Has been introduced extensively into practice throughout the United States, and appears to be superior to camomile as a sudorific tonic, and far preferable to bark, in the treatment of the local autumnal fevers of the country, prevalent near the streams, lakes and marshes, often curing when other tonics failed. A warm decoction of boneset, till it vomits freely, is generally sufficient to break up almost any fever in its commencement; it cleanses the stomach, and excites the secretive organs; relaxes constriction, produces a free perspiration, and, of course, throws off the disease. For colds, it is a complete remedy, always observing to take a draught of the cold tea after the sweat is over, which will prevent an additional cold on exposure.

Boneset may be managed to act as a tonic, a sudorific, a laxative, or an emetic.

PEACH LEAVES AND TWIGS

Are useful in a bad cough. Steeped down to a strong tea, with about half of the quantity of skunk-cabbage, add the same quantity of good molasses as there is of tea, and take half a wineglass three or four times a day. I have cured an obstinate cough with this medicine.

Peach pits, or meats, are very useful in bitters to assist the digestive organs, and prevent inflammation of the kidneys and bladder. The leaves and twigs have the same properties as the meats, and will answer when the meats cannot be obtained. A strong tea made of peach leaves, will stop excessive vomiting.

BALMORRY, OR SNAKEHEAD.

This herb is found in moist fields, frequently near small streams or rivulets, and has a very bitter taste. It is much used for bitters; for correcting the bile, it is a tonic and anti-bilious, much used in jaundice, dyspepsia, loss of appetite, general languor and debility; good for children troubled with worms. It is one of the ingredients in my spiced bitters. An even teaspoonful of the powder is a dose.

ANGELICA

Is found in all parts of the United States. Its medical properties are the same as the garden angelica of Europe.

SUMMER SAVORY,

An annual plant, growing without cultivation in the south of Europe; is cultivated in our gardens; principally used to season food. It is stimulant, and has a tendency to remove pain and wind.

PRICKLY ASH.

The bark and berries of the prickly ash are stimulant, tonic, and energetic. It has been highly esteemed as a remedy for chronic rheumatism, and is a celebrated remedy for the toothache; a very common ingredient in bitters; it possesses somewhat the properties of guaiacum. By a long continuance in taking this bark, it is said to produce salivation. The dose to be taken is from ten grains to half a drachm, to be repeated three or four times a day.

EVERGREEN, OR WINTERGREEN.

An excellent remedy for cleansing the blood. The oil is good for the toothache, and is used to disguise many popular panaceas.

ROSE.

The flower is tonic and astringent. Dr. Beach prescribes the rose water in connection with the pith of young sassafras twigs, in ophthalmia, or inflammation of the eyes.

PENNYROYAL.

Found all over the United States, and in Canada. It is gently stimulant, produces universal perspiration when taken in large quantities, warm, and we consider it the best drink to accompany the lobelia emetic. In cases of sudden suppression of the menses, a tumblerful of this drink, with an even teaspoonful of black pepper, powdered fine, sweetened and drank warm, after soaking the feet in weak ley, will rarely fail producing the desired effect. It is useful to qualify, or mix other medicines for sickness at the stomach, colds, &c., and may be drank freely.

BLUE FLAG.

Found throughout the United States, by the side of streams and wet places. It flowers in June, has a very handsome blue flower; grows about two feet high. The Oneida Indians make much use of this root for the cure of rheumatism. Make a strong tincture of the blue flag root, by putting it into spirits, or alcohol; let the patient take a teaspoonful three times a day, after eating, increasing the dose gradually. If it should produce slight pains in the head and breast, take less at a time.

BEGGAR LICE.

The virtues of this plant has never, to my knowledge, been thoroughly understood. As a nervine in all female difficulties, and a valuable medicine when used for any derangement in the monthly courses, it has not many equals; it will remove pain immediately, and quiet the nerves.

Directions.—Take a handful of the flowers and leaves, and half the quantity of tanzy; make a good strong tea, and take a quantity on going to bed, if you can; if not, take it, but do not go out in the cold. The best time is bed time.

SINGLE-CELLED BERRY.

Grows in hedges, and along the road sides, in almost every part of America; flowers in July and August; the berry contains three irregular shaped seeds.

Medical Virtues.—A decoction of the berries and roots, has been found most efficacious in curing dropsies.

Preparation.—Boil two ounces of the dry root, in two quarts of rain water, down to one half, and strain the liquor. In dropsy, a gill of the decoction must be taken morning and night. A gill of the juice made from the inner, or green bark, works powerfully, both upwards and downwards, and has frequently cured dropsies. One ounce of the inner bark, dried, and one ounce of the dry roots, may be boiled in four quarts of rain water, down to two quarts; a teacupful, taken three times a day, works powerfully as a diuretic, and is an excellent remedy in suppression of the urine.

DRAGON’S CLAW, OR FEVER ROOT.

