254r 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
[July, 
at what a risk ! We do not suppose that any law can 
prevent one from using benzine if ho chooses, and the 
only way in which people can be prevented from employ¬ 
ing it for illuminating purposes is to warn them that 
IT IS UNSAFE TO LIFE AND PROPERTY, 
and rather than use it for illumination, people had better 
go back to the tallow dips and pine knots. The camphor, 
the alcohol, the salt, and the oil of sassafras, while they 
may disguise its real odor, in no essential particular 
change its nature. Let this Centennial Oil alone. 
....Some of the Western States seem to be afflicted by 
gangs of quacks calling themselves 
“medical institutes ,' 1 
which send out advertisements in advance, announcing 
that they will “open” at such a place, just like the vari¬ 
ous traveling shows. An Iowa friend sending a circu¬ 
lar of such an “ Institute,” hailing from N. Y., asks us 
to forward his letter and the show-bill “ to the President 
of the Institute,” as he wishes to ascertain “ if it is a gen¬ 
uine branch.” The “ branch ” in this case is rather more 
“genuine” than the parent tree, as that apparently has 
an existence, else how could it “open at Sigourney?”— 
We have heard of one darkey claiming to be a funeral, 
and we do not know that there is any law to prevent a 
man or two men from claiming to be an “ Institute,” and 
an “International” one at that. We have known one 
man to be a “ Medical University.” - With this view of 
the case we can not say that such an “Institute” does 
not exist. But the show-bill or circular, which gives 
the names of the President, and the Secretary, and the 
Physicians, even to the Apothecary, quite fails to tell us 
whereabouts in New York it is located. It says: “The 
International Medical Institute is no imaginary institu¬ 
tion, located in some obscure building, but a wealthy 
company owning our own outfit complete.”—It is agrefit 
comfort to know that it is not in an “obscure building,” 
but it is rather tantalizing to learn that it has “an im¬ 
mense quantity of medicines, instruments, apparatus, 
charts, manikins, skeletons, etc.,” and not be told where 
all these are. It isn't an “ obscure building,” as that 
wouldn't hold “an immense quantity of” “manikins, 
skeletons, etc.,” which every one knows are highly neces¬ 
sary in the cure of diseases. We can assure our Iowa 
correspondent that among the many Associations, Cor¬ 
porations, “Institutes” or “’Stations” in this City re¬ 
cognized by medical men, there is none bearing the name 
of “ International;” moreover of the several names with 
M. D. attached, given as connected with the concern, not 
one is to be found in the latest “Medical Register;” 
nor is the name of the President, who does not have an 
M. D. attachment, in the general City Directory. 
Missouri does not need to have a visit from New York 
invaders, she has a 
“ WESTERN SURGICAL INSTITUTE ” 
of her own, which is at Kansas City. It is a very pa¬ 
thetic circular that is sent from this Institute, begging 
every one who receives it to send—as per a tabulated 
form, the names of all the halt, lame, and blind of their 
acquaintance, because “ He who directs the poor suffer¬ 
er to relief is a true philanthropist”—To all of which 
we agree, and add, don't send the “poor sufferer” to the 
“Western Surgical Institute,” as that is decidedly “on 
the make.” And just here it is necessary to define our 
position for the 40th time, more or less. A long experi¬ 
ence has taught ns, that any one who advertises anything 
but the mere fact that he is a physician and surgeon, 
and is to be found at such or such a place, is 
TO BE REGARDED WITH SUSPICION. 
No physician worth employing or worthy of confidence, 
claims to have any method of treatment, or any special 
remedy not known to the rest of his profession. Who¬ 
ever claim-; to possess either of these is a quack, and not 
to be trusted. It will be seen that this includes all 
special and secret remedies, as it is intended to do. No 
physician worthy of the name has any secret—no physic¬ 
ian worthy of the name will agree to cure a case for a cer¬ 
tain sum, nor for any sum at all. No physician worth 
trusting will treat a case by mail, or without first seeing 
the patient—after which advice may probably be given by 
mail. This meets a large class of inquiries about 
MEDICAL MATTERS, 
to which we are unable to reply separately. Whoever vio¬ 
lates any of the rules above stated, is not worthy of confi¬ 
dence. 
