Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1833-05-30
From tksT Family Physician

sprung OF every y0"IS W 81 a.
course Of medicine, whether well or Ill
They pay no regard whatever to the lndi-
cations Of nature. They do not wait to be
sick but selling time by the forelock,
they take nauseous physic, make them
selves sick, anticipate pain and suffering.
and, for the time being, turn health out OF
doors. Nay, perhaps they bring on them
selves lasting injury by simply not 'e'""g
we'll alene.''
This practice Of periodical doctoring is
nu;te ne absnrd as was the conduct of the
good Mrs. Birch, who regularly whipped
her ten children every morning before
breakfast, without taking any notice wheth-
or they behaved we'll or i'll. She said,
however, it kept them in charming order,
and made them still as mice all day-tho'
they kicked aud cried terribly, poor things,
during the operation.
People in the country, and especially
farmers, are most addicted to what they
call spring physic. But herein they do
not act with the prudence and good sense
which usually guides them in the manage
ment of their affairs. They plough in
seed.time, and they reap in harvest; they
hoe cabbage in wet weather and make hay
ins dry herein judiciously observing the
times and seasons, and attending to each
particular thing when it can be done TO
most advantage. In the operations OF
farming they pay due regard to the ope-
rations of nature. Not SO i'll relation to
the article of health therein they endeav-
or to force nature-much as if a man should
plant corn in the winter, and insist upon
o,.norA:ur ~,,c.,u,hor ooo1o sp q cnoSudriff
Squire Scroggins is one of these antlcl-
pators of sickness-one of these advocates
of spring physic. He has family of thir-
teen children, of all sorts and sizes; from
stout grown up lads and lasses, to tiny
brats with go-carts and swaddling clothes.
Besides these, he has sundry specimens Of
hired help, of both sexes. But the whole
family have to take physic as regularly as
the spring comes round. If the sons are as
lusty as Hercules, and the daughters as
blooming as Hebe, it makes no sort of diff
ference health is no excuse /; all must take
spring pbysic.
The squire is not only particular to
physic his entire household-not even
emitting the cats and dogs-as often as the
spring comes round, but is careful to have
the physicing done annually on the first day
of April-which being All Fools Day, is
undoubtedly the most appropriate. The
neighbors call it Squire Scroggins' physic-
ing day.
The old gentleman makes all his family
take the same kind of medicines, withor,
regard to the difference in their constitu-
tions-their irreconcileable idiosyncrasies,
and stubborn peculiarities-all these claim
no regard from the udicious squire. Having
previously provided sundry pounds Of Glau-
ber's sailor as he calls it globler's salts,
he sets to work early on the morning of the
first of April, and weighs out number of
persons in his family including the cats and
dogs.
He now has job to get it down their
threats, particularly the younger brats, who
why they should be compelled 70 take
physic. while they are in perfect health.
81 amt sick, daddy" says one" l
don't want none Of that nasty phygit."
"You foolish brat" says the squire,
"that's the very time to take physic,
when you're WELL"
I'm just Of little Joey's mind" ven-
lures ono Of the big girls" l don't see no
reason neither why body should have to
take medicine afore they need it,
What do you begin mutiny too 81
Odds Bobbs here's pretty how'd'y -do.
We shall have the whole family in state
ofrebellion presently. Mother, speaking
to his wife, reach down that rod there
I'LL see If we can't make 'em take their
physic." 49,.
The squire, now, in order to set wor-
thy example, first swallows his own dose.
He is obliged, to be sure, to make some-
thing OF an effort to get it down. But then
: he endeavors to put the best possible face
! upon the matter, in order to encourage the
children. He therefore smacks his lips,
and declares it tastes monstrous we'll; and
that. for his part, he could take bushel if
It was necessary.
Mrs. Scroggins next swallows her dose.
The heads Of the family having thus set
an example to the rest, they go on, from
the greatest to the least. The little ones
make shocking wry faces; but the good
woman stands over them with rod in her
hand, and they are compelled, will we, mill
ye. each one to take his respective portion.
Then follows such a scene of operations !!
--such intestinal disturbances-such run