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DISEASES OF VERMONT.

CANKER-RASH, DYSENTERY AND FEVERS.

In 1838, Mutual Insurance companies | common, but not very mortal. About were incorporated in each of the five the year 1784, canine madness prevailed, counties of Bennington, Windham, Rut- not only among dogs, but cats, foxes and land, Windsor & Orange, which accounts wolves were affected. On the 17th of for the slight diminution of the business March of this year, a Mr. Stewart, of of the state insurance company since that Barnard, was bitten in the face by a mad period. wolf. In 27 days from that time symptoms of hydrophobia appeared, and three days after he died of that horrid disease. His son, bitten in the arm by the same animal, had symptoms of the disease in 30 days, but recovered.

SECTION VIII.

Diseases of Vermont.

The canker rash was epidemic in the western part of the State in the winter of 1787-8. In the summer and fall of 1788, the dysentery prevailed, and proved very mortal; and was followed by the measles. In the fall of 1789, the influenza was universally epidemic; scarcely an individual escaped, and in some cases it prov

Although Vermont is blessed with an atmosphere, and with water as pure and wholesome as any other country in the world can boast, still diseases of several kinds have prevailed, more or less, from the very commencement of the settle-ed mortal. This year was noted for a ment. A particular account of these, and especially of such as have been epidemic, with the accompanying circumstances of temperature and state of the atmosphere -origin and progress,--symptoms and treatment, would constitute an interesting and valuable part of our domestic history. The limits, however, of this work will admit only of a brief abstract.

general scarcity of provisions; but the statement of Mr. Webster was news to the inhabitants, that, "In Vermont people were reduced to the necessity of feeding on tadpoles, and pea straw boiled with potatoes."

From 1790 to 1795, there were cases of the ordinary diseases of the climate, but no serious epidemic. In the winter, at The diseases, which have been most the beginning of the year 1795, the pleucommon in Vermont, are fevers, dy sente-risy was epidemic, and in some places ry, consumption and other inflammatory considerably mortal. In the fall of this complaints arising from colds, induced by the sudden changes of temperature to which our climate is subject. The two former have frequently been epidemic and at some times very fatal. Cases of consumption have occurred in every year from the first settlement of the State, but it is believed that their increase has been in a much greater ratio, than that of the population. Intermittent fevers were common in many places in the neighborhood of lake Champlain, when the country was new, but since the lands have become generally cleared cases of that complaint are of rare occurrence.

year, the ulcerous sore throat, or canker rash began to prevail, and during the following winter it was very mortal. It was computed that there were from 20 to 30 deaths to each 1000 inhabitants, throughout the State. In the spring of 1796, the measles were common, and in the summer and autumn, fevers and dysentery produced considerable mortality. The latter disease was very fatal to young children, particularly in the neighborhood of Rutland.

In 1797, fevers, which had been called inflammatory, bilious, or remittent, assumed a more formidable character, and Previous to the American Revolution were then called typhus or putrid fever. the population of Vermont was very in- The canker rash, or scarlet fever continuconsiderable, and little is known respected this year, and canine madness was ing the diseases up to that event. Be-common. The prevailing diseases in 1798, tween the years 1773 and1777,a malignant sore throat is known to have prevailed at several times and to have been fatal to many children. In the summer of 1776 and, also, of 1777, the dysentery was universally prevalent in this State and throughout New England; and produced great suffering and mortality in the American army, in the neighborhood of lake Champlain. The same disease prevailed extensively in this State between 1783 and 1790. In 1781 catarrhal fevers were

were typhus fever and dysentery. They were both severe in some neighborhoods, while others were comparatively exempt. The dysentery was particularly mortal in Pomfret, Norwich and Sandgate. From 1799 to 1806, the dysentery prevailed more or less, during the summer and autumn of each year. In 1802, it produced considerable mortality in many places. The year 1800, was distinguished for the prevalence of the typhus fever in the neighborhood of Woodstock, and

SPOTTED AND LUNG FEVERS,

ASIATIC CHOLERA.

