USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > The Philadelphia Directory, 1835-36 > Part 33
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S. II. CARPENTER, I. BARDIN, SAMUEL ARTHUR.
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Philadelphia, December 31st, 1831,-Then personally ap- peared Samuel Arthur and S. H. Carpenter, two of the wit- nesses to the foregoing Will and the second Codicil or repub- lication thereof, and on their oaths did say that they were present, and did see and hear Stephen Girard the testator in the said Will and second republication thereof named, sign, seal, publish and declare the same as and for his last Will and Testament, and republication thereof, and that at the doing thereof; he was of sound mind, memory and understanding, to the best of their knowledge and belief; and at the same time appeared Jno. Thomson, one of the witnesses to the first re- publication of said Will, and on his solemn affirmation did say that he was present, and did see and hear Stephen Girard, the testator in the first republication of said Will, named, sign, seal, publish, and declare the same as and for a republication of his last Will and Testament. And the said Samuel Ar- thur, another of the witnesses to said first republication of said Will, on his oath did further say, that he was present, and did sce and hear Stephen Girard, the testator in the first re- publication of said Will, named, sign, seal, publish and de- clare the same as and for a republication of his last Will and Testament, and they both did say that at the doing thereof, he was of sound mind, memory and understanding, to the best of their knowledge and belief.
Coram,
J. HUMES, Register.
December 31, 1831 .- Timothy Paxson and Thomas P. Cope, two of the Executors, affirmed, and Joseph Roberts, William J. Duane, and Jolm A. Barclay, the other Execu- tors, sworn, and letters testamentary granted unto them.
SWAIM'S PANACEA.
Much has been said about the composition of this medicine, and some che- mists have gone so far us to declare, that the result of their analytical labours led them positively to conclude that it contained, us a principal ingredient, some metallic preparation.
This assertion has been denied and refuted by evidence of the highest and most unquestionable character : in addition to what has already been presented to the public on this subject, we subjoin the following letter from the Hon. George W. Erving, our former Minister to Spain and Denmark, &c. &c.
Extract of a Letter, dated. Paris, May 5th, 1831, from George W. Erring, of Massachusetts, (lute minister of the United States in Spain and Denmark) to a friend in Philadelphia.
My dear -,
You may recollect that when, just previous to my last de- parture from Philadelphia, I explained to you the merits of "Swaim's Panacea," and attributed its efficacy principally to sarsaparilla, which I thought to be its basis; I at the same time mentioned that a celebrated chemist, of your city, had informed me some years ago, that he had discovered mercury, and latter- ly that he had found arsenic in this famous medicine .- I was not, however, shocked by this information; I had only to transfer my gratitude from sarsaparilla to those more powerful drugs, ac- knowledging that they had completely cured the herpetic affec- tion which had tormented me, more or less, for fourteen years; and which had resisted all the means, mild and violent, external and internal, which, under the recommendation of the first phy- sicians in this country, and of some of our own, I had experi- mented during that period. Though three years had passed since the cure of the disorder had been effected, and I had not observed the least symptom of its disposition to return, and con- sequently was free from all inquietudes; yet to " make security doubly sure," I thought it prudent to bring a few bottles of the Panacea with me on my last departure from home (now twelve months). I rejoice to say, that I have not had, or am I in the least apprehensive that I shall have occasion to use it: but I found an old acquaintance here, (the Count de C-,) to whom it may be useful; he has much more need of it than I ever had, though as he is nearly eighty years of age I do not feel very confident of its success in his case. Before giving it to him, however, good faith and duty to this friend seemed to require that I should
have a strict analysis made of the medicine by the first chemists here; for though I have not the least objection to mercury or arsenic, or hellebore, or prussic acid, I could not presume that he had none; nor could I hope to convert him (much less his physicians, if he should consult them) to my opinion in favour of the salutary, as well as vigorous, action of those drugs in all maladies, to which they apply, and are used with discretion; for the French procedure in medicine, relying on the healing power of nature, is as mild and merely palliative as may be, in all cases which are not of a very alarming character. By favour then of Dr. L., a principal physician in the hospital of St. Louis, (an hos- pital appropriated to those afflicted by the disorder referred to) and one of those doctors whose prescriptions I followed some years ago, I obtained the analysis of which I herewith enclose a copy : it is perfectly satisfactory to my friend C., since it not only shows, contrary to the opinion of Dr. Hare, which it cites, that there is not any mercury in the Panacea, but declares that NO MINERAL SUBSTANCE WHATEVER CAN BE FOUND IN ITS COMPO- SITION.
This analysis may be useful to Mr. Swaim, and I pray you to have the goodness to transmit it to him through whatever channel, or in such form as to you shall seem most proper.
