Dr. Chase's Third, last, and complete receipt book and household physician, or, Practical knowledge for the people ...

Front matter

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Dedication

THIS, MT THIRD AND LAST RECEIPT BOOK,

IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED

To the Twelve Hundred Thousand Families, througliout the United States and Dominion of Canada,

Author's Preface

The reason for the publication of this book is, that having given over fifty years of my life to the careful observation and test of Practical Receipes, as given in my first and second books, i. e., "Dr. Chase's Eeceipts, or Information for Everybody;" and "Dr. Chase's Family Physician, Bee Keeper, and Second Receipt Book," by which it has become very natural for me to make notes of and preserve for future reference, items and receipts discovered by myself and those seen in the discourses of the Scientific, Medical, Agricultural, Mechanical and Household Publications of the day; and observing that as time advanced, every branch of Science and Art, by continued experience, became more and more perfect, practical and positive in its development, I continually selected and preserved the very choicest items until enough was accumulated for a THIRD BOOK. And fully believing that it would be appreciated by the people who had purchased over twelve hundred thousand copies of my former publications, within the thirty years they have been before them, I determined to prepare it before I could willingly and conscientiously lay down my life work. I have, therefore, labored over four years faithfully and diligently in experimenting, compiling and arranging this, my third and last book, as I knew it would do good in every home it entered. I am now willing and shall forever rest from this character of labor, that I may partake, a little at least, of the benefits and pleasures that I have done my best to prepare for others, feeling more than satisfied that if the people will give the time and earnestness in using this book that the author has in preparing it, the benefits and pleasures will not only be mutual, but more lasting than our lives, benefitting even our children's children.

As to the reliability of the information given in this volume, the unprecedentedly large sales of my two former works will viU AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

testify. It is only necessary to say that the longer one labors in a practice or profession, or in the mechanical arts, the more mature is his mind and judgment and the better qualified he is to carry on his work. This being universally conceded, it need only be said, then, that one who has lived nearly seventy years, doing all the good possible to his fellow creatures, as I have done, if judged by the above evidence, would certainly make his last the crowning effort of his life, and that it shall be so found I feel assured. This work is the result of nearly thirty years practice and experience since the publication of my first book, and is not a " revised edition " of the former ones, but is made up wholly of new matter and new discoveries. I, therefore, believe that it will prove of infinite value to its purchasers, and although they may have both the former ones in their possession, they cannot, if they value my first and second book, afford to be without this, my third and last one. My mature years, numbering nearly three score and ten, will not allow me to ever undertake that great labor which, in this case, covers a period of nearly five years.

A Eeceipt Book, not being calculated for general reading, can very properly be set in closer type than an ordinary book, and as it is my aim to give the greatest possible amount of information for the money invested, I have instructed the type-setters to use the smallest type that can, with ease, be read ; yet the following will serve to illustrate the fact that even a receipt book is, by some, read to a considerable extent As I was once traveling through Illinois, a gentleman, just before we reached the crossing of the Mississippi at Burlington, approached me, and said, "Isn't this Dr. Chase, the author of Chase's Eeceipt Book?" (referring to my first) to which I replied, " Yes, sir," when he remarked : " I thought I recognized you from the frontispiece in your book ;" and added, " We read it more than the Bible," etc. To which I remonstrated and begged to suggest that he instruct his family from that time forward to read the Bible most, inasmuch as eternity was of infinitely more importance than this life. His name I have forgotten, but I take the liberty of giving the

AUTHOR'S PREFACE. ix

name and address of a lady in Wisconsin, whose letter I received while preparing this last work, presuming she will take no offense, as I give her name and letter only to prove to the public in what esteem my former books are held by those who have them. The following is from Mrs. 0, N. Alden, and dated at Neenah, Wisconsin :

Dr. a. W. chase,

Dear Sir:

It is not the author or compiler of every book who himself so permeates the contents that the reader feels in the author a personal acquaintance, but when I am consulting Dr. Chase's Books, it seems as though I was personally consulting him, and that he is a friend, he makes what is therein so individual. But, by so doing, he exposes himself to, perhaps, annoyance, as in this instance, by being personally addressed, * * * *

