THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN; OR THE SECRET OF CURING ALL DISEASES, ON IMPROVED HYGEIAN PRINCIPLES, FULLY DISCLOSED; COKTAINING ALSO, Formulas^ or Recipes, for the curt of every Disease incidental to Human Nature: Together with a Valuable DIGEST ON MIDWIFERY, From the beet and moit approved Botanical Publications, with improvements, by which " Every one may truly nowbe their own Physician, and enjoy a sound mind in a sound body, at a cheap rate," By I*. MEEKER DAY, Botanic Physician. NEW-YORK. 1833. (Entered acoording to the Act of Congress, in the year 1883, by L. Meeker Day, in the office of the Clerk of the Southern District ofN«w-York.) THE SECRET OF CURINQ ALL DISEASES No. 1. Aromatic Hygeian Pills, or powders, recommended in this work where physic is indicated. Take beefs gall, dried and pulverized, one large spoonful, of aloes, myrrh, rhubarb, gamboge, jalap, gol- den seal, mandrake and blood root, of each four tea-spoons full, of nutmegs four tea-spoons full; of cloves, alspice, cinnamon, ginger, eight tea-spoons full each; of cayenne pepper two tea-spoons full, and the same proportions for making any greater or lesser quantity, all made fine, and sifted through a close sieve, of which one tea- spoon full is a dose for an adult, and children in proportion. To make into common sized pills, take of strong elder flower tea and wet the mass, and work together till thick enough for pills, and then form them as large as a good sized pea, and roll them in pul- verised "mandrake, rhubarb, or golden seal, of which take for a brisk purge from 12 to 18 at a dose, varying the quantity according to the state of the system. If taken at bed time, ten or twelve, and for some persons a less number will be sufficient. These pills or powders may be taken once or twice a week, (the powder in molasses or wa- ter, fasting, one hour before breakfast) and oftener, if necessary. Weak and consumptive patients may begin with five, and increase every other day one pill, during the same time give the Strengthen- ing Bitters, and other medicines recommended in this work for that and other complaints. No. 2. Take of beefs gall, dried and pulverised, one large spoonfull; of aloes, myrrh, rhubarb, gamboge, jalap, and golden seal, four tea- spoons full of each; of blue flag, mandrake, and bitter root, five tea- spoons full each, of nutmegs, cloves, alspice, cinnamon, ginger, and Cayenne pepper, four tea spoonsful! each, and the same proportion for a greater or smaller quantity, all made fine and sifted through a close sieve, of which from half to a tea-spoon full is a dose for an adult, mixed in molasses.taken in the morning fasting one hour after- wards. To make into common sized pills, take of strong elder blow, decoction, or tea, and wet the mass, and work together till thick, enough for pills, then form the pills, and roll them in rhubarb or gol- den seal, of which take at night or morning from six to ten at a dose ; begin with six and increase every four or five days graduaHy, until they operate, by bringing away copious discharges of mucus, and watery substances, which may be repeated once a week, till well. These pills are calculated more especially for gonorrhoea, and all complaints arising from an impure state of the blood, and for costiveness. THE IMPROVED HYGEIAN These pills are adapted to the constitution of patients in any, and e\ery stage of any and every disease, incidental to human nature. In dropsical complaints they act like a charm in removing the abun- ce of watery humours in a remarkably short time; very frequent- >-.ie dose of these pills takes away the bloat or swelling. In such - two or three doses seldom fail to effect a cure, but the other >ii..uicine recommended in this work must be taken to warm and strengthen the system generally, which will prevent the waters, <■'■■> '. once removed, from collecting again. Chronic rheumatism, .- ••< indague, bilious complaints, colds, coughs, dysentery, liver complaints, jaundice, Bowel complaints, head ache, sore eyes, scro- fulous complaints, gonorrhoea, or other vicious taints of the system, may be cured by the use of these pills or powders taken so as to operate copiously once in every four days, and continued according to the circumstances of the case ; sometimes one dose with the use of the other medicines afterwards, as recommended in this work for each complaint; in other cases, two, three, and so on, till well. Per- sons of a glandular affection, and those of a gross, corpulent, and plethoric habit of body, also those the pores of whose skin are and have been closed for a long time, and an apparent dryness over the surface of the body, by which cause the humors which ought to pass outward are thrown inwardly, will require a longer course of these pills ; they will also require a free use of the other medicines appli- cable to their case a longer time, to supply the blood with heat and nutritive properties sufficient to keep up a healthy action, thereby giving a tone to all the formerly diseased functions of the body. For costiveness and dyspepsia take (after the full dose as before mentioned) from two to ten every night on going to bed, and the bitters four times a day, which will in most cases effect a euro. No. 3 —For Canker. Make a tea of red raspberry leaves, or witch hazel bark, or leaves of hemlock bark, either separate or all together may be used. Good for injections for piles, drink freely of the tea for sore mouth and sore throat. To add one tea-spoon full of lobelia, one of No. 6, to half a tea-spoonfull of Cayenne pepper, for cramps, fits, spasms, lockjaw, or any violent case. No. 4. or—Wine Bitters. Take of white wood bark, poplar bark,pleurisy root, and the inner bark of black birch, equal parts, of bitter root or wandering milk weed, and gentian, one half part, boil all together to a strong decoc- tion, then strain and boil them again until the strength is all obtain- ed, then strain and boil down to a strong ley, then add one ounce of ginger to each gallon, and Cayenne pepper enough to make it smart the thjpat, then add to the decoction the same quantity of Malaga wine, and after sweetening a liitle, strain off the whole through a flannel cloth, let it stand to settle, and then bottle it up, and take from half to a wine glass full three times a day. For pain, take one or two tea-spoons full of No. 6, or Elixir in each dose. These Hitters are good for all the complaints of men, women and children, such as worms, fever and ague, intermittent fever,cold hands and feet,wind colic.dysentery, liver complaints, weakness, debility, dyspepsia,&0 BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 5 No. 5. - The Vegetable All-Conqueri - '>e Syrup. Blue flag, one pound ; sarsaparilla, three [kiu i -, ,':.