect a cure
 by my system of practice.   The most important  thing is
 to raise the  inward  heat, and get a perspiration, clear the
 sysjem of canker, and restore the digestive powers, 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 persevering in it till the cause is removed.
   This complaint is called by the doctors a hectic fever,
because tbey are subject to cold chills, and hot flashes on
the surface ; but  this is  an error, for there; is no fever
about it; and this is the greatest difficulty ; if there were
a fever, it would have a crisis, and  nature would be able
to drive out  the cold and effect a cure ; the only difficulty
is to raij^ a  fever, which  must be  done by  such  medi-
cine as will raise  and hold the inward heat till nature 
           or, Botanic Family Physician.        121

has the complete  command.   When patients are 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 *  mug or tumbler, on a  hot
day, when filled with cold wqter, which is from the same
cause.   It is of more importance to attend to the pre-
venting of this complaint, than  to  cure it.    If pcoplo
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 cured
by a regular  course  of the medicine, which overpowers
the coldrpromotes perspiration, and restores the  diges-
tive 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 des-
troyed, which produces violent spasms on the whole sys-
tem.  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, which 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 then cool by degrees.
             11 
]<22            New Guide to  Health;
This I have proved in several instances, and never had
any difficulty in entirely removing the cause in this way.
Make use of a tea of No. 3, for canker, and the bitters to
•orrect the  bile, and a  little nerve powder to quiet  the
nerves, and- they will soon be restored to perfect health.
                Stranguary, or Gravel.
  This disorder is often caused by hard labour, and ex-
posure to cold, in tlve early part of,life ;  and when 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  that  there is a
difficulty in voiding the  water, which causes great pain.
It is seldom  that there is a cure in'such cases; but re-
lief 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 very good;  and also I have known
great  relief  from using  the wild lettuce  and  pipsisway,
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 stop the natural per-
spiration, which causes the water that  is usually thrown
off in ibis way, to  collect in the body and limbs.   This
may be cured by raising the internal heat and causing
a profuse perspiration, 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 l/»ak  forms in  the glands  and lets  it into  the
trunk  of the body, where there is no vent to let  it  off. 
           or, Botanic Family Physician.        103

This  cannot  be cured without  tapping, and is  very sel-
dom completely cured.   I have never  known  but two
who were in this situation to be perfectly restored.  One
was a girl whom I 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 hisu 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 first
mentioned complaint, by the common course of medi-
cine ; 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, fa. my narrative,
which were cured ;  and enough has been said to give an
idea of the cause and manner of treatment.
                   Bilious Cholic.
  The name of this complaint is erroneous; for bilious
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 stomach
is filled with canker, which gets into the narrow passage
from the  stomach, when the action of  the bowels ceases ;
after  the pain subsides, those  parts  where it was, are
rery sore.   To cure it, raise the inward heat,  by giving
the hot medicine, remove the canker with No. 3, and
give the  bitters to correct the bile, and repeat it, till a
cure is effected.  If the case is bad, carry them through
a course  of the medicine, and often give injections.
                      Pleurisy.
  This is a distressing complaint, and is caused by cold,
or want of inward  heat;  I never had  any difficulty in
curing it by my common practice.   The only remedy
wiade use of by the doctors, is to  bleed;  this only in- 
 m           Ntw  Guide to Health;

 creases the disease, by reducing the strength of the pa-
 tient, without removing the cause.  ,1 was once called to
 a soldier at tiastport, who hid a violent pain in  his side;
 the doctor that  attended him, had  bled  him five  times,
 without removing the pain, which made him so weak, that
 it was with difficulty he could  be held up in the bed.   I
 relieved'him  in one hour, by a common course of medi-
 cine,  and bathing his side with the rheumatic drops.   It
 took three weeks to get up  his strength, which  mi;,'ht
have been done in three  days, if he had not  beau bled.
I was called to another case of the kind, of a soldier, at
the same place.    He had been bled, and a large blister
put on his side  to remove the pain, which causud a stran-
guary, and he was in great distress.   I  declined doing
any thing for him without the  consent of the  command-
 ing officer, who was not present.  The soldier begged of
 mo to tell him what l.o do-for the -latter  complaint, as he
could not live so.   1 told him to take oil' the blister, which
 was immediately done, and it gave  instant relief.   By
 carrying them through a course of medicine, as  has been
 directed for other violent attacks,  it will cure all cases of
this complaint without danger; and it is much better than
 bleeding, or blisters, which only increases the difficulty.
                       Relax.
  This complaint is caused  by indigestion, Or loss  of
the powers of the gall, which becomes thick, in conse-
quence of cold, or loss of inward heat, when the stomach
will be sour.   The best remedy.is, to give No. 2, which
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 pop-
lar bark is good, and also many other articles that have
been described as good to restore the digestive powers.


                     Dysentery.
  Thi- is a distressing complaint, and  is very common,
especially among children; -altlipugh  much has already 
           or, Botanic Family Physician.        125

been said on this subject; yet its importance will justify
some further directions.    It  is caused  by cold, which
gets the ascendency 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 canker,  the food  is  not digested so as
to afford any nourishment or heat to the system, and all
the juices  flow  inward, and pass  off by the common
passage.    The canker makes the bowels very sore, and
when any thing passes them, it causes excruciating pain.
The best  plan  of treatment  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 after
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 three times a
day, until  entirely recovered ;  and  the bitters,  No.  4,
may be given night and morning, to restore the digesture.
Care must be 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
often 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 obstructions.  In common cases,
by taking  the rheumatic drops,  and bathing the part
affected,  with the same, will  remove  the complaint.
When  the case is bad, carry them through a  course of
the medicine, and bathe  with  the drops,  repeating it as
occasion  may require, till  cured.   At the same time, give
a tea of poplar bark or hemlock boughs;  and many other
articles which have been  described as good  for this com-
plaint,  may also be made use of to advantage.
              11* 
126            New Guide  to Health;

  The ?out is from the same cause, and  the stomach
being greatly disordered, and very sour, which produces
a burning sensation.   I have cured several cases by the
oommon  courso of medicine, and  giving the bitters to
restore the digestive powers.
                     Sere Lips.
  They are common in very hot or cold  weather, when
there is uoiuly :i balance of the power of outward and in-
ward heat, or outward and inward cold, which produces
canker.  To cure it, take a strong dos-o 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 takeoff
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 throe times, till the coat is  sufficient  to
keep out the air ;  when this comes off, reppat the same
process again, until the soreness is'gone, then wash again
with the tea, and wine them dry, and apply  warm tallow
till a cure is completed.
                     Sere Eyes.
  This is generally caused by being exposed  to suddf-n
changes of heat and cold* which produces canker; and
where this is, there will be  inflammation.   There  are
many things good for this complaint;  but the best that I
have found, is white pond lily root, marshrosemary, witch
hazle and red raspberry leaves; make a strong tea with
all or either, and add one third as much of No. 6, with a
little of No. 2; bathe  the  eyes  several times in a day;
every morning put your face in cold water, open and shut
the eyes till well washed ;  repeat this till a cure is effect-
ed.  At the  same time take the tea to clear the system
of canker.
                    Headache.
  This pain proceeds from a foul stomach, the bile loses
its powers, the food clogs, by not being digested, and the
effect is felt in the head, which is the fountain oj" sense. 
           or, Botanic Family Physician.        127

