The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-05-12
For the Democratic AdUocate.
A Certain Cure for HydrOphObia.
MANonEsrER, MD. April 3Oth, 1877

MANCHESTER, MD. April Both, 1877.
Messrs. Editors In compliance with
your request, | herewith send you DR..
Gustayus Stoys remedy for the bite of a
mad dog, commonly known by the name
Of The Chickweed Cure. At the risk Of
being charged with prolixity / will give
you the method of preparing it, and of
using it, in the words Of the Patentee
Take Of the Herba Anagalis Ruber (the
Red Chickweed, that has been dried. one
handful, pour two quarts Of brewers good
beer upon it, and boil II 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 clean cloth
and well squeeze, that all the substance may
be taken out Then add TO the decoction =
drachms Of the best Venice Treace, it must
be well mixed with the decoction. OF the
above medicine give man or beast in the
morning, fasting, the following doses, viz -
To 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 10
succession, but if actual mad less exists large
portion Of the herb should be added to the
aforementioned quantity Of beer A woman
should take three or three and half gills.
For children there must be given according
TO their age and constitution, remembering
that they can bear more in proportion than
grown persons. A mother or nurse should
take extra portions and child one or two
spoonsful. 10 horse should be given pint;
TO a cow20 tablespoonsful; heifer l6 spoons.
ful; calf in proportion TO its age; hog of
three years or 3 tablespoonsfuls; a dog ac-
cording to his age, size and strength. The
medicine must be taken warm. If it should
be prepared in more doses than one, at a
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 of, and If rejected, should
be given In smaller portions at short intervals
until the person is relieved. On the day of
taking the medicine the person must abstain
from spoon victuals, milk or warm beer; If a
beast, it must not be watered on the day the
medicine is given. If person, he must ab.
stain for two weeks from pork Of all kinds,
cabbage, pe2s, beans, fish, or waterfowl. If
person is bit through the skin the wound
must be scratched with a chip of wood till It
bleeds and then well washed with the decoc.
ton, this should be done three or four times
day for several days, taking the precaution
Of not using any Of the deeoction that NAV be
left from any previous washing. Ifthe wound
requires dressing, any simple ointment mixed
with Venice Treacle will answer; this must be
done twice day until healed; observe to wash
fha xunuy,A 18th H.. l.f. i
Should a person be bitten or scratched when
giving the medicine he must take portion Of
the medicine. The person must put on clean
linen and change his clothes and IL lying on
bed the sheets must be changed and not be
worn until perfectly clean, the straw must be
burned on which the beast lay and the stable
well cleaned. GUsrAvus SroY.
will now give you my method of gath
ing and preparing the Chickweed for use.
| gather it on dry day about the sixth of
July, at which time the herb has reached
its highest state of perfection. l imme-
diately dry it well in an oven, and when
thoroughly dried put it into tin canisters,
having close lids, and keep it in dry
place, it is then fit for use. 1t should be
gathered yearly, aud under no circum-
stances should any be used that is more
than a year old, as it, like many other
medicines, deteriorates rapidly and becomes
inert. have used it in at least hun
dred cases of persons, some of whom were
badly bitten, and in fully as many cases
of dogs, horses, aud horned cattle, without
a single case Of failure. Indeed, | never
heard of more than one case of failure
where the remedy was used. Whether
that was brought about by using the herb
after it had become too old, whether it was
improperly prepared, or whether it was
improperly used, / have no means of
knowing. Respectfully Yours,
HENRY L. BELTz.
P. ST. would only add that on several
occasions where it was out Of my power to
get beer with which to make the decoction,
| have used sweet milk and found it act
well, but of course would always much pre-.
fer to have the beer.