have reported to me the good effects they have experienced from the use of cayenne pepper, and many of them have declared that they would not use any other medicines except in extreme cases. I drop a little cayenne in a glass of water, and take it in that way for the dyspepsia, and think it very valu able for that, as well as other diseases. Dr. Bigelow has described lobelia cardinalis as with a bright red blossom, and growing along the margins of streams of water.

Hemlock is not poisonous. It is a tree nearly resembling pine or spruce, with leaves like the spruce, but it certainly is not poisonous, as my own experience has fully proved, as well as others whom I have known to have used it without any fear of its effect. I freely use it, and my family also use it.

Nerve powder has been recommended by several eminent persons as valuable in some diseases, and it is frequently used by persons who have habituated themselves to the use of opium and laudanum. To some that I have recommended it, they have said they were much obliged to me for suggesting it, as it had the effect to quiet their nerves without having the same stupifying effect that opium has. This I have found from what I have tried myself.

Composition powder I also use freely, without any apprehension of its consequences, and with the same good effect. I took some of it this morning. It has also an enlivening effect, and tends to warm the stomach, to use the expression which has

been so often hinted at here, it keeps the internal above the external heat.

Canker I understand to be synonymous with, and the same as what is called acrid humor, or, in other words, the principle. which produces the decay and decomposition of plants. Dr. Mitchell terms it the principle of decay. Children have often what is termed the canker rash, which relieves them by its eruption.

Have never known the medicines which I have mentioned to prove injurious, but invariably the contrary. Have applied them in the greatest variety of diseases, such as violent cases of dysentery, accompanied with violent pains, so much so as to render the patient refractory. Have also used them with advantage in cases of bloody flux. Have had a patient that had been under treatment for more than a week, by two physicians who were near me. I gave him some of the composition and some No. 3; and, lastly, some of the lobelia. He had the scarlet fever, accompanied with an inflammation of the breast. By the use of these remedies he was relieved in an hour. Never administered the vapor bath without the patient expressing the greatest satisfaction. Although the patient, when about to commence the steam application, was suffering violent pain, they have always stated that while under its effects they were entirely free from pain. In the first stage of a cold, a little stimulating medicine and the application of the vapor bath prove of great use the only danger is in

coming out of the bath, which requires great care. Am generally governed by the feelings of the patient, as to the length of time I continue the application of steam; as soon as complaint is made of its being oppressive, I would desist. While the operation of the steam is going on, I always have prepared some warm stimulating medicines to be administered at the same time, and I have always heard the patients express themselves as being entirely clear of pain while in the bath. Also consider the vapor bath as beneficial in cases of chronic pains, and have seen the good effects of it. I produce the vapor which I use for this purpose by putting hot stones in water, which is the same in principle as the steam bath. I have not the same conveniences for a steam bath as some others, and make use of this simple plan as a substitute, and find it answers the same

good purpose. Always regulate the steam by the feelings of the patient. Some years ago I had an opportunity of seeing Dr. Jennings' vapor bath; but I consider its application as entirely different from Thomson's bath. It produces very much the same feelings as going into a stove room. It wants moisture, and without this I consider much of its good effect is lost. I never had one patient who underwent the operation of the vapor bath but what expressed pleasure in it. At first, the patient is a little uncomfortable, not being able to breathe freely, but after continuing a few moments, it produces a very pleasant, soothing sensation, I took Thomson's

directions, and continued the steam generally fifteen or twenty minutes, but always had reference to the feelings of the patients; sometimes they wished it continued longer and I have done so without experiencing any injurious effects. Used the vapor bath and the medicines at the same time. In burns, frostbites and chilblains, I have used them with much satisfaction. Have used the vapor with bricks, to patients who have been so ill as not to be able to set up, by heating them and pouring water over them, and then wrapping them up in blankets; and I have sometimes kept them under the influence of this steam all night, for the purpose of keeping up the perspiration, or to use one of Thomson's homely phrases, until we obtain a heat that will hold. Sometimes I have seen patients so low as not to be able to speak, come out relieved. Consider the system of Thomson as very much adapted to the cure of all forms of diseases. I have had a great deal of ill health, and have had the practice of ten or twelve physicians, and have often been bled without relief; and as far as I have tried it, consider it injurious.

Have actually tried these medicines in a variety of diseases, some of them contradictory in their nature, some inflammatory, some the reverse, and I have relieved them in the course of a few hours, and have always found these medicines to have their desired effects. Consider them as innocent, warm and comforting to the stomach. According to my opinion, the stomach is invigorated by the

Endeavor to apply Thomson's principles as far as I understand them, the object of which is to get up the vital heat of the system. And to give the bath before the emetic, as you by that means prepare the emetic to operate with more ease. Believe in the inward and outward heat spoken of by Thornson, and that if you deprive the stomach of its warmth you deprive it of so much of its power of action, and disturb the whole system. The outward heat is that which appears on the surface of the body; the inward heat is that which is contained in the stomach. So that we have two heats, inward and outward. The principle upon which Thomson acts, and which I believe to be a reasonable doctrine, and seems to agree with common sense, is to keep the internal above the external heat; that is, above the heat of the atmosphere-to keep the fountain above the stream. Did not adopt the system of Thomson without reflection and examination, and the more I have reflected upon and examined it, the better I am satisfied with it. Have learned in a very severe school, Have gained

much of my information upon these subjects from my own ex perience. Am now fifty-eight years old, and have had much sickness, and some very violent attacks. So that it was not merely from reading that I have adopted it, but also from the actual experiment of their beneficial effects. Rees in his Cyclopedia, which I consider good authority upon most subjects, gives the opinion of some celebrated medical writers, which serves to support and corroborate this system. Have read Dr. Waterhouse. He did not consider Thomson so illiterate that he could not properly explain his views, and illustrate so as to render them intelligible. The principles of Thomson's system is, that heat is life, and that cold is death. That there is a constant warfare kept up in the system between these two principles of heat and death. And that in all cases of death it is because cold has prevailed. This is the principle of this system, and going upon this impression, it is, that the medicines are applied.

