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WEALTH AND HEALTH. 
 
 OR 
 
 A GUIDE TO PARENTS 
 
 IN THS 
 
 EDUCATION OF CHILDREN, 
 
 PREPARED FOR THE USE OP SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES, 
 BY EEV M. W. JACKSON, 
 
 CHARLOTTE COUNTY, VA. 
 
 "It is certainly of more consequence to a man that he has 
 learned to govern his passions, to be just in his dealings, to be 
 temperate in his pleasures, to behave with prudence in all his 
 affairs, than to be master of all the arts and sciences in the 
 world besides." — Franklin, 
 
 ''Labor improbus vincet omnia," — Virgil, 
 
 RICHMOND: ^^ 
 
 RITCHIES & DUNNAVANT, PRINTERS. 
 
 1854. 
 
c^^^ 
 
 l^'^ 
 
ADDRESS TO PARENTS: 
 
 INTRODUCTORY TO A WORK ENTITLED 
 
 WEALTH AND HEALTH 
 
 It is a strange fancy in the world of mind, that 
 some of the most important subjects that can claim 
 the attention of youth, and of mankind generally? 
 should be entirely omitted in the course of a com- 
 mon school education. Although we usually devote 
 a full share of time and attention to the languages 
 and sciences, as liberal accomplishments, the mind 
 is left a perfect blank in regard to agriculture, medi- 
 cine, and some other subjects of daily necessity. 
 The miserable policy of keeping children at school 
 during nearly the whole period of their minority is 
 now the fashion of the day; and if they learn no- 
 thing there of matters most vital to their welfare, 
 except by accident, they must grow up to maturity, 
 in total ignorance of the end of their creation, and 
 become, to say the least,' mere ciphers in society. 
 
4 ADDRESS TO PARENTS. 
 
 Agiselaus, king of Sparta, when asked what things 
 boys should learn, replied : " Those things which 
 they will practice when they become men.*' Five 
 or six years, with good teachers, are sufficient for 
 the acquisition of a good English education ; and 
 this is all that can be expected for a large majority 
 of children. But this should be thorough and com- 
 plete, and the senior year should be delayed until 
 the mind is so matured as to comprehend the high- 
 er branches. Many of our greatest men had to 
 educate themselves almost without schools or col- 
 leges, funds or friends: and they became original 
 and independent thinkers ; they learned energy as 
 well as science, practice as well as theory. 
 
 We are far from being opposed to a system of 
 general education, nor would we repudiate the 
 branches usually taught in our schools, especially 
 philosophy and chemistry ; but would say, in the 
 language of holy writ, " These ought ye to have 
 done and to leave the other undone." We think 
 special attention should be given to the most impor- 
 tant subjects ; but it is not to be expected that half 
 grown boys, by the study of a few good books, will 
 make judicious farmers or skillful physicians. Our 
 youth, at an early period, should have their minds 
 directed to the ways and means of support, and the 
 best methods of promoting health, as subjects of 
 primary importance, and they will learn something 
 
ADDRESS TO PARENTS. 6 
 
 valuable, that will leave its impress to the last day 
 of life. In reference to the first of these subjects, 
 we would adopt the language of Mr. Edmund Ruf- 
 fin, the agricultural patriarch of the present genera- 
 tion : " Agriculture, as an employment of labor 
 and the means of drawing subsistence from the 
 earth, has generally been conducted with less know- 
 ledge and skill than any other ordinary business. 
 The most ignorant of the human race may know 
 that, by covering seeds in the soil and weeding the 
 growing plants, crops of greater or less amount can 
 be obtained ; and it seems to be thence inferred that 
 less instruction and less preliminary knowledge 
 were required for the proper tillage of the earth, 
 than for any other business or pursuit of man. But 
 though scanty products and profits may be derived 
 from the rudest processes, there is no employment 
 of man, whether of science or art, which requires 
 such varied knowledge, skill and judgment, as does 
 agriculture ; consequently, no pursuit more needs 
 instruction for its young votaries. Yet it is almost 
 the only business or profession which is without re- 
 gular and ordinary instruction, and in vi^hich every 
 learner is without a teacher." 
 
 While we would not disparage the interests of 
 the mechanic arts and mercantile pursuits, we 
 would ask, shall a caUlng which eight-tenths of 
 the people pursue, and upon which all depend. 
 
6 ADDRESS TO PARENTS. 
 
 the best of all others for wealth, health, innocence 
 and virtue, continue to be regarded with such in- 
 difference and thrown in the back ground, while we 
 give prominence to light and trivial matters ? Shall 
 Virginia, with as rich a soil as any on earth, and 
 the most genial climate, suffer her sons to grow up 
 in ignorance and idleness, and thus fall behind, in 
 character and power, many of her sister states less 
 favored by nature ? With a territory thirty per 
 cent, larger than New York, we have only one-third 
 of her congressional representation, and yet, with a 
 very little improvement in the science of husbandry 
 and in habits of economy, we could support three 
 times the amount of our present population. We 
 have indeed a sad omen of the future in the almost 
 unlimited indulgence that is in these prosperous 
 times, allowed the rising generation, particularly 
 in those families who are in circumstances of ease 
 and affluence. If they will not regard the evils in- 
 flicted upon their neighbors by a bad example, and 
 the voice of an enlightened conscience, they should 
 at least consider their own interest and that of their 
 posterity ; for soon the wheel of fortune will carry 
 them down to the vale of obscurity and misery, 
 and those who are not ashamed to labor or too in- 
 dolent to give an attentive eye to the movements of 
 their operatives, will possess the wealth of the 
 country, until they in their turn pursue a similar 
 
ADDRESS TO PARENTS. 7 
 
 course. The wise man says, " drowsiness shall 
 clothe a man with rags ;" and poor Richard says, 
 *' not to oversee workmen is to leave them your 
 purse open." Soon we must sell our negroes, and 
 then our lands, abandon our country, and let the 
 energetic Yankee monopolize the place of our na- 
 tivity and convert the Old Dominion into a free 
 state. But if v/e are not deaf to the calls of duty 
 and dead to our interests, we will retrace our steps, 
 and, to use the language of Mr. J. R. Edmunds, at 
 the late fair, " in the development of her material 
 power, fanaticism shall find an impassable barrier, 
 and our peculiar institutions security." The only 
 ray of light that falls upon the general gloom is the 
 recent formation of the Virginia agricultural society, 
 and we trust the zeal of twenty thousand citizens 
 v/ill not evaporate with the first exhibition. And 
 let us not think our duty done when we get a 
 premium for a pig or sheep, hut let every man go 
 to work and improve his farm, and teach prac- 
 tical lessons of industry and frugality to his chil- 
 dren. Let us have auxiliary societies in every 
 county, and public lectures for the people. Let us 
 introduce this subject earnestly into our schools, 
 and have books and papers adapted to our exi- 
 gences. Mr. Tyler speaks in the language of hope 
 when he says '* The agricultural society of Vir- 
 ginia is now a fixed fact, and its benefits are des- 
 
8 ADDRESS TO PARENTS, 
 
 tined to roll over our land in a mighty volume, 
 causing the desert places to bloom and blossom like 
 the rose, and our beloved state to raise its bead 
 proudly among the nations." The true response is 
 energy, not enthusiasm, v/orks not words. Inat- 
 tention to business results not only in pinching 
 penury and mental agony, but in shocking vices 
 and degradation of character. 
 
 It has been well said, " the idle man's 'head is 
 the devil's workshop." Shall parents, with an un- 
 dying instinct to love and cherish their offspring, 
 rear them up for no purpose under the sun but to 
 be a curse to God's creation ? Shall every subordi- 
 nate animal and insect be busy in fulfilling its des- 
 tiny, and can man with impunity claim exemption 
 from duty ? " Go to the ant, thou sluggard ; con- 
 sider her ways and be wise ; which having no guide, 
 overseer or ruler, provideth her meat in the sum- 
 mer, and gathereth her food in the harvest." Prov. 
 vi, 6-S. No father should be considered a good 
 citizen, who, through remissness or recklessness, 
 turns loose upon society, a family of dissolute and 
 worthless children. He alone is invested bylaw 
 both human and divine with power to guide and 
 govern them, and he should be held responsible at 
 the bar of public sentiment, as he certainly will be 
 at the bar of God. They should be taught to rise 
 early, redeem the time, stay at home, renounce their 
 
ADDRESS TO PARENTS. 
 
 sports and attend to business ; and ihey should be 
 required to do it promptly and neatly. If we have 
 colored laborers, it is no reason why any man should 
 think himself too good to plough, dig, maul or 
 haul when it comes in the way. *' It is a sad mis- 
 fortune," says Bishop Andrew, *♦ for children to 
 have servants to wait on them ;" and my mother 
 said she would rather indulge her servants than her 
 children. Children by nature are full of life and 
 animation, and will be busy in good or evil, and it 
 is an easy matter to train them to business if you 
 begin early. The boys will have their little wa- 
 gons, horses, ploughs, &c., and the little girls their 
 dolls, beds and tables ; but how few parents in this 
 day of trade and travel, are studiously employed in 
 moulding the mind, the heart and the character? 
 How can they perform this all important duty, when 
 a majority of them are ever on the wing, and know 
 as little about their offspring as the ostritch of the 
 desert? Will a father compass sea and land to 
 amass a fortune for his neglected progeny, only to 
 spur them on in a course of dissipation, until the 
 last farthing is spent in riotous living ? Thousands 
 of dear mothers with the endurance of martyrs are 
 wasting their strength to arrest the evil, but they 
 are neither omnipotent nor omnipresent, and can 
 have but little control over boys, unaided by their 
 fathers. Farmers should keep their business snug. 
 
10 ADDRESS TO PARENTS. 
 
 love their homes, and make companions of their 
 wives and children. They have or may have the 
 whole world in miniature about them, and are inde- 
 pendent of the universe for sources of pleasure and 
 of profit. But their calling is in so httle repute, 
 even in their own estimation, that when they seek 
 employment for their children, they too often think 
 the labors of the farm degrading, and if none of 
 the learned professions are accessible, thrust them 
 into groceries and taverns, where half their time 
 they have nothing to do, and are ever exposed to 
 the very worst influences. The farmer or planter 
 may be as learned as any other man, and if he see 
 cause, can give his children a liberal education ; but 
 there is great danger in sending half grown boys 
 to distant schools and colleges. How can christian 
 parents obey the command of God to " bring them 
 up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," 
 when at this early period they are entirely removed 
 from their supervision and control? As many of 
 the best geniuses have been blighted by this mis- 
 taken policy, we would say they would do better 
 to stay at home until their minds are matured and 
 their characters formed ; for Solomon says, " Where- 
 fore is there a price put into the hand of a fool to get 
 wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it." Teachers 
 now often find it impossible to control scholars, but 
 these gay and giddy gentry, so commonly adorned 
 
ADDRESS TO PARENTS. 11 
 
 with rum blossoms and perfumed with cigars, might 
 have made wise men and useful citizens, had they 
 been kept at the plough, the bench or the anvil. 
 
 And the daughters of the land should be taught 
 to frown upon dandies and rowdies, and seek com- 
 panions among steady, industrious men. The great 
 Washington said, " Agriculture is the most healthy, 
 the most useful, and the most noble employment of 
 man." And the disease which ended his brilliant 
 career, was contracted by exposure in attending to 
 the business of his farm. I rejoice that we have 
 yet in Virginia a remnant of the good old Roman 
 stock who are not ashamed to w^ork, but think it a 
 shame for any man or woman to be brought up in 
 idleness. They find it difficult to stem the mighty 
 current that bears against them, but soon we trust 
 the tide will be in their favor. Certainty, if reason 
 and revelation, conscience and common sense are 
 regarded, we shall speedily have a reformation. 
 The old proverb is, " He that raises his son with- 
 out a trade, teaches him to steal." And the verdict 
 of revelation is, '-If any will not work, neither 
 shall he eat." In view of this state of things at the 
 present crisis, the first part of our work is made to 
 consist of a short treatise on agriculture, principally 
 in its practical details as hints to farmers in general, 
 and to youth somewhat advanced in their educa- 
 tion. And in connection, as a part of the course, we 
 
12 ADDRESS TO PARENTS. 
 
 would recommend Norton's Elements of Scientific 
 Agriculture. 
 
 Next to food and raiment, in importance for com- 
 fort and usefulness, is the health of our bodies ; and 
 every son and daughter of Adam's race should be 
 taught something of the healing art in connection 
 with anatomy and physiology. But we may be 
 told, " a little learning is a dangerous thing." And 
 perhaps the poet practiced on this sentiment, when 
 he fell a martyr to his appetite, from a surfeit on 
 anchovy sauce. Shall a man know nothing of dis- 
 eases or remedies, of poisons or antidotes, because 
 he has not a diploma? Or shall we adopt the 
 maxim of the Jesuits, that " ignorance is the mother 
 of devotion?" — " Half the time and attention which 
 are devoted to the minor politics, arising out of our 
 party dissensions," says an eminent medical writer, 
 "would, if appropriated to medical studies, enable 
 any person of tolerable capacity to practice with 
 safety and advantage in those cases of simple 
 disease which are most incident to our climate, 
 and to determine between the arrant quack and 
 the modest, well educated and judicious physi- 
 cian." The human body is a most wonderful and 
 perfect piece of mechanism, formed by the wise and 
 benevolent Creator to operate in health and har- 
 mony, (without some special adverse providence,) 
 for three score years and ten ; but by the ignorance 
 
ADDRESS TO PARENTS. 13 
 
 and recklessness of mortals, long in advance of 
 that time, its functions are deranged and its ener- 
 gies broken down. It cannot be pleaded in truth, 
 that this happens mainly to invalids from some he- 
 reditary infirmity ; for generally the most robust 
 and vigorous, in consequence of some indulgence 
 or rashness, are cut down first, and thus many valu- 
 able lives are lost. Bacon said, "The only cause 
 of death, which is natural to man, is old age." As 
 a general rule, we should not consider our pains 
 and diseases as unavoidable accidents, but as fruits 
 of our folly. 
 
