Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-01-24

absurd treatment Going back a
couple of hundred years, we find
one Samuel Terry writing to Gov
Thomas Hinckley, the sixth gov
ernor of the New Plymouth colony,
a sympathetic letter concerning
the death Of a child in his family,
and giving in much detail the
proper course of treatment in such
cases. Samuel Terry was a clergy
man and a graduate of Harvard
college. He held pastorate in a
church at Weymouth, Mass, for
more than 50 years. He was So
years of age when he wrote this
letter, and was therefore a man OF
much experience and more than
average intelligence at that time.
Here is what he wrote to the gov
ernor:
ITO give you an account OF what
we do in this sickness: First, as
soon as we are taken, we iake a
vomit of the infusion of crocus
metallorum. When it hath done
working, some hours after, we take
small dose of pill. ruff, two OF
three, more or less, according as
they work. This we take once In
"a hours, to keep the body soluble
throughout the whole sickness.
"Three hours after the pills frs,
given, or the first dose Of pills, we
take two spoonfulls of treaclewater
to a man or women, and proper
tionable less to a child. Let the
treaclewater be thoroughly tinged
or colored with saffron; and after
this give only one spoonful Of ire
aclewater every eight hours
throughout the sickness. This to
drive out the malignity by sweat;
to keep the sick in a breathing
sweat; which is the most hopeful
sign of recovery. If they be dis.
tempered in their heads, then, in.
stead Of one dose of pills, we give
the following blister; viz, one
handful of common barley, washed
and boiled in water. To the barley.
water add good spoonful of but.
ter, as much of sugar, and as much
small salt as will lie upon six.
pence. When it is almost cold
enough to be given, add the twc
yolks of eggs beaten, and give it.
IF the disease continue strong
and much afflict the head, we apply
blister-plasters to the ankles, .
little above the anklebone, on the
inside; sometimes, in case of strong
diliriums, or distraction to the
neck; sometimes to the wrists
We drink barley-water; in which
boil aniseseed, liquorice, figs sliced
raisins stoned, and good quantity
of maidenhair, and pimpernel, or as
many Of these things as may be had
Of this they may drink always C
their full. We find beer or cider
not good. For change of drins
sometimes we take posset-drink, il
which we boil featherfew.
eff the pain Of the side be very
grievous, we apply stonehorse dung
outwardly, and steep same in white
wine or cider, give inwardly, ane
administer a saltwater blister. Fol
the mouth, we take strawberry
leaves, fivefingers, violet, colum
bine, black brier leaves, sorrel,-
of each, and like quantity boilee
in spring water; sweeten it will
strip Of violets, or honey. Will
this both wash and syringe mouth
and throat often, night and day. l
availeth much to the comfort of tn,
sick to keep the mouth clean. Stew
prunes, together with a little guam
tity of SIENNA, tied in a rag; tax,
it sometimes instead of the pills.
1t does not appear in the lette
just what the disease was VIII: 4
| proved fatal in the governors fam
| lily, but if the child was dosed az
treated in that way, it is not /;
cause for much wonder that it died
/ XN.11s.l@ Tooolo