To Mr. John Berry
At Huntingdori Furnace
Huntingdon County, Pennsyla.

My dear Sir,         Lebanon         January 22, 1820

An attempt to mitigate and sooth the agonies of affliction of a fellow being, is justly held in estimation, as a noble and laudable undertaking, and it is moreover compatib1e with our religion. In conformity with the solicitation of Mr. Anshutz, in a letter to my father received about a fortnight since, I will as compendiously as the case permits, insert some remarks on the proper treatment of your disease, consonant to the best received sentiments of medical men of renown, who stand on the very pinnacle of proficiency in medicine. From a narration of the symptoms under which you labor, as given by Mr. John Krause when he was in Lebanon, and also from those communicated from your father-in-law to my father, I suspect your present disease must be Hectic Fever, which is one originating from irritation, and spreading from the affected part as is beautifully exemplified in Pulmonary Consumption. Hectic Fever is mostly the result, and the concomitant of Phithisis Pulmonalis, but it may, agreeably to the opinion of the immortal Cullin be produced by an absorption of pus. It partakes of the nature of Intermittant Fever and is sometimes confounded with it. It is recognisable, however, by the following symptoms.:

1. The paroxysms of hectic are at first reaular, but soon become in a few days irregular.
2. The paroxysms may not be preceded by chills or rigours.
3. It is not relieved by perspiration.
4. The hot stage is attended with a peculiar hectic blush on the cheek.
5. The tongue is always clean and flored; in intermittents it is covered with a white or brown fur.
6. The appetite and digestion continue good; in the other there is a gastric uneasinefs, lofs of appetite and constipation.
7. The urine is turbid during the paroxysm and pelucid at the intervals; the reverse is the case in Intermittents,
8. The mind is perverbially cheerful; in intermittents there is great dejection and anxiety of mind.

As regards the management of it, it no lefs resembles ague than the symptoms do. The remedies are divided as in ague into those proper during the paroxysm, and into those calculated for the intermifsion. Opium is perhaps the best remedy we can use, and particularly when given in the quantity of from two to four grains, augmented as the system becomes reconciled to it; but, in this disorder we dare not from the existing prostration of strength follow it, as is customary in other diseases with diaphoretics, diuretics etc. (evacuants). During the intermifsion small and repeated bleedings are often demanded; the alementary canal but seldom reauires evacuation, if it does emetics are commonly proper. In all fevers of the paroxysmal type, the system being previously prepared regular bred physicians resort to tonic medicines. Peruvian bark was the favorite of Dr. Cullen, but it too generally irritates the stomach, and a rejection of it is the inevitable consequence. The extract of Gentain is much celebrated in the form of pills, and the following formula I have reiteratedly found beneficial and seventy pills of which I shall forward to you with this letter.

        R/Extract of Gentian Z Y
            Sulphas Ferri
            Carbonas Potsfsac Z. I
            Sapo. Hispan Q S
        H. Mafs

To be made into seventy pills three of each are to be taken in a day. Colombo, Angustura Viva Ursi, Arsenic have also been used with decisive advantages: and yet have their votaries. I have used of the dried bark of the wild cherry tree, one drachm, three times a day in diluted wine, with unbounded service and I think it merits your attention and trial. Dr. John C. Smith, of Oxford, North Carolina has informed me of the efficacy of the Sugar of Lead, in Hectic Fever and he extolled it so highly to me, that I am determined to use it in the first case that I may be called upon to attend. I cannot say anything for its usefulnefs from personal experience, but as it comes from a medical gentleman on whose veracity and probity we can implicitly place confidence we are certainly warranted to try it. The mineral acids are all resorted to in this fever, and of these the nitric acid is considered the best. I have in some few cases employed it in conjunction with opium, and have found it beneficially. I use it as follows, I give as much acid as the stomach will bear in the day and an opiate at night, and just before the paroxysm, and this practice is perhaps the best and the most judicious we could produce with the exhibition of this article. Flowers of Sulphur is a remedy I have heard Dr. Physick say that he used either in milk or brandy in the quantity of a teaspoonful, several times during a day, with tolerable good effects. As this medicine comes to us recommended by such a respectable and eminent physician and surgeon, it likewise is worthy of trial, But little will all our exertions to a cure be availing unlefs the room in which the patient may be confined be large, and daily most scrupulously ventilated. Exercise is a great auxiliary to an attempt to a renovation in health, when it is not carried to fatigue, Thus I have given you an epitome of the treatment of Hectic Fever as well as my medical ability allows, and, should what I have written or advised, prove in any manner serviceable to you, I shall consider it an ample remuneration; but, before I close this letter I will yet advise you to apply to your breast a white wax plaster, on which sprinkle Tartar Emetic, and let me afsure you that from this topical remedy I have often derived salutary effects, and inform you that Mr. Saml Elliott died yesterday afternoon with Pulmonary Consumption, My respects to your family, brothers, and Mr. Anshutz’s and receive from me a wish (which I hope ere long will become realized) that you may soon be reinstated to your pristine state of  health.

