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Archiver > BRETHREN > 2005-12 > 1134662219


From: "Vivian Markley" <>
Subject: Jacob Miller
Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2005 10:56:59 -0500
In-Reply-To: <9546585b.6b12fa04.81d1600@ms02.mrf.mail.rcn.net>


Thanks to the expected eight inches of snow expected today, I will not be
taking care of a couple of my grandchildren today, so I have decided to use
this day to do some transcription. I live north of Donnelsville, Ohio and
in 1813 a Rev Dr Peter Smith wrote the first medical book ever written west
of the Alleghenies. I on the land that is at the fork of Donnels Creek
where his daughter lived. The land stayed in his family for 100 years and
then they left it to Wittenberg University for the herbal value but
Wittenberg was not interest in herbal medicine, so they sold it and it was
in my husband's children's family for the last 100 years. When I found out
that he had written a book, my curiosity would not be satisfied until I
found a reproduction by his grandson General Keifer in 1901. I plan on
publishing it so that it will be available once again. As I run across
names of people that he knew, I will try to let family members know that
what he has written of their ancestors. The first one that I have found is
Jacob Miller, Dunkard of Montgomery County so I knew there were people here
who would enjoy this.

From "An Indian Doctor's Dispensatory" by Dr. Peter Smith.

"There is an herb cultivated by the Germans, on the west side of the big
Miami, I think it is in Montgomery county, particularly, I have been told,
by the old Dunkard preacher, Jacob Miller. This herb, I have full reason to
believe is an infallible cure for the bite of mad dog or hydrophobia. I
have seen this herb in powder, and was assured that only this was used for
several, man and beast, where no scruple could be entertained of their
having been bitten with a mad dog, and nothing of the dire complaint was
experienced; while those creatures to which it was omitted fell victims. I
cannot describe this herb, nor do I remember its name. I remember the dose
is only what you may lift on the point of a case knife in powder. This is
to be eaten on a piece of bread and butter, three mornings successively, and
the cure is effected."

I will post all that I think may be relevant to list as I go. Warning, I am
a slow typist so this is a big project for me. LOL

Vivian

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