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NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE
        Bethesda, Maryland 
 
 
               THE

%  PRACTICE OF MEDICINE.
      J^      ACCORDING TO
      -  THE PUN MOST APPROVED
              BY THE
REFORMED-OR BOTANIC  COLLEGES OF THE U, S.
            0 EMBRACING

 A TREATISE ON MATERIA MEDIC A
               AND
          PHARMACY;
             ILLUSTRATED
    WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS.
wm\m^m pg»®dipm,ly f©^ f^milo^
» BI J. KOST, in. D.
COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME.
      MT. VERNON:
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR.
    PRINTED BY E. /. ELLIS.
         1847. 
Entered  according' to the act of Congress in the year 1947,
t                    BY JOHN KOST,
     In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Ohio. 
PREFACE
  From  the  revival of learning until  the day* of  Samuel
Thomson, medicine cannot  be said  to have manifested  the
same progressive  improvement that was  witnessed in  the
other sciences; for not only  did the materia medica embrace
the most fatal poisons, but many of  the prominent principles
of the science, as taught, rested on hypothesis alone, and were
opposed to  facts,  and inconsistent with reason.   But a new
era has  dawned;—the nineteenth century has been, thus  far,
characterized by the rapid spread  of tru:- principles,  in med-
icine, as well as in every other department of science.
   The career of that reform in medicine begun by Dr. Thom-
son, has been of  the most astonishing character.  Although
its  author had  not the  advantages of literary  or scientific
training; yet the doctrines which he promulgated, have con-
tinued to iiourish.  and to multiply their adherents in the midst
of an opposition that has no parallel  in the history of  sen nee.
But wherein Thomson lacked in early education, he excelled,
afterwards, in that remarkable industry and perseverance thai
characterized his medical investigations and inquiries: ;>nd it
is certain that none could have been better adapted by  na-
ture to the great work that appeals to  have  been assigned
him  by a well directed  providence.  His career we hail as
the glorious dawn  of  a still more brilliant day, that will, ere
long, dissipate the darkness of multiplied ages, and  extend
through all the channels of  human  society  the  impulses of
substantial hope, the blessings of health, and the advantages.
and liberty of true  science.  He removed the rubbish, excava-
ted the soil,  and laid  a foundation dee]) on the imperishable
rock of truth:—his successors must rear the superstructure.-—
give it the polish  of  science, and furnish its various apart-
ments. 
IV
PREFACE.
  For the success of the great enterprise of reform, we are
mainly dependent, under the blessing of Heaven, upon the in-
telligence- of the people.  The  dominion of Allopathic princi-
ples, like all tyrannies, was based in public ignorance, and
sheltered beneath its own obscurity.  Botanicism, on the con-
trary, rests its hope of success in the intelligent confidence of
enlightened reason.   The day  is past when either priestcraft
or medical superstition  may control the  happiness and desti-
nies of the people; they now think and act for themselves, at
least to a very considerable extent.
  To assist in extending  this important knowledge to the
people, and thus to  enable them to remove their  maladies,
and to  secure the blessings and comforts of health,  is the
grand object of the present work.   It is true that  since Dr.
Thomson first published his New Guide to Health, many books
have been written, and much light has been  disseminated; yet
the demand is far from being satisfied, the call  for more light
is still heard on every side.
  It is not pretended that the  present work embraces  much
that is new, and that is not contained in some other botanic
books,  and that from  any such considerations it merits pa-
tronage to their exclusion; yet, it is contended that  in its
adaptation  to the purposes for  which it was designed, it is not
inferior to any  work  that  has  ever preceded it.   What the
reader is here to understand, is that the  work, as already sta-
ted, is designed chiefly for families and private individuals,
and that in this, such persons  have facilities  for forming  a
knowledge of the reformed or  botanic principles and practice
of medicine, that are not excelled by any other  work yet pub-
lished.
   Although this work is  designed chiefly for the people, yet
physicians  need not therefore  reject it.   Its simplicity should
not depreciate it  in  their estimation; and,  although the au-
thor hopes soon to furnish them something more scientific and
worthy of their patronage, yet this work is in no way inferior
to those that now necessarily constitute their libraries.
   There is  now a ireneral disposition among the people to do
more or less for themselves in  the  way  of medication before
they think  it necessary to employ professional aid.  A doso
of pills,—a good sweat,—an emetic, or  some other means  is
generally used in ordinary attacks of  disease; and it is not
until those means fail, that the physician is sent for.  On in-
 vestigation it will be found that these simple means, being
 used in the onset of  disease, in a  large majority of instances
 proves successful.   But as all  diseases that  are rapidly cured
 are generally considered of a trivial character, the most  of 
PREFACE.
A
these cases pass unnoticed, although many,  if left without
proper treatment, might have eventuated in death.
  Now if so much is done by the people, without a knowledge
of the principles of medical  science, what an  infinite beneiit
must result  from the  general distribution of proper medical
books; for by these they will have their reason enlightened,—
their judgment strengthened, and their experience confirmed,
and  they thus rendered much  more competent to adopt the
most proper treatment.
  It  is, however, not  supposed that  all will  become  physi-
cians, nor yet that many will depend  entirely on their own
skill  in  difficult cases; but as  they  are most interested in
their own health and welfare,  and know their various pecu-
liarities of constitution and feelings much better than any
other person can ever learn them, they will be expected to em-
brace every opportunity to gain a knowledge of the best vicaus
of promoting their health and happiness.
  It  has been objected that persons without a knowledge of
the anatomy and physiology  of the  human economy, have  not
the  qualifications  necessary to  administer medicine  to the
sick: and it  may be  remarked that  the propriety,—nay  run
necessity, of a most  thorough knowledge not only of anatomy and
physiology, but of Materia Medica, Thr rapcutics, Pathology, Sur-
gery, " Obstetrics,  Medical Jurisprudence, Natural Fhilosophu,
Chemistry, Botany, Sfc, for a practicing physician is unques-
tionable; yet to say that families and private individuals can-
not do any thing for themselves, in removing diseases in their
incipient stages, or those of a more mild character, without a
thorough knowledge of these various departments of medical
science, is taking for granted a matter, the falsity of Avhich is
proven by thousands of instances, almost every day, m  even-
part of our country.
  In getting up the present  work, the greatest attention and
care has been bestowed on it,  in  order to simplify and  make
plain every part, so that  persons of ordinary  capacities, and
common school  education,  may be  able fully to understand
every part of it.  It is true that some technical or hard  terms
have occurred, occasionally, in its pages, but thes? could not
have b;-en well  avoided  without a great deal of  circumlocu-
tion  or roundabout  talk; the difficulty arising from this  cir-
cumstance, however,  is, in a large measure, removed by the
very copious Glossary or dictionary in the back  part of  th '
book.  There is perhaps not a single difficult term that occurs
in the work that is not explained in this.
  The part treating on practice is arranged in alphabetical
order, as it was supposed to be more simple, and better  adap- 
^ 1
PREFACE.
 ted to the use of private individuals, than any system of clas-
 sification could possibly be.  In this part,  all the diseases  of
 common occurrence in this country are embraced,—their char-
 acter and symptoms fully pointed out, and the most appropri-
 ate treatment given, in a style as brief,  and yet as comprehen-
 sive as possible.  It is not to be expected,  however, that the
 endlessly varying symptoms of the different forms  of disease,
 can be so pointed out as to answer to the character of all the
 cases that may occur in practice; but as the  judicious practi-
 tioner always treats cases according to the symptoms that oc-
 cur and not according to the  name by which they may be
 called, it is a matter of minor importance whether the diag-
 nosis cf  every case is clearly maid out or not.
   The most common symptoms of  all the examples given, are
 carefully pointed out, so that  the  practitioner, by  comparing
 them and taking tlicir aggregate in any case that may occur,
 he will generally be able to give an answer to those who are
 ever ready to enquire after  the names of disease.
   ft is not expected that the  practitioner will carry out the
 treatment, herein  recommended, to the letter,  in every in-
 ; tance; but that in cases which may seem not likely to yield
 to any one plan, the judicious practitioner will modify or vary
 the treatment, according to the particular indications  of the
 case, being careful, however,  to carry out the general princi-
 ples herein laid down.
   Much  advantage may be gained by  the young practitioner
 in comparing the treatment of similar cases: by those means,
 ideas  and plans of operation will suggest themselves "that
 mi^ht not otherwise occur to  the mind.
   The materia medica is sufficiently large to admit of a liberal
 selection of remedies.  The advantages of this  will be fully
 appreciated, as the same  articles are not obtained with like
 convenience in all places, while others, perhaps equally good,
 may be readily  procured.   Furthermore, the system is very
 apt to become accustomed to the  action of medicines, and
 thus to make their further continuance  useless,  while  other
 articles of the same class may act  as fresh agents.  Finally,
 the various peculiarities  of constitutions make a  correspon-
■ ding variety of the same  agents necessary:  thus  we find that
 some, cathartic medicines, for instance, will not operate on
 certain individuals, while, perhaps, on the  other  hand, medi-
 cines that are not generally regarded as cathartics will oper-
 ate powerfully on them in this way.
   In the description  of plants, the botanical as well as the
 common names ar,^ given, in  order thus to avoid mistakes in
 the identity of articles.  Here a means that will be of not  a 
PREFACE.
VII
  little service to those who are endeavoring to get a knowledge
  of plants may be found in the sexual system of classification.
  The plants therefore, have the number of the class and order
  to which they belong, given, which will much assist in finding
  them.
    The articles of the materia medica have been classed off"ac-
  cording to their most prominent  medical properties, and the
  relative value of each has been  pointed out  by the order in
  which they are found in  the sections.  This plan will, no
  doubt, be generally approved, as it offers great facilities, espe-
  cially to the inexperienced practitioner.
    The most of the engravings will, it is presumed, meet with
  general satisfaction.  The deliniations of many were taken
  from nature, by an excellent artist, and the engraving of most
  of them was done by an  experienced workman.  A few of
  them, however,  were made by  another  individual, and  are
  rather poorly executed, and would not have  been used had
  time permitted the publisher to have procured others.
    With a view  of making the work as useful as possible to
  families, a goodly number of specimen compounds  are given
  in the part on pharmacy, and although it may frequently be
  necessary  to change the formulas of  medical compounds in
  given cases,  yet, as a  general  thing, the specimens herein
  given will happily fulfil the indications for which they are in-
  tended.  The practitioner may  be assured that they have all
t  been amply tried, and that they  have usually  given complete
  satisfaction.  The recipes, of the majority of  the most popu-
  lar compounds  used by botanical practitioners, are herein
  given.
    In offering this work to the public, the author indulges thfi
 hope that whatever defects may  come to light will be favora-
 bly considered, for, as will  readily be seen, the only aim has
 been to get up a book of general and practiced utility, without
 any particular care as to excellency of style  and fineness of
 appearance.  The only apology  that is offered for what it
 may lack  in  fulfilling the specific  purposje for which it is de-
 signed, is that the author, amidst other important business,
 extracted the most of it from a large  file of his manuscripts,
 and prepared it for the compositer while the  work  passed
 through the press, that is, in the  space of a few months.  The
 articles on fever and inflammation are scattering extracts from
 the manuscripts of a larger work of the author, and  lack
 much in the order of their appearance: but it is thought that
 what is here given is sufficiently comprehensive and definite
 to give the common reader  a knowledge of the new theory of
these most important of all pathological phenomena. 
VJIi
PREFACE.
  But after all that may be said, the public  character of a
work generally depends upon its true merits; a candid inves-
tigation is therefore solicited in this case, with the hope that
the Avork may prove  extensively useful, and thus fully meet
the authors highest expectations.
  Mt. Vernon, Ohio, March, A. D. 1847. 
CONTENTS.
                   PART FIRST.


          PRACTICE  OF MEDICINE.

                                               Page.
ARRANCED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, ACCORDING TO THE COMMON
  NAMES OF DISEASE,  -------     17
                  PART SECOND.

              MATERIA  MEDICA.

                    CHAPTER I.

MEDICINES AFFECTING MOST PROMINENTLY THE ALIMENTARY CANAL AND
                      CONTENTS.

 1. Emetics,........~al
 II. Cathartics,  -    -   -    -     -  .  -    -    -  26i»
III. Anthelmintics,.......2SD 
X
CONTENTS.
                      CHAPTER  II.


MEDICINES AFFECTING MOST PROMINENTLY THE RESPIRATORY  ORGAN*.

I. Expectorants,    -------    294
CHAPTER  III.
Mr.r. 1 c:\f.s affecting most prominently the folicular or glandu-
                 lar AND EXCRETORY ORGANS.

 I. Errhines,  --------     300
 II. Sialagogues,      -------  ;(jo
III. Diuretics,  --------     303
IV. Antilithics,  -    -......811
 V. Diaphoretics,   -     -     -     -     -     -    -     ai'2
CHAPTER  IV.
   wr.Dter\r.< affecting most prominently the nervous system.

 I. Nervine Tonics and Anodynes,  -     -     -     -     325
II. Antispasmodics,    ---..-.   335
                      CHAPTER V.


  MEDICINES AFFECTING MOST  PROMINENTLY THE UTERINE  SYSTEM.

I. Emmenagogues,.......340 
*

                 CONTENTS.                       XI
CHAPTER VI.
            MEDICINES AFFECTING VARIOUS ORGANS.

 I.  Stimulants or Excitants,
 II.  Tonics,      -
III.  Astringents,    ...
IV.  Eutrophics or Alteratives,
 V.  Antiseptics and Disinfectants
CHAPTER VII.
      MEDICINES WHOSE AFFECTS ARE PROMINENTLY CHEMICAL.

I. Alkalies or Antacids,   -     -    -    -    -    -    404
CHAPTER VIII.
      MEDICfNES WHOSE ACTION IS PROMINENTLY MECHANICAL.

I. Demulcents and Emollients,     -                    4(ja
                     CHAPTER IX.

    Bathing,  -......-    4 Of!
  I. Vapor Bath,.......-  413
 H. Tepid Bath,    -     -     -  n  -   -    -    -    418
III. Shower Bath,    -     -     -     -         -    -  420
IV. Sponging,.......420
   340
-   300
   377
-   391
   400 
xa
CONTENTS.
             PART  THIRD.


           PHARMACY.


               CHAPTER I.


MEDICINES NAMED ACCORDING TO THEIR APPLICATION.
I.	Rubefacients,
II.	Liniments,
III.	Ointments,
IV.	Plasters,
V.	Salves,
VI.	Poultices, -
VII.	Fomentations,
VIII.	Washes,
IX.	Gargles,
X.	Injections, -
424
425
427
430
433
434
437
438
439
440
CHAPTER  II.
   MEDiCINES NAMED ACCORDING TO THEIR FORMS OF PRErARATlON.

   1. Powders,     -------     440
  II. Infusions,   -----...   449
 III. Decoctions,   -------     450
 IV. Tinctures,  --------   450
  V. Waters, --------     455
 VI. Extracts,   -     -     -     ...     .     .     -   ^">7
 VII. Oils,         -         -----     460
> III. Essences,   -........   430
 IX. Con.serves and Confections,   -                    403
  X. Syrups,........464
 XI. Balsams,     -------     4^
 XII. Mucilages,......        4(}q
XIII. Pills,......-     -     470 
CONTENTS.                     xni
                    CHAPTER III.


                 DISPENSATORY.


 I.  Table of weights,......472
 II.  Table of measures,     ------  472
III.  Weights of fluid measures,     -                   472
IV.  Table of doses,   -------  473
                    GLOSSARY,


OR DICTIONARY OF MEDICAL  AND  BOTANICAL TERMS USED IN THB
  WORK, ---------    474
Botanical Classification,     -                       489
Index, -     --    -     -    -    --    -    -  497
Errata, ---------    50SJ 
ILLUSTRATIONS.
154
                                                    Page
 1.  A section representing  adhesions of the pleura to
      the ribs,.....-     -     127
 2.  A section illustrating the  healed  condition of a divi-
      ded artery,    -    -     -     -     -     -     -   128
 3.  A section showing the anastamosis of arteries taking
      place  in  consequence of the obstruction of the
      main artery, -    -.....129
 i.  A portion of the small intestines illustrating a case
      of intussusception,  -     -     -     -     -     -151
 5.  Two figures representing the  upper and under side
      views of  the itch insect many times magnified,
 6.  A figure  representing the Long round intestinal worm
      (Ascaris Lumbricus.)    -----     233
 7.  A figure  representing the  Pin  worm  (Ascaris Ver-
      micularis.)     -    -     -     -     -     -     .   ^ -
 8.  A figure  representing the Threadworm (Trichocepha-
      las Dispar,)......
 9.  A figure  representing the Kidney worm (Strongylus
      ^igas,)   -    -......   237
10.  A figure  representing the Guinea worm (Filaria Med-
      lensis,) --------     233
11.  A figure  representing the Bronchial worm,  (Filaria
      Bronchialis,)   ---..__   239
1"2.  A figure  representing the common Tape worm  (Tae-
      nia Solium,) ---.___     040
13.  A figure  representing the Swiss Tape worm  (Bothri- "
      ocephalus Latus,)   ---__.   94-»
11.  Lobelia (Lobelia Inflata,).....054
1$.  Ipecac (Cephalis Ipecacuanha,)    -                  259
10.  Snake leaf (Erythronium Americanum,)   -     -     2<> I
 *'  J?00? F?0t (SanSuinaria Canadensis,)  -     -    -   2 63
£  Mandrake (Podophyllum Peltatum,)   -     -     -     271
19.  Jhree figures of Rheubarb(Rhei,)  -     -     -    .073
-0.  Black root (Leptandria Virginica,)    -     -     -     -~ 7g
u:-i« 
ILLUSTRATIONS.                    XT
21. Jalap  (Ipomaea Jalapa,)      -     -    -    -       278
22. Five figures of senna (Cassia,) and one of an article
      with which senna is sometimes adulterated (Cori-
      aria Myrtifolia,)......283
23. Bitter root (Apocynum AndapcaBmifolium,)  -    -  286
24. Indian turnip (Arum Tripfljfrlum,)   -    -    -    295
25- Skunk cabbage (Ictodes Foetida,)   -                 297
26. Clevers (Galium Asperula,)    -                   308
27. Greek Valerian (Polemonium Reptans,)     -    -  316
23. Indian sanicle (Sanicula Marilandica,)    -    -    319
29. Catmint (Nepeta Cataria,).....320
30. Red lobelia (Lobelia Cardinalis,)     -    -    -    322
31. Mayweed (Anthemis Cotula,)     -                 323
32. Lady's slipper (Cypripedium Pubescens,)  -    -    3.26
33. Blue sculcap (Scutellaria Lateriflora,)  -    -    -  32s
34. Wild lettuce (Lactuca Elongata,)    -         -    330
35. Ginseng (Panax Quinquefolium,)   -        ' -    -  332
30. Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum Thalictroides,)     -    336
37. Black cohosh  (Cimicifuga Racemosa,)  -    -    -  341
33. White cohosh (Actea Alba,)    -    -    - ^  -    343
39. Cotton weed (Asclepias Syrica,)    -    -  ..»*-*    -  344
40. Motherwort (Leonurus Cardiaca,)    -    -    -    346
41. Bird pepper (Capsicum Baccatum,)    -    -    -  350
42. Golden seal (Hydrastus canadensis,) -    -    -    302
43. Balmony (Chelone Glabra.).....367
44. Snake root (Astrolochia Serpentaria,)     -    -    374
45. Yellow parilla (Minispermum Canadense,)  -    -  375
46. Bayberry (Myrica  Cerifera,)    -    -    -    -    381
47. White pond lily (Nymphae Odorata,)   -    -    -  3S3
48. Red raspberry (Rubus  Strigosus,)     -    -    -    3SS
49. Marsh rosemary (Statice  Limonium,)   -     -    -  390
50. Spikenard (Aralia Racemosa,)  -     -    -    -    395
51. Staff vine (Celastrus Scande'ns,)    -                 39?
52. Cup plant (Sylphium perfoliatum,)   -     -     -     398
53. Solomon's seal (Convallaria Muliiflora,)     -     -  408
54. Four figures of the Spirit-lamp bathing apparatus,   41'3 
 
PART  FIRST.
PRACTICE   OF   MEDICINE.
                      APOPLEXY.

                       (Apoplexia.)

  Apoplexy is characterized by a sudden loss or suspension, of
voluntary motion, whilst the vital functions continue with but
little or no perceptible disturbance.
  The attack sometimes comes on without any symptoms in-
dicating its approach.  More usually however, there is expe-
rienced a sense of dullness, or a deep seated pain in the head,
and vertigo, or dizziness; ringing in the ears; throbbing of the
temporal arteries; inability to articulate distinctly; dimness of
sight, and dullness  of hearing.  Sometimes a sensation, as
from flashes of light, or sparks passing before the eyes, are ex-
perienced; drowsiness, and confusion of ideas;  irregular spas-
modic contractions of the muscles of the face, and in some in-
stances, pains are experienced in  the pit of the stomach, in
the side, and also sometimes in the fingers.  But the most
common and certain signs of the approach of a  fit of apoplexy,
axe the pain in the head, vertigo, and ringing in the ears.
  The duration of these symptoms before the fit sets in, is ex-
tremely various.  In some cases they do not continue more
than a few hours; in others, they  occur, with occasional in-
termissions, for many days, weeks, months, or  even years.  It
is often the case, just before the attack commences, that the
foregoing symptoms become considerably aggravated.   In the
most violent cases, the attack comes on with a sudTd&n loss of
sensation, and motion; the patient sinking almost instantly
into a profound stupor, which often within one hour ends in
              2 
is
APOPLEXY.
 death.  In less violent cases, the sufferer generally lays a num-
 ber of hours in a state of deep stupor; his breathing is difficult
 and sturtorous, and is attended  with puffing  and frothing at
 the mouth; his eyes, although, sometimes immovably fixed, of-
 ten roll mildly in their sockets,  and are much bloodshot;  the
 face is generally flushed and somewhat swollen; the veins in
 the temples and neck are turgid.  The jaws  are  generally
 spasmodically closed, and swallowing is always difficult.
   Apoplexy is caused by compression of the brain, and hence
 may arise from congestion, or extravasation of blood, or from
 the pressure of serous exudations.   When  the disease  arises
 from the first cause, it is called apoplexia sartguinea, and when,
 from the latter, apoplexia serosa.  Besides these, there are other
 causes that occur  occasionally: the disease may arise from
 mechanical injuries of the head; from poisons; from violent
 passions of the mind &c.
   The disease chiefly attacks  individuals of advanced age;
 and seeming also to prefer those of corpulant habits, and such
 as have a short neck and large head, and who practice intem-
 perate, or inactive and sedentary habits.
   Apoplexy is sometimes attended with palsy, or paralysis of
 some parts of the body, which is often  difficult to cure.  In-
 stances also occur, in which the patient lays in a kind of a fit
 for several days, from the effects of which,  he seldom entirely
 recovers.

   Treatment.—Immediately on  the  attack of  apoplexy, the
 patient should be placed in an upright position, in a cool and
 airy place; his clothes should be  loosened, especially  those
 about  the neck.

   Medicine.—The first object in the medical treatment of this
 disease, should be to equalize the  circulation.  For  this pur-
 pose, the anti-spasmodic tincture  should  be  used  freely.   It is
 sometimes  a matter of considerable  difficulty, to administer
 any medicine per stomach, owing to the difficulty of degluti-
 tion or swallowing.   Efforts should, however, be made to get
 down two or three  table-spoonfuls of the  tincture;  or if the
 anti-spasmodic tincture is not at hand, the  tincture of lobelia
 may be used in its stead,

 ■  Rubefacients and friction .—The superior advantages of these
 means, will readily be discovered by all.  The rubefacient oil,
or common bathing drops, should be applied to the entire
 body, with considerable friction or  rubbing, which should be
continued until the patient recovers.' 
APOPLEXY.
19
  Injections.—This mode of administration, is often of incal-
culable advantage, especially if the medicine cannot be admin-
istered in the common  way.  The same  medicines may, in
general, be administered in this way, that are used per stom-
ach.  One, two, or three table-spoonfuls of the anti-spasmodic
tincture, or as much each, of the tincture of lobelia, and com-
pound tincture of myrrh, with a pint of warm water, is a prop-
er quantity to be administered at a time.   The injections
should be repeated as often as once in fifteen minutes, until
relief is obtained.

   Bathing.—The vapor bath, in  apoplexy, will perhaps give
relief quicker than any  other means, but the facilities for its
administration are not always at hand.   To apply the vapor,
the patient should be so surrounded by blankets, or quilts, so
as to confine the vapor to the parts below the neck.

   Emetics.—This class  of remedies are indicated, when the
disease arises from taking poisons, drinking spirits, or from ta-
king large quantities of food.

   It is proper here to make some remarks about the practice
of bleeding, in the treatment of apoplexy.  Blood-letting is
the means chiefly depended on by fashionable physicians, and
the people have become so much accustomed to its practice,
that they consider a treatment  imperfect without it.  The
practitioner is saluted by the cry, Bleed him!   Bleed him! 0//,
why donl you bleed him;  and it is  sometimes with considerable
difficulty, that the mischievous, and dangerous practice is avoi-
ded, by those who are not decided in their character..
   The idea generally prevails that the disease  arises  from a
superabundance of blood,  and that hence no treatment can be
better than blood-letting:  but this is a  mistake.  It is not the
quantity  of blood that does the mischief, but it is the interrup-
tion of its free circulation.  Indeed, it is often the case, that ap-
oplexy arises from the loss of blood.  Professor Dunglison, re-
marks on this head:   "Any thing that gives occasion to reple-
tion, and on the contrary to exhaustion and debility, may oc-
casion irregularity of action in the vessels of the  brain, and,
indeed, in the whole  of the circulatory system, and produce
hyperaemia [fulness,] of  that viscus.  The effect of extreme ex-
haustion in inducing this state is seen in the prostration caused
by excessive uterine, hemorrhage.  The patient may be pulse-
less, pale, and exanguious, [bloodless] and, in the course of a
few hours, may labor under the most manifest symptoms of ac-
tive cerebral hyperaemia."  *  *.  fe  *  "In  all sudden and 
20
APOPLEXY.
 violent attacks, indeed, it [blood-letting] is often had recourse
 to before even the practitioner sees the patient, and frequently
 with unequivocally bad effects.  *  *  *   It is all important,
 however, to bear in mind, that the practice of drawing blood
 profusely, immediately on the occurrence of cerebral hemor-
 rhage, cannot fail at times to be injurious.  A shock is often
 given to the nervous system  by the  hemorrhage, resembling
 that which occurs in the concussion of the brain, and if blood
 be taken away immediately, and from  both arms,  as is often
 done, the same injurious effects may result as from the same
 practice in concussion.  The practitioner should not  be  led
 away by the clamor of bystanders."*  Dr. Eberle  states:—"It
 is stated, and very correctly,  that all the external  manifesta-
 tions of strong apoplexy are sometimes the immediate result of
 excessive hemorrhage.   I have already referred to the case
 reported by Mr. Brown, in which entire insensibility and ster-
 torous breathing, were  the immediate consequences of exces-
 sive uterine hemorrhage, and which were removed by transfu-
 sing blood from another person into the patients veins.  Dr.
 Denman has also related an instance of apoplectic symptoms
supervening on very profuse hemorrhage, and many  more
 cases of this kind  might be collected.   *   *   * The experi-
 ments of Kellie, on animals, show  that serous effusion within
the head, is a pretty constant concomitant or consequence  of
excessive sanguineous depletion; and the  experiments  of Dr.
 Seeds, go to establish the same fact."   Thus it is evident, that
the difficulty instead of arising from an excessive quantity  of
blood, is in many instances caused by the loss of blood, and
 generally by obstructions of its free circulation. * In view  of
this fact it is plain, that in no instance, is blood-leting the bet-
 ter practice, but that it  is always mischievous, and often fatal.
 It is not here argued,  however, that  the practice may not
sometimes give relief, especially, in cases  of  violent cerebral
 conjestion {termination of blood'lo the brain,) but all this may
 be effected just as quick, and certainly, by the proper means
 of equalizing the circulation, as it can possibly be done by ta-
 king away a part of the blood.  Is  it not  as  reasonable and
 philosophical, for the practitioner to make room in the obstruc-
ted vessels for the necessary blood,  as it is to take away a part
 of the blood, and thus adapt its quantity to the obstructed con-
 dition of the vessels? 
21.
                         ASTHMA.

              (Dyspnaa et Orthopnea convulsiva.)          *

   Asthma is an affection of the breathing apparatus, charac-
 terized by great difficulty of respiration, tightness across the
 breast, and a pressing sense of suffocation.
   The disease generally works by paroxysms, which usually
 come on in  the night, and  the patient is  often compelled to
 leave his bed and seek the fresh air.  As the paroxysm comes
 on, the breathing becomes  difficult, laborious, and wheezing;
 the patient grows restless; his  lungs seem to swell so as to fill
 his chest; the pulse is generally full, and quick; the face often
 bloated;  and the veins of the head and neck turgid; there is
 often a  short dry cough, which is sometimes attended  with
 slight expectoration or raising of  phlegm.

   Treatment.—In the treatment of asthmatic complaints, no
 article has been found that  will answer a better purpose  than
 lobelia.  This article may justly be considered a sovereign rem-
 edy,  in all curable cases of this disease.   The  tincture  should
 be used in frequent doses, and continued until relief be obtain-
 ed.  Such other convenient means, as are calculated to relax
 the system, and equalize the circulation, such as bathing the
 feet,  the vapor bath,  stimulating and relaxing teas, &c,  may
 be used in connection with  the lobelia.

   Fjmelics.—The  dose of the lobelia, after it has been given
 long  enough in small portions to relax the system, should in
 severe cases, be increased so as to produce free emesis or vom-
 iting; and thus the phlegm, loosened or disengaged by the ex-
 pectorant properties of the lobelia first given, wall be carried
 off during the process or act of vomiting.
   After the paroxysm of the disease is broken up, the use of
 the lobelia should still be continued for some time, and on the
 recurrence of the  symptoms, its use should be early resumed.

   Oxymel of Lobelia.—In  severe cases, in which the patient is
 never entirely free  from  symptoms of asthma, the medicine
should be  constantly used.   For this purpose the oxymel of
lobelia is best, as it is more pleasant to take.  A small portion
of the powder of skunk cabbage may be mixed with it,

  Linseed lea.—An infusion, or tea made of flaxseed, previous- 
22
ACCIDENTAL BLEEDING.
ly well browned or roasted in the same way that coffee is pre-
pared, is very good for asthma in children.

  Vapor bath.—In severe paroxysms, it will be found that the
vapor bath will give signal relief, and  if with this, a lobelia
emetic is administered,  the paroxysm may be broken up at
once.

  Anti-spasmodic tincture.—In what is called nervous  Asthma,
it will be found that the anti-spasmodic tincture is an excel-
lent remedy; the dose is half a tea-spoonful.  The skunk cab-
bage, in those cases, is also very applicable.

  Prevention.—Asthma is chiefly caused by exposure to wet-
ness and cold, as by going with wet feet; wearing wet or damp
clothes, &c.  Patients suffering from this distressing complaint,
should, therefore, be careful to avoid exposures  in this way.
By taking occasionally a  dose of the tincture, or  oxymel of
lobelia,  after exposure, the effects may be  prevented, or con-
siderably modified.
              ACCIDENTAL  BLEEDING.

               (Hcemorrhagia Accidentalis.)

  The treatment of accidental bleeding, properly belongs to
the province of surgery.  But as this work is intended chiefly
for the people, who are compelled by  want of information as
to these matters, in many instances, to wait for the assistance
of a far-fetched  physician, or surgeon, while their friends or
neighbors are dying for want  of prompt attention, in simple
cases that might be relieved by any ordinary person, possess-
ing but a slight knowledge of medicine  or surgery; it  is de-
signed  here  to make some remarks on the treatment of such
cases.
   On the occurrence of accidents or injuries, that are attended
with much hemorrhage, immediate efforts should be made to
arrest it.  Sometimes when the artery does not lay too deep,
it may be compressed with bandages, until the inflammatory
action, (always necessary to the healing process,) sets in. when
it will no. more return. 
                 BLEEDING FROM THE BOWELS.              23

  Styptics.—If the wound be not too  deep, cranesbill may be
applied, in a fine powder; otherwise a very  strong decoction
may either be injected into the wound, or applied by means
of a sponge, or rag.  The common puff-ball; bloodroot; scra-
ped horn; matico leaves; juice of green  persimmons; white
beth root &c,  are all good articles to stop the flow of blood.
If the hemorrhage cannot be stopped by either of these means
here recommended, the bleeding vessel must be taken up, and
secured by ligature. To do this, in the absence of proper instru-
ments, a common sewing needle should be passed through the
mouth of the vessel, and the latter thus raised,  so that a silk
thread may be firmly tied around it, below the  needle.   All
this may be done with the greatest ease, by any individual of
ordinary judgment.
           BLEEDING FROM THE BOWELS.

                      (Proctorrhagia.)

   Although hemorrhages from the bowels are  of rare occur-
 rence, excepting when they arise from hemorrhoids or piles,
 yet we have a number of severe cases on record, and some
 that terminated fatally. The blood is sometimes found to pass
 into the intestines without the occurrence of any lesion, or in-
jury to the parts, in the same way that it exudes into the air
 passages of the lungs.  Bleeding from the intestines, howev-
 er, sometimes is a consequence of other diseases, such as can-
 cer,  ulcerations of the bowels, typhoid fever, dysenteries, &c,
 in which  cases it is sometimes difficult to stop the bleeding.

   Treatment.—The use of our most active  vegetable astring-
ents are indicated here;  an infusion  made by  scalding an
ounce  of the powder, either of cranesbill', matico, white beth root,
witch hazel, or even oak bark, in a pint of water,  and used
freely by injection, as well as per stomach, will in general
arrest the bleeding in a short time.  The astringent tonic com-
 .ound, prepared as above, is a very good article, and may be
ased with confidence.   The rubefacient solution, applied with
considerable friction all over the body, will be very servicea-
ble:  or should this not be sufficient to equalize the circulation,
the vapor bath should be applied as warm as it can be borne. 
24
BLEEDING FROM THE LUNGS.
  Bleeding from Piles.—Bleeding from hemorrhoidal tumors, i»
very common, and although not very dangerous, it is some-
times very troublesome.

  Treatment.—The treatment here, as in other cases of bleed-
ing, consists in the use of astringents, or styptic preparations.
A strong infusion of the astringent tonic compound, or any of
the simple astringent articles, applied by means of a sponge,
or cloth, is correct treatment.  If the bleeding parts are within
the intestine, the strained infusion should be injected by means
of a syringe.    Perseverance, in the treatment, is sometimes
necessary.
           BLEEDING  FROM THE  LUNGS.

                      (Haemoptysis.)

  Bleeding from the lungs, although very alarming to  some
people, is not generally very dangerous; and it is seldom the
case, that it arises from a  rupture of the blood-vessels.  From
a morbidly relaxed condition of the parts, the blood in this,
as in many other cases of passive hemorrhage, passes through
the delicate textures, in the same manner  that water is found
to permeate soft leather.  Hemorrhage from the lungs, varies
considerably in its extent  or violence.
  "Active hemorrhage from the  lungs is often preceeded by
certain premonitory symptoms; such as  a feeling of heaviness
and lassitude; anxiety; stricture across the breast; short cough;
palpitation of the heart; deep and  frequent signing;  a deep-
seated, pungent or burning pain under the sternum, [breast
bone,] slight and creeping chills;  cold hands and feet;  alter-
nate paleness and flushing of the face;  mental  and corporal
irritability; a quick, small, frequent and corded pulse; and
often a disagreeable  salty  or sweetish taste in the mouth.
After these symptoms have continued for  a longer or shorter
period; the patient usually begins to feel a sense of warmth
m the breast, gradually rising up towards the larynx, atten-
ded with a saltish taste.  Slight coughing now ensues, or an
effort is made to hawk, and the blood makes its appearance
In many cases,  however, the hemorrhage comes  on  suddenlv
without any premonitory symptoms whatever.  When this is
the case, there is commonly but little blood  discharged at a 
BLEEDING FROM THB NOSE.
25
time: but the hemorrhage is apt to return frequently for sev-
eral weeks, and even months."
  When the bleeding arises from injuries of the vessels, caus-
ed by ulcerations in the lungs, or by heavy lifting; violent ex-
ercise; blowing on wind  instruments, &c, it is always some-
what more difficult to stop immediately.

   Treatment.—The indications of  cure in this case,  are  to
astringe the parts by the  use of styptics; to equalize the circu-
lation; and to guard against the recurrence of the symptoms.
   Large doses of equal parts of bayberry and  cayenne pep-
per, taken once in eight to ten minutes, will generally be suf-
ficient to arrest the hemorrhage.  In the use of this medicine,
we have the advantage, not only of  the astringent or styp-
tic properties of the  bayberry, but the diffusive and stimula-
ting power of the pepper is also well calculated  to equalize
the circulation.   Thomson's composition powders, in large doses,
will answer very well instead of the cayenne and bayberry,
and is at the same time more pleasant  to take.  A strong in-
fusion  of cranesbill and  white bethroot, in equal parts, or the
astringent tonic compound, should be drank freely.  Bayberry
and sumac berries, steeped in boiling water, so as to form  a
strong tea, adding a little cayenne pepper and some sugar,
will be found very good in bleeding from the lungs.
   Bathing the feet in warm water, and using  such other
means as are calculated to promote perspiration, will be found
eminently serviceable; and  in difficult  cases,  even the vapor
bath may be necessary to equalize the circulation.
   Common table salt, taken in teaspoonful doses, dissolved in
water, is a very popular remedy in bleeding from the lungs.
   After the bleeding is stopped, the patient should be careful,
to avoid exposures, and every other means calculated to favor
a  recurrence of the bleeding.
            BLEEDING FROM THE NOSE.

                        (Epistaxis.)

  Bleeding from the nose is not generally regarded as requir-
ing medical attention.   But in cases of protracted bleeding,
or when the effection (as is sometimes the case) becomes  a 
26
BLEEDING  FROM THE STOMACH.
 confirmed habit, the health of the  individual may suffer con-
 siderably from a want of proper attention.
   Bleeding from the nose often attends fevers of the synochal
 or high  grade, and this circumstance has been cited as an
 argument in  favor  of blood-letting in fevers, on the  ground
 that it is a natural  indication; but this idea is by no means
 sustained by philosophy.   The interior of the nose is not
 favored with a covering, possessing a firm texture, like that of
 the skin; but it, on the other hand,  consists of a very delicate
 network of vessels.   It is very obvious therefore, that in all
 cases of  high vascular action, as in fevers, and violent exer-
 cise, that these delicate parts will give way and thus the blood
 escape.  Bleeding from  the nose, cannot, therefore, be ration-
 ally considered any  other than a diseased action.

   Treatment.—The general treatment in this affection, should
in the main, be  about the same as that  for bleeding at the
lungs.  The local treatment should consist of the application
of cold water to the face and head; snuffing it up the nose, at
the same time.   Decoctions, or strong infusions of the best
vegetable styptics, such as the cranesbill root, white pond  lilly
root,  matico leaves, Sfc, may be taken in proper doses, and also
snuffed up the nose.  In the selection of these  articles, those
should be prefered,  that are the least irritating in their effects.
The powder of these astringent, and styptic articles, may also
be used as a snuff.  If the bleeding parts are not bevond the
reach,  the common  puff-ball, if applied,  will generally stop
the bleeding.   The clothing around the neck, should always
be loose on those  persons that are subject to bleeding from
the nose.
         BLEEDING FROM THE STOMACH.

                      (HcBmatemesis.)

enntl^lT V'6 St?mach is Senera% attended with a small
contracted pulse; palpitation; a pale contracted countenance-
alrxfe^rfa sense,of ^nstriction in the breast; extreme
anxiety, fa ntness; and vomiting of blood.   The b ood thus
thrown up is generally of a dark, or black inky appearance
and is sometimes in coagulated clots.            P1  trance, 
            BLEEDING FROM THE URINARY  ORGANS.          27

  Treatment.—When there is much sickness at the stomach, the
treatment should be commenced by giving an emetic of equal
parts of bayberry bark, and lobelia; and while this is operating,
the patient, if he is able to sit up, should have his feet and legs
in a tub of water as hot as it can be borne.  In the meantime,
strong frictions, with the use of the  rubefacient solution, or
bathing drops, should be applied.   As soon as the stomach is
relieved from the accumulated blood, (which if not removed,
will by its  nauseating effects, keep the stomach in a relaxed
condition and thus favor  the bleeding,)  our best astringents
should be used freely, in decoction or strong infusion.  The
astringent tonic compound, is a very good preparation for this
purpose; an ounce of it should be scalded in a pint of  water,
and drank freely when cold.  A tablespoonful of cranesbill,
in fine powder, stirred into a tea cup full of cold water, and
drank down at two  or three doses, will generally  stop  the
bleeding.   But if the articles  here recommended  are  not at
hand, any other good vegetable astringents may be used.
  In the treatment of bleeding from  the stomach, as well as
that of any other haemorrhage, such means as are calculated
to equalize the circulation should be early instituted.  The
vapor bath stands at the head of all these, but it is not  gener-
ally necessary; frictions  and rubefacients, together with  the
foot bath, will generally be sufficient.
     BLEEDING FROM THE URINARY  ORGANS.

                      (Hcemaluria.)

  It is sometimes a matter of considerable difficulty to deter-
mine  whether the blood passing off with the urine comes
from  the  urethra, bladder, ureters, or the kidneys.   When
the blood is discharged more  slowly, and constantly,  and es-
pecially, if it is unmixed with urine, and there be no effort to
void it, we may  calculate that it  rises from  the urethra.
When the bleeding occurs in  the bladder, there is  generally
an uneasiness, and often  a pain in the part, more usually in
the neck of the bladder, the blood in this case  comes away
with the urine, but still it is not  intimately  mixed with the
latter.
  In hemorrhage from the ureters, or the kidneys, the blood
is always uniformly mixed with the urine, giving the whole 
28
BOILS.
 a bloody appearance.  There is also most generally a pain or
 uneasiness in the region of the kidneys.

   Treatment.—In the management of bleeding from the uri-
 nary organs, we find large doses of cayenne pepper and bay
 berry, if often repeated, to answer a very good purpose.  The
 witch hazel, cranesbill, white pond lilly, or indeed any other
 good and  active astringent, if combined with a permanent
 stimulent, will do well.
   The bearberry has long  been extolled in cases of bleeding
 from the kidneys.   A  strong infusion of peach leaves, will
 be found to answer perhaps a better purpose, than any other
 single article, that can  be used for this complaint.
   Frictions,  and rubefacients, should be perseveringly used,
 and  even the vapor bath, if necessary.  Bathing  the  feet
 while internal means are used, is a good practice.
   Uterine hemorrhages,  are treated on the  same general
principles that govern our practice in bleeding from the urin-
ary organs, with the addition of astringent infusions, or teas,
to the parts by means of injections.
  BOILS.

(Ferunculus.)
  Boils  are very troublesome, inflammatory, hard, and cir-
cumscribed tumors, that occur in  the soft parts on the exteri-
or of the body, and are  apt to suppurate.  Their  character
being so well known, needs no further description.

  Treatment.—In the first stages, while the inflammatory ac-
tion increases, a poultice made of fine slippery elm bark and
lobelia seed well pulverized, is perhaps a better  application
than any other that can be made.  Wheat flour and honev
mixed into a paste and  applied,  is  highly recommended bv
some; but  is not so good as the above.
  If these  means are instituted early,'the tumor  may be dis-
cussed and suppuration may be prevented.  But  should dus
be collected, the pain, by lancing the tumor as the matter ap!
preaches he surface, maybe relieved a day or  two  earlier
than would otherwise happen.                       earner 
BURNS AND SCALDS.
29
  After the  boil is open, it should be poulticed with  astrin-
gent articles.  For this, the following is very good:
   Take of Astringent tonic compound,.................................one part.
     "    Slippery elm flour,............................................one  do.
     "    Ginger,............................................................half  do.
     "    Wheat, or rye flour,.........................................half do.

Mix up with boiling  milk, or water, and apply warm.  As
soon as the  core comes away, after washing it well with an
astringent wash, the  healing salve may be  applid, and con-
tinued until  the sore  is healed.   During the treatment, the
sore should always  be  well  washed with soap suds,  at the
time of dressing.
  Boils, on some persons, are of frequent occurrence, and of-
ten two, or three, or even half a dozen, make  their appear-
ance  at one time,  and as they heal up, new ones come on.
Such persons  need constitutional treatment.   A  course  of
laxatives should be instituted. For this purpose a decoction
may be made  by boiling together equal parts of yellow dock
root, yellow parilla, sassafras bark, and dried mayapple root,
in a  sufficient qnantity of water to cover  the  ingredient*;;
straining and boiling down to half the  quantity, and  adding
an equal measure of molasses.  This should be taken in ta-
ble spoonful doses, three times  a day, or often enough,  to
keep the bowels gently open, until the  boils  disappear.  One
or two of the  anti-billious pills,  taken every other evening,
will  do very well, to  improve the condition of the blood in
these cases.
  Dr. Thomson recommends the application of  turpentine,
when the boil  first makes  its appearance, and states,  that it
soon  disperses it.
                 BURNS AND SCALDS.

                        (Ambustio.)

  These accidents are of frequent occurrence, especially a-
mong children, and are always troublesome, owing to the ex-
cruciating pain that attends them.
  Burns and scalds, have  always been dreaded, not only on
■nccount of the pain they produce, but the difficulty that has
attended their cure.  The reformed treatment has, however,
modified the  unnecessary fears  and anxiety on this  score. 
30
BURNS AND SCALDS,
 Burns are now viewed more in the light of a common injury,
 or wound.  Nevertheless, these injuries are still more slow in
 their recovery, than common wounds: for while in the latter,
 there is simply a solution of continuity in the parts, and con-
 sequent obstruction of the physiological (natural,) 'functions:
 in burns, besides all this, there is always a deadened state, or
 destruction of the parts, corresponding with  the intensity or
 character of the injury.   Thus in their recovery, time is al-
 ways necessary, to restore vitality in  the  deadened  parts, or
 to restore such parts as are entirely destroyed.
   An idea has  obtained among  the  people  generally,  that
 the fire is retained in the parts, after the accident,  and  that
 the  smarting, and pain, peculiar to  injuries of this kind, is
 owing to this circumstance.   But this is a mistaken notion,
 and cannot be sustained by philosophy.
   Free caloric (fire,) is inconfinable in character, and always
 seeks an equalibrium.  Thus the  most solid substances, when
 heated, as for instance a block of iron, although its tempera-
 ture may be raised to a red heat,  yet it will in a short time be
 of the same temperature of the surrounding medium.  It is
 evident, therefore, that the fire or heat, during the  occurrence
 of accidents of this kind, is not retained long enough, to found
 a  rational conclusion, that it is  the immediate cause of the
 pain.  Moreover it is known  that the addition of heat,  al-
 though augmenting it for a few moments, will even favor the
 early subsidence of the pain; and thus we find the  practice
 common among some people, in small burns, in which the ex-
 periment is tolerable, to  expose  the injured  part  before the
 fire,  as near as can be borne, for three or four minutes, when
 the pain will entirely cease and return no more.
   The pain  evidently arises from the injurv that the nerves
 sustain during the cauterizing (burning)  process.  It seems
 that the nerves  are capable of considerable  resistance and
 that  they retain their sensibility even  after some other tissues
 are broken down or destroyed, and being thus exposed, are
 subject to causes of extreme irritability.

   Treatment.—The irritability, and consequent pain, may  be
 successfully relieved by the application of. cold water   If the
 injured parts be on the extremities, they may at once be im-
 mersed into a vessel of water; but if the part  cannot thus  be
 relieved cold water may nevertheless be applied  by means

 or bv SnWh,Ch ™y **^Pt C0Gl b*means of a »
 or by carefully pouring on fresh water occasionally     As
soon as the part? remain easy while out of the water  the
dressing should be put on, which should be done Is follow " 
BURNS AND SCALDS.
31
Spread on a fine muslin cloth, large enough to cover the
burn, a coat as thick as a knife blade, of the lime cerate,  and
apply it over the injured part, being careful not to break the
blisters, unless they%re too large, in which case they may be
punctured* at their margins.   Now if it be convenient, a piece
of oiled silk, may be applied  over this first plaster: if not, it
may be wrapped up in light cloths, and suffered to remain for
at least six hours.  This preparation may be continued, until
the parts are restored: or it may be alternated, or even super-
ceded, by the other  articles recommended for  burns, among
the compounds.  Care must always be taken, at the dressings,
not to break  the blisters, or to irritate the sores, nor yet expose
the latter too long to the air.  Sweet oil may be poured over
the sore, to exclude  the air and prevent  the dressings from
adhering too firmly.
   Sweet oil and the balsam of fir, mixed in the proportion of
two parts of the former to one of the balsam, forms an excel-
lent liniment for burns and scalds.
   Elder bark, simmered in fresh butter for several hours, im-
parts to  the  latter  a property very  soothing and healing to
abraded, as well as burned surfaces.
   Should inflammation  set in at any time during the treat-
ment, relaxant poultices must be applied until the inflamma-
tion subsides, when the salves may again be applied.
   A poultice  made  of one  part of lobelia herb, in powder,
and two parts of slippery elm flour, is an excellent applica-
tion for inflamed  sores of any kind, and may  be used with
confidence in these cases.
   Should unhealthy granulations, usually called proudflesh, get
into the sore, they may be removed by sprinkling on them some
powdered blood root, or burnt  alum: or should this not an-
swer, a little  caustic potash  may be applied  to these points.
Then after the sore  is washed  out with soap  suds,  or some
astringent tea,  the  salve may be  again resumed, or should
the poultices  be needed they must be  applied.
  Should the sore grow foul, it  should be corrected by the use
of pyrolignious acid, or chloride of lime, which see.   If mor-
tification should supervene, the treatment recommended for
that, should be instituted.