THE “ SEVEN BARKS ” MAN 
is still sending out his circulars in the assumed plain 
language of the friends, calling himself, “Thine Truly, 
Lyman Brown.” On the back of one of his “Thine 
Truly ” circulars, he publishes this: “One of the most 
interesting plants in the whole range of the floral king¬ 
dom is the Hydrangea Jap'onica. It is found in the for¬ 
ests of Missouri, above St. Louis, and in various sections 
of the Middle Slates, etc.” It goes on to say that its flow¬ 
ers are naturally pink, but that iron in the soil turns 
them to blue. We arc informed that this plant was “first 
brought into prominence and regular use by Lyman 
Brown. The Extract of Hydrangea which he prepares is 
called ‘ Seven Barks, 1 from a familiar name of the plant 
itself.” To all of which we have to say, 
THERE IS NO PLANT 
“ in the forests of Missouri above 11 or below “ St. Louis,” 
or elsewhere in the “Middle States,” or in any other part 
of America, growing wild, known to botanists by the 
name of Hydrangea Japonica, and that all the rest of the 
statements of the circular are as absurd as this... Quite 
as nonsensical as this Seven Barks statement is that of 
THE INDIAN HERB BITTERS. 
This is one of the things offered by the quacks who 
run the “ Western Medical and Surgical Institute, Kansas 
City, Mo.” The circular is illustrated by a very touching 
picture. A portly man holds up a bottle of the stuff and 
says: “ Why don’t you take the Indian Herb Bitters?” 
Poor man, not portly, leans on his cane and says: “I 
must or die ”—all of which tends to show what a disgust¬ 
ing fraud this “ Institute ” must be. The circular says 
that “ One of the physicians who is engaged in the manu¬ 
facture of these bitters was a surgeon in the United States 
Army,” and that during his residence among theMohave, 
Piute, and Apache Indians, he became acquainted with 
“one who stood high as a medicine man,” and that this 
stuff is made from the “ native herbs of Arizona and New 
Mexico”—which he learned about from these Injuns. 
To all of which we say “ bosh.” The writer of this has 
lived among those very Indians, and knows what a mis¬ 
erable set they are, and that no regular army surgeon 
would belittle himself by allowing any such nonsense as 
{his to be published... .Among the 
MOST PERNICIOUS QUACKS 
are those who pretend to cure “ Seminal weakness,” and 
their methods are as bad as their practice. We have a 
letleraddressed to an Ohio friend,without cause or provo¬ 
cation by one J. Lamb & Co., of this city. This letter 
encloses a so-called lecture by one Edgar Tremaine, and 
sets forth the efficacy of his medicines, and adds: “ If 
you can send us the names of any friends to whom you 
have reason to think this lecture would be acceptable, 
please send them.” The “Lecture,” so called, is sensa¬ 
tional, calculated to cause needless alarm. Its object is 
“One Dollar” for consultation, though prescriptions are 
given in the “lecture,” they are bosh, and the true stuff is 
only to be had of Edgar’s agents. Let Edgar Tremaine, 
his lectures, his prescriptions, and his agents severely 
alone. They are humbugs. 
-- 
Epizootic Amongst Horses.- “ G. A. B.,” 
Saginaw, Mich. The disease known as “ the epizootic ” 
is a commtnon one, but is rarely so general as to be 
justly entitled to that distinction. It is simply a ca¬ 
tarrhal affection of the bronchia] tubes, the lining of the 
air passages of the lungs, and the nasal sinuses, in fact 
what may be called a very bad cold, with some fever. It 
is treated by a saline purgative, as 8 to 12 oz. of Epsom 
salts, and afterward half an ounce of saltpeter daily, 
with warm drinks, general good nursing, and frequent 
rubbing of the limbs and body to excite the circulation. 