Sometimes 'there is sickness at  the stomach ; when this
happens, it is called sick headache, and when they vomit,
the head is relieved.    This proves that the cause is in
the stomach.   It must be'cured by cleansing the stomach
and restoring the digestive powers.'   A dose of composi-
tion  powders, sitting  by the fire  wrapped in a bjanket,
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 pearlash water.   It is
very fashionable with the doctors, to toll about dropsy in
the head, but in this I have no belief;  for  there  is no
disease in the head but what proceeds from the stqmaoh,
except froTii external injury.   If they understood the reaj
cause, and would give the proper medicine to remove it,
there would be no difficulty in the head; but when a
child is sick, they give calomel and other poisons, which
increases the disease; and  if they die,  it  is laid to  the
dropsy in the head, 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, shuve  it thin ; takr a
strip of bladder or skin of suet, eight or ten inches long,
and half  an inch wide,  rub it  till soft;  then supple 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.
  This 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 that are first affected with it; and if not  checked, 
1<J9           New  Guide to Health;
the whole system will  become diseased by the venereal
taint.   It is more  common among  sea-faring men, be-
cause of their being long absent at sea, and on coming
on shore, they give free scope to  their passions, without
being very scrupulous about the  manner of their indul-
gence.   It originates,  probably, with  those common
women, who have connection with many different men,
and going beyond the impulse of nature ; this impure
connection causes  uncleanness, which produces the dis-
ease, and when seajted, 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 the dishonesty in getting it; and
the other is the manner in which  it has generally  been
treated, in giving  mercury to cure  it; the remedy be-
comes worse than the disease.   That this disorder cannot
be cured by any other means, is altogether an error ; for
I have cured a number of cases by very simple 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 of the lea of
No. 3, 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 through a course of  the medicine.
Where there has been mercury made use of, and there is
all the attendant consequences of such  treatment, it is
much more difficult to effect a cure ;  and is only done by
a full course of the medicine, and repeating it for a num-
ber of times; raising  the heat by steam,  each time as
high as they can bear, to throw out the mercury and re-
move the canker, 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 mercury.   Different
doctors had attended her for eleven months, and she had
constantly been  growing worse.    She had been  kept
ignorant of her disease, till  a few days before  brought to 
or, 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 the diges-
ture, 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.  Another
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.   I once had the case of a young married man,
who, by straining himself from loading mill logs and be-
ing exposed  to wet and cold, caused  a weakness in the
back and loins, and he had what is called a gleet, and an
inflammation, with all the symptoms common in  the ve-
nereal.  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 I then had a knowledge of,,to strengthen the
loins and remove the canker, was 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.  These I am satisfied are caused by mercury,
for 1 never knew any to have them except they had taken
mercury.  By syringing with mercury and sugar of lead,
jt dries the glands and contracts the passage, and stops the
discharge, when the putrid matter instead of going off, 
130
New Guide to  Health;
collects in the groin and  forms hard tumours, which re-
main a long time and have to be brought to a head to 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 directions
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 knowledge 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.  If the disease be  of recent
standing, let it be considered merely a case of local can-
ker, and treated as such ; but if the whole system has be-
come tainted, and especially if mercury has been  given,
the disease  is more difficult to  remove,  and must be
treated accordingly.
*               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 endeavour to make known to the pub-
 lic such  thoughts and conclusions as long experience
 and much solicitude has enabled me to form, concerning
 those who are suffering and  are constantly liable to suf-
 fer from the erroneous and most unnatural practice of
 the present day.   The practice of midwifery at  this
 time, appears to be altogether a matter  of speculation
 with  the  medical  faculty, by their  exorbitant  price for
 attendance.  The-tax on the poor classes is very heavy ;
 and this  is not the greatest grievance that they have to
 tear, for  they are  often  deprived  of their wives  and
 children,  by such ignorant  and  unnatural practice as is
 yery common in all  parts ofthe country.
 . T.hirt7  years aS° the practice  of  midwifery was prin-
 cipally in the hands of experienced women, who had no
 difficulty; and there was scarce an instance known i» 
or, Botanic Family  Physician.
131
those days  of a woman  dying in child-bed, and it was
very uncommon for them  to  lose the child ; but at the
present time these things are so commen that it is hardly
talked about.  There must be some cause for this differ-
ence, and I can account for it in no other way than the
unskilful treatment they experience  from the doctors,
who have now got most of the  practice into their owp
hands.  "In  the  country  where I  was  born, and where I
brought up a family of children, there was no such thing
thought of as calling the assistance of a doctor ; a  mid-
wife was all that was thought  necessary, and the instan-
ces were very rare  that they  were not successful, for.
they used no art, but afforded such assistance as nature
required ; gave herb tea  to keep them in a perspiration
and to quiet the nerves.  Their  price was one dollar ;
when the doctors  began to practise midwifery  in the
country, their price was three  dollars, but they soon  after
raised it to five; and now  they charge  from twelve to
twenty dollars.  If they go on in this ratio, it will  soon
take  all the  people can earn, to pay for their children.
   All the valuable instruction I ever received, was  from
a woman, in the town where I lived, who had practised
as a midwife, for twenty  years; in an interview of about
twenty minutes, she gave  me  more  useful instruction,
than all I ever gained  from any  other source.   I  have
practised considerably in this  line, and have always had
very good success.    It is very important to keep up the
strength of women in  a state of pregnancy, so that at
the time of delivery, they may be in possession of all their
natural powers; they should be carried through a course
of  the medicine several times, particularly a little before
delivery, and keep them in a perspiration during and
 after delivery, which will prevent after pains, and other
complaints common in such cases.  Beware of bleeding,
 opium, and  cold baths ; invigorate all  the  faculties of
 the  body and mind, to exert the  most laborious efforts
 that  nature is called upon to perform, instead.of stupify-
 ing, and substituting art for nature.   I will relate a case
 that I was knowing to, which will give a pretty fair view
 of the practice of the doctors.   A woman was taken in
 travail, and the midwife could not come; a doctor was
 sent for;  when he  came, the prospect was, that she 
132
New Guide  to Health';
 would not be delivered  in two hours ; hegave her some
 medicine, which caused vomiting, and turned  the  pains
 to the stomach ; she continued in this situation  for twelve
 hours, when her  strength was nearly  gone;  he then
 bled her, and to stop the puking, gave so much  opium, as
 to cause such a stupor, that it required all the  exertions
 of the women to keep the breath of life  in  her, through
 the night; in the morning, she remained very weak, and
 continued so till afternoon, when she was delivered with
 instruments.   The child was dead, and the woman came
 very near dying, and it  was six months before she got
 her strength again.  Many more cases might be given of
 the bad success of bleeding and giving opium to stupify,
 and making use of art, instead of assisting  nature to do
 her own  work.
  I have given instruction to several who have bought
 the right, and their practice has been attended with com-
 plete success.   Many men that I have given the infor-
 mation to, have since attended  their own  wives, and I
 have never known an instance of any bad consequences ;
 and if young married men would adopt the same course,
 it would  be much more  proper  and  safe, than  to trust
 their wives in the hands of yoiing inexperienced doctors,
 who have little  knowledge, except what  they  get from
 books, and their practice is  to try  experiments; their
cruel and harsh treatment, in many instances, would in-
duce the husband to throw them out at the window, if
permitted to be present; but this is not allowed, for the
very same reason.
  The following cases, and the mode of treatment, each
of which presents something  new,  and difficult,  will
present to view  all that will be further necessary on this
subject.  These will be added by way of supplement. 
TO THE THIRD EDITION.
                INTRODUCTION.

  " The Hebrew women are lively, and  are delivered ere the
midwives come in unto them."  Exodus, i. 19.

