^SJ Ji-.ttijiv' : "■ 1wl»i> :" ■M |N:V' w BO. AG C. WILSON, Wholesale IteAle' THOMSONIAN MEDICINES, Pressed Herbs, Spices, Essen Ual OQs, Medical Books, Glass Ware and Syringes, 18 Central Street, Boston. r ^ Surgeon General's Office aVi m-^i'BLai ?h 'Every Man Ms own Physician*' THE VEGETABLE FAMILY PHYSICIAN: CONTAININe A DESCRIPTION OF THE ROOTS AND HERBS COMMON TO THIS COUNTRY, WITH THEIR MEDICINAL PROPERTIES AND USES ; ALSO DIRECTIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF THE DISEASES INCIDENT TO HUMAN NATUftE, BY VEGETABLES ALONE; EMBRACING! MANY VALUABLE INDIAN RECIPES. BY SAMUEL B. EMMONS. J/r BOSTON: -J PUBLISHEBjBY BENJAMIN ADAMS, (FRANkvji^Sr "HEAD.) Ti Court Street. 1842. w^^ Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1836, By GEORGE P. OAKES, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts. KIDDER AND WRIGHT, PRINTERS, CONGRESS STREET, TO THE PUBLIC. This volume, the result of many year's labor and deep research, is now offered to the public for their use and benefit. The writer, having early been sub- ject to disease, which repeatedly brought him to the very bars of the grave, was of necessity induced to examine the different methods of cure. Two years' study of the fashionable practice of medicine taught him its great inadequacy to remove the worst and most common diseases to which we are subject, and led him, subsequently, to study the botanic practice with a physician of great celebrity. Here, in one year's time, he was thoroughly satisfied of the de- cided superiority of the botanic over the mineral sys- em, and is convinced that, wherever a trial of the two is made, a preference will be given to the latter. This book, besides saving much money, now use- lessly wasted, as in the case of the woman mention- ed in Mark v. 25, will instruct the people how to free themselves from the ' ills that flesh is heir to,' in the safest and most expeditious manner, which is the sincere desire and belief of THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. From the conviction that the public feeling upon the subject of medicine is decidedly in favor of bo- tanical remedies, the product and growth of our own native soil, rather than the use of the most deadly foreign minerals, a few drops or grains of which have a tendency to destroy life instantaneously, par- ticularly, if taken through mistake, as they frequently are, the author of this little book has been induced to prepare it for the benefit of the world at large. It is written in plain language, and is adapted to the com- prehension and use of all. Most medical works con- tain a host of Latin technical terms, which serve only to confuse and confound the reader, and modern phy- sicians write their prescriptions in a foreign tongue, which renders it impossible for people in general to know what they take when sick; although many things are taken in such circumstances that would have been wholly rejected if known by their right names. Galen taught the use of roots and herbs to cure the sick, though the preparations might be bulky. Modern physicians have adopted the use of minerals, which by art are reduced to so small a quantity, that a doctor does not need a pair of saddle bags larger than two coat pockets, to carry drugs enough to kill or cure all he may have occasion to visit for a considerable time. This, indeed, may all be very convenient for the doctor, but a grevious dis- advantage to the sick man. The fashionable doctors, IV PREFACE. in their ambition to excel. in . their profession, by means of art alone, entirely overlook, and neglect as beneath their notice/the rich and bounteous stores of medicine, which the Almighty has caused to spring from the earth in every clime. The American phy- sician looks to foreign countries for many of the most common and necessary articles, while he is sur- rounded in his own country, with an endless profu- sion of medical plants, sufficient to cure almost any disease, yet he is ignorant of their virtues, and they are suffered to ' waste their healing on the desert air.' The congeniality, efficiency and safety of vegeta- ble remedies over mineral, may be estimated by con- trasting the ancient practice with the modern, or to bring it more immediately under our own observa- tion, the Indian practice with that of the whites.— Who, in America, has not known or heard of repeat- ed instances wherein some decripit, unpretending female Indian, by means of her simple remedies alone, has effected the most rapid and astonishing c,u*£s«iifter tiie wn«le skill of <(the common practice has jailed?. 7\nd who has noJ!been surprised at be- holding the comparative ease and facility with which the Indian frees himself from any disease, at the al- most total exclusion of chronic disorders among them? Who has ever heard of an Indian with a constitution broken and ruined by il] treatment? And can a doubt exist, that this happy exemption of the savage from most of the ills which the flesh of civilized man is heir to, is chiefly owing to the more genial and safe remedies ? This astonishing differ- ence of success, is a fair exemplification of infinite superiority of the safe and simple means of cure which God has created for the benefit of his children, over those which the pride and the art of man have inven- ted. Yet, notwithstanding the truth of what is here stated, there are still a few over uhose minds custom bears great sway. Whatever is customary is done PREFACE. ▼ whether there is any propriety^ in it or not.—This has been so much the'-case,, that thousands have been found more ready and willing to die in ajfashionable way, than to be cured*in ,an unfashionable way. But this state of thing^'is rapidly passing awj}'y^.and peo- ple are finding ouVday after day, that '-lif^is sweet,' and that to prolong it by the aid .bfLsimple. roots and herbs, is better than.tp cut it .short ;by poisonous drugs, and particularly, wheri the latter method is by far the most exp^nsi^e.j Doctors, drugs , and dying stuffs aje very costly things to tamper, w.ith., In this little, though we trust vesry valuable man- ual, we have given, in the first part, an alphabetical arrangement of the most useful herbs,common to this country, with some remarks upon their'medical virtues. In the second part, we have given a list of remedies which are applicable to different diseases, in the same order. In the third part will be found many valuable and useful medical recipes, some of which have long been kept a secret from the multi- tude, by the selfish and designing. The principles of justice and philanthropy to our common species, should certainly operate so as to render us willing to do the greatest good to the greatest number of the human family. Every one ought to be suitably re- warded for his ingenuity and his labors; but when a person has been able to discover any great improve- ment, especially in that which affects the health, hap- piness, and lives of his fellow beings, there can be no justification in taking measures to prevent the peo- ple from having all the advantage that can be de- rived from its benefits. The more it is extended, the greater will be the honor, and more general the grat- itude of the people; and it is better to have a good name than abundant riches. Books, containing as much valuable matter as this, have generally been sold at very high prices. Some no larger, nor containing half the amount of real use- 1* Vi PREFACE. ful matter, are now held from five up to twenty dol- lars. Thus, many persons, who are unable to provide themselves with a botanic treatise, and who are decidedly in favor" of using botanic remedies, are deprived of the benefit and use of medicines growing at their own doors, because they do not know the real value and use of them. Were it not for enhancing the price, and thus serv- ing to place the work beyond the reach of many, we could have inserted much additional and useful mat- ter including some explanation of the Thomsonian practice, so called ; but those who wish to explore the subject farther, and likewise to know something relating to the Reformed Thomsonian method 01 cure, can do no better than to subscribe to the ' Bo- tanic Journal.' Boston, Nov. 1842. For the convenience of those who wish to pur- chase Roots, Herbs, Barks, Berries, or prepared med- icines, a list of such as are kept for sale at the Bo- tanic Depository has been added to this work. They are done up in a neat, compact form, andean be sent by order to any place requested. (See p. 178.) CONTENTS. ROOTS AND HERBS. Agrimony, H Angelica, 11 Black Alder, 12 Avens Root, 12 Barberry, Bayberry, 13 Black Birch, 13 Beth Root, 14 Bitter Sweet, 14 Blood Root, 14 Brinten Root, 15 Black Snake Root, 16 Bugle Herb, 17 Burdock, Butternut, 17 Camomile, Catnip, 18 Celandine, Cayenne, 19 Cleavers, Goosegrass, 20 Blue Cohush, 21 Coltsfoot, 22 Comfrey, Cranesbill, 23 Cancer Root, or Beach Drops, 24 Curled Dock, 25 Dandelion, 25 Devil's Bit, 26 Dogwood or Boxwood, 26 Elder, Elecampane, 27 Fever Bush, 28 --Fivefinger, 28 Garden Peony, 29 Garget or Poke Root, 29 Golden Seal, 30 Goldthread, 30 Ground Ivy, 31 Gooseberry Bush, 31 Hardhack, 32 Hyssop, Hops, 32 Indian Hemp, 33 Indian Turnip, 33 Indigo Weed, 34 John's Wort, 34 Jacob's Ladder, 35 Knot Root, 35 Ladies' Slipper, 36 Liver Wort, Lobelia, 37 Lily—White Pond, 38 Mandrake and May Apple, 39 Mayweed, Maidenhair,40 Milkweed, Mother- wort, 41 Nettle, 42 Nanny Bush, 42 Oak, 42 Oneberry, 43 Peach, Pink, 44 Pipsisiway or Prince's Pine, ' 44 Pleurisy Root, 45 Prickly Ash, 46 Queen of the Meadow,46 Red Rose Willow, . 47 Red Raspberry, ' 47 CONTENTS. Roses, 48 Rattlesnake Root, 48 Sarsaparilla, 48 Sassafras, Savine, 49 Sage Herb, Scullcap, 50 Scabious, 51 Sciatica Cresses, 52 Scrofula Plant, 53 Senecca Snakeroot, 54 Senna, 55 Septfoil or Turmentoil Root, Sheep Sorrel, 56 Shepherd's Purse, 57 Skunk Cabbage, 57 Slippery Elm, 57 Small, Rough Sun- flower, 58 Snakehead, or Brook Aloes, 58 Sneezewort, 59 Solomon's Seal, 60 Southernwood, 60 Soapwort, Spikenard, 61 Strawberry, Sumac, 62 Succory, 63 Swamp or Tag Alder, 63 Tamarisk Tree, 63 Tansy, Thoroughwort, 64 Tory Weed, Canadian Burr, 65 Thyme, 65 Unicorn Root, 65 Valerian or White Snake Root, 6(i Vervain, 67 Virginia Snakeroot, 67 Vine Maple, 68 Water Pimpernel or Brooklime, 68 Water Dock, 69 Water Plaintain, 69 Water Cresses, 70 White Wood Tree, 70 White Ball, 71 Winter Brake, 72 Witch Hazle, 72 Wild Parsley, 73 Winter Green, 73 High Wickup, Slip- pery Root, or None so Pretty, 74 Low Wickup, Moose Wood, or Leather Bush, 75 Wild Cucumber, 75 Water Flag, Blue Flag, Flower de Luce, 75 Wormseed, 17^, Wormwood, 78 Yarrow, 78 REMEDIES FOR PARTICULAR DISEASES. For the Asthma, 81 For Baldness, 81 Blows and Bruises, 82 Burns, 82 Bites of Serpents, &c. 82 Cancer, 83 Canker, Coughs, 84 Corns, Costiveness, 85 Colic, Choi. Morbus, 86 Chapped Hands, 87 Chilblains, Chlorosis, 87 Cuts, Croup, 88 CONTENTS Dysentery, Dropsy, 89 Ear-ache, Erysipelas, 90 Felon, Flatulency, 91 Gout, 92 Gravel, 94 Heartburn, 95 Hooping Cough, Itch, 96 Inflammations, 97 Jaundice, 97 Liver Complaint, 98 Lice, Lockjaw, 98 Milk in the Breasts, 99 Night Sweats, 99 Nightmare, 99 Palpitation of Heart, 100 Polypus, Piles, 100 Pleurisy, Quinsey, 101 Rheumatism,Rupturel02 Ringworm, St. Vitus Dance, 103 Scald Head, 104 Salt Rheum,Scrofula, 105 Sore Throats, and Sore Mouths, 106 Toothache, 107 Tumors and Warts, 108 Ulcers, 108 Poisons, 109 MISCELLANEOUS RECIPES. For the Ague, 113 Bleeding at the Nose,U3 For Dysentery, 114 Carrot Poultice, 114 Freckles, Lip Salve, 114 Eve Water for Weak "Eves, 115 Volatile Salts, 115 Coughs, Influenza, 115 Discharge of Joint Water, 116 Piles, Cough, 1.16 Strengthening Syrup,] 16 Cleansing Syrup, 117 Cathartic Powders, 117 Restorative Bitters, 117 Catarrh Snuff, 118 Jaundice Bitters, 118 Ague Bitters, 118 Rheumatic Drops, 118 For Sore Throat, 119 For the Asthma, 119 Weak Stomach, 119 For Epileptic Fits, Cramps, Convul- sions, &c. 119 For a Stone Cancer, 120 Common Cancer, 120 Sprains, Measles, 121 For a Sudden Cold, 121 Plaster for a Weak Back, 122 Strength'ning Plaster,122 Relaxing Ointment, 122 Scalds and Burns, 122 Healing Salve, 123 Plaster for Scrofula, 123 ReadyMade Mustard,123 Steer's Opodeldoc, 123 Bard's Opodeldoc, 124 Cajeput Opodeldoc, 124 Sneezing Powders, 125 Common Purgative or Physic, 126 X CONTENTS. Substitute for Tea, 125 Rupture Plaster, 13-2 Acorn Coffee, 126 Cancer Tea, 133 Hull's Bilious Physic ,127 Composition Pow- Stoughton's Bitters, 128 ders. 133 Bathing Drops, 128 Vegetable Elixer, oi Tar Syrup, 128 Hot Drops, 133 To promote the growth Remedy for Croup, 134 of Hair, 128 Bed Bug Liquid, 134 To remove Tartar fi om Contracted Sinews, 135 the Teeth, 129 Tinct. of Capsicum, 135 For Hysterics, 129 To destroy Ants, 135 British Herb Tea, 129 To make Essences, 135 Laxative Clyster, 129 To join Paper, 136 Emetic Solution, 130 Cataplasms or Poul- Emetic Powder, 130 tices, 136 Restorative Bitters, 130 Clay Poultice, 136 Rheumatic Bitters, 131 Gout Poultice, 137 Tooth Powder, 131 Dry Poultice, 137 Gout Cordial, 132 Discutient Poultice, 138 Cleansing Beer, 132 Spruce Beer, 138 Erysipelas Tea, 132 Ginger Beer, 138 MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES. Diseases of Children, - 141 Collecting and Curing Herbs, Barks and Roots, 1 13 Decoctions, Infusions and Syrups, - - 144 Importance of the Steam or Vapor Bath, - 146 Observations on the Medical Treatment of Gen. Washington, - 156 Ignorant Apothecaries, - - - - 160 Cleanliness, - - - - - - 102 Pernicious effects of Mercury, - - - l<;o Fashionable Medical Practice, - - - ]/2 How to get Dyspepsia, - - - - 175 Fever,.......17(J Catalogue of Medical Plants, and Culinary Herbs,.....