in 1802 and 1803, the canker rash, or ever experienced in Vermont. This disthroat distemper prevailed generally, but ease resembled that which immediately was not quite so mortal as it had been at preceded it, excepting in having its chief some former periods. In 1803, the hoop-location upon the lungs, and being longer ing cough prevailed. In 1804, an influ- in reaching its crisis. It commenced in enza, or catarrhal fever, produced consid- this State, among the troops of the United erable mortality along the western part States army, stationed at Burlington, in of the State. The prevailing disease in the autumn of 1812, where it proved very 1805, was the typhus fever. mortal, carrying off from 10 to 12 a day, for several weeks before it began to spread among the inhabitants. But, by the beginning of the year 1813, it had become general throughout the State; and in the course of the winter, it swept off from 20 to 60 of the most respectable and useful inhabitants of almost every town. The whole number of deaths in the State, by this disease during the winter, was estimated at more than 6000, or one death to every 40 inhabitants.*

The year 1807, was noted for a severe influenza, which prevailed, not only in Vermont, but throughout the United States and Canada, and also in Europe. In the summer of 1808, fevers were common, but the following year, 1809, was remarkably healthy. This year was, however, noted for a general blight upon wheat.

In the year 1810, the diseases of this State seem to have assumed a new character, taking a sthenic or inflammatory type, and from this period for several years, the greatest amount of sickness was in the winter instead of the summer, as had been previously the case. It was about this period, that that short and fatal malady, the spotted fever, first made its appearance in Vermont. It did not, however, excite general alarm, or prevail extensively till the beginning of 1811. In January of this year, it made its first appearance in the vicinity of Woodstock. From the 23d of January to the 23d of March, the average number of new cases was about 35 weekly, within a circuit of five miles from the court-house in that town. The whole number of cases, within the above limits, up to the first of June, was computed to be about 600; and the number of deaths between 60 and 70. During the same time this disease appeared in the greater part of the towns in the eastern part of the State, from Massachusetts to Canada, and in many places the mortality was,proportionally, much greater than at Woodstock Although the disease was very considerably abated during the summer, it renewed its ravages in the fall, and in the beginning of 1812, it was in many places, even more fatal than it had been the preceding winter.

This epidemic was calculated to produce the utmost alarm. No age, nor sex, no condition was exempted. It, however, more commonly attacked, and fell with greatest force, upon persons of the most robust and hardy constitutions; and it often proved fatal to such in the course of a few hours from their first attack. It was not uncommon for the patient to be a corpse, before a physician could be brought to his assistance.

The spotted fever was followed by the epidemic peripneumony, or lung fever, which proved to be the severest epidemic

From 1814 to 1832, there was nothing remarkable in the diseases of the State. Isolated cases of consumption, typhus and Jung fevers and other endemics were constantly occurring, and annually bringing down numbers to the grave, and dysenteries, scarlet fever, measles, influenzas, &c., were several times epidemic, and produced considerable mortality, in particular sections.

Early in June, 1832, that most dreadful disease, the Asiatic cholera, made its first appearance on this side of the Atlantic. It commenced nearly at the same time at Montreal and Quebec, and soon extended into the United States, producing a universal panic throughout the country. The first case of cholera in Quebec, was on the 8th of June, and in the first three days there were 41 deaths, and the number of fatal cases there during the summer, was about 2000. In the course of three months from the appearance of the disease in Montreal, it is computed to have carried off 2800 persons out of a population of 30,000, or one eleventh part of the whole.

Although the alarm was very great in Vermont, on the appearance of the cholera in

Canada, but few fatal cases occurred within the State, and these were mostly confined to the towns along lake Champlain. In Burlington there were only four deaths by the cholera, three of these on the 17th and 18th of June, and the last on the 24th of August, and the whole number of fatal cases of the disease within the State did not exceed 10 or 12. During the prevalence of this disease in Canada, in 1834, Vermont was entirely exempted from it.

Since 1834, no alarming epidemic has prevailed, and all parts of the State have

*Our materials thus far are derived principally from Dr. Gallup's work on the epidemics of Vermont.

PULMONARY CONSUMPTION.

been remarkably healthy during this time, with exception of the last fall and winter. Since August, 1841, the amount of sickness and the number of deaths in the State have been unusually great. Typhus and lung fevers have been common in most parts of the State, and in many cases fatal; and during the winter and present spring, a malignant sore throat has prevailed and still continues (May 2, 1842) to prevail through all the western parts, producing considerable mortality. The disease usually commences by a soreness in the throat, but developes itself in other parts in a great variety of ways, and is attended with a high fever. Thus far it has, to a great extent, baffled the skill of our best physicians.