  As an introduction to what I have further  to  say on
the subject,  of midwifery, the above may answer as a
text; from  which,  I have only to observe, that, had this
important  branch  been preserved  in its simplicity, at-
tended only  by women, as it  seems to have been in the
days of the ancient Egyptians, when  the Hebrews were
slaves under Pharaoh, who ordered the  midwives to kill
all the Hebrew male  children  at their  birth, women
might still have been delivered with  as little  trouble to
the midwives, and  as little pain  to themselves, as from
the account, it appears that they  were then.   For, as a
cover to their humanity, and  to escape punishment from
the king, the midwives  excused themselves for not  kill-
ing the male children on account of the liveliness of the
Hebrew women.   If those women had had the doctors
of the  present  day, with their pincers, Pharaoh would
have had less cause to have issued his decree to kill the
male children, as many might have been killed with im-
punity before it was known whether  they were male  or
female.  Has the nature of women altered, which makes
the mode of having children so much more difficult and
mysterious now than it was then ? or is it the speculation
of the  doctors,  for the sake of robbing  the  people  of
twenty dollars, the  regular tribute here, for  each child
born ?  And should the child be born, fortunately for the
mother and  child both, before the arrival  of the doctor
he even then, instead  of the price of a common visit'
considers himself entitled to  a half fee;  that  is, ten dol- 
134            New Guide  to Health;
lars.   In all this, you may see the mystery of iniquity.
Then  dismiss the doctor;  restore the business into the
hands of women, where it belongs ; and save your wife
from much  unnecessary pain, your children, perhaps,
from death,  and at all events, your money, for better pur-
poses.    Then will  your children be born  naturally, as
fruit falls from the tree,  when ripe, of itself.
  From  this source, the doctors and their  pincers, may
be traced the miserable health of women, unable to stand
on their feet for weeks  and months, and  never finally
recover; all caused by those horrid  instruments of steel,
to extend the passage not only for the child, but for the
instruments also.  In this harsh and unnatural operation,
they often not only crush the head of the child, but also
the neck of the bladder.   After  this, there is an invol-
untary discharge of the urine, bearing-down pains, &c.
insomuch that life becomes  an intolerable burden without
remedy.   Can  any one believe there was ever an in-
stance of this  kind  among the  Hebrew women, where
tmdwives only were known,  or where nature only was
the midwife ?   I think  not.   Is  there  any such thing
known among the natives of this country, where nature
is their only dependence?   History gives us an account
of their  squaws' having a  pappoos at night, and wade
several rivers  the next day, when  driven  by Christians
in warfare;  and by the simple use of taking the unicorn
root, they would prevent themselves from taking cold.
If all these  views of the subject, what has  been stated
in  the  body of this  work, and what is here  to fellow,
be not satisfactory,  neither  would people be persuaded
though one  should arise from the dead.
           Further Remarks on Midwifery.
  As I  am  often called upon  for verbal information on
this important subject, I shall  endeavour in  this supple-
ment to give  some further instructions,  by relating sev-
eral important cases, and their mode of treatment, which
have occurred since my last edition was published.
  In addition to the bad practice of the. doctors, as  be-
fore related, I will state another case of  which I was an 
           or, Botanic Family Physician.        135

eye-witness.  My brother's wife, about  thirty  years old,
was in travail with her first child.   The midwife called
on me for advice, on account of a violent flooding, which
I immediately relieved by the hot medicine ; at the same
time, some people  present, privately  sent for  a doctor.
When he came,  I told him there was no difficulty, and
all that was wanting was time.   After examination, he
said the woman had been  well treated.   He  then  took
the command, and very soon began to use too  much ex-
ertion.  He was cautioned by the midwife; but he show-
ed temper, and said, " Why did you send for me, if you
know best."   I told him  he  was not sent for  by our re-
quest ; we found ne need of any other help.   The doc-
tor persisted in this harsh treatment for about seven hours,
occasionally trying to  put on his instruments  of torture.
This painful  attempt caused the woman to shrink from
her pains, and the child drew back.   After making sev-
eral unsuccessful attempts, got himself tired out; he ask-
ed me to examine  her situation.  I did so, and told him
that the child was  not so far advanced as when he came.
He asked me to attend  her.   I refused  the offer ; and
told him  that he  pronounced the woman well treated
when he came ;  but she had not been  so treated since,
and I was not liable to  bear the blame.   He then.sent
for another doctor, and let her alone till  the  other doc-
tor came, in  which time  nature had done much in ad-
vancing her lalx>ur.  The doctors were astonished at her
strength, in its thus holding out;  and 1 now  firmly be-
lieve that with the use of the medicine which had been
given her, and which ought to have been continued, na-
ture would have completed her delivery.  The second
doctor did but little more than to say, the instruments
could now be put on; which  shows  how far nature had
completed her  work.   The  first doctor put on the in-
struments of death, and delivered her- by force;  using
strength enough to have drawn a hundred weight!  Thus
the  child was, as  I should call it, murdered; the  head
crushed, and the doctor put  it in a  tub of cold  water
twice; an application, one would have supposed, suffi-
cient to kill it, had it been well!!
   The woman flooded, like the running of water, so as
to be heard by all  in the room.   The doctor  called for 
136
New Guide to Health;
 cold water to put on  as  soon as possible.   I  told the
 doctor that he need not trouble himself any further about
 the woman, I would take the care of her.   I gave her a
 spoonful of fine bayberry, cayenne and  drops;  got her
 into bed as soon as possible ;  the alarming situation soon
 abated;  but her senses were gone, and her  nerves all in
 a state of confusion.   I repeated the dose  with the ad-
 dition of nerve powder.   I put a hot stone, wrapped in
 cloths wet with vinegar, at her feet, and  also at her back
 and bowels, until she got  warm.   Then her nerves be-
 came more composed.   When  the doctor left her, he
 said there was a doubt whether  she lived  over twelve
 hours.    At that time she was so swollen as to stop all
evacuations, besides other injuries she had  received  by
 the use of force instead of aid.   The midwife used her
 best endeavours to promote  a natural discharge, but in
 vain.   But, when all  other sources fail,  then comes my
 turn.   I succeeded, and  saved  her  from mortification.
 The second day, I carried her through a course  of medi-
 cine ; steaming her  in bed; for  she  was as helpless as
 though all her bones had  been broken.   All the way she
 could be turned was to draw her  on the under sheet, and
 so turn her that way.   After the second course, she be-
 gan to help herself a little.   I was with her most of the
time for five days and nights.   I then left her, with medi-
cines and directions, and  she  gained her health  in about
two months.   I gave  them directions how to proceed in
case she should ever be in the like situation  again.  She
 had  another child in about two years; the  child lived,
 and both did well, by keeping away the  doctor, as I am
 satisfied would have been the case the  first time, had
this scourge of  humanity  been kept away.
  I have been more particular in relating this case, than
 I otherwise  should  have  been, had  I not been an eye-
 witness to all the  proceedings, and of course to^all the
 facts which I have stated, which  I could not have be-
lieved had I not seen them;  and had it been at  my own
 house, I think I should not have waited  for a door, but
 have pitched the monster out at the  window.   Yet  I
 have reason to believe that this is only a  sample of the
general practice where nature moves slowly.  The argot
 or rye  spur, which is a  very improper  medicine, was 
or, Botanic  Family Physician.
137
also  frequently  given  in  this case;  but it ought to be
particularly guarded against, in all cases.
   Another instance happened  in  the  country, very re-
cently, only about six weeks since, where the doctor was
with a young wOman in travail, who had fits.   The doc-
tor bled her, and took away her  child dead  by force.
The woman is yet in a poor state of health.  What could
we expect otherwise, where learned men forbid the laws
of nature to take their course, take the blood, " which
is the life," to enable women to go through with the most
laborious task  which  nature is called on to  perform 1
Consider of these things, my friends, and govern your-
selves accordingly.