- - 178 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. DESCRIPTION OP ROOTS AND HERBS. Agrimony. This plant rises two or three feet in height, bearing yellow flowers, succeeded by a small burr, which sticks to the clothes. It grows in cultivated fields, by the roadsides, and in the woods; bloomsin July and August, and is some- times called cockle-burr, stickworth, &c. The root is a mild astringent tonic, and is good for bowel complaints, fevers, &c. The root and herb taken in tea for some time will generally cure the scrofula. It is also good for gravel complaints and the asthma. It may be sweetened with honey to make it pal- atable. Angelica. This plant grows from two to four feet high, having large, round, hollow stalks, with small joints at some distance from each other. It bears white flowers, the seeds resembling pars- nip, ripe in August, and have an aromatic taste; it grows in rich places near streams. 12 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. The roots are excellent for wind in the sto- mach and bowels, it raises the spirits, strength- ens the stomach, and causes an appetite. It may be taken in powder, a teaspoonful at a dose, or the seeds and roots may be steeped in water or infused in spirits. Black Alder. This is a very common shrub in many parts of the United States and grows in swamps and marshy places. The outside bark is black, the inner is yellow, and the berries are of a red color, remaining on the bush all winter. The bark taken in strong tea is good for all diseases of the skin, it is also a good wash for bad ulcers and sores. The berries, steeped in wine or brandy, make an excellent bitter, and may be used for worms in children. The Tag Alder is a tree growing ten or twenty feet high, and the tags, bark and boughs are good made into beer to cleanse the blood. Avens Root. This is sometimes called Chocolate Root. It is an annual plant and grows wild through- out the United States. It makes a very whole- some drink, and is used by the country peo- ple instead of chocolate, which it resembles in taste. It is very strengthening to the sick, and the continual use of it has restored many feeble and shattered constitutions. This root is the principal article in the Indian chocolate for consumption. FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 1$ Barberry. This shrub is well known by its clusters of long red berries, which are used in the country for sauce. The bark of the root made into< beer is good for the jaundice. It is a good bitter tonic, being a little astringent, and at the same time a little laxative. It is benefic- ial in fevers, diarrhoea, and dysentery. Bayberry. This grows plentifully in the New England States, and other parts. The fruit is covered with a substance called bayberry tallow, which is boiled and made into tallow. The bark of the root is an excellent remedy for dysentery made into a tea and drank. If made into a, poultice, it is very serviceable applied to tu- mors and sores. The pulverized bark makes an excellent sneezing or headache snuff. Black Birch. A tea made of this and drank with milk, for a daily drink, is very useful to bring milk into women's breasts, and will remove female ob- structions. The sap drank pretty freely is good for the gravel, and to cleanse the blood, and will also heal canker in the mouth. Made- into a syrup, it will restore the strength and; tone of the bowels, after dysentery. 2 14 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. Beth Root. This plant rises about a foot high, has three large leaves at the top of the stem, between which rises a single bell-shaped flower, of a purple or white color, and sometimes mixed. It has a bulbous root, resembling wild turnip, wrinkled, and full of small fibres. Beth root is powerfully astringent and ton- ic, and grateful to the spirits. In whites, bloody urine, diarrhoea, dysentery, &c. it is very effectual. It may be taken in the quantity of a teaspoonful of the powder three or four times a day in yarrow tea, or it may be added to oth- er astringents or bitters. The Indians esteem it highly for all the above purposes, and they use it likewise to cure the bite of snakes.— With alum, it dyes a good red color. Bitter Sweet. This is a valuable plant, both for external and internal use. A tea made of it is good in the liver complaint, and removes blotches on the skin. It is good for cancers, applying the juice to the cancer, and the green leaves to the breast. The bark of the root simmered in lard makes a good ointment for sores of all kinds. It is excellent made in a poultice and applied to swellings, and nothing is better for a cow's bag when swollen. Blood Root. The Indians make great use of this article. One pound of the green root is to be steeped FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 15 in a quart of spirit for a week. A tablespoon- ful of this tincture will generally operate as an easy emetic, but if it does not, the dose may be repeated every 15 minutes. For croup in children it operates very kindly as a vom- it, taking a tea-spoonful for a dose and repeat- ing if necessary. For rheumatism and jaun- dice put a quarter of a pound of Blood Root and the same of Devil's Bit in two quarts of spirits—and drink a part to a whole wine- glassful two or three times a day. The pow- der of the root is good to destroy proud flesh, and it will cure polypus if snuffed up the nose. It grows in woods near meadows, and has one leaf, similar to a white oak leaf, and a small white flower, blowing very early in the spring. The Indians paint themselves with this root. Brinten Root. This is also called Black Root, and Bowman Root, or Culver's Root. Peter Smith says his father ' used to cure pleurisy with this root with amazing speed.' It was also a favorite medicine with the famous Indian Doctor Hough. He used it to cure disorders of the stomach and bowels, to destroy humors in the blood, to remove costiveness and to cool fe- vers. The Wyandot Indians speak of this root in the highest terms, saying it is an ex- cellent healing purge. In typhus or bilious fever, it removes the black, tarry, morbid matter, from the intestines, in a most natural manner, without leaving behind it the pois- 16 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. onous sting so often remaining after the use of mercury. It may be taken in doses of a heaping tea-spoonful, in half a gill of boiling water, sweetened, if most agreeable, repeated in three hours if it does not operate. It grows in wet lands, near streams, and in open glades and plains. Several stems rise from one root, round and hairy, from two to four feet high, bearing on the top a spike or tassel of white crowded flowers—leaves long, narrow and pointed. Black Snake Root. This is also called Rattle Weed, Squaw Root, Black Cohash, &c. It is found all over the United States, growing in rich open woods, on hill sides, and near fields. It is an Indian remedy, and much used in rheumatism, and likewise to facilitate childbirth, whence its name Squaio Root. It is excellent in bowel complaints of children, and is a good gargle for the quinsy. It settles the stomach, where people are inclined to throw up their food.— The Indians cure the ague by swetting with this root. Women, in order to promote the •menses, may bathe their feet in warm water, sitting ten or fifteen minutes over the steam of pennyroyal every night, and drinking half a pint of the black snakeroot tea, with a wine- glass of gin in it, at bed time. It must be done once or twice before the full or change of the moon. Two ounces is enough to a pint of boiling water. FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 17 Bngle Herb. Sweet bugle is an excellent astringent, and taken in decoction it is good for bleeding at the lungs and stomach. In phthisic and coughs it is very effectual, and is good to ease pain. A small quantity of the tea is sufficient in any common case. Burdock. This well known plant is good to promote sweat and urine, and is very cleansing to the blood. The seeds steeped are good to expel wind. To cleanse the blood take the roots when young, wash and slice them, put them in a vessel with equal parts of molasses and wa- ter, cover the pot air tight with a crust, and bake it. This may be used freely every day. The seeds are good for dropsy, scurvey, rheumatism, gout, inflammation of the kidneys and venereal disease. The leaves are good applied to the feet in fevers. Butternut. The bark of Butternut, particularly the bark of the root, is an excellent cathartic, taken in extract, pills or cordial. For preparing it in cordial, take a quantity of the green bark split it into slips, and beat it to a stringy paste, put it into a vessel and pack it close, then pour boiling water sufficient to cover it, then sim- er it over a slow fire for over two hours. The liquor is now to be strained, with sugar or 2* 18 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. molasses enough added to it to make a syrup* and bottled, with one quarter to one half the quantity of spirits added to preserve it. This preparation is mild and efficacious for bowel complaints of children or adults, and will cure without giving enough to physic. For dysen- tery or worms enough should be given to op- erate freely on the bowels. It is a most valuable family medicine. Dose for a child from a half to two great spoonfuls, repeated at intervals of a half or whole hour, until it operates. A decoction of the inner bark is a good cathartic in the disease of horses, called yellow water. Camomile. The leaves and flowers of this plant are much employed to restore the tone of the sto- mach and bowels, and as a cheap and pleas- ant bitter. A tea of camomile flowers is of- ten taken to excite vomiting, or to promote the operation of emetics. Externally they are used for fomentations, in cases of inflam- mations and acute pain. Boiled in cow's milk, it is a good application to diseased eyes, washing them often with it. The whole plant bruised and moistened with vinegar is useful applied to sprains and bruises. Catnip. This plant is valuable applied to swellings as a poultice. It is good taken internally for headache, colic, female obstructions, hyster- FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 19 ics, worms and spasms. Given by injection to children it relieves restlessness and colic. If catnip was more used than it is, the servi- ces of the doctors would be less frequently required. Celandine. An ointment made of the root of this well- known plant, by simmering it in lard, is good to anoint the piles. Twenty drops of the juice of the plant, mixed with an ounce of rose water, will cure the most inveterate sore eyes, wetting them night and morning. The juice rubbed on warts soon extirpates them, cures ringworms, and cleanses old ulcers.— A poultice of this plant boiled in milk, will cure tetters. It is good for jaundice taken in tea alone or with a little chimney soot added. A tea of Celandine, Feverfew and Double Tansy, is used by the Indians to cure those who are bilious in the spring of the year. Cayenne. This is an excellent article for those who are troubled with cold feet and hands, by drinking it frequently in decotion, and soak- ing the feet in week lye every other night, af- terwards rubbing them with cayenne elixir.