USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics. Volume II > Part 68
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I can furnish responsible names for this testi- monial, and of persons who have traveled pro- fessionally through all the prixcipal places in the United States.
The Masonic Hall room it will be recollected, is 51 by 112 feet on the floor, and 23 feet in height.
Small Pox and Vaccination.
Rules and hints to the Physicians and the People.
Ist. Vaccine matter should always be selected, and none taken except from perfectly healthy subjects.
2d. The longer the pustule continues after vac- cination the more perfect the protection will be, and the better will be the matter to vaccinate others with.
3d. As a general rule, I would take no matter from any subject, to vaccinate others with, that had not passed at least fifteen days from the time of vaccination; I should never take matter from any patient that had broken the pustule, by scratching or any other means; nor if local in- flammation had been caused by taking cold, or otherwise.
4th. The patient should be examined on the fourth day after vaccination. If there be any doubt as to its having taken effect, he should be vaccinated in the other arm. The patient should be examined also on the eighth or ninth day. If there be no fever, or other constitutional symp- toms, such as soreness of the axiliary glands, &c. he should be vaccinated in the other arm. He should be seen again on the sixteenth day. If the pustule shall have become dry, and crust per- fect, it should then be taken off, if it can be, if not, another examination on the 17th or 18th day will be necessary.
5th. If the pustule dries up, forming a scab, before the 15th day, I should consider it imper- fect, and vaccinate the patient again. Because in many cases the vaccine disease is a mere local affection-and when it is so it can of course af- ford no protection against Small Pox. This local character is readily seen in the absence of fever on the eighth or ninth day, absence of sorencss in the axillary glands, and in the short duration of the pustule.
6th. I recommend re-vaccination in all cases in which there is any doubt of its previous effi- ciency.
In such cases [ never depend upon the appcar- ance of the scab, nor the memory of the patient as to the soreness of the arm, &c., nor upon any other testimony than that of the Physician who vaccinated the patient the first time. If this be not satisfactory, according to the above rules, I re-vaccinate.
I have never seen a person that I knew had been perfectly vaccinated, take either vaccination a second time, or varioloid, or small pox.
The scar is not to be depended upon. It can only inform us that vaccination lias been attempt- ed-the pustule may have been scratched, or opened in some other way; a common sore may have left the scar. Non-medical people are not good judges as to the perfection of vaccination. I have in numerous instances produced the per- fect vaccinc disease in persons that showed good scars, and who said they had been well vaccina- ted, that their arms were "very sore," &c. &c.
I was vaccinated in the fall of 1818. I have repeatedly, cven an hundred times, vaccinated myself since-last fall, (1845) particularly, I vaccinated myself ten times-but it did not, in any one instance, tako effect. When the Small Pox was so prevalent, in the years 1822, 1823, and 1824, I was constantly amongst it, often having an hundred or more patients at a time among the poor. I never had the slightest symp- tom of the disease.
I believe the present prevalence of Small Pox to be owing to inattention to patients after the insertion of the virus. The common price for vaccination ($1) is a mere nominal affair-it does not pay a physician for even three, to say nothing of four visits. Hence it is often the case that the Physician inserts the matter in the arm, and never sees the patient afterwards. The mere fact of the operation satisfies the patient and his- friends. It may not have taken effect at all; it may liave taken, but some accident destroyed its effect upon the constitution. And hence this great preventive of one of the most terrible scourges of the world is brought into disrepute. I do not believe that the preventive effects of per- fect vaccination ever "wear out." My own ex- perience is upwards of 27 years. From 1819 to 1822, inclusive, I vaccinated upwards of 33,000 persons. I have seen great numbers of them since, time and again, but have never found one that had taken Varioloid or Small Pox. But I have always been particular in the selection of matter to vaccinate with. I prefer that which has been on the arm full fifteen, and from that up to 17, 18, or even 20 days; and that from full grown persons, when possible; robust and healthy patients always; rejecting that from all others. I never take matter from doubtful sources.
I feel very certain, that, if these hints could be taken and acted upon by all our physicians and the people, the Small Pox would be complete- ly extirpated in a month. I offer them with much diffidence, and certainly with due deference to the faculty.
GIDEON B. SMITH, M. D
An Indian Name.
One of the most beautiful and picturesque vil- lages on Long-Island, has for many years been doomed to the infliction of the name of Oyster, or Clam Bay. The inhabitants have recently restored its ancient and euphonic Indian name of Syosset, and the Postmaster General has con- sented to the change.