   Now let me exhibit the other side of the picture.   I
was called upon to attend a young Woman in child-bed,
about four weeks ago, eighty miles in  the  country.   I
attended.  She had been sick, and sent for help, before
I arrived, and had got about again.   About one week
after, she was taken again, with every appearance that
6he would be delivered soon.   In  about six hours  the
pains all flatted away ; she grew pale and dull in spirits,
and the motion  of the child  had  nearly ceased.   She
had laboured hard and got  cold, and had  a bad cough ;
and the moisture of the glands was  so thickened, that
she could not spit clear of her mouth.   I saw that there
was no use in any further  delay.   On  Thursday I car-
ried her  through a thorough course  of medicine, and
steamed her twice in the course of the  day, and then let
her rest.  About the same  time she was taken  the night
before to wit, about eleven o'clock, her pains were reg-
ular her animation  and vigour returned, a fine son' was
born about three o'clock, she  walked from the fire to the
bed, a portion of coffee and cayenne  was administered,
and'a steaming stone put to her feet.    As soon as  her
perspiration  was free, all after-pains ceased, and there
were none of those alarming symptoms common to learn-
ed ignorance.   The second day she showed symptoms
of a child-bed fever and broken  breasts.  I carried her
             12* 
138
New Guide to  Health;
through another course of medicine and  steam.   The
fifth day she took breakfast and dinner  below with the
family, and carried her child up stairs.   The eighth day
she rode out two miles, paid a visit and come back.  On
the ninth day, I carried her through another  course of
medicine, and got her so far cleared, that  she could spit
clear of her mouth for the first time after I saw her.  On
the tenth day, she rode  the same distance; and I have
no doubt that, had she been attended in the common
way, she would have had the child-bed  fever,  broken
breasts, and a poor health afterwards.
  This case caused much conversation.   Why so ?  It
was the different mode  of treatment, reversing every
mode commonly attended to.  What shall we do 1 say
the people, we shall never dare to employ a doctor again.
I answer.   Call the doctor and obtain  his advice;  and
then reverse every prescription given by him in a case of
child-bed.  If he tells you to have a doctor, have a mid-
wife.  If he says, " be bled," keep your blood for other
uses.   If he  says, "keep yourself cold," Sweat your-
self.   If he  says,  " put cold  water on  your bowels,"
take hot medicine inside, and a steaming stone at your
feet.   If he says, "take physic," use warm injections.
If  he says, "starve yourself," eat  what your appetite
craves.  By strict observance of the foregoing  anti-di-
rections, you may enjoy your health, and save the heavy
bill for the many visits of the doctor, besides saving him
from the trouble of keeping you sick.  This is the mode
of  having patent babies, so highly recommended by Dr.
Robinson in his 12th lecture, who says, " Even in child-
 bed delivery, a matter never to be forgotten, this prac-
 tice has very nearly removed the pain and punishment
 from the daughters of Eve, threatened to our progeni-
 tor and entailed  upon  her  offspring.  A lady of good
 sense, and without the  least colouring  of imagination
 said it was easier to have five children  under  the  op-
 eration and influence of this new practice, than one by the
 other management and medicine.   And she had had ex-
 perience  in  both cases, and has been supported in  the
 evidence by every one who has followed her example."
    This extract speaks volumes in favour of the treatment
 in the last named case. 
or, Botanic Family Physician.         139
  The following case of midwifery I shall mention, with
the mode of treatment, for the purpose of giving instruc-
tion to others.
  I was called to visit a woman in Greenfield, Saratoga
Co. N. Y. who had been in travail ten days, and her life
despaired of.    I think there was not less than ten men
and women present, and the seal of despair was set upon
each one's countenance.   The woman in  a  low voice
6aid,  " I cannot see what can be the  use  of a woman's
undergoing the distress I have for ten  days, and die after
all, as two sisters of mine  have done  in a  similar case
but a short time ago."   I  replied, that pain and distress
were the common  lot  of all  mankind, and  the  duty of
every one is to alleviate the miseries of others  as  far as
it is in our power.    She asked me  if I  thought I could
help her.   I  assured  her that I would do every thing I
could  for that  purpose.   There were  several persons
present who owned the right.   I took out my medicine,
and put in  a  tea-cup  a large  spoonful  of composition,
one tea-spoonful of cayenne, one  of nerve  powder, and
one spoonful  of sugar, filled the cup with boiling water,
stirred them well together, and set it down.  While set-
tling, I took a large tea-spoonful of brown  emetic, and
having poured off  the tea into another cup, stirred in the
powder, and  handed it to the woman, who  swallowed it,
apparently with all possible faith that  it would  help her.
I called for assistance, to  regulate the bed and other
things, which were in disorder about  the  room, as soon
as  possible.   Every attention was paid, the  medicine
roused the efforts  of nature, so that the woman was in
readiness before we were.    This called  all to her as-
sistance ;  the desired object was obtained in less than
fifteen minutes after taking this friend of nature; a fine
son was born alive, and the woman comfortable and able
with  steadying, to walk from the fire to the bed, to the
great joy of all present.   The gloomy veil of despair
was raised from the countenance of all, and they hearti-
ly partook  of the  joy  and thankfulness of the  woman
 and family ;  insomuch that some of the women present,
 declared that they would never have any other children
 but patent ones hereafter. 
140
New Guide to  Health;
  One of my agents, Joseph  Michell, went with  me ;
and we returned in the space of two  hours, in a  violent
snow storm.  He declared that that expedition was worth
one hundred dollars to the society.   The next day, the
husband came, and purchased the right, with instruction
on the  branch of midwifery ; and  has attended his wife
twice since, with unusual  success.   One of my agents
says he has frequently heard  the woman  relate the  fore-
going case ; but never without  shedding tears.
         Case of Midwifery in Columbus, Ohio.
   This woman I agreed to be with when confined, which
 was expected in about three  weeks.    I went to see my
 son, about 130 miles.  While there, I fell and broke two
 of my ribs.  I had a violent cough, and almost lost my
 life.  I did not return short of about six weeks, and then
 in a very poor state of health.   I arrived at the house
 about eleven o'clock at night.  The woman  was then in
 travail.   She said she had  waited for me three weeks.
 The midwife said the waters  had been discharged  three
 days, and the woman was in  a low and lingering state,
 often wishing  for me.   I went to bed that night, but
 did not sleep  much, on  account of the  distress of the
 woman, and noise of the moving in the house.   I was
 solicited about noon the next  day, by the husband and
 wife, her father and mother, my  agent and his wife, with
 an earnest desire to attend the woman, as her mind was
 set on my attention.   I reluctantly consented, as I was
 weak in body and mind, and  hardly able to undergo the
 anxiety and responsibility of so difficult a case.   I  how-
 ever agreed to do the  best I could.   I prepared a dose
 similar to that mentioned in the foregoing case.   It was
given.   It soon  had the desired effect,  by rousing the
system to action.  I delivered her in about half an hour.
But the child was apparently dead.  I took the placenta
or after-birth, with the  child ; the grandmother being
seated in the corner, she placed the after-birth on a bed
of embers,  while rubbing the child ; and as soon as the
substance on the coals had gained warmth enough to fill
the umbilieal cord with  warmth and moisture, it  was 
or,  Botanic Family Physician.         141
stripped towards the body of the child, and so continued
until a sufficient degree of warmth through this medium
was conveyed into the body of the child, as to expand the
lungs, which was effected in about fifteen or twenty min-
utes ;  then the string was separated in usual form.
  I relate this case for the information of those who may
not have studied the principle of heat's giving life, as  is
manifest in the present case.  There was no other possi-
ble way of communicating  heat to the vitals, except
through that channel or stem which had supported the
growth of the child to that time, the same as any vegeta-
ble fruit is supported from the vine or  tree by the stem.
If the vine be cut off, or pulled up, the fruit will wither
and die.    Now what was the cause of the death of this
child 1  Recollect the fore part of this statement.   The
water had been discharged three  days.   All that time
the child had been starving, the  same as the fruit loses
its support when the vine is eut.    But by raising artifi-
cial heat, through the placenta and umbilical  cord, by
putting  the former on the embers, and conveying the
heat to the body of the child through the medium of the
latter, it gave the child one  more meal, which roused it
into action,  and which was to last  till the  next means
nature has provided, can be obtained.  Before the child
is born, it is supported by this stem from the mother in-
ternally ; after birth, from the breast of the mother ex-
ternally.    This food supports the  child, till he can eat
more solid food, and thus no longer need the breast.

