The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-06-02
TNE MAIDSTONE.
The Claims of Medicinal Qualitios Tor 1t
Shown to be Without Foundation.


In numerous State papers, recently,
the so called maidstone" has been dis
cussed and some editors have had the
temerity to doubt the efficacy Of this
hoary headed old superstition. 1t
takes rather bold man to beard the
lion in his den" or to tackle time
honored old fraud like the MAIDSTONE.
1t seems to be q part OF human ma
ture t3 believe the marvellous anyhow,
rather than the reasonable and COM
mcnplace things Of life. Sharp QUacks
make fortunes out Of this weakness OF
mankind, in the sale Of their worth
less postruns or appliances, with long
and scientific names. Ii they cau get
the confidence of buyer in the vlr-
tues of their medicines or electric
humbug, then half the batlle will be
won.
For most OF the ordinary ills OF life,
nature has a remedy, and if let alone,
the accommodation" Of the system
will throw it off or adjust itself.
If the buyer OF a nostrum really be-
lieves in it and allows the good advice
the dealer throws in without charge,
doing nothing rash in the meanwhile,
in a majority of cases, he will improve.
Nature cures him, but the remedy Or
appli ance gets all the credit. i is a
case of post hoe, propler hoe" and
is the sheet anchor OF most all sucn
hum5ugs. =.
Most Of the so.called ''madstones'
examined are bits OF porous fossil
limestone. They hsve strong atin-
ity for water or liquids, absorbing a
large quantity, wnicn afterwards
evapora.es, leaving it ready to suck
ap more. IF applied to fresh bite OF
dog, it will undoubtedly absorb
some of the water, blood or virus
which may come in contact with II,
IN the same way that any dry and po-
Gus substance, like blotting paper,
would do. Further tAan that, the
maidstone has no effect, except on the
oerves and Imagination OF the patient.
It is through the imagination the
stone does lis work, for not one dog
in thousand, which snaps at some
oodv, is mad" or affected with ra-
pies, some times called hydrophooia.
But the person bitten IS not apt to
shink so. To hin an angry dog IS
mad dog" and if bitten, IS likely to
suffer through his nervous fear. He
applies the stone, usually twelve hours
or more after the bite, as he may be
some distance from the person own
ing it. He gets we'll, and, behold, a
wonderful cure Is made.
When we reflect that the virus or
poison of the ra abieS will get into the
circulation, sufficient to inoculate a
oerson bitten, within very few min
utes, of whav effect, then, can the
maidstone" be if be has to send a
iozsn miles for one, except through
the imagination9 An immediate and
thorough washing of the wound Win
water folio wing by the application OF
spirits of turpedIine, will be worth
Ton of madStones. Indeed, the genuine
rabies, in the human being, is so rare
that the etiology Of the disease IS not
well known and many reputable phy-
sicians even doubt It's existence.
In the neigh5orhood Of Kinston, \.
c., there is q bed OF such limestone,
identical with the maidstone. Il is
found in the mari beds and ABUNDANT
enough to furnish every body IN the
United States with generous piece.
If some enterprising Swindler could
get possession of one of these quarrles
and advertise generously, what har-
vest he could reap out OF the credu.
lous! But he would have to rival the
genius Of Munchausen to invent the
cock and bull'' stories which always
form an important requisite IN every
genuine maidstone.