-". •ha- vings, three pounds; sassafras root bark, two (--> = r in.4 -■ Mci ;■> •■•■••<■ two pounds; add one gallon of cheap spirits and one galtoi -•!' boil, and pour off the liquid ; then add water repeatedly, ai:.. ' ■ ■ till the strength is obtained. Strain and reduce to 18porter bcr:' then add thirty pounds of clarified sugar. Let it stand twenty-; hours to settle ; pour off and bottle for use. Dose, a wine-glass f'uti three or four times a day. The sugar may be clarified, by adding to it half its weight of water, then a few eggs, and boiling till no more scum arises. This syrup is used in a great variety of cases. In sy- philitic, or venereal diseases, in rheumatism, chronic inflammation of the liver, it could not be dispensed with. It is also used in the treatment of scrofula, which presents itself in so many shapes. In some of the cutaneous diseases, it is very effectual; in every spe- cies of ulcer it is also valuable White swelling, necrosis, rickets.salt rheum, or herpes; and in short, it may be used in all taints of the system, from whatever cause they may arise. It has cured when Swaim's and many other boasted nostrums have failed. It appears to act upon all the secretions" and excretions. A tea of burdock seed may be taken with it, or the seeds taken three times a day ; two tea-spoons full is a dose. No. 6\ Take one gallon of fourth proof brandy, or high wines,one pound of gum myrrh, pounded fine, 4 oz. Cayenne pepper, white root 4, oz. put all in a jug, let it stand in a pot of boiling water, unstopped for six hours, shake up occasionally, let it settle, and bottle up for use ; take from one" to two tea-spoons full at a dose, for pain, and repeat if necessary. Good for every complaint, internally and ex- ternally. For wind and weakness of the stomach, take the Vege- table Composition Powders, and of pleurisy root, equal parts, mix, and take one tea-spoon full three times a day, and oftener in severe cases, with one tea-spoon full of No. &. Nerve Powder. Take the umbil or valerian, and pound fine, and take for a dose from half to a tea-spoon full to quiet the nerves, and thereby pro- mote sleep, and in all cases where there are nervous symptoms, this powder must never be omitted. Put a tea-spoon full in the emetic and the injections, for all weak and nervous patients, or take equal parts of the valerian and bay berry bark, pulverised fine, and mix ; one tea-spoon full is a dose, and may be used for the same purpose as above. Vegetable Composition Powders. Take 2 pounds of bayberry, 1 of hemlock, one of ginger, 1 of white root, 4 ounces of Cayenne pepper, 2 ounces of cloves, all pulverised fine and mixed. Dose, one tea-spoon full in two-thirds of a tea-cup full of warm water, sweetened. Useful in all com- plaints to warm the stomach, and keep up the internal heat, remove the cold, snd cause the bile to flow freely into the stomach., 7* THE IMPROVBD HYGEIAN Emetic Powder Take one tea-spoon full of lobelia seed, pulverised or of the tinc- ture made by putting fourth-proof brandy or spirits, on the(herb or seeds, one quarter of a tea-spoon full of nerve powder, and one tea- spoon full of Composition Powder, in a gill of blood-warm water, which may be repeated every fifteen minutes, till it operates as an emetic. The proper proportions may be given to children aocor" ding to their age and strength. This is one of the best emetiy known. If a little blood root is added, say four or five grains, it is an improvement for croup. Dyspepsia Powders. Take of No. 4 Powders, made fine, from half to a tea-spoon full thr6»«imes aday, ten or fifteen minutes before eating, in loaf sugar and half a tea-cup full of water. Another Remedy. Take of burdock seed from one to two tea-spoons full three times a day, with or without the Bitters, as you please. This rem- edy has cured, when all others have failed. ~~ Steaming for a Cold, Quinsy, or Fever. Put white balsam into the kettle with the water. In lieu of this take catnip? hoarhound, boneset or mint, but always give the pa- tient the Composition Powder, with No. 6, before the steaming. The steam may be carried into the'bed by a small pipe if the patient is too weak to sit up, otherwise they may stand up near the fire- place, stripped to the shirt, and a blanket thrown over them to keep. off the surrounding air, then fill a tea-kettle with water to the spout, and no higher, then boil the water, and convey the steam from the spout by a small tin pipe, under the blanket, between the feet of the patient, having a cup soldered on the end of the pipe of five inches in diameter, with a lid full of holes to admit the steam round the body of the patient more extensively, keep the head out while steaming, unless the head, teeth, face or throat is affected, in tlrat case cover up the head as long at intervals as they can bear it, keep them over the steam for fifteen or twenty minutes generally. If they grow faint, wet the face with cold water or vinegar, then put them in bed, and give one tea-spoonful of Composition Powder, on« tea-spoon full of No. 6, or half a tea-spoon full of Cayenne pepper, and one tea-spoon full of lobelia seeds, pulverised, and repeat it in fifteen minutes, until it operatesas an emetic, then give an injection of the same articles in tea of hemlock, witch hazel, or red raspberry leaves, and after it has operated, put them over the steam again, then bathe off with spirits, or vinegar and water, and put on a clean shirt, and take some No*. 4 Bitters, with No. 6 in it, and then you may eat what you please. This course must be pur- sued twice a week in all chronic diseases. Injection for Clyster. For inflammation of the bowels. Take one table-spoon full of cal- cined#charcoal,and pour on halfapintof boiling water, or flaxseed or BOTANIC FAMILY IH^.v y. 7 slippery elm tea, then strain, and add one tea-t^L.v vu,and two tea-spoons full of molasses, and give it in a kn^ : ::i»i . ;nid repeat it every hour until relief is obtained; imuict vSY '■■ cloth wet with salt and water to the bowels, and wei :i' • minutes if attended with pain, until relief is obtained, tu> * :•''.