  Infernal remedies.—If the burns, or scalds,  be extensive,  in-
ternal remedies become necessary.  There is always a shiv-
ering, and trembling, accompanied with, difficulty of breath-
ing, experienced; by the patient, in  severe, or extensive burns.
To remedy this, a tea made of ginger and sculcap, a tea spoon-
ful of each, scalded in a pint  of water, and sweetened, or ot 
32
CANCER.
cayenne pepper and lady slipper, prepared in the same way,
is very good.  A half tea spoonful of cayenne pepper, and a
tea spoonful of lady slipper, stirred into a glass of wine, sweet-
ened with loaf sugar, and drank at two or three doses, is also
very well calculated to sustain the system under so severe a
shock.  If there be sickening at the  stomach, it is  often the
case, nothing  short of an emetic  will relieve it.  Some
essence of peppermint, or a little  vinegar, may,  however,
sometimes do some good. The bowels should be kept open
by mild laxatives, or injections.
                      CANCER.

                      (Carcinos.)

   Cancer is a disease  that has inherited its name from  the
 nncients, who fancied that the large blue veins of the tumor,
 resembled the claws of a crab.  It is likewise called carcinoma
 or carcinos, by the Greeks, and Lupus by the Romans, because
 it eats away the flesh like a wolf.  Dr. Cullen defines it a
 painful scirrous tumor, terminating in a fatal ulcer.  "Any
 part of the body may be the seat of cancer, though the glands
 are most subject to it. It is distinguished according to its sta-
 ges, into occult and open; by the former is meant its scirrous
 state, which  is a hard tumor that sometimes  remains in a
 quiet state for many years.   When the cancerous action com-
 mences m it, it is attended with frequent shooting pains;  the
 skin that covers it becomes discolored, and ulceration sooner
 or later takes place: when  the disease is denominated open
 cancer.  Mr. Pearson says, 'When  a malignant scirrous or a
 watery excrescence hath proceeded to a period of ulceration
 attended  with a constant sense  of ardent and occasionally
 shooting pains is irregular in its figure and presents  an une-
 qual surface, if it discharges sordid, sanious or foetid matter

 let nabifid  thC ?°r6 bC thick',indurat6d' and often e*qui:
 Sit aS^l   6S mVerted at °ther toes retorted, and
 exhibit a serrated appearance: and should the ulcer in its
 progress be frequently attended with hemorrhage in con^e




.ssa?sar»=f=fcc5S5S 
CANCER.
33
periodical discharges:  and in children the eyes.  The follow-
ing description of scirrhus and cancer, from the above writer
will serve to elucidate the subject.   A hard unequal tumor
that is indolent, and without any discoloration of the skin, is
called a scirrhus: but when an itching is perceived in it which
is followed by a pricking, shooting or lancinating pain, and a
change of color of the skin, it is usually denominated a can-
cer.  It generally is small in the  beginning and increases,
gradually; but though the skin changes to a red or livid ap-
pearance, and the state of the tumor from  an indolent  to a
painful one, it is sometimes very difficult to  say when the
scirrhus realy becomes a cancer, the progress being quick or
slow according to concurring causes.  When the tumor is at-
tended with a peculiar kind of burning, shooting pains and the
skin hath acquired a dusky purple  or livid  hue, it may then
be deemed the malignant scirrhus, or confirmed cancer.  When
thus far advanced in a womans breast, the  tumor sometimes
increases speedily to a great size,  having a knotty unequal
surface, more glands becoming obstructed, the nipple sinks in,
turgid veins are conspicuous, ramifying  around, and resem-
bling a crab's claws.   These are the characteristics of an oc-
cult cancer  on the external parts; and we may  expect the ex-
istence of one internally, when such pain  and  heat as has
been described, succeed in parts where the  patient hath be-
fore been sensible of  a  weight and pressure,  attended with
obtuse pain.  A cancerous tumor never  melts down  in sup-
puration like an inflammatory one;  but when  it is ready to
break open, especially in the breast, it generally becomes
prominent in some minute point, attended with an increase
of a peculiar kind of burning, shooting pain, felt  before at in-
tervals in a less degree and deeper in the body of the gland.
In the prominent part  of the tumor, in this state  a corroding
ichor sometimes transudes through the skin, soon forming an
ulcer:  at other ti^mes a considerable quantity of  a thin lym-
phatic fluid  tinged with blood from corroded vessels is found
on it.   Ulcers of a cancerous nature discharge a thin  foetid
acrid sanies, which corrodes the parts, having thick, dark col-
ored, retorted lips, and fungous  excrescences frequently rise
from  these  ulcers, notwithstanding  the corrosiveness  of the
discharge.  In this state they are often attended with excru-
ciating, pungent, lancinating, burning pains, and sometimes
with bleeding.
  Though a scirrhus may truly be deemed a cancer as soon
as pain is perceived  in it, yet  every painful tumor is not a
cancer; nor is it always easy to say whether a cancer is the
disorder or not.  Irregular hard lumps may be perceived in 
34
CANCER.
 the breast;  but on examining the other breast, where no un-
 easiness is perceived, the same kind of tumors are often found
 which renders the diagnostic uncertain.   Yet in every case
 after the cessation of the catamenia, hard, unequal tumors in
 the breast are suspicious: nor, though without pain, are they
 to be supposed indolent or innoxious."

    Treatment.—A variety of plans have been proposed, for the
 t-"atmeni of cancer.   Alteratives, depuratives,  and cathar-
 tics, internally; emolients, discutients, and caustics, externally,
 are among the common means in popular use, for the cure of
 this distressing complaint.   Among the Allopathic physicians,
 excission with the knife is considered the only certain rem-
 edy.  But unfortunately, in true cancer, the best of treatment
 has in many instances proved unavailing: even the dreadful
 operation with the knife, too often fails to confirm the expec-
 tations of the unhappy sufferer.  If the cancerous disposition
 of the system is not obviated, or  corrected, local  means will
 be of but little avail.  The  writer has known a  number  of
 rases of cancer in the female breast, in which the  tumor was
 entirely cut away, and in which the sore  no sooner got well.
 than  all the usual  and dreadful symptoms  of cancer reap-
 peared.

   Constitutional Treatment.—The alterative syrup should be
 taken three times a day, in such doses as may be a-neeable
 with the stomach.  In the mean time, pills composed of equal
 parts of mandrake,  narrow dock, and dandelion, should be
 used in quantities sufficient  to keep the bowels gently open
 1 he formula given among the compounds, under the head  of
 "J lock Extra.*" will answer very well for this purpose.
   In stubborn cases, in which the general system is much af-
 ><- ed, the yapor  bath may be necessary, and emetics may
 :»lso prove beneficial.                                    •

   Local  Treatmcnt.-lf the  treatment is  commenced  while

  scuTh1^/^ SCh'rhUS ^ cff°"> s^d  be made to
 PPhed  wiihf eii  PUrp°8t  tk'iodilie  ^ntment should be




 l=. ""p™  dty r'rff'«°VC "T^" ^or shouid
potaSh to L c?own  nf"  "Pf1"''?"  «f  a little  rustic
>!«■■ first  applirS oh, To,  ,l>roJeCting  P~t.   Should
          ll«.anon ol the potash not  corrode  theskin.it 
CANCER.
35
should be renewed when it quits smarting, until the tumor is
well opened.  During the  time the caustic is used, a poultice
of carrots, or what is better, one made of the roots or tops of
narrow leaved dock should be worn over the entire tumor.—
As soon  as  the  tumor  is  well opened, after washing it out
well with soap suds, or some astringent tea, the cancer plas-
ter should be applied, and  continued (renewing it every day,)
until the sore begins to discharge healthy pus, when it may be
treated with the healing salve, or stramonium ointment until
well.
  The local treatment  of  an  open cancer, after being  well
cleansed, or washed out,  may be commenced  immediately
with the cancer plaster, and treated afterwards in the same
way that is here recommended for cancer in the scirrhus state,
after it is opened by the caustic.
  The sore should be  well washed out at least once a day,
with a decoction or strong tea of pipsiswae, beach drops,
bayberry, or thoroughwort.  After the sore is  thus washed
out, enough pyrolignious acid to wet it all over, should be ap-
plied by means of a soft brush.
  The following treatment of cancer is very similar \o a re-
eipe that the writer finds  in his Journal, which was, fbrmerlv
known as  " Thorn.  Runners  cure for cancer.''''   Tnis plan o"f
treatment has of late gained considerable  popularity in this
part of the country, in the hands of a certain Mr. White, who*
Uas  repeatedly (as the writer is informed,) sqld* the recipe far
several hundred dollars; at  the same tune binding the  pw.
chaser not  to divulge the secret, under a heavy penalty.  As
this treatment has proved very successful in the hands  0f a
friend of the writer, he  has thought it  advisable to publish it
although it embraces several objcctional articles: vet as thev
are  not to  be  used internally, they are not so li> elv  to do
mischief.
  If the cancer be iu the scirrhus state, and cannot be dheU**-
ed by proper treatment, it should  be opened rvith  pota^l 0,
any other good enrjstie, and the integuments (skin,) carefully
removed.   I he tumor, is now ready to  be treated the  same a"s
an open or running cancer.  This is commenced by the ap^
cation of a plaster made  by melting together equal parts' ofr
rosin,  beeswax, and mutton tallow, adding enough siilpfotfe.
of copper (verdigris,) to give to the pjaster a deep greeil, rob
or.   lhe plaster should have a hole cut out of its center cor'
responding with the size of the opening m the tumor   V iHv
grains of the sulphate of  zinc (white vitriol,) should  now be
sprinkled over  the surface of the sore, and repeated three
times a day until the whole tumor comes out in a dcudi' black 
36               CARBUNCLE, CHICKEN POX.
mass, or all the unhealthy parts are sloughed off.  When the
sulphate of zinc is applied, the opening should always be cover-
ed over with a plaster of the same kind as applied before.—
When the tumor is thus destroyed the sore should be healed up
as above directed.  During the whole of this treatment, proper
constitutional treatment must not be neglected.
                     CARBUNCLE.

                       (Anthrax.)

  A carbuncle is a hard and circumscribed inflammatory tu-
bercle, like a boil, usually occurring on the face, neck, or back,
and is much disposed to terminate in mortification.   These
tumors are exceedingly painful, and discharge  very foetid,
bloody matter.   In the  center of  the tumor  is a black core,
which has been likened by the ancients, to  a burning coal,
consuming the surrounding parts, and hence its name.

  Treatment.—Caustic potash should be applied by means of
a pencil, over the crown of the tumor, and then a poultice of
lobelia seed, and slippery elm, should be  laid over the whole
tumor, and suffered to remain for five or six hours.  If on the'
removal of the poultice, the sore should present a healthy ap-
pearance, the poultice may be discontinued, the sore dressed
with salves, and  treated in other respects like an ulcer.  But
until the tumor presents a healthy appearance, the use of  the
potash should be continued at each dressing.  Should morti-
fication aet in, it should be treated as recommended under that
head.
CHICKEN POX.

   (Varicella.)
fevlri»dhar<ilv'eve,;.raf11 Pox> ^Hom attended withmueh
lever, ana Hardly ever continues more than from one to three
days before the vehicular eruption, which  usually coll out 
CHILBLAINS.
37
first on the breast and back, makes its appearance.   An un-
pleasant tingling, or itching in the skin, generally accompan-
ies the eruption.  The vesicles generally come out in succes-
sion, during three or four days, so that at the same time, some
will be just appearing, while others are matured and drying
into scabs.  The eruption of  chicken pox varies somewhat in
appearance, and hence  the affection has inherited the names
Cuticular, Conoidal  Varicella,  and Swine  Fox.   Chicken pox,
very seldom makes its appearance more  than  once in the
same individual.
  The diseases which this resembles most, are small pox, and
varioloides, or modified small pox.  From the first of which
it may be distinguished by the comparatively slight fever; by
the eruption appearing  first on the back; and by the  compar-
atively short duration of chicken pox.   From modified small
pox, or varioloides, it is more difficult to be distinguished.   It
may be observed,  however,  that the eruption of varicella is
more vesicular, having  quite  a bladder of water on the crown
of  the pustule, which is nearly transparent at first, but subse-
quently assumes a sero-purulent character,  while those of va-
rioloides are more pustular, and commonly depressed in their
centers.

   Treatment.—Chicken  pox usually passes over without  ma-
 king medical  treatment necessary.   But when it is thought
 advisable  to do something in this way, some mild detergent
 and diaphoretic preparations, such as pennyroyal, saffron, cat-
 nip, or thoroughwort, may be used in the form of a tea, bear-
 ing in mind also the importance of  keeping the bowels open
 by the use of aperients or laxatives.
                     CHILBLAINS.

                         (Pernio.)

  Chilblains are sores arising, as is supposed, from freezing
or the effects of cold, and are most apt to affect the feet, par-
ticularly the heels, and toes.  The parts affected have a pur-
pleish, or red color, and are  most generally somewhat swol-
len.   At times, the diseased parts itch intolerably, especially
when warmed by the fire.   The parts, if neglected, are apt
to ulcerate and thus become very troublesome. 
38
CHOLERA,  ASIATIC.
  Treatment—-The difficulty, when of a slight character, may
be removed by bathing the feet every  evening before going
to bed, in fresh, cold water, and after wiping them dry, rub-
bing on a little of the  bathing drops.  Should the parts be
much inflamed, and sore, they should be  poulticed with slip-
pery elm and ginger.  When they ulcerate, they  should be
treated as directed for ulcers.
                 CHOLERA,  ASIATIC.

                    {Cholera Asiatica.)

  "The Asiatic or spasmodic cholera first made its appear-
ance in Hindostan in 1817, and spread slowly through Arabia,
Persia, Russia, Poland, and Germany, arriving in England in
1831, and making its way into Canada and the United States
the following year.  It is sometimes very sudden in its attacks,
the patient being immediately prostrated by copious watery
evacuations from the bowels.   Usually, however, it is prece-
ded for a few days or a week by languor, giddiness, pain and
rumbling noise in the bowels, headache, diarrhoea, cramps of
the fingers and toes, numbness of  the limbs,  and  sometimes
nausea and vomiting.  As soon as the disease is fairly estab-
lished, the strength of Ethe patient fails very rapidly, in conse-
quence of the profuse alvine discharges, which resemble rice
water.   These are accompanied with giddiness, ringing in the
ears, imperfect vision, violent vomiting, burning pain at the pit
of the stomach, thirst, restlessness, and cramps or spasms of the
legs or thighs, which sometimes extend  to the whole body.
The eyes are sunken, and the countenance pale and cadaver-
ous. The skin becomes cold and clammy; loses its elasticitv
ialls into wrinkles upon the hands and feet, and acquires a liv-
id, or bluish color.
  The  breath is very cold, indicating in some instances, accor-
ding to lrofessor Espy, a temperature of only 60 degree*
1 he fiver is extremely torpid, so that no bile makes its appear-
ance in the stools.   The urine also is scanty, or  dried up.
I he mind is rarely affected, and the patient continues to talk
rationally untd a short period before his death.  In some ca-
ses, the vomiting and spasms do not occur:—(Mattson.)

  Treatmcnt.-ln the incipient or forming  stages, all that may 
                   CHOLERA OF CHILDREN.                39

be necessary, is to drink freely of  the cholera syrup or even
the compound tincture of myrrh.   But in more violent cases,
a  prompt and energetic treatment is required.   The anti-
spasmodic tincture should be used in table spoonful doses, un-
til the stomach is well cleansed and the urgent symptoms give
way.   In the mean time the  rubefacient oil, or the bathing-
drops should be applied with  violent friction.  These means
are eminently calculated to relieve the cramp and vomiting,
as well as the purging, by quieting irritation, and changing
the termination of the secretions.
   Cholera syrup, and cayenne pepper, arc important articles
in the  treatment of this dreadful  complaint, and  should be
freely used  during  the  entire  treatment.  Charcoal, pepper
sauce, neutralizing mixture, and the  essence of peppermint
are also valuable auxiliaries in the treatment.

   Injections.—Enemas composed of a strong infusion of the
astringent tonic, with the addition  of a table spoonful of the
compound tincture of myrrh, and as much of the nervine tinc-
ture to every injection should  be used with promptness, until
the urgent symptoms are relieved.  The bitter tonic should
be used during the recovery.
               CHOLERA OF CHILDREN.

                   (Cholera Infantum.)

  Children are  frequently much troubled with vomiting and
purging, particularly during the time of teething.   The dis-
charges are generally  thin and watery; sometimes bilious.
There is generally more or less fever and emaciation.  The
disease often assumes a chronic character.

  Treatment.—If  the  stomach is very irritable, and there is
much vomiting, the treatment should be commenced with the
exhibition of a lobelia emetic.   During, and after the opera-
tion of the emetic, mild diaphoretic tea, sweetened and cream-
ed, should be given in suitable doses, every half hour, until it
relieves the bowels, when if the looseness is not checked, some
astringent tea should be given per stomach, and by iniection.
The neutralizing  mixture in this complaint is excellent. 
j()             CHOLERA MORBUS, CONSUMPTION,
                  CHOLERA MORBUS.

   Symptoms.— Violent vomiting and purging, with  cramp in
 the bowels, and  muscles of the legs; discharges mostly thin
 and watery, and often mixed with bile.  The extremities are
 mostly cold, and the pulse weak and irregular.  Cholera Mor-
 bus is a violent disease, and often terminates in death within
 ten or twelve hours.

   T/eatment.—For cholera morbus, the same treatment  rec-
 ommended for the Asiatic cholera is, perhaps, as good as any
 other that can be adopted for this complaint, which is very an-
 alajrous to it in all  its symptoms.   It is proper, however, to
remark here, that the vapor bath will be found  indispensible
in cases of collapse and violent cramp.  Steaming bricks, or
stones placed to the bowels, will likewise be found  very ser-
viceable.  In cases of great irritability of the stomach, it hap-
pens sometimes, that nothing will  answer  better than fine
charcoal taken in milk.
                   CONSUMPTION.

                  (Phthisis PuImonalis.)

  Consumption of  the lungs is one of the most prolific sour-
ces of mortality to the  human race.   It has been estimated
that in Europe one fifth of the annual number of deaths,take
place from this disease; and we have woful evidence that the
proportion is not much less in America.
  In New York, the average number of deaths by consump-
tion, is computed at 243 in 1000, which is nearly oAe fourth
I he city  inspector in  his report for the year 1839, makes the
whole number of deaths 7953, of which 1315 died of consump-
tion, 460 of inflammation of the lungs, 36 of inflammation of
 he chest, 28 of bleeding from the lungs, 28 of congestion of
the lungs, and 72 of bronchitis—total ?939
  Various morbid  conditions  of the lungs, as well  as other
contiguous organs  are known to the people under the name
tJ°TmS   ' +Ulcera^olls of the larynx and  trachea, as
Mell as inflammation and serous effusion  or ulceration of the 
CONSUMPTION.
41
pleura, &c, are most generally confounded with true consump-
tion of the lungs.  Again, real consumption, as discovered by
post-mortem examinations, evinces several different patholog-
ical or diseased  conditions of the lungs.  Thus we have the
imposthumous variety, or consumption from  abscess  of  the
lungs, (which has been erroneously considered the most com-
mon kind,) the granular, or that variety arising from the for-
mation of an immense number of granulations, of about the
size of a millet seed, or larger; and finally the tubercular, or con-
sumption arising from tubercles in the lungs.  This last is the
most unmanageable and fatal form of consumption. The tuber-
cles at first are small, and sometimes many in number, but as
the disease advances they enlarge, and thus adhere together.
Sooner or later, these tubercles commence softening in their
centers, and  are thus finally converted into  a cream-like mat-
ter, which is either absorbed, or continues to accumulate until
it  finds its way  into the  bronchia, or air tubes of the  lungs,
when it is carried off by expectoration.

   Symptoms.—Among the first signs of consumption, are in-
creased sensibility to the effects of cold; slight and transient
pains in the  breast, or side; a feeling of soreness in the lungs,
and a short  dry cough.   As the disease advances, the  cough
increases and is accompanied with expectoration of phlegm
or mucus.  There is more or less fever through the day time,
and sweating at night.   Usually there  is, also a burning sens-
ation experienced in the palms of the hands,  and soles of the
feet; and, generally, the  patient wears  a marked blush on the
prominence  of the cheeks.   There is in this stage, an extreme
liability to catarrh, on the slightest exposure to cold or damp
air.
   In the confirmed stage of consumption, the fever assumes a
hectic form;  the sweating at night becomes more  profuse and
clammy;  and the  patient  becomes  considerably emaciated.
The matter thrown up from the lungs, consists of pus mixed
with mucus, which is sometimes streaked with blood.
   In the-last  stage of this complaint, all the  symptoms become
more aggravated; the strength fails rapidly; the emaciation
becomes extreme; the cough very distressing; the pulse, du-
ring the fever, sometimes as high as 130, the voice is hollow
or sepulchral; dropsical symptoms set in, and finally the  pa-
tient is either carried off by a colliquative diarrhea, a hemor-
rhage from an ulcerated vessel, or sinks gradually under the
weight of the disease.
   A remarkable circumstance,peculiar  to consumptive habits,
is the singular confidence and hope of recovery, that the pa- 
42
CONSUMPTION.
 tient evinces, even sometimes  in the very last  stage of the
 complaint.   Some patients arc even offended with their friends
 when it is urged by them that their health is declining.

   Treatment.—The writer has never found any treatment for
 this complaint, more prompt and certain in its effects, than re-
 peated courses of the vapor bath and emetics of lobelia.  This
 plan of treatment is eminently calculated to keep the circula-
 tion equal and free through the whole system, which is a great
 desideratum.  Nor are these means any  less calculated to
 cleanse the  system from  impurities, which is so very  impor-
 tant to the healing of the lungs.   The stomach, which is the
 fountain of  the secretions, is  kept in  a clean and healthy con-
 dition by the frequent use of emetics; and the  purity, and free
 circulation of the blood, which is likely to be constituted of
 healthy materials, owing to the healthy condition of the di-
 gestive organs, is preserved by means of the baths.  The heal-
 ing of the lungs, which are thus supplied with good and heal-
 thy blood, is hence very much favored  by those means.   In
 addition to all this, the alternate relaxation and  contraction,
 caused by the various means used in this process of treatment,
 is remarkably calculated to disengage and remove the accu-
 mulated impurities and dead matter from the  lungs.
  This course of treatment should be commenced in the mor-
 ning, or fore part of  the day,  and  should be administered in
 the following way: first, let the patient drink a cup of diapho-
 retic tea; then, having in the  mean time made the prepara-
 tions, place  the patient over the vapor bath, and let him re-
 main, if comfortable, until free perspiration takes place, when
 he should  be wiped with a dry towel, and  placed in a warm
 bed.  In the second place, as soon as the patient is put to bed,
 he should  have placed to  his feet, a steaming  brick or stone,'
 and should have a good emetic of lobelia, prepared in a  tea
 of the astringent tonic compound.   The emetic should be giv-
 en in three equal portions,  10 or 15 minutes apart.  Durin-
 the operation of the emetic, the patient should drink freelv of
 a tea made of equal parts of thoroughwort and diaphoretic
 powders.  As soon as the patient is done vomiting, he should
 be wiped with a rough towel,  and have a good coat of stimu-
lating liniment over the entire body.   This course should be
repeated two or three times a week, according to  the ureenev
of the symptoms, until the disease is broken up
  During the above treatment, the patient should take a do«e
of the-balsam of wild cherry, three times a day;  and  also^a
tea spoonful of the expectorant powders, every morning and
 evening.   The expectorant syrup  is also a very good article 
CORNS, COSTIVENESS.
48
to be taken during the  treatment of consumption.   Water
that has been boiled with tar, has been found beneficial in tu-
bercular consumption.
  As soon as the disease begins to give way, the  bitter tonic
should be used, once a day, until the patient is entirely resto-
red.
  During the treatment, the greatest care is necessary, to avoid
exposure, as the patient is extremely apt to take relapses, and
thus in a short time, all that has been gained by the treatment
may be entirely lost.
                         CORNS.

                         (Clavus.)

  Corns are roundish, hard or  horny extuberances in  the cu-
tis or outer skin, situated on the joints of the toes, and other
parts of the feet, that are much exposed to friction and pres-
sure.

   Treatment.—As the difficulty is obviously caused by tight
shoes, the  remedy  readily suggests itself,—wear loose shoes.
The cure-may, however, be facilitated  by soaking the feet in
warm water with some ashes, until the corns are softened,
when they should be raised out with the point of a penknife.
The toe should now be wrapped up  with a piece of soft blad-
der or suet sk^in, dipped in rattlesnake's oil, or any other soft
oil.  But unless the precaution of wearing loose shoes be ob-
served, it will be in vain to expect a cure of corns.
                     COSTIVENESS.

                      (Constipation.)

  Constipation of the bowels, although a common affection,
seldom occurs without the  existence of some other derange-
ment.  It most commonly attends inflammatory affections of 
u
COSTIVENESS.
the liver, brain, stomach, and bowels, and it is one of the mar-
ked symptoms of dyspepsia.
  Among the most common symptoms, collateral with consti-
pation, are sickness at the stomach, want of appetite, flatu-
lency, headache, fever, general dullness and dejection of spir^
its. *

   Treatment.-Constipation will be found, generally, to yield
to the appropriate treatment of those  diseases that give rise
to this complaint.  But in confirmed cases, however, it be-
comes  necessary to do something that is more  directly calcu-
lated to relieve this state of the bowels.   For this  purpose,
whatever can be effected by way of dieting, should  be done;
for it is not a good practice to use much cathartic medicine for
this purpose.   Most articles of this class, are apt to leave the
bowels in a condition little better than they find them. More-
over, purgative medicines, if much used, are almost certain to
injure  the digestive organs, and thus they ultimately, very
much increase the difficulty.  In mild cases, the patient will
generally be able to keep the bowels in a proper condition by
the use of ripe juicy fruit, such as peaches, &c.  The Graham
or unbolted bread, is'also eminently adapted to costive habits.
With some,potatoes, if used once or twice a day as food, will
keep the bowels in  a free and healthy condition.  Pepper
sauce, used at the table, will be found  serviceable  to those
troubled with weak digestive organs.
  In obstinate cases, a more active course will  sometimes be
required.  The bowels should, in the first place, be moved by
injections, made of the laxative bitter tonic, with the  addition
of a small portion of  cayenne pepper; they may then  be re-
stored to their healthy action, by the free use of the  laxative
bitter tonic, in the form of tea.   But should this not  be suffi-
cient, pills composed  of equal parts of cayenne pepper  and
the alcoholic extract  of mandrake, taken  every evening in
doses of from one to three, will soon  bring the bowels in a
soluble and free condition.  The patient may then gradually
leave off  their use, and follow  them with  the use of bitters
that are  slightly laxative. 
COUGH, CRAMr.
45
                        COUGH.

                         (Tussis.)

  Coughs are of very common occurrence, and generally arise
from colds;  but are sometimes a symptom of a more serious
complaint; such as consumption, affection of the liver, pleu-
risy, &c.  In some instances the cough is dry, but in others it
is accompanied with an  expectoration of matter.   Coughs
are not generally much regarded, unless they are severe, or of
long standing.
  A spasmodic and contagious cough, called Hooping  Cough,
is common among  children, which will be treated of  under
another head.

   Treatment.—The disposition to cough, arises from irritation
in the air passages of  the lungs.   This irritation is caused by
the collection of matter that is inimical to the parts; and hence
the propriety of using  such remedies as are calculated to pro-
mote the expectoration or removal of the offending materials.
For this purpose, either of the expectorant  preparations, rec-
ommended  among the  compounds, may be used.  When the
cough is very severe and  harrassing, an emetic  of lobelia, or a.
vapor bath, may be necessary, in  connection with the other
remedies, to relieve the cough.  The foot-bath, and any other
means calculated to relax the system, will be found serviceable.
                        CRAMP.

                       (Spasmus.)

  Cramp is a very painful affection, but is not generally dan-
gerous.  It usually affects only a  part of the  body at a time,
as for  instance, the  leg, foot, fingers, the stomach, &c.   The
affection consists of a spasmodic  contraction of one or  more
muscles of a  part, thus forcibly drawing the part crooked, or
out of the natural position, thereby causing extreme pain.—
When the cramp or spasm is attended with rigidity, or perma-
nent tensity of the muscles, the affection is called  tetanus, or
locked jaw, which will be treated  of under a different head. 
46                       CROur.
   Treatment.—Friction, if rapidly applied to the affected mus-
cles, will generally give immediate relief.   Cramp may also
generally be relieved by contracting the muscles, antagonistic
to those affected.
  If medicine should be required, a good dose of the nervine
tincture, or of the anti-spasmodic tincture, will generally give
relief in a short time.  Tincture of  camphor, asafcetida or
cayenne pepper, will generally answer very well.  In violent
eases, if the cramp should not yield to the  means here recom-
mended, the tepid, or vapor bath should be applied in  addi-
tion to the means here recommended.   Persons that are much
troubled with cramp, should avoid  exposure to wet and  cold,
and should occasionally drink of a tea of blue cohosh, scullcap
or valerian.
                         CROUP.

                   (Cynanche  Tracheal is.)

  The croup is an inflammatory affection %f the mucus mem-
brane of the trachea, or windpipe, which is attended by a se-
cretion  of very tenacious  coagulable lymph which  lines the
windpipe, and sometimes also the  bronchia or air cells of the
lungs, and thus impedes the functions of respiration or breath-
ing.   In some instances, the breathing becomes very difficult,
and is attended with a crouping poise; hence the name of the
disease.
  The disease chiefly attacks young children, yet itis sometimes
met with among children as old as 12, and 14, and  it is said.
that even adults have  been known to have  it.   Its  attack is
sometimes very  sudden,—young children  sometimes die from
it within six or eight hours.

  Symptoms.—Some days previous to an attack of croup, the
child will be fretful, and at times drowsy, and inactive;' the
eyes are somewhat suffused and heavy, and there is a cou«*h
which  from the  first, has a peculiar shrill sound.  As the dis-
ease advances, the cough increases in violence, and respiration
becomes more difficult;  the face is flushed, and swelled   the
pulse  frequent; and the skin hot.  At length the obstruction
in the trachea, becomes so great, that the  patient labors con-
vulsively for breath, and occasionally, during the fits of eou-h- 
DEAFNESS.
47
inf, will perhaps throw up detached pieces of the false mem-
brane; the face turns  purple, or black;  the breath is taken at
longer intervals, the extremities grow cold, and the little suf-
ferer sinks in death.

  Treatment.—The patient should immediately have a dose of
the tincture  of lobelia, and be placed in a warm bed, with a
steaming stone to the feet.  Stimulating liniment, or if this is
not at hand, the bathing drops should be applied, by the warm
hand,  with  considerable  friction.  The tincture of lobelia,
which may be given  in honey or molasses, should be given, as
often  as once in every 10  or 15  minutes, until  the breathing
becomes easy, when  it may be given at longer intervals.
  In  bad cases  the  lobelia should be given in  doses large
enough to produce vomiting, and the emetic effect should be
reproduced,  at short intervals,  until the patient is out of dan-
ger.   The tepid bath is also  very serviceable, and should not
be neglected if the disease proves  stubborn.
  The. oxymel of lobelia is an excellent article in croup, and
may be used during the intervals between the times of vom-
iting.
  Seneka snake-root has also been found useful in this com-
plaint, and may be combined with the  lobelia, when used.
  In some cases the lobelia seems to do best when given with
an astringent tea, and hence, with a view of disengaging the
membranous coating of the  trachea, a tea of the astringent
tonic  may be used to mix up or prepare the lobelia in,  seeing
that the astringents, being accompanied with lobelia, will not
be likely to retard expectoration.
                      DEAFNESS.

                       (Paracusis.)

  This difficulty is occasioned by any thing that proves injuri-
ous to the ear, as loud noises from the firing of cannon, colds
that affect the head violently,  inflammation  or ulceration of
the internal ear, hard wax, foreign obstructions, as insects, &c,
and paralysis of the auditory nerve.   It may also arise  from
some  congenital or original defect in the structure of the ear.

   Treatment.—When deafness is caused by defects in the struc- 
48
DELIRIUM TREMENS.
ture of the ear, little hope of a remedy can rationally be en-
tertained. . When it follows as a sequela of some of the erup-
tive diseases, as scarlet fever, or  measles, which is often the
case, it likewise seldom admits of a cure.
  In cases of deafness that arise from hardened wax, the use
of a few drops of olive oil, or some warm tincture of lobelia
thrown into the ear by means of a syringe, will generally re-
move the  difficulty.  Insects, when they get into the ear, may
sometimes be removed  by dropping in some anti-spasmodic
tincture, or tincture of camphor,  once in a few hours.
  Inflammations in the ear must be treated with stimulating
relaxant poultices, and liniments to the external parts, while
other means designed to equalize the circulation, such as dia-
phoretics,  baths, &c, are used collaterally.  The proper means
in paralytic affections of the nerves of  the ear, are so far as
the general treatment is concerned, about the same as in oth-
er cases of nervous paralysis.  The local means should  con-
sist of frictions with the rubefacient oil, or bathing drops,
around the external ear, and the angles of the jaw. Anti-
spasmodic tincture,  or tincture of cayenne pepper, dropped
into the ear, will likewise be serviceable.
                 DELIRIUM TREMENS.

                     (Mania a Potu.)

  This is a species of delirium peculiar to those addicted to
the use of spirituous liquors, or opium.  The  affection, how-
ever, it seems, does not generally arise from regular habits of
intemperance; but rather from the sudden disuse of the accus-
tomed stimuli.

  Symptoms.—The delirium is preceded by indisposition, las-
situde, watchfulness, headache, loss of appetite, and nausea.
There is great restlessness, and want of sleep, with an anx-
ious expression of the countenance, and as the fit comes on, a
tremor commences,—first in the hands.  "The  countenance
exhibits an expression of alarm and suspicion, the eyes  are
cast about with quick and scrutinizing glances, or often fixed,
apparently upon some object that attracts the attention for a
moment, and then quickly withdrawn; the tremor of the hands
increases; the patient becomes irritable, and sometimes irasci- 
DELIRIUM TREMENS.                   49
ble; he is extremely restless, walks continually to and fro, and
is wholly unable to obtain a moments sleep.   He now begins
to manifest mental disorder, becomes loquacious, says he feels
well, and is tormented with a more  or less continued succes-
sion of various alarming, disgusting, and ludicrous apparitions.
He  fancies that he sees dogs, snakes, cats, mice, and other an-
imals in his room, and disgusting vermin crawling over the
bed, and on his clothes, or that various  persons have entered
his  room, for the purpose of robbing, killing, or annoying him.
To  avoid these and other horrid illusions, he often calls out
loudly for assistance; runs to the door to make his  escape, or
to the window to leap out; is greatly  agitated, vociferates,
threatens, and sometimes raves violently.  Sometimes he fan-
cies that he hears loud and strange  noises around him, over
head, in an adjoining apartment, or  loud and frequent knock-
ing at the door.  His mind and body are in a continued state
of  action; he  calculates, projects, walks hurriedly  about the
room, picks up money, runs up to the window, and calls out
to some imaginary person in the street, starts with  terror and
agitation from the presence of frightful and disgusting appar-
itions,  insists that he is well, and confined with some sinister
intentions against him, and requests to  be suffered to go out in
pursuit of his usual occupations.  If the patient is  flatly con-
tradicted, he usually becomes much  exasperated, and insists
Avith vehemence  on the correctness  of his notions;  but, when
he  is soothingly dealt with, he  will now and then answer cer-
tain  questions mildly and  even distinctly, and by judicious
management, may, in general, be restrained without any vio-
lent coercive measures.  When the disease rises  to a high
grade, the patient becomes  violently and often  furiousry deli-
rious, talks incessantly, is restrained  with difficulty,  and is un-
able to  recognize his friends and acquaintances.—(Ebcrtc.)

   Treatment.—The indications, in the cure of delirium tremens
are: 1,  to equalize the circulation; 2, to quiet the nervous irri-
tability; and 3, to restore the natural stimuli  of the system.
  Lobelia  inflata is pre-eminently adapted to the  fulfilment
of the first indication; for it not only equalizes the circulation,
but it thoroughly cleanses the stomach,—thus restoring diges-
tion, and regulating all the secretions.   Dr.  Matson, of Bos-
ton, in speaking of the happy effects of lobelia in this disease,
states that  the patient will in some instances, sink into a calm
and refreshing sleep, as soon as he is put under its  influence.
  To obviate the nervous irritability, the nervine tincture will
answer  an excellent purpose.   The writer has succeeded in
giving permanent relief in the  most  violent cases of delirium 
50
DIARRHCEA.
tremens he ever witnessed, simply by the use of  the tea of
valerian or lady slipper.  The symptoms were much modified
by the first dose, and after the second, the patient became en-
tirely calm and comfortable.
  Cayenne pepper, or what is perhaps better, the compound
tincture of myrrh, {made of brandy) should be used in frequent
doses, until the system is restored to the usual state  of health.
                        DIARRHCEA.

   Syiyiptoms.—Frequent, and copious watery  discharges from
 the bowels, which are sometimes slimy, and  frothy, and not
 unfrequently very offensive to the smell.   There is not gener-
 ally much fever, unless the  disease runs into  a  chronic form,
 and thus  degenerates into chronic inflammation of the bow-
 els; in which case, the pulse, though not very full nor strong,
 often  increases  considerably in frequency.   In severe  cases,
 the patient  soon runs down  into distressing debility.

   Treatment.—The disease evidently arises from irritability of
 the mucus coat of the intestines, which is generally caused by
 indigestion.  In this, a disordered condition of the stomach,
 or the liver, may also be in  fault.  But the disease often ari-
 ses from the use of improper food or medicine.*   In the  treat-
 ment, therefore, demulcents, and evacuants of the proper kind,
 become necessary.    Enemas of slippery elm  tea; with a tea-
 spoonfol of Thomson's No. 6, in each injection, should be used
 and repeated until the bowels are  we'll cleansed, when  the
 looseness may be checked by drinking freely of bayberry tea,
  <The miut, when in attendance at the (^mnereial llosphalin Cincinnati in
 the year 184i>, witnessed some striking instances, in which  the medicine siven
 was attended with unequivocally bad effects.   A certain  Mr. Hutchine, need
 about 40 and of good constitution,, was admitted into the Hospital about the 1st
 of Jan  laboring under all the dressing.symptoms of diarrhea in ils most ag-
 gravated form;  for wh,ch,.on us first appearance, he had procured med    at
 ?2"  f hG lrcalrm' ""Parted by himself, embraced the use of 28 grains
 of calomel every three to  four, hours, besides some  pills..  This  wa» folfowed
 with great deb.luv, and the most rapid emaciation ;  and on examSon aTnm
 of extreme tenderness was  found in  the right illiae reeion  TI,U «t !„,' j
 by the Lecturer (Prof. Moorhead,) was occasioned l^i? 2£"aK„-
 flammacon ,n the C!8cum.  Of this there could not be a doubt, a/every atfend
 :,.u symptom  strongly corroborated  the fact. The  patient, in spite o?aU  thai
 uuld be done for htm, continued to run.down with, tie diarrhoea?  having some
 times, from 1% 10 It> evacuations  per. day.  A number of instances of of TV
tj, as they are of uo rare occurence..                        »u»eeesea~ 
DISLOCATIONS.
51
or by taking the cholera syrup.  Sometimes a dose of rheu-
barb, or what is still better, the neutralizing mixture, will  be
more prompt, and thorough in its effects than the injections,
and may, therefore, be used instead of the latter, or collater-
ally with them.
  The  irritation of the bowels may, generally, be relieved  by
the use of demulcents, such  as gum arabic, mallows,  slippe-
ry elm, and comfrey.
  The  practitioner should always have in view, the law of vi-
carious action; for it is  most  generally  the case, that when
one set of the excretory organs are pre tern aturally excited,
the others become inactive-.   Thus it is  generally the  case in
diarrhoea, that the urine, as well as the  perspiration, is scan-
ty.  These matters must, therefore, not be neglected.  Bal-
sam  of copaiva has gained  some popularity in the  cure of
this complaint, and is much used by physicians;  and, perhaps,
by many, without a knowledge of its true therapeutic effect
in this disease.   This medicine is an active diuretic, and thus
as it promotes the urine, detracts from the bowels an amount
of fluid corresponding with the increase of the  urinary evac-
uations.  Now, although the obstruction of the urine, may
not have been the original cause of the diarrhoea, yet it has
contributed much to the irritation that has kept it up, and un-
less the functions of the  kidneys  were  restored, the  disease
would still have  maintained its character.  The utility of di-
aphoretics, in this complaint, depends on this same principle.
  Tonic cordials  should be used in diarrhoea, to strengthen,
and tone up the digestive organs.
               »

                    DISLOCATIONS.

  Dislocations, as well as fractures, and other injuries result-
ing from violence, have generally been regarded as being out
oi the province of the common medical practitioner, and to
belong exclusively to the business of the surgeon.  But as the
treatment of injuries of this kind, is so simple, and so much
easier performed if attended to  immediately on the occurrence.
of the accident; it is important that not only physicians, but
the people generally, should know more or less  about it.
  A dislocation may generally be  known by the position of
the parts.  If the part be a limb, it will be either longer, shor-
ter, or  distorted in some other way, according to the charac- 
52
DISLOCATIONS.
  ter of the injury.   There is  always more or less pain, swell-
  ing, and a partial, or total loss of motion.  The end of  the
  dislocated bone may, in many instances, be felt in its new po-
  sition; and the muscles or soft parts, about  the  joint, change
  their shape, and fullness, to some extent.
    Dislocations are generally accompanied by  laceration of
  the ligaments of the joints, yet instances do sometimes occur,
  in which the bones slip out of their places, merely from relax-
  ation of the ligaments. Sometimes, fractures also occur, with
  dislocations.   This is most commonly the case in accidents at
  the  ankle joint, where a dislocation  seldom occurs without
  fracture of the fibula or small bone of the leg.  The acetab-
  ulum, or socket for  the thigh bone, is also sometimes fractur-
  ed in dislocations at this joint.
    A dislocation may be partial, that is, resting in part on the
  natural articulating surface;  or complete, when the two surfa-
  ces are entirely separated.  Moreover, the injury may also be
  simple, or compound:  the first consists simply of the separation
  of the surfaces; while in compound  dislocation, the articula-
 ting surfaces are not only separated; but there is also a sepa-
 ration  of the muscles, and laceration of the  integuments  or
 skin; thus laying open the joint.

    Treatment.—In reducing a  dislocation, the chief  difficulty
 will  be found in the rigidity of the muscles.  For  the best
 method of overcoming this difficulty, surgery is indebted  to
 Dr. Thompson, the  noted  Reformer; for although the use of
 relaxing means had been in practice for many years, yet un-
 til the superior relaxing powers of his lobelia, and the utility
 of his  vapor bath, became known, means of  this class, had
 gained but little popularity.   The torturing pulley, and man-
 ual force, were chiefly depended on, to overcome the  action  of
 the muscles.*
   When the reduction of a dislocation is undertaken, the  pa-
 tient should take two or three doses, either of the anti-s; as-
 modic tincture, or of the tincture  of lobelia,  and should  be
 placed over the vapor bath; or should at  least have the mus-
 cles, around the injured parts, well vaporized by means of a
 steam pipe.  No alarm need be taken if the medicine should
 }traduce nausea, or  vomiting,  or should sicken considerably;
  *Caatle, in his manual of surgery, states:  -The" most effectual mode~o7iT
 ring the muscular power, is by the pulleys, which have th.s advantage over ex-
 tension made by assistance, that your force is gentle and continued. First nass»
 wetted roller around the Wrnb, and over this buckle on the leather with the rin*s to
 which the pulleys are to be fixed.  Having fixed thum on, draw the cord verv
gently, until you feel the muscles making some resistance, then rest two or thrZ
n.inutes, and ex|pnd again; and, so on until you see the muscles beginning £
c,uiver, and by a little lurther extension they will be overcome         g 
DISLOCATIONS.
53
 this is the very purpose for which it is given.  Nausea is  al-
 ways attended with a corresponding relaxation of the muscu-
 lar fibre.
   As soon as the muscles are well relaxed, any man of ordin-
 ary mechanical genius, professing but a slight knowledge of
 anatomy, may succeed in reducing the dislocation with the
 greatest facility, and with, comparatively, little pain.
   When the muscles are well relaxed, the  patient should be
 supported on  a  table, or in  any other convenient way; the
 bones in which the socket is situated, should be secured by an
 assistant, while the operator takes hold of the limb,  or dislo-
 cated part, and gently raises the disengaged end of the bone
 from its new position, and returns it into its natural  place.—
 To effect this, extension, and counter-extension, usually be-
 comes necessary.  But  it may in many instances be accom-
 plished by changing the position, or rotating the limb; or  by
 means of lever force.  In cases of dislocation of the shoulder,
 for instance, in which the humerus is  thrown into  the axilla
 or armpit, the bone may be replaced, simply by placing a com-
 press, or ball of yarn in the arm-pit, under the bone, and then
 gently pressing the other end of the  bone or  elbow,  toward
 the body, at the same time shoving it up a little; when the
 head of the humerus will slide into its socket with  the great-
 est facility.  In reducing the dislocation of the  femorus or
 thigh bone, the lever principle has been ingeniously  applied,
 by the noted Sweet family, of New England.  According to
 their plan, after the patient is placed  on  a table, or bed, the
 leg is taken hold  of,  by one hand, at the ankle,  and by the
 other, at the knee; the leg is now flexed or bent at the knee,
 so as to make the lower part very nearly to approach the
 thigh, in order to convert it into a lever.  The leg is now car-
 ried a little outward, and the  thigh gradually  brought up to
 the body,  and thus gently  pressed  obliquely  over the body,
 with the knee pointing toward the opposite shoulder.  The
 operator now,  in the last place, rotates the thigh, by moving
 the ankle, alternately, inward and outward; when the  head
 of the femorus is found readily to slip into its place.
   The operator should, not only in making up his opinion  as
 to the nature of the accident,  but in the final adjustment of
the part, occasionally compare the dislocated limb,  or  part,
with its fellow in the natural state, for by those means, he can
have a more certain guide for his conduct, than he  can get
elsewhere; nor need he be ashamed of this plan, as it is fol-
lowed by the  most popular  surgeons, both in Europe, and
America.
  After  the parts are properly adjusted, they shoulS be secured

                                                    * ." 
51
DROPSY.
by proper bandages; and if the muscles do not readily con-
tract or resume their natural state, they may be excited so to
do, by the occasional application of cold water.
  Rest should always be allowed to the parts,  so  as to favor
the healing or reunion of the lacerated ligaments.
  The time in which the reduction of a dislocation may be
attempted after the occurrence  of the accident, is from two to
four months,  according to the nature or character of the inju-
ry.  Successful attempts have, however, been made at the re-
duction of dislocations of much longer standing.

   Compound  dislocations.—In those  cases  of dislocation, in
which the soft parts are lacerated or torn asunder, the  adjust-
ment of the bones, after cleansing them (should they  have
been exposed, and thus need it,) by  means  of a sponge  and
warm  water, should be effected in the same way  as in other
cases.   After which, the margins of the wounds,  should be
brought together by means of some strips of adhesive plasters,
or by stitching, and the sore afterwards dressed, and healed up,
as would be done in case of any other wound.  The best of
attention is necessary,  however, to keep the air  out of the
joint.  This must be don? by constantly keeping on some im-
pervious plaster.
                        DROPSY.

