The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-05-25
From tile Democratic 1agocate.


MANCHESTER, MD, April 30th, 1877.
MEssRs. ErToRs: In compliance with
your reques', | herewith send you DR.. Gus
tavus Story's remedy for the bite of mad
dog, commonly known by the name of The
Chickweed Cure. At the risk of being
charged with prolixity, | will give you the
method preparing it, and of using it, in
the words of the Patentee:
Take Of the Her60 ARagaliS RuJey Che
Red ChickwecdD that has been dried, one
handful, pour two quarts of brewers good
beer upon it, and boil it in new earthen
pot, covered with close lid. until one
half is boiled away over slow fire The
pot must be clean and used for nothing
else. When boiled enough, strain through
II clean cloth and we'll squeeze, that all the
substance may be taken out. Then add
to the decoction two drachms of the best
Venice Treacle, it must be well mixed
with the decoction. OF the aboye medi-
cine give Il man or beast in the morning,
fasting, the following doses, viz: To a
man of strong constitution, pint at one
time, if possible, if not, at short intervals
if there be actual symptoms of madness,
the medicine must be taken three mornings
in succession, but if actual madness exists,
a large portion of the herb should he add
ed to the aforementioned quantity of beer.
A woman should take three or three and q
half gills. For children there must be
given according to their age and constitu-
ton, remembering that they can bear more
in proportion than grown persons. A
mother or nurse should take extra portions
and a child one or two spoonsful To a
horse should be given pint; to cow 90
tablespoonful heifer 1G spoonsful; a
calf in proportion to its age; hog of
three years or s tablespoonsful dog
according to his age, size and strength.
The medicine must be taken warm. If it
should be prepared in more doses than one,
at time, care should be taken that it be
well shaken, lest the sediment should be
taken last and do harm. The medicine
should be taken before breakfast, and the
fast not be broken for three or four hours.
No cold or fresh water should be taken. In
actual madness the medicine should be
taken without delay, as soon as the fit is
off, and if rejected, should be given in
smaller portions at short intervals until
the person is relieved. On the day of TAX
ing the medicine, the person must abstain
from spoon victuals, milk or warm beer;
if beast, it must not be watered on the
day the medicine is given. If a person,
lie must abstain for two weeks from pork of
all kinds, cabbage, peas, beans, fish, or
waterfowl. fla person is bit through the
skin, the wound must be scratched with u
chip Of wood until it bleeds and then well
washed with the uecoction tlis should be
done three or four times a day for several
days, taking the precaution ofnot using any
OF the decoction that may he left from any
previous washing. II the wound requires
dressing, any simple ointment mixed with
Venice Treacle win answer; this must be
done twice day until healed observe
to wash the wound with the decoction be-
fore dressing. Should person be bitten
or scratched when giving the medicine, he
must take a portion of the medicine. The
person must put on clean linen and change
his clothes, and if lying on bed the sheets
must be changed and not be worn until per-
fectly clean, the straw must be burned on
which the beast lay and the stable well
cleaned. GUsTAvUs STORY.
Twill now give you my method of gath
ering and preparing the Chickweed for
use. | gather it on u dry day about the
sixth of July, at which time the herb has
reached its highest state Of perfection. |
Immediately dry it well in an oven, and
when thoroughly dried put it into tin can
listers, having close lids, and keep it in O
dry place, it is then fit for use. 1t should
be gathered yearly, and under no circum-
stances should any be used that is more
than year old, as it, like many other