The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-14
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF THE
OPOSSUM.

From the Piedmont Virginian.
Comparatively few white persons are aware
of the hyeienic qualities of the flesh of this
animal, although most of the negroes inherit
from their ancestors a knowledge of its bene-
fetal effects on their own race when suffering
from depression of spirits, "miseries in the
back, and low fevers. There is significance,
therefore, in the remark of an old negro,
commenting on the illness of another, when
he says he 'longs for 'possum."
It is not likely that all species of the mar
Supalsd possess this quality, but it is certainly
to be attributed to those that are frugiverous
as our opossum (Dydelphus Virginiana)
which feeds on persimmons, the small spot
tail opossum of Australia { d. AaJucGtuS),
and some of the African species We have
never met with any record of the healing
properties of the opossum's flesh but in the
London Medical Journal, which was about
fifteen years ago. 1t was a matter of regret
that we could not take the periodical from
the library of the Smithsonian Institute. In
substance, however, it was as follows
"When President Roberts, OF Liberia, was on a
visit to England he suffered from illness that baled
the skill OF his doctor His life much In eo-
pardy that the Queen hearing of his prolonged in
disposition, with characteristic kindness sent her
own physician to visit his EXcellency and consult
S mis- @edca aSe % Ia % % ga this duty
nent surgeon on board an American frigate then
lying at Cowes, Surgeon Ward being OF Fanquier,
Va, had in his boyhood frequently visited the ad-
| joining Uoudoun) county, Of which, 1t happened,
President Roberts was native. The interview was
therefore interesting in other respects than in OBJ
tanning diagnosis OF the patients malady.
'On leaving his Excellency's apartment Surgeon
| plete change OF diet, and to their astonishment,
strongly advocated the flesh of the opossum, dis
canting on its wonderful effects on negroes In Vr-
ginia, anlicted as Mr.. Roberts was Il was deter
mined to follow Surgeon Wards advice and, for
reasons which we will not here enumerate, to keep
| the patient in ignorance OF the intended change
until this peculiar diet was procured Mr.. Cramp
ton, the British Minister at Washington was there
fore written to- enclosing some suggestions OF Sur
geon Ward as to the part OF his native State where
opossums could be most easily obtained.
"This mode OF treatment was 80 novel thing
that the Queens physician mentioned 1t in her pre-
sence. Her Majesty took an interest in the matter,
and requested It might be SO arranged that his Ex
ceency should parake of this strange dish for the
first time in England, at dinner given at the
| palace, at which she would be present.
''The opcssums arrived In due season, and the
dinner came off as her Majesty suggested, Presl-
| dent Roberts occupying a seat opposite her own.
The consulting physicians being invited, attended.
The eject was remarked by the latter, even before
before his Excelency, was removed. on shining
the odor his nostrils dilated. When he partook OF
the nrst mouthful he laid down his knife and fork,
his face beaming with delight and exclaimed, In
the idlom OF his early youth, lit is de possum, de
emblem ,a nmtsd o Sd yrg9ny IN ~ Recovering however
heartily OF the strange dish. His convalescence
dated from that hour"
Some years after reading the foregoing in
the journal quoted, we visited the Library of
| tne OdpltOi, anu on opening EdHgfl67lLS 8
Messenger found that this remarkable cure
had been communicated to the Emperor
Louis Napoleon. By his directions, some
fifty American opossums were introduced
into the sJardSn des Plantes, where they
afforded much amusement to the CAV Paris
ians, by the remarkable manner in which, by
means of their prehensile tails, they would
cling to the branches of the trees when
shaken. The same journal said also that the
Empress Eugenie and the Prince Imperial
were highly entertained at the way in which
the young opossums would emerge from. and
disappear in, the marsupial pouch of the
parent.
In conversation lately with Dr. Ward, he
informed us of a singular circumstance in
connection with President Roberts cure in
London. He says that Mr. Champion,
through the agency of Mr.. Robert Willis,
employed a colored boy known as Olinger,
then belonging to Colonel Jack FAINT of
Lower Fauquier, to catch the opossums aud
it was afterwards ascertained that Olinger
was a nephew of President Roberts.
Elk RUN GAZETTE.
LRXANDER O. OATTKLh 90.
n pRODTIGW COMMISSION MERN4 KIV7 -