With very affectionate and respectful sentiments, always Your most obliged and obedient servant,
(Signed) GEORGE W. ERVING.
Chemical Examination of Swaim's Panacea, in the Hospital of St. Louis, Paris.
A deep brown coloured liquid, of the consistence of a clear syrup; possessing an alcoholic and aromatic odour, with a sugary taste, slightly tartish.
This medicine belongs to that class which is now known by the title of "Concentrated Essence, or Fluid Extract, or Porta- tive Ptisan of Sarsaparilla." But it is impossible to say what the vegetable substances are of which it is composed.
From a note inserted in the Journal of Pharmacy, (vol. 18, page 170,) it would seem that Swaim's Panacea owes its peculiar odour at least to the volatile oil of "Gualtheria procumbens," a little shrub (analogous to the sweet broom) which grows abun- dantly in South America. In the note just cited, it is said that
R. Hare, professor of chemistry, in the University of Pennsyl- vania, North America, examined Swain's Panacea, in 1827, and that he found mercury in it. I applied myself particularly to the detection of that metal. The taste of the medicine, and the prelimi- nary essay with the chemical tests, gave no indication, morcover of its containing any metallic substance whatever. It is admit- ted that the salts of mercury are rendered insoluble, and even often reduced to a metallic state, by medicinal preparations of an organic nature, to which they are often added; if then there was in fact any mercury in Swaim's Panacea, its presence was to be sought after in the deposit or dregs of the Panacea.
Accordingly the Panacea having been decanted with care, the bottle was rinsed with distilled water, and in that way I detach- ed from it an abundant whitish deposit, which having been well washed, was then treated with nitric acid, and evaporated to dryness. That residuum was then treated with water, which only dissolved a little sulphute of lime, and a minute portion of phosphate of lime; but there was no trace of any metallic substance; und, above all, no indication of uny mercurial sult. The greatest part of the residue was insoluble in water, and it was treated with the muriatic acid, which dissolved it almost en- tirely, with the exception of a sandy portion. This last solution was yellow, and its residuum was yellow, deliquescing in the air, and containing iron and phosphate of lime. That portion of it which was insoluble in water, was entirely white; and being re- dissolved in muriatic acid, coloured it deep yellow. That white residuum was composed of a double phosphute of lime und of iron, which substances are almost always met with in the analy- sis of animal substances. Their presence therefore would only seem to indicate that some animal matter enters into the prepa- ration of Swaim's Panacea.
Extract of u Letter from Major General Pearson, of the British Army, to Willium Sucuim.
Boulogne sur Mer, June, 1833. My Dear Sir,
You must attribute solely to the effects of indisposition, occa- sioned by an attack of erysipelas, my not having sooner com- plied with your wishes of sending you an account of my gene-
ral health, which I am assured you will be gratified to learn is improving in every respect, even faster than my most sanguine friends could have anticipated. My constitution received such a shock from severe wounds and exposure to different climates, most probably rendered me more susceptible to suffering, as in the case of my accident from my horse falling with me and erushing my leg, which had previously been injured by two se- vere gun-shot wounds, and I have no hesitation in saying that to the effects of your Panacea, in which I have every confidence, I may attribute my speedy restoration to health. There are seve- ral people at Cheltenham anxiously inquiring after you, &c.
I cannot elose this short letter without assuring you that few more truly appreciate the invaluable qualities of your inestima- ble Panacea than myself.
I remain, my dear Sir, truly yours,
To Mr. Wm. Swaim, Proprietor of Swaim's Panacea, Moreley's Hotel, Trafalgar Square, London.
T. PEARSON.
Copy of a Letter from William L. Hirst, Esq. Attorney at Law, No. 63 South Seventh street, Philadelphia.
Philadelphia, Nov. 1st, 1834. Dear Sir,
Your " Panacea" has accomplished a cure, so remarkable, that I feel bound to certify it. My brother Lucas, about three years since, was afflicted with a severe attack of serofula. His head was completely covered with ulcers, so thick and close that they grew one over the other; and his face and body were covered also with numerous sores: he was under the most judicious medi- cal treatment for nine months, without the least amendment, growing worse daily, and every variety of remedy was used, according to the regular practice of medicine. It was at a time when he was looked upon as incurable that I resolved to procure your " Panacea" for him. The effect was quite wonderful. With- out any change of his customary diet, three bottles, and about . one half of the fourth, restored him to perfeet health. It is now two years since he was cured; he remains well, and is as hearty and robust as any boy of his age in this eity.
Yours respectfully,
Mr. Wm. Swaim.
W. L. HIRST.
5947
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