The Osceola times., 1886-08-21
LEGISLATIVE RABIES.
A Hydrophobia Cure Fathered by
New York Legislators.
How Dewitt Clinton, Ambrose Spencer,
Chancellor Kent and others psld
$1,000 of the states Money
for puack Remedy.

Recently the following letter came to
the State Comptroller's Office, Albany,
from physician residing in an interior
city:
viii YOU have the kindness to refer 10 the
tomptrollcrs report of 1906, and furnish me IA
copy Of the prescription for which the state
appropriated the sum of Sl,WO to pay one
Juhn NJ. trous, for an intulibic remedy for
hydrophobia or canine madness, ana obge,
Deputy Comptroller Benedict was
astonished at this intimation Of the
States having gone into the doctoring
business. "What will become Of me. ."
he said to himself, 'if we are liable
for doctors bills as well as for lawyers
fees?n
The story Of John Crous's mad-dog
account with the State is curious. The
official authorization Of it has been cs-
tabished at the Comptroler's Office, the
foregoing letter of inquiry having set
some of the clerks at work among the
records. OF Dr. CrouS himself, Mr.
George Scelev, of the Comptrollcr's
Office has personal recollection from
early boyhood. He was a Hessian sol
dier in the Revolutionary war. Becom-
ing dsgustcd with the fare Of mer-
cenary, he made up his mind to desert
and either join the American army or
retire altogether from military activity.
He carried out this purpose so far as to
desert from the British, but the legend
of his life is that instead of joining ;ne
g al, -. Il. 4 /
into that safe American territory along
the Hudson between New urgh and
Albany. At his home in the village of
Athens, where he resided in after years,
he used TO say that on the night he de-
serted from his lleSsian comrades they
were all lying in a swamp. the precise
locality of which he did not remember
lie watched his opportunity, stole away,
and made a long and tires0me journey
through the marsh, the bub-frogs all
around him crying DR.. C-r-o'I-S loud
enough to be heard at headquarters.
When the war closed, Crous settled
down at Athens, then called Lunenberg.
1t was a brisk village before the city Of
Hudson, now on the opposite side of the
river, had risen. Here he lived good
IltnN wears III u llNlt bHlN II NNOl'
house, getting a living by his wits,
which were materialiZcd in the dlrec-
ton of nostrums for specific diseases.
The native shrewdncsS which led him to
get within the American lines during
the war, taught him to play upon the
fears and breads OF the primitive people
about him. His remedies were for
these diseases which carried greatest
alarm to the afflicted. Claiming at last
to have discovered an infallable cure
for hydrophobia, he got thereby n local
reputation, which grew by the frequent
cures he effected of people who were
not afflicted with the disease. but who
went to him with stories of having been
bitten by mad dogs. His prescription
he preserved rs profound secret
The closer he kept it hid the greater
became his rcnown, and the more every
body was curious about the ingredients
He said he couldn't afford TO part with
il for nothing, but he would do so for a
consideration. Ii would be worth more
TO him for his extensive practice, but for
the sake of humanity and for the
public good he probably could be
induced to publish ii to the world As
no one came forward with a lump sum
with which to purchase, publlc-splrlted
members of the Legislature residing IN
the neighborhood brought the subject
to the attention of the State Government
at Albany. Whether the doctors secret
was laid before the Legislature at the
instance of members, as has been Sug-
geSted, or the doctor himself applied for
reward of his bcneiicient knowledge,
the records do not show. However, on
the fourth of February, 1906, DIR. Jonn
NJ. Crous presented, or had presented,
70 the State Senate memorial setting
forth that he possessed the art of cur
ing the bite of mad dog, and praying
10 be compensated for discovering the
same After being read 1t was re-
ierred to a committee. The committee
held the memorial three days, giving
hearings, as we say nowadays, upon 1t,
during which time DIR. Crous produced
those whom he had "cured, a. W.T.
ncsses to the virtue of his remedy. On
the seventh of February Senator Hoge-
boom, from the committee, reported
that the memorial was accompanied
with various documents tending to rem
der il probable that he (John NJ Crous)
Is possessed of remedy for the cure
and prevention of the hydrophobia aris-
ing from the bite of rabid animal
1--WE, the Committee, the report went
on care therefore of opinion that the
petitioner is entitled to the attention OF
the Legislature; that they have prepared
bill for the purpose and directed him
tthe chairman) to move for leave to
bring in the same
-Four days later the bill was taken up
and committed to the committee OF the
whole. whereupon, on February IA. it