SMarrlioea in an Ox.— “J. B. W.,” Tolland, 
Conn. Diarrhoea is a symptom of indigestion, or of in¬ 
sufficient nutrition. If one or two quarts per day of cot¬ 
ton-seed meal is given with the hay for a week or ten 
days, the looseness will probably be stopped. 
Sheep In Michigan. —“C. H.,” Manistee, Mich. 
It is useless to try to keep any kind of long-wool sheep 
without rich pasture and a plenty of roots. Of the 
long-wools, the Cotswold can be reared most success¬ 
fully, yet many have not succeeded satisfactorily with 
them, and have abandoned them for short-wools. 
Southdowus or Merinos will thrive where long-wool 
sheep would be half starved. The Oxforddown is a 
highly-bred sheep, and much esteemed in England, but 
our climate is so different from the English that im¬ 
ported sheep are apt to deteriorate. 
Foul Foot in a (low. —“ J. W. G.,” Pincwood, 
Iowa. Cows and oxen are subject to a disease of the 
feet similar to scratches in horses. Diseased granula¬ 
tions, similar in appearance to tiie heart of a cauliflower, 
break out and excrete a thin acrid matter. The treat¬ 
ment should be, to dress the diseased part with caustics, 
such as powdered Sulphate of Copper (Blue Vitriol) or 
Sulphate of Zinc (While Vitriol), rubbed up smoothly, 
with clean sweet lard, and give the animal repeated doses 
of one ounce Hyposulphite of Soda as an alterative. The 
Soda should be given every other day for a week or 10 days. 
Iifliiiloa Purple—Insect Poison.— In April 
last, we announced a new poison for insects, called Lon¬ 
don Purple. Paris Green is a compound of Arsenic and 
Copper, and must be prepared direct. London Purple is 
a compound of Arsenic and Lime,quite as poisonous as the 
other, but being an incidental product, formed in another 
manufacture, it can be afforded much cheaper. It is arti¬ 
ficially colored of a deep purple, to guard against accidents 
in its use. It is in a state of very fine division, and it is 
claimed to be equally efficacious with the Green when 
used in one-fifth less quantity. Like that it is applied 
with water or diluted with flour, plaster, or other pow¬ 
der. Recently we have received from those who have 
used it for the Potato Bug, testimony as to its complete 
efficacy. It has also been found to effectively destroy 
the Canker-worm. A. R. Whitney,Nurseryman at Frank¬ 
lin Grove, Ill., writes that the Canker-worm took pos¬ 
session of an orchard of 25,000 apple-trees, besides at¬ 
tacking his nursery stock. The use of 12 ounces of Lon¬ 
don Purple in 44 gallons of water, applied by means of 
a force pump, destroyed the worms in short order. 
Space Between Boiler Tubes .— 11 C. H. S.,” 
Rosendalc, Wis. The tubes of a boiler should not be 
closer together than three-quarters of an inch. Other¬ 
wise the water in the spaces would be changed to steam 
too suddenly, the tubes would become red-hot, and ex¬ 
plosion become imminent. “Bourne’s Catechism of the 
Steam Engine” is a trustworthy authority. 
Bog Laws-Bog Names.— Connecticut has now 
a rood “tramp” law to protect the people from wander¬ 
ing vagabonds. This was preceded by a good law passed 
last year, to protect the sheep as well as the people from 
vagabond dogs, of which we published the outlines last 
year (May, p. 118). Every dog kept in the State must 
be registered with the Town Clerk, before May 1st each 
year, with a payment of $2.15 for each male, and $0.15 
for each female dog. Every such dog must constantly- 
wear a collar distinctly marked with the register number 
and the owner’s name. Every other dog must be killed 
by officers of the law, or any one else, and $1 is paid as a 
bounty for killing. Any person keeping an unregistered 
dog may be fined $7, or imprisoned 30 days, or both, and 
the same penalties apply for killing a properly registered 
dog unjustifiably. All damages done by dogs are paid for 
by the Town and collected of the owners by the Town. 