 I think the Spectator says, " When I see a table 
 loaded with rich meats and custards, accompanied 
 with sauce and wines to stimulate the jaded appe- 
 tite, I fancy I see concealed under the dishes, gouts, 
 rheumatism, jaundice and a long train of painful 
 disorders, ready to fasten upon the merry com- 
 pany." And Dr. Franklin says, ** Since the art of 
 cookery has been so much improved, mankind 
 generally eat about twice as much as nature re- 
 quires." But how few have the first thought that a 
 majority of our diseases and deaths originate from 
 these excesses ? Many disbelieve it altogether, and 
 others will tell you that the remedy is worse than 
 the disease. We have seen some of our best friends 
 fall in this way, and others have been saved by 
 giving ear to a little advice* The habits of children 
 
14 ADDRESS TO PARENTS. 
 
 in this respect should be noticed, and they should 
 be taught lessons of prudence and self denial. 
 The evil is not limited to physical debihty and 
 premature dissolution. The noble mind being 
 dependent on the condition of the nervous system 
 for the exercise and development of its powers, is 
 generally enfeebled in the same proportion, and 
 there is an incalculable waste of talent that might 
 be employed for the good of the community. In- 
 deed, we suppose there is no such phenomenon in 
 nature as mental derangement or imbecility, but 
 conclude that all apparent feebleness or aberration, 
 whether in infancy, maturity or old age, is the result 
 of physical infirmity. Not only do we see that the 
 prevalent and disgusting malad\'' denominated mania 
 potu is the result of strong drink, but fits in children, 
 and folly and insanity in adults, might often be pre- 
 vented by a iitde restraint upon their diet. And 
 is it unreasonable to suppose that Franklin was 
 indebted to his vegetable diet for his remarkable 
 vigor of mind and energy of character ? A new 
 and cheap edition of his life and essays at this crisis 
 might make a favorable impression upon the minds 
 of our young men. It is a work that should be in 
 every family, but I think there are not many copies 
 now in the country. We have so little knowledge 
 of pestilential gasses, have so little prudence in our 
 indulgences, and are so often exposed to danger 
 
ADDRESS TO PARENTS. 15 
 
 even in the discharge of duty, that sooner or later 
 diseases will come; and it is highly in^portant that 
 all heads of families at least should be acquainted 
 with the most efficient and common remedies, and 
 with the symptoms of prevalent diseases. A man 
 who knows the constitution and habits of his wife, 
 child or servant, if he is a man of experience and 
 prudence, can sometimes practice with as much 
 safety as the most skillful physician, and a dose of 
 medicine at the proper time may save life; but a 
 partial acquaintance with the subject will not do 
 away the necessity of medical advice in different 
 cases. Let no one be frightened by a few hard 
 words to think it a kind of free masonry locked up 
 in mystery from all except the initiated. The 
 names of things as in law are generally in Latin 
 or Greek, but the things themselves are plain and 
 simple. For instance, sal commune in Latin signifies 
 common salt, and cutis vera, the true skin ; but 
 these mysteries are sometimes convenient upon the 
 score of modesty. We see no necessity for such 
 profound mystery upon a subject that all ought to 
 understand to a considerable extent ; and if the 
 pupils cannot study the dead languages, they can 
 learn the deanition of the words in a dictionary or 
 glossary. "It is somewhat unaccountable," says 
 Dr. Dick, ''and not a little inconsistent, that while 
 we direct the 3'oung to look abroad over the sur- 
 
16 ADDRESS TO PARENTS. 
 
 face of the earth, and survey its mountains, rivers, 
 seas and continents, and guide their views to the 
 regions of the firmament, where they may contem- 
 plate the moons of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, and 
 thousands of luminaries placed at immeasurable 
 distances, we should never teach them to look 
 within themselves; to consider their own corporeal 
 structures, the numerous parts of which they are 
 composed, the admirable functions they perform, 
 the wisdom and goodness displayed in their me- 
 chanism, and the lessons of practical instruction 
 which may be derived from such contemplation.'* 
 On this branch of medical science we would here 
 recommend "Cutler's Anatomy and Physiology, 
 designed for Academies and Schools," a small 
 volume with over two hundred engravings ; but as 
 we have seen nothing on pathology and the prac- 
 tice of medicine adapted to schools, we have, by 
 the aid of some medical friends, prepared a 
 condensed treatise upon those branches, which 
 constitutes the second part of our volume. The 
 Thompsonian system may have its merits, when 
 in the hands of judicious men, but from some 
 experience and observation, we have been induced 
 to consider calomel the Sampson of the materia 
 medica, especially in the diseases of white people, 
 in which the liver is apt to be more or less impli- 
 cated. And children can be induced to take it 
 
ADDRESS TO PARENTS. 17 
 
 without being aware of it, when it is very difficult 
 to get them to drink large draughts of lobelia, 
 pepper, &c. Upon this subject we will only add, 
 that we have had a family for more than a quarter 
 of a century, and under the old practice, by the 
 blessing of a kind Providence, we have yet to 
 witness the first death in our household. 
 
 Another subject which we think is sadly neg- 
 lected in our schools is religion, and the proper 
 text book is the Bible, which is now almost dis- 
 carded. This indicates a bad moral condition, 
 both of teachers and patrons. Will a wise people 
 endeaver to blot out the sun, that they may be 
 guided by a feeble taper ? Yet in substance this is 
 recommended and to a considerable extent adopted 
 as one of the improvements of the age. If its 
 style is a little antiquated, as is sometimes argued 
 even by members of the church, there is an ample 
 atonement made in the sublimity of its doctrines 
 and the purity of its precepts ; and its power is far 
 superior to that of the birch in securing subordina- 
 tion. If it cannot be systematically taught and 
 expounded, at least let it be read with seriousness, 
 and portions of it committed to memory. This is 
 the more necessary, as there is reason to fear that 
 since the vast multiplication of books and papers, 
 it is more neglected in families than formerly. Not 
 only every christian, but every patriot and philan- 
 
18 ADDRESS TO PARENTS. 
 
 thropist should be firmly fixed upon this point. 
 And the Sabbath school, that efficient substitute for 
 the labors of delinquent parents and teachers, 
 should be encouraged and sustained as far as prac- 
 ticable. Our president, following in the footsteps 
 of the illustrious Washington, in his tone of moral 
 feeling, sa3^s, *' It is my deepest conviction that we 
 can place no secure reliance upon any apparent 
 progress, if it be not sustained by national integrity, 
 resting upon the great truths affirmed and illus- 
 trated by divine revelation." The term education 
 is greatly misapplied when made to signify merely 
 a literary course of study. Literature alone has 
 no sanctifying effect on the heart ; and not un- 
 frequently, as Paul says, " knowledge pufFeth up," 
 as we see in young men who despise their parents, 
 who by their hard earnings have given them greater 
 advantages for mental culture than they themselves 
 possessed. The moral nature must be cultivated as 
 well as the intellectual, or there is great danger 
 that man in his depravity will be- a demon in 
 principle, whether shining in literary circles or 
 unknown in the shades of retirement. Dr. Thorn- 
 well truly says, " Science languishes, letters pine, 
 refinement is lost wherever and whenever the 
 genius of religion is excluded." Religion, then, 
 should be regarded as the first and foremost subject 
 in any system of education, but I do not think it 
 
ADDRESS TO PARENTS. 19 
 
 necessary to embody its doctrines and precepts in 
 a text book, as we have one dictated by infinite 
 wisdom, and acceptable to all denominations. 
 
 To aid parents and guardians in developing and 
 directing the physical, intellectual and moral powers 
 of the dear youth committed to their charge, I have 
 found it necessary to prepare a book upon two 
 neglected subjects which I deem of great impor- 
 tance; but we have already at least a sufficient 
 number and variety upon other subjects. As we 
 are decidedly opposed to the great variety of school 
 books that has flooded the land of late years to the 
 perplexity of teachers and the confusion of classes, 
 we regret the necessity of making an addition to 
 the number ; but we will make a suggestion that 
 may in some degree diminish this needless expense 
 for the time to come. With the exception of Dr. 
 McGufFey's series, v/e very much doubc whether 
 there has been any important improvement in 
 common school books for the last half century, and 
 yet almost every new teacher must have a new set 
 of books. It is not easy to find anything superior 
 to Webster's SpelHng Book, Pike's Arithmetic, and 
 Murray's English Grammar. Both for our purse 
 and progress we would suggest to the friends of 
 education in the state to call a convention of teach- 
 ers and literary characters every ten years to ex- 
 amine school books, and recommend the most 
 
20 ADDRESS TO PARENTS. 
 
 simple and lucid for the use of our primary schools, 
 and let them promptly reject all innovations and 
 alterations, unless when some important discovery 
 is made. 
 
 M. W. J. 
 
PART I. 
 AGRICULTURE. 
 
 Columbia's sons, spurn not the rugged toil, 
 The glory of your country is a cultured soil; 
 Mount Vernon's patriot, of unrivaled worth, 
 Increased his laurels while he tilled the earth. 
 
 ** The aversion of farmers to consult books on 
 agriculture," says Skinner, " doubtless arises in a 
 great measure from the neglect of parents to have 
 agriculture, and studies nearly akin to it, made a 
 part of the education of their sons." Books writ- 
 ten by experienced practical men do not consist of 
 ingenious speculations and abstract theories, but 
 mostly of well established facts, which may be of 
 great value to the young, and to many adults ; and 
 in a few hours, or days at most, these facts may be 
 learned, which it would require years to know by 
 incidental conversation and observation ; and in the 
 mean time man}- losses will be sustained by the re- 
 peated errors which we commit. Certainly an im- 
 portant truth loses none of its value by being in 
 
22 AGRICULTURE. 
 
 print ; and a single hint may be worth more than 
 the price of the book. For instance, two years ago 
 I pubhshed in the Southern Planter a simple plan 
 for keeping sweet potatoes, which has never been 
 known to fail, and which I have given in this little 
 book ; and my father, for want of the knowledge, 
 lost more every year in his potatoes than would pay 
 for a large volume. The word agriculture is derived 
 from two Latin words, ager a field, and colo to cul- 
 tivate, and signifies the art or science of cultivating 
 the earth to procure subsistence for man and beast. 
 Its practical operations may be considered an art, 
 and to use the language of Liebig, " A knowledge 
 of all the conditions of the life of vegetables, the 
 origin of their elements and the sources of their 
 nourishment, forms its scientific basis." It is an 
 avocation that should be well understood and held 
 in high repute, as all classes of men are supported 
 by it, and a large majority are necessarily engaged 
 in it. The eloquent Major Wright of Missouri, at 
 the fair of that state held at Booneville in October, 
 said, *' The highest attainments of science are yet to 
 be won from the soil she has neglected, and the 
 highest duty of the state is to place agricultural edu- 
 cation within the reach of all her sons. Science, 
 weary of the laggard and fickle motion of the winds, 
 has seized the invincible strength of water, put it into 
 iron harness, and now defies both wind and wave. 
 
AGRICULTURE. 23 
 
 By the united power of the locomotive and steam- 
 ship, oceans dry up, continents shake hands, and 
 Ariel's girdle belts the earth. But as yet agricul- 
 ture is the only art left behind in this unparalleled 
 advance of other arts and sciences." The subject 
 embraces the consideration of soils and manures ; 
 crops and modes of cultivation ; agricultural imple- 
 ments and machinery ; draining and irrigation ; fuel 
 and fencing ; stock raising and fattening. 
 
 SECTION L 
 
 OF SOILS. 
 
 There is a great variety of soils, and they should 
 be carefully studied, not only that we may be able 
 to make judicious purchases, but apply to each suit- 
 able manures, and put into them suitable crops. 
 Norton says, " we can tell what is necessary to fer- 
 tihze the most hopeless desert, but at the same time 
 may not be able to conduct the operation so as to 
 make it profitable. It becomes no longer a ques- 
 tion of knowledge — it is one of expense." All soils 
 have both a mechanical and chemical character, the 
 first relating merely to the position of their particles 
 as forming hard or soft land, the second to the com- 
 position and quahty of their materials as rich or 
 
24 AGRICULTURE. 
 
 poor. When the farmer drains, ploughs and hoes 
 his land, he alters chiefly its mechanical or physical 
 character ; when he manures it, he alters its consti- 
 tution or chemical character. Each soil produces 
 vegetation suitable to its own nature, viz : those 
 plants which require for their growth those sub- 
 stances which actually abound in it, as we see in 
 the production of sorrel on acid soils, and the failure 
 of tobacco or wheat on rich lots after several suc- 
 cessive crops, thus requiring a rotation of crops. 
 But the evil might be remedied by supplying the 
 deficient material. Some soils are red and stiff, and 
 are best adapted to wheat and clover ; others are 
 light and sandy, and are more suitable for corn and 
 oats, and when the sand is of a fine texture, they 
 suit tobacco. They imbibe too much water for 
 wheat, and if it is put into them they require rolling 
 or treading. But to be more particular, soils may 
 be distinguished as silicious, aluminous and calca- 
 rious, according as silica, alumina or lime prevails. 
 Leibig says, ** Lime especially serves for resolving 
 the silicates of alumina (clay,) and consequently it 
 cannot fertilize soils in which clay is wanting, for 
 instance, sandy soils." 
 
