Connecticut western news., 1888-03-07
MADSTONES.


 One Which Earned a Fortune
 for its Owner.
 Curing the Most ViruIent Type
 of Hydrophobia.
 One of the most celeb madstones in this part of the world, says the Des Moines Qa.) Leader, is that belon ging to Tuner Evans, of Paris, Linn county, this state. This valuable little stone was formerly owned by gentleman in Virginia, where it is said to have effected wonderful cures during the past 1s0 years. It has been in the hands of the present owner for over thirty years. During this time it has been tested several times and has always given entire satisfaction, never failing to effect a cure. The word "cure" is perhaps not the word to use in this connection, for if I am rightfully in- formed It is always made point to use the stone as preventive of hydropho- bia before the actual appearance of the rabies. During the past thirty years this stone has been tried on not less than 750 persons, and as MT. Evans charges $10 for trial and $50 if it sticks fast to the wound, which it is said to do if there is hydrophobic poi son in the system, his income from this source must be considerable. In 1880 gentleman with whom the writer was very we'll acquainted, was bitten by a dog thought to be suffering with hy- drophobia. I refer to D. c. McGillen, who formerly worked in harness shop in this city. Inquiries were made i'm mediately as to where the possessor of a maidstone could be found. As soon as this Linn County man was located McGillen started on his race with death having no doubt that awful disease (hydrophobia) was at that moment SOW. ing it's seeds of death in his system. He arrived at Cedar Rapids tho same night, was hurried into carriage and taken to the maidstone man" as soon as possible. After his return he gave the writer most of the facts which have been embodied in this article. He said that as soon as he arrived MT. Evans scratched his arm with pin Che had been bitten in the hand) and applied the stone. Before this, as sort of prologue, Mir. Evans had informed his patient that if the hydrophobic germ was in his system the stone would hold fast to the spot which he had sacrificed; but if he had not beer inoculated with the fatal poison, il would not stick. In this case my in formant said ''it stuck like a leech," :" and that when removed it was full oi a greenish fluid that looked '1ike scum on pond in August" This the operator said, was the poison virus which had been taken from tho system. When the stone had been soaked for few minutes in bath com posed of about one part milk and three of water it was again applied. Thi= | operation was repeated for about seven hours, after which the stone would not adhere, and the operator pronounced tho patient out of danger. McGillen described the stone as whiteish, spongy looking little thing, not larger than tilbert, cone-shaped and full O. fine pores. A Mir. Bunce of Mechanics vile, this state, had the stone applied something like seven hundred times be. fore all tho poison was drawn from the system, the time consumed for these operations being something like twenty. three hours.
 J. M. Estes of Osceola, it is said, i the fortunate possess or of one of these wonderful stones.
 Another is in the possession of Johr Nelson of Savannah, Mo.
 In May, 1883, Frederick Remy, o Red Oak, was bitten by mad dog, as were also six others of the same city, all of whom went to try the virtues of the Missouri stone. I believe Remy was the only one that died of hydroph obia. He was bitten May IS, and showed ne symptoms of the dread disease fol thirty four days, or until June 21. He died after three days of terrible suffer ing. am unable to tell you where ths maidstone is found or how procured, that is, to any degree of certainty, bu believe it is found in the bladder of deer and other animals of that kind, perhaps in the gall-bag instead of the bladder. At any rate, think it is found some place under the skin of that class O. animals when found at all. It is rarely found, however. Thomas Padden, one of the best-informed men in the south, says that it is frequently found in tht south, but that most of the so-calleG madstones are of very low grade, and are used on the bites of snakes ano stings of pois onous insects. He also leaves the reader in blissful ignorance of where the stone is fonnd
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