THE CHEROKEE PHYSICIAN; O R , INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH, AS GIVEN BT RICHARD FOREMAN, A CHEROKEE DOCTOR; COMPRISING A BRIEF VIEW OF ANATOMY, WITH GENERAL RULES FOR PRESERVING HEALTH WITHOUT THE USE OF MEDICINES. THE DISEASES OF THE UNITED STATES, WITH THEIE SYMPTOMS, CAUSES, AND MEANS OF PREVENTION, ARE EXPLAINED IN SIMPLE TERMS. IT ALSO CONTAINS / A DESCRIPTION OF A VARIETY OF HERBS AND ROOTS, MANY OF WHICH ARB NOT EXPLAINED IN ANT OTHER BOOK, THE MEDICINAL VIRTUES OF WHICH HAVE HITHERTO BEEN UNKNOWN TO THE WHITES; TO WHICH IS ADDED A SHORT DISPENSATORY, JAS. W. MAHONEY. THIRD EDITION. NEWYORK. PUBLISHED BY JAMES M. ED NET. 18 5 7. 1857 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1857, by JAMES M. EDNET, In the Clerk'* Office of the United States District Court, for the Southern District of New York. CONTENTS. PAGE Catnip 275 Chamomile, . . . .275 Clap-Weed, .*.' . . 262 Culsay-tse-e-you-stee, . . 270 Cat-Tongue, .... 260 Comfrey, .... 237 Cedar, 251 Cat-Paw, . . . .241 Cinqucfoil, .... 240 Crane's Bill, .... 239 Chronic Rheumatism, . . 94 Chicken-Pox, . . . .185 Cramp, . . . . . 155 Constant desire to make water, 157 Child-Bed Fever, . . .167 Croup, . . . . .17$ Colic in Infants, . . . 174 Cholera Morbus Root, . . 232 Colombo Root, . . . 220 Camphor-Tree, . . . 200 Calamus, . . . .197 Cathartics, . . . .188 Cholera Infantum, . , . 178 0. Beech-Tree, . . . . 282 Black Sarsaparilla, . . . 283 Buck-Eye, .... 283 Balsam of Fir or Silver Fir- Tree, 284 Blood-Letting, . . . 289 Bear's-Foot, .... 279 Blue-Berry, . . . .275 Bear-Berry, .... 265 Burdock, .... 265 Black Dittany, . . . 250 Bamboo Brier, . . . 241 Balm of Gilead, . . .234 Black Haw, . . . . 232 PA01 Balm, 224 Burns and Scalds, . . .138 Black-Ash Tree, . . .220 Black-Snake Root, . . .217 Boneset, .... 214 Blue-Root, . . . .212 Butterfly Weed, . . .204 Button Snake-Root, . . 203 Black Pepper, . . .202 Blue Flag, . . . .198 Benne Plant, .... 195 Buck-Thorn, .... 194 Butternut, . . . .188 Bealed Jaw, .... 123 Bilious Colic, . . .120 Bloody Urine, . . . 115 Bilious Fever, . . .73 B. Ah-squah-na-ta-quah, . . 266 Anti-Emetics, class of, . . 297 Anthelmintics, . . . 286 Antiseptics, .... 277 Alum Root, .... 243 Agrimony, .... 238 Asafoetida, . . . .276 Astringents, .... 233 Angelica, .... 228 AUspice-Tree, . . . 206 Aloes, 195 American Senna, . . . 192 After Pains, .... 165 Abortion, .... 158 Apoplexy, . . . 107 Ague and Fever, . . .71 Avarice, ... . 83 Anger, 80 Air, 24 Anatomy, .... 9 A. IV CONTENTS, PAGE Common Garden Rue, . . 288 G. Carolina Pink, . . .28*7 Charcoal of wood, . . . 285 Grief, ... .36 Gravel and Stone, . . . 116 Green Sickness, . . . 149 Cathartics, class of, . .188 Clothing, .... 27 Gillenia, . . . .187 Cleanliness, . . . .29 GulverRoot, . . . .191 Garlic, 196 Catarrh or Cold, . . .41 Cholera Morbus, . . .58 Ginger, Race, . . . 201 Cancer, 62 Golden Seal, . . . .229 Consumption, . . . .89 Gentian, . . . .233 Clap, 113 Green Switch, . . . 244 Colic, 119 Golden Rod, . . . .252 Cinnamon-Tree, . . . 206 Ginseng, . . . .273 Green Plantain, . . .278 D. Glossary, .... 301 Dropsy, 47 H. Dyspepsia, . . . .51 Hatred, 32 Diarrhoea, . . . .55 Deafness, .... 105 Hemorrhoids, or Piles, . . 56 Hope, 35 Diseases of the Skin, . .126 Hooping-Cough, . . . 142 Diseases of Pregnancy, . .153 Diabetes, . . . .119 Heart-Burn, . . . .156 Horse-Radish, . . .224 Dwarf Bay, . . . .204 Horn-Bean, . . . .242 Dog Fennel, . . . .214 Dogwood, . . . .221 Heart-Leaves, . . • 248 Horse Mint, . . . .253 Dewberry, .... 236 Highland Big Leaf, . . 262 Diuretics, .... 253 Dispensatory, . . . 290 Hop-Vine, . . . .263 Hyssop, 271 Diuretic Pills, . . .290 Highland Fern, . . .284 Diuretic Powders, . . . 290 Diaphoretics, class of, . . 292 I. Diseases of Children, . .170 Influenza, . . . .43 Inflamation of the Brain, . 79 EL " of the Stomach, . 81 Exercise, . . . .25 " of the Intestines, . 82 Envy, 32 " of the Kidneys, . 84 Ear-Ache, . . . .105 " of the Bladder, . 85 Epilepsy, . . . .106 " of the Spleen, . 86 Emetics, class of, . . .180 " of the Liver, . 87 Elecampane, . . . . 268 Inflammatory Rheumatism, . 94 Emetics, . . . .293 Itch, 129 Imperforation of the Hymen, . 146 F. Injections, or Clysters, . .179 Fit-Root, . . . .273 Ipecacuanha, . . . .181 Flax-Seed, . . . .257 " American, . . 182 Fennel, . . . .230 Indian Physic, . . .183 Food and Drink, . . .28 Indian Fever Root, . . 187 Fear, 84 Indian Turnip, . . .201 Flux, 54 Iron Filings, . . . .232 Felon, or Whitlow, . . 67 Iron Weed, . . . 242 Falling of the Palate, . . 97 Indian Cup-Plant, . . . 245 Fractures, .... 140 Indian Hemp, . . . 257 Flooding, . . . .158 Indian Balm, . . . .281 False Pains, . . . .158 Falling of the Womb, . .169 J. Flux Weed, . . . .194 Joy, 86 CONTENTS, V Pi OB Plan Jaundice, ... .96 Pleurisy, . . . . 45 Jerusalem Oak, . . . 286 Poisons, 98 Pox, 110 K. Palsy, 124 Knott Root 243 Pregnancy, signs of, . . 153 L. Peach-Tree, . . . .190 Love, 87 Pine, 208 Locked Jaw, . . . .121 Prickly Ash, . . . .219 Labor, 159 Persimmon, . . 237 Lochial Discharges, . .165 Prince's-Feather, . . . 238 Lobelia, 184 Pennyroyal, .... 246 Lettuce, 212 Peppermint, .... 248 Long Root, .... 251 Penny-worth, .... 252 Liquorice, .... 269 Pumpkin, .... 259 Lungwort, . . . .271 Parsley, 260 Lynn-Tree, . . . .278 Poor Robin's Plantain, . . 262" Piney "Weed, .... 267 Liver Wort, . . . .272 M. Puccoon, red,.... 268 Mineral Poisons, . . .100 Poke Weed, .... 282 Plaster for Blisters, . . 299 Milk-Sick, . . . .101 Measles, . . . .136 Phthisic, . . . .68 Motherwort, .... 207 Q. Mountain Dittany, . . . 250 Queen of the Meadow, . . 260 Maiden Fern, . . . .272 Milk Weed, . . . .272 R. Moccasin Flower, . . . 274 Rheumatism, . . . .93 Mumps, 137 Rupture, or Hernia, . . 92 Menstruation, .... 143 Ring-Worm, . . . .129 Menses, retention of, . . 145 Red Gum, .... 172 " suppressed, or obstructed, 147 Rhubarb, . . . .189 Menstruation, painful, . . 148 Red Pepper, .... 202 " profuse, . . 150 Rosin Weed, .... 208 Menses, cessation of, . . 151 Raspberry, .... 241 Milk Fever, . . . .166 Red Root, . . . .242 Meconium, retention of,. . 170 Rattle Weed, . . . .247 May Apple, . . . .193 Rheumatic Ointment, . . 298 Moor Wort, . . . .198 Rush, 255 Mistletoe, . . . .199 Rattle-Snake's Master, . 267 Mulberry, . . . .194 Mustard, white and black, . 223 S. Sleep, 26 Mullen, . . . . .281 Scrofula, or King's Evil, . 60 N. Scarlet Fever, . . .77 Never Wet, .... 234 Snake Bite, . . . .98 Nervine, class of, . . . 296 Sting of Insects, . . . 100 Nervous Fever, . . .75 Scurvy, . . . . ' . 103 Nervous Colic, . . . 121 Scald Head, . . . .127 Shingles, . . . .130 O. St. Anthony's Fire, . . .181 Onions, 270 Sore Legs, . . . .64 Oak, white, red, black, . . 235 Small Pox, . . . .132 Oo-na-stah-lah-cah-tsee-le-skec, 230 Sickness of the Stomach, . 154 P. Swelled Legs, . . .167 Pain in the Head, . . .155 Stoppage or Suppression of Urine, . . . .157 Passions, . . . .30 Pulse, 39 Swelled Breasts, . . .166 VI CONTENTS. PAOH PAOH Sore Nipples, . - . .166 u. Swelled Leg, . . . .156 Ulcere, 62 Snuffles, . . . . . 172 Unnatural Presentations, . 163 Sore Eyes, . . . . 172 Urine, retention of, . .171 Sudorifics and Diaphoretics, . 244 V. Seneka Snake Root, . . 244 Spice Wood, . . . .246 Venereal, .... 108 Shell Bark Hickory, . . 248 Vegetable Poisons, . .100 Spear Mint, . . . .248 Vaccination, . . . .134 Vervain, . . . .186 Strawberry, .... 253 Smart Weed, . . . .256 Vinegar, . . . .286 Sumach, 257 Silk Weed, . . . .258 W. Southern Yaupon, . . . 264 Wild Mercury, . . .267 Slippery Elm, . . . .211 White Hoarhound, . . .271 Sheep Sorrel, Wild Sorrel, . 2*78 Sassafras, .... 280 White Swelling, . . .65 Wen, 125 Swamp Lily, .... 284 Wounds and Cuts, . . . 141 Spruce Pine, .... 283 Whites, or Fluor Albus, . .151 Styptics, .... 300 Worms, . . . . .177 Stimulants, . . .196 White Snake Root, . . 205 Sage, . . . • .199 Wild Ginger, . . . .207 Seven Bark, . . . .200 Wild Wet-Fire, . . .209 Saffron, 203 White Poppy, . . .210 Spikenard, . . . .215 Wild Cucumber, . . .218 Sampson Snake Root . . 21*7 Sourwood, .... 220 White Sarsaparilla, . . 227 Wild Hoarhound, . . .227 Star Root, . . . .222 Willow, . .. . .230 Snake Head, . . . .228 Wild Cherry-Tree, . . .231 Solomon's Seal, . . . 229 Water Plantain, . . . 239 Sweet Gum-Tree, . . . 236 White Hickory, . . .248 Skervish Frost Root, . . 240 Winter Clover, . . .250 Water Big Leaf, . . . 253 T. White Elder, . . . .259 Tooth-Ache, . . . .122 Wild Potato, .... 261 Tetter Worm, . . .128 Wild Ratsbane, . . • 265 Twins, 164 Wormwood, .... 288 Thrush, 173 Wild Indigo, . . . .285 Tonics, 213 Tag Alder . . . .213 Y. Tansy, 219 Yellow Fever, . . .76 Tobacco, .... 254 Yellow Gum, . . . . 173 Twin Leaf, .... 261 Yellow Poplar, . . . 225 Tar . . . . .272 Yellow Sarsaparilla, . . 226 The' China-Tree, . . .286 Yarrow, 239 Tonics, class of, 294 Yellow Dock, .... 280 INTRODUCTION. Every new publication on this, as well as other subjects, should have some grounds upon which it can set up its claim to a share of public patronage and support. Had I not believed that this work contained something new and useful, I would not have published it. But, believing as I do, that the "healing art," as known and practised by the Cherokee Indians, would be welcomely received by many; and having personally tested the efficacy of their remedies, in the cure of diseases after such remedies as are usually prescribed by the whites had been tried and had utterly failed to effect a cure, I have been induced to commit this system to paper. I am sensible that, in so doing, I expose myself to the animadversion of the critics. I am also sensible (to some extent) of the prejudice which prevails in the minds of many, against Medical works, which are not decked in the flowery drapery of a fine and ornamented style and technical lore. Believing, as I do, that medicine should not be merely a study of curious inquiry, but one of the deepest interest to every son of mortality, I have endeavored to adorn it with plain practical sense, rather than with the fascinating decorations of high sounding, unmeaning names, and technical phrases. Those who will take the pains to read and study, will soon be convinced that the All-wise Creator, in the infinitude of his mercy, has furnished man with the means of curing his own diseases, in all the climates and countries of which he is an inhabitant; and that a knowledge of the means of curing all common diseases, is not so difficult to obtain as has been generally represented. VIII 1NTKODU0TION. The really valuable materials in medicine, and those which act with the greatest promptitude and power, in the cure of diseases, are few and simple, and easily to be procured in all countries. The Aborigines of our country found the means of mitigating and curing their diseases, in the uncultivated wilds which gave them birth; they knew nothing of foreign drugs, but with roots, herbs, and plants found in their own country, they mitigated and cured the diseases most common to that country. That their knowledge of the medicinal properties of the roots and herbs common in the American forest, is superior to that possessed by the whites, will hardly be denied. Neither will it be denied by those acquainted with their success, in treating disease, that they have, in mai:y instances, performed cures, by means of roots, herbs, and plants, after the usual remedies prescribed by white physicians had failed. The articles employed by them in the cure of diseases, are simple, and principally such as can be procured in almost any part of the United States. The time is not far distant, when most, if not all the diseases of our country, will be healed without the use of calomel and mercurial preparations, and when foreign drugs will be disused by administering physicians. My principal design, in the publication of this work, is to lay before the heads of families, the means of guarding against diseases, and also such remedies as are best calculated to arrest diseases in their incipient, or forming stages. I have labored to give such instruction, with regard to the nature and symptoms of diseases, as will enable the reader to determine with some degree of accuracy, when the aid of a skillful physician is really necessary, and also to distinguish the man of practical science and wisdom, from the ignorant pretender, and the assuming quack. With these remarks, I submit the work to the inspection of a liberal and enlightened American people. The impartial and intelligent reader will doubtless award to it its due portion of merit, and overlook its deficiencies. THE CHEROKEE PHYSICIAN. PART ONE. CHAPTER I. ANATOMY. Anatomy treats of the structure of the human body, its various organs, and their use. Practical Anatomy is the dissecting or dividing of the organized substances, to exhibit the structure, situation, and uses of the parts. Those wishing to practise surgery, will find that subject discussed at length in books that treat on that alone. A knowledge of Anatomy is indispensable to him who would become either a safe or a skillful Surgeon ; but to a practical Physician, in the treatment of diseases, it is of little value, comparatively speaking. But as this work is designed for all who may see proper to give it a perusal, and not limited to the use of any in particular, it is reasonable to suppose that some will be pleased, and perhaps benefited, by this part of the work. A minute and extensive treatise on Anatomy will not be expected by the intelligent reader, in a work of this kind. But I will endeavor to give the outlines of the whole human system, in a plain and concise manner. This short treatise on this subject will be sufficient to enable the heads of families, and others, who practise under the directions of this book, to ascertain with some degree of accuracy, the seat of disease, and I* 9 10 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. also to enable them to return, to its proper place, a dislocated joint; and this is all that the writer believes, will be worth its room in this work. OKGANS OF THE HUMAN BODY AND THEIR USES. The most natural general divisions of the human body, are: 1. The head {Cranium.) 2. The body {Trunk.) 3. The legs, feet and hands {upper and lower extremities.) These general divisions are composed of bones, muscles, glands, ligaments, cartilages, tendons, nerves, bloodvessels, absorbents, and the brain and spinal marrow. Sub-Divisions.—The body {Trufik) is divided into two cavities: 1. The breast {Chest or Thorax.) 2. The belly {Abdomen.) The breast {thorax) and belly {abdomen) are separated \>j a strong membrane, called the midriff or diaphragm, which will be described hereafter. The upper division, breast, {thorax,) contains the heart and lungs, called the thoracic viscera/ and the lower division, belly, {abdomen,) contains the stomach, kidnevs, liver, intestines, etc., called 'abdominal viscera. The bones will now be taken into view. They may properly be considered as the braces of the human frame—they give to it shape, stature and firmness. The number of bones in the human body is estimated at two hundred and forty-eight. Of these, sixty-three are in the head; fifty-three in the trunk; sixty-eight in the upper extremities, or arms, and sixty-four in the lower extremities. This estimation includes the four sesamoid bones in the great toes, and the four sceamoid bones in the thumbs, which are not always found. Skull— {Cranium.) —The skull contains the eight following bones: One in the forehead— osfrontis. Two temple bones — ossa temporalia. Two walls, or sides— ossa parietalia. One full of holes— os ethmoides. One wedge-like form— os spenoides. One back of the head— os occvpitis. 11 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. The oe frontis is the bone of the forehead, reaching from its upper edge downwards, so as to include the upper part of the eye sockets, and backwards on each side, so as to join the temple bones. The temple bones join the walls, or sides, and the forehead. The os ethmoides, or bone full of holes, is a very curious bone, situated on the inside of the head, or rather forehead. It is a light spongy bone, having somewhat the appearance of net-work. The os spenoides, or bone of wedge-like form, spreads across the inside of the head, and attaches itself to fourteen other bones. The os occipitis is the hind part of the head, and joins the neck bone; it is a very thick but uneven bone. It supports the hind part of the brain, and through it passes the marrow of the neck and back, called the spinal marrow. All the preceding bones are joined together by seams, which in appearance resemble saw-teeth. The face is next in order, in which are many small bones. It has six bones on each side ; and they all have seams similar to those of the skull, only smaller. The nose bones, ossa nasi, are the two bones which form the nose, and meet together by two thin edges, without any indentations. The upper jaw bones, ossa maxillaria superior a, which are large, and form the basis of the face. They extend upwards, and form the side of the nose, and they send backward a kind of plate that makes the roof of the mouth. A circular projection below makes the sockets for the teeth. The Yomer, a plough-share, completes the nose. The cheek bone, os maloe, is the nigh bone that forms the cheek. The lower jaw-bone, os maxillae inferioris, has but two joints, those under each ear. The spine, or back-bone, comes next in order. This is a long line of bones, extending from the back of the head to the end of the body. It has twenty bones, or joints, called vertebra. The neck: part has seven joints, vertebra ; the back twelve, and the loins live —making in all twenty-four separate bones, In some persons the neck has eight pieces, the back eleven, an,d th$ loins six. Some persons, with very short necks, only have live pieces in the neck, and the number made up in the 12 mm ATT GUIDE TO HEALTH. loins. The same marrow runs from the back of the head to the lower end of the spine. Shoulder Blade— (Scapula.) —The shape and situation of this bone is so well known that it needs no explanation. It is not connected to the trunk by ligaments, but has several muscular substances between it and the trunk. Collar Bone— {Clavicle.) —This is perhaps the strongest bone in the system, to its size. It is placed at the lower part of the neck, and reaches from the upper part of the breast bone to the point of the shoulder. It is fastened by gristly substances, cartilages, and rolls with ease on any exertion of the breast and shoulder. Upper Bone of the Arm— (Os Humeri.) —This bone has a cylindric form, but at the lower end it is twisted and flattened a little. This flatness joins it to the elbow in a hinge-like form, so that the joint has but one direction of moving. At the shoulder it has a large round head, which enables it to turn in every direction. On the top of the head, this bone, though circular, is nearly flat, and has but a very shallow cavity to turn in ; consequently it is a very weak joint to its size, and easily dislocated. Lower Part of the Arm — (Radius and Ulna.) —The lower part of the arm, from the elbow to the wrist, has two bones in it. The main bone has its largest end downwards, joining the wrist next to the thumb, while the little end is upwards, lying on the ulna, where the ulna joins the large bone of the arm at the elbow. The radius gives all turning motions to the wrists. It is a stronger bone than the ulna, and is somewhat arched in its shape. The upper end of this bone is small, of a button-like shape, and is joined both with the large bone and the ulna. This- bone gives more strength than the ulna to that part of the arm, particularly to the wrist. The Ulna, or Elbow— (a measure.) —By this bone we perform all the actions of bending and extension. It is of a triangular form, and is so firmly attached to the upper bone of the arm (os humeri) that it allows no lateral or side motion. Bones of the Hand and Fingers.—The wrist bones are eight in number. They are situated between the 13 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. end of the arm bones and the bones of the hand; they are very short, and are bound together very strongly, by cross ligaments, and closely compressed together, so as to form a ball-like figure, each having separate ends or joints; there are five bones between the wrist and fingers ; they start out from the wrist, each one extends to its finger respectively; they are all nearly straight round bones, without joints, tolerably large and very strong; the fingers all have three joints, the thumb has two. The Breast Bone — (Sternum.) —This bone lies exactly in the front part of the breast. It is a light spongy bone. In children, and in some to the age of five or six years old, this bone consists of eight distinct pieces, which in old persons become one solid bone; they are a little hollowed at the upper end, and on each upper corner it has a joining or articulating hollow, at which place the ends of the collar bones are fastened by strong ligaments. Each side of this bone is so formed as to receive all the ends of the ribs on their respective sides. The Ribs.—There are twelve ribs on each side of the breast or chest, corresponding in number with the vertebrae, or joints, in that part of the spine, or back-bone. Seven are called line ribs, because they join the breastbone : the other five are vulgarly called short ribs, but by anatomists false ribs, because they do not join the breast-bone; the ribs are connected with the breastbone with cartilages, and to the back-bone by joints. Bones Belonging to the Basin — (Pelvis.) —This part is formed of very strong, firm bones, standing in a kind of arch between the main trunk and the lower extremities. Each bone is large, and affords large strong sockets for the thigh bones. In grown persons it contains four bones: the os sacrum, the os coccygis, and the two ossa innominata. The os sacrum and the os coccygis is called the false spine, or column; the point of them runs downwards, and the largest part is upwards. It runs along that part of the system vulgarly called the rump. Os coccygis (cuckoo's bill) is the lower end of the back-bone. It tapers from the os sacrum, or rump-bone, to its termination, so as to form a sharp point. It is a little crooked and flattish, so as to support the lower gut, (rectum,) 14 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. bladdei and womb ; it is very flexible, and recedes, in time of labor with women, so as greatly to facilitate the passage of the child's head ; and when labor is over, it returns to its proper position without difficulty. The two ossa innominata, or nameless bones, are two great bones that make the two sides of the basin, or pelvis. The os ilium is the greatest part of these bones. It extends up in a sort of wing from the pelvis, or basin, and is covered with the muscles that move the thighs. The hip-bone, (os ischium,) lies directly under the flank-bone, (os ilium,) and is the lowest point of the basin or pelvis, vulgarly called the buttock, being the point on which we sit. The share-bone, (os pubis,) is the smallest piece belonging to the nameless bones, (ossa innominata.) It completes the front part of the brim of the basin, (pelvis.) Thigh Bone — (Os Femoris.) —This is the largest, longest, and most cylindrical bone belonging to the human anatomy. It joins the hip in a way that gives it strength. It is very hard to dislocate, or put in place. It has a regular bend from nearly one end to the other; the bending side being towards the front of the thigh : this is the strongest joint in the body. The leg bones, two in number, called by anatomists Tibia and Fibula. The tibia is the largest of the two leg bones, and is situated on the inside part of the leg. It is of a triangular form, with the upper end somewhat flattened ; the fibula is on the outside of the tibia, and makes the outward lump of the ankle. The Knee Pan— (Rotella or Patella.) —Is a small roundish bone, tolerably thick; it is attached to the tubercle of the tibia by very strong ligaments. Instep or Ankle— (Tarsus.) —The ankle is composed of seven bones, which lie between the leg and foot. They are bound together by ligaments, in a manner similar to those of the wrist. One of them forms the heel, and is called the heel bone, (Os calcis.) There are five bones between the ankles and toes ; they join the ankles and toes in a similar manner to the hand bones. I have now described the shape and position of such bones as are most liable to dislocation and injury: the next subject will be the internal parts of the human system. 15 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. THE BRAIN. The brain is the great sensorium of the system, and has a communication through the nerves with the whole body. It receives all impressions made upon any of the organs of sense, and is really the seat of sensation. It is nere that all the impressions made upon the organs of sense are manufactured into ideas. But in what manner the brain performs this, or what connection it has with the mind, is a mystery in which the researches of physiologists, and the deductions of metaphysicians, have hitherto been unable to reflect any light. " The most, or in fact all that is known on the subject is, that the mind acquires all its ideas of external objects through impressions made by these objects on the organs of sense. These impressions are conveyed to the brain by the nerves, and produce what is called sensation, which, is the passive reception of the image of the archetype, or pattern of the idea upon the brain, and in some unknown manner the perception is conveyed to the mind." The brain is situated in the upper cavity of the head. It is divided into two grand divisions, which are called: 1. The seat of imagination— cerebrum. 2. The seat of animal spirits— cerebellum. There are several other smaller divisions. " The brain is larger in man than any other known animal. Its general weight is from two pounds five and a half ounces, to three pounds three and three-quarter ounces ; many, however, weigh four pounds. The brain of Lord Byron (without its membranes) weighed six pounds." The spinal marrow is only a continuation of the substance of the brain, through the cavity of the spine or back-bone. The Tongue— (Lingua.) —The tongue is composed of small muscular fibres; it is coursed with little reddish pimples, which are the ends, or terminations of nerves; it is the impression made on these nerves that produces that pleasurable sensation called taste. The "Wind-Pipe— (Trachea.) —This is a rough canal, through which the air passes from the mouth to the lights (lungs) in breathing. It lies in front of the swallow, (esophagus,) and everything taken into the stomach 16 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. passes directly over the mouth of the wind-pipe ; but it has a kind of lid, or valve, that shuts or closes over it in the act of swallowing, (deglutition.) At or near the lungs it forks, or branches off, so as to convey the air into the lungs. The Lights— (Lungs.) —The lungs are situated in the chest (thorax.) The thorax, or chest, is lined with a smooth, shining membrane, denominated the pleura, which is the seat of, and gives name to the Pleurisy. The pleura forms two distinct apartments in the chest, two sides of which meeting, attach to the inner edge of the spine, or back-bone, and reaching from thence to the breast-bone, form the partition called the mediastinum. The lungs are divided into two lobes, or portions, and situated, one in the right and the other in the left side of the breast, in the above named apartments. They join the wind-pipe, trachea, in the upper part of the breast. They are attached to the heart by the pulmonary vessels. They are full of little tubes, which communicate with the external atmosphere through the wind-pipe. The most important, and perhaps the only function of the lungs, is that of breathing, respiration, which is simply inhaling the air into the lungs, and expelling it from them. The Heart.—The heart is situated in the chest, or thorax, near the centre of the human body, with its main base placed a little on the right of the back-bone, and its point standing obliquely to the sixth rib, on the left side. As it lies in this oblique position, its under side, or surface, is in contact with the diaphragm. It is so placed between the arteries and veins as to regulate their relative action, in propelling the blood through the arteries, and receiving it through the veins. It is divided into two cavities, which are distinguished by the names of right and left ventricles. There are two other hollow muscles, denominated auricles. The heart possesses the power of dilating and contracting, which is technically denominated the systole and diastole motion. By this operation it first receives the venous blood into its cavities, and then forces it into the arteries, by which it is carried to every part of the body. This motion continues day and night, awake or asleep, during 17 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. the whole period of our lives. The number of these motions, in a given period, is modified or governed by age, or by disease. In infancy the number is greatest, being from one hundred and thirty to one hundred and forty; in manhood from seventy to eighty; in old age, from fifty-five to sixty-five, in a minute. Most inflammatory diseases stimulate the muscles of the heart, and accelerate its motion. It is this power that rolls the " precious fluid " of life through every channel in the system with the constancy of a perennial fountain. " While the vital spark remains, the Heart, with untiring assiduity, plies the wheels of life, nnfatigued with its ceaseless labor, and is neither lulled into stupidity by the torpor of sleep, nor decoyed into remissness by the enchantment of pleasure." It performs two circulations at the same time: that with the lungs, and that with the body. From the lungs it receives nothing but pure blood, and to the body it sends out such as is fit for its support. The Swallow— (Esophagus.) —There is a canal or tube, commencing at the mouth, and running downwards to the stomach, which it joins, and into which it empties the food. It lies close to the back-bone, behind the wind-pipe, and passes through the diaphragm. The Diaphragm, or midriff, is a muscular substance, composed of two muscles ; the upper one of which originates at the breast bone, and at the ends of the last ribs on each side : The second muscle starts at the backbone of the loins ; it is covered on its under side by the peritoneum, and on the upper side with a pleura. The gullet, great run, and several other vessels, pass through the diaphragm. The Liver— (Hepar.) —The liver is situated immediately below the diaphragm to which it is attached. It is the largest organ in the system: it is divided into two principal lobes, the right of which is much the largest: the liver is connected with the gall bladder, (bile,) and billiary vessels ; its office appears to be that of secreting the bile from the blood, which is necessary in the digestion of food. A portion of the bile is regularly thrown through the vessels of the liver and gall bladder, into the stomach. The gall bladder, vesicula fellis, is attached to the liver, and lies in a cavity of the liver, on the under side. 18 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. It is of an oblong form, and appears to be for the purpose of containing the bile, until the proper time for it to be thrown into the stomach :—the bile is conveyed from the gall bladder into the first portion of the small intestines, called duodenum, and from thence into the stomach. The Stomach — (Stomachus.) —The stomach is a large membranous substance, of an oblong, bag-like 6hape. Its most important use is to receive the maisticatefl food, and retain it until the process of digestion is .so far completed as to reduce the food to a pulpy, semi-fluid mass, called chyme. When digestion is so far advanced as to convert the food into chyme, (pronounced kime) it is poured into the duodenum, where it mixes with the pancreatic juice. From this mass, the absorbent vessels, called lacteals, obtain a white opake fluid termed chyle (pronounced kile.) Digestion is principally effected by the solvent powers of the gastric juice, which is a fluid secreted in the stomach. The solution of the food by the gastric juice is supposed to be a chemical process decomposing it, and separating it into its elementary principles. The stomach may justly be considered one of the most important organs in the animal economy. The Milt.— (Spleen.) —This is not a vital part, as the other organs are which have just been described. It has been removed from both man and beast without the least apparent injury. It is attached to the stomach, and lies mostly on the left side. The caul fat (omentum) is situated under the membran — peritoneum, that lines the belly, and above the intestines, it is a white, gauzy looking substance, it assists in forming the bile, serves to guard the internal parts against cold—lubricates and softens such parts as are connected with it, and in a state of starvation it supports the system. This is one reason why a fat animal can sustain life so long without food. It is very beautiful, and rather singular in its appearance ; it resembles a white piece of fine net-work, that had been carelessly tossed down in a half folded position. The pancreas—a flesh organ—is situated under the stomach. It is of an irregular oblong form, by some compared to a dog's tongue. It is composed of glands, INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 19 veins, nerves and little ducts or vessels, also something of a fleshy consistence. Its use appears to be that of secreting the juice that is to be mixed with the chyle. Intestines or Guts— (Intestinum.) —The intestines comprehend the whole tube, from the stomach to the fundament; their office is to receive all the food—retain it according to the laws of nature, and then pass off the crude or excrementitious part, according to the same. The Kidneys.—The kidneys are situated outside of the lining of the belly, near the back-bone, and on each side : they are of a dull red color: it is their province to secrete the urine from the blood. Each kidney receives a large artery, which proceeds immediately from the aorta : and a vein issuing from each kidney, returns the blood to the vena cava, after its superabundance of water has been separated from it. The urine is first secreted or collected in them, and excreted or thrown out, through the two canals called ureters, into the bladder. The ureters are about the size of a small goose quill. The kidneys are subject to derangement in the performance of their office, in two ways: First, the secretion may be checked, and a proper quantity of fluid not be carried off: and secondly, its secretion may be too active, and carry off too much of the fluids. The Bladder—( Vesica Urinari Cystis.) —The water bladder lies in the front part of the abdomen, within the basin. Its office is to receive the water, or urine, which is collected in the kidneys, through the ureters; the urine is next discharged by the neck of the bladder, through the urinary canal (urethra) which reaches from the neck of the bladder, to the end of the privates. The muscles at the neck of the bladder are possessed of very strong contractile powers, by which the bladder is enabled to retain the urine tne natural length of time. Nerves.—The nerves are small white fibres : they all have their origin in the brain and spinal marrow : those which issue from the brain, are called cerebral, and are the organs of sensation : it is their province to convey impressions to the brain from all parts of the system— those issuing from the marrow of the spine, are termed 20 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. spinal; it is their province to communicate the power of motion to the muscles. The nerves all issue in pairs ; there are usually reckoned forty pair of nerves, nine of which have their origin in the brain, and thirty-one in the spinal marrow. It is by means of those that issue from the brain, that we hear, see, taste, smell and feel; or in other words, they convey to the brain, the impressions received by the five organs of sense, in the act of seeing, feeling, hearing, tasting and smelling. A cord of nerves accompanies every artery tolerably close. It is supposed that each fibre of the nerves, is a canal or tube, through which the nervous fluids pass and communicate with each other, similar to the blood vessels. The Arteries— (Arteria.) —The arteries are two in number: First, the great artery, aorta: second, the artery of the lungs, (pulmonary artery.) The great artery aorta, originates at the left venticle or cavity of the heart, and is the greatest blood vessel in the body:— the pulmonary artery starts from the right cavity of the heart; all otners are nothing more than branches of these :—the blood is thrown out from the heart through the arteries, to every part of the body. As the blood passes through the arteries, the absorbent vessels of every part of the system, receive their respective portions of the nutritious properties of the blood. The arteries gradually become smaller as they proceed from the heart, and terminate in veins through the capillary vessels: these little vessels connect the arteries and veins:—the arteries are susceptible of considerable dilation and elongation, which takes place when the blood is forced into the aorta by the contraction of the heart, and when the action of the heart ceases, the eftort of the artery to return to its usual dimension, keeps a constant motion of the blood along the arteries, during the dilation of the heart to receive another portion of blood, which by the contraction of the heart, is again driven into the aorta, and thus the vital tide is kept in motion. The aorta has a valve at its orifice, or opening into the heart, which readily admits the passage of the blood from the heart into the artery, but prevents its return from the artery into the heart:—the blood when it leaves the heart is of a bright red color, but as it returns through the veins to the heart, is of a dark purple color. 