         Now the attention of the mother,
         May  be  employ'd to have another;
         And  so go on with  all the rest,
         Your house be fill'd with  children bless'd.
             Case of a False Conception.
  About two years ago,  I  was  called on by one of my
agents, at Eastport, Me. who appeared to be much alarm-
ed, and requested me to go with him  to  visit a  woman
with whom he had been all night, and could give her no
relief.   She had  flowed so  much, that she lay  fainted
away, more than half the time, and then, the  rest part 
142
New Guide  to Health;
    of the time, she was puking.   I asked him if she was
    in a pregnant state.   He thought not.   I answered, I
    thought it must be the case.  I went with him ; and, on
    the way, asked him if  he had given her an emetic ?  He
    had not.  If he had used an injection 1   No, he did not
    think  it would answer.   Not  answer!  What is your
    medicine good for, if it is not a friend in the most alarm-
    ing case?  When entering the house, the  man said, "My
    wife has  been fainted away more than  half the time,
    since  you left, and  the rest of the time she has been
    puking."   I directed  nty agent to go after his syringe.
    The first thing I could find warm was some wormwood
    tea.    I took some in a cup, and added  some  cayenne,
    nerve  powder, and  emetic  herb, sweetened, as hereto-
    fore directed.   She took it.  I then steeped one pint of
    coffee, and had time to give her about one glass, with a
    requisite portion of the same articles as before, when the
    syringe arrived.  I  then prepared about a gill of this
    liquid, and added the same proportion  of the articles
    taken, and charged the syringe with it, and ordered the
    nurse to administer it.   I, with my agent, left the room
    for the space of about ten minutes, when  we were called
    in, and found the nurse much surprised at the discharge.
    The like was never seen by any one present.   The ap-
    pearance was like a hog's heart secured in a  membrane.
_   The people  were at a loss what to call it.    My agent
    was of opinion that there was some human shape  in  it.
    I said, no.   To satisfy himself, he opened  it with his
    knive,  and found it solid flesh.   I  told them it was a
    false conception, and void of human shape.    I then re-
    peated the dose as before given, and  repeated the injec-
    tion in usual form, which cleared her of all disorder, and
    set nature at liberty.   All flowing, puking, and fainting,
    ceased from the first application I made.   The woman
    soon got well, and in less than one  year, had a fine son,
    and her health remains good.  Many thanks were given
    me by the family, believing, as they said, that what  I
    administered  to the woman, together with  what I pre-
    scribed, had saved her  life.
      I shall close this subject with a few brief remarks.
      The foregoing cases  I have described for the purpose
   of showing the difference between forcing nature, and 
or,  Botanic Family Physician.        143
aiding and  assisting  her.   They are two theories, di-
rectly opposed to each other, and can never  harmonize
together.   As soon  as  learned ignorance begins to use
force to extend the  passage, the child  ceases from its
natural progression and draws 1>ack;  as  nature shrinks
from  all such operations, and  force must then  do the
whole;  and if the child should be caught by such force,
as the dog catches his game, it will  be likely to share
the same fate, as in  the  case first mentioned.    I shall
not follow up the simile,  by comparing the doctor to a
dog, though it might be made a very striking one.   Is
not this the  cause of many women lingering  out a mis-
erable existence in pain and torment, and are often heard
to say, " I have never been well since my last child was
born.  I was in  the hands of the doctor three days, and
at last was delivered with instruments.   I did not stand
on my feet for six  weeks, and have never regained  my
health."   Yet the doctor  is looked upon as her benefac-
tor, and is thanked for saving her life.   Query.   Were
these evil consequences  ever known where nature did
her own work, and the child born before the doctor could
get there ? In all my practice, I never knew an instance
where the woman  could  not bear her weight upon her
feet the same  day.   Nor  have I ever  heard of a single
instance where nature had  been assisted according to
my practice by others, where the patient  was not able to
bear her weight on her feet the same day of her delivery.
As to the cause of the difference between those attend-
ed according  to nature,  and those  attended secundum
artem, according to art, I  shall  leave  the reader  to de-
cide for himself.
   Another evil  in  this branch, which  I shall mention
here, and of which women  have generally either felt or
heard, is that  of taking the after-birth by force.   The
doctor says, " It has grown fast to the side;" and tares
it off, so as to  be heard by those present.   Alarming, if
not fatal consequences are the result.   The question is,
what other way can be done ?  Answer.  The same as
in taking the child.   Assist nature, instead of forcing it.
The only rule given by me, to those who wish to  attend
their own  wives, or others, is simply this.   After the
string is separated from the child, be careful not to lose 
144
New Guide to  Health;
 it, by letting it draw back, as this is the only sure guide
 to the placenta.    Take  the string between  the thumb
 and finger of the  left  hand, drawing it  straight, while
 having the same between the thumb and finger of the
 right  hand, slipping it forward until you  find the  solid
 part to which the  string  is attached.   Take a steady
 pull when the pain is on.   After a few seconds, it will
 begin to give way, turning inside out as turning the
 lining to the sleeve of a  coat.   But if it  stick fast, take
 care not to break the string, as if you do, you lose  your
 guide.  Keep the woman well fed with hot medicine, to
 prevent flooding.   Then carry her through  a course of
 medicine; and  when the system  is slackened, it  will
often come of itself.   I would prefer having it remain
till it discharges itself, according to nature, as it certain-
 ly will in time, than to be taken away by force, as I have
 seen done.  The danger  is far less.  But I never knew
 a case of the kind where the woman had  been sufficient-
 ly cleared by the medicine near the time of her delivery.
 I knew  one instance, where the  woman had been treat-
 ed by force in this way, that she had been so injured that
 all her urine run away as fast as it  collected.   The doc-
 tors had so injured her,  that they declared she would
 never live to have another child.    But they were mista-
 ken.  The next one she  was  attended by my direction,
 and carried through, I think, thirteen courses of medi-
 cine before delivery.   I attended her.   She was sick but
 about two hours ; was delivered and cleared without any
 difficulty, and both she and her child did well.
  There are as great errors committed in using force for
 the after-birth, as for the  child.   The inflammation caus-
 ed  by using force in taking the child, causes the obstruc-
 tion in taking the after-birth.    When learned  ignorant
 pretenders, who know nothing about following the  um-
 bilical cord  for  their guide, proceed inward, where  they
 kave no business,  they often commit irreparable injury,
 and instead  of taking the after-birth, they  injure the
 womb,  sometimes by turning it wrong  side  out, which
 causes  distressing bearing-down  pains, and thus the
 woman must linger out a miserable existence until death
 comes as a welcome friend to relieve her. 
or,  Botanic Family Physician.        145
  Thus, kind reader, I have given you the most impor-
tant particulars I now think  of, and as to any  further
general directions, I  can do no better than  to refer you
to the General  Directions, as laid down in this book :
and it is my opinion  that  you are better off with  your
own judgment and this  book, than with all the scientific
ignorance, called knowledge, as taught in  the schools,
without it.  Hence my advice to you is, dismiss all doc-
tors of law, physic and divinity.   Pray for your own
soul, if you know what it is, doctor your own body, and
make your own will.   By so doing,  you will save your
share of the greatest tax ever imposed on mankind.
     Outlines of Treatment in the hour of Travail.
  To point out a regular rule or form  for every woman,
would be out of my power, as they arc restless, shifting
their position in every form and manner, to find a place
of rest,  which  is as difficult as  that of Noah's  dove.
When they become  so  far advanced that  tfiey cannot
satisfy themselves any. longer in their own way, then you
may assist them in the best manner  to help themselves,
and to enable others to help them, by assisting nature to
do her own work.
  The seat is prepared in different  ways, according to
their fancy.   Those who have had children ought to be
the best judge how to aid and assist them in this partic-
ular.  I shall only give advice how to proceed in some
alarming and difficult cases, to  be handed down for the
benefit of generations yet unborn,  as  none can  be ob-
tained from the progress ofthe learned, for four thousand
years.   And if any beneficial  information shall now be
obtained, it must be from the illiterate, who have studied
nature rather than books.  I have'no authors, dictiona-
ries or concordance, to assist my feeble efforts in acquir-
ing a correct judgment.  Necessity and  experience are
the only sources of my knowledge, from which  I draw
all my lessons.
   Among the most desperate cases, is the flowing of fe-
males; pregnant or not. the treatment is  the same.   If
it happens before delivery, give a portion of composition
              13 
146
New Guide to  Healh;
with more cayenne, and hot water sweetened ; or some
drops, cayenne and snuff, or fine bayberry, as substitutes.
If after delivery, the same.   When  the woman  grows
weary and  worn out, and  pains begin to die away, give
a portion of the third preparation, in  some composition
and nerve powder.    This will compose the system so as
to rest or reinforce nature, and hasten  delivery.    It is
of great service, when the pains are lingering, at the
time of  giving the  above named medicine, to use an in-
jection,  in common form, made of the same compound.
This will hasten or delay delivery, as nature requires.
   Remark.....About the time of delivery apply a cloth of
several thicknesses wet with hot water, to slack  the mus-
cles ;  repeat it occasionally, and keep it hot till nature is
ready to perform her work.
   I attended one woman in this city, with  her first child.
Her strength failed ;  her pains slacked ; I gave  her a
table-spoonful  of the  liquid of the  third  preparation;
wrapped her warm, which caused  her to vomit once, and
raised a perspiration; she fell asleep, and  in  this situa-
tion rested four hours, when the head of the child was
so far advanced, as to have been  visible.   She awoke,
her travail re-commenced  with reinforced vigour.    She
was delivered rather in a cold state;  she flowed badly;
I gave her some No.  2, and drops, with a little fine  bay-
berry, which had the desired effect.   She walked from
the fire  to the bed, and did well.
   There is another distressing complaint incident to fe-
males, worse than  having children ; and often no relief
from the doctors.   I  have seen women in as great agony
with false pains, as at the delivery of a child.  A strong
tea of witch-hazle  leaves and nerve powder, and a little
cayenne,-strained,  used by injection either way, or both,
I have seen relieve, like throwing water on the fire.   The
disorder is  canker, and must be met  with its  adtidote
where it is.
   These few remarks, together with the foregoing cases,
will be sufficient information on this  subject.   In  con-
clusion, I would ask, can we  attach sufficient  value on
a medicine that will give rest to a weary patient in tra-
vail,  and restore the nerves and muscles to a giant-like
strength, as refreshed by wine, and continue the strength 
           or,  Botanic Family Physician.        147