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Ninth Ward, -- Cincinnati.
This is the region of Cincinnati which lies north of Sixth and cast of Main streets; and as it cm- braces, north of the Miami Canal, the original German settlement in our city, it is pretty com- pactly built up-at least in its western sections.
The public buildings of this ward are 14-in number as follows: the Woodward and St. Xa- vier Colleges; Court House and Public Offices adjacent; Jail; Engine Houses, on Sycamore and Webster streets; School House, on Franklin st .; German Reformed Church, on Webster street; Episcopal, on Pendleton; Methodist, on Webster; Roman Catholic, on Sycamore strees, and the Coloured Methodist, on New street.
The aggregate of buildings in the Ninth Ward is 1299; bricks 564, frames 733, stone 2.
Of these there were, at the close of i842,
Bricks.
Frames. Total.
352
633
985
Built in 1843,
81
34
115
" " 1844,
45
35
80
" " 1845,
86
31
117
564
733
1297
The only part of the ward which admits of much future occupation with buildings, is the northeast corner, being the territory lying north of the Lebanon road and east of Broadway.
Chronological Table.
March 4th .- First meeting of Congress at New York City; Washington chosen President, 1789. Saladin, died, 1193.
5th .- Battle of Barossa, 1811. Dr. Parr, died, 1825.
6th .- Battle of Alamo, in which Col. Crocket was killed, 1836. Michael Angelo, born, 1475.
8th .- Raphael, born, 1483. William III, died, 1702.
9th .- David Rizzio, assassinated, 1566.
10th .- Death of Benjamin West, in London, 1820.
Irish Advantages.
"Recollect, Mr. Falcon, I positively wont go to Ireland unless the situation is permanent, and the country quiet." " Dublin is as safe as Lon - don, my dear," said Falcon; " indeed safer, if possible, for I am told it has lately been fortified. I know something about fortifications. When I was Deputy store-keeper at the Tower"-" I don't like the idea of living in fortified places," replied the mother Falcon, not waiting for the close of this interesting chapter in her husband's life. " It's not pleasant to think of being be- sieged, sacked, and ransacked. I have heard of women being sacked; they do it in Turkey con- stantly, and throw them into the Phosphorous. I'm not a coward, I flatter myself I'm as stout as any woman, and I was never ashamed to own it; but I do not like to be horse de combat." ----
" Indeed, mamma," said Emily, " Ireland is quite as safe a country to live in as England. Nobody is ever shot but a tyrannical landlord occasionally."-The Falcon Family; or Young Ireland.
To Readers.
The great extent to which emigration to Cin- cinnati prevails, serves to keep up scattering ca- ses of small pox here. On this account, and for the bencfit alike of medical men and their pa- tients, I publish an article on vaccination, from the pen of Dr. Smith, an cminent physician of Baltimore, which embodies valuable testimony as well as advice on this important subject.
I consider it the most explicit and intelligent, as well as conclusive evidence in favour of the absolute security afforded by vaccination which has ever fallen under my notice.
Smart Boy.
A wealthy squire had a little son whose name was Tommy, and Tommy had a little drum. He one day lost his drumstick in a draw well, much to his mortification; but great as was his loss, he too well knew that no one would go to the bot- tom to recover liis toy. So Tommy dropped a silver punch ladle into the well. The ladle was missed, and a hue and cry was raised. "I think," sald Tommy, " I saw something shining down the well." The groom was ordered into a buck- et to make a voyage of discovery, and was low- ered to the bottom, where sure enough, he found the ladle. The handle was put in motion to raise him from the well, when Tommy, squeez- ing his head between the servants who clustered round the mouth, squeaked down to the groom, " Perhaps, while you are there, you'll get me my drum-stick !"
Period of Lives.
A boar rarely exceeds twenty years, yet we have known bores much older; lions are long lived-except the lion of the day; a squirrel or hare, seven or eight years-but gray hairs are often much older; rabbits seven.
Epicures live broad but not very long. Mules seldom die. The life of the sea-serpent is thought to be circular. The moon gets old every Innar month, and young as often. Methusaleh's gan- der is thought to be yet living. A boat at sea lives till it gets swamped. Clover, ou prairie lands, generally dies out the second year. The horse radish, like the red horse, lives till it is kill- ed. Human life is said to be but a span-which we presume means single and not married life. Men and things generally die when they can't live any longer.