21 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. The Veins.—All have their origin or commencement at the ends of the arteries as I before stated: —the veins as they proceed from the extremities toward the heart become larger by numerous branches intercepting each other and uniting, until they are all concentrated in two canals, termed vena cava. The veins have no pulsation as the arteries have; but in them the blood moves smoothly and slowly on; it is forced through the veins by a contractile power which they possess; and as the blood has mostly to run upwards in the veins, they are supplied with little valves, similar to those of a force-pump, so that as the blood ascends in the veins, the lid (valve) gives way till the blood passes, then shuts or closes the place, so that no blood can fall back. The blood in passing through the lungs undergoes a great change ; when it enters the lungs, it is of a dark purple color, but when it leaves them and returns to the heart, it is of a bright red color: this change is produced by the air inhaled into the lungs. The blood in passing through the numerous delicate vessels in the lungs, absorbs oxygen from the air; and the air abstracts carbon from the blood. When the air is exhaled from the lungs, a great portion of its oxygen has disappeared, and carbon is found in its place:—the blood supplied with oxygen and relieved from its superabundance of carbon, is essentially revived, and sets out again, to distribute its fresh supply of nutrition and stimulus, to the different parts of the system. The Muscles.—These serve to perfect the form, and complete the symmetry of the body; but their most important use is, to act upon the bones and produce animal motion; they terminate at the ends in gristly substances, by which they are fastened to the various parts of the system. Each muscle consists of a distinct portion of flesh, and has the power of contraction and relaxation; they are all in pairs, except nine; there are reckoned one hundred and ninety-eight pairs in the human system; this estimation makes the number of muscles four hundred and five. The Glands.—The glands are composed of bloodvessels, nerves, and absorbents. They are distinguished, according to the nature of their fluid contents, into 22 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. mucous, sebaceous, lymphatic, lacrymal, and salival glands. The mucous glands are situated in the nose, back part of the mouth, throat, stomach, intestines, bladder, etc., and secrete (which means, to separate from the blood) mucus, for the purpose of moistening all the internal surfaces that need moisture. The sebaceous glands are situated in the arm-pits, face, pubes, etc.; they secrete an oily substance. The lymphatic glands are situated in the arm-pits, mesentery, groin, etc. The salival glands are situated about the root of the tongue and angle of the jaw; they secrete the substance called saliva, or spittle, which is discharged into the mouth. The lacrymal glands are situated above the outer corners of the eyes; they secrete the fluid called tears, which serves to moisten the eyes, and aid in expelling any extraneous matter from them. Grief, and sometimes joy, operates, in some unknown manner, on the lacrymal glands, so as to produce a copious flow of the lacrymae, or tears. Breasts of Females — (Mammae.) —The breasts of females are, also, regarded as glandular bodies; they are composed of a vast number of small ducts, or vessels, which secrete the milk from the blood. The vessels which secrete the milk, as they approach the nipple, fall into each other, and form eight or ten large tubes, which are so admirably connected, that if anything obstructs the passage of the milk, through one of these, it is discharged through the others, without inconvenience. Joints, Gristles— (Cartilages.) —The joints (articulations) are fastened together with white gristly substances, called cartilages; they are of the same texture and nature of the sinews and tendons; they are very strong and lasting. Joint Water— (Synovia.) —This is a kind of oily substance that is contained in the joints, for the purpose of lubricating them; it greatly facilitates their motion ; but if this juice, or synovial water, be extracted or discharged, by a cut, or otherwise, it never can be restored, but the joint will remain stiff. INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 23 The Sinews— (Tendons.) —By anatomists, the sinews, or leaders, are called the terminations or extremities of the muscles. They are white, gristly substances, very strong, and may be split into the finest threads imaginable. They are very nearly the same in the human system as in animals. They were employed by the aborigines of our country, in making moccasins, belts, etc., after splitting them to the proper size. CHAPTER II. THE ART OF PRESERVING HEALTH WITHOUT THE USE OF MEDICINES. The enjoyment of perfect health is, certainly, one of the greatest earthly blessings that fall to the lot of mortals. Without health, honor, title, wealth, beauty, the kindness of friendship, and the tenderness of affection, are all insufficient to render man even comfortable. All these blessings fail to relieve the pangs of disease, and give a relish to the affairs of life. The vast importance of health will render a short treatise on its preservation an acceptable article, in this work. It will, doubtless, be readily acknowledged by all, that it is much better to shun or avoid disease, than to remove or overcome it, after it has once taken hold on the system ; and, as the greatest number of our diseases and infirmities are the fruits of infringements on healthy laws of nature, how earnestly should we be engaged in correcting and avoiding those infringements. Man, in the early days of nature, lived in a state of perfect health, both in body and mind. The friendly hand of nature gave him sustenance, without labor or toil, and nature's beverage quenched his thirst, without the aid of spirituous liquors. Protected by the immediate presence of the Almighty, innocent of any violation of his law, living in the full enjoyment of his benevolence, man was happy. But, alas! we now view him in a fallen state; he lias transgressed the sacred laws of his Creator, God, and incurred the penalties annexed to his transgression. "His days are shortened and encumbered with disease." What a solemn thought! and how anxiously engaged should we be to change our condition; and how careful should we be to guard 24 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. against evil, by a temperate course, in all things. Health can only be secured and retained by temperate habits; it is a jewel, generally found in the possession of those only who have moral firmness enough to curb their lust, check their appetites, control their passions, and submit to the regulations of virtuous and temperate habits. Irregularity and intemperance in eating, drinking, sleeping, and exercise, lay the foundation of most diseases with which the human family is afflicted. " Would you extend your narrow span, Calmly retire, like evening light; And make the most of life you can? And cheerful bid the world good- Would you, when medicines cannot night, save, Let virtue and temperance preside, Descend with ease into the grave ? Our best physician, friend, and guide." S ECTION I. OF AIE. Much might be said relative to the different gases which compose the atmosphere, or air; for it is not, as many persons suppose, a simple element, but is composed of unequal portions of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbonic acid. But, as a scientific treatise, on this subject, properly belongs to the chemist, I will leave the subject with him, and continue my observations more particularly to the effects whicn the different states of the atmosphere has on the body. Air is rendered impure and unwholesome in many ways; such air should be avoided as much as practicable. The air in cities, crowded assemblies, whether in-doors, or out, is not wholesome. That in deep wells, damp cellars, close dungeons, caves, etc., is apt to become infected. Many persons have instantly expired on going down into deep wells, or caves, where air, composed of undue proportions of the above-named gases, had settled. It may readily be ascertained whether a well, or cave, contains such air, by putting in them a lighted candle. If the candle continues to burn, the air is composed of such proportions of the different gases, as is necessary for the support of animal life, and may be entered with safety; but, if the candle goes out, the air is not such as will support animal life, but will produce instantaneous death. Air, confined in close apartments, where there are hot fires, is pernicious 25 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. to health. Many persons injure their.health, by sitting, or lying, in rooms, kept hot by large fires, and not sufficiently ventilated, or dried. Air, extremely hot or cold, is equally deleterious, and should be equally avoided, particularly by persons of delicate constitutions. Night air is very pernicious to health, as is also the air between sunset and dark. The body may be comfortably clad, and yet much injury to the health be sustained, by exposure to a damp, cold atmosphere; for it should always be remembered that it is equally dangerous to inhale it into the lungs, as to admit its free access to the external surface of the body; the consumptive and asthmatic should bear this well in mind, if they would value their own safety. Dry air, moderately cool, is the most salubrious bath to the healthy and infirm. A strong current of air should always be avoided. Never sit or lie in a current of air, passing through a window or door, especially while warm; it checks perspiration, chills the blood, and often lays the foundation of incurable diseases. SECTION II. Exercise.—Moderate and regular exercise is as essential to the preservation of health, as food is to the support of our bodies. It keeps up a regular circulation of the fluids, aids digestion, promotes the necessary secretions and excretions, and invigorates the frame. It prepares the body to be refreshed with sleep, and makes even the bed of straw or the hunter's blanket pleasant: " it furnishes an appetite that relishes plain and wholesome food, and preserves the healthy tone of the digestive organs. It gives clearness to the brain, vivacity to the spirits, cheerfulness to the mind, and elasticity to the whole system." Exercise increases the strength of our nerves, of our muscles, of our sinews, and invigorates every fibre of the whole system. To prove this, we have only to turn our attention to the aborigines of America. They spent their lives in the active pursuits of the chase in the open air; their diet and dress were of the simplest kind ; they rose from their blankets at the dawn of morn, after hav-2 26 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. ing enjoyed a refreshing night's sleep, and prepared themselves for their homely but wholesome repast by active exercise in the open air. A knowledge of their habits, lives, diseases, etc., will also show that exercise is a great guarantee against a host of diseases with which the "pale-face " is so often afflicted, but is seldom found in the wigwams of the "red man." Among these are consumption, liver complaints, dyspepsia, hysterics, and many others too tedious to mention. Exercise is necessary from infancy. Only look at country children, who are accustomed to exercise and industry, how much more active and stout they are than those of large towns, where they are cooped up in small rooms. Also look at the rich and indolent, and those who labor for their living. While the opulent and idle complain of illfeeling and nervous weakness, the man of moderate exercise is vigorous, his appetite good, his sleep refreshing, and his mind cheerful. More than half of the female diseases, especially such as are connected with hysterics and nervous affections, arise from want of due exercise in the open and pure air. " How sweet at early dawn to rise, And view the glories of the skies; To mark with curious eye the sun, Begin his radiant course to run; Her fairest form then nature wears, And clad in brightest green appears Nor you, ye delicate and fair, Neglect to taste the morning air ; It will your nerves with vigor brace, Improve and heighten every grace; Add to your breath a rich perfume, And to your cheeks a fairer bloom; With lustre teach your eye to glow, And health and cheerfulness bestow." Exercise not only preserves health and prevents disease, but aids greatly in relieving diseases even of the most obstinate character. Without exercise, medicine will fail to have the desired effect in a great measure. SECTION III. Of Sleep.—It is impossible for us to enjoy good health, unless blessed with sound and refreshing sleep, for without this tender nurse of weary nature the whole frame is thrown into disorder, and the mind is much confused and weakened. When we are asleep, all the voluntary powers, such as seeing, hearing, feeling, etc., are in a state of suspension, or rest, while on the other hand, the involuntary powers, the circulation, digestion, etc., are increased, both in regularity and activity. A more uniform circulation is kept up throughout the sys- 27 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. tern when asleep than when awake. I have often heard persons remark, with some degree of astonishment, that they would immediately begin to sweat on lying down and going to sleep in day-time; whereas, they might lie awake for hours on the same bed and not sweat. The cause is obvious—our several senses are at rest, and the circulation increased. The principal directions necessary to be given on this subject, are to take a proper portion of sleep at seasonable hours. The quantity of sleep necessary for each person, every twenty-four hours, is hard to decide : it requires much more for some than for others. When a person rises in the morning, and does not feel refreshed, he may rest assured that he has slept too much or not enough. The best rule is to ascertain how much sleep you really need, and when you have obtained that quantum, rise from your bed immediately, and not lie dosing, and try to force yourself into sleep contrary to nature, for too much sleep and too little exercise produce languor and debility; the nerves become relaxed, the flesh flabby and soft. Feather beds are unhealthy, especially in warm weather. A straw bed or mattress is much better for the health than feathers. A person wishing to enjoy good health should never retire to bed immediately after eating a hearty meal. SECTION IV. Clothing.—Clothing should be suited to the age, constitution, and seasons. It should not be too warm in summer, nor too cold in winter. All kinds of clothing should be made loose and easy, so as not to bind or cramp* any part of the body ; every attempt to give a good form by clothing is not only foolish~in itself, but absolutely pernicious to health. Tight lacing not only obstructs the general circulation of the fluids, but oppresses the motion of the heart and lungs, and retards the wheels of life in the performance of their vital functions. The effects of tight lacing are bad health, coughs, indigestion, pleurisy, liver complaints, consumptions, etc. Young persons need not be so warmly clothed as those who have passed the meridian of life. The weakly and those bordering on old age should wear flannel. AVet 28 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. and damp clothes should be particularly avoided: no fresh clothing should be put on without airing by the fire, no odds how long since it was washed. Many young persons injure their health by putting on damp clothes, tying on damp sheets, etc. Here much rests with their mothers; for such carelessness seldom fails to destroy the health, and often seats some incurable disease on the system. These remarks are particularly applicable to young ladies who so often, when in a hurry, dressing for balls, churches, etc., risk their health, and even lives, by putting on damp dressing, stockings, etc. SECTION V. On Food and Drink.—We cannot live without food and drink, and some attention to the quality of both food and drink is essential to health. It would, however, be impossible to specify in this short work the effects of every kind of diet, or to designate the quantity or kind of food which will be most beneficial to the different constitutions. "Diet may not only change the constitution, but it has been known to cure diseases, and it has this advantage over medicine, it is not disagreeable to take." Different constitutions- require different quantities and qualities of food. The best directions that can here be given, are to be moderate as to quantity, and let the food be plain and simple; use only such diet as agrees with the stomach. Eating of a single dish at a meal is more healthy than indulging in a great variet}'. A diet composed of a proper mixture of vegetable and animal substances, will probably be found most nutritious and salubrious. Rich sauces, high seasoned provisions, where a variety of ingredients are intermingled, overload the stomach and tend to produce dyspepsia. The flesh of young animals is more nutritious and easier to digest than that of old ones. Persons whose constitutions are weak, ought to avoid eating food that is tough and indigestible. All rational persons who have arrived at mature age, are sufficiently acquainted with themselves to know, by a little attention, what kinds and qualities of diets best agree with them; they should use such diets, and at sucn times as best agree with them; and if heads of families, they should 29 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. pay some attention to what kinds of diets best agree with its different branches. The best rules for eating, are to have your meals regularly, never fast too long or eat heavy suppers. Longfasts produce colic, sick head-ache, costiveness, etc. Breakfast and dinner should be something substantial, supper should be light, and we should never lie down immediately after eating. As to drinks, pure water is of the utmost importance to health. Many persons think that it is pernicious to health to drink water before breakfast, but this is certainly a mistake. A reasonable portion of water taken before breakfast, prepares the stomach for food and facilitates digestion. Water, however, should never be drank in large quantities when over-heated, as it is apt to produce disease, and sometimes immediate death. Coffee, tea, chocolate and milk, are all wholesome for such persons as they agree with, but must be decided by experience, as every person is best calculated to judge for himself. SECTION VI. Of Cleanliness. —Cleanliness is too great a preservative of health, to be overlooked in a treatise on the art of preserving it. It clears the skin of impurities, and promotes perspiration ; it will even, in many instances, cure cutaneous diseases; it prevents the communication of infection. In towns it should be the object of public attention, as many diseases owe their origin, as well as virulence, to the neglect of it. Cleanliness, though not a virtue in itself, approaches that character, and should be observed with the greatest scrupulosity, and appreciated almost as a virtue. It is necessary to decency—it affords personal comfort, and is one means of rendering us acceptable to society. It is an evidence of gentility, regarded as necessary by the higher ranks of society, and is an ornament to every class ; and without it neither health nor respectability can be long maintained. It is praiseworthy among those who enjoy good health, and still more important to those who are afflicted. Cleanliness of the body is to be effected by changing the dress at proper periods, and by washing its surface. 30 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. Frequent bathing braces the nerves and vivifies the spirits. Bathing is a powerful preserver and restorer of health; it softens and cleanses the skin, opens the pores, promotes perspiration, and invigorates the whole system. SECTION" VII. Of the Passions.—Man is a complicated machine, his soul and body mutually affecting each other. Much has been and might still be written on this subject; but as I do not intend entering into a general or scientific dissertation on the passions, I will confine my remarks to their influence on the physical system. The influence of the passions on the human system has long been observed, and sometimes remarkable cures have been affected by operating only on the mind. The restoration of tranquillity, and the diffusion of contentment and serenity, is often necessary, in order to give medicines a fair opportunity of having their accustomed efficacy. The subordinate indulgence of passion, frequently induces disease of a stubborn character, by destroying the power of digestion, enfeebling the circulation, affecting the brain and nervous system, etc., etc. But how mind and matter reciprocally act on each other, is a mystery which I leave to be developed by the researches of the profound philosopher. When passions run counter to reason and religion, they produce the most frightful catastrophes. "When passion reigns reason is dethroned." Young persons should early be taught to control their passions as " the early management and control of the passions by a proper education, is the best guard against their mischievous effects at any period of life. When the habit is once established, their control then becomes comparatively easy; but when the curb of piety, reason or habit is not put on them, the ordinary excitements of unexpected circumstances, spurs them into a gallop." Of Angke.—Anger is a sudden emotion of displeasure, excited by some supposed or real injury, offered either to our persons, characters, or rights. Although anger is one of the most powerful and dangerous, passions, both to ourselves and to the object of our wrath, INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 31 yet we have as much or more power in governing" it, than any other of the passions, to a certain extent. The intensity of this passion does not depend entirely upon the magnitude of the insult received, but also upon the pride, or rather vanity, of the individual who receives it. "When an individual who has an exalted or overrated opinion of his own dignity and importance receives an insult, his vanity, like a magnifying-glass, enlarges it into the most aggravated injury, and consequently, his ready resentment will equal the supposed magnitude of the offence. Persons adicted to violent and unrestrained tits of anger, are too often induced, by the irritation of the moment, to perpetrate acts of the most alarming and outrageous character. Such deeds of rashness lead to the prison, and even the gallows. Anger is a disease of the mind, a short-lived insanity, producing the rashest, madest deeds of folly. This is the passion which has raised up nation against nation, which has destroyed millions of the human race, and desolated whole countries. It is even sometimes seen to deform the maiden cheek with a frown. It disqualifies its subject for all kinds of business, or social intercourse with his fellow beings, and renders him miserable to himself and his associates. The storms of this passion have in some instances been so violent, as to produce immediate death. Every passion grows by indulgence, and anger, when unrestrained, is apt to degenerate into cruelty: and as self-government and habit are the best preventives of this dreadful and frightful monster, how early and cautious should examples of mildness and good humor be set before children by their parents. They should be taught to control this passion above all other things, for you may plainly observe the pernicious effects which anger produces on a child when indulged in it, as well as on a person of mature age. " The exercise of patience is not only a duty, the performance of which prevents all the deleterious effects of anger, but it is an infallible mark of a great and dignified soul." Due attention to the formation of our habits will readily bring this passion under the salutary restraints of prudence and reason; but if suffered to rage without restraint, and to be blown into a flame on every occasion, it soon becomes ungovernable." 32 TNDTAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. Of Hatred.—This detestable passion is the voluntary fruit of a depraved soul: it is a voluntary and deeprooted dislike, that seems to have its seat in the angry passions of the heart. Hatred is not in general, in consequence of provocation :—the object is not hated because it is odious, but because it interferes with inclination, etc. Hatred is a degenerating passion ; it is not contented with merely wishing evil to the objects of its fiendish maglignity, but derives its only pleasure from their misery and destruction. Hatred has very appropriately been termed the " bane of peace —the ulcer of the soul." " When hatred is in a bosom nursed, Peace cannot reside in a dwelling so accursed." This detestable passion, when permitted to occupy a place in the human breast, will soon make room for its sister passion— Envy. Slander, their offspring, will soon follow. Slander, whose mouth is ever full of lies, is truly said to be the " foulest whelp of sin." Enmity, ill-will, rancor, malice and spite, are modifications of this base passion—Anger. They seek the misery, and are delighted in the misfortunes and destruction of their objects. Aversion, detestation, and the like, when kept in proper bounds, are allowable emotions of the soul; they are not personal feelings, directed against the object independent and regardless of its qualities, but they are emotions produced by actions or things:-—thus the virtuous and honorable detest the base, the treacherous, etc. Hatred, operating as it does upon the mind, cannot fail to injure the body. It destroys happiness, and consequently impairs the health. Envy.—Envy, like hatred, is a low, degrading, and detestable passion. It is ever blind to the virtues and accomplishments of others, but quick-sighted in detecting imperfections that none else can see. Envy, like anger, is the bane of peace, the ulcer of the soul. Solomon says " Envy is the rottenness of the bones." It is a sensation of uneasiness, accompanied with malignity, excited by the superior accomplishments or advantages of a rival. It has its seat or root in an overrated selflove and thirst for praise, desiring to be esteemed superior to others, without efforts to merit such esteem. It never seeks to excel a rival by the practice of virtues superior to his, but labors to degrade him to its own INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 33 level. The means employed to accomplish this vile purpose, is Slander, and thus the three enemies to all the fair forms of truth, honor, peace and happiness, unite their fiendish powers to destroy both soul and body. Envy commands a secret band, With sword and poison in his hand; Around his haggard eye-balls roll, A thousand fiends possess his soul. The hellish unsuspected sprite, With fatal aim attacks by night, His troops advance by silent tread, And stab the hero in his bed, Or shoot the wing'd malignant lie,' And female honors pine or die." Avarice.—I copy the following able piece on the subject from the writings of A. H. Mathes : " Avarice is a sordid passion. It is a craving anxiety after property ; a rapacity in getting, and a tenacity in holding it. It is a grovelling passion, that seeks for happiness beneath the skies, and expects to realize, by hoarding up perishing dust, permanent enjoyments. When sordid, this passion takes possession of the heart; farewell all sentiments of honor—all correct notions of honesty, the only rule of right, and measure of wrong with the miser in his own interest: no other argument can reach his selfish soul. Farewell to all natural affections, and .all the objects of gratitude ; it wrests the last drop of humanity from the bosom, and strips it of the last feeling of compassion. The shrill cry of justice, or the deep groans of want, are notes equally beyond his com§ass. He can behold misfortune's most afflicted sons, riven by adversity's fiercest gale, wrecked on the ocean of poverty with scarce a broken piece of the wreck, to buoy their heads above the waves of utter want, without one pensive reflection. Without a sigh he can strip nakedness of its rags, and rob poverty of its crusts, or enter the forlorn cabin of the widow, and exact the uttermost farthing, leaving her fatherless babes breadless. Avarice unties the bonds of society, and robs the miser of one of the greatest blessings in it—the mutual communication of kind offices. It dries up the fountain of humanity, obliterates every sentiment of generosity, and freezes up every stream of sympathy. As soon may you expect to pluck the blooming rose under the frozen pole, as to find the warmth of affection in the miser's frigid heart. From a region so barren of virtue, men no more expect to reap the fruits of charity, than they expect to gather grapes from the thistle, or figs from the bramble. 2* 34 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. This base passion robs the man of content; for although, nature is content with few things, avarice is not content with all things ; it tortures the soul and wastes the body with craving anxiety. His thievish fancy hears in every sound the approach of the robber. Of all the sons of folly, who barter time for eternity, life for death, heaven for hell, none do it on easier terms than the wretched worshipper at mammon's shrine, ' who to the click of mammon's box gives most greedy and rapacious ear;' 'tis the only music that can charm him. Avarice renders a man poor in the midst of wealth, his"niggard soul can scarce allow a scanty supply of food and raiment to his body, and for fear of future penury, reduces himself to present and utter want. ' And oh ! what man's condition can be worse Than his, whom plenty starves, and blessings curse ? The beggars but a common fate deplore, The rich man is emphatically poor, If cares and troubles, envy, grief, and fear, Be the bitter fruits that fair riches, bear; If utter poverty grows out of store, The old plain Way is best—let me be poor!' Avarice is accompanied with extreme eagerness to make money, with distressing fears about keeping it, and with inconsolable grief for fear of losing ft; besides heart-ache, envies, jealousies, sleepless nights, wearisome days, and numberless other ills which it inflicts on its slaves, ruining their health, and dragging them to the. grave with some wasting malady, or hurrying them there by rash, horrible suicide." The miser on being disappointed in an advantageous trade which he had thought almost confirmed, and fancied himself in possession of his new treasure ; in losing the best of the market for his produce; or in having his hordes robbed of their idolized and shining dust, has, in many instances, been so smitten with grief, as to produce insanity, or rendered life so burdensome as to induce him to commit suicide. Fear.—Fear was given to man as a sentinel of selfpreservation. It induces us to take measures to avert, if possible, the apprehended ill, and secure personal safety. Apprehension, dread, etc., are modifications of the same passion. "We apprehend what is possible, fear what is probable, and dread what is certain. Fear has a salutary influence on society, amongst those who are now governed by the principles of virtue. The 35 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. fear of reproach, punishment, etc., often restrains the hand of violence, injustice and oppression. Fear, like every other passion, is liable to excess, and when thus indulged, instead of warding off anticipated evils, it often brings on the very calamities which are so much dreaded, and becomes hurtful to both body and mind. Fear indulged to excess, robs its possessor of resolution, reflection, and judgment, and degenerates into cowardice, which is a base passion, and beneath the dignity of man. No passion has a greater tendency to produce and aggravate disease than fear, when improperly indulged. It impedes the circulation, disorders the stomach and bowels, enfeebles vital action, and has a direct and instantaneous tendency to produce spasms on the whole system ; and instances are not wanting, in which a sudden and excessive fright has produced immediate death. The practice of frightening" children and grown persons, is often productive of the most deleterious consequences. Children are often fearful in the dark. This should be overcome by persuasion and argument rather than force. By proper treatment on the part of the parents or nurse, such unfounded fears will soon vanish; on the contrary, if they are encouraged by dismal stories of witches, ghosts, raw-head-and-bloody-bones, and the like, they will grow and become so deeply rooted, that to shake them off in mature years, will be almost a matter of impossibility. Hope.—Hope is an enlivening passion, it is a pleasurable emotion of the mind, excited by the anticipation of some desirable object considered attainable. It matters not in what vocation we embark, it is our anchor to the last breath. We are supported by it in every difficulty, It is hope with its offspring, fortitude, that enables us to bear all the toils, tumults, pains and vexations, which we have to encounter while passing through this "world of thorns." " It is the first friend that offers solace to the sons of affliction; it is the last to forsake them-" Take from us hope, and life itself would be a burthen J Hope is productive of the most salutary effects, both on our bodies and minds, differing in this respect from all our other passions. When engaged in the pursuits of life, and enjoying ordinary health, it is attended with many favorable effects without possessing any physical 36 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. disadvantages, and what a powerful effect it has when laboring under pain and diseases of the body ! It raises the spirits ; it increases the action and power of the heart; gives vigor to the nervous system ; moderates the pulse; causes breathing to be more full and free, quickens all the secretions, and gives tone and strength to the whole system. The Christian's hope extends beyond this vale of tears and enables him, in the last struggle of death, to cry out: " O grave, where is thy victory ? O death, where is thy sting ?" Joy.