The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-08-23
NATURAL BONE Settlers.
Remarkable Gift of the Sweet Family.
Which Defeated Connecticut Medical
Practice Bill.

The Connecticut legislature at its last
session rejected a proposition to prevent
the practice of the art of healing except
by those who held diplomas from regu-
larly established medical colleges. The
proposed measure was framed along the
same lines as that passed by the legisla-
ture of this State restricting the practice
of chiropody., The Nutmeg State bill
was aimed directly at the Sweet family,
in some respects the most remarkable in
this country, and it's defeat was due en-
tirely to the faith placed by rural legis-
lators in the inherited surgical skill OF
the members Of the family. For nearly
one hundred years all its members boys
and girls alike, have been natural bone
settlers. The founder of it, who died some
years ago, was born in the hilly Windham
county town of Lebanon, and before he
was fifteen years old had become famous
on account of his heaven born ability tc
set bones.
When still boy he used to amuse
| neighbors by dislocating the bones OF
domestic farm animals-hens, geese, cats,
dogs and calves-and then putting them
| in place again. H. did the trick witt
wonderful deXtorIty A few years later
he was the most famous practitioner in
New England. At one time he travelled
in the West and South. and in Dixie the
persons were SO awed by his feats that
they believed him to be a magician. The
Ignorant and superstitious invested him
with dlabolical powers.
tie had a compact with Satan they
said, and the doctor, whose humor was
as grim as his manner was brusque, not
only enjoyed but played on their credullty
Often, on being introduced to % man, in
shaking hands with him he gave the
stranger hand an odd, quick twist, and
small man, he had great physical
strength, and as the fame of his singular
doings spread persons became so afraid
of him that they hesitated to take his
hand. He used to love to dwell upon his
professional visit to this State, soon after
the Revolutionary war, to set broken
ankle for Governor De Witt Clinton, who
had been badly treated by famous sur
geons. Dr. Sweet restored the ankle.
Persons imagined that the Doctor S
peculiar natural gift would pass away
with the death Of its possessor, but 1T
was manifested in an equal degree by
every one of his great family OF children,
and in turn by his grandchlldreh. Botn
generations also inherited his powerful
physique and giant strength. Each one
of his children at an early age initiated
his practice of dislocating the bones OF
farm animals and then setting them, and
nearly all the male descendants followed
the calling of bone settlers. The women
were equally proficient in the art Of I'M
jointing the human frame and reJolntlne
| it, and in half dozen Eastern Connect.
cut country towns they practice now, in
cidental to their occupation Of farming,
seldom accepting fees for their services;
| In rural districts the Sweets are credited
with being much more skil1ful than sur,
geons whose art is merely acquired, and
| it is true that in scores of instances they
have been called in to undo the work OF
bungling practitioners and correct 'ae''
mistakes The regular physicians Pr less
to deride the popular belief that tn
Sweets possess marvellous natural ano
secret a. .itude for bone setting. Tt is
said that not one of them ever studied q
book on anatomy. N. Y. Herald.