Yours sincerely
Jno. W, Gloninger

To Mr. John Berry
Huntingdon Furnace
Huntingdon County, Pennsyla.
Near Marshalls Mills

My dr John         Gunpowder works         March 24, 1820

The last letter which I received from Huntingdon was one from your brother William dated the 22nd of January last. My mind, my son, has been vastly distrefsed about you, so much so indeed that I can give you no adequate idea of the tortured uneasinefs which I feel. If you are able to write, it would afford me indescribable consolaticn to receive a letter from yourself, but at all events I want the worst of all things to hear from you. There is no consideration in this life. It would be so acceptable to me, as the restoration of your health, but if this is denied me, then there only  remains that I herewith transmit you the blefsing of an afflicted father. And may God our Heavenly Father, blefs you, my dr son, with all spiritual blefsings. -- May he disarm the sting of death,-- May he support you in your latter moments to make light your passage through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, -- May he prepare you by  repentance (for all need repentance) for life eternal -- and finally, may he receive you into blifs as one of the heirs of glory. All this is the fervent prayer of an afflicted father for a favorite son, and I hope my Father in Heaven will in His great mercy listen to my prayer.

From your affectionate thou much afflicted father,
R. Berry

P. S. Some of the most eminent Christians have remarked that God deals most bountifully with all those whom he long afflicts before death by giving them longer time to prepare for so eventful a change.

To Mrs. Mary Berry
Huntingdon Furnace
Huntingd.on County, Pennsyla.
P. 0. Marshalls Mills

My dear sister         Pittsburgh         May 8, 1820

To evince that I still remember you with tenderness and sisterly affection I have taken up my pen to addrefs you, considering the late melancholy lofs that we have all sustained but most particularly you. I am at a lofs how to addrefs you, conceiving your grief to be of that kind that is beyond the reach of words, at least anything that I could say, but I presume that it is not beyond the reach of Divine consolation. Go to the widow’s God for comfort and consolation. You will find him a friend that sticketh closer than a husband, He will enable you to adopt the language  of Job and say - - “The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away and blefsed be the name of the Lord.” Go to the Lord, my dear sister, and cast your care upon Him for He’ll carry it for you. -- He can make the widow’s heart to sing with joy. If you look to Him He will sanctify every bereavement to the good of your never-dying soul. Hear what He saith -- “I will be a father to the fatherless and a husband to the widow.” Hear His precious promises -- promises that would never fail, Perhaps the Lord hath removed your heart’s idol to make room for Himself. Oh, then, open your heart and bid Him welcome. Remember the hand of death cannot strip you of this Heavenly Friend. It will only remove the bar of mortality and let you into the full enjoyment of Him, enjoyment that will never cease throughout the countless years of eternity. Sure then this Friend is worth seeking after, Heaven is worth striving for, you now have a loud call to prepare to meet your God. 0, do not disregard the warning voice, Fly into the extended arms of mercy that are open to receive all mankind, Do not doubt His willingness to blefs and save you for He has said that none shall seek His face in vain, -- our comforts here of an earthly nature are fleeting, as our lives, and I have been long convinced that nothing but religion can satisfy the desires of an immortal soul, Until we enjoy this we find in our breasts an aching void which the world can never fill, - - In this as well as everything else that concerns us we see the goodnefs and mercy of the Lord, If our earthly comforts were lasting and our earthly enjoyments satisfying we would desire no other Heaven than this earth -- but there is rest for the people of God even in this world. The Christian has rest in the Lord, -- when tossed by the winds of adversity and waves of sorrow all is calm and peace within without one murmuring thought, The Christian exclaims, “Thanks be to God,” this is not an abiding place. These storms will waft me sooner over life’s tempestuous sea. No foes, no violence I fear, no fraud, if thou my God art near. -- If these consolations be yours may the blefsing of God rest upon you and oh may we be prepared to meet those that have gone before where parting will he no more, is the ardent prayer of your friend and sister,