Of all the diseases, which continue from year to year to make their inroads upon our population, the pulmonary consump tion is the most fatal and most deplorable. Slow in its advances, it almost imperceptibly undermines the constitution-dries up the fountains of life, and annually brings down hundreds to an untimely grave; and the prevalence of this disease seems to have been constantly on the increase from the first settlement of the state to the present time. It doubtless, to a considerable extent, had its origin in the sudden changes, to which our climate is subject, and which have become more marked in proportion as the country has become cleared and cultivated. But it is believed that the increase of this disease is owing still more to our present modes of living, to the confined air of our stove rooms and our compliance with the absurd caprices of fashion.

The following are a few instances of longevity:

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Died. Age.

1810 103

1815 110
1820 105

106
1839 106
1840 100
18410100 m
1840 101 10

1840 102 6
1841 101
1841 105

100
1830 104
1817 100 6
1830 110

1811 104

Many more might have been added had pains been taken to collect them. According to the returns of the census of 1840 there were then living in the state 22 persons who were upwards of 100 years of age, and about 200 others who were upwards of 90 years old.

LONGEVITY.

SECTION IX.

Miscellaneous.

LOTTERIES.

Lotteries.-The practice of raising money by lotteries for specific objects was, in early times, sanctioned by the legislatures of most of the states in the Union; and Vermont, though she did not indulge in this species of gambling to very great extent, adopted for a while this mode of dispensing charity, and of promoting good objects. The following list is believed to contain abstracts of all the acts, granting lotteries, which have been passed by the legislature of this state :

To raise £840, for building a bridge over Black river, February 27, 1783.

To raise £150, for repairing the road between Chester and Black river, October 26, 1789.

To raise £150, to aid John Hubbard in erecting a brewery in Weathersfield, October 26, 1789.

To raise £300, to make a road from Woodstock to Rutland, October 27, 1791. To raise £150, to repair a bridge in Royalton, October 28, 1791.

To raise £200, to aid J. Hubbard and A. Downer in erecting a brewery, November 3, 1791.

To raise £150, for building a road in Shrewsbury, November 3, 1791.

To raise £600, to assist in building a court house in Rutland, Oct. 25, 1792. To raise £200, to Anthony Haswell to repair loss sustained by fire, Öct. 31, 1792. To raise £1200, to Jabez Rogers, to repair losses by fire, October 31, 1792.

To raise £300, for building a bridge over the river Lamoille, Nov. 8, 1792.

To raise £500, for building a bridge over White river at Hartford, Nov. 8, 1792. To raise £150, for building a bridge over Deerfield river at Readsborough, November 8, 1792.

To raise $2500, granted to A. Spooner, S. Barrett and S. Conant, Oct. 25, 1793. To raise $500, for building a bridge in Fairfax, October 30, 1793.

To raise $500, for making a road from Castleton to Sudbury, Nov. 7, 1796.

To raise $400, for building a bridge over White river in Stockbridge, Nov. 8, 1796. To raise $500, for making a road from Winhall to Bromley, Nov. 8, 1796.

To raise $500, for building a bridge over Otta-Quechee river at Woodstock, March 7, 1797.

To raise $500, granted to John Wood, March 9, 1797.

To raise $2000, granted to Joseph Hawkins of Alburgh, October 30, 1798.

To raise $1000, granted to Horatio Knight, October 31, 1799.

POST OFFICE.

SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.

To raise $4000, granted to Stephen Co- | post between Bennington and Albany in nant, November 1, 1800. the state of New York. The next year To raise $2500, for building a bridge the legislature of this state established five over Otter Creek at Vergennes, Novem-post offices within the state: one at Benber 8, 1804.

From about the year 1800, there was a gradual change in public sentiment with regard to the propriety of raising money by lotteries, and no new grants were made by the legislature after 1804. In 1826, the sale of foreign lottery tickets having grown up into an extensive traffic in this state, Gov. Butler, in his message, called the attention of the legislature to this subject, and a law was passed prohibiting the sale of lottery tickets in Vermont without a licence from the proper authority and imposing a duty of $500 upon a license to vend tickets for one year, and the penalty for selling without a license was fixed at $1,000. The next year the duty upon a license was raised to $1,000, and the penalty to $2,000. By the present laws of the state lotteries of all kinds and the sale of lottery tickets, are prohibited under severe penalties.