—Joy is a high degree of pleasure, excited by the attainment or possession of some desired good—the reception of good news, etc., etc. Delight, gladness, mirth, cheerfulness, and the like, are different modifications of this passion. Joy is pleasure at high tide. When indulged in moderation it has a salutary effect on both the body and mind; but if it should be excessive or very sudden, it frequently does serious and lasting injury to persons in good health; and instances have occurred, in which it produced immediate death. Persons of an ardent, lively temperament, and of delicate nervous sensibility, are most liable to suffer serious or fatal consequences from sudden transports of this passion. Precautionary means should be used to prevent such sudden transports of excessive joy, by preparing the mind gradually to meet its emotions, and by this means its dangerous effects will be obviated. SECTION Yin. GEIEF. This depressing emotion of the mind, is produced by the suffering of some calamity, or by sustaining the loss of something that contributed to our happiness. The intensity of the passion is generally in proportion to the estimate we place on the object lost. Indulged grief often becomes settled melancholy—its victim sinks into despair and fatal insanity. Sorrow, grief, melancholy, despair, etc., seem to be different modifications of the same passion. Whether grief proceeds from real or imaginary causes, the destructive influence is the same on the healthy action of the system. It destroys the digestive powers—oppresses the lungs and weakens 37 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. the nerves—it produces sleepless nights, head-aches, weak eyes, costiveness, palpitations of the heart, and not unfrequently insanity and death. How frequently do we see our fellow-mortals weighed down with this depressing passion ; their pale and furrowed cheeks tell us they are sick! ah! and of what ? of everything and nothing !! They apply for medical aid—take medicine without weight or measure ; but all in vain. They are still sick—the contents of an apothecary shop will not give relief. The mind is the part diseased, and until the cause is removed it will bid defiance to the powers of medicine. In such cases much rests with the sufferer. The cause should be removed if possible ; if this cannot be done, we should remember that this is " a world of sorrow." And why destroy both health and happiness, by grieving about a thing we cannot help ? We should exercise firmness and resolution, and reconcile, as far as possible, the circumstances and condition to our wounded and oppressive feelings. "We should seek in piety those unwithering consolations which can sustain the mind under the severest strokes of adversity. From this source issue streams of living pleasure that cannot be dried up by the occurrence of disastrous events." Love.—As this passion is not productive of any bad effects on the health, when of the proper kind and properly controlled, there need be but little said on the subject. Love is one of the master passions of the soul, when kindled into ardor. It exercises uncontrollable dominion over all the powers of man. Pure and reciprocal love is one of man's most endearing delights—it is not wrecked by the storms of adversity, nor starved out by«poverty. We are commanded to exercise this passion in Holy writ, which is a sufficient proof of its excellency. Thus we are commanded to love our parents, our companions, and children, and even our enemies; and above all—our God and heavenly things. When this passion is confined within its proper limits, with due regard to its objects, it has a salutary influence on the mind of every rational being. The influence of propitious love is salutary upon the physical system, as it promotes all the secretions—invigorates the action of the heart—imparts vivacity to the spirits, and brightens the countenance with cheerfulness. Some writers, when speaking on this subject, digress 38 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. from the true intent of the matter and fall into a discussion of most of the other passions. Under the title of "Disappointed Love," they discuss, at great length, the neautiiul effects of grief, jealousy, rage, revenge, despair, &c.—Love, crossed or disappointed by the inconstancy or falseness of the beloved object, not unfrequently begets one or more of the above passions, and produces some of the wildest storms of passion that infest the seas of life, wrecking both happiness and health : " Earth has no rage like love to hatred turned; And hell no fury like a lover scorned." REMARKS PRELIMINARY TO THE MEDICAL PORTION OF THIS WORK. That a knowledge of diseases is necessary to their cure, will be readily acknowledged; but a great difference of opinion prevails among mankind as to how this knowledge should be obtained. Some say it should be the result of personal experience; while others contend that education and theory alone, is all that is necessary to make a skillful physician. The union of observation, with the deductions of theory, will probably be found to lead to the safest conclusions. A medical education should be united with experience. Every disease is to be known by its peculiar symptoms, and the sagacity of the physician will be exercised in discriminating between different diseases by their different symptoms. Regard should always be paid to the constitution, manner of life, age, sex, temper, etc. Some constitutions are peculiar and require a peculiar treatment. It would be injudicious to treat the tender, delicate, arid sickly in the same manner as the hearty and robust. Females have diseases peculiar to themselves—their system is more tender and irritable, and demands greater caution. The following inquiries should be made previous to administering medicine to a sick person. When were you taken ? How were you taken ? To what disease are yon most liable ? Is the disease constitutional or accidental? Are you temperate in eating and drinking? What has been your general health? What were your feelings for several days previously to being taken, etc. If the oatient be a female, you should 39 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. also ascertain whether she has been regular in her monthly periods? "Whether there is any suppression of nrino, etc. A physician, on entering the room of a sick person, should be easy and affable in his manners, and wait patiently the subsiding of any strong excitement his presence may have created. The Pulse. —By the pulse is meant the beating or throbbing of an artery, which is occasioned by the motion of the heart in propelling the blood through them. This motion of the heart and arteries is spoken of at greater length in the anatomical part of this work. The physician derives great information as to the condition of his patient, from knowing how the blood circulates. This is ascertained by feeling the pulse. The pulse in different persons varies, it beats quicker in the sanguine than in the melancholy—in the young and vigorous, than in the old and declining—children have quicker pulse than adults. The usual standard of a healthy indication by the pulse in grown persons, is from 60 to 80 strokes in a minute. Good health is indicated by a strong, firm, regular pulse. 1. When the pulse resists the pressure of the finger, feels full, and swells boldly under the pressure, it is called a full, strong, tense pulse—if slow and irregular, it is called a weak, fluttering and irregular pulse. 2. When the pulse feels like a string drawn tight, and gives considerable resistance to the pressure of the finger, is is termed a hard corded pulse. 3. The soft and intermitting pulses give their own meaning by name; they are very easily distinguished from each other, as in cases of great weakness of the system and a languid circulation, or on the approach of death. 4. An intermitting pulse is sometimes produced by oppression of the stomach and bowels, it also arises in some instances from an agitation of the mind. A vibrating pulse, with quick, weak pulsations, acting under the fingers like a thread, quick but very weak and irregular, indicates a highly dangerous state of the system. This pulse is generally accompanied with deep sighs, difficult breathing, and a dead, heavy languor of the eyes. The above directions will enable any person to distin- 40 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. guish the different states of the pulse; and enable him, so far as the pulse can give any indications, to judge of the nature and stage of the disease. PART TWO. CONTAINING A DESCRIPTION OF THE SYMPTOMS OF DISEASE, AND THE METHOD OF TREATMENT. I will not trouble the reader here with a long treatise on the doctrines, or what is called the pathology of diseases, which would prove both tedious and tiresome, without imparting the least benefit to those for whom this work is especially intended. But in giving the symptoms of disease or the various aspects under which it makes its appearance, I will endeavor to do it in both a concise and comprehensive manner, confining myself, principally, to those diseases which are most common in our country, and peculiar to our climate. It is very necessary that the head of every family should be instructed, to some extent, in the method of curing their own maladies ; simple remedies, and such as are at hand in most families, will, if taken in due time, often throw off diseases which might have baffled the skill of the most experienced physicians if it had been let to run on without remedy for a length of time. A full conviction of this fact will induce me to simplify the Healing Art, so that any family, possessing an ordinary share of common sense, may become their own physician in most cases of disease, without the hazard of increasing the hold of disease or weakening the power of life. The Indian system of practice may appear simple to many persons who are not acquainted with their success in treating diseases, but I flattter myself that a fair trial of their method of treating diseases, as is herein laid down, will almost invariably be crowned with success, and many painful and truly distressing complaints which have hitherto been considered by the whites, as incurable, will be found to yield speedily to simple remedies. Believing that colds are directly or indirectly the cause of most diseases by checking perspiration, obstruc- INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 41 ting the general or natural circulation of all the fluids, and thereby producing a marked action, or in other ¦words, a diseased condition of the whole system, I will first begin with colds. CATAERH OR, COLD— (Oo hur-tlah.) Colds are so common in every country, and their modes of treatment so generally known, that the reader will doubtless conclude that little or nothing need be written on a subject which is already so familiar. But when we reflect that it is often the forerunner and not unfrequently the foundation of other diseases which are difficult to remove, and in many instances highly dangerous, and even fatal, in despite of medical aid—the subject does not appear so trivial as on first thought; but is one which certainly demands the serious attention of all those who wish to enjoy a reasonable portion of health. Persons of delicate constitutions are most liable to take cold —and from the great carelessness of such persons in neglecting to avoid exposure —and to remove cold in its earliest stages, originates most of the consumptions in this, as well as in other countries. It is often the foundation of a host of other diseases, such as pleurisy, liver complaints, fevers, asthmas, etc. I therefore feel it my duty to impress it on the mind of the reader, that cold, however simple it may at first appear, should be taken in its earliest stage, at which time it is easily thrown oft", and by very simple means. Symptoms.—A dull heaviness in the head, frequent sneezing, a discharge of watery mucus from the nose or eyes, or both; a stoppage in the nose and head—it is frequently attended with chilliness, succeeded by flushes of heat, a very disagreeable fullness is felt about the eyes. Cold is often attended with soreness of the throat, cough, and pain in the chest. Here I repeat that most of the consumptions of this country are occasioned by neglected colds, brought on by exposure to night air, by changing warm clothing for thin, by sudden check of perspiration, by damp feet, etc. Treatment.—Cold, in its first stage, may be thrown off very easily, and by very simple means, such as a free use of sage, mint, ground ivy, balm, pennyroyal, 42 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. pepper, or ginger teas, or any sweating tea that the patient may prefer, to which may be added a portion of the diaphoretic drops. If the violence of the attack requires it, bathe the feet in warm water fifteen or twenty minutes, then wipe them dry and draw on warm stockings. If the head should be much stopped up with cold, sweat it by covering it over with flannel or other covering, and place a hot rock on the hearth, then sprinkle water and vinegar on the rock, at the same time holding the head over it. After steaming the head in the above manner, care must be taken to avoid exposure to a free current of cold or damp air, which would check the perspiration suddenly, and in all probability do much more harm than the steaming had done good. If the symptoms are inflammatory, give cooling purges, such as cream of tartar, salts, castor oil, rhubarb, or any cooling cathartic. If the throat is sore, apply the red pepper poultice, or a poultice of onions or garlic; either of these poultices will give relief to the breast, if applied to that part, in case of oppression from cold. If the patient is troubled with a cough, look under that head for a remedy ; by turning to the index, you will be referred to numerous valuable articles for coughs, some of which can be easily procured in all cases, I presume, with but very little trouble or expense. The onion, garlic, or pepper poultice, applied to the feet, will also aid in producing a free perspiration. The following remedy, says Dr. Gunn, " has frequently afforded relief in cases where colds had nearly settled down into confirmed consumptions : take one teaspoonful of flaxseed, half an ounce of liquorice, and a quarter of a pound of raisins, put them into two quarts of rain water, and simmer the whole over a slow fire until you reduce the quantity to one quart; then prepare some candy made from brown sugar, and dissolve it in the quart of liquor. A half a pint of this syrup is to be taken every night on going to bed, mixed with a little good vinegar to give it a slightly acid taste. This will certainly relieve a cold in a few days." The vinegar stew is also very good for colds, and should be prepared in the following manner: If the vinegar be very strong, add a little water, then put it on the fire until it becomes hot, then add a little butter, and sweeten it well with honey. This stew, or 43 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. syrup, is good to relieve soreness in the "breast; it is also good to check the cough arising from cold. A. tea spoonful of paregoric, or half that quantity of Bateman's drops may be added to the tea, which is to be drank for cold to great advantage. INFLUENZA, OR MALIGNANT SORE THROAT. ( On-eh-tlah-tsu-ni-sik-wah-his-lee. ) This dangerous disease is sometimes called putrid, or ulcerous sore throat. The symptoms are, soreness of the throat, attended with fever. The swallowing becomes more and more difficult, the skin burning and disagreeably hot without the least moisture, the pulse very quick and irregular; it is also attended with nausea and sometimes vomiting, restlessness, great debility; the face becomes flushed, the eyes inflamed, and the neck stiff, the mouth and throat assume a fiery red color, and the palate and glands of the throat become much swelled; as the disease advances, the whole internal surface of the mouth and throat will become interspersed with brown or ash-colored spots, which soon become so many ulcers discharging an acid matter; a similar matter runs from the nose, and escapes at the mouth; this matter soon affects the lips and neighboring parts, and in some instances the brown spots extend over the whole body, the tongue becomes covered with a thick brown fur, and the breath very offensive ; there is generally a purging, and in many cases, a frequent discharge of excoriating matter or fluid from the fundament. If the disease is not checked, the ulceration corrodes deeper and deeper, extending down the alimentary canal, and if still suffered to proceed, they become gangrenous; a severe purging ensues, and death-closes the painful scene. The following symptoms are unfavorable, and denote a fatal termination ; the feet and hands become cold, the eruptions suddenly disappear, or become of a dark, livid color; the inside of the mouth and throat assumes a dark hue, purging a black matter of a very offensive smell; the pulse becoming small, quick, and fluttering; hurried breathing with frequent sighing; and a cold clammy sweat. On the contrary, the symptoms are favorable when the fever in some degree abates and the skin becomes gradually soft and moist, the breathing 44 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. becomes more free and natural, the eyes assume a natural and lively appearance, the eruptions on the skin become of a reddish color over the whole body, and the parts which separate from the ulcers falls off easily, and leave the sores of a clean and reddish color; the tongue gradually becomes clean and clear of the dark fur with which it is covered. These are favorable symptoms and denote the recovery of the patient. Putrid sore throat, is an infectious or catching disease; and hence it sometimes prevails as an epidemic, and generally makes its appearance in the fail or early part of the winter seasons, especially when preceded by a dry, hot summer. Children and persons of delicate constitutions are most liable to be the victims of this dangerous disease. Neglect of cleanliness, eating damaged provisions, breathing impure air, or whatever tends to produce putrid fevers, will predispose to an attack of this complaint. When relief i3 not had, this disease generally terminates fatally between the fourth and seventh day. Treatment.—This disease generally makes its appearance at the close of sultry seasons, when the system is much weakened by protracted exposure to intense heat, and when people have been for some time exposed to breathing the putrid atmosphere arising from stagnant waters and decaying vegetables. This fact will at once show the impropriety of administering severe purges or drawing blood. The stomach must be cleansed by an emetic of gulver and Indian physic, and the bowels relieved of their putrid contents by injections of thin gruel or soap-suds, to which may be added hogs' lard and a little gulver-syrup; no cathartic stronger than castor oil or rhubarb should be taken into the stomach. Well prepared charcoal, taken twice or three times a day, will be of great benefit. The mouth and throat must be washed and gargled with a preparation made as follows: Take of cayenne pepper in powder, two table-spoonfuls, a small quantity of catnip and half a spoonful of common salt; pour on them one pint of boiling water, let them stand half an hour and strain off the liquor, and add to it half a pint of good vinegar; the patient should also swallow a table-spoonful of this preparation every fifteen minutes. If the patient should become very weak, bathe him 45 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. well in a strong decoction of red-oak bark, m which may be put one-fourth whisky. If the weakness be very considerable, give wine or toddy, made with spirits and sweetened with sugar, to strengthen and support the system. For an external application to the throat, use a poultice made by thickening rye-meal or wheat-bran in red-pepper tea.—After the stomach is cleansed, give Yirginia snake-root tea (commonly called black snake-root), or seneka tea freely. The bowels must be kept regular through the whole course by the use of injections. If the first emetic should fail to subdue the disease, it should be repeated in moderation on the day following. By property attendto the emetic, the acid matter may be thrown off, which would otherwise produce injury by descending into the bowels. The strength of the patient must be supported by a generous, nourishing, and easily digested diet, comprising out little if any animal food. PLEURISY.— Oh-ne-squah-ga-ni-tsu-na-his-na. Symptoms.—An acute pain in the side, extending to the back, breast, and shoulder, when the breath is drawn. The pain is much increased by a short, dry cough, which generally attends it. Great difficulty is experienced in lying on the affected side. It is also attended with chills and fevers, great thirst and restlessness, as in the inflammatory fever. The tongue is covered with a thick whitish fur. The urine is high colored, the face flushed, and the skin dry and hot; sometimes the cough increases, and a tough phlegm is spit up. The blood when drawn from the arm and permitted to cool in the vessel, is covered with a scum or coat of a buffly color, which always denotes inflammation. The causes which predispose to an attack of this disease, are cold, lying on damp beds, exposure to free currents of damp air, wearing wet or damp clothes, sudden changes from heat to cold, sudden check of perspiration, suppression of periodical evacuations, or by the repulsion of eruptions. It may also arise from intemperance, great exertion in singing, speaking or playing on wind instruments. Treatment.—It is an inflammatory disease, and therefore requires the immediate reduction of the inflammatory symptoms. For this purpose bleed freely, according 46 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. to the strength and constitution of the patient. If the pulse should remain full and hard after the first bleeding, and the pain be relieved for a short time and then return, you must bleed a second, third, and even a fourth time, where the inflammatory symptoms require it. After the first bleeding, apply cloths, wet with hot water, to the pained part, as warm as can be borne, and bathe the feet in warm water. At the same time give a purge of epsom or gulver pills, and let the patient drink freely of a tea made of one-third of silk-weed root to two-thirds pleurisy root. If this tea should increase the fever to any considerable extent, it may be used in smaller quantities, and the lancet again resorted to. For a description of the above roots, look under their different heads. You will also see the mode of preparing the black or gulver pill under its proper head. After the inflammatory action is in a considerable degree overcome, seneka snake-root should be combined with the silk-weed root and pleurisy root. A full description of these roots may be seen under their proper heads. After the abatement of the fever, if the pulse should sink and the patient become very weak, you should stimulate him with warm toddy or wine, mixed with warm water and sugar. This must be done with the greatest caution, taking great care not to stimulate so as to produce a return of the fever. If the extremities should become cold, apply plasters of ground mustard-seed, wet with vinegar, to the wrists, ankles and feet. These plasters will aid greatly in raising the pulse, and is not so apt to produce a return of the inflammatory symptoms as a too free use of spirits. The bowels must be kept open through the whole course by cooling purges, such as salts, castor oil, cream of tartar, or gulver pills. The cathartics should be aided by mild and cooling injections, such as thin gruel, well strained new milk and water, &c. For further information on this subject, examine under the head of "Clystering Diets." The strictest abstinence from all kinds of animal food must be observed in this disease. The diets and drinks must be such as will have a tendency to keep down fever, and such as the stomach will most easily digest. The drinks should consist of flaxseed tea, slippery-elm tea, toastwater, etc. They should be taken warm; a little gruel, 47 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. panada, or milk and water with mush, may be taken for nourishment. When recovering from this disease, great care must be taken to avoid sudden changes, dampness, cold, and very particularly avoid exposure to night air, excessive use of ardent spirits, violent exercise, etc, as the reverse of the above precautions generally produce dangerous relapses. Flannel, or some warm dress, should be worn next the skin. BUOVSY.—Tsa-no-tis-scoh. Dropsy is a disease of the whole system, arising from debility or weakness. This opinion is sustained by many of the most distinguished physicians in the United States. Dr. 'Rush was of opinion that dropsy was caused by a morbid action of the arteries, and an increased action of the exhalents; or, in other words, by an inactive state of the arteries, and an active condition of the vessels which throw off the sweat from the body. Dr. Shelton's opinion is the very reverse; he says : " Notwithstanding the great popularity of this opinion, and the high regard I have for Dr. Rush, yet I cannot concur with him. I believe the cause to be an increased action of the arteries, and a decreased action of the exhalents. For we generally find in a Dropsy a quick pulse, which certainly indicates an increased action of the arteries ; from the great fullness and distention of the exhalents, we might reasonably suppose they were too much relaxed, or too inactive to throw out the fluids as fast as they were forced into them by the active motion of the arteries." I have given the opinions of the above writers for the reflection and entertainment of the reader. The opinion of Dr. Shelton, however, accords nearest with my own. Symptoms.—Dropsy may easily be distinguished from other diseases by the collection of water in some part of the body, and by the feet and ankles swelling; the flesh will have lost its elasticity, or, in other words, when pressed upon by the finger the mark or impression will remain for some time after the finger is removed, the place where the impression was made being much paler than any other part. Among physicians it is called by different names, according with the different parts of the system in which the water is deposited. When the 48 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. water is seated in the cavities of the head or brain, the disease is called by physicians Hydrocephalus; when seated in the cavity of the chest, it is called Hydrothorax; when in that of the belly, Ascites; when seated in the scrotum or bag of the privates, it is called Hydrocele ; and when the water collects in the cellular membrane, which is situated between the flesh and skin, it is called Anasarca. These different locations of Dropsy are manifested by somewhat different symptoms. Anasarca, or Dropsy of the cellular membrane, first gives symptoms of its approach by swelling of the feet and ankles; this swelling may be distinguished from other swellings in the manner above stated. The swelling extends by degrees to the thighs, trunk of the body, and finally to the head and face. The breathing becomes difficult, particularly when the patient lies down. A cough soon follows, and a watery mucus is spit up, the urine is high colored, and is voided in very small quantities, and when suffered to remain in the urinal or pot it deposits a reddish sediment; the bowels are costive, and the thirst great. These symptoms are succeeded by a dull torpor and slow fever. Ascites, or Abdominal Dropsy, is generally preceded by a loss of appetite, sluggishness, dryness of the skin, thirst, oppression of the chest, cough, decrease of urine, a swelling of the abdomen takes place, which increases gradually as the disease advances. As the water accumulates, the breathing becomes more difficult, the countenance pallid and bloated, the thirst immoderate, the urine scanty, high colored, and deposits a brick-colored sediment. Hydrothorax, or Dropsy of the Chest, generally comes on with a sense of uneasiness at the lower end of Jhe breast bone, and difficulty of breathing, which is much increased by exertion, or by lying down. It is attended with a cough, at first dry, but afterwards a thin mucus is spit up ; as the disease advances, the thirst increases; the complexion becomes sallow; the feet and legs swell; the urine is voided in small quantities, high colored, and deposits a red sediment; the face and extremities become cold ; the pulse feeble and irregular ; the sleep is much disturbed ; frequent palpitations of the heart; a numbness extends from the heart towards one, and sometimes both shoulders; the difficulty of breathing INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 49 continues to increase until death ends the patient's sufferings. Hydrocephalus, or Dropsy of the Brain, is a disease common to children, and will be spoken of under the proper head. Treatment.—Cleanse the bowels with anti-bilious pills, or some other purge. After the bowels are well cleansed, the patient should take the diuretic pill night and morning, three for a dose, or more if the constitution of the patient requires it; also drink bitters, by putting a table spoonful of steel-dust and about four ounces of vervine root into a half gallon of good spirits; of these bitters the patient should drink three or four times a day what the stomach will bear. Another Remedy.—After the bowels have been cleansed as above directed, let the patient drink freely of cold water off the root of Ah-squah-na-ta-quah. This herb is fully described in materia medica, and is an infallible remedy for Dropsy ; the root should be bruised before it is put into the water, about a half ounce of the root to a quart; the water may be renewed until the strength is all extracted. There are no disagreeable consequences whatever produced by the use of this root. The Chalybeate pill, taken night and morning after the bowels have been cleansed, will effect a cure in most cases. A dose in this case is one pill about the size of a summer grape. Diets must in all cases of Dropsy be of the lightest and simplest kind. When the patient begins to recover from Dropsy, the appetite in most cases becomes voracious and almost insupportable, and if the patient is permitted to indulge it, to effect a cure will be found impossible. Water gruel, rye mush and butter-milk, or something of the kind, is the safest nourishment I have ever tried in cases of this kind. After the patient is freed from the water, extreme debility usually takes place. At this stage of the disease, the patient should continue whichever of the above treatments may have been adopted, and, additionally, use wine and decoction of wild cherry-tree bark, or a decoction of Columbo root, or any other stimulant, or tonic, that may be most convenient. Dr. Gunn believes dropsy to be an inflammatory disease, and recommends bleeding freely, but goes on to 3 50 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. speak highly of the advantages that have been derived from herbs of our own country, in this as well as other diseases. I quote the following from this author:— h The following cures, which I shall notice, in the words of an experienced and distinguished physician, give evidence of the correctness of some of my introductory remarks, among which are the following:—The discoveries of each succeeding day convinces that the Almighty has graciously furnished man with the means of curing his own diseases; and there is scarcely a day, month, or year, which does not exhibit to us the surprising cures made by roots, herbs, and simples, found in our own vegetable kingdom, when all foreign articles have utterly failed. The truth is, that the wise and beneficent Creator of the universe has made nothing in vain; and the time will come, when the apparently most useless and obnoxious plants will be found eminently useful in the cure of diseases, which have, hitherto, baffled the profound skill, and most powerful energies of genius." The following are the words of the author just alluded to:—"I am knowing to two extremely distressing cases of dropsy, entirely relieved by means of the bark of common elder. One, a woman, advanced in age, in the last stages of this disease, who lost a brother, some short time previous, by the same complaint. The other, a young woman, who had been, for eighteen months, confined to her bed, during four of which she was unable to lie down, and who is now wholly free from dropsy, and recovering strength in a most surprising and unexpected manner. This young lady used the elder-barked-wine, at the instance of one of the most distinguished physicians of Boston, who had previously tried every known prescription, without success, and the use of the elder-bark entirely cured her. A great many other cases, less aggravated, have been cured by this bark. I have used it myself with unusual success, and its immediate adoption by the afflicted is truly important and deserving attention. The receipt is as follows:—Take two handfuls of the green, or inner bark, of the white common elder, steep it in two quarts of Lisbon wine, twenty-four hours ; if this wine cannot be had, Teneriffe, or Madeira, will answer; take a gill every morning, fasting, or more, if it can be borne on the stomach.'" 51 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. We have never tried the above preparation of elder bark in wine, but having* witnessed similar effects produced by the free use of the tea and decoction of this bark, we are bound to place full confidence in the above statements, and earnestly recommend its use to those who may be afflicted with this truly distressing complaint. Diets should consist of gruel, a little milk and mush, or something of a similar nature. DYSPEPSIA, OE INDIGESTION. (Oh-ne-na-tse-tsunah-li-stoo-na.) Symptoms—Are flatulency, defective appetite, palpitation of the heart, painful distention of the stomach and bowels. The last named symptoms greatly increased by eating a hearty meal, or drinking spirituous liquors. This disease also extends its pernicious influence to the mind, which often becomes desponding and irritable, and the poor sufferer exhibits a peculiar anxiety of countenance. The sleep becomes disturbed, and the urine high-colored. Causes.—This disease originates in a great variety of causes. It arises, in a great many instances, from a diseased state of the liver, as may be fully seen under that head. This lingering, and painfully distressing, malady, is seldom to be met with among the Indians, owing, we suppose, to the great simplicity of their diet, and the liberal exercise which they so generally take in the hunt, the chase, etc.; and the little use made by them of mercury, in any form, or of strong minerals of any kind. This disease, on the contrary, appears to increase, yearly, among the whites. It seems to be a scourge upon the more refined portion of the human species, and one which refinement, with all its charms, utterly fails to render agreeable, or, in any respect, desirable. It is to be found among all ranks and sexes; but, when we meet with an individual who is afflicted with this torturing malady, and examine into his or her past life, the cause is generally obvious. An excessive use of spirituous liquors of any kind, of tobacco, mercurial preparations, and other poisonous mineral substances used for medicines, improper diet, whether in kind or quality, inactivity of body, intense study, uneasiness, anxiety, or grief, are all calculated, in their 52 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. nature, to produce this painful disease. Dr. Carter, when speaking of the stomach, says, " It may be considered the great laboratory, or chemical workshop, of the living power, where chemical operations, upon our food and drink, are regularly performed, without effort, toil, or study." Dr. Carter's statement respecting the stomach, shows at once the great necessity of regulating the food and drink, according to the strength of this " chemical workshop." The usual practice of overloading the stomach with high-seasoned, indigestible food, and a too free use of ardent spirits, injures its tone, and renders it incapable of performing its functions in a healthy manner. If indigestion arises from a diseased state of the liver, there will also be felt a dead, heavy pain in the right side, also in the shoulder, and back of the neck. The urine, on being deposited in a urinal, or pot, will have in the bottom, when cool, a reddish-colored sediment. The complexion will become of a tawny, or yellowish, hue. The feet and hands, when held in one position, for a short time, will become asleep, for want of a free circulation of the blood. Great uneasiness will be felt throughout the whole system, and it is sometimes attended with vomiting. When these last named symptoms occur, you must refer to the proper treatment of the disease of the liver, etc. Treatment.