Chapter III

Stormy wether--Dr Easton on Bad Management,--Remarks on the American Doctors, the defrance betuix them and the English.

Mar 1 1863

To day a very Stormey day, Started to go to Hugh Coopers, but it was so Stormy he came here last night, I think from what I could understand that is wife is in a very dangerous condition, I think its an inflamation of the Bowels, I must go to N Creek in the morning. Ellen Liller, Thos. Crawford, and Mrs. Fout all very poorley, and if I had gone to Coopers to day, I could not have gone to the Creek tomorrow, I have heard nothing from the wars from Several days, only the Yankees had captured l6 Rebels about Moorefield

Mar 8 1863

Since I wrote last I have had a case or two of sore throat, One Ellen Liller she is getting well; and our Tom he was very poorly for a day or two but I think he is geting better. This Dr. Easton is making a great Blow in these parts, he has been attending on Several on N. Creek and Neighborhood viz. Wm. Boselys, Not Kitsmiller, Benj. Hull, Benj. Grayson, D. Herderksons, all them malladys have Sprung from bad managment, and some from mismanagment, he last a Boy, Tom Liller the only lass he has sustained, but in some of the cases he blames some of an Old date, one Benj. Hulls wife, I guess he blames me, though its 20 months since I was with her, in this case I think there is no blame can be attributed to anyone but there owen selves, in this I have not the time to comment much on the cause but from what I know of her, and what I can collect from the Neighbours, is nothing more than a Prolapus Utra, and now she is pregnant some 4 months, troubled with a very bad cough, and he Dr. Easton "says she is in a consumptive state, and of the worst kind; but if she can get her bed; and be well managed she may get Over it,� Now would it not be a grand way of curing this Fell complaint Consumption, particularly with females, to get them with child, and then see that they �are well managed," except he the Dr. Easton himself; now what a wonderful cure this will be, many would be glad of such a Cure, all the better would be, bringing a New Existance, to save the Old one but what is the misfortain, males cant enjoy this benefit, and we would like Dr. Easton to put his Prolific Brain to work, to save the males from this sad complaint consumlition, I think he Dr. Easton had better go to N. York and all of our large citys, in N. York not less than 40 or 50 die in a week, and perhaps one half of them are females, yet this would be a great saving in the human race, but after all, I have seen these Prolapses get well after the case got 20 weeks over, till they are confined, but them if the Utres was not replaced in its proper Situation, the some cough, they some Hysterical and Nervous Symptons would come on again; But I guess its been for the want of the �well managment in the midwife� so it will require this Dr. Easton to be there at these times, or some other experanced midwife to opperate, but I am beginning to think this Dr. Easton isa Blowing Bragent, with very little more wisdom in his head than any other common man, and if he don�t look sharp he will be usupected for a fool.

The news from the war is of no importance, there is or has been some little Scanning about Winchester, with some taking of prisoners and retaking etc., and the News from Vicksburg is quite conflicting, some say they Yankees have taken it; others say not. I heard they are moving troops toward Winchester.

The remarks I have just made on Dr.Easton, is but a general characture of the whole of the Drs. of this country are the most Enveaous Jealous Devils that I ever saw, they are continualy trying to pick some hole in his Brothers Dr. and they, I think, wish all kinds of bad luck to one another; they care no ways Sociable, but in a kind of war with each other; sometimes I think it is for feare one exposing the Ignorance of the other, and I have seen in quit a plane case, where one had a bad case of Dropsy (Hydrothoras) he called in anothe to consult with him in this desperate case; when he arived he pronounced it a Calous state Pericardium, which had been brought on by repeted attacks of Rhumatism. Now this patienc had had 5 or 6 Dropsycal attacts of the Belly and legs, but had always been temprarly relived, and at last he took this Hydrothoras or dropsy of the chist, and was as plain a case as could be, Skin very yellow, labourour breathing, and the patient could distently feel the water moove from one Side to the other, as he turned over; this the first Dr knew, and was well convinced of it being a case of Dropsy of the chist. This put Dr. No. 1 quite out of all patience, yet he would not kick up a dispute or a quarrel with him, and submited to try the treatment of Dr. No.2 which was, about 2 grs. of quacum three times a day; the patient grew worse every day, for 10 days, then No 2 was sent for again, he and pronounced him desidedly better, but recommended the patient to confide in Dr. No 1, for he lived nigher than Dr. 2, and that Dr. No. 1 perfectly understood his complaint and the moad of treatment; yet this Dr. No. 2 never confessed that he was wrong in his first Visit, or that Dr. No. 2 was right.