This is a newly discovered plant, known to but few botanists in the United States. It rises six or seven feet; the leaves grow in a cluster from the root to the top; blossoms, yellow; roots, small and black, about the size of cloves, and very tender, very much resembling the claws of an animal, and so full of nitre that the powder of the root, if kept in the open air, will liquify.

History.—This plant grows upon mountains and the sides of hills, in the Genesee country, and about Albany: the leaves ovate, and are two or three inches long.

Medical Virtues.—It is a powerful febrifuge, and I have found it a sure and quick medicine in exciting perspiration, without increasing the heat of the body. The root is effectual in all remittent, typhus, and nervous fevers, and will relieve the patient of all pains caused by colds.

Preparation.—After prescribing a mild puke of the American ipecacuanha, and the physic has done working, I give one or two ounces of the root, to be put into two quarts of rain water, and boiled down to one, and giving the patient, in bed, a teacupful of the strained liquor every hour, which causes a plentiful perspiration, and generally stops the fever in a few hours. The night-hectic fever, in a consumptive patient, I have relieved by the above treatment. It is an excellent medicine in pleurisy, and a sure remedy in erysipelatose fever.

Pulverize the root, sift the powder through a fine hair sieve, and put it in bottles, well stopped from the air. A teaspoonful of this powder may be taken every two hours, in a teacupful of black snakeroot tea, in order to raise a speedy diaphoresis, or perspiration, in pleurisies and fever, when they are violent.

BLACK ALDER

Rises to the height of a small tree, and is much branched towards the top; the young shoots are full of pith—the old ones empty; the leaves are pinnated, consisting of two or three pair, with an odd one at the end; flowers, sweet smelling, white, and produced on large, flat umbels, or clusters. The fruit is a round, succulent berry, of a blackish purple color, and contains three seeds.

History.—This tree grows in hedges and clumps, along the borders of meadows or flats, in every part of the United States; flowers in July, and the berries are ripe in September.

Medical Virtues.—An infusion, in wine, of the inner bark of the trunk, or the expressed juice of the berries, in a dose of an ounce, will purge moderately, and, taken in small doses,—say a teaspoonful every hour,—proves an efficacious diabetruent, capable of promoting and assisting all the fluid secretions. The following is a good medicine in families, for the cure of recent colds and coughs:—

Take of the juice of elderberries, strained, ten pounds, and add three pounds of loaf sugar; evaporate in a bake pan, over a slow fire, into the consistence of thick honey. A tablespoonful or two may be taken at bed time; and two teaspoonsful, for children, in coughs and costiveness, will prove effectual.

In erysipelatosed fever, a teacupful of the infusion of dry flowers, (made by pouring a quart of boiling water on a handful of the flowers,) may be taken every hour, and the parts wet with the following wash:—Boil four ounces of beech drops, in four quarts of rain water, down to one half; strain the decoction, and add to it a teaspoonful of sugar of lead. The face and arms may be wet with a linen rag, dipped in this lotion, four or five times a day, which never fails to cure, after necessary evacuations.

The above is also very good for children having the whooping cough, by taking a teaspoonful or two every hour.

SOUTHERN WOOD, OR OLD MAN.

There are few who are ignorant of the existence of this plant, or unacquainted with its aromatic fragrance. It is to be found in almost every garden; flowers of a lilac-tinged, grayish color.

Medical Properties.—There are very few who really know how useful this plant is. It is stimulant, sudorific, antiseptic, anti-hysterical, and, I consider it, a great nervine. It is an excellent remedy for the headache, and to check a too profuse flow of the menses; is also good for worms.

BLACK MUSTARD SEED.

Take a handful, pound and mix with rye meal; good for pains in the chest, or elsewhere. Mix with water only; put the poultice on the soles of the feet.

WHITE MUSTARD SEED.

Very little known; it is a valuable medicine,—simple and efficacious in all cases where the stomach is weakened by taking too much medicine; it creates warmth in the stomach, that is, it expels wind and removes that cold mucous from the stomach, assisting the digestive organs in their functions, and creates a regular appetite. I have found it good for worms.

Directions.—Take two large tablespoonsful of seeds, clean and free from dirt, and put them into a half teacupful of spearmint tea; take a teaspoonful morning, noon, and bed time. Keep the decoction covered close, and should they become dry, add more tea. You must not chew them, but swallow them whole. Follow this treatment for fifteen days in succession. Give less to a child, in proportion to age and constitution, sweetened with sugar or molasses.

CATNIP.

Notwithstanding this plant is but little thought of in regular practice, it is a very valuable herb. I have used it, with motherwort, for menstruation, and found it gave relief instantly, especially where they were swollen or bloated. I have often used it successfully in treating children in cases of fits, caused by worms. Make a half pint of strong, catnip tea, add an even teaspoonful of fine salt, two or three tablespoonsful of molasses, one tablespoonful of sweet oil, or hog’s lard; inject two-thirds of it, and keep it up ten or fifteen minutes, which may be done by compressing the parts with the hand. It will bring away the super-abundance of mucous slime which, in such cases, collects on the internal surface of the intestinal canal.

