The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-04
Prepared Human Skull, the Root Of The Male
Peony, Powdered Pearls, Etc.
PERSECUTION FOR EpIlEpTlC FITS.
Prepared Earhaoms and Human Skull In a
Spoonful Of CephaIic Jalap Crabs Eyes
For the Kings Evil.

ington, has collected an interesting array
OF facts that show the pleasant and scien-
tlflc manner of treating the diseases Of
children that obtained about 200 years
ago. The paper was read before "a joint
meeting of the Medical and Anthropo-,
logical societies in Washington, and was
received with much attention.
Tho first authority quoted by him was
DIR. Thomas Willis, an eminent physician
Of England lie was born in 1921 and
died in 1914. He wrote concerning the
treatment of epilepsy:
"A Man in this Neighborhood had all
his Children dead of Commissions within
three months after they were born. At
length, TO prevent the same Fate in Son
OF his that was new born, he thought prop
or to try the Power of Medicine. ] was
called to him few days after the Birth
and ordered AN Issue in the first Place to
be made in his Neck, and that two Ounces
of Blood should be drawn next Day at the
Neck by the Application of Leoches lad
vised besides that for three Days before
each Change OF the Moon, and again be-
fore tho Full, about five Grains of tho fol-
lowing Powder should be given hin.
Morning and Evening in a Spoonful Of
the Julap:
Take prepared Human Skull the Root
of Male Peony, of each one Drachm.
Pearls in Powder half Drachm Mix
them all together and make a very fine
Powder
"Tako Of Black Cherry Water three
Ounces. The Antepileptick Water of Ian
gins, an Ounce Syrup of the Flowers of
Male peony, six Dlachms.
II likewise ordered the Nurse Co take
Draught of Whey, in which the Roots and
Seeds of Male Peony, and the Leaves of
Lilly of the Valley had been boiled. twice
every Day at tho same Hours.
1.-THE Child continued well about two
Months and then began to no troubled
with Convulsivo Disorders; upon which
Account the same Medicines were again re-
peated in large Doses, both To the Child
and Nurse Blisters were applied behind
the Ears, and he was again bleeded at the
Jugulars with Leeches. BY these Means
he got well again within two or three
Days After he was seven Years old, tho
Commissions entirely left him, but about
the lower part of the Back Bone. an in
dolent Tumor arose. This Tumor occa-
stoned Distortion of the Vertebre, WI hich
was succeeded by Weakness of tho
Limbs, and at length Palsy"
DR.. Walter I:arris, physician in ordi-
nary TO King William III of England
(born in England in 1861 and died in
1890, says;
"A girl IL years old Of sanguine con.
stitution and troubled with very long and
violent Epileptic Paroxysms, desired my
advice the Eighteenth Of December, 1901
For six months she had suffered two
severe paroxysms each day. The Paroxysm
was In this manner: She fell first down
as II dead upon tho floor or bed; whence
this disease Is called the Falling Sickness,
and after remaining motionless for. n lit
tie while she tossed her limbs here and
there with great force and violence, at
tempting TO beat herself with he: hands
Sho frequently bendod her head down
ward with strong Convulsions, and flung
IL backward with such force, as If she de-
signed To- dash tho hind part of her Skull
ID pieces.
After giving this vivid and accurate
picture of epilepsy he says: II prescribed
for her the following powders: Take of
prepared Earth Worms One Ounce. HUI
man Skull prepared Two Scruples (forty
grains) Mix them and divide into twelve
pow ders, one to be taken twice "a day in a
spoonful Of Cephalic .Iulap"
Or. Richard Wiseman lived about coo
years ago, and was the physician to King
Charles III OF England, and from his treu-
tise on tho kings evil or scrofula, tho
following paragraph is taken After pro-
scribing various remedies he says;
But where chat does not agree we pro-
scribe distilled milk of which this sort
may serve as an example. Take of best
sarsaparilla one pound, Shnvings of Harts-
horn six ounces. Leaves Of Agrmony and
OK both kinds of Fluelline. OF each three
fttla lgH .,f
each two drachms English Liquorice a
pound Garden Snails one hundred
Earth Worms ono pound. New Cows
MIX two gallons.
"Distill them according To art and To
three pounds or pints Of the distilled liquor
add two ounces of prepared Crabs Eyes
Let him take of this To the quantity of
four ounces NJ n time adding to each dose
some quantity Of Cinnamon Water.
DIR Harris treatment OF fcver was
10 child of year old laboring under
a foycr or tormcntod with gripcs | COM
monty prescribe i'm the following manner
Take Compound Powder of Crabs Claws,
Prepared Pearls Of each one drachm go
grainsl. Mix them and make a powder To
bo divided into six equal parts. The child
must take ono OF these Immediately and
let II bc repeated Of the case require two
hours thereafter. anu then every fourth
hourl."
DIR. Burton. who was contemporary
with DR. Harris wruto AN interesting
monograph ON chin cough. or whoopiug
cough, MS IL Is caf1cd I'm our day lie says:
"Wh0n am called. II the child be I'm
danger OF beine convulsed. In the first |
place, In order to gain time. Let some
blood. which would not otherwise do
because it ia contrary To the second indi. |
cation, and those children who were bled |
or much purgod were always longer i'm ~. !,
covering than those who had not been |
bled at all
Il ordercd Scruple, eco grairs) OF Con.
tharides lSpanish fiies) and rs much Cam. !