Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1908-06-05
THE MAIDSTONE
STILL WITH US
Little Child, Bitten By Cat,
Resorts to The Old Remedy
For Relief and Cure.

Mr.. DAVID Cnurch, SOf Poor Valley
made hurried trip to Tazewell on
yesterday to get maidstone owned
by Treasurer, III. p. Britain, to ap-
ply TO wound made by cat, sup
posed to have the rabies. on the body
of his little daughter. He made a
trip to Bland county, thinking the
magic stone was there, 10 the pos
session of John II. Greever, but found
TO his dismay, that the stone was
here. He made the long ride, secured
the stone, and hurried back, having
travelled about so miles. Owing to
the isolation OF Mr.. Church's home
and distance from town, we are una
bic to learn anything further upon
going TO press this a. m The sup
position is, that the stone was at once
applied to the wound, and did its
work successfully and satisfactorily.
Mad-stones have been used in cases
OF bites from dogs supposed to be
mad, for hundreds of years-just
how long cannot be definitely stated.
The history of this peculiar stone
the only one in this section, is inter
esting. I'll. p. Britain, County Treas
urer, with party, was deer hunting
in Poor Valley, six years asgo. They
killed fine doe, and in the stomach
of this animal this stone was found.
All mad-stones are found in the
manifold, or second stomach, of the
deer, and in this animal only. Mr..
Britain was present when this stone
was obtained, and he has carried 1t
in his pocket ever since. The stone
is about the size OF % cent piece,
round, and about half inch thick,
perfectly smoothe and polished, and
OF light brown color. OF course il
is highly porous, and when applied
TO wound is supposed to absorb the
poison. 1t is said that the stone will
not adhere unless there is poison pre-
sert in the wound, but il there is,
will adhere tightly, and hold until
all the poison is drawn out and then
drop off. The stone is then boiled In
milk TO cleanse il, and il is ready for
another application.
Whether the mad stone is a fake,
and belief in its power TO extract
poison from wound made by a
rabid dog or other animal is only
superstition, is not known. Opinions
and beliefs differ. Wonderful and
marked cures are attributed TO the
magic power of the mysterious little
stone. Certainly Mr.. Church be-
lieves in its efficiency. John ID.
Daley was in the Court House when
Mr.. Church came after the stone, and
ventured TO express his disbelief in
the efficacy of the stone, and to give
some advice aud make a few sugges-
tions, when Mr.. Church informed him
that he was not looking for nor ask
ing advice, but wanted the stone. lie
got il.
Other people in the county have
used this means TO overcome results
of bites from mad dogs. Some years
ago rabid dog bit a large
number of cattle and boy,
named Pruitt near Pounding Mi. A
messenger was sent pest haste to
Cleveland, in Russell county, for a
mad stone, the only one then In this
section, and it was applied to the
wound on the boy. He got we'll, and
is living now. The cattle bitten died.
So, there you are. Other cases are
cited, and there are thousands oi
good people who believe that Pasteul
is not in it when compared with the
mad stone. Mr.. Britain prizes the
little stone highly, and guards il
closely, but holds it readily to b,
loaned at any time.