In the Middletown (Conn.) Constitution of June 10 we find 
the following list of names of 131 dogs registered up to- 
that date, which shows the popular names for these ani¬ 
mals, “Jack,” “Dick,” “Prince,” “Jip,” “Spot,” “Ma¬ 
jor” and “Rover,” being the highest favorites; four, 
in italics, are females: 
Ben (2). 
Beauty. 
Billy. 
Bravo. 
Bruce. 
Bront. 
Brownie. 
Bruno. 
Carl. 
Carlo. 
Charlie. 
Clio. 
Curly. 
Dick (9). 
Dan [3>. 
Dandy. 
Don. 
Doc. 
Doctor. 
Dosk. 
Dickey. 
Duke. 
Don Pedro. 
Fido. 
Franco. 
Feltman. 
Guess. 
Gyp. 
Hector. 
Jack .(11). 
Jip (6). 
Jim. 
Joe. 
Judge. 
Lion (3). 
Leo. 
Mack. 
Major (4). 
Mike. 
Nero (3). 
Nick (2). 
Nailer'. 
Nebo. 
Ned. 
Nig (2). 
Nip. 
Prince (9). 
Peggie. 
Pet. 
Plum. 
Punch. 
Quiz. 
Rover (6). 
Rake. 
Ring. 
Rome. 
Spot (7). 
Skip (2j. 
Sammy. 
Shep. 
Sport. 
Smoker. 
Sweep. 
Tiger (3). 
Tasso. 
Tip. 
I iney. 
Toby. 
Tom. 
Toots. 
Turk. 
Watch (3). 
Plant f.lce.— There seem to be but few plants ex¬ 
empt from the attacks of Aphides or Plant Lice. These, 
when green, are known by the general name of “ Green 
Flies,” but those that attack fruit trees are usually 
black. “R. M. D.,” of Greensboro, N. C., sends us the 
young growth of grape-vine completely loaded with 
these minute pests, which, sucking away at the young 
stem and leaves in such numbers, soon check all growth. 
We suggested the application of tobacco, which is gen¬ 
erally effective. Among the Aphides were several larvse 
of some kind, which Mr. D. thought fed upon the lice. 
He is no doubt right, though they do not appear to be 
the larvte of the Lady-bugs, generally so useful in 
destroying the Aphides and other animal pests. 
Bings and Hog Cliolera.— “ F. H.” is in¬ 
formed by one who had travelled in Illinois, that the hogs 
there without rings were not attacked by hog cholera. 
This person did not ring his swine, as the use of these 
“ nose jewels” by preventing their natural tendency to 
root, made them more subject to disease. Our corre¬ 
spondent properly adds : “ If there is anything in this, it 
ought to be generally known.” If others have any ex¬ 
perience on this point, we shall be glad to have it. 
Seedling Arbor Vitais.—“J. N.,” Ironton, Mo. 
It is well to leave the plants in the seed-bed for two 
years. It will not be necessary to shade the plants if 
carefully transplan ted,which should be done in the spring. 
“ Impressions. C. ” Your inquiry is not 
sufficiently explicit. We cannot tell you “ what prepara¬ 
tion to use,” unless we know what yon would take im¬ 
pressions of, and all about it. You are evidently a new 
subscriber, or you would be aware that we always expect 
the full address. Had you given yours, we should have 
written you. As it is, we are obliged to take space that 
should be used for other purposes, to make the inquiry _ 
We should not do this did we not wish to impress the 
fact that the full address should always be given, and. 
to show the trouble that is caused by the omission. 
