Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-12-11
PLANTATION BITTERS.
Extract from Letter on the Battio-Fieid.


This battle (Antietam) has been the most
sanguinary of the war, and the only one
fought with visible design and open military
principles. The arrangement of our corps
the overlooking position of the commanding
General-the sending into action the right
and left divisiOns-the closing up of the CEN
ter, and final suceess-excites beEildering
admiration, and carries the mind to the great
fields Of Austerlitz and Wagram, fought By
Napoleon. Of all this have spoken. The
heart history of such conflict, purchased by
the life Of twenty thousand men, must be
found in the hospitals. War has its glo-
ries-but it has ten thousand demons in
these human tOrtures, that make the eye
balls aehe-the heart bleed-ths lips palsy,
and the brain reel. The sight is at first pos
itively unendurable. The life blood of some
is still trickling away in silent calmness-
while the discovered limbs and maniac brain
of others give rise to sounds God grant may
not again witness.
But ye mothers who here seek a son-o-
wives a husband-Or sisters brother-or
sons q father-know and be consoIed that
even here the hand of mercy is watehful, and
better care is bestowed upon your loved ones
than might at first seem possible. It was in
the hospital, where rested the gallant Hooker,
that learned ths history of those mythical
words so often seen and so little understood,
"S. T.-1s6O-X." Anything alleviating
the suferings and saving the lives of our
soldiers, is a national blessing. I witnessed
some astonishing results from this article.
1t is well known the effect Of burnt gun
powder and excitement is thirst, which ad-
ded to the loss of blood in the wounded, GRE
ates the necessity of a reviving stimulant.-
In this particular hospital, the physicians
were allowing their patients to drink Planta-
tion Bitters, otherwise called 5. T.-1s6O-X,
and although the most numerous hers-this
division having opened the fight at FIVE in the
morning-the men were mostly composed
and there was very little fainting. The arti-
Gle acts upon the nerves in the most inoom-
prehensible manner, superior to brandy, and
without subsequent reaction. It originated
in the West Indies, composed of the eele-
brated Calisaya Bark, Roots, Herbs, &C.; all
preserved in St. CrOix Rum-the S. T.-1s6O
X, being a secret ingredient not yet
revealed to the public. It is principally rec
commended for want of appetite, disordered
liver, intermittent fevers, stomachio Difficult
ties, &c. I understand it was somewhat
known in the Southern States previous to the
war, and it appears an agent of Jefferson Da-
Wis recently applied to the prOprietOrs for the
privilege to make it for hospital purposes du-
ring the war, to which they made the following
reply:
NEw York, Jan. 18th, 1852.
Agent Of, &e.:
Dear Sir-In reply to your communication
offering US " Fifty thousand dollars for the
recipe and right to make the Plantation Bit
ters for your hospital purposes during the
war" we beg to say your price is a liberal
one, considering it would cost US nothing to
comply, and that otherwise we can derive no
revenue from the Southern States but sir,
our duties to our Government and our ideas
Of consistency would not allow ls - ---'+-s-ts4H
-s+y--tvsrougn II may please US to assuage the
We remain,
Very respectfully yours,
P. II. DRAKE 4 Co.
These gentlemen give the history of certain
ingredients of their article for over two hun
dred years-shOwing that through all changes
Of the medical profession and its practitiOn
ers, strength, compOsure and cheerfulness
have been derived from these sources. DR..
Woods in the Washington Hospitals informed
me that one patient was fast sinking and
crazy, and had not slept an hour for two
weeks, until the Plantation Bitters came to
his knowledge, when one days trial gave
him nights rest, and he was fast recover
ing. I am surprised our Government has
not equalled Jefferson Davis in energy, and
adopted this invaluable article in all our
hospitals. The weak soldiers cling to it like
brother. As lay member, can bear
witness it is good to take" and affords
more energy and life than anything I ever
tried. Success to the Plantation Bitters.
But have digressed. In my next shall
speak Of gathering in the wounded, burying
the dead, &c. NIcoDEVUs.
nOv15sod-dtrw 4l9