234 On coarse Flour, ^c. 



teries^ and fevers^ carried them off in great numbers. 

 Many died in the streets, and in the markets ; yet every 

 medical aid, and every possible comfort were afforded 

 to them. They loathed, and many refused, the soups 

 and provisions offered by the kindness of the citizens^ 

 or provided in the hospitals. General Stevens^ who 

 had been bred a physician, and resided in Virginia^ 

 called at the war office, on his way to join the army ; and 

 the distressing calamity was detailed to him. He said 

 we did not know how to treat the maladies of Virgini- 

 ans and Mary landers. The director of the military 

 hospital, and the commissary of provisions, were sent 

 for, and came. The general desired, and orders were 

 accordingly given, that all the bacon and iftdian corn, 

 that could be immediately procured, should be purchas- 

 ed ; and the corn ground into meal 7'ather coarse. The 

 troops were at once put on this diet; it operated like 

 magick ; and accomplished what the medical art could 

 not effect. Those who loathed every thing else, would 

 if caution had not been used, have greedily, and dan- 

 gerously, devoured these ailicles ; which had been, at 

 home, their habitual fare. In a very short time, there 

 was scarcely a dangerous case to be found ; those thus 

 fed, having generally recovered. Many of them told 

 me, that as soon as they smelt the rashers and hoe cake^ 

 they felt, as they expressed themselves, ""quite lively,'^- 

 and w ere confident of getting home well ; to which, no 

 doubt, this fortunate persuasion, in no small degree, 

 contributed.* 



-^ Dr. Rush informs me, that (in 1777) while he had the 

 (direction of a military hospital at Morris Town, he cured 