-■,: ,.i- wardlythe fever or colic powders, and other medicines >. :;n mended in this work for that complaint. This course, ifperseveu-! in for three or four hours, will in all cases give relief. • Cholera Specific. Two tea-spoons full of No. 6, one tea-spoonfull of lobelia, ad- ministered in a gill of the tea of No. 3. If the case is severe add half a teaspoon full of cayenne pepper; give injections made of the same materials, prepared in half a pint of the same tea, and sweet- ened with molasses, and both repeated in 13 or 20 minutes, if ne- cessary; apply hot bricks to the feet, with a cloth wet with vinegar and water, and use the steam or fever powders after the spasm is broke, or before, if necessary to produce a perspiration, then give a portion of the Aromatic Pills. This course of treatment may be used in all cases of fits, palsy, spasms, cramps, &c. Compound Liniment. For inflammations, salt rheum, stiff neck, pains, and sores ge- nerally: Take of the Black Liniment, and No. 6, or the Vegetable Elixir, equal parts, shake well together, and use to bathe with three or four times a day. Vegetable Elixir. Add to No. 6 one half of the quantity of gum guaicum, pulver- sed, as of myrrh. To be given for pain in the stomach ; two tea- spona full in sugar, and. repeat,if necessary. Fever Powders. Give one tea-spoon full of pleurisy root, pulverised, in penny- royal or mint tea, every hour, until the pain in the side abates,' and until a perspiration ensues freely, or give one half tea-spoon full of pleurisy root, and one half of crawley root, pulverised, in whitewood bark tea every hour till the violent symptoms abate, and give through the day and nignt for drink, pleurisy root, or white- wood bark tea. These powders may be given in all cases of diffi- cult breathing, colds, pains, fevers, inflammation in the bowels, chest, inward fevers, wind, colic, asthma, rheumatism, worms, &c, and will never fail to give relief if persevered in, together with the Clyster and Aromatic Pills or Powders spoken of in this work, and can never be given amiss, but as soon as the fever is broke, give barley tea, and gruel made of oats, or Indian meal, and take some of the Bitters, No. 4, until the patient regains his strength. How to prepare Beeps Gall. Take the gall of several cattle, empty it into a saucepan or kettle, and boil it down dry, so as to pulverise it into powder in a mortar to be used in the Aromatic Powders or Pills. Black Liniment. For bruises, sprains, callosities, &c. Take of liver oil, one pint, 6 THE IMPROVED IITGEIAN of spirits of turpentine one half pint, of sulphuric acid one ounce : after shaking the two first together, add the acid, little at a time and gently and stirring occasionally until well mixed Apply twice a day generally, if oftener, apply a woollen cloth wet with cold water over it. FAVOURITE PREPARATIONS, Croup Tincture. Take of the tiueture of lobelia and of blood root equal parts, mixed ; or of a tea made of equal parts of lobelia and blood root sweetened. To a child one year old, give from half to a tea-spoon full every 15 minutes, till it operates as an emetic, then give three or four of the Aromatic Pills, or one quarter of a tea-spoon full of the Powder, mixed in molasses, and to quicken their operation as a purgative,, give an injection of raspberry tea, sweetened with mo- lasses, and for drink, when they are thirsty, (which is generally often) give pleurisy root tea, which will make them breathe easy, and cause a gentle perpiration. The dose must be regulated ac- cording to the age of the child or person. This treatment is also useful in all cases of stoppage on the stomach, fevers, cramps, fits, convulsions, inflammation in the chest, bowels, or stomach, head, &c. In fac»I know of no case of disease where this treatment can be used amiss, but to the utmost advantage, to both young and old, from one day to one hundred years of age, afterwards give No. 4. For diseases of Children generally. Make use of the same medicines as recommended in this work throughout for complaints of grown persons, only regulate the doee according to the age and strength of the child. Tincture of Peach Meats. Put four ounces of peach meat?, pounded fine, in one quart of brandy, shake together, let it stand, take for a dose two tea-spoons full, three times-a day, for a weak stomach, or for fluor albus, or whites. The same is good for gleet, weakness, or falling of the womb. For Gonorrhoea. Take burdock seeds, infused in gin, half a wine glass, three times aday, for a week, first then take the above tincture till well, not omitting the Hygeian Pills one a week, and the No. 5 syrup three times a day Vegetable Syrup. Take of Liverwort, Solomon's sea), skunk cabbage, each one pound; blood root, half a pound; water horehound, one pound; add a sufficient quantity of water. Boil, and pour off the water, till the strength is obtained. Strain and boil to 20 porter bottles; add 20 pounds of strained honey ; remove from the fire, and add one pint of brandy; let it settle., and botde for use. Dose, a wine-glass full, three or four times a day. Use. This preparation is used in BOTANIC FAMILY PHi , ,N, 9 every variety of pulmonary diseases, and part^ulailv, !.- bleeding at the lungs, and asthmatic affections. Scrofulous Syrup. Take of yellow dock-root, and bark of bitter-sweet root, two poc-i each; bruise, and boil till the strength is obtained; then straii. . boil to 12 porter bottles; add sugar sufficient to prevent fermentatic"> Dose, a wine-glassful, three times a day. Use. This syrup is used in scrofula and herpetic affections. Antispasmodic Syrup. Take of penny root one pound, Peruvian bark, Virginia 3nake-root, one quarter of a pound each: extract the strength by boiling; boil to four porter bottles ; strain, and add six pound of white sugar. Dose, a wine-glass full, three or four times a day. This is a valuable tonic syrup in epilepsy ; for which it only ought to be used. Syrup for the Dysentery, Rhubarb and wild cherry bark, a nandfull; four table-spoonsful of sugar; simmer awhile. Dose, give a table-spoonful every fifteen mi- nutes, until the pain ceases. Make it fresh every day, and add a little brandy. Fluor Albus. A decoction of hazlenuts and peach pits in one quart of brandy, in proportion of two ounces each. For a Burn after the skin is off, and proud flesh appears. Apply the scrap.ngs of a comb or horn, lay it on the pr ud- fleiih, and apply a salve made of mutton or bayberry tallow, and green of elder, boiled together, let it cool, then spread on a linen rag. This is a cool- ing and healing application tor a burn, and will not fail to cure. Asthmatic Tincture. Take of No. G and of lobelia tincture, equal quantities, mix. Dose, from fifteen drops to a tea spoonful. In slight lickling coughs, fifteen to thirty drops, repeated till relief is obtained , in severer cases from half to a tea-spoonful, and repeated, until it operates as an emetic, afterwards give a dose of the Aromatic Hygeian