— It is good for rheumatism, taking it inside, and bathing the affected part with the warm liquor. Cayenne is often employed successfully, when sprinkled upon old dead sores, and when 20 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. steeped in brandy or vinegar, and externally applied, it will help the colic and dysentery, and all kinds of pain and soreness. A spoon- ful, with the same quantity of common salt, put into a gill of vinegar, makes a good sauce, to be eaten on meat, and will assist the appe- tite and strengthen the digestive powers. A tea spoonful put into a tumbler of cider, and drank in cold weather, is more warming than ardent spirits. It will cure ague in the face, by tying a small quantity in a fine cloth, and putting it between the cheek and teeth on the side that is affected, sitting by the side of a fire, and letting the saliva flow from the mouth. Cleavers or Goosegrass. This is an excellent remedy for suppression of urine and gravelly complaints. It crum- bles the stone or gravel into a sandy substance, so that it is discharged without difficulty. In affections of the kidneys or bladder, cleavers tea is peculiarly appropriate, it also gives great relief from the scalding of the clap.— Being of a cold nature, it is not proper in dropsies, or other diseases of cold and debil- ity. It should be prepared in cold water, be- cause steeping destroys its virtue. It should be drank quite strong, every few hours, for a week or two, in bad gravelly cases. At the same time, put large poultices of onions, or garlics, bruised and a little warmed, upon the lower part of the belly, small of the back, and over the kidneys, if the stone is in the ure- ther. It rarely fails to give relief. FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 21 Blue Cohush. This is also called blue berry, pappoose root, blue ginseng, &c. It grows from two to four feet high, the root is yellow inside, brown outside, hard, irregular, knobby, branched, with many fibres, stem upright, straight, smooth, dividing at top into three branches, each of which has three leaves, in the centre of which grows the flower stem, leaves smooth, lobed, something in the shape of a man's hand. The flowers are a sort of yellowish green, producing a stone berry, of a dark blue color, something like sour grapes. It is an annual plant growing all over the United States, and is generally found in low, moist, rich ground, near streams, and on islands that have been overflowed with water. Cohush is used by the Indians, and by ma- ny botanists, for rheumatism, dropsy, colic, sore throat, cramps, hiccup, epilepsy, hyster- ics, inflammation of the womb, &c. Peter Smith says that the Indian women owe the fa- cility of their parturition, to a constant use of a tea of the root for two or three weeks before their time. It is powerful to promote deliv- ery, menstruation and dropsical discharges, and is servicable in venerial complaints. For rheumatic complaints, two ounces of this root, and one ounce of blood root, bruis- ed and infused in three pints of spirit, may be used.—For the dropsy, pour two quarts of boiling water on one large root, bruised, of which take a tea-cupful a day. 22 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. There are four species of cohush besides the one above described—The red, black, and white, all of which except the black are known by the colour of their berries, but their quali- ties are quite similar. The White Cohush grows about two feet high, dividing into long branches at the top, with pointed leaves, notched in the edges. From the centre grows a stem producing white berries. It is open- ing and stimulating, good in colic, &c. The Red Cohush resembles the white, except the berries, which are red. The root is very cleansing and strengthening, and is good in female obstructions. The Black Cohvsh has a stalk from two to four feet high, producing white flowers, succeeded by shells which con- tain the seed. The root is very black outside irregularly shaped, with many prongs or fi- bres. It is a powerful stimulant, and is good in rheumatism. Combined with yellow dock, bark of black alder, sassafras, and wild cherry bark, it is a good purifier of the blood. Coltsfoot. This grows on high, moist clayey ground, producing yellow flowers, in February and March. The leaves are round, hairy, close to ground, supported on long foot stalks, vein- ed, kidney-shaped, resembling a colt's hoof, of a purple color ; the flower stem grows about eight inches high. A decoction of one pound of the dried roots and leaves, boiled to three quarts, and a half a pint drank three times a day, is good for scrofula. For a consumptive FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 23 cough, a gill of this may be taken four times a day. It is a warming stimulant, used to promote perspiration, and cannot be given amiss in colds, obstructions, whooping cough, asthmatic complaints, pain in the breast, and to promote expectoration. A snuff made of the leaves is good for the eyes and head, and the whole plant made into beer is very grate- ful and medicinal. Comfrey. This plant rises about two feet high, leaves very large, similar to water dock, and the roots are long and as thick as a man's thumb, black outside and white within, flowers of a pale blue color. It grows in moist meadows, near springs, and is sometimes raised in gar- dens for family use. The roots boiled in wine or water, or made into a syrup, are good for internal injuries and soreness, erosions of the intestines from diarrhoea, dysentery, &c. It is likewise good for those who are troubled with'spitting blood. It is useful in pulmonary affections, and re- lieves cough, by promoting expectoration. The fresh root bruised is beneficial when ap- plied to bruises, wounds, ulcers, sore breasts, and to any local inflammation. Cranesbill. This plant grows along the sides of hedges in rich, moist land, and in hollows that receive the wash—the flowers are single on long stems 24 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. like a crane's bill, springing from the wings of the leaves. It has long slender stalks, from one to three feet high, with seven long narrow leaves. The root is crooked and knotty, black outside, reddish within. Our Indians value this plant highly, using it for wounds, ulcers, bloody urine, menses, and the lues venera. It it is very astringent and bracing ; good boiled in milk for cholera infantum, looseness of the bowels and diarrhoea, though it should not be taken too soon. It makes a good gargle for a sore mouth or throat, and is a good injection for gleets and whites. It will quickly stop bleeding at the lungs,and when pulverized and applied to wounds, relieves effusion of blood. The doses of the plant or root, are one to two ounces in infusion or decoction, two to four drachms in tincture, fifteen to forty grains of the powder. This root with gentian, will cure intermitting fevers more effectually than Peruvian bark. Cancer Root, or Beech Drops. This is a powerful astringent, and cancers have been effectually cured by the application of the fresh bruised root, frequently applied.- It is very beneficial in the cure of St. Antho- ny's fire, and canker in the throat. It may be prepared by boiling eight ounces of the herb to two quarts, and sweetened. A decoc- tion of beech nuts is said to be a certain cure for wounds, burns, scalds, and for members nipped by frost. FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 25 Curled Dock. This is also called Narrow Dock, Sour Dock, Yelloiu Dock. The root is perennial, spindle shaped, yellow, and a little fibrous. The leaves are long and narrow, and curled on the margin. The root is a little purgative, and both root and seeds are good for the dysentery. The bruised or pulverized roots made into an oint- ment or wash is good for all diseases of the skin, using it at the same time in decoction as a drink. It is excellent for the scurvy, and bad ulcers and hard tumors have been removed by a poultice of the bruised root. A pound of the green roots may be boiled to a quart, and a table-spoonful taken three times a day. Ten grains of the powdered root is also a dose. Larger doses would often produce vomiting. Dandelion. This well known plant is one of the best things that can be given for diseases of the liver and kidneys. It is also an excellent rem- edy in all dropsical and hypochondriacal com- plaints, taking a table-spoonful of the fresh juice three or four times a day. A decoction of it may be taken, but it is not so effectual as the pure juice. Its good effects may be in- creased by combining it with other articles of a similar nature. For cleansing and promo- ting the secretion of urine, a pound of the green roots of dandelion may be bruised and 3 * 26 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. boiled to a quart, and the quantity of a gill drank, three times a day, and continued till well. It may produce a singular sensation a few times at the beginning, but it is nowise dangerous, and only shows that it takes effect. Those who are troubled with a.real liver com- plaint, can do no better than to give it a trial in the last mentioned form. Devil's Bit. This plant rises three feet high, with a small round, green stalk, set with many long, smooth, dark green leaves ; at the end of each branch stands a round head of many small blue flow ers. It grows in moist meadows and pastures ; root bulbous, with many small hairs or fibres, of a blackish color outside, and brown within. It has been confounded with the star root, but it is an entirely different article. The root is a good astringent and tonic, and is efficacious in the cure of scrofula, relieving after pains in women, pain in the breast, and a gargle in putrid sore throat. For the cure of the scrofula, boil four ounces of the bruised root to two quarts, and give a teacupful for a dose, four times a day. Dogwood or Boxwood. The shrub or tree grows from ten to thirty feet high, common in swamps and moist lands, all over the United States. It is generally well known by its large white flowers, which ap- pear early in May. FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 27 The dogwood bark is tonic, astringent, an- tiseptic, and stimulant. It may be given by itself in powder, or it may be steeped and drank in tea. The berries infused in spirit make a very good bitter. The flowers seem to have the same properties as the bark and berries, and are used by the Indians as well as whites, for fevers and colics. A decoction of the bark is esteemed a good medicine for the yellow water of horses, and joined with sassafras is employed to cleanse foul ulcers, applied to them in poultice. Elder. The roots, bark of the stalk, flowers and berries possess medical properties. The flow- ers are good for the scurvy, taken in strong tea, likewise in bowel complaints of children. The inner bark is beneficial in dropsy, steeped in wine or cider, and drank, as often as the stomach will bear it. It produces a copious discharge of urine. The bark made into an ointment with cream, lard, or fresh butter, is a cooling application for eruptions of the skin. The berries may be used for the same pur- pose as the bark and flowers, gently loosening the bowels, and promoting the urine and per- spiration. The flowers in decoction are very useful in erysipelatous fevers. Elecampane. This is a very common plant, growing about houses, along road sides, and in gardens, pro- 28 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. ducing large leaves, and large yellow flowers. The root of this is celebrated as a valuable remedy for various complaints, but particu- larly for diseases of the lungs, such as coughs, asthma and consumptions. It promotes urine and insensible perspiration, gently loosens the bowels, and possesses the properties of a strengthening, restorative medicine. It may be taken alone, in powder or decoction, or it may be combined with other articles and made into a syrup. A tea-spoonful of the pulver- ized root may be taken three times a day in molasses, together with a tea-cupful of a de- coction of one pound of the dried root boiled to three quarts, taken night and morning. Fever Bush. The Fever Bush, or Spice Bush, grows on the sides of low moist meadowTs, and in wet swamps. It rises five or six feet high, bearing a blossom of a pale reddish color, berries blood