until delivery is completed ;  and at the same time guard
against all those alarming complaints  which too often
follow afterwards ?  A  medicine to which you may re-
sort  with perfect  confidence, in times of the  greatest
peril, that" if any thing can, it will save your wife and
child, and the  fee of twenty dollars  from  the  doctor.
This is the regular fee in cities, though it is less in the
country.
     Supplement to the Venereal.....See page 130.
  There are four diseases, or rather  four  names of dis-
ease, which are often made fatal, in consequence of the
name.   1.  Venereal.  2.  Hydrophobia.   3. Smallpox.
4. Erysipelas.  As the remedy is laid down in the Med-
ical Pocket Book, the name is  doctored  instead of the
disease.   If a child has a sore ear, and it runs a yellow
water, it will spread  like  fire, as often  seen on  a pot;
and  it will  inoculate  where it  touches.   While on the
child's ear, women call  it a  canker sore; and there is
nothing  alarming under  this name.   Any old woman
can  cure it   But take the same infection from the ear,
and  iuocalate with  it, in that part  of the  body where
venereal is seated, and call it venereal, the consequence
is the  same ; and by the same mercurial treatment, there
would be all the alarming consequences  as  though the
disorder was generated in any other way.   Yea, if the
patient was well, with  the same administration of mer-
cury, in  the same way,  and to the  same extent, the bu-
boes and shankers would often  make  their appearance
in the same manner without the supposed disease as
with.   TKey doctor the  name instead of the disorder.
The patient, therefore, as often  loses his life by the mer-
cury,  as by the supposed disease.
   Equally so in hydrophobia, by taking mercury,  the
 remedy  becomes worse than the disease.
   In either of the above  cases,  the disorder is far easier
 cured by a regular course of medicine, than the poison
 given for it; as the  mercury is harder to eradicate from
 the system,  than all  the natural disease incident  to
 mankind. 
148            New  Guide to Health;
    Since my last edition was published, the smallpox has
  been thoroughly attended  to, and  the  general rule, as
  there laid down, found to answer every purpose, and pro-
  duce the desired effect.    To bring out the smallpox, as
  in the measles and  other  similar  disorders, be careful
  not to have too much outward heat while the pock is
  filling.   I visited a family  in Cincinnati, last winter, who
  had the smallpox, and who had had the kinepox previous.
  The appearance of the pustules were more  like  poison
  or measles than those of the smallpox.   When it turned,
  it began to  flat, instead-of drying off; and when it had
  flatted down to the vitals, it turned in, and one died, and
  the other, it left in a miserable  state of  health; the pits
  hard and blue, like other poison sores ;  and I am  of an
  opinion that more people die in consequence of  having
 the kinepox, than it would to let the smallpox have its
 natural run.   Because the nature of the smallpox, when
 taken the natural way, is to clear the system  from every
 other putrefaction, which,  on the turn, scabs off with it.
 Not so in the kinepox.  The infection partakes of every
 disorder of the persons of which it was taken;  itch,
 venereal,  cancer humours,  or. worse than  all the rest,
 mercurial taint given by the doctor.  When  part, or all
 of these diseases are inoculated into a  healthy person,
 and has no way to discharge itself from the  system, it
 creates worse  disease than the smallpox.   I knew a
 man  in Portsmouth, N. H. who was inoculated with the
 kinepox, the infection taken from a man who had a can-
 cer humour.   He was a healthy man when inoculated.
 I saw him within two years, and it was judged that he
 had more than half a peck of cancers on different parts
 of  the body and limbs.   He imputed it entitely  to this
 inoculation;  and  highly  disapproved of the kinepox.
 He died in  the most distressed condition.

  The  learned have added nothing to the healing art; but they have
• done much in taking the knowledge of the simple 'remedies from the
 people.  They have substituted the  poisonous minerals which have
 multiplied the forms of disease, and thereby added to our bills of mor-
 tality.   They have taken midwifery from the tender hands of women,
 and substituted the torturing instruments  of steel, whereby not only
 children, but even women have been scarified.   In relation to such
 practice, Robinson says, Lee. viii. p. 103, " It is, in truth, like running
 the gauntlet among armed Indians, or red hot plough-shares, to escape
 from the poisons or medical practice." 
or,  Botanic Family Physician.        149
   Why do old people die more in a warm and rainy
winter than in a severe cold one ?
  The answer to the above question is at hand.   Old
people are like  the old house which they built in their
younger days.    The  house decays  about as fast as its
builder, and becomes  racked with  wind  and storms
which have beaten  upon it until the cracks open, the
shingles  blow off, and the  house grows leaky and cold.
So is the man in his old age.  He becomes racked with
the storms and  hardships of life ;  his heat goes out, the
fire-place  decays, his food digests poorly, and gives but
little nourishment or heat to warm the  body and expand
the lungs.   For  the  inward heat rarifies the air in the
lungs, and causes them to  expand, by lightening the air
within, and the  heft of the  surrounding atmosphere,
being higher charged with oxygen or water, puts out the
fire faster than dry cold air ; and as the heat decays in-
ward, the weight of the ay* crowds heavily on the lungs,
and causes great difficulty in  breathing;  the lungs  la-
bour like the wheel of a mill  in back water, the foun-
tain almost level with the stream, until the heat in the
lungs becomes insufficient to  expand them any longer ;
the heft of the air comes  to an equilibrium  of heft  in-
side, and all motion  ceases.  The water in the air has put
out the fire.  This is the cause wlfy  those people who have
but little fire in the body, and such a heft of damp air out-
side., the heat is so soon extinguished inside; like a person
falling into the  water ; the  cause  of death is, the water
has put out the fire; and when the air is full of water, it
puts out the fire in the same proportion.   Thus I think
I have given a satisfactory cause of death  upon natural
principles.   The cause and effect are in themselves.
  In this case, I  would  ask the Christian, of every de-
nomination, what God, here, either  gave or took away life 1
Was there any God in the case abstract from the cause
here given? Or  what soul or spirit went out at death, ex-
cept the heat, or nature, which caused life  and breath ?