Pills; if it docs not yield to this, give a regular course of the medicine, and repeat it till cured, which it will assuredly do, if persisted in a short time. The Mother's Cordial. One gallon. Take one pound of the partridge berry vine,or squaw vine dried; and one fourth, of .a pound of high cranberry, or cramp bark ; boil in two gallon^ of water to three quarts ; strain, and add one quart of brandy, and one pound of sugar. Dose, in the latter stages of pregnancy, half a wine glassfull every night on going to bed, in a little warm water. The dose may be increased to a gill, if necessary, to relieve cramps and pain. This is an inestimable cordial for pregnant women, and should be used in all cases, for at least one or two weeks previous to confinement, as a preparatory. *u THE IMPROVED HYGEIAN The Female Strengthening Syrup. Take onefourthof a pound of comfrey root, dried; two ounces of elecampane root; and one ounce of hoarhound. Boil from three quarts to three pints ; strain, and add, while warm, half an ounce of beth root, pulverised; a pint of brandy,and a pound of loaf eu^ar. Do3e from half to two thirds of a wine-glassful, three or tour times a day. This is used in female weaknesses, bearing down of the womb, fluor albus, debility and relaxation of the genital organs, barrenness, &c. The Children's Cordial. Take two ounces each of pink blows, smellage root, and pleurisy root, boil to one quart; strain, and add one quart of fourth proof brandy, and one pound of sugar. Dose, for an infant, a tea-spoonful repeating if necessary. For the colic, fits, green stool, &c. of children, this is an excellent remedy. Chalk Julep Take of prepared chalk, four ounces; rhubarb, one ounce; pour upon them one quart of hot water. Then add half an ounce each of essence of peppermint and paregoric. Let it steep a short lime, and after it has settled, decant it off, and bottle it up. Dose, fur an adult, from one to two table-spoons full. In dysentery and diarrhoea, proceeding from acidity in the first stages, this will be found ol superior efficacy. Sal Aeratus and Rhubarb Mixture. Take three parts of sal airatus, and one of rhubarb, finely pulverised. Mix. A tea-spoon full tak^n daily, dissolved in a tumbler of cold water and sipped up in the course of the dav, is inferior to no other preparation in nlimng acidity in* the stomach. Worm Syrup. Take one ounce of aloes; half an ounce of assafcetida; and four ounces of snakehead, dried ; boil the snakehead to one quart,and add the aloes and assafoetida, and a quart of molasses. Dose, for a child,a tea-spoon full every half hour, till it operates as physic ; which*wirl bring away the worms in a slimy mass. Healing Wash. Boil half a pound of witch l.azle bark to a decoction of a quart; and three or four ounces of " Turlington's balsam of life." Shake them well together. For cleansing and healing excoriated surfaces, and correcting acrimony and putridity, this is second to none. It is parti- cularly serviceable as an injection in gonorrhoea, and as a wash for venereal ulcers. The Bittersweet Ointment. Take equal parts of plaintain leaves androot, bittersweet bark, and spikenard root, boil out the strength, strain, and make it into an oint- ment with hog's lard. This is a valuable discutient ointment, it softens and relieves a caked and inflamed breast in a remarkable manner. BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 11 and may be applied with great advantage in all cases 'of swellings and ulcers. Sudorific Powders. Take pleurisy root, and Indian turnip, each two ounces; blood root, one ounce; pulverise and mix. Dose, half a tea-spoon full once an hour; to be given in fevers, after the stomach and bowels are cleansed. Snuff for Catarrh in the Head. Take colt'sfoot, snakeroot or asarabacca, and bayberry bark, each two parts; and bloodroot, one half part; pulverise fine and mix. If the wandering milkweed be added to this, it cures headache. Colic Powders. Take two table-spoons full of pleurisy root, and a tea-spoon full of Cayenne pepper; pulverise and mix. In colics, steep the whole in half a pint of water, sweeten, and take it at a dose. It may be repeated according to circumstances. Or, which is better, equal farts of pleurisy root and crawley root, pulverised, mixed, and given in powder. Pulmonary Balsam. Take of spikenard root, one pound and a half, hoarhound tops, elecampane root, and comfrey root, one pound each ; add a suit- able quantity of water. Boil, and pour off the infusion repeatedly; until the strength is all extracted; then strain and reduce the whole of the liquid down to about twelve porter bottles; then add of white sugar twelve pounds, and good honey six pounds ; clarify it with the white of eggs. Let it stand twenty-four hours , in order that it may settle: add one quart of spirits, and finally bottle for use. Dose, a wine glass full three or four times a day. Use. This pre- paration is highly useful in the treatment of pulmonary affections, and coughs of long standing. It is admirably calculated to relieve that constricted state of the lungs which is often met with in con- sumption, and to assist expectoration. It does not appear to in- crease the circulation, and is, therefore, a safe remedy in any stage of consumption. Common Injection. Take of sweet milk, and mucilage of slippery elm, one pint each; olive oil, one gill; molasses, half a pint; sal aratus, one drachm ; mix. Use. This forms an injection of much value; and may be used in almost every case where one is indicated. It is often used with admirable effects in dysentery or diarrhoea. Some- times, when there is great pain in the lower intestines, it will be better if a drachm of laudanum is added to each injection, and it will not fail of relieving the griping pain occasioned by the disease. It should be used with a large French syringe. Soapsuds Injection. Take of soapsuds, strong, a sufficient quantity. Inject it about blood warm. Use. This is an injection which may always con- veniently be procured. It is mild and may be administered when a more stimulating injection would be hurtful. It is very useful in habitual costiveness, when purgatives are ineffectual. 