66 rTHB SICK MAN^fl COMPANION 



information, as well as 



S 



the practice of using instruments; a circumstance 

 which happened some few years since near the city 

 of Lexington Kentucky, at a house in the country 

 where I had put up for the night. After supper, 

 which was tolerably early, the gentleman of the 

 house informed me that his son^s wife was about 

 to have a little one, and wished to know if I 

 could tell him who was the best physician in the 

 city or in the settlement, as it was her first child 

 and she in a very delicate state of health. I 

 named over several physicians, none of which 

 seemed to please him, and then informed him 

 that I had practiced for several years in that 

 line of business, with some considerable degree 

 of success myself; and having all the necessary 

 medicine along, would be happy to afford her all 

 the relief in my power if the parties were all a- 

 greed.^ I was accordingly introduced to give 

 my opinion, and found the case to be truly, as he 

 had stated, a very delicate one indeed; accom- 

 panied with a violent and obstinate flooding, 

 which the midwife, who was already there, in- 

 formed me she could not manage, and was much 

 alarmed for the safety of the lady. Th 



» — ^. ^ !• IS •• * 



r 



giving a portion of com- 



position powders, in warm water, sweetened, 

 with an extra addition of cayenne pepper; with 

 which the midwife was remarkably well pleased, 

 wished to know what it was, and mouired if I 



1 