A Pertinent Reply.
It is said a subject of the King of Prussia, a talented mechanic, being about to emigrate to America, was arrested and brought before his majesty.
"Well, my good friend," said the king, "how can we persuade you to remain in Prussia."
" Most gracious sire, only by making Prussia what America is."
He was allowed to emigrate.
CINCINNATI MISCELLANY.
CINCINNATI, MARCIT, 1846.
Recollections of the last Sixty Years .-- No. 10. BY Col. J. JOHNSTON, of Piqua.
I was a member of the Harrisburg Conven- tion, and in order to perform all the service I could to my old and honoured chief, and with a view of mixing with the middling and lower classes of the people as much as possible, I per- formed the whole journey, going and returning, on horseback, always stopping at the taverns fre- quented by wagoners, farmers, mechanics and working men. I thus had unrestrained access to tlie rank and file of the political army. I could tell them more about Old Tip, as they cal- led him, than ever they had heard before. I had large audiences ;- some times the bar-room could not contain the people; dozens would be pressing me to drink with them because I could tell them so many good things about Old Tip ;- his popu- larity was unbounded: payment of my tavern bills were often refused because I was his friend and of the convention that was going to make him President, for from the day I set out for Har- risburg until the election was over, I never once doubted of his success: the evidence met me at every step of my journey. The last time that Gen. Harrison slept under my roof, was in the summer of 1840. He was expected in the town of Piqua in the evening. I went down to meet him, and for the purpose of bringing him home, that he might be quiet and refreshed with com- fortable quarters, a good bed and sleep, all of which he greatly needed. He had reached the town, and was surrounded at Tuttle's hotel, with an immense crowd, so that it was some time be- fore I could get near to him. The people were already making a platform of boxes in the street, to get him out to speak. He had rode near fifty miles the same day, and delivered three speeches. I asked if he had any refreshment since his arrival ? None whatever. I ordered some tea, ham, and bread and butter, and after partaking, he was on the stand and spoke an hour. Col. Chambers took his place, and I slipped the General through the crowd to my house, three miles off. After supper we sat up late, talking about old times. He asked me how I got along since being turned out of the service by Gen. Jackson. I replied, as well as I could; that I had not wealth, but a competency; kept out of debt, and made the two
ends of the year meet. He said he could not do so well; and asked me, why did you not speculate and make a fortune, as other men did in the ser- vice? I told him he had always enjoined upon his subordinates, that we should never apply the money of the public to private purposes, and that he had always enforced this rule, both by pre- cept and example; and in a pleasant mood ob- served-if there is any one to blame why I have not made a fortune, it is yourself. He laughed at my rejoinder. I must have handled from first to last, a million and a half of the public money, and I am very confident that I never applied one hundred dollars of that sum to private purposes, over and above my stated compensation. The practise of doing so was unknown to the service in those times. Governor Harrison would never touch the public money, but would always give drafts on the proper department, accompanying the bills and accounts rendered. If Providence had spared him he would have proved a blessing to the whole nation. Honest and without guile himself, he would, as far as lay in his power, make the public servants honest also.
Among the numerous persons who visited Gen. Harrison at my house, was the venerable Boyer, at that time eighty-seven years of age; beyond all dispute. the last survivor of Washing- ton's guard, for the original discharge I have seen and copied and could verify the same, as be- ing in the proper hand writing of Col. Cobb, the aid-de-camp, and bearing the genuine signature of the commander-in-chief. The following no- tice of the death of this aged patriot soldier, was published at the time :---
From the Ohio State Journal.
Mr. Scott :- I will thank you to republish from the last Piqua Register, the obituary notice of the venerable Boyer, who died in my county (Miami,) on Saturday, the 23d ultimo. Many of your readers in this city will doubtless remem- ber the iron frame and commanding person of the patriot whig soldier, who rode the white horse, with the war saddle cquipments of Washı- ington, in the great Whig Convention of 1840, carrying the banner inscribed-" tho last of Washington's life guards."