Catnip tea is very useful in fevers, producing perspiration without increasing the heat of the body; it is also an excellent remedy in spasmodic affections. I have used it instead of pennyroyal for an emetic; but I prefer pennyroyal in all cases where a vegetable emetic is to be given.

GARDEN LEAK.

Though having a very offensive smell, is good for the gravel and all diseases of the urinary organs.

JACOB’S LADDER.

Good for retention of the urine, pain in the back, loins, &c.; can be taken as a tea.

UVA URSA LEAVES

Are excellent for consumptive persons, and, I would say, drink plentifully of the tea, by steeping it well; add a little licorice root.

SPEARMINT

Is a native of the States. It is warming and exhilarating in its nature, and has all the properties of the peppermint, but works more on the kidneys, and causes a copious flow of urine and perspiration.

MASTERWORT.

The roots and seeds are aromatic, expectorant and laxative; they are good to promote menstrual discharge. I can highly recommend it to all who are troubled with cholic and flatulent disorders; it helps digestion, and warms the stomach.

MARSH ROSE MOSS.

This I have used successfully in cases of gleet and gonorrhoea; use a decoction made from the roots.

SUCCORY.

This plant grows wild, and is generally found in pastures; has long leaves, with a rib down the middle; very bitter. The wild succory is the strongest, and I generally prefer it in my practice. It is laxative, and excellent in fevers, cutaneous eruptions, and weak bowels.

BLACK SNAKE ROOT.

This root is diaphoretic, very warming, and promotes perspiration; in a word, it is a strengthening cordial for all feeble persons. Steep it and sweeten with sugar; good as a drink in all fevers; its use will prevent mortification in a fractured limb.

WILD POPLAR BARK.

A great tonic, as well as a pleasant bitter; valuable, and far superior to peruvian bark for intermittent fever. Take it when the fever is off.

Put a handful of the inner bark in a quart of luke-warm water, and let it stand a few hours; take a wineglassful in the morning, at noon, and at bed time.

DANDELION.

The roots and leaves are opening, cleansing the liver and gall; it opens all the secretions of the viscera, cleanses the blood, and is good in fevers and general debility.

VERVAIN.

This herb is good for headaches. Steep in good vinegar, and bind on externally.

CROSSWORT.

This herb is excellent in all bowel complaints, and is a good drink with your meals. The Shakers use this instead of tea and coffee; it makes a very pleasant drink when made weak; boil, or steep it in hot water, ten minutes, in order to make it palatable.

FUMITORY

Is an excellent herb, and makes a good, pleasant tea; is cooling; good for humors, and all cutaneous eruptions of the skin.

QUEEN OF THE MEADOW.

Leaves and flowers possess the same virtues. It is very seldom used by females in the United States. This herb should be in every collection; an excellent regulator in all urinary difficulties, where the evacuations are scant, or too profuse; strengthens the kidneys and bladder.

BITTER ROOT, OR AMERICAN IPECACUANHA.

Grows in wood bogs, and on low, sandy land; is emetic, and an excellent hydragogue, causing the water to pass off freely; is diaphoretic, possessing the same virtues as the English Ipecacuanha, but I prefer it as it is rather milder. It is the bitterest root we have it Botany. In another part of this book may be found a recipe for making the tincture. When properly administered, it is good in almost all ailments.

LOBELIA,

Sometimes called “emetic weed,” or “Indian tobacco.” I have used this herb with success; not sufficient to cause vomiting, but merely to loosen the phlegm and the gall cakes, or gall stones, which are formed by inward heat. It will act as an emetic and diaphoretic, but always have some balsamic herb with it, when used as such.

I have found it excellent in asthmas, whooping cough, and phthisic. Take the seeds, mandrake root, and blood root, equal parts of each, say 2 oz., and put them into a quart of good rum or whiskey; add a teaspoonful of coriander seeds, pulverized fine; let them stand ten hours near the fire, shaking often; give a half teaspoonful in sweetened water; give six to ten drops to a child having the rattles, or croup; it will loosen colds immediately, and act beneficially on the whole system. Keep this herb always at hand; do not be afraid of it; give a little at a time, until relieved; I have saved the lives of hundreds with it. In severe cases, put boiled, or bruised onions on the soles of the feet, and, likewise, take a half teaspoonful of spirits turpentine, added to a tablespoonful of goose grease, or hen’s oil, and rub it in briskly between the shoulders and on the breast; repeat often if necessary, but this will not be required except in very severe cases. Lobelia is also good to smoke for asthma.

RED RASPBERRY.

The leaves are the only part of this that is used in practice, although the berries are very healthy in their season. I have used the leaves in combination with those of mullen, for canker, dysentery, diarrhoea, and sore mouth, both in adults and babes; it heals and removes all canker from the bowels. Let the patient drink plentifully of it.

