LXXXIII. IGNORANCE NOT ALWAYS BLISS, 314 LXXXIV. MEASLES WITHOUT SNAKEROOT AND SAFFRON, 317 LXXXV. THE CONSUMPTIVE PAIR, 320 LXXXVI. HOW TO CURE CHOLERA, 322 LXXXVII. OBSTINACY AND SUICIDE, 324 LXXXVIII. HEALTH HOSPITALS, 327 LXXXIX. DESTRUCTION BY SCROFULA, 329 XC. STARVING OUT DISEASE, 334 XCI. DIETING ON MINCE PIE, 342 XCII. GIANTS IN THE EARTH, 346 XCIII. THE GREEN MOUNTAIN PATIENT, 349 XCIV. CURE OF POISON FROM LEAD, 355 XCV. FAITH AND WORKS, 358 XCVI. WORKS WITHOUT FAITH, 360 XCVII. DISEASES OF LICENTIOUSNESS, 365 XCVIII. CURIOUS AND INSTRUCTIVE FACTS, 367 XCIX. ANTI-MEDICAL TESTIMONY, 371 C. AN ANTI-MEDICAL PREMIUM, 375 CI. CONCLUDING REMARKS, 378 CII. A LAST CHAPTER, 380 FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS OF PILLS AND POWDERS. CHAPTER I. EDUCATIONAL TENDENCIES. I was born in a retired but pleasant part of New England, as New England was half a century ago, and as, in many places, despite of its canals, steamboats, railroads, and electromagnetic telegraphs, it still is. Hence I am entitled to the honor of being, in the most emphatic sense, a native of the land of "steady habits." The people with whom I passed my early years, though comparatively rude and uncultivated, were yet, in their manners and character, quite simple. Most of them could spell and read, and write their names, and a few could "cipher" as far as simple subtraction. To obtain the last-mentioned accomplishment, however, was not easy, for arithmetic was not generally permitted in the public schools during the six hours of the day; and could only be obtained in the occasional evening school, or by self-exertion at home. The majority of my townsmen also knew something of the dream-book and of palmistry, and of the influence of the moon (especially when first seen, after the change, over the right shoulder), not only on the weather and on vegetation, but on the world of humanity. They also understood full well, what troubles were betokened by the howling of a dog, the blossoming of a flower out of due season, or the beginning of a journey or of a job of work on Tuesday or Friday. Many of them knew how to tell fortunes in connection with a cup of tea. Nay, more, not a few of them were skilled in astrology, and by its aid could tell under what planet a person was born, and perchance, could predict thereby the future events of his life; at least after those events had actually taken place.