Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-09-23
THE MAIDSTONE.
by J. EsTEN COOKE.

Then you don't believe IN the maidstone,
my dear WolfgangI"
Certainly do not.
'Stil the facts are undoubted my state
ments are susceptible of proof"
Nothing is susceptible of proof which is
impossible, dear friend Langley"
This conversation took place on q day of
summer, in a country house on the Lower
Rappahennock, in Virginia The friends ex-
changing views with each other were Henry
Langley, young country gentleman, and
DIR. Wolfgang, from G0ttingen, man of
about thirty, like himself. Langley had made
his acquaintance some years before in Europe,
had found him delightful companion, and
Wolfgang having visited America, came and
made long stay at The Reeds, Langley's
place. He spoke English fiuently, was great
fayorite with Mrs. Langley, and the only OBJ
jectionable trait about him was his dogma
tism. On this morning after breakfast they
were smoking in the drawing. room, and read
ing the papers. The sensation of the moment
was the terrible prevalence of hydrophobia in
the city Of Brooklyn, and this had brought on
an obstinate discussion.
Dear friend Langley" continued DIR.
Wolfgang, "the whole thing is absurd-in-
credible. What is It you tell me? You tell
me that gentleman in this country possesses
a small green stone, which, applied to the
wound inflicted by the bite Of a dog laboring
under rabies, sucks the virus from the Incl
sion, and prevents the occurrence Of hydro
phobia."
''Yes, there is no doubt of it," said Lang
ley, smiling. Dr. Wolfgang ran his fingers
through his beard and shrugged his shoul-
ders.
1T is what your English writer Sir Thomas
Browne calls a vulgar error"
''The fact has been proved on a dozen oc-
casions."
TT has never been proved. dozen occa-
sions have never occurred. Do you know the
percentage of cases of hydrophobia in pop
ulation p
II do not"
"Then l will tell you. have studied this
special subject, and can give you the figures.
In France, with a population Of thirty-six
millions, there were in FIVE years one hundred
and seven cases that is, only one to every
two million inhabitants"
"Tbat may be in Europe. Here 1t is diff
ferent."
mo In the city of New York, with q
population Of more than one million, there
have been in forty years only ninety-four
cases. So you see your famous mad stone
could not have been applied 'on dozens of oc-
casions in your little county here with its
handful of people"
81 used a figure Of speech. What meant
was, frequently. The fame of the mad stone
| is not confined to Essex County. It's virtues
are known far and wide; and no sooner is
any one bitten by & mad dog anywhere in
this region Of country than his friends either
| bring him to Mr.. Fortescue, the owner of the
stone, or, il that is impossible, they bring the
| stone to him"
Helf Himmeli" cried Dr. Wolfgang, re-
| lapsing into his native tongue "was ever
such talk and to a man of science, doctor
of physiology Dear friend, it is all what
| you call bOsh in your good English. Describe
once more TO me this wonderful maidstone.
81 have told you all l know of it, )" said
Langley, laughing. "It is about two inches
long and perhaps an inch thick, rounded at
the edges, and of q green color, resembling
copperas."
gang, $50 far as l understand"
81 don't know" replied Langley, ''as I'm
not a great chemist like yourself. l only
know its properties. When the stone, or
protosulphate of something, is applied to the
wound made by the bite of mad dog, it ad-
heres closely to the flesh for about half an
hour. During this time the stone may be
seen turning greener-"
"Sinlilid simili6its :" muttered Dr. Wolf.
gang, with grim smile.
That is the poison going into it, contin'
tinued Langley, taking no notice of the in
terruption. ''At the end of an hour at the
farthest the stone drops of"
"Ah the stone-this famous maidstone
drops off, does it ?" said Wolfgang, satirical-
ly.
Eyes you see the work is done. The
poison is all sucked up, and the wound il
completely cleansed of the tl-d dogs ven
om."
"And the patient is safe :" said nr. Wolf.
gang Struggling his shoulders.
Entirely safe-the bite lie no longer !Ning
of any consequence"
''And the stone, what becomes of hP II
seems to me the stone is poisoned now, and,
according to sound reasoning ought itself Ia
poison the next patient"
mot at all it is easily cleansed."
SIN what mannerg
"By plunging it into fresh milk. After re-
naming there an hour or two, the milk turns
green, and the stone is washed-it has dis
charged the venom into the milk"
DIR. Wolfgang got up from his seat, and
threw his meerschaum on the table.
'Was ever such moonshine :" he cried,
and he burst forth into German expletives,
d0nner und bitten, and other expressions oi
wrath and wonder. Langley laughed aloud.
''You obstinate fellow, there's no doubt oi
the truth of what tell you !" he said. "A
case occurred last fall in this very neighbor
| noOd. a man VINO cuts tlmDer on tne river
named Carpenter, was bit by dog that was
raving mad, and cured by the maidstone. HC
lost no time in hurrying to Mr.. Fortescue and
applying it. It acted like charm, and he is
now perfectly well"
1.-The dog was not mad !" cried DR.. Wolf
gang.
"You are wrong. He bit a horse and two
other dogs, and they all died Two days af
terward the dog died himself"
DIR. Wolfgang knit his brows
''You have an answer for everything" he
said Where does this Carpenter live ?"
ION the river, near the high-road running
to Tappahannock, about mile from Mr.
Fortescues.
''Very good. 1 will go and see him. HI
will be dead now.
'Who will be dead ?" asked laughing
voice.