The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-01-05
A Trip to the Mad Stone.

The Gazette, last week. contained notices
OF the ravagcs Of mad dogs near Carlins
Springs in this and Fairfax Station. in Fair
fax county. The victims at Carlin s; Springs,
Miss Mary Davis, young lady of about six
teen years of age, and Mr. Reynolds, who
were bitten on Saturday the 10th Instant,
come to town on the Monday following, and
started On the Manassas train that morning
for the mad stone in Fauquier county, They
returned on Friday last and give the follow.
ing account of their visit: The stone is
owned by Mr.. Urel Triplett, who lives about
two miles northwest of Rcctortown, in whose
family it has been an heir loom for many gen.
erations, descending from father to son from
time almost mmemorial, being carefully pre-
|'servcd by each possessor as his NEST valuable
inheritance Its benefits are dispensed gra,
tuitously, the only consideration demanded
being moderate amount of board of the
patients. The stone is about an inch lepy
and half an inch thick, and resembles ii at,
pearancc a piece of coke. It az beer an-
piled in Innumerable cases to wounds inflicted
by snakes and mad animals, and in no instance
has its healing effect been known to fail-in
fact application is regarded By many persons
in the neighborhood of Reetortown, and by
large numbers throughoutthe State and coun-
try, as a certain and specific preventative of
hy,irophobia. Ga the same train With the
Carlin's Springs victims, and fer the sama
purpose, went little boy, child of Mr..
Marshall who had been bitten, by dog at
Fairfax Station, and upon whom the virus had
produced such an effect that he was sick and
would move about on his hands an feet.
OF course his condition morited and re,
cciyed the first attention, and he went awav
apparently perfectly restored. Tho injury
Miss Davis had received was then attended,
to. She had been bitten GA the first Joint NJ
the little finger of the right hand. in the
Acshy part Of which the canine tooth Of thu
dog had cpt a cash, and the wound looked
Jagged and irritateI, and the resulting infnm-
nation and pain had extended up the arm,
The scab having been removed with warm
water, the stone was applied to the raw sur
face to which 1t attached itself so firmly Tint
it ceuld not be shaken off for some minutes.
or until it became saturated with the poison
when it was removed and placed in tumbler
of water, in which it discharged the She NAT
ter it had absorbed, the virus rising to the
surface and coating it with q gpaoaisll skim.
interspersed with brightly shining elobules.
The stone being cleanscd, its application was
repeated twice with the same result, but when
applied the fourth time, it would not adhere.
and all the poison, il was said, had been sex.
tractcd. Mr.; Reynolds wounds we're INFLICTED
before those received by Hiss Davis. but
though the se:bs were removed and fresh
surface presented, as the stone would not cd
here to them, no i nov uncertain whether
the scratches on his hatld, we're made by: tho
dog or by briars.5
/ a NIrsReFnolds and Miss Davis called at the
Gszette office on the evening of their return.
with Mr. Csflia, the proprietor Of Cariiin's
Springs, and gave The above 1t 81 their
visit to the famous mad stole They arc & ID
assured q the eiieleney,nf the means flssS
have employed sana consef uenflg b,sveY So IS
fears Of hydraph ia 1, assf.,S I.