R. H. Berry

P. S. I called to see Mr. Rham’s children this morning. They were well, Sister Margaret is better a little. Kiss the children for me and give my love to Caleb and all inquiring friends. I expect to see Kitty and Mrs. R.

To Mifs Anna Berry
c/o Mr. Walter Longwiil
Earlystown, Penns Valley, Pennsyla.

My dear Anna         Elk Landing         May 29, 1820

I received yours of the 5 April conveying the melancholy intelegence of your brother John’s death, but to me most joyful news that he yet lived in the Lord. Oh how supremely blefsed is he; He now indeed “triumphs in existence,” rejoices that he was born to die, but especially that a Saviour was born and died before him. What mysteries have been revealed to him -- the mysteries of eternity. He dwells in the full blaze of His mortal glory eminating from the fullness of God and the Lamb. With the Heavenly Host he continually worships before the Throne crying, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty,” and with the spirits of light joins in concert in the songs of redeeming love. In this  world he “hoped to meet with me” and we shall meet. Yes, I believe we shall, and together recount the wonders of that grace which purchased for us so great a pofsefsion. He has passed the sable flood and made the Promised land, but by grace I will travel on until I have gained the same blissful Canaan. Yes, Anna, I am bound to meet him there, and when I received through you, this pious mefsage my feelings were scarcely to be restrained. My soul seemed as if she would then escape and meet him ere he even anticipated my arrival, - To meet him and those precious ones who also have gone before. Thank God he answers prayer even when by man they are forgotten. In Him were fulfilled the subject of many fervent petitions. In Him our Mother’s anxious prayers are answered, and with Him she can now rejoice in their mutual happinefs in having escaped the dangers, difficulties and cares of mortal life and of  realizing the enjoyments of life eternal. Oh what is there to be compared with this -- truly - - “It is a Heaven worth dying for to see a smiling God” To dwell in that light, and to behold the same reflected on every object that meets the view. “There the friends of Jesus meet And praise Him, worship at His feet.” There I hope to reembrace many dear friends whom I shall never again most probably see in the flesh. Besides those just mentioned, and oh will my cousin be of that happy number, will Anna join in the anthems of the Redeemed of the Lord will she consent to lay aside the care of the world and the vanities of life and bear in its stead the crop of Imanual. Will she be willing to cast her might into the treasury of Heaven and count all things but lofs for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ our lord. Yes, I fondly hope she will, for she sees a beauty in religion and has partly made a promise to that affect. The Lord grant the solemn imprefsions made by your dear brother’s death may never be effaced until it is ripened into a pure evangelical faith. That faith which brings Christ into the soul, with a knowledge of pardoned sin, and  acceptance with God for His sake. Anna, as you value your everlasting, as well as present Peace, never stop short of this. Verily “tis a poor religion that brings no assurance with it. His words are spirit and they are life. Open your heart to receive the Holy gift. Say not you are unworthy. It was to call sinners, not the righteous that the suffering Jesus came into our world. If you are worthy, you need not this Saviour, and consequently cannot be benefited by the merits of HiS death, but we are all carnal, sold unto sin, and subject to the eternal wrath of God, and unlefs we take refuge in the Sanctuary mercifully provided, we must sink beneath His frown and perish forever and ever. Oh my friend could I but make you for a. moment sensible of the happenings resulting from a sense of God’s love and Power, I think you would not again hesitate which you would choose, life or death, God or the world, everlasting happiness, or eternal misery. Come Anna, “This wor1d is all a fleeting show”, come and enjoy substantial blifs. What a precious season is youth, for though unsurpassed these summer days how swiftly will they fly, and old age may still find you out of the ark of safety, and even that time (so precarious is life) may never come again. Who seized eternal youth may shortly . Where then are the boastive friends of prosperity? They but fly, all but Jesus.  None but Jesus can do helplefs sinners good. So interesting and important is this subject that I am unwilling to dismifs it, but I must say some things relative to our families. Where is Thomas and Rachel? Is it indeed true that the latter has become earnest in the cause of Truth? How is Aunt Longwill’s health an that of your widowed sister with her little ones? How does Anna’s heart now stand affected towards her God? Please answer these inquiries explicitly very soon. Your friends here are generally well, except Papa. He has been very unwell for some time and is still very weak, our fears are excited on his account, but I hope the Lord will spare him unto us. I had a severe attack in April but am again partially restored. Charles Thomson died the 26th of March in Philadelphia, a victim to dissipation, poor fellow. We received a letter from Richard a few days since. He lives in Urbana, Ohio, and is well. William Davidson is also there and is very unwell with the ague, under which he has labored eight or nine months. Rebecca Davidson is engaged in teaching little girls and has a very good school in E. M. A. Scott and H. Howard went this day to Hartford to the young ladies academy kept by the Mifses Gover. Aunts Davidson, Polke, Scott and Howard are all well with their families. The former with her daughter Mary became members of the Methodist Society last fall and Rebecca is quite a shining light therein. Mary Garrett is now no more, but Mary Bowen is in her  stead. She is married to J. B. B. There have been numerous others, but time would fail, as well as paper. Remember us affectionately to each of our friends, those before mentioned including Mr. L Williams and Caleb. Oh, may we be a “family in Heaven”, Farewell,