12 THE IMPROVED HYOEIAI* Common Poultice. Take of slippery-elm bark a sufficient quantity, pulverised: stir it in hot. or warm, milk and water, to the consistence of a poultice. Use. This poultice exceeds every other in point of efficacy. It is of almost universal application; and removes inflammation soon- er than any other. Compared to this, every other poultice dwin- dles into insignificance. Alkaline Poultice. Take of ley, rather weak, warm it, and stir in of slippery-elm bark sufficient to form a poultice. Use. This poultice is useful in inflammation of the breast, and other parts, in felons, white Bwellings lockjaw, wounds, fistulas, &c. Anti-biliom Powder, Common Purgatives, or Physic Take of Jalap, one pound; Alexandria senna, two pounds; pep- permint plant, one pound. Let these articles be separately pul- verised, then mix them together, and pass through a fine sieve, Dose. A fea-spoon full, (abouta drachm.) It should be put into a tea-cup, with a lump of loaf sugar, and a gill of boiling water ad- ded; and given to the patient when cool, fasting, or on an empty stomach. Use This forms the best general purgative that is now known. It combines power with mildness of action, and acts throughout the whole alimentary canal, cleansing it, and producing a healthy action. It-may be given to every age and sex; it removes offensive accumulations in the bowels, without bringing on subse- quent constipation. It stimulates every contiguous organ to a healthy state. It is useful in all diseases where physic is required. In bilious and febrile diseases it is invaluable. Black Plaster, or Healing Salve. Take of olive oil, three quarts; common resin, three ounces; beeswax, three ounces. Dissolve the whole of these articles toge- ther, and raise the oil almost to boiling heat; then add, gradually, of pulverised red lead two pounds and a quarter, if it bn in the winter; if in the summer, two pounds and a half. In a short time after the lead is taken up by the oil, and the mixture becomes brown, or a shining black, remove from the fire ; and, when nearly cold, of pulverised camphor, half an ounce. It should remain on the fire until it forms a proper consistency for spreading, and which may be known by dipping a spatula or knife injo it from time to time, and snffering it to cool. Use. I have found this elegant salve superior to every other, where ap- plications of this kind are required. It has an excellent effect in every kind of ulcer, in burns, in sores, in venereal, scrofulous, and fistulous, and all other ulcers. It should be spread thin, on a piece of linen, and renewed once or twice a day. Green Salve. Take of turpentine and bayberry tallow half a pound each; dis- solve together, and form into a salve; add sweet oil, if necessary. Use. This salve is designed for scrofulous ulcers. BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 13 Female Bitters. Take Of crane's bill, four ounces ; comfrey, four ounces ; beth root, four ounces; motherwort roots, four ounces; whitewood bark, ■our'ounces; orange peel, one ounce ; cinnamon, half an ounce ; all bruised, and. infused in three quarts of good wine, and sweet- ened. This is very useful in all cases of female debility, fluor elbns, and immoderate flow of the menses &c Stongi4on's Bitters. Take orange peel, one* pound; gentian root, three pounds; camwood, two pounds ; pulverise and infuse diem in six gallons of spirits ; and after shaking it well for five or sixdaya, decant, and bottle it up for use. For Dropsy. TaVe gentian roots, four ounces , elecampane, eight ounces ; sassafras, bark of the root, one pound: sarsaparilla, two pounds. Boil the whole in two gallon* of water, till one half is evaporated* Dose, a wine glass full four or five times a day. Common Gargle. Tal<-e of the flowers of life everlasting, or Indian posey; sage, and golden seal, or goldthread; make a tea, and sweeten with honey. Very useful for a sore throat, dbc. Or chew the blossoms ©f Indian posey, and swallow the juice, which will be found of great benefit in quinsy, sore throat, &c. REMEDIES APPLICABLE TO PARTICULAR T>ISE\SES> Intermitting Fever, or Ague. Peach pits and the inner bark of black aider: inrV j in good spirits. Take it fasting, and often in the day. Also the Hygeian Pills once or twiee a week. Dandelion and sorrel, in decoction, Is said to break the worst fevers. - For Inflammatory, Putrid, and other Fevers. To create a sweat iu spotted and similar fevers, take potatoes, fresh out of the earth, without washing; roast or boil them, till they can be mashed, and apply them \a bags hot" to the feet and sides. Vinegar may be added; at the same time give one tea-spoonful of crawly mot eroiy half hour. For Quinsy. To prevent its coming on, take a tea-spoon full of salt in the mouth, and as it dissolves gargle the throat with it. Repeat this till the quinsy is dispersed. To discuss tho quinsy in its first stages, apply .a plaster of four ounces of hard soap, half a pound of sugar, nan a pint of linseed oil, two ounces of resin. Thrush, or Canker Sore Mouth. For a sore mouth-—take the yolk of a roasted egg, burnt leather pulverised, sage and burnt alum: mix with honey for a gargle. 2 14 THE IMPBOVKD HYGEIAN Take sage, hysop, gold thread, borax and alum; boil all together in a half pint of water, and add molasses for a gargle. For Pulmonary t'cnsumption. A Syrup: Take one ounce each of spikenard, cinnamon.Virginia snakeroot and parsley; two ounces of pleurisy root; and half an ounce each of cloves and guin an rrh Steep the whole three hours in two quarts of water. 1 hen s-train. simmer down to a pint, and add, while warm, one pound of sugar, and a pint of port wine. Bottle it up. Dose, from half to two wine glasses, three times a day, according to the strength of the patient. Rad vitae, or life of root, half an ounce, steeped in a quart of water and used for a common drink, is a most valuable remedy in beginning consumptions. For night sweats,.in consumption, or if the urine is frothy, give the elixir of vitriol, ten drops four or five times a day. « For a bleeding at the lungs, give moderately.a tea of sweet bugle or of cranesbill, or witch hazel tea, or a table spoonful of fine salt repeated. For Coughs, Colds, 8fc. A large draught of boneset tea, on going to bed. A little pep- permint may be added to prevent nausea. » Liquorice, slippery elm. indhiu turnip, and^ elecampane—make a syrup Take three times a day. For a cough.