Gambar halaman
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

brimstone used in that way would remove cramps. He was exceedingly alarmed, and to my mind, frightened, and said, "Pray, gentlemen, don't leave me. The brimstone was simply held in the hand; a roll of it about four inches long. Had heard from those to whom I had recommended it to be tried in this way, that it had proved serviceable. Never tried anything in this way except brimstone, in order to prove whether any other hard substance clenched in the hand would remove cramps, and do not know whether it would or not. My impression was, and always has been, that it is the brimstone which has this effect. Gave it to him in one hand, and sent and got the other, which was also given to him.

After this, he covered himself up in blankets, and no person took it from him that I saw.

I examined the man while he was on the steam cot. He then complained of cramps; his face was a little flushed. Did not re

mark his eyes. The flushed face is not always an accompaniment of the cholera until after steaming. He said that he had cramps. Do not know it, except from his assertion, that he had violent cramps, and I should judge that they were violent from hearing the cry in the street. Do not positively know that the cry proceeded from Hazelip, but believe it did, as I knew it was some one who had the cholera. He shook; whether from fright, cholera or spasms. I know he was much alarmed. When I went into the room, his arms were not covered; they

were placing blankets around him, and gave him a little composition. There was no discharge from the bowels while I remained. I cannot explain exactly how I can distinguish a cholera groan. It is a groan of great distress, and I was sure the groan I heard proceeded from some one laboring under the cholera. Am no professor, only in my own family, where I make use of Thomson's medicine entirely, and no consideration should deprive me of it. It has always answered the purpose I intended it should. Did not feel Hazelip's pulse while I was there. Took hold of his arms. Use the Thomsonian medicines myself. Took a little nerve powder this morning, expecting a keel-hauling from what I had seen Dr. Cole undergo when he was called up. Own a right, and am a member of the Friendly Botanical Society. One of the provisions of becoming a member is, that we are bound to give all important information. to others who may purchase the rights, and may become members of the society. There is some other information more than is obtained from Thomson's book, which we are bound to communicate to each other, but which I do not feel at liberty to tell here.

The Deputy Attorney General. The witness should be directed to declare what this information of importance which the members profess to communicate to each other was. The publication of Thomson shows upon its face that there is other important information connected with the practice of this system; and to obtain which, he refers those

who purchase the book to some other source. Now it is necessary to a correct understanding of this question, that the court and jury should understand the nature of the information, and the object in referring to another source to obtain it, instead of the book itself. This was important to be known in this case, to decide how far these men are prac ticing a system which the knowledge they have of it proves to them is pernicious in its effects, and this information should be communicated to us to enable us to understand the tendency of the administration of the system of practice which we are now investigating.

The CHIEF JUSTICE. We are anxious that the case now before us should be understood as not an investigation of any system of medicine. Some latitude had been allowed in the investigation, but it was only by consent of the parties; but when an objection was raised to the question, we were bound to say we did not consider the question as relevant to the case. If the investigation was to be allowed to proceed, and the discussion of the different systems of practice pursued, were permitted, there is no knowing where the case would stop; it would never be terminated. The Court has seen that different professors and different schools of medicine differ upon questions of practice in this room, and who should decide between them? We are not competent to say whether Thomson's system is better than the old, or whether the old is better than Thomson's. This is a matter which the Court cannot

decide, and we are sure the jury cannot. And we would ask, what is quackery? We are sure that we are unable to decide what it is. Altogether, the question must come to the language of the indictment, which is specific, and to these specific charges the investigation must be limited. The testimony, therefore, proposed to be produced, is not relevant to the case.

Mr. Pope. There are privileges attached to the membership of the Friendly Botanic Society which I do not feel at liberty to state. Have understood that Burke holds one of these rights. It bears date, I think, 17th April, 1827. Have gone through a course of medicine myself on the Thomsonian system. First I took composition; then I took composition again. The third remedy is sometimes an injection. Lobelia comes next, cayenne pepper comes next; next in order we throw it up. Sometimes we take a good drink of anti-canker tea, next about half a pint of good porridge. The porridge won't come up. Then we take a little more composition, number 6, or cayenne, at discretion. Then take a little more porridge. I make mine of corn gruel, and use with it a little molasses. Then we throw up again, but the porridge won't come up. But we must go back; I forgot the steam. We take the steam before the emetic. This is my experience and practice, and generally after the injection. Injections always operate. We always steam before the emetic. We apply the steam before we empty the stomach. We take the emetic to cleanse

the stomach. What we call canker is a mucous substance, which comes from the stomach. We apply the steam from five to twenty-five minutes. Have applied it that long on myself, but never have taken it longer. Have taken it when I was slightly unwell. Have gone through a regular course when I have been slightly unwell. Have never had a very severe attack since I have been in possession of a right. The certificate is dated 27th March, 1830, and I have never had any severe sickness since I have taken these medicines. The first time I was very ill was in 1819. Had the yellow fever. The next severe attack I had was in going to the Western country, in the year 1825. Have never been very sick since. Have been very well since 1830. Have had no serious spell since, but have been frequently slightly sick, and have made use of these medicines. Whenever I have felt unwell, I have taken Thomson's medicines, and they have proved always beneficial. Have had better health since than I ever had before. Had for several years what they call the consumption, and it is to Thomson's medicines I attribute my present health.