red, and ofa fragrant aromatic smell. The bark, in decoction, is cooling and cor- dial, and is exceedingly useful in all kinds of fevers, for allaying the heat and relieving the system. It is used by the Indians in all in- flammatory complaints, and is much esteemed by the country people for the same purpose. Fivefinger. This is a trailing vine, common in old fields, with long, slender strings like strawberries— fl owers yellow, and root small. It is very ben- FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 29 eficialin fevers, night sweats, and it also helps a flagging appetite, taken in decoction, or boiled in milk. It has been found of consid- erable benefit in allaying fluxes, immoderate flow of the menses, &-c. being a gentle astrin- gent. Garden Peony. This plant hus been introduced into our gar- dens from Europe. It is of considerable effi- cacy in the cure of epilepsy.and fits in children. The roots must be dug in March, dried and pulverized for^use. Grown persons subject to the falling sickness, may take a large spoon- ful of the powder four times a day, in a tea- cupful of bittersweet tea, applying the bruised roots to the soles of the feet on going to bed. Garget or Poke Root. It has a thick, fleshy root, as large as pars- nips, from which rise many purplish stalks, from four to seven feet long, set with large oval sharp pointed leaves, on short stems. They are first of a green color, but after- wards turn reddish. It bears long bunches of bluish colored flowers, followed by round pur- ple berries. This root roasted and applied as a poultice to swellings, ulcers, and to rheumatism, is of- ten of great advantage. The juice of the berries dried in the sun to a salve, has cured cancers. The juice alone, or mixed with a tea of cocash root has been recommended for 3* 30 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. rheumatism ; externally applied, it is recom- mended for the cure of the itch, ringworm, &c. The root should be dug in November, cut in small pieces and dried. Golden Seal. Grows on rich, moist land ; has astern ten or twelve inches high, generally has but one leaf, though sometimes two. The root is crooked, rough and knobby, of a bright yel- low color, with many long fibres ; taste very bitter. It is sometimes called Indianpaint, Yel- low Root. Found mostly in the Western States. The Golden Seal is a powerful tonic, and highly useful in all cases of debility, and loss of appetite. It removes the heavy, disagree- able sensation often produced by indigestible food, taking a tea-spoonful of it in hot water sweetened. A decoction of it is also a very valuable remedy for sore eyes, as well as for every other local inflammation, externally ap- plied. It is considered a specific for disor- dered eyes, by the Indians, who use it for sore legs, and many external complaints, with great success. A half an ounce of the dried pul- verized root in a quart of spirits, makes a good tincture for the jaundice. In powder, the dose is from ten to twenty grains. Goldthread. Goldthread is a pure, intense bitter, promo- ting digestion, and strengthening the system, and is useful in all cases of debility. It is FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 31 much used for canker in the mouth and throat. The roots are the only part used, and may be given in the form of powder, or tincture, in tea-spoonful doses, two or three times a day. An ointment made of this and camomile, sim- mered in lard, is excellent for sore lips, chap- ped hands and chilblains. Ground Ivy. This plant grows about garden fences, on the sides of meadows, and runs under hedges. It has scalloped leaves, hairy, in opposite pairs; flowers in whorls, of bluish color, on short stems. It purifies the blood, promotes expectora- tion, and the juice snuffed up the nose, cures the headache. It is good in consumptions, for cleansing and healing ulcers in the lungs, kidneys, and other parts, and is efficacious in jaundice and asthmatic coughs. A gill of the juice of the green leaves may be taken night and morning, in half a pint of wild cherry bark tea. Gooseberry Bush. The bark of gooseberry root, in decoction, is said to be good for the gravel. The green berries, scalded and baked, are good to pro- cure an appetite. The young leaves made in- to a tea are good to allay inflammation, applied externally. Black currant root bark possesses the same qualities as that of the gooseberry. 32 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. Hardhack. This plant rises about two feet high, leaves heart-shaped, on long foot-stalks, flowers yel- lowish, roots knotty, flat, and as hard as a stone. The Indians call it healall, and they use it to cure wounds. Hyssop. The leaves of hyssop have an aromatic smell, and a warm, pungent taste ; they prove salutary in asthmatic affections, coughs, and all disorders of the breast and lungs. The leaves are very effectual when applied in cat- aplasms to bruises, speedily mitigating the pain, and at the same time dispersing every spot or mark from the injured part. It is also useful as a gargle in sore throat. Hops. The hop is an excellent stomachic bitter, very useful in dyspepsia and other diseases of the digestive organs. It has also proved ben- eficial in inflammation of the kidneys and grav- elly complaints. Hops are a valuable external application, for pains, especially of the spas- modic kind. For this purpose put them in a bag, dip them in hot vinegar, and apply them to the painful part. A poultice or ointment of hops has sometimes been employed as an anodyne application to cancers and painful ulcers. FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 33 Indian Hemp. Sometimes called Wild Buckwheat. It ri- ses three feet high, the stalk is bare for a foot, then throws out many branches ; leaves heart- shaped ; blossoms of a golden color, succeed- ed by a long pod resembling a cucumber. Grows on poor soils, mostly on hills. Both the root tand plant may be used for medical purposes, either externally or internally. The part used generally, is the bark of the root, which should be dug in April and pulverized. From thirty to thirty-five grains will operate both as an emetic and cathartic. For rheu- matism it may be taken in small doses in prick- ly ash tea. Indian Turnip. This is also called Dragon Root, Wake Robin, Wild Turnip, &c. This valuable plant grows in almost every part of the United States, and is known and used by'most coun- try people. In its green state the Indian Turnip is pow- erfully acrid, and caustic to the tongue, though not to the skin. It burns worse than Cayenne. The fresh roots may be grated or reduced to a pulp, adding three times its weight of sugar, which may be taken in doses of a tea-cupful three times a day, for colds, coughs, asthma, &c. In this form it is also good for flatulence, cramp in the stomach, and consumptive affec- tions. It quickens the circulation, and is a useful stimulant in cold, phlegmatic habits. A poultice of the green roots and leaves, is 34 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. said to be useful for scrofula swellings. The fresh root simmered in lard,makes a good oint- ment for the scald head. It may be kept in a green state by burying it in sand in a cellar. Indigo Weed. Both the root and plant of this well known article are used for medical purposes, either externally or internally. It is a valuable rem- edy for all kinds of ulcers, particularly if in a gangrenous state. It is also beneficial in ul- cerous sore throat, sore mouth, sore nipples, sore eyes, and every ulcerous affection. It may be used externally in strong decoction as a wash, or in a fomentation; also in poul- tice, lard or cream. It may be given inter- nally for all putrid disorders, and for mortifi- cation. It stops gangrene, has cured scarlet fever, sore.throat, and sometimes putrid and typhus fevers. An ounce of the green root may be steeped in a pint of water, and a tea- cupful be taken once in five or six hours. John's Wort. This plant rises two feet high, with spread- ingbranches from the sides to the top of round, hard, upright stalks, with two small leaves, set one against the other, the flowers, which are yellow, when bruised yield a reddish juice, like blood, and produce small round heads, containing the seed, which are black, and smell like resin. The root is hard, with nu- FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 35 merous fibres, of a brownish color. It grows in meadows, pasture grounds, church yards, &c. and flowers the last of June. A tea made of this herb, relieves the lungs and breast, when respiration is obstructed, es- pecially if joined with sage. It is beneficial in promoting urine, curing ulcers, diarrhoea ; removes hysterical, hypochondriacal, and ma- niacal disorders. For diarrhoes, or flux, put two ounces of the flowers in a quart of good brandy, and after giving a dose of rhubarb, the patient may take a wine glass full night and morning, until well. It may be combined with bitter-sweet, elder, and stramonium, in an ointment, to dispel hard tumors and caked breasts. Jacob's Ladder. This vine grows in interval lands, and near woods and bushes. The stalk is from three to four feet high, and springs off into numerous branches, with many leaves attached, of a dark green color. It bears a bundle of black ber- ries hanging under the leaves in the autumn. It is said to be good for the gravel and stone, and makes an excellent ointment simmered in cream, for sore breasts, while nursing. Knot Root. This is also called Oxbalm, Heal-all, Stone Root, &c. The root is knotty, rough and hard, throwing out many slender fibres. Stem 36 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. erect, round, straight, from eighteen to thirty inches high, terminating in several branches at the top, which produce the flowers and seeds, Leaves few, opposite, large and thin. It is said to be tonic, carminiative, diuretic, and stimulating ; and is highly prized as an external application to sores, swellings, poi- son, headache, &c. Taken in tea, it is ben- eficial in headache, colic, cramp, dropsy and indigestion. Applied in poultice, the whole plant may be used, either fresh or dry. Ladies' Slipper. This is likewise called Mocasin Flower, Yellow Umbil, American Valerian, Nerve Root, &c. There are three or four kinds of this article, as the white, red, and yellow, from the color of their flowers. It has five stems growing from one root, and rising from one to two feet high, bearing from three to seven leaves, and from one to three flowers. The flower is in the form of a purse or bag, open at the top, and looking something like a mocasin, and hence, by the Indians it is called, mocasin flower. It is an excellent article to give tone to the nervous system, and is therefore highly useful incases of nervous irritation, hysterical affec- tions, spasms, fits, and all derangements of the functions of the brain, such as madness and delirium. It is effectual to procure refreshing sleep, particularly in fevers consumptions, &c. FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 37 The roots are the only part used, and ought to be gathered in the spring before the tops begin to grow much, or in the fall after they begin to die. Dose, one tea-spoonful of the powder, in hot water, sweetened, repeated as often as necessary. Liver Wort This grows in moist shady places. The leaves are somewhat like leather, and remain during the winter, the flowers are of a pale yellow or blue, of a starlike form. The roots are very fine and small. It is' considered a good article for bleeding at the lungs, con- sumption, coughs, and for all complaints of the liver, taken in the form of tea, drank cold, or in a syrup. It is said to be effectual in the jaundice, made into beer, and drank pretty freely ; also in hypochondriac affections. It has no effect upon the lungs beyond thafcof a mild demultent astringent. Lobelia. This is a biennial plant, growing in most parts of the United States, by the roadside, in barren fields, with a solitary blossom, of a pale blue color, flowering in August. The seeds resemble those of tobacco, and the plant is by some called Indian tobacco. The whole plant is acrid and nauseous, producing saliva- tion.