The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-06-01
Bspotsd TO Sa4aiqultrs gorhgnlturs, pomtdt Gaull


tnat there Is certain cure Tor hydrophoDia.
Several years ago there was floating through
the papers an account Of some cures that
had been effected by the use of elecampane
reot boiled in sweet milk. Recently Mrs.
Jane G. Swisshelm has published long let
ter, giving further accounts of the remedy
and relating a number Of cures effected by
At. Mrs. Swisshelm writes as follows:
SIN Chester County, Pa, lived German
named Joseph Emory, who used to be sent
for, far and wide, wher any one had been
bitten by a rabid animal. He went to his
patient carrying something, understood to be
a root which he himself dug in tho woods.
He MIXED pint Of, milk fresh from the.
COW, put the root. into its boiled: it, gave
1t to the patient, fasting; made him fast az
ter taking it; gave second and third dose
on alternate days, and never failed in effect
ing cure. In some way the secret trans
pired, and the root was known to be ele-
campane.
"The story current in the country was
that an old German made the discovery in
the days of Penn, and applied'to the Penn
sylvania legislature for grant of $500 for
making his secret public. His offer was
treated with contempt, and he resolved that
his knowledge should die with him; but
drunken son knew it, wrote out recipe,
making number of copies, and tried to
sell them at one dollar apiece: He only
succeeded in selling two, one of these to the
man who made such effective use of it. So
we'll did he establish the local reputation of
his specific, that in his neighborhood folks
were not afraid of mad dogs. His reputa-
tion was parallel to that of DR.. Marchant, of
Grcensburg, to whom every one in this part
of the country used to 80 or send for when
bitten by mad dog.
"The integrity and intelligence of my in
formant are beyond question, and I regret
that her love of privacy should prevent her
giving the weight of her name to her con-
viction that it is. an unfailing specific for
hydrophobia.
''The people of Chester Valley are not as
class likely to be misled by superstition,
and it was general or unSeisal belief that
- Jacob Emory never failed to prevent or cure
hydrOfRobia In one case tie spasms had
begun before the first dose was given, and
the patient recovered.
'The medical properties of elecampane
are very powerful. Milk itself is specific
for many posons, and while the medical
We should open every avenue of light into
the dark subject"
Mrs. Swisshclm says she has forgotten
the exact quantities to be used, but thinks
it was two ounces of elecampane root to be
boiled in pint of new milk, and to be Ia
ken in the morning after the patient has
tasted all night. He is to continue fasting
after taking it, and the dose is to be repea-
ted three times on three successive morn
ings, as soon as possible after the person has
been bitten. .-4.sas,1,.
The following letter, from we'll known
citizen Of Columbus, Ohio, appeared in 'ths;s
Dispatch of that city, recently:
"The communication of Mrs. Swisshclm
in reference to the Chester Valley cure for
hydrophobia, and printed in the Dispatch
of Friday last, deserves more than ordinary
attention. Permit me, therefore, to supple
ment it by stating the following facts:
;'Several years ago dog afflicted with
hydrophobia was seen to bite number Of
hogs and cattle belonging to farmer then
residing in eastern Ohio. a neighbor who
formerly resided in Chester County, Pa,
prevailed on the farmer to try the identi-
cal rcp,edy-elecampane. 1t was an easy
matter to administer it to the hogs in milk.
1t was given to the cattle by drcnching.-
Not one Of the animals so treated became
afflicted. If the same dog had not bitten
a large number of animals belonging to
reighbors, and which, receiving no treat
nient, became rabid in few days, it might
be assumed that the dog was not afflicted
with hydrophobia.
'The plant mentioned is indigenous to
this country, and every person who owns
land should have tufts of it growing upon
their premises. and the rootsshould be kept
by druggists everywhere, for it appears to
be specific for rabies"
To FEED Corn SrALKs.-In this paper,
last week, allusion was made to corn stalks,
as being half rs valuable .s the Grain -