The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-05-10
The Maidstone.
It's History and Healing virtues.

It's History and Healing. Virtues.
There is Maidstone in possession
Of citizen of Elizabethtown, Ken
tucky, and the Ne1C8 Of toat place
gives the following description and
history of it:
The impression generally prevails
that it is a natural stone, a pebble,
which is thought to be strongly pos
sessed of myterious p overs; others
again have the idea that it is a cal
culus taken from the bladder of the
wild deer, and having a magical in
fuence in counteracting the virus of
all poisonous animals. But it claims
to be simply a chemical composition
"a Chinese production as is shown
by the labels upon the box contain
ing it. 1t was originally the size and
shape of silver dollar, only a little
thicker-but it has been broken into
a number of small pieces. the Iarg-
est of which is about the size of a
hazel nut. It's color is of dark dull,
greenish chameleon, not unlike in
general appearance the stone known
as serpentine.
When applied directly to the
wound, if there be present vedom of
any kind-for it is efficacious against
the bite of poisonous animals-it is
at once adheres with considerable
force and begins to draw the poison
from the win. When full of the
poison it ceases so adhere and it is
necessary to purge it thoroughly,
which is done by placing it in hot
water and roasting it in hot ashes.
When In hot water the venom can
be seen rising from the ''stone" and
settling in a thick, ropy, greenish
scum upon the surface of the water.
After it has been cleansed in this
manner, which must be done at least
once in every twenty-four hours, it
is again applied, and so on from day
to day until it ceases to a dhere.
It sticks from five to twelve days,
according to the amount of poison
received into the system. Persons
having it applied have described its
action by saying that they felt that
thousands of strong threads extend
ing throughout the whole body were
being drawn out at the wound.
It has been in possession of the
family, now holding it, for several
generations, and came to them in
this wise:
A traveller, who proved to be a
sea captain, claiming hospitality for
the night at the door of q Virginia
gentleman, fell sick and was danger
ously i'll for many weeks. The gen
tleman of the household was a fine
physician, being a graduate of the
best schools of Paris, and through
his skill and kind attention, the sick
man was restored to health. When
about to resume his journey he
sought to renum crate his kind host,
first by tender of money, then by
offer If valuable presents-alI of
which was refused. He then pro-
ducei this "stone," saying, 'Here is
something which cost me only
trife IN China and yet it may be of
great service to you; surely you can
not refuse to accept it." It was ac-
cepted, and the package was thrown
aside as being simply curious on ae-
count of the strange characters it
bore. Sometime afterwards, this
gentleman, being out upon his plan
tation, when his negroes were clear
ing the timber away and seeing them
catch a rattle snake bethought him
of his 'fstone" and determined to
test his claims. He took the stone,
placed it upon the glands of the
snake, and after retaining it there
for some time, to the very great dis
comfture of the reptile, he placed it
in hot water, as hehad been directed;
the result was as given above. He
subjected the matter which accumu-
lated on the water to variety of
tests, which satisfied him that it was
indeed the venom of the snake. He
made many experiments with it on
the bite of spiders and other venom
GUS insects and reptiles, before he
had an opportunity of testing it up-
on that of the snake or rabid dog.
Suffice it to say that he was fully
convinced that it is an efectual pre-
ventive of all injurious effects follow
ing the bite Of poisonous animals,
and since that time it has 'oeen fra
quently used and confder .tly relied
upon as such by all conv' ,rsant with
these facts. It has been resorted to
by three generations. ard las been
used within the knowledge of those
now living upon NOR than a hun
dred persons bitten by every charac-
ter of rabid animP+ P+l-no one to whom
it has been applied has ever after