—Honey, hoarhound, liquorice, and slippery elm. For the Asthma. Vomit, when necessary, with lobelia, or blood root. Skunk cabbage root or balls, pulverised, and takenj nmoDsees For the dry asthma—raw garlics. For the Palpitation of the Heart. Take motherwort; castor, one fourth of an ounce, and skunk cabbage root. Infuse in one pint of spirits. Dose, a tea-spoon full, or mere, three or four times a day. Or, tincture of stramonium—ten to fifteen drops, three times a day. Or umbii, or a lobelia emetic. For Pain in the Chest. For pain in the breast—Take elecampane root,snake root, com- frey, spikenard, burdock, bittersweet, wUd cherry bark, Solomon seal; infuse in rum and sweeten. Dose proportioned to its strength: or No. 6. For Headache. For a snuff—Coltsfoot, pulverised; mix half and half with Scotch snuff, and one part bayberry bark. For the Toothache. Chew the xanthoxylum, or Toothache bark; a piece the size of the finger nail is sufficient at a time. Repeat till the pain ceases. BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 15 as effectual as anything of the stimulating kind; or No. 6, put in the tooth. In obstinate tic doloreux.pain, or rheumatism in the nppei jaw and face, roasted fresh potatoes, applied hot, very frequently give relief. For Diarrhoea and Dysentery. A decoction of witch hazle bark, drank-freely, with boiled milk and sugar. Or, a nutmeg, pulverised, in the yolk of an egg. For the Piles. For Fistula and Piles- Take the Expressed juice of skunk cabbage one pound.fresh batter, one pound and mutton tallow, halfa pound simmer for two hours, and then pres« out the ointment for use. Anoint the part twice a day f»r ten minutes. Along with these applications, internal remedies must not be neglected, such as the Alterative Syrup. For Diabetes. Prince's pine, gravel weed, and wintergreen, in decoction. Drink freely. For Flatulency, Wind Colic, &c. Remove the cause, whether it be acidity, debility, or coldness in the stomach. For present relief,, give first of all, the pleurisy root, in powder, a tea-spoonful at a dose, repeating every fifteen minutes, or No. 6, repeated. -v Or, tak^two parts each of angelica and pleurisy roots, and one part of sweet flag, and infuse in brandy for a bitter. In wind and bilious colics, anJ iu iliac passion, purgative and stimulating clysters are ofgreat service. Also clysters of yeast; or of tobacco smoke. The crawley, or fever root, cannot be given amiss in any species of colic. Alone, or taken in tea of pleurisy root, it is superior to any thing else in common use. If necessary, foment the pit of the stomach with hops or Oats, fried in vinegar. Uae friction freely on the bowels. For Cholera Morbus. Put a table spoonful of hot ashes in a tumbler ofcider, and give die patient three table-spoons full of it. This commonly ciires iu half an hour. If the dose is thrown up, repeat. Pearlash, in solution, may be given to allay the irritation of the stomach. For Epileptic Fits, Cramps, Convulsions, Spc. To break epileptic fi'« put a spoonful of salt in the patient's mouth. This will give quick relief in most cases. ?6 TTIK IMPROVED HYCBfAN For cramps.—The cramp, or high cranberrybaris, given iff tea, will relax them in almost all cases. For Palsy. Give hot stimulants internally.aud apply externally, with friction. Xanthoxylam bark, prickly ash galangal root, grains efparadise, &e. may be emplyed with advantage in palsies. Also horse- radish, mustird seed, burdock seed, JNo. C. For Jaundice. If from an obstruction from biliary calculi, give emetics. Raw %ggs, three or four times a day in wine, help greatly in die cure of jaundice Take one gallon of cider.one dozen eggs, halfa pint of hard soef. one double handful of wild cherry bark, and a handful of prirkly ash. Boil. Add half a pint of treacle, four pounds of sugar, and four spoons full of ginger Dose, half a gill, three time a day, For Dropsy. Take a tea of dwarf elder roots, for daily drink. Continue it for thirty days Take a handful of rose willow bark, and half a peck of dry ches- ■ ut leaves: boil in five quarts of rain water to two; and add a tea spoonful of sulphur. Dose, a tea-cup full three times a day. Apply hot stimulating cataplasms to the feet and legs; as horse- radish, mustard seed, Cayenne pepper, &c. and give the Aromatic Powders once a. week. For Worms. Essence of wormwood, and turpentine drepped on sugar. Or, the red berries of black alder made into a syrup, or in pow- ders and tea, a teaspoonful every morning, fasting in molasses. Or, old tobacco pipes, pulverised fine, and given in molasses, then give physic to bring them away. For the Stone and Gravel. The juice of horsemint, and the juice of red onions, are saidt* Se almost a specific cure for the stone. Or, cleavers, and oh of pumpkin seeds. Or, gravel weed in decoction Take arsemart, a large handful, make a decoction, and add a gill of gin. Take the whole in twelve hours. This has discharged a tablespoonful of gravel stones at a time. For Sore or Inflamed Eyes. T A fomentation and poultice of hops, or slippery elm. To remove the discoloration of a blood snot eye—apply fresh killed meat to the eye, repeating it every hour till the coagulated blood is dispersed. Or, apply the breast of a lira chicken,, with the feathers picked off. to the eye. BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 17 For Rheumatism. Take one ounce of seneca snake root; two ounces of white pine bark; two ounces of burdock root; an ounce and a half of prickly ash bark ; boil all in four quarts of water, to three, and take halfa pint, morning and e .ening, lasting. This preparation will be found to pos- sess great efficacy. Also, drink four times a day, of a decoction of halfa pound of prickly ash ba k, two ounces of toothache bark, one ounce of bittersweet, and four ounces of squaw root; boiled in eight quarts of water to the con- sumption of four. One gill is a dose. For Scrofula, or King's EviL FrostweeJ, or scabious, drank daily, in decoction, and applied as a j oultice, lias cured numbers in this city. Take pond lily root and prickly pear, bruise to a pumice; and add resin and beeswax, for a salve. Alsi drink, for six weeks, ha'f a pint per day of decoction of devil's bit. Or, the same quantity of ground ivy. • Take the bark of the bay berry root, pulverised, and apply to the lumps three times a day. If it breaks, wash the sore constantly with the decoction, and apply the green leaves. Drink bayberry tea cjn- s'antly, a cup full four times a Jay. Or, drink a tea of the scrofula plant, and apply a poultice of the same. For Cancers. For a salve.