Post Office. In 1783 the governor and council of Vermont established a weekly

nington, one at Rutland, one at Brattleborough, one at Windsor and one at Newbury. Between these several places a mail was transmitted once a week each way, and the postage was established at the same rates as that of the United States, and Anthony Haswell, Esq. of Bennington, was appointed postmaster general. The post rider from Bennington to Brattleborough was allowed for travel 3d per mile, and those on the other routes 2d per mile. The post riders were allowed the exclusive privilege of carrying letters and packages on their respective routes, and any person who infringed upon this right was liable to a fine of £10.

Upon the admission of Vermont into the Union in 1791, the post offices in this state became a part of the post office establishment under the control of the general government; and since that time offices have been multiplied till almost every neighborhood has its post office.

Names.

Table of Senators in Congress, showing the time of their election.

Elected. Names.

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1796 Benjamin Swift,
1797 Samuel S. Phelps, "
1803

| Elected. 1826 Steph. R. Bradley, Oct. 1801 1832 Steph. R. Bradley, 66 1806 1839 Dudley Chase, James Fisk,

66 1812

" 1817

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1807 Steph. R. Bradley, "
1814 Elijah Paine,

1820 Elijah Paine,

1791 Wm. A. Palmer,
1794 Dudley Chase,

Table of the Representatives in Congress, with the time of their service.

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Nath'l. Niles,

1791-1795 R. Skinner,

Israel Smith,

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1813-1815 Phinehas White,1821-1823 1791-1797 Charles Rich, 1813-1815 W. C. Bradley, 1823-1827 Daniel Buck, 1795-1799 D. Chipman, 1815-1817 D. A. A. Buck, 1823-1829 Math. Lyon, 1797-1801 Luther Jewett, 1815-1817 Ezra Meech, 1825-1827 L. R. Morris, 1797-1803 C. Langdon, 1815-1817 John Mattocks, 1825-1827 Israel Smith, 1801-1803 Asa Lyon, 1815-1817 Geo. E. Wales, 1825-1829 W.Chamberl'n, 1803-1805 Charles Marsh, 1815-1817 Benjamin Swift,1827-1831 M. Chittenden, 1803-1813 John Noyes, 1815-1817 Jonathan Hunt, 1827-1832 James Elliot, 1803-1809 Heman Allen, 1817-1819 Wm. Cahoon, 1827-1833 Gideon Olin, 1803-1807 S. C. Crafts, 1817-1825 Horace Everett, 1829— James Fisk, 1805-1809 Wm. Hunter, 1817-1819 Heman Allen, 1832-1839 J. Witherill. 1807-1808 O. C. Merrill, 1817-1819 William Slade, 1831Samuel Shaw, 1808-1813 Charles Rich, 1817-1825 Hiland Hall, 1833W.Chamberl'n, 1809-1810 Mark Richards, 1817-1821 B. F. Deming, 1833-1835 J. H. Hubbard, 1809-1810 William Strong, 1819-1821 Horace F.Janes, 1835-1837 James Fisk, 1810-1815 Ezra Meech, 1819-1821 Isaac Fletcher, 1837-1841 William Strong,1810-1815 R. C. Mallary, 1820-1831 John Smith, 1839-1841 W. C. Bradley, 1813-1815 Elias Keyes, 1821-1823 August's Young,1841Ezra Butler, 1813-1815 John Mattocks, 1821--1823 John Mattocks, 1841

FORM OF A NEW HAMPSHIRE CHARTER.

Form of a N. H. Charter or Grant.-All (to be by us, or them re-granted to such of our subthe New Hampshire Charters being in thejects as shall effectually settle& cultivate the same. same form, and frequent reference being made to them in this and the subsequent part of our work, we shall here insert the form, leaving the names and dates blank. The usual number of shares into which townships were divided was 68.

PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. George the Third by the grace of God, of Great Britain France and Ireland, King, defender of the faith, &c., To all persons to whom these presents shall come,-GREETING.

II. That all white and other Pine trees, within the said township, fit for masting our Royal Navy, be carefully preserved for that use, and none to be cut or felled without our special license for so doing, first had and obtained, upon the penalty of the forfeiture of the right of such grantee his heirs and assigns to us, our heirs and successors, as well as being subject to the penalty of any act or acts of are or hereafter shall be Parliament that now enacted.

III. That before any division of the land be made to and among the grantees, a tract of land as near the centre of the said township as the land will admit of, shall be reserved and marked out for town lots, one of which shall be allotted to each grantee, of the contents of one acre.

