Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-02-20
THE ''POSSUM.


Shakespeare tells us that there arc sermons
in stones, and if what we have lately read Of
certain Virginia specimen be true, stones
have hygienic qualities Us we'll This is re-
nlarkable enough, buta new story is current
or rather an old story freshly YAM mped-that
casts even the "Fauquier mad d-stone' into the
shade. 1t relates to the medicinal virtues OF
the flesh of the opossum. The ''possum,' Or
Of cunning The famous animal who was
''treed' by the not less famous Captain Scott,
and begged that crack shot not to take the
trouble to fire, as he would Immediately come
down, behaved with the sagacity characteristic
of his race. But that the flesh Of the creatures
Is panacea for several diseases, especially for
those incident to age and decrepitude, is less
generally understood 1t is a fact that expert
rnced negroes in the old days used to say, in
@peaking Of each others illness, '.he longs for
pussum;' but how far this referred to the SUP
l"osed medicinal qualities of the animal, or to
the disposition cf the person to shirk work, is
not quite clear. .,.!.. n 81.
Without yenturing Il positive opinion on the
healing virtues thus ascribed we can say that
the story rests on IA more solid basis than such
tales are apt to do. Some evidence in its favor
was, in fact, printed ina London medical jour
nal some fifteen years ago. and ran substantially
rs follows AT that time President Roberts,
of Liberia, was i'll England, and was treated
with great distinction by the Queen. Prcsl-
dent Roberts was then suffering from illness
which baffled the skill of his physicians. There
happened to be an American frigate lying at
Cowes, the surgeon of which came from u
county of Virginia adjoining the one (Loudoun)
of which Roberts is i native. This surgeon,
whose name was Ward, visited the aihng Presl-
dent, and promptly recommended a complete
change Of diet, urging especially that the: flesh
of the opossum should be freely taken With
some difficulty supply was obtained, and, ac-
cording to the journal mentioned, was first given
to President Roberts by way of surprise
The consulting phycieans, being invited,
attended. The effect was remarked by the lat
ter even before the cover Of the dish contain
inc an opossum, set before his excellency was
removed. On shifting the odor his nostrlls
dilated. When he partook of the first mouth
iul he laid down his knife and fork, his lace
bcaning with delight, and exclaimed, In the
idiom of his early youth, It is de possum.-
de emblem of old Virginny! Recovering, how
ever, his wonted dignity of bearing in mo-
mcnt he ate heartily of the strange dish. His
convalesence dated from that hour.
Such is the account of protesscd scientific
authority, and it certainly looks plausible.
The new stories that now reach us from ' IT.
.iua nre set forth with greater variety Of en-
brllishment, but do not materially differ from
this We do not forget, however, that land
sick mariners removed by fortune to the into
nor and pining for the waves they love so well,
have been marvelously revived by a diet OF
plum duff and ''salt horse. In other words,
Il tillip may be given to the spirits and the I'M
agination by recurrence to familiar anu deep
seated habits, whether of diet or other Dr
~ H. JIS,, All
least, the nearest earthly approach lit. Doubt
less if he had been imprisoned for a. space on
board ship or in the middle Ola Scotch moor,
and then, while languishing amid such un-
pleasing surroundings, had been treated to an
uncomfnrtably crowded and noisy street, he
wonH have at once recovered his health and
sn;r;ts The curative would be moral rather
than i physical one 1t iS however, claimed
that the flesh Of the opossum has distinct ana
nositiye chemical qualities which act spccltlcal-
" on certain disorders. Depression OF spirits,
sciatica and low fcvcrS, arc among the Ills sad
to be nlasicaly cured by it, and many are the
eases seriously described hy the Virginia pa
pers of complete restoration to health through
its use after the failure of all other remedies
The creatures arc said to live on pcrslrnmons
as the canvas back duck docs wild celery,
and perhaps in this fact lies some key to the
healing virtues Of oposSum flesh, il any such
there are. What with their mad stones and
opossums, the longevity common in some parts
of Virginia is now thoroughly explained IT. is
no wonder that with such extraordinary safe
guards the inhabitants should be proof against.
ordinary disease, rthat it SHOULD be said OF
them as of the people in some localities of
California, they never die, but dry up and
blow away"-N Y Times
The Lynchburg News says the Orange
Alexandria and Manassas Railroad has not
been consolidated with the Danyille Railroad,
but that an Act has passed the Legislature
making it lawful for these roads, to consolidate
when both companies shall agree to it on terms
to suit themselves.
Mr.. VIM NJ Black. Agent of the Southern
Express Company, President Of the City
Council, and an active and consistent mem
Der of the NJ. Il. Church, died in lynchburg
on Friday last. .......-..
r. EST ATE FOR 81 f