 An alluvial soil is a deposit in bottoms by the 
 washings from the ' 5 and mountains, and when 
 not too sandy, is generally very rich. But the most 
 of this, as well as the dark surface soil in our origi- 
 
AGRICULTURE. 25 
 
 nal forests, is a vegetable mould called humus» 
 Some writers and most of farmers call it the soil, 
 as distinguished from the clay or subsoil ; and as 
 Webster admits this definition in his Dictionary, 
 we will adopt it. Loam may be considered a 
 kind of artificial soil, made up of a mixture of 
 others by the process of cultivation. The subsoil 
 is divided into two classes s the first consisting of 
 pure or pipe clay, but only found in small quanti- 
 ties ; the second, of unctuous or tile clay, inclucHng 
 in it a portion of sand. But the clay is formed 
 of more simple materials, as alumina, silica, mag- 
 nesia &c. The crust of the earth, it is thought, 
 has been mostly formed by the disintegration or 
 crumbhng of the great rocks that are found under 
 its surface, inasmuch as there is generally a simi- 
 larity in texture and character. Good uplands 
 generally rest on Hmestone, sandstone, slate or 
 granite ; and these rocks contain silica, lime, pot- 
 ash, soda and other mineral manures. Forest land, 
 not originally good, should, if practicable, be kept 
 for timber and leaves or pasture, as it will not re- 
 tain manure when applied, and is, therefore, called 
 a leechy or hungry soil ; and as proof we would 
 say, it has had a heavy coating of leaves from the 
 days of the deluge, and ye ' has made no im- 
 provement. Such land, if made rich, is ever tend- 
 ing to its original poverty, and good land, if made 
 2 
 
26 AGRICULTURE. 
 
 poor, to its original fertility. Lands composed of 
 coarse sand or gravel, are necessarily poor from 
 their mechanical structure, as most of the fertilizing 
 matter, as soon as it gets into a fluid state, filtrates 
 through them down into the bowels of the earth, 
 beyond the reach of the growing crops ; and as 
 evidence, we have known springs and wells im- 
 pregnated and injured by decayed matter from ice- 
 houses and grave-yards. This frail tendency in 
 certain soils has been denied by some, and Mr. 
 Ruffin had doubts in regard to it ; but in the last 
 edition of his Essay on Calcarious Manures he ad- 
 mits that fertilizing ingredients may thus be lost by 
 " penetrating to the sources of springs, either tem- 
 porary or permanent, and pass into the streams." 
 This idea is of great importance to the farmer, to 
 prevent him from heedlessly wasting his manures. 
 As soils are so various in Virginia, and often even on 
 a single farm, and the opinions of learned men so 
 discordant in regard to the causes of sterility, we 
 do not know what to expect from chemical analy- 
 ses of soils ; but certainly the importance of the 
 subject demands a full and fair experiment, and the 
 growing interest in the public mind would justify 
 the legislature in appointing a state chemist, if a 
 suitable man could be found. But, at present, we 
 think the best mode of knowing lands of good ori- 
 ginal quality is, to see their production or learn the 
 
AGRICULTURE. 27 
 
 history of their products. As a general rule we 
 ma}'- suppose that our best lands were cleared first, 
 and the tall pines, together with the turf that lines 
 the galls and gullies, are good indications of power 
 in the soil. While a leechy soil is ever crying 
 " give, give, and is never satisfied," a lot of good 
 land is like a horse of good constitution, easy to 
 keep ; and such lots may be found on most farms, 
 particularly on the slopes near the streams. This 
 may result from the rock underneath, which is ge- 
 nerally nearer the surface than on table lands, or 
 from the gases that arise from the streams and 
 marshes. 
 
 SECTION II. 
 
 MINERAL MANURES. 
 
 The renovation of our exhausted fields is the 
 point of greatest interest to farmers in the old states, 
 where our best lands have been carried off by 
 drenching rains or rendered lifeless by a long con- 
 tinued process of depletion. Our fathers, having an 
 interminable wilderness before them, cared but little 
 and knew but little about ameliorating the soil ; but 
 their descendants are now pent up by the western 
 ocean, and emigration has come to a dead halt. In 
 1620, the men of Plymouth rock saw the first light 
 
M AGRICULTURE. 
 
 of morning gild the waves of the Atlantic, and now 
 their descendants and our brethren see twilight 
 deepen on the smooth waters of the Pacific. Our 
 religion as well as our patriotism should rebuke our 
 prodigality, and prompt us to study and practice 
 habits of simplicity in our style of living, economy 
 in our financial and fertilizing resources, and dili- 
 gence in every department of business. Without a 
 radical and speedy reformation, desolation and de- 
 struction will overtake us ; but by giving heed to the 
 mandates of reason we may become a prosperous 
 and happy people, and bequeath the legacy to 
 generations yet unborn. One important art for the 
 improvement of our farms, is so to plough and 
 trench as to retain upon our premises the little fer- 
 tiUiy we have left. It is surprising and sickening 
 to the feelings to see the neglect in this matter in 
 many sections of our country ; and some who un- 
 dertake it, work in such a way as to defeat their 
 object. The farmer should never suffer a gully or 
 gall to disfigure his fields, and the most of them 
 can be healed up in a few hours with a little pine 
 brush. 
 
 It has been often observed, that the site of an 
 old dwelhng house or granary, when put in cultiva- 
 tion after all the materials are removed, will retain 
 its fertility for ages. The man who could account 
 for this might with propriety receive a gold me- 
 
AGRICULTURE. 29 
 
 dal; but perhaps the benevolent Creator may 
 choose to withhold this knowledge from us to find 
 us employment and keep us out of mischief. I 
 have two such spots on my own land, and have 
 manured freely around one of them, and my appli- 
 cation, although fully equal in efficiency at the time, 
 has disappeared by successive crops, while that 
 remains and will remain for generations to come. 
 Some have thought that this remarkable reteniive- 
 ness was produced by ashes in converting it into an 
 alkahne soil ; but it occurs without ashes, and some- 
 limes fails where ashes abound, as in case of a burnt 
 tobacco barn. My o.wn conjecture is, that it results 
 from the length of time that was allowed the soluble 
 ingredients in large quantities to sink into the 
 subsoil, and the great depth to which they de- 
 scended, and thus they are retained and returned 
 annually in small quantities ; for this pecuharity is 
 more visible on fine, compact soils. Shell marl, in 
 lower Virginia, has performed wonders in renova- 
 ting the soils, through the skill and energy of Mr. 
 Ruffin ; but as it is found only in the tide water dis- 
 tricts, it can never be brought into general use. 
 But if our soils are poisoned with the same acid as 
 is found there, possibly the common carbonate of 
 lime, which is now only 10 cents per bushel in the 
 cities, might be a valuable antidote. The few ex- 
 periments that have been made are rather contra- 
 
30 AGRICULTURE. 
 
 dictory ; but as we now have facilities for transpor- 
 tation, we could make the trial on small lots and in 
 different modes. As to gypsum, (sulphate of lime,) 
 Norton says, and we know it by experience, " there 
 are many large districts where it produces no effect ; 
 but it may always be considered that where lime or 
 gypsum do no good, there is already, in one form 
 or another, a supply of both naturally in the soil, or 
 some physical or chemical defect which prevents 
 their action." On our hght, sandy lands our fathers 
 tried it many years ago, and laid it aside ; but on 
 red, stiff lands some still use it. From observing 
 the luxuriant vegetation on the loose earth carried 
 out from some of the deep cuts on our railroads, 
 particularly where there was an appearance of fel- 
 spar rock or slate, and the production from clay 
 taken from cellars and ice-houses, I have thought it 
 probable that we who are in the upper country 
 might find valuable materials on our own farms 
 equivalent to the clay marl of England. I have 
 made some experiment with a soapy clay taken 
 from a cellar, and it produced a heavy yield the first 
 year, but it does not appear to be permanent. Per- 
 haps we may find tufa among our rocks, and ulti- 
 mately use the most of them, by burning or grind- 
 ing- as fertilizers. 
 
AGRICULTURE. 31 
 
 SECTION III. 
 
 PUTRESCENT MANURES AND GREEN CROPS. 
 
 So far as we can j^et see, our citizens above tide 
 water must depend for heavy crops chiefly upon 
 vegetable and animal substances in a state of de- 
 cay, and these are found to be rich food for all 
 plants. If by our quackery in mineral medicines 
 we are as liable to kill as cure, let us feed mother 
 earth with nourishing diet in imitation of her own 
 mode of regaining strength. If our nostrums do 
 not quite extinguish the vit^l spark, they often 
 afford only a temporary stimulus, which leaves her 
 more prostrate than before. There is not only a 
 remarkable similarity in the physiology of vegeta- 
 ble and animal life, but a great degree of identity 
 in the elements that constitute the bodies of both 
 classes of beings. " These three nitrogenized com- 
 pounds, vegetable fibrine, albumen and caseine," 
 says Liebig, " are the three nitrogenized consti- 
 tuents of the food of graminivorous animals, and 
 they are identical in composition with the chief 
 constituents of blood." Again he says : " The 
 animal organism is a high kind of vegetable, the 
 development of which begins with those substances 
 vAih the production of which the life of an ordinary 
 
355 AGRICULTURE. 
 
 vegetable ends." If this analogy be true, is It 
 analogous that vegetables should receive a portion 
 of their food through their leaves, which are con- 
 sidered the lungs of the plants? I know a doubt 
 upon this subject will be considered a heresy in 
 science; but I have seen facts calculated to induce 
 a behef that the whole of the pabulum, either in a 
 gaseous or fluid state, enters through the roots. I 
 saw, last year, a small field of corn, entirely sur- 
 rounded v/ith woods ; and although a high land 
 field, was equal in luxuriance to river bottom ; and 
 what was more remarkable, my attention being 
 directed by the owner to the effects of a ditch cut 
 on one side to sever*the roots of the forest trees, I 
 discovered the corn was equally good up to the 
 fence, and old cultivators have long acted from this 
 impression. But we admit, as in the animal 
 economy, that the lungs (leaves) inhale gases to 
 purify the blood (the sap) and promote digestion 
 and assimilation ; and consequently that the atmos- 
 phere is as indispensable to plants as to animals. 
 Professor Mapes, v/hiie he does not fully coincide 
 with our fancy, says : " The carbonic acid of the 
 atmosphere enters the roots of plants in solution 
 with w^ater, and in passing up through them de- 
 posits its carbon, forming the chief part of the dry 
 weight of the plants, giving off its ox^'gen to the 
 atmosphere." Professor Shulze says : " Carbonic 
 
AGRICULTURE. 33 
 
 acid is sucked in by the roots only, together with 
 other nutritious substances." I make this digres- 
 sion to prevent farmers from destro^^ing their timber 
 to save their crops, as is sometimes recommended. 
 If, in Flanders, the urine from a single cow is con- 
 sidered worth ten dollars per annum, and if the 
 excrements from each animal and human being, if 
 carefully preserved, will make at least as much as 
 they consume, while nature is annually at work 
 adding to our stores, what mysterious problem is 
 there connected with the renovation of our sterile 
 fields? But instead of covering these valuable 
 materials in the earth, or with earth, we suffer them 
 to waste by fermentation and evaporation, or run 
 off into the streams ; for when we smell the manure 
 bank, or even a barn of tobacco, we may know a 
 loss is sustained. Boussingault says, that " Dry 
 stable manure, after heating in a thick stratum, has 
 been known to lose nine-tenths of its weight, and 
 of the remainder there was only one-third of its 
 nitrogen left, which is the element that constitutes 
 the nitrogenous principle of plants and the flesh 
 and muscle of animals." The process of putre- 
 faction, like that of digestion in the stomach, is a 
 slow combustion, tending to convert all organized 
 matter into its original elements, as fire acts on 
 wood, and we should by no means allow it to take 
 place in our manures until the crops have need of 
 2* 
 
3C AGRICULTURE. 
 
 them. Major Wright of Missouri eloquently re- 
 marks, that " nitrogen has wings so nimble that 
 they need clipping, and science only can perform 
 that operation well. It presents an anomaly in na- 
 ture. In the air it is in the midst of very active 
 and combustible agents, that have a wide range of 
 affinities prompting them to unite with many sub- 
 stances; but it is characterized by its utter indif- 
 ference to all other substances — it has an apparent 
 reluctance to enter into combination with any of 
 them," Coarse litter, like stalks or straw, when 
 kept covered by fresh accumulations, should lie 
 long enough to undergo a partial decomposition, 
 that they may be easily broken to pieces and 
 handled, and refined for the convenience of plough- 
 ing them in ; and a yard for feeding and treading 
 should be formed, with a dish towards the centre, 
 that the hquids may be saved. It is best when it 
 can be done, to have the fields to corner near the 
 dwelling, and have a permanent farm pen con- 
 venient to them all, that the farmer may have his 
 stock and work more ufider his eye. All fine 
 manure should be sheltered to preserve its strength 
 and keep it light and loose for hauling and spread- 
 ing. A Dutchman's barn is the largest and finest 
 house on his premises, but a Tuckahoe will spend 
 thousands for a fine dwelling, and leave sheds, shel- 
 ters and cabins neglected. Much valuable manure 
 
