The Life Of George Holcomb – Mysterious Medical Procedures

Saturday, Sept. 30, 1826: Today I took the single wagon and carried my daughter Charlotte E to Doctor Graves and had her leiterised in her head for deafness.  I left her there and went on to a number of places to get a girl to come and do housework.  At last I got Caroline Humphrey.
Sunday: This morning I paid Eliza Egleston 44 cts for her part of a week work for the time she agreed to stay and today she went home.
Monday: Today I carried Charlotte E my oldest daughter to Doctor Graves and had her lecter shocked (?)
Tuesday: Today I and Wm peddled to what is called general training in our own town to Allen’s tavern, but the training was broke up for the Colonel did not give out the orders time enough.
Wednesday: Today Wm and I took the double wagon and went to Pittsfield peddling to cattle show.  We took Bull’s cake and our own cider to peddle.
Thursday: We peddled and at night we came home.  We called to J. Bull and paid for the cake and took another chest of cake to fetch along.  I cleared about seven dollars both days and I guess that Wm did about the same.
Friday: Today I peddled in our own town to Allen’s Tavern.  There was a caravan of live animals such as lions and elephant and others today.  I cleared about four dollars and fifty cents.  One Mr. Tabor rode home with me and stayed all night and I made him welcome.  Said Tabor travels with said animals to sport at dice.
Thursday, October 12: We dug one load of potatoes on the Rodgers farm and gathered one load of apples on said farm.  This afternoon some rainy.  This evening I went to school meeting.  We put in three new trustees – Simeon Wylie, Elder Jones, and brother Wm.  I paid my summer schooling for my two girls going 119 days. It was one dollar and 17 cts.  I paid it to J. B. Maxon the old trustee, and Wm paid his, which was nearly two dollars.  Tonight Wm and I borrowed 7 lbs of fresh pork of Sylvester.