The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-04-17
FAMOUS MAIDSTONE OF MISSISSIPPI.
This letter was received by lady who is now
q resident of Towsontown:

a resident of Towsontown:
WATERFORD, MISS, March 18th, 1886.
Madam Yours of the 18th is at hand, also
your note written to postmaster at Waterford, ask
ing history and other questions in regard to the
maidstone. Its proper name is "China Snake
Stone" 1t has naturally difted into the name of
mad stone from having been used so often and so
long on the bites of rabd animals. 1t was brought
from China in 1910 to Madison county, Ala, by
DR.. VIM. Barker, who died not very long after set
ting there, leaving no orders in regard to the
stone. Consequently it was sold at public auction,
with the balance Of his estate, and my father,
Jarvas Milan, with four other men, bought it
Three of the others died and he bought their in
terest and then bought the fourth, and used the
stone in Alabama until 1886. He then moved to
Marshall county, Miss, and used 1t until 1S49,
when he died and left it by will to me, and have
been using it regular since that time. No other
person has ever used it but he and myself. We
have applied it up to this date on 1858 persons
bitten by dogs cats, snakes, spiders, and three or
four horse bites.
The stone is II inches long by II inches wide.
1t is almost square and weighs one ounce. 1t is
of an ash or lead color and nearly as heavy as
lead. 1t is very porous, something like wood but
much finer. 1t is rough on the out side, very
much like the large end of deer's horn. When
applied to bite it adheres closely until the pores
full, then it falls off and is cleansed in warm
water and applied as long as it will take hold 1t
does its work by absorbing the virus.
You ask how long after being bitten they can
rely on the stone. l have treated persons bitten
from one day to eight months. They often come
to me with the bite entirely cured up then I
scarify for skin bites or cut out for deep bite
have no fear at any time before hydrophobia
sets in. I treated an old doctor that had been
bitten eight months. He had symptoms of hydro
phobia, so much so that he could not retain any
thing he would swallow. He got we'll and lived
ten years after. I have his certificate.
You ask what patients must do when travelling
to the stone. 1 say nothing, for there is nothing
they can do but travel like Others You also ask
what are my charges. When they come to me
charge from $25 to $3.50, as some are bitten worse
than others. Sometimes as many as twenty bites
are found on one persen; then l charge more. I
only charge for curing and board them free, for
never let them leave until am satisfied they are
cured, as I guarantee a cure in every instance,
unless they should happen to be bitten in place
could not apply the stone, but as yet have sue
ceeded, though have had some very difficult
cases, as they have come to me bitten in every
conceivable place from the head to the toes, but
we have never lost case yet. I could give you
hundreds of certificates but will only refer you to
Hon. L. Q. G. Lamar, Secretary of the Interior at
Washington /; Col. E. M. Watson, Assistant Attor-
ney- General at Washington Hon. ]. B. Morgan,
who was bitten forty years since and now a men,
Der of Congress from Mississippi; Hon. II. M.
Clayton, Lamar, Miss, ex-Supreme Judge of Mis-
sissippi. These gentlemen are all from Mississip-
p and are we'll acquainted with the character of
the stone. Hoping you will excuse the manner
in which have given you this short history, I
remain, Most respectfully, B. L. MILAN.