46 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[February, 
for the different occupations to be filled up with names. 
This is often done under the pretense that the applicant 
wishes to introduce some new and valuable invention, or 
otherwise. From numerous letter* received during years 
past, we judge thnt nine-tenths of those who supply 
such lists fail to receive the promised pay or reward, and 
are (hits themselves tit* fir.-! victims if the swindlers. The 
reputable mercantile agencies, such as Messrs. McKil- 
lop & Sprugue, Messrs. Dunn, Barlow tfc Co., and Messrs. 
J. M. Bradstrcet & Son, have the addresses of all dealers 
in the whole country, but theynevcr furnish lists of them 
to others, or at most only to their trustworthy customers 
for specific and approved purposes. Our readers, and all 
others, may therefore understand hereafter that the 
swindling fraternity have them down iu their books, 
with full name, post-office address, occupation, etc., and 
that they have not got these from any reputable parties, 
either publishers or others Another general ex- 
MEDICAIi ADVERTISEMENTS. 
planation is needed. There are a great number of self- 
styled doctors, medical institutes, medical associations, 
benevolent associations, etc., that advertise, by circulars, 
in newspapers, etc., to cure various diseases, to prescribe 
by letter, to send medicines and advice by mail or ex- 
press, etc.— including all sorts of diseases, private ones 
especially, consumption, eye and ear defects, indeed all 
the ills that flesh is heir to, and many imaginative 
diseases. Many of these are very ingenious in writing 
to awaken fears, excite the imagination, and secure con- 
fidence. Let it be thoroughly understood by all. that this 
Whole class of advertisers are quads, more frequently 
impostors. No physician (of any acknowledged school 
of medicine) in reputable standing at home, ever adver- 
tise? to consult with patients, or prescribe, by mail. 
There are good substantial reasons why this rigid rule 
should be adopted by the profession, and any one who 
violates it ts utterly unworthy of confidence. Let this 
be a standing and general answer to the multitude who 
are continually writing to ask us if this, that, and the 
other '" doctor " is trustworthy. We repeat, that every 
physician, medical institute, medical or benevolent asso- 
ciation that advertises prescriptions, advice, or medicines 
to be sent to any party is utterly unworthy of confidence^ 
and it is not safe to give them your name or address. 
This sweeping assertion does not of course include some 
well-known hospitals or institutions which receive 
patients for treatment under the direct personal care of 
well-known physicians. No one should touch any of the 
numerous medical books on l * marriage, " "advice to the 
married," 1 on "female complaints," on " private dis- 
eases," on '* errors of youth," " early indiscretions,* 1 
etc. Many of these contain a certain amount of ana- 
tomy, physiology, etc., copied from standard works, bnt 
there is always somewhere in them a dangerous sting— 
an open or covert advertisement of a quack, and of quack- 
ery The above remarks save the necessity of dis- 
QnEHIES ABOI'T DOCTORS, ETC. 
cussing here or answering the numerous letters of in- 
quiry before us, concerning the pretended medical and 
surgical institutes, under plausible names, in New York, 
in Boston, in Philadelphia, in Cincinnati, in Chicago, in 
Milwaukee, and other cities, and in several interior 
towns In New York, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, 
and other States. Ton are asked to address these "in- 
stitutes," etc., direct, or more frequently some indivi- 
dual who calls himself "Dean," or ■• Chief Physician," 
or "President," or " Secretary," or "Professor," but 
who combines in himself the whole faculty, "Institute" 
and all. We need not describe such quacks as Reeves, 
of Nassau St., N. Y., Coulter of Michigan, Metzgar or 
daughter of Pa., the " Fireside Guard " fellow of 
Centralia, Mo., and a multitude of others of like charac- 
ter, including every medical circular, "silent friend," 
etc. Every cancer doctor, consumption doctor, or lung 
doctor is a quack, no matter what his pretensions. Read 
and follow the general rules first given above. Don't 
believe a word of the ingenious stories of "Mother 
Noble" and her confrrres, who pretend to have found 
medicines in the Indies, iu Japan, in South America, 
among the Western Indians, etc. Every such story is 
IMPORTANT PAPER. 
false from beginning to end. [We heartily wish every 
man, woman, and child in America, who has not done so, 
would get and read the Hearth axd Home for April 
'20th, 1ST2 ( Vol iT, No, 16). Tlie Medical Libel Suit, and 
fht editorials on medicines, etc., in thai number, if read, 
would save every reader from much quackery and ?nuch 
suffering. We send a post-paid cojnj for 10 cents, and it 
will be worth dollars to evsry one carefully reading it. The 
number is electro/ uped, and all copies desired can be prin/ed.] 
oils —agents — watches . 
— All compounded "oils," "French burning oils," 
etc., fire to he avoided ; they are more dangerons than 
n i i ro-glycerine, no matter what the sellers may claim . . . 
