The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-13
Especial Dispatch TO Tho Times


4a5EsBURG, VA, April 1.-TWO recent
s0aocessful applications Of the Loudour'
N0onty maidstone 10 wounds inflicted by
Gid animals in tho past several months
hsve done much to bring that unassum1ng
ktle stone into prominence throughout
HE. Stale, and a brief sketch OF its in-
HOesting history, 50 far as it can be
0Aced. may not at this time be iGappro-
DE4ate-
About the middle Of February just past,
tAac Fox. living OH tie Iidsc above Kim
ball in Page county, noticed that his
brood of pigs seemed TO be choking. To
discover the trouble he and his nephew,
6Gm Grandstsff. cauts ously opened the
on6utll OF one of the pigs, when the ami
NAL saragely shut down on the latter's
Fingers, inflicting severe wound. "A
GSw days later the SOW and pigs all ca
E1hdted evident signs of rabies and sub
0oluenty died. Young Grandstaff at
Once set out for the maidstone, which was
opplied 10 his wound and adhered Il
twelve hours. At the end cf that time II"
returned to his HON all Examination and
trace OF poison gone.
Less than two weeks ago Mr.. Hugh
Nottingham. of Berryvillc, was attacked
and bitten by a mad dog. He, too made
Ill haste to reach the wonderful antidote
and the next day returned to his home
cured.
It is not generally known, but Loudoun
county has two OF these valuable little
Utones, whose efficacy for extracting ani-
NAL poison makes them fair rival for
Ehe Pasteur Institute, and whose very
simplicity OF treatment battles all at
Hernpt at explanation. The stone which
effected the two cures mentioned above
Is general known, as the ''Geiman'' stone
having now been in that family for
nt1,nber OF years. So far as its origin
car be traced it was brought 10 This
Goxnt1y from England in 1867, by a mem
losr of the Fired family. The stone was
FOUND in a chest. and though its value
Na5 known. tho secret Of its use, and
The simple method of extracting tho poi
NON from the stone itself defied all eS-
pRiments. Further back than 1867. when
If1s stone was discovered in the chest in
Pennsylvania, its history cannot be trac-
"a.
Shortly after landing in this country NJ.
&oSeph Fred. Sr.. moved with his family
90 Loudoun county, bringing with him
efe valuable yet thus far. useless stone.
HOT long after his settlement here. mis-
olusne was one day visited by a stranger
Who professed TO know the all-important
secret, and offered to make it known
for half of the stone. The question was
debated in the family for some Time, but
dnding the stranger unmoveable in his
Denomination to accept nothing but part
Ok the stone itself. they finally complied
N1lfal his terms, and the division was
made. They then learned that soaking
I'M milk-warm water for a short time
would extract all poison from the stone
I'D render it ready for use again.
4, Tho stranger departed. taking with him
~ valuable acquisition, to .llis home III
3Ao Valley OF Virginia. But if he dream
"a of winning celebrity by means OF its
sTunderful healing powers his dreams
Nure destined 10 never be fulfilled for I
HkN years after his house and all its coa-
D1nts Including the piece OF maidstone.
Vare burned 10 the ground
From MIR. Joseph Fred ST.. the stone
o2ssed into the hands of his nephew. Mr..
Soseph HadIey Fred. and subsequently to
ahe latter's sister, Mrs. Eliza Woodward.