Now this same Dr. No. 2 confessed as they were riding home togeather, that it was a real case of Dropsey of the Chist, and recomended to push on with all hismight, or he could not save the man. Now this Dr. No. 1 was quite ceartain it was a bad case of dropsey of the chist, and in Charetys sake, requested Dr. No. 2 to be called in,thinking two heads would be better than one, but there was full 10 days lost, and by this time the poor man was out of all help, he left a wife and 6 or 7 children. The above narrative is realy truth, and is what, I am afraid, too much practiced in this country; Such conduct is an Injury to the profesion of the healing art; in the town I came from in England, with a population of 80,000, there were some 12 or 15 doctors in the Town and Neighborhood, and at a Certain Tavern they, in there leasure hours, would resort there, and as the Landlord had a room exprsly for them, they there would meet, chat, take there Glass, relate over there cases they had on hand, tell how they were, and had been treating them etc., I often would go there, and it was in that house I recived more knowledg than at home or any where else, this house was often very convenant, for every body that knew that the Drs. resorted there, and if a man was going for the Doctor, he would step in, enquire if such a Doctor was there, this would often save them the traveling of half a mile or a mile; I resorted often to this house as it was not more than 60 yards from my home at that time, and for five years that I acostumed this house, I heard many an Argument, but I belive I never heard one word in anger, some nights I have seen only one two or three there, and some nights none, and some nights 10 or 12 there, and I belive the best Doctors in town, could, and did derive information hear that he never would have known,

This was far better than biting on anothers heads off like they do in this country, after I came here, I was at a loss for such A plan to resort to, but I am afraid if there was such places of resort, there would be nothing but quarreling, but I think in N. York and other large Citys there is not so much of this Envy and Spite as in these country places. I understand the same house in that town, is the same Resorting place for the Doctors, as when I was there though its 35 years ago, and I have been informed that the Old Landlord was dead, but his widow was still alive and active, this was told me about 5 years since

Mar 16 1863

Just returned from New Creek, to see Hugh Shillenburg of Bill, Wm. Fout and Cathrian Ward they are I think geting better,t1i~ere is a Child of John Boselys very sick of Sore throat and I think it will run it hard to get Over it, the case of C. Ward is a kind of a Sick headache, that has troubled her for many years, particularly in the spring, but she has been worse this time than any other time, Wm. Fout is a case of ?Jundice,? I give C. Ward 3 green pills, and the day after a Vomit, but she is still complaining, yet her head was a good deal better this morning.

I have heard no News of any account for some time, there is a report on the Creek that the Lincolon Congress had passed a law that Congress was not to sit till 1865 it is said this is to keep out the members Elect of Congress from the Democrat States, this all may be true, but I cant belive that A. Lincolon is that fool, if so, I think the Jig will soon be out; but I saw a Baltimore paper of the 3l of January, and there stating that the U.S. Sennet had Nullified the U. S. Constitution, this I had never seen till now; Just see them Sennetors when the took them Seats, they Solomly swore, they would support and defend the Constitution and now when they see they can not beat the Rebels in fare fighting, the will Progress themselves, to support Lincolon in all his Unconstitional acts, what will be the End of such acts as these; The French was always noted for having no Regard in Oaths but this Beats France or any other Country, if God Visits Nations for evils Done, what can this country expect, Coruption has been creeping into every part of this country ever since I have known it.

Mar 20 1863

Yesterday came from Tom Boselys, Browns, John Boselys and J. Wards, Hugh Shillingburg at Toms is very bad, so is C. Ward of feaver, Brown a Rhumatic feaver and a Child of J. Boselys with sore throat, its been Snowing all day tomorrow I want to go to see them all, and I should have gone to Jacob Shillingburg to see his son Joseph, he is bad with his Throat agean but the wether is so bad, and I am quite poorly of the Asthma, I have never been so tired of a winter since I have been in the Country, in Short I can stand the Summer far better than the winter, at first the winters was the best to me.

News for the war is of little amount, Though I saw a paper of last Saturdays, giving some acount of some fighting on the S. coast, the Federals had destroyed the Rebels Nashvill, and the Rebels had taken or destroyed two or three of the Yankee Ships, I could see no News from Vicksburg, I dont know if the place is taken or not, for I have not seen a paper since the 20th of Feb. before this and I had not much time to perverse this one; and I heard that the Rebels had played some heavy prank some where about Farefeet and had taken every thing the Yankees had, and I think I saw something of a same kind of work in Tennessee, and some other Raids as the Yankees term them; and I saw A. Lincoln proclamation, inviting all absenttes to there Respective Regements, and containging all good peopal not to encourage any Deserting, but to do there best to pursuaid all Deserters to return, if they return by the first of April there will be no punishment; Mr. Lincoln apears to be for trying mild medicines, not quite such Drastic purges as he used 12 months ago, we sowed our Cabbage for late ones, but we will sow some more when the wether permit.

Mar 23 1863

I am very poorly I have got something of this low T. Feaver, and a very troublesom cough, I have taken two doses of Centebilans pills, and they relive me some, but in the Evening the feavor rises and I am bad till late at night, in the coming morning I quite well till near noon.