All operator in Jackson. Mich., appears to be raking in 
$.j bills from those solicited to act as " agents," and giv 
ing no return. Our lettcr-liles indicate this much, but 
we have not finished the investigation, nnd withhold 
names Everybody ought to see through that "$-4 
Parisian watch*' swindle, even if it, had not been 
already exposed in these columns. Perhaps our present 
COUNTERFEIT MONET. 
inquirers failed to see what we wrote about it The 
Queer or Sawdust operators (in pretended counterfeit 
money) still ply their trade of swindling other would-be 
swindlers. Here are some of the names adopted by the 
chief rogue in this line : At 34 Amity st., _V. T. ; T. Ans- 
bnrger, G. S. Bliss, Thos. Bodotte,Thos. Bullis, F. Bran- 
tingbam, D. Cregon, Thos. Cornell, L. G. Capen. Thos. 
Delaware, L. Dillinbeik. S. L. Drum, Louis Ellsworth, 
D. Hosfort, T. R. Hector, T. nindman, Chas. Kissmau, 
B. Kelsey, Col. R, M'Clnrg, alias King & Co., Geo. Me- 
sick, Geo. Needham, L. Parison (or Parizon), Ben. T. 
Richmond, M. T. Robeson, D. Redfcrn. M. L. Stoddard, 
Geo. Traax, J. II. Van Tyle, L. F. Winficld, Geo. L. 
Yates. At 009 Broadiuay, N. T. : Thos. Almont, P. Bar- 
ton, L. Chenangol, Alex. Coombs, Theo. G. Chambers, 
S. Poison, Niles Fitch, L. C. Fountaine, Louis Hart, G. 
L. Kressler, Chas. Noble, L. Rushmore, J. B. Shank, T. 
M. Shelby, Egbert West, F. R. Whitlow. At 74 Bleecker 
st., N.T. ; W. H. Benton, G. R. Bangs, D. Dresser, W. 
Darton, L. Eastman, B. T. Ellison, E. Gillis, S. Monroe, 
H. B. Mecch, C. Melvin, H. Neass, Geo. Richey, L. Wal- 
dron, J. A. Wardell. Also : Oscar B. Church, 240 Broad- 
way ; W. S. Leslie, Trenton, N. J.: J. M. Ward, 84 
Grand St.— All our older readers understand that these 
are names assumed by a swindler who does not have any 
counterfeit money at all. He coolly pockets all money 
sent to him, except when he finds it worth while to send 
out a few genuine bills as pretended samples, so as to get 
a larger remittance to finally pocket. Thn safety of these 
swindlers lies in the fact that only those who are willing 
to deal in counterfeit money, ever remit to them, and 
such persons dare not appear as witnesses. Our space 
being exhausted, other humbugs are necessarily deferred 
to next paper. 
Book on Marhet»€iarclening. — "J. 
W. G.," Charlotte, Mich., will find "Henderson's Gar- 
dening for Profit," for sale at this office, price $1.50. 
the best work on raising market vegetables. 
Cones of Spruce Pine.— "E. G. H." 
asks if trees can be grown from Spruce cones.— The 
seeds of the Spruce are between the scales of the cones, 
are small, and have each a thin membrane or wing attached 
to them. The cones are gathered before the scales open 
and the seeds kept in them until spring. The seeds of most 
kinds readily fall out when the cones arc placed in a 
warm dry room. The seeds should be sown as early in 
spring as the ground can be worked, and the bed shaded 
by a lattice-work of lath or in some similar manner. 
There are many difficulties attending the raising of such 
trees from seeds, and one without experience must not 
be disappointed if he fails altogether. 
Dimensions or Stable Fittings. — 
" Subscriber " asks for the following dimensions of the 
inside fittings of a stable and barn, which we give as fol- 
lows, viz. : 
Width of double stall with stanchions for cows. . .6 feet. 
Width of feed- trough 1} foot. 
Width of feed-passage between two rows of 
cattle 4 feet. 
Length of stall from stanchion to gutter 5 to 6 " 
Length of partitions between stalls 4 " 
Width of stall for horses 5 " 
Length of stall for horses 12 " 
Size of loose box for mare 10 x 12 " 
Size of loose box for cow and calf 8 x 10 " 
If bedding is used a cemeut floor is not too hard, and 
it will be cleaner if not covered with a wooden floor. 
Doetoring Horses. — An individual who 
is not at all modest in the way of praising himself, writes 
us that he makes " bottles " which he sells at $5 a dozen, 
"one of which will cure three horses." He does not 
state how the ''bottle" cures the horses, nor of what 
they arc cured. According to his own statement, he has 
cured 925 '"head" in the last month. — This is one of 
those quacks of which owners of horses should beware. 
It is surprising how soon a horse will recover from ordi- 
nary complaints if he is let alone and the physic thrown 
to the dogs. Good nursing and ordinary care in feeding 
will permit nature to work a cure in nine cases out of 
ten, while such a "bottle" as above, is either entirely 
useless or often harmful. Our advice is. attend to pre- 
vention of these troubles and let these "bottles" alone. 