   How  Doctors shorten the lives  of their Patients.

  That the practice of the regular doctors, as  they are
termed, shortens the lives of their patients, is a truth of
              13* 
150            New Guide to  Health;

which I have not the shadow of a doubt; and the cause,
to me, is obvious.  The cold poisons which they admin-
ister, have the effect of chilling the  stomach and killing
the digestive organs; so that the food does not raise more
than half the heat it did in a natural  state, before those
poisons  had been administered.  Then the bleeding and
blistering lessens the remainder so as to reduce the heat
to the capacity of old age.  It is the same thing, no mat-
ter what age, from one hour  old to an hundred years.
When the heat is so far exhausted that the air is not suf-
ficiently lightened by the heat  as  to expand the adjoin-
ing air,  the pressure becomes equalled, external and  in-
ternal, the same as  in  the case of a drowned person.
There is no difference, as to age, sect, or denomination,
so far as the practice is  concerned ; and  so  far as  that
goes to  lessen the heat  by bleeding, by fever powders,
or by poison;  all tend to lessen inward heat, and to di-
minish life in the same proportion; and when it is en-
tirely extinguished, death follows, as  a  natural conse-
quence; and  from the  same cause; loss of heat, what-
ever it may be that puts out the fire.   The  putting out
of the fire, or extinguishing inward  or vital  heat, is the
cause of death.
  All practitioners,  therefore, may by this  rule either
condemn or justify themselves by looking  back on their
former  practice, and asking  themselves the question.
" Have  I cultivated the heat of my  patients, to prolong
their lives; or have I extinguished their heat, and there-
by killed or destroyed them?"   Is not this question fully
answered ?  See how the lives of human-beings are daily
sacrificed, at  all ages, from birth to death ! Who, I would
ask, is authorized to say, in such a case, "The Lord gives,
and the Lord  taketh away, and  blessed be the name of the
Lord,"  when they are destroyed in  this manner?
   In every thing that breathes, the breathing is from the
same cause.   Without heat, their is no breathing.   But
when heat is  continually generated or  evolved  in a con-
fined room, excepting  at one  avenue, as in the lungs,
there must be breathing, or what is the same, an inhal-
ing of cold air, and an  exhaling of oxygen or vapour
frjm it.  Every animal body has its lamp, in proportion
to its bigness; and  its continuing to burn, is much owing 
or, Botanic Family Physician.        151
to the one who trims or takes care of the lamp.   If it be
replenished with water, instead of oil, and with an icicle
for a wick, it is like the method  in which  the doctors
trim the lamps of their patients.  Taking out the blood,
is like pouring out the oil; and the cold poison, is as  the
icicle for a wick.   The effect soon follows, which is cold
and darkness.  Can we doubt this being the fact at  the
present time ?  Do we not often see the head of a family
suddenly made cold by his lamp being put out; and three
or four children taken  from one  house, all  having their
lamps blown  out ? Can any one suppose that had their
lamps been trimmed with good oil, and good wicks,  but
that they would have continued burning as  long as  the
body of the lamp remained whole?   But if  we continue
not our own  guards and sentinels,  but  employ artificial
and learned fools to watch over us,  and save our  oil  for
their own use, and trim our lamps  with water and ice,
we cannot wonder at  seeing our  wives  and  children
" dashed in pieces like  the potter's  vessel."   When  we
employ seamen to  drive our coach  of life, instead of
horsemen; and  as  long as custom, superstition, error
and bigotry,  are  the ruling principles of the world, we
never can expect to live while all  the oil  in our lamps
are consumed ; but to be blown out by the breath of ig-
norance, if nothing worse, as mankind have  been in  all
ages  where  the  poisonous  breath  of the  Bohon Upas
overtakes them.

      The Priest and Doctor claiming the control.
       One of the flesh, the other of the soul;
      Hell and the pit, from which they dig their stuff,
      Are never filled, yea, never cry enough.
   The effect of religious  meetings, where women chiefly
attend, in the absence of their husbands.
  If women are  allowed  to attend day and night meet-
ings, for  the purpose of having the priest pray for their
souls and pardon  their  sins,  while  their  husbands  and
children are left at home,  how long will it be before the
sandals of the priest will be left at the door, as  in some
other countries,  as  a  token  that the husband must not 
152            New  Guide to Health;
enter, lest he should see and  learn  how the priest  par-
dons his wife's sins?
   The doctor also, who comes in for a full share in these
secret privileges, if he  be allowed to examine secretly
our wives and daughters for the purpose of finding some
secret complaint, which is indecent for the husband or
father to witness, or to  know, as was the case of R****'s
wife and Dr. A****, of this city, but a few years since,
who is to be responsible for the mode of examination.
   If men will allow their wives to be thus privately ex-
amined by these crafts,  for  the purpose  of pardoning
their sins, and removing their indecent disorders,  will
they not soon claim all  the indecent  jobs in their fami-
lies ?  If it be indecent for a  man to be present at  the
birth of his child, why  not equally indecent to be present
at its generation ?  And so we must let the priest and the
doctor generate, as well as bring into the world, all  our
children!  The priest could still baptize them in the name
ofthe Father, Son  and  Holy Ghost;  in  whose  name,
also, he might pardon the sins of their mother ! In  this
way, these two crafts might liberate the affectionate hus-
band from all the toils  of his  family, excepting that of
their maintenance 1 1 !
   Arouse, husbands, from your lethargy.  Gird on every
man his sword  by his side.  The sword of truth, I mean.
Go in and out of your camp,  and whenever you please,
till you have driven all  such  miscreants from  your bor-
ders.  Take the protection of your wives and daughters
into  your own hands; keep them at home at  all proper
times, and when they go to meeting, go wjth them ;  when
they are so sick as to need a doctor, which, if properly
treated, would seldom be  the  case, be present at the ex-
amination ;  if they need  prayers, pray  for them your-
selves; if they want children, be sure  to  be  their real
father, and take a fatherly care of them in bringing into
the*world, as well as afterwards;  nourish them with due
attention,  instruct them  in all that  is good; but save
them, by all means, from the  pincers of learned doctors,
or the fears of missionary mules.
  U> All people who have been attended by Patent Doctors, are cau-
tioned against putting themselves under regular doctors, aa, the cases
have generally proved fatal to the patient, and the blame palmed on the
Patent Doctor; some after two weeks in their care. 
or, Botanic Family Physician.        153
              SEAMEN'S DIRECTIONS.
   After  purchasing  the  right, and having a sample of
Medicine numbered, these Directions are the first les-
sons learned, as it gives a short and concise view of the
system and practice.  In the first stages of disease, one
gill of No. 3, may be used simple, with or without su-
gar.  In more  violent attacks, use from half to a tea-
spoonful  of No. 2;  let the patient  be covered with a
blanket, by the fire or in bed; apply a  hot  stone at the
feet;  if this does not relieve them, add the emetic, No. 1,
and nerve powder, and go through a course of medicine.
In all cases where the glands are dry, and  much fever,
the emetic should be used without spirit;  the bitters also
are best taken in hot water sweetened than  with spirit.
The objection to physic and bleeding, is given in these
directions hereafter.  The complement of medicine given
as a family stock, is more to show  the simplicity of the
articles, than the requisite quantity required.  Give chil-
dren drink often, sick or well.
   O^The public  are cautioned against employing any
one who shall pretend to use his own improvements with
my System of Practice, as I will not be accountable for
any mal-practice of his.