                        (Hydrops)

  This disease consists of a collection of serous, or watery
fluid in the cellular substance under the skin, or different cav-
ities of the body.  The affection receives different names, ac-
cording to the  location  of  the fluid.  When it is  diffused
through the cellular membrane, either  generally or partially,
it is called anasarca.   When it is located in the cavity of the
skull, it is called hydrocephalus. \When in the chest, hydrotho-
rax.  When in the abdomen, ascites, in the uterus, hydromctra,
and when in the scrotum, hydrocele.
  Dropsy is caused chiefly by atony, or debility of the absor-
bent vessels, which is  brought  on frequently by salivations,
drunkenness, by' other diseases,  such as consumption,  affec-
tions of the liver, spleen, pancreas, &c. , The  disease  seems,
also to arise»from family predisposition. 
DROPSY.
55
  Symptoms.—Anasarcal dropsy is characterized by swelling
or tumefaction of the parts, commencing, first, in the feet and
ankles, and being generally less in the morning.  The tume-
faction is soft, and inelastic, and when indented by the finger,
the  pits remain for some time.  The skin is usually more pale
than in health, and  when the swelling is extreme, it is very
smooth and shining.   As the  disease  advances, the swelling
proceeds higher up the body,  until finally, in bad cases, even
the face, and  scalp, becomes swelled; the eyelids puff out; the
breathing  becomes difficult;  the  urine is small in  quantity,
high colored,  and deposites a redish sediment.   The  skin is
generally dry, owing to the  want of perspiration; and there
is usually considerable thirst,  and some fever.   The body be-
comes much emaciated, evincing  a striking contrast between
the size of those parts that are swelled, and those that are not.
The swelling is sometimes so considerable  as to burst asun-
der the skin,, when the water  will, often, run out in a stream.

  Hydrocephalus.—The symptoms of dropsy  of the head or
brain, are rathQr obscure.   There, is, however,  a  pain in the
he ad,particularly across the brow, stupor, dilatation or enlarge-
ment of the pupils, naus°a, vomiting, slowness  of the  pulse,
and convulsions.   This disease chiefly effects children  under
twelve years  of age, and when the child is under three years of
age, we have a symptom in the protrusion through the fontanel
or opening of. the head, which in the advanced stage  of the
disease, becomes very conspicuous.

  Hydrothorax.—In dropsy of the chest, the symptoms are, dif-
ficulty of breathing,  (which is more considerable when the pa-
tient is in a horizontal  position;)  sudden startings from sleep,
with anxiety  and palpitations of the heart;  a sense of weight
in the chest;  paleness of countenance; cough; swellings in the
lower extremities; thirst; scarcity of urine; and want of per-
spiration.   But the most unequivocal symptom of hydrotho-
rax, is the fluctuation of water, which, when it  is collected in
considerable  quantities, may be felt, or even heard, by a by-
stander, when the body is suddenly  agitated or  shaken.

  Ascites.—Dropsy of the belly is often  preceded by loss of
appetite, sluggishness, dryness of the skin,  oppression  at the
chest, cough  diminution of the  natural evacuations, as those
of the skin and kidneys, &c.  Signs of the  collection  of wa-
trv  in the abdomen may now be discovered'.—the belly  will
enlarge and  «row tense, or hard to  the touch:  the breathing
will become  difficult; and  exercise laborious.  By striking the 
5G
DROPSY.
side of the abdomen, the fluctuation of the water may now be
sensibly felt by the hand on the opposite side.

   Treatment.—Dropsies of the head, chest, and abdomen, are
all very difficult to cure; but dropsy of the cellular membrane,
which, however, is by  far of  the most common  occurrence,
may most generally be cured without much difficulty.
   The several varieties of dropsy, are treated  on the same
general principles, embracing  the fulfillment of two important
indications.   These are: 1, to  evacuate the water, or dropsical
fluid, by exciting absorption and excretion; and  2, to prevent
its re-accumulation, by toning up, and strengthening the sys-
tem.
  It will be perceived at once, that  direct means  cannot al-
ways, nor indeed generally, be used  in the removal of the
water in dropsical collections.  In many instances it is so re-
motely situated, that it could not possibly be reached, by me-
chanical means, with safety to the patient.   In  some instan-
ces, we find the water collected within the skull and all  the
membranes  of the brain; at  others, it is found within  the
chest, enclosed by the pericardium or immediate enclosure of
the heart.
  When the most direct means of relief cannot be instituted,
it  is only left for us to tax more heavily  our  medical resour-
ces, and apply those that come next in their adaption.  We
must now excite  the  absorbent system, and bring the fluid
back again into the circulation, and  then remove it hence.
  In the animal economy, we find certain laws that always
obtain.—Thus there is a settled, and fixed disposition of the
system, not only to furnish a circulating medium, but to main-
tain the natural proportions  of the principles of the blood.
When the system is exanguous or in  want of blood, the tis-
sues are absorbed and transformed into blood, and hence  the
emaciation that so invariably  attends starvation.  When  the
serum or watery part is in excess, it is thrown off; when  the
crassamentum, it is metamorphosed  or changed, and dissipa^
ted.  Whenever there is a lack of serum, all other fluids, that
can contribute to its formation, are absorbed with the Neat-
est avidity.  Water is  sometimes even taken from  without,
through the skin, for this purpose; and hence it is, that fam-
ished  mariners, and others,  are sometimes relieved from  the
most pressing thirst, simply by a shower of rain on their bodies
   In the treatment of dropsy, we  must  take  advantage of
those  principles,—we must use such means as are calculated
to evacuate the serum or watery parts of the blood,  and thu*
compel the absorbents to take up the dropsical effusion   It 
DROPSY.
57
is upon this principle alone, that we can expect to be success-
ful in curing the hydrocephalus, (dropsy of the brain or head)
hydrocardia, (dropsy of the heart) and hydrothorax, (dropsy of
tlie chest) &c.
  Among the means best calculated to  answer  the purpose,
as here illustrated, is the  vapor bath.  In  its use,  although
much of the water running from the person, is condensed va-
por, it may safely be calculated, that, as much as a pint of fluid
is discharged through the skin  during the course of an hour,
if the circumstances be favorable.   In addition to these effects,
the vapor bath also, promotes the other evacuations,*and what
is more, the genial warmth that it imparts to the body, is em-
inently calculated to promote the free circulation of the blood,
as well as to favor many of the other physiological functions.
  The vapor bath, in recent cases of dropsy, should be ap-
plied once every day, and in chronic, from one to three times
a week. As usual, they  should be accompanied by stimula-
ting, and diaphoretic drinks.

  Diuretics.—The absorption and evacuation of water from
the system, may be much promoted by exciting  increased ac-
tion in  the kidneys.  For this purpose, the oil, or essence of
juniper, queen  of the meadow, terpentine, clevers, parsley, as-
paragus, Indian  hemp, melon  seeds, elder bark, dandelion, or
any other diuretic, should be used.  The diuretic decoction is
an excellent preparation of this kind,  and may be used accor-
ding to direction.  See decoction for dropsy.
  The use  of the diuretics may be commenced with the bath,
in the  beginning of the treatment,  and should  be continued
on, as occasion may require, until the cure is complete.

  Catiuirtics.—Among the most active means of exciting ab-
sorption, and  removing watery collections from the system,
are cathartics.
  "By irritating the exhalents  of the internal surface of the
intestines,  a greatly increased  secretion and loss of serum is
suddenly produced  by the action of these  remedies.   As a
consequence of this, not only is the further  effusion of  drop*-
sical fluid diminished  by  deriving the blood  from the exha-
lents of the cavities to those of the intestines, but its existing
quantity is also directly lessened, by the absorbents assuming
a more vigorous -. action, in order to  supply  the deficiency
which  the  purging has induced in the serous portion of the
blood.   This view  of the subject will aid  us, I  think, in ac-
counting for the fact mentioned by Dr. Paris and others, that
cathartics often increase  the effects of diuretics.  If, for ii*- 
58
DROPSY.
 stance, we give a diuretic to a dropsical  patient, a slight, but
 insufficient increase of urinary  secretion, for the most  part,
 follows; the absorption is, of course, proportionably small.  Let
 a cathartic be now  administered.  This will excite a sudden
 and considerable increase of serous evacuation by the bowels;
 hence an unusual demand for  a restitution of this constituent
 portion  of the blood is  created; and, by consequence, a new
 impulse given to the supplying,  or absorbing vessels; which
 continuing after  the operation of the  cathartic has  ceased,
 will have the effect  of supplying the kidneys with a larger
 portion of the elements of their secretion, and,  therefore, en-
 able those medicaments which  are calculated to increase their
 action, to operate more effectually."
   A powder made of  equal parts of jallap, mandrake,  and
 cream of tartar, with a fourth part of cayenne pepper, should
 be given, in half  tea spoonful doses, every hour  until it oper-
 ates freely.   During the operation of the cathartic,  the pa-
 tient should be sustained with  stimulating cordials.  This hy-
 dragogue  cathartic  should be  used once or twice a week, as
 the case may require.*
   The elaterium  or wild cucumber, is a very powerful hydra-
gogue cathartic, and also operates as a diuretic.  The writer
has witnessed the most astonishing effects following the use of
this article, in the Commercial  Hospital of Ohio, at Cincinna-
ti.  One case in particular, (a case of ascites) which had long
resisted other prominent remedies, at last yielded to this. But
 on the whole, the remedy is not without fault, it is too  drastic,
 and  harsh, in its  operation, and cannot be used with entire
safety.   As we have  many other articles  that will answer in
its place, it is not necessary that we should employ the use of
an article, some of the effects  of which are so much at vari-
  *rhfe water is will aware of the strong prejudice that exists in the minus of
many good and honest Reformere, against the use of cathartics in dropsy nnd
is very ready to admit, to some extent, the objections that have been uroed
against their use.  It cannot be denied  that they  produce debility, and irmate
the bowels.    But what evacuant is there, that does not debilitate more or lr*s'
bmeties, diaphoretics, diuretics, &c, all debilitate to some extent for the time but
the debility  is not permanent.  It arises only as a result of the absence of'me-
chanical agencies, and now, as the organs are relieved, there will soon be a cor-
responding vital reaction.   In this case the end fully justifies the means- when
a less active treatment is depended on, the disease  often advances, uncontrolled
until it no only produces more debility than the cathartics commonly give rise
to, but until it ultimately results in death.                      y h
  Dropsies of the brain, heart, chest, &c., have always been considered extreme-
ly hard to cure, and justly too.  Nevertheless, they, like all other diseases, will
yield to a proper treatment.   Those therefore, that are not able, suceesftUW to
 reat these affections; (endeavoring to do it without the use of cathartics ) sloud
be careful not to proscribe, incons»derately, agents so efficient and safe as am
thesa in dropsy.                                           ,c' UB a'« 
DROPSY.
59
ance with our sound principles, unless by further pharmaceuti-
cal improvements, its bad effects may be obviated.

  Frictions and Rubefacients.-—The rubefacient oil, and other
rubefacients, and stimulating external applications, are some-
times of great service, especially in anasarca or dropsy of the
cellular membrane.  The  use of  the  flesh brushy or even a
coarse towel, is also an important means, and should never
be neglected in difficult cases.  These remedies are eminent-
ly calculated to excite the absorbent system.

  Emetics.—These are useful  in the treatment of dropsy, not
because they produce much of a direct evacuation of the wa-
ter; but they cleanse the stomach, and thus prepare it, not only
for the reception of the other medicines, but for the proper di-
gestion of the food, which is an important matter; for the en-
tire system  is not  only dependent  on this function when in
health, but without it  can never be restored from disease-
Moreover, the nausea produced by emetics, is also calculated
to sustain perspiration by  means of  the attendant relaxation.
Finally, the shock given to the system  by their operation, is
eminently calculated to excite the  absorbents, and also, to
some extent, the excretions.
  It is a good plan to commence the treatment of dropsy with
the exhibition of an emetic, and they always do better if ad-
ministered immediately after the  patient comes out  of the
bath.  Lobelia should  generally be preferred to other emet-
ics, for this use.   It is not generally necessary to use this class
of agents, more than once or twice a week.

   Tapping,  Bandages, SfC—In hydrocele or dropsy of the sro-
tum, when the absorption of  the  fluid  cannot be effected,
paracentesis or tapping is sometimes advisable.   In perform-
ing this operation, a trocar and means for injection, are all
the instruments that are necessary.  The  trocar (being within
the canula or tube,) should  be introduced in the  fore  part of
the scrotum, passing obliquely, or  nearly  perpendicularly up-
ward, in order thus to avoid injuring the testicles.   The tro-
car should be withdrawn  as soon as it has entered the tunica
vaginalis or inner membrane.  The canula should  be left to
remain, and endeavors should be made  to evacuate all the
fluid; and with a view to effect this, the parts should be  grip-
ed with the hand and pressed moderately.  Before the  canula
is removed, a weak solution of carbonate of potash should be
injected through it, by means of an elastic bottle,  having a
proper tube to it, in order thus to  excite inflammation, which 
60
EARACHE.
is all important to prevent the re-accumulation of the  water.
  This operation  had best only  be entrusted to experienced
or skillful hands, as it is very easy to do mischief here.
  Tapping in ascites or dropsy of the belly, is often practised
by some physicians, but the writer has never found much prac-
tical advantage in this treatment of the complaint.  The wa-
ter is almost certain to accumulate again.   In this variety of
dropsy, we cannot have the advantage of the inflammatory
action that we  may excite after tapping in hydrocele, and
hence the operation is of less benefit.   The operation, howev-
er, is a very simple and safe one, and hence may be perform-
ed in bad cases, when it becomes an object to relieve the pa-
tient of his intolerable burden.
  When  the operation of tapping is  performed, the patient
should be placed in a high chair, with a vessel between his
knees, the operator sitting on a lower chair, immediately be-
fore the patient.   A sheet should now be crossed  around the
abdomen, the ends of which should be held  by an assistant,
so as to press it tightly on the abdomen.  The operator should
now introduce  the  trocar,  after  making an  incision, about
three fourths of an inch in  length, with a lancet, in the  linen
alba, or white line passing from the umbilicus to the pubis.-—
Th e point at which the trocar should be entered, is about one
inch below  the umbilicus.   The instrument is entered deep
enough, when the water escapes  on the removal  of the blade
from the  canula.
  The operation for ovarian dropsy is generally performed in
the same manner, and place, as for ascites.
  Bandages are sometimes applied to the feet and legs in an-
asarca, and  around the abdomen in ascites, to prevent their
further enlargement, but the practice, it is believed, is not gen-
erally very successful.   But as the experiment  is a safe one.
those who may choose so to do, may try it.
                      EARACHE.

                        (Otalgia.)

  This, which is occasionally, a very distressing complaint,
arises generally from inflammatory affections of the internal
part of the ear, which may be brought en by exposure to cold;
by the introduction of some foreign substance;  and by acci- 
EPILErSY.
61
dental injuries: or it may arise, as a sequel of other diseases,
such as measles, scarlet fever, &c.

   Treatment.—The pain may generally be relieved by a doz-
en or fifteen drops of anti-spasmodic tincture, or tincture of
lobelia, dropped into the ear.  Tincture of camphor will some-
times do best for this purpose.    But if  the case  be severe,
nauseating doses of lobelia should be taken once in 10 or 15
minutes, bathing the feet well  at the same  time, to equalize
the circulation.   The ear should  also be  steamed by  placing
the steaming pipe within a  proper distance of the ear, and
thus letting the vapor pour against the part, which should be
shielded from the air by means  of a cloth, placed over  the
head.  Among the best articles to medicate the vapor for this
use, is tincture or gum camphor.
   The oil that may  be pressed out of peach meats,  if drop-
 ped into the ear, will generally give relief in a short  time.
                        EPILEPSY.

                        (Epilepsia)

   This disease, whether considered with reference to  its im-
 mediate symptoms, or its remote consequences, is unquestion-
 ably, one "of the most distressing, and deplorable of human
 maladies.   Its morbid influence on the mind is no less mark-
 ed, than that on the body, and hence it was called by the an-
 cient Greeks, morbus saccr, or the sacred disease, from the idea
 of its infliction by the gods.  It is supposed that about two-
 thirds of those affected with epilepsy, suffer from its injurious
 effects on the mind, and  that of these, about one third are
 deprived of their reasoning faculties.
   The effects of the disease on the body, are also very distress-
 ing and sometimes frightful.  "The epileptic attack sometimes
 comes on suddenly without any manifestations of its approach.
 More frequently, however, certain symptoms  precede the oc-
 currence  of the  paroxysm, and of "these  the following are
 most common:—A peculiar confusion and distressing feeling
 in the head; an absent, wandering, and confused state of the
'mind; giddiness;  dimness of sight; ringing and loud sounds in
 the ear;  sparks and flashes of light before the  eyes; disten-
 sion of the veins of the head and neck; a trembling and feel- 
(VJ
EPILEPSY.
ing of restlessness in the extremities; an anxious feeling in
the praecordial region; restlessness and starting during sleep;,
loss of the power of distinct articulation; complete tempora-
ry deafness and drowsiness.   In some instances there is a man-
fest  change  in the moral disposition a short time before the
accession of the attack.  Sullen gloominess with an irritable
temper is manifested  by some  patients.  In some cases the
mind falls into a kind of revery from which it  cannot bee
drawn, which terminates often speedily in total insensibility.
Some epileptics evince an unusual  timid disposition;  others
are spiteful, resentful, and mischievous, shortly before the ac-
cession of the paroxysm.   Occasionally, spasmodic  twitches
of particular muscles, especially in those of the face, precede
the attack.  Richter states, that  painful sensations in certain
parts of  the  body, particularly spasmodic  pains in the stom-
ach, with a rumbling noise in the bowels, occur as the precur-
sor of the epileptic paroxysm."
  When  the  paroxysm comes on, the patient falls suddenly
with convulsions accompanied by temporary loss of conscious-
ness, sense, and voluntary motion.   The  face is  frightfully
distorted, the breathing hurried and laborious, the tongue pro-
truded, and  a frothing at the mouth.  The  eyes roll about
wildly  in their sockets, though sometimes at length become
permanently  fixed.   The countenance is usually of  a dark
purple  color, but is sometimes pale.  The paroxysm may con-
sist of  a single fit, but more usually, there is a succession of
fits with alternate relaxations, sometimes to the number of a
dozen,  or  even twenty or more.   After the final fit, the pa-
tient generally soon becomes conscious, and, sometimes, has
not the least recollection  of his sufferings, or of any thing that
passed during the paroxysm.   Some patients, however, often
lay in a stupid or comatose state for  hours, after the convul-
sions have subsided.
  The disease is caused by blows, fractures, and  other inju-
ries of  the head by external violence;  hypercenia, or fullness
of the vessels of the brain, arising from obstruction in the cir-
culation;  water in the brain;   tumors, concretions, and  poly-
pus among the membranes of the brain; mal-formation of the
head; and sudden frights, violent passions, drunkenness, in-
tense pain, worms, teething,  poisons,  obstruction  of  accus-
tomed  evacuations, and  hereditary predisposition, may also
give rise  to epilepsy.

   Treatment.—The  convulsions  will  yield,  with singular
promptness, to the effects of the  antispasmodic tincture
This should be given  in tea spoonful  doses every five or ten 
FAINTING.
63
minutes until relief be obtained.  In the meantime,  friction
with the use of some stimulating preparation, such as the ru-
befacient solution, or the bathing drops,  should be applied to
the extreme ties.
  Various preparations have been used to prevent the recur-
rence of the disease, among the best of which, are pills com-
posed of equal parts of lobelia seed,  nervine tonic, and  cay-
enne  pepper.  Of these the patient  should  take  as many,
once a day, as  the stomach will bear without sickening  too
much.  The pulverized seeds of the thorn-apple, in one grain
doses twice a day, has gained  great popularity as a remedy
in epilepsy, but the medicine is not a safe one, being  possess-
ed of poisonous properties of a very active' character.
  The following makes a very good compound, for common
use, by epileptics:

    Take of Paeony,............................................................1 ounce.
     "■    Sculcnp, ................................•........................1  do.
     "    Valerian,.....................................•..................-1  do.
     kk    Asafoetida, --...................................................i  do.
     "    Lobelia, .........■-••............................................i  do.

Pulverize, and put them into a quart of  good wine.   The pa-
tient  may take a table-spoonful, from one to three times a
day.
   The practitioner should always inquire into the cause of the
complaint, and if this  can be discovered, it should be obvia-
ted if possible, for no treatment will be  successful, while the
exciting cause of the disease is  continued..  Care as to diet, is
also necessary.
                       FAINTING.

                         (Syncope.)

  This affection is characterized by a partial, or total cessa-
tion of the functions of the lungs and heart; thus the pulse
is either very weak or entirely imperceptible; the respiration
indistinct; the countenance pale; and the  extremities cold.
Fainting is generally  brought on by loss of blood, or irregu-
larities of its circulation, by which the brain is deprived of its
usual and necessary stimulus; and hence sudden and violent 
64
FALLING OF THE FUNDAMENT.
emotions of the mind, fright, intense pain, &c, by suspending
the functions of the heart, may also give rise to it.

   Treatment.—An many instances the patient is relieved, im-
mediately, by being placed in a  recumbent position.  Some-
times a sudden  dash of cold water, into the face, will give re-
lief.   Stimulating the nostrils with volatile excitants, such as
some of the preparations  of amonia, &c, are pretty certain
to prove beneficial.
  In urgent cases of fainting,  permanent stimulants are re-
quired, such as cayenne pepper, ginger, and carbonate of amo-
nia.   Friction with stimulating liniments are also sometimes
of great service.
           FALLING OF THE FUNDAMENT.

                      (Prolapsus Ani)

   This difficulty consists of a descent of the lower portion of
the large intestine, so as to expose the bowel externally.—
When thus exposed, the parts become irritable and painful,
and often swell considerably.  The difficulty arises from a re-
laxed condition of the parts, brought on, most generally, by
the use of purges that spend their  stimulating and relaxing
influence excessively on this portion of the intestine.   Aloes,
in particular, is very apt to bring on this difficulty.  The most
of the pills, that are sold throughout the country, are also cal-
culated to do mischief in this way.   The people cannot be
too careful about  the use of public nostrums.    The constitu-
tions  of thousands, have been  ruined forever by their  use,
while many others, for their imprudence have paid the forfei-
ture with their lives.

   Treatment.—The parts sometimes return without assistance •
but when this becomes necessary, the  fingers should be oiled'
and then with them the bowel should be gently returned
which is easily effected.  Injections, made of such astringent
articles as will not irritate the bowels, should now be used to
contract and stay the part.  For this purpose, white pond lily,
witch  hazel, or raspberry,  is very good.  An  infusion of
these articles may also be applied externally by means of a
sponge. 
FELON.
65
  Falling of the womb (Prolapsus Uteri) is also treated with
the use of astringent injections to the parts, by means of a
syringe for the purpose, which may be obtained at any drug-
store.
                        FELON.

                       (Paronychia)

  Abscesses of the soft parts of the fingers, are variously call-
ed, according to their situation in the part affected, as to their
depth from the surface.   When they are situated  in the der-
mis or true skin near the nail, they are commonly  called run-
round, (tourniole;) when in the  cellular tissue,  whitloiv, and
when in, or under the periosteum or membrane  covering the
bones, it is called felon.  The  abscess when  thus situated in
the finger, is in its essential character, just the same as when
affecting the same tissues in other parts of the body: the  at-
tending pain,  and slowness of its course, being caused by the
firmnes  of the integuments or  skin, which  does not  yield
much to the swelling, nor yet  so readily to the  suppurating
process.

  Treatment.—As no ease  can reasonably  be expected until
the nerves  are relieved from the  pressure caused by the  swel-
ling, the best plan, if the inflammation cannot be  terminated
by resolution,  is either to lay the finger open  at once, to the
depth of the diseased part, with a lancet, or to destroy the
skin as much as is necessary to give vent to  the swelling as
well as  the pus, when collected.
  A very good plan to effect the latter object, is to pare down
the skin over the  most  painful part, and bind on a piece of
caustic  potash, as large as  a grain of Indian  corn, and  after-
wards keeping the cloth around the finger wet, with a view
thus to  promote  the  effects of the  potash.  Should the first
application not make a sufficient opening, it  must be repeat-
ed.  This treatment will, generally, soon relieve  the pain, and
very much favor the  escape of  the pus.  Wrhen the part is
open it should be poulticed, and treated in other respects, like
any other abscess.
  The skin may also be relaxed and rendered  less firm, by
holding the finger in lye, as hot  as  can be borne, for 15  or 20
              5 
6ft
FEVER.
minutes, or some soft soap may be kept on, for three or four
hours, by means of a rag, which will  answer the same pur-
pose.   After these  applications, the parts should be kept in a
moist and relaxed condition  by the  use of proper poultices,
and after the pus is discharged, the sore  should be healed up..
FEYER.

(Febris)
   The importance of a correct knowledge of the true patho-
 i>y:y of fever, is equalled only by the number of theories that
 have been produced on the subject.   "The history of practi-
 cal medicine consists of little else than a review of the  doc-
 trines which have successively risen and sunk again, concern-
 ing the nature and treatment of fever.  Whatever other ob-
 jects of interest or importance within the domain of medical
 science may have attracted the attention of physicians, fever
 has at all times been viewed as presenting the most extensive
 and inviting field for observation, and the exercise of ingenui-
 ty.  It is in this department that observation  and  research
 have been the  most industrious in accumulating materials,
 and hypothesis has luxuriated in her wildest exuberance."
   The term fever or febris  comes from fervor, 'heat,' which is,
 indeed,  one of the  most prominent characteristics of the dis-
 ease to  which it has given its name.   It is,  however, strange
 enough, that simply a name should control the investigations
 and conclusions of medical philosophers, to the extent  that
 this has.  We find that the authors, the professors,  and the
practitioners of the Allopathic or  fashionable schools of med-
 icine, whatever their theories may have been,  have univer-
 sally treated this affection as one whose essential peculiarities
 and necessary and only characteristics were  involved in ei-
 ther an  abnormal increase of lie at, or of force  in. the  body.
 Take up a medical book where  you will,  and  you will find
 their course of treatment to be copious blood-letting,—the free
 use of mercury and other similar-depletives, and nitre with other
 active rcfrigcrents.
   Nothing, however-, is more certain, (although some on the
 other extreme havedenied it,) than that the temperature, in
some cases of fever, is sensibly augmented, and that it is not
 unfrequcntly-found from five to, ten, or  even  fifteen  degrees 
FEVER.
67
above the natural standard.  The skin is, in certain varieties
of fever, sometimes found so hot, that it is uncomfortable even
for an individual in health to remain long in contact with the
fever patient.   But all this must only be viewed  in the light
of an effect, while the cause must be sought elsewhere.  Nor
would  even  this elevated temperature prove mischievous,
were the other circumstances compatible.
   That degree of heat called the animal temperature, is indis-
pensable to life, and, perhaps,  some  old school pathologists
may be  a little astonished,  when  it is conclusively  proven
that the  source of animal heat and  of fever heat,  is precisely
identical.
   Combustion is this source.—It alone will  explain the phe-
nomena  that  attend  the  exhibition of the animal tempera-
ture, as well as the heat in fever.   That this process may be
sustained in the system, is abundantly obvious.  Oxygen, the
supporter of combustion, is furnished by means of th6 respi-
ratory function, and is thus brought in contact with the com-
bustible materials in the blood, with which it unites during
the course of the circulation.  Thus the chemical union  of
oxygen with the combustibles,—carbon, hydrogen, sulphur,
phosphorus, &c, evolves heat which before existed in  a la-
tent state.  Now it is known that for oxygen to unite chemi-
cally with carbon, under any circumstances, without  genera-
ting heat is  impossible, and is equally true, by the escape
»f carbonic acid, that this union takes place, and it is certain,
that the  oxygen, taken into the system, makes its escape in no
form except in combination with some of the elements above
named.
   Perhaps a position so new, and conspicuous, might be con-
sidered rather adventurous for the writer, without the advan-
tage of the strong bulwarks of acknowledged authority.  It
is therefore rather encouraging to have the aid of a champion
like the  German chemist, Lieiug,* who in his Animal Chemis-
try, page 17, remarks: "All living creatures, whose existence
depends on the absorption of oxygen, possess within them-
selves a source of heat independent of surrounding objects.
   "This truth applies to all animals, and extends, besides,  to
the  germination of seeds, to. the flowering of plants, and  to
the  maturation of fruits.
   "It is only in those parts of the body to which arterial blood,
 and with it the oxygen, absorbed in respiration, is conveyed,
that heat is produced.  Hair, wool, or feathers do not possess
 an elevated temperature._____________________________
   *M. D.; Ph. D,, F. R. S , M. R  I. A.; Protessor of Chemistry in the UntwjT.
 Bity of Geieen».etc., etc. 
69
FEVER.
   "This high temperature of the animal body, or as it may
 be called, disengagement of heat, is uniformly and under all
 circumstances the result of the combination of combustible substan-
 ces with oxygen.
   "In whatever-way carbon may  combine with oxygen, the
 act of combination cannot take place without the disengage-
 ment of heat.  It is a matter of indifference whether the
 combination takes place rapidly or slowly, at a high or  at a
 low temperature; the amount of  heat  liberated is a constant
 quantity.
   "The carbon of the food, which is converted  into carbonic
 acid within the body, must give out exactly as much heat as
 if it had been directly burnt in  the air or in oxygen gas: the
 only difference is, that the amount of heat produced is diffus-
 ed over unequal times.
   "In oxygen, the combustion  is  more rapid, and the  heat
 more intense; in the  air it is slower, the temperature is not so
 high, but it continues longer."
   In the healthy or normal condition of the body, the charac-
 ter and extent of the combustion is controlled by the  vital
 force, and the temperature of the human body is of a regular
 standard,—99 degrees Fahrenheit.   The, means by which the
 animal  economy maintains this standard, are, 1, The amount
 and character, of the combustible matter that is  furnished.
 2, The amount of oxygen that is admitted to the circulation;
 and 3, The evaporation sustained by the cutaneous transpi-
 ration.  All this is superintended  and  singularly  controlled
 by the vis vitce.
  "Since no part of the oxygen  taken into the system is again *
 given off in any  other form but that of a compound of  car-
 bon or hydrogen; since, further,  the carbon and hydrogen °iv-
 en off are, in a normal condition of health, replaced°by  car-
 bon and hydrogen supplied in the food, it is clear, that  the
 amount of nourishment required for its support by the  ani-
 mal body, must be in  direct ratio to the quantity  of oxygen
 taken into the system
  "Two animals, which in equal titms take up by  means of
 the lungs and skin unequal quantities of oxygen,  consume
 quantities of the same nourishment, which are unequal in the
 same ratio.
  "The  consumption  of oxygen in equal times may be ex-
 pressed by the number of respirations; it is clear that in the
 same individual, the  quantity of nourishment required must
 vary with the force and number  of the respirations..
  "A child, in whom  the organs of respiration are  naturally
in a state <|f great activity, requires food oftener, and in great-
 
FEVER.
69
er proportion to its bulk, than an adult, and bears hunger less
easily.  A bird, deprived of food, dies on the third day, while
a serpent, which, if kept under a bell-jar, hardly consumes in
an hour so much oxygen as that we can detect the carbonic
acid produced, can live without food three months and longer.
  "The number of respirations is  smaller in a state of rest
than during exercise or work.  The quantity of food necessa-
ry in both conditions must vary in the same ratio.
  "An excess of food is incompatible with deficiency in  re-
spired oxygen, that is, with deficient exercise; just as violent
exercise, which implies an increased supply of food, is incom-
patible with weak digestive organs. In either case the health
suffers.
  "But the quantity of oxygen which an animal takes up by
the lungs, depends not only on the  number of respirations; it
is also affected by the' temperature and density of the atmos-
phere.
  "The capacity of the chest in an animal is a constant quan-
tity. At every  respiration a quantity  of air enters, the vol-
ume of which may be considered as uniform; but its weight,
and that of the oxygen it  contains, is  not  constant.   Air is
expanded  by heat,  and contracted by cold, and equal volumes
of hot and cold air contain unequal weights of oxygen.  In
summer, air  contains aqueous vapor, in winter it is dry; the
space occupied by vapor in warm air is filled by air itself in
winter; it  contains, for the same volume, more oxygen in win-
ter than in summer.  In summer and in winter, at the pole
and at  the equator, we respire an  equal volume of air; the
cold air warmed during  respiration in the air passages and
pulmonary cells, acquires the temperature  of the body.   To
introduce into the lungs a given volume of oxygen, less ex-
penditure of force is necessary in winter; and for the same
force, more oxygen is inspired.
  "In an equal number of respirations we consume more oxy-
gen at  the level of the sea than on a mountain.  The quanti-
ty of oxygen inspired and of carbonic acid expired, must there-
fore vary with the height of the barometer.
  "The oxygen taken into the system is given out again in
the same forms, whether in summer or winter; hence  we ex-
pire more  carbon in cold weather, and when the barometer is
high, than we do in warm weather; and must consume more
or  less carbon in our food in the same proportion; in Sweden
more than in Sicily; and in our more temperate climate a full
eighth more  in winter than in summer.
  "Even when we consume equal weights of food in cold and
warm countries, infinite wisdom has so arranged, that the  ar-
4 
70                        FEVER.
tides of food in different climates are most unequal in the
proportion of carbon they contain.  The fruits on which the
natives of the south prefer to feed do  not in the fresh  state
contain more than 12 percent of carbon, while the bacon and
train oil used by the inhabitants of the arctic regions contain
from 66 to 80 per cent, of carbon.
  "It is no difficult matter, in warm climates, to study moder-
ation in eating, and men can bear hunger for a long time un-
der the equator; but cold and hunger united very soon exhaust
the body."—Liebig.
  As already remarked, these phenomena are all under the
supervision of the vis vitoe, whose office it is, not only to-su-
perintend the  formation, growth, and full  developemente, of
every part of the animal organism; but to maintain and de-
fend it until the objects of its earthly career are accoie plished.
  But the physiological laws, though supreme, are not always
maintained, and ihe control of the vital principle is not abso-
lute; thus while the body, without its influence, becomes the
immediate subject of arbitrary chemical laws; the vital prin-
ciple on the other hand, is much dependant on the state of the
body for the maintenance of its force, and under eerie ut cir-
cumstances, even, for its union with the body.   On this head
Prof. Liebig very justly remarks:  "The living animal body ex-
hibits its peculiar manifestations of vitality only at certain
temperatures, when exposed to a certain degree of cold, these
vital phenomena entirely cease.
  "The abstraction of heat must, therefore,be viewed as quite
equivalent to a diminution of vital energy; the resistance op-
posed by the vital force to external causes of disturbance must
diminish, in certain temperatures, in the same ratio in -which
the tendency of the elements of the body to combine with the
oxygen of the air increases."*
  Thus vital resistance, like any other power, may be over-
come by a  superior force.  The numerous mechanical and
ihemical agencies may, therefore, become so many sources of
threatening mischief.   But cold, as a morbific agent, certainly
stands unrivalled among all the physical causes of disturbance.
It possesses the most singular potency of overcoming, and di-
minishing vital force.
  A variety of  mischievous consequences* may be expected to
supervene as results of this  diminished condition of the vital
force, and thus  we have the  great catalogue of diseases, that
are arranged, by nosologists, into different classes, orders, and
genera, according to the tissues that they may implicate, their
respective grades of violence, &c.
  _iebig,—Animal Chemistry,—p. 25M.       ~            "
• 
FEVER.
71
  Among the  earliest indications of diminished vitality, are,
uneasiness, dullness, yawning, stretching, lassitude or languor,
debility, loss of appetite, disturbed sleep, wandering pains
and sickness at the stomach.   Thus in the same ratio that vi-
tality declines, it is found that organic lesion supervenes.
  We find that the tissues of the body,  by virtue of their re-
lation with the vital principle, are possessed of sensibility and
irritability, and that under the laws of  these principles,  the
circulation, and  every other function of the  system is  main-
tained.  It is by means of irritation that the singular phenom-
enon of vital reaction is excited.
  Now  after an attention to these  preliminaries, the reader,
it is  presumed, will be able to understand the writers argu-
ments, in  bringing to  bear those propositions already offered,
in the illustration of the essential  phenomena of fever.   It
was proposed:
  1. That combustion is the source of animal heat.
  2. That in the normal or healthy  condition, the chemical
laws, and all the animal functions,,are under  the  control of
the vital force.
  3. That the  vital force, under certain circumstances, may
become diminished, and thus  combustion,  and various other
chemical phenomena, may increase, or be brought to play with
a facility  corresponding with the diminution of vitality, and
that by consequence,  an infinite variety of morbid  conditions
may supervene.
  4. That although vitality may be  diminished, and  disease.
may have set in, yet a  re-action will always  be manifested.
corresponding with the remaining vital force.
  The argument then is, first, that it is clearly evinced in the
first proposition, that in the healthy condition  of the system,
just enough combustion  is carried on by the  union  of the ox-
ygen,  (taken into the circulation through the  lungs, and the
skin,) with the elements of the blood, and the metamorpho-
sis  or worn out tissues of the body, to answer the ends of the
vital economy; while the elements are defended from any fur-
ther influence or interference of the oxygen, by the vital force,
as  shown in the second proposition.  In  the second  place,
when vital protection is wanting, the oxygen will unite more
freely with the combustibles of the body, and thus produce
the increased temperature of fever, while all the other symp-
toms of  this affection,  are brought on, partly, as a result of
this increased combustion, and  partly by the functional de-
rangement brought on directly by the want of vital superin-
tendence, as illustrated in the third proposition.  Finally, the
combustion, and the functional derangements, are  still more 
72
FEVER.
or less limited  by the remaining vitality, (as stated in the
fourth proposition,) and hence the numerous indications of na-
ture, and the origin of the phrase vis mcdicatrix natura.
  It may now be seen, that fever or an abnormal increase of
heat, strictly speaking, is  not a disease, but rather, in this in-
stance, a symptom attending disease, its essential character
being identical with animal heat.   The primary cause of that
variety of  diseased action called  fever, as well  as all other
morbid influences, according to the doctrines here proposed,
is a diminished condition of the vital force.  The remote causes,
are,  cold,  exhaustion or fatigue,  malaria, contagion, tyc.   The
exciting cause is oxygen.
  Fever then does not differ,  in any essential particular, from
disease known by any other name, excepting in its exciting,
and perhaps some of  its remote  causes.
  The circumstances  that are necessary to the rise of fever,
are. 1, debility, and, 2,  irritation in the vascular system.   With-
out the irritation, the  debility alone, would not produce much
of an increase of heat,  for although the process would not
meet with much vital  resistance, yet as  the momentum of the
circulation is not increased, and therefore the blood not recei-
ving more than a usual quantity of oxygen from the lungs, it
is plain, that no increase of  combustion can be supported.—
On the other hand, should the irritation exist alone, and should
the motion of the blood be even considerably accelerated, and
thus receive an  increased  quantity of  oxygen, the tempera-
ture will not be much  increased; as the  free union of the oxy-
gen, with  the combustibles of the  body, is controlled by the
vital power.
  We have an example  of irritation without debility in the
use of vegetable stimulants, such as pepper and ginger; they
increase the pulse but do not produce fever or inflammation,
because they do not produce  duality.
  When some of the  remote causes of fever are compared
with their legitimate effects, the philosophy of this doctrine is
strikingly evinced.  Cold or low temperature, that most pro-
lific source of disease, in  its effects on the system not only di-
minishes vitality, but  contracts the skin—closes its pores, and
thus confines the worn-out, and peccant matter, which nature
had designed to pass off in this way, and which in quantity is
equal to three-fifths, or perhaps two-thirds, of the amount of
all we eat and drink. This crude nratfrial is consequently
carried through the system, in  the circulation, irritating the
delicate coats of the vessels, and giving rise to great vascular
excitement.  The blood, by this rapid circulation, receives an
excessive  amount of  oxygen, in  the lungs, which, meeting 
INTERMITTENT FEVER.
73
with comparatively  little vital resistance, in its union with
the carbon and hydrogen of the blood, as well as the debilita-
ted tissues, gives rise to the increased temperature evinced in
febrile diseases.   The irritating, and poisonous matter com-
municated by contagions, malaria, &c, operate on the same
principles, that is, they diminish vitality and produce vascu-
lar excitement
               INTERMITTENT FEVER.

                   (Febris Intermittens)

  Intermittent fever, as the name denotes, comes on  by par-
oxysms.  These occur, generally, at various regular intervals,
and consist of  three consecutive stages, called the cold, hot,
and sweating stages.  When a paroxysm is over, the patient
feels tolerably comfortable, and is generally able to  do more
or less work, until the occurrence of the next, which is gener-
ally in one, two, or three days.  When the paroxysm occurs
every day,  the ague is  called quotidian;  if every second day,
tertian; and if on every third day, quartan.  The intervals be-
tween paroxysms', are called the apyrcxia or intermissions.

   Symptoms.—The incipient or forming stage of an intermit-
tent paroxysm, is attended with  symptoms which do not dif-
fer much from those of other forms of fever.  There is gen-
erally a sense of lassitude, frequent yawning, and stretching,
and an uncomfortable sense of  weariness of the entire body,
attended with slight pains and-aching in the loins and extrem-
ities.

   Cold Stage.—Sooner or later, after the appearance of the
foregoing  symptoms, the  patient begins to experience slight
and transient sensations of cold, along the  back;   the nails
and lips turn blue, and the skin  pale.   The chilly sensation
now  pervades the whole  body; the patient becomes restless
and irritable in his feelings;  his ideas pass his mind  unusual-
ly rapid, and being*impatient,  he crumps  himself down in a
chair, or goes to bed, shivering and  shaking with the cold.—
The shaking, or rigors, in some instances, become so severe
as to resemble convulsions, and not unfrequently alarm those
unacquainted with this distressing complaint.  During the 
74
INTERMITTENT FEVER.
 chills, the sensibility of the surface becomes benumbed;  the
 skin  unusually  pale, shrunken, and rough,  presenting to the
 touch those small prominences, that have  given rise to the
 name goose-skin, which are caused by the prominence of  the
 bulbs of  the hair, owing to the departure or recession of  the
 fluids from the skin, or cutaneous surface surrounding them.
 During the chills, as well as the following stage, the breathing
 is remarkably quick, and somewhat laborious,  vomiting also
 -occurs in many instances; the matter ejected, is generally  bil-
 lious, .and foul.  The  duration  of this stage is variable,  but
 generally lasts from  15 minutes to  one or two hours.  The
 chills nre not always  as severe  as above noticed, and it seme-
 times happens in  some persons, that  only  a. slight  sense of
 coldness is felt.  Small children seldom shake; they, however,
 exhibit strong signs of chilliness.

   Hot Stage.—The cold stage is rapidly  succeeded by the  hot
or feverish state, which  is  premonished by sickness at  the
 stomach, thirst, and dryness of  the tongue.  As the sensation
 of cold subsides, the color of the skin changes, and  becomes
 red; the countenance  is flushed; tongue dry, and thirst intense.
 The pulse, which in the cold stage is contracted, and weak,
 now becomes full,  hard, and frequent.  The  fever runs high,
 and is attended with intense headache, generally in  the fore-
 head.  The  temperature of the blood, generally,  riges from
 three  to six degrees Fahr.  The hot stage generally lasts con-
 siderably longer than  the cold.

   Sweating Stage.—This stage, which is the effect of vital  re-
 action, constitutes  the last in the paroxysm.  The perspiration
appears first on the face and breast, but soon covers the entire
body, and is, in some instances, so considerable as to wet  the
clothes about the patient.  The headache is now  gone, and
likewise the thirst; the pulse becomes softer and less frequent;
the breathing easy and free; and the heat subsides rapidly.—
The urine now is free and deposites a pale red  sediment,  but
in the preceding stage is scanty, and has no  sediment.  The
perspiration  continues until the patient is entirely free and
comfortable,  enjoying the  condition of apyrexia, or conva-
lescence.

   Cause.—Koino miasmata or poisonous effluvia  arising from
marshes and stagnant waters, is the only general cause of in-
termittent fever; nevertheless,  instances of this disease have
been known to occur from other causes,  such as sudden sup-
pression of accustomed evacuations, &c.  The time  necessa- 
INTERMITTENT FEVER.
75
ry for the developement of the disease, after the exposure, is
generally from  one day to two weeks.  Dr. Macculloch has
stated that it never takes  more than 24 hours from the expo-
sure; but he was most certainly mistaken in the matter.
  Agues most generally occur in autumn, and are much more
prevalent in warm and dry weather.  The distance that this
poison is carried by the atmosphere from the place whence it
emanates, in quantities sufficient to bring on the disease va-
ries very much,  as it is much governed by the direction of the
wand, the lowness of the  ground, &c.   But it is,evidently, in
some instances,  carried a  number of miles.
  Intermittents  are seldom fatal in their termination;  but if
badly managed, or suffered to run on  too  long, they often
bring on other diseases, such  as dropsies, enlargements  of the
spleen, and liver, dyspepsia, and various other diseases, which
are often difficult  to cure. If the two first stages, or  either
of them  become milder, or shorter in their duration;  if the
paroxysms come on at a later hour, or should miss occasion-
ally  altogether;  and if the strength  and  appetite keeps up
good; or when a scabby eruption about the mouth and nose,
breaks out, and the natural discharges, suppressed by the ague,
re-appear, the signs are favorable.  But if the duration of the
cold and hot stages increases; and if the fever and headache
should be very severe, especially if attended with delirium, or
coma; if the  abdomen should grow tense; the tonsels swell
up, or  the urine become  bloody;  or  should the  intermittent
change into a severe remittent, or typhus;  the signs are unfa-
vorable.   But the latter seldom occurs, except in warm coun-
tries, and as a result of bad treatment.

  Treatment.—All common cases of ague  may be safely, and
effectually treated, in the  following way:—First, administer
a lobelia emetic, immediately after the fever subsides, when
the patient is in the sweating stage; this to be followed the
same day, with a dose of  the anti-bilious pills.   When th"se
are done operating, give the following:

   Take of Quinine............:............................................i drachm.
      "   Pulvcrzed dogwood bark,.................................1   do.
      "   (iayenne pepper,.............................................i  uo-

Mix  well, and divide  into nine  powders.  Give  one every
meal time, two  hours before eating, until all be taken.  The
ague will stop before all the powders are taken, but they must.
nevertheless all  be taken; and then be followed up with an-
other dose of pills.   Bitters made by digesting equal parts of
columbo root, and dog-wood bark, in  wine, in the propor-
* 
76
REMITTENT FEVER.
tion of  three ounces of the medicine to the quart of wine,
should now be used in half wine glassful doses, three times a
day, for two or three weeks.
  In cases of  long standing, the first dose of pills should  be
preceded by a coursejOf vapor and lobelia.
  Patients recovering from the ague, should not go to work
too soon; for they are  generally  much  weaker than they are
aware of;  and by imprudent exposure, a  relapse may  be
brought on.
                  REMITTENT FEVER.

                    (Febris Rcmittcns)

  The difference between remittent or bilious fever, and in-
termittent fever,  consists chiefly, in their degrees of violence,
and the continuation of the paroxysms, which latter are in in-
verse ratio, to those of the common  ague.  In the intermit-
tent, the paroxysm generally  occupies only from two to four
hours in twenty four, or forty eight, but  in  the remittent, it
lasts, usually, about twenty, to twenty-two hours, leaving on-
ly an intermission, per day, of the length of time that the par-
oxysm of the intermittent lasts.*  Thus as one paroxysm suc-
ceeds another, so rapidly, it is called remittent.
  Remittent fever is, generally, much  more violent than the
intermittent,  but the grades of its violence  vary very much,
and hence it has, by some writers, been divided into simple re-
mittent, and malignant remittent;  but  this distinction is not ne-
cessary, as it is precisely the same character of fever, only
that it is modified by the idiosyncrasy  of the patient, or the
character of the weather—climate and season.  The malig-
nant type is much more common in warm climates, and sea-
sons, than in  those less so.

  Symptoms.—Before the attack of a remittent fairly sets in,
the  patient experiences the various unpleasant feelings that
are  attendants of all these classes  of  fever.   There is much
languor, drowsiness, and a sense of anxiety, caused by a dull
aching in the back, and limbs.  Generally,'there is a remark-

  •Tlio duration of the paroxysm,  however, ofien  varieT^onsidcrabW^so
much 80, indeed, that two paroxysms are sometimes experienced  in twenty
tour  hours.                                  r          • «*.n»j 
REMITTENT FEVER.
77
ably increased sensitiveness to cold, and shortly before the fe-
brile paroxysms set in, there is a distressing tenderness of the
skin, so that the slightest touch causes pain; even combing of
the hair in a contrary direction,  causes a feeling of soreness,
as if the skin were blistered.  At times, transient chills, alter-
nated with slight flashes of heat, are experienced at this stage.
These  symptoms continue, longer or shorter, until finally the
fever is fully established.   The sufferings of the  patient are
now much enhanced by intense  pains in the head, eyes, back,
and limbs, particularly in the bones of the legs.  There is also
an intolerable soreness of the flesh, lasting for  many days.
The secretions and excretions, (except the bile;) are checked,
and hence the skin is dry, and the mouth and eyes lack mois-
ture; the urine is scanty, and the bowels costive.  The bile is
an impure alkaline product of combustion, corresponding to
the ashes of common combustion in open fires, and is, in this
fever,  very abundant, being diffused throughout the entire sys-
tem, staining the eyes and skin yellow.  The tongue is cov-
ered with a thick brownish yellow fur, and the thirst intolera-
ble.  There is, sometimes, considerable  disturbance of the
stomach, attended with nausea, and vomiting of billious mat-
ter. A sense  of  fulness, is also sometimes felt in the region
of the stomach and liver.  These symptoms, accompanied
with a high fever, run on for a longer or shorter period, when
they moderate down somewhat, or give way  entirely  for a
short time to a slight perspiration.  This remission  generally
occurs in the morning, and lasts only  an hour or two, when
another'paroxysm, perhaps much more  severe, sets in, which
again  yields, like the former, and thus the paroxysms continue
to succeed,  one after another, until the  disease ends in death,
or is either  overcome by the vital force, or is removed by med-
icines; or else yields to an intermittent, or typhus,  according
to the extent of vital resistance.
   It is to be remarked, that the  above description only applies
 to the milder  forms  of remittents, and that the malignant
character is much worse than this, in every way.  Remittents
sometimes seem to prevail as epidemics.