—For common dyspepsia, the patient must first sum up all the resolution which it is in his power to command, in order to regulate his diet with that rigidness which is indispensably necessary, where a cure is to be sought for in this disease; the diet must be simple, such as gruel, a little rice, prepared in clear water, and salted just sufficient to make it palatable, a cracker, with a glass of spring water, or some similar food. It must be taken frequently, and in small quantities, as fasting too long does great injury in dyspepsia, which injury is much increased by the common practice of over-loading the stomach, after long fasting. The use of animal food must be entirely abandoned, if the sufferer wishes to obtain relief, lo be alternately loading the stomach with purges, animal food, and spirituous liquors, is only adding fuel to fire, and will ultimately end in the death of the patient, if persisted in. The patient should first take a purge —anti-bilious pills will 53 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. be most suitable; these should be taken on going to bed—the number for a dose refer to that head—if they should not operate by morning, they should be aided by half a dose of the same pills, or by castor oil. After the bowels have been cleansed in the above manner, take a portion of the anti-dyspeptic syrup, or hepatic pills, morning and night. For directions how to prepare either of the above medicines, look under their different heads. While using the anti-dyspeptic syrup, or hepatic pill, you should also use a mixture, or syrup, made by taking a strong decoction of the inside bark of white hickory, one pint, well strained, to which add an equal quantity of soot, a pint, or more, of honey; of this mixture take a tea-spoonful, morning and night. A free use of charcoal, taken in water, or otherwise, will be found of great benefit. For directions for preparing charcoal refer to that head. During the above course, the patient should take moderate exercise in the open air, if the strength will allow, and be very careful to avoid anything, either in eating or drinking, that will produce aggravation of the symptoms. The bowels, if they become costive (which, however, is not apt to be the case while using the anti-dyspeptic syrup, or hepatic pills), must be regulated by the use of mild and cooling clysters. When the stomach and bowels have been kept free from irritation for a length of time, by the above treatment, when the sleep becomes tranquil, the spirits revived, and the tongue assumes a clear and healthy appearance, a little mutton, or beef soup, may be taken, or chicken, well boiled, and the soup thickened with a little flour. If this diet should produce an uneasiness in the stomach, or bowels, the quantity taken should be diminished, and, if it still aggravates the symptoms, its use must be entirely discontinued, and recourse must again be had to the former simple dish — gruel, etc. But, if the stomach will bear light meals of the above soups, the quantity may be gradually increased, but it must be done with great caution. I have known several persons relieved of this distressing complaint by the following simple remedy, after other remedies had been tried, and had failed: — Take of cob ashes, steel-dust, and common salts, of each a table-spoonful; mix them well together, and add a sufficient quantity of honey to wet it or stick it together. 54 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. Take of this mixture what will make three commonsized pills, morning and night, and noon, if stomach will bear it. At the same time take charcoal in water, prepared as directed under that head, and regulate the diet as before directed. I have known this to cure two cases of dyspepsia, after the prescriptions of a physician, in high standing, had been tried, and failed. FLUX ok DYSENTERY. ( Gee-guh-tsi-too-nuh-goo-shah.) Symptoms —A constant desire to go to stool without being able to pass much of anything from the bowels, except a bloody kind of mucus. These desires to go to stool are usually accompanied with severe griping, and also with some fever; as this disease advances, the stools will consist of pure blood and matter mixed: and from severe straining to evacuate, part of the bowels will frequently protrude or come out, which soon becomes a source of great suffering; it is also attended in many instances with chilliness, loss of strength, a quick pulse, great thirst, and an inclination to vomit. Causes.—Dysentery or Flux is generally most prevalent in the latter part of Summer and in the Fall, though it frequently occurs in other seasons of the year. A long drought followed by cold rains is apt to predispose the system to an attack of this disease. It is also produced by sudden suppression or stoppage of perspiration, which determines the fluids to the intestines; by eating unripe fruits; unwholesome, putrid food; and by breathing noxious vapors. Some writers say it is a contagious or catching disease, while others say it is not; be this as it may, it often attacks whole neighborhoods or towns at the same time : but it looks reasonable that the same general causes which produce it in a town, neighborhood, or section of country, render all, whose modes of life and systems are in similar conditions, subject to it. This disease is more common in warm climates than in cold ones, and in rainy seasons than in dry ones. When it attacks persons of feeble constitutions or those laboring under scurvy, consumption, etc., it generally proves fatal. Great debility, violent fever, cold clammy sweats, hiccough, dark colored spots on the skin, coldness of the extremities, and a feeble irregular pulse, are symptoms of a fatal INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 55 termination. This disease should be taken in its earliest stages, at which time it is easy to be subdued by the use of the proper remedies, but if suffered to run on it is sometimes extremely difficult to overcome. Treatment.—Take a handful of each of the following barks, red-bud horn-beam, (commonly called iron- wood,) red-elm, sweet-gum, and black-gum ; also a handful of yellow root and iron-weed root, make a strong decoction of those articles, and let the patient drink of it freely, a purge of the anti-bilious pills should be taken to work off the acrid contents of the bowels. Another very valuable drink for this disease, may be made from the inside bark of swamp white-oak—take one pound of this bark, pound it well and put it into a half gallon of cold water. This is an excellent drink to cool and heal the bowels. If the belly be hard and sore to the touch, grease it well with any kind of oil or lard, or apply poultices of catnip to it. Injections of peach-tree gum, or cherry-tree gum, made by dissolving the gum in water until it forms a mucilage, to which may be added forty or fifty drops of laudanum for grown persons, and less for children, will aid in allaying the irritation of the bowels, the injections should be used cold. Castor oil combined with Bateman's drops, paregoric, or laudanum, may be used to advantage in this complaint— for a dose refer to the table of medicines; for a full description of all the above barks and roots refer to their different heads. The drinks during this complaint must be of the mildest kind, such as slippery-elm, tea, flaxseed tea, etc., and diet of the lightest kind, such as light soups, jellies, new milk thickened with flour; all kinds of fruit must be avoided. I have known many cases of this disorder, among children, cured by the free use of a tea of vervain root, which grows in such abundance about our yards. On recovering from an attack of this disease, great care should be taken to avoid exposure, for fear of a relapse, which is generally very easily brought on by exposure, violent exercise, or improper food. DIARRHCEA or ~L AX.—(Tsu-ne-squah-lah-tee.) This disease is characterized by frequent and copious discharges from the bowels, unattended with fever, and has not the appearance of a contagious or catching 56 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. disease as is the case with flux. It generally prevails among persons of weakly constitutions; persons advanced in years, and those who have lived intemperately. Many are subject to its attacks from the slightest cold or exposure, which at all affects the bowels; and others are naturally and constitutionally of this habit of body. The appearance of the stools in this disease are very different at different times, depending in a great measure on the food and the manner in which it agrees or disagrees with the stomach and bowels. This disease is very often produced by worms. Treatment.—When this disease has been brought on by colds, or sudden stoppage of perspiration or sweat, use the warm bath and drink freely of.some diaphoretic tea, to produce a determination to the surface, (or gentle moisture of the skin,) paregoric or Bateman's drops may be used with the tea —for a dose, see table of medicines. Where this disease is constitutional, it frequently continues through life, if not relieved by medicines. Such persons should be particular as to what kind of diet they eat, and strictly avoid everything that disagrees with their stomach or bowels; they should guard against damp feet, damp ground, etc., they should make daily use of bitters, composed of swampwhite-oak inner bark, red dog-wood inner bark, sweetgum and cinnamon bark digested in old French brandy; in violent attacks the decoction recommended for flux should be taken until the violence of the symptoms abates. Slippery-elm bark, or the root of common comfrey, forms an excellent drink in this complaint. Injections of the same are also good. Where this disease is lingering and is attended with great debility, a raw egg taken of a morning on a fasting stomach will be found of great benefit. It should be taken in fresh spring water. In many instances a tea of flaxseed, slippery-elm, comfrey or vervain will entirely relieve it in a short time. When worms are supposed to be the cause of this disease, in which case the breath will have a very foetid or offensive smell, treat the complaint for worms— see under that head. HEMORRHOIDS or PILES. (Tsu-nah-tee-kah-stee-tsi-kah-nu-go-gah.) This complaint is sometimes hereditary, that is, it 57 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. thus in families, and all ages and sexes are Mable to it. There are two kinds of Piles originating from the same causes, and are distinguished as the bloody and blind Piles. The Piles are small swelled tumors, usually situated on the edge of the fundament; where these tumors break and discharge blood, the disease is called bloody Piles; but when the tumors discharge no blood, they are called blind Piles. There is usually a sense of weight in the back and lower part of the belly, giddiness in the head, sickness of the stomach, flatulency in the bowels, and generally fever. Severe pain is experienced on going to stool, and small tumors may be felt projecting beyond the verge of the fundament; when these tumors break and discharge blood, the sufferer experiences intervals of ease; but when they do not break great agony is experienced during every motion, and great inconvenience is experienced in sitting down on a hard seat. In some cases, the lower end of the gut protrudes (which means to come down) the length of two or three inches every time the patient goes to stool, and looks very raw and tender; this last case mostly occurs in children of weakly habits. Causes.—Piles may be occasioned by continual or habitual costiveness, by frequent drastic purges of aloes, by riding a great deal on horseback in hot weather, by excessive drinking, exposure to cold, suppression of some accustomed evacuation, and by the pressure of the womb on the rectum, when in a state of pregnancy. Treatment.—Cold water is certainly one of the best applications that can be made either for a preventive or cure for this complaint. I do not believe that any person will be afflicted much with either bloody or blind Piles, who will bathe the fundament daily in cold water, say twice a day. I have known several persons relieve themselves of this painful disorder by this simple application. But I will proceed to give other remedies for the benefit of those who may prefer a cure not quite so simple, and one that will require rather more trouble than the former. Let the patient drink freely of a strong tea of yellow root. (For a description of this root, look under that head.) For an ointment, take mullen leaves, pound them fine and stew or fry them in fresh butter until the strength is extracted, then strain it INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 58 through a cloth ; with this ointment anoint the rectum or gut when it protrudes or makes its appearance. Persons who are much afflicted with Piles of either kjnd, will derive much benefit from sitting on a stool or bench of green white-oak, a portion of each day; it should be made as warm as can be borne previous to each time of being used. Many persons are troubled with violent and sudden attacks of this disease, having at times but a very few minutes' warning, until the pain is almost insupportable. In this case, the patient may obtain immediate relief by applying cloths wrung out of water or vinegar as hot as can be borne to the fundament; flannel cloths would be preferred; they should be changed every few minutes, keeping a fresh or warm one to the parts until relief is obtained. A salve made from the leaves, seeds or roots of the Jimson or Jamestown weed, and applied as an ointment, is a speedy and certain remedy. The mode of preparing it is as follows: Take the leaves, seeds or roots of this plant, bruise them well and stew them in fresh butter until the strength is extracted, then strain and cool for use; with this salve anoint the fundament frequently. A decoction of any part of this plant is also valuable when applied to the fundament by means of woollen cloths. I have known several children severely afflicted with this painful complaint, which was produced by extreme weakness; in this case I use tonic medicines, such as wild cherry-tree syrup, or dog-wood or poplar bark syrup, and bathe the child once or twice a day in a strong decoction of dogwood and red-oak bark. After each stool the fundament should be anointed with the Jamestown weed (Jimson) ointment or clean hog's-lard. In all cases of Piles, the bowels should be kept open by the use of very mild cathartics. I prefer the use of equal quantities of cream of tartar and finely powdered sulphur, taken in sufficient quantity to keep the bowels gently open. All persons that are addicted to Piles, should live on light and cooling diets, take moderate exercise, and bathe the fundament frequently in cold water as above directed. CHOLERA MORBUS, OR PUKING AND PURG ING.—( Tah-to-ne-tse-luh-ne-gah-slee. ) This disease usually attacks with sickness at the sto- INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 59 mach, pain, flatulence, and severe pain or griping in the bowels. These symptoms are soon succeeded by heat, thirst, quickness of breathing, with a quick, fluttering pulse, and violent puking and purging. When the extremities become cold, the perspiration or sweat cold and clammy, the pulse irregular and changing, accompanied with cramp and hiccoughing, the case may be considered very dangerous, and will soon terminate in death if relief is not obtained. It is generally too late at this stage to apply for medical aid. This disease may be produced by an excess of bile— by the food becoming rancid or acid on the stomach— by sudden check of perspiration, or by a sudden stoppage of the menstrual discharge. It is produced in some instances by breathing damp air; by being exposed to inclement weather; by getting the feet wet, etc.; but in most instances it is occasioned by eating such food as disagrees with the stomach and bowels. Many very different modes of treatment are on record among the whites for this distressing complaint—some recommend a puke, others a purge, blistering, etc.; and some have even recommended scalding the stomach, where death is so near as not to allow time to draw a blister with Spanish flies in the common way. " I have," says Dr. foreman, " although an Indian, been a personal observer of their different modes of treatment, and the little success which generally attended it. I have never experienced any difficulty of consequence in arresting this disease, when called upon in any reasonable time, and that too with very simple means. Instead of punishing the stomach, which is already tortured with agitation, by giving an emetic, my first step is to tranquillize or quiet it." Treatment. —First give a tea of the Cholera Morbus root, which will soon stop the puking. This root or plant is called by the Indians or Natives, Sah-ko-ne-ga-tre-lcee, " but I have," says Dr. Foreman, " always called it by the name of Cholera Morbus root, when speaking of it to the whites, as this name came nearest conveying a correct idea of its medicinal qualities. I have never seen the whites use it, except when directed to do so by the natives, and if they have any other name for it I do not know it." A full description of this plant may be seen under its proper head. When the violence of the puk- 60 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. ing has measurably subsided from the use of the above named tea, it will be necessary to cleanse the stomach and bowels. For this purpose take a purge of anti-bilious or gulver pills, or some active cathartic. For the mode of preparing these pills, refer to their different heads. If the extremities become cold, bathe the feet in warm water, and apply plasters of ground mustard seed to the feet, ankles and wrists. After the puking and purging has abated, if the patient should become very weak, stimulate him with weak toddy, give nourishing diet, and such as the stomach will easily digest. The rapidity with which this disease proceeds, requires the remedies to be promptly applied, for the disease is, generally speaking, highly dangerous, and soon terminates fatally, unless relief is speedily obtained. In cold climates this disease is most prevalent in the latter part of summer and beginning of fall, when there are sudden transitions from heat to cold; but in warm climates it occurs at all seasons. Persons who are subject to this sudden and dangerous complaint, should be very cautious as to what kind of food they indulge in ; and should be very particular in avoiding the causes which produce it—for, by indulging the appetite and by exposure to the causes which produce it, the disease may return with redoubled violence and danger. SCROFULA, OR KING'S EYIL. (Oo-niller-oo-tah-ner.) Symptoms.—Small tumors appear behind the ears; under the chin they also make their appearance, in some instances about the joints of the elbows, ankles,, fingers and toes; rarely on other parts of the body. As these tumors grow larger, the skin which covers them becomes of a purple or livid hue, with inflammatory symptoms ; at length they break and become ulcers, from which is discharged a white matter, somewhat resembling curdled milk. Toung persons are most liable to become the victims of this disease. It is said by some writers, that " true scrofula never makes its appearance after the age of thirty, unless it has shown itself in some shape before." It is caused by a taint or constitutional weakness in parents, or from colds, strains, bruises, etc. Children of lax fibres, with smooth, soft skin, fair hair and delicate complexion, are more liable to attacks of this complaint than those of a different character. 61 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. Treatment.—The existence of this complaint in any person, is a plain indication of a corrupt, morbid state of the fluids of the body. It must, therefore, be obvious, that the proper mode of treatment will be, first to correct and purify the fluids; this will prevent, in a great degree, the formation of other tumors, and aid external remedies in effecting a cure of those already formed. No strong active medicines of any kind should be used in this disease. The bowels should be kept regulated by the use of mild cathartics, such as rhubarb and sulphur, equal quantities combined, taken daily in a sufficient quantity to produce from two to three stools a day. Dr. Wright recommends a tea-spoonful of common salt taken in water every morning for this purpose. If the disease is attended with great debility, a chalybeate pill may be taken night and morning, or take a decoction of burdock-root, sarsaparilla and wild cucumber once or twice a day, say a gill twice a day for an adult; by these means the morbid matter maybe thrown off, the fluids corrected, and a healthy and vigorous action imparted to the system. Wash the tumors with Castile soap-suds, and then anoint them with cedar oil, then apply the pow r ders of ever-green plantain. When the ulcer is deep, you should use some stimulating wash after the soap-suds—such as a decoction of bay berry, wild lettuce, dewberry, brier-root, witch-hazle, beachbark or leaves, or spice-wood, after which apply the oil and powders. The tumors should be dressed in the above manner every twelve hours. When the inflammation ceases, the use of the powders may be discontinued, and healing salve applied in its stead. Before the tumor breaks, an ointment made by stewing together two-thirds fresh butter to one-third cedar oil, will answer much better than cedar oil used alone. The diet and drink should be of a light and cooling nature, such as good light bread with tea, coffee or milk, soup of the flesh of young animals well prepared, with an occasional glass of wine. Moderate exercise should be regularly taken. Cold and damp should be particularly guarded against. This disease often afflicts persons for years; the ulcers extend to the bone, and a very offensive matter is discharged. For ulcers of this last kind, in addition tp the above treatment, look under the following head: Ulcers —for additional remedies. 62 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. ULCERS —( Yah-nah-wa-skur.) By Ulcers, is commonly understood an old running sore,, and it is in this sense that we here use this term. Sometimes caused by slight wounds or bruises, at other times they appear to be constitutional, or a hereditary disease in connection with a scrofulous habit. These latter are generally tedious and slow to heal. Treatment.—The ulcer should first be well washed with Qastile soap-suds, next bathe the part in a strong decoction of beach bark or leaves; after the part is well bathed, dry it perfectly dry and anoint it with cedar oil, and apply a poultice made by thickening rye meal or wheat bran in a strong decoction of black oak bark; the face of the poultice should be smeared with a little cream or lard to prevent it from sticking. If this treatment should not allay the fever and reduce the swelling in a few days, apply a poultice of polk-root and mayapple root, boiled to a strong decoction, thickened and applied as above; this last poultice is to draw out any offensive matter that may be lurking at the bone, and must be continued until the inflammation subsides; after the fever abates, the black oak poultice may be reapplied during the whole time; the wound must be regularly washed, bathed and anointed as above directed every twelve hours. The patient should occasionally cleanse the bowels with anti-bilious pills, or some other cathartic, and make a constant use of a decoction of white sarsaparilla and wild mercury to cleanse and purify the blood. The sarsaparilla and wild mercury may be taken in powders or pills if prepared. The diet should be light and nourishing; everything of a stimulating or heating nature must be avoided, particularly ardent spirits. Charcoal, applied by sprinkling it on the poultice, will cleanse or purify the sores, and prevent them from having a disagreeable smell. A salve made of Jamestown weed (Jimson) is very good for tedious ulcers, as is also a salve of alder-bark. CANCER — (07i-tah-yehsku.) The term Cancer has been applied indiscriminately to all eating, spreading ulcers of a virulent kind. Of the cancerous ulcer there appears to be several kinds ; but the medical profession have reserved the term cancer for the most malignant and incurable kind. The ap- 63 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. pearance of the real Cancer is as follows : It commences with a small inflamed pimple or lump of a bluish color, which becomes a sore with hard rising edges of a ragged appearance. On close examination of the sore, you will discover two whitish lines, crossing from the centre to the edge of the sore. At first a burning sensation is felt in the sore, which is accompanied, as the disease advances, with sharp, shooting pains. After some time these pains subside, and the cancer discharges a very offensive matter; this discharge gradually increases, and the matter communicating to the adjoining parts, finally forms a large offensive sore, or ulcer, of a most dreadful and exhausting nature, always terminating (unless cured) in a lingering, painful and horrible death. Cancers are usually seated in some gland, but are sometimes seated in some other part. They generally make their appearance about the lips, the nose and breasts, but sometimes on other parts of the body. Those who are advanced in life are much more subject to cancerous affections than young persons, particularly if they have scrofulous constitutions, which have descended to them from their parents. Treatment.—First wash the cancer with Castile soapsuds, next bathe it well with a strong decoction of redroot, then apply a salve made as follows : Take of heartleaf-root, well pulverized, sheep suet and pine rosin, equal quantities, and a smaller quantity of beeswax, stew them over a slow fire until the strength of the heart-leaf-root is extracted, then strain for use. The cancer should be washed, bathed and dressed in the above manner every twelve hours ; but some attention should be paid to the general health of the patient, or all the external applications may fail to effect a cure. The bowels should be kept regular by the use of the anti-bilious pills, or some other cathartic. The patient should drink bitters to cleanse and purify the blood, such as sarsaparilla, wild mercury, or some similar bitters, and make a free and general use of sassafras tea. The diet must be light, such as rice, chicken, squirrel or venison, cooked in their own oil alone, and salted i'ust enough to make them palatable; strong diet of all ninds should be avoided. This disease requires time and perseverance, but I have never known the above 64 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. course fail to effect a cure, when properly attended to, says Dr. Foreman. Another Mode of Treatment.—Take the green switch of yellow-root, and the moss out of the river, burn them into ashes, then take hog's lard or mutton tallow, and mix with the ashes, and apply it in the form of a plaster to the cancer. In the first stage of this disease, narrow-dock-root, bruised and steeped in vinegar, is a good application. SORE LEGS.—( Oh-nuh-sco-hah.) Sore Legs frequently arise from neglected bruises, cuts, etc. It sometimes runs in families for several generations. When it runs in families, it is generally such families as are addicted to scrofula, scurvy and similar diseases. This disease bears so close a resemblance to scrofula, and the treatment for it is so near the same as the treatment for that disease and ulcers, that it would be useless to write much on the subject. But as I am personally acquainted with several persons who have been afflicted with sore legs for a number of years, I think it probable that they will more readily find and understand the mode of treatment if laid down under its proper head. Treatment.—Where sore legs are of long standing, the general health of the patient must be attended to. First, give a dose of anti-bilious pills to cleanse the stomach and bowels, and next let the patient make a constant and free use of a decoction of sarsaparilla, and wild mercury, or, some other articles, to cleanse and purify the the blood and increase the general tone and strength of the system. Wash the leg well with Castile soap, and bathe it in a strong decoction of beech-bark or leaves, next anoint it with cedar oil, as directed for Ulcer. It should be poulticed as directed for ulcer; if the smell be very offensive, sprinkle charcoal over the poultice. The leg should be dressed in the above manner every twelve hours. The patient should take moderate exercise, but spend the greater portion of his time lying, as this will give the affected part greater ease. A salve of the root of swamp-dock forms an excellent application to old ulcers, and a strong decoction of the same forms a good wash for tedious ulcers. Diets must be light, such as are recommended for scrofula and ulcers. The use of ardent spirits must not be indulged in, if the 65 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. patient wishes his limb restored to health, for all remedies will fail where this poison is taken even in moderate quantities. WHITE SWELLING. — (Colah-te-coh-nu-go-gee.) Different writers give various and even contradictory accounts of this most painful disease. They attempt entertaining the reader with accounts of several kinds of White Swelling, which are distinguished according to the seat of the disorder. All this I believe to be unnecessary in this work, as I offer but one remedy. I therefore make but two directions in White Swelling, viz.: The inflammatory or first stage, and the chronic, or second or last stage. There is no disease to which the human family is liable, that has hitherto inflicted more severe and lasting misery, than White Swelling. It has baffled the skill of the most eminent physicians, and rendered hundreds of children of the finest constitutions and greatest activity cripples for life. Dr. Wright, a physician, who has been successful in treating this disease, speaks of it in the following words:—"If the patient survives the severity of the first assault, he may for many years drag out a painful and miserable existence, his macerated body filled with sores from the crown of the head to the sole of the feet, and his suffering so protracted, violent and agonizing, that when he dies, as he will, of a hectic fever, his friends and relations, even parents, feel comfort in the thought that death has relieved him from his miseries, and willingly consign to the tomb the mortal remains of the unhappy victim." Male children of the most active life and best health, from three or four to fifteen or twenty years of age, are most subject to White Swellings, but both sexes may be afflicted with it from a few months old to twenty-five years old; after which age, I have never known a case to occur. Some physicians believe that all White Swellings are caused by cold. I am of opinion that very many causes of this disease are occasioned by cold, but I think that the number occasioned by bruises are equally great. It generally makes its attack after being overheated by violent exercise and cooling suddenly. This disease is seated on the surface of the bone, and in the periosteum or membrane which covers the bone. Although his 66 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. painful disease has baffled the skill of the most eminent physicians for centuries past, unless taken at the very commencement of the disease, before it could be fully known whether it was White Swelling or not, yet a simple, easy, and certain remedy abounds in our own native forest. For the discovery of this remedy we are indebted to the Cherokee Indians. It has already relieved hundreds of this torturing and painful disease, and restored them to a state of health and activity. It has never failed in their (the Cherokees) hands to give general relief in a short time. It has been tried by myself in cases where the regular and botanic physician had each a fair trial and had failed. Cherokee remedies had the desired effect. And I feel no hesitation in saying from personal experience, that their mode of treatment will relieve White Swelling at any stage, if perseveringly attended to. Symptoms.—Sometimes the first symptom is a violent pain in the part affected; the pain continues for several days before the patient has signs of fever; the pain increases—in some instances it is of a whitish and in others of a reddish or flesh color—as the disease increases the patient becomes feverish with loss of appetite, great thirst, and flushed face—at other times it makes its attacks with more violence, (immediately after being over-heated, and cooling suddenly) with the appearance of inflammatory fever, which if left to itself, in a few days settles on some part of the limb; the part swells rapidly, with violent pain, and in this case it frequently has a high red color, although it is called vihite swelling. Treatment.—First steam the affected part well with spice-wood; this should be done as follows: —Boil the twigs of spice-wood to a strong decoction, and place the vessel under the afflicted part, covering the limb at the same time to prevent the steam from escaping, let it remain until it is properly steamed; next anoint it with cedar oil and bathe it in with hot iron or shovel. If it is in the first or forming stage, after it is steamed and anointed, apply a poultice made of pole-cat or catpaw bark; this bark is to be boiled to a strong decoction, and the decoction thickened with rye meal or wheat bran. This poultice is to scatter or drive back the disease, which it will do in a few days if matter is not already formed at the bone; where matter has formed 67 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. at the bone the disease must come to a head; in this case steam and anoint it as above directed, and apply a poultice made of one-third poke-root to two-thirds buckeye-root, (the bark off the roots is the part used) they are to be boiled, thickened and applied, as directed for the cat-paw or pole-cat poultice. When it is sufficiently ripe, lance it deep, and continue the poke and buckeye poultice until a copious discharge is produced; if this poultice should give much pain it may be changed for one made by boiling the root of highland ferin, and thickening it as directed for the above poultices ; but whenever the inflammation increases, and the part swells, the poke and buckeye poultice must be applied for a time. After the inflammation has subsided the cat-paw poultice may be applied. The affected part must be regularly steamed, anointed and poulticed every twelve hours. Cases of long standing will require more time to effect a cure, than those of short duration, but the above treatment will cure let the case be as long standing as it may, if properly and perseveringiy attended to. FELON or WHITLOW—( Oo-ne-scoh-hupee.) Felon is an inflammation of the finger or thumb, and generally confines itself to the first joint. This disease bears so strong a likeness to white swelling that I am constrained to believe that it is one and the same disease, for Felon, like white swelling, evidently has its seat on the surface of the bone, or in the periosteum which covers the bone; it is attended with the most exquisite pain; this pain continues, in some instances for several days, before the color or appearance of the affected thumb or finger is materially changed—but if the disease is not checked, the affected part will put on a glossy or shiny appearance. I have known this torturing malady to prevent the sufferer from sleeping, for one, two and even three weeks in succession, during which time the part was regularly attended to in the usual manner with warm poultices, etc. Treatment. —On the first appearance of the Felon, the circulation should be prevented in the affected part by means of tape or similar binding; the affected thumb or finger should be pressed gently between the thumb and fore finger, then wind the tape tightly around it, commencing at the extremity and winding upwards towards 68 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH*. the hand. This bandage should remain until a cure is effected. If the bandage should increase the pain so that it cannot be borne, it should be gradually loosened until it can be borne ; but as immediate ease is a blessing which the great Author of our being seems to have denied in this torturing little plague, it is hoped that some patience will be exercised with regard to the bandage; it may be taken off once in twenty-four hours to examine the part, but must be replaced immediately. If the Felon is so far advanced as to have formed matter, next the bone, an incision should be made with a needle or lancet to the bone, and the bandage again applied moderately tight, and a poultice of bitter herbs applied to the incision. Some physicians recommend the insertion of vegetable caustic to the bottom of the incision. It is likely that caustic would render the cure more speedy but it would be a very severe application. Where the patient will not submit to the above treatment, look under the head of white swelling for another mode. I have used the black poultice with much success in driving back risings of other descriptions, and when they were too far advanced to be driven back, it causes them to come to a head sooner, and with much less pain than they would otherwise do. I have often thought that this poultice might prove beneficial in case of Felon, but have never tried it. But cedar oil is the "sovereign balm" in all diseases of the bone and the membrane which covers it. PHTHISIC OR ASTHMA.