The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-08-20
POW-WOW DOCTORS.
PRACTITIONERS OF THE BLACK ART II
PENNSYLVANIA RURAL DISTRICTS.

PRACTITIONERS OF THE BLACK ART IN
PENNSYLVANIA RURAL DISTRICTS.
Most people. if tackled upon the sub
.iect of pow-wowing or invoking super
natural aid for curing the ills and dis
eases that human flesh is heir to, will
fatty deny having the smallest faith in
the employment of such means for re-
storing to health those who are sick, and
vet by far the greatest number of men
ticiently tainted with superstition to be-
lieve in miraculous ways of eflecting
cures And it will not do to say that
the ignorant alone are superstitous.
Byron would never commence travel or
work of any kind on Friday, which in
his time was considered a more unluckv
day than it is now thought to be, and
other equally eminent men are known to
have been influenced in some of their
doings by superstitiouS notions which
chung 10 them in spite of mental culture.
The older residents of EaSton will have
no trouble in recalling to their minds the
time when old Doctor" SAVIOR Of this
county. was perhaps the most distin-
guished of the pow-wnw profession i'll
PENNSYLVANIA or New Jersey. The lame.
the power he more than ordinary NOR
| tails. was supposed to possess. Those
who were not ashamed Of their belief in
him went openly: others stole to him
| under cover of night This was before
railroads and telegraphs and cables and
| telcphoneS and other discoveries had
they say. and the "Doctor ilourished.
| it might be said by some, on account OF
the ignorance around him. Be that as
| it may. he steadily and with a moderate
degree of pccuniary success. followed his
vocation until he was gathered to his
| fathers" when he was succeeded by his
son. who in turn surrendered his immor-
| tai part to Him who gave it. and his prac-
tice as pow-wow physician to . Doc
tor" !. II. Wilhelm. IA most estimable
citizen of Raubsville. in the township of
Williams. this county. The only school
| ing Doctor Wilhelm ever received for the
medical profession he acquired by a
long and varied experience as captain of
gravel boat and bank boss on the canal.
| from which he stepped to the arduous
| and responsible position he now fills, and
in which he has met with such success
as will well enable him to keep the wolf
| from his own door. at least as long as he
lives.
| To show to what an extent supersti-
ton still SWANS the minds of men. it may
be stated that in these days of railroads
and telcgraphs. and of general enlight-
eminent the average monthly attendance
of PATIENTS who call for the professional
! services of DR.. Wilhelm. on the first Fri
Gay after new moon. is about 300. Some
months there are as many as sos. at other
times smaller numbers. Many. with less
faith III the moon influence. but with !,
lingering notion that there may be some
virtue in the Doctors methods. 90 be-
tween times to his house to consult him
in reference to their ailments. Those
who have been at Huntsville on moon
DAYS. say the village is sometimes SO
crowded with vehicles of all kinds on
those occasions. that one mot to the
manor born " would be apt to imagine
that nothing less than Il circus, a battal-
ion. or some other equally important
event had drawn together SO many con-
yeyanceS. 1t is not only in carriages
however, that patients travel to see the
,.Doctur." Many go by rail. travelling
in some instances we are assured. hun
dretls of miles to reach the place. and
until "moon day is over there is sucl
commotion in Raubsville as but few vii
lamcs ever witness. On these days boy.
have been known to make from SO t.
Sla ferrying the Doctor patients from
the Jersey to the PENNSYLVANIA side o
the Delaware. and it is frequently diff
cult to provide for the wants of the peo
pie at such places of entertainment al
the village affords. Mo charge is made
by Dr. Wilhelm for his services. On tn,
great day, the Friday alluded to, all call
ers are supplied with cards which enah
the Doctor to treat his patients in thu
order in which they come to his office. o
on the "ncNi plan, invogne among tn
BARRIERS. After treatment, the visito
gives what he NAV see tit, and retires t
make room for the hn'''' T. of the mex
number, and ST. on to the end.