The Life Of George Holcomb – Sylvester’s Wife Has Fits

Monday, March 24, 1823: Today I rode our bay colt to Hoosic Falls to David Barnhart’s, distance about 30 miles. I got there about four o’clock in the afternoon. I went after Barnhart to come to Stephentown to Brother Wm for his wife remains quite sick yet. Today Wm rode to Richmond after Doctor Merryman again. Today brother Sylvester got to our house with his family. He moved from the westward again.
March 25, Tuesday: I returned home from Hoosic and Mr. Barnhart and his wife came to Brother Wm. We stopped once and bated. I paid six cts for a gill of bitters in Berlin at the Tavern where Wabbe once kept near what is called the widow Denison’s Village.
Wednesday: This forenoon I helped Sylvester fix our wagon. On this evening brother Sylvester’s wife was taken with fits. I had to hold her hands to keep her from hurting herself. She had a number of fits, which lasted nearly one hour and a half, nearly midnight. I walked over after Dr. Graves to come and draw off her water, but he had not the instrument that is called the female cathrine. He agreed to come the next morning if I could find one of said instruments. He directed me to Lanesboro to Dr. Burbank’s. I returned home by fetching a vial of paregoric to Wm’s child from said Graves.
Thursday: This morning, after returning from said Doctor Graves without stopping but a few minutes, I took a horse and road to Dr. Douglass to see if he had those instruments, but he had not, and then I got a horse to the Widow Douglass and left our old horse there. I then rode to Hancock to Dr. Babcock’s, but he had not got the instrument called the female cathrine. I then rode to Lanesborough to Doctor Burbank’s, and he had the instrument, but it was not to home and he directed me where to go and find it on the west side of Lanesborough Pond to one old Mrs. Burlingame. I likewise went and found it. I then went and returned for home. Before I reached the house where I found the instrument, the road was drifted up. I left my horse in a barn to a heap of hay, and walked on the drifts to said Burlingame’s. Said Doctor Burbanks told me to return the instrument to Doctor Babbett’s on Monday next. I returned home in a great hurry. I got home and found said Doctor Graves coming out the time I got home. I called to said Babbitt’s as I was returning home, and paid 12 cents for opium that Sylvester left for that use for his wife. I got home about eleven.
Friday: Tonight I got Alma Russel to watch with Sylvester’s wife, for she is crazy.
March 31, Monday: I walked up to Hancock to Doctor Babbitt’s and left the machine that is called the female cathrine, according to Dr. Burbank’s orders, and he could call and take it. While I was to Hancock village I called in to Mr. Delanoe’s goldsmith shop to let him see said instrument, and engaged him to make one like it for Doctor Graves.