    Cause.—Remittent fever has its  general cause in miasma,
 but is known  to arise  from various other causes.  It seems
 that this requires a more concentrated  form of malaria, than
 intermittents do; or in  other  words, if the atmosphere  con-
 tains  the poison in large quantities, remittents, will be most
 likely to occur, and vice versa.   By investigation, it will  gen-
erally be found, that the epidemic appearance of this  disease,
 is favored by  atmospheric conjunctions;  and in this  way, it 
7S
REMITTENT FEVER,
 it may be accounted for, how it is, that this disease seems  to
 break out as an epidemic, even in sections where the ague
 has never been known.  Suppose that  in the  season  of the
 year, and under the circumstances which, favor the production
 of miasma, a strong current of air should  continue for a few
 days, over a section whence this poison emanates, and pass
 afterwards into a neighborhood, even where the disease was
 never before known, would it not now be likely to prevail?
   Low sections of country are most  subject  to this disease,
 and warm weather, as already remarked,  also favors it most.
   Remittent fever  may  be known from intermittent,  by the
 length of the paroxysms; from  continued fever, by the  remis-
 sion; typhus by the  strength of the patient and  fulness of the
 pulse; from the synochal or inflammatory  grade, by the pres-
 ence of the gastric  and bilious  derangement; and from yel-
 low fever, by the  comparative mildness  of the former, and
 the intense gastric  irritation of the latter, together with the
 appearance of the  black vomit, and more deep yellowness of
 the skin.  Among the favorable symptoms of remittent fever,
 may be considered,  the protraction of the remission; free per-
 spiration; the free  discharge of urine,  depositing a red  or
 brownish sediment; and every  symptom  of its  change into
 an intermittent, the most prominent of which, are, a compar-
 ative mildness of the symptoms  every second day.
  But should the strength of the patient fail rapidly, and the
 remissions grow shorter and less marked; and should the pulse
 sink, and the patient incline to  stupor, or delerium, danger
 may justly be apprehended.

  Treatment.—The  treatment of remittent fever,  mBs-t be
 commenced  by the  use of a thorough emetic, and the  vapor
 bath, which  must be followed by a brisk dose of the cathar-
 tic powder or anti-bilious pills, aided by relaxant enemas.
  During the operation  of the emetic, the patient should
 drink freely  of a  strong  infusion of thoroughwort.  A cold
 iufusion  of  the  same,  may be  also  drank during the opera-
 tion  of the cathartic.
  After the  operation  of the cathartic, the following tonic
 should be used:—

   Take of Dogwood, (bark of the root,)
     "     Scullcap...........................
     "     Quinine...........................

Pulverize the dogwood bark and the scullcap, and mix it well
with the quinine; divide this into nine parts  and take  three-
parts each day, at suitable intervals.   *
l  drachm.
1    do
i    do 
CONTINUED FEVER„
70
  The patient should be washed, all over his body and limbs,
with  the  rebefacient solution; and if this does not keep the
surface moist, the rubefacient oil must be applied freely, once
a day, in addition to this; or if the oil is not at hand, the ba-
thing drops may be used in its stead.
  The sudorific powder, should also be used, in tea spoonful
doses, or less if it should nauseate too much, once every two
hours, alternating with the tonic.
  Should  the disease not  yield by the second day after the
cathartic is given, the emetic and  baths, and also the cathar-
tic, if necessary should be  repeated, and then followed up as
before.
  When there is much fever and  headache, and especially if
there should be delirium, the patient should be sponged with
cold water, and if this does not let down the fever, he  should
be wrapped up in a wet sheet, drinking at the same time a tea
of thoroughwort.
                 CONTINUED  FEVER.

                    (Febris  Continua)

  The term continued fever, is only a relative name, as it is  a
remarkably rare occurrence, if indeed it ever happens, that  a
fever runs its entire course, without an intermission of some
character.  The name is therefore only given, to distinguish
those fevers which have no well marked intermissions,  or re-
missions, from those already described, which have such mark-
ed intervals of relief. To this class belong synocha or simple
inflammatory fever, synochus, typhus, typhoid, and the plague.
But it is thought best, to treat all these separately, for there is
no one of them that does not possess such peculiarities as are
well calculated to distinguish them.  It is therefore diesigned
to treat synochus alone, under this head, as  it best answers to
the name; it Mkewise being that form of fever most generalh
known, through the  country as simple  continued fever.  This
grade of fever, is that most generally met  in common prac-
tice; it occurs in al seasons, climates, and places;  and among
all classes of people.

  Symptoms.—This,  like  some other  forms of fever, admits of
such a variety of modifications, that it is difficult to give such 
80                   CONTINUED FEVER.
a history of the symptoms, as will enable those unacquainted
with it, readily to recognize it in  all its modifications.  The
affection is  sometimes so slight, that medicine  does not be-
come necessary; and again, it occurs in a form so violent, that
it admits of cure with difficulty.  Before  the  fever  rises, the
patient generally complains of considerable debility; corporal
and mental languor, which is succeeded by chills, which are
soon attended alternately with flashes of heat, that continue
until finally the fevers sets in.  In more aggravated  cases, the
fever is ushered in by a distinct cold stage, characterized  by
great lassitude, restlessness, a feeling of tension and  confusion
in the brain, oppressed and anxious breathing, feebleness and
quickness of pulse, a clammy tongue, disgust for food, flatu-
lency, frequent nausea,  retching,  and  vomiting.  The fever
now sets in; the pulse becomes fall and frequent, about 112
to the minute; the face flushed, and the carotid  and temporal
arteries may be seen to throb considerably.   The patient suf-
fers much from headache  and thirst, and becomes  very rest-
less  and peevish.   The tongue is, at first,  white, but soon
becomes  covered  by darkish  brown fur; the skin is hot and
dry;  the urine is generally high colored and without  sediment;
the bowels are torpid, and the discharges assume a clay-color-
ed appearance.  Intolerance of light and sound is  generally
complained of, even from the beginning, and now the patient
is often delerious through the  night, but is generally relieved
against morning, when sometimes a little sleep is obtained.
  These  symptoms generally hold on, for from six to ten days,
with little variation, only that, sometimes, a short interval of
ease is enjoyed in the morning.   About this time  a change
may be looked for; the disease from this generally .declines,
or the patient either dies, or sinks into a low typhus.

  Cause.—This fever is generally brought on  by exposure  to
cold, and fatigue  from hard labor, or other exercise.  Any
cause, in short, that is calculated to diminish the  vital force,
may bring on continued fever'. Sudden changes of the wea-
ther from hot to cold;  the wearing of damp  or wet clothes;
cooling suddenly  when  in a  perspiration; drinking  copiouslv
of cold water while the body  is heated  by exercise; intem-
perance; excessive venery; and violent passions, are all ca-
pable of bringing on the disease, but cold is by far  the  most
fruitful cause of fever.
  By careful attention to the description of the symptoms
simple continued fever may generally be distinguished  from
all  others; but as already hinted, the modifications of this
grade of fever are quite various, and therefore, some difficul- 
CONTINUED  FEVER.
81
ty in its diagnosis may sometimes be experienced.   But hap-
pily the treatment of this, and those other forms of fever with
which it is most likely to be confounded, varies but little.
  Ordinary  fevers of this kind, are not generally dangerous,
but the more difficult cases need care.
  If  the strength of the patient keeps up well, and if the
harshness of the skin should occasionally break into a moist-
ure,  and the tongue  clean off  from the centre, the signs are
good.
  But  should the patient sink rapidly; his  breathing become
hurried; the pupils of his eyes dilate; the pulse become  small
and  sharp;  or should the delirium increase; and should there
be much nervous twitching,  and  picking  of the bed-clothes,
and  the patient  manifest  an urgent desire "to go home;" then
much danger may be apprehended.

   Treatment.—In mild cases  of continued fever, nothing more
may be necessary, than to bathe the surface freely with the
bathing drops, and  drinking freely of a strong  decoction of
 thoroughwort, until  perspiration takes place; when the fever
 may be thrown  off by the help  of frequent doses of the sudo-
 rific powders.  But in violent cases  it may be well to carry
 the  patient through  one or more courses  of the  vapor  baths,
 and lobelia  emetic  in the  onse£; for in these fevers,  the
 stomach soon becomes disordered,  and when  it is  out of
 order, it is in vain to attempt a cure without cleansing it.   As
 to the propriety of the use of the  baths, there can be  no
 question, seeing that in nine cases out of ten, the disease ari-
 ses  from the effects of cold.
   In  order to keep up a  perspiration, the emetic should be
 followed up  with  the free  use of the sudorific powders, or
 thoroughwort infusion.  The  body and limbs should be well
 bathed with the rubefacient  solution, or what  is better, the
 bathing drops;  and the bowels should be kept open, with the
 use of enemas, composed of an infusiofi of thoroughwort, ad-
 ding  mandrake root, and tincture of myrrh, a tea spoonful of
  each, to every injection.
   The main*object in the  cure  of all fevers, is'to keep the
  stomach and bowels  in good order, and the skin moist; and
  if this is  done, all will be safe.  As soon as the skin is well
  relaxed; and, the excretions well restored, the use of tonics
  may  be commenced,  and  perhaps  the tonic powder, in tea
  spoonful doses, three  times a day, will  be as good as any
  other.
    It  should  be remarked, that if there is any subsultus tendi-
  num or muscular twitching, the nervine tonic must be used.
                6 
82
INFLAMMATORY FEVER.
If the /skin is not too much bound or contracted, the diapho-
retic powders may be used alt:rnately with the sudorific pow-
dery.
  If at any time through the treatment, it should become dif-
ficult to keep the surface moist, the vapor must be repeated,
and the emetic too, if necessary.
  The diet should be spare and well regulated.
               INFLAMMATORY FEVER.

                        (Synoclw.)

   This  grade of fever,  in  opposition to others, is named in-
flammatory, as it is attend d with the highest grade of febrile
excitement.  The fever rises suddenly with great inflamma-
tion, and is strongly illusteative of  the new theory cf fever.

   Symptoms.—The fever is generally ushered in with distinct
chills, or rigors, attended with lassitude and debility, which is
soon followed with  a flushed countenance,  a  hot skin, and
headache.  The pulse is, full  and  vigorous, and about one
hundred and  t n, to a hundred and twenty in the minute; the
cye3 look sparkling, full, and are [ ainful and sensitive to the
light; the temporal  and carotid arteries throb violently; the
mouth and throat are dry, and the tongue furr d with white in
the centre, and is very red on the sides.   Breathing  becomes
difficult and  hurried, and the thirst for cold water intolerable:
the bowels arc torpid, and the urine scanty and high colored,
somewhat like brandy.  Sometimes there is a humming noise
in the ears, and there is always a sensitiveness to harsh sounds
and noise. _ The fever, sometimes, runs so high as to affect the
brain, and is  attended with delirium.
  These symptoms generally run on for four or five days, in-
creasing, and the  disease,  if not relieved, usually continues
about nine days, but sometimes longer.   The patient is gen-
erally better in the morning, and worse at night.

   Cause.—The  disease is generally brought on by the same
causes that gave rise to continued  fever, especially  by cold
and checked perspiration.  High solar heat, mechanical inju-
ries, violent passions, and intemperance, often give rise  to it
  Inflammatory foyer may  be  distinguished  from all others 
INFLAMMATORY FEVER.
83
by the purely inflammatory action that characterizes its ex-
citement;  for in this, there seems to be no other morbid  phe-
nomena developed, than the active oxydation of theblood.
Inflammatory fever  is  characterized by  the  same  general
symptoms that attend inflammation.
  In this affection, a free perspiration, diarrhoea, or copious
urinary discharges, containing considerable brown sediment,
may be considered as favorable symptoms.   But  if the  fever
runs high for many days, attended with an unusual quick and
hard  puis % accompanied with early delirium, picking of the
bedclothes,  and sudden jerkings, involuntary discharges by
stool  and urine, the termination is to be dreaded.

   Treatment.—When the fever is high, it is well'to commence
by sponging the whole body with cold wat^r, which is admi-
rably calculated to let down  the  heat, to the great comfort of
the patient.   After this, the great object will be, to  get the
patient into a copious sweat; and for this purpose the sudorific
powder should be used, but it should be given in  small  doses,
 often repeated, until the system  becomes relaxed,  when it
 may  be given freely.  The vapor bath should always  be used
 to promote perspiration when  it cannot be produced by other
 more simple means.  Broken doses of lobelia given once in
 15 minutes, will promote this object remarkably.   When the
 skin  is dry and harsh, and  this  condition should not readily
 yield to  the  means here recommended, the body  and limbs
 must be  well bathed  with  warm water, in which a  table
 spoonful of saleratu3 is dissolved, and this to be followed with
 the bathing drops, frequently applied.   As soon as the patient
 is brought into a perspiration, a lobelia emetic should  be ad-
 ministered, and during the op  ration an infusion of thorough-
 wort, or pnnyroyal, should be  drank freely.    It should be
 recollected that it is not best to  use much  pepper, or  active
 stimulants in fevere, whih the skin is dry and contracted —
 The relaxants and milder diaphoretics, or sudorifics, and anti-
 spasmodics must be used.   But  when the skin is free, cayenne
 pepper and other active stimulants may be given, even in
 large doses.  Astringents  are often used in the form of the
 common diaphoretic, or composition powders; but this class
  of remedies should not be used in these cases, especially while
 the  skin is contracted.   In violent case3, it may be advisable to
  use the vapor and lobelia in regular courses, and repeated occa-
  sionally, until  the fever is broken up.   When there is much
  headache, which, if it does  not  yield readily to those means
  already prescribed, a dose of mandrake or anti-bilious pills
  should be administered, especially, if the bowels should t>e 
84                    TYr-HUS FEVER.
 bloated and tender.   For this purpose, the use of the syringe
 should be frequently practiced.  The head may also be reliev-
 ed by cold applications, such as vinegar and water, applied
 by means of a cloth.  Sinapisms, or mustard plasters, and also,
 bruised horse-radish leaves, applied to the feet, will generally
 relieve the head.

   Tonics.—In this, as in other cases of fever, the use of tonics
should be commenced  a^s  soon as the system  is prepared for
them; that is, when all obstructions are removed.   They are
intended to strengthen, and  brace up the system.   For this
purpose, the spiced bitters or bitter tonic will answer  very
well.
                    TYPHUS FEVER.

                      (Enecia Typhus.)

   It is difficult to point out all the various morbid conditions,
 that have been known by this name.  By some physicians, all
 low fevers, are called typhus;  and others again confound  un-
 der this name all low fevers which are accompanied by stupor
 and delirium.
   This disease has generally  been divided, in modern times,
 into two varieties, called typhus mitior or mild typhus, and typhus
 gravior or malignant typhus.   More recently,  a new division
 has been made, and a variety of typhus has been set off as a
 distinct disease, to be known  under the  name  typlioid fever;
 this will be treated under a seperat® head.
   Typhus fever, as now recognized by many of the most pop-
 ular authors, is a distinct idiopathic disease,  having an inde-
 pendent origin; commencing like  synochus, and then passing
 into a low state, which is charaoferized by a stunned or torpid
 condition of the sensorial powers; with delirium and  Great
 prostration of strength.  But  it is evident that  typhus "may
 follow as a result of nearly all continued  fevers, and also in
 some cases of remittents; especially if not rightly managed in
 medical treatment.
                                  t

   Symptoms.—-Typhus fever commences, when it is no* the *e-
 qual of some other febrile condition, usually, with the follow
ing premonitory symptoms, viz; "A peculiar uneasy sensation 
TYPHUS FEVER.
85
in the pit of the stomach, want  of appetite,  slight  giddiness
and nausea, pale, shrunk, and dejected countenance, dull and
heavy eyes, often tremor of the  hands, and a general feeling
of weariness, debility, and  disinclination to mental and cor-
poral action.  These premonitory symptoms usually continue
from three  to six days, terminating in those which mark the
stage of invasion,—viz; slight chills, alternating with flushes
of heat; an entire disgust for every kind of food; tongue cov-
ered with a thick whitish fur; considerable nausea, and some-
times vomiting; a quick,  small, and irregular pulse;  a confus-
ed and heavy  sensation  in the  head, and  increased mental
and physical depression.   This stage generally occupies from
six to twelve hours, and  terminates in the stage of excitement.
The febrile heat now increases considerably, the face is slight-
ly flushed, the pulse rises in strength and fulness; the skimbe-
comes dry,  and the lips parched: there is a considerable thirst
for cool drinks, the tongue becomes more furred and slimy, the
bowels are  usually torpid, the mind is more confused, the pa-
tient  fretful, restless, and watchful, with an anxious expres-
sion of  the countenance; the urine is small in quantity and
reddish, the head feels heavy, much confused and vertiginous;
during the  first two days of this stage, occasional manifesta-
tions of slight delirium  occur during the night.   About the
end of the second or during the third day of this stage, slight
catarrhal symptoms usually supervene, such  as suffused  and
injected eyes, moderately inflamed fauces, somewhat painful
deglutition, more or less oppression in the chest attended, gen-
erally, with a short dry cough.   There is often some tension
and tenderness in the hypochondrium, [side of the stomach,]
especially the right one,
  "Pains in the back, loins, and extremities, are rarely absent
in this stage, and in most cases  a general soreness is experi-
enced throughout the whole body.  Towards the close of the
third day of the stage of excitement, there is usually much gid-
diness and sensorial obtuseness [dullness] present; the patient
appearing, even at this early period of the disease, as if under
the influence of some narcotic.   The cerebral functions now
become more and more  disturbed, hearing becomes obtuse,
delirium more frequent and considerable, and the general tor-
por gradually increases.  ^Hildebrand asserts that a peculiar
milliary exanthema [eruption] occurs on the surface about the
fourth day  of this stage, which  he considers essential to the
perfect and regular developement of the disaase.  The  same
observation is made by rtartman.  One of the most striking
characteristic phenomena in typhus, is the almost insurmoun-
table  aversion to corporeal and intellectual exertion manifes-
4 
86
TYPHUS FEVER.
ted throughout nearly the whole course of the disease.  The
patient  moves slowly, and seemingly with  great r luctance,
and  his answers to questions are hesitating, short and peev-
ish.  The stage of excitement generally continues about six
or seven days, before it terminates in the  stage of colapse,
though this sinking stage sometimes supervenes [sets in,] at a
much earlier period; and occasionally comes on a few days
later."—(Ebcrlc)
  The patient now becomes very feeble and  prostrated.^ The
tongue becomes  thickly "covered with a brown and, finally,
black coat; the teeth  encrusted with  black sordes;  there is,
generally, much subsultus tendinum or twitching of the mus-
cles.  There is  also, a very peculiar biting  heat of the skin,
and sometimes the latter turns purple or black in spots. The
discharges from the bowels, which often become thin and wa-
tery, are exceedingly offensive;  and as the disease advances,
the patient becomes indifferent to all surrounding objects, will
not often even notice his most intimate friends whom he has not
seen for a long time;  when spoken to,  his answers are short
and unintelligent, and are generally ended  with a  low mut-
tering delirium.   The voice becomes  peculiarly strange and -
sepulchral.  As the patient gets lower, the coma or  stupor
becomes more constant and complete,  and it is now with dif-
ficulty that the patient is aroused at all, and even when he is
made to speak, it will only be a word  or two, when he will
again fall back into a deep stati of stupor.  The easiest time
the patient has, is, generally, in the morning.  Before disso-
lution, the poor sufferer usually experiences a respite, lasting
longer or shorter, but generally several  hours, in  which he
possesses his senses, and  mental faculties,  nearly as well as
in health.  This is certainly a great blessing;  the dying man
may know his danger, and his friends and relatives may  en-
joy the great satisfaction of conversing with a friend whom
they shall shortly see no more on earth.  This relief is well
calculated to deceive  many, who are flattered thereby to  ex-
pect a speedy recovery, whereas, it is  only the  precursor or
forerunner of death.  After  this respite, the patient again
sinks rapidly into the former  condition, and continues grow-
ing worse until he dies.

   Cause.—The cause of typhus fever is by some  referred  en-
tirely to a specific  contagion, and it is  obvious that under
some circumstances it may be communicated in this way.  In
densely populated cities, where the air must of necessity be
more or less contaminated  with  putrid effluvia arising from
the decomposition of animal matter; and in camps, hospitals,

                  * 
TYPHUS FEVER.
87
jails, and in the miserable  hovels of some of the poor where
due cleanliness is not observed, this  disease is always found
to  be  much  more prevalent.  It is stated  that during the
campaigns of the French against Russia the typhus contagion,
which  was generated in the  hospitals and houses crowded
with prisoners and the sick, was eommunicat d to the inhabi-
tants along the road by which the soldi :-rs returned; and that
the  disease from this, afterwards, spread gradually into the
adjaeent districts, until it became very common.  The route
of the  army, returning from Poland through Germany, could
be readily  traced by the desolating train of  the disease that
followed.
  The  difference between the  miasma that generates ty-
phus and remittent, or intermittent fevers, is, that  the  latter
arises from the decomposition of vegetables, while the former
is caused by the decomposition of animal matter.  But what-
ever the character of the contagion may be, it is certain that
unless  debility supervenes,  and thus subjects the  system to its
influence, those  exposed to the contagion will pass with im-
punity.  Every  cause of debility,  such as blood-letting, the
use of  poisonous minerals,  drastic  purges, cold,  fatigue, &c,
must be carefully avoided.   The prevalence of the disease  is
much enhanced by a certain train  of circumstances that are
generally to be witnessed in all  families, which this  disease
has invaded.  Such is the  dread  entertained for it,  that as
soon as a member of a family is taken down with it, all hearts
fail, despondency sinks the  spirits, the appetite declines, sleep
flees away, and a permanent  debility  sets in. This state of
things  illy qualify persons to go through the hardships and fa-
tigues  brought upon the friends of the  sick, by their solicitude
and anxiety.  If now the chamber or sick room  is neglected,
and net sufficiently ventilated, and cleansed, those thus expos-
ed, are almost certain to contract the affection.   But all this
need not happen, if the precaution be  observed, that collater-
al circumstances alone, make this disease contagious.
  Abatement of the heat and  thirst,  moisture of the surface.
and cleansing of the tongue, but especially the subsidence of
the delirium and stupor, may be regarded as favorable symp-
toms.
  The  unfavorable symptoms, are, violent delirium, unusually
small intermitting and fluttering pulse, loss of vision, difficul-
ty of deglutition or swallowing, involuntary stools and urine,
distortion of the muscles  of the face, unusual  staring, and
change of  the countenance, &c.

   Treatment.—In the very onset, the patient should be carried 
ss
TYPHUS FEVER.
through a course of the vapor bath and lobelia emetic, which
is to be followed with a dose  of the anti-bilious pills; during
the operation of the emetic, as well as the pills, the strength
of the patient should be sustained by nourishing broths,  or
porridge.   The baths and emetics must be repeated, if the dis-
tressing and febrile symptoms do not yield to the other means,
that may be employed.  From the commencement, cayenne
pepper should be freely and perseveringly employed, both in-
ternally and externally; and the compound tincture of myrrh
should be occasionally used.  Enemas, composed of an infu-
sion, of the astringent tonic and as much  compound tincture
of myrrh as the  patient can  bear,  should  be administered,
three or four times in the  course of twenty  four hours.  But
should the bowels not be kept open by those means, this end
must be accomplished by an occasional dose of rhubarb, for
if the bowels are not protected from morbid accumulation,
the  delirium, and danger will always be greater.  But the
precaution  not to  use  any unnecessary physic or any other
means calculated to reduce  the strength of the patient rapid-
ly, is very important.   The nervine tonic should be freely used
to calm the nervous system.,
  Common pepper sauce is  a very good article to be used  in
typhus fever; and when there  are strong symptoms of putrid-
ity, charcoal properly prepared, should be,  freely used; for this
purpose, yeast is also recommended highly by some.

  Frictions  and rubefacients.—There  is no disease,  in  which
these means are more important, than in  typhus fever.   The
surface should be frequently washed off by the use of the ru-
befacient wash, and afterwards, well bathed with bathing drops;
but should they not prove sufficiently active, the rubefacient
oil must be used. •

  Ventilation.—Great care should be taken  to keep the pa-
tient's  room well ventilated, and the chamber  mug should al-
ways contain some chloride of lime, which  can be procured
of the  apothecary at a  small price.  By means  of the latter
article, the  effluvia attending typhus fever, can be entirely
neutralized.

  Tonics.—The use of  active  tonics, in this complaint, is very
important.   The dogwood,  or columbo, or any other good bit-
ter  preparation, should be early used.  The  diet also, should
be nourishing and well regulated. 
TYPHOID FEVER.                   89
                   TYPHOID FEVER.

                      (Dothinenteria)

  This affection, as already noticed, has generally been con-
founded with typhus fever, and the English physicians, are
still reluctant about admitting typhoid fever as worthy of con-
sideration, seperate from typhus.  But in our  country  and
France, it is pretty  generally recognized as a different affec-
tion.  The disease, anitomically considered, seems more par-
ticularly to implicate the bowels and brain. Post mortem ex-
aminations have  discovered extensive affections  of the mu-
cus membrane of the lower  part of the  small,  and upper
part of the large intestines, and particularly the glands  of
Peyer, and sometimes those of Brunner, (so named after the
men who discovered them.)  Opposite, of those patches, the
glands in the mesentery, are also in a diseased and enlarged
state.   The spleen, also, in nearly  all cases, is  softened and
enlarged; in some cases, it is found four or five  times its nat-
ural size.

   Symptoms.—The symptoms  of typhoid fever,  are, most  of
them nearly the same as typhus.  Those of the first four  or
five days, need not here be enumerated, as they can seldom,
in the main, be distinguished from  those attending typhus  in
the corresponding stage.  About this time, or perhaps sooner,
a diarrhoea sets in, and is an almost  constant attendant,' and
about the sixth day, a peculiar eruption breaks  out, over the
breast and abdomen, called rose patches  or sudamina.  The
bowels bloat considerably, and the abdomen becomes tense,
and the spleen often swells so as to be distinctly felt externally
under the edge of the ribs.  Like typhus, this fever is charac-
terized by great stupor, and generally, more or  less delirium.
The tongue is, generally, considerably coated, dry, and glossy
along the edges, often cracked, and bleeding; the countenance
is red or purpleish, and suffused; the  expression sunken, va-
cant, or wild, and spasms of the lips and muscles of the jaws are
not unfrequent.  The pulse, which at first, is not generally
very much accelerated, in the  more advanced  stage, grows
. more frequent and tense.  Bleeding at the nose, and from the
bowels, is not unfrequently an attendant.  Typhoid fever is
 not generally considered contagious.

   Cause.—Among the various agents that give.rise to this  af- 
90
TYPHOID  FEVER.
fection, might be named all those that produce typhus, excep-
ting the contagion.   It would  seem that in connection  with
the common febrific agencies of this  affection, there is found
a collateral or concurrent one, that determines the morbid in-
fluence to the bowels, and inferior glands.  Now, the cause
of typhoid fever is well illustrated, if  a profile of the common
causes of continued fevers, and those of dysenteries, are view-
ed together; and as typhoid affections are generally  the  most
prevalent in the same season, in  which dysenteries are  most
common, this view of the matter is entitled to much credit.
  Typhoid fever may be distinguished from typhus, by the di-
arrhoea, headache, bloated condition of the bowels, rose spots,
and the enlargement of the spleen.
  When this affection terminates in health, it generally  con-
tinues only from two to four or five  weeks, when it is over-
come by the vital force.   The  affection is not generally  con-
sidered  as dangerous as typhus.
  Among the favorable symptoms, may be reckoned, the sub-
sidence of the stupor and headache,  return of memory, free
perspiration, copious discharge of urine,  and natural appear-
ance of the stools.
  But it is always discouraging to see the delirium and head-
ache continue, the pulse frequent and low, purj le cheeks, in-
voluntary discharges in bed, retention of urine, irregular breath-
ing, rigidity of the muscles, convulsive movements,  cold ex-
tremities with the  nails  turning to a purpleish black,  loss of
vision and hearing, and distortions of the countenance.

  Treatment.—In this disease, the first object to be accomplish-
ed,  is to get up  an action in the surface;  this may be done in
the  following way; apply the vapor bath until the patient per-
spires freely,  then wipe  oft* and apply  the rubefacient oil or
lathing drops; after this, a good dose of the neutralizing  mix-
ture should be given, and followed up with additional doses,
every hour or two, until the bowels are well cleansed.   This
will carry oft' an astonishing amount of filth from the bowels.
If the patient is not relieved by this,  he must  lave another
course of the  vapor, and as soon  as through with this, he
should have a good dose of lobelia, to be repeated every 'ten
or fifteen minutes, until copious vomiting is produced, which
must be followed up with the free use of  the  sudorific,  dia-
phoretic, or Thomson's composition powders.  The use of the
syringe  must not be neglected in this affection; as the bowels
need the application of the infusion of astringent tonic  with
a little of Thomson's No. 6, in it.   The bowels should be kept
open with the use of the neutralizing mixture, administered 
YELLOW FEVER.
91
<every other day in doses large enough to move them-  The
cholera syrup is an excellent medicine in this  disease, and
may be freely used when the bowels are cleansed.  To insure
success in the treatment, the skin must be kept moist constant-
ly, by the use of diaphoretics and liniments, or other appro-
priate  means.  The nervine tonic, should there be much ner-
vous irritation, must be used in propper doses several times a
day, to calm the nervous system, and the use of the bitter ton-
ics must be early instituted.  Fomentations applied external-
ly, are sometimes of signal benefit to the bowels.

  Di;t.—The diet should be light and  nourishing, but should
always be used in moderate  quantities.  Over-eating, in this
disease, is always attended by serious consequences.  Slip-
pery elm water affords a very good drink.
                    YELLOW FEVER.

                     (Febris Ictoroics.)

  This is a disease of warm climates, raging more in the trop-
ics than  elsewhere,  especially in  the  West Indies.  But in
warm seasons it has been known to visit with violence, places
as far north  as  Boston, Massachusetts.   Medical men are
much divided  in  relation to the cause and  character of this
form of fever.  Some consider it a species of the indigenious
remittent fever of this country, and that  it is brought on by
the same general cause;  while others consider it a  distinct
disease, which is propagated by a specific  contagion that orig-
inated in the East Indies, and from thence conveyed to the
West Indies, and thence to the continent  of North America.
Sauvages says, that it was imported into Martinique in the
year 1636, from Siam, by a ship called Oriflame.  It first ap-
peared in this country in the autumn of  1699* in Philadel-
phia, and it is stated that it  appeared, the same  season, in
Charleston, S. C.  In 1702, it appeared in New York, and in
1703 it re-appeared in Charleston; and it appears from Dr. Li-
ning, that it also prevailed in this city, in the years 1732,1739,
1745, and 1748; and from  Dr. Harris, it would seem that  it
  *It appears, however, from Hutchison's history of New England, that a fever
similar in character, was imported into Boston, trom Martinique, by the fleet of
Sir Francis Wheeler, in the year 1693. 
92
YELLOW  FEVER.
 was again known there in 1792, but perhaps he means 1794.
 It is certain, however, that it had appeared there also in 1761.
 It re-appeared in Philadelphia in the year 1741, and prevail-
 ed, also, in 1747, and 1762.  It also re-appeared in New York
 in 1748, after which it was not  known again, in this country
 until the year 1793, when it prevailed again in Philadelphia
 with dreadful mortality, and  the following year  Charleston
 was again visited.   New York suffered from it  again,  the
 year  after it occurred, this time, at Charleston; since which
 time it has been of very frequent occurrence in those, a.s well
 as many other places on the seacoast from Maine to Louisi-
 ana, and indeed not only on the seacoast, but far in the inte-
 rior of some of the southern States.

  Symptoms.-— Yellow fever usually commences suddenly, with
 a sense  of giddiness,  headache accompanied by  chills and
 shivering, pain in the limbs  and back.  This is  succeeded,
 generally, in from a few, to twelve hours, with the fever which
 is marked by a flushed countenance, red eyes, extreme head-
 ache, great thirst, and throbbing of the arteries.  The tongue
 though sometimes clean, is generally a little coated with white;
 there is usually a want of appetite,* and asensation of weight
 and oppression, and  not unfrequently, pain at the stomach;
 and in the course of  12 to  24 hours after the fever sets in, the
 patient becomes harrassed with distressing nausea and vomi-
 ting, which is aggravated by drinks.   The matter thrown up
 consists,  at first, of such fluids as are drank,  but this is often
 followed with a considerable bilious matter, very acrid to the
 taste.  The violence of the fever now increases; the patient
 becomes restless and anxious; "the countenance assumes an
 indescribable expression of distress and  hopelessness." These
 symptoms generally increase for  36 hours, and then give way
 or decrease for a similar length of time, when the patient ei-
 ther recovers, or enjoys a short  respite or remission only to
 prepare for another attack of  still greater severity than the
 first paroxysm.  The poor sufferer, in a few  hours, becomes
 distressed with a severe burning  and painful sensation at the
 stomach, accompanied with an almost constant  sickness and
 straining to vomit; the matter thrown up, at this stage, con-
sists of a greenish watery mass, of the consistence  of mucil-
 age, containing many minute flakes floating through it.  The
thirst for cold water is intense, but all drinks serve°only to ag-
gravate the nausea and vomiting.  The eyes are yellow, and
the skin about the neck and breast also become considerably
 •*Ithas been observed that, in some cases there is an urgent hunger eXDerien
ced by the patient at the subsidence of the first paroxysm. 
YELLOW FEVER.
93
 stained  by the  diffusion of bile.   At this  period also, some-
 times, the yellow appearance extends over the body and limbs,
 forming a dirty, yellow color of the entire  body, whence the
 name of the disease; but if this diffusion into the capilliaries
 does not occur at a period so early, the yellowness of the skin
 will not generally become very prominent.
   This second  stage, generally, continues about as long as
 the first, during which time many die; but those who survive
 either mend from this period, or shortly pass into the  third
 stage, which differs considerably from either of the two first.
 The  pulse now sinks rapidly; the tongue is coated with a
 brown or black fur; the vomiting is almost continuous and ex-
 ceedingly  severe, and the matter now ejected is of a dark
 brown or  black, resembling coffee grounds, (called the black
 vomit) suspended  in a glary or yellowish brown liquid; the
 burning in the  stomach becomes intolerable; the discharges
 from the bowels are  green or black; and frightful haemorrha-
 ges often ensue.  The extremities grow cold; and  hiccough,
 and violent  convulsions close the scene; or the  patient may
 sink away from the loss of blood.   Delirium often sets in be-
 fore death.

   Cause.—As already hinted, there has been much difference
 of opinion among physicians, as to the cause  of  this disease;
 but it is  now  pretty generally conceded  that  it is most com-
 monly of miasmatic origin, but that it is not dependent on the
 putrid effluvia, arising from the  decomposition of  vegetable
 matter, alone, as it may, and  does frequently arise, and  pre-
vail  alarmingly, from iddio-miasmala,  or the  putrid effluvia
 arising frOm the decomposition of animal matter, and hence
 the poison  communicated by those laboring under the disease,
is a fruitful source of yellow fever.
  Dr. Thomson  considered that the principle in the infected
 atmosphere, which is the  cause of this disease,  is a nitrous
gas,* which is very poisonous, and which from its known pro-
perties or character, is entirely adequate to the production of
this disease.  He states,  that when it arises from marshes or
the decomposition of vegetables  containing nitrogen, it, from
its specific gravity (being a little greater than that of the at-
 mosphere,) is confined to low countries, and hence the  more
frequent occurrence of this, and other miasmatic diseases, in
lowgrounds  and along streams, on the surface of which, he
says, this poison is carried  in great density.
  The protoxide of nitrogen is of a specific gravity a little less
than that of the atmosphere, and if Dr. Thomson's views  are
  ♦Deutoxideof nitrogen. 
94
YELLOW  FEVER.
 correct, this combination of nitrogen may account for the oc-
 casional appearances of miasmatic diseases on high grounds.
   The suddenness of the attack, the extreme nausea and irri-
 tability of the stomach, the black vomit, and the yellowness of
 the skin, are the  principal characteristics of  this  complaint.
 But these peculiarities are chiefly confined to the more vio-
 lent cases of the disease.  When the attack is more mild the
 symptoms very much  resemble the common remittent fever,
 only, it is considerably  more attended  by irritability cf the
 stomach.
   Yellow fever may justly be considered a dangerous disease;,
 sometimes proving rapidly fatal, even in a few hours.  Its du-
 ration  is generally, from five to seven  days.  The unfavora-
 ble signs, are the  black vomit, delirium, and convulsions.

   Treatment.—Dr. Thomson gives the  following:—
  "This disease shculd  be treated with  the  mest  rigorous
 course of medicine [/ <\  vapor baths, lobelia emetics, and enemas,']
 and a continued perspiration must  be  ke t up.  The surface
shculd often be bathed with a strong alkaline wash,  made cf
hard wood ashes put into water and allowed to settle and then
 mixed  with whisky or West India rum, to clear the glutinous-
 substance from the pores, and prevent an absorption of the
 morbid matter that has worked out by  perspiration.   Baths
should be used daily, and the  temperature of th^ system gen-
 erally, should be k pt as regular, and  as near that of health
 as artificial  means will  effect it.   Scups and  gruels, highly
 seasoned, should be taken  as food;  and strong tonic mixtures,
such as bitters, syrup, &c, to strengthen, shculd  be u?ed as
soon as the  state  of  the stomach will  p.rmit cf  such treat-
ment.  The saline properties of  the blood become much re-
duced  by this  disease, by  which  means the system becomes
very putrid, therefore pepper and salt should be used in great
profusion in the nourishment after  thorough courses of medi-
cine."  The Doctor's obj ct may  be effected in the following
 way: in severe attacks, the patient, after taking a few doses
 of cayenne pepper, should be immediately  placed  over a va-
 por bath, which should be raised gradually until the free  per-
 spiration appears, when the body should be wiped with a dry
 towel,  and  the following wash applied:—

    Take of common salt................................„...... <*..m„„1,  r i
     ..  n„                       —........-« tabic spoonfuls.
         Ca}el,n;  pepper.........................„„........u   ^

Pour on half a  pint of boiling water;  now take a sdooi*
and stir it until the salt is dissolved.                   ^ 
SCARLET FEVER.                    95
  This should be prepared while the patient is in the bath, so
as to have it ready when it is needed.   As soon as the patient
is  thus bathed, he must have an active lobelia emetic; and
an  enema,  composed  of an  infusion  of thoroughwort,  to
which should be added a tea spoonful of brown lobelia, and
one teaspoonful of the tincture of  myrrh.  During the oper-
ation of the emetic, the patient should drink freely of an in-
fusion of thoroughwort and n rvine tonic, and must also  be
well supported by nourishing  broths.    Prepared charcoal, if
tak n after the operation of the emetic, in table spoonful do-
ses, will  generally quiet the stomach.  Th^ bowels must  be
k?pt free with the use of  enemas.  Should this first course
not break up the disease it must be repeated until the urgent
symptoms yield; the lobelia need not, perhaps, be used in such
large  quantities, in the subsequent courses; nevertheless, if
the disease should still prove obstinate, it must be used as at
first.  Mild  cases of this disease may  be treated in the same
way recommended for remittent fever
  As soon as the skin becomes  permanently relaxed, active
tonics should, in this disease always be instituted.
  The  apartment of the sick must be well ventilated and
cleanliness be strictly observed.  Chloride of lime  may  be
used to correct the effluvia; see this article by reference to the
index.
                   SCARLET FEVER.

                       (Scarlatina)

  This disease like mest others,  is suscptiblc cf varicus de-
grees, as to its vio#l nee, and hence, has generally been divi-
ded by authors, into several grades.  The  three following,
however, alone  are worthy of  consideration in the present
cas^, namely, scarlatina simplex, s. anginnsa, and s. maligna.—
The first of the varieties, consist of a mild attack of the dis-
ease, in which the fever s ldom runs high, but there is an
eruption or effloresence on the  surface, giving to  the skin
quite  a scarlet  appearance, which generally sets in,  in the
course of frcm two to three days after the appearance of the
usual premonitories of the fever, such as lassitude stretching,
drowsiness, and  chills.  This variety of the disease generally
passes off in the course of a few days;  the eruption by desqua-
mation. 
96
SCARLET FEVER.
  The second, scarlatina anginosa. is characterized by a very
high fever,* and a more  regular or complete eruption, atten-
ded, moreover, with inflammation and ulceration of the  fau-
ces, and throat.  The fever is early accompanied with a kind
of stiffness and dull pain in the muscles of the neck, and un-
der the ears and angles of the jaw.   Deglutition now becomes
difficult and painful, and the fauces, on examination, will be
found to be of a scarlet appearance, like the surface, and to
be enlarged.  In bad cases, the inflammation, in these parts,
runs very high, and in many cases, results in suppuration.
  The scarlet eruption, in  this variety, does not appear as
early in the disease as it does in  the simple variety, and al-
though it is most generally more complete  when it does ap-
pear, yet it frequently recedes the second day after its appear-
ance, and is not observed again for a number of days, when
it is again developed.  It may be regarded as a general rule,
that as many days as the eruption disappears, so long will the
crisis of the disease be protracted, as the patient does not gen-
erally improve during this  time.
  If the fever declines  as  early as the fourth or fith day, the
inflammation of the throat  will be likely to  pass off with the
fever and  eruption, and suppuration  may not ensue.   But
should the fever run very high and continue  beyond this peri-
od, and should the  swelling and  inflammation in the throat
be considerable, ulceration  may be expected.
  The third variety, .v. maligna, presents a series of phenome-
na still more to be dreaded;  but it is indeed probable that a
large majority of these cases, follow as a result of bad man-
agement in the medical treatment.   It is deeply to be deplo-
red that the fashionable practice of medical  treatment, in ma-
ny cases of disease, is more  injurious than  beneficial.   The
most active poisons known constitute  many of  the  articles
most depended upon, by many physicians, in the cure of  dis-
ease!
  "Although this form of the disease usually commences like
the preceding variety, it soon betrays its violent and  danger-
ous character.   The eruption comes out at  uncertain periods
from the second to the fourth day;  and is usually pale  when it
first makes its appearance, acquiring, in most instances, a  dark
or lived hue in the progress of the disease.'  It is also  very ir-
regular in its duration, and often suddenly disappears Soon af-
ter it appears; and re-appears on some other parts, of the bo-
dy  two or thr-e  days  afterwards.  The temperature of the
skin is variable and not generally veryjntenscf;' and the pulse,

  *,n«Vie,^C!1WiISOn IT f°u,nd th° tenW<u>-e7ven of the surfa^T^
as 108 to 112 degrees, tahrenheit.                                » 
                      SCARLET FEVER.                    ?)?

though in the commencement active, becomes small and fee-
ble in the course of the second day.  Delirium  generally oc-
curs at an early period, and often continues with occasional
intermissions and exacerbations, throughout the subsequent
course of the disease.  In nearly all cases, the sensorial func-
tions suffer very considerable disturbance; and in aggravated
instances, the eyes are dull and inflamed, and the cheeks suf-
fused with  a livid flush.  The tongue is dry, and covered with
a brown or dark fur; the breath foetid.  On examining the
fauces, clay colored sloughs are  seen on the soft palates and
tonsils, which acquire  a brown and at last a dark color. The
disease, however, sometimes terminates fatally under  symp-
toms of cerebral oppression, before the ulcers become exten-
sive or acquire a very bad appearance.   "In general," says
Dr.  Armstrong, "it is  only when the fever is protracted be-
yond the fourth day, that the ulcers are converted into ill-con-
ditioned, black, and  foetid sloughs."   There is generally  a
large quantity of very vicid mucus secreted and lodged in the
fauces, giving rise to difficult respiration, and a rattling noise
in the throat.   When the sloughs are foul  and excessive, a
thin acrid fluid  is generally discharged from the nose, occa-
sioning irritation and excoriation of the  parts with which it
comes in contact.  In cases of a particularly violent charac-
ter, colapse supervenes towards  the middle or end of the sec-
ond week of the disease.  When this  occurs the heat of the
surface sinks; the pulse becomes very frequent and feeble;
the tongue dark brown or black; the animal powers greatly
prostrated; painful diarrhoea often ensues, and in some instan-
ces, petechiae and hemorrhages  fromlvarious parts occur to-
wards the  fatal termination of  the disease.  The fever and
ulcerous  affection of the  throat frequently exists, without an
eruption at any period of the disease.  Death  sometimes
takes place, as early as the second or the third day, and Bate-
man observes, that occasionally  the symptoms continue to be
moderate until  an advanced period, when they suddenly  as-
sume a malignant and rapidly fatal character."—(Eberle)

   Cause.—Scarlatina is generally supposed to depend for  its
cause on a specific contagion.                         r

  Measles, and miliary fever, are the only diseases with which
scarlatina is likely to  be confounded.  During the first or sec-
ond day, and indeed, during the entire course of the milder
grades of this disease, the diagnosis is made out with difficul-
ty.   Eberle states that "there is not a single symptom that can
be regarded as absolutely peculiar and characteristic of scar-
               7  ' 
 '."H                    SCARLET FEVER.

 let fever."   It is true that when the disease is fully developed
 the difficulty will be less, but it often happens that the erup-
 tion is wholly or nearly absent; or it may be much diffused
 and blended; again it may appear in blotches.  The  follow-
 ing circumstances, however, will generally enable us to dis-
 tinguish scarlet fever from measles.  The eruption in the for-
 mer, generally comes  out earlier, usually  within the  first 48
 hours  of the existence of the fever; while in measles, the rash
 rarely appears before the third day, and most commonly not
 until the fourth; and in this, the eruption also  differs in char-
 acter,  from that of scarlatina.  In the  latter it is more diffu-
 sed  and blended, giving the appearance of a deep blush of
 the  skin, and the eruption  is very little elevated above the
 common surface; whereas in measles the eruption is elevated
 somewhat above the surrounding parts, and consists of nume-
 rous small circular dots, like flea bites, being of a deeper red
 in their centre, paler on the circumference;  so that even
 though the redness of the spots may run together, yet the skin
 will nevertheless present a speckled appearance.   The color
 of the  eruption in measles, is likewise much more dark than
 that of the  other; but perhaps catarrhal  symptoms are the
 most prominent distinguishing signs, which  are also almost in-
 variably attendant on the evolution of  measles. The eyes
 are inflamed, and  the tears flow profusely; there is more or
 less sneezing and cough; while in scarlatina these symptoms
 do not appear, or are so slight that they are generally over-
 looked.
  The  sudamina, or miliary eruption  that attends various af-
 fections, especially typhoid fever, puerperal fever, &c, (which
 has by some been considered a separate  affection and  called
 miliary fever) slightly resembles the  eruption of scarlatina;
 but on examination it will be found that the miliary eruption
 in scarlet fever only appears in scarlet blotches, whereas, in
 the eruption attending other fevers, the miliary  appearance
may be observed to arise from parts of the skin possessing its
 natural color.
  Scarlet fever terminates variously; a variety of other dis-
eases may follow.  Dropsies are, however, by.far the most gen-
 eral sequels of this disease.   Abscesses of the tonsils, healing
in the head and ears, enlargement of  the parotid glands, gut-
ta serena, (or loss of sight,) deafness,  loss of hair, hysteria,
asthma; epilepsy, cutaneous diseases,  and many other • affec-
tions have been known to follow the disease.                *
  A regular abatement of fever, attended with free perspira-
tion, and  softness of  the skin; lateritious sediment in the
urine,  soft but full and regular pulse; bright colopof the erup - 
SCARLET FEVER.
99
*ioh; desquamation or peeling off of the cutis or outer skin;
continuation of strength, and return of appetite, may in gen-
■eral, all be regarded as favorable signs.
   But if the strength should fail rapidly; the pulse sink,  and
Symptoms of  putrefaction  supervene; or if violent  delirium
sets in attended by a glassy appearance of the eyes, and above
all, if  gangrene of the fauces should occur, the danger will
be imminent.

