The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-05-18
A MAIDSTONE,
What a Lady Says or One In
Her Possession.
Declaring its Use Has Cured Over 1878
People of Hydrophobia.

The Newark On. J.) Journal recently
published the following letter from Mrs.
b. l.. Milan, the owner of the famous
maidstone, at Waterford, Miss
"Your request for a history of the
famous maidstone for the cure of persons
bitten by rabid animals is received, and
l take great pleasure in complying with
the request. The large number of bites
by mad dogs, and the recent death of
George Neall by hydrophobia, has ut
tracted my attention to Newark. I have
often wished that persons bitten in your
city would come here and be healed, in
stead of going to Paris to see Pasteur. 1
have nothing to say against the famous
French physician, and believe there is a
great deal in favoro of his theory of inocula-
ton, I know that much nearer home is
n cure that is absolutely sure as
it is absolutely wonderful. There
may be other madstones in this
country, but there are none with such an
accredited history. The proper name of
the stone is the China snakcstonc. 1t
has acquired the title of maidstone from
having been used so often on the bites of
rabid dogs and other animals. The stone
was brought from China in 1910 to Mad
ison county, Alabama, by DR.. William
Barker. The doctor died not very long
afterwards, and left no orders respecting
the stone. Its merits were already
known to some extent, so it was put up
for sale at public auction along with the
rest of the doctors estate. The stone
was purchased by my father, James Mi
lam, and four others. Three of the
others died in a few years and my father
then bought their interest and also the
fourth interest. My father used the
stone until 1885, when he moved to Mar
shall county, in this state. Flo died
there in 1849, and left the stone by his
will to me.
81 have been using it regularly since
that time. No other person has ever
used it but my father and myself. 1t
has been applied up to this date on 1878
persons bitten by dogs, cats, snakes,
spiders, and three or four horse bites.
The stone is one and one-quartcr inches
long by one and ~one-quarter in width; it
is almost square and weighs one ounce.
1t is of an ash or lead color, and nearly
as heavy as lead. It is very porous,
something like wood but much finer. 1t
is rough on the outside very much like
the large end of a horn. When applied
to~a bite the stone adhercs closely
until the pores arc full, then
it falls off and is clcansed in warm
water, and applied as long as it will take
hold. 1t does its work by absorbing the
virus. You may ask how long after be-
ing bitten persons can rely on the stone.
I have treated persons bitten from five to
eight months. They have often come to
me with the bite entirely cured up. In
that case I scarify for skin bites or cut
for a deep bite. I have no fear as to a
cure at any time before hydrophobia sets
in. I once treated an old doctor that had
been bitten eight months before he had
symptoms of hydrophobia, so much so
that he could not retain anything he
swallowed; he got well and lived ten
years. I have his certificate. After
speaking of her terms for treating pa
tients Mrs. Milan continued: 81
never let patients leave until I am
satisfied they are cured, as I guarantee
a cure in every instance, unless they
should happen to be bitten in some place
where I could not apply the stone. So
far I have always succeeded, though 1
have had some very difficult cases, as they
have come to me bitten in every concciva-
BILE place from the head to the toes.
But we have never lost a case yet. I
could give you hundreds Of certificates,
but will only refer to L. Q. G. Lamar,
Secretary of the Interior, at Washin gton;
Col. E. M. Watson, Assistant Attorney
General, at Washington; j. B. Morgan,
who was bitten forty years since, and is
now a member of Congress from Missis-
sippi; Hon. r.. Clayton, of Lamar, Miss,
and Supreme Court Judge of this State.
These gentlemen are from this State and
are we'll acquainted with the character
of the stone.
A S~tupendOuS Mosaic.