—The lobelia is the most valuable and efficient emetic known; it acts as a sudorific, expectorant, and diffusible stimulant, and for 4 38 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. the relief and cure of asthma, its equal has not yet come to the knowledge of the world. As a stimulant it extends its effects to every part of the system, removing obstructions, and restoring a healthy action, wherever the one exists or the other is needed. Professor Rafinesque says, that the medicinal qualities of lobelia were known to the Indians ; it be- ing used by them to clear the stomach and head in their great councils. As an antidote to poisons of all kinds, whe- ther animal or vegetable, the lobelia stands unrivalled ; particularly in the cure of hydro- phobia. It is used in powder, infusion, or tincture of the leaves and pods, or the seeds. Some physicians give cayenne, or decoctions of bayberry, hemlock bark, or penny royal, as a preparatory to the lobelia emetic, though it operates very well with nothing more than some^aromatic and warming herb drink, giv- en during vomiting. Of the pulverized seeds or leaves, a tea-spoonful may be given in warm water, in two portions, the second with- in ten minutes after the first, whether it has operated or not. Of the tincture, from one to four tea-spoonfuls may be given. Plenty of diluting herb drink should be taken during the operation of the emetic. The saturated tincture is made by putting as much of the herb in a vessel as the spirits used will cover. Lily — White Pond. The root of this well known article is ex- cellent applied to tumors and inflammations, FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 39 to ease pain and to promote suppuration. The root roasted in ashes, and applied to wounds from bruises, nails, &.C., is very good to draw out substances, and allay inflamma- tion. A poultice of this root, cohush root, and slippery elm bark, all pulverized, and mixed together with cold water, will discuss white swellings. It should be changed three times a day ; giving the patient at the same time, internal cleansing remedies. Mandrake and May-Apple. The mandrake is a common plant growing throughout the U. States, in shady and often in moist situations. It has a root about the size of the largest goosequill, jointed with fi- bres issuing at each joint. The stem is from eight to sixteen inches high, dividing at the top into two branches, each branch support- ing a single leaf. Flowers large, white, only one on a plant, and grows from the forks of the stem. It is an excellent remedy for incontinence of urine, and the root prepared in syrup, makes a mild, pleasant purge. Three-fourths of a teaspoonful of the powdered root given in cold water at bed time, operates as a gentle phys- ic the next morning. The Cherokee Indians use the fresh juice of the root for deafness, putting a few drops into the ear. The In- dian Doctor Hough, recommends the pow- dered root as an escharotic to cleanse bad ul- cers, and dispose them to heal, and to pro- mote the exfoliation or removal of carious or 40 FAMILY PHYSICIAN rotten bones. He directs that the powder be sprinkled on the affected part, once in two to five days. He says that it will destroy proud flesh, without injuring the sound parts. The southern Indians employ it often to kill worms, and carry them off. The best time for gath- ering mandrake root is in autumn, after the tops have withered. Mayweed This common herb is useful in colds, fevers, , rheumatism, and asthma, internally or exter- nally applied. Internally it is used in tea, ex- ternally in fomentations. It may be given in decoction when taking an emetic, and is better than warm water to promote vomiting. In small doses, taken warm, it is very sudorific, always promoting perspiration. Maidenhair. This plant is found in deep woods and rich soil, throughout the United States. The root is large and fibrous. The stalk grows about afoot high before it branches, having several long leaves resembling brake or fern. Maidenhair is found useful in coughs, hoarse- ness, asthma, and in pleurisy and all disorders of the breast. It promotes the secretions, and helps the cure of jaundice. Liquorice may be added to the decotion, to render it more efficient. Influenza is often cured by using this syrup, which may be taken in an unlimited dose. FAMILY PHYSICIAN 41 Milkweed. This is the common Milkweed, bearing a large pod containg a silky substance, which bas sometimes been mixed with cotton and spun into yarn, and has also been made into paper, hats, and even put into beds. It pro- duces a fine blossom of a lilac color, at the top of the plant. The southwestern Indians are said to use the root of this for an emetic. It has of late been found effectual in the cure of dropsy. Boil eight ounces of the dry root in six quarts of rain water to three; of this a gill may be taken four times a day, increas- ing the dose according to its eftect. For other complaints, a larger dose may be taken. The roots infused in gin, may likewise be used in dropsy and gravelly disorders. Motherwort. This plant has a hard, square, brownish, strong stalk, rising from two to four feet high, spreading into many branches, leaves broad and long, notched about the edge. The flow- ers are sharp-pointed, with rough, prickly husks or burs, of a purple color. The root sends forth long fibres, of a dark yellow color. The herb or root relieves hysterical symp- toms, procures sleep, abates delirium, and al- lays spasms or risings of the uterus; it is ad- mirably adapted to the cases of those females who suffer pains from tenderness about the lower bowels and loins. It brings on the men- 42 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. ses. As a warm cordial, it may be used in low fevers, with nervous affections, cramps and convulsion. Nettle. The fresh leaves of this common plant stim- ulate, inflame, and raise blisters wherever ap- plied to the skin, hence they are good for pal- sy, applied to the diseased side or limbs.— The juice is astringent, and is good in gravelly complaints, and spitting of blood. A decoction of it is good for those who make bloody urine, and for all beginning consumptions. It is said to be the most powerful styptic known. The seeds and flowers may be given in wine, in doses not exceeding three drachms a day.— Larger doses might induce lethargic sleep. Nanny Bush. This shrub grows in most parts of the coun- try, and by some it is called black haw. It ri- ses from five to eight feet high, bark very rough, and of a dark gray; leaves long, ber- ries bang in clusters, and turn black after frost. It grows in marshes and low pastures. The bark is an excellent tonic, and, is con- sidered superior to the Peruvian bark, and may be used for all the purposes to which that is applied. Oak. The bark of White Oak is said to be nearly equal to the Peruvian Bark in its tonic and astringent powers. In checking mortification, FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 43 it has succeeded where Peruvian bark had failed. It was given in decoction in very large quantities, and the part affected was constant- ly kept wet with the same decoction. For ruptures it has been recommended to prepare and use the oak bark in the following man- ner:— take a few pounds of the bark and steep it in a sufficient quantity of cold water for twelve or twenty-four hours ; then put bark and water into a large kettle, and boil over a slow fire two or three days, adding boiling water from time to time as necessary, so that the bark may be constantly saturated. After this long and slow boiling, the bark should be taken out, and the liquor boiled down to the consistence of tar, when it is fit for use. Af- ter a rupture has been reduced, take some of this extract, warm it so as to soften it, and bathe the part with it, and apply the truss.— This operation must be repeated three or four times a day. By these means, ruptures of many year's standing have been cured in a few days or weeks; though in some cases, it requires to be followed up for two or three months. Oneberry. This is also called Checkerberry, Partridge Berry, Winter Clover, Squaw Vine. It is found in shady woods, on almost every vari- ety of soil. It is a small vine, growing in mats, with small round green leaves, like clo- ver, bearing one red berry in a place. It re- mains green through the winter. The squaws drink a tea of this root for two 44 FAMILY PHYSICIAN, or three weeks before delivery, and during the event, which make it so remarkably safe and easy with them. It is esteemed by some as a remedy in diarrhoea and piles. In some parts it is used for dropsy and gout. Peach. The flowers and leaves of the common peach tree are an excellent remedy for worms in children. A handful of the leaves and flowers, or leaves alone, may be steeped, and the decoction given repeatedly in small doses, followed by a purge, which will usually bring the vermin away. Peach meats in brandy, in proportion of four ounces to a quart, form a powerful tonic in all cases of debilities, fe- ver and ague, and is very efficacious in curing the whites. A table-spoonful of this prepar- ation may be taken three or four times a day. Pink. The common garden pink possesses consid- erable medicinal power. The flowers in de- coction are an excellent remedy for green stools in children. It is a fine carminative and anodyne for the bowels. Pipsisiway, or Prince's Pine. This plant rises from four to six inches high, with a slender stalk, set thick with straight, oval, notched leaves. Flowers from three to FAMJLY PHYSICIAN. 45 six, purple and white, growing at the top of the stem. Late in the fall a species of nuts is found on the top of the stalk, of the size of a small pea, containing a husky seed. It is an evergreen. A tea of the tops and roots of this plant is a valuable internal medicine for fevers, rheumatism, diseases of the urinary or- gans, scrofula, cancers, dropsy and nervous debility. Externally it is used for bathing rheumatic joints, washing cancerous, scrofu- lous, and other bad ulcers, and hard swellings. A pound of the dried herb may be tinctured in a gallon of spirits, and a wine-glassful ta- ken three times a day for the rheumatism. For other complaints it may be taken in tea. Pleurisy Root. This is also called Butterfly-weed, Flux root, Wind root, White root. It has a large, white, crooked, branching root, several erect, hairy or woolly stems, branching at the top, of a green or red color. The leaves are very hairy on the under side, of an oblong shape ; flowers of a beautiful brilliant orange color, appearing in July and August. It rises about four feet high, grows mostly on poor, gravelly soil, along fences, and in old or uncultivated fields. The pleurisy root is highly extolled for the cure of the pleurisy, difficulty of breathing, and all diseases of the lungs. In flatulency, colics, and griping pains in the stomach, it gives quick and effectual relief. It also acts as a mild purge, which makes it very appli- 46 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. cable to bowel complaints of children. It may be given alone in strong decoction, or in pow- der, a tea-spoonful at a dose, given in some warming herb tea, until relief is obtained. Prickly Ash. The bark of prickly ash is a good remedy for the chronic rheumatism. Taken in free doses, it produces perspiration, and gives great relief to rheumatic pains. The berries are as effectual as the bark, and infused in spirit, they are good for cold hands and feet, and for fits of the ague. An ounce of the bark may be boiled in a quart of water, and the whole be taken in the course of twenty-four hours. Queen of the Meadow, or Meadow Sweet. This beautiful plant rises four feet high, has smooth, reddish stalks, leaves long, spear- shaped, and opposite; flowers purple. It grows in hedges, and on the sides ofmeadows throughout the United States. The root of this plant is a powerful diuretic, useful in all diseases of the urinary organs, dropsy, rheu- matism, gout and female weaknesses and ob- structions. It is thought by some to be a sol- vent of the stone, and esteemed an unfailing remedy in gravelly complaints. For dropsy, boil eight ounces of the bruised roots in four quarts of water to two, and after the neces- sary evacuations, commence by giving a tea- cupful every two hours, warm, increasing the FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 47 dose as you can bear it, till the water is evac- uated. Then brace up with strengthening remedies. In other cases it may be taken less profusely. Red Rose Willow. This is about the size of a small apple tree, covered with a greenish colored bark, very red within; the flowers resemble a bunch of roses, from whence it derives its name. It grows near brooks, along the banks ofmead- ows and rivers. The bark of rose willow is a fine tonic and astringent. It is very beneficial in bracing up weakly women, laboring under the whites, bearing down, &c. and likewise in restrain- ing immoderate flow of the menses. For use, one pound of the bark may be boiled to three quarts, to which add three pints of Port wine, and four ounces of loaf sugar. Dose, a tea- cupful three times a day, to be contiued until well. It is equally useful in gleets, when the simple decoction may be used for injection. Red Raspberry. The leaves of the Red Raspberry bush are a valuable astringent, and made into a tea, is one of the best things for canker and bowel complaints of children ever known. It is like' wise one of the best things to moisten poultices for burns and scalds, and for washing sore nipples. A strong tea, sweetened, and a little milk put to it, is an excellent article to regu- late the pains of women in travail. 