   Treatment.—The indications of cure will be readily inferred
from the character of the affection.  It is evident that the ur-
gency of the case generally  corresponds with the  deficiency
in the developement of the eruptive phenomena; for the case
Is generally comparatively mild when the eruption comes out
early and continues complete.  To bring about all the condi-
tions necessary to the successful removal  of the  contagion or
specific virus  from the system, is  among the first things to be
done in the  cure.  The capilliaries  seem to be implicated
more than any other part of  the  vascular system; and if ob-
structions here are the cause of the irregular developement
of the eruption, it is well to give attention  here.   Rubefa-
cients, or what is better, the vapor bath, if  it be convenient,
must be used early in the treatment.  The common bathing
drops, or even the rubefacient solution, will be found very ser-
viceable in  bringing out the eruption, as well as to  let down
the fever.  In the meantime, if the case be a bad one, an em-
etic of lobelia should be prepared and administered  after the
bathing, which should in turn be followed with small but fre-
quent doses of the sudorific powders.  The bathing and sudo-
rific powders, should be  continued  until a favorable crisis is
formed.

   Local Treatment.—The local symptoms must receive such
attention  as the circumstances of the case may require.  The
rubefacient oil should be applied  externally to the throat and
angles of the jaws, and when ulceration takes place, the as-
tringent gargle will be found  of eminent service.

   Cayenne Pepper.—With regard to the utility of capsicum in
sore throat, there is now but little dispute.  Dr. Eberle speaks
of it as follows:  "The capsicum appears to be a particularly
valuable  exciting remedy  in this [malignant] variety of the
disease.   This article was first employed in malignant scarla-
tina, by Dr. Stephens in a very fatal epidemic which prevail-
ed at St. Christophers, (West Indies,) in 1787, and it has since
received the decided approbation  of many eminent practition- 
100
FITS.
ers.  The manner of employing it is as follows: take two ta-
ble spoonfuls of small red pepper, or three tea  spoonfuls of
common cayenne pepper, and two table spoonfuls of fine salt;
beat them into a paste, and  pour upon them  half a pint of
boiling water; this is to be strained, and half a pint of  good
vinegar added to it.  Of this liquor, when cold, a table spoon-
ful is to be taken every half hour by an adult;  and the throat
should be frequently gargled  with it.   Stephens asserts that
he employed this remedy in about four hundred  cases, and
with surprising success.  The ulcers in the fauces soon cast
off their sloughs and commenced to heal, a general  pleasant
warmth was diffused throughout the whole system, and  the
vital powers speedily resumed a more active condition."   The
compound tincture of myrrh, or Thomson's No. 6, is also very
good in putrid sore throat.
                          FITS.

                       (Convulsions)

  It is not designed to treat in this  place, all those affections
that properly come' under the head of convulsions, for these
limits would embrace all spasmodic  affections, from the slight-
est twitch (subsultus) of the muscles, to the most marked case
of apoplexy.   The several prominent varieties of spasmodic
affection, are  considered under separate heads.  A few obser-
vations on the character and treatment of convulsions in gen-
eral, so as to prepare  the  common practitioner to manage
properly any  case of the  kind that  may occur in practice, is
all that is necessary in this  place.
  Convulsions arise from morbid, irritation ,bf the nervous tis-
sues, which is caused  by taking poisons, such as  strychnos,
(nux vomica,) prussicacid, antimony, &c.;'and by violent ag-
itations of the mind, as by fright and anger;  also by irritation
arising from intense pain, as from burns and scalds.  . They
are also attendant on  teething in  clnldren, worms, and  vari-
ous other affections  giving rise to fnuch irritation. «■■

  Treatment.—The lobelia inflata is among the best anti-srfhs-
modicsthatwe have; the tincture,  given in tea spoonful do-
ses, once in live or ten minutes,  will,afford relief  with 'aston-
ishing promptness.  The anti-spasmodie tincture will, in soma 
FLUX OF URINE.
101
cases, operate still more promptly; the dose is the same as for
the simple tincture of lobelia.   Collaterally with these medi-
cines, a tea of the nervine tonic should be given.

  Emetics.—In  violent  cases,  the lobelia or anti-spasmodic
tincture must be given in large doses, so as to produce vomit-
ing, which will almost invariably break the fits.
                   FLUX OF URINE.

                        (Diabetes.)

  This affection consists of a morbidly increased secretion of
urine, which is discharged frequently, and in large quantities.
The disease is attended with great debility and  emaciation.
"In the latter stages of the complaint the gums become spun-
gy, and the breath offensive,  accompanied by  difficulty  of
breathing, and swelling of the  feet and legs.  The malady
has been known to continue for many years, although, it fre-
quently destroys the patient in a few weeks.  It is chiefly con-
fined to cold, damp climates."
  The urine, although, sometimes of the natural character, is
frequently of an entirely different composition.   In that vari-
ety of the disease called diabetes mellitus, it is very sweet, con-
taining much saccharine matter.  It is stated that in one case
Cruikshank obtained an amount of sugar equal to one twelfth
of the weight of the urine, and was collected from the same
patient to the amount of 19 troy ounces per day.
  Diabetes evidently arises in the majority of instances, from
a perverted  condition'of the other excretory functions.  But
is sometimes caused by the improper use of strong and irrita-
ting diuretics, or by working  about turpentine,  as by pain-
ting, &c.               *

   Treatment'.—The  indications of cure, are, 1, to obviate the
excising Causes, if they  can* be discovered;  2, to restore  the
obstructed excretions; and, 3, to tone up the system.
   By comparing carefully, the habits  of life, as to  diet, tem-
perance, and employment, the practitioner may generally de-
tect the exciting causes, which when  discovered  must be  re-
moved, before much relief can be expected from  medicine. 
102
FLUX.
   Diaplioretics.—To answer the second indication, the  use of
 active diaphoretics become necessary.  The common diaphor-
 etic powders are perhaps best for this purpose; the feet should
 be bathed in warm water while the patient is drinking freely
 of the tea.

   Baths.—After the free use of the  rubefacient wash, the va-
 por bath will be almost certain to restore the functions of the
 skin, as well as those of the excretories of the lungs.   If, after
 the use of the bath, the skin cannot be kept free and the sur-
 face moist, by the use of the  diaphoretic drinks,  this means
 must be repeated as occasion may require.

   Astringents and Tonics.—A strong infusion of bayberry, used
 by injection as well as per stomach, is the best  single means
 that the writer has ever yet found in this complaint.   It seems
 to exert an influence  over  the kidneys more  promptly than
 most other  articles.   When the bayberry is not at hand, any
 other good  astringents, such as cranesbill and pond lily, will
 answer as substitutes.
   The  spiced bitters or bitter tonic  compound, must  be used
 to fulfil the third indication.

   Local means.—A plaster made by incorporating some of the
best cayenne pepper with pitch, if worn over the region of
the kidneys, will sometimes be of signal service.
                         FLUX.

                       (Dysentery.)

  Dysentery is a distressing disease effecting the bowels,  and
is characterized by frequent slimy, or bloody discharges, grip-
ing pains, and distressing tenesmus.  The disease occurs gen-
erally during the latter part of the summer, and autumn.

  Symptoms.—Dysentery usually sets in with a sense of lassi-
tude, want of appetite, nausea, bad taste in the mouth  de-
pressed pulse, slight chills alternating with flushes of heat,
thirst, dry skin, and transient  pains in the bowels.   "Some-
times the disease comes on suddenly with griping, mucus and
bloody stools  and tenesmus, without any premonitory symp- 
FLUX.
103
   toms;  and this is most apt to be the case, when it arises from
   causes that act immediately  on the mucus membrane of  the
   intestines.  In general the fever is developed before the prop-
   er dysenteric symptoms show themselves; sometimes more or
   less diarrhoea, with tormina, [severe pain,] precede the occur-
   rence of  the  febrile irritation;  and  occasionally mucus and
   bloody stools with tenesmus, [ineffectual  straining at stool,]
   are the first symptoms.  From the commencement of the dis-
   ease, throughout its whole course, little or no feces, [natural
   stools,] are discharged  spontaneously—the stools consisting
   entirely of intestinal  mucus, mixed with more or less blood.
   Tenesmus is one of the most constant and characteristic at-
   tendants  on this affection; and the violence of this  painful
   symptom affords us a pretty accurate  measure of the violence
   and degree of danger of  the disease.   There is often consid-
   erable pain and difficulty experienced in voiding urine.  The
   tormina are extremely violent and  distressing,  particularly
   just before the urgent  calls to stool are experienced; and a
    constant soreness is felt in the abdomen.  Sometimes the stools
    consist almost entirely of intestinal mucus, very little or  no
    blood  being mixed  with it.   In most instances, however, a
    considerable portion of blood is discharged with the mucus,
   and in some cases the  evacuations consist almost wholly of
   blood.  These dysenteric discharges usually have a very  pe-
   culiar disagreeable smell, but no fetor in the beginning of the
    disease; but in the advanced period of violent and dangerous
    cases, they frequently possess a pungent and cadaverous smell;
    and often acquire a corroding and sanious character."—(Eb-
    erle)

      Treatment.—The writer has had  much experience in the
    treatment of  dysenteries, and  consequently favorable oppor-
    tunities of testing all the most popular plans that have been
    proposed; but the 'following, in  his hands, has proved decided-
    ly the most successful:—Give to an adult, a large tea spoonful
    of the neutralizing mixture,' once every two hours, until the
    bowels are well  cleansed, which may be known by the change
    of the stools and the relief the patient gains from the effects
    of the medicine.  Now let the patient drink freely of a strong
    infusion, made by scalding two ounces of either astringent
    tonic, bayberry, or cranesbill, in a quart of soft water, adding,
|.   (After straining it,) four table spoonfuls of white sugar, a gill
^   of brandy?iand   an ounce of compound tincture of myrrh.—
    This preparation, if  taken in wine glassful  doses every two
    hours, after the  neutralizing mixture  has done its work, will,
    in most instances, soon relieve the looseness. 
101
FRACTURES.
   As soon as the bowels are relieved, tonic cordials, or even
 the cholera syrup, should be used until the patient is entirely
 restored.

   Enemas.—Astringent injections are of incalculable advan-
 tage in the treatment of dysenteries, and should never be neg-
 lected, especially in the more difficult cases;  they restrain the
 blood, and adstringe the inner coats of the bowels so as to pre-
 vent the escape of the fluids into the intestines.   By the use
 of these means in dysentery, the medicine is applied more di-
 rectly to the parts suffering most, and hence it may be expec-
 ted that it will do more good than if used in another way.

  Diaphoretics.—In this  disease  the  cutaneous exhalents are
 very inactive; the matter usually passing off in this way, is
 now discharged through the bowels, by the laws of vicarious
 action.   To restore the excretions of  the skin, therefore, be-
 comes a great  desideratum.   The common diaphoretic pow-
 ders, here, answer an excellent  purpose, and  should be used
freely.  Rubefacients are also very beneficial, they detract the
 determining powers to the surface.
  Stimulating fomentations to the bowels, are indicated when
the dysenteric inflammation runs high.
                     FRACTURES.

  Fracture, in surgery, means a division or broken condition
of a bone, arising from violence.
  "Fractures are either simple or compound; according as thev
are accompanied  with an  external wound, communicating
with the ends of the bones or otherwise.
  "If the bone is  broken in two or more  pieces, and there is
not an external wound,  communicating  with the fractured
edges of the  bone, the fracture is still called  simple;  and on
the other hand, if the bone is  broken in  but one place, and
there is an outward wound, the accident is called  a comtoound
fracture."—(Castle)                                    "
  External wounds occurring with fractures, although  thev
may be extensive, do not make the fracture a compound one
unless the injuries are connected.
  When fractures are attended with  diseases or accidents
which render the indications in the treatment more numerous 
FRACTURES.
105
that is when the treatment necessarily  becomes complicated,
requiring various operations or different remedies, the  acci-
dent is called complicated fractures.

  Symptoms.—An the long bones, the existence of fracture is
sometimes known at once by the  position in which the  limb
is found, as this is often distorted or out of its natural shape,
between the joints, so as to make the diagnosis clear.
  The crepitus or  crackling  noise in moving the  parts; the
change in their form and length, and when the bone is super-
ficial, the inequalities or evenness of its surface, are all  pret-
ty sure signs of fracture.  The inability to use the  parts, and
the deep seated pain, and swelling may result from  disloca-
tion.  Dislocations, also, sometimes, cause quite a crepitation
when the parts are moved, owing to the changed condition of
the synovial fluid.

  Treatment.—The most important things to  be done in the
treatment cf fractures, are to adjust the parts properly, and then
to keep them so, long enough for the re-union of the bones.
  The first thing to be done, is to relax the muscles of the parts
concerned.  This  may  be done either by the use of frequent
doses of lobelia,  or the anti-spasmodic tincture, or by means
of the vapor bath.   But the best plan,  is to use those means
conjointly.  If the vapor bath cannot be conveniently applied,
the entire limb or  part should  be enveloped  with sheets or
large cloths wrung out of hot water, which must be renewed
as often as they cool off, until the muscles are completely re-
laxed.  This being done, the limb must be put in such a po-
sition as will slacken the muscles alike  on every side, and then
the  bone should be replaced into  its  natural position.  To
effect this, a little extension is generally necessary.*
  When the bone is  properly adjusted, the next object is to
keep it in that position.  For this purpose, splints, wrappings,
or bandages, &c, are necessary.  In the line of splints, an in-
finite number and varieties of patterns have  been proposed,
and it is now hardly known whose invention answers the best
purpose.  W7hen the fracture is situated near the middle of
any of the long bones, a few simple pieces of shingle, or even
strips of.  stiff  paste-board,  will answer very well in the ab-
sence of any  thing better.   The edges of  the splints  must,
however, be smoothly trimmed off, or the parts well protected

  *The force applied in extension and counter-extension, by some of our sur-
geons, who are unacquainted with the relaxing power of steam and lobelia, is a
disgrace to the profession. The writer has a knowledge of a number of instan-
ces, in which irreparable injury wan done thereby. 
106                    FRACTURES.
by wrappings, so as to prevent injury to the soft parts by the
swelling that may take place after the application.
  A very good apparatus of the splint kind, may be made of
some strips of woollen cloth, by applying to them some gum
shellac dissolved in alcohol. These strips although made very
hard and stiff by the shellac, may be rendered quite  pliable
by holding it a few moments before a fire, or by placing it in
hot water for an instant.  While in this state these strips may
be applied to the parts and very neatly moulded to the shape
of the limb, and as soon as the  gum in the cloth gets cold, it
will be firm and unyielding as  before it was exposed to the
heat, and hence  if two or three of them are well  secured in
this manner around the fractured  limb, they will keep it se-
cure.
  After the splints are applied, the only remaining particular
in the treatment will be, to secure undisturbed rest to the in-
jured part, untfl it shall have had time enough  to recover
strength sufficient to support itself.
  Should there be much heat and fever about the fracture, af-
ter  the splints are applied, it may be relieved  by the applica-
tion of cold water or vinegar,

  Treatment of compound fractures.—The bones in compound
fractures are often forced into the ground, and thus in redu-
cing them make it necessary to clean them, carefully, before
they are returned.   For this purpose a sponge with warm wa-
ter  should be used.
  In reducing compound fractures, the greatest care must be
taken not to let  any foreign substance  remain in the  wound
among the bones, as it will become a source of protracted ir-
ritation and ulceration.  All loose splinters and small pieces
of bone, should  be carefully removed with a suitable  pair of
forceps.
  After the bones  are  properly  adjusted and secured,  the
wound  in the soft parts should be treated, in the main,  like
any other fresh wound.
  The medical treatment in fractures, in  addition to the re-
laxing means, consists in the use of such articles as are  cal-
culated to sustain an equal and uninterrupted circulation, and
to keep up the vital powers.  The diaphoretic powders are a
very good  medicine to be used as an occasional drink. The
bowels should be kept regular, but the  patient must not be
purged.
  The muscles must be kept in a quiet state by the use of the
nervine tonic, but if this should not calm the twitching that
sometimes  comes on; the  lobelia, or blue cohosh, should  be 
FRENCH MEASLES.
107
used in proper doses in connection with  the  nervine tonic.
  The natural  phenomena in the restoration of fractures, is
strikingly illustrative of instinctive vital action.  In these ac-
cidents the contiguous parts are always more or less lacerated;
the medulla,  (marrow)  medullary membrane,  periosteum,
(membranous covering of the bone) cellular tissue, and muscles,
are always more or less injured.  Bleeding from the ruptured
vessels ensues, which surrounds the fragments, passes into the
cavities of the bones, and permeates the surrounding cellular
tissues; whereupon inflammation takes place in all the parts,
which may be considered  the first step towards a cure.  The
cellular tissue that immediately surrounds the bone, now be-
comes very vascular, is somewhat thickened, losses its elacti-
city, and acquires a  considerable degree of consistence.   A
number of irregular processes are sent out  from this, to the
surrounding muscles, which adapt themselves tothe design, and
in common with the periosteum, (which is alsmbjry much thick-
ened and very vascular)  join in the formation of a kind of pro-
visional callus or envelope, around and exterior to the fractu-
red ends of the bone.  The medullary membrane, (if the bone
be hollow,) forms a process of cartilaginous, or rather a fibro-
cartilaginous substance, which fills up the whole cavity of the
intended new bone, from above till below the fracture.  Be-
tween these two walls  of provisional callus, is now deposited
a viscous or gelatinous fluid, which gradually assumes a red-
dish or rose-colored appearance, and adheres by its margins
to this mould or provisional  callus.    From the twentieth to
the  fortieth day, (depending on age and other circumstances) this
gelatinous  substance,  thrown out between the ends  of the
bones, begins to ossify, (turn to bone.)    Before this time, how-
ever, the extravasated  blood is absorbed, and the muscles sur-
rounding the external  callus  have also become considerably
liberated, and as the new part of the  bone  acquires  solidity
the provisional callus becomes absorbed, thus leaving the parts
in their original condition.
                  FRENCH MEASLES.

                         (Roseola)

  This complaint, which is sometimes called false measles, is
characterized by rose colored spots of various forms unatten- 
10S                      GOITRE.      '

ded by swelling or pimples, but occasionally preceded or  ae-
companied by fever.  These efflorescences may occur over the
whole surface of the body? but are commonly confined to one
or more parts.  The complaint generally runs its course in
from two to eight days.
  The affections with which this is most likely to be confoun-
ded are measles and scarlet fever.  This may  however, be
distinguished from measles, by the size and appearance of its
eruptions, which are much larger than those of that disease;
and what is more, the catarrhal symptoms are not generally
so prominent in this, as in measles.  It may be distinguished
from scarlet fever, by the irregularly diffused raspberry efflores-
cence, and tumefaction, that characterize  the latter.  French
measles are not generally considered contagious.

   Treatment.—NKL& aperients, such as the man root,  narrow
dock root, and*ifllite root, given in the form  of teas for sever-
al days, will generally be all that is required in this, compar-
atively, mild affection.  Rest  and appropriate diet will also
favor the cure.
                       GOITRE.

                      (Bronchocele )

  This affection is characterized by an enlargement  of the
thyroid gland, and is commonly called the big neck.  The swel-
ling commences on both sides of the larynx and trachea, with
the appearance of a spongy tumor, which increases  at first
very slowly or  imperceptibly, but after a number of years,
sometimes becomes enormously large.
  Bronchocele is seldom attended with pain or any other  in-
convenience, except its bulk, unless it gets very large, when
there is often not only the attendance of pain, but there is al-
so a considerable difficulty of respiration in some cases.
  Females are more subject to the disease than males.

   Treatment.—A compound made of equal parts  of the soft
extract of yellow willow, stimulating liniment, and pulverized
salt, if applied with friction three times a day, will generally
remove the difficulty.   The iodine ointment, however, is per-
haps entitled to as much confidence as any other single article 
GOUT.
109
in the treatment of bronchocele.  It should be applied in small
quantities with friction, once a day.  In the treatment of this
affection perseverance is necessary.
                         GOUT.

                        (Arthritis)

  Gout is an inflammatory affection of the fibrous and ligament-
ous parts of the joints.  It usually first attacks the great toe, and
from this it passes to the other toes, the joints of the fingers,
and sometimes to the larger articulations.  ^.
  This is a very distressing disease, being alrohded with se-
vere pain, which gives  rise to  numerous sympathetic affec-
tions.  The functions of the stomach are most apt to become
affected with sympathy, and hence gout is attended with indi-
gestion and its attending symptoms.
  The disease usually comes on by paroxysms, lasting, some-
times, for a number of weeks, with but little abatement in its
violence.   It is supposed that the inflammatory action, in some
instances, also involves the muscles, and  internal organs, that
sympathize with the affected articulations, and hence the dis-
ease is variously called, retrograde gout, misplaced gout, anoma-
lous gout, fyc, according to the location or shifting of the pain.

   Treatment.—Inflammatory affections of the ligaments, and
other parts about the articulations, are generally pretty hard
to relieve,  being so remotely situatedfrom the general circu-
lation.  Thorough  courses of the vapor baths  and emetics,
administered every day, or every second  day, as the urgency
of the case may require, are the only means that have yet
been found to give relief with  any thing like promptness.—
The use of those means must therefore be persevered in, until
the disease is broken up.

   Local means.—A  slippery elm poultice  with some pulverized
 lobelia seed and cayenne pepper sprinkled over the surface,
 and applied to the  affected parts will generally be beneficial.
 For this purpose, the rubefacient oil is very good, and its use
 should, therefore not be neglected.
   Bathing the feet  in a strong decoction  of the black cohosh. 
110
GRAVEL AND STONE.
as hot as it can be  borne,  will be found very serviceable, es-
pecially when the disease is located in the feet.
                 GRAVEL AND STONE.

              %^        (Calculus.)

   We understand by gravel, small sandpke concretions, whicL
 pass from  the kidneys through the ureters into  the  bladdery
 and thence from the system with the urine.   The stone is a
 collection of the same  substance  into  a larger bulk.  These
 sometimes pass off in large sizes, and  thus produce  extreme
 pain and suffigjfag.  When too large to pass through the ure-
 thra they wifriay in the neck of the bladder, and thus produce
 great irritation,  of the  parts, by obstructing  the urine.  As
 the water  accumulates in the  bladder, the  patient  becomes
 pressed with a distressing inclination to urinate: but this can
 be voided only in  small  quantities; sometimes only  drop l^y
 drop.
   It is thought that the disposition of the system to form -Grav-
 el or the sand like concretions, is not favorable to the formation
 of stone, that is, those who discharge gravel are seldo^n trou-
 bled with the stone or larger formations.

   Treatment.—Alkaline preparations are mostly depended on
 in the treatment of gravelly complaints, and they are, in gen-
 eral, useful.  The  disposition of the urine to favor these for-
 mations, is, in the majority  of instances dependent on the
 agency  of lithic acid.  The alkalies may, therefore, do much to
 obviate the chemical phenomena producing these morbid con-
 cretions.
   There is however,  one variety  of these  concretions in
 which  earthy phosphates seem to construte the material   In
 the treatment of this variety, the alkalies will  not only prove
 useless,  but may indeed ultimately enhance the difficulty
   The  diagnosis or symptoms distinguishing  between these
 varieties of gravel, although very important,  are somewhat
 obscure   Ihe sediment or deposits in the urine, afford us the
 principal means of gaining a knowledge on this point:  when
they are colored that is, if they are red, yellowish, or brown
 they are caused by the predominance of acid;  but when thev
 are pale or white, they consist  chiefly of earthy phosphates 
GRAVEL AND STONE.
Ill
When there is a  discharge of the sandlike material, ©t of a
calculus, our diagnostics are still better.
  All the red, brown, and yellowish appearing concretions, a*
a general rule, demand in their treatment the use of alkalies..
In earthy phosphate concretions or those of a pale or whitish
color resembling chalk both in  appearance  and consistence,
are managed best by the  use of diluted muriatic acid.  Per-
haps the best way to take the acid, is  to drop it into a glass
with some slippery elm water: the  dose is from ten to fifteen
drops, three or four times  a day.
  Soda and sub. carbonate of potash, are the alkalies gener-
ally used in the treatment of gravelly complaints; they may
be given in tea-spoonful doses, two or three times a day.

  Diuretics.—This class of agents is also of value in the treat-
ment of gravelly affections, for while diuretics favor the escape
of the concretions, they also  attenuate or weaken the chemical
agencies causing them, by the increase of fresh and unimpreg-
nated urinary secretions that they produce.  The queen of the
meadow, in the hands of  the writer, has given the  most en-
couraging evidence of its  utility in these affections.   The
medicine should be freely used in strong decoction.
  The juice of the garden radish, has gained some popularity
for  its  supposed  power of dissolving stone  in the bladder.
The mode of its use is by injection through a catheter.

  Injections.—Fourcroy introduced a practice (which has now,
however, fallen somewhat into disrepute,) of injecting lithon-
triptics into the bladder, by  means of a catheter aaad suitable
syringe.  The agents,  in this case, consist of  acids and alka-
lies, soda, saleratus, and the muriatic and nitric acids.  They
are administered according  to the indications  above named.
The bladder is first to  be emptied and then the preparation,
about as strong as can be held in the mouth or swallowed, is
to be injected in suitable quantities.

   Tonics and diet.—These concretions  are  not formed accor-
ding to the  physiological laws, but are the result-of  a morbific
influence.   Whatever, therefore, can be done to tone up and
strengthen the system, will  be  of paramount importance in
these cases.  Columbo root, peach leaves, poplar  bark, &c,
are all good, and should be  used, especially, in cases attended
with much debility.  The food and drink, which  alone afford
the materials constituting these morbid concretions, ought to
be selected with  reference to this circumstance.  People that
are troubled with gravelly complaints, should endeavor to dis - 
112
HEADACHB.
cover in what particulars their food differs from that of oth-
ers, and in every deviation a change ought to be made.
                      HEADACHE.

                      (Cephalalgia.)

  Pain in the head is seldom found to exist independently of
some other derangement of the system.   It is a usual atten-
dant of all febrile diseases, foul or disordered condition of the
stomach, and constipation of the  bowels.   Headache is also
brought on by over-eating, drinking spirits, colds, intense so-
lar heat, hawstudy, &c.
  When the headache is very  severe and protracted, and is
attended by sickness at  the  stomach with vomiting, the af-
fection is called sick headache.

  Treatment.—The pain will generally yield to the means em-
ployed to remove those affections  or diseases that give rise to
the headache: but when it becomes necessary to do some-
thing more directly  for the relief of the head,  a cloth wet
with ether or cold water, should be tied around the forehead,
while the feet, after being bathed with the rubefacient wash,
must be placed in a pail of water as hot as can be borne.
The heat  of the water should  be kept up by adding boiling
water to it, as it may be needed.  By these means the head
will be relieved from the mechanical  pressure of the circula-
tion, and thus ease may be obtained.
  Sinapisms  applied to  the  feet  and ancles,  and left to re-
main Until considerable irritation is produced, will mostly af-
ford relief.

  Emetics.—In severe cases, the patient must take  a lobelia
emetic, as this usually affords prompt relief.  This is effected
through the remarkable sympathy there is between the stom-
ach  and the  head.   When the headache is. caused by over-
eating or a foul stomach, an emetic is indispensable.

  Stimulating Liniment.—-In that variety called nervous head-  *
ache, the stimulating liniment will generally afford relief: the
good effects of the liniment may be promoted by drinking a
*  ;*•«* 
HEARTBURN.
113
tea of the nervine tonic, made a little pungent with cayenne
pepper.

  Cathartics.—Medicines of this class  will generally allevi-
ate the headache, but it is not a good plan to use them much
for this purpose, as the relief is obtained at too great a sacri-
fice.  When the pain arises as an effect of  constipation,  the
bowels should be relieved by the use of enemas, instead of
cathartics.  Nevertheless, it is sometimes  the case, that  the
latter are indicated:  when there is much biliary derangement
connected with obstinate constipation, two^ grains of the  ex-
tract of mandrake should be taken every two hours, until six
grains are taken: should it not  operate within twelve hours,
one or two more doses must be taken.
                      HEARTBURN.

                    (Ardor Vcntriculi)

  The difficulty known by this name, consists of a burning
and gnawing pain in the stomach, accompanied with  sour
eructations and occasional nausea.  It depends upon the sour-
ing or fermentation of the food in the stomach, and hence is
a common symptom of dyspepsia.

  Treatment.—Alkalies, such as soda, saleratus, and particu-
larly  magnesia, will generally give immediate relief.  But
these means must be considered only as paliatives; for as the
difficulty arises from a debilitated condition of the stomach,
permanent relief, can, in reason, only  be expected in the use
of such means as are  calculated  to  strengthen the stomach
and thus promote digestion.   Cayenne pepper taken with the
food in small quantities, will be found very good  for this pur-
pose.  The spiced bitters should also be taken, once a day.

  Regimen.—The   proper treatment of heartburn, consists
mostly of negative means.  The patient should be careful to
avoid the use of all kinds of food that is hard of digestion,
and that disagrees'with the stomach; he should  be very  par-
ticular not to eat too much at a time, of any kind of food, as
this practice is very ruinous to the stomach.  The food should
always be well masticated, and eaten slowly.   Small quanti-
              8 
114
HV'aTERlCs
ties of lean  animal food, such as beefsteak and mutton,  Mill
generally agree with persons troubled witfy heartburn.
                      HYSTERICS.

                        (Hysteria.)

  The disease called hysteria, chiefly implicates the nervou.v
system, but has received its name from the id a of its arising
from an affection of the uterus.  Females are most subject to
it, but  well  marked  cases  are sometimes met with among
men.
  "The complaint  appears  under such a variety of shapes,
imitates so majny other diseases, and is attended with such ;i
variety  of' symptoms, which denote the animal and vital func-
tions to be considerably disordered, that it is difficult to  give
a just character or definition of it;  audit is only by taking an
assemblage of all its appearances, that we can convey a prop-
er idea  of it to others.   The disease attacks in paroxysms, or
fit-;.  These are sometimes preceded by dejection of spirits,
anxiety at the stomach, and palpitation at the heart;  but it
more usually happens, that a pain is felt in the left side, about
the  flexure of the colon, with a sense of distention advancing
upwards, till  it gets into  the stomach, and  removing  from
tinner-, into the throat; it occasions by its  pressure,  a  sensa-
tion as if a ball was lodged  there, which by authors has been
<Tilled globus hystericus.  The disease having arrived at this
height,-the  patient appears to be threatened with suffocation,
becomes faint, and  is affected with stupor and insensibilitv;
while, at the  same time, the  trunk of  the body is turned  lo
and fro, the limbs are variously agitated; wild and  irregular
actions  take  place in  alternate fits of laughter, crying, and
screaming; incoherent expressions are uttered, a temporary
delirium i revails, and a frothy saliva is discharged  from the
mouth.  The spasms at length abating, a quantity of wind is
evacuated  upwards, with frequent  signing and sobbing, and
the patient recovers the exercise of sense and naotion [some-
times.] without any recollection of what has taken  place du-
ring the fit; feeling, however, a severe pain in the head, and a
soreness over the whole body. In some cases, there is  little
or no convulsive motion, and  the person lies seemingly in a
.-•t.-ite of profound sleep, without either sense or motion*  Hie- 
HYSTERICS.
115
cup is a symptom which likewise  attends, in some instances,
on hysteria; and now and then it happens, that a fit of hyste-
ria consists of this alone.  In some cases of this nature, it has
been known to continue for two or three days, during which
it frequently seems as if it would suffocate the patient, and
proceeds gradually weakening the constitutipn, till  it either
goes off, or else occasions death by suffocation; but this last is
extremely rare.  Besides hiccup, other slight spasmodic affec-
tions sometimes wholly form a fit of hysterics, which perhaps
continue for a day or two, and then  either go off of them-
selves,  or are removed by the aid of  medicine.   In some ca-
ses the patient is attacked with violent  pains in the back,
which extend from the spine to the sternum, and at length be-
come fixed upon the region of the stomach,  being evidently
of a spasmodic nature, and often prevailing in so high a de-
gree as to cause clammy sweats; a pale cadaverous look, cold-
ness of the extremities, and a pulse hardly perceptible." -With
these symptoms there is frequently quite a disturbed state of
the  mind, and extravagant images of various dreadful diseas-
es affecting the body, harrass the patient.
  Hysteric fits are, however, sometimes mild in their attack,
the  patient often experiencing only a  slight oppression at the
stomach, attended with anxiety of mind and a sense of heat
in the body.
  Persons  of weak and nervous habits are  most subject to
hysterics; and in those, the attacks are excited or brought on,
frequently, by sudden emotions of the mind, as by sudden joy,
grief, fear, &c. and from this circumstance the poor sufferer is
often treated with neglect, and the most uncivil indifference,
from the idea that the patient brings on the disease unneces-
sarily,  that is, that it might have been, avoided by a proper ex-
ercise of the mind.  This has associated  such an abhorrence
with the name, that many are offended to be  considered sub-
jects of the disease.   There are, however, many cases of hys-
terics, in which the disease is  so intimately associated with eft
morbid predisposition of the organism, that the strongest mind
is insufficient successfully to repel it;  nay, when, in  addition
to this, medicine sometimes fails.

  Treatment.—The treatment, in the paroxysm, must be com-
menced by the use of two or three doses of the anti-spasmod-
ie tincture, which after the spasms are relieved, should be fol-
lowed  up with a strong tea of the nervine tonic.

  The following tincture, is  an  excellent medicine for  this
complaint. 
116
INDIGESTION.
    Take of imported valerian,.............................................1 ounce.
          Aeafcetida,....................,....................•........... 1  do.
          Sculcap,.........................................................i  do.

Pulverize, and digest in alcohol  for  ten days, and strain; or
for immediate use, the powders may be boiled in alcohol  for
ten minutes, and strained when it is fit for use.
  The dose is from a tea spoonful to  a table spoonful.   A tea
spoonful will do well when the use  of the  medicine is first
commenced, but as the patient becomes accustomed to it, the
dose must be increased. This is so excellent a medicine  for
this complaint, that hysterical patients,  when once become
accustomed to it, will never be without it.
                     INDIGESTION.

                        (Dyspepsia)

  Dyspepsia, strictly speaking, is only a symptom of disease,
as it only means difficulty of digestion, which is an attendant
or effect of nearly all diseases.  The  stomach, which is  the
principle organ of digestion, is, as it were, the center of sym-
pathies, and thus may be reached  by a great variety of mor-
bific influences.   In  chronic inflammation of the mucus  sur-
face of the stomach and upper part of the intestines, we wit-
ness a train of symptoms that come the nearest filling the  de-
scription generally given of dyspepsia.   There is a pain and
burning in the stomach, with  nausea and occasional vomit-
ing; nidorus eructations;  raising of sour food and fluids of a
disagreeable acrid taste; heartburn; waterbrash; constipation
of the bowels; headache; clammyness of the mouth; foulness
of  the tongue;  flatulency; palpitation;  epigastric pulsa-
tion;  general  debility;  dizziness,   and  sometimes faintin°"
lassitude, and low spirits.   The appetite is generally poor  but
sometimes voracious.  A full meal, and even sometimes a very
small one, will lay heavy on the stomach, especially  if  the
things eaten are hard of digestion, such as warm heavy bread
fat meats, and certain kinds of vegetables.
  When the  disease extends through the upper  part of  the
intestines, there is generally considerable derangement amon-
the hepatic and biliary organs.                            to
  It must be observed that the stomach and bowel* from  the 
INDIGESTION.
117
nature of their use, cannot be favored with the protection  of
an epidermis, as is  nearly every other surface of the entire
system; but the nerves and  vessels, with  which these organs
are so  abundantly supplied, are invested only with a mucous
membrane of the most delicate structure.   When, in view of
this extreme  delicacy, it is considered that the human stom-
ach is the devoted  receptacle of all that  is called for  by our
depraved appetites, which are only governed by the capricious-
ness of an imagination stimulated by the  corrupt  fashions of
our day; and  what is worse, fashion, by its magic influence,
has led us to impose upon our stomachs, services so unnatural
and incongruous, as to make of them a kind of portable apoth-
ecary's shop, or dispensary, where drugs of every kind are kept,
even without bottles or envelopes, for distribution;  it will then
not seem strange that inflammation of the mucous membrane
should be of such frequent occurrence.
  There can  be  but little doubt that dyspepsia, in the large
majority of cases, is produced by inflammation of the gastro-
enteric mucous  membrane.   Dr.  Eberle remarks:*   "The
worst forms of dyspepsia, and all that host of inveterate gas-
tric and bilious disorders of which  so much is heard, and the
true nature of which is so often misunderstood, are,  in  nine
cases out of ten, the consequences of a chronic inflammatory
condition of the lining membrane of the stomach.  The slow
and insiduous progress of this  grade of gastric inflammation
during its early period, is indeed well calculated to elude ob-
servation, and to lead  to a  misapprehension of its true char-
acter."  Dunglison writes to the same import; and Dr. Stokes
in his  lectures,f  speaking of chronic gastritis,  makes it the
chief cause of dyspepsia; he remarks:—"It [chrome gastritis.']
is commonly called dyspepsia, and this term, loose and unlim-
ited in its acceptation, often proves a stumbling-block to the
student in medicine.   Dyspepsia, you know,  [speaking to  his
class.] means  difficult digestion, a circumstance  which may
depend on many causes, but perhaps on none more frequent-
ly, than upon chronic gastritis."*** "Long continued function-
al lesion will eventually produce more or less organic disease;
and you will find that in most cases of old dyspepsia, there is
more  or less  gastritis.   But let us  go further,  and inquire
whether those views are borne out by the ordinary treatment
of dyspeptic cases. When you open a book on the practice
of physic, and turn to the  article dyspepsia,  one  of the first
things which strikes you, is the vast number of cures for indi-
gestion.  The more incurable a disease is, and the less we
"~*Pructic«, vol. 1, p. 218.
  fStokes and Bell's practice; second editionn, vol. 1. p. t25. 
  118                    INDIGESTION.

  know of its treatment, the more numerous is the list of reme-
  dies, and  the more empirical is its treatment.  Now the cir-
  cumstsnee of having a great variety of "cures" for a disease,
  is a strong proof, either that there is no real remedy for it, or
  that its nature is very  little understood.   A patient afflicted
  with dyspepsia will generally run through a variety of treat-
  ment; he  will* be ordered bark by one practitioner, mercury by
  another, purgatives by a third;  in fact he will be subjected to
  every form of treatment.  Now all this is proof positive that
  the disease is not sufficiently understood.   What does pathol-
  ogy teach in such cases?   In almost every instance where pa-
  tients have died with symptoms of dyspepsia, pathological
  anatomy proves the stomach to be in a state of demonstrable.
  disease.   It appears, therefore, that  whether we look at the
  uncertainty and vacillations  of treatment, or the results of an-
  atomical  examinations, the  case is still the  same;  and that,
  where dyspepsia has been of considerable duration, the chance
 is, that there is more or less organic disease, and  that, if we
 prescribe for dyspepsia, neglecting this, we are very likely to
 do mischief."
   Whatever may be the  extent of the inflammation of the
 mucous membrane of the stomach and bowels, it will be inva-
 riably found to be attended with a corresponding  suspension
 of the function  of  digestion.   When the  inflammation  runs
 high,  it  generally  happens that if food  be  taken, however
 agreeable  in character, it is thrown up  immediately from the
 stomach by vomiting, or it will pass  into  the  bowels and be
 finally discharged without any signs of  digestion.   When the
 inflammation is less active i. e.  chronic gastro-enteritis, we
 have all the varieties of symptoms, and grades of indigestion,
 from the most distressing dyspepsia, down to the slightest and
 most transient want of appetite.

   Cause.—Although dyspepsia may  result from almost  any
 cause of  disease, yet as  already shown,  it  is  most  frequently
 brought on by the common causes of inflammation of the mu-
 cous coat of the stomach;  as by excesses in eating and drink-
 ing; unwholesome  food; intense  mental application- seden-
 tary habits, &c.
  But one of the most deplorable sources  of  gastric difficul-
ties is the use of poisonous drugs as medicine, which are now
given for the slightest derangements  of  the system-—a man
complaining of uneasiness in the stomach, constipation of the
bowels, & headache, applying  to a fashionable physician for re-
lehef, is informed that his 'liver is out of order,' and the doctor an
prehcndingsome slight functional derangement of this organ 
/
                        INDIGESTION.                     119

orders a dose of calomel to "regulate its secretions;" the man
takes his dose, and finding himself somewhat relieved from the
constipation and head-ache, passes on a few weeks, when he
returns to his physician, much in the same situation, only that
he now complains of slight pain and tenderness in the epigas-
trium.   He now receives  another dose of calomel with re-
strictions as to diet;—passes a few days when he sends for his
physician; the doctor finds his patient very uneasy and quit*?
in a feA*erish state; his tongue dry and covered with a brown
fur, encircled with quite a red appearance of its margin; pulse
quick and hard; suffers much from thirst, and complains  of
pain and tenderness of the  stomach,  and perhaps his right
side.  The doctor still  apprehensive that all is not right with
the liver,  and not much lilting the inflammatory appearan-
ces, bleeds him, and leaves him some 8  or 10 portions of calo-
mel with opium; from 3 to 5 grains each of the former, to be
taken once in two hours.  On his return, the doctor finds that
his medicine has not operated, and that his patient is much
worse in every respect; he now  leaves  him,  perhaps, some
three large doses of  calomel and jallap, and  orders them  to
be followed with large doses of oil.  On the  following visit
the symptoms are found  still more unfavorable; the patient
suffers  intense pain in the stomach and bowels, and  is very
much harrassed with retching and vomiting, attended with a
sense of weight in the stomach; the fever is  very high, the
tongue furred, and the thirst intolerable.  The doctor is now
led by  the gastric irritation to examine the case more closely,
and becomes satisfied that this is without doubt a well mark-
ed case of gastro-enteritis, and at  once  adopts  a more relive
antiplogistic plan of treatment;  takes  away perhaps twenty
ounces of blood from the arm, and applies some twelve or fif-
teen leeches to the epigastrium.   Per stomach, little medicine
is now recommended;  ice, and a little orange juice diluted in
water, and, perhaps, a little barley water, is all that is order-.
ed, and food of every kind is prohibited for the present. Af-
ter the leeches drop "off, the doctor,  just before leaving, per-
haps, rubs on  the region  of the stomach  some 8  or 10  drops
of croton oil.   On his  next visit he finds his patient not any
better, for although the fever is somewhat abated, yet the sore-
ness of the stomach  is very considerable, and the pain  is also
vet quite severe; the pulse'is rather quick and tremulous.—
The doctor applies a  large blister to  the  epigastrium, and
leaves a plaster of mercurial  ointment to be  applied to the
same after the removal of the blister;  orders  an infusion  of
slippery elm bark and  takes his'leave.
   On the following morning the  doctor discovers that in addi- 
]20
INDIGESTION.
tion to former difficulties, the flies in his blister have produced
a severe strangury.  The pulse now, although somewhat influ-
enced by the flies and  mercury,  manifestly  indicates an ap-
proaching typhus.  The strong apprehensions,  however, that
the doctor has had with regard to the heighth and obstinacy
of the fever,  has made him  look with much anxiety for1 a
change, and the pulse now being lower, and the pain of the
stomach, (owing to the sympathy of this organ with that great
external irritation produced by the blister, and mercurial oint-
ment,) seemingly less severe, he  hails the  present  symptoms
as being indicative of a better state of things.   There is now
however but little medicine ordered, but the strictest injunc-
tions are given with regard to diet; and the  nurse is assured
that the slightest deviations from orders, would  certainly  be
attended with fatal consequences?  On the next visit, the doc-
tor finds his patient sunk into a low typhus.  The nurse, the
interference of friends, or something else, will bear the blame;
or the entire evil may be referred to an ill fate, or over-ruling
providence.  The doctor now condems the  case, and leaves
his unfortunate victim alone to suffer and die.
  The patient being now deserted by his physician, the cause
of his misery, begins in a few days  to improve.  The vital
powers now left free to act,  rapidly re-assume  their wanted
tone, and promise soon, in despite of the  physicians predic-
tions, to restore comparative health.  But the patient no soon-
er gives signs  of improvement than  the friends of the sick,
now once more encouraged, quickly send for the doctor, hoping
that by taking advantage of  this improvement that the pa-
tient may possibly get well at last.   The  doctor comes; re-
marks that the medicine has had its  desired effect; that the
patient is getting better, and that by taking a little more med-
icine would soon be well.   The patient takes his  medicine
and gets worse; the doctor once more leaves  him to die.  The
vital powers being now so far exhausted make it doubtful
whether he will live or die, but if he is now  left without any
more poisonous drugs he may possibly recover a comparative
degree of health, but will ever be troubled more or less with'
dyspepsia.
  Now that the above is a true sample of ^thousands of cases
that do occur, who will dare  to deny?   How sad to  tell then
that aside from all the hurtful influences brought upon com-
munity  by corrupt habits and depraved  appetites, medicine,
the reputed source of our remedy, is found one of the most
fruitful causes of our misery.

   Treatment.—The first thing to  be done in  the cure of dys- 
INDIGESTION.
vn
pepsia, is to discover if possible, by what irregularity of hab-
it, or circumstances of exposure,  the difficuly is brought on,
and then remove at once, if practicable, the cause  or causes
of the disease.
  The second indication, is  to cleanse the system;  and  here
it is to be observed, that to operate  on the stomach alone is
not sufficient, although the primary  affection  may  be here,
for when the disease is once established in the  stomach, the
functions of all the other organs will be more or less impair-
ed.   Wre find that there  is  not only want of action  in  the
stomach, but that the bowels move slowly, or  at  least very
irregularly,—that chylific  absorption, and the circulation is
very  languid; nor are the  excretions more rapid.   Obstruc-
tions so universal, need a general process of cleansing.  For
this purpose, a course of emetics,  baths, frictions, and enemas,
is most eminently adapted.
  This part of the treatment, if the case be  difficult,  should
be commenced, first by the use of the diaphoretic powders for a
few hours, while  the preparations for a bath are progressing.
As soon as the skin becomes moist, a lobelia emetic  should be
administered, and sustained  during  its  operation,  by stim-
ulants, relaxents, astringents, or  alkalies, as the case  may
require.  When the emetic is done operating,  the  patient,
after eating a little of  some appropriate food, should be well
rubbed with a towel wrung out of cold  water,  and have an
enema, composed of a strong decoction  of thoroughwort and
poplar bark, or of the laxative bitter  tonic, with a  small
portion of cayenne pepper, or of the compound tincture  of
myrrh.
  This course should  by  practiced  every second,  third,  or
fourth day, according to the  urgency of the symptoms, using
laxatives, diaphoretics, tonics, and rubefacients, in the inter-
vals, until the disease is broken up.  in  less  obstinate cases,
the several parts of this course, may be used separately  or
alone, and repeated as occasion may require; observing also
the plan of using an  appropriate intermediate treatment.
  As soon as the disease is found to yield, the use  of tonics
should be instituted; for this purpose the cascarilla is an ex-
cellent article, but if this is not at hand,  any of the  restor-
tive  preparations recommended in  Pharmacy, or the  simple
tonics in Materia Medica, will answer very well.
  During the course of the treatment,  the various  incidental
and  local symptoms should have  appropriate attention; thus
the acidity of the stomach  may be obviated by  the use  of a
little carbonate  of soda or sub. carbonate of patassa (salera-
tus)  Colic pains may  be relieved by carminatives, stimulants, 
l*Z2
INFLAMMATION.
and anodynes.  Fine  charcoal, taken in table spoonful do-
ses several times a day  is very  good, not  only to keep the
bowels open, but to prevent acidity of the  stomach: it may
be prepared by scalding it in milk.

  Cayenne pepper .—Yenner is an excellent article in dyspep-
sia, and should be used, in half tea spoonful doses three times
a day,  or oftener.  This medicine is a pure excitant, and will
stimulate the living organs to the performance of their natu-
ral functions.  Made into pills with equal parts of beefs gall,
dried sufficient to form into pills, and taken in the dose of one
good sized  pill every evening, will  not only be of eminent
service to the stomach but will keep the bowels regular.
                    INFLAMMATION.