HOPS.

Narcotic, but very useful in poultices; they are good for pain in the bowels and intestines, and in falling of the womb. Steep hops in whiskey, heat them hot, and spread on a cotton cloth, sprinkle on a little black pepper, and apply to the abdomen. Drink a strong tea made of hops, at bed time, for nine nights in succession. A pillow made of hops is excellent for persons having weak nerves, and is far healthier than feathers; so, also, is sweet fern.

MAIDEN HAIR.

This herb is pectoral and vermifuge; an excellent remedy in coughs, and for all female complaints,—general debility, &c. For a cough, take a handful, the same of upper mullen leaves, a half handful hoarhound, three cents’ worth licorice; put these into one quart of water and boil six minutes, then strain, adding two teaspoonsful cider vinegar and half pound of honey. Take a tablespoonful every time the cough is troublesome.

HUCKLEBERRY, OR WHORTLEBERRY.

This berry is very beneficial in retention of the urine, and derangements of the kidneys and bladder. Make a tea of it, and use as occasion requires.

FIR BALSAM.

This balsam grows mostly in Maine. I can highly recommend it in coughs, for which take a little on sugar. For sore breast, anoint the nipples every night on going to bed, or, it may be used during the day, though I prefer the former. It is good for all kinds of sores, and may be used internally and externally, without danger, being simple and efficacious.

CAMOMILE.

For pain in the side, take the flowers, pulverize, and mix with honey and sweet oil; good in agues, swellings, shrunk sinews, and in colic, jaundice, bilious colic, and gravel.

CARROT SEED.

Good for wind, and as an assister in monthly courses. The leaves, pounded, are good for sores and ulcers; the juice of the root is excellent in salves, as it is both cleansing and healing.

CARAWAY SEED.

May be effectually used for retention of urine, and for wind; also, in poultices for bruises.

CELANDINE.

Boil in rain water until the strength is out, then mix with old rum, is excellent for sore eyes; for film on the eye, make a salve with it and fresh butter; or, the juice may be squeezed into the eye, and for the same purpose, it can be mixed with breast milk.

A decoction, in wine, is good for jaundice; the root is good for dropsy, and when powdered and put into a hollow tooth will stop the toothache. The leaves, made into a tea, are good for a sweat, to be taken on going to bed; for a fever, if taken in its early stages, and as a component part in ointments.

PILLWORT.

This is a smaller species of Celandine and is highly recommended as a wash, or ointment, for king’s evil.

CRANESBILL.

Excellent for bilious colic, gravel, and soreness of the stomach and lungs. The leaves, pounded and scalded, are good to cleanse and heal sores and fresh wounds; and wet in rum or hot vinegar, makes a good outward application for rheumatism.

DWARF ALDER.

A tea, made of the inner or middle bark, is good for dropsy, for coughs, and for affections of chest and lungs. The leaves are good for inflammation of the eyes. The juice of the berry, boiled in honey, and a few drops put in the ear, will stop the earache or headache. A tea, made from the roots, will assist the monthly courses, and remove obstructions; is also good to bathe the head when affected by cold. A tea, made from the blossoms, I recommend in retention of urine, for the piles, and to cleanse the blood. Striping the bark up, it will act as an emetic,—down, as a physic.

SLIPPERY ELM.

The bark from the root, scraped fine, relieves swellings, inflammations, and contracted sinews; the root should be boiled some hours, skimmed and allowed to cool. A poultice, made of the bark from the root, boiled one hour and strained, is good for bald head, and will make the hair grow; also, an excellent application for burns, scalds, and inflammations, inwardly or outwardly.

ELECAMPANE.

This is one of the best roots we have in coughs and consumption, or phthisic, when used as a syrup. It is good for the teeth, preventing their aching and decaying; good as an ointment for the itch, and, used with tobacco, is good for all kinds of sores. The tops, made into beer, are good for the sight, cramps, convulsions, spitting of blood, &c.

WHITE BRYONY.

Description.—The stem of this plant twists around bushes, shrubs and trees, and shoots out to a great extent; its tendril leaves are very large, diminishing gradually to the top one; palmated lobes, pointed irregularly, and standing upon long foot-stalks; flowers of a yellow green, male and female, and from the alaÆ of the leaves, which are striped with green veins, turns into a red berry. It grows in low meadows and swamps; the roots are white and large.

Medical Properties.—The root is a powerful drastic purgative; it was formerly much used by the celebrated Dr. Sydenham as a hydragogue purge in dropsies.

Directions.—In all dropsical swellings and suppressions of urine, the patient may take 2 to 3 drachms, which will work sufficient without griping; take soup as a drink.

VIRGIN’S BOWER.

This plant rises about two feet in hight; the petals white; the seeds are attached to their stamens, giving them the appearance of feathered tails.