48 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. Roses. Roses are principally used for purposes of perfumery ; but they are applicable to many purposes of medicine. They are astringent and tonic, and beneficial in allaying inflam- mations, when applied in the form of decoc- tion, fomentation, or poultice. They are excellent also for inflammation of the eyes. Rattlesnake Root. This name has been applied to several dif- ferent plants, in various parts of the U. States; but that which I have known by that name, and intend here to designate, has three radi- cal leaf stems the first year, about six inches in height, with a broad three cornered leaf to each; the second year a large reddish stalk shoots up, from two to four feet high, bearing seed. The root, the first year, (when it should be gathered) is about the circumference of the little finger, bulbous and milky. I have found it in different parts of the state of New York. Dr. Elisha Smith says this root is prefera- ble to any thing else he has ever known for destroying all kinds of canker in the mouth and bowels, particularly in children. As much as will lie upon a sixpenny piece may be steep- ed to a wine-glassful of water, sweetened, and a tea-spoonful given at a time, to children, occasionally washing the mouth with it. Sarsaparilla. Sarsaparilla root is a good remedy for all FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 49 diseases of the skin, scrofulous sores, rheu- matism, gout, mercurial diseases, and veneri- al complaint. It may be taken in decoction, one ounce of the bruised root to two quarts of water, boiled down to one, a pint to a quart to be drank in the course of the day, as the stom- ach will bear. Or it may be combined with sassafras, guiacum, liquorice, and other arti- cles of a like nature, in decoction or syrup. Sassafras. The bark of sassafras has a fragrant smell and a very agreeable spicy taste. The bark, leaves, and pith abound with a large quantity of mucilage, which is useful in dysentery. A very small quantity of the pith infused in a glass of water, gives to the whole a ropy con- sistence, like the white of an egg, and is an excellent application to sore eyes. The bark bruised, and formed into a poultice with meal, is a powerful antiseptic, applied to mortifying ulcers. Given in infusion or in decoction, it strengthens and improves the tone of the sto- mach and bowels, in persons whose humors are in a vitiated state. The oil applied to tu- mors, wens, and inflammations upon the sur- face, it is said, will generally cure them. In inflammation and mortification of the bowels, it would no doubt be equally as efficacious. Savine. The leaves of savine are applied externally, in the form of powder or infusion, to warts, 5 50 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. carious bones, and old ulcers ; and in cases of itch, gangrene, and scald head. Sage Herb. The leaves of sage have a peculiar aromat- ic smell, and a warm aromatic taste, with some degree of bitterness and astringency. In its effects, sage is stimulant, carminative, sweat- ing, and tonic. In cold habits, it excites the appetite, and proves beneficial in debilities of the nervous system. For these purposes, the dried leaves may be made into a tea and drank. A watery infusion of the leaves with a little lemon juice added thereto, proves an useful diluting drink in febrile disorders, being quite agreeable to the palate. Scullcap. This plant rises about two feet high, grow- ing on the banks of rivers, and the borders of ponds, flowering in July and August. Its stem is square and branched, leaves heart-shaped, scallopped, and opposite, flowers blue, in pairs, growing on the branches. It is said to be a specific against the bite of a mad dog. It was long used with great suc- cess by a man of the name of Lewis, in West- chester County, N. Y. for the bite of mad dogs, who kept it a secret for many years, when it was discovered or divulged. About two oun- ces of the dried herb, when reduced to powder, and divided into several portions is sufficient to cure man or beast, if seasonably given.— FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 51 Lewis gave a dose every other day, and on in- tervening days a portion of brimstone. This course was continued several weeks. Patients were cured with his remedy even after signs of madness began to appear ; but then a larger dose was required. Dr. Beach, of New York city, says he has cured numbers of Chorea, or Saint Vitus's Dance, with an infusion of this herb. It is a good medicine, no doubt, in con- vulsions, lockjaw, and all cases of nervous ir- ritations, either in decoction or infusion. Scabious. This is also called Fleabane Cocash, Frost- weed, es of emetic tartar, amounting in all to five or six grains, are now administered. It is said the powers of life now seemed to yield to the force of the disorder. To many, it may appear that the yielding ofthe vital principle, in these circumstances, was not altogether owing to the force of the disorder. The patient, lying in this feeble, and near- ly exhausted state, is to be still farther tor- mented. Blisters were next applied to his extremities, together with a cataplasm of bran and vinegar to his throat. It is observed that speaking, which was FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 159 painful from the beginning, now became scarcely practicable. When we reflect upon the extreme weakness, to which the patient must, by this time, have been reduced, and that he had both a blister and cataplasm of bran and vinegar to his throat, can we won- der that speaking would be scarcely practi- cable, and that breathing became more and more contracted and imperfect, until after eleven o'clock on Saturday night, when he expired without a struggle. Think of a man being within the brief space of little more than twelve hours, de- prived of SO or 90 ounces of blood ; after- wards swallowing two moderate American doses of calomel, which were accompanied by an injection ; then five grains of calomel and five or six grains of emetic tartar; vapors of vinegar and water frequently inhaled ; blis- ters applied to his extremities ; a cataplasm of bran and vinegar applied to his throat, upon which a blister had already been fixed ; is it surprising that when thus treated, the af- flicted General, after various ineffectual strug- gles for utterance, at length articulated a de- sire that he might be allowed to die without interruption. To have resisted the fatal operation of such Herculean remedies, one should imagine that this venerable old man ought at least to have attained the vigor of his earliest youth. 160 IGNORANT APOTHECARIES. Tb 'VIoTing remarks are from the pen of Dr. Allco!, n regular physician, of Boston. "Do we not often >ee ignorant and vicious men in the apothecary shops of this country, d.-aling out death ana' d-struction to their fel- low citizens ? In the first place, what has been their preparation for this business * Slave they a knowledge of the language in which most^of the articles in the shops are labelled ? So far are they from a'knowledge of the Latin, many have scarcely a knowledge of their own iinti\e language. That a man is able to hold up his head, and put back his shoulders., make a bow, dance, and fiddle is not sufficient. That be is able to sell nos- trums, Chambers', Parker fy Strain's, is not enough either. Physicians make mistakes enough, the best of them. But how often has the faithful physician been pained to find his patient wor>e, unexpectedly, when upon ex- amination he finds out the cause in the error or misconduct of his apothecary ! " Perhaps be had ordered digitalis or val- erian. The apothecary not knowing that they ought to be kept from the air—or not caring—had suffered them to lose half their strength, by being kept in tin boxes. No wonder the recipe should fail ! There is a difference between the whole of a thing and a half; especially when the patient lies pois- ed between time and eternity. Or the doc- 4 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 161 tor orders a dose of calomel and the careless apothecary blunders out arsenic, or sugar of lead! (horrible indeed.) 'Or to make his medicines hold out well, perhaps he adulterates them with flour, or some other harmless substance. For, after all, patients are not so often killed(!) by abun- dant, as by insufficient doses. Some apothe- caries, being indifferent judges of the quality of medicine buy those of inferior strength, or such as have already been adulterated. These are a few only ofthe evils which result to the community either from the ignorance or de- sign of apothecaries." " I would not have touched this subject had I not been fully convinced that it needed investigation. Reform in it is deeply and in- dispensably necessary. How, or where to strike, I will not attempt to say. But the evil exists, and ought to be remedied somehow. Only let the public sentiment be roused to this subject, and the thing will work its way right." "Look at Berlin, the capital of Prussia, with her 250,000 inhabitants, and twenty- eight apothecaries ; and then at Boston, with about one fourth as great a population, and thirty • eight apothecaries or druggists, or about five times as many in proportion to the number of the inhabitants as in the Prussian capital. Whence this disparity ? Is there five times as much dur^ase here as in Berlin? Or do we use five times * much medicine in u* 162 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. Boston, in proportion to the disease? Or are the facilities for pursuing the employment five times greater ? The two last questions, no doubt, suggest the reason why druggists are so numerous with us. Every man who can learn to read an ordinary medical prescription, which by the way is not an easy task—and compare it with the labels of his boxes, and shelves, and jars, thinks himself abundantly qualified to become an apothecary ! no matter how many Hoes are destroyed- by his influence, so he gains a livelihood by his unrighteous—because un- studied—traffic. And though the term quack- ery may by many be deemed inapplkal le here, we know of none.so appropriate. It is certainly nothing short of the grossest empir- icism to deal in substances of whose nature we know so little ; to say nothing of the com- mon practice among druggists and apotheca- ries of making and vending a thousand nos- trums; a practice which we shall endeavor to expose faithfully at another time.' It is astonishing how many persons are still to be found who are ready to risk their lives upon the mistakes of apothecaries. Here it is acknowledged, by a regular doc- tor, that ignorant men are to be found deal- ing out death and destruction to their fellow beings, and that the physician often finds his patient worse by the apothecary's putting up the wrong medicine.