                       (Inflammatio)

   The term inflammation comes from in 'within,' and flamma
 'flame,' 'fire,' signifying ignition or the act of burning.  This
 diathesis has, therefore, inherited this name from the heat and
 redness that are such prominent attendants;  and, there is, in-
 deed, more propriety in giving it this name,  than is gener'ally
 apprehended by the pathologists of our  day, as  some  of  the
 attending symptoms  are  immediate results of the union of
 oxygen with certain  combustible materials in the parts.
   The same principles that give rise to the  heat and  excite-
 ment in fever, occasion their existence here.
   The philosophy of this theory of animal heat, or its morbid
 increase as evinced in fever and inflammation, is well illustra-
 ted by chemical experiments: sulphuric acid, composed of one
 proportion of sulphur and three of oxygen, and protoxide of
 hydrogen (water,) which  is  composed  of one  proportion of
 oxygen and one of hydrogen, when united in certain propor-
 tions, will raise  the temperature to three hundred degrees Fah-
 renheit.  A temperature high enough to boil  eggs, can be pro-
 duced, simply, by throwing some water on the oxide of calci-
 um (quick hme)  The increased  heat in these cases, is pro-
duced on the  principle of converting bodies  from a rarer to a
denser state, thereby  making heat sensible, that before existed
in a latent state.                         y           '
  The principle characteristics of inflammation  are color ru- 
INFLAMMATION.
123
bor, dolor, et tumor, that is, heat,  redness, pain and swelling.  In.
the developement of these symptoms, the following catenation*
of events are found to occur: first, on the  application ofJ the
morbific agency, (which  may be caused by the infliction of a
bruise, cut, bite, sting, burn, the effects of cold, or  any other
destructive power,)  the contact no sooner takes place, than by
the natural laws of sensation and irritability, the impression
is communicated by the nerves to the brain.  In the  second
place, the brain which superintends the  circulation, responds
to the call of the injured parts, by sending an increased vol-
ume of blood, in order to sustain or restore them.  Now it
may be remarked in the third place,  that the process of the
reparation, as well as that of the defence of any part, is essen-
tially an inflammatory one,* and that this increased volume
of blood sent to the part, (possessing all the elements of com-
bustion,) is fully equal to the support of a combustion corres-
ponding with the increase of the temperature of the inflamed
part.
  This theory well explains the  above  named symptoms of
inflammation; the redness arises from the presence of the  in-
creased quantity of blood that now (from the relaxed condi-
tion of the parts,) passes even into the finest capillaries, which
in the healthy condition contain only white fluids-.  The source
of the heat has already been explained: but  the  swelling  or
tumefaction, it may be observed,  arises  from .the effusion of
serum, which, from the relaxation caused by the high temper-
ature, readily passes into the vascular tissues.  As to the pain,
we find a sufficient cause for its rise, in the displacement and
compression of the nerves, caused by the swelling,  and even
the effects of the oxygen itself  on these delicate tissues.

  Inflammation a sanative process.—By what has already been
said  on this subject, it will be seen that inflammation is not
necessarily a morbid process.  It  has been  shown elsewhere,
that  combustion with  which this  phenomenon is identical, is
necessary to the physiological condition,—that the process  of
nutrition assimilation &c,  are  dependent  on it; and it may
not be improper here to show that lymphization, granulation,
cicitrization, and indeed every other  restorative process is  as
certainly dependent upon it.   The  mischiefs  attending  this
phenomenon, are not found in the essential character  of the
  *The temperature culled animal heat, as explained in the article on fever, is
produced by the interchange of the materials of elementary compounds in the
process of nutrition an^ assimilation, and we witness no healing or restorative
process in which an increased amount of heat corresponding with the addition
of the effective force that is brought to bear, is not evinced. 
124
INFLAMMATION.
 inflammation, but we discover them to be  the  legitimate re-
 sults of the primary morbific  agencies that have diminished
 the vitality of the parts, and thus made combustion, otherwise
 a necessary and physiological function, to  assume abnormal
 aspects.  Thus while inflammation is not only a common at-
 tendant of all local injuries, but may by its degrees of violence
 serve to point out tne  danger there is in the case, it must  at
 the same time be regarded as a sanative  agent, for  no restor-
 ative process, can be either instituted or carried on without its
 agency.
   Our surgeons now well know the importance of this natur-
 al process; they are well aware that all that is effected in sur-
 gery, by what is called "first intention," is the result of inflam-
 mation. The healing of wounds; the restoration of fractures,
 and the cure of bruises or contusions, are all alike dependent
 on its supervention.   By its agency, extraneoas  substances
 are removed from every part of the body.  Of this we  have
 a very good example in the removal of  pus  from  the  liver.
 This may be effected by ulceration through the parietes and
 thus be discharged externally, or the parts may contract adhe-
 sions  with the intestines, perferate  them by  ulceration, and
 the matter may in this way be removed;  or the liver may
 form adhesions  with the pulmonary organs  through the medi-
 um of the diaphragm, and by ulceration, the matter may pen-
 etrate the bronchia, and thus be removed  by  expectoration.
 Again, when the location of the pus, is in such a part as ren-
 ders either of these modes  of escape impracticable, we find
 that a cist will be formed around the matter,  so as to protect
 the parts, when the pus will be taken up  and carried into the
 circulation, and thus be ultimately removed by the cutaneous
 exhalents.  Finally, we find that  when a solid  substance, is
 forced into the soft parts, as for instance, the intrusion of a
 splinter or thorn, the surrounding parts  will soon take on in-
 flammation, and ulcerate, and thus carry off' the substance in
 a flood of pus.  On this subject Dr. Marshall Hall remarks as
 follows:—
  "Some of the provisions of Nature,—or rather of the Crea-
tor of all things—accomplished through  the  medium of the
 action and  processes of inflammation,  are  quite wonderful
 An abscess may form in the liver;  the pus may be expectora-
ted through the bronchial tubes; and the patient may survive
 An intestine may be strangulated by being intussuscepted into
another portion of intestine; it may separate and pass per an-
num, leaving the original canal free and entire; .and this pa
tient, like the former  one, may survive.  If we experiment on
 a dog. draw out a portion of the small intestine, and tie a !!«•- 
INFLAMMATION.
125
ature firmly around it, so as entirely to obstruct its course, the
adjacent portions of the intestine re-unite, the ligature is sep-
arated into its canal, this canal itself remains pervious as be-
fore, and the animal survives the dangers of this fearful oper-
ation."

   Terminations.—Among the most common terminations of
inflammation are, resolution,  effusion,  suppuration, induration,
and gangrene.

   Resolution.—When the inflammatory action gradually abates,
and  its cause  finally  becomes  suspended  or  subdued
by the vital force, and thus the  parts reassume their normal
condition, without the supervention of suppuration, indura-
tion, &c. the inflammation  is said to terminate in resolution.

   Effusion.—When the swelling assumes an oedematic (doughy)
character, and seems to incline toward  the  more dependent
parts of the organs affected;  and if moreover the pain is less
considerable, and the redness incline to more of a pale or yel-
lowish appearance, we may conclude that more or less effu-
sion is going on.   The matter effused  is generally serum, and
lymph.  Serum is frequently thrown, and sometimes  in great
abundance, on serous surfaces of the  organs, that  is, on the
lungs, pleura, diaphragm, fyc.  The  cellular tissues are some-
times made to receive large quantities of serum;  of which we
have an example in dropsy.  Lymph, is also thrown out  on
inflamed serous surfaces, which is apt  to coagulate,  and thus
often forms a union of contiguous surfaces.  It is the effusion
of lymph into lacerated wounds, that causes them to heal up.
The matter effused in inflammation separates from the blood
and the substance of the organs, by the collateral agency of
oxygen with the vis conservatrix.

   Suppuration.—This  is a  very common  termination of in-
flammation.  The general  premonitories, if the action be ex-
tensive, are chills, rigors, and anxiety.   The local  symptoms
are a sense of a dull heavy weight in  the affected part, atten-
ded with more" lancinating pains  and with a circumscribed
appearance of the redness  and swelling.  In the centre of the
swelling, if it be in the outer parts, may now be  discovered a
point more elevated and soft to the  touch, where the pus is
collected.  The integuments now also become more and more
thin, and assume  a whitish  or yellowish  color,  and  at length
loose their firmness, and give vent to the pus. The pus is, how-
ever, not always found in a collected form, for in some tissues 
126
INFLAMMATION.
it may lack the cist formation, and hence it may become illus-
trated through the neighboring cellular portions.   Infiltration;
is very common in the lungs, where abscesses  are compara-
tively rare.   Suppuration may also be diffused; thus it, some-
times, covers large surfaces, as that of the archnoid, the pleuray
the pericardium, the peritoneum, fyc.

  Induration.—The? parts  often  increase in consistence  or
grow hard, as the inflammation  subsides.  This termination
may occur in any tissue of the body, but  is by far the most
common among the glandular parts, especially in the spleen,
the liver, the lymphatic ganglions, and subcutaneous cellular sub-
stance.

  Gangrene.—In very violent cases of inflammation, in which
the vitality of the part is much diminished, the  inflammatory
action may end in the death  or  mortification  of so much of
the part as the conservative powers are not able successfully
to defend .
  The general symptoms which foretell the~approach of gan-
grene, are a collapsed  state  of the system, paleness, a cold
clammy sweat, sunken features, a  peculiar  cadaveric  look,
tremor, and a feeble threadlike pulse.  The part affected as-
sumes a livid or purpleish hue; its tension and  elasticity di-
minish and yield to a doughy state, like a cist containing thick;
fluids.  The symptoms that give  evidence of the  immediate
approach of sphacelus, are a loss of sensibility and  heat,ai\da
discoloration of the part.

  Inflammation modified by textures.—The  character and ter-
minations of inflammation, are much modified by the  charac-
t-r or kind of texture on which it spends its influence.
  Inflammation of the  serous membranes, is characterized by
effusion first of serum, and afterwards of coagulable lymph and
albunino-febrine, which is sometimes  considerably mixed with
blood.  Adhesions are apt to  form in cases of'inflammation!
of these membranes; and thus it happens that the pleura is so
often found attached to the surface of the ribs, and lun^s. 
                       INFLAMMATION.                    127

  The following cut from  Baillie,  well illustrates these ad-
hesions.
  Inflammations of the serous membranes seldom end in ul-
ceration.
  In inflammation of the mucous membranes the  reverse ob-
tains.  In this case the efliision  consists  of mucous, which  is
at first considerably transparent, but afterwards becomes more
opaque and puriform.*  In some instances the mucous is tin-
ged or even deeply stained with blood, as is  evinced in bron-
chitis, and pretty generally in dysentery or bloody flux.
  It is rarely the case that wc observe the exudation of coag-
ulable lymph, in inflammations of this texture.  Nevertheless.
it occurs, sometimes, as seen in  cases of  cynanche trcchealis or
croup, and in extreme  cases,  in the  bowels  and  vagina, in
which it is called false-membrane.f
  This disposition of the textures, is  a very happy and impor-
tant circumstance, for  if the reverse should occur,—if the mu-
cous surfaces should exude coagulable lymph, and the serous
surfaces mucous, or pus, we would find that in inflammations
of the oesophagus, bowels,  urethra,  vagina, &c, that they
would contract adhesions and close up their  passages, while
the pleura, pericardium, peritoneum, &c. would be subject, on
the occurrence of inflammation, to ulcerations, and thus be
attended with consequences almost certain to prove immedi-
ately fatal.
  It seems that when inflammations  implicate parts constitu-
ted of various textures, that these, severally, evince their com-
mon characteristics.  Thus the mucous textures throw  out
  *WKcn the inflammation subsides or the mucous becomes i ore cool, it re-as-
sumes its transparency.                       (
  tThis is what Dr. S. Thomson, denominated cankej.,
\ 
128
INFLAMMATION.
 mucous and pus, while the serous  in  turn  line their  surfaces
 with lymph and serum.   Accordingly we find that in  typhoid
 fever, in cases even of perforations,  that while the  internal
 surface is sloughing off, the outside is contracting adhesions to
 contiguous surfaces, forming, in this  way, a protection to the
 abdominal cavity against extravisation, which would necessa-
 rily prove fatal by the violent peritoneal inflammation that it
 would occasion.   *                          v
  The parenchymatous substance of organs, is apt to be softened
 by acute, and indurated by chronic inflammations.  Softening,
 induration, and abscess, are frequently seen in the brain; ab-
 scess in the liver; gangrene in the lungs.—(Hall)
  The arteries are not much disposed to inflammation  from in-
juries; when they  are wounded, the margins of the wound
 may take on inflammation, a coagulum form, and  the wound
 heal.  When an artery is divided,  the ends will contract, and
 a stopper-like clot of blood form in  each; adhesive  inflamma-
 tion, now closes up the artery, as represented in the following
 cut, which is given by Dr. Jones, and is designed to illustrate
 the femoral artery of a dog, nine days after it was divided.
   It will be seen that the ends are considerably retracted, as
 well as contracted, and that  the  coagulum is  neatly healed
 into the ends or stumps of the  vessel, and  assuming a firm
 texture like the artery itself, is sufficient to resist the force of
 the circulation, and thus prevent the  hemorrhage that would
 otherwise take place and  thus immediately  destroy the sub-
ject. 
INFLAMMATION.
129
  The circulation is now sustained, through these parts, by the
anastamosis of their branches, as represented below.  By this
cut it is designed to illustrate a large artery to which a liga-
ture was applied.
  The veins manifest a disposition different from  the arteries.
In the veins we observe diffused effusion of albumino-dibrine,
but adhesive inflammation is not so likely to occur.  When a
vein  is divided, we do not find the same readiness of the ves-
sels to heal up.   It is  true, that coagulable lymph may be
thrown  out by the surrounding  textures,  but the ulcerative
process, is most likely  to occur.  Diffusive phlebitis is by no
means an uncommon occurrence, and this  may run along the
vein even to the heart,  and thus prove speedily  fatal.  It is
very common to observe mischiefs of no small magnitude to
follow  even the small  puncture of the lancet, in the practice
of blood-letting.  If there were  no more  disposition to heal,
in the arteries  than there is found in the  veins, we  might
expect fatal hemorrhages  universally to accompany wounds
or ruptures of these  vessels, for although ligatures might be
applied, the parts not healing,* would, in  many instances,
rot away and renew the difficulty.
   Inflammation of the lymphatic vessels, is, like phlebitis, apt
to be diffused.  "-The morbid action extends along their course
towards the thoracic duct and the heart, and would probably
prove as fatal in its results as phlebitis, if it did not meet with
a barrier  in the glands of "The system, situated in the neck,
the axilla, the groin, &c.   These glands guard the inlets into
the great cavities; they frequently suppurate; and what hav-
oc v^jld ensue, were they  within, instead of being: without,
 ' *It iflrtrue, that veins that are tied, do heal up, many times, yet all  surgeon*
know how difficult the process is.
               9 
130
INFLAMMATION.
 —Poupart's ligament for example.   Inflammation of the ab-
 sorbents generally terminates by resolution.  In one instance,
 however, it  passed  on to suppuration, and many  abscesses
 formed in the course of  the lymphatic vessels, as they as-
 cended ftim the heel (which was the seat of ulcer from chil-
 blain, the cause of  the  inflammation) upwards along the
 thigh.—(Hall)
   Ulceration of the%ympliatic glands frequently occurs from the
 morbid accumulations  which  arise from ulcers, &c, in the
 parts beyond, and are carried  by the  lymphatic vessels into
 these glands.  The glands of the neck, axilla, and groin are
 often found thus affected.
   As to the fibrous tissues, tendon may slough,—cartilage and
 ligament ulcerate, but they as well as the muscles are more apt
 to end their inflammations in the exudation  of serum and ge-
 latinous fluids, or the deposition of  earthy matter.   But by
 far" the most frequent termination in these tissues is by reso-
 lution.
 t  Inflammation of the osseous tissue, is  apt to terminate  in
 ifecrosis, and caries.*
   Finally, we find in the terminations of inflammation in the
 cutaneous tissues, the evidences of  a mixture of  textures.—
 The  ulcerations occurring here  are very analagous to those of
 the mucous linings of the intestinal canals.   Erysipelas exhib-
 its an imperfect developement of suppuration, sloughing and
 gangrene.
   In the variolous pustule, we have an  example  of the vari-
 ous phenomena that  attend inflammation of this structure. In
the first place, a sebaceous gland will manifest the usual
 symptoms of  inflammation, that is, redness, tumor, &c; on
 the third or fourth day, we have the effusion of serum, in a ve-
sicle with its center tied down by the  duct of  the gland; on
 the fifth day, we  observe the deposition of  pus around this
central point;  on the  seventh or  eighth day, the serum is en-
tirely replaced by pus; and probably on the ninth, the central
duct  has been absorbed or has sloughed away, and the pustule
assumes an orbicular form.  Efliision  of lymph may also be
observed, which occurrence is evidenced by the cicatrix that
marks the part after  healing.  It will be observed moreover
duriug the process of the inflammation, that sloughing of the
cutis vera occurs about the time that the  pustule is in its ma-
turity. .
  *Canea may be considered to correspond to ulceration, and necrosis tomorti- 
I*'?       INFLAMMATION  OF THE  BLADDER AND  BOWELS.      131
r
         INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER.

                       . (Cystitis.)

  This affection is of rare occurrence, and when it does take
 place, it is generally the result of injuries to the part.  It may
 however, arise from the irritation of  a calculus or stone in
 the bladder, from suppression,of urine, the use of cantharides
 or Spanish flies, &c.

   Symptoms.—Tension  or  hardness,  tenesmus,  fever,  hard
 pulse, and pain  in the parts, frequent desire to urinate with
 difficulty to void it; or sometimes a total suppression of urine,
 are among the most prominent symptoms of this disease.*

   Treatment.—Enemas of  the infusion of  lobelia and thor-
 oughwort, frequently administered, together with the use of
 the rubefacient oil or wash, over the region of  the bladder,
 and the usual means of equalizing  the circulation will gener-
 ally be all that is required.
   When there is suppression of the urine, it may be necessa-
 ry to draw it off by means of a catheter.
   In  very severe  cases, the water should be drawn off, and
 leaving the catheter remain, an infusion, made by scalding a
 tea spoonful  of lobelia in a  pint of thick slippery elm tea,
 stirring it till it cools, and then  straining through  a cloth,
 should  be injected (once in a few hours, in portions of  a tea-
 cupful,) into the bladder through the catheter, by means of a
 syringe having  a point thac will enter the catheter.  This ap-
 plication with the other part of the treatment, will generally
 give relief with considerable promptness, even in the worst of
 cases.  Cold water injected into the bladder in this way, when
 the inflammation runs very high, will sometimes be serviceable.
         INFLAMMATION OF  THE BOWELS.

                       (Enteritis.)

  Inflammation of the bowels manifests itself by pain in the
abdomen, particularly in the umbilical region, which is ac- 
132
INFLAMATION OF THE BOWELS.
companied with eructations, sickness at the stomach,  a vom-
iting of bilious matter, obstinate costiveness, thirst, heat,
great anxiety, and a quick and  hard  pulse.  As the disease
progressed the  pain grows more severe, the  bowels seem
spasmodrWlly drawn  together, and the abdomen becomes
tightly distended, and very painful to pressure; the constipation
becomes more distressing; and the ujibR^soanty or complete-
ly obstructed.
  Dissections, in this disease, show that when these symptoms
appear, the diseased action chiefly implicates the external or
peritoneal coats of the intestines; and that when the inner or
mucous coat is  principally effected, the usual  symptoms of
dysentery prevail.
  The affection sometimes involves only a small  portion of
the intestinal tube,  but more generally pervades a very con-
siderable extent.
  The inflammation commonly terminates  by resolution, but
effusion and adhesion  to contiguous parts, sometimes, occur;
or ulcerations may take  place, or gangrene set in.

  Treatment.—In the treatment  of this severe,  and frequent-
ly dangerous affection, the main object should be to equalize
the circulation, and  direct the determining powers to the sur-
face.   For this purpose, no means is better adapted than the
vapor bath, which should be applied alternately with the ru-
befacient wash pr bathing drops.   The next object should be
to open the bowels; which must  be  effected with the use of
appropriate medicines by means  of injection.  For this pur-
pose the following is very good:

   Take of Gum Arabic, or slippery elm powder,.....................§ ounce.
   "■     M'andrake extract, (soft,)...... ...............................L drachm.
   u     Lobelia, (Jine,)--.................................................1   do.

Put the ingredients  into a pint of cold water,  and  agitate
it well with a spoon.  This should be used at one injection,
and a like portion administered every hour, until the  bowels
evacuate.  Should the inflammatory symptoms run very high,
cold water, by  injection, will sometimes be found very use-
ful.                                                 J

  The stomach, in this complaint,  is usually very  irritable,
and  hence, generally,   requires  attention.  An infusion  of
spearmint, or peppermint, may be  used to obviate the  irrita-
bility, and should this prove unsuccessful, a  handful   of the
mint hero, may be scalded and applied to the stomach exter-
nally, or the oil may be  applied in its  stead. 
INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN.
133
  Emetics.—Lobelia emetics,  besides their beneficial effects
in cleansing the stomach, are eminently  serviceable for their
relaxing powers, and tendency to equalize the circulation.

  Diaphoretics.—A free perspiration should be kept  up, but
this should be doneJtas much as possible, by external, means;
as by keeping a steaming stone to the ffet, the use of the va-
por bath and the rubefacients.   The milder diaphoretics, such
as the white root, and pennyroyal, may however be used  in
the  form of  a tea.

  Cathartics.—In this  disease, cathartics  are not  advisable,
because of the irritation that  they are  apt to excite in the
bowels.  It may, however,  be proper, sometimes,  to use  a
dose of olive, almond, or castor  oil,  as  they are  emollient,
and less irritating than cathartics in general.

  Fomentations.—Fomentations  of  hops,  camomile,  and
rue, with a few  pepper pods, stewed in vinegar  and  applied
to the bowels externally, are, sometimes, of signal  service.

  Slippery elm  water, or the mucilage of gum arabic, should
be drank pretty freely, with a  view to their emollient effects
on the  bowels.
          INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN.

                        (Phrenitis)

  Phrenzy, as the disease is sometimes called,  is characteri-
zed by a considerable fever, violent headache, redness of the
face and eyes, intolerance of light and  noise, watchfulness,
and delirium.
  The disease  comes on with a sense of fulness and  heat
in the head, flushing of the countenance, redness of the eyes,
and a full pulse.  The stomach and bowels soon become dis-
turbed with  sympathy,  and  hence there is, sometimes, more
or less vomiting, and pain in the bowels.  The pain in the
head, is not always severe;  when  the morbid action  affects
the substance of the brain alone,  there is seldom much  pain,
as this tissue is  not very sensitive, but when the meninges or
membranes  are implicated, which  is generally the case, the
pain is distressing. 
134             INFLAMMATION OF THE EYES?.     ,

  As the disease advances, the fever increases, and the deliri-
um sets in; the patient looks wildly, talks incoherently, grinds
his teeth, and becomes very restless.  At  the highest stage of
the disease, the headache, sometimes, becomes intolerable,
and the delirium rises to a raving pitch.

  Treatment.—In the treatment of this violent affection, no
time should be lost in applying the most prompt means.   The
first object should be to equalize  the  circulation; and for this
purpose, enemas made of thoroughwort tea, containing a tea
spoonful of cayenne pepper  and  as  much lobelia  in  each,
must be immediately administered, and continued on at suit-
able intervals until  relief is  obtained.  Mustard plasters, or
at least a  hot  steaming stone, should be applied to the feet.
The patient must be kept sick with nauseating doses of lobe-
lia;  but until the pressure to the head is relieved, it should
not be  pushed  so far as to produce  vomiting.   The head is
sometimes promptly relieved by the operation of a  cathartic,
and for this purpose, Beache's common cathartic powder may
be used.   The  surface must  now be  well bathed with either
the bathing drops, or rubefacient solution.

  Local means.—Cloths wet with ether or  cold water, must bs
constantly kept about the head, and renewed as often as they
get warm  or dry.  If this treatment is persevered in, it will
generally prove successful.
           INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  EYES.

                      (Ophthalmia.)

  Inflammation of the eyes may be  confined to the  lids and
external  membranes  of the eyes, or it may  also implicate
even the  whole globe.
  The symptoms in this affection, are redness of the eyes,
with pain  and heat  over its surface, and soreness of the lids:
there is also generally a profuse effusion of tears, and an in-
tolerance of light.                            •  *

  Cause.—Exposure to Avind or dust, working  before a veiy
hot fire, the iutrusion of extraneous substances, excessive wee-
ping or crying, cold, external  violence,  eruptive diseases, sy- 
INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS.            135
philis, &c, are among the most common causes of this com-
plaint.

  Treatment.—Those valuable  eye-waters, recommended  in
the back part of the book, if perseveringly used, will generally
cure sore eyes without any additional treatment; but when these
seem ineffectual, and, especially, when the inflamation runs
high, a good cathartic may be taken, and the eyes well wash-
ed first with a weak infusion  of lobelia, and afterwards with
clean cold water, while in addition to this, either of the eye-
waters here recommended, is used two or three times a day.
Astringent washes are sometimes indicated, and again it may
become necessary  to poultice the  eyes: for this purpose, the
astringent tonic, and slippery elm or lynn bark may be used, or
the elm with  a  little lobelia, as the nature of the case may
require.
         INFLAMMATION  OF  THE KIDNEYS.

                        (Nephritis)

  Symptoms.—Acute pain in the region of the kidneys, extend-
ing downwards along the course of the ureters, a frequent de-
sire to pass urine attended with difficulty in voiding it, a hot
skin and constipation  of the  bowels,  are the principle symp-
toms.  If only one of the kidneys  is effected the patient will
have  a disposition to lie mostly on the side affected.

   Treatment.—Diaphoretics, relaxants, and such other means
as are calculated to equalize the circulation and direct the de-
termining powers to the surface, are indicated in this disease.
Enemas of thoroughwort with a small portion of lobelia and
the extract of mandrake (3 to 5 grains,) should be administer-
ed, not only with a view of keeping the bowels open, but in
order, by those means, to control  the  diseased action  in  the
kidneys.

  Rubefacients:—-The rubefacient oil or stimulating  liniment,
should'be applied to the small of  the  back with friction, and
after this, a steaming stone should be laid  against  the part,
the patient being in bed. 
136
INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER.
  Diuretics.—Queen of the meadow, or the Indian hemp, must
be used, in strong infusion, and continued until it produces a
sensible diuretic effect, and then be followed with a decoction
or infusion, of dried peach leaves till health is restored.
           INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER.

                        (Hepatitis.)

  Authors, in treating this affection, generally, regard  it as
consisting of two varieties, the acute and the chronic.
  The acute variety, comes on with a pain in the right  side,
usually extending up to the shoulder, which is much increased
by pressure on the parts.   The tongue is mostly coated; and
there is often nausea and sikness at the stomach, with an oc-
casional vomiting  of bilious matter.  The urine is deeply
stained with bile, and the eyes and skin are also of a yellow-
ish color.   The patient, usually, inclines  to  lay on  his  right
or affected side.   There is,  generally, considerable fever, es-
pecially, if the attack is severe.
 In the chronic variety, the same symptoms are generally, pre-
sent, but are not so prominently marked.   The patient will,
perhaps, go about complaining more or less of pain in his side,
want of appetite, indigestion, flatulency, and feverish state of
the  body.
  The pain in either variety, though sometimes  quite acute,
is more usually of an obtuse or dull character; indeed the dis-
ease, owing to the  absence of pain, often  progresses consider-
ably before it is detected. Instances have occurred, in which no
hepatic derangement was at all suspected,  and yet by exam-
ination after death, it was found that the  liver was very ex-
tensively ulcerated.
  In this affection,  especially, in the chronic variety, tubercles
in the liver are of very frequent occurrence.  These are some-
times of considerable size, but more generally, they are small
and many in number.
  The liver when in  an inflammatory condition, sometimes
varies very much in its color; the writer saw one in the  Hos-
pital at Cincinnati, that  was taken from a patient that  died
in the wards, the color of which, was such as could not be dis-
tinguished from that of the lungs.   Besides the change of col- 
                 INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER.             137

 or, the inflamed liver often changes its size very considerably,
 as it sometimes becomes enormously swelled.

   Treatment.—Liver ^affections are sometimes very difficult to
 cure, for, as  above stated, the  diseased  habit generally be-
 comes much confirmed before it is detected; but by the use of
 proper means, and perseverance, this affection may, generally
 be cured as well  as others.

   Emetics.—In the treatment of liver affections, emetics ren-
 der important service, in relaxing the diseased organ, and stim-
 ulating it to a healthy action.  Their power in equalizing the
 circulation, is also as efficient as any other agency in the re-
 sources of our materia medica.   The mechanical pressure and
 agitation of the liver, during the operation of emetics, is also
 very beneficial.  In this complaint, as well as in most others,
 the lobelia inflata is entirely the best article in this class.  It
 should be administered in small but  frequent doses, so  as  to
 keep up a continued nausea, for several hours, when the doses
 must be increased so as to produce active emesis.   The vapor
 bath is eminently calculated to promote the good effects of the
 lobelia, and will  also do much to equalize the circulation, and
 to remove the bilious obstruction in the circulatory system.

   Cathartics.—After the system is well relaxed, a dose of the
 extract of mandrake* must be given, and until the operation
% of this, a flesh-brush or coarse  towel  should be used  freely,
' and be followed with the application of rubefacients or stim-
 ulating washes.   Should the symptoms not yield to the oper-
 ation of one dose of the mandrake, the medicine  should  be
 continued in broken  doses, so as to keep up an action in the
 bowels for several days.  In the mean time, the system should
 he supported  with the use of stimulants, tonics, and nourish-
 ing  broths.

   Local means.—After the parts are briskly rubbed with the dry
 hand,  the irritating plaster  should be applied to the right hy-
 pochondriac region, or directly over  the painful or diseased
 part.  This should be left to remain for a number  of days, or
 until its effects are developed.
   When the plaster is not at hand, the stimulating liniment or
 rubefacient oil,  must be  used  once or twice a day until the
 plaster can be procured.

   ♦When this is not at hand, the powdered root, with a small portion of cayenne
 pepper, may be used in its stead. 
138
INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  LUNGS.
  Tonics.—Medicines of this class, are important during con-
valescence.  The cascarilla, yellow root, columbo,  or poplar
bark, may be used once or twice a day, either in the form of
a syrup, or powder.
          INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS.

                       (Pneumonia.)

  By inflammation of the lungs or pneumonia, the inflamma-
tory condition of several of the organs of the chest are, some-
times, known by practitioners.*   Authors,  however,  usually
treat these under separate heads.  When the inflammatory
action chiefly involves the bronchial tiibes, it is called bronchitis;
and  when the substance or surface  of the  lungs, Peripneu-
monia.

  Bronchitis.—"The symptoms vary very materially, but in ev-
ery case there is cough, differing, however, in its character and
intensity, but always more marked, perhaps, than in other dis-
eases of the respiratory organs.  The expectoration, too, dif-
fers greatly.   At times, it is clear and transparent; at others,
very frothy; or, on the other hand, viscid, adhesive, and con-
taining small white grains, which adhere to the vessel.   These
particles have been mistaken for portions  of pulmonary tu-
bercle, and, therefore, have been supposed to be indicative of
phthisis; but if there be any doubt as to  their nature and orig-
in, the doubt-may be dissolved by placing some of them on a
piece of paper, and exposing them to heat.  If they are mere-
ly sebaceous matter from  the  mucous follicles of the fauces
and  pharynx,  they will  leave on the paper a greasy stain,
which will not be the case, provided they are tubercular mat-
ter from the lungs.  In other cases, the' sputa consists of a
greenish yellow puriform mucus, which may either form a
homogeneous mass, or the matter of each expectoration mav
remain distinct.  Commonly they are  devoid  of smell, but, at
times, they are insupportably foetid.  *  *   *
  |'The respiration may not be much affected; but, commonly,
it is  more  or less oppressed, and, at times,  seems to be com-
phcated, as it were, with asthma—the difficulty of breathing
  *Pleuritis or inflammation of the pleura, is frequently confounded with nncu-
i.»onta.                                                ' 
                INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  LUNGS.             139

recurring in paroxysms.  Commonly,  there is not much pain
attendant upon it, unless the paroxysms of coughing are fre-
quent, and severe.  Nor are  the  general  symptoms usually
marked.  At times  there is no accompanying fever; but, in •
■other cases, the febrile movement is considerable; the inflam-
matory affection passing to the subacute form.  When this is
the case, the nutrition of the  system  is affected; emaciation
takes place, with evident febrile  exacerbations towards eve-
ning, and all the  signs of hectic, under which the individual is
gradually worn away."—(Dunglison)
   The affection is, however, not  always so severe: in some
cases there are only some slight inconveniences of cough, at-
tended with an  expectoration of tough mucus; and perhaps
a pain or sense of soreness in the  upper part of the chest,
which is increased by taking full  respirations.

   Peripneumonia.—This variety of pulmonary affections comes
 on with lassitude, dullness, chills alternated with flushes of
 heat.   In a day or two, and sometimes sooner, a considerable
 fever comes on; the breathing becomes much oppressed, espe-
 cially, when  the patient  is in a horizontal position;  a pain
 (which is sometimes  acute, but more generally rather of an
 obtuse character,) is felt in the chest.  There is a cough, which,
 though dry at first, is attended, in the course  of a few days,
 with a copious  expectoration of viscid phlegm,  sometimes,
 mixed more or less with blood.   The skin is hot and dry; the
 pulse frequent, full, obstructed, but not generally very hard;
 and in the advanced  stage of the disease, it usually becomes
 quite weak, irregular, and labored.   The urine is high color-
 ed, and is discharged in small quantities.
    Inflammation of the lungs,  generally terminates in  resolu-
 tion, but may be followed  by suppuration, or even gangrene:
 the last, however, is  of rare occurrence.

    Treatment.—-The treatment of bronchitis and peripneumo-
 nia or real inflammation of the lungs, is very much the same;
 The first thing to be  done, is to relax  the  system freely, and
 restore the functions  of the skin; for  as the disease   is most
 generally brought on by exposure  to cold or wet, the skin  is
 always contracted, and its excretions consequently very much
 or completely obstructed.  With a view to  effect this, lobelia
 should be used in broken doses for  several hours, while other
 means that are calculated to promote perspiration are prompt-
 ly attended to.   As soon as the patient is brought into a state
 of moisture, the  doses of the  lobelia must be increased so as
 to procure free emesis. 
HO
INFLAMMATION  OF THE LLNGS.
  The patient should now be kept in a moist state by using,
alternately, the  sudorific  powders, and  a tea  of the white
root; or in stead of these, any other  prompt  articles of the
kind that are more pleasent to the taste, may be used in  their
stead, bearing in mind, however, that  the great object  is to
keep the system relaxed and the skin moist.

  Vapor Bath.—In very severe  and threatening cases of the
disease, the vapor bath  is  indispensable to a quick and safe
recovery.  It is best to use it immediately before  the  opera-
tion of the emetic.  The relief that is obtained in lung affec-
tions, by this means, is astonishing to all that are unacquain-
ted  with the therapeutic effects of the hot aqueous  vapor.—
All  the benefits usually  expected from blood-letting may be
secured by the vapor bath and that without any sacrifice.

  Expectorants.—As soon  as the cough commences fairly, ex-
pectorants become necessary to facilitate  the removal of the
matter accumulating at the lungs.*  Either of the  formulas
of this class, found among the compounds, is very good in this
complaint: but perhaps the better plan of procedure in these
cases, is to use the expectorant powders, in tea spoonful dosesj
or in doses as large as the stomach will bear,  three times a
day, until the expectoration  becomes free (using some lobelia
tea, sweetened, should the powder not prove to act with suffi-
cient promptitude;) and after this,  the expectorant syrup, in
proper doses, two or  three times a day.

  Balsams.—The balsams ought not, generally, to be used in
pulmonary affections, until the lungs are ready to be healed,
that is, not until they are well cleansed by the use of the oth-
er means.  The balsam of Avild cherry is an excellent medi-
cine of this class, and may be used with confidence, in all ca-
ses  of lung  affections in which balsams are indicated.

  *if the precaution of keeping the other excretories of the body active, par-
ticularly those of the skin, be observed, the accumulations at the lungs will be
much modified. 
INFLAMMATION OF THE MOUTH.
141
         INFLAMMATION OF THE  MOUTH.

                      (Stomatitis.)

  There are various diseased conditions of the mouth that are
attended with inflammation, and which seem ahke to require
attention.   We have simple stomatitis, or  simple inflammation
of the mouth, aphtheous stomatitis, or thrush,  and the folicular
stomatitis or blistered sore mouth.  For convenience'  sake,
these will be briefly considered separately.

  Simple inflammation of the mouth.—This is characterized by
redness, heat, pain, and dryness of the  mouth.  The pain is
much increased when substances come in contact with the af-
fected parts, and even the touch of the tongue is very unpleas-
ant.  The lips often swell considerably;  the eyes become red
and painful, and general restlessness prevails.
  The inflammation  generally  terminates in  a few days by
resolution, but it may end in ulceration,  or even gangrene.

   Treatment.—The difficulty  may often be removed by hold-
ing fresh cold water in the mouth—renewing it as often as it
gets warm.  But if the inflammatory symptoms do not seem to
subside readily, the external parts should be well bathed with
some good stimulating liniment, while the following compound
may be  held in the mouth until relief be obtained.

   Take of slippery elm bark...............................-............2 parts
    "    Prickly ash  ".............................................1 part.
    '•    Lobelia  leaves,..............................................i  do

   Pulverize, and mix with cold water.
   Should  there be danger of gangrene, tincture of myrrh
and cayenne pepper should be used freely, while the dregs of
myrrh, or a poultice of slippery  elm with pepper and lobelia,
is applied externally.

   Thrush.—This complaint is chiefly confined to young chil-
dren, and is characterized by an inflamed condition of the mu-
cous membrane of the mouth,  which soon becomes covered
with a coat  of a curd-like appearance, that comes on first  in
patches, but in a day or two the tongue  becomes completely
covered with it. This white coating, sometimes, becomes de-
tached and is thrown off, leaving the tongue of a livid  color,
but the parts soon  become covered with  it again. 
142 FOLLICULAR INFLAMMATION OF THE MOUTH, AND PERINTONEUM,
   Treatment.—In mild cases, nothing more may be necessary
 than wetting the mouth  a few times  with some  astringent
 wash.   But if it will not yield readily, the following may be
 used:

   Take of bayberry bark,.................•.....■.................................\ oa-. '
       "  Golden seal root,.......................................•.............i do»
       "  Cranesbill root, ..........................................-••.........J do.
       "  Borax,........-..................................................-----£ do.
       "  Privet leaves,........*........................................~......4 do.

 Pulverize all separately, and mix.  A decoction of this used
 cold or warm, will generally cure the most difficult cases in a
 few days.

  Follicular inflammation of the mouth.—This is a slight af-
 fection; it  may be either discrete or confluent. When it is
 discrete, it consists  of little  specks,  that  commence  with
 small  blisters, which  soon break and leave whitish or yel-
 lowish disks with elevated red  borders.   These little sores
 are much more painful  and troublesome  than would be ex-
 pected from sores of the  size,  by persons never afflicted,
with them.  In some  cases these  specks are  few in  number
 even, sometimes, only one or two, but in other cases they are
 numerous*   The confluent form of  the affection, commences
 in the discrete form and coalesces.  This form is by no means
 confined to the  mouth, it may continue down the throat into
 the stomach; but in this  form, it is not common in this  coun-
try; yet it is known to  prevail in some seasons, considerably, in
the interior of Holland.

  Treatment.—The treatment should be commenced by a dose
rhubarb, but without  delaying for  its operation,  the  parts
should be  treated locally by the use of the astringent tonic
preparation, recommended for the last case mentioned
      INFLAMMATION OF THE PERITONEUM

                       (Peritonitis.)

  Inflammation of the peritoneum is ushered in by  a feelimr
of lassitude pain in the  limbs, chills alternated with flushes
ot heat, headache and a sense of weight and uneasiness about 
                INFLAMMATION OF THE PLEURA,            143

the stomach.   Sooner or later, there is a pain felt in the ab-
domen,' while the inflammatory symptoms are becoming still
more marked;  the pulse grows tense,  contracted and sharp;
the stomach becomes  irritable, and  distressing nausea, with
more or less vomiting, set in.
  The abdomen soon becomes quite  much distended, and very
tender to pressure.  The patient lays on his back and draws
up  his legs, thus to avoid the weight of the bed clothes.
  The disease  is very rapid in its course, sometimes termina-
ting in death in the course of twelve hours, and  hardly ever
passing over five or six days.

  Treatment.—The treatment of this  affection is about the
same as that recommended for inflammation of  the  bowels,
to which the reader is referred.
         INFLAMMATION OF THE PLEURA.

                        (Pleuritis)

  Pleurisy often proves a very  violent and  painful disease;
but like all other affections, is dependent on circumstances for
the character of its symptoms.
  This affection comes on with  the same premonitory symp-
toms that usher in peripneumonia or inflammation  of the
lungs, proper.  But there is soon felt a pungent pain  in the
chest, generally in the right  side, which is always  much  in-
creased by full inspiration, or on coughing.   The breathing is
hurried, short, and generally more difficult when the patient
lies on the affected side.  The cough is short and dry, or at-
tended only with a glary and nearly colorless sputa. The
pain occasioned by the coughing, causes the  patient to avoid
or stifle it as much as possible, and  hence the sufferer is dis-
posed to hack and sigh  a great deal.
  The disease is brought on by exposure to cold, and the oth-
er usual causes of  inflammation.  It terminates most  gener-
ally by resolution, or  effusion.*

   Treatment.—Among the fashionable  physicians of our day,
the chief dependence is on blood-letting.  This practice gen-
  *A popular writer (Andral,) states that the pain is not always experienced in
peritonitis. 
144
INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH.
erally gives prompt relief, but it is obtained at too great a sa-
crifice.  The blood is the stream of life, and  should never
therefore be thus inhumanly taken from the body.
  The -relief that is gained by blood-letting, is just as prompt-
ly obtained from the use of the vapor bath.  Before this is ap-
plied, the patient should take a few doses of some stimulating
tea, such as the  diaphoretic powders, cayenne  pepper, wild
marjoram, &c, and then the vapor should be  admitted freely
to the whole body.
  In difficult cases, when the pain does not yield readily, some
stimulant or rubefacient, should be applied to the surface, be-
fore the bath is used.
  To relieve the cough, expectorants must be used,  and the
bowels should be kept free by the use of enemas, or  laxative
bitters.
  The main importance in this disease, is to keep  the skin
moist, and  the lungs free.  The treatment of inflammation of
the lungs and that of  this affection, should in the main,  be
about the same, for further particulars, the reader is, therefore,
refered to the treatment of pneumonia, proper.
        INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH.

                        (Gastritis)

  Acute inflammation of the stomach,  as  an idiopathic dis-
ease, is of rare occurrence.  Chronic  gastritis is much more
common; and is indeed  almost a certain concomitant of dy-
spepsia.  It would seem that an organ so much exposed as is
the stomach, would be much more  liable to acute forms  of
disease than what the facts in the case appear to show.—
When inflammation of this organ occurs in the acute form it
1* generally the result of the  injestion of poisons, of some
kind.   These, alas, are too often taken under the  idea  of a
medicine!   Thus arsenic, mercury, antimony, and  many others
ot the most fatal poisons, are often taken by the people from
the hands of those accredited  the most skillful physicians'—

1  immhcatedmembrane ^ ^ ^ °f theoi"an mo"st general-

hJIhlef'8i?n,r n°ticed in the general^markS~o7i^iaiamationii iTv^rTlia-
ble to contract adhesions to contiguous parts.                ^  Ttry  na 
               INFLAMMATION OF THE  STOMACH.  *          145

  Symptoms.—Inflammation of the stomach, when it occurs in
the acute form, commences sometimes with extreme pain in
the epigastrium, attended with violent vomiting.  But when
the case is less violent, there may, at first, only be tenderness
of the stomach att nded with nausea; and when  the difficulty
arises from the taking of some mineral poison, there is gener-
ally a sensible metalic taste in the mouth.   Vomiting, howev-
er, soon ensues, which is attended  with great pain and  dis-
tressing irritability of the stomach, so that the blandest drinks
are instantly throwm up, when taken.  There is,  generally, an
urgent desire for cool drinks, especially, for fresh water.   The
strength fails rapidly, and the spirits  soon sink.  The aspect
of the countenance is expressive of great anxiety,  suffering,
and despondency.   Sometimes, the pain is so excessive, as to
cause violent delirium; but there is indeed, generally, more .or
less sympathy between the brain and stomach in affections, of.
these organs.   The pulse, which, although at first is full, soon
falls, and becomes very contracted, quick, and tense, and final-
ly so small as scarcely to be felt.   The bowels are, usually, in
a constipated state.
  The diagnostic or distinguishing symptoms of  acute gastri-
tis, are the irritation of the stomach,  and vomiting,—the un-
intermittent character of the pain,—the smallness of the pulse
&c. But perhaps  the most certain sign, is the momentary
cessation of the pain on  taking a draught of cold water.
  A subsidence of the irritation of the stomach, and the vom-
iting, diminution of the pain,  moisture of the skin,  fullness
and regularity of the pulse, and a lateritious sediment in the
urine, arc all favorable signs.  But on the other hand, should
the violence of the  pain and vomiting  continue for  several
days, and should difficulty of breathing and hiccough supervene,
and the pulse become smaller  and more frequent,  great dan-
ger may justly be apprehended.   When, after  the foregoing
symptoms have progressed violently  for a number  of days,
there is a sudden cessation of their violence,  and the extrem-
ities become ctold,—the pulse and strength of the patient sud-
denly sink, the  countenance assume a peculiar cadaveric look,
should the  sight and hearing become dull, and delirium set in,
or convulsion supervene, the case  must inevitably terminate
fatally.
  Acute inflammation  of the  stomach  may end  in  resolu-
tion, softening  and ulceration, or  gangrene;  or  what is often
the case, the inflammation  may assume the chronic form.

  Post mortem appeal ances—In violent cases of gastritis  that
have continued a number of days before the occurrence of death,
              10  " 
 146            INFLAMMATION OF THE  STOMACH.

 the mucous membrane of the stomach will exhibit various ap-
 pearances, on dissection.  This coat of the organ, is, general-
 ly, much thickened in places; it is dense, and minutely injec-
 ted; and is often found ulcerated in spots of more or less ex-
 tent, presenting a dark yellowish or brown appearance of the
 parts.   In the  most  violent cases, death, sometimes, takes
 place before any lesion of the parts occurs.

   Treatment.—The indications of cure in this case, are:  1, to
 remove the  cause of irritation; 2,  to equalize  the circulation;
 and 3, to tone up the system.
   Should it be discovered that the  patient has swallowed
 some poison, of any kind, and, especially,  if it has recently
 been taken, means for its removal  must be  promptly institu-
 ted.  If  a stomach pump be at hand,  it should be used, if not,
 an effort to excite efficient vomiting ought  to be made by tit-
 illating the fauces with a feather.  But should those  means
 not prove immediately  successful,  an emetic of  the strained
 infusion  of lobelia should be  immediately  administered, and
 continued in suitable doses, until the  desired object is accom-
 plished.
   The  use of emetics in inflammation of the  stomach may,
 to many, seem like harsh and dangerous treatment, and, in-
 deed, it is one  not generally  approved by authors.   But it
 should here be borne in mind, that it is not the principle that
 is  really objectionable,  but that the mischiefs, usually referred
 to by those opposed to  their use, may, generally, be traced to
 the character of the articles used for  the purpose.  Thus,  in
 the fashionable practice, where, mineral poisons are mostly
 used for this purpose, it may be expected that  danger  would
 necessarily attend their use.   Lobelia, on the other  hand,  is
 not only  safe but mild in its operation, and what is more, the
 irritation necessary to its specific operation, is comparative^
 insignificant.  After the stomach u well cleansed, the  treat-
 ment should be of the same character  that is adopted at the
 onset, in  cases of acute inflammation of the stomach, arising
 from other causes than those of poisonous ingesta.
   The  great object in all inflammations is to equalize the cir-
 culation,  with this view it is well to apply the stimulating lin-
 iment over the entire body, and place the feet into a vessel  of
 water as hot as can be borne; or the vapor bath may at once
 be applied.  A sinapism should be  placed over the region  of
 the stomach, and  suffered to remain as long as  possible with-
 out blistering.   Should the pain not have subsided at the re-
 moval of the sinapism, the stimulating and relaxant liniment
or the bathing drops may be applied to the parts  from which 
INFLAMMATION  OF THE STOMACH.
147
the mustard plaster is taken.   External frictions are of incal-
culable utility, which may well be accounted for, if considered
in view of the very extensive sympathy existing between the
skin and stomach.
  The medicines taken into  the stomach, should consist of
bland mucilaginous drinks, such  as slippery elm water, taken
cold, marsh-mallows infusion, flax seed tea, or oil of almonds.
The neutralizing mixture is also very good to settle the stom-
ach, if used in small doses; and so is even soda alone.
  Enemas are also  almost  indispensable to  the successful
treatment of gastritis, they should consist of antispasmodics,
laxatives, stimulants, and tonics, as  the case may  require.
  In this affection, above all others, a careful attention to the
diet should be observed.  While the inflammation continues
active, no food of any kind is  digested, and  hence it is worse
than useless to keep  up an. irritation by the  presence of food
in the stomach.  As soon.as the  stomach will bear it, such
food as tapioca jelly, sago gruel, beef or chicken tea, and rice
properly prepared, may he taken, until the stomach will bear
stronger articles.

