Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-10-17
HYDROPHOBIA.
FROM THE NEw-YoRK STATESMAN

ScuteHaria, or acuH cah.--Mr. Cole
man, editor of the New-York Evening
Post, has lately Published a most tri-
umphant statement of the efficacy of this
plant in curing that most horrid Of all
diseases, the hydrophobia.
Mr.. Coleman says, he sometime last
winter heard of a.case of hydrophobia be-
ing cured by scull-cap in the county of
Ulster, and after repeatedly writing for
the particulars, he few weeks since
took a journey himself for the express
purpose of collecting the facts. He at
length found the girl, Mary Tice, of Mil
ton, Ulster county, and from the family
to which she belongs, and other unques-
tionable sources, obtained the mass Of
testimony, which he has presented to the
public. The girl was bitten in the arm
by mad dog, in March, 1918. AS she
had been forbidden by her parents to go
near the dog on penalty of being punish
not heal up till the close of November,
1918. Early in December she was
seized with all the ordinary symptoms Of
hydrophobia, which gradually increased,
till Oh The 18th of that month she became
perfectly delirious--tore the hair from
her head by handfuls---attempted to tear
her own flesh with her teeth--and 10 bite
those who held her. On the 2lst, in
lucid interval, she for the first time dis
closed to her parents that she had been
bitten by the dog. In the evening ofthat
day Drs. Barnes and Cooper of Pough-
keepsie, and DR.. Heaton of Platteki,l,
were sent for to hold a consultation on
her case with DR.. Gedney the attending
physician. They found her in most
deplorable condition, laboring under vio-
lent spasms and paroxisms, in which she
flew around the room on her hands and
feet, and yeIped like dog. Having sa-
tisfcd themselves beyond doubt of the
nature Of her disease, they recommended
trial Of the scull cap. AS none was to
be found in that vicinity, the physicians
from Poughkeepsie agreed to send some
over after their return home. In the
mean time the mother, totally despairing
of the recovery of her child, sat down to
the melancholy task of preparing her
shroud. The scul cap soon arrived, and
a strong decoction of it was administered
to the patient with so happy an effect,
that by the morning she was able to eat.
A tea made oft this plant was now her only
drink; and she continued on the recove-
ry, till miserable quack came along and
persuaded The parents Of the Child, that
be could cure her in less than week.
Strange as it may seem, they listened to
the impostor, discontinued the use Of the
scull cap, and in So hours the poor girl
exhibited the most alarming symptoms
of returning hydrophobia. The use of
the tea in large doses was Immediately
RECOMMENDED, and the patient continued
to mend gradually, till in six weeks from
the time time the scull cap was first APP
piled, she had wholly recovered, and has
not since felt the least symptom of the
disease.
Mr.. Coleman has subjoined to his
statement the following certificate of the
physicians, who attended and were called
in to consult on this case:
We the subscribers, whose names
are mentioned in the report of the case
of Mary lice, do hereby certify, that so
far as it relates to us individually, it is
correct. And further, we do give it as
our opinion:
First, that Mary Tice was seized with
hydrophobia, in consequence of the bite
of mad dog, as stated in said report
Secondly, that she recovered from the
disease, as there likewise stated; and
Lastly, that the plant, called scutcAaria
laterUora or scull cap was successfully
employed in the cure of said disease.
August II, 1920.
WIN. GEDNEY, s.
JOHN BARNES,
JOHN COOPER,
BARNABAS BENTON,
ANDA .HEATON."