— {Tse-nah-wah-ste-slww.) This distressing complaint has long been numbered with those that could only be mitigated, and not cured ; but the Cherokees profess to be master of this disease with all its wheezing terrors. It is a spasmodic affection of the lungs, which mostly comes on by paroxysms or fits. From infancy to old age, all sexes are subject to this complaint. Many children that have been afflicted with it from a very early age appear to outgrow it about the time they arrive at the age o£ puberty. Also at this age many persons become afflicted with it who have never before had it. Where it is not hereditary, it leaves persons at or a little after middle age, say 40 or 50. But if it be hereditary, and does not go off at the time he or she arrives at the age of man or woman, 69 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. it is apt to become more aggravated in the decline of life. Causes which excite, or bring on a spell or fit, are often owing to the peculiar states of the atmosphere. It may be too hot or too cold, too dry or too damp, it may contain too much or too little electricity, for the nature of the disease in different persons. When the body is warm and sweating, sudden cold is sure to produce it; sudden changes from dry hot to damp cool weather, almost invariably produce a paroxysm of this disease on those who are addicted to it. Symptoms.—For several hours, and in some instances days, before the fit comes on, you feel a slight difficulty of breathing, a weight and fullness in the breast and stomach, bad appetite and sometimes a great craving for food ; headache, depression of spirits amounting to melancholy, restless feelings accompanied with drowsiness ; the fit or paroxysm usually comes on of an evening or night, with great difficulty in breathing, attended almost to suffocation, a wheezing noise is made in breathing, attended by a hard dry cough at first, which gradually diminishes in toughness until a white, stringy, tough mucus is discharged from the throat and mouth, accompanied by a gentle moisture of the skin, and in some instances it amounts to copious sweating; severe palpitation of the heart, fever and sometimes vomiting attend it. Treatment.—Take a half pound of garlic, three or four pods of red pepper, and a table spoonful of common salt, pulverize and mix them well together, and take what will make two pills morning and night, and a greater quantity if the urgency of the case requires it; but this amount should be regularly taken when the patient is apparently free from the disease. Secondly, boil sour-wood bark or leaves to a strong decoction, then strain the decoction and boil it down to the consistency of molasses, then take common brown sugar and heat it in an oven over a slow fire until it melts and again becomes dry and lumpy, then add them together—proportions, four table spoonfuls of the molasses to one pound of sugar, to which add three table spoonfuls of sweet or British oil, put it again over a slow fire, and mix it well together, and bottle for use. Give a teaspoonful of this syrup or mixture morning and evening. This last 70 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. preparation of itself often effects an entire cure, but I prefer using them together as above directed. They should be taken regular even when the patient appears to be entirely free from Phthisic. Lobelia is also very good for this complaint, either the green or dry herb digested in spirits long enough to extract the strength ; take of this tincture just enough to produce slight nausea, say three times a day ; this must be continued for a length of time after all symptoms of the disease have disappeared. Smoking the root or seeds of the Jamestown (Jimson) weed is also very good for Asthma. Persons afflicted with this disease suffer very much from extreme weakness and palpitation of the heart, particularly of a morning. To relieve this, swallow a raw egg every morning with a few swallows of fresh spring water for several mornings, say ten or twelve, then omit a few and again use the egg. The Asthmatic should rise early, take moderate exercise in the open air, but should avoid wet and damp. The diet should be light, nourishing, and frequent. In cases where the difficulty of breathing is extremely great, temporary relief may be had by stewing together equal quantities of sage and honey, and letting the patient swallow it in teaspoonful doses. I believe bleeding to be very injurious in this disease, although it is recommended in the writings of several eminent physicians. FEYERS. GENERAL REMARKS. Fever shows itself in so many ways and forms, that it is almost impossible to describe it correctly. To judge of its presence with any degree of correctness, we will have to pay particular attention to the following appearances and indications : The state of the pulse, the skin, the stomach and bowels, the breathing, the appetite, the color of the face, the change of feature, the tongue, eyes, etc. —There is generally soreness over the whole body, as if with fatigue after a hard day's labor, great thirst, violent pain in the head or back, or both; sometimes there is a constant desire to sleep, and sometimes great restlessness; sometimes the strength is greatly increased by Fever. From an early period, down to the present day, Fever 71 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. and febrile diseases have been the fruitful theme of speculation. The most distinguished medical men have differed in opinion as to the cause of Fevers. Theory has been piled upon theory, and the subject yet appears much in the dark. The opinion that most diseases originate from the stomach, appears to be supported by as sound reasoning and good judgment as any other theory that has yet been advanced. The first impression is made on the stomach by medicine, which acts immediately by sympathy. It is the general reservoir which receives those medical remedies by which the disease is to be subdued. The effects produced on the system by remedies taken into the stomach, show at once the great sympathy between the stomach and the whole system, and also the many evil consequences that must evidently follow a derangement of this reservoir or work-shop. The principal secret of medicine is to discover the first cause of disease, and in the next place to apply suitable remedies in a proper way, and at a proper time. There is not so much difficulty in the science and practice of medicine as a great many persons imagine, if you will but attend to the causes of diseases, and watch the effects of the remedies. The fact is that any person possessing common sense and judgment, who will take a seat at the bed-side of the sick, ascertain how and when he was taken sick, and all the particulars as to the pains first complained of, and be minute in examining into the habits of the patient, will, in nine cases out of ten, succeed in relieving the patient, when mere theorists who prescribe for the names of diseases, without a due portion of sound judgment and practical knowledge, will fail. The inhabitants of very few countries are entirely exempt from the attacks of Fever. I will therefore describe plainly the symptoms of such Fevers as are most common amongst us, so that, with a little care and common judgment, the reader will be enabled to distinguish between Fevers and other diseases, and also to ascertain the exciting cause, which knowledge will enable him at once to strike at the root of the disease. AGUE AND FEYER, OR. INTERMITTENT FEYER — Oo-nah-wah-stee-sJc'ee. This disease generally makes its attack in the fall sea son of the year, and those who live on water courses, or 72 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. on low marshy countries or situations are most subject to its attacks. Agues are generally distinguished by names expressive of the periods of intermission or lapse of time between the fits. That returning every twenty-four hours, is called by Doctors, Quotidian. That which returns every forty-eight hours, or every other day, is called Tertians. And that returning every third day is called Quartans. The above divisions are given in order to describe the disease more plainly, for the treatment is the same, differing only in the mildness or severity of the attack ; if very severe, the remedies employed should be active and powerful; on the contrary, if the attack be mild and gentle, remedies less active and powerful will answer. Each paroxysm or fit of this fever, is divided into three different stages —the cold, the hot, and the sweating stage. The cold stage commonly commences with a feeling of languor, debility, or weakness, and an aversion to motion. Frequent stretching and yawning; the feet and hands become cold, the skin looks shrivelled, and a numbness or want of feeling is experienced over the whole body, and finally a chill comes on, accompanied by a shivering or shaking, which lasts fifteen or twenty minutes, ana sometimes a much longer time. The pulse is small and frequent, and often irregular. As the chill or first stage goes off:, the second or hot stage comes on, with a sense of heat over the whole body; the face becomes red, the skin dry and hot, increased thirst, pain in the back and head, throbbing in the temples, accompanied with great anxiety and restlessness; the respiration becomes fuller and freer, but is still frequent; the pulse becomes more regular, hard, and full; the tongue furred. If the attack be severe, and the blood determines to the head, delirium often takes place for a time. In the commencement of the third and last stage, the intense heat begins to subside, moisture begins to break out on the forehead, and generally extends itself over the whole body, the thirst diminishes, breathing becomes more free and full, and most of the functionaries resume their ordinary state and operation, but the patient is left in a state of ext eme weakness. INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 73 Treatment.—First give an emetic to cleanse the stomach, (see emetics in the Dispensatory,) next give a purge, anti-bilious pills or some other cathartic. After the stomach and bowels have been well cleansed, give a sweat of seneka snake-root, black snake-root, or burnt whisky and red pepper, as either will answer. The sweat should be given about an hour and a half before the expected return of the chill. The bowels should be kept regulated by the use of cathartics; the above pill is preferable to any cathartic in my knowledge for this purpose. After the sweat has been given, the patient should drink daily of the tonic bitters. See Dispensatory. If this bitter cannot be conveniently had, the patient may take a strong decoction made of equal quantities of wild-cherry-tree bark, the bark of the root of red dogwood, and the bark of the root of the yellow or swamp poplar. A table-spoonful of this decoction should be taken regularly ever} r hour, when there is no fever, but when there is fever, it should be omitted. The Ague pill is also a valuable remedy for Ague and Fever. For the mode of preparing and administering these pills, refer to the Dispensatory. BILIOUS FEVER.— {Remittent Fever.) Bilious Fever is Ague and Fever, just described, under something of a different modification. In Ague and Fever there is an entire intermission or stoppage of the disease, whereas, in Bilious or Remittent Fever, there is nothing more than an abatement of the fever for a time. It has received the popular name of Bilious Fever, because in most cases there appears to be an increased secretion of bile. Bilious attacks are most frequent in the latter part of summer and in the fall. It is most commonly met with along streams, in the vicinity of marshes, and near stagnant waters. In warm climates, where great heat and heavy rains rapidly succeed each other, Remittent Fevers, of a very malignant character, sometimes prevail as an epidemic. The symptoms are a sense of heaviness and languor, pain in the head and back; in most cases the patient is taken with a chill, which is succeeded by intense heat over the whole body—the pulse is more tense and full than in Ague and Fever. If the attack of Bilious Fever be severe, the eyes and skin often appear yellow, 4 74 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. the tongue is covered with a brownish fur, the bowels are generally costive, and the urine high colored. Treatment.—In mild attacks of this disease, if taken at the commencement, it may be thrown off by cleasing the bowels with anti-bilious pills or some other cathartic, and drinking freely of some sweating tea. But if the attack be violent, more active means must be employed. Give an emetic of gulver and ipecac, or Indian physic, to cleanse the stomach, and render its operation fully effective by giving warm water or chamomile tea freely; when the stomach is well cleansed, give water gruel to determine it to the bowels. If the emetic is taken in the morning, the patient should take a dose of anti-bilious pills at night, say from eight to ten hours after the emetic. After the stomach and bowels have been cleansed in the above manner, give a sweat of seneka or black snake-root; a tea of rag-weed will answer admirably, and will produce copious sweating, in many instances, when nothing else will. If the fever should rise very high and produce delirium, put the hands in cold water, or rub the hands and wrists with cloths wet with cold water and vinegar, and apply cloths wet with cold water and vinegar to the forehead and temples, and bleed freely, according to the strength and constitution of the patient. Care must be taken to continue the use of purges, until the stools assume a healthy appearance. Next take three table-spoonfuls of the powders of boneset, and pour on them a quart of boiling water; of this tea, let the patient drink a halfpint a day, unless it should produce vomiting, in which case the quantity must be diminished; this tea is intended to act mildly on the bowels, and also on the liver. It is one of the best correctors of the bile now known. After the disease is checked, if the patient suffers from debility, give tonics; such as dog-wood bark, columbo-root, wild cherry-tree bark, etc. See tonics in the Dispensatory, and also in the Materia Medica, at which places you wall find directions for preparing and administering medicines of this class. Puking, purging, and bleeding, is often followed to such an extent as to bring the patient to an alarming state of debility as soon as the fever leaves; in cases of this kind, give the chalybeate pill morning, noon, and night. Dose, in this case, is one pill, about the size of INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 75 a summer grape; this medicine acts more like a charm in extreme debility than any thing else. I omitted stating, in the proper place, that plasters of mustard-seeds, or poke-root poultices, or some other of the articles recommended for that purpose in Materia Medica, should be applied to the feet, to produce a revulsion from the head, where the fever is very high, and the determination to the brain very great. This will greatly aid the bleeding and cold applications to the head and wrists in giving relief. NEBVOUS FEVER.—( Typhus Fever.) [ Gah-lah-a-lee-oo-lee.~\ This Fever, as its name imports, affects the whole nervous system, and produces a tremulous motion of the body and limbs, and extreme debility, which attends it from the very beginning; the system appears to be sinking, great weariness, loss of appetite, low spirits, frequent sighing, are among the first symptoms; these are soon followed by dryness of the mouth, quick low pulse, and sometimes an unnatural perspiration or sweat breaks out on the skin for a time. The sleep is very much disturbed and unrefreshing, the countenance sinks, or seems to change from its natural expression of feature to a ghastly appearance, the tongue, teeth, and gums soon become colored with a dark buff-colored scurf, the sight of food is unpleasant, and sometimes disgusting, from the extreme debility or weakness of the stomach. The difficulty of breathing becomes very considerable, sometimes the hands and feet are glowing with heat, whilst the forehead is covered with sweat; sometimes it comes very suddenly with chills and flushes, and at other times it is ten or twelve days, or even longer, before it shows symptoms of violence, making its advances so slowly and gradually as to produce no alarm. The following symptoms may be considered very dangerous : A constant inclination to throw off the cover; a changing of the voice from its usual tone ; great weakness; picking at the bed-clothing; inability to retain or hold the urine; involuntary discharge from the bowels; slight aberrations of the mind, muttering as if speaking to one's self; a wild and fixed look, as if the eyes were riveted on some particular object. When 76 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. these last symptoms occur, there is little to expect but that the case will terminate fatally. Treatment. —Give an emetic to cleanse the stomach. —Ipecac, or Indian physic, and gulver, (see Dispensatory,) in ten or twelve hours after the operation of the emetic, give a purge of anti-bilious pills, or some other purge. See cathartics in the Dispensatory. After the stomach and bowels have been cleansed in the above manner, give the hepatic pill, night and morning, four for a dose. A gentle perspiration should be kept up by the use of snake-root tea. After the stomach and bowels have been cleansed, as above directed, the patient should make constant use of bitters of gulver, ipecac, or Indian physic, and bone-set, infused in good whisky or wine. When there is trembling of the limbs, and great agitation of the nerves, give nervepowders in the tea taken by the patient, freely. If the bowels incline to be costive, use injections of thin gruel made tolerably salt, to which add nerve-powders freely. In the low stage of this disease, use wine freely; if the pulse is low, and the extremities cold, apply mustardseed plasters to the feet, ankles, and wrists; also bathe and rub them well with whisky and red pepper. Diets must be light and nourishing, taken frequently, and in small quantities. Slippery-elm tea, or mucilage, is a valuable drink in this fever; dried apple, or peach syrup, or tea, is also very good. All possible pains should be taken to keep the mind of the patient composed. Tonics may be used freely in the advanced stages of this disease with good effects; camphor will have a good effect, combined with dog-wood, or wild cherry-tree bark. Wine, or French brandy, may be taken freely. Bleeding, in nervous fever, is almost certain death, and should never be practised at any stage of the disease. YELLOW FEYEE. Symptoms.—An attack of yellow fever is sometimes preceded by loss of appetite, disagreeable taste in the mouth, heat in the stomach, pain, or giddiness, in the head, costiveness, languor, debility, and dejection of spirits. At other times, it attacks suddenly, with a chill, a pain in the head and eye-balls, flushing of the ; INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 77 ace, excessive thirst, and great prostration of strength ; the stomach is very irritable, throwing np whatever is taken into it; the tongue is covered with a dark-colored fur, the skin dry and hot, pulse small and quick, and hard, the urine high-colored, and voided in small quantities, the eyes, and skin about the face, neck, and breast, becomes yellow; a dark-colored matter, resembling coffee-grounds, is at length thrown up from the stomach, called the black-vomit. Sometimes diarrhoea takes place; the stools have a very offensive smell, and a black, or green, color; sometimes the victim of this disease sinks into a sleepy state, and dies without a struggle; at other times, putrid symptoms, of a very violent character, occur, and the patient dies in convulsions. Treatment. —This fever requires prompt and efficient treatment, at the very onset. As soon as yellow fever is discovered, cleanse the stomach, by giving an emetic; for this purpose, the roasted root of prickly-sumac is, probably, the best article in my knowledge. Take a double handful of the roasted root, steep it in water until the strength is extracted, then give a half pint of the tea, or more, and repeat in fifteen minutes, if the first should not operate; give warm water freely, to render the operation fully effective. After the operation of the emetic, give anti-bilious pills, to cleanse the bowels; for dose, see Dispensatory. Then give a tea of barberry-root, or the root of golden-seal, one, or both; this tea is made by putting one-fourth ounce of the dried root into a quart of boiling water; of this, the patient should drink a pint a day, or more, if the stomach will bear it. The patient should be kept in a gentle perspiration, by the use of seneka, or black-snake root, tea. The bowels should be kept regulated through the whole course by the use of anti-bilious pills, taken in small doses, morning and night, just sufficient to produce the desired effect on the bowels, which must be judged of by he who administers. SCARLET FEYER. This disease often prevails as an epidemic, and is most frequent in the fall season of the year, though it may occur at any season of the year. It is most apt to attack children and young persons, yet it sometimes attacks whole families, and persons of all ages. 78 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. Symptoms—This, like other fevers, commences with languor, lassitude, chills, heat, dry skin, nausea, and sometimes vomiting; the pulse is quick, though languid, the respiration difficult and hurried, the skin is red, like scarlet, and, if the disease is suffered to progress, spots, of a vivid red color, make their appearance on the face and neck, and gradually extend over the whole body; the throat becomes sore, the voice hoarse, and the breathing very hurried and difficult; in the evening the fever is highest'and the spots brightest. In the more malignant form of this disease, all the above symptoms are aggravated, inflammation and ulceration of the tonsils take place, the redness, or efflorescence, spreads over the whole body, with appearance of swelling ; the tongue, which, in the milder form of Jhe disease, is covered with a white thick far, is, in the more malignant form, covered with a black, or brownish, fur, or incrustation. Derangement of the mind is common to each form of scarlet fever. When there is a tendency to putrefaction, the pulse becomes small, indistinct, and irregular; the sores in the mouth, and nose, and throat, become very putrid, and a briny substance, or matter, is often discharged from the nose, which takes the skin as it passes. This last stage of the disease is considered very dangerous, and, if immediate relief is not had, the system sinks into a state of collapse. Treatment.—First give an emetic, or puke, to cleanse the stomach. A tea, made of the bark of the shell-bark hickory, is the best emetic with which I am acquainted. For this purpose, it should be steeped in water, until the strength' is extracted, and the tea administered freely, until it operates. When it is not convenient to give the above emetic, any other good emetic will answer. See emetics in Dispensatory. The bowels should next be cleansed, by giving a dose of anti-bilious pills, or some other cathartic. After the stomach and bowels have been cleansed, as above directed, the patient should take the hepatic pill, every morning, on a fasting stomach—three for a dose for an adult; also give sweating teas freely, such as black, or seneka snake-root; during the whole course must be kept regulated, by the use of anti-bilious pills, or some other cathartic, taken in small portions, night and morning. If the fever should continue high, and the thirst be INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 79 great, the emetic should be repeated; if the throat should become very sore, treat it as directed for malignant sore throat; it the patient should sink into extreme weakness, or debility, give dogwood-root bark, in tea, or decoction, freely, to drink, and by injections ; also give the chalybeate pills, night and morning. A little sulphur should be added to the diaphoretic tea, which will prevent heart sickness, and aid in driving the efflorescence to the surface, which is the principal object in this disease. Flannel, wet with spirits, may be kept to the neck, and the patient may inhale the steam of vinegar from the spout of a coffee-pot. The drink should be warm, and the diet light. INFLAMMATION OF THE BRxVIN. Symptoms—Violent pains in the head, the eyes are red, inflamed, and unable to bear the light; watchfulness, frightful dreams, great anxiety, and indistinct recollections; the face becomes flushed, the skin dry, the bowels costive, the urine scant, and there is an extreme susceptibility of the whole nervous system; the pulse is irregular and tremulous, or strong and hard; the arteries of the temples and neck usually throb and beat violently. In the first stages of this disease the patient dislikes to talk, but, as the disease advances, the eyes assume a great brightness, the patient becomes furious, and talks wildly, and generally on subjects which have left deep impressions on the mind when in health. The tongue becomes dry and rough, and of a black, or dark yellow, color. Favorable symptoms are copious perspiration, discharge of blood from the nose, a dysentery, and plentiful evacuation of urine. Unfavorable symptoms are starting of the nerves, total deprivation of sleep, retention of urine, continual spitting, and grinding the teeth, and violent fits of delirium. Inflammation of the brain is sometimes a primary idiophatic disease, but it is often only symptomatic of some other complaint. Inflammation of the brain may, at all times, be considered an extremely dangerous disease, and one which must inevitably prove fatal without the immediate use of active, prompt, and efficient remedies. Causes likely to produce this disease are, excessive use of ardent spirits, indulgence in violent fits of passion, intense study, excessive venery, violence about 80 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. the head, as blows, etc., sudden cold, long exposure to the direct rays of the hot sun, fevers, small-pox, mumps, and also by the sudden suppression of accustomed evacuations, whether natural or artificial. When the disease is long protracted, it often terminates in insanity. Treatment.—First take blood from the arm by a large orifice or opening; wait a little while, and again take blood, until a gentle sweat is seen, or the patient feels like fainting. Let the patient be kept in bed, with the head placed on high pillowing, and the body in as upright a posture as possible, so as to lessen, as far as possible, the determination, or flowing of the blood to the head. Give a dose of anti-bilious pills, and aid their operation by the frequent use of laxative injections ; but, while the above means are in use for the evacuation of the contents of the bowels, lose no time in shaving the hair from the head, and apply cloths, wet in the coldest water and vinegar that can be had, over the naked head; if ice can be had, put a portion with the vinegar, and it will be so much the better. If this does not cause the violence of the symptoms to abate in a short time, and the strength of the patient will bear it, give an emetic of ipecac and gulver—see Dispensatory—or Indian physic, and draw a blister on the back part of the head and neck; also bathe the feet in warm water, and apply plasters of mustard-seed to them and the ankles, in order to produce a revulsion of the blood from the head. I neglected to state in the proper place that, after the bleeding, and evacuation of the contents of the bowels, every means should be used to produce sweating, such as the free use of diaphoretic teas, or powders; for this purpose, a tea of seneka snake-root, and black snake-root, is preferable, but, where neither of these can be had, other diaphoretics will answer. After the violent symptoms abate, still keep the bowels open, for several days, with cream of tartar, salts, senna, or something that causes copious watery discharges from the bowels. During the whole time, the room of the patient should be kept perfectly cool, and as dark as convenient, nor ought the least noise to be permitted to disturb the quiet of the patient. When the fever begins to subside, and the reason to return, these instructions should be particularly attended to ; because the slightest cause INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 81 will, in many instances, bring on a return of the disease, and with redoubled violence, which will, in all probability, prove fatal, in a short time. Diets, for several days, should be of the lightest kind. INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH. Inflammation of the stomach may proceed from obstructed perspiration, from receiving blows or wounds in the region of the stomach, from severe and frequent emetics, drinking extremely cold water when the body ia overheated, from corrosive poisons taken in the stomach; also by the transition of the gout, or acute rheumatism, to the stomach. Symptoms.—Inflammation of the Stomach can easily be distinguished from other diseases by its peculiar symptoms; it is therefore impossible to mistake it for any other disease if proper attention be paid to those symptoms. It is always attended with a violent pain in the stomach, which is greatly increased by pressure over the stomach ; there is also a burning heat at the pit of the stomach, frequent retching as if to vomit; when anything is taken into the stomach, it is immediately vomited up; there is great loss of strength, excessive thirst and uneasiness, continued moving of the body from side to side. If the disease be not checked, it rapidly advances, the hands and feet become cold, the bowels costive, the countenance haggard, and wears an indiscribably anxious aspect, hiccough ensues, and the patient soon dies. Treatment.—This is a very dangerous complaint, and may terminate fatally in twenty-four hours, if not arrested in its progress. First bleed freely from the arm—the pulse is frequently low, and small, but this should not deter you from bleeding ; the pulse will frequently rise on bleeding several times. Employ some anti-emetic, to check the vomiting; the contents of the bowels should be evacuated as speedily as possible, by the use of laxative injections, such as gulver syrup in a strong tea of catnip. As soon as the inflammatory symptoms have been subdued by frequent bleeding, and clystering, the patient should be put into the warm bath and remain there as long as possible ; as soon as he is taken from the bath apply a blister over the region of the stomach, or a large plaster of ground mustard-seed wet with . 4* 82 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. strong vinegar will answer. By turning to Dispensatory, you will find directions for preparing several plasters, which will draw blisters. Small quantities of sweet oil, given occasionally, will aid in allaying the inflammation. The bowels must be kept open by injections made of flaxseed tea, chicken water, slippery-elm tea, or thin gruel. These injections will also aid in nourishing the patient, as it will be improper to take nourishment into the stomach. The patient's drink should consist of slippery-elm or flaxseed tea taken a little below blood-heat. When inflammatory symptoms have subsided and the stomach will bear it, nourishment may be taken, but it must be done with great caution, and in very small quantities; it should consist of slippery-elm tea, flax-seed tea, new milk boiled and thickened a little, rice, light soups, or thin gruel, with a little new milk in it; any thing taken into the stomach should neither be too warm nor too cool, a little below blood-heat is probably the safest temperature. When this disease is produced by poisons taken into the stomach, the poison must be removed by an emetic, as directed under that head, and the disease then treated as above directed. When inflammation of the stomach terminates fatally, it always ends in mortification. A sudden change from severe misery to perfect ease, is conclusive evidence that mortification has taken place. Inflammation of the stomach sometimes occurs in putrid diseases. It is discovered by inflammatory appearances on the inside of the mouth. When the face and mouth are so affected in Fevers, it is to be feared that it reaches the stomach, especially if the stomach shows unusual suceptibility, accompanied with frequent vomiting—in this the progress of the disease may be arrested by giving a teaspoonful of the spirits of turpentine in a little water. This medicine is well calculated to prevent gangrene and mortification, and must be given more or less frequently, according to the urgency of the symptoms. INFLAMMATION OF THE INTESTINES. In this disease the danger of mortification is great, and relief must be given soon or every effort will be vain. Symptoms are, severe griping or pain in the bowels, especially near the navel. It may easily be distinguished from inflammation of the stomach by the pain INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 83 being lower down, and from colic, by the smallness and quickness of the pulse, and by the extreme tenderness of the belly, the pain being increased by pressure upon it, whilst in colic it affords relief; it is attended with sickness at the stomach and vomiting, obstinate costiveness, and considerable fever. Great weakness attends this disease, the urine is high colored and voided with difficulty. Inflammation of the intestines is produced by nearly the same causes as those which produce inflammation of the stomach. It also arises in some instances from hard indigestible food remaining in the bowels; from severe colic, blows and wounds about the region of the bowels —by long and severe dysentery, worms, and in some instances from hernia or rupture. Treatment.—In the first stage of this very dangerous disease, it will be necessary to bleed and repeat as often as the urgency of the case requires it. A free and thorough discharge should be produced from the bowels by means of laxative injections, repeated at short intervals, until the desired object is obtained. A part of each injection should be composed of slippery-elm or flaxseed tea, and a strong tea of catnip. The whole abdomen should be kept well bathed with a strong tea of catnip, red pepper, and vinegar; the warm bath will be of service, but the temperature should be very moderate. If the disease should prove obstinate or unyielding, apply a blister over the belly. Sweet oil may be given in table-spoonful doses, and repeated frequently ; after the bowels are thoroughly cleansed, injections of catnip and slippery-elm tea must be given frequently for several days, to which may be added laudanum, about forty or fifty drops for a grown person, and less for children. Purgatives in this complaint only tend to aggravate the symptoms. Your piincipal reliance is therefore to be placed on injections and copious bleeding, especially if the patient is of full habit. Charcoal taken by the mouth and administered by injection, seldom fails to produce good effects. The slightest causes are exceedingly apt to produce a relapse of this disease; for this reason, exposure to cold should be carefully avoided, and indigestible food should not be used ; the bowels should also be kept regulated by the use of mild and cooling injections. Diet should be very light, and taken 84 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. in very small quantities, and nothing better than slippery-elm tea could be recommended for the patient's constant drink. INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS. Symptoms.—A severe pain about the small of the back, some degree of .fever, the pain frequently darting down the thigh or thighs, as the case may be. The urine voided in small quantities, and with difficulty, of a pale or reddish color. The pain in this disease is seated nearer the back bone and loins than in colic. The bowels are costive, the skin is dry and hot, there is nausea and sometimes vomiting. The slightest motion or jolting gives great pain, and even sitting upright in bed produces restlessness, the patient always experiencing the greatest ease when lying on the affected part. Sometimes one, and sometimes both of the testicles are drawn up to the belly, so that you can scarcely feel them. The causes most likely to produce this complaint, are wounds or bruises of the kidneys, calculous concretions lodged in them, the too free use of active diuretic medicines, great exertions in lifting, violent and sudden strains, exposure to cold when over-heated, and lying on the damp ground. Treatment. —If the patient be stout and full of blood, the lancet should be used; the bowels must be opened by mild clysters and oil, cream of tartar or some gentle purge. A mixture of sulphur and cream of tartar is an excellent preparation for keeping the bowels open in this complaint. Flannel clothes wrung out of hot catnip tea, or a decoction of red pepper and vinegar should be applied over the small of the back. After the bowels have been cleansed as above directed, give the diuretic powders morning and night, a teaspoonful for a dose ; at the same time let the patient drink a tea made of the piny weed root, at least a half pint a day; if the piny powders cannot be had, a tea of the common rush will answer, but it is not so good as the pinv. All the drinks should be made warm, and a portion of peach-tree gum dissolved in them. Slippery-elm or flaxseed-tea will answer a good purpose. A strong decoction of peach-tree leaves, either green or dried, is 85 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. a most excellent remedy in this complaint, and has of itself effected many wonderful cures. Diets should be light; onions, although not a light diet, will answer well in this disease, where the stomach will bear it. The patient should be kept quiet and easy, and free from cold while any appearance of inflammation continue. When the patient begins to recover, moderate exercise in the open air will be proper and advantageous. INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER. Symptoms.