The Irish standard., 1888-01-07

,, SATURDAY, JANJl
tasted, anil did not find itlat all un-
pleasant to the palate. 1t is of a mud
dy greeny color, but not thick to the
taste. It is in this preparation, OF
course, that the secret lies, which the
MEG guard so closely. 1t con-
sists entirely of herbs, but what they
are and The manner of preparation is
known only to the McGoverns. Hazel
nuts complete the bill of tare.
In one thing, at any rate, is the cure
without q rival-it is innocuous. A
perfectly healthy person, one who is
uncertain if the dog which bit him
were rabid or not can undergo the treat
ment and suffer no Ill effects. This, Of
course, is an invaluable point in favor
OF the remedy, for even those who are
sceptical about it's preventive power
can, atany rate give it trial. So par
tieular is McGovern about the food and
drink, that be never let's his patients
J out of his sight CT that Of a member Of
the family. He examines their persons
TO see that they have no food secreted
anywhere, and if he thinks he is likely
to be disobeyed he cuts off the pockets.
The accommo odation he has for strangers
is quite insufficient, as there is only one
bedroom at their disposal. When sew
eral are there they lie abont the kitchen
or wherever they can. He is, however,
going to build house. he says, for it is
difficult, where the food OF his family
is about, to keep the patients from it.
Philip McGovern, who arrived later, is
a man about thirty five, of medium
height, broad shouldered. His hair is
fair, that on his face, which is unshaven.
being red. His eyes are bright and
keen, and OF that light brown which
sometimes lock grey. They are fringed
with dark lashes, we'll set in his head,
and lock at one straight ana fearlessly.
He is pleasant and intelligent, with
respectful manner, and courts publicity
for his cure, SO certain is he Of it. he
was we'll dressed ia frleze suit, clean
white shirt and tie, and altogether
looked more well-to-do than at first
sight his surroundings would lead one
to expect. In reply to a clergyman,
who asked McGovern if he would sell
| his cure, he replied. ''Och, your riyer-,
ence,. if the dochters had the ours,
they'd soon spoil it. One wudd add one
combussible, and another another, till
| it wud be no use at all.;' An amusing
objection, not, perhaps, altogether with
out grain Of truth in it, for doctors L
have spoken to pooh-poohed the food,
! and the extreme care that not grain
! of extraneous matter be eaten. Nc
Govern says it is advisable that a per-
son bitten should come to him within
ten days. But he has cured people, 1t
| is said, after rabies has set in.
There are a couple Of inns at Black
lion and Belcoo, two villages at either
end of bridge spanning Lough Nc
Mean. To this latter town, Belcoo,
there is train from Belfast by way OF
Enniskillen. The fars is only about
los first class, and the half OF that third.
From Blacklion to Clan is some eight
miles. but McGovern will attend any
one at any place within moderate dis
tance. AT present his charges varies.
Very poor people he treats and keeps
for the three days for nothing, and
often gives them money to take them
home. Others give him Ell, some So,
snd so On. should mention that he
can cure cattle, but will not do so ex.
cept for widow. There seems 10 be
some promise or obligation made from
father to son in connection with the
cure, by which they always undertake
to save the cattle of widows. 1t is a
good trait, at any rate. There is an-
other McGovern, Laurence, a cousin
4 Of Philips, who also has the cure, and
lives at Dowra, near Clan. He is an
elderly man. who has pract1sed for 81
4 Years, and also, it is said, without fail
i I r