The writer closes by relating her own condition of health, and making inquiry as to the character of goods made by another gentleman. I mention these circumstances among hundreds of others only to illustrate to those having neither of my former books what those who do have them think of them, hoping thus to convince the million that my third and last book shall, at least, be equally valuable. I have, however, done my best to produce a work in every respect superior to my former ones, and with the aid of thirty years' experience since my first book was published, during which time many new theories have come into vogue and many valuable discoveries have been made, I am confident that I have succeeded, and can only hope that my former works have opened the door to this, my Crowning Life Work, and that it will be a welcome visitor at every home, where either or both the first and second books have found their way and prove to be worth many times more than the sum paid for it,

THE AUTHOR,

Just two months after completing this work, and writing the foregoing preface, the "Old Doctor" passed away and his spirit took its flight to God who gave it.

PUBLISHERS.

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Dr. Alviit "Wood Chase, physician, and author of the celebrated Dr. Chase's Eeceipt Book, was born in Cayuga County, New York, in 1817. He was a son of Benjamin Chase, a native of the State of Massachusetts. When Alvin was eleven years of age his parents located near Buffalo, N. Y., where he grew to manhood, receiving a very limited education, in a log school-house. His desire for knowledge was so strong, coupled with an ambition peculiar to his naturally energetic disposition, that he far outstripped his more dilatory companions of that humble institute of learning. When seventeen years old he left New York and found employment on the Maumee Eiver, in the meantime devoting his spare moments to study. In 18-10 he located at Dresden, Ohio, where in the spring of 1841 he married Martha Shutts, daughter of Henry and Martha Shutts, natives of New York. To this noble and gifted wife, and mother of his children, may be justly attributed much of the success that followed the doctor during his long and eventful career. From the days of his boyhood he entertained a wish to study medicine, and awaited with impatience the time when he might become a member of the fraternity. After many wanderings he settled in Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1856, where, to his intense delight, he was enabled vigorously to prosecute his studies in what was to be his future life-work.

He attended lectures in the medical department of the State University during 1857 and 1858, and graduated from the Eclectic Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, in the meantime. Prior to 1869 he traveled over a large part of the United States, acquiring valuable knowledge, only gained by practical experience, which proved a good foundation for the wonderful book which afterward gained such great celebrity. The first edition of the work, like all subsequent ones, proved a great success, and soon placed the author on the high road to fortune. In 1864 he built the first part of that magnificent structure that still bears his name. It stands on the corner of Main Street and Miller Avenue, and is an ornament to our city. The building was completed in 1868.

The business had so increased that at this time fifty persons found constant and remunerative employment within the walls of the building; and the hospitality and liberality of the Doctor to the employes of the institution, as well as to the needy ones of the city, were always subjects of admiring comment.

In 1873 he published his second book, of which many thousand copies were sold, and it is safe to say that fully one million and a half have found their way into the homes of this and foreign countries.

A few years only have elapsed since Dr. Chase was

considered one of the most prosperous and well-to-do

xii citizens of Ann Arbor; losses by thousands and tens of thousands dollars greatly reduced his accumulations so honestly acquired. It is seldom the case that so much wealth is secured in so short a time by honest endeavor. He entered into no speculating schemes, but industriously pursued a very useful c-alling, bringing large profits without detriment to any, but, on the contrary, of great value to all. But, notwithstanding his losses, he did not lose his native energy and manliness of purpose, and stood before the community a conspicuous example of what energy, perseverance, and an indomitable will may accomplish. His liberality was remarkable, considering his income, though large. Many men, whose means were quadruple those of the Doctor, did not give one quarter as much for the advancement of education and benevolent enterprises.

He was once nominated for mayor of the city, but his business compelled him to decline the proffered honor. But the storms of life finally overtook him and swept with almost resistless fury around the now aged physician, and a few of the prejudices that characterize the human family found a resting place in the heart of this noble man; yet, when the last chapter shall have been entered in the book of life, the account will probably be balanced. The last earthly rites have been performed, and the aged veteran laid peacefully away beneath the shadow of the silent tomb. It may truthfully be said that he lived with malice toward none and charity to all. A beautiful monument marks the place where his earthly remains are laid away, but his real and ever-enduring monument is seen in his life, devotion and usefulness to his fellow man.

L. Davis,

Secretary of the Washtenaw County Pioneer Society.

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Contents

Dedication, ......

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