—Many lives are thus lost from ignorance or carelessness. Dr. FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 163 Alleot thinks something should be done to put a stop to the evil, but how or where to strike, he will not attempt to say. We think he had better strike at the root of the evil, and prohibit the use of such deadly drugs al- together ; for physicians themselves make many mistakes, the best of them, and there is no other general remedy but to abandon the practice, and substitute that which is safe and salutary for the people. CLEANLINESS. The notion entertained by many persons, that 'dirt is healthy,' probably originated from the fact, that those children who are al- lowed to play in the dirt are often as healthy, and perhaps more so, than those who are confined to the nursery or parlor. But al- though this may be the case, yet if the for- mer class were kept more cleanly, or at least, more frequently washed, they might be still more vigorous than they now are. It is not dirt which promotes their health, but their active exercise in the open air. This is more than sufficient to compensate for the in- jury sustained from the dirt. There is, how- ever, something deceitful, after all, in the ruddy appearance of these children who are left to play in the road or field, without at- tention to cleanliness; for they actually suf- fer more, not only from chronic, but from acute diseases, than children whose parents 164 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. are in better circumstances. We would com- bat a belief in the salutary tendency of an unclean skin, because we know from reason and from fact that it is an error. Every por- tion of the skin is pierced with little holes, which serve as outlets for the fluid of perspi- ration. They are so numerous that we can- not touch the skin with the finest needle, without hitting one of these openings. While a person is in health, there is not a moment, sleeping or waking, in which this fluid, in the form of vapor or mist, is not escaping from the whole surface of our bodies, unless the mouths of these little vessels are blocked up. Now, can these be closed with filth for any length of time, and the subject remain unin- jured ? It is true, that years may pass away before the evil consequences appear. The offices of the skin being interrupted, an in- crease of action is imposed on other parts, particularly the glands, which action is apt to settle into obstinate disease. Hence in later life, scrofula, rheumatism, jaundice, and even consumption, often arise after the evil which first gave rise to them is forgotton, if it were ever suspected. There is another strange notion abroad— that the smell of the earth is beneficial, espe- cially to consumptive persons. But is it not more likely to create consumption than to cure it? No gasses necessary to health are evolved during the decomposition of vegeta- ble matter, but on the contrary, many of FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 165 them tend to induce disease ; and the earths, with their compounds, rarely emit an odor, unless mixed with vegetable matter. An un- cleanly habit is not only unfavorable to health, but to morality. He who neglects his person and dress, will be found lower in the scale of morals, other things being equal, than he who pays a due regard to cleanliness, He who is most guilty of personal neglect, will generally be found the most ignorant and the most vicious. 1 am well acquainted with one whole family, who neglect their persons from principle. They are a sort ofneiv lights in religious concerns, and hold that the true .Christian should 'slight, the hovel as beneath his care.'—But. there is a want of intelligence, and even of common refinement in the fain ly that certainly does not, and cannot add much to their own happiness or recommend religion aside from the fact, that it greatly annoys their neighbors.—We would not recommend any degree of fastidiousness upon the subject, for truth and correct practice usually lie be- tween extremes. But we do and must in- sist that the connection between cleanliness of body and purity of moral character, is much more close and direct than has usually been supposed. PERNICIOUS EFFECTS OF MERCURY. To guard the public against the evils and often fatal consequences of using this danger- 166 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. ous article as medicine, is an object of the greatest solicitude on our part, and will at all times be attended to in our labors to give cor- rect information on the subject of curing dis- ease, or preventing what is a greater evil than the disease itself, the consequences that arise from such a dangerous practice. The following extracts are taken from the writings of James Hamilton, M. D. Fellow ofthe Royal College of Physicians, and Professor of Midwifery in the University of Edinburg. " Among the numerous poisons which have been used for the cure or alleviation of disea- ses, there are few which possess more active, and of course more dangerous powers than mercury. Even the simplest and mildest forms of that material exert a most extensive influ- ence over the human frame, and many of its chemical preparations are so deleterious, that in the smallest doses they speedily destroy life. " Practitioners of the first respectability prescribe, on every trifling occasion, calomel or the blue pill. Thus calomel is now almost the universal opening medicine recommend- ed for infants and children, and a course of the blue pill, (which is one of the mildest preparations of mercury) is advised, without any discrimination, for the cure of trifling ir- regularities of digestion in grown persons. " Dr Falconar of Bath, in a paper inserted in the first volume of the Transactions of the Medical Society of London, dated May, FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 167 1809, has in strong language reprobated this practice, and has pointed out many of the dangerous effects of the indiscriminate use of mercury. His warning voice, howev- er, has not been listened to; for the employ- ment of mercurial medicines has, for several years, become more and more extensive. " In detailing the changes produced upon the system by preparations of mercury, it is necessary to premise the well known fact, that there are some individuals on whom such medicines, though continued for a con- siderable length of time, have little or no per- ceptible influence, unless the activity of their form or the magnitude of their dose, be cal- culated to excite immediate effects. For ex- ample,whatever the constitution ofthe person may be, a very few grains of mercury given in substance, prove rapidly fatal, and large doses ofthe submuriate are quickly followed by vomiting and purging. On the other hand, instances of constitutions which are unsus- ceptible of the influence ofthe ordinary doses and preparations of mercury, are very few in comparison with those which are effected by the smallest quantity of that mineral. " Preparations of mercury, exhibited ei- ther internally or externally for any length of time, increase in general the action of the heart and arteries, and produce salivation, followed by emaciation and debility with an extremely irritable state of the whole sys- tem. 168 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. " These effects of mercury are expressly mentioned, or virtually admitted, by every author, ancient and modern, who has direct- ed its use; and it must appear very extraor- dinary, that their full influence should have been misunderstood, or at least not sufficient- ly regarded. "The first effect enumerated, is an in- creased action ofthe heart and arteries, that is, a more than usually rapid circulation of the blood through every part of the body. This also occurs in feverish and inflammato- ry disorders, and in all is accompanied with an augmentation ofthe animal heat. But in feverish disorders there is neither any appa- rent change upon the sensible qualities of the blood, nor any unusual flow of the ordi- nary secretions ; while in inflammatory affec- tions, the sensible qualities of the blood are materially altered, and either some of the secretions are furnished in greaier abun- dance, or topical congestions, that is, ob- structions in the vessels of particular parts, take place. "Accelerated circulation of the blood in consequence ofthe use of mercury is attend- ed with the most obvious of the circumstan-. ces which arise from inflammation. Blood drawn from the arm ofthe most delicate and debilitated individual, subjected to a course of mercurial medicines, exhibits the same buffy crust with blood drawn from a person laboring under pleurisy, and the secretions FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 169 from the skin or from the kidneys are great- ly increased. "Reasoning upon the subject, it might be concluded, that if there be an inordinate ac- tion of the heart and arteries, attended with an altered state of the blood and with debili- ty, while the increased secretions accompa- nying this inordinate action, have no tenden- cy to allay it, the health must be rapidly undermined ; and if there be ulcerations in any part ofthe body, they must as certainly degenerate into malignant sores, as blistered surfaces or scarifications mortify in cases where the living powers are much exhausted. 11 Experience has proved the reality of such conclusions, but prejudice and inaccurate ob- servation led many practitioners of deserved reputation to attribute those effects of mercu- ry to other causes, till Mr. JVlatthias published his valuable remarks on what he terms the mercurial disease. " I might cite all writers on the Materia Medica," Doctor Falconar says, " for au- thorities that the long continued and frequent use of mercury is not free from danger; that among other ill effects, it tends to produce tumors and paralysis, and not unfrequently incurable mania. I have myself seen repeat- edly, from this cause, a kind of approxima- tion to these maladies, that embittered life to such a degree, with a shocking depression of spirits, and other nervous agitations with which it was accompanied, as to make it is 170 FAMILY PHYSI8IAN. more than commonly probable, that many of the suicides which disgrace our country, were occasioned by the intolerable feelings that result from such a state of the nervous sys- tem. To the truth of these remarks every un- prejudiced physician who has been in exten- sive practice must bear testimony. " Such are the ordinary and well known effects of mercury when given in sufficient quantity to act upon the human body—but in many cases other deviations from health en- sue. "Of those, the most common are excessive diarrhoea, accompanied often with discharges of blood from the bowels. This is so apt to occur in some individuals, even though the mercury be administered by being rubbed upon the surface, that every writer upon lues venera has mentioned this eftect as one ofthe great obstacles to the cure ofthe disease. "The random experiments of speculative physicians upon patients laboring under scrof- ulous affections have proved, that in some ca- ses ulcerations ofthe soft parts, and caries of the bones, originally arising from ill condi- tioned states of the system, are much accel- erated in their progress by mercurial medi- cines. Of this many melancholy examples might be cited. A boy about eleven years old had a sore on one cheek, with an affec- tion ofthe jaw, which were attributed to the mismanagement of a dentist in extracting a carious tooth. A physician was consulted, FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 171 (after the patient had suffered for some months) who immediately prescribed a regu- lar and full course of mercury. In a short time ulcerations in the throat appeared, the nose sunk, and one of the eyes was nearly destroyed, while the general health became so seriously injured that death followed in a few months. Can it be for a moment doubt- ed, that all those morbid changes proceeded from inflammatory action ofthe mercury. " Mental derangement, with eventual fatui- ty, has sometimes followed a course of mer- cury ; and the probable reason why it does not do so more frequently, is, that the irrita- ble state of mind which usually precedes ac- tual derangement, commonly alarms the attendants, and leads to active precautionary measures. " These morbid effects of mercury do not seem to depend entirely upon the quantity or mode of preparation of that medicine which may be administered to the individual, for while it is an established fact, that the mild- est preparations employed externally, if ex- hibited in too large doses, or continued for too great a length of time, are followed by some ofthe bad effects above enumerated, it is also notorious that very small quantities of mercury have suddenly proved equally inju- rious. Thus, in a lady (whom the author at- tended some years ago along with his intel- ligent friend Dr. Farquarson,)who had such small doses of the