The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-09-24
Pow-wow DOCTORS.
Practitioners OF the Black Art In Pennsyl
vania Rural Districts.

Most people, il tackled upon the sub
jcct 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 yet by far the greatest number Of
men and women believe in omcns and
are sufficiently trained with superstition
to believe in miraculous ways of effect
ing cures. And it will not do to say
that the ignorant alone are superstitious.
Byron would never commence travel or
work Of any kind on Friday, which in
his time was considered more unlucky
day than il is now thought TO be, and
other equally eminent men are known
to have been influenced in some of their
doings by supcrstitious notions which
clung to them in spite of mental culture.
The older residents of Easion will
have no trouble in recalling to their
minds the time when old "Doctor"
Saylor of this county, was perhaps the
most distinguished of the pow-wow pro-
fession in Pennsylvania or New Jersey.
The lame, the halt, and the blind sought
the aid of the power he, more than or
dinary mortals, 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 tclegraphs and
cables and telephones and other dis
coveries had come to make us wiser. If
not better asthcy say, and the "Doc;or"
ilourished, it might be said by some, on
account Of the ignorance around him.
BE that as il may, he steadily and with
moderate degree of pccuniary success,
followed his vocation until he was gath
cred to his fathers" when he was sue
ceeded by his son, who in turn surrend-
cred his immortal part to Him who gave
it, and his practice rs 4 pow-wow ply
sician to doctor" ]. II. Wilhelm, a
most estimable citizen OF Raubsvillc, in
the township of Williams, this county.
The only schooling Doctor Wilhelm ever
received for the "medical profession"
he acquired by long and varied ex-
perience as captain of Il 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, rs long as he lives.
To show to what an extent supcrsti-
tion still swaves the minds of men, il
may be stated that in these days OF rail-
roads and telcgraphs, and OF general
enlightenment, the average monthly at
tendance Of patients who call for the
professional services OF DIR. Wilhelm on
the first Friday after new moon, is
about 500. Some months there are as
many rs sos, At other times smaller
numbers. Many, with less faith in the
moons influence, but with lingering
notion that there may be some virtue in
the Doctors methods, go between times
TO his house to consult him in reference
TO their ailments. Those who have
been at Raubsvillc on "moon" days,
say the village is sometimes so crowded
with vehicles OF all kinds on those oc-
casions, that one ''not to the manor
born" would he apt to imagine that
| HOtnlnR lcSS tndll Il CIRCUS, DlttIllOn, {,
or some other equally important event
had drawn together so many convey
ances. 1t is not only in carriages, how
ever. that patients travel to see the Doc
tor" Many 60 by rail, travelling, in
some instances We are assured, hundreds
Of miles to reach the place, and until
"moon" day is over there is such COM
motion in Raubsvillc rs but few villages
ever witness. On these days boys have
been known TO make from $40 10 SIs
ferrying the Doctors patients from the
Jersey to the Pennsylvania side of the
Delaware, and it is frequently Difficult;
to provide for the wants of the people
at such places of entertainment rs the
village offords. No charge is made by
DIR. Wilhelm for his services. On the
great day, the Friday alluded to, all
callers are supplied with cards which
enable the Doctor to treat his patient.
in the order in which they come to hi:
Office, or on the 'ncxt" plan, in vogue
among the BARRIERS. After treatment,
the visitor gives what he may see fit,
and retircs to make room for the holder
Of the next number, and so on to the
end.-Ex6h6Hgr.