I hear nothing from the war, excepting the Drafting, our Union neighbors are surly afraid of this Drafting; 18 months ago, they were all fight, and they went about Schreeching Union, we could not sleep in our beds for this continual cry, and Screeching Union; �and yes by _________ I will go and fight the D___ Sesesh�; but if any one told them that this Screeehing Union was onlay a Cloak, to cover abolition princabls, (which I was positive of from the begining) they would swore it was not Abolition but the Union, but I think Mr. A. Lincoln has thrown off the Cloak enough to open the Eyes of those that was whishing

to see, these willful blind, are the very Rankest Abolitionist and would gladly declar themselves so, but for fear; they thought the Yankees from New England, and other Abolitionst, would be quite ceartain to Conquer the Rebels; but now when they find the Rebels are not so easy Conquered, and they see the Draft staring them in the face, they are too cowardly to fight, and, now they say, we were for the Union, not to free the Nigors, this is only a plea or excuse; they are in their hearts the some princabled abolitionest as they ever were, the some Envious disposition to the Nigor Owener, not one Grain of Sympathy have the for Negro Master. _____, have not such like Characters the same Envious princables to his Neighbour, who ownn a horse or two, and he none.

This some Envious princabls, betwix the Northern and Southern States, has or is the very Foundation of this Deplorable War. It is Rumerd that A. Lincoln is for Blockading the whole the Rebels States boath by land and water; he will find I think, too Dificuths in this the first is, can be raise by consereption forces enough that will fight, the Second, will the

rebels let the Blockaders by land remain great? and I may add another Dificulty, will not A. Lincoln founds run Short before he can Starve them out? (I am afraid he will find himself mistaken) the South undoubtly are raising something for there parent and future wants, I heard the other day that the Rebels had evacuated Vicksburg, but this will not finish the war, this war, will in my opinion will not be ended for a year or two; I have seen

the causes of this war for some years, though it has come in a far different form than what I expected, and I have often thought of writing my other Journal on this subject, but my Book being so small, I never commenced it, and as it will be tolarable leanthy, I will continue it in places, from one chapter to another, so as not to interupt my Journal.

The Past Causes of this War and the present

I landed in this country in May 1827, and lived in New York 18 months, but I was in various parts; in Albany, Boston, Providence, and in several places in New Jersey; but my expectations was to come to Virginia, as I had an Uncle living in Frederick Co., he sent form me to come to him; came to him in November 1828 for I was on my way from Alaxandra to Middletown, on the very day of the Election of Gen. Jackson; Politics was raging very high at the time and I had been through the hold Canvass, I was, as I thought, a true Friend to the Republic, and I sincerly believe so to this minuet, though I turned to the Democrat Side a few years before this war broke out, while in N. York I was a Strong Adams man , and continued in the same belief tell I turned Democrat, which was in 1852, but still was an Advocate of Adams Administrations policy, Excepting there Antislavery opinions; for when I came to Virginia, and could observe the Negro, and got properly

aquanted with the Negro, and the Negros characture, I was still further off, becoming an Abolitionest than ever; but as I have just above mentioned the Ballance of Adams Administration, if it had been carred out, would I am ceartain, have made this Republic

the moast Independant and Powerful Nation in the world or that the world ever saw; and that several European Nations could planly see particularly England and had it not been for three words the American peopel are Guilty of, nothing could have Retarded award march to prosperity, but these three words have brought them to be a divided people, and I fear a Ruined Republic; The words are viz. Selfish, Evey, and malice, in which of all

three I think I will make plain to every one, except to the guilty ones; for it is, and always was a very hard task to Renounce or acknowledge ones own faults, let them be ever so Gleaning ___________ When I first came to this country, the whole of the New England states was strongly in favour of a high tariff, and a Good part of N. York, Pena. New Jersy; but so was not, the Southeren States, thus began the trouble in May or June 1828 Congress passed the Great Tariff, I at that time was writing a long letter to the

Batanical Society I had foremerly belonged to, I had mentioned in my letter while this Tariff Bill was pending, that if it did pass it would completly ruin the greatest part of Lancashire and Yorkshire, well it did pass, and I closed my long letter, it was four or five Sheets, I sent to, it got there as soon as the News got there, and true enough I had predicted right enough, for in six weeks after, there was 40,000 weavers thrown out of work(Dr. Green was formerly a weaver by trade) ; this did not give me any trouble of mind, because I had adopted this country for my country, and I was sure it would be all for the good of the welfare of this country. Workshops Factorys etc. Sprung up rapidly in every part of the Yankee States, and other States also, and brought the Government an overflowing Reveneu, which I will mention in another place, But soon I saw this Tariff had set a flame in the Southeren States, and the South threatened a Desolution of the Union, but Jackson coming into power, at the head of the Democrat party; the South complained of there undue burden, there was sum truth in their complaints, yet if the South would have submited to this Tariff it would have been better for them at the end, but as it would enrich the Yankee as a few years sooner, the South rejected it, but I will show this more fully in another place.

Mar 29 1863

Just returned from Jesse Sharpless, his wife was in a Sad condition yesterday Hemorrhage from the Utrius, she was as nigh gon as ever I had seen a case, I think if ever I saved life it was in her case; I instantly give S. of Lead and Tint of opinm in broken doses, and used the Tampon; I diped the Spung in a Solution of Acetat of Tine, and applyed it right to the mouth of the Utrius, is soon put a stop to the discharge.