96 THE HYDROPHOBIA. 



hydrophobia had made its appearance, the disease could be re- 

 moved by taking it. Cases, with fictitious names, were stated, 

 and the grossest falsehood resorted to, in order to levy contri- 

 butions with more plausibility upon the credulity of the unthink- 

 ing. I believe, at present, no person who wishes to preserve 

 even an appearance of character, will attempt to palm the medi- 

 cine upon the world ; but it has still its supporters, and a num- 

 ber of old women, in various parts of Lancashire, still practice 

 the deception ; and shew considerable dexterity in propping its 

 falling reputation. 



The recipe was obtained by the late Mr. Hill's father, who 

 resided near Ormskirk, from an itinerant tinker, in the year 

 1704- ; the medicine is thus prepared : take one tea spoonful 

 of prepared (calcined) oyster shells, one knife point full of roach 

 alum, as much elecampane, in powder, and half a tea spoonful 

 f bole ammoniac ; all to be powdered finely, and given to the 

 patient in the morning fasting, in a little wine and water, or 

 small beer : at the same time the wound is to be dressed with a 

 preparation, varying from that just described, only in a greater 

 portion of roach alum. 



Not one dog in twenty, reputed mad, is so in reality the 

 cure, or rather the prevention, therefore, is certain in many in- 

 stances ; and where it happens otherwise, and the dog was 

 labouring under the hydrophobia, the result is most melancholy: 

 but then it is immediately and unblushingly asserted, that the 

 medicine had not operated in a proper manner it had not re- 

 mained upon the stomach, or been taken in sufficient quantity ; 

 and thus the cheat continues, though on a much more circum- 

 scribed scale. 



The fact is, that the only certain remedy hitherto discovered 

 for this dreadful disease, is the application of the knife : the 

 blood becomes infected by the saliva from the dog's teeth ; and 

 wnleis the bitten part can be immediately cut out, death will 