MILK, OR SILK WEED.

This has a square stalk, and rises three feet in hight; flowers yellow, which terminate in a pod.

Medical Virtues.—The root has been found effectual in the cure of dropsy. I have used it with success in all dropsical cases.

MILKWEED

Is also an excellent vermifuge for children. I have found it good in catarrhal, cachectic, scrofulous and rheumatic disorders.

Preparation.—You can steep it as a tea; (I only use the roots) make it strong, according to age. When it is used for suppression of the urine, drink plentifully; if for worms, give it night and morning to children, sweetened with molasses.

SASSAFRAS BARK.

This is well known to all mankind, and grows plentifully in the United States. I would say, as to the medical virtues of this bark, it is Sudorific, diuretic, warming and stimulating, and very little should be used at a time. There are very many who chew it for a sweet breath, but it injures the habits, therefore be careful, use it for it is good, and take a little at a time, and not too much; it cleanses the blood.

SARSAPARILLA ROOT.

This root is so well known to every individual that I deem it little to the purpose to say much about it; it is alterative in its properties, and more dependence has been put on its virtues than really could be relied on as a cure; but mixed with other roots of the same virtues, has always been found by me the best for all tumors, scrofulas, or venereal diseases. I think snakehead, or fisherworth, can be relied on for more virtue than sarsaparilla; but even if you have confidence in this root alone, I say make a decoction, or tea from it, strong. I prefer our own American sarsaparilla to the Spanish, and as a rule, prefer all roots, barks, berries, &c., from our own native soil.

MAY WEED.

This weed is well known to all; it resembles camomile, and is called by some, wild camomile. It has a very disagreeable smell and taste; although little used in practice, I consider it very useful in dysenteries or chronic disorders; it will instantly give relief in bloody flux and flooding; is Sudorific. If you have a case, and need a good sweat, drink a pint of tea made by steeping the weed.

CANADA SNAKE ROOT.

Very heating; has a beautiful smell; is stimulating, and excellent for the aged, and for all persons of cold or phlegmatic temperaments.

COHOSH ROOT.

There are four kinds of cohosh,—white, blue, red and black,—all possessing the same virtues. They are all diobstruents, sedative and tonic. As a general medicine for females, use the white and blue; the black, years past, was considered a great remedy for rheumatism, and I have found it so myself. Take equal parts of cohosh and prickley ash, and a very little mandrake, is good for aged persons.

BETH, OR PAPPOOSE ROOT.

This root is generally known; is good in falling of the womb, and troubles in the ovaries. Add it in every syrup you make for diseases of females.

SWEET FERN,

Boiled in milk, is good for the dysentery and rickets.

NETTLES.

A tea made of nettles relieves stich in the side and back.

BLOOD ROOT, OR DRAGON’S CLAW.

This is one of the most useful roots we have, and no one should be without it; it is emetic, cathartic, pectoral and sudorific; in fact, it possesses many virtues; it will cure all internal and external ulcers.

BURDOCK ROOT.

The roots and tops are of the same medical properties, although we use the roots more in syrups than the leaves. The roots I consider of a cleansing and detergent quality, promotes sweat, is good in almost all syrups, and more especially for females in the decline of life.

INDIAN TURNIP.

This root is very acrid, pungent and heating; it promotes the watery excretions; its use quickens the circulation in individuals of cold or phlegmatic habits. For a cough, take a tablespoonful of the root, pulverized, to which add two tablespoonsful of pulverized loaf sugar, and a teaspoonful of flour of sulphur; mix well together, and put it into a jar, covered close. Take half teaspoonful five times a day. This will cure your cough, and quicken the action of the digestive organs. Take a green piece of this root, mixed with blue flag, pound them both together, and it will cure a fellon, on the finger or elsewhere. Apply three times.

UNICORN ROOT.

It grows on the side of mountains and frequently in swamps; I have found it very strengthening in all female weaknesses. Combined with white cohosh, an ounce of each, put into one quart of wine, I have found good for hysteria cholic. Take half a wine glass full at morning and at bed time.

SNAKEWEED.

This is certainly the most astringent that grows. Great care must be taken when using it, and give a cathartic if it proves too binding. It can be used with honey as a wash for sore mouths.

POKE ROOT, OR PIGEON BERRY.

Few country people are unacquainted with this root. Many persons use it for greens in the spring. Every one should be prudent, and not use it too freely as it is emetic and cathartic; it will vomit severely when taken in large doses, but when used with moderation it will purify the blood, and is an excellent remedy for inflammatory rheumatism, for which cut the root into slices and apply it on all parts of the body which are affected. For internal use, take one quart of the berries and half an ounce of mandrake root, in two quarts of whiskey, and add two ounces of prickley ash bark; drink a wine glass full in the same quantity of cold water, mornings and at bed time; begin with half a wine glass at first. It will be found good for males or females. In hysterics or fits, it will give instant relief.

SCOKE ROOT.

