Harry Spudd suffered a head injury during a mining accident in 1890 that
compromised his vision and left him with awful migraine headaches that made his
head vibrate and his hands tremble. For years he visited many “health
professionals” of the day but cam up empty. He eventually came across a
haberdashery whose owner was a part time herbalist and phrenologist. He
prescribed a special “fuzzy hat” with medicinal properties that he claimed would
ease his pains, cure his tremors and restore his vision to almost ninety percent.
There were very specific instructions for the hat. Harry was told to leave a handful
of unshelled walnuts and a quarter cup of water on the top of the hat that he was to
pour very slowly twice a day. He claimed it would activate “vital vapors” that had
a strong, earthy, menthol scent. When harry wore that hat and followed the
instructions, it was like a miracle.
As his vision returned, he made the realization that the hat was actually a living,
small hairy mammal and that the creature’s flatulence was the “vital vapors”! So
pleased he was with the results, that he wore the “hat” proudly wherever he went.