Your cousin,
R. Howard

To Mrs. Mary Berry
Huntingdon Furnace
Huntingdon County, Pennsyla,
P. 0. Marshalls Mills

My dear sister         Earleysburgh         July 7, 1820

I received your letter of the 29th instant and am much pleased to hear You have not altogether forgotten me which I concluded was the case before your letter came to hand. You most probably think the same of me, but though negligent I have not ceased to think of you, my sister. I have not forgotten you or the dear little children I so tenderly love but you know how averse I am to writing letters. This I hope will serve as an apology for my long silence. I received Kitty’s last letter and was indeed sorry to hear she was going to Pittsburgh. I have not yet written to her but I purpose writing very soon. I hope she does not think of remaining long in P. Oh dear Sis, I think so long to see you and the children. I am hapny to hear our dear little Margaret is likely to recover. The dear little thing, I hope she will be quite well against I get up to see you. I suppose George is quite an incessant prattler by this time. I intend qoing up the first opportunity. I received a letter from Cousin R. Howard not long since. She inquired particularly for you and the children and wished to be remembered to you. Siss, I have a hundred things to tell and a thousand things to ask which I cannot write. I want very much to have a long talk with you and Eliza, We have been expecting Caleb  here for some time. I was informed he intended coming. I suppose I may relinquish all hopes of seeing Wi11iam for some time. Siss, I hear he is going to be married. Is it really so? If he does and don’t let me know anything I won’t be much pleased. Siss, I am glad to hear our absent friends are not unmindful of us. What you were so good as to transmit was truly gratifying to me, Dear Siss, I wish you and Eliza would write to me every week. It always affords  me so much pleasure to hear from any of you. Tell Caleb I am quite offended at him for not writing to me but if he comes down perhaps I may go up with him. If I can get a conveyance I certainly will. Farewell dear Siss. Remember me affectionately to all my friends,

Your sister
Anna

Aunt Longwill sends her love to you all.