The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-15
DOCTOR WENT PIRATING.
Inventor of Famous DOver's Powders
Found Robinson CrusOe.
From the New York Press.

From the New York Press.
There is a well known drug called
''Dovers Powder" which doctors use fire.
quently to break up colds, and to sweat
patients who have fevers. 1t is not gen.
orally know that the man who invented
this powder was not only a physician of
some little local reputation nearly 200
years ago, but also a notorious pirate.
Thomas Dover was born in Warwick
shire, England about 1860. He studied in
Cambridge, and later studied medicine in
the Office of the famous DR.. Sydenham.
After while he settled down in the city
OF Bristol, which was an active shopping
center and one of the chief headquarters
of all England for adventurerS, priVa-
teers and slave-traders.
DIR. Dover found the practice of medi-
cine ''too slow" He had a love for ad-
venture and life at sea. He stuck to med
icine for some years, however, until large
commercial and piratical venture by a
number of Bristol merchants came to his
notice. Two ships, the Duke and Duchess,
were fitted out for voyage to the South
seas. Dr. Dover went third in command,
and was known as Capt. Dover.
On Feb /, 1909, the ships arrived at the
island of Juan Fernandez, and Capt. Do
yer was sent ashore in a pnnace. He
brought hack with him after two days a
man clad in goat skins who had been left
on the island four years before. This
was Alexander Selkirk, the original Rob
inson Crusoe.
Later the expedition sailed up the South
American coast and found the two cities
of Guayaquil, which it attacked and sack
ed. Dover led the sailors, and when the
plague broke out among them after the
capture of the cities, he doctOred and
cured them with as much energy and skill
as he had displayed in fighting the South
Americans.
After cruising in the Pacific for another
two years for Spanish treasure ships, the
expedition returned to England in I'LL,
having collected nearly $1,O00,0O0 worth of
plumber. Dover's share made him rich,
and left him free to travel and crafty
his philanthropic instincts as physi-
clan.
He settled down in London as a physi-
clan in 1881, and wrote a book on the med
ical experience he had gathered in his
prof essional" career. In one of these,
he gives prescription for the well known
powder which has made his name more
famous than any of his other achieve
ments. 1t reads as follows; Take opi-
UNI, one ounce, saltpeter and tartar Wit
riolated each four ounces, ipecac one
ounce. Put the saltpeter and tartar in a
red hot mortar, stirring with a spoon
until they have done flaming. Then pow
der them very fine; after that slice in
your opium, grind them to a powder and
then mix the other powder with these
Dose. from 40 to 50 grains in a glass of
white wine posset, going to bed, covering
up warm and drinking a quart or three
pints of the posset Drink while sweat
ing
Unfortunately. the exact formula for
making the posset has not been handed
down, but it was probably hot punch
or rum.
The publication of the book made a
great connection, and caused the other
London doctors to call DR.. Dover a Quack
and a charletan, but his powder Is still
used. Robinson Crusoe, founded on the
Juan Fernandez episode, is still read, as
London doctors who objected to DR.. Dover
are all forgotten.