The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-20
NATURAL BONE Settlers.
Remarkable Gift Of the Sweet Family.
of Lebanon, Conn.
New York Herald.

The Connecticut Legislature at its last
session rejected proposition to prevent
the practice of the art of healing except
by those who held diplomas from regu-
larry 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 di-
rectly at the Sweet family, in some re-
spects the most remarkable in this coun-
try, and its defeat was due entirely TO the
faith placed by rural legislators in the
inherited surgical skill OF the members OF
the family. For nearly one hundred
years all its members, boys ana girls
alike, have been natural bone settlers.
The founder of IL, who died some years
ago, was born in the hilly Windham
county town OF Lebanon, and before he
was 10 years old had become famous on
account of his heaven born ability to set
bones.
When still boy he used to amuse
neighbors by dIslocating the bones of do
mestic farm animals hens, geese, cats,
dogs and calves then putting them
in place again. He did the trick with
wonderful dexterity. A few years later
he was the most famous practitioner in
New England. At one time he travelled
in the West and South, ana 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 diabolical powers.
He had 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 cred
ulity. Often, on being introduced to
man, in shaking hands with him he gave
the strangers hand an odd, quick twist,
and the member was disa bled. Although
a 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 10 love to dwell upon his
professional visit to this State, soon after
the Revolutionary War, to set a 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 doctors
peculiar natural gift would pass away
with the death of its possessor, but it was
every one Of his great family OF chill
dren, and in turn by his grandchildren.
Both generations also inherited his pow
erful physique and giant strength. Each
one OF his children at an early age imi-
tated his practice OF dislocating the bones
OF farm animals and then setting them,
and nearly all the male descendants fol-
lowed the calling OF bone settlers. The
women were equally proficient in the art
OF unjointing the human frame and re-
jointiDg 1t, and in half a dozen eastern
Connecticut country towns they practice
now, incidental to their occupation OF
farming, seldom accepting fees for their
services.
In rural districts the Sweets are cred
tied with being much more skilful than
surgeons who'e art is merely acquired,
and IL IL true that in scores of instances
they have been called in TO undo the
work OF bungling practitioners and cor
rect their mistakes. The regular physi-
clans profess TO deride the popular belief
that the Sweets possess marvellous nat
ural and secret aptitude for bone setting.
II is said that not one OF them ever stud
led book on anatomy.