AGRICULTURE. 35 
 
 might be collected from hogs, sheep and fowls, and 
 that from fowls is richer than that from any animal, 
 for the reason that we have the liquid and solid 
 excrements mixed together. Hogs intended for 
 pork should be kept up in close pens on plank 
 floors almost from pigs, and fed like shoats on slops, 
 vegetables, meal, corn, &c., and the manure it is 
 thought will amount in value to at least half the 
 expense of fattening, and the meat will be better. 
 It is almost needless to say, that we may find rich 
 materials about our hedges, fences, houses, &c., to 
 say nothing of our marshes and streams. I shall 
 say nothing of guano, as it is so well understood, 
 and it is a little doubtful whether it will remunerate 
 at present prices, if we should have bad seasons 
 and depressed prices for produce. Green crops 
 consist of clover and other grasses, cultivated to be 
 turned into the soil as manure, and they are well 
 worthy of attention if the farmer can find the time 
 in the midst of his other engagements. Sir H. 
 Davy says : *' When green crops are to be em- 
 ployed for enriching the soil, they should be 
 ploughed in if possible when in bloom ; for it is at 
 this period that they contain the largest quantity of 
 easily soluble substances, and that their leaves are 
 most active in forming nutritive matter." But the 
 fallow of clover should be delayed until the seeds 
 ripen, to avoid the expense of buying seed, as they 
 
Sl^ AGRICULTURE. 
 
 will remain in the earth, and stock his field for 
 years to come. On light gray land not adapted to 
 clover, he may substitute oats, peas or herds-grass, 
 and before ploughing let his stock feed upon them ; 
 but for this kind of land I think hard treading and 
 grazing is better than ploughing. 
 
 SECTION IV. 
 
 CORN. 
 
 *' He that by the plough would thrive, 
 Himself must either hold or drive." 
 
 Almost any land is good, and any crop profitable 
 to the industrious, skillful and economical man, but 
 without regular toil and unremitting vigilance his 
 expenses will exceed his income, especially if much 
 sickness occurs or several unfavorable seasons come 
 in succession. If Infinite Wisdom saw it proper 
 to put Adam in the garden *' to dress it and keep 
 it" while he enjoyed its fruits, how much more 
 necessary is employment for his degenerate sons 
 and daughters ! The principal crops in Virginia 
 consist of corn, wheat, oats, hay, potatoes, turnips, 
 peas, pumpkins and tobacco ; and we would say 
 that by analysis it has been ascertained they are all 
 composed mostly of four simple substances, carbon, 
 oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen, which are called 
 
AGRICULTURE. 37 
 
 organic substances because they are the products of 
 vegetable life and fornri the organs of the plant. In 
 combustion these fly off into the atmosphere in the 
 form of gas and vapor, and a few ashes remain, 
 amounting only to eight or ten pounds in every 
 hundred, consisting of potash, soda, lime, magnesia, 
 silica, &c., which are called inorganic substances. 
 The quantity of these several elements varies in 
 different plants and in different parts of the same 
 plant, as in the grain and stalk ; and animals prefer 
 short grass because it is richest near the ground. 
 Corn is the great crop in the South for thrift and 
 comfort, as it embraces both bread and meat, and 
 it should not be neglected or slighted for any other 
 crop. Norton says "it is unrivalled in its quality 
 for fattening, as it contains by analysis about ten 
 per cent, of fatty matter." In selecting seed corn 
 we should have regard to a long deep grain and 
 small cob, as it yields more and is not so liable to 
 rot in wet weather. Corn on the high lands should 
 be planted early in April, but the flats will do well 
 any time in May. All the flats intended for corn 
 should be ploughed jjp in November or December 
 by flushing in beds twenty or thirty feet wide, and 
 the water furrows should be opened nicely with the 
 hoe. If this is not done before the spring the wet 
 portions will be sobbed to death, and thus the best 
 land after much hard work will yield nothing. 
 
38 AGRICULTURE. 
 
 High land will do fully as well ploughed in the 
 spring, and should generally be thrown up in single 
 beds, that the land may not wash or bake, and the 
 corn being a little elevated will take an early start ; 
 but the opening furrows for the reception of the 
 corn should be very deep, and the corn planted low 
 in the earth. In the culture the small dagon is 
 generally used first in throwing the earth from the 
 corn, and then in laying by the earth is thrown 
 back, so there is but little necessity for the hoe. 
 This is perhaps the best and cheapest method, but 
 others prefer to have their rows on a level with the 
 earth, and cultivate it with harrows and coulters. 
 Deep ploughing is required in the whole process of 
 cultivation, not only to render the land soft and 
 friable for the progress of the roots, but to admit 
 the gases and water freely, and prevent the land 
 from washing. In long dry spells, to which we 
 are so subject in the South, the corn will retain 
 its color and vigor, and make a good yield with 
 very little rain. There is some doubt whether 
 subsoil ploughing is worth the time and labor; 
 but it has a tendency to prevent the land from 
 washing, and saves some weeding by burying the 
 seed of grass too deep to germinate. Professor 
 Mapes mentions land that had been brought up 
 from fifteen to seventy-five bushels of corn per acre 
 by subsoiUng. When there is much coarse litter 
 
AGRICULTURE. 39 
 
 to be ploughed in, the land should be flushed with a 
 large plough, and then ridged with a small dagon. 
 Not a foot of land should be put in corn that will 
 not yield five barrels to the acre, and then we may 
 make corn enough and find time for many valuable 
 improvements. When the corn is gathered the 
 stalks should be speedily brought together and 
 stacked or set up with the little end down, and 
 thrown into the pens early in the winter for food 
 and litter. But if food is abundant, they may be 
 buried in the field in the water furrows between the 
 rows where they grew ; and in this case it is best 
 not to cut the tops, but pull off the blades. Wheat 
 should not follow corn if it can be avoided. 
 
 SECTION V. 
 
 WHEAT AND OATS. 
 
 The wheat crop has become more important 
 since our railroads have penetrated almost every 
 section of the commonwealth, and it may finally 
 supplant that troublesome weed, tobacco ; and it 
 has an important bearing upon the improvement of 
 the soil. The white bearded wheat, sometimes 
 called the Ward, will stand rust and smut best, but 
 some other varieties are richer in quality and more 
 productive in quantity. I suppose that wheat is 
 
4Q: AGRICULTURE. 
 
 not indigenous to our climate, as any kind will 
 depreciate, and must be exchanged for a different 
 variety from another part of the world ; but this 
 peculiarity does not apply to oats and corn. For- 
 ward wheat is not very liable to rust, and it is 
 believed that when the seed is soaked well in brine 
 and rolled in caustic lime it will not be anno3^ed 
 with that formidable disease now spreading among 
 us, called smut. While wheat will not so well fol- 
 low corn and be healthy, it does well after tobacco, 
 oats or peas. I sometimes sow a portion of my 
 crop the last of August, and it does well, but I 
 have it grazed hard in the fall and winter to destroy 
 the fly, which to some little extent is apt to get into 
 it. Also the grazing is beneficial to the stock and 
 the treading to the soil, but the stock should not 
 be there immediately after rain or hard freezing. 
 Wheat is generally sown broadcast, but of late a 
 few have introduced the drilling machine, and the 
 land should be well refined and cleaned. Before 
 the ploughs leave the field trenches should be made 
 by dagon furrows on all the slopes to prevent wash- 
 ing. The use of alcohol in harvest is a great mis- 
 take; but if any special drink is required, a beverage 
 made of vinegar and water is innocent and palata- 
 ble. If injury is done by drinking cold water, Dr. 
 Rush advises a teaspoonful or more of laudanum. 
 Wheat when cut should lie two or three days in the 
 
AGRICULTURE. 41 
 
 sun to get thoroughly dried, and then there Is no dan- 
 ger of weevil should it remain in stacks until the fall, 
 which is the best time to get it out, both for com- 
 fort and convenience. If wheat should take a little 
 rain on the ground, it will not be injured ; but oats 
 should be taken up as soon as possible and put in 
 good stacks at once in different parts of the field. 
 It is best to commence seeding oats the last of 
 February if the season will permit. 
 
 SECTION VI. 
 
 HAY AND PASTURAGE. 
 
 In Eastern Virginia the sun is too hot for meadow 
 grass to any great extent, and we need our flats for 
 corn, but we should have clover lots for hogs, and 
 also for hay. As an improver, clover will not an- 
 swer on sandy soils ; but herds-grass or timothy 
 should be scattered freely for grazing, and in some 
 locations a meadow might be very valuable if made 
 rich enough to keep out broomstraw. When our 
 fiats are scarce they should be kept in the highest 
 degree of fertility ; and Low says, " Lands after 
 cropping ma}^ be laid dow^n to grass and grazed 
 with constantly increasing fertility; but if suffered 
 to become full of weeds the improvement is slow." 
 The first statement is very encouraging, if true, 
 
42 AGRICULTURE. 
 
 and the last is doubtless the truth when applied 
 to broomstraw. When this is thick we should 
 not turn it in as it is an acid grass, but burn it, and 
 the ashes will give the soil an alkaline character. 
 Every man who would have good stock should 
 have two places for pasture, that he may shift them 
 frequently ; and this applies especially to sheep. All 
 stock should be excluded from the common pasture 
 in the spring for several weeks after the warm wea- 
 ther commences, that the grass may get ahead of 
 their wants, and then it will keep ahead. This 
 pasture should include our meanest land, and if the 
 broomstraw is fired in the winter or spring it affords 
 good grazing while tender, but young pines should 
 not be destroyed in the operation. 
 
 SECTION VII. 
 
 POTATOES AND TURNIPS. 
 
 Sweet potatoes should be put on soft, sandy land, 
 a little moist, and planted in April. They should 
 be cut into pieces about three inches long, and two 
 pieces put in a hill ; but the red may be planted 
 from slips drawn from a hot bed prepared in the 
 month of March. Before digging, a load of dry 
 oak leaves should be provided, and as the potatoes 
 are dug they should be at once taken to the cellars, 
 
AGRICULTURE. 43 
 
 taking care to have the sides well lined with the 
 leaves, and the potatoes covered over with a mass 
 about a foot in thickness; and then you will never 
 have to buy or beg seed. Or you can naake a kiln in 
 your field or garden, by elevating the earth about six 
 inches, and after putting on the potatoes put on 
 leaves, boards and earth, and make a rail pen around 
 it and cover it with plank or boards, taking care at 
 the same time to fill the pen with leaves. For ex- 
 pedition Irish potatoes may be planted in the bot- 
 tom of a deep furrow and covered with straw or 
 stable manure, and then let the furrow slices be re- 
 versed and thrown on them ; and the planting may 
 be in November or March. Potatoes should have 
 a light weeding with the hoe before the plants ap- 
 pear above the ground, to destroy the young grass ; 
 but Irish potatoes need only one thorough working. 
 It is useless to plant them late and expect a sum- 
 mer crop in our climate ; but if we plant in the fall 
 or spring we will succeed well, and as we have ne- 
 ver seen the rot, we ought to go more into the cul- 
 ture of this cheap and valuable article. 
 
 Turnips will not often do well if sown before the 
 first of August. The best of them should be put 
 in kilns in November, and the patch, or portions of 
 it, covered thickly with oak brush with the leaves 
 on, or with leaves from the woods and a httle brush 
 without leaves thrown on them, and the turnips will 
 
M AGRICULTURE. 
 
 improve in the winter and afford early sallad in the 
 spring. 
 
 SECTION VIII. 
 
 PEAS, PUMPKINS, ETC. 
 
 The pea is getting into high repute as an impro- 
 ver, and is a rich, cheap food for man and beast. 
 The cornfield pea does best planted the last of May 
 or the first of June, and is frequently sown to ad- 
 vantage over the fields of corn when laid by, and 
 on stubble land after wheat harvest. The crowder 
 variety, perhaps, affords the greatest yield, but the 
 large black-eye is preferred by the ladies for the ta- 
 ble ; and there is a stock pea said to excel for stock 
 and litter. Snaps are now commonly destroyed in 
 the winter by a little bug that generates within 
 them, but this can be prevented by having a late 
 crop for seed, that will mature just before frost ; or 
 if bunch snaps, it should be the second crop. Pump- 
 kins and cymlins are well worthy of attention for 
 cattle and hogs, and they can be produced in large 
 quantities with very little labor. The cymlin crop 
 affords good feed for hogs very early in the season 
 when food is apt to be scanty, and they should be 
 fed away while they are soft and can be easily bro- 
 ken. They should be planted early in April, but 
 pumpkins in May, in moist land; and they do well 
 
AGRICULTURE, 45 
 
 with corn in the flats. Melons and other vine crops 
 do best in a light, sandy soil, and are often raised 
 with corn or tobacco. 
 
 SECTION IX. 
 
 TOBACCO. 
 
