Kerosene.
Some editors are continually making themselves ridiculous, as well as endangering the life of some person as ignorant in the matter as themselves, by publishing at random “remedies” for certain complaints, of both of which—remedy and disease—they knew nothing. The following I cut from a paper:—
“One thing I will mention which may be useful to some one. Kerosene oil has been found effective as a vermifuge. It is given by the mouth for round stomach worms, and as an enema for pin worms. It is free from the irritation which follows the use of spirits turpentine, and is equally as effective.” (No directions as to quantity at a dose.)
An Irishwoman in Hartford, Conn., spelling out the above in a newspaper, concluded to give her child, a boy of ten, a dose, under the belief that “wurrums ailed the child,” and as it was harmless (?), she would give him the benefit of its harmlessness, and her ignorance, and administered accordingly a tea-cup full!
Frightful symptoms supervened,—colic, vomiting, etc.,—when a doctor was sent for, who being absent, his student—who hardly understood the danger of the case, and was a bit of a wag, by the way—sent the following prescription:—
“℞. Run a wick down the child’s throat; any lamp or candle wick will do, provided it is long enough; set fire to the end left outside, and use him for a lamp till the doctor arrives.” Selah.
This may seem too ridiculous to believe, but it is the truth, nevertheless.
Saleratus vs. Sugar.
Early one summer morning, while practising in Plymouth, Conn., the writer was startled by a loud knock at the front door, which I hastened to answer. There stood an Irishman, well known as living in a little hut, down on the “Meadows,” whose name was Fitzgibbon. He was all out of breath, and the great drops of sweat were rolling all down his rough face, which he was endeavoring to mop up with a huge bandanna handkerchief. As soon as he could possibly articulate, he exclaimed,—
“O, docther, docther! take yourself—down to that sha-anty as quick as ye conva-niantly can, plaze.”