Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-09-15

ing after meeting of the faculty took place. to en-
deavor to discover the cause; and after the most
mature delibera,ion it was discovered by DR..
Hossack and his party, that II was poisonous MI
asma floating in the air. confined to certain pre-
scribed limits and affecting certain persons more
particularly those that were in the habit OF drink.
ing gin:-the best apology for their ignorance OF
the true cause, the ersot or spurred rye. What
made their report the more ridiculous was, that
there was at that time fine. clear, black. hard
frost, and the heathiest weather that could De TN
agined. Many of the members were scepscai
and could not believe the report: they thought that
owing to the fine weather it was impossible for
con.agion to exist in the air: others were VI the
same opinion with the doctors.
One Of the contagionists wrote and requested
me to 60 to Albany, where the disorder was then
raging, and wished me to endeay0r to discover
the cause of the affecting calamity. On my
journey stom New York TO Albany where the
legislature Of the state was sitting, stopped at
a place called Undertook, and being cold, con-
trary 10 my usual practice. drank glass OF GIN.
had not drank it many minutes before 1t affect
ed inc as If had taken something boiling hot in
to my stomach. Although Immediately took
an einetic, which produced the most active Ell
fects, the poison had taken so firm hold OF my
constitution that m, throat and rectum were ex-
tremely painful. had a cold perspiration TO-.
wards the morning, with pain in my bones and
head, whereas I was in perfect health before
drank the gin. accused the tavern-keeper OF
putin. poison in the gin; a gentleman OF the
town who heard me and had observed that the
habituaI gisdrinkers in The place had died, second.
ed me in the charge The landlord declared he
was innocent. and referred Us to the dishllery.
Upon our applying, the dstiler was much alarm
ed at our charge Of his putting poison into the
gin; and added, it would be his ruin it the re-
port got abroad, in consequence OF the great
mortality.
He took q voluntary oath that he put nothing
but the pure grain iuto his gin. and invited US to
see the grain in the still.h loft. We found
it on inspection badly cleaned, and probably one
tenth Of it spurred rye, or rye vitiated by being
infested with the claws or ergot l was quite
astonished when saw it, particularly as 1t was
so we'll described by DR.. Darwin as being pes
tilen,ial scourge in various parts OF Europe pro-
ducng what is called by DR.. Mason Good. in
his history of medicine. mldew modification: in
America il was vulgarv called The dry rot. On
dissection have observed that the wlndpipe and
rectum were SO completely parched BY the action
Of the air stimulating or attracting the effects of
the poison to the parts that when pressed they
would give way and appear like black snuff'
lost no time in repairing to Albany. On my ar
rival. the inhabitants were in mourning, on &C.
! count of the loss of their relatives and friends,
some If whom had risen il, health in the morning.
had eaten a hearty breakfast. and at noon were
| in eternity! Such were the rapid ELECTS OF that
inflammation, which was ascribed by the doctors
of New York to the air of Albany being charged
with the damps of death. The members oi the
Assembly OF the State had at the time under their
consideration. a resolution to enable them TO re-
move the State Legs, ,ure from Albany; IT was
.xpe, ted tina, the resolution would be carried the
same night, to the great and irreparabe injury oil
| the inhabitants.
To the freod who was waiting tor me at Ne
hotel. communicated the glad tidipgs OF having
discovered the cause OF the disorder. He I'M
medately ran to the assembly room and obtain
ed the members consent 10 ad journ the question
until the following morning. The tavern where
was, was soon crowded by the members and
citizens. all anxious to know the cause 1t was
no sooner communicated with detail Of my own
sufferippe. than the members searched the book
shops and libraries, and found to their great sat.
isfac ton that the ergot was capable OF commit
tine the ravaees upon mankind that had repre-
sented to them. One of the sceptica' OF the fac'
ulty. on being requested to apalyze the article
and report on the subject, took rev OF MS ac-
auaintances some distance into the country 10
dine at hi. fathers farm, where an opportunity
offered to prove whether the ergot was injurious
or not. for large quantity Of it that had been
separated from the rye was given to the pigs; and
from its fatal effects las it caused their death the
next day) the father became convert to the
opinion. A number Of rats, cats and dogs also
felIsac rifees to its effects before the scepticaI
were convinced. -Whilow on the Causes Of
Inflammation.
New ORLEANS, Aug. OF.
4 Pirate Captured Arrived, 'o"boat Shark
Howrin, towed to sea ship Helen Mar, brigs
Hope and Margaret. and schr Dorchester.
Brought up brig Ella. from Philadelphia. Len
the Bar on Saturday at 8 y. NJ: nothing in sight
outside. The u S schr. Grampus. Josiah lat
nall, Esq. commander. at anchor inside from a
cruise Of months on the Mexican coast, with
5000. 600 specie on board. The Grampus cap
tured the Mexican schooner Of war Montezuma.
Capt Pedro VilIeneale. for committing an act OF
piracy on the schr. WIN A Turner. II days OF
and from New York Tor MatamOras. The ON