He was my neighbour for more than thirty years past; an ardent, unwavering whig; and it
42
330
was my purpose to have made the effort of taking | he died as he had lived, a true soldier. At his him to Baltimore, as my colleague to the Whig own request, made some time ago, he received a military burial. The Piqua Light Infantry, com- manded by Col. Adams, and the Cavalry, under Capt. Barney, performed the solemn duty. The funeral was attended by two thousand persons. National Convention, in May next. Death, which destroys all the hopes of man, has in this case, alas! disappointed me. My old friend-the friend, follower, and protector of Washington in many a well fought field, has gone to the grave full of years and full of honours. It will be seen by the date of his discharge, tliat he served to the latest period, the revolutionary army having been disbanded many months before.
JOHN JOHNSTON, Of Piqua, Ohio.
Columbus, October 2, 1843.
From the Piqua Register, September 30. DEATH OF A SOLDIER.
DIED-Athis residence in this vicinity, on Sat- urday evening last, Lewis Boyer, a patriot of the revolution, aged eighty-seven years. As the highest testimony that could be offered of the fi- delity with which he served his country in the dark hour of her severest trials, we publish the copy of his discharge from the American army at the close of the revolution. The original, to which is attached the name of the commander- in-chief, in his own hand-writing, was carefully preserved by the deceased until the day of his death; and has been kindly furnished by one of the family for the purpose of copying.
By His Excellency George Washington, Esq., General and Commander-in-Chief of the forces of the United States of America:
'The bearer, Lewis Boyer, private dragoon in the independent troop of horse, commanded by Major Van Herr, being enlisted for the war, and having served the term of his engagement, con- sented to continue in the service until the 31st day of December inst., from which date he is hereby discharged from the American army ; and in consequence of his attention and fidelity, the commander-in-chief, being authorized by a reso- lution of Congress, presents him with the horse, arms and accoutrements now in his possession, as a gratuity.
Given at Philadelphia, this 10th day of Decem- ber, 1783.
(Signed) GEORGE WASHINGTON.
By His Excellency's command,
(Signed) DAVID COBB, Aid-de-Camp.
The deceased had enjoyed remarkable health throughout his whole life. When taken ill he refused all medical aid; and stated that he had never at any time during his long life, " taken medicine," but nature, which had always been his physician, could no longer act efficiently. His time had come; the last enemy was before him; the courage of his youth sustained him ;-
A few more years and those brave hearts, Once so faithful and so true, Will all be cold in death. Those Who linger yet a while. As the last bough upon a tree,
Are sear and shrivelled as the autumn leaf. Their season has been a long and honourable one ;- they, too, have one more battle to fight, after which may they have-
" Rest, eternal rest."
In this, my second communication for your pa- per, I have written more than intended in the beginning. The character and services of Gen. Harrison, is a theme which requires an abler pen than mine. It is delightful to hold up such a man to the example of his country. The paltry sum of $24,000 was grudged to his widow and children by the demagogues and mock patriots of the day; yet four times that sum, nor any sum of money, would be but a poor price for the lega- cy left to his country by a long life of high and holy patriotism; of unsullied integrity and hon- our in the discharge of the innumerable impor- tant public trusts committed to him in a period of forty years service.
By the conflagration of the establishments of the Indian department at Fort Wayne, by the Indians, last war, I lost nearly all my books and papers, and have to write altogether from memo- ry. If spared life and health, you may expect further communications.
Your friend and ob't serv't,
JOHN JOHNSTON.
CHARLES CIST, EsQ.
Cotton Cloth.
It has always been matter of surprise to me that the Yankees, with their characteristic inge- nuity, should not have contrived to manufacture, out of our great national staple, Cotton, an arti- cle superior to the woollen cloths which now constitute the winter's wear of the United States. There can be no question that cotton, woven thick and properly napped, is a warmer dress than can be made of wool, the thickness of the two being alike. This is both the philosophy and the fact in the case. Cotton is a better non conductor of heat than wool, as the Canton flan- nel of the stores serves to prove. It will doubt- less be objected that cotton cloth cannot be made to receive as handsome a finish, or dye as perfect as the rival fabric; that it must always be expo-
331
sed to stains and splashes, which will not brush out as in woolen cloth. Some of these difficul- ties have never been fairly tested and might be overcome. At any rate there can be little doubt that a thick, well napt, and warm cloth, might be made for those who desire an article to work in, which would not cost one fourth the price of woolen cloth, and be equally comfortable. The very fact of the sale and use of such an article would lower the price of woolen cloths in pro- portion to the extent to which the cotton cloths would be supplied for use.
The great amount of cassinets, Kentucky jeans and other mixtures of wool and cotton have su- perceded cloth of wool alone, is an encourage- ment to the experiment of what may be made of cotton entire.