IV. Yielding and paying therefor to us, our heirs and successors, for the space of ten years, to be computed from the date hereof, the rent of one ear of Indian corn only, on the twenty-fifth day of December annually if lawfully demanded; the first payment to be made on the twenty-fifih day of December,

V. Every proprietor, settler, or inhabitant shall yield and pay to us, our heirs and successors, yearly, and every year forever, froin and after the expiration of ten years from the above said 25th day of December, namely, on the twenty-fifth day of December, which will be in the year of Our Lord, one shilling Proclamation money, for

Know ye, that we of our special grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, for the due encouragement of settling a new plantation within our said province, by and with the advice of our trusty and well beloved Benning Wentworth, Esq.; our Governor and Commander in chief of our said province of N. H. in N. E. and of our council of said province, have, upon the conditions and reservations hereinafter mentioned, given and granted, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do give and grant in equal shares, unto our loving subjects inhabitants of our said province of New Hampshire, and our other governments, and to their heirs and assigns forever whose names are entered on this grant, to be divided to and amongst them into equal shares, all that tract or parcel of land, situate, lying and being within our said province of New Hampshire, coutaining by admeasure ment 23040 acres, which tract is to contain six miles and no more, ont of which an allowance is to be made for highways and unimprovable lands by rocks, ponds, mountains and rivers, one thousand and forty acres free, according to a plan and survey thereof, made by our said Governor's order, and re-every hundred acres he so owns, settles or pos turned into the secretary's office and hereunto annexed, butted and bounded as follows, viz: [here is inserted the boundary of the township.] And that the same be and hereby is incorporated into a and the inhabtownship by the name of itants that do or shall hereafter inhabit the said township, are hereby declared to be enfranchised with and entitled to all and every the privileges and immunities that other towns within our province by law exercise and enjoy; and further, that the said town as soon as there shall be fifty families resident and settled thereon, shall have the liberty of holding town fairs, one of which shall be held on the and the other on the - annually, which fairs are not to continue longer than the respective

lieu

sesses, and so in proportion for a greater or lesser
tract of the said land; which money shall be paid
by the respective persons abovesaid, their heirs
or assigns in our Council Chamber in Ports-
ap-
mouth, or to such officer, or officers as shall be
pointed to receive the same; and this to be
of all other rents and services whatsoever.
In testimony whereof, we have caused the seal
of our said province to be affixed. Witness,
Benning Wentworth, Esq., our Governor and
Commander in Chief of our said province,
- day of in the year of our Lord CHRIST,
one thousand seven hundred and, and in the
B. WENTWORTH.
-year of our Reign.
By his EXCELLENCY'a command, with advice
THEODORE ATKINSON, Sec'y.
of Council.
Province of New Hampshire, [date,] recorded
in the book of Charters, Page

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the

following the said and that as soon as the said town shall consist of fifty families, a market may be opened and kept one or more days in each week, as may be thought most advantageous to the inhabitants; Also, that the first meeting for the choice of town officers, agreeable to the laws of our which said said province, shall be held on the who is hereby apmeeting shall be notified by THEODORE ATKINSON, Sec'y. pointed moderator of said first meeting, which he is to notify and govern agreeable to the laws and cusOn the back of the Charter is a list of toms of our said province; and that the annual meeting forever hereafter for the choice of such the grantees, with the following: officers for the said town shall be on the "His excellency, Benning Wentworth, Esq., a March annually-To HAVE and to HOLD the said tract of land as above expressed, together with all tract of land containing five hundred privileges and appurtenances to them and their re-marked B. W. in the plan, which is to be account. spective heirs and assigns forever, upon the follow-ed two of the within shares; one whole share for ing conditions, Viz:

of

acres,

as

the incorporated society for the propogation of the Gospel in foreign parts; one share for a Glebe for the Church of England as by law established; one

I. That every grantee, his heirs or assigns shall plant and cultivate five acres of land within the term of five years for every fifty acres contained in his or their share or proportion of land in said town-share for the first settled minister of the Gospel ; ship, and continue to improve and settle the same by additional cultivations, on the penalty of the forfeiture of his grant or share in the said township, and of its reverting to us, our heirs and successors,

one share for the benefit of a school in said town.
recorded in
Province of New Hampshire,
the book of Charters, page

THEODORE ATKINSON, Sec'y.

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