      Th' Emetic number one's design'd
      A gen'ral med'cine for mankind, v
      Of every country, clime, or place,
      Wide as the circle of our race.
      In every case, and  state, and stage,
      Whatever malady may rage ;
      For male or female, young or old,
      Nor can its value half be told.
      To use this med'cine do not cease,
       Till you are helped of your disease;
      For nature's friend, this sure will be,
      When you are taken sick at sea.
      Let number two be used bold,
      To clear the stomach of the cold;   -
      Next steep the coffee, number three,
      And keep as warm as you can be. 
154           New  Guide to Health.
A hot stone at the feet now keep,
As well as inward warmth repeat,
The fountain 'bove the stream keep clear,
And perspiration will appear.

When sweat enough as you suppose,
In spirit wash, and change your clothes;
Again to bed, both clean and white,
And sleep in comfort all the night.

Should the disorder reinforce,
Then follow up the former course;
The second time I think will do,
The third to fail I seldom  knew.

Now take your bitters by the way,
Two, three, or four times in  a day;
Your appetite if it be good,
You may eat any kind of food.

Physic, I would by no means choose
To have you first or last to use ;
For if you take it much in course,
It will disorder reinforce.

If any one should be much bruis'd,
Where bleeding  frequently is us'd,
A lively sweat upon that day,
Will start the blood a better way.

Let names of all disorders be
Like to the limbs, join'd on a tree;
Work on the root, and that subdue,
Then all the limbs will bow to yon.

So as the body is the tree,
The limbs are cholic, pleurisy,
Worms and gravel, gout and stone,
Remove the cause and they are gone.

My system's founded on this truth,
Man's Air and Water, Fire and Earth,
And death is cold, and life is heat,
These temper'd well  your  health's complete. 
           INDEX

To the New Guide to Health.
                       PAGE.
Ague in the Face,  ......110
American Valerian.......  66
Archangel,..............  76
Balm of Gilead..........  74
Balsam of Fir...........  73
Barberry................  61
Bayberry, ..............  55
Black Pepper,  ..........  54
Bitter Herb.............  60
Bitter Root,  ............  61
Bittersweet,  ............  70
Birch Bark,.............  72
Bitter Thiitie............  78
Bitters,.................  82
Bleeding, ...............  108
Bile, (see No. 4,)
Bilious Cholic, ..........  123
Burdock, ...............   70
Butternut, ..............   75
Burns, .................   97
Bones, how set, .........  110
Camphor,  ..............   fi5
Cayenne,  ............*9, 80
Cancers,................ 1°3
Cancer Plaster,..........  85
Canker Sores,...........  1°3
Chamomile,.............  69
Cherrystones...........  63
 Clivers, ................  J*
 Composition Powders,....  84
 Cough,................. 1"
 Chicken Broth,..........  9*
 Consumption............. 120
 Counter-Poison, (see No. 1,)
 Course of Medicine, ... 22, 80
 Corns,..................12Z
 Description of Diseases, ..  vo
 Directions for preparing
    Vegetable Medicine, ..  79
 Drowned Persons,.......  92
 Dropsy.................\f
 Dysentery,.............. 1£*
                      PAGE.
Elecampane.............  69
ElmBark,..............  72
Emetic Herb..........39, 78
Evan Root..............  72
Featherfew,.............  71
Felons,.................  95
Fevers.................  12
Fits,  ................... 121
Fever and Ague.........  85
Gentian,  ...............  73
General Directions,......  89
Gravel,................. 122
Ginger..................  53
Golden Seal,............  62
Gout...................125
Golden Rod.............  76
Headach,............... 126
Hemlock Bark,..........   56
Hoarhound,.............  68
Horseradish,............  74
Injections,..............  87
Introduction,............    5
Internal Heat, (see No. 2.)
Itch,..................77,84
Jaundice,................  115
Ladies' Slipper,..........   66
Lock-jaw,..............   46
Lily Root...............   56
Measles,................  112
Marshrosemary,..........   57
Mayweed,..............   69
 Milk Porridge...........   94
 Myrrh,..................   64
 Mullen..................   70
 Mustard.................   74
 Meadow Fern, ..........   77
 Mortification of Limbs,...   99
 Muscles, how relaxed,....  110
 Mad Dog, (see No. 1.)
 Midwifery,..............130
 Nerve Powder...........   66
 Preparation of do........   84 
156      Index to the  New  Guide to Health.
                       PAGE.
Nervine, see Nerve Powder,
Nettle Spring...........121
Nerve Ointment, ........   86
No. 1.  Emetic  Herb, de-
    scription of,  ........   38
Preparation of do.......   79
No. 2.  Cayenne,  descrip-
    tion of,.............   49
Preparation of do........   80
No. 3. To remove Canker,
    description of Articles
    for that purpose,  ....   54
Preparation of do.......   80
No. 4. Bitters to correct the
    Bile, description of Ar-
    ticles for that purpose,    60
Preparation of do. ......   82
No. 5.  Syrup for the Dys-
    entery,  description  of
    the Articles  used, ....   63
Preparation of do........   82
No. 6.  Rheumatic Drops,
    description of Articles
    used,  ..............   64
Preparation of do........   83
Peach Meats,  ...........   63
Peppermint.............   67
Pennyroyal, ............   68
Pipsisway,  ..............   76
Pleurisy,  ...............  123
Poisons,  ................   26
Poison by Ivy, &c.......112
Poplar Bark,............   60
Prickly Ash,............   77
Poultice,...............   86
Piles, ..................  106
Remarks on Fevers,  .....   12
Relax,.................  124
Red Peppers,  ...........   53
Red Raspberry,   ........   69
Rheumatism,............  126
Rheumatic Drops, ......   64
Rheumatic Weed, ......   76
Ruptures,  ..............  109
Salve, ..................   85
Scalds,................   96
Scalt  Heads,  ...........  107
                       PAGE.
Small Pox,  ............  113
Sore Lips,  .............  126
Sore Eyes,.............  126
Sore Breasts,  ..........  107
Skunk Cabbage,  ........   70
Slippery Elm Bark,......   72
Snake Root,  ............   73
Steaming,  ..............   20
Sumach,  ...............   57
Squaw Weed,  ..........   59
Spirits  of Turpentine, ...   65
Spearmint,.............   67
Summersavory,  .........   68
Syrup,  .................   82
Strengthening Plaster, ....   86
Stock of Medicine,......   88
St. Anthony's Fire,......  121
Stranguary,  ............  122
Surfeit.................  121
Tansy,  .................   69
Thoroughwort,...........   71
Umbil, see Nerve Powder.
Venereal...............  127
Volatile Salts,  ..........   86
Vegetable Powder,......   84
Vervine, white  and blue,     75
Vegetable  Medicine,  de-
    scription of,  ..  .....   37
Witch  Hazle,  ..........   58
Wormwood,  ............   69
Wakerobin,  ............   70
Worms, ............•*'•  116
Yellow Dock,  ..........   77
Supplement,  ...........  133
Midwifery, further remarks
    on, ................  134
Extraordinary case of,  ....  137
Do. in Saratoga Co. N. Y.   139
Do. in Columbus, Ohio, ..  140
False Conception, case of  141
Outlines of Travail, ......  145
Supplement to the Venereal, 147
Why do old people die, &c.  149
How Doctors shorten, &c.   149
Religious Meetings, effects
    of  .................  151
Seamen's Directions.....15S 
 
 
 
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE
NLM QlQQlbOA 7
NLM010016087