tance by the course of the Alleghany River. It is about sixty miles from the southern shore of Lake Erie, and it is perhaps fifty miles from the great table land or dividing ridges, thus separating the waters of the Alleghany Valley from those of Lake Erie. It was laid out in 1795 by Commissioners appointed for that purpose by an act of the Legislature. It has a population of about 8000, and three railroads, one terminating there. Oil City is situated at the mouth of Oil Creek, and lies on both sides of the Creek, extending up the steep bluff that rises on the northern side of the creek. It contains probably 4000 inhabitants, and is a place of wonderful activity and enterprise. It contains two banks of issue, and one of exchange and deposit. On the opposite side of the river is situated Venango City, a town of much promise and beauty of location. Further up Oil Creek we have Rouseville, McClintockville, Petroleum Centre, and other villages along the valley, making almost a continuous city from Oil City to Titusville, a distance of fifteen miles. There are other towns connected with the oil business; Cooperstown, nine miles from Franklin on Sugar Creek; Utica, the same distance above Franklin on French Creek; Waterloo, six miles above Franklin on Big Sandy Creek. Pit-Hole City, and Pleasantville are places of considerable importance. The population of Venango County is of a mixed lineage, being English, Scotch, Irish, and German. Their chief employment may be said to be operating in the oil business, though agriculture is carried on to some extent. Petroleum is the chief production of Venango County. This is obtained by boring artificial holes in the rock, then tubing and pumping them. As an indication of the strata, the following is a register of a well bored on Oil Creek:: In the second rock there was a rose tint approaching a flesh color that has frequently been perceptible in those deep sand rocks. The upper stratum of shale is much the thickest. The first sandstone rock is not so uniform in thickness as the second or third, nor is it quite so thick. A well is not considered finished until it has passed through the third sand rock, as the largest and best wells have been found in this stratum. Nor have many gone below this. Still, a few have bored a few hundred feet below with various results. There is a well two miles below Titusville, bored to the depth of twelve hundred feet, and has not reached the third sand rock, showing that there is a dip of the rock towards the north. At Franklin the third sand rock is reached at the depth of three hundred feet; at Pleasantville, sixteen miles north, at about eight hundred feet. As a medical agent petroleum has long held a place in the estimation of the world. It is quoted in the oldest Hindoo medical authorities as occupying a prominent place in the estimation of the medical faculty of that day to this, as it is still obtained largely in the Hindoo country. It was well known to the Indians when this continent was discovered by Europeans. Its use is alluded to in many of the earliest histories of this country. In the United States Magazine for July, 1792, there is an article published which says: "In the northern part of Pennsylvania there is a creek called Oil Creek, which empties itself into the Alleghany River, issuing from a spring on the top of which floats an oil similar to what is called Barbadoes tar, and from which may be collected, by one man, several gallons in a day. The American troops, in marching that way, halted at the spring, collected the oil, and bathed their joints with it. This gave them great relief, and freed them from rheumatic complaints with which many of them were afflicted. The troops drank freely of the waters; they operated as a gentle purge." The History of the Missions of the United Brethren among the Indians of North America says: "One of the most favorite medicines used by the Indians is fossil oil (petroleum) exuding from the earth with water. It is said that an Indian, in the smallpox, laid down in a morass to cool himself, and soon recovered. This led to the discovery of an oil spring in the morass, and since that time many others. They use it chiefly in external complaints, especially in the headache, toothache, swellings, rheumatism, and dislocations, rubbing the part affected with it. They sometimes sell it to the white people at four guineas a quart." In many instances it has proved valuable as a disinfectant. An instance is recorded where an epidemic, which was raging in a town of Italy, was stayed and ultimately checked by a liberal use of it on the streets and in the hospitals. When incorporated with soap, it is said to act beneficially upon the person in various cutaneous affections. Petroleum soap has found its way into market, and although as yet used only medicinally, will no doubt come into use as an important article of luxury in toilet arrangements, adding to present comfort, and preventing cutaneous affections that would be otherwise unavoidable. The vapor of petroleum has been used to much advantage in weak lungs and in asthma. For the same class of cases it has been used internally in some cases with marked success. The effects of petroleum upon operatives and others brought in constant contact with it is certainly not deleterious. There is no evidence that it acts in any case in a manner unfavorable to health; but, on the contrary, there is evidence that it operates beneficially in promoting strength and increase of flesh of those who are in the constant habit of handling it. There is one curious fact that has been observed in relation to workmen engaged at the well, and that is, that their hair and beard soon become luxuriant, dark colored, and assumes every appearance of vigorous health and growth. There could not be a better dressing for suppurating wounds or sores. It dispels flies, expels vermin, disinfects the sore, and promotes a healthy granulation. It is a superior dressing for burns, and a good remedy in scabies. The health of the county during the year has been remarkably good. The Venango County Medical Society is in the third year of its existence, and is now in a prosperous condition. Respectfully submitted, D. C. GALBRAITH, S. GUSTAVE SNOWDEN. OFFICERS AND MEMBERS. President.-Dr. J. R. ARTER. Vice-President.-Dr. J. POWEL. Secretary.-Dr. W. S. WELSH. Assistant Secretary.-Dr. T. M. EGBERT. Treasurer.-Dr. W. L. WHUN. Censors. Drs. S. G. SNOWDEN, D. C. GALBRAITH, and F. F. DAVIS. Delegates.-Drs. J. R. ARTER, D. C. GALBRAITH, S. G. SNOWDEN, and T. M. EGBERT. OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY. President.-Dr. S. L. BLATCHLY. Vice-President.-Dr. J. H. LITTLE. Treasurer.-Dr. M. H. CLARK. Secretary.-Dr. G. A. DOUGHERTY. Censors. Drs. J. W. ALEXANDER and H. D. ENOCH. Delegates to the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania.— Drs. J. H. LITTLE, D. ANDERSON, H. D. ENOCH, T. McKENAN, and J. R. WILSON. Alternates. Drs. J. G. DICKSON, A. M. REA, J. W. ATCHISON, and D. S. EAGLESON. MEMBERS.. POST-OFFICE ADDRESS. Drs. J. W. ALEXANDER, D. ANDERSON, J. W. ATCHISON, S. L. BLATCHLEY, E. CAREY, H. S. CHALFANT, J. G. DICKSON, G. A. DOUGHERTY, WM. GILFILLAN, Canonsburg. West Alexander. West Alexander. Dunningsville. Monongahela City. |