Have suffered very much from rheumatism, and have tried many remedies; have used mustard seed, and almost everything that has ever been used for the rheumatism, until I became so bad that I could not ride on horseback at all. When I became acquainted with Thomson's medicines, I used them and always found relief in a few hours. The difference between mustard seed and cayenne pepper is this, that the mustard seed are volatile, and that the cayenne pepper is permanent. All volative remedies are injuri

ous; they have a tendency to derange the nervous system. Cayenne instead of deranging it, strengthens and supports it. Brandy is volatile in its effects, but after the excitement which has been but temporary, has passed off, it leaves the subject more depressed than before. Have used brandy in disease, and it has injured me. If I take a dose of cayenne in the morning it is permanent; it lasts all day. It produces a liveliness of spirits, a warmth and glow over the whole system which continues through the day. Frequently take it in the morning to produce this effect, knowing that it is harmless in its nature.

The first time I took lobelia it was fifteen minutes before it acted. Physicians in my neighborhood think it too inert; my own experience, as well as all the information I have been able to collect relative to it, proves it to be the contrary. Lobelia I never used to act as a cathartic. Thomson says that in a practice of thirty years, he never knew it to act in that manner, and this agrees with my own experience. Never knew, much as I have used it, that when it was taken into the stomach that it has produced that effect. Never gave an injection of it, nor have I ever given an injection of cayenne. That is an operation I have never performed myself. Have given directions upon the subject, and referred the nurse to Thomson's book for further advice, and have known it to have been done, but never performed it myself. Cayenne pepper I consider one of the most perma

nent stimulants that can be had. The steam bath will afford warmth to the system, when on the point of an ague, and has a tendency to restore the warmth to the surface; but I doubt very much its being highly stimulant. Look upon it as acting directly contrary, producing perspiration which causes for the time a debility and relaxation of the system; consequently it cannot be said to possess the stimulating properties which the cayenne possesses. The internal vigor of the system sends the blood to the surface. Think the vapor bath relaxes the system. It causes the volume of the pulse to be much enlarged. The volume but not its quickness. The blood flows from the heart, but as to explain its operation or the general action of the human system, I do not pretend to do it. My reading has not been very extensive. Have tried to be a practical man, and am better able to give facts than theories. Have an opinion upon all subjects which come before me; some of them may be taken up falsely, but I still have an opinion of my own. But if I were tɔ attempt to express that opinion, I might only display my ignorance. Consider that the steam bath removes many obstructions in the system by directing the circulation to the surface. I don't think I am able to define all that acts upon the system as stimulants. Have always found by my own experience, and the knowledge I have found from other sources, has sustained me in the belief that the vapor bath has a relaxing tendency, and its effect is to drive the blood to the

surface of the body, and that it causes an increase in the volume of the pulse. In the administration of the steam bath, I have always been governed by circum stances and feelings. Consider lobelia to be rather stimulating. It has a tendency to loosen the phlegm; it imparts a warmth over the whole body; it produces nausea, and the effect of this is, that it is likely to cause the person to break out into a perspiration. The first case in which I used Thomson's medicines was a case of intermittent fever, which was relieved by their application. The second case was a swelled mouth, occasioned from a violent cold. In this they had also a happy effect. Have repeatedly used them since in rheumatism, scarlet fever, quinsy, inflammation of the breast from cold, dysentery, cholera morbus, cramp colic, and for aught Í know, spasmodic cholera (we used to call it cramp colic), and all the premonitory symptoms, such as disorder of the bowels.

Would ask leave to state one matter in justice to myself. It has been stated that there was some sort of pledge of secrecy on the part of those who practice the Thomsonian system, or that they obtained by some means information which was not to be revealed to any one but who also practiced the system. I wish it to be distinctly understood that I know of no such information as has been alluded to, and I have felt it due to myself to make this statement, as I consider it a sort of imputation upon my character that I should be connected with any secret association. I know of none.

I

look upon the matter alluded to by Thomson in his book where he refers to his agents for information not contained in it, merely to allude to the fact that he was so illiterate and unacquainted with the terms used in midwifery that if he undertook to give directions upon that subject it would be done in such language as would be unfit to be published; that therefore he thought it most advisable to refer to his agents for the information upon this subject. I considered that it referred to midwifery alone.

Mrs. Lydia Peters. Last spring three years Mr. Burke attended me. Had been long and severely indisposed for fifteen months. Dr. Thomas L. Murphy came to see me several times. Dr. Murphy said he could do nothing more than he had done. This he also told my mother. He brought another doctor with him. Do not know what he said to my mother, but they were discharged. Think his name was Smith. Do not know whether it was Professor Smith or not. He was a small man; do not know whether he wore spectacles. Burke was sent for after they were discharged. Had been confined to my bed part of the time, and part I was able to be about the house; but did not go out. Experienced no relief from the treatment of Dr. Murphy. I consider that I was entirely cured by Mr. Burke. Experienced great relief immediately upon the application of his remedies. My father and mother both attributed my cure to the skill and attention of Mr. Burke. In about six or seven weeks