The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-06
AGAIN, THE MAIDSTONE.


injured innocents.
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AGAIN, THE MAIDSTONE.
The Times lspatch is favored with
an instructive letter from Mr.. j. B..
Faulkner on the maidstone. In re-
cent editorial article on that subject,
we noted that the reference books say
that there are three madstones in tho
United States, ono in Indiana and ono
in Virginia. but the third was not
located. Mr.. Faulkner says that the
third Is in possession OF the Pointer
family Of Person county. N. c.. the.
descendants ,of Captain Pointer, who
formerly resided at Hyco. Halifax
county, Va.
We have heard of this maidstone. 1t
being the one to which the old vir-
ginia doctor referred to by Tho Times
Dispatch had pinned his faith.
Our correspondent says that, accord
ing to tradition. that maidstone was
given to Captain Pointer. by strang-
or. In payment of nights lodging,
seventy-five or eighty years ago. The
stranger told his host that he expected
to return and redeem the stone, but II
he did not Captain Pointer could re-
tain 1t as his property, and that II
used as directed, he would find 1t In
valuable In the treatment OF mad
dog bites" The captain. however, at
tached little credence to the strangers
story. until some time afterward when
| u number of animals and several per-
sons in the neiShborhood were bitten
by rabid dog. The maidstone was
then brought into rcquisition, applied
to the wounds OF the persons bitten.
and proved 70 be preventive in every
case
Among those who We're treated"
says our correspondent. was a brother
OF mine and two OF my fathers me-
| groes. Although this was before
could remember, have often heard the
circumstances related by my brother
and the negroes who were treated by
tho stone. AS evidence that the dog
had rabies, every animal that WAS
| known to have been bitten by him
| went mad ana had to be killed. One
Of these was an or belonging to my
father, which attacked him in field.
and but for his being o1 n fast horse,
would have been killed by him.
Tho stone was accidentally broken
into two pieces, one of which is still
in the Pointer family in Person coun-
ty, while the other Is supposed to be
III possession OF other descendants OF
the family who went South years ago.
Mr.. Faulkner also relates that in
1850 man from Mississippi, who had
been bitten by niad-dog came all
the way from that state to tile Pointer
| maidstone for treatment. When our
| correspondent saw him it was the
eighth day after tho wound was in
| nictcd. and the victim was very
| anxious lest he should fail to reach
the Pointer homestead in time to get
| relief. as he was impressed with the
| lden that II the maidstone was not APP
| piled by the ninth day it would not
| take effect. ct never heard anything
more from him. concludes Mr.. Faux
ne'' NJ VIZ MI" !" t'e,'''i i'o "io
/ or Ho'. = feh''''i''er WIS '.nes's 7eel''s
tue wound on ms 5i'aha' Wl'ei' was q
| very bad one, but i have no doubt hf
was cured by the N'ohe' anu Well'
home Il much Napier man IMAM ne Was
4 When he came TO Wig la
This Is an interesting narrative ans ans
n valuable contribution 10 maidstone
4 history. as well as q faithful tribute
Ito its healing powers, II Is plain L
see that our correspondent, who is al
al8honest and Intelligent man. is be
lever III the virtues of the maidstone
y II there be others who have simlla
faith attested by works. wc7should b,
Hplcased to hear from them,
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DEMONSTRATION. FARMS ENitIBil
One OF the most instructive feature
or The stats Fair viii be exhibits fror