   Chronic Gastritis;—When inflammation of  the stomach as-
sumes the chronic form, the symptoms  differ, somewhat, from
those that characterize the acute; they, however, differ more
in point of their violence, than in any  other respect.
   The pain in chronic gastritis, is less  severe than that atten-
ding the acute form, and in this, the stomach seems to be less
relieved by cold drinks, than  in  the latter.   In  the chronic
form, the diseased  action always comes on more slowly;  the
stomach is less irritable, and the symptoms, in  every respect,
are less severe than in acute inflammation of the stomach.
   As remarked under the  head of  indigestion,  there is a very
close intimacy or relationship, between this disease and  the
affection commonly called dyspepsia.  All that host  of symp-
toms, commonly ascribed to  indigestion, are the common at-
tendants of chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane of
the stomach.
   The treatment of  chronic gastritis, differs little, in the main,
from that reccommended in the  acute form of the disease.—
Rubefacients, an  occasional  emetic of lobelia,  mucilage of
slippery elm, fine charcoal with milk, a dose of soda or saler-
atus as occasion  may require, a decoction  of yellow  willow
bark, cascarilla, stomachics, and carminatives, are among the
means used  in connection with  general  treatment.   For  fur-
ther particulars see the treatment for indigestion. 
148
INFLAMMATION OF THE  TONGUE.
          INFLAMMATION OF, THE TONGUE.

                         (Glossitis.)

   This is not a disease of frequent  occurrence,  but when it
 does set in, it is sometimes very violent, and rapidly fatal in
 its effects.

   Symptoms.—The disease usually commences with a burning
 and throbbing pain in the tongue, which is attended with fe-
 brile symptoms that soon rise very high, and  assume the syn-
 ochal grade.  The tongue is dry and parched, is of a fiery red-
 ness, and swells enormously, even to bursting;  it is sometimes
 thrust out of the mouth, "appearing like a mass of raw flesh/'
 Deglutition ;s now impossible, and respiration very difficult,
 and as the disease advances, the  patient,  in.  addition  to hia
 intolerable suffering, is tortured with the apprehension of suf-
 focation.
   Inflammation of the tongue, in milder cases, generalfy, ends
 in resolution;  but  ulcerations, and even gangrene sometimes
 supervene.  The writer was called with some other physicians,
 in council, to a distinguished individual, laboring under an at-
 tack of glossitis that ended in gangrene in a few hours.  The
 disease perhaps was beyond the control of medicine from the
 commencement, but certainly so  at the time that the writer
 first saw the patient.
   The subsidence  of the pain,  swelling, and  fever, and the
 appearance of moisture on the skin, may  be regarded  as fa-
 vorable signs.   But so long as the  pain and swelling increase,
 the danger becomes more imminent.

   Treatment.—The remedial process should be commenced by
 the use of active cathartics, so as to divert the diseased action
 from the part, if possible.  By these means, it is true, the cause
 is not entirely removed from the system, yet the  principle  is
justifiable in this case, for while the progressing lesion of the
 part is obviated, time is gained, which will suffice  for the com-
 plete and safe removal of the difficulty.  In the tongue, as in
 other organs where the texture and location of the part will
 not admit of the application of the means adequate  to the
 subversion of the disease, a policy of the  kind is  always ad-
 missible.*
  •In contending with onenemy, in the department of physic  as well as the
 military, whuu we hive  not the chance of pitching tho battle ourselVts, it is ou* 
                INFLAMMATION OF THB TONSILS.             149

  The speedy operation of the cathartic may be promoted by
the use of enemas, and in cases where the tongue is so swol-
len as to prevent the medicine from being taken in the ordin-
ary wray, it must be  given entirely by injection.   But without
waiting for the operation of the cathartic, means should be
instituted to produce a prompt and copious perspiration.   To
effect this object, the vapor bath is always the best adapted.

  Local  Treatment.—This  should consist  of rubefacients to
the jaws and throat.  If the rubefacient oil  is not  at hand,
the oil of wild marjoram, pennyroyal, summer-savory, or cin-
namon, must  be used in its stead.  A mustard plaster, ap-
plied around the jaws, and left to remain nearly long enough
to blister, will, generally, be  very serviceable.   This should
then be  followed with a mixture, of equal parts of the tinc-
tures of lobelia and cayenne  pepper; or in place of this, the
bathing  drops will  do  as well.  To the tongue", cold water,
and cold mucilage of slippery elm, or flaxseed, must be con-
stantly applied; and occasionally  it should be washed with
tincture of lobelia,  or touched with the oil  of this  article.
When ulceration, or  gangrene occurs, it must be treated, as
nearly as possible, in the same way as recommended for oth-
er parts thus affected.
          INFLAMMATION OF THE TONSILS.

                         (Tonsililis)

   For all  practical purposes,  the various anginose affections,
 may as well  all be treated under this head, seeing that they
 are about of the same character—differing only a little in lo-
 cation.  They all effect the same texture, and need the same
 medical  treatment.   By the older writers,  they were all
 known  under the common appellation,  Angina, or Quinscy,
 but by some late  authors we have, Isthmitis (cynancheparisth-
 mia)  Amygdalitis (cynanche tonsillaris) Pharyngitis (cynanche
 pliaryngca)  Follicular Pharyngitis,  Diphtheritic  Pharyngitis,
 Oesophagitis (cynanche oesophagea)  all manifestly tending to
 confuse the student  of medicine; for all these  names mean

 best policy to divert the enemy, and decoy him into a place most advantageous
 to us, before an attack ia commenced—thus by the advantages oi circumstau- ,
 »es, a force much ivferirrmay be successful.

i 
150
INFLAMMATION OF THE TONSILS.
nothing more than inflammation of the throat.   This inflam-
mation may indeed implicate certain parts of the throat more
than others, yet  in  every instance, the remedies are pretty
much the same; nor  does their mode of application differ in
any case.
  Inflammation of the throat is very common in the North-
ern States, especially, in those parts where the climate is va-
riable; the  disease is also  more  common in the winter and
spring, than any other part of the year.

  Symptoms.—The disease usually  begins with slight  chills
alternated with flushes of heat, which are succeeded with rest-
lessness,  accompanied with an uneasy feeling in the fauces,
and  more  or  less pain in the part on swallowing.   In a few
hours a fixed pain is  felt about the tonsils, and the  act of de-
glutition becomes more  and more painful, until at last it is
attended with extreme  suffering, or altogether impossible.
On examining the throat,  one or more tonsils are found very
much swolfen, and  the whole surface of the fauces very red
and somewdiat tumefied.   The tongue also is swollen,—white,
and  covered  with a thick layer of transparent viscid mucus.
The face is red and tumid; the  carotids  beat strongly;  respi-
ration is difficult; hearing obtuse; the pulse frequent, hard,
and full;  and the  voe.ee "is indistinct and whispering.  In gen-
eral, much  more  difficulty and  pain is experienced  in swal-
lowing liquids, than  soft  and  pultaceous solids.  The pain,
usually, shoots from the  fauces to the ears, particularly, on
attempting to speak or to swallow, and the mouth is opened
great difficulty and pain.   A  very  thick  ropy  mucus, com-
monly, adheres to the inflamed parts, and  contributes much
to the difficulty of respiration.  The uvula  and soft palate,
are, generally, very much swollen;  but the principal pain and
difficulty of breathing, arise from the tumefaction of the ton-
sils.  In some instances, the tonsils are covered with flakes
of coagulable lymph, of a whitish  color, resembling  superfi-
cial sloughs.  (Eberle)                     .
  The quinsy is generally caused by colds, brought on by wet
feet, wearing damp clothes, &c.  Some persons are  particu-
larly predisposed to the affection, especially, when  they have
had it once or twice.   Eberle thinks, and very  correctly too,
that  the  effects  of mercury  create an increased aptitude to
the affection.
  An ordinary attack of this affection, is not, generally, con-
sidered dangerous; but when the disease sets in violently, and
the swelling be considerable, more  or less danger may justly
be apprehended.                                   . 
               INVAGINATION OF THE INTESTINES.            151

  The most common termination of quinsy or sore throat, is
in resolution, but ulceration sometimes occurs,  and in  rare
instances, gangrene.

   Treatment.—In common cases, it may only be  necessary to
equalize the circulation, by appropriate means, and to bathe
the throat and jaws well  with a good stimulating liniment.
In bad cases, the patient should be subjected to  the relaxing
effects of lobelia, by giving it in small doses often repeated,
for a few hours. In the mean time, the bathing  drops should
be applied, freely,  to  the throat, with considerable friction,
which should be followed with  a good stimulating relaxant
poultice:
  If relief is not obtained by this course, the same plan may
be  adopted that is recommended for inflammation of the
tongue.  When symptoms of putridity or gangrene super-
vene,  a course similar to that recommended as a local treat-
ment  for the sore throat in scarlatina should be pursued.
        INVAGINATION  OF THE INTESTINES.

                      (Intussusceptio)

  Intussusception is a disease  of the intestines, in which one
portion of the tube is introduced into  another as represented
in the following cut:
  All parts of the bowels are subject to this derangement,
but the small intestines,  particularly  the  ileum; are  found
most prone to it.  The length of the intestine thus invagin-
•ated, is usually, only a few inches;  but cases are recorded, in 
152           INVAGINATION OF THE INTESTINES.

which several feet were involved.  The number of these in-
vaginations in a single case, is, generally, but one, but it hap-
pens, sometimes, that in the course of the intestine, as many
as two, three, or even half a  dozen, occur at a time.   The
part thus incarcerated, if not relieved by the force of the mus-
cular fibres  of  the surrounding  portion of  the intestine,
some fortunate motion  of  the body, or the effects  of medi-
cine, may contract adhesions  to the surrounding portion, and
remain in this way, or it may die and separate from the liv-
ing portion, and pass off from the system.   This must, how-
ever, be considered  a very dangerous affection, as many suf-
fering from it, die, in the course of from eight to twelve days.
The symptoms of this disease, resemble those of inflammation
of the bowels, or peritoneum so  much, that it is hard to dis-
tinguish it  from them; but  when  these symptoms prove unu-
sually obstinate, intussusception may generally be  suspected.
The greatest distinguishing mark  that we have, is,  that  this
disease  is not preceded by the usual premonitory symptoms
of those other affections;—the pain coming on suddenly, and
being soon followed with rumbling of the bowels.
  Small  children are most subject to many of the intestinal
diseases, and it is supposed that nine-tenths of the cases that
occur of this  kind, are found among them.
  The  cause of the difficulty is supposed to be irregular or
spasmodic contractions of  the intestines, in which one portion
contracts  while the  adjoining part is relaxed, and thus re-
ceives it.
  It may be proper to remark that while this explanation of
the manner in which  the derangement takes place seems ve-
ry reasonable; it  is  altogether probable  that the  irritation
produced by'unnatural and poisonous medicines, may, in ma-
ny instances, give rise to th:se irregular or spasmodic contrac-
tions, and thus be the primary cause of this terrible disease.

   Treatment.—Injections of lobelia and cayenne pepper tea,
of proper strength, promise more  in this  affection, than any
other means.  The  injections must be repeated until the sys-
tem is completely relaxed; and after this, if relief is not ob-
tained, the next plan will be  to crowd the bowels as much as
possible, with thick slippery elm  mucilage.  With a view to
the best effects of this means, the patient must endeavor to
retain  as much  of the injected  material as possible.  The
anus may also be secured  by  an  assistant, or by means of
bandages.  For the purpose of carrying up the injected ma-
terial, as^-far  as possible, it may be advisable  to use a bogie,
) 
ITCH.
153
which may be introduced as far as the sigmoid  flexure at
least, and then the material may be injected through it.
  Injecting or forcing wind into the bowels, has also been re-
commended by some  writers.   This may be effected  by the
use of a common bellows, the point of which may be intro-
duced into the rectum, or it may be forced into the bogie, and
the wind thus blown into the bowels.
                          ITCH.

                         (Scabies)

  The itch is an affection of the skin, consisting of an assem-
blage of small vesicles,  which,  as its common name denotes,
are attended with an intolerable itching.  These  vesicles are
most common on the more delicate parts of the skin, as that
between the fingers, on  the wrist, in the flexures of the arms,
&c.  The itching is much enhanced by heat;  thus the heat of
a fire, or bed, will soon set the patient to scratching.   The irri-
tation attending these vesicles, causes a slight inflammation,
that gives them a red appearance around the base,—the crown
being filled with a viscid fluid, that at first is  transparent, but
afterwrards becomes somewhat opaque and yellowish.  As the
vesicles are scratched open, the  matter  dries into scabs; and
when these are again removed, slight bleeding will ensue.  As
the affection progresses, the vesicles Avill become more  nu-
merous, and appear in groups,  and as they are scratched off,
the scabs will coalesce and thus, sometimes, form small ulcers
that occasionally become quite troublesome.
  The itch is almost entirely confined to persons of uncleanly
or filthy habits, and hence is considered a disgrace when met
with, among respectable  persons; although as it is a highly
contagious affection, all are liable to receive it by contact with
persons affected with it, and therefore the disgrace is less in
acquiring than  retaining it.
  The  itch is caused by  the presence of a very  small  insect
that is found in a small superficial canal, about an eight of
an  inch from the vesicle.  The insect, which  is called the aca-
rus or itch-ciron, is of the shape of a tortoise, but it has eight
leo-s, which come  out  on the  under side.   Its back i§ beset 
154                       TTCH.                          '

with a number of stiff bristles.  The following cuts represent
an upper and underside view of. the animal many times mag-
nified:
  It is supposed that the time required for incubation, after
the contact, is in children, from four to five or six days, and in
adults, from ten to twenty days, according to the season.

  Treatment.—Sulphur seems to be the  most  incompatible
with their existence.   An ointment prepared of it, with lard,
and applied morning  and evening to the parts affected, for
from four to six days, and then washing', and changing clothes,
will be found a certain remedy.   The unpleasantness  of the
smell  of sulphur, however, makes this  article somewhat ob-
jectionable with some. But the smell of sulphur may be ob-
viated, by incorporating with it some aromatic  essential oils.
The itch ointment formula, given among the compounds, is a
very good preparation.
  Those who do not like the sulphur,  can cure themselves
with an ointment made out  of meadow fern, or narrow dock   3
root.  Internal remedies are seldom required in itch.
j
* 
JAUNDICE.
155
                       JAUNDICE.

                         (Icterus)

  Jaundice is occasioned by an obstruction of the  course  of
the bile, which is consequently taken up by  absorption, and
thus carried into the circulation;  and hence  by its diffusion
into the capillary  vessels, stains the skin, eyes, mouth, throat,
urine, &c, (being the only places in which it can be seen, al-
though  affecting the whole body  just as much,) with a deep
yellow.
  This  obstruction of the bile may arise from the presence of
calculi in the gall-bladder,  from inflammation of its duct,  or
even the liver itself.  The  obstruction may also be produced
by constipation of the bowels, external  injuries, and mental
emotions.
  The attending symptoms, are  loss of appetite, dyspepsia,
vertigo, nausea and perhaps vomiting,  flatulency, and  great
dejection of spirits.

   Treatment.—The  treatment, in  this  complaint,  should be
commenced  by taking a dose of the  extract of mandrake,
large enough to produce free  evacuation from the bowels.—
This medicine  seems to have a specific  action on the  glandu-
lar system, and will generally reach the liver—stimulating it
to a healthy action.
  If the stomach is much disturbed, an  emetic of lobelia may
be necessary.  As soon as  the intestinal canal is cleansed, and
the functions of the biliary system are  restored, it will be ne-
cessary to remove the bilious matter from the circulatory and
-capillary  systems.   This should  now be done, by the use of
diaphoretics, aided if necessary, by the  vapor bath.
   When the system is well cleansed, the organs may be toned
up by the use of tonics, such as the yellow root, cascarilla, col-
.ombo, &c.  The laxative  bitters, is an invaluable medicine
iin this disease, and should  be used freely.
\ 
156
LErROSY.
                        LEPROSY.

                         (Lepra)

   There are several varieties of leprosy, some of which, are
common to this country.  What are called, by authors,  lepra
vulgaris, lepra alphos, and lepra nigricans, are scaly affections of
the skin, which, although divided into three varieties,  consist
essentially of the same disease.
   This leprosy  of our country, makes its appearance in circu-
lar scaly eruptions  usually on  the elbows and  knees, but
spreads afterwards over the  other  parts  of the  body.  The
first variety (lepra vulgaris) consists of round patches of scales,
that accumulate in  thick  crusts,  which,  if removed,  will be
quickly reproduced.  The disease, commencing at the knees
and elbows, passes from those parts, to the body, where it
may spread over a large surface.  The second variety (lepra
alphos) does not spread so extensively as the first, and, it dif-
fers, also, {-omewhat, in the face of the  eruption: in this, the
center, of the patches is depressed, and  as the patches en-
large, it  (the center) will frequently  heal up  and thus recover
the natural appearance.   The third variety  (lepra nigricans)
is  distinguished from the other varieties,  by the color of the
patches, and the facility with which the seal s may be remo-
ved.  The color of the scales is dark, or purple; are easily re-
moved, and as the skin under them  comes to views it is  like-
wise found of a dark color; it remains bare much longer  than
in  the other varieties, and is covered with a thin coat of bloody
lymph.
  The. scaly leprosy seldom makes its appearance on the  face;
but is sometimes known to occupy the hairy scalp, and to af-
fect even the nails of the fingers and toes, which become spon-
gy, as it were, and assume a narrow and roundish shape not
unlike the claws of a fowl.

  Egyptian or Grecian  Leprosy.—The leprosy of the ancients,
and which still  appears in the oriental countries and Africa,
is a disease much more dreadful than the leprosy of diir coun-
try.  This affection, which from the appearance of the skin,
is called elephantiasis, consists of a horrible tubercular eruption,
that commonly  makes its  appearance on the face, but as the'
disease advances, the skin of the entire body may become af-
fected with it. 
LEPROSY.
157
     This disease is exceeding obstinate in its character, and was
   believed in ancient times, to be absolutely incurable; and from
   the idea of its being contagious, or perhaps more from the ob-
   scene appearance of the affected person, the unhappy  suffer-
   er was banished from society to die  in obscurity.*
     We are informed by the Moravian missionaries in  Africa,
   that the natives there, have at this day, a large plain, enclos-
   ed with a very high wall, within which, all that are found af-
   fected with the disease are confined,—never to be released,—
   but there to support themselves,  by raising their own provis-
   ions.

      Treatment.—As leprosy is  without  doubt  dependent on  a
   depraved condition of  the nutritive  functions, its  proper
   treatment involves especial attention to this matter.   A thor-
   ough cleansing process, is first required; the condition of  the
   stomach must be improved by the use of emetics, that  of the
   bowels  by proper cathartics  and enemas, while the skin is re-
   lieved and restored to its healthy condition, by the use of dia-
   phoretics, baths, and other proper external applications.
     After the main channels or vascular organs, have been re-
   stored into a healthy condition, the  system should be put un-
   der a course of depuratives and  alteratives, as recommended
   for scrofula, while the attention is then mainly directed to the
   skin or  more extensively affected parts.
     The diseased parts should be covered with a mucilage of
   slippery elm, thickened with finely pulverized lobelia seed —
   The parts must then be enveloped with a thin soft skin, or oil-
   ed silk,  to exclude the air.  This application should be  left to
   remain  only some 24 hours, when it must  be renewed.   The
   vapor bath should be applied, at the renewing of the external
   applications, as often as two or three times a week.

     In these obstinate diseases, perseverance in the treatment is
   all important; and when from some peculiarities of the symp-
   toms, the above applications will not be found the best adap-
   ted, they may be changed, and the olaginous liniments and
.   ointments, may be used in their stead, or  alternately with
   them,—washing the  surface with  soap-suds at the changes.
   The stramonium ointment will be found very good.  It may
   be mixed: with the extract or powder of blood-root, andapph-
  .'■* ~*it is more than probable^that the leprosy spoken of in the sacred scriptures,
  'differed somewhat from the disease now called elephantiasis.  This  latter  is
   characterized by a dark rough appearance, whereas, that seems to have  been ol
   a licrht or  white color  It is certain,  however, that the leprosy spoken of in th«
   bibfe was fully as obstinate as  the elephantiasis seems to be, and hence the mi-
   raculous curea by the Saviour, were the more striking in character. 
158^                   LOCKED JAW.

ed to the affected parts.  Linseed oil has also been found ser-
viceable.
                     LOCKED JAW.

                        (Tetanus.)

   The disease called locked jaw consists of a spasmodic con-
traction of the muscles of the body.   It comes on in some in-
stances with great violence, extending rapidly to nearly all the
large muscles, but more usually it progresses in a more grad-
ual manner; in which case, a slight stiffness is at first percei-
ved in the back part of the neck, which, after a short time, be-
comes considerably increased, and at length renders the mo-
tion of the head both difficult and painful.   An uneasy sensa-
tion, is now experienced  at the root of the tongue,  together
with some difficulty in swallowing,  and a tightness in  the
breast. There is also a pain at the extremity of the  breast
bone, shooting into the back.  At this stage, a stiffness will
be experienced in the jaws, which increases until the jaws will
become so firmly set that they cannot at all be opened, and hence
the name locked jaw.
  This affection  is  occasioned by irritation of the nerves,
brought on by the effects of cold, particularly, when conjoined
with wetness,—by local  injuries, such as,  punctures, incisions,
lacerations, bruises, and burns or scalds.  Lacerated or punc-
tured wounds, in tendinous parts, are very apt to bring on the
disease.

   Treatment.—The  most prompt  and certain remedy for this,
as well as most other spasmodic diseases, is the anti-spasmo-
cb tincture.  This must be  poured into the mouth,  between
the cheeks and teeth, and should  also be administered (dilu-
ted with a tea of  the nervine tonic,) by injection.  In the
mean time an assistant should apply the stimulating liniment,
with rapid  friction,  all over the body.   When the  spasm is
broken up, the patient must continue to use the nervine ton-
ic, in proper doses.  It may be prepared in a strong tea, sweet-
ened, and drank freely for several days.
  The blue cohosh, swamp cabbage, and  asafoatida, are also-
good in this disease. 
MADNESS j CANINE -                 159
                  MADNESS, CANINE.

                      (Hydrophobia)

  The term  hydrophobia  signifies a dread of water, which in
one of the  characteristic symptoms of the  disease  resulting
from the bite of rabid animals.  But this symptom is not pe-
culiar to this affection, as it, sometimes, attends  other  disor-
ders, as hysteria, and varies febrile and other affections  atten-
ded with an excitable irregular nervous impressibility.  Nev-
ertheless, as a dread of liquids is so much more pressing  and
constant in this disease than any other, the name is still prop-
erly retained by most writers.   It seems, howrever,  that  this
singular dread is not confined to the sight and noise of liquids,
but may be produced by the sight of polished bodies, and of
mirrors.
  "Dr. James observes, that this peculiar affection properly
be3ongs to the canine genus, viz: dogs, foxes, and wolves; in
which animals only it seems to be innate and natural, scarce-
ly ever appearing in any others, except when communicated
from these.   When a  dog  is affected with  madness, he be-
comes dull, solitary, and endeavors to hide himself, seldom
barking, but making a murmuring  noise,  and  refusing all
kinds of meat and chink.   He flies at strangers; but, in  this
stage, he remembers and respects  his master; his  head  and
tail hang down; he walks as if overpowered by sleep;  and  a
bite, at  this period, though  dangerous, is  not  so  apt to bring
on the disease in the animal bitten as one inflicted at a later
period.  The dog at length begins to pant; he breathes  quick-
ly and heavily; his tongue  hangs out; his mouth  is continual-
ly open, and discharges a large quantity of froth.  Sometimes
he walks slowly, as if half asleep,  and then  runs  suddenly,
bat not  always directly forward.  At last he forgets his mas-
ter; his eyes have a dull,  watery, red appearance: he  grows
thin and weak, often falls down, gets up and attempts to fly
at every thing, becoming very soon  quite furious. ^ The ani-
mal seldom lives in the latter state  longer  than  thirty  hours;
and it is said, that  his bites at the end of his existence, are the
most dangerous.   The  throat of a person suffering hydropho-
bia  is always much affected;  and, it is  asserted, the nearer
the bite to this part the more perilous."
  It appears that the disease can  be communicated to man
by rabid animals that are not of the canine species, provided
that they have the genuine disease.  So far yet known, how- 
 160                  MADNESS, CANINE.

ever, it would seem,  that a person cannot communicate the
disease to his own species:1 yet prudence would dictate that
caution should be observed 'in this matter, as it appears that
hydrophobia has been produced in dogs by inoculation  from
the human subject.
  The appearance of the affection, after the bite, is at an un-
certain period, sometimes, within a fortnight, a month, or ac-
cording to some, it may not come on for a year, and even then
appear.  The bitten part may  heal  up without any signs
of the hydrophobic symptoms, and yet the disease come on af-
terwards.
  Hydrophobia  may take place  without  the appearance of
any local symptoms;  but more usually  the individual feels a
slight pain in the bitten part, which somewhat resembles rheu-
matism.  From this the pain will be felt  to wander through
the body, while a universal uneasiness, and heaviness will be
experienced;  there will be disturbld sleep, frightful dreams,
sudden startings and spasms;  the patient evinces a disposi-
tion of anxiety, sighing, and a desire of solitude.   The symp-
toms now become more severe, daily, pains  are felt to shoot
from the  wound toward the throat, which are soon followed
with a sensation *of choking, and a  horror and dread at the
sight or  noise of water.   The patient  is, however, able to
swallow  other substances with tolerable ease;  but as  he en-
deavors to  resist or overcome the dread of  liquids, the mental
and physical effort is singularly distressing and horrific;  eve-
ry muscle  of the face is  throwm into violent agitation, and
those of the throat and trunk contract so forcibly and convul-
sively as  to threaten  suffocation.  These agitations or parox-
ysms, at  first are only of a moment's duration;  but, subse-
quently, they become more prolonged and still more violent.
  In the  majority of  instances, the patient retains his reason,
and will  sometimes warn  bystanders to "keep away, lest he
should bite or  otherwise injure them.
  At last the  patient becomes exceedingly agitated and  furi-
ous; his eyes sparkle; his face is red; he froths at the  mouth;
his countenance bears an  expression of the  deepest agony;
and  being convulsed in every  part of the body, becomes^
frightful  object to behold.   Vomiting finally ensues; a clam-
my sweat breaks out over his face and  body;  the pulse be-
comes small  and intermittent, respiration difficult, and the
poor sufferer sinks in the midst of the most awful sufferings. t

  Treatment.—Numerous remedies have been recommended
for the cure of this terrible disease, many of which have been
regarded as specifics.  The chickweed,  (alsine media) water 
MADNESS, CANINE.
161
plantain, (alisma plantago*) scarlet pimperel, (anagallis arven-
■sis-\)  the ash-colored ground liverwort, (lichen caninus,$) scul-
cap, valerian, camphor, and carbonate of ammonia,  have all
been highly extolled for their virtues in the cure of hydropho-
bia.  Besides these, a number of poisonous articles have also
been recommended; the most prominent of which, are the fol-
lowing: mercury,||  arsenic, copper filings,  strychnine,  (mix
vomica) nightshade, jimson weed, poke root, tobacco, Spanish
flies, &c.                                      v
  But with all these boasted remedies, it has been  declared
by many, that nothing short of the knife or the actual caute-
ry, (burning, or cutting out the wound) will promise any certain-
ty of  cure, while on the other hand, some have affirmed that
even excision, or amputation, is  unsafe to  be relied  upon.—
Now the truth may be found just between those notions; it is
certain that excision or cauterization, though very severe and
unnecessary operations* would if well practised immediately
on  the occurrence of the bite, be pretty certain to be  effectual,
while it is equally certain that if the bite is not cut out  until
after the poison has  become diffused  through the system, it
will do no good whatever.
  "When we take," says Howard, "a survey of the empirical,
contradictory, extravagant and pernicious means which  have
been used or recommended in the treatment of this terrible
malady, we are forcibly driven to the reflection that the  pop-
ular practice of medicine, as taught in the schools, was noth-
ing more than a chaos of confusion—a tissue of error, and of
dangerous and unprofitable experiment; for of all the various
and contradictory modes of treatment,  recommended by dif-
ferent authors, whether of stimulating or depleting, of relax-
ing or exciting, of burning or cutting, of warm bathing or cold
bathing, nothing as yet is known to the learned authors of me-
dicine, which can.be relied upon as a certain cure.   As Dr.
Good observes, "our curative practice is still unfortunately all
afloat, and we have neither helm to steer by, nor compass to
direct our course.  'There is indeed,' continues he, 'no disease
for which so many remedies have been devised, and none in
which, the mortifying  character of variety of varieties has
been so strikingly written upon all of them.'
   "A new  era has, however, taken place in the annals of me-
  *This article, as a prophylactic against hydrophobia, gained great popularity
 in Russia.
  +This is one of the oldest remedies for this disease; both Galen and iEtius rec-
 ommended it.
  £The celebrated Dr. Mead asserts that in more than one hundred instances he
 prevented the disease by the use of this remedy.
  ||The noted remedy of Dr. Merchant, consisted principally of  the sub. sulph-
 ate of mercury and the chickweed.
              11 
162
MADNESS, CANINE.
  dical science; the practice of medicine has become establish-
  ed upon new and correct principles; the means of cure  have
  been investigated and improved; whilst at the same time, the
  powers of the physician to control disease have become aug-
  mented and multiplied.   There is good reason to believe that
  the lobelia inflata will be found a certain  remedy for this ter-
  rific disease, as the few trials which have been made  of it,*
  give strong proofs of its powers, and high  promise of its fu-
  ture usefulness.
    "We are well  aware that the medical  faculty scout at the
  idea of a cure for hydrophobia, as they also  do at all other
  improvements of the healing art which do not originate with
  themselves.   This is virtually denying that the  people have
  any right to investigate this subject, or to administer or receive
  any thing as medicine but what they sanction, or what pass-
  es through their hands.  But light and. knowledge, with giant
 strides, are marching through the world, and if the physicians
 will not seize  and appropriate to usefulness, the gifts of na-
 ture, the people will do it themselves.   And it is  high time
 the practice of medicine was taken out of the hands of the
 boasting, selfish, dominant professors of this  most important
 art, and restored to those to whom it rightfully appertains, and
 who are principally to be benefitted by  it.
   "If" the lobelia had so often been tested by the fashionable
 physicians, in the  cure of hydrophobia,  as it has been by the
 people, its fame would have been spread from sea to sea, and
 its echoes would have penetrated the deepest recesses of eve-
 ry civilized land.   But the origin of this remedy is too humble;
 its adoption would eclipse  the already waning glory of scien-
 tific and professional fame.  It must therefore be despised and
 rejected; yes, the most valuable  gift of  Nature's God is neg-
 lected, because the honor of a vaunting, vain-glorious pro-
 fession may be  tarnished by the  acknowledgment of  its vir-
 tues."

   Vapor Bath.—-It  is stated that the great utility of the vapor
 bath in the cure of hydrophobia, was discovered in France by
 the following singular incident:  Dr. Buisson,having pressing
 symptoms of hydrophobia, and despairing of a cure, selected
 the vapor bath  as the easiest means of his death.  The vapor
 was raised to a heat of  126 degrees Fahrenheit: the  doctor
 takmg leave of friends and all earthly objects, went into the
 bath to take his final exit; but to his  astonishment, instead of
 bringing on suffocation and death, it  relieved his hydrophobic
symptoms with  singular rapidity.   Dr. Buisson in the  com-
  *lt has smce b«cu thoroughly tried in numerous instances.------------------ 
MEASLES.
163
munication of his case to the Academy of Arts and Sciences,
at Paris, says that by the same means he had  cured upwards
of eighty patients of hydrophobia, and intended to try it in
cholera, plague, yellow fever and gout.
  The vapor bath has since fully established its character as
a prophylactic against this disease.  It should be applied once
every other day for two weeks, and  after this, for two weeks
more, every second day.  The lobelia must be used in emetic
doses immediately on coming out of the bath, as the relaxa-
tion produced by the vapor, will much ensure the good effects
of this valuable medicine.

  Local Treatment.—In this disease the  local  treatment is  a
very important  part; as soon as possible after the  bite, the
wound should be well washed out with  the sour tincture of
lobelia; and then a poultjce made of equal parts of  lobelia
seed well pulverized, and*slippery elm flour, mixed  up  with
vinegar must be applied and worn (renewing it every  day,)
on the wound until it is healed up.

  Nauseauts.—The  lobelia should be  given  once in two or
three hours, in broken doses; that is, in doses  large enough to
keep the stomach somewhat nauseated.   The  relaxing  and
anti-spasmodic effects thus produced, are entirely incompati-
ble to the  condition  favorable to hydrophobia.

 Nervine Tonics.—The sculcap and valerian should be taken in
a tea two or three times a day, with  a view to defend the
nerves against the morbific influence, which is very important
as the disease chiefly implicates the nervous system.

  The writer cured two cases of the disease, some two years
since, simply with the sour* tincture of lobelia, given inter-
nally in nauseating doses once in two or three hours, and ap-
plying it freely externally,—using at the same time, a strong
tea of sculcap and valerian..
  *lt is important to observe the precaution of preparing the lobelia for this use,
with vinegar instead of spirits, as  the vinegar itself is a powerful prophylactic
against this disease.  In favor of its good effects in hydrophobia, we have the
authority of Rhazes, among the ancknts, and among the moderns, Weilhot, Bu
eholz, and Rust. 
164
MEASLES.
                        MEASLES.

                         (Rubeola)

   This is a disease that is very common among children, pre-
 vailing some seasons in the character of an epidemic.

   Symptoms.—"The disease  commences with the running of
 water from the eyes and nostrils, sneezeing, cough, and swel-
 ling of the eyes and face, with occasional shivering, cold in
 the back, and drowsiness.  An eruption  first  appears behind
 the ears, on the third or fourth day, spreading  downwards un
 the neck and forwards to the chin, mouth or forehead, butsel-'
 dom shows itself on the body until a day or two after.   The
 eruption speckles the skin  somewhat like  the bites of fleas,
 and is of a crimson color and not scarlet, as in scarlet fever.
 The crimson specks of measles arrange themselves in groups
 of irregular circles, or crescents, and leave the skin between
 them of its natural color, which never occurs in scarlet fever.
 The great danger in measles does  not arise  from the abun-
 dance of the eruption, the severity of the fever, the oppressed
 breathing,  nor the violence of the  cough; but almost wholly
 from the secondary inflammation that comes on, or rather af-
 ter the fever or eruption  have gone  off,  which usually hap-
 pens in nine or ten days.  Many children have this seconda-
 ry stage produced or increased, by cramming  them with too
 strong food, when'they  are beginning to  recover, with the
 false notion of strengthening them.  It is no  less absurd to
 dose the little patients, after measles, with  purgatives, when
 their bowels are in proper -order."—Abcrnethy.
  The cause of measles evidently is contagion, although, rare
 instances occur in which the disease arises without any chance
 of the agency of contagion.
  The disease which this resembles most, is scarlatina, and
here the diagnosis is sometimes difficult. .
  The following table is  given in Marshall  Hall's Practice,
showing the difference between the symptoms of scarlet fever
and measles:
                1. The prevaling Epidemic.
  Rubeola,, [measles.]          |   Scarlatina, [scarlet fcver.]'
                   2. The latent period.
  From 10 to 14 days.        |   From 1 to 6 days.
                      3. Symptoms.
  Febrile catarrh, coryza, [run- |   Febrile sore  throat, great 
MEASLES.
165
ning at ilie nose,] Ophthalmia
[inflammation of the eyes.]
heat and tumidity of surface,
nausea or vomiting.
               4.  Appearance of the Eruption.
  On the fourth day.             On the second day in S. sim-
                              plex. 3rd, in S. anginosa, and
                              later still in S. maligna.
                  5. Form of the Eruption.
  Circular dots; crescentic arcs.     Diffused.
[growing circles.]
          6. The  Indoles, [disposition or character.]
Mostly inflammatory.
  Affections  of the
nares,. the  larynx,
lungs, &c.
             Often typhoid, and especial-
           ly in S. maligna.
Principal Complications.
anterior
trachea,
8.
  Affections  of the  posterior
nares, fauces, &c.
Thoracic disease.
                       Pi •incipal Sequela.
                                 Inflammatory anasarca; me-
                               ningitis,  [inflammation of the
                               membranes of the brain.]
   Measles are not generally attended with much danger, ex-
 cept when complicated with other diseases, or when the affec-
 tion results in other complaints that are of a fatal tendency.
 Symptoms of disease in the breast and head, may be regarded
 as being at least tedious to manage.   The same individual is
 liable to the  affection but once.

   Treatment.—In mild cases of the disease, it is seldom ne-
 cessary to use much medicine.   Some gentle diaphoretic, such
 as chamomile, pennyroyal,  thoroughwort, or the diaphoretic
 powders may be used to keep out the eruption.  In more diffi-
 cult cases, it  may become necessary to use more active means.
 Should there be much fever and pain, and the eruption  not
 appear, or appear imperfectly,  the patient  must take  some
permanently stimulant and relaxant medicines, such as the
following:

         Take of Lobelia herb,........................)
          "   Thoroughwort,.....................> equal parts.
          "   Seneka snake-ioot,...............)

Pulverize and mix.  It may be taken in molasses or some pre-
serves, or it may be  stirred into some hot water and sweeten-
ed, and then  taken in suitable  doses.  This, with friction on
the surface, will generally  bring the  determining powers to
the surface, and fully develope the eruption."
  *Tho  country people have a remedy that they call sheep saffron, by the use of 
166
MILK SICKNESS.
  Should the stomach be much out of order,  an emetic may
become necessary, and if the bowels be constipated, they must
be relieved by the use of enemas, as it is'not best to use much
cathartic medicine in measles.   When other diseases super-
vene, they must be treated according to the symptoms that at-
tend them.
                    MILK SICKNESS.

  In some sections of Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, I
an affection prevails, which from its cause, and symptoms, is
variously named, milk sickness, puking complaint, and trembles.
The  disease is caused indirectly by a poisonous plant, which,
being eaten by cattle, thus communicates its  poison  to  the
milk, as  well as the flesh of the animal, which, when  eaten
by the people, gives rise to the disease.

  Symptoms.—"Milk sickness.Usually comes on  with lassitude
and weariness, with a sense  of great  exhaustion, and  trem-
bling from slight exertions; the breath is very offensive, hav-
ing a peculiar and disagreeable smell.  Obstinate costiveness
either accompanies or  succeeds *these symptoms, which  are
soon followed by sickness at the stomach,  and vomiting; and
great distress, with,.a burning sensation at  the  stomach."  If
the disease is not checked, it will soon bring  on great debili-
ty, which is generally attended with a singular  trembling.

  Treatment.—The symptoms readily  suggest  the  treatment
most appropriate  in this  affection.  Thorough emetics  are
particularly indicated.   The  anti-spasmodic  tincture, or  the
lobelia in powder with the nervine tonic,  in  equal  portions,
will  be better in this disease, than the lobelia alone.  When
the stomach is well cleansed, the next object  should be  to re-
lieve the bowels  from the pressing  constipation, that is al-
ways attendant on the disease.  For this  purpose, injections
are necessary.  Among the best preparations  for this  use is
the following:
which, they bring out the eruption with great success.  Indeed, with this reme-
dy, an old woman will treat more patients, and loose a less number, than the
best physicians, practicing after the old plan.  But a remedv so filthy and dis-
gusting, it is not designed here to reccommend.  A compound of carbonate of
umomaandthc bitter snakeroot, in equal parts, taken in proper doses will an-
swer perhaps equally well.                        r  r 
MORTIFICATION.
167
     Tako of soft 6oap,----......—..........................I tabic spoonful.
       "    Common eathartic,............................1 tea spoonful.
       "    Lobelia,..........................................*    do.
       "    Cayenne »pepper,..............................i    do.

Scald in a quart of water, and administer at once while warm.
The injections must be repeated at short intervals, until the
desired effect is produced.   In the mean time, a dose of some
mild but active cathartic should be given.

  Charcoal.—In this disease, prepared charcoal is one of the
best remedies, and should be used, in proper doses, once in
three or four hours during the entire treatment, after the lobe-
lia has done its duty.

  External applicati-ots.—The oil of spearmint or peppermint,
applied over the region of the stomach, will be very good to
quiet the irritability of this organ.  If the oil of the  mints is
not at hand, the herb bruised  and scalded, may  be applied,
first sprinkling the surface with  some cayenne pepper.

  Tonics.—As soon as the  sj'mptoms  give  way,  the  use of
tonics must be commenced, and  continued until the strength
is,again restored.   The bitter and nervine tonics may be used,
in equal portions, three times a  day, in teaspoonful doses.
                     MORTIFICATION.

                        (Mortfieatio)

  Mortification is generally divided by writers,  into two sta-
ges, gangrene and spliacclus.*  It is generally calculated that
gangrene is within the reach of medicine, while sphacelus is
absolutely beyond the control of all remedies.
  Mortification simply  means  the death  of a part, and may
take place in any part of the body.   When  it implicates the
bones, it is usually called necrosis or caries.   When mortifi-
cation is about to take place in  a  part, the affected structure
looses its sensibility, it becomes cold, the  blood  ceases to cir-
  * '•When any part of the body looses all motion, se-isibility  and natural heat,
and becomes of a brown livid or black color, it is said  to  be affected with spha-
celus.  When the part becomes a cold, black, fibrous, senseless substance, it is
termed a slough.  As long as any sensibility, motion,  and warmth continue tiie
«atc of the disorder is said to be gangrene." 
16*
MORTIFICATION.
 culate, and absorption is suspended.   The process by which
 these changes are accomplished is usually progressive; but is
 much governed by the soundness of the constitution—the vio-
 lence of the exciting causes, and still more by the  nature or
 structure of  the affected part.   Thus mortification, in some
 parts, takes place in a few hours, whilst, in others, it does not
 make its appearance for several weeks or even months, after the
 parts have first become diseased and active infiammatiion has
 set in.   "The cellular, cutaneous,  and mucous, may be enu-
 merated as the textures which are more frequently seized with
 mortification than any other; and it lis worthy of remark that
 these are parts that are extremely  well supplied with blood,
 especially the two, latter.  Nevertheless, in the skin and cellu-
 lar substance, this event takes place most  frequently in situa-
 tions which are remote from the central jfergan of the circula-
 tion, as on the hands, feet and posterior portions of the trunk.
 In the" mucous system, the parts most liable  to mortification
 are the gums, the inside of the cheeks, the tonsils, the colon,
.the inferior third of the ileum,fhe urinary bladder, and the lin-
 ing membrane of the vulva.  The serous membranes, muscles.
 ligaments, tendons, aponeuroses, and cartilages are rarely af-
 fected in this way;  and the same remark holds good in refer-
 ence to the arteries, veins, ancfabsorbents.  The three latter
 of these structures, indeed, seem to  possess a most astonishing
 conservative power,■• and  hence it  is  not uncommon to find
 themretain their integrity in the midst of the sphacelated part.
 In malignant scarlet fever, attended with mortification of the
 tonsils and upper p&rt of the neck, I have several times seen
 the carotid go on in fhe performance of, its function,  and the
 individual  recover, notwithstanding  the detachment of im-
 mense sloughs of the skin  and cellular substance; andsimi-
 lar phenomena have often been witnessed.in  mortification of
 the inferior extremities."—Gross.
  Mortification is almost universally preceded by inflamma-
 tion;  and the height of- the inflammatory action  will some-
 times furnish us with a pretty  certain index to the nearnesss
 of its approach.  "Hiccough," says sir Astley Cooper, "is the
 characteristic sign of gangrene, in whatever part of the body
 it is situated.  The fact is, when gangrene arises from a dis-
 eased state  of the  constitution, the stomach is extremely de-
 ranged,  and  this derangement is  followed  by a spasmodic
 contraction of the diaphragm, producing hiccough."
  Any cause which prevents  the entrance of arterial blood,
 will give rise to mortification.  This fact is exemplified  in
 the occurrence of strangulated  hermia, in the application of
 ligatures, &c.  Poisons,  excessive  lacerations, extreme cold 
MORTIFICATION.
169
or heat, great pressure, and paralysis in debilitated habits,
are frequent causes of the death of parts.

   Treatment.—The most important indication in the general
treatment, is  to maintain the free circulation of the blood, as
it is upon this fluid that the vitality of every  part is  depen-
dent.   Cayenne pepper, compound tincture of myrrh, or any
other of the permanent stimulants, must be taken in large and
frequent doses.   Stimulating liniments with lively  friction,
should be applied to the entire body.   Should this treatment
not increase the volume and frequency of the pulse, the va-
por bath must be" applied, two or three times a da}', in  addi-
tion to the other means.
                                          *

   Local treatment.—"YJfhen the affected  parts are situated ex-
ternally, a poultice,  made  of the dregs  of myrrh, sprinkled
over with cayenne pepper, must be immediately applied, and
renewed every six hours, or its use should be alternated with
that of a poultice made of the  diaphoretic  powders  with
wheat or  rye flour  enough  to give it adhesiveness.  Before
this is  applied, its surface should  likewise be sprinkled  with
cayenne pepper.  At each renewal or change of the poultices,
the parts should be saturated with the anti-spasmodic tincture,
or the  compound tincture of myrrh.
   The pyroligneous  acid,is perhaps the mostactive anti-septic
that we possess, and if  it is at hand, should always be prefer-
red to  our less active agents.    The acid'should be freely
applied, three or four times a day, by means of  a feather, rag,
or sponge.  During the intervals between the applications,
the affected parts should be covered with  either of the above
named poultices, .or with a poultice fnade of charcoal and
yeast.
   When mortification is threatened in the internal organs, as
in the bowels and stomach, the same medicines may be taken
internally, as per stomach, and by injection.  The pyroligne-
ous acid which is very analogous to vinegar and equally safe
to take, should be used of proper strength, three or four times
a day.   Charcoal, compound tincture of myrrh, and  cayenne
pepper must likewise be freely used. 
170                       MUMrs.
                         MUMPS.

                        (Parotitis)

  This is an affection of the parotid glands, which are situa-
ted below the ears and  immediately behind the angles of the
jaws.  The disease is contagions, and is sometimes known to
prevail epidemically.
  Mumps usually occurs but once in the same individual; but
it sometimes  happens that only the gland on one side is affec-
ted, which will not prevent the occurrence of the affection on
the other side at some future period.
  Children, and young persons, are mostHiaible to contract this
disease.
  The mumps is not a dangerous  disease, though by taking
cold, a feverish state of the system may be produced, and the
affection may become translated  to other glands of the body;
thus in the male it may  attack the  testes, and in. the  female
the mamae, or breasts.   When this takes place, the case may
require special  and careful  attention.   The  glands  affected
usually swell very  much, but the  skin is not  discolored.  The
swelling, in ordinary cases, continues increasing,  until about
the fourth or fifth day, when it will again gradually subside.

  Treatment.—It is seldom the case,  that much medicine is
necessary in this affection.  The parts should, however,  be
kept warm, by wearing  flannels around them, and  some mild
diaphoretic teas may be drank.   But shouhTthe disease prove
severe, such remedies as are applicable in other inflammatory
affections, should be used.  The feet may be bathed in a pail
of warm water.  A strong tea of prickley ash bark and wild
marjoram, should be drank freely, while the bowels are kept
open by the use of laxatives.                •  .
  The local means to be used, are  also about the same as for
other inflammatory aftections*. . A  poultice,made by scalding
equal parts of fine slippery elm bark and flour, with jiist a
sufficient quantity  of water to form the poultice of a  proper'
consistence, is very good.  When  the pain is  severe, a little
fine camphor and lobelia herb, may be  sprinkled on the sur-'
face.  Liniments made of lobelia,  camphor  and amonia,, as
strong as the  affected parts will bear, a* also good. 
HETTLE RASH, AND NIGHTMARE.             171
                 ♦   NETTLE RASH.

                        (Uticaria)

  This very common and troublesome affection,, is character-
ized by a florid appearance of the skin, which may effect ev-
ery part of the body.   The efflorescence is accompanied with
an intolerable irritation, and as the parts are scratched, (from
which the patiept can  scarcely refrain,) a very severe burning
will set in, and the skin will raise in  knots or wheals resem-
bling the marks of a sting from an insect.

  Cause.—The nettle rash or hives arises  in persons of san-
guine 'and nervous temperaments, from a disordered condition
of the stomach; from certain  obnoxious kinds of food;  from
over-heating the body, &c.

  Treatment.—To obviate, in  those  persons  who are much
subject to this distressing, though by  no means dangerous af-
fection, their predisposition ,£o the  complaint, is a matter of
considerable difficulty,  if indeed it be at all practicable.  But
it is not generally a hard matter, to relieve for the time, every
pressing symptom.  .This may be done *by bringing  the ali-
mentary canal into a heallhy condition, by the use of  emetics,
cathartics, &c.  Bathing is very good, and will generally give
immediate relief to the itching and  smarting, as. well as the
heat and pain.  Washing the parts with water saturated with
salt, will in neaily every instance, give prompt relief.
                      NIGHTMARE.

                        (Incubus.)

