Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-03-03
sMALL-POX MEDICINE.
Sister Gonzags Dealing II Out
CIergymen Testify to ITS Efficacy,
and Some of Them Recommend II
From the Alfar--PeOple FIocking to
St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum to

CIergymen Testify TO ITS Efficacy,
and Some of Them Recommend 1t
From the Alfar-PeOple FloclinE to
St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum to
Got 1t.
Philadelphia Times.
A good deal of excitement has been
occasioned in Catholic circles during the
past few weeks by a report that Sister
OF Charity connected with st. Joseph's
Orphan Asylum, at Seventh and Spruce
streets, had discovered a specific for the
prevention and cure OF smallpox. Crowds
of people of all classes OF society have
been docking TO the asylum with jugs,
bottles, cups and every species OF vessels
that would hold water in quest OF the
remedy. The lady to whom credit for the
discovery has been commonly ascribed, is
known in religion as Sister Gonzaga, and
is the superior OF that branch OF the
sisters attached to the asylum and is the
head OF the institution. A visit to the
lady was made yesterday by reporter
for the Times, after q talk with Rev.
Father Jordan, of st. Joseph's Church, who
Is firm believer in the efficacy of the
specific.
Sister Gonzaga, who is commonly
spoken of as Mother Gonzaga, is n lady
about 10 years OF age, of the most pre-
possessing appearance. She is about the
middle hight, with large, dark eyes and
n countenance bcaning with piety and
beneyolence. She comes OF an old and
wealthy family OF Baltimore She has
spent more than ga years in her vocation,
all but four of which have been passed in
the institution OF which she is now the
ruler. A few years ago, on the occasion
OF her golden jubilee or iittieth year in
the community she was crowned in the
chapel of the house, as is the custom OF
the order, with q crown of flowers by the
Archbishop.
the VENERABLE LADY AT WORK.
At the time of the reporters visit
Mother Gonzaga was leaning over an n-
ncnse tin tub, i'll the imprOvised labora-
tory of the house, engaged in the manu-
lacture of the specific, for which the
demand is enormous and constantly grow
ing, Mother Gonlaga disclaimed all
credit for the discovery of the remedy.
She received the recipe some ten years
ago from Father Kenrck of Germantown,
who had it from u French physician who
lad discovered it during the prevalence
OF a smallpox epidemic in Paris. The
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est themselves in il. even when snol;en To
upon the subject.
When the prescription came into the
hands of Mother Gonzaga she immediately
set to work to give the public the benefit
of the discovery. Smallpox was then
epidemic, and as the news OF the remedy
which Mother Gonzaga had prepared and
| was distributing became known. thou
sands of applications were made for the
specific. barrels of which. it is said. were
gwen away. In the course of time. AS the
disease died out. the matter was forgotten.
But a few weeks AGO a. sma1l-pox was
again raging and in many parts of the
city almost creating n mamie Mother
Cionzaaa deemed it advisable 10 resort ia
the remedy which had proved so
rlicacious before. MANY of the CLERGY
who were appris.d of tb. tn,f anil l,ed
heard of the worl;int, nr III. s,,,citic
advised th,ir nnrisl,ionrrs IN nhtotn tl,a
,n.jini,,a a,,a Il, ,,,,. r .,,,h w., ",
matter ,y,s snol[.n of fro,n ma aita'
"''''''
'oMFoNhNrs OF the sPhelfit'
The principal ingredients OF the remedy
are digltnlis, OF extract Of ioNglOve, AMI
suiph-tc OF zine. Each is dissolved sep
aratcly AMI then mixed together and
sugar in solution added. The mixture is
translucent, slightly fragrant and Of n
grrenish hue. 1t is sweet and pleasant
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