The Virginia Gazette

Mr. Parks,

AS I find many Persons railing against the Rattlesnake Root, without making any Experiment thereof, some through Disrespect to the Discoverer, others thro' the Fondness of their own Opinion, and their Unwillingness that any Discovery of so great Use as this, should be made by any but themselves; and others, purely to prevent the Use of so good a Medicine, which they are sure must (when universally known) be the Occasion of some Loss to them: And, as I have often, in a very extraordinary Manner, found the Effects of this most valuable Medicine, both in my Person and Family, I cannot be guilty of so much Ingratitude to the Author, or Injustice to the Publick, as to forbear publishing the same.

I am not at all acquainted with Physick, or any thing else to enable me to answer the Objections of some Gentlemen who have railed and argued against this most valuable Medicine, in Terms to me unknown; but as the Discoverer is now in Virginia, I doubt not but he will answer all those hard-worded Gentlemen in their own Way: I only intend to declare to the World, plain Matters of Fact, in which I am confident I have not been deceived. Be it known then, I was visited with a severe Fit of the Gout, at the Age of Thirteen Years and Six Months, and once or twice in a Year afterwards, with very sharp Fits, by Means whereof I was so weakened that I could scarcely walk, and could not ride much, but in a Wheel-Carriage, and had almost given out my Business, which was attending County Courts in Virginia, as an Attorney. In March, 1726, I had the severest Fit I ever had in my Life, and was in a very weak and low Condition for a long Time after, insomuch that I almost despaired of ever walking Twenty Yards: Then being of the common receiv'd Opinion, that the Gout was not to be cured, and by the common Forerunners of that Disease, I apprehended myself in Danger of another severe Fit. In this melancholy Condition, I resolved to try the Rattle Snake Root, (tho' with as little Expectation of Success as any of the Gentlemen who rail against it would expect, were they to use it:) After the taking Two or Three Doses, I found myself clear of the Danger of that Fit, and in a small Time, much stronger, and abler to walk, than I had been for Two Years before. At another Time, I made use of this Medicine with like Success. On the 12th of April last, I went to Williamsburg, which is near an Hundred Miles from my House; I stay'd there (without taking any of this Medicine) till the 5th of May: The 8th, on my Return home, I had Reason to believe, from several Symptoms, that a Fit of the Gout was near hand. I was then 38 Miles from Home, and made what Haste I cou'd thither: The 9th, I began to prepare the Medicine: that Night, about Midnight, I awak'd, and found myself in a great deal of Pain, with the Gout in one of my Feet, which kept me from sleeping the Remainder of the Night, and grew worse till 12 o'Clock: The 10th, I could not walk one Step; then I resolved to take a Dose of the Tincture of this Root, tho' then not long enough prepared; I immediately took it, lay down on a Bed, and covered myself warm; in less than half an Hour I found the Pain abate, and in less than Half an Hour more fell into a sound Sleep, which lasted about Four Hours: When I awaked, my Pain was intirely gone, and I in a Sweat: I soon after got up, and that Evening walked near a Mile, with Ease: The 12th, I rode on Horseback to a County Court, Ten Miles from home, attended the Bar all Day, and return'd at Night. Monday, the 15th, I set out on a Journey of 120 Miles, I attended the Business of Two County Courts that Week, and returned home on Friday in good Health, and Strength. I verily believe, that this Medicine, if taken in Time, would have cured me perfectly. I am now upwards of 40 Years old, and am fully persuaded this Medicine, carefully used, will cure any Person that has not very long been afflicted with this cruel Disease I am also fully convinced this Medicine has saved the Lives of many of my Negroes, and others, in that Distemper, which rages here, and is by many called a Pleusisy: And that it is a sure Cure in a Quartan Ague. I therefore hope People will not offer to run down and prevent the Use of so good a Medicine, to serve their own Ends, until they have fully experienced the good or bad Effects thereof.- And if any Person desires to know how I use it, let him make it known in Mr. Parks's Paper, and he shall soon have what he desires. This I publish, to serve my afflicted Brethren.

BENJAMIN WALKER.