  This is an affection that  only comes on during sleep; and
consists of an interrupted condition of  the functions of respi-
ration and the circulation.  The brain being thus disturbed,
gives rise  to frightful dreaming.  The difficulty of breathing,
and the smothering at the heart will generally occasion the
presentment of danger from violence, as from the intrusion  of 
172
OBSTRUCTED MENSTRUATION.
an assassin, a furious wild beast, or perhaps some demoniac in-
fluence.
   The difficulty generally arises from indigestion, which caus-
es distention of the stomach and bowels, by the gases  or wind
that is eliminated by the attending fermentation, and which
thus pressing against the diaphragm, crouds the ricera of the
chest, so as to produce the oppression already named.  A dis-
eased condition of the liver, and spleen,  and  constipation of
the bowels, will also sometimes occasion the  nightmare.   In
persons predisposed to the affection, an attack is almost sure
to be brought on by taking a heavy meal immediately on go-
ing to bed.  Nervous irritability, great anxiety of mind, grief,
dispondency, intense thought, and late hours are also favora-
ble to an attack.
  The attack generally comes on gradually, and lasts usually
for several hours;  the patient lays,  rtften without the power
of motion or of speaking, groaning and smothering, and evin-<
ces the greatest agony.

   Treatment.—To overcome the attack or paroxysm,, it is, gen-
erally, only necessary to  awaken  the individual out of his
sleep, when he will soon be entirely relieved.   But to prevent
the return of the complaint, attention to the digestive organs^
will be necessary.  If the  stomach is much  out of order, an
emetic will become necessary.  The bowels  should be kept
free with laxative bitters."   The shower  bath, taken two  or
three  times a week, is an excellent remedy.  The nervine
tonic, cascarilla,  and  various  other simple  articles  will be.
found useful.
           OBSTRUCTED  MENSTRUATION.

                      (Amenorrhea)

  Treatment.—The various emenagogues,  found in materia
medica, will all be found  useful,  some individuals will find
more benefit from one article, and some from another. Amono-
the most useful and certain emenagogues is the black cohosh,
which should be well dried and used in a tea, as much as the
patient can take without producing headache and dizziness.
  The  emenagogue infusion, if taken freely at the  proper
time, will be found an excellent preparation for this difficulty. 
PALPITATION OF THE HEART.
173
While using it, the feet should be well bathed in warm water
before a hot fire, the patient being surrounded with a blanket,
and drinking some tincture of myrrh or some other  warming
medicine to promote perspiration.
  Stimulating bitters are clearly indicated, and as a remedy
of this kind, the following is a good example:

   Take of Mother wort,...................................................2 ounces.
      •k     Cascarilla, or poplar bark,.................................I   do.
      "     Wild ginger,............................................•......2  do.
      "     Black cohosh,........-•...........................•..........2  do.
      "•     Cayenne pepper,......................................•.....1   do.

Pulverize and mix.  For use, one ounce should be scalded in
a pint of boiling water, strained  and sweetened, and  drank
through the course of a day.
                 1k.
            PALPITATION OF THE HEART.

                        (Palpitatio)

  "An irregular beating, and fluttering motion of the  heart,
very frequently attends dyspepsia, .sick headache, neuralgia,
asthma, consumption, hysteria, gout,  constitutional  debility,
and in persons of nervous temperament it is frequently occa-
sioned by any slight derangement of the system.   The use of
strong coffee, tobacco, an oppressed condition of the stomach
from food that is hard of digestion, grief, anxiety or any sud-
'den emotion of the mind, will in some, occasion irregular
throbbing and fluttering motions of "the heart."
  The beating of the heart is sometimes so violent, that it
may readily be perceived by the eye or even the ear of a by-
stander.  The affection is usually attended with a difficulty of
breathing, paleness of the countenance, and a purple  color
of  the lips.         *
  These symptoms  are, however, not always  the effects of
functional derangement; but may result from organic disease
of  the heart or its large vessels.   When this is the case, it is
generally very difficult to cure.

■   Treatment.—When the palpitation is symptomatic of some
other  affection, it will generally give way to the  means ap-
propriate to those affections.  When there seems to be little 
174
PALSY.
other disturbance of the body, the difficulty may generally be
removed by one or two good doses of the nervine tincture, or
of the tincture of asafcetida.
  The stomach and bowels, in this affection, must always be
kept in good order by appropriate means; and should  any ir-
regularities in the circulation occur, these must also  receive
prompt attention.  The symptoms must point out the means
that should be used, whether they ought to be relaxants, stim-
ulants, or evacuants.
  The constant use of cayenne pepper, with an occasional dose
of the nervine tincture, will be found  very  good  to  prevent
palpitation of the heart.  The  nervine  preparation recom-
mended for hysterics, will also be found quite useful  in  this
complaint.
                         PALSY.

                       (Paralysis)'

   When the sensation, or voluntary motion of a part of the
body is impaired or lost, the part is said to be palsied.  In rare
cases,-the sensation, andetjie power of motion are  both des-
troyed at the same time.
  Palsy usually attacks only one side of the body, and often:
only a portion of this, as a limb, shoulder, or hip.  Sometimes
however, parts of both sides may be attacked together.
  When palsy occurs in the whole of one side of the body, it
is termed {hemiplegia; if both the inferior extremities, from the
hips downwards, are paralyzed, it is called paraplegia; and
when only some one particular part is  affected, it is usually
caMed paralysis partialis, by authors.
  The disease  usually comes on suddenly with the immediate
loss of sensation, or motion, or both; but in some  instances,
this is preceded by a numbness, coldness, and paleness, and
sometimes by slight convulsive twitches.  When the head is
much affected, the eye and mouth are occasionally drawn to
one side, the memory and other mental function's are  impair-
ed, and the speech is indistinct and  incoherent.   When the
extremities are affected, and the disease is of  long duration
there is often considerable  flacidity and wasting of the mus-
cles of the limbs.
  Palsy  is caused by injuries or affections of the brain, spinal 
PILES.
175
    marrow or the nerves themselves.  Hemiplegia is  generally
    produced by affections of the brain; paraplegia, by those of
    the spinal marrow, and paralysis partialis, by disease or inju-
    ries of the nerves of the part.

      Treatment.—Immediately  on the attack of palsy, the body
    should be well bathed with the  stimulating liniment,  which
    ought to be applied  with considerable friction; then the pa-
    tient, after taking a  dose  or two of a strong tea  of cayenne
    pepper, should be placed in the vapor bath.  The heat of the
    bath should be gradually raised  until  it is as high as is com-
    fortable for the patient.*  , After a free perspiration  is produ-
    ced, the patient miist be taken out, and, after being well rub-
    bed  and dried with a course towel, he should  have another
%  coat of the liniment, and then be  placed in bed, with a  hot
    stone to the feet.  A strong tea, made of equal parts of cay-
    enne pepper, valerian, and sculcap, should now be drank free-
    ly, so as to produce a general perspiration.
      The affected parts  should now be well bathed with the stim-
    ulating liniment or the bathing drops, as often as once in four
    or five hours; and once a day, some of the* rubefacient oil,
    mixed with an equal quantity of the extract of  peruvian bark
    or of quinine, should be applied to the paralyzed parts.
      This course of treatment should be renewed  every day un-
    til permanent relief is obtained.  It is well to keep  the  parts
    warm between the bathings, by mean^of flannels, wrung-out
    of the rubefacient wash well heated.
      Rubbing the parts well along the course of the nerves, and
    also the spine, will sometimes prove very beneficial.
      In cases of partial  paralysis, a cure may generally be effec-
    ted by the simple use of the liniments, and stimulating nerv-
    ine te%s..
                          PILES

                      (Hemorrhoid s )

  The pile is a very common affection of the veins of the rec-

"  *Care mast be taken during the use of the bath, so as not to raise it too high,
as the patient will sometimes not be able to judge the temperature,  from  the loss
of sensation: and this remark will also  apply to the use of hot stoues.or other
hot applications to the diseased parts. 
176                       PILES.

turn, which occurs in both sexes, and in all classes of society.
  The patient first experiences a singular itching and uneasi-
ness about the parts, which is soon followed  by an  enlarge-
ment of the veins, causing tumors that  are  filled with dark
blood.  These tumors, which are sometimes from three to six
in number, are extremely painful, particularly on going to  |
stool.
  When the bowels are in a constipated  state, it is often very
difficult to procure a passage,  owing to the obstruction pro-
duced by the tumors;  but  the  attendant  irritation brings on  ,
tenesmus and bearing down, which forces down the hardened  ^
passages, often bringing with them the tumors when they are
situated low in the bowel. If they are large,  they will usu-
ally remain without, and thus  prove a source of great annoy-
ance.  But the tumors frequently burst, and  thus will bleed, -
sometimes, very profusely.
  When the piles bleed, they are dalled open or bleeding piles,
and when they do not, they receive the  name of blind piles.
When the tumors are situated high up in the rectum or bow- ^ i
el, they are called internal piles, while those that are pushed
down without, ate called external piles.
  Piles are occasioned by a relaxed condition  of tile parts,
which may arise from the use, of drastic  purgatives, particu-
larly those that spend their influence chiefly on the lower part
of the intestines, such as aloes, and the most of the pills now
offered to the public.  Habitual  costiveness, sedentary habits,
and heavy lifting may also bring them on.
  Piles are seldom dangerous, unlessithey become so from the
excessive loss  of blood, that they sometimes occasion.

  Treatment.—Recent cases of piles, may soorjT.foe relieved by
the use of astringent injections.   The bowels must, however,
always be kept regular1 by the  use of proper diet, or by means
of the laxative bitters.
  Old and confirmed cases of  piles are sometimes considera-
bly difficult to cure.   In the treatment of these, it is necessa-
ry,  in the first  place, to get the bowels, into a good condition
by the use of laxatives, and laxative enemas.  The use of as-
tringent injections must then be commenced, and continued
three or four times a day.  In  the  mean  time, the pile oint-
ment must be  applied by smearing it on a rag or bit of linnen,
which should then be introduced into  the bowel and left to
remain until the syringe is used, when it should be renewed.
  Sometimes the tumors grow hard and very irritable, and in
this state will  not readily yield  to the foregoing treatment.
When this is the case, it is sometimes  best to  touch them 
PLAGUE.
177
slightly with some moistened caustic potash, two or three
times a day, for a day or two, and then,  after washing them
off with an astringent preparation, heal them up with the
stramonium or pile ointment.
                         PLAGUE.

                          (Pestis)

  The plague is an oriental disase, infesting the eastern bor-
ders of the mediterranian;  but it seems not to be confined to
these  parts, as we have in history some  deplorable accounts
of its ravages at Marseilles, Moscow, London and elsewhere.
Egypt, Asia Minor, and  Greece  seem to have  suffered  most
from  this dreadful disease.  In the days  of  Hypocrates, it
played dreadful ravages  at Athens, and the unprecedented
successof this individual, in the management of this epi-
demic, done much in  gaining for him his immortal character.
  It appears that the plague possesses many of the character-
istics  of a typhus  affection.  But  some late writers  class it
among the exanthematous diseases; yet even  this does not
argue much against its being typhus, as typhus fever as well
as typhoid, is often attended with considerable eruption.  The
eruption of this disease,  consists of pustules, carbuncles, and
buboes of a white, livid or even black color.*
  The disease is usually  ushered in with a sense of languor,
lassitude, and chilis, but is soon  followed with an intolerable
heat,  almost consuming to the  entrails.   There  is intense
headache, whrch is most severe in the temples; the  tongue is
usually much'swollen, (which is by some considered a marked
symptom of the plague,) and is covered with a  white fur, glis-
tening in the centre.   A remarkable  staggering, generally sets
in, in the early part of the disease, and oft times the patient
is seized with violent  delirium, which sometimes sets in soon
after the attack commences.  There is considerable pain in
the region of the  heart, and stomach, vomiting is likewise a
  *A grade of continued fever occurs in this  country, commonly called cold
plague, congestive fever, &e., which has been associated with this disease by some
physicians, but without just reason. The treatment of congestive fevet, differs
little from that of the malignant grade of remittent, with which it is identical.
The local hyperemia or congestions, may, however, need special attention, and
may generally be obviated by equalizing  the circulation, together with the  *»•
of counter-irritants.
              12 
178
PLAGUE.
 very common symptom, which  is  attended  with a sense of
 faintness and sinking.  The countenance becomes haggard,
 and the features distorted, presenting a hideous  appearance.
 The skin is dry and harsh, and the pulse accelerated, but small
 and contracted,-and ranges  from 115 to 130  to  the minute.
 Respiration is laborious, and the speech indistinct "and tremu-
 lous.  Darting  pains are experienced in various parts of the
 body, but especially in  the  axilla* and groins, producing in
 those parts carbuncles, and buboes, according to the tissues
 that become affected.   The strength generally declines with
 terrible rapidity, and the patient sinks with the  deepest an-
 guish and despair into the arms of death.

   Treatment.—Awful as this  disease is, it nevertheless admits * -i
 of successful medication.  After raging through Egypt, Lybia,
 Persia, Syria, Cyprus, Lcmnos  and  other Isles of  the great  *
 sea, the plague  seemed to pour  with tremendous fury into
 Greece, and to threaten the  entire depopulation  of Athens.
 The eloquent Robison,  describes  the suffering of its inhabit-
 ants thus:—"The diseased were first smitten in the head; from
 this the malady passed down through the whole body, leaving  ■•'
 in one shapeless, ruined mass, $hat noble form divine.  But
 the sufferers seldom waited for this terrible catastrophe; but,
 in the beginning, in the fury of distraction, plunged into wells,  'J
 rivers, and the sea, to quench the  consuming  fire4 which de-
 voured within them!"  And yet, at this dreadful  juncture of
 ruin, Athens was delivered  by a  single man—the  immortal
 Hyppocrates, who, as with Egyptian magic, stayed at once the
 travelling besom.    #=.
  The proper treatment of plague varies little from that for
yellow peer, but  should  always be prompt  and  vigorous.—
 Bathing, above all other means, seems to have been of the
 most benefit in the treatment of this  dreadful nfalady.   Hyp-
 pocrates depended chiefly  on this, and the freense of stimu-
 lants.  It is said that by an elevated temperature, the morbi-
 fic contagion causing the disease, may be destroyed; and does
this not give some useful hints in favor of hot hathin°-?  This
 doctrine is well corroborated by the conduct of that chief of
 physicians already mentioned, in staying the progress of this
 malady at Athens; he built large fires in all the  streets and
 alleys in the city, evidently thus to heat and purify the air: and
this together with the use of the baths, stimulants and tonics
were, indeed, the principle means employed on this occasion.
But if the treatment reccommended for yellow, or typhus fe-
ver be perseveringly instituted in the management of plague,
reasonable success may well be expected.  • 
POISONING.
179
                      POISONING.

  Poisoning may happen from accidents, or  design, and may
be produced by a great variety of agents, found in the mine-
ral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms.  Poisons are generally
divided into six classes, viz: 1, the corrosive  or escharotic; 2,
the astringent; 3, the acrid;  4, the narcotic and  stupefying; 5,
the narcotico-acrid; and 6, the septic or putrescent.
  As there are some  important peculiarities, attendant on a
number of the most prominent poisons, it is best to  consider
those separately.

  Mercury and its preparations.—Dr. Pareira of  London, who
has treated on the poisonous  effects  of mercury at length,
states: "When large doses of some of the soluble  salts of
mercury have been  swallowed, gastro-enteritis [inflammation
of the stomach and bou-els,] is produced.  The  patient complains
of  an acrid styptic taste in the mouth, and a feeling of burn-
ing and tightness in the throatfethe face is usually flushed and
sometimes swelled, violent vomiting and  purging  (frequently
of  bloody matters) soon come on, the vomiting being increas-
ed by every thing taken into the stonUch: oftentimes there is
irritation of the urinary passages, and sometimes even  sup-
pression of the urine;  the pulse is small, frequent, and  con-:
tractcd;  the respiration difficult; the extremities  cold.  In
some cases salivation is produced:  this seldom comes on during
the first 24 hours; and is  seldom delaj^ed beyond  the fourth
day.  Towards the termination of the case, some  indiaations
 of disorder of tfie cercbro-spined system.!comes on,  such as slight
 drowsiness and stupor, or even coma; tremors and twitchings
 of the muscles, and sometimes jeven violent convulsions; in
 some cases paraplegia.  These symptoms terminate in death.
 Post-mortem examination discovers inflammation (and its con-
 sequences) of the gastro-intestinal membrane."
    The following description of poisoning by the  muriate of
 mercury is given  by Dr.  Wood in the U. S.  Dispensatory:
 "Swallowed in poisonous doses, it produces burning heat in
 the throat, excruciating pain in the stomach and bowels, ex-
 cessive thirst,  anxiety,  nausea and frequent  retching  with
 vomiting of bloody mucus, diarrhoea, and  sometimes bloody
 stools, small and frequent pulse, cold sweats, general debility,
 difficult respiration, cramps in the  extremities, faintings, in-
 sensibility, convulsions, and death.   The mucous membrane 
180
POISONING.
  of the stomach exhibits on dissection all the signs which mark
  the action of a violent corrosive poison."

   Salivation.—Mercury frequently exhibits its most violent ef-
  fects on the mouth and throat, in producing what is technical-
  ly called ptyalism.  "The first observable effects of mercury in
  inducing ptyalism are a coppery taste in the mouth, a slight
  soreness of the gums, and an unpleasant sensation in the sock-
  ets of the teeth when the jaws are firmly closed.  Shortly af-
  terwards the gums begin to swell, a line of whitish matter is
  seen along  their edges, and the  breath isvaffected with a pe-
  culiar and very disagreeable smell, called the mercurial fetor.
  The saliva  at the  same time begins to flow; and if the affec-
  tion proceeds, the gums, tongue,  throat,  and  face  are  much
 swollen; ulcerations attack the lining membrane of  the mouth
 and fauces; the jaws become excessively painful; the tongue
 is coated with a thick whitish fur;  and the saliva flows  in
 streams from the  mouth.  It occasionally  happens, that the
 affection thus induced in the mouth  proceeds to a dangerous
 extent, inducing extensive ulcerations, gangrene,  and even
 hemorrhage."
   A case of salivation came under  the  notice of the writer,
 in which the entire cheek was mortified, being almost perfect-
 ly black from the nose to the ear, and from the prominence of
 the malarum to the angle of the jaw.  The sides of the neck
 were also black, as well  as several  places on the  body.  In
 this situation, the  child lived several days and nights in the
 greatest agony.  Cases  of very  extensive sloughing of vari-
 ous parts of the mouth" and throat, are not of unfrequent oc-
 currence.  Last season a case occurred in this place, of a re-
 spectable lady, in which  the  inside  of the entire mouth  had
 sloughed away to  the depth of nearly half an inch.
  This sloughing and ulceration  of the mouth and throat, of-
 ten continues until the bones become implicated; the teeth
 loosen and fall out; the guma decay, and the bones of the
 face rot away, and thus sometimes produces the most hideous
 deformity.
  "A very frequent consequence," says Dr.  Pareira, "of ex-
 cessive mercurial salivation, and the attendant ulceration and
 sloughing, is contraction of the  mucous  membrane in  the
 neighborhood of the anterior  arches  of the palate,  whereby
 the patient is prevented from opening the mouth, except to  a
 very slight extent.  I have met with  several such cases.   In
 one (that of  a female) it followed  the use of a few grains of
blue pill, administered for a liver  complaint.  The patient re-
mains unable to open her mouth wider than  half an inch.-— 
POISONING.
181
Several operations have been performed by different surgeons,
and the contracted parts freely divided,  but the relief was
only temporary.   In  another  instance (that of a child,  four
years of age) it was  produced by a few  grains  of calomel.
Though several years have elapsed since, the patient is obliged
to suck his food through the spaces left between the  jaws by
the loss of the alveolar process."

   Erethismus.—This affection which is commonly called mer-
curial disease, is not an uncommon attendant of the use of
mercury even in common practice.  It comes on  with great
depression of strength, a sense of anxiety about the praecor-
dia, irregular action of the heart, frequent sighing, trembling,
a small, quick,  and sometimes intermitting pulse, occasional
vomiting, a pale contracted countenance,  a  sense of coldness
and languor.  The system is extremely irritable,  and morbid-
ly sensitive.  These symptoms continue on  increasing in se-
verity, until the patient sinks in death.

   Neuralgia from the effects of mercury.—'Various painful affec-
tions of the nerves, are found to follow the  use  of mercury.
The pains wander through the system, giving rise to extreme
restlessness and suffering, which is  always increased on the
change of the weather or state of the atmosphere.  It is very
common to hear people complain of mercurial rheumatism, and
pains in the bones.  Many people, frop these sufferings, have a
thousand times wished themselves  dead,  to be out of their
misery.  Shaking palsy is also a result of the injurious effects
of mercury on  the nerves.

   Enlargements of the glands.—Glandular  enlargements, par-
f cularly of the liver, spleen, mesenteric glands, pancreas, &c,
are  occasional  results of the poisonous  effects  of mercury.
Chronic diseases and enlargements of the  liver, are now infi-
nitely more common than they were before the great "regula-
tor of the secretions'1'' was so mu.ch in use.
   Authors also  furnish us with detailed accounts of mercurial
purging, mercurial bloating, mercurial fever,  mercurial erysi-
pelas, mercurial leprosy, mercurial exanthemous, and miliary
eruptions, mercurial sore eyes, mercurial  paralysis, mercurial
epilepsy, mercurial apoplexy, mercurial  asthmas, mercurial
cancers, mercurial dyspepsia, mercurial hypochondriasis, mer-
curial consumption, mercurial dropsies,  mercurial affections
of the bones, periosteum, joints, heart, kidneys, brain, spinal
marrow, &c, &c. 
182                     POISONING.
  Arsenic—This is one of the most fatal corrosive poisons,
and is the article generally used for criminal purposes, or self
destruction.  "The symptoms it produces are an austere taste;
fetid state of the mouth;  frequent ptyalism;  continual  hawk-,
ing;  constrictions of the pharynx and oesophagus; the  sensa-
tion  of the teeth being on  edge;  hickups;  nausea; anxiety;
frequent sinkings; burning pain in the praecordia* inflamma-*
tion  of the lips,  tongue, palate,  throat, and  oesophagus;  irri-
table stomach, so as not to  be abk; to support the  blandest
drinks; vomiting of matters, sometimes brown, at other times
bloody;  black, horribly fetid stools; small? frequent, concen-
trated, and irregular pulse, but occasionally slow and unequal;
palpitations;  syncope; insatiable thirst; burning heat over the
whole body, or a sensation of icy  coldness;  difficult respira-
tion;  cold swreats; scanty, red, and bloody urine; change in
the countenance; a livid circle around the eyelids;  swelling
and itching of the body; livid spots over the surface, and occa-
sionally a miliary eruption; prostration of strength; loss of feel-
ing, especially in the feet and hands; delirium, convulsions, often
accompanied with insupportable priaprism;  falling off of the
hair;  detachment of the cuticle, &c.   Sometimes there exists
inflammation and burning pain in the urino-genital  organs.
It is very rare to observe €ll these symptoms in the  same in-
dividual.  In some cases, indeed, they are nearly all wanting,
death taking place without any pain or prominent symptom.
After death the morbid appearances are various.   In some ca-
ses, no vestige of lesiori'can be discovered.   The  appearan-
ces, however, in the generality of cases, are  the  following:—
The mouth, stomach, and intestines are inflamed; the stomach
and  duodenum exhibit spots resembling eschars, and perfora-
tions of all their coats; and the villous coat of the Ibrmer is
in a manner destroyed, and reduced to the  consistence of a
reddish  brown pulp.
  "Dr.  Christison divides the poisonous effects of  arsenous
acid into three orders of cases, according to the character and
violence of the symptoms.  In the first order, the poison  pro-
duces symptoms of irritation* and inflammation along the
course of  the .alimentary canal, and commonly kills in from
one  to three days.  In the secpnd,  the signs  of  inflammation
are moderate, or even altogether wanting, and death occurs
in five or  six hours, at a period too early for inflammation to
be always fully developed.   In the third  order of cases,  two
stages occur, one in which inflammatory symptoms are devel-
oped, as in the first order; the other, marked by symptoms re-
ferable  to nervous  irritation, such as  imperfect  palsy of the
arms or legs, epilepsy, tetanus, hysterical aftections, mania, 
POISONING.
183
 and coma.  It is a general character of this poison to induce
 inflammation of the stomach in almost all instances, provided
 death does not take place immediately, whatever be the part
 to which it is applied.   Thus the poison, when applied to a
 fresh wound, will give rise to the same morbid appearances in
 the stomach and intestines, as when it is swallowed.  In some
 cases, observed by Drs. Mall and Bailie,the rectum was much
 inflamed, while the colon and small intestines escaped."

  Axtimony.—The  symptoms of poisoning by antimony  and
 its preparations, do not differ in  many respects from those that
 characterize poisoning by most other active corrosive articles.
 There is usually a metallic taste;  nausea; copious vomiting:
 frequent hickup; burning pain in the stomach; colic; violent pur-
 ging attendant with griping pains;  fainting; small, contract-
 ed, and sometimes accelerated pulse; difficult respiration; dif-
 ficulty of  swallowing;  coldness of the skin; convulsive move-
 ments; painful cramps, particularly in the legs;  prostration;
 insensibility,  and death.  The tartrate  of  antimony and po-
 tassa or tartar emetic, is the most common form in which the
 poison is taken.
  The other mineral corrosive and escharotic poisons, such as
 Bismuth, Copper, Lead, Zinc,  Tin,  Nitre, and their prepara-
 tions, produce symptoms so near like those attending poison-
 ing by Mercury, Arsenic, and Antimony, that it is not neces-
 sary here  to give a separate description of them.

  Acids.—When acids are taken in poisonous doses, the symp-
 toms differ, in some respects, from  those of the metallic cor-
 rosives and escharotics.   The patient will generally experi-
 ence a sour acrid taste, burning in the throat, which is increa-
 sed by pressure, swallowing or coughing; pain in the stomach,
 accompanied  with  eructations; vomiting;  a corroded condi-
 tion of the membranes„of the mouth, throat; and  stomach.—
 The countenance is glazed, and the skin cold.
  The matter thrown up effervesces with lime, and soda. Ni-
 tric acid occasions yellow stains, and sulphuric acid, black.

  Alkalies.—The alkaline poisons, such as carbonate of pot-
 ash, ammonia, &c, produce "violent caustic, acrid taste; great
heat in the throat, with destruction  of the lining  membrane;
difficult and painful deglutition;  vomiting of bloody matter,
which turns  the yellow of tumeric brown; acute pain in the
stomach; cold sweats, weakness, hiccough; violent  colic pains,
with purging of bloody stools and  membranous flakes, and
death." 
184
POISONING.
   The materials thrown up, will efferverse with vinegar, and
 the other acids.

   Alcohol.—When alcohol is taken in  excessive doses, it is
 frequently  followed with violent symptoms, and occasionally
 by death.  The symptoms are violent intoxication^ delirium;
 irritability  of the stomach; vomiting; apoplexy; paralysis, and
 sometimes  convulsions.
   The breath generally  smells of th.e liquor, by which the case
 may usually be distinguished from other affections.

   Gases.—Carbonic acid gas, when respired, produces spasms
 of the glottis; great difficulty of breathing; dimness of sight;
 loss of strength, and finally insensibility, apoplexy and spee-
 dy death.   It is this gas that is called damps, in wells and cav-
 erns.   It is also produced by the burning of charcoal, and thus
 by carelessness or a want of knowledge of its fatal  effects,
 many persons are destroyed by it.
  Chlorine, when inhaled,  produces violent irritation of the
 organs of  respiration; cough, with a raising of  blood;  and
permanent pulmonary diseases.
  The other gasses, although producing some effect on the or-
gans of respiration, present the common phenomena arising
from the effects of sedative agents.  The symptoms therefore
 are general prostration,  paralysis, apoplexy and death.

  Narcotics.—The narcotic  poisons, such as the deadly night
 shade, opium, jimson, fox-glove, hemlock, &c, when taken
 into the system, give  rise to symptoms differing ccnsiderably
from those  attending all the other poisons.  Soon after the
poison is taken, the subject  will feel a sense of  heaviness in
the head, stupor, and a peculiar numbness;  there is a disposi-
tion to vomit, Avhich soon becomes pressing.  A kind of in-
toxication will take place; the pupils of the eyes will dilate,
 and the patient falls into a deadly sleep, or perhaps  becomes
 affected with lively delirium, or on the other hand, a  furious
craziness; there is  great anxiety  and  dejection;  the pulse is
variable, but  at first full and strong.  Convulsions of various
parts of the body, and palsy of the limbs often set in, and if
 not relieved, the patient soon sinks in death.

  Animal Poisons.—The poisons communicated  to the body
 by the bites or stings of  serpents, and insects, present a train
of symptoms that are somewhat peculiar,  The bite  of a ven-
omous serpent, as  from  the Copperhead,  Mockeson,  Viper.
Rattlesnake, &c, is immediately followed with a sharp and 
POISONING.
185
intolerable pain, that soon extends to the surrounding  parts.
The bitten parts soon swell considerably, and in some instan-
ces, the entire body becomes very much swollen;  the  color of
the skin is various, at first pale, then reddish, yellow or green-
ish, and livid.  Faintings, vomiting, and sometimes convul-
sions set it; $he pulse is frequent and irregular; the breathing
difficult, and  the mental faculties sometimes  very  much  de-
ranged.
  The inflammation  of the bitten parts,  generally ends in re-
solution; but not unfrequently in ulceration, and  even  some-
times in mortification*
  The stings of insects are not generally followed with much
inconvenience, except the intolerable  pain and the swelling
that usually attend them.

  Treatment.—The treatment of poisoning varies very  much,
—depending  entirely on the nature of the  cause or agency
by which the affection; is  instituted.
  The first thing to be done, when any of the metallic  corro-
sive or escharotic poisons are taken into the system, is  to ex-
cite vomiting as quick  as possible.  This may sometimes be
done best by  tickling the fauces or throat with a feather. But
if this does not  readily excite free or copious vomiting,  a  full
dose of lobelia should at once be taken,  and  repeated once in
four or five  minutes, until the stomach is  well  cleansed.—
Should the lobelia (owing to the blunted condition of the nerves,)
not operate promptly, a dose  of equal parts of ipecac, blood-
root, cayenne pepper, and bayberry must be  given as soon as
possible.
  This being done the patient should take some of the  white
of eggs, beat in a bowl or other vessel, in half teacup ful dpses,
once in an hour or twro, until  three or four doses are taken.—
For this purpose  the mucilage of slippery elm, flaxseed, or
comfrey may be used, but it is not so good as the albumen of
eggs.   Sweet milk is also recommended by  authors for this
purpose.                      *
  After the poison is evacuated, and the urgent symptoms are
removed, the patient should continue to drink,  occasionally,
some mucilaginous preparations, with a view to soothe and
heal the stomach.  The remaining treatment  must be regula-
ted according to the symptoms.
  In cases of salivation and ulceration of the  mouth, a strong
tea of the astringent tonic should be used to wash  the  parts,
which may be done by means of a swab.  To correct the in-
tolerable fetor,  a solution of the chloride of lime or of  soda,
should  be used.   One drachm of the chloride may be  added 
186                      POISONING.
 to a pint of water, and the parts washed with it three or four
 times a day.
   The healing process may now be commenced with the use
 of the compound tincture of myrrh, which should at first be
 diluted with water, and  applied to the affected  parts freely.
 The compound recommended for aphthe or thrush, should be
 used freely as a wash.  Sugar of lead seems to possess a chenf-
 ical control over the disease, and may be used in a mild  solu-
 tion occasionally after the other  medicines have  been ap-
 plied.
   The internal remedies  should  consist of alteratives, stimu-
 lants, and tonics.   The tincture  of myrt'h,  sarsaparilla, and
 narrow dock root are all  good.
   The alterative syrup, given by Dr. Beach, is  a  very good
 medicine in the treatment  of mercurial  diseases; it is made
 as follows:

    Take of American, or foreign Sarsaparilla,........................6  ounces.
      "■   Guaiacuni shavings,..........................................3   do.
      "   Sassafras-root bark,...................................."......2   do.
      "   Elder flowers,...................................................2   do.
      "   Burdock root,...................................................2   do.

 Add of cheap spirits and water, each  one  gallon;  boil, and
 pour off the liquid; then add water  repeatedly,  and boil till
 the strength is obtained, strain, and reduce to  sixteen porter
 bottles full, then add 25 lbs. of clarified sugar.   Let it stand
 twenty four hours to settle,  pour off and bottle for use.  The
 dose is a wine glassful, three times a day.
   A plaster made of venice turpentine and  sulphur, may be
 applied to the  parts externally,  by  means of strips of cloth
 suited to the locations of the disease.
   When the conbentrated acids  are swallowed, it is not advi-
 sable to give an emetic.  The inconvenience of their use in
 these cases, is that they will not  operate promptly, and what
 is more, the acids are likely to augment the mischief by being
 thus agitated in the stomach, and carried  up again  through
 the oesophagus  and  mouth.  The acids may be  effectually
 neutralized by the agency of the alkalies.
   For  poisoning by the sulphuric, muriatic, citric, and acetic
 acids, the carbonates of soda, potash, lime and magnesia, may
be taken indiscriminately.   But for the nitric and oxalic,  car-
 bonates of magnesia, and lime, can alone  be employed with
 safety.                                         r  J
   It is very important when sulphuric acid is taken internally
or applied to the surface, to observe the  precaution not to
take or apply water, as this  with the acid will produce a very 
POISONING.
187
considerable heat, and thus materially enhance the mischief.
  The acids in turn, are the proper antidotes for poisoning by
the alkalies.   The vegetable acids are always to be preferred.
Vinegar, lemon juice, or citric or tartaric acid in solution,
should be taken freely until relief is obtained.  The fixed oils,
such as castor, linseed, almond and olive, form soaps with the
free alkalies, and thereby destroy their caustic effects.
  Poisoning by  alcohol, requires active emetics of lobelia.—■
When the medicine cannot he given  per stomach, it must be
administered by injection.  When the patient is feverish, the
shower bath is very useful.  The  lobelia should be continued,
in -"broken or emetic Hoses, as the case may require.
  Cold effusions to the head, are very good in cases of poison-
ing by the  gases.   Stimulating  liniments and rubefacients,
are required when the heq£ of the surface is low.   When the
vital energies  are much exhausted, the vapor baths and active
stimulants, such  as cayenne pepper and the tincture of myrrh
must be used.
  When any of the narcotic or stupefying poisons are taken,
the patient must immediately have an active emetic of ipe-
cac and lobelia in equal parts.  The bowels must also be well
evacuated, by means of stimulating  and laxative enemas.
  As soon as the the alimentary canal is cleared  of the poi-
son, the patient should take vinegar freely, as strong as it can
be drank; and this article diluted, ought also to be adminis-
tered by injection.
  The entire surface should be bathed once every hour or two,
with a preparation made by scalding a table spoonful of cay-
enne pepper in a pint of good vinegar.
  The vapor bath is also an excellent means in poisoning from
narcotics; the vapor should be applied to the whole body peep-
ing the head cool  by means of cloths, dipped into cold  vine-
gar.
  Poisonous bites must be  treated with applications made by
bruising or pounding into a pulp, equal parts of  lobelia and
the large plantain, taken in  the green state, or  if dry they
must be moistened with warm water.  This poultice  should
be  renewed every two hours until the pain ceases, and the in-
flammatory symptoms subside.
   Broken doses of lobelia should also be taken internally; and
if there  is much sickness, the portions must be increased so as
to procure vomiting.   Other  attending symptoms,  must be
treated according to their character  and urgency.
   The stings  of insects seldom require medical treatment;  but
if there  is much swelling,  the application recommended  for
poisonous bites, will be found useful.   The  anti-spasmodic 
188
RHEUMATISM.
tincture, and also the sour tincture of lobelia, are very good
to bathe the parts with.
                     RHEUMATISM.

                      (Rheumatismus )

  This is an inflammatory affection of the fibrous tissues, and
is chiefly confined to the articulations, particularly the  large
ones, as the knees, ankles, hips, shoulders, and elbows.   The
inflammatory symptoms exhibit various degrees in their vio-
lence and duration,  and hence the disease has been divided
into two varieties, the acute and the chronic.   The  disease has
also  been named after some of  its principal  locations, thus
we have lumbago, when it occupies the articulations in the loins;
sciatica, when it affects the hip;  artlwodynia  when  situated  in
the other joints.

  Symptoms.—Rheumatism comes on with severe pain, which
in a day or two is followed with  swelling of the joints.  There
is usually considerable stiffness, or want of mobility.   In the
chronic variety, the skin is never discolored, but in the acute,
it is generally a little red.   The  pains are very apt to  shift
from one  joint to another, and  sometimes  it runs along the
course  of the muscles connected with the  affected  joints.
  The  disease may arise at any time of the  year when  there
are frequent vicissitudes of the weather from heat to cold, but
the spring and  autumn are the seasons in which  it is most
common.   Young persons are more subject to the  acute vari-
ety, while in older people  the reverse  obtains.
  Rheumatism is occasioned by cold, and  is  brought on most
generally by wearing wet or damp clothes, working in  cold
and wet places, &e.
  People that  are much affected with rheumatism, are  very
sensitive to the approach of wet weather, as they  will be af-
fected with wandering and aching pains through their limbs.

  Treatment.—Most  old school  writers  are of the opinion
that rheumatism is but little susceptible of control  by medica-
tion, and that when it  sets in, it generally  runs  its course,
which is from three to six  weeks.*  But in the reformed prac-
  -••Unesct of physicians," says  Dr. Macintosh, "defend entirely upon blood- 
RICKETS.
189
tice it is seldom the case that more than three or four days are
required to effect a complete cure.
  Ordinary cases of rheumatism may be  successfully treated
by the use of a powder, composed of equal parts of gum guaia-
cum and black cohosh in fine powder, taken in doses of a tea-
spoonful thr&e or  four times a day, and to be accompanied
with the use  of  the bathing drops, applied to the affected parts
frequently, with lively and long  continued friction.
  In more obstinate cases, it may be necessary to use in con-
nection  with this treatment, the vapor bath,  and lobelia, in
broken but frequent doses.   In  the most difficult cases, it is
necessary to  use the lobelia  in emetic doses, and when given
in this way, the practitioner should always endeavor to man-
age so as to bring to bear the full relaxing powers of the me-
dicine.   It should be preceded with the vapor bath, and then
given in nauseating doses for several  hours before emesis is
produced.
  The use of the vapor bath and  lobelia emetics, should  be
practiced every  day, or every second day, according to the se-
verity of the symptoms, and this course should be continued
until the disease is broken up.
  It has  already been stated that the use of the bathing drops
and the guaiacum  powders, should be continued throughout
the entire treatment.
  The bowels must be kept open by the use of  the laxative
bitters.
  During convalescence, the patient should take two or three
doses of  the spiced bitters, daily.
                         RICKETS.

                         (Rachitis.)

  This is a very distressing disease of children,  and seldom
occurring before the ninth,  and after the twenty-fourth month
of their age.  The disease  is characterized by softening and

letting; another upon purging; another  upon exciting long-continued profuea
perspirations; a fourth upon the exhibition of bark alone; and a fifth upon a
course of mercuiy to produce salivation.  It is no wonder, therefore, under such
empirical treatment, that an attack of the disease used formerly to continue vi-
olent for such a long period of time, Formerly an attack of acute rheumatism,
with its consequences, generally confined the patient for twelve months, thati»
to say, before he regained his ordinary state of health, and few got off with lem
than six months' confinement to bed." 
 190                      RICKETS.

 distortion of the bones of the back in the loins.  The muscles
 become flacid, the head enlarges, the carotids  are distended,
 the limbs waste away, the abdomen swells and grows tense;
 the stools are frequent and loose, a slow fever  succeeds, with
 cough and difficulty of breathing,  and the nervous system be-
 coming more and more affected the  poor little sufferer finally
 sinks in death.
   On dissection, the liver, spleen, and other glands have been
 found enlarged and in a scirrhus state.

   Treatment.—The general  treatment in rickets, should differ
 little  from that recommended  for scrofula, but  it  must be
 perseveringly used, as this disease is  extremely difficult to
 cure.   The alterative syrup, comfrey, and Solomon's seal are
 good articles in rickets.
   The bowels should be kept open with the use  of small doses
 of the extract of mandrake, taken every  evening, or every sec-
 ond evening, as the case may require.
   Cold  bathing should be  practised  once every  day or two,
 and the patient ought to be rubbed freely with a coarse towel,'
 or the flesh brush should be  used immediately  after the cold
 bath.   The stimulating liniment, or bathing drops, should he
 applied freely ail over the body, soon after the friction with
 the towel or brush.

  Mechanical support.—Physicians of the old school, depend
 mostly  on  mechanical means,  for relief in rickets.   Those
 means consist chiefly of stays  to the small of the back, by
 means of pads and springs, as well as bandages.  It i«, how-
ever, very obvious, that mechanical means  can be of but lit-
tle advantage in cases  in which the constitutional rickety dia-
 ^hesis is ndt obviated.
                               «
  Plasters.—Strengthening plasters will, sometimes, be found
very useful in rickets.  After sprinkling a very small quantity
of pepper, (if this should prove too  irritating, ginger will do )
en the surface, a plaster of large size  may be laid over the
small of the back, and  worn ps long as it will stick   The ir-
ntating plaster, applied to the  same  parts,  will  generally be
founa useful.                                     .•

   Tonics— Tonics are  very important remedies,  and should
 always  be used.   A tonic cordial may be prepared or the spi-
ced bitters, cascarilla, or any other pleasant bitter or tonic
medicine may be taken three or four  times a day. 
RUPTURE.                      191
  Regimen.—In this affection, attention to the diet, and exer-
cise, is of paramount importance.   The  child should not be
fed with any food that is hard of digestion, fat meats, cheese,
butter, (fee, should not be allowed.   The child should not be
suffered to exercise too much in an upright  position; never-
theless, it must be taken out, so as to get the fresh and circu-
lating air.
                       RUPTURE.

                         (Hernia)

  This affection consists of a breach or rupture, of the muscu-
lar wall of the abdomen, and the protrusion of some of the
viscera of the belly.   The parts that are thus forced out, are
generally a part of the omentum, or of the intestines, or both.
But instances have occurred, in which the stomach, the liver,
the  spleen, uterus, overies,  and bladder have been  forced
through the openings.   The protrusion consists of a kind of a
sack, composed of a portion of peritoneum, that is pushed out
before the intestine or other organ that may be protruded.
  The rupture may take place at various parts of the anteri-
or walls of the belly, but it occurs most  commonly  in the
groin, at the upper part of the thigh, and at the navel.
  When the hernial  contents lie passively in the sack, and
admit of being readily put back into the abdomen, it is term-
ed a reducible hernia; and  when they cannot  be readily'put
back, but yet the passage  in the intestine remains free, it  is
called ir reducible.' In cases * of irreducible  hernia,  in  which
also the passage in the intestine is obstructed,  the difficulty is
called strangulated or incarcerated kcrr.ia.  Again we have con-
genital hernia, and, which, indeed, is of very common occur-
rence.   In this case, the extruded vicera are not surrounded
with the peritoneum, but descend nrkedly through the tunica
vaginalis into the  seroturn.
  Hernia,  is also variously  named,  according to the extenI
and situation of the extruded part; thus, if only a part of the
circumference of the intestine forms the  tumor, it is called
enterocele; if a piece of the omentum only, it is named epipto-
cele;  and if both the intestine and omentum contribute in the
formation  of the  tumor, it is called  entero-ejdphcele.  When
the contents of the hernia are protruded at  the abdominal 
192
RUPTURE.
 ring, but only pass as low as the groin, or  labium pudendi,
 the case receives the  name of bubonocele,  or  ingual hernia;
 when the parts descend into the scrotum, it is called an osche-
 ocele or scrotal hernia.  When the parts protrude below Pou-
 part's ligament, it is called femoral or crural; when at the na-
 vel, cxomphalos, or umbilical; and when it occurs at  any other
 or promiscuous part of the front of the abdomen, it is called
 ventral Iwrnia.

   Treatment.—As soon as a rupture is discovered,  gentle ef-
 forts should be made to return the protruded parts, which may
 generally be done with the fingers, in such  a way as readily
 suggests itself to every individual of  common judgment.  To
 facilitate the operation, the patient should lay on the opposite
 side, with his  knees drawn up a little, and his head somewhat
 raised, so as to relax or slacken the muscles  of the abdomen.
 When the parts are returned, the patient should wear  a com-
 press,  or truss, so as to prevent the parts from returning again.
   When the parts cannot be readily returned, the system must
 be well relaxed wdth lobelia and steam, after which the oper-
 ation will generally be found more successful.
   In cases of  strangulation, the patient should be immediately
 placed over the bath,  and take nauseating  doses of  lobelia
 while being vaporized;  and on leaving the bath a large dose
 of lobelia should be given, so as to sicken considerably, when
 by proper management the difficulty  may generally be over-
 come.   But should this method be unsuccessful, the patient
 should be placed in bed, and be surrounded with some  steam-
 ing stones, and should have two or three injections of a weak
 tea of lobelia, in  order  thus  still to  extend  the relaxation.
 While this is going on,  the practitioner  should be engaged
 very carefully  to put back the extruded part.  The writer has
found an application of finely pulverized lobelia seed mois-
tened with slippery elm mucilage, very excellent as a relax-
ing means.
  The  rupture may sometimes be  healed up,  especially when
of recent standing, or  when in a young subject, by wearing
over it a plaster of the extract of oak bark. 
SCALL.
193
                         SCALL.

                        (Porrigo)

  There are several cutaneous  affections, that are generally
treated under this head.  Some of these are contagious,  and
others not.  The most important are what  are commonly
called scald head (tinea  capitis) and the running or crusted tetter
(impetigo.)
  The first of these is  a contagious affection  that is charac-
terized by an eruption of small, flat, yellow, umbilicated, deep-
ly seated pustules, distinct or clustered, which soon  concrete,
and form bright yellow umbilicated incrustations.  These in-
crustations, generally, have a depressed centre, but  they  are
apt to coalesce, and thus spread, and at length may cover the
entire scalp, presenting a crust, which, in  appearance, some-
what resembles a honey comb.   The  hair, in  this variety of
porrigo, is sickly, and generally falls out, and in rare instances,
will never grow in again.   The  matter secreted under  the
crust does not run out, but will remain until it dries  up,  thus
giving rise to putrescence that is attended with a very pecu-
liar and disagreeable smell, compared by some to that of the
leek, and by others to that of mice.
  The second  variety, which  is  not contagious, is a much
more common affection than the other.   In  this, the scab is
not depressed, but consists of an  elevated or  thick  incrusta-
tion, which is attended with  a discharge of an  icterous and
aorid humor, that readily inflames the surrounding parts, and
thus spreads the disease very rapidly.  On  parts where the
humor dries up readily and does not form scabs, it is followed
with a scaly or bran-like appearance.  The parts around the
ears, the face, and the  neck are also liable to  be affected, but
the hairy scalp is most subject to it.  The glands around the
ears are apt to become inflamed and swelled.
  This scabby eruption generally makes  its  appearance first
behind the ears, and spreads  from this over the head.
  Children affected  with this  variety of porrigo are apt to
chafe in those parts where the skin is folded or lays in contact.
as in the axilla, groin,  and behind the ears.

  Treatment.—It is very important in both these varieties of
porrigo, to exclude the air from the parts affected.  To affect
this, the hair should be cut close, and a plaster of gum elastic
applied.   The plaster may be made as follows:
             13 
191
SCROFULA
Take of Hum elastic,
 Cut the gum up into fine strips, and  put the whole into an
 earthen vessel, place it in an oven, and keep it at a tempera-
 ture of 180 degrees, (or somewhat hotter than can be borne
 with the hand,) stirring it occasionally, until the  gum is dis-
 solved:, or the vessel may be kept at the fireside for a week or
 two, or until the gum is dissolved.
   In applying this, ifis best to  anoint the  head with it first,
 and then to apply a cloth well saturated with  it, all over the
 affected parts.
   This application will disengage the scab, obviate the irrita-
 tion, and prepare the parts for the healing  process.  In the
 mean time, the patient  should take enough of the  extract of
 mandrake  to keep the bowels gently open.
   The parts may now be washed off  with a solution of saler-
 atus; or if astringents may seem to be required, a strong tea
 of the astringent tonic should be used.  After this the head
 or pa -ts affected should be well  anointed with Well's oint-
 ment for scrofula, and a soft or pliable cloth, well saturated
 with it, should be applied, and renewed once in 24 hours.—
 Should the disease not  readily yield to this treatment, a full
dose of the extract of mandrake,  and if necessary an emetic
 should be given, and the head,  after  washing it well with  an
 astringent  and alkaline  wash, should be  again covered with
 the gum elastic paste, which should be left to remain 24 hours.
 After this the parts may be healed up either with Well's oint-
 ment, the stramonium ointment, or an ointment made by boil-
 ing together equal parts of tar  and hogs laid, in a kettle of
 water.
  This treatment will generally be found effectual in all  the
 varieties ofporrigoii
                       SCROFULA.

                  (Cach cxia Scrophulosa.)

  Scrofula or kings evil, as it is sometimes  called, is a consti-
tutional, disease, which, however, chieflