Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

[We publish the following at the request of a much valued female friend, who believes very happy effects have been produced by the use of the medicine recommended, within the circle of her acquaintance, and is therefore desirous it may be more extensively known among those afflicted with the distressing complaint to which it is applied.]--Salem Gazette.

Account of the singular Efficacy of STRAMONIUM in the Cure of the ASTHMA.

From the (London) Monthly Magazine.

Having at a very early age been sent to Holland, in order to qualify myself for commercial pursuits in which my father was engaged in that country, and afterwards residing for several years in my destined capacity of a merchant at Marseilles, in the south of France, happy in vigorous health, and of a constitutional disposition of the most sanguine character, it was natural, nay it was almost inevitable, that I should fall in with the luxurious indulgences of that delicious climate.

Upon my subsequent return to England, I formed an intimacy scarcely less seductive, with some of the most hospitable and convivial gentlemen sportsmen in the county of Berks where I spent some of the happiest moments of my life in social and high spirited enjoyment.

This career of pleasure was however soon interrupted by the depredations it produced upon my constitution, the first signs of impaired strength, and clouded vivacity, were succeeded by the most severe and afflicting attacks on the Spasmodic Asthma, which returned at intervals of eight or ten days with such cruel violence, that all the agreeable anticipations of life became in a manner extinguished; and during the course of several years I was afraid to indulge in the hopes of recovery from my complaint. At last, by a most fortunate incident, I was induced to make trial of an herb called Stramonium; from which auspicious moment I have been restored not merely to a tolerable, but to a comfortable and reasonably happy, state of existence.

The asthmatic paroxysms usually came on about 2 o'clock in the morning, when I was suddenly surprised from sleep with violent convulsive heavings of the chest, and I was scarcely allowed time to place myself upright in a chair where I sat resting myself upon my elbows, and with my feet upon the ground (for I could not bear them in a horizontal posture) before I underwent a sense as it were of immediate suffocation. The fits generally continued, with short intermissions, from thirty-six hours to three days and nights successively: during which time I have often, in the seeming agonies of death, given myself over, and even wished for that termination of my misery It was in a great measure in vain that I consulted the most eminent physicians of the metropolis; Dr. Baillie, Sir Walter Farquhar, Dr. Reid, Dr. Blackburn, Dr. Bree, and lately Mr. Brandish, who is reported to have cured the Duke of Sussex; none of these gentlemen afforded me any thing more than a transient and tantalizing relief.

But here I must not omit my obligations to Dr. Reid, whose rational practice and friendly attendance afforded me the only consolation to be obtained under such an accumulation of suffering; or to Dr. Blackburn, and Dr. Bree, for the most feeling and gentlemanly manners and attention.

An amiable friend and most respectable Surgeon at Hackney, first persuaded me to smoke the divine Stramonium, to which I owe altogether my present freedom from pain, & renewed capacity of enjoyment.

It is the root only, and lower part of the stem of this plant, which seem to possess its anti asthmatic virtue: these should be cut into small pieces, and put into a common tobacco pipe, and the smoke must be swallowed together with the saliva produced by the smoke: after which the sufferer will, in a few minutes, be relieved from all the convulsive heavings, and probably drop into a comfortable sleep, from which he will awake refreshed, and in general perfectly recovered; at least this is the invariable effect produced upon myself. He should by all means avoid drinking with the pipe, a too ordinary accompaniment with smoking. I once took some brandy and water with the pipe, but it proved a very improper combination: a dish of coffee, however I often take after it, and find it highly refreshing.

I should mention that strong coffee has frequently been recommended to me, but never produced any beneficial effect as a cure for the asthma.

This plant is delightfully fragrant; and although it has been regarded hitherto as of a poisonous nature when taken inwardly, yet I have smoked a dozen pipes at a time, without experiencing from them any other inconvenience than a slight excoriation, or soreness of the tongue.

Some time ago, at the earnest solicitation of one of his friends, who represented to me the sufferings of the duke of Sussex, I wrote to him an account of the benefit I had derived from Stramonium, which attention and sympathy on my part his highness did not think proper to notice; a want of civility which is to be excused only upon the supposition that he attributed what originated from the purest benevolence, to some paltry motive of mercenary self interest: he might have known me better.

In making these circumstances public, my only wish has been, that others who suffer from the same source may derive relief from the same remedy; a remedy which is yet little known among those who are so deeply interested in its virtues.