Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1879 — Treatment of Small-Pox in the Olden Time. [ARTICLE]

Treatment of Small-Pox in the Olden Time.

A curious old custom still lingers in some of the more secluded parts of the country of placing a patient suffering from small-pox in a bed with red hangings. It would be interesting to know the origin of this custom, and how long it had been in vogue. The tradition that red is good for small-pox is at least five centuries and a half old, for we read that John, one of the sons of Edward 11., was treated for the disease by being put into a bed surrounded by red hangings, covered with red blankets and a red counterpane, his throat being gargled with red mulberry wine, and red juice of pomegranates being given him to suck. This was the boasted prescription of John of Gaddeaden, who took no small ciedit to himself for bringing his royal patient safely through the disease.