Daily National Intelligencer

FROM THE VIRGINIA HERALD.

As many apprehensions have prevailed on the subject of Hydrophobia, it may be proper to state, for the information of the public, that a stone of the species called the Snake or Mad-dog Stone, was purchased some years ago, at the price of two thousand dollars, by a company of gentlemen in the county of Essex, and some of the neighboring counties, for the purpose of applying it to those persons who may be bitten by rabid animals, on cheap terms; that it is in possession of Doctor Brockenbrough, in Tappahannock, by whom it is held at the request of the company, and applied to those patients who are unable to pay, gratis; and that it is applied to others for eight dollars each. This stone is the same which was first owned by Mr. Tabb, of Gloucester, and is believed to be the first that ever was brought into Virginia. Those who have had an opportunity of witnessing its effects, are firmly convinced of its efficacy in extracting the Virus of rabid animals, when the patient has been recently bitten. The price for application is fixed by the company, and the profits are at their command, and are to be applied to benevolent purposes. Numbers have had the use of it during this spring.