Weights of Essex Pigs. — Joseph Harris 
writes us as follows - "I have just killed a pure-bred 
Essex pig that did not come op to my standard. He w«s 
] too coarse, and lacked early matr-ity and so I fattened 
: him. He developed into a noble bog His length from 
between the ears to root of tail, stretching the tape along 
the back, which was somewhat arched, was 5 ft 3 in. 
The length between these points, ascertained by laying 
a board on his side, was 4 ft. 8 in. Girth back of the 
fore-legs, 6 ft. 1J in. His live-weight before sticking 
was 654 lbs. ; weight after bleeding, G41J lbs. 
Weight of rough inside fat 14$ lbs. 
Dressed weight (weighed the next day by the 
buyer) 5T5 lbs. 
Total weight of carcass and fat 589$ lbs. 
If he had been treated to a ride on the cars from 
Chicago to New York, he would probably not have 
weighed so much alive by 8 or 10 lbs., and consequently 
the difference between live and dressed weight would 
have been less. But, even as it is, the proportion of 
carcass to live weight is 88 per cent, or a shrinkage of 12 
per cent. This is leaving out the inside fat. Adding 
this, the shrinkage is only about 9J per cent. Or, adding 
both blood and inside fat. the actual loss of offal (even 
considering the tongue, heart, liver, etc., as offal) is leas 
than 8 per cent. 1 ' 
Feed for a Brood-Hlare. - " Subscri- 
ber," Darien, Ct., will find sound hay and oats the beet 
feed for a brood-marc. An occasional feed of carrots is 
excellent, or a handful of linseed-meal in the grain. 
Weights of Thoroughbred Hogs.— 
L. A. Chase, of Florence, Mass., gives us the following 
figures, snowing the low percentage of offal iu thorough- 
bred Berkshire and Essex hogs bred by him and recently 
slaughtered at his farm, as follows : Berkshire, weight 
after bleeding 57'2 lbs., dressed weight 52fi lbs., offal 46 
lbs., equal to 8 per cent; Essex, weight after bleeding 
412 lbs., dressed weight 37Slbs., offal &4 lbs., equal to s»£ 
per cent. Another Essex, weight after bleeding 435 lbs., 
dressed weight 401 lbs., offal 94 lbs., equal to less than fJ 
percent. This shows in a remarkable manner the econ- 
omy of these breeds of hogs over natives or common 
hogs. We should be glad to receive similar figures from 
others who have noted the loss on their hogs. 
Water-Wheels.— "J. F., 11 Preston Co., W. 
Va., is informed that with a fall of 8 feet a breast-wheel 
which receives the water at a bight equal to half or two 
thirds of its perpendicular diameter, will give more 
power where there is plenty of water than an overshot 
wheel. But where the water is limited and there is none 
to waste, an overshot wheel will give the best results. 
A competent millwright should be employed to build the 
gearing and the wheel when they are required for busi- 
ness purposes ; for light work on a farm, any fair mechanic 
could do the work. 
Painting in Wintor.-'H. J. S," Ball- 
ston, N. Y.. asks, Can I paint a house at this season, or 
shall I wait until spring?— There is no better time to 
paint than in the winter; there are neither dust nor flies to 
injure it. and generally more leisure. A fine day should 
be chosen, when it would be not too cold to work. 
Plowing in Winter. — u J. C," McLean 
Co., Ky., asks if it would be advisable to plow a clay 
soil in the winter, or wait until spring?— Such land, in 
localities where the frost docs not prevent it. should be 
plowed in winter; however roughly it may be done, the 
alternate freezing and thawing will reduce it to a finer 
condition than many plowingsin the spring could do. 
Hand Hay- Press. — A. E. Depew, On- 
tario Co., X. Y.. wants information about a $75 hand 
hay-press, exhibited at the American Institute Fair in 
1S72. — We saw such a press at that fair, but can not re- 
call the maker's name. The press seemed very well 
adapted to its purposes, and it is probable that when 
the manufacturer, who we believe lives on Long Island, 
desires to sell them, he will advertise them. 
The Barn Plan.— "C.," Hudson, Ohio, is 
much pleased with the plan of a barn in December Agri- 
culturist. He asks how the stable-floor is to be arranged 
to keep the cows clean, how the manure is disposed of, 
and is there any plan to save the liquids ? Is the floor of 
plank or cement ? Which is the best floor? and how can 
steam be used in snch a barn, to be safe ?— The stable- 
floor should be made with a gutter behind the cows, six 
inches deep : they will not willingly stand in such a 
gutter. The manure is wheeled out into the center of the 
barn-yard and piled in a heap over a cistern, into which 
the liquid-manure from the stable drains. A floor of 
three-Inch hemlock plank, coated with hot gas-tar, will 
last a dozen years. 5tcam should be brought from a 
boiler one hundred feet from the barn, or the steamer 
put In part of the root-cellar, if a good chimney is boflt. 