blue pill, combined with 172 FAMILY THYSICIAN. opium, for three nights successively, that the whole quantity amounted to no more than five grains of the mass, salivation began on the fifth day, and notwithstanding every at- tention, the tongue and gums became swelled to an enormous degree, bleeding ulcers of the mouth and fauces took place, and such excessive irritability and debility followed, that for nearly a whole month her life was in the utmost jeopardy. Every practitioner must have met with similar cases. " Many other instances of violent effects from a small dose of mercury might be cited. "It is universally acknowledged, that al- though the morbid effects of mercury may be induced very suddenly, and by very small quantities of medicine, in certain constitu- tions, there are no marks by which such pe- culiarities of habit can be distinguished, and thsre is no method of arresting their pro- gress." ----♦---- FASHIONABLE MEDICAL PRACTICE. BY A GENTLEMAN OF CONNECTICUT. Having gained a little knowledge ofthe new sys- tem of practice, introduced by Dr. Samuel Thom- son, from some of my friends, and believing it to be more consistent with reason and common sense than that of what I have seen of the more fashionable doctors has led me to reflect much upon an occur- rence which has lately taken place in the town in which I reside, the particulars of which I will relate, as well as I can recollect them. 8515 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 173 In the first place it will be necessary to state, that we had in our town what is called an old fashioned doctor, who had been brought up among us, whose skill had never been doubted, and had always given satisfaction, till two years ago, there came and set- tled among us a young doctor, who had been edu- cated in New Jersey. He had diplomas and recom- mendations from medical colleges, was dressed in the most fashionable style, wore a ruffled shirt, rode in his carriage, was remarkably polite, and in fact there was nothing like the new doctor. The conse- quence was that be was sent for by all who wanted to be thought fashionable, whether needed or not; and our old doctor was entirely neglected. It seem- ed to be thought that a sort of disgrace was attached to those who employed him, for he made use of noth- ing but simple means to cure the sick, dressed no better than other people, rode on horseback, and when not employed in practice, worked on his farm. These things went on for some time without any thing taking place that was thought of consequence, except at the end ofthe year there were some pretty heavy doctor's bills to pay; but as it was for being doctored in a fashionable style, not much was said about it During last season, we were visited in our town and vicinity by an epidemic disease, which has been called by different names by the doctors, to wit, typhus fever, billions fever, and by some spotted fever, such as has prevailed in many parts of the New England States for many years past. The new doctor was sent for, and went to work with his cal- omel, opium, bleeding and blistering. He made but short work of it; for his patients died off rapidly, and in fact scarce one that he attended survived. This caused much anxiety among the people, who began to think that there was something wrong in the new practice, and on reflection thought that they should rather be cured by the old doctor, than die under 174 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. the care ofthe new one, let the practice be ever so fashionable. The consequence was that the old doctor for was sent for, who went to work with his old-fash- ioned mode of treatment, depending on bis own ex- perience, and the knowledge he had of the consti- tutions and habits of the people; when in a siiort time, the sickness abated, and all cause of alarm seemed to be at an end. Not long after this, I happened to meet the young doctor at a public meeting in the village, and feeling something anxious to know his feelings and opinions upon the subject, took the liberty to question him as to the cause of the remarkably bad success he had met with in his practice. He said he could not ac- count for it—the disease seemed to be of a very pe- culiar type ; for with all the remedies he had any knowledge of, he had not been able to make the dis- order yield to medicine. That in his practice, he had gone precisely by the directions laid down in the books. I expressed some doubts of the propriety of persevering in a course, because it is in books, when we find by experience that it kills the patient, in- stead of curing him. He said he knew of no other way. I then told him that the reason he had given reminded me of an affair that happened when I was a boy, which I related as follows. During the revolutionary war, the different towns in our state were called on to furnish recruits for the army as occasion might require; and it was a cus- tom when they were ready to march, to go into the meeting house with their friends, and have prayers offered up to the Almighty for their prosperity and safe return- It so happened on a certain occasion, that there was no clergyman present; and a very old gentleman, of the Episcopalian order, was from ne- cessity requested to officiate, though he was suspect- ed to be a little tinctured with toryism. The old man selected from the Book of Common Prayer what he FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 175 thought proper on the occasion, which he read, and all went on very well, till it crime to that which was for the royal family, praying that the life ofthe king might be preserved, and all his enemies destroyed, &.c. when the people became outrageous, and heat him severely. As soon as he could get a chance to vindicate himself, he told them that the fault was not his, for he had read it exactly as it was in the book. HOW TO GET DYSPEPSIA. Watch the stomach narrowly, after every meal.— Don't be guided in your observations by any fixed principles. If after eating- brown bread, for exam- ple, you clmnce to feel a little uneasiness, do not stop to enquire carefully whether the bread or some- thing else which you have taken is the cause, but denounce it at once, and try some other kind. If any one should remind you that the testimony of human experience is against your decision, do not heed it. How foolish it would be for you, to let such evidence outweigh your own experience— even though the latter should be but one hour in duration. Abandon ardent spirits, but reward yourself for your self-denial by drinking wine, cider, ale, coffee, tea, &c. in large quantities. Abandon animal food, but make up for your ab- stinence in regard to quality, by a great increase of quantity. Be sure to eat two pounds of nutritious bread a day—always hot—besides other things an- suerable thereto; say half a pound of butter, a quar- ter of a pound of cheese, two pounds mince pie, a peck of potatoes, five or six pickles, and a good sized cabbage. Take special care to have your Iwt bread swim in butter; and though you refuse meat, glut yourself with broth, twice a day, well-seasoned with 176 FAMILY PHYSICIAN. spices of all sorts. At the same time, be very spar- ing of exercise. If you use any exercise at all, get into an easy carriage, and let it be closed so tight that not a breath of air or a drop of water can pene- trate it If at any time you should be so vulgar as to walk, always wrap up well, and take care not to swing your arms. To secure the latter purpose, either wrap up in a cloak, so as to appear like a mummy, or carry an umbrella; but the former is pre- ferable. Be very anxious about the rise and fall of stocks and other property ; keep yourself in such a contin- ual worry, that you have neither time nor inclina- tion to eat, drink, or sleep, in a proper manner. If you are a student sit at your books till twelve or one o'clock at night, then eat a hearty supper, and go di- rectly to bed, and be sure to doze in a bag of heated feathers until eight the next morning. If all these directions fail to make you a thorough dyspeptic, then there is no virtue in prescriptions as herein in- dited, which we believe is contrary to all experience, where they have been faithfully and perseveringly tried. FEVER. Are Fevers treated in a proper manner by what are called ' Regular Doctors V Do they treat them so as to remove the cause ? The common treatment is this:—Bleed, blister, give emetics and cathartics, nitre, and cooling things, and keep them from eating if they are hungry, and from drinking if thirsty. What is the effect of all this? One says, I had a fever and was attended by a Regular Doctor ; but ever since my eyes have been very weak. Another, I had a fever, and ever since have been quite hard of hearing. Another, I had a FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 177 fever, and it turned to a sore, called a fever sore, and ever since have been a cripple. Another, I had a fever and ever since have been subject to a violent pain in the head. Another, I had a fever and the doctor gave me mercury, and ever since I have had a pain in my stomach or side ; my countenance pale, my feet and hands cold in warm weather. Is this taking away the cause of the fever ? Can this be called curing the sick person ? No. It is nothing more than shifting the difficulty from one part to another. The doctors consider a person in a fever to have too much heat and therefore give cooling things. Is not this inconsistent ? A person will tell you— he took a violent cold, which caused a fever. Is it reasonable to suppose that in taking this violent cold the quantity of heat is increased—the cold gets the power over the heat, and throws it upon the surface of the body, and every cold mineral that is adminis- tered, increases the cold, protracts the disease, and at last settles down in one spot, attracts the cold from other parts, and there remains a torment to all future life, if not removed. There is no other way to cure a fever, but to in- crease the heat, drive out the cold, open the pores, clear the stomach and bowels, and bring a proper balance in the system ; then the patient is in health, with no torment left behind. NEW ENGLAND THOMSONIAN DEPOT. D. L. HALE, AT HIS ESTABLISHMENT 79 & 81 BIack§tone Street, Boston, ^1 as s . OFFERS FOR SALE, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, AN EXTENSIVE STOCK OF SUPERIOR VEGETABLE MEDICINES, AMONG WHICH ARE THE FOLLOWING, Vi*. African Cayenne, Nerve Powder, Goldenseal, Ginger, Green Lobelia, Brown do. Slippery Elm, Poplar Bark, Fine Bayberry, Coarse do. Unicorn Root, Beth Root, Strengthening Plaster, Adhesive do, Cancer do. Meadow Fern Ointment, Stimulating Liniment, Nipple Shields, Raspberry Leaves, Witch Hazel, Headache Snuff, Healing Salve, hale's thomsonian depot 179 Composition, Cough Balsam, Spiced Bitters, Eye Water, Female Restorative, Volatile Liniment, Anti Dyspeptic Bread, Nerve Ointment, Injection Powder, Sumach Leaves, Cough do. do. Berries, Lobelia Pills, Tincture of Lobelia, Cayenne do. do. Meadow Fern, Sumach do. do. Fir Balsam, Rheumatic Drops, do. Scullcap, Dysentery Syrup, do. Cayenne, Wine Bitters, do. Myrrh, Antispasmodic Tincture, Essences, Nursing Bottles, Volatile Oils, Respirators, Alterative Mixture, Cough Syrup, Ramadge's Tubes. This establishment is the largest, and has a more extensive trade than any one of the kind in America. Medicines are sent from it into all the States, to Mexico, the Brit- ish provinces, Europe, Asia, and Africa. For sale also as above, a large, and exten- sive assortment of Shaker's Herbs, embracing all those kinds used in the Botanic Practice, at a great discount from Shaker's prices, all warranted fresh, and of a superior quality. D. L. Hale's assortment of Syringes is the most extensive in New England, embracing 180 HALE's THOMSONIAN DEPOT. every variety of approved pattern in use. He is now selling at low prices, a splen- did article, manufactured expressly for his es- tablishment, which takes the place of the common syringe and is fully equal to the pa- tent, at half the price. Also a general assortment of Dental in- struments, Trusses, &c. The business at this Depot being now con- ducted entirely on the cash principle, the Proprietor is enabled to sell at such prices, as cannot fail to give entire satisfaction. Ev- ery article warranted pure,and free from adul- teration. Mattson's American Vegetable Practice, Curtis's Obstetics, and other Botanic Works.