The Virginia Gazette

From the London Chronicle, of April 19th, 1766.

A copy of a letter to the Right Reverend Thomas Lord Bishop of Kildare, from Thomas Butler, Esq; of Warminster, in Wilts, concerning a Remedy for the Stone and Gravel.

The benefit I received from the Daucus, or Wild Carrot, has been so great that I thought it my duty to mankind to advertise its virtues; and the relief I received from it, in the Salisbury journal, about three years ago, which was crowned with such high satisfaction that I received intelligence that it had done great cures on several people, who took it purely on the recommendation of my advertisement.

"I had laboured under that painful disorder the Stone in the Kidney at least forty six years, when about four years since, or something more, it became so painful that I was under an absolute necessity of quitting my annual journies into Hants, and seek for ease by any means I could find it, but all in vain; it grew upon me so that I could not sit at table to eat my meat, but in the greatest pain; and finding, by experience, I could have no more ease in a recumbent posture, I was obliged to lie down wherever I came, either at home or abroad, and in that posture I conversed with my friends, and in that position eat my dinner daily; and, in short, I was still followed by such continual pain that I expected I had but a short time to live.

"I had applied to Physicians, Apothecaries, Quacks, and Old Women; and, conformable to directions, I made use of Mr. Stephens's medicine, and, nauseous as it was, I took about fourscore draughts of it, together with a full dose of the ill tasted powder that is a part of the recipe, but all in vain; I could find no relief. In this miserable condition I recollected I had an herbal, in which were prescribed remedies for many disorders; I providentially looked into it, and found the Wild Carrot strongly recommended by Mr. Boyle. I immediately (it being the 1st or 2d of August) sent a person into the fields to get me the Wild Carrot, which was accordingly done; I made it into a tea, sweetening it with Lisbon sugar, and drank about two ordinary tea pots full in a day, each pot containing a full half pint, the one for breakfast, the other for supper, eating with it as with other tea, and in three days time the pain began to grow weak and die away, and in five days it quite left me, my spirits revived, and I was restored (I bless God) to perfect ease.

"I continued drinking this tea until the 17th of December following, and then idly neglected it; the disorder returned; I had a short fit, which held me six hours. I had again recourse to my Wild Carrot, and in a few days got the better of it, since which I have enjoyed great ease. I cannot say that I never felt pain in the kidneys, but this I can aver for truth that it is never enough to make me cry oh! and that I think I never enjoyed better health than I have done for these four last years. This is the time of the year (August) when I got it. I will only say (though I know not how to have done with this subject, where almost a miracle has been wrought in my favour) that it is to be gathered in August, and dried well in some room in the shade, and then put aside in a close bin for use. You are only to use the heads or seeds of it. I take six or seven heads, and put them into the tea pot, and then put boiling water upon them; and, after it has stood as other common tea, drink it, generally dividing it into two draughts. I forbear all sorts of saltmeats (at least ought to do so) and strong beer I rigidly refrain from; I drink about two or three glasses of wine after dinner, and as much good table beer as I have an inclination to; I never drink any thing in a morning before or after tea; I drink nothing after tea in an evening. It is something forcing, but not violently, so it does not hurt in any kind. You will say, perhaps, I am prejudiced in its favour; but of this I am confident that I have enjoyed more ease these last four years than I ever did from the age of fourteen, and I find myself in better health than to that time. I have not made any bloody, or coffee ground water, no not once since I took the Carrot Tea; notwithstanding I made such, at times, for more than twenty years before. I am, &c.

THOMAS BUTLER."

A letter from the Reverend the Dean of Kildare.

"SIR,

"On reading Mr. Butler's letter, I, who had been much afflicted with the stone, betook myself to the drinking the Wild Carrot Tea; this was in the month of October last, and since I have drank it I have not felt any severe pain; I have sometimes indeed uneasy feelings, but they are the feelings rather of weight than of pain, and generally terminate in my parting with a great deal of loose gravel, much more than I was formerly used to part with.

Whether this medicine tends to the dissolution of a stone already concreted, or serves only to prevent a further concretion, I cannot say; but it is no small happiness that, whatever its manner of operation may be, I have, ever since I drank it, been free from any violent pain. How long I shall continue so, God only knows.

I am, &c.

PHILIP FLETCHER."

Bath, December 24.

To make Daucus or Daucus Ale.

Take of the Daucus seeds nine ounces, raisins of the sun eighteen ounces; put them into a bag, and hang in a vessel of six gallons of good ale; after it is worked, and when fine, after eight days drink three pints a day.

N. B. The Wild Carrot is to be had in great plenty in this and the neighbouring provinces, and may be gathered the end of July, or the beginning of August.