Eastern Periodicals.
Few people are aware of the extent to which the cheap publications and periodical literature of the East, are supported in the great West. Some interesting details on the subjectin the late "Pic- ture of Cincinnati," shew the magnitude of the contributions here on that score, so far as the books of the principal book and periodical depot in Cincinnati-that of Robinson & Jones-ex- hibit it.
Statement of the number of Foreign Periodicals disposed of by Robinson & Jones, during the year ending December 31st, 1845.
MAGAZINES AND PERIODICALS.
Number.
Graham's Magazine, Philadelphia, 7,785
Godey's Lady's Book do, 4,828
Columbian Magazine, New York, 2,312
National do, Philadelpha, 4,425
Arthur's do, do,
1,250
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine,
665
London, Westminster, Foreign and Edin- burgh Quarterly Reviews,
208
Democratic Review, New York,
180
American and Whig Review, New York,
208
Eclectic Magazine, Brownson's Reviews, &c.,
336
Littell's Living Age-weekly-Boston, 2,120
Medical Publications, 985
Ferrett's Musical Publications, 1,526
Total,
26,828
NEWSPAPERS.
No. of copies.
Saturday Evening Post, Philadelphia, 2,600
Saturday Courier do, 3,900
Neal's Saturday Gazette, do, 3,000
Dollar Newspaper, do, 2,600 Bennett's Weekly Herald, New York, 4,500
250
Broadway Journal, New Music, &c., do, 1,040
1,500
Miscellaneous,
Foreign Newspapers, including the Picto- rial Times and News, Punch, Dublin
Nation, Bell's Life in London, &c., 5,200
25,390
Besides the depot of Robinson & Jones, there are several other agencies for periodicals; and a great many papers are received directly by sub- scribers through the mail.
Is it any wonder that we have been heretofore unable to maintain and extend the influence of western literature? And yet we have periodicals -Mrs. Nichols' " Guest," published here-for instance-with which in moral elevation, poeti- cal beauty, and strength of sound teaching, there is nothing at the East to compare.
The Hog Season of 1846.
The Pork Packing season being at an end, the returns of the putting up throughout the west are generally in. The following table furnishes a synopsis of these operations.
Cincinnati,
Ohio at large,
1844. 240,000 214,200
1845. 173,000 149,900
1846. 287,000 225,600
Ohio,
454,200
322,900
512,600
Indiana,
183,200
119,300
162,600
Illinois and}
Missouri,
84,000
39,000
59,500
Kentucky and?
Tennessee, S
102,000
75,000
140,500
Totals, 823,400 556,200 875,200
It will be seen that the general aggregate of 1846 does not much surpass that of 1844, the dif- ference being but six per cent. An equal differ- ence at least exists, however, in the quality and weight, the hogs of the present year being, as a body, the finest ever broughtinto market. This is owing to the vast increase of the corn produc- tion of the west, and the probability, since reali- sed, that pork would bring good prices, inducing farmers to feed hogs, rather than supply distille- ries. It must be recollected that the increase of this year has been effected to some extent, by the scarcity of corn in North Carolina and Virginia, which has prompted the drovers from Tennessee and southern Kentucky, to take their hogs to Louisville and Cincinnati. To this extent there was no actual increase of the pork market in the whole country, nor taking into view the late commercial changes in England, is there any probability that the price of pork can fall. On the contrary, it must undoubtedly rise.
Tenth Ward, -- Cincinnati.
This ward comprehends that part of the city which lies between Main street and the line of the Miami Canal on Plum street, and between the same canal on the south and the northern Corporation Line. By the formation of this ward, which was taken, nearly a year since, from the Fifth and Seventh Wards, the Fifth has
New World, six months, do,
Old Countryman, do,
800
Total,
333
ceased to be what it has always heretofore been -an outside ward.
The public buildings of the Tenth Ward are 9-Cincinnati Orphan Asylum; the Methodist Protestant and German Reformed Churches, on Elm street, St. Mary's Catholic, German Mctho- dist and German Reformed on Walnut and Thir- teenth streets, German Lutheran, on Bremen st., School House, on Thirteenthi street, and an En- gine House.
The buildings of this ward are-bricks 485, frames 740. Total, 1225.
Of these there werc, at the close of the year 1846-
Bricks. 363
Frames.
Total.
700
1063
Built in 1845,
122
40
162
485
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