 This is the great production of Virginia for re- 
 plenishing an empty purse, but a rage for it will 
 destroy the face of any country, not because it ex- 
 hausts our lands, but consumes our time. A full 
 crop keeps us in a race from January to January, 
 and allows no time to attend to lands, manures, 
 stock, or anything else. But what we call a half a 
 crop might be cultivated without much inconve- 
 nience : and being, of course, more nicely managed 
 and of better quality, would bring as much money. 
 The plant takes its name from Tobago, an island in 
 the West Indies, and is generally used as a luxury, 
 and often to our injury. Some directions for raising 
 it are taken from an article written by Mr. J. F. 
 Edmunds, Esq. of Charlotte, a judicious and suc- 
 cessful planter and farmer, and published in the 
 Farmers Encyclopoedia : '* The land for the plant 
 bed is usually selected in a warm place on a south 
 or southeastern side of a hill in a wood, new ground 
 being always preferred. From this the roots should 
 
46 AGRICULTURE. 
 
 be grubbed, the rubbish cleared away and the old 
 leaves raked off. Brush of pine or other wood is 
 then to be piled on three or four feet thick, and this 
 is to be set on fire, or a part of it may be fired for 
 an hour or so at a time — proceeding thus over the 
 whole bed. The place is then to be broken up 
 with hoes, and sometimes with coulters drawn by 
 horses or oxen, and the work repeated until the 
 earth is made perfectly fine, being careful to avoid 
 turning under the surface. All the roots should 
 then be extracted and the land laid off in beds 4 
 feet wide — a little elevated if wet ; and to 16 square 
 yards a common pipe bowl of seed is sown.'* In 
 regard to the cultivation and management, Mr. Ed- 
 munds says : " The land for tobacco should be of 
 the best quality, either newly cleared and virgin 
 soil, or old ground highly manured and well pul- 
 verized. The culture is very much like that adopt- 
 ed for Indian corn : the plough, cultivator and hand 
 hoe being freely used to keep down weeds and 
 loosen the earth. In about three months after set- 
 ting out, the plants assume a spotted and yellowish 
 appearance, indicating that they have attained suf- 
 ficient maturity for cutting and housing. This stage 
 of the tobacco culture is generally reckoned the 
 most difficult and delicate part of the whole busi- 
 ness, and the most judicious hands should be se- 
 lected for cutters. In curing, we commence our 
 
AGRICULTURE. 47 
 
 warming fires the day after housing, and we keep 
 them up from 36 to 48 hours : the mercury ranging 
 from lOOo to 115o. The fires should be kept 
 steady, with a gradual increase of heat to 150° or 
 160° until the tobacco is cured." But now the 
 purchasers prefer more sun and less fire, which is 
 attended with less danger, and it is a great saving 
 of time and fuel. 
 
 SECTION X. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, ETC. 
 
 As our object should be to plough deep, we should 
 select the large dagon called the Livingston, or one 
 similar, as it cuts the deepest furrow and affords 
 the easiest draft to the team — being long and sharp 
 like a wedge. A coulter should not have angles in 
 its shank, but a regular curve, hke a semicircle. 
 With a large point it is very useful in dry seasons 
 in cultivating corn and tobacco ; but in breaking up 
 new ground, the point should be very narrow. 
 Hoes for grubbing should have no curve in the 
 blade, but be perfectly straight: and the helves 
 should not be round, but a little flattened. We 
 should have a few jyrong hoes, made with three long 
 teeth, instead of a blade, for digging up long, coarse 
 litter. The pole of an axe should be nearly as 
 
48 AGRICULTURE. 
 
 heavy as the blade, and in grinding it should be held 
 with a firm grip in the hand, that there be no con- 
 vexity or unevenness in the bevel. I have been 
 surprised to see how few people have their straw 
 cutters in condition for work, so that not only their 
 forage is wasted, but their horses are not half fed. 
 A good corn sheller is an important article to save 
 time when we use much meal for stock : and one 
 sufficient for a small family can be had for $10. 
 The best threshing machines that we have seen 
 have, in addition to the common apparatus, a bag 
 open at both ends stretched behind the cylinder to 
 prevent the wheat from scattering, and to throw it 
 on a plank frame below that has holes in the bottom 
 to serve as a riddle, and by a vibratory motion 
 cleans the wheat of the straw, and by the same 
 motion the straw is gradually' borne off beyond the 
 dust to a convenient distance for stacking. There 
 should be shelters for ploughs, hoes, &c., and one 
 with benches and brakes for making gates, ploughs, 
 helves, &c. in bad weather; and we would say 
 there should be a place for every tool and every 
 tool in its place. 
 
AGRICULTURE. 49 
 
 SECTION XL 
 
 DRAINING AND IRRIGATION. 
 
 Great injury is sustained all over the country by 
 neglecting to drain not only marshes, but little 
 oozings on the hill sides, and thus the best lands 
 produce less than the poor ridges ; but thorough 
 draining makes our fields productive and our homes 
 salubrious. And it is astonishing to see how much 
 surplus muck or rich mould, well adapted to poor 
 land, if dried and pulverized, may be taken from a 
 small place. Many of us have, in this item, an in- 
 conceivable amount of wealth ; for one of my 
 neighbors has enough in one field to employ a team 
 100 years, and he has not carried off the first load. 
 It is excellent for corn and small grain, but not so 
 good for tobacco. No farmer ought to have open 
 drains or ditches where they can be avoided, as 
 they occupy some of his best land, soon get in- 
 fested with briars and bushes, are liable to fill up, 
 and are in the way of his teams in ploughing, so that 
 in turning round they break down and destroy his 
 crops. The cheapest covered drain is made of 
 three pine poles, with the brush thrown in upon 
 them, and then the earth ; but to fill up a foot deep 
 with very small stones or gravel is more perma- 
 nent. Irrigation is not, we think, sufficiently re- 
 3 
 
S^ AGRICULTURE. 
 
 garded in our ordinary crops. We have vast 
 quantities of water, charged with fertilizing ele- 
 ments, passing on to the ocean under our eye, and 
 we make no effort to arrest them ; and as a country 
 becomes more cleared up, it is more sul>ject to long 
 dry spells, which produce sometimes almost a total 
 failure in the crops. Wherever streams are turned 
 out on grass, stubble, or even any crop, except to- 
 bacco and wheat, the improvement is very visible ; 
 but especially should it be done in the fall and win- 
 ter, when practicable, on waste lands, pastures or 
 meadows. No doubt the wisdom of coming gene- 
 rations will invent great improvements upon this 
 branch of our subject. Even our little hill side 
 ditches can be made to empty on w^aste lands and 
 impart fertility, or in low, boggy places to elevate 
 ihem and mingle sand with their stiff pipe clays, 
 and improve their texture. 
 
 SECTION XII. 
 
 FUEL AND FENCING. 
 
 The majority of farmers should curtail, by one- 
 half, the surface of their arable land, and let trees 
 and shrubbery take possession, which will both im- 
 prove the soil and furnish timber fur coming gene- 
 rations. Much of our fuel may be obtained from 
 
AGRICULTURE. 61 
 
 decayed trees in the forest, cut and hauled when 
 the land is loo wet lo be ploughed. But pine does 
 well if kept elevated from the earth, and it affords 
 fine logs for building, if they are hewed on two 
 sides. To save fuel, chimneys should have a throat 
 only four inches deep, and the fire place should be 
 splayed on each side to an angle of about 45 de- 
 grees to reflect the heat. Pine, cut for rails, should 
 lie a few monlhs before they are split, that the bark 
 may decjiy sufficiently to fall off, and they will last 
 longer. Many iences are rather a source of offence 
 than defence; but bad gaps and gales make more 
 bad slock than bad fences. By attending w^ell to 
 these, 3'ou can trjiin 3'our stock not to jump a fence 
 four feet high. I was once opposed to what is 
 called the fence law, requiring every man to keep 
 his stock upon his own premises, lest it might bear 
 hard upon the poor; but even upon the score of 
 interest 1 have made it a law to myself for many 
 3'ears. The most of people suffer more in the loss 
 of stock, time and manure, than the little range is 
 worth. In one respect the poor man would have 
 the advantage in turning his crop out instead of his 
 stock, as it requires more rails to enclose a small 
 field in proportion to the number of acres enclosed, 
 than it does a large one, and this extra expense 
 falls upon the poor man. 
 
^i AGRICULTURE. 
 
 SECTION XIII. 
 
 STOCK RAISING AND FATTENING. 
 
 There is some advantage in a good breed of 
 horses, cattle and sheep, but not much in the breed 
 of hogs, as they improve more by good keeping than 
 any other animals. Our fault is, to keep loo much 
 stock ; for, as a matter of economy as well as plea- 
 sure, all animals should be kept fat and thrifty, or 
 not kept at all. A horse that is in the habit of be- 
 ing fat, will not eat as much as a poor one, and 
 will perform more service and sell for about double 
 the price. The corn for feed should generally be 
 ground, but if that cannot be afforded, we should 
 soak it in brine before feeding. Except for pur- 
 poses of necessity and charity, corn should not be 
 carried from the farm, but fed away to our ani- 
 mals, and after we have enriched our lands by 
 their manure, we can sell them. Mr. J. R. Ed- 
 munds truly says : '* x\t the usual range of prices 
 between corn and pork, it is more profitable to feed 
 than to sell." Hogs for pork should not be kept 
 more than 12 or 18 months, and should average 
 200 pounds. The way to do it is to keep them up 
 in close pens, wnth plank floors, the most of the 
 year — at least from harvest time until they are 
 killed--lhat they may have nothing to do but eat 
 
AGRICULTURE. 63 
 
 and sleep ; but they should have salt and ashes 
 once a week, and occasionally copperas and sul- 
 phur. I once had a pen of hogs so surfeited by 
 heavy feeding with corn when first put up, that they 
 all contracted a liver disease, which checked their 
 thrift and diminished their weight about one-half; 
 and therefore great caution should be observed to 
 keep them hearty and healthy with a proportion of 
 light diet; and the slops should be kept in a swill 
 tub and made sour. If we can dispense with half 
 our tobacco and make as much money by it, we can 
 certainly raise pork, beef, mutton, horses and mules 
 for all our markets and mechanics. Sheep can be 
 raised with very little expense, but they require 
 regular attention and a little salt twice a week. 
 Wet pastures do not suit them, and they should 
 stay in no place more than a month without a 
 change of locality. 
 
 SECTION XIV. 
 
 THE WAY TO WEALTH. 
 
 We will conclude our treatise on agriculture by 
 some extracts from the essay of Dr. Franklin, en- 
 titled " The Way to Wealih." 
 
 " It would be thought a hard government that 
 would tax its people one-tenth part of their time, to 
 
64 AGRICULTURE. 
 
 be employed in its service ; but idleness tnxes 
 many of us much more, if we r(H:l\on nil ihat is 
 spent in absolute sloih, or in idle eiiiployments or 
 amusements that amount to nothino:. Slodi, like 
 rust, consumes faster than labor wears, while the 
 key often used is always bright, as Poor Richard 
 says. Bat dost thou love life? then do not squan- 
 der time, for that is the stuff' life is made of. How 
 much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep? 
 forgetting that the sleeping fox catches no poultry, 
 as Poor Richard says. Lost time is never found 
 again, and what we call lime enough, always 
 proves little enough. He that rises late must trol 
 all day, and will scarce overtake his business at 
 night. Drive thy business and let not thy business 
 drive thee, as Poor Richard saj^s. And again, 
 there are no gains without pains, then help me my 
 hands, for I have no lands. At the working man's 
 house hunger looks in but dares not enter. Nor will 
 the sheriff* or constable enter; for industry pays 
 debts, but despair increaseih them. Then plough 
 deep while sluggards sleep, and you will have corn 
 both to sell and to keep. Work while it is called 
 to-day, for you know not how much you may be 
 hindered to-morrow. If you were a good servant, 
 would you not be ashamed that your master should 
 catch you idle? then be ashamed to catch yourself 
 idle. Handle your tools without mittens, for the 
 
AGRICULTURE. 65 
 
 cat in gloves catches no mice, as Poor Richard 
 snys. Mclhinks I hear some of you say, ' Musi a 
 man afford himself no leisure?' A life of leisure 
 and a life of laziness are two things. Leisure is 
 lime for doing someting useful; this leisure the 
 diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never. 
 
 *' So much for industry, my friends; but to this 
 we must add frugality if we would make our in- 
 dustry successful. A man may, if he knows not 
 how to save as he gets, keep his nose all his life to 
 the grind stone, and die not worth a groat at last. 
 A fat kitchen makes a lean will, as Poor Richard 
 says. 
 
 "And many estates are squandered liy getting, 
 Since women for satin cease spinning and knitting, 
 And men for whisky their hewing and splitting." 
 
 "What maintains one vice would bring up two 
 children. Beware of little expenses ; a small leak 
 will sink a great ship. Who dainties love, shall 
 beggars prove; and again, fools make feasts and 
 wise men eat them. Buy what you need not, and 
 ere long you must sell what you need. A plough- 
 man on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his 
 knees. Pride took break fist with Plenty, dined 
 wiih Poverty, and supped with Infamy. For 
 poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and 
 virtue. It is hard for an empty bag to stand 
 
56 AGRICULTURE. 
 
 Upright, as Poor Richard says in his Almanack. 
 This doctrine, nny friends, is reason and wisdom ; 
 but after all, do not depend too much upon your 
 own industry, frugality and prudence, though they 
 are excellent things, for they may be blasted with- 
 out the blessing of Heaven. Therefore, ask that 
 blessing humbly, and be not uncharitable to those 
 that at present seem to want it, but comfort and 
 help them. Remember Job suffered and was after- 
 wards prosperous." 
 
