tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">301

LXXXII. Scarlatina Cured by letting alone, 312

LXXXIII. Ignorance not always Bliss, 314

LXXXIV. Measles without Snakeroot and Saffron, 317

LXXXV. The Consumptive Pair, 320

LXXXVI. How to Cure Cholera, 322

LXXXVII. Obstinacy and Suicide, 324

LXXXVIII. Health Hospitals, 327

LXXXIX. Destruction by Scrofula, 329

XC. Starving out Disease, 334

XCI. Dieting on Mince Pie, 342

XCII. Giants in the Earth, 346

XCIII. The Green Mountain Patient, 349

XCIV. Cure of Poison from Lead, 355

XCV. Faith and Works, 358

XCVI. Works without Faith, 360

XCVII. Diseases of Licentiousness, 365

XCVIII. Curious and Instructive Facts, 367

XCIX. Anti-Medical Testimony, 371

C. An Anti-Medical Premium, 375

CI. Concluding Remarks, 378

CII. A Last Chapter, 380

FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS
OF
PILLS AND POWDERS.

CHAPTER I.

EDUCATIONAL TENDENCIES.

I was born in a retired but pleasant part of New England, as New England was half a century ago, and as, in many places, despite of its canals, steamboats, railroads, and electromagnetic telegraphs, it still is. Hence I am entitled to the honor of being, in the most emphatic sense, a native of the land of "steady habits."

The people with whom I passed my early years, though comparatively rude and uncultivated, were yet, in their manners and character, quite simple. Most of them could spell and read, and write their names, and a few could "cipher" as far as simple subtraction. To obtain the last-mentioned accomplishment, however, was not easy, for arithmetic was not generally permitted in the public schools during the six hours of the day; and could only be obtained in the occasional evening school, or by self-exertion at home.

The majority of my townsmen also knew something of the dream-book and of palmistry, and of the influence of the moon (especially when first seen, after the change, over the right shoulder), not only on the weather and on vegetation, but on the world of humanity. They also understood full well, what troubles were betokened by the howling of a dog, the blossoming of a flower out of due season, or the beginning of a journey or of a job of work on Tuesday or Friday. Many of them knew how to tell fortunes in connection with a cup of tea. Nay, more, not a few of them were skilled in astrology, and by its aid could tell under what planet a person was born, and perchance, could predict thereby the future events of his life; at least after those events had actually taken place.

Under what particular planet I was born, my friends never told me; though it is quite possible some of my sage grandmothers or aunts could have furnished the needful information had I sought it. They used to look often at the lines in the palms of my hands, and talk much about my dreams, which were certainly a little aspiring, and in many respects remarkable. The frequent prediction of one of these aged and wise friends I remember very well. It was, that I would eat my bread in two kingdoms. This prediction was grounded on the fact, that the hair on the top of my head was so arranged by the plastic hand of Nature as to form what were called two crowns; and was so far fulfilled, that I have occasionally eaten bread within the realms of Queen Victoria!

According to