—Press the juice out of poke berries, and set it in the sun till it isevap irated to a salve. Or, take Indian turnip, pulverised, to make a poultice. For a stone canecr—■Take the powder of dry yellow dock root, wet with port wine, and apply it to the cancer, renewing it three times a day. Make a daily drink of a decoction of yellow dock, and bark of biound each of spermaceti and mutton tallow. Boil in a quart of water an hour—skim and cool. Anoint. For a Felon, or Whitlow. Take indigo weed and blue flag roots—a poultice. Or, two ounces each of white hellebore and blue flag, boiled in a quart of milk. Hold the finger in it when hot, and afterwards poultice. Take a lump of rocksalt, the size of awalnut, and roast it in a cab- bage leaf in hot embers for twenty minutes—then powder it, and mix it with hard soap for a salve. A little turpentine may be added. Pul the finger in week ley a few minutes every hour in the day. For the Venereal Disease. For Gonorrhoea—Take one ounce each of spirits of lavender and balsam copuiva ; half an ounce each of spirits of turpentine, and spirits of nitre ; and one-fourth of an ocno^ of Harltem oil. Shake well to- gether. Dose, from fifteen to twenty-five drops three times a day, and take the Aromatic Powders for a purgwers of nature, and superintend the effects of her work; and it is nature which accomplishes all, while the accoucheur gets the credit of it. There is not one case in a thousand in which you can be but only a silent spectator, except it be to calm the fears of the ignorant and timid attendants. The mischief and injury that is done by the untimely interference of art is incalculable. In pregnancy, women must be bled till they have not strength enough to accomplish delivery, and when it takes place, the forceps or other instruments must be used, which often proves fatal to the moiher or child, or both. m Were all women properly instructed in this branch, many Jives would bs saved; and it is upon this branch that I wish to see a Reform, as well as other branches of medicine , but the want of room prevents me from here enlarging upon this subject. All women should be instructed in midwifery, and those who are of a proper turn of mind should be well qualified to act in the capacity of midwives ; n* man should ever be permitted to enter the apartment of a woman in labour, excepting in consultations, or on extraordinary^ occasions. The practice is unnecessary, unnatural and wrong. There are various particulars to be avoided, and se /cral things to be done in the management of women during labour, i have only room here to state a few, and shall begin by pointing out the course to be pursued in Natural Labour. When called to a woman supposed to be in labour, we must ascertain whether her pains are true or false; and which may be easily known bya little inquiry." If the female complains of flying, or unsettled pains about thesystem, oecarring mostly tbward«vcning, or during the night, and being slight or irregular, it may lie taken for granted that they are spurious, or false. If these symptoms prove troublesome, an infusion , or tea of hops may be taken ; or if this is not sufficient to relieve them, or procure sleep, an anodyne may be taken, and it may be necessary also to give laxative medicines. True pains may be known by the pain being more concentrated in the lower part of the belly, through the loins and hips. The pains now iiicreaae in regularity and force, returning every tea or fifteen minutes, and leaving the woman comparatively easy in the ' ntervals. BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 21 When the pains become regular and severe, there is a discharge of slimy matter, ting d with blood, known by the name of shows. At this period of labour it will be proper for the accoucheur, or the person who attends the li. .. nr. to examine, in order to ascertain what part of the child presents, which mav be done by requesting the female to sit in a chair, or on tt>e side of the bed, and to extend the legs, when the longest finger, dipt in sweet oil, miy be passed up the vagina to the part whicfTprescnts, and the sense communicated will determine the nature of the presentation-. In nineteen cases out of twenty, or bi almost every case, the head will be felt. When h has been ascertained that the labour is natural, or that there are.no impediments or obstacles, there will be very little more to do than superintend the person. It will be necessary to give the proper instructions to the attendants to make suitable preparations, or have every thing necessary in readiness. The woman may be delivered on a bed or a cot, as is most con- venient ; il a Iwd be used, all but the mattrass should be turned hack toward the head, and it should be so prepared that the moisture from the uterus, and other discharges, may not add to the discomfort of the woman. A dressed skin, oilcloth, or folded blanket, may be placed on that part of the mattress on which the body of the woman is to rest; a coarse blanket, folded within a sheet, ought to be laid immediately beneath the patient; this is to absorb the moisture, and is to be removed after delivery. The rest of the bed clothes are to be put on the ordinary way ; the woman when she is iio longer able to remain up may now lie down, with her head elevated in any position which is most desiruble, about every ease that I have ever attended, the back has been preferred. although most all writers recommend that the woman be placed upon her side. This practice is unnatural and wrong, for obvious reasons; it retards the labour pains, and prevents the accoucheur from superin- tending the progress of the labour. The pillow that is directed^ be placed Oet ween tiie knees, to keep them widely separated soon gets dis- placed, by the motion or change tf the female, and the legs, instead of being kept af>an, again come in contact, and thus the passage of the chiltf is obstructed T but when the female is placed upon her back, this difficulry is obviated ; a free passage is permitted, the pains are more effectual, the spine is belter supported, and better access can be had to the parts during labour, and after the delivery of the child. In short, > there is a decided advantage in this position in every respect. The dress of women in labour should be light and simple, both to keep themselves from being overheated, and to prevent anything from being in the way of what assistance is necessary. In addition to the means recommended, I direct a sheet to be placed around the waist of the woman, to prevent the blood, excrements, or waters, from coming in contact with the linen or cloths, and as much as possible the bed J her linen may be tucked or pushed up so far that there will be no neces- sity of removing it after delivery. Everything being inns adjusted, very little more will be necessary but to wale patiently, the elf its and operation^ of nature. Tltere should b# few attendants In the room, and these should not wittoper to each oilier, or express any fears or doubts When the pains become very severe quickly succeeding each other, the ~ midwife, or the person who officiates, may sit by the side of the woman, and upoa every severe pain may keep her band upon the paria, even though no manner of assistance can be afforded ; and occasionally