PART II. 
 MEDICINE. 
 
 Presuming that Cutler's Anatom/ and Physio- 
 logy, or someibing equivalent, has been studied by 
 the classes, we would offer this short and imperfect 
 treatise on the praciice of medicine. Dr. Rush 
 says, *' Nurses and old \A'omen often suggest facts 
 in the history and cure of diseases, which have 
 escaped the most sagacious observers of nature.'* 
 But still there ought to be great caution and delibe- 
 ration observed in offering prescriptions, as life is 
 at stake. A wise and prudent man in this way 
 may do a great deal of good in imitation of Christ, 
 who introduced his mission by '* healing all manner 
 of disease among the people;" and missionaries 
 find it necessary to carry with them a knowledge 
 of the healing art, as well as other arts, to over- 
 come the prejudices of the heathen. 
 
68 MEDICINE. 
 
 SECTION L 
 
 THE PREVENTION OF DISEASE. 
 
 In the first place, we would say that we should 
 endeavor so to live as to let medicine alone. My 
 grandmother lived to be upwards of ninety years 
 old and niised a large family of children, and never 
 spent a dollar in paying physicians' bills ; but she 
 had a good constitution and led an active life. The 
 old adage is true, *' An ounce of prevention is 
 worth a pound of cure." A temperate man may 
 be much exposed to weather or breathe pestilential 
 vapors and yet escape unhurt, while a gross feeder 
 will take cold in the best weather, or die of a fever 
 when there is no epidemic. The stomach is the 
 great source of disease and debihiy, as well as of 
 health and vigor. By regarding premonitory symp- 
 toms, many diseases in their incipient stages may 
 be starved out, by light diet with good exercise. 
 Observe in yourself the effect of your daily meals 
 and other indulgences, and act accordingly, and 
 3^ou may soon become to a great extent your own 
 physician. Dr. Franklin says, "If after exercise 
 we feed sparingly, the digestion will be easy and 
 good, the body lightsome, the temper cheerful, and 
 all the animal functions performed agreeably. 
 Sleep when it follows will be natural and un- 
 
MEDICINE. 69 
 
 disturbed ; while indolence with full feeding occa- 
 sions nightmares and horrors inexpressible." We 
 should not only regard the quantity but the quality 
 of the food and the manner of eating. Half cooked 
 meat, close tough bread, hot coffee and fast eating 
 are injurious. A free use of tobacco immediately 
 after eating and the use of ardent spirits are calcu- 
 lated to destroy the tone of the digestive organs. 
 Thus, by ignorance or wanton indulgence we suffer 
 pain, lose our time, incur expense, weaken our 
 energy of body and mind, and hurry ourselves to 
 an untimely grave. But after all necessary caution 
 and care, so little knowledge and power have we, 
 that diseases will come, and we should all possess 
 some knowledge of the healing art ; and as a good 
 general rule, it is said we should keep the bowels 
 and pores open, the head cool, and the feet warm. 
 But diseases are so numerous, symptoms are so 
 various, and constitutions so different, that we must 
 not only be close observers, but consult the best 
 judges and draw our resources from the wisdom 
 of ages. We should not be deterred from this 
 important duty by a few hard w^ords j for they 
 generally signify very simple things. 
 
60 MEDICINE. 
 
 SECTION n. 
 
 PATHOLOGY. 
 
 Pathology is derived from two Greek words, 
 'pathos^ feeling, and logos, a discourse, and signifies 
 a discourse about feeling pain, or in other words 
 about the causes and symptoms of disease. But 
 before we enter upon the subject, we would say the 
 science of medicine has been studied in all ages of 
 the world, and was reduced to a system by the 
 Greeks and Romans, and the terms they used have 
 been transmitted to us, and are still in use as most 
 appropriate ; and if we are not acquainted with the 
 dead languages, we can learn the signification of 
 the terms in a dictionary or glossary. Says Homer, 
 in the Iliad : 
 
 ^' A wise physician skilled our wounds to heal, 
 Is more than armies to the public weal." 
 
 It is a little remarkable that EwelPs Medical 
 Companion, written nearly fifty years ago, and sup-i 
 posed by some to have become too antiquated for 
 the present day, describes the diseases of the past 
 year or two with great exactness. He says : " Du- 
 ring the winter and spring, pleurisies, pneumonias, 
 quinsies, rheumatisms and inflammatory fevers prC' 
 vail. Toward the end of summer and in autumn, 
 intermittent and remittent fevers, with dysenteries 
 
MEDICINE. 61 
 
 and putrid ulcerous sore throats, make their appear- 
 ance." We have had the most of these in our 
 family and neighborhood, and many of our friends 
 have been taken off by the dysentery, which has 
 become the most formidable of all our maladies. 
 Pathology may also be defined morbid anatomy and 
 physiology, as it imphes a derangement in the solids 
 or fluids of the animal economy. But to be more 
 particular, it embraces, 1st nosology, (from nosos a 
 disease, and logos a discourse,) which signifies an ac- 
 count of diseases and of their differences ; 2d, aeti- 
 ology, (from (Btia a cause, and logos a discourse,) 
 signifying an account of the causes of disease ; 3d, 
 symptomatology, (from symptornata symptoms, and 
 logos a discourse,) signifying an account of the 
 symptoms of disease ; 4th, therapeia, (from thera- 
 peuo to heal,) implying the proper treatment of dis- 
 ease. Skill in this department is called diagnosis, 
 (from dia thoroughly, and gnosco to know,) signify- 
 ing the ability to distinguish different diseases ; and 
 while it is very important, it is very difficult as im- 
 plied in the proverb, " A knowledge of the disease 
 is half the cure." And prognosis is the ability to 
 prognosticate or foretell the final result. Diseases 
 may be either structural or functional, the first re- 
 lating to diseased organs, and the second to diseased 
 action. Mistakes are often made by supposing a 
 disease is located where the pain is, when it is the 
 
62 MEDICINE. 
 
 effect of sympathy with the diseased or disordered 
 organ, which is less sensitive. Thus, a disordered 
 stomach is often not felt in that region, but is fol- 
 lowed by a severe headache, or by pains in the 
 limbs and general debility. Diseases also have re- 
 mole and proximate causes which require careful 
 consideration. Diseases are either acute or chronic, 
 intermittent, remittent or continued. 
 
 SECTION III. 
 
 THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES. 
 
 It seems f/om Dr. Chapman's remarks on the 
 nature of life, that *' Every living body, animal or 
 vegetable, is endowed with a primordial princijyle of 
 life, and which, being resident in the ova of animals 
 and the seed of plants, constitutes the power by 
 which in the first place the various organs are 
 moulded, developed and perfected, and by which 
 afterwards the animal economy is defended against 
 the action of mechanical and chemical laws." 
 There is a diversity of opinion as to what element 
 of nature constitutes the principle of vitality, but I 
 presume from the experiments of Galvani upon a 
 dead frog, which gave rise to the science of galvan- 
 ism, and similar experiments since made upon 
 human bodies, that it is the electric fluid. This ap- 
 
MEDICINE. 63 
 
 pears to be the connecting link between matter and 
 mind, flesh and spirit, and is employed by the 
 spirit to carry out the volitions of the mind through 
 the nervous system. There is also a difference of 
 opinion concerning the operation of medicines, the 
 most of modern writers supposing that their im- 
 pression is extended through the system by sympa- 
 thy, and others have thought they entered into the 
 circulation, and thus by a sort of chemical action, 
 they correct the vitiated condition of the fluids. 
 This last view of disease and curative agents is 
 called the humoral pathology ; but it is not so im- 
 portant to know the modus operandi as the ficts. 
 Dr. Elliotson says: "It is ordained by Providence 
 to a great extent, that the injurious causes to which 
 we are exposed should have but a temporary effect. 
 Either the body has the power of resistance or the 
 causes exist temporarily ; either from being applied 
 but temporarily to the body, or from being able to 
 exert no more than a temporary influence. This 
 power of the body to shake off' its morbid state is 
 called by writers vis medicatrix nnlur(B, the curative 
 power of nature. For example, when acrid mat- 
 ters are taken into the stomach, the stomach has 
 a tendency to reject them ; or if they be passed 
 through the stomach into the intestines, the intes- 
 tines are excited to action, and they are got rid 
 of." He also says : *' In the treatment of many 
 diseases, as well as in their prevention, we act m- 
 
64 MEDICINE. 
 
 tionally ; we proceed upon general principles ; and 
 the whole treatment is in the highest degree philo- 
 sophical. We naake an accurate diagnosis in the 
 first instance ; we then see what is wrong in the 
 state of the system, and employ such means as are 
 evidently calculated to remove that state. But in 
 certain diseases and in certain varieties of disease 
 we are obliged to act empirically — to act in a certain 
 way without knowing why we are likely to be suc- 
 cessful. The treatment of ague, of itch, and of 
 syphilis is empirical, for it is impossible to know 
 why a few grains of sulphate of quinine will cure 
 ague, why a few grains of sulphur will cure the 
 itch, and wh}'' syphilis will cease sooner if we exhi- 
 bit mercury than if we do not." He says more- 
 over, that *' A disease may appear evidently to point 
 out the necessity of a certain mode of treatment, 
 but a peculiarity of the individual relating to par- 
 ticular articles of food, or in relation to the presence 
 of some other disease, may render it exceedingly 
 improper, 
 
 SECTION IV. 
 
 GASTRITIS. 
 
 The word gastritis is derived from gaster, the 
 stomach and ids inflamalion, and signifies an inflam- 
 mation in the stomach. As the digestive organs 
 take the lead in giving life, health and vigor to the 
 
MEDICINE. 65 
 
 system, we will first consider diseases connected 
 with them and the remedies. Dr. Gregory remarks 
 that *' the pathology of the mucous membrane of 
 the alimentary canal is a subject of great extent 
 and importance ; but it has not yet been investi- 
 gated with all the accuracy which it deserves. 
 While some parts of it are well understood, others 
 are involved in a degree of obscurity, which it will 
 require a long course of observation to clear up. 
 One of the most obvious of its general principles, 
 is the great liability of the membrane to inflamma- 
 tion. Such an affection occurs both in an acute 
 and chronic form, as idiopathic and as supervening 
 on other diseases in adults and in children. There 
 appears to be a peculiar tenderness and suscepti- 
 biHty of inflammation in this membrane during the 
 first 3^ears of life, and this points out the great im- 
 portance of regulating the diet of children with the 
 most scrupulous care." As the circulation of the 
 blood is more rapid in children, they must eat more 
 frequently than adults, but they are more liable to 
 disease, both from the tenderness of their organs and 
 their indiscretion, and parents should be their watch- 
 ful guardians upon this vital point. The brutes 
 have an unerring instinct to guide them in taking 
 the proper quantity and quality of food, but fallen 
 man has no presiding divinity within him to keep 
 him from destruction, and consequently thousands 
 
68 MEDICINE. 
 
 of children of vigorous constilntions are cut off by 
 llie ignorance or neglect of iheir parents; or railier 
 by excessive kindness and indulgence. Gastritis is 
 characterised by constant pain in the pit of the 
 stomach, attended with nausea and vomiting, and 
 soinetimes with great heat and thirst. It may pro- 
 ceed from an3ahing calculated to irritate the sto- 
 mach by eating or drinking, or from sudden emo- 
 tions of the mind. Leeches should be applied, but 
 the stomach should be kept as quiet as possible, and 
 the bowels kept open l)y injections. It frequently 
 occurs in cormection with er3'Sipplas, and is some- 
 limes evanescent, and will go away without treat- 
 ment if we keep the patient low. 
 
 SECTION V. 
 
 ENTERITIS AND COLIC. 
 
 This word comes from cnteron, an intestine, and 
 signifies an inflammation of the ilium or small intes- 
 tines. It may proceed from irregular habits of lite, 
 from cold or wet, or may follow measles, consump- 
 tion or continued fever. Colic is spasm, with the 
 pulse natural and the pain irreguhir, but in this, the 
 pain at the navel is constant, although not of uni- 
 form intensity, and there is great costivrness. The 
 pulse is hard or wiery, and there is nausea and vo- 
 
MEDICINE. 67 
 
 mlting. The pain is incrensed by pressure, but in 
 colic il is relieved by it. We must bleed from a 
 large orifice without mercy, cover the nbdomen 
 with leeches and exhibit huge doses of calomel if 
 there is strength in the patient. But the disease 
 may proceed from hernia, and require different 
 treatment. A drop of crolon oil every two or three 
 hours is good, or oil of turpentine and injections. 
 As colic is nearly of the same character, it may also 
 be treated much in the same manner; but opium 
 may be combined with the calomel. In mild cases 
 mint or ginger tea or a glass of brandy will give 
 relief, and hot bath or flannel wrung out of hot 
 water applied over the abdomen. Bilious colic 
 may proceed from acid and indigestible food, and 
 is apt to occur at the same time with diarrhoea, 
 cholera and jaundice, and may be fairly imputed 
 to an increased and vitiated secretion of bile. Rub- 
 bing laudanum on the abdomen or applying a blis- 
 ter has a decided effect, when through irritability 
 the stomach rejects medicines. 
 
 SECTION Vt. 
 
 DYSENTERY. 
 
