Scrofula, vapour baths, &c : a letter to His Royal Highness the Duke of York, the vice presidents, and committee, of the Asylum for Scrofula, &c. / by Charles Whitlaw.

  • Whitlaw, Charles.
Date:
[1826]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Scrofula, vapour baths, &c : a letter to His Royal Highness the Duke of York, the vice presidents, and committee, of the Asylum for Scrofula, &c. / by Charles Whitlaw. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    fected with it so long as she is regularly milked, but the milk is certain death to any animal, human or brute, that uses it to any extent; and the flesh of any animal that dies with it also becomes fatal to the dog, the wolf, the eagle, or buzzard, that takes a full meal of it. The use of the milk has proved fatal to a great number of people living in the section of Country called the Barrons, in this State, which lies between the Scioto and Bigmiami. It would be very gratifying to them to know whether there could not be some antidote discovered against its poisonous effects. I have the honour to be, &c, Chillicothe, FELIX RENICK. 25th July, 1825. His Excellency informed me, that, on a tour through the state of Ohio, he had learnt that the most dreadful effects were produced on many persons who used the milk of cattle which had fed on this plant. He requested me to ascer- tain its name and properties, that endeavours might be made to prevent its fatal effects. It proved to be the Rhus toxicodendron; and on further enquiries in journeying from Albany to the Falls of Niagara, and in Upper Canada, I was informed, that infants on the breast had been poi- soned through their mothers using the milk of cattle which had fed on the Rhus, while the mothers themselves received no injury. If I have trespassed too long in the preceding remarks, the importance of the subject will, I trust, plead my apo- logy. My system must stand or fall on the principles which I have adopted; and I trust the following account of my proceedings in America during a year commencing No- vember, 1824, in addition to the success of my system for several years in this country, will be admitted as con- firmatory of my opinions. Previous to my leaving London in 1824, I addressed a letter to the Committee for conducting the Asylum at Bays- water for the cure of Scrofula, stating my intention of re- visiting America for the following purposes:— To insure a supply of the requisite medicinal herbs M adequate to the increasing demand of the Public, and to point out the situation, not easily communicated by writing, where they may be gathered in the greatest abundance, and in the highest perfection. Also to finish those practical experiments on the aphorisms of Linnaeus, upon which I had for many years been engaged, and the completion of which will prove of the utmost importance to the human race. *2