This root is very different from poke root, and grows in swamps; is very hard to dig, and is called by some white hellebore; is a great nervine. I have known many put it into snuff, but it is very harsh; it has been used by many in case of mania, but as I do not recommend any poisons, would say to all, let it alone. If you have the seven years’ itch, you may add a little of it to the following wash: Take 2 ounces of pulverized blood root, in 2 quarts of best cider vinegar, and add quarter of an ounce of scoke root; shake well, and wash all over at bed time. Let this wash stand near the fire for several days before using it, shaking it frequently. When too thick, add more vinegar. Do not shake it when you wash with it, but turn it off clear.

WATER FENNEL.

This is anti-scrofulous; is excellent for all diseases of the lungs, internal ulcers and asthma; it will remove the mucus from the bronchial tubes, and heal them; for ulcers or sore legs, drink it freely, and wash the sores with the same; add a little white maple bark with it; always use the inner bark, next to the wood.

MARSH MALLOW.

These grow in our gardens; the low mallow possesses the same medical virtues; are both good in canker, mild and loosening; for canker in children add a little catnip and coriander seed. Children have more or less canker in the bowels.

WHITE OAK.

This bark is very strengthening; and so, also, is the black and yellow oak. They are good to make washes. I use them internally, as I think them as good as peruvian bark, and safer.

OATS.

How few there are acquainted with the virtues hid in oats. Very many lives have been saved by using oat meal gruel, but of late years it is entirely laid aside. Oats are healing and cooling, and, therefore, healthy. Make puddings of the meal for your children every night, and they will be healthy and robust. Boil two quarts of oats in two gallons of water four hours, add a handfull of succory, let it steep ten hours, then strain off and add one pint of good molasses; boil half an hour, and drink, say a tumbler half full, night and morning, before dog days, and through that season. I will warrant no sickness will trouble you. It will cleanse the kidneys. Oats are good in pleurisies, and removes all obstructions from the viscera. Take two vegetable pills at bed time.

GOLDEN ROD.

This plant is perennial, rises two feet in hight, has small brown stalks divided at the top into branches with numerous long green leaves; flowers small and yellow. It grows in woods and meadows, and along the fences; its leaves are gently astringent; the flowers are beneficial in removing obstructions in the urinary organs, and in gravelly complaints of the bladder; also, good in cachexies, and in the first stage of dropsy.

PARSLEY.

Every person is acquainted with this plant, as it is found in all gardens; it will produce a free discharge of urine; its medical properties are cooling.

GOLDEN SEAL.

Is tonic, cathartic and nervine; excellent to wash sore eyes.

ICE PLANT.

This root is an excellent remedy for fits in children, and in old times was called “fits root.”

STONE ROOT.

Grows on the side of hills; the root is knotty and nearly as hard as a stone; this root is warming, diuretic, aromatic, and good in all dropsical diseases.

BUCKTHORN.

Is a prickly bush, or low tree, grows in hedges throughout the States. The bark and berries are cathartic, and if you are in want of a brisk cathartic take the bark or berries. It would be a good plan to put the berries into whiskey, and take occasionally one or two tablespoonsful.

WORMWOOD.

This perennial herb grows by the road side, in gardens, and around old ruins and walls. Its active constituents are a bitter extract and essential oil; is used in stomach complaints, and is of great service in hypochondria and melancholy, lowness of spirits, and loss of appetite; in intermittent fevers, cachectic, and dropsical complaints, and in jaundice; destroys worms. The essence, taken for a considerable time, prevents the formation of stone in the kidneys and bladder,—the patient omitting the use of wine and acids. The gout has been conquered by the continual use of the decoction of this herb. A teacupfull of the infusion taken twice a day, by nurses, will make their milk good.

WATER TREFOIL.

This plant is perennial, and grows in marshes, swamps, and wet meadows, in New Jersey. It flowers in July; the leaves are excessively bitter, which is extracted by infusion; one ounce of the leaves, dried, are equal to half a pound of hops, in brewing. A drachm of the powdered leaves is a purge and a vomit. It has been found beneficial in curing scorbutic complaints, as well as tertian and quartan fevers, and is excellent in curing rheumatic affections.

POND LILY.

The white and yellow both have the same properties, and are healing and cooling. I have found them to relieve all fluxes, inflammations, outwardly and inwardly. I use the seeds and roots in cases of consumption. The blows make a good poultice for burns, bruises, or any kind of sores, as it is very healing.

MADDER.

This is opening and strengthening, and is a sure cure for yellow jaundice: Take as much madder as you can hold in a tablespoon, twice as much hoarhound, and snakehead, and half an ounce of mandrake; put this into three pints of boiling water, keep it warm ten hours, then strain, and add three tablespoonsful of white ash bark; put all into a bottle and shake it well; drink half a wine glass full in half a tumbler full of water.

PRICKLY ASH TEA.

