The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-04-11

r Tor Ihe Gee Whlg.
The "Rat, Sickness nothcr Theory

TUT Inc NtC l W HlS
The Graft Sickness--Anothcs Theory.
Asthe "Rat" story has gone the rounds of
the country upon hearsay altogether without
one word. that have heard, from any of the
supposed victims. as one Of the guests of
| that house during most Of the week preceding
the cold weather Of January, will say, that
on the 18th Of January, when at dinner with
others at the same time WE We're cautioned
by gentleman from Boston not to take too
freely of fish AS fish at Washington were
not 20 be had as fresh as at Boston. ! with
several others did not heed the advice: took
no meats after the fish, and as in my abit
after eating fish. drank water very freely.
BY ten o'clock that evening was much wea-
kened by what has since been called the pre-
valling disease. and was advised to take u
stiff drink Of brandy; had scarcely drank it
till was taken very sick, and on reaching
my room, threw up the liquor water and all.
In Il few minutes my friend, Aaron Clement
of Phla. brought in Dir. Higgins of Md, who
gave me a small dose Of medicine and wrapt
me up with coat and boots on and told me to
lie still to morning which did and was then
able to attend and take part in the meeting
o! the L. S. Agricultural Society.
| remained at the National until the fol-
lowing Saturday evening, feeling no further
Inconvenience from any sickness. In the
course of the evening that | was taken sick,
Mr.. a. Clement and Doct. Burgin of Phla.
who partook Of the same dinner, were both
taken as myself and think We're both re-
licvcd by the same kind of mcdicine-a stir
drink Of braldy | have been visiting Wash
ington for SO years on business, and have put
up at most of the best hotels, generally at
Browns and the National from the days of
the elder Brown, and ttadsby, to the first of
March last and have been often sick at differ
cnt hotels for short spell Of the same charac-
ter, much more than in January last, which
| always attributed 10 the diet
| doubt very much whether any notice
would have been taken Of the sickness at the
National this time, if it had not been that the
President elect was unwcl, and is it any
wonder that his Exccllcncy was made sick
when it is recollectcd that he is very old
man, like myself near three score and ten
with his head whitened with the fross of
many winters, his body bent with the weight
and cares Of State without, and with the un-
digc.ted Cincinnati Platform swallowed in
June last within; this together with being be-
set by thousands of hungry Hriag rats, who
had infested the National in quest of Office,
was enough to make him sick. and beg to be
carried back to Whcatland. Since then his
doctors have made the rat storm plea to keep
him away from his patriotic friends who love
him and their country so we'll And now to
make it appear that something was wrong at
the National. every person with consumptve
habits who at any time stopped at the Ma
tional, from the North (scc the President s
ncphcw,) or those worn down by diarhoa
| from the South, or those who get sick by i'll
dulging too freely by eating or drinking, or
Ivy being ont too late o nights, or other dis
sipation at the Capitol.
Many persons have sickcncd and died at
Washington before Mr.. Buchanan but no ac-
count was taken Of it, amongst whom was
Calhoun and Clay, and indeed Clayton sick
cncd there. and Brooks. besides several Pres,
idcnts and Vice Presidents. Nothing was
thought Of the death Of all those, or of the i'll.
ness Of this VICTIM.