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cutler-letters_joseph-torrey_1810-02-16_01
Hamilton Feb. 16th 1810 My Dear Sir I have just recieved from Mr. Jonathan Herrick of Hopkinton (N Hamp) the information I had requested, respecting the cure of the Hydrophobia, by giving the Lobelia [indecipherable], in the case of his son. The son, Henry Herrick, who was bitten, was settled at Windsor, in Vermont, and his Father happened to be with him at the time the symptoms of the disorder commenced, who with great care and anxiety, attended him until his recovery. Mr. [?Jonathan?] Herrick, the Father, [inserted] who [end inserted] is a respectable, wealthy farmer. I have fully acertained to be a man of undaunted veracity. I am also informed by the bearer of his letter, that he felt much solicitude to give a correct account of the case of his Son. To obtain the information I desired from a man unacquainted with medical matters, I conceived it left to state a number of plain questions, and request an answer to each of them. The following are the questions I proposed, and the answers he has given. To some of the question [crossed out] [indecipherable] [end crossed out] however, I have added further information received from him, not arranged by him, under the questions to which it properly belonged.
cutler-letters_joseph-torrey_1810-02-16_02
2-6th--Was it a large or a small wound? A--A very small wound, resembling the [illegible] scratch of a pin, about 3/4 of an inch in length. The puppy was near his bed when he was getting up in the morning and attempting to push him away the puppy bit him. He then put him out at the door, and after running a few rods he fell down and died.
2-7th--Was any thing done for him before the symptoms of his disease appeared? A--Nothing. The day, before, two of his children were bitten, and the wounds were so large and so bad he sent for the Doctor who applied something to the wounds, and the children never had any symptoms of the disease. The Doctor advised my son to have the same remedy applied to his wound, but being so very small he refused.
2-8th--What were his complaints when the disease came on? A--A violent headache and symptoms of fever for 3 days, which was followed by a sullen dumbness lasting 5 days, in which he neither eat, drink or [spake?]. At times he would make a most distresing noise, at first resembling that of a puppy, & then louder, like the barking and howling of a dog, which could be heard at a great distance--perhaps a mile.
2-9th--How long was it before the symptoms of the disease began to appear? A--About eight months.
2-10th--How long after the symptoms came on before he took the Indian Tobacco? A--About 14 days.
2-11th--In what form was the plant given, or how was it prepared?--How much did he take at a time of the preparation, and how often? A--Half a dozen sprigs were put into a quart of boiling water in which it was steeped until the water became cool. The portion was 2 table spoonfull at a time.
2-12th--What were the effects which followered on taking the plant?--Did it [?puke?] him? A--Two table spoonfull generally operated about twice as a [?puke?] and then about twice as a purge. As soon as the operation was over, the same quantity was taken again, and this course was continued continued for three days; at which time large blotches began to appear on his breast. He then began to be rational, but he continued to take the same tea for about 4 weeks, but not so often after he began to mend.
2-13th--How long before his health was restored? A--His health was apparently restored in about 8 weeks.
2-14th--Has he had any symptoms of the disease since? A--He has had some esymptoms of it [illegible] since, but is now in good health
2-15th--How did you obtain the information-that the Indian Tobacco would cure this disease? A--The Doctor who prescribed this medicine was from Europe. He told me if the same herb was jambed or bruised and bound upon the wound or soon as bitten, it would extract the poison and prevent any further trouble.
In making this enquiry by better, it appeared to me necessary to endeavour to obtain a detailed account, which might tend to strengthen the evidence of the fact we wish to ascertain. Perhaps I have omitted some questions which ought to have been stated, but the answers to these are clearer and fuller than I expected, and I think are satisfactory. The letter was sent to me by W. Josiah Patch, formerly our neighbour, and who now is a new neighbour to W. Herrich. He says W. Herrich gave him a very long and circumstantial account of the case and desired [himself?] now, that he might [answer?] questions I might after, left the account should not be so full as [I?]might desire. Some few circumstances are added to some of the questions which I received from W. Patch. I desired to know whether it was ye same Doctor who applied something to the wounds or the children that recommended the Indian Tobacco--What that application was and the name and character of the Doctor, but he could not inform me. The old Gentleman was not with his son at the time the children were bitten.
If you think proper, you will communicate this letter to the medical Gentlemen & the medical Society at Salem. I have forward this account to Dr. Thacher, who is publishing ye American [?Dispen?]- [satory?].
Yours very affectionately M Cutler