Make this tea by steeping prickly ash bark in hot water; take it three times a day before eating.

GOOSEBERRY.

The leaves and berry are good in all cases of inflammation, being of a cooling nature; they were much used in the olden time, for coughs, and in salves.

TAMARACK.

I use the bark in all my syrups, as it is cleansing and quickens the circulative action.

HEMLOCK.

This bark is excellent in all colds, to be used as a steam bath. It will break up a fever, and by taking a teaspoonful of powdered mandrake root, internally, it will remove the fever, and probably save fifty dollars doctor’s bill. It is good, internally and externally. The tincture is very warming, and good to bathe the back and loins, when weak or painful. Always take few drops on sugar, internally, before bathing. Remember, never bathe with any tincture without taking something internally, it may injure you for life.

CHICKWEED.

This will be found good in all poultices for sores.

SPIKENARD.

Every one is well acquainted with this root; it is balsamic and healing; I generally use it for coughs and general debility.

MALE FERN.

This root is a great vermifuge; I have used it with success for exterminating the tape worm; and is in no wise dangerous, which cannot be said of some vermifuges. Always administer a brisk cathartic after drinking a decoction of this root, once a day for three days; then give the vermifuge for three days, then a cathartic, and so on for nine days, and all worms will be expelled, both from the stomach and bowels. To be taken before eating.

SWEET FERN.

How little is known of this shrub, yet all know it by its beautiful smell. For any derangement of the womb, there is nothing better: Take five roots of this shrub and boil in two quarts of water, down to one, and when cool strain; then add one gill of Holland gin. Take half a wine glass full in the morning, and a wine glass full at bed time. This is a good remedy in all weaknesses, especially for children having weak bones, or are troubled with scrofula, or any tumors; also, for those who cannot hold their water, or have weak bowels.

BITTER SWEET.

This plant rises eight or ten feet in hight, and entwines around trees the same as a vine; flowers in loose clusters, always turning against the sun; the carolla is composed of one petal, wheel shaped, and divided at the bottom or border into five pointed segments, which are bent back; purple prominences, like dots, surround the rim of the carolla, from the nectary; the yellow anther making a beautiful contrast; the flowers become bright red; berries something similar to currants, and are of a bitter, sweet taste. This climbing shrub grows common in low grounds and marshes. The dulcamara is a powerful and useful medicine; it increases all the secretions and excretions, excites the heart and arteries, and is also beneficial in all cutaneous effections, rheumatism, scirrhus swellings, ill-conditioned ulcers, scrofula, whites, jaundice, and obstructed menses. Cancers of the breast have been cured by the application of the juice to the cancer, and the green leaves applied to the breast.

Preparation.—Boil half a pound of the bark of the bitter sweet in eight quarts of spring water to the consumption of one gallon; a gill to be taken three times a day; it is also good in fevers. The patient ought to take a dose of sal glauber once a week, while using the medicine.

COMFREY.

This well known, useful plant, rises about two feet in hight; leaves very large, similar to water dock; roots long, thick as a man’s thumb, very mucilaginous, and are black externally and white within; flowers of a pale blue color. It grows in moist meadows, near springs, and is planted in gardens for family use. The roots are inspissant and demulcent, having the same virtues as marsh mallow; they correct salt sharp serum, heal erasions of the intestines in diarrhoea and dysentery, and prevent the spitting of blood; bruised and applied to ruptures, externally, they have proved beneficial.

Preparation.—Take four ounces of the fresh roots, or three of dry, four ounces of burdock root, two of red rose willow bark, one of parsley, and two of yarrow tops; boil these ingredients in four quarts of water and one of new milk, to the consumption of two quarts; strain and sweeten it with loaf sugar. A gill of this decoction, taken three times a day, will cure the recent clap in a few days, using the tormentil injection, elsewhere directed. It is also beneficial in curing the fluor albus, or whites, in weakly females. The roots, boiled in milk, are good for fluxes, dysentery, and ardor of urine. Take two ounces of dry comfrey root, bruised, and one ounce of tormentil root, boil them in three quarts of water down to two; strain it and add a pint of brandy, with four ounces of powdered loaf sugar dissolved in it. A gill may be taken by adults, and a tablespoonful by children, four times a day, in cases of dysentery, diarrhoea, or flux.

FOX GLOVE.

The stalk is erect, tapering, and is four feet in hight; leaves large, oval, shady, wrinkled and veined, growing on short winged foot-stalks, downy underneath; the lacteas attendant on the flower stalks are small, spear shaped and sessile; the flowers, always on one side, are purple, bell shaped, marked internally with little dark colored spots, placed in whitish rings, and long hairs defend the entrance of the tube, hence no insects ever approach this flower. The flower stalks vary in length; at first they depend like the flowers, afterwards becoming erect, when they elevate a two-celled capsule, containing many blackish seeds.

