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202 years of age, but he did not calculate upon being a doctor until he was past thirty. He appears to have held book learning in light estimation, and early in life to have entertained a strong antipathy towards the liberal professions. During ten or fifteen years, whilst engaged in ordinary farming, he occasionally tried his hand at doctoring with roots and herbs, in his own or neighbors' families, and sometimes, as he said, cured rattles or croup with rattlesnake's oil. According to his account, his efforts were always entirely successful, which led him to continue and increase his exertions.

In 1813, when he was 44 years of age, Thomson had so far matured his plans and had become so elated with his supposed discoveries, that he applied in person to the Commissioner of Patents, and at length succeeded in obtaining a patent for his compositions, which secured to him the exclusive right to use certain medicinal preparations. With the help of some friends, he published a pamphlet, containing some account of his principles and practice, with directions for using his medicines. These, with the right to