 It appears that the principal seat of this formida- 
 ble disase is the inner membrane of the great intes- 
 
68 MEDICINE. 
 
 tines or colon. In general it appears to be the ef- 
 fect of hot, dry summers and marsh effluvia, and 
 among us has been more malignant in low, marshy 
 regions, and attended frequently with remittent 
 fever. "In this case," says Dr. Potter of Balti- 
 more, *' the remittent is the epidemic, and it occurs 
 in the autumn. This is usually a more inflamma- 
 tory fever, and requires a more vigorous procedure 
 to cure it. It is always accompanied with a con- 
 gested state of the hver, and frequently by a sus- 
 pended secretion of bile and obstinate constipation 
 of the intestines." Dr. Colhoun says, "Dysentery 
 is distinguished from diarrhoea by the tenesmus, 
 bloody stools and general fever, which characterizes 
 it." Dr. Elliotson says, " In it there is spasm and in- 
 flammation together, and both obstruction and purg- 
 ing. The term dysentery derives its character from 
 dus^ bad or sickly, and enteron, an intestine. In ad- 
 dition to hot weather and bad air, bad food and bad 
 water have a tendency to produce it. Last summer 
 I stated to an aged physician in one of the lower 
 counties, where the disease was raging, that I did 
 not like the water there, and thought it had a bad 
 influence on the health ; but he said he did not be- 
 lieve water had much to do with health. Dr. El- 
 liotson says, "Itis undoubtedly produced sometimes 
 by bad food and likewise by bad water." But per- 
 haps the greatest danger arises from excessive eat- 
 
MEDICINE. 69 
 
 ing and drinking, and thus deranging the functions 
 of the hver. With regard to the cure, physicians 
 differ very widely, and all remedies sometimes fail 
 in very violent cases. I enquired of a 3^oung phy- 
 sician a few months ago concerning his mode of 
 treatment, and he told me his first object was to 
 lock up the bowels; and he lost most of his patients. 
 Dr. Stephenson of Baltimore srjs, " It is li'ke lock- 
 ing the thief within the house to do all the mischief 
 he can." When there is much fever, blood letting 
 is important, and the exhibition of calomel com- 
 bined with opium ; but some physicians consider 
 mercury in any form dangerous, and prefer castor 
 oil, spirits of turpentine, &c., together with anodyne 
 injections. I have seen no physician who uses 
 emetics in this disease ; but I have seen the hap- 
 piest effects result from them, and they are recom- 
 mended by Dr. Akenside. 
 
 SECTION VI. 
 
 DIARRHCEA. 
 
 By diarrhoea (diarrhea to flow through) is meant 
 frequent liquid and rather copious feculent stools. 
 In dysentery the stools are not feculent, but some- 
 limes of a pitch-like substance. Sometimes, instead 
 of a mucus, there is thin serum ; and if we procure 
 
70 MEDICINE. 
 
 a passage, the discharges are in hard lumps, and 
 ihe pain is coDStaiil ; but in diarrhoea there is pain 
 only at the time of evacuation, and the discharge 
 is of all colors. Dr. Elli<»tson says " The causes 
 of this disease are, in the first place, too much food. 
 If a person eats a great deal, it must find its way 
 out, and it does. Tiiere must be more cximrUition 
 in proportion to the importation^ so that diarrhoea is 
 a proper eflfort of nature to get rid of it. Malaria 
 is enumerated among the causes, and cold after 
 heat, and sometimes it follows measles. As to 
 treatment of this disease, if it be slight, it is best to 
 do nothing at all, and take no exercise ; but if it 
 run on, various opiates and astringents are given ; 
 and I have found by experience that a little calo- 
 mel or blue pill is the most certain and speedy 
 remedy. Diarrhoea, dysentery, enteritis, colic and 
 cholera are artificially distinguished by the state of 
 the alvine evacuation principally ; but as they all 
 result from disturbed function of the intestinal canal, 
 there is an intimate pathological affinity. 
 
 SECTION VII. 
 
 CHOLERA. 
 
 This dreadful disease appears as yet to be con- 
 fined to the cities and large water courses, and 
 
MEDICINE. 71 
 
 seems destined to baffle the best medical skill and 
 set at naught the wisdom of man. The best course 
 perhaps will be to avoid the exciting causes, such 
 as crude and indigestible fruits, cold and moisture, 
 suppressed perspiration, acrid medicines and marsh 
 mi.ismata. The cholera (from chola bile, and rco to 
 flow) is characterised by a sudden attack of bilious 
 vomiting and purging, with spasms and severe pain 
 in the abdomen and calves of the legs, and in very 
 bad cases, in the neck and back. Fifty drops of 
 laudanum may be given in the first instance, and 
 repeated to the extent of ten or fifteen drops every 
 quarter of an hour; but Dr. Colhoun says, "The 
 opium should be combined with calomel and given 
 every two hours, or widi a saline effervescent 
 draught in the form of laudanum; and if still re- 
 jected, it may be given in the form of enema, giv- 
 ing two grains each time. The nitric and sul- 
 phuric acids, combined with cascarilla, chamomile 
 or columbo tea, often arrest the vomiting. A heat- 
 ed plate, bags of heated salt or sand, cloths wrung 
 out of hot water applied to the stomach, frictions 
 of laudanum over the abdomen and limbs; a cata- 
 plasm of opium over the stomach ; a mustard poul- 
 tice or blister of cantharides to the epigastrium ; 
 nitric acid applied over the surface with a feaiher, 
 and when its action has been sufficient, neutralized 
 with carbonate of potass to preveal its sjpreading. 
 
72 MEDICINE. 
 
 are the remedies." This should be accompanied 
 with a diet of broth or beef tea to dihite the de- 
 praved secretions in the intestinal canal. If the 
 pulse is feeble, wine or brandy may be necessary, 
 and a warm bath or hot bottles to the feet. 
 
 SECTION VIII. 
 
 HEPATITIS. 
 
 This word is derived from /leper, the liver, and 
 signifies inflammation in that organ, and it lies at 
 the foundation of many diseases. It is very com- 
 mon in the southern states among white people, 
 who are apt to diet freely and drink spirituous li- 
 quors, and live in idleness. In England it is so of- 
 ten observed among the intemperate that it is call- 
 ed a gin liver. But in a chronic form it is very trou- 
 blesome to students, who indulge their appetite for 
 food and tobacco, and take but little exercise, as I 
 know by experience. But after many years of suf- 
 fering and blundering in blindness in regard to the 
 cause and cure, I have learned to live comfortably, 
 by a proper attention to diet and exercise. It has 
 been remarked that the hver in warm chmates 
 seems to be the seat of disease nearly in the same 
 proportion that the lungs are in cold regions ; and I 
 find I always suffer more as the spring opens and 
 
MEDICINE. 73 
 
 the weather gets warm. But as the lungs are in 
 the vicinity of the liver, and in close contact, it is 
 reasonable to believe that consumption may follow 
 as the consequence of a liver affection by sympa- 
 thy with persons predisposed to it. I think 1 have 
 seen such cases, but writers, I believe, say nothing 
 about it. Dr. Potter, however, gives an intimation 
 upon the subject in these words : *' The inflamma- 
 tioa spreads from the liver to the diaphragm, and 
 along the pleura pulmonahs — the pus discharged 
 by the bronchia passes through the channel occa- 
 sioned by inflammation into the lungs, and not (we 
 judge) by the direction of the vis medicatrix through 
 the lymphatics." Hepatitis often ends in jaundice. 
 *' If the ducts become thickened by chronic inflam- 
 mation," says Dr. Elliotson, " if they become hy- 
 pertrophied, their canal may be so much diminished 
 that the bile cannot pass, and consequently we 
 have jaundice." Gout and rheumatism and many 
 cutaneous affections also follow a derangement of 
 the digestive organs with persons of full habits. 
 There is a most intimate connection between the 
 stomach and liver, as we may observe in the diges- 
 tive functions of brutes as well as ourselves. Year 
 before last I had a pen of fattening hogs very much 
 injured by a heavy surfeit of corn, and when they 
 were slaughtered every liver v/as ulcerated and 
 nearly destroyed. Last year I was strict to guard 
 4 
 
74 MEDICINE. 
 
 against the evil, and every liver was sound. A 
 slight attack of hepatitis may be removed by atten- 
 tion to hght diet, but calomel or blue pill commonly 
 acts like a charm when the disorder is serious. 
 
 SECTION IX. 
 
 CONSUMPTION OR PHTHISIS. 
 
 It seems hardly necessary to say anything about 
 this dreadful scourge of the human race, as it is 
 considered generally incurable, but no doubt some- 
 thing may be done to prevent its occurrence. It 
 exhibits two forms, one with tubercles on the lungs, 
 and the other with abcesses ; but the distinction 
 does not amount to much, as they give rise to near- 
 ly the same train of symptoms, and often coexist. 
 The symptoms are well known to be a fixed cough, 
 a diflSculty of breathing, hectic fever, night sweats, 
 and emaciation, spitting of blood, &c. Dr. Col- 
 houn says, *' Consumption has been arrested by 
 the supervention of other diseases, as abcesses and 
 mania, facts which render probable the efficacy in 
 this disease of extensive drains on the surface of 
 the body." I had a female friend who had it for 
 years, if the diagnosis of skillful physicians could be 
 relied upon, and during the time she for a few 
 months improved very much, and regained her 
 
MEDICINE. 75 
 
 flesh, but a combination of domestic afflictions and 
 other circumstances aggravated it, and she finally 
 died. I should suppose then that large blisters, is- 
 sues and seatons, and very spare vegetable diet, and 
 other similar means, might save many cases if taken 
 in hand early. 
 
 Laennec relates ten out of many cases of the 
 tubercular consumption which had been cured ; but 
 Dr. BaiUie states that after the practice of a long 
 life, he knew only one or two. Fresh air, a uniform 
 temperature, warm clothing and moderate exercise 
 are very important. Dr. Rush often cured it by a 
 slight salivation, after using the antiphlogistic plan. 
 
 Actoea racemosa has been used by Dr. Garden 
 of Virginia, in this disease, wiih great success. 
 Liebig says, " Hepatic diseases arise from excess of 
 carbon, pulmonary diseases from excess of oxygen. 
 
 SECTION X. 
 
 PNEUMONIA AND PLEURISY. 
 
 Pneumonia, from pneumon, a lung, is a very 
 common and dangerous disease, and it is thought 
 to be an inflammation in the air cells. The symp- 
 toms resemble those of consumption, and the treat- 
 ment in the main should be the same, especially 
 venesection from a large orifice, cupping &c., and 
 
76 MEDICINE. 
 
 they sboald be promptly used, lest a foundation be 
 laid for consumption. I have seen salivation have 
 a good effect, and emetics are recommended, to- 
 gether with sinapisms and warm diaphoretic drinks. 
 Pleurisy is a disease of the pleura, a serous mem- 
 brane investing the lungs, generally attended with 
 a hard, quick pulse and pain in the side. There is 
 no crepitous rattle heard on listening at the affected 
 part, as in pneumonia, and no sibilous rattle as in 
 bronchitis, and the respiration is rapid. Bleeding, 
 mercurializing, purging and starving will cure it 
 just as easy as any other inflammation ; and to 
 them may be added digitalis and colchicum in a 
 saline mixture, with an excess of alkali to keep 
 down the action of the heart and arteries, and to 
 determine to the kidneys and skin. 
 
 SECTION XL 
 
 BRONCHITIS AND ASTHMA. 
 
 Bronchitis (from bronchos, the windpipe) is an in- 
 flammation of the bronchia or branches of the 
 windpipe, at the lower end, which enter the lungs. 
 The windpipe itself is called the trachea, and the 
 upper end, that opens into the mouth, the larynx. 
 Diseases in those parts are called tracheitis and 
 laryngitis, and in children tracheitis is called croup. 
 
MEDICINE. 77 
 
 Bronchitis is sometimes mistaken for asthma, which 
 comes from asthmadzo, to gasp for breath ; is a 
 spasmodic affection of the organs of respiration, 
 attended with wheezing. A slight affection of these 
 organs is called a catarrh. As bronchitis is very 
 prevalent among our presbyterian clergy in par- 
 ticular, I should think it did not result from preach- 
 ing mainly, but from study and sedentary habits ; 
 for " Dyspepsia and diseases of the liver," says 
 Dr. Gregory, " are often attended by the common 
 symptoms of chronic bronchitis." As in other pul- 
 monary affections, blisters and aperients may be 
 necessary if circumstances justify them, and a uni- 
 form moderate temperature, warm clothing and 
 light diet are indispensable. Dr. EUiotson says, 
 *' Diuretics and emetics are of the greatest utility, 
 and it is a good practice to combine digitalis and 
 squills." It is said that croton oil, rubbed exter- 
 nally on the throat, so as to produce an eruption, 
 will effect a cure. Asthma in the main is treated 
 in the same way. 
 
 SECTIOxN XII. 
 
 PALSY, EPILEPSY AND APOPLEXY. 
 