This most elegant plant is raised in gardens, and is an exotic plant; flowers in July, and seeds in September. It would take a small volume to describe all the virtues which different authors have ascribed to its various qualities; however, as it is a dangerous medicine in the hands of the unskilful, I will give a few descriptions of its qualities, with directions how it may be used with safety in families.

Preparation.—Take of the dried bruised leaves of fox glove four ounces, powder of masterwort root one ounce, leaves of rue and wormwood, each, two ounces, elecampane and comfrey root bruised, each, two ounces, lungwort and wild cherry tree bark, each, one ounce; put all the ingredients into a new gallon earthen pot, and pour one gallon of boiling rain water on them; cover the pot and set it near the fire, on hot ashes, for twelve hours; after which strain the liquor through a linen cloth and add four quarts of honey, and let it stand near the fire twelve hours longer; then strain the liquor and put it in bottles for use. In all consumptive and asthmatic complaints, the patient may take a tablespoonful of this balsam three or four times a day, in a tea cupful of the following tea: put one ounce of skunk cabbage root and half an ounce of wild cherry tree bark in a tea pot, and pour boiling water on it, and use it daily; the dose may be increased from a tablespoonful to a wine glass full three times a day.

SENNA.

This plant rises from two to four feet in hight, resembling a shrub, and sending out hollow, woody stems; leaves in alternate order, compound, composed of several pairs, oval, pointed and nerved pinnÆ, of a yellowish green color; flowers yellow, forming a spike consisting of five petals; the pod is curved and short. It grows in Canada, along the Ottawa river, in great quantities. It has been customary to reject the pedicles of the leaves of senna, but this is mere prejudice, for both leaves and pedicles act in the same way. The American senna operates milder than the senna that is imported, but it must be given in a larger dose.

Pour a pint of boiling water on eight drachms of American senna, and put a teaspoonful of ginger, or the powder of masterwort root, to it; let it stand in the pot for fifteen minutes for use; sweetened, with milk in it, it will prove a mild purge without griping. Children may take one or two teacupsful twice a day. Adults may take a desert-spoonful of the powder, with a teaspoonful of ginger, night and morning. As a safe and gentle purge, the following electuary is an excellent laxative for loosening the bowels of persons of costive habits: Take of senna leaves, powdered, six ounces, masterwort or ginger, one ounce, pulp of French prunes one pound, pulp of tamarinds two ounces, molasses one pint and a half, essential oil of caraway two drachms; boil the pulps in the molasses to the consistence of honey, then add the powders, and when the mixture cools put in the oil, and mix the whole intimately. Dose, a teaspoonful twice a day.

AVENS.

This plant rises a foot in hight; root fibrous, very pleasant and aromatic; leaves large and lyre shape; stalks upright and hirsute; flowers yellow and terminal. It is a perennial plant, and grows wild in the uncultivated fields of New Jersey and the New England states. Flowers from June to July; the roots are fibrous, of a dark red color externally, and white internally; has the flavor of cloves, with a bitterish, astringent taste. The large roots are preferable to the fibrous ones, which must be dug up in April, cut into thin slices and dried in the air as quick as possible. After being pulverized, sift the powder through a hair sieve and put it in bottles, well corked, for use. It is a good febrifuge, and is really an excellent substitute for the Jesuit bark in the cure of intermittent fevers, dysentery, chronic diarrhoea, wind colic, effections of the stomach, asthmatic symptoms, and cases of debility.

Preparation.—After the patient has taken a puke of the American ipecacuanha, and the fever is off, a teaspoonful of the powder may be administered every hour until the fever is broke, then use my stomach bitters, mentioned in this work, in order to prevent a relapse. Take of aven root two ounces, arum root half an ounce, (in powder,) skunk cabbage balls, in powder, half an ounce, gentian and masterwort, each half an ounce, sugar candy one ounce; mix one tablespoonful of these powders and boil them in one quart of rain water and one pint of new milk, for an hour. In all debilitating complaints, or beginning consumptions, the patient may take two teacupsful of this chocolate morning and evening, sweetened with loaf sugar, and ride out every day two hours before dinner.

GARDEN PÆONIE.

This plant rises two feet in hight; leaves cut into lobes which are oblong, or if pinnated, terminate by an odd pinnÆ; capsules, two; oblong hirsute, and crowned with a stigma. It grows plentifully in the gardens throughout the United States. The seed is imported from Switzerland; it is noted for its virtues in the cure of epilepsy, and fits in children. The root must be dug in March, dried and pulverized, and kept in bottles, close corked, for use. Adults, subject to epilepsy, may take a desert-spoonful of the powder four times a day, in a teacupful of bitter sweet tea, made as follows: Pour a quart of boiling water on an ounce of the bruised dry bark of bitter sweet, taken from off the roots, and sweeten the tea with sugar; give to children, two years old, ten grains of the powder four times a day, in molasses, and wash it down with the bitter sweet tea. Apply the bruised roots to the soles of the feet when going to bed.

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