[blocks in formation]

a man on the steam cot, undergoing the Thomsonian treatment. He complained very much of spasms and cramps in his arms and legs. Bell only was present when we first went in. Burke was not present. Bell was rubbing his arms with number 6, for the purpose of allaying the spasms. Expressed my opinion that the current of air in the room would do more harm than the rubbing would do good. His arms were exposed as far as the elbows. The steam was introduced at his feet. Mr. Pope pulled out of his pocket a roll of brimstone, and put it intɔ Hazelip's hand; he seemed too warm. Examined his feet and thought it was warmer than was necessary. Advised Bell to reduce the steam, and he did so by turning it off. We remained about fifteen minutes. He complained of pains in his arms and legs for five or six minutes, and then seemed relieved, and ceased complaining. After this Burke came in, and said he had been after medicine. He then gave a dose of composition, and in a few minutes he was considerably easier, and not in so much pain. Have seen cases of cholera during the epidemic in this city. Was called to, I think, eight cases. Thought them cases of cholera. Other persons thought. so, and expressed their opinion that they were cases of cholera. Was unwilling to risk my own judgment; called on Mr. Myers and Mr. Williams, whom I had known frequently to have practiced in cases of cholera, and with great success. Would say unhesitatingly that the exhibition and symptoms of the case of

Hazelip, and those I have attended, had a striking similarity; they had all cramps, and were measurably the same. Generally took such persons as I undertook through a whole course, but not all. Never applied steam to the system generally, except by means of the application of hot bricks to the body and feet. Never had an opportunity of using the steam bath. When I have applied the steam, I have continued it until the spasms were removed. Have sometimes been obliged to continue it for four hours at a time. Give the composition first. Have had a right about three months; not before the epidemic. I commenced in consequence of the illness of my wife. Myself and Mr. Williams attended her. Cramps and spasms were what I judged the cholera by. Have found the tongue very cold. Hazelip's pulse was fuller and quicker than I generally found

it.

Roger Brooke. Have used no other medicines in my family for two years than the Thomsonian medicines, and have also given them to some of my neighbors and friends who have urged me to do so. The plant lobelia, which has been so often spoken of, I have known from my boyhood under the name of eyebright, a name given to it for its great virtues in curing inflammation of the eyes. It has proved very effectual in curing diseases of the eye, and I have known it to be applied after all the remedies recommended by the regular physicians have failed, and to succeed. Have known one application of the

a

green plant to prove effectual in cases of the most violent inflammation of the eyes. Believe that our standard writers who have treated of lobelia, have labored under a great mistake. Dr. Waterhouse and others who have treated of it seem to have confounded it with another plant. The lobelia inflata is not poisonous, as many have described it. Cattle will eat it at all times; but the lobelia cardinalis spoken of by Dr. Bigelow, I have never known cattle to browse upon. These two they have confounded together, when they are very different plants, and their effects are entirely different. Have never known plant of the lobelia cardinalis to be browsed upon; this is the plant which Dr. Bigelow has described. Have taken lobelia myself several times, and have frequently administered it with success to others. In a case of hemorrhage of the lungs of one of my neighbors, who had been under a course for years of the usual remedies, and at last determined not again to apply for medical aid, I was solicited to administer, and I felt the responsibility of the case. Having read Dr. Waterhouse and the defense of Thomson, and having confidence in him, I was induced to try them, and checked it in less than three hours. The patient got up, eat heartier than I did, and used active exercise, and is now in good health. He was as white as the wall. He statel that he discharged more the last time than at any previous time. I thought that if I could equalize the circulation, I might succeed. Some medical gentleman

said it would stop itself. They then tried to pursuade him there was, in a large one, less danger than in a small one. I did not use lobelia in this case; I used cayenne, No. 6, composition powder, ginger tea and steam. This stopped the hemorrhage. My object was to get the circulation equalized. It was about 9 o'clock that I was sent for; the blood continued to discharge for some time; it was checked before 12 o'clock. It returned, however, and continued to discharge, and appeared as if he was puking it up. It was blood from the lungs, I have no doubt. The blood was florid, or light colored.

an

I have never had reason to suppose any injury to result from the use of lobelia. Have taken antimonial wine, tartar emetic and ipecacuanha as emetic, but I consider that lobelia is much the easiest medicine to effect that object. It relieves the stomach without any of the nauseating feeling which the others produce. The doses of lobelia are generally a teaspoonful at a dose of the powder, and to be repeated in ten or fifteen minutes. Have taken myself three doses; and repeated them in that time sometimes as high as seven teaspoonfuls. It sometimes operates on me the first or second teaspoonful. Believe it is of importance to have it fresh. Have used cayenne pepper in my own case, and always carry a bottle of it with me. Am sub. ject to depression of spirits, and find it necessary to have it with me. If I take a little of it in the morning, it causes a glow over the whole system; I feel ex

hilarated and enlivened for the whole day. Have a cold and dyspeptic stomach, and find it serviceable to take a little cayenne. In case of violent pains, a half teaspoonful will afford relief. One of my neighbors was taken violently with spasmodic cholera, and sent for me to administer relief. I sent my son with directions to give half a teaspoonful, to observe its effects, and if it was borne well, to repeat it. The person was in violent pain; the husband was so frightened that he could render no assistance, and the full teaspoonful was given in mistake. The consequence was, she was relieved, and soon well. Have found cayenne pepper the most permanent, powerful and purest stimulant known. Other stimulants shatter the nerves. When

I had typhus fever, my physician gave me brandy. Brandy is not so good as cayenne in such cases. This I have learned, as well from my own experience as from the medical authorities. I have studied the nature, and consulted authors on the subject of cayenne. Rees' Cyclopedia has an article on it. A gentleman lately read authorities to guard me against using it, and attempted to satisfy me that it had injurious effects. Dr. Wright also represents it as being very effective in some fevers which prevail when no other medicines can have the same effect. A work by Dr. Wright, of Barbadoes, treats of the good effects of cayenne in some particular diseases. Never had the smallest reason to suppose it has done any injury.

More than twenty persons

« SebelumnyaLanjutkan »