The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

For the Benefit of Mankind.

On Wednesday the 1st of August Instant, about 11 o'clock in the Morning one Mary Littlefield the Daughter of Mr. Moses and Mrs. Mary Littlefield. of the said Part of the Town of Braintree. as she was gathering Whortleberries, was bitten by a Rattle-Snake, on the Foot of her left Leg, just between the Ankle Bone and the great Cord of the Heel.

The principal Medicines- that were administered to the Patient for 24 hours after she was bitten was Cordial Clyster and Rhubarb ; but these did not seem to expel the Virus in the least : The Patient continued swelling more and more, and every time she replied made a clucking kind of a Noise. Which prognosticated speedy Death. One Mr. Ainsworth of Stoughton, hearing of the Girl's Misfortune, went of his own accord to see her, and made up of a certain Medicine, both internally and externally ; that in about the space of two hours after the Administration of it, the Virus was driven from the various Parts of the Body into the Foot of that Leg which had been bitten, and it swelled to such a prodigious Degree, that he was obliged to lance it in three several Places, in order that the virulent Matter might be discharged ; and it continued constantly running out of those Orifices for thirty Hours. till the whole virulent Matter was discharged, and the Patient soon recovered to a good and sound State of Health, as ever she was favoured with.-- We the Subscribers can safely attest to the above Relation that it is true, and thought ourselves in Duty bound to inform the Public of it. for the Good of Mankind in general, That there is a speedy Cure to be had for all those who happen to be bit by that venomous Serpent the Rattle Snake

Moses Littlefield,
Braintree, Aug
Mary Littlefield,
14th, 1764.*
Mary Littlefield, junr
Dwight Hurd