Year: 1874




In bound file of the Gettysburg COM
piler for 1921 we find the following cure
for the bite Of a mad dog printed on a slip:


"Take Of the chick weed, 2 OF. that has
been dried, or one handful; pour two
quarts Of good beer on it, and boil il in a
new carthen pot (the pot must be covered
with close lid until one-half Of the
liquor boils away it must be boiled over a
slow fire; the vessel IN which it is boiled
must be kept very clean and used for no
other purpose. When the herb is boiled
enough, 1t must be strained through clean
cloth and well squeezed, SO that the sub
stance may be taken out Of it; then add to
the dccoction two drachms Of the best
Teriac-it must be well dissolved and
mixed with the decoction.


"Of the above decoction give a man or
beast in the morning, fasting, the following
proportions "A man of strong constitution
must take one pint Of it, and that at one
time, If possible; if not, at short intervals;
If taken at one draught it is best. If
there should be no symptoms of madness,
the medicine must be taken two or three
mornings in succession; but if actaal
symptoms of madness should exist, a larger
portion of the herb should be added to
the aforementioned quantity of beer. A
woman should take less Of the medicine
than man, say about two or three and a
half gills; for children the medicine must
be regulated according to their age and
constitution; it must likewise be observed
that children can bear more of it than
grown persons, in proportion; the mother
or person who nurses child should take
one extra portion-if the child would re-
ceiye one or two spoonfuls of the medicine
it would be best.


"a horse should be given one pint;
COW twenty table-spoonsful; a dog accor-
ding to age, size and strength; heifer,
sixteen table spoousful; a calf, in propOrtiO,i
to its age; swine of three years, seven o.
eight spoonsful; the medicine must be
taken warm, if it should be prepared in
larger portion than for one Care should
be taken that il be well shaken, so that
| the sediment should not remain last, as it
might do harm. The medicine should be
taken in the morning before breaking fast,
and the fast should not be broken for
three or four hours. After taking il no
cold or fresh water must be taken, other
wise serious consequences might arise. In
cases Of necessity, where there are symp-
toms of disease or actual madness, no delay
should be made, but the medicine be
given as soon as the fit is off the patient;
should he reject it, it must be administer
ed in smaller proportions, at short intervals,
until the person is relieved. On the day
of taking the medicine the person must
abstain from spoon victuals, particularly of
milk or warm beer If beast, it must
not be watered on the day the medicine is
given; if person, he or she must abstain,
for two weeks, from the following articles,
viz: from pork of all kinds, cabbage of all
sorts, peas, beans, fish or water fowl.


"If person is bit through the skin, the
wound must be scratched with chip until
it bleeds, and washed with some of the
decoction; should any be left ii must not
be used again. This may be continued
for two or three days. If the wound re-
quires dressing, any simple ointment will
answer. This must be done twice day
until the wound is healed. Observe that
before dressing, the wound must be clean
ly washed with the decoction. Should
person, when giving medicine to patient
or beast, be scratched with the teeth, ii
viii be necessary for him to take portion
of the medicine. After having made use
of the medicine, the person must put on
clean linen, and change his clothes; and if
lying in bed or on bed, must shift the
linen; and the clothes must not be worn
until they are perfectly clean. The straw
on which the beast has lain must be burnt,
and the stable well cleaned.


"Take of the chick-weed 2 or. 2
drachms Of the Teriac, to quarts Of
strong beer; or half the quantity Of each;
strain it into tin dish, for one dose; to be
taken lukewarm."


The above is put up by Mr.. Smith,
Druggist, at Hanover, Pennsylvania, and,
we are informed, has never failed to cure.