A treatise on the disease called the milk-sickness, or trembles / by J.J. McIlhenny.

  • McIlhenny, J. J.
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on the disease called the milk-sickness, or trembles / by J.J. McIlhenny. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    prevails throughout much of the rich land of Gibson county, where there is a dense gr«wth of ash, elm, and walnut. I might as well here add, that I never knew the Trembles to prevail where there was a dense growth of beech, or where there was not a free growth of weeds. I well know that it is circumscribed—that a small section will produce the disease—then an exemption for some distance, when it will again recur. So of some farms—a portion will produce it, and the other will not. In fact, there is not a county from Floyd to the mouth of the Wabash, and as far north as White River, that is exempt from Milk- Sickness ; and it often occurs in both Southern Illinois and Kentucky. I have never heard of it above the forty-fiist degree of north latitude, and it seldom reaches that line. The sum total of my observations as to the aspect of the country in which it is found, is, that it prevails most in the level rich lands ; but is often found in the hills, and even in the barrens. CAUSE. While I so fully concur with Professor Drake as to the locality of the disease, I cannot agree with him respecting its true cause. Our difference, however, consists merely in a name: in distinguishing between a different species of plants of the same genus. He appears to be pretty well satisfied, that the Rhus Toxicodendron, (Poison Oak,) or Rhus Radicans, (Poison Vine,) is the plant that produces the disease. Now, it is a well-known fact, as the Dr. states, that the sections of country in which the disease is prevalent, abounds with both species of Rhus. It is also found there in much greater abundance, than it is in regions where the Trembles do not prevail. My firm convictions are, that the disease termed Sick-Stomach, is produced by the Rhus Toxicodendron, or Poison Oak ; and that it is a separate and distinct species from the Radicans or Poison Vine. I believe there are none, who have examined these plants, but will readily admit, that the Poison Oak, notwithstanding they contend that it is nothing more than sprouts or scions from the roots of the Poison Vine, is much more acrid in its character than the Poison Vine. This is a fact universally admitted among all our farmers. Now, if this is the case, would it not be entirely contrary to the general order of vegetation ? For, it is a well-known fact, that in proportion to the age and size of a plant or tree, in that proportion it contains more active, efficient matter. All along Mad River-bottom, (for the disease does not occur nearor than from one to four miles of the river, on the east side,) grows