 Paralysis is the result of that state which, in the 
 first instance, is apoplectic, and frequently begins 
 
f8 MEDICINE. 
 
 with coma or apoplexy, but commonly affects either 
 one side or the lower half of the body. The cause 
 may be a mere fullness about the head, and some- 
 limes there is found a serous effusion in the brain, 
 or an effusion of blood. If the disease appear to 
 be of an inflammatory nature — if the head be hot, 
 attended with pain and delirium, then common 
 antiphlogistic treatment should be put in practice, 
 such as bleeding, purging, leeching, mercurializing, 
 applying cold and starving the patient ; but we 
 must be on our guard not to go too far. A lady of 
 my acquaintance, who was deranged for many 
 months, was cured by pouring a quantity of cold 
 water on her head. Iodine will act as well as mer- 
 cury ; but it is only proper when rubbed in as an 
 ointment, or given internally in combination with 
 potassa. If there is great debility, tonics and good 
 food may be employed. Insanity, as Dr. Elliotson 
 remarks, is no doubt a corporeal disease, connected 
 with the pathology of the brain ; and when medi- 
 cines or other diseases counteract the determination 
 of the fluids to the head, they recover. Physicians 
 mention cases where recovery occurred a few hours 
 before death ; and I had an uncle who was exactly 
 a similar case, who had lost his reason by epileptic 
 fits. In epilepsy the cerebellum (the little brain) is 
 more particularly diseased, but is often connected 
 with the disease of the stomach, liver, intestines, 
 heart and lungs. 
 
MEDICINE. 79 
 
 SECTION XIII. 
 
 MANIA, NEURALGIA, ETC. 
 
 It is well known that drinking ardent spirits in- 
 temperately produces mania, and that eating hearty 
 suppers will bring on nightmare and other horrors: 
 and, of course, abstinence is the best remedy. But, 
 with the poet, thousands can say: 
 
 "I Bee the right, and I approve it too, 
 I hate the wrong, and yet the wrong pursue." 
 
 It is hardly possible to mark the boundaries of 
 reason and insanity in every case, as there is every 
 grade of genius, from the moping idiot or raving 
 maniac to the greatest philosopher ; but as mental 
 operations depend much upon corporeal function, 
 much may be done by us to weaken or strengthen 
 the mind. A sound body is apt to make a sound 
 mind, and we may say invariably does ; but bad 
 health, mental anguish, and other causes, have 
 filled our lunatic asylums to overflowing, and yet 
 many ^re left behind upon the hands of their friends. 
 Neuralgia is an aflTection of the nerves, and is not 
 very well understood. It sometimes proceeds from 
 a. disordered stomach, and emetics, cathartics, &c. 
 are beneficial. Dr. Jackson of Boston has given 
 cicuta {hemlock) with good effect. When there is 
 no inflammation, stimuli may give relief. 
 
so MEDICINES 
 
 SECTION XIV. 
 
 EROPSY AND STRANGUARY. 
 
 Dropsy is caused b}^ excessive drinking, poor 
 diet, immoderate bleedings and salivations, and 
 sometimes by scirrhous tumors of the liver or ab- 
 dominal viscera. It has been said with much truth, 
 that dropsy is rather a symptom of disease than a 
 disease itself. There is always a process of ex- 
 halation and absorption going on through all the 
 tissues of the animal body, in addition to the circu- 
 lation of the blood, and whatever disturbs the equili- 
 brium is calculated to produce dropsy; but as the 
 blood vessels have a great agenc}^ in it, they should 
 be supplied with the proper quantity and quality of 
 the vital fluid. Nature makes, to some extent, a 
 kind provision for our irregularities and the influ- 
 ence of seasons. In warm weather, when the per- 
 spiration is abundant, the urine is concentrated and 
 scant}'' ; in winter, it is strikingly augmented ; and 
 when this secretion is disturbed by the presence of 
 bile, the urine is deepl}^ tinged, and often slranguary 
 is the consequence. This commonly attends only 
 people whose powers of digestion are feeble and 
 their teeth bad, if they indulge their appetite for 
 food and take but little exercise. I had a case of 
 dropsy cured in my family mostly by leeching and 
 
MEDICINE. 81 
 
 Starving; but if there is great debility, tonics and 
 nourishing food should be given, and especially 
 garlic and onions. Exercise is of the greatest im- 
 portance when not carried to fatigue. 
 
 SECTION XV. 
 
 RHEUMATISM AND GOUT. 
 
 Bellonious, a physician who suffered much from 
 rheumatism, is said to have been the first who made 
 an accurate distinction between these diseases. 
 Rheumatism may occur in an active or passive 
 form, and the two varieties require very opposite 
 treatment. There is commonly pain and swelling in 
 the large joints, as ankles, knees, hips and shoulders, 
 and I now have it in one of my shoulders. Dr. El- 
 liotson says : " There is, I believe, but one existing 
 cause of the disease, and that is the application of 
 cold, or cold and wet ;" but in our case it proceeds 
 from derangement of the digestive organs — a cause 
 which Dr. Prout admits, and which I have often 
 known to produce it — and it occurs without the least 
 exposure. When this is the case, we must direct 
 our attention to the stomach and liver. Mercury 
 appears to be equally useful in both kinds of rheu- 
 matism, and in the chronic a grain of stramonium 
 
 (thorn apple) acts well. Gout affects the smaller 
 4# 
 
82 MEDICINE. 
 
 joints, as the toes, feet, &c., and is very severe. 
 Sydenham, in writing of his own sufferings, com- 
 pares them to the gnawing of a dog. It generally 
 occurs with robust people of full habits. To cure 
 it, the patient should be very abstemious and lake 
 exercise. Colchicum (meadow saffron) is the best 
 medicine, it is thought, and friction is useful. 
 
 SECTION XVI. 
 
 INTERMITTENT AND REMITTENT FEVER. 
 
 An intermittent fever will cease entirely at inter- 
 vals and recur again, and is understood to be the 
 effect of malaria ; but it is often dependent upon 
 exciting causes more or less under our control. If 
 the return of its paroxysms occurs daily, it is called 
 a quotidian ; if every other day, it is termed a ter- 
 tian. Some years it is very prevalent on our streams, 
 and quinine or oak bark is the best remedy to be 
 used in the time of the intermission or ague ; but 
 emetics or purgatives should first be given. And 
 change of location is very necessary. The remit- 
 tent or bilious fever undergoes som^ relaxation of 
 severity at certain periods, and requires more prompt 
 and energetic measures of depletion, and commonly 
 blood-letting. Calomel is the most efficacious ca- 
 thartic. This and the yellow fever have a resem- 
 
MEDICINE. #B 
 
 blance, and are both extinguished on the approach 
 of cold weather. But they have been awfully fatal, 
 particularly the latter, during the past season, on our 
 western waters. Our best hope is in avoiding ex- 
 cesses in eating and drinking, and needless expo- 
 sure to hot sun and night air. Dr. Colhoun says, 
 ** We should avoid both great abstinence and in- 
 temperance, and eating and drinking improper food, 
 as acids, rich sauces, pies, and high seasoning in 
 
 SECTION XVII. 
 
 CONTINUED FEVER. 
 
 Continued fever has but little deviation to the 
 end, and there is quickness and smallness of pulse, 
 heat, thirst, high colored urine, costiveness and dry 
 skin. This was a fatal disease among us the last 
 season. If great symptoms of debihty appear it is 
 called typhus, from tupho, to smoulder. Sometimes 
 there is great nausea and loathing of food, and at 
 other times a voracious appetite. Dr. Satterly men- 
 tions the case of a boy that would eat at one meal 
 a pound and a half of beef steaks or a couple of 
 rabbits without satisfying his appetite ; and I have 
 known them stealthily to eat the candles left in the 
 room with them. It is said to be a disease in the 
 glands of the small intestines, and being so far re- 
 
84 MEDICINE. 
 
 moved from the stomach leaves it healthy, and by 
 a degree of inflammation sometimes makes it more 
 craving. Ventilation and cleanliness are indispen- 
 sable, and chloride of lime should be sprinkled over 
 the room. Blood letting, purging and vomiting are 
 -generally necessary; but if there is diarrhoea, astrin- 
 gent medicines should be used to some extent ; and 
 the blue pill then is preferable to calomel. And 
 strong beef tea is a good article of diet, together 
 with Madeira or Port wine. This type of the dis- 
 ease is most generally denominated typhoid fever. 
 
 SECTION XVIIl. 
 
 SCARLET FEVER AND MEASLES. 
 
 Till the close of the 18th century these diseases 
 were considered the same, or two varieties ot 
 the same disease ; and the same mistake has re- 
 cendy been made by some of our physicians, when 
 the measles first appeared among us ; but the scar- 
 let fever among children has been much the most 
 fatal. About a year ago 15 died in one neighbor- 
 hood not far from us ; and one man who had four, 
 lost all. An emetic is generally good, and gargling 
 pepper in the throat, and the patient should have 
 fresh air and be kept cool and clean. Leeches 
 about the throat are preferable to a blister. In 
 
MEDICINE. 85 
 
 measles it is only necessary to keep the bowels 
 open with occasional calharlics, and the skin moist 
 \viih leas and ihe warm bath. But there is great 
 danger after gelling well, lest cold be taken and ihe 
 lungs become inflamed, and death ensue. Many 
 deaths have occurred wiihin the last year or two, 
 among young people, from this heedlessness. 
 
 SECTION XIX. 
 
 THE PEPPER SYSTEM. 
 
 As some people prefer the Thompsonian prac- 
 tice, we will give a synopsis of the system : 
 
 No. 1 is composed of lobelia ivjlata, as Linnaeus 
 calls it, and is a very eflficient emetic. Three tea- 
 spoonfuls of powder put into pepper tea and 
 sweetened with brown sugar, is a dose. 
 
 No. 2 is cayenne pepper simply, to be used in al- 
 most every stage of the remedial process, to stimu- 
 late the languid functions, particularly before and 
 after steaming. 
 
 No. 3 is called composition, and composed of ^th 
 of bayberry (myrisa cerifera) root, or sumach (rhus 
 glabrum) root or the berries, Jih of the inner bark 
 of the hemlock or poplar bark tree, Jth of ginger, 
 l-16ih of cloves and l-16ih of pepper. This, 
 taken in large quantities, is a powerful diaphoretic, 
 to be usfed while steaming* 
 
86 MEDICINE. 
 
 No. 4 is poplar bark tea, with pepper and spi- 
 rits, to be used as a tonic bitter. 
 
 No. 5 is called peach syrup, made of kernels 
 from peach seed, poplar bark and bayberry bark, 
 all boiled together, with the addition of sugar and 
 brandy. This is considered as strengthening to 
 weak patients. 
 
 No. 6 is composed of pepper, myrrh and spirit 
 of brandy, and is a powerful expectorant and sti- 
 mulant. 
 
 No. 7 is American senna, (cassia marylandica,) 
 half an ounce, sage half an ounce, and ginger a 
 teaspoonful, and steeped together fifteen minutes 
 and sweetened with sugar. Half that quantity is 
 taken as a dose on going to bed ; and it is con- 
 sidered a most efficient cathartic. But an emetic 
 of lobelia should first be given to cleanse the sto- 
 mach ; and it is given in broken doses every two 
 hours to relax the system and promote perspiration. 
 The steaming is effected by putting hot rocks into 
 a tub of water, and placing the patient over it 
 wrapped up in blankets while taking the tea. 
 
MEDICINE. 87 
 
 SECTION XX. 
 
 HYGEIAN ECONOMY. 
 
 In regard to exercise, some feel best to walk or 
 work immediately after eating: others should be 
 still for about an hour. And in regard to diet, let 
 every man judge for himself what article suits him ; 
 for what is one man's meat is another man's poison ; 
 but the stomach by indulgence is often like a spoiled 
 child, and does not know its real wants. And 
 stimulating food and drink injures the tone of the 
 stomach and lays a foundation for diseases of body 
 and mind. A teaspoonful of laudanum or more is 
 a good remedy for cramp after drinking too much 
 cold water. For a cough or cold, make a decoction 
 of the leaves of the pine tree sweetened with loaf 
 sugar, and drink it warm when going to bed at 
 night. To cure a sore throat, take a glass of olive 
 or sweet oil and half a glass of spirits of turnpen- 
 tine, mix them well together, rub it on externally, 
 and wear flannel around it. The Journal of Health 
 says : " When a child is taken with croup, instantly 
 apply cold water or ice water if possible, suddenly 
 and freely to the neck and chest with a sponge." 
 Dr. Rush says : ** Worms are a provision by nature 
 to consume the superfluous ahment which all young 
 animals are disposed to take ; but calomel in large 
 
88 MEDICINE. 
 
 doses with jalap is a powerful and safe antbelmin- 
 tic." For asthma, slake quick lime in tar water 
 and drink twice a day. For the cure of dysentery, 
 take sweet gum bark, green or dried, steep it in 
 water, sweeten it with brown sugar and drink it 
 freely, and if necessary, add to it a little brandy. 
 
 Kj^f^t 
 
A GUIDE TO PAEENTS 
 
 WEALTH AND HEALTH. 
 
 IN THE 
 
 EDUCATION OF CHILDREN. 
 
 PREPARED FOR THE USE OP SCHOOLS AND PAMLIES. 
 BY REV M. W. JACKSON, 
 
 CHARLOTTE COUNTY, VA. 
 
 "It is certainly of more consequence to a man that lie has 
 learned to govern his passions, to he just in his dealings, to he 
 temperate in his pleasures, to behave with prudence in all his 
 aflfairs, than to he master of all the arts and sciences in the 
 world besides."— Franklin. 
 
 Labor improbus vincet omnia." — ViRgil. 
 
 RICHMOND: 
 
 RITCHIES <fc DUNNAVANT, PRINTERS. 
 1854. 
 

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