when the head of the cMM presses hard, it m^y he gently touched or pressed with the longest-finger, m order to a*- 22 THE IMPROVED HYGEIAN certain the parts which present the progress of labour, m well as to be able to give from time to time suitable encouragement; not enly so in the last stage of labour, the hind may be kept near the pins to know ilia moment when the head of the child presents ; as some I'ttle assistance at this time U called for; not by support- ing the perin»um as 9 >me advise, but first to remove any ob-lriictioii which often arises from the clothes. Second. To support the child in Us passage, and in fhebrervrtl of pains; and to keep the head from pitching downward, and thus obstructing the labour THrd. To detach the umbilical cord or navel string from ths neck, when it incircief it, which is often the case, and which endangers the life of the child.. Fourth. To deliver the woman in case of hsrmrrhage or great flooding; burVat the same time there mist be no further Interference of art; little or nnthinjc in be done toward facilitating the dehv-ry of the child, escept when a lirga bag 01 collection of water presents and opposes; when it may be ruptured with the longest fln;er, ami this often affords much aid : although such is the Ignorance and credulity ofsoms women that they supp ise that almost evry thing » accom plisheil by art A physician or midwife wli > w itches only the process of labour, and d les little or no'hiiig, h pronoun ed in hum tn and cruel, and perhaps ignorant. because .V is h me* In nit interfering with trie simple and beautiful process of labour ; or in other w.wdi for relying upon the great resources of nature ; but such h the f.ishi'in'ao 1 credallty of mankind, or rather womankind, th it physicians a re obliged to take th") advantigr o'such igninnce an I credulity, and regulate thsir proceedingsaccodiugly. I h ive myself often been obliged to stanl h ws over n woman under p-elt-nceofai ling delivery, when in reality I cid nHhing at till. The bi'io'ir w m's-ip in;,or eying atiendail* When the woman Is disposed to make much ook>e,she rinuld be diificed tn hold her breath during the p .ins, and aid or assist them by pressing downward as much as possible. The feet may press against the bedstead and the woman may take hold of a handkerchief and pull when a pain ocean; or she may gmp the hand of an assistant for that purpose. Sometime from virions causes, labour is very much retarded ; from rigidity of the parte, tli'- situ ition of the rhi'd, dabiUty, 8tc. When this occurs, aid labour it.tedio'is an I protracted, our reliance must still be upon the powers of ruture. We may however aid her efforts by warm foment itinns of bitter herbs, often applied to the lower port of the belly, which will prove relaxing, and will facilitate ths labour; when warm dilutent dtinki may a'sohe given,wen as tqjiiy, pennyroyal, &c. If the labour still continues stationary* we have nothing to fear provided th ;re ii a right presentation; bnt should the palm seeoma fee'jte 01 learned from flood Jug. di-iiiiiiy, or any c.iu«. or should they prove unavailing, after a reasonable length of tim.-, give the composition pswer. 'Ibis will increase thj pains and Fpeeilily ic o:niti*h th- delivery. Wh.-n the heid is del veied all that it-neceKary to do ia to support H, and wail for the paius 11 bxpel thschi d; exeept k teams livid and in dinger of injury. or when the cifd is twisted around the nock., wlr-n assistance must be re nlere J to *cu>mplieh UV delivery. The nice of the child must now be turned upward, and the cord freed fr*«i the n.tk or boly, aid the person who assists, will piss a n irrow pie/e of tape around the c«rd, or navel suing, about an Inch from the body, and li* as tight as can be driwu, oherwise hen >r.hage or bleeding will lake placrt; *nd aootHer must be tied at a little distance from it above, and be separated bet vtxt ihmn with a pair of scissors. Tin child is then to be given to tba nurse. Tiia wjmin m 1st no v be covereJ up a«d directed to lay quiet. THE AFTER BIRTH. The af.er birth or pi iceofa roust be deiaclie 1 01 removed, if nature d «s not accomplish it in a short liuiS. Generally after about twenty or thirty mtnu.es, a pain is felt which may be sufficient to eipil it; If ft sh >u:d not, an J should tbeie be no pain, gt-ntie manual attempts may ba m tde to remove it. The head ,ut J breast may be elevated, and tbe cord taken holt by the right hand, the two fi.st fingers may be carefully iutroJuced into the vagina: and the an tarior or forep 111 of (be p.acenta, or after birth, held tn this sauatisa for iotas BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 23 minutes, in order to excite a contraction of Ihe uterus The vi oman may now b«j direited to hold h >r bieath and pre-s ('own, which forces it fiuw.ird, arid at ihs same time, a little extension is made upon thecmd with ilie left haiid, white < xtension is made upon the after birth with the right; this will a: most invariably '■ extract in a few minntes. Ifironiiiny cause it should not. no further attempts ahiu.1'1 be made for the present, but it must be left for i fewhuuw, wl en if the) natural contractions of the uterus dt^not remove it, it mot he done in the manner recommended, with this difference, that a itlle m< re force be used. In the inter- val, however, every tilli g wet must be taken i>way. After the labour has been thus completed, if the woman is not too weak, one or tw>> assistants may raise her up and seat her upon the side of the bed < r cut, while another will remove a11 the wet clothing, as well as the bed. and with a little warm spirits wash off the blood, water, Sec., whi< I) remains ; Ibis it particu- larly necessary, as the ornissija of it may give rise to puetpetal fever. 1 know not that any other has practiced this meitjpd, but I have found it conducive to the comfoit ns well as the health of ihe paiieut. Some pr.ictnu ne.s will not sutler ihe woman to be removed from the situation to which she has been deiiven d linger twelve or ttventy-four hours, fer fear of hemoirhnge or floodug ; but this is a great and dangerous eiroi. It is impossible to tell what mischief may arite in coiisequenie of suffering her to remain drtnehedixi wattr and blood for this length uftinie. Aftei these precautions have been observed, and the bed properly piepared on whi h his been placed folded b'ankeu. skin or oilcloth, covered with a warm sheet, she tu»y be laid down, end diaper, or a suitable piece of muslin laid lo the parts to ubsorti the lochiul discharges. A bandage may be alto placed around the abdomen or belly, and made m