—This disease is known by a sharp pain at the bottom of the belly, immediately above the privates ; the pain is much increased by pressing on the part with the fingers; there is sometimes considerable uneasiness in the lower part of the back. There is a constant desire to make water, which is passed with much difficulty and in very small quantities; it is high colored, and not unfrequently tinged with blood. It is also attended with sickness and vomiting, and a constant desire to go to stool; the bowels are bound, the pulse irregular, and always some fever. Inflammation of the bladder is produced by obstructions in the urethra, by suppression of urine, by the formation of calculous concretions, and by costiveness. It may also be produced by injuries, such as severe blows, falls, kicks, &c, by holding the urine a great length of time, and by taldng the tincture of cantharides or Spanish flies. Treatment.—In this disease, when the patient is of full hahit and there is much fever, bleed. The bowels must be opened by cooling purges and injections, after which, the patient should take of the diuretic powders, as directed for inflammation of the kidneys, and also drink of the tea of piny powders or rush. The region over the bladder should be frequently bathed with a strong decoction of red pepper and vinegar, or a poultice of catnip applied over the part. When this complaint is caused by the lodgment of a stone in the neck of the bladder, the cause should be removed as directed under the head of Gravel, at the same time using the above means to allay the inflammation. A tea of slippery-elm or flaxseed injected into the bladder, will be found very good. Every time the patient has to make water he should sit over the steam of pine tops, cedar 86 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. tops, or bitter herbs ; this will greatly assist the passing off of the urine, and also in relieving the pain occasioned by voiding it. Diets and drinks of a heating nature should, by all means, be avoided. INFLAMMATION OF THE SPLEEN. Symptoms.—In this disease there is considerable pain in the left side, just under the ends of the ribs, and round to the back-bone. In severe cases the pain reaches up to the left arm-pit and into the shoulder; the skin and eyes are yellow. The pain which extends up the side, may easily be distinguished from the pleurisy, by numbness and deadness about the shoulder joint, and also by the seat of the pain being below the ends of the ribs; the symptoms most to be relied on are, puking of blood, watchfulness, great weakness, and very frequently the mind is much confused : there is also considerable fever. Treatment. —Purge w T ell with anti-bilous pills. (See Dispensatory for dose.) After w T hich, they should be taken in closes sufficiently large, night and morning, to keep the bowels gently open. These pills are peculiarly adapted to this disease. The side should be bathed frequently with a strong decoction of pepper and vinegar or essence of pepper. After the inflammatory symptoms have in some degree subsided, the patient should drink bitters, composed of equal quantities of gulver-root and bone-set leaves, and a much smaller quantity of Indian physic infused in spirits. If the spirits should disagree with the patient, the hepatic pill or anti-dyspeptic syrup, taken night and morning, will answer. In chronic cases, after bathing the side as above directed, for a few r clays apply a strengthening plaster. Diets must be light* and nourishing, and the exercise moderate. This complaint is brought on by long-continued fevers, or by long-continued fever and ague, and by affections of the liver. What are commonly termed ague cakes, are diseases of the spleen, and sometimes terminate in Inflammation of Spleen. INFLAMMATION OF THE LITER. There are two species or forms of this disease, distinguished as acute and chronic inflammation of the liver. 87 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. Symptoms of acute Inflammation op the Liver.—In this form of this disease, there is a severe pain in the right side, from the ribs to the hip, accompanied, with fever and slight chills ; the pain often rises to the point of the shoulder, and extends to the collar-bone; there is hard breathing, dry cough, and tightness across the breast, an inclination to lie on the right side and yet hard pressure on the right side increases the pain. The bowels are costive, the urine high-colored, the pulse frequent and hard, and the tongue covered with a whitish fur." There is often sickness and vomiting of a bilious matter. The skin is dry and hot, and if the disease is still permitted to advance, the skin and whites of the eyes assume a yellow color. Treatment.—If the inflammation is considerable, and the pain severe, bleed, and follow the bleeding by cathartics. The anti-bilous pill is probably the most suitable preparation for this purpose. After the inflammatory svmptoms have been subsided by bleeding and purging, give the hepatic pill night and morning—three for a dose if the stomach will bear them, if it will not, give them in such doses as the stomach will bear. The Dowels must be kept open by the daily use of the antibilious pills, in small doses, the quantity being best judged of by the patient. The patient should also drink freely of a strong tea of liverwort, and use bitters composed of one-third silk-weed root and two-thirds butterfly root. A tea of spicewood forms a valuable drink in this disease, as it promotes a gentle perspiration. Blistering the side often gives great relief where the pain is severe. Chronic is a term applied to diseases which are of long continuance, and are generally attended with but little fever. Chronic affections of the liver, is commonly best known by the name of " Fever Complaint" It may either be a consequence of the above, or it may come on gradually, without acute inflammation. The chronic form of this complaint is generally produced by exposure to sudden vicissitudes of heat and cold, by the intemperate use of spiritous liquors, by long continued attacks of intermittent and remittent fevers, and by the improper treatment of measles and other diseases. Symptoms.—Chronic inflammation of the liver is fre- 88 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. quently so mild at its commencement, and so very obscure in its attack, as to produce but little pain, and excite but little uneasiness, until the disease is firmly seated, at which stage it is tedious to cure, and if cured, requires a persevering use of the remedies, with the most scrupulous attention to regimen and diet. It is attended with general weakness and dislike to motion, indigestion, flatulency or frequent belching of wind from the stomach, a short dry cough, and occasionally difficulty in breathing. The bottoms of the hands and feet are generally dry and hot, though sometimes moist and cold. A dull pain or misery is felt between the ribs and right hip, extending at times to the right shoulder. The bowels are mostly bound, but sometimes become very laxative for a few days—the stools are generally of a clay color, and occasionally particles of blood are seen among them. Whatever is taken into the stomach as food, frequently sours, and produces pains in the stomach, and an acid taste in the mouth and throat. There is often a burning at the stomach, somewhat different from heart-burn, and an unpleasant headache, with frequent giddiness or swimming. The urine is high colored and usually scant, the complexion and countenance assumes a sallow or diseased appearance, and the whole system is oppressed with an unusual sense of fullness. Treatment.—First purge with anti-bilious pills, butternut syrup, or black-root pills or syrup, then give the hepatic pill, three every morning, if the stomach will bear them, and two, if three cannot be retained without producing great nausea. A chalybeate pill should be taken every night about the size of a pea or summer grape. The patient should also drink freely of the tea of liverwort, and bitters, as directed for Acute Inflammation of the Liver. During the whole course, the bowels must be kept open by the use of cathartics. The Dispensatory shows several valuable preparations for this purpose. Bathing the feet in warm water frequently, will be found of service, or if convenient, the warm bath is much better. The diets must be light and taken in small quantities; moderate exercise on horseback or otherwise w r ill be necessary. But all cold, immoderate exercise and exposure of every kind must be avoided, if a cure is desired. INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 89 CONSUMPTION. {Oo-coh-yoh-ter-tsu-ne-si-wah-slcan.) This complaint is marked by a general wasting of the body; great weakness is felt on the slightest bodily exertion ; the pulse is quicker than natural, small and irregular ; a short dry cough, which becomes more troublesome at night; a white, frothy mucus is spit up. As the disease advances, a pain, and sensation of heat and oppression is felt through the breast, extending up to the points of the shoulders, the spitting becomes more copious and frequent, and sometimes streaked with blood —sometimes it is dark, and at other times it is of a yellow or green color, having a remarkably unpleasant smell; when put into pure water it sinks to the bottom, while common mucus floats on the surface of the water; the urine is high-colored, and deposits a muddy sediment; the cheek or cheeks frequently flush with hectic fever, which lasts one or two hours, and then gradually goes ofT; the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet are mostly hot; the pulse gradually grows quick and hard—these symptoms are soon followed by profuse night sweats. In the last stage of Consumption the countenance assumes a ghastly, unnatural appearance; the voice becomes hoarse, hollow and unnatural; the white part of the eyes has a shiny or pearly appearance, while the eye itself beams with uncommon lustre ; the nails are of a purple color ; there is frequent purging, and great difficulty in breathing, amounting, at times, almost to suffocation. When these last symptoms occur, the case may be considered desperate. Obstructions from cold in some way or other, is the common cause of Consumption. It is most apt to attack persons between the ages of twelve and thirty; but it sometimes attacks persons at the age of fifty. In youth, when a change of voice takes place and the lad enters the incipient stage of manhood, there is considerable debility experienced, and not unfrequently accompanied with a short dry cough. This is a critical period, and a little carelessness or neglect may end in an incurable attack of Consumption. Such persons as have been raised tenderly, without due exercise or fresh air, will be much more liable to an attack of this ever-to-be- 90 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. dreaded disease, than those who have been accustomed to daily labor or exercise. Damp air, damp beds, damp clothes, is often the cause of Consumption; it is also caused by inflammation of the lungs, suppression of the menses in females; tight lacing; diseases at the liver and stomach. It is hereditary, and often takes whole families as fast as they approach man or womanhood. Treatment. —The patient should commence by taking a teaspoonful of the mixture or syrup for Consumption, night and morning. It is made as follows : Take a tablespoonful of tar, the same quantity of honey, and the yolk of an egg ; mix these articles well together ; the tar should be a little warm, that they may the more easily mix. A large quantity may be prepared, observing the same proportions. If the patient is very weak, and the above dose operates too severe, give a smaller portion ; he who administers will be best able to determine as to this. It will be three or four days before this medicine gets into full operation, and when it is taking hold of the disease to advantage, it causes the patient to expectorate or spit up mucus from the lungs with great rapidity ; while taking the above, the patient should also take the inner bark of the yellow pine, and spikenard root, of each one pound, keep it constantly by the fire that it may be warm, and use it as a constant drink. I have used the chalybeate pill night and morning, in connexion with the above remedies, with the happiest effects. Where the patient is laboring under great debility, it is without doubt one of the best stimulating and tonic medicines in the world. Diets should be light; all kinds of rich and oily food should be avoided ; buttermilk and corn or rye mush is very good, as is also rice, half cooked eggs, and milk drank warm from the cow morning and evening. Squirrel or chicken may be eaten by some, but others cannot use either without injury ; the patient, or administering physician, will have to exercise some judgment on this subject. Wet and damp of every kind must be avoided, regular but moderate exercise taken, the mind should be kept cheerful; long journeys are spoken of by some physicians as being advantageous, but I cannot agree with them in this particular. They unavoidably produce irregular habits in eating, drinking, sleeping, using medicine, and often keep the mind in a high state of anxi- 91 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. ety about things left behind, &c, all of which produce injury rather than benefit. Regularity of habits is indispensably necessary in the cure of Consumption; I would, therefore, advise persons afflicted with this disease to remain at home with their friends, for I can assert that the kindness of friends, in connexion with neighborhood exercise and amusements, will greatly aid in restoring health, where long journeys would only fatigue the patient, and aid the disease in wearing out and extinguishing the little remaining spark of animal life. Bleeding in Consumption is a most pernicious practice, and the sooner it is abandoned the better it will be for those who are afflicted with this alarming and too often fatal disease. Yet it is recommended by a majority of the most eminent physicians of our age. Dr. Wright, however, is an exception; he disapproves bleeding in this disease in the strongest terms. He says— " The disease itself proceeds from debility, which produces obstructed perspiration, and nature not being able to relieve the lungs from the matter thrown upon them, acts as an irritant, and occasions coughing and diarrhoea, and in proportion to the vital fluid you extract, you impair the strength of the patient, and open a road for the incursions of the enemy." Dr. Wright has been more successful in the treatment of Consumption, than any physician among the whites, with whom I have ever had an acquaintance; he in many instances restored persons to health after they had tried such remedies as are usually prescribed for Consumption, and had been given over as incurable. His treatment is simple, and consists of remedies that may be procured by any person. I give it in full, that those who wish to try it may have it in their power to do so. dr. Wright's treatment for consumption. Take his chalybeate pill night and morning, and through the day drink from a pint to a pint and a half of Dr. Wright's beer for Consumption. This course should be pursued with regularity. Diet should be light and. nourishing: such as buttermilk and rye mush, half done eggs, and the like. He also recommended new milk of a morning. The success of Dr. Wright in the treatment of this dis ease, is acknowledged by all those who were acquainted with his practice. 92 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. RUPTURE, OR HERNIA. Rupture, or Hernia, is an unnatural protrusion of a portion of the bowels or intestines, through the lacerated fibres or muscles of the part, where the swelling occurs. It may be produced in children by excessive crying, coughing, vomiting, and it is frequently produced by gravel. In people who have passed the prime of life, and in those who are in the full vigor of maturity, it commonly originates from extraordinary exertion, such as jumping, fighting, wrestling, &c, or by violent blows or injuries about the abdomen, that lacerates the muscles without lacerating the skin. Treatment.'—On the first appearance of an injury of this kind, the protruding portion of the intestines should be replaced, as there is great danger of the parts becoming inflamed and so enlarged that it cannot be returned, in which case there is danger of mortification. For this purpose, place the patient on his back, raising his hips higher than his head, by means of pillows or bed-clothes folded up ; by placing the patient in this position, the protruded part may be replaced by a gentle pressure with the fingers ; if the parts be not swelled, the operation may be rendered more safe and easy by applying cloths wrung out of hot water to the affected part as warm as can be borne, or a decoction of catnip applied in the same manner will answer admirably. If the parts have become inflamed or swelled, you should not attempt replacing the protruding portion, until means have been employed to reduce the inflammation and swelling : to effect this, thicken a strong decoction of rattle-root with corn-meal or flour, and apply over the affected part; this will give ease, take out the inflammation and produce relaxation, so that the protruded portion of the intestines may be returned by the hand, by placing the patient on his back as above directed. When this has been accomplished, apply over the place a plaster of red oak, which is made by boiling the bark until a strong decoction is obtained, then strain and continue boiling it until it is reduced to the consistence of thick molasses. A truss must be worn to keep the parts to their proper place ; the truss should be confined by means of a broad bandage, which should extend around the patient, and be kept moderately tight; it should be worn a sufficient length of time for the parts to regain their strength. 93 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. RHEUMATISM — (Tsi-taJi-nah-ler-la-skah.) This very painful disease, in which the poor sufferer drags out a miserable and wretched existence, is quite frequent in the western country. It is brought on by exposure to cold and wet, by remaining too long on the damp grounds, by sleeping in damp places, or by sleeping in a free current of air at night, by exposure to dews, by changing a warm dress for a thin one, by being greatly heated and becoming suddenly cold. This complaint may occur at any season of the year when there are sudden changes from heat to cold, or from wet to dry. Persons of all ages are liable to its attacks, but adults and those advanced in life, and those whose employments subject them to sudden transitions from heat to cold, are most liable to its attacks. This disease is distinguished into two kinds, as acute, or inflammatory, and chronic ; when both fever and inflammation accompany the pain, it is called acute or inflammatory rheumatism, and when little or no fever and inflammation attend the pain, it is called chronic rheumatism. There is also a disease called by physicians Rheumatic Mercuriatis, which means rheumatism produced by the improper use of mercury: that is, by permitting the mercury to remain in the system without giving the proper remedies to carry it off, which is flour of sulphur and a free use of diaphoretic teas. Flour of sulphur is nothing more than brimstone purified and pounded to a fine flour; it is a true and certain antidote against mercury. Symptoms.—An attack of acute or inflammatory rheumatism usually commences with chills, succeeded by heat, thirst, restlessness, anxiety, a hard, full, quick pulse, and other symptoms of inflammatory fever. Next an acute pain is felt by the patient in one or more of the large joints, followed by a tension and swelling of the affected parts. The pain often shifts from one joint to another, leaving the part previously occupied red, swollen, and very tender; the tongue in most instances white; the bowels costive, and the urine high colored. Chronic Rheumatism may either be a consequence of the termination of the inflammatory, or it may arise independent of it. When inflammatory rheumatism te - minates in the chronic, the parts which were affected 94 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. with inflammation are left rigid, weak, and in some instances puffed, and the pain being no longer movable, is confined to the same parts ; some instances, however, occur, in which it shifts from one joint to another, but it is unaccompanied with inflammation or fever. Inflammatory Rheumatism —Treatment.—Give bitters composed of a half pound of prickly-ash bark of the root, one-fourth pound of rattle-root, and two ounces of blue-root, digest the whole in one gallon of whisky ; of this the patient should drink freely three times a day, or what the stomach will bear. The affected joints must be regularly anointed with the rheumatic ointment. See Dispensatory. The bowels should be cleansed and regulated by the use of anti-bilious pills. Chronic Rheumatism—Treatment.—In this disease give bitters of rattle-weed root, prickly-ash bark of the root, and prickly-sumach bark of the root, an equal quantity of each, digest them in whisky, and take what the stomach will bear three times a day; anoint the affected part with the rheumatic ointment. See Dispensatory. The bowels should be cleansed and regulated by the use of anti-bilious pills, or some other cathartic. In all cases of rheumatism the patient should carefully avoid sudden changes from heat to cold, from dry to wet, or damp, night air, violent exercise, sudden check of perspiration, and exposure of any kind. Regular but moderate exercise should be taken, and the above treatment strictly attended to. Diets should be light and nourishing, and such as best agree with the patient. I have witnessed with surprise and pleasure the result of Turk's mode of treatment for rheumatism, and as it is a remedy which is in the reach of every farmer or inhabitant of the western as well as other States, and that can be prepared and used with safety by any person who possesses five grains of common sense, I think it probable that by giving it a place in this work it may enable some fellow being to relieve him or herself of this most painful disease, who would otherwise drag out their lives in misery and wretchedness. I have never applied his remedy myself, but know the ingredients to be excellent in this complaint. 95 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. Turk's Treatment for .Rheumatism.—" Take one half bushel of well washed poke-root—this root is best when dug in the winter and in the dark of the moon—extract the strength by boiling it in clear water; when you put the poke-root in to boil, put in five or six pods of red pepper; when the strength is extracted, strain the decoction, and continue boiling it until it becomes very strong, then add a quart of oil, and continue boiling or simmering until the water is entirely gone. The strength of the pepper and poke-root will remain" in the oil after the water is extracted. When this oil becomes cool, (but while it will still run,) it should be put in stone vessels, as it will eat tin up; it should be kept closelycovered, or it will mould. I have used several kinds of oil: the fish, eel, cat-fish, beef leg oil, the oil of the Guinea pig, and the oil of the fat cut dogs, and have been successful with all, but the oil of the fish, Guinea pig and dog, I prefer. It will cure when fresh, but I think it gets better as it gets older. The oil of which it is made must be pure, and in no case rancid. " Mode of Application.—As this disease attacks the joints only, this medicine should be rubbed all round the affected joints, and well bathed in by warming the hand frequently and rubbing the joint: a warm fire-shovel will answer. If the disease is in the hip joint, apply the ointment to the whole back-bone and around the hips. This ointment should be applied in the above manner twice a day for five days, and then once a day for five days more, and if the cure is performed quit, but if the pain should return in the slightest degree, again apply the ointment. Where there is much swelling I use the bandage after putting on the ointment, if the swelling is in a place that can be bandaged. " The system must be put in good order, and kept so, that the medicine may have a fair chance, as it has a powerful enemy to contend with. I have met with cases in which I had to prepare the system for a few days before I used the ointment. In the inflammatory rheumatism I bleed freely, and in the chronic kind I bathe in warm water, and before putting on the ointment wash off well and let the parts dry well, as oil and water do not go well together. The quantity of oil will be best known by its going in. If several joints should be affected, put the oil on one in part, after the other, 96 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. then repeat; a soreness will take place, this is caused by the rubbing, and no danger in it. I have seen some cases that seemed to get well in a few days, and then get worse ; this is the time that nature is, with the aid of the medicine, fighting for power, and the result always turns out a cure. Do not stop using the medicine at this time, regardless of the number of days. The bark of burdock root and sarsaparilla, an equal quantity of each, filled in a bottle, and good spirits poured over it, must be drank freely three times a day ; perhaps it might answer to put the roots into water, but I have never cured a case without the spirits." JAUNDICE.— {Foh-lo-ne-ga-tse-nali-noh-stee.) Symptoms.—This disease is characterized by yellowness of the skin and whites of the eyes ; the urine is high colored, and leaves a yellow sediment in the vessel after standing awhile; the stools are clay-colored; a dull, heavy, languid feeling prevails, attended with costiveness; the pulse is sometimes strong and full, at other times weak and feeble; dullness for a time, succeeded by flushes of heat; a bitter taste in the mouth, nausea, and sometimes vomiting; a restless, uneasy sensation is experienced throughout the system. Causes.—This disease is always caused by some derangement of the Liver and the parts connected with it. It may be caused by anything that obstructs the passage of the bile through its natural channel; a sudden stopfage of the menses in females, or the discharge in clap, ndulgence of anxious thoughts, or of any depressing passions, the excessive use of ardent spirits, a sendentary life, etc. When Jaundice is produced by biliary obstructions, caused by gall-stones lodged in the biliary ducts, acute pains will be felt in that region, which will be increased by eating. The pain produced by the passage of a stone along the biliary ducts, may be distinguished from the pain produced by inflammation of the liver, by the acuteness of the former. This complaint sometimes originates from inflammation or scirrosity of the liver or spleen. When it originates from the last named causes, and is suffered to run on for a length of time without medical aid, it is seldom cured. In the last stages of this complaint the skin is often marked with black spots or streaks. In some instances 97 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. from fifty to a hundred and even more of these gallstones have been taken from a dead subject on dissection, and the gall-bladder found greatly distended. Treatment.—The first object should be to cleanse the stomach and bowels. For this purpose give an emetic of American ipecacuanha, or Indian physic, to either of which may be added gulver-root, if prepared—from one to two tea-spoonfuls of the powdered root is a dose • —if the gulver be added, give about that quantity when combined. Give injections of gruel with a little tablesalt, and hog's lard in it if the bowels be hard to move. After the emetic has operated by gentle vomiting, give gruel, which will determine it to the bowels. After the alimentary canal has been cleansed in the above manner, a strong decoction of wild cherry-tree bark should be drank freely. To relieve the pain in the side which usually attends this disease, rub the side with the essence of red pepper; also give the hepatic pill night and morning, two for a dose. Diets should be light and nourishing; a raw egg should be taken every morning on a fasting stomach. Some persons when directed to take a raw egg, will beat it well in a saucer or other vessel, and mix it with sugar or spirits, or both; this in some degree cooks the egg and destroys its medicinal virtues —it should be taken from the shell and swallowed in its natural state. Fruits, light bread, sour milk and mush, whey, etc., will be suitable diets in this disease. Gentle but free exercise should be taken ; this will have a tendency to open the pores and restore health, and as Jaundice produces great depression of spirits, every possible means should be used in exercise, amusements, company, &c, to secure tranquillity and cheerfulness of mind. FALLING OF THE PALATE. The elongation or falling of the palate, is attended with a tickling in the fauces and soreness at the root of the tongue. It generally proceeds from a foul stomach. Treatment. —Gargle the throat frequently with some astringent tonic article, such as a strong dose of oak, persimmon, blackberry, brier root, etc., the gargle should be sweetened with honey; avoid speaking as much as possible. If this should not give relief, give an emetic. 5 98 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. Alumn water forms an excellent gargle. Dr. Ewel and Dr. Wright recommend the application of pepper and salt to the elongated Palate by means of a spoon-handle. I have seen the Palate restored to its proper place by tying a lock of hair on the top of the head so as to draw the skin tight. POISONS. — {Oo-shoh-sog-tee.) Poisons are of three kinds, as animal, mineral, and vegetable. Animal poisons are such as are communicated by the bites of poisonous reptiles or the stings of poisonous insects. The principal mineral poisons are the different preparations of arsenic, mercury, copper, zinc, antimony, lead, tin, etc. The chief vegetable poisons are, henbane, nightshade, cicuta or hemlock, fox-glove, wolf's bane, laurel, opium, Jamestown weed, mush-rooms, and black sarsaparilla. ANIMAL POISONS OR SNAKE BITE. {E-nah-tuh-oo-ne-shah-low-tsuh.) When an individual is bitten by a poisonous serpent, if it be on any of the extremities, immediately tie a bandage or ligature around the limb, between the wound and the body, this will greatly retard the passage into the system. Give the patient a large dose of the saturated tincture of lobelia, if it can be had; if it cannot be immediately procured, bruise the lobelia herb, put it in whisky and administer it freely, until copious vomiting is produced. If neither of the above articles can be had, give some other emetic, but lobelia is far preferable to any other in my knowledge. When the emetic is done operating, give an infusion of the root of rattle-snake's master. This infusion or tea should be drank freely, as it is entirely harmless in its operation on the system. For an external application to the wound, use the bruised root of the rattle-snake's master. This treatment will cure the bite of the copper-head or rattle-snake, or any other poisonous reptile. Another Mode of Treatment. —Apply the ligature or bandage and administer the emetic as above directed, and after the operation of the emetic, give a tea of pinyweed root freely. For an external application to the 99 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. wound, make a plaster to the wound of equal quantities of salt, tobacco, indigo and hog's-lard; pulverize the tobacco, indigo, and salt, then mix all the articles together and apply it in form of poultice. A free use of spirits, such as whisky, brandy, etc., will be found of great benefit in all cases of bites or stings. I have ascertained from personal observation, that a person when intoxicated, cannot be poisoned by the bite of a snake. Many lives have been saved among the Indians by the free use of whisky and red-pepper; indeed, I believe, that whisky alone will save life in many instances, when the bite would prove fatal if an active remedy was not resorted to immediately. The quantity of spirits taken need not give the least alarm, for I believe it to be impossible to give enough to do an injury. The pulse should be frequently examined, and whenever it begins to sink or grow feeble and fluttering, the spirits should be immediately resorted to until the pulse is raised. There are many herbs which may be used to advantage in snake bite, such as striped blood-wort; when this herb is used, apply the bruised leaves to the wound, at the same time taking the expressed juice internally in table-spoonful doses repeated every few minutes. Indian Sanide.—When this is to be used, make a decoction of the root and give it in doses of half gill every half hour, and at the same time apply the bruised leaves to the wound. Mountain Ditant.—Of this apply the bruised herb to the wound and drink freely of the tea. Common Gkeen Plantain.—Bruise the herb and root and apply it to the wound, and at the same time take the expressed juice or tea freely. There are many other herbs that are good for snake bite, as may be seen under their different heads. I have known the bite of the copper-head cured in the following manner: Immediately apply to the wound, tobacco, which has been perfectly wet in vinegar, and as soon as it can be prepared give a strong decoction of the yellow-poplar root bark, and bathe the wound frequently with the same. When the bite or wound enters a large vein, the only chance to save life is to keep the stomach in motion by the use of emetics, and the pulse from sinking, by the 100 INDIAN GUTDE TO HEALTH. use of whisky or spirits of some kind, at the same time using external applications to the wound to kill or extract the poison. STING OF INSECTS. The sting of insects will seldom need anything more than to wash the wound with the tincture of lobelia, or to apply the bruised leaves to the wound. Tobacco wet with vinegar, is an excellent application, or any of the articles recommended for snake-bite will answer. By applying some of those simple means, persons may relieve themselves of severe pain, and sometimes sickness. The sting of many insects that are not dangerous, often produces great pain and disagreeable swellings. Spider bites of poisonous appearance, should be treated as snake bites. YEGETABLE POISONS. The symptoms which follow eating or swallowing vegetable poisons, are loss of memory, confusion, vertigo, (giddiness of the head,) wildness of the eyes, stupor, nausea, vomiting, distention of the stomach and bowels, costiveness, palpitation of the heart, and convulsions. Treatment.—Give an emetic of Indian physic and lobelia in tincture; these articles may be used either alone or combined. The spirits will stimulate the stomach, and render the operation of the emetic more certain. After copious vomiting has been produced, take common garden rue, and fry it in hog's lard, and give the oil or lard to the patient in table-spoonful closes until the poison is destroyed. Sweet oil is also very good. You should give injections of new milk, with hog's lard or sweet oil in it, until the bowels are well cleansed. MINERAL POISONS. Symptoms.—Mineral poisons, when taken into the stomach in too large quantities, soon produces a burning prickling sensation in that part: great pain is experienced in the bowels, accompanied with violent puking, and thirst which cannot be satisfied. It is also attended with dryness and roughness in the mouth and throat, as if you had swallowed alum ; great restlessness and anxiety. At this stage, unless speedy relief is obtained, 101 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. inflammation will take place, and soon terminate in mortification, and death will close the painful scene. If the dose of poison taken should not he large enough to destroy life, a fever will ensue, which will last for some time, attended with a constant trembling of the nerves. Treatment.