Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-01-18
LOCAL N D. w S.

THE FAUQUIER MAD STONE.-Mr. ~ W.
Kincheloe. of Orange Court House, brought into
the Gazette office, on Saturday last and intro
duced, Mr.. Trial Triplett, of Fauquier county,
the owner of the famous Fauquier mad stone, u
description of visit to which,, appeared some
weeks ago in the Gazette Mr. Triplett is a
plain but respectable and we'll to do farmer,
who lives about midway between Rectortown
and Piedmont; he Is about sixtytive years old,
has family and Il large number oirelatives and
friends, all of whom vouch for his veracity.-
His account of the mad stone is as follows:
appearance of the Stone.-The "Stone" is
about half the length: of, little thicker and
broader than, and rounded somewhat in the
shape of, mans fore finger; is polished and
solid on one side but rough and porous on the
other; is light of weight but dark of color, and
apparently is not a natural formation but an ar
tifcial composition.
Its Hstoy-1t came into the possession of
it's present owner about forty years ago AZ a
part of the marriage portion of his wife, a
Miss Ralph, in whose family it had been con-
sidered valuable heir loom for more than two
hundred years, having descended in regular
succession from an ANCESTOR sailor, who re-
ceived it on one Of his voyages to China, as
present from an inhabitant of that far off coun-
try. 1t was, originally, twice its present length,
but u long time ago. while it belonged to the
Ralphs, it's valuable properties could not be
awaited of because the art of cleansing it had
been lost, and 30 it was broken into halves and
one Of the pieces given to a MIR. Chastlne, a
settler in the country now known as Clarke
county, in consideration of his revealing that
important secret, Of which, by some unknown
MEANS he had become possessed. Mr.. Chas-
tines house was afterwards destroyed by fire
and his piece lost in the flames
IT'S Properties For the bites of insects, rep
tiles, mad dogs or any animals affected with
rabies, if applied before the wound heals it is
specific cure, Dr. Nathan r. Smith and other
learned gentlemen to the contrary notwithStand-
ing A patient suffering from spider bite on
the hand, the resulting inflammation extending to
thsshoulder, has been completely cured in six
hours One bitten on the foot by snake, suf
fering intense agony, his whole leg and thigh
swollen and red and spotted, has been relieved
so as to enable him to continue his harvest
work the following day. A man and coored
girl living in Loudoun county were bitten by
mad dog at the same time; the man went to
the mad stone and got well; the girl was not
sent there and died. These are but single ex
amples of the numerous instances in the three
different maadies for which the stone isareme-
dy, and in not one single case has the applica-
ton failed in effecting certain and almost in
Simultaneous cure.
iMode Of Application.-Th stone will not
adhere to any surface, no matter how raw and
moist that surface may be, or how dry the stone
may be, without there is virus in the sore, but
should the sore contain virus the stone will ad-
here tenaciously until every particle Of it has
been extracted, when it will drop off, and eau
not be made to stick again. Sometimes as many
as seven applications are required to absorb all
the poison; the stone falling off when saturated,
but adhering again as soon as cleansed, though
its pores are still full of water The only prep
aration the sores require for the application is
to have the scabs removed so that the porous
surface of the stone can be laid directly upon
them.
Rop at is Cionsr]1-rhe secret for which
half of it was given away consists merely in
immercing it in blood warm water with the
polished side down When this is done, after
an application matter Of milky appearance
and consistency rises at once to the surface, and
can be SKINNED off. 1t discharges all it's noxious
contents in a few moments; when it is taken out
of the water with small pair of longs wiped
with rag, and Immediately re-appied and if
there is any poison remaining in the sore it will
adhere as firmly as before, though if the first
adherence il due to capillary attraction, as
asserted by some, the second cannot be-, for the
pores must then be saturated with water; rather
isthe adherence occasoned by a chemical affinity
between the constituents of the stone and those
of the rabid virus.
Its Tale-Mr Triplett has been offered
several thousands of dollars for the mad stone,
but though not by any means rich man he
has refused to part with it, esteeming the i'm
munity it's possession confers upon his family
and friends and himself, from, at least, some Of
the ills to which flesh is heir to, as of far more
value than mere dollars and cents.
It's Usef.aness-Its effectsare dispensed with
literally; no money is demanded Of those who
seek the relief it affords its virtues being at the
disposal of rich and poor alike
PRODUCE RECEIPTS. the articles of
country produce brought to this city last week
by the O., A. & NJ. r. R. were the following ::
Corn 1905 bushels, wheat 4, 40 bushels, rye IS
bushels oats 1926 bushels, mill feed ITO bush
els, ear corn Sc bushels onions IS bushels, dried