One of our members, Cecelia Edwards, made the following comment in response to our posting about Gritted Cornbread: “While reading some old newspaper articles at the library I came across an article about a “madstone” that was apparently an old American Indian cure for being bitten by a rapid dog. I researched it and found that it is a part of the stomach of a deer that is removed and given special treatment. From what I have learned it was not a common item to have around the house as the person in need had to find out who had one and then go for the treatment, which included several applications of the stone after it had been soaked in milk and other ingredients. It was then applied to the wound and left until the stone turned green. There may have been several applications. The articles that I read reported success with the stone. One article told of the family traveling from Mayfield to Paducah for the treatment, which in those days was quite a journey.”
“R.T. Rowland, 78 years of age, was almost chewed to death by a mad dog at Eddyville. He went to Paducah and had a madstone applied.” (article dated 7-20-1898 under First District News reported in Volume 8, Graves Co., KY Newspaper Genealogical Abstracts Mayfield Monitor, 2-2-1898 to 12-28-1898, (Copyright 1983 by Simmons Historical Publications) No further articles as to whether or not he survived.
Hmmm, is it progress to give shots in the stomach to combat rabies if there is a “madstone” that will do the same thing?