—Give an emetic of American ipecacuanha, Indian physic, or lobelia, or these articles combined : aid the operation of the emetic in every possible manner. This may fee done by applying tobacco leaves steeped in warm vinegar to the stomach. The patient should also take the whites of twelve or fifteen raw eggs, beat well and put into cold water. A gill of this should be taken every few minutes; this will greatly facilitate the operation of the emetic. After the stomach is thought to be measurably relieved of its poisonous contents, give hog's lard or sweet oil, in which has been stewed common garden rue ; also give injections of the same in sweet milk. Several writers of the old school recommend a puke of white vitriol. I have tried this also, and it had the desired effect. When there are symptoms of inflammation of the stomach or bowels, refer to those heads for a remedy. Poisons of the skin. —Poisons of the skin, such as are often received from poison oak, poison vine, etc., are very painful, and in some instances produce fever. These may be easily relieved by anointing the poisoned parts with night shade and cream. This herb should be bruised, and cream enough added to make an ointment. It may also be relieved by anointing the parts with equal quantities of cedar oil and hog's lard or fresh butter. MILK SICK.—( Oo-muhrty-tsu-ni- tlah-e-stee.) In many parts of the Western country, the inhabitants are subject to this dreadful and often fatal malady. Some suppose that the poison is imparted to the milk by some poisonous vegetable, which was eaten by the cattle. Others contend, that it is occasioned by the vapors which arise from poisonous minerals in the earth, and settle on the vegetables eaten by the cattle. This last opinion is strongly and ably advocated by Dr. Shelton, which I will give in his own words, for the satisfaction of the reader. He says, "This malady is 102 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. caused by the vapors which arise from poisonous minerals in the earth, and settle on the grass and other vegetables that the cattle eat. This fact is clearly proven by many circumstances. First, by the very appearance of the water, and the rocks, particularly in the lower parts of Indiana, and other sections of country, where it is very prevalent. Second, the very dogs are affected with it from using the water. Third, it seldom makes its attack till in the summer or fall, after the waters are very low, at which time we know that they contain the greatest proportion of mineral or other impure substances ; also, the vegetable substances at this time become tough, and contain much less juice in proportion to the vapor which settles on them. Fourth, if it had been a vegetable which produced the milk-sick, it would have been found long ago ; for, to my own knowledge, it has been diligently searched for in many places, by numerous people, and not found. Fifth, the scope of land on which it is taken by the cattle, has frequently been ascertained to be very small, and by inclosing it so that they could not get in, the malady was prevented. In this case, if it had been a vegetable of any kind, its growth certainly would have extended over the inclosure in thirty or forty years; for I am acquainted with a place in East Tennessee of nearly that age. A sixth proof is, that you may let the place remain unenclosed, and the cattle will always be liable to the complaint, as long as there is vegetable matter enough of any kind to induce them to feed on it." Both people and cattle may have the poison in them for weeks and even months, before they show it; but whenever they are overheated it makes an attack, except on cows which give milk; they seldom die with it, or suffer much from its effects, the poison being carried off in the milk. People take it from using the milk of cows which are affected with it. Symptoms.—When the attack comes on, the patient experiences a sense of lassitude, great exhaustion and trembling, from slight exertion. Vertigo or dizziness in the head, accompanied with immoderate thirst, burning at the stomach, vomiting, and in most instances, obstinate costiveness. In all cases the breath has a peculiar smell, by which it can be distinguished from any other poison. If the attack should not come on for some time INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 103 after the poison has been taken, the vomiting is not apt to be so sudden as it is in cases where the poison lays immediate hold on the system. Treatment.—The first object should be to rid the stomach of its contents : for this purpose, give an emetic of the tincture of American Ipecac, or Indian Physic, in table-spoonful doses every few minutes, until copious vomiting is produced. The bowels should be relieved of their contents by injections, such as weak soapsuds, in which has been put hog's lard or castor oil, or thin gruel will answer. The ipecac should be continued until the patient is relieved. The vomiting will generally stop when the stomach is thoroughly cleansed of its poisonous contents, and the tincture determine to the bowels : but if this should not be the case, give a little gruel; this will aid in tranquilizing the stomach, and determining the tincture to the bowels. As soon as the stomach has become sufficiently composed, give a mixture of equal quantities of castor oil and spirits of turpentine, in table-spoonful doses every twelve hours. Also give sweating teas, to which may be added a little sulphur. This course should be pursued until the health is restored, which will generally be in a very short time, when compared with the time required by the whites to effect a cure in this disease. SCURYY. — (Tah-ne-no-loh-quh-tsi-tuh-ne-youh-tso.) This disease is frequently of a highly putrid nature, and generally afflicts persons who have been long confined without due exercise. Those who have lived a considerable time on salted provisions, or unsound and tainted animal food, or those who have been unable to obtain vegetable food for a considerable time. Bad water, cold moist air, and the influence of depressing passions, such as grief, fear, etc., have a tendency to produce this disease. Neglect of personal cleanliness and debilitating menstrual discharges will produce scurvy in some instances. Symptoms.—Scurvy may always be known by the softness and spunginess of the gums, which will always bleed from the slightest touch. Ulcers next form around the teeth, and generally eat away the lower edges of the gums, which occasions the teeth to become loose and sometimes to fall out. The face becomes a pale yellow 104 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. color and sometimes bloated. The breath has an offensive smell. In severe forms of this disease, the above symptoms become greatly aggravated; the heart palpitates or beats rapidly on the slightest exertion ; the feet and legs swell, and ulcers break out on different parts of the body, but most frequently on the feet and legs ; the urine is high colored ; the stools have a very disagreeable smell; pains are felt over the whole body; as the disease advances, blood issues from the nose, lungs, stomach, intestines and uterus ; faintings, and sometimes mortifications follow. The appetite remains good to the last, and in many instances there is a perfect retention of the memory until death puts a period to the scene of suffering. Treatment.—It will be extremely difficult to effect a cure in this distressing complaint, without the strictest attention to the diet of the patient. All salted animal food must be scrupulously avoided. If animal food is taken at all, it must be eaten when fresh, but the patient must live chiefly on vegetables—such as scurvy grass, water cresses, garlic, mustard, horse radish, lettuce, etc., may be eaten raw. Cabbage, turnips, parsnips, beets, carrots, etc., may be eaten when prepared in the common manner. The patient's drink should be vinegar and water sweetened with sugar; sour butter-milk, lemon juice and water; sauer krout is an excellent diet for those afflicted with Scurvy. In the early stages of this disease, and in mild attacks, it may generally be cured by drinking a tea of agrimony, narrow-dock root, sour-dock top or root, or burdock root. The gums and mouth should be rubbed with the ashes of red corn-cobs twice or three times a day ; where the gums are fetid and ulcerated, charcoal finely pulverized, should be mixed with the cob ashes. A dose of the charcoal may be taken once a day, if the breath smells disagreeable. The bowels must be kept open by the use of cream of tartar, and occasional charcoal. If the body is affected, the warm or tepid bath, to which add a considerable quantity of vinegar, should be frequently used. Bed oak oose, with a little alum in it, is a very good wash for the mouth or the ulcers on other parts. Where there is great debility, good wine will be of service ; the free use of bitter tonics, will also be found very good. The patient should not neglect to take free but gentle exercise in the INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 105 open air, when the weather is dry and pleasant; hut wet and damp weather should be avoided. By attending to the above directions, the disease will be speedily overcome and health restored. DEAFNESS.— (Tsi-too-ni-leah-no-gah.) When this complaint is caused by original defect in the structure of the ear, it is incurable. But it is sometimes occasioned by colds, affecting the head by inflammation or healing in the membrane of the ear, and not unfrequently by the wax becoming hard in the ear. Treatment.—When deafness is occasioned by a cold or inflammation of the ear, take such articles as are recommended for cold, and steam the ear over bitter herbs; this may be done by pntting the herbs in a coffee pot, boiling them, and placing the ear near the spout; also drop sweet or British oil in the ear. When it is occasioned by hard wax, or by derangement in the auditory nerve, drop a few drops of the tincture of Indian hemlock in the ear, once or twice a day, and about twice a day drop British oil in the ear, about two drops at a time. The smoke of tobacco blown forcibly in the ear, through a quill or pipe stem, will often remove deafness immediately. EARACHE. — {Tsvrne-le-Squash-te.) This complaint, though painful, often passes off of itself with but very little inconvenience, without resort to medical aid. It often proceeds from colds, inflammation of the internal membrane of the ear, and from insects getting in the ear. This complaint has, in some few instances, produced delirium and convulsions; when suppuration takes place, it not unfrequently injures or destroys the hearing. Treatment.—Lard in which onions have been fried, will often give relief, by dropping a drop or two in the ear, and putting a little wool greased with the same in the ear, to exclude the atmosphere or air. If the patient has a cold, he should drink freely of some sweating teas, in order to relieve his cold, by promoting a free perspiration or sweat. In severe cases, drop a few drops of the Hemlock tincture in the ear, or about two drops of the decoction of common tobacco; this should be repeated about twice a day, until relief is obtained. 106 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. If there is inflammation, the ear should he stoned with herbs, as directed for deafness. In earaches, and in deafness, the ear should be kept stopped with wool, greased with some kind of oil. When earache is occasioned by an insect entering the ear, drop a few drops of the tincture of camphor or common spirits in the ear. Headache.—Headache is often produced by a foul stomach, costiveness, indigestion, or by an obstruction of the circulation of the blood, and not unfrequently it is an attendant symptom of some other disease. But there is a kind of headache which comes on periodically, and is attended with sickness of the stomach, and sometimes vomiting, called sick headache. Treatment.—When headache is an attendant symptom of some other disease, it will disappear on the removal of the disease which it accompanied. When it is caused by a foul stomach, an emetic will give relief; when produced by costiveness, regulate the bowels by the use of purges. Persons who are subject to paroxysms of sick headache, should live on light diet, take regular exercise, keep the bowels open by the use of cathartics, or bitters composed of equal quantities of gulver and Indian physic, and Moccasin flower root. For a description of these roots, look under their different heads. About the time the tit of paroxysm is expected, the stomach should be cleansed by an emetic of gulver and ipecac or Indian physic; for the mode of preparing and administering this emetic, see Dispensatory. The emetic should be followed by a dose of anti-bilious pills or some other cathartic, if it should not itself operate sufficiently on the bowels. The patient should wear flannel socks on his feet, lined with red pepper constantly. EPILEPSY. — {Epilepsied.) Persons of all countries, ages and sexes, are in some degree liable to this distressing complaint. The causes which tend to produce it are various and numerous, and the remedies must be varied accordingly. It may be brought on children by worms or by teething; sores suddenly drying up on them, etc. It may be caused by the intemperate use of spirituous liquors, by the sudden suppression of the menses, violent fits of passion, exces sive heat or cold, etc. 107 INDIAN GUDDE TO HEALTH. Symptoms.—Before the fit comes on, the patient is generally troubled with dullness, uneasiness, giddiness, pain in the head, palpitations of the heart, disturbed sleep, and difficulty of respiration. The complexion becomes pale, and the extremities cold. Females, it is said, are most liable to this disease. It is sometimes caused by some natural defect of the obstructions of the blood vessels. Treatment. —When a person is seized with a fit a piece of wood or a spoon should be placed in the mouth, to prevent the tongue from being injured by the teeth. When an obstruction of the brain is feared, bleed in the foot, and evacuate the bowels as speedily as possible, by the use of laxative injections. If worms are the cause, expel them as directed under that head ; if teething, bathe the feet in warm water frequently, and apply plasters of mustard seed to the feet, to produce a revolution from the head, and at the same time keep the bowels open by cooling injections; if customary evacuations nave been stopped they should be restored; if indigestible food or spirituous liquors taken into the stomach is the cause, give an emetic; if weakness and irritability of the nervous system is the cause, give the atmospheric tincture. In all cases of this disease the powdered root of the moccasin-flower should be taken freely—dose, a teaspoonful of the powdered root in a pint of boiling water. To prevent a return of the fit, keep the bowels open, take a chalybeate pill morning and night, and drink a tea made by putting a tea-spoonful of powdered mistletoe (taken from the white-oak tree) and a tea-spoonful of the powdered root of the moccasin flower into a pint of boiling water. All possible pains should be taken to keep the mind at ease and cheerful, and to prevent the intrusion of violent and agitating passions. When Epilepsy proceeds from natural defects it is incurable. APOPLEXY.— (Apoplexia.) Apoplexy is a sudden deprivation of sense and motion while the heart and lungs still continue in regular action. Causes.—Intense study, violent passions, wearing the neck-cloth too tight, luxurious diet, suppression of urine or other discharges, sudden checks of perspiration, hard 108 INDIAN GUIDE TO HE ;LTH. drinking, excesses of venery, too large doses of opium; in short, whatever determines or throws so great a quantity of blood to the brain that it cannot return from that organ, has a direct tendency to produce this distressing and often fatal disease. Persons who lead an inactive life—persons of advanced age, corpulent habit, short neck, and large head ; also, such as live On full, rich diet, are more liable than those, of the opposite habits. Symptoms.—It is usually preceded by giddiness and swimming of the head, loss of memory, night-mare, noise in the ears, drowsiness and difficulty of breathing. It sometimes though rarely comes on suddenly, and cannot be accounted for—and as it goes off leaves some part of the system in a paralysed condition, which is then called Palsy. (For treatment of such cases see Palsy.) Treatment.—Raise the patient's head, place him where he can breathe cool air, and remove every thing from about the neck, that has a tendency to compress it. If the patient is robust and of a plethoric habit, bleed copiously in the foot, bathe the feet in warm water, and then apply plasters to the feet in order to produce a revulsion from the head. Apply cloths wet in cold vinegar and water to the head, changing them as fast as they become warm. Evacuate the contents of the bowels by means of a purge, aided by injections, a portion of each injection should consist of anti-spasmodic tincture, or some of the articles described in the class of anti-spasmodics in Materia Medica. If the patient should be old and feeble, and the countenance pallid, he should be used sparingly, the head should be raised and frequently turned; if the patient can swallow, give a purge and aid its operation by injection ; use the anti-spasmonic tincture freely by the mouth and by injection; rub the feet with the anti-spasmodic tincture and apply plasters of mustard-seeds, wet with the same. After the violence of the fit has subsided, follow the same course as directed for Epilepsy. Persons afflicted with either of these dangerous diseases, should live on spare diet, and carefully avoid all predisposing causes. VENEREAL.—( Tsu-ne-nu-sup-huh-sTcah.) The prevalence of this, filthy disease among mankind. 109 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. is another proof among the many that may be adduced, that it is the intersst of mankind to be virtuous, if they would be happy, and he that would be healthy must be temperate. At what time and place this disease had its origin, is now unknown to the medical world; but it first attracted attention in Europe, about the close of the fifteenth century, and was communicated with great rapidity to every part of the known world, and became such a desolating scourge to the human family, as to render it an object of great medical attention. This complaint is produced, in most cases, by a healthy person having sexual intercourse or connexion with another who has this infectious disorder in the genitals or privates; and most frequently occurs among persons of illicit habits, and hence disgrace is attached to it; and on this account, many, have been induced to conceal their situation, until, by endeavoring to hide their shame, they have ruined their constitutions. Yet it sometimes happens that this contagious complaint is caught innocently ; but the difficulty of proving innocence, almost always leaves a blight upon the character of the sufferer. After this disorder has been taken in the manner I have described, it wall depend very much on the state of the system and other peculiarities of the system not distinctly known, at what particular time the disease will make its appearance. In some persons, whose systems are very irritable, it will show itself on the third or fourth day after sexual connexion with a person infected with the disorder; in other persons it will be eight or ten days, and even a longer time before it makes its appearance. In fact, cases are mentioned by good medical writers, in which the venereal matter has remained, as it were, asleep in the system, for a much greater length of time. Some say one month, some three, some six, and others a year and so on. But I suspect the fact to be in those cases in which the disease is supposed to appear after a considerable time, that the persons have not been entirely cured, or, in other words, that the disease has merely been driven back by quackery, and afterwards showed itself under the following forms: In the throat, in the eyes, in the nose, on the legs, in swellings of the groins, in splotches, or sores on the body, etc. When it makes its appearance in the above forms, it is called Constitutional, because it is 110 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. firmly seated in the whole body by the venereal poison having been absorbed and carried into the whole circulation. The venereal disease is very contagious. I copy the following from the writings of Dr. Gunn : "The venereal disease may be communicated by wounding or pricking any part of the body with a lancet, having on its point any particle of the venereal poison. I recollect a student of medicine, who came very near death from cutting his finger slightly when dissecting a person who had diecl of the venereal disease ; the poison matter was communicated to the slight cut in twelve hours afterwards ; he labored under violent fever, which continued ten or twelve days, before the inflammation could be subdued. This disease may also take place from an application of the matter to a scratch, to a common sore, or to a wound. Several instances are mentioned of venereal or pox sore being formed in the nostrils, eye lids, and lips, from the slight circumstance of persons having the disease touching their nostrils, eyes, or lips with their fingers immediately after handling the venereal sores on their own privates. These remarks are made with the intention of showing how easily this loathsome disease, with all its impure and life corrupting taints, may be communicated, and to place physicians and individuals on their guard against infection." Yenereal diseases have two distinct forms. The first is Pox, properly so called, and the second, Clap, called by physicians, Gonorrhoea. There is also another form, which, however, always arises from one of the other two, or from both in combination, and is nothing more than the one I have before described as constitutional. POX .—(Oo-ni-lech.) The Pox is a most contagious, corrupting, dangerous, and destructive disease, and if suffered to progress in its ravages on the human body, never fails in desolating the human constitution, or destroying life at its very core. It has two forms. First, local, and second, constitutional. When it is first received by cohabitation, it is for a while located in and confined to the privates and genital organs; but, if let run on for a length of time, without being cured, it affects the whole system, and deranges and impairs the constitution —it is then called constitutional. It is very readily communicated by 111 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. sexual connexion, or from either the father or mother to the offspring; also from the mother or nurse, who gives suck to the child; and we also have it from very respectable authority, that it may be taken from inhaling the breath of a person who is affected with it, or by kissing, drinking, etc., with such persons, or by washing the clothes of those infected with it, etc. Pox differs very much from Clap, in the length of time in which it makes its appearance from the time of its reception. It will sometimes make its appearance in seven or ten days, and sometimes it will be two or three weeks, and even longer before it breaks out. Symptoms.—This disease generally makes its appearance by what physicians call chancres, and when taken from sexual connexion with an infected person, the first warning of its approach is generally an itching about the head of the pern's, or on the side of the penis near the end, and on the inside of the lips of the privates of females.—Little pimples soon rise and fill on the top with a whitish or yellowish looking matter; in a very few days, these pimples enlarge themselves, and become what are called venereal sores or ulcers. These sores sometimes, after a long continuance, gradually disappear, and others break out at the same time. Sometimes the first sores continue to enlarge as a kind of eating ulcer, with hard looking edges, and discharge a thin unhealthy matter. The Pox also sometimes makes its appearance in what are called buboes. These are hard lumps like kernels or swellings which rise in one or both groins. These swellings gradually increase in size, until they become about the size of an egg, and have an angry red color, and unless driven away by the application of medicine, they will come to a head and discharge a thin, briny looking matter. These buboes generally produce great pain and some fever. Buboes sometimes make their appearance in the arm-pits, in the throat, and about the neck. These last appearances of bubo, however, are not very frequent, and are often the effects of mercury improperly administered in the Pox arising from the disease itself. When the constitution is very irritable, the disease will sometimes attack the nose, the throat, the tongue, the eyes, the shin bones, and so on. In some cases the whole of the nose and palate-bones have been eaten out, and the nose . 112 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. flattened down almost to the upper lip. When the disease has been communicated from parents to the offspring, it sometimes comes into the world full of sores, and sometimes skinned and raw nearly all over. How the feelings of virtue and common decency must recoil at such a disgraceful and yet heart-rending and truly pitiable sight. Treatment. —First give an emetic of gulver and wild ipecacuanha, or Indian physic, prepared as follows: Take two ounces of gulver root, and one ounce of ipecac or Indian physic, (the root) put them in one gallon of wa- wrater, and boil down to a half a pint, and give this in half gill doses at intervals of fifteen minutes, until vomiting is produced. As soon as this medicine commences operating, give warm water to assist its operation; when the stomach is sufficiently cleansed, give water gruel to determine it to the bowels. You may also give a teaspoonful of the flour of sulphur with the gruel, to remove the sickness from the stomach. After the operation of the emetic, the patient should drink of the following decoction: Take a handful of white sarsaparilla root, the same quantity of yellow sarsaparilla root, a double handful of wild mercury root; boil all these articles together in three gallons of water down to a half gallon. The patient should drink of this decoction three half pints a day. Also give powders, made as follows : Take a double handful of agrimony, the same quantity of bamboo brier, two ounces of Indian hemp ; wash these roots clean and dry them in the shade, where they will not be exposed to the dampness of the rain or dew; when perfectly dry, pulverize and bottle up for use. Of these powders the patient should take a dose, a teaspoonful ; if this should fail to operate in two hours, give half a teaspoonful, and repeat every two hours until it purges. After the first dose, which should purge well, give a sufficient quantity each day to keep the bowels regulated. If the above powders should fail to operate on the bowels with sufficient activity, give a dose of calomel, say from twelve to twenty grains, according to the constitution of the patient; after which give a moderate dose, say five grains twice a day, for two days ; the third day give one dose, after which give three grains a day, until the gums and root of the tongue feels slightly sore. On the first appearance of the sore- 113 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. ness of the gums and root -of the tongue, the use of the calomel must be discontinued, and a tablespoonful of the flour of sulphur taken twice a day; also castor oil should be taken twice a day; a tablespoonful each time. Diets.—When the patient is of full habit of body, the diets should be light, such as light soups, buttermilk, bread and shortening, a little chicken or squirrel cooked in its own oil alone, or something of the kind. But if the patient is in delicate health, or much reduced by the disease, or by the use of strong medicines, nourishing diet, wine and tonics will be proper. CLAP. This disease may be communicated by sexual intercourse. Or if a woman be afflicted with it while pregnant, unless she be cured before the birth of the child, it is sure to have it; some children are born with it, whose mothers have been cured before delivery. These are the only means by which this disorder can be communicated. When taken by sexual connexion in sound persons who have never had it before, it will not in general show itself sooner than from five or six to nine days, but I have never known it to go over the tenth day after it was received before it made its appearance. Persons who have frequently been afflicted with Clap, or those of weakly, irritable habits, are apt to discover it on them about the third day, and it very seldom passes the fifth, with such persons, without showing some signs of its approach. The mode of life will make a difference in the length of time in its making its attack. If you are temperate, it will not show itself so soon as if you are intemperate after the reception of the disease. Symptoms.—In most instances, the first symptoms are an itching and slightly painful sensation about half an inch up the water passage from the end of the penis, and burning or scalding sensations or feelings in the urethra, or canal of the penis, whenever you urinate or make water. In a short time, say in the space of from five to twenty hours after these symptoms are felt, there will be a slight discharge of matter from the privates, nearly like the white of an egg; in a short time it becomes more copious, and of a yellow color, and lastly, of a greenish color. In a few days the soreness extends 114 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. up the water passage (urethra) to the neck of the bladder, and the system is thrown into a general feverish condition. In females this disease is somewhat more simple than in males. In its first stage it resembles the whites in their worst stage, and they can go much longer, and suffer less without a remedy, than a male, because the parts are larger, and the matter more freely discharged before it becomes so irritating. But the female labors under this disadvantage : the disease sooner passes up, both the birth place and water canal, and affects the womb and bladder both. Sometimes the testicles of the male swell, and become very painful, and the penis inclines to great erections, thereby giving great pain. The Clap shows itself much sooner, and progresses much more rapidly, and soon becomes more violent on those who have it frequently, or more than once, than it does the first time ; in such cases, it frequently attacks the whole water passage at once, or perhaps up near the first place. After the disease has been suffered to run on for a length of time, the eyes become weak, and the little veins are all engorged with blood, the edges of the lids look swelled, inflamed and hard, the hollows around the eyes assume a dark appearance, and the countenance wears a dull, dejected, and sickly aspect. Treatment. —First cleanse the bowels with antibilious pills, or some other cathartic, and then drink freely of a decoction made as follows: Take of white sumac root five pounds, of the small kind red root two pounds, one double handful of black or dewberry brier root, a double handful of persimmon bark, (the bark of the root is preferred,) boil all these articles in ten or twelve gallons of water down to a half gallon, and strain for use. Of this decoction the patient must drink freely, and keep the bowels regulated by the use of anti-bilious pills, or some other cathartics. He should also take a handful of sarsaparilla, and boil it in two gallons of water down to a quart, and take of this decoction a half pint or more each day. The above medicines should be used perseveringly until the discharge ceases. The patient should eat no strong diet; a little squirrel or chicken may be taken if cooked with but very little seasoning; if wheat bread is used, it should not be shortened. Tea or coffee may be drank, but 115 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. ardent spirits must be avoided, or the remedies may be discontinued. The patient should avoid all exposure or violent exercise, and all sexual intercourse with others. Another Mode of Treatment.—Cleanse the bowels as above directed, and then drink freely of a strong decoction of equal quantities of dewberry brier root and blue flag or gleet root. In all obstinate cases where the above remedies fail, give a dose of calomel, say from ten to twenty grains, and work it off" with castor oil or rhubarb, and then drink freely of one of the above decoctions, in connexion with the sarsaparilla decoction. There are many other preparations which may be used to great advantage in this filthy complaint, as may be seen in the Dispensatory. But those afflicted with this loathsome disease are too apt to be changing the mode of treatment before it has had a fair trial. This is very wrong, and should by all means be avoided if a speedy recovery is desired. After having pursued one remedy for ten days without an alteration for the better, it may be changed for some other mode, but not sooner, and temperance must be strictly observed. BLOODY URINE. A discharge of bloody urine may be occasioned by the lodging of a small stone in the ureter, or in the kidney, which wounds the part with which it comes in contact ; when in this way it usually deposits a sediment of a dark brown color, sometimes clotted, and is attended with an acute pain and sense of weight in the back, and difficulty in making water; when the above symptoms occur, and it is supposed to be caused by the lodgment of a stone, look for a remedy under the head of Stone and Gravel. When the blood proceeds immediately from the bladder, its discharge is usually accompanied with a sense of heat, and pain in the lower part of the belly. Treatment. —Give a tea of the powdered root of Jerusalem oak, a table spoonful to a pint of boiling water; also give powders of egg-shells and alum, equal quantities. The egg-shells must first be browned or parched in an oven, and reduced to a fine powder; they should be finely pulverized, and the two articles mixed together. Dose, a tea spoonful night and morning. The 116 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. bowels must be kept open by the use of anti-bilious pills, or some other cathartic, such as rhubarb, oil, etc. fetters of yellow sarsaparilla in common spirits will be found of great advantage in this disease. GKAYEL AND STONE. {Tsu-ni-nic-luh-huh-sko-oh-tekoh-luh.) Gravel and Stone, though distinguishable from each other, appear to originate in the same causes, and require similar treatment. Gravel is usually understood to mean calculi, (from the old word calx,) a limestone, or little sand-like stones, which pass from the kidneys through the ureters into the bladder. Stone is a strong concretion of matter, which enlarges and hardens by time; seldom found in the ureters or tubes themselves, but generally lodged in the kidneys or bladder; when the stone is in the kidney, it is because it is too large to be passed off through the ureters (ureters are small tubes which extend from the kidneys to the bladder, and convey the urine into the latter) into the bladder; and when found in the bladder, it is from the fact of its being too large to be passed off through the channel of the penis. Symptoms.—When a disposition to gravel exists in the urinary system, there will be occasional paroxysms or fits of pain in the back, which sometimes shoot downward to the thighs, and sometimes a numbness of one of the legs inside, accompanied with a retraction or drawing up of one of the testicles or stones in men ; almost constant desire to make water, which is attended with the most agonizing pain, and is sometimes terminated by a discharge of small gravel stones from the urethra with the urine. The stone wdiich is usually found in the kidneys or bladder, sometimes in both, is a disease of more serious and dangerous consequences. When the stone has acquired some size, if situated in the bladder, there is an almost constant desire to make water, which is voided in very small quantities, sometimes drop by drop, with great pain, and sometimes in a small stream, w T hich occasionally stops short, and is attended with almost insupportable pain. In some persons the violence of straining to void the urine makes the rectum or lower gut contract and expel its excrements ; or if that gut be empty, this strain- 117 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. ing occasions tenesmus, or a constant desire to go to stool. There is often blood to be seen in the urine, and sometimes pure blood is passed off in small quantities. "When calculus or stone is formed in the kidney, in addition to the general symptoms of stone in the bladder, there will be felt a dead, heavy, dull pain in the loin, where the kidney containing the stone is seated, frequently accompanied with chillness or creeping coldness in and over the part affected. In severe cases of calculus or stone, either in the kidneys or bladder, there is frequently experienced, during the time of passing the urine, sickness of the stomach, a desire to vomit, and much faintness. The gravel, and sometimes stone, when the latter has not become too much enlarged from the lapse of time, may much more easily be removed from the bladders of females than from males. Treatment.—The bowels should be kept open by mild and cooling purges, such as cream of tartar, American senna, or some similar article. There are two small bones in each drum-fish's head ; they are nearly round, and about the size of the thumb-nail; reduce a number of these bones to a very tine powder, and take a teaspoonful of these powders morning and night. This is a certain remedy for stone or gravel; it will dissolve the stone, and cause it to be passed off in the urine. There are many other valuable articles for this truly painful and distressing complaint. A decoction of cat tongue, drank freely, seldom fails to give relief. The horse-radish is very good, and the common garden-radish is also good; the proper mode of using the common radish is in decoction, or the expressed juice ; this is a valuable remedy, and it is said by many to possess the property of dissolving and carrying off the urine. The index will point to numerous valuable articles for suppressed urine. Everything of a heating nature, both in diet and drink, must be strictly avoided. The patient should take regular, but moderate exercise. The index will also refer the reader to several valuable preparations for gravel in the Dispensatory. Turk, in his pamphlet, which was published in 1843, says, " I have cured this disease of long standing, in four or five days, with a root in alcohol or good spirits; I have never failed, and until I do, I will continue to believe in its efficacy. I could cite many cases of the most 118 INDIAN GUTDE TO HEALTH. notorious kind, but as I intend a small work, I will give but one. A gentleman in North Carolina had been afflicted for fifteen years, and so much so, and so many trials had been made, that all hopes of a cure were abandoned ; he had to draw his water with a catheter ; he called upon me, and I furnished him the medicine ; he declared to me that I cured him in three or four days ; I saw him occasionally for three or four months, and he remained w r ell." The root I cure this disease with, grows in every part of the United States, where I travel; it grows on uplands, and low grounds—I have mostly found it in fence corners ; in good land, it grows from five to eight feet high, has a bushy top and yellow blossoms, and blooms from the last of July, and through August. The root is the part for use, and hard to dig— has many roots growing horizontally; when dug out, and exposed to the sun, inclines to turn red ; between the bark and the woody part of the root is a sticky rosin. The rosin contains the medicine ; the stalk while green has the appearance of four square, but when close examined, it is found to be round, and four feather edges. As I know of no other root that contains this kind of rosin, I cannot see how it can be mistaken ; and another proof, it makes a very pleasant drink, and will remind us of the pure rosin. This medicine acts directly upon the water passage, and will dissolve any stone in the kidneys or bladder. It seems to have nothing to do with any other part of the system ; the gravel, after being dissolved, is thrown off, and looks like lime. The mode of preparing and using it is as follows: After the root is dug and well washed, cut fine and fill a quart bottle with the root, then put in the spirits ; and it will soon be fit for use. The bottle will bear filling two or three times, without renewing the roots. This tincture should be drank as freely as possible, according to the age, strength, and constitution of the patient—it should be used most freely from ten to four o'clock in the night. In all diseases, the system should be in good order, and costiveness in this disease should be particularly avoided. This root will cure any inflammation of the bladder, diabetes, or involuntary flow of urine." I have never tried the above remedy, as the pamphlet very lately came to my hands, but thought pro- 119 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. per to give it a place, as the root abounds in our country, and it certainly deserves a trial. The tJva Ursi of the mountainous regions of Europe, and possibly of this country, is said by physicians who profess to be acquainted with its medical virtues, to stand unrivalled as a remedy for gravel or stone. A full description of this article may be seen under its proper head, to which is added several cases of actual experiment, and the result in cases of gravel or stone. DIABETES, "Which means an immoderate flow of urine, commonly without any particular pain in the urinary organs. Symptoms.—The quantity of water usually discharged in this disease is more than double the quantity of liquid taken both in food and drink, and it is as transparent as spring water. It has a sweetish taste, like sugar and water, and a very faint smell, as if mixed with rosemary leaves. After this disease runs on for a length of time, the mind becomes dull and melancholy, the skin dry and hot, immoderate thirst, which cannot be satisfied, the appetite becomes voracious. There is a gradual emaciation of the whole body, attended with great debility, a sense of weariness, and great aversion to motion. There are frequent darting pains in the privates, accompanied with a dull, heavy pain in the small of the back, the bowels are costive, the pulse irregular. As the disease advances, fever takes place, similar to that in hectic and consumptive cases, the feet begin to swell, and death in a short time ensues. The attacks of diabetes are generally slow and gradual. It is sometimes two or more years in making its advances on the constitution. Treatment.—Cleanse the stomach with an emetic, following the emetic with a cooling purge. Purges should not be used in this disease any further than to prevent costiveness. The patient should drink daily of a tea of piny-weed or gleet-root, or both combined, and take a chalybeate pill night and morning. The diet should be nourishing, principally flesh ; vegetables should be avoided. COLIC. — (Tsu-ne-yoli-low-tis-scoh.) Of this disease there are generally reckoned three kinds, as flatulent, bilious, ana nervous, or cramp colic. 120 INDIAN GUDDE TO HEALTH. The causes which predispose to an attack of colic, are flatulence, indigestible food, unripe fruits, fermenting drinks, windy vegetables, excess of bile, costiveness, sudden check of perspiration, cold, worms, other diseases improperly or imperfectly cured, etc. Symptoms of Flatulent Colio.—This Colic may be distinguished by a rumbling in the bowels, and a disposition to belch, or discharge wind from the stomach. It is also attended with sickness, and sometimes vomiting ; a violent pain is felt in the stomach, and if undigested food has passed from the stomach into the bowels, the pain will extend from the stomach to the bowels, and be most severe at or near the navel. The stomach and bowels both being distended or tightly swelled. Treatment.—This kind of Colic may generally be relieved by very simple means ; such as a drink of warm toddy, to which may be added fifteen or twenty drops of oil of pennyroyal, essence of peppermint, or strong mint tea—a tea of black or red pepper, ginger, spice, calamus, dog-wood berries, are all good, and will generally give relief; a tea of bubby-root is also good. Hogs' hoofs burnt and reduced to powders, taken in teaspoonful doses, mixed with honey, every few minutes, will be found an immediate remedy. Spikenard-root, taken in powders or bitters, is very good; spirits into which has been put balm of gilead buds, is excellent; a dram of camphor is good. Persons who are addicted to Colic should use balm of gilead buds, spikenard - root, prickly-ash bark of the root, or asafcetida, digested in common spirits, for a daily bitter., These articles may be used alone or combined at pleasure. In a violent and stubborn attack, bleed and bathe the patient; if bathing vessels are not at hand, bathe the feet, and apply cloths wrung out of hot water to the belly, as hot as can be borne; warm salt, applied in the same manner, is very good. If costiveness prevails, give laxative clysters, such as butternut syrup and gulver tea combined ; the clysters should be continued until the contents of the bowels are thoroughly evacuated, after which give a few clysters of new milk and water. BILIOUS COLIC. Symptoms.—Loss of appetite, a bitter taste in the month, an acute pain about the navel, costiveness, attended with sickness, and vomiting of a bilious matter. 121 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. Treatment. —Open the bowels with some active cathartic, aided by injections. If the pulse be frequent and high, bleed. After the bowels have been thoroughly cleansed, give a few injections, composed of new milk and water, with a little hog's lard in it. When the stomach is irritable, it may be qnieted with mint tea, or a tea of cholera-morbus root; peppermint, bruised, and applied to the pit of the stomach, will aid in checking the vomiting. After relief is obtained, it will be advisable to take an anti-dyspeptic, or hepatic, pill, night and morning, for a few days. This will restore the liver to healthy action, and increase the tone and strength of the stomach. NERVOUS COLIC. Nervous, or cramp colic, may be distinguished by a disposition to cramp, accompanied with pain similar to other colic. Treatment.—Bathe the feet in warm water, and bleed in the foot. If the blood can be taken from the vein which lies nearest the ankle-bone, on the inside, it is preferred. Give laxative injections—butternut and gulver, if it can be had. At the same time, let the patient drink freely of sampson snake-root tea, a tea of bubby-root, or the root, or bark of the prickly-ash. Warm applications to the pained part, such as cloths, wet in hot water, or warm salt, will aid in subduing the spasm, or cramp colic. Sometimes it extends to the blood; this kind of colic produces a dull, heavy sensation, throughout the whole system; this colic is most common among pregnant women, and may be relieved by keeping the bowels open, by the use of mild cathartics, and drinking freely of bitters, composed of spikenard, white sarsaparilla, and the bark of the root of pricklyash. These articles may be used all together, or either of the articles used alone. The expressed juice of prickly-ash root is not surpassed by any other remedy, in our knowledge, for flatulent, or nervous colic. LOCKED JAW. Locked jaw may be considered an involuntary cramp or contraction of all the muscles of the body. It most frequently arises from wounds, and, in some instances, from very slight wounds, such as the slight puncture of 6 122 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. a pin, needle, or splinter under the nail; also, from cuts, snags, etc. Symptoms—Are a dull stiffness of the head and neck, an uneasiness in the breast, soon followed by a change of speech, and a difficulty of swallowing; the patient frequently remains perfectly in his senses. The stiffness in the jaws gradually increases, until the teeth become clenched, the tongue, also, becomes stiff, and violent and alarming paroxysms now take place in the muscles. Treatment. —When this painful disease proceeds from a wound of any kind, the wound should be immediately opened, and cleansed of any matter that may be in it; then fill it with spirits of turpentine, or warm salt, and cover it with a warm, moist poultice. If the patient can swallow, give a purge of gulver and butternut syrup combined, or castor oil; the cathartic should be aided by injections. For preparing and administering injections, see under the head Clystering. Also give a tea of seneka, or black snake-root. If the patient cannot swallow, give injections, freely, of some active cathartic, as it is all-important to have the contents of the bowels immediately evacuated. Tobacco, or tincture of lobelia, may be combined with the purgative injections to great advantage. The warm bath should never be dispensed with, in this alarming disease, as it will aid both in relaxing the muscles, and in the operation of the cathartics, whether administered by injections, or otherwise. For an external application to the jaws, use the red pepper poultice; a thin cloth should be put between the skin and the poultice, to keep it from burning the skin. The poultice should be wet with anti-spasmodic tincture, and, from a half to a whole teaspoonful of this tincture, should be taken internally, repeated at intervals of ten or fifteen minutes, or oftener, as circumstances require it. If the patient cannot swallow, this tincture should be put into the mouth; it will soon find its way to the root of the tongue, and will aid greatly in relieving the spasm, and cause the parts to become relaxed. A poultice of lifeeverlasting, or sassafras buds, is very good, applied to the jaws and throat, to produce a relaxation of the parts. TOOTHACHE.— (Oo-yoh-quah-li-sTcee.) This excruciating and distressing complaint is thought, INDIAN GDIDE TO HEALTH. 123 by many persons, to originate in the teeth. This idea, however common it may be, is very erroneous. It is, in most instances, a symptom of other diseases, which diseases must be sought out and removed, before relief can be obtained. Treatment.—When this disease is supposed to arise from rheumatism, look under that head for a remedy. When it is caused by the stoppage of periodical evacuations in females, refer to that head, among the diseases of women, for a remedy. When it is attended with costiveness, headache, and fever, purge freely with salts, castor oil, rhubarb, or anti-bilious pills. Toothache is frequently caused by the nerve of the tooth being exposed to the atmosphere. When this is the case, wet cotton, or lint, in cedar oil, essence of peppermint, pennyroyal, or spirits of camphor, and plug the hollow of the tooth with it; renew this lint frequently, and it will generally give relief; cotton, or lint, wet with laudanum, is, also, very good. Toothache sometimes arises from rheumatism; when this is the case, both the sound and decayed teeth will be pained; there will, also, be a dull, heavy pain, extending along the jaw-bone, and the whole side of the face will be affected to a greater, or less, extent; when this is the case, wilt the leaves of the Jamestown-weed (Jimson), by putting in hot water, and then pressing them tightly in the hand, then put them on a cloth, large enough to cover the pained part, and bind them to the jaw, as warm as can be borne; when the leaves become cold, warm them, by pouring a hot tea of the same leaves over the plaster, and again apply it. This will, in most cases, give relief, if properly attended to. Extracting should be the last means resorted to for relief; I have knowrsound teeth extracted, and, afterwards, other disease* were discovered to be the cause, which had to be re moved before health could be enjoyed. Toothache it. very common among pregnant women, particularly during the first stages of pregnancy; cold is, almost always, the exciting cause; it may be relieved by the use of mild cathartics, bathing the feet in warm water, and drinking some diaphoretic teas. SEALED JAW. {Coh-you-cah-tsi-tuh-nu-tis-lay.) Bealed jaw is generally caused by cold settling on a 124 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. decayed tooth. The patient should drink freely of some sweating tea, such as pennyroyal, balm, mint, sage, etc. Also steam the wound over bitter herbs, such as catnip, hoarhound, etc. For an external application, I have never found anything so good as the Jamestown-leaves (Jimson), as directed above, for toothache. This, if applied in any reasonable time, will allay the inflammation, and prevent it from bealing. The leaves may be procured in summer, and cured.,in the shade, and made into a poultice when needed. In this way they may be had at all times in the year. PALSY. — {Tsu-ni-luh-tah-luh-uh-sTcah.) This disease is characterized by a numbness, or want of feeling, in the part affected. It sometimes affects one part, and sometimes another. If it attacks the heart, or lungs, it must inevitably prove fatal—its danger, or fatality, is to be expected in proportion to the vitality of the part affected. Causes which predispose to an attack of palsy are, apoplexy, obstructions of necessary evacuations, excessive venery, any injuries that obstruct the passage of the nervous fluid to the brain, to the organs of motion, injuries of the spinal marrow, intense study, and great distress, or anxiety, of the mind. In short, anything that has a tendency to weaken and relax the nervous system, in an extreme degree, has a tendency to produce this alarming disease. Symptoms.—Are giddiness, torpor, uneasiness in the head, failure of the memory, dullness of intellect, coldness, tremor, creeping, and pain in the part affected. Treatment. —First dig a pit in the ground, just deep enough for the patient's shoulders to be even with the surface of the earth when sitting on a chair in the pit; build a fire in the pit, and let it remain until the pit becomes hot; then take the fire out; as soon as the pit becomes cool enough for the patient to bear it, place him or her in it on a chair, and cover it over with a blanket, only leaving the head of the patient to the air. Let the patient remain in this pit until copious sweating is produced, or as long as the constitution and strength will allow. When the patient is taken from the pit, scarify the j-tints of the affected part, and very espe- INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 125 eially the back bone, and wash the scarified parts with the tincture of Indian hemlock. For a full description of this shrub or bark refer to that head. The mode of preparing the tincture is as follows: Take of the powdered leaves of Indian hemlock a table-spoonful, put it into a half pint of hot water, and let it remain thirty minutes or more, then -wash the scarified parts with this infusion or tincture every hour for twelve hours, if the natural feeling does not return in a shorter period; but if it should return (which is not uncommon under this treatment), the use of the hemlock should be discontinued, and the parts should be frequently and well bathed with strong vinegar. The patient should drink freely of a beer made as follows: Take malt enough to make ten gallons of beer, put it into, ten gallons of water, add to it one quart of finely ground mustard seed, let this beer ferment (work or become sour) and it will be fit for use. The patient should drink freely of this beer until health is restored. Diets should be light and nourishing, and if the bowels be costive, they should be relieved by mild purges, and infections. WEN. Wen is a fleshy substance growing between the skin and the natural flesh, without any known cause. When it makes its appearance on the neck, it frequently grows to such an enormous size, as to render breathing very difficult. Treatment.—First, anoint the Wen with, cedar oil. (For the mode of preparing this ointment, look under its proper head.) It should be anointed with this ointment every twelve hours, then apply a plaster made of equal quantities of common soap and table-salt, mixed well together; the fourth day, this poultice should be changed for one made by boiling the pulverized root of may cock in water, and thickening it with corn meal. If the leaves are green, they may be applied if preferred, being first bruised or wilted, these poultices should be changed occasionally, keeping the first kind on about one-third of the time, and the maycock the other two-thirds. The Wen should be regularly anointed with cedar oil, every twelve hours; the ointment should be bathed in with a warm iron.. 126 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. Dr. "Wright gives the following easy and simple remedy as an infallible one : " Wash it with common salt dissolved in water every day, or make a strong brine of alum salt; simmer it over the fire; when thus prepared, wet a piece of cotton in it every day, and apply it constantly for one month, and the protuberance will disappear." I have never tried Dr. Wright's f inscription, but have no reason to doubt its efficacy, t is at least so simple, and so easily tried, that I have thought proper to give it a place. DISEASES OF THE SKIN. The close connexion which exists between the stomach, bowels, and skin, is evidently demonstrated by the fact, that in many instances where the stomach and bowels are internally disordered, the skin exhibits external evidence of the disease. Many eruptions which show themselves on the skin, are positive proofs of the deranged state of the system internally. Care should therefore be taken to ascertain the true cause of those eruptions. If they are produced by no impure state of the blood, foul stomach, costiveness, or from some constitutional disease derived from parents; if either of these causes produce eruptions of the skin, it will be obvious to all, that it is to be removed by internal remedies. When eruptions are produced by the above causes, and should be driven from the skin by external remedies alone, it will generally produce, and in many instances, seat, some fatal disease on the vital organs. Dr. Gunn says: " Whenever diseases exhibit their effects on the skin, you may be assured that they are the efforts of nature to relieve herself from oppression ; and the real business of the physician is, to assist nature, and never to retard or stifie her operations." The cause of eruptions should be sought out and removed, and when they proceed from internal disease, they will have to be removed by internal remedies. Treatment. —The first thing to be attended to in case of eruptions, is the bowels, which must be cleansed by a cathartic, and then kept open by the use of salts, cream of tartar, and sulphur, or a free use of yellow poplar root bark, taken in decoction, bitters, or powders as may be the choice of the patient. A tea of sarsapa 127 INDIAN GUTDE TO HEALTH. rilla, sassafras, or spice wood, drank cool, will be found beneficial. For external applications, use common starch or flour. These simple applications will be found a cooling and pleasant remedy ; they will allay the itching and uneasiness of the skin for a time, and when these unpleasant sensations return, the application should be repeated. Persons that are subject to eruptions of the skin, should live on light and refreshing diet, and avoid everything of a heating nature either in food or drink. They should also keep their bowels open by the use of cooling cathartics as above directed. The skin should be kept clean, and moist, by frequent bathing, and washed in warm water. SCALD-HEAD. {Tsa-nah-li-stah-wo.) Scald-head is an inflammatory eruption of the skin of the head. It generally commences with an uneasy tingling, itching sensatiou, as though something was crawling through the hair. In a short time, numerous small white pimples arise at the roots of the hair, under which are very small ulcers, which will in a short time discharge a whitish matter. At other times it commences more boldly, and presents clusters of small red pimples or pustules, dispersed throughout the head. Some even advance to suppuration, leaving pits filled with pus; many scabs fall off like bran, while others adhere closely to the skin. Children are most liable to this disease, but the adult is not exempt from it. Neglect of cleanliness, bad nursing, or a want of a due portion of wholesome food may produce this disease. It is contagious, and is often taken by children from wearing the hat or cap of a person affected with it, by sleeping in the same bed, or by combing with the same comb. It also descends, in some instances, as a hereditary disease, and when it occurs in connection with a scrofulous habit, it is tedious and difficult to cure. Treatment.—The hair must be shaved, or trimmed as close as convenient, and the head well cleansed with warm water and soap ; the first attempt to remove the scabs and cleanse the head will require some time, in order to soften the scabs, that they may be removed without pain. When this is done, the head should be 128 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. washed in a decoction of the small kind of smart weed (for a description of this weed, look under that head); after the head has been washed in the above decoction, take a feather and dip it in cedar oil, and touch it lightly on the deepest pustules or scalds. Then anoint the head with an ointment made by stewing the bruised smart weed in hog's lard or fresh butter. Next apply a poultice of corn-meal mush, made without salt; after it is spread on a cloth large enough to cover the affected part, sprinkle on its surface a thin coat of the flour of sulphur, and apply it to the head. The head should be dressed in the above manner once in every twenty-four hours, and not more. After it has been dressed in the above manner six or eight days, instead of the smart weed decoction, you may wash it with water in which sweet-gum leaves have been bruised and soaked. I have never known the above course to fail in effecting a cure if persisted in. The patient should keep the bowels open, by the use of mild and cooling purges, and drink freely of sarsaparilla in decoction or bitters. I have known it cured by the smart weed alone, applied as above directed, and keeping it well cleansed with soap-suds; I have also known it cured by cleansing it daily with soap-suds, and applying a salve made by stewing the buds of the balm of gilead in sheep's tallow or hog's lard, and adding a little sweet gum rosin. Cleanliness must be particularly attended to in this disease, for without it a cure wili be sought for in vain. TETTER-WORM. ( Oo-coh-yok-ter-oo-ne-squaw-her. ) Symptoms.—This disease assumes a variety of forms in different persons. It sometimes comes in broad itchy spots, which run into each other, and form extensive excoriations of the skin, or terminate in bad ulcers. Sometimes the skin thickens, wrinkles, and cracks, being very tender and painful. In some persons, this complaint is most severe in winter, while others suffer most from it in summer. This disease is sometimes constitutional and hereditary; when this is the case, it is very difficult to cure. Treatment.—When this disease is in the skin only, it may be cured by very simple means. The root of the INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. 129 common dock, either the wide or narrow, stewed in hog's lard, and used as an ointment, will in most cases effect a cure. Puccoon root bruised and steeped in vinegar, and used as a wash, seldom fails to effect a speedy cure. "When the case is obstinate, apply cedar oil; if it is too severe, it may be rendered more mild by stewing it with an equal quantity of hog's lard or fresh butter. I have never known this remedy to fail. When the disease is constitutional, in addition to the above external applications, give cooling purges and bitters to cleanse the blood, such as sarsaparilla, poplar root bark, sassafras or burdock. They may be taken in decoction, if preferred by the patient. RING-WORM. Symptoms.—This disease of the skin is characterized by small red pimples which break out in a circular form, containing a thin acrid humor. It is attended with itching and smarting, which is greatly increased by over-heating the body. In a general way, the eruption does not spread to any considerable extent, but instances have occurred in which it spread over the whole body, and the skin assume a leprous appearance. In cases of this kind, the itching is too intolerable to be borne with any degree of patience. Treatment. —Ring-worms very often disappear of themselves in the course of a few days, but are apt to return in a short time. The expressed juice of either kind of dock will kill them in«a short time; the juice of the walnut hull will kill them, or the juice of the inside of white walnut bark. An ointment made of equal quantities of cedar oil and hog's lard or fresh butter will also cure it. But I have seldom failed curing it with a much more simple application. When you first discover a ring-worm, rub it well with spittle every morning before eating or drinking, and it will soon disappear; it should be rubbed until it smarts a little. ITCH".—( Oo-ni-tsi-lah.) This dirty disease is infectious or catching, and is not unfrequently produced by neglecting to pay due regard to cleanliness. Some authors suppose it to be produced by a little insect which makes its way under the skin, and thus produces the eruptions and itching. I believe 6* 130 INDIAN GOTDE TO HEALTH. it to be confined to the skin, whether produced by an insect or not. Cleanliness and early attention to this disease will prevent its being communicated to a whole family. Some persons have no more regard for themselves nor others than to take this filthy disease to school, and in this way communicate it to the whole neighborhood. This, however, may be prevented by the occasional use of sulphur. This disorder may be communicated by sleeping with a person who has it, or by sleeping in the same bed and bed clothes, where a person has lately slept that was infected with it. In this way travellers often catch it. Symptoms.—It shows itself first between the fingers and around the wrists in small watery, pimples and gradually extends over the whole body. Treatment.—Take the root of common wide or narrow dock, bruise it well and stew it in hog's lard, strain it and add sweet-gum rosin, and a small quantity of cedar oil; use this as an ointment. If it should not have the desired effect in a few days, add the flour of sulphur or pulverized brimstone. A small quantity of sulphur may be taken internally, which will prevent, in a great degree, any injury by cold from its external use. To wash frequently with a strong decoction of cedar tops or berries will generally cure the itch, as will also a strong decoction of Virginia or black snake root, or Jamestown weed leaves, or sweet-gum leaves or bark, or a decoction of buck thorn. Any of the above applications will cure the itch tn a short time, provided there is due regard paid to cleanliness, without which a cure never can be effected in any length of time. The application should be made until the eruptions disappear, then the skin should be well washed with warm soapsuds, and clean clothes put on. The bed clothes should also be changed, and those that were worn while having the itch should be well washed before they are again used. SHINGLES. This disease is characterized by an eruption or clusters of small blisters on some part of the trunk, and spreading round the body like a girdle. They sometimes extend over the shoulder and round under the opposite arm in the form of a sword-belt. An attack 131 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. of this complaint is sometimes preceded by headache and nausea, but this is not very common. The usual symptoms are, heat, itching and tingling, in some parts of the body, which is covered with small red patches of an irregular shape, and upon each of these patches may be seen very small pimples clustered together. In a short time the sepimples become enlarged and are filled with a clear fluid, and the whole pimple has a transparent appearance. If the disease is not checked, other clusters will appear, and in a short time extend quite round the body. Treatment.—In most cases this disease will require nothing more than the free use of some diaphoretic teas. If costiveness prevails, remove it by the use of mild cathartics, such as cream of tartar, salts or castor oil. The parts affected should be washed with a decoction of or some cooling tea. If the contents of the bowels should be hard to remove, laxative injections should be used to aid the cathartic. All exposure to cold and damp should be avoided, such as damp feet, damp clothes, etc. The diet should be light, and moderate exercise regularly taken. ST. ANTHONY'S FIRE, OR ERYSIPELAS. All persons are liable to attacks of this disease—but females are most liable. The infant of a few days old, and the very aged, are equally liable to its attacks. It is generally regarded as an inflammation seated in the skin, and mostly appearing on the face, hands, legs, and feet, though all parts of the body are liable to its attacks. In warm climates it bears a much more inflammatory character than in colder ones. It may be produced by obstructed evacuations, such as a sudden check of perspiration, stoppage of the menses in females, or the drying up of ulcers, etc. Persons of a sanguine, irritable temperament, are most liable to its attacks ; and those who have it once are much more liable to be attacked again, for that peculiar condition of the system which gives birth to it once, is more apt to occur again than if it had never existed. Symptoms.—For a few days before it makes its appearance on the skin, great drowsiness and weakness are experienced, bad appetite, and sometimes hard breathing ; more violent attacks come on with dullness, head- 132 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. ache, nausea, and sometimes vomiting, heat, and great thirst. "When it makes its appearance externally, the skin becomes thick and of a crimson color, and is attended with great restlessness and burning itching sensation. The pulse is small and frequent; m a short time the skin will be covered with small red pimples containing a clear fluid. If the disease be neglected, these pimples, or blisters, sometimes terminate in bad ulcers, which rapidly tend to mortification. This complaint is usually most dangerous when it attacks the face. When it attacks the face and the inflammation runs high, inflammation of the brain is to be apprehended, and should be guarded against by all possible means. Treatment.—On the first appearance of this disease, if the attack be mild, drink freely of some sweating tea, and cleanse the bowels with anti-bilious pills or some other cathartic. But should it put on aa aggravated form and the inflammatory symptoms run high, it will be necessary to lose a little blood. Evacuate the contents of the bowels speedily as possible, and then give some diaphoretic teas freely, such as sage, hyssop, balm, pennyroyal, mint, or some kind of snake-root; the patient should also take the flour of sulphur occasionally ; if this is not at hand, pulverize brimstone as fine as possible, and put it in the tea. For an external application to the skin, use fine starch or flour. If the eruption should become very painful, make a tea of red puccoon-root and use it as a wash. I have also applied a plaster made of tar mixed with a sufficient quantity of hog's lard to prevent it from sticking; this last is an excellent application, when the eruptions are so painful as to require it. SMALL-POX. ( Oo-nuh-leh-qualee.) This disease, in large cities and densely populated countries, has proved a most fatal scourge, and has formed one of the great outlets of human life. It is contagions and extends from one country to another, spreading terror and dealing death wherever it goes. This appalling and fatal malady was unknown to the man of the forest, until their country became inhabited by the whites, and their rivers navigated by steamboats, and cities and towns were erected on their banks. It 133 INDIAN GUIDE TO HEALTH. was then communicated by the whites to the Indians; it was a new disease, and one for which they knew no remedy ; they died indiscriminately as fast as they were seized with this king of terrors—their medicines, which they used with so much success in other diseases, were tried in vain; hundreds of their tribes were hurried into eternity, while the remainder had little else to expect than soon to follow, and that in the most agonizing manner imaginable. Notwithstanding the little success they at first had in treating this alarming disease, the courage of their physicians was undaunted —they fully believed that their own happy land contained a remedy. Their former articles of medicine having failed they resorted to experiment. Every new patient afforded a new opportunity, and it was but death if the experiment should fail—and as it was death under any former treatment known by them, the poor sufferer readily consented. Those experiments w r ere crowned with success far beyond their most sanguine expectations. They found the remedy in their own native land, and in considerable abundance. This disease is now considered by them as a curable one, and that with simple and not disagreeable remedies. The art of vaccination was taught them by the whites; they use this as a preventive with great success, as may be seen under that head. Symptoms.—Small Pox is contagious, though, like measles, it seldom, if ever, attacks the same person but once. Some individuals appear to clusive agent for New York. The Pump is two feet in diameter, has an air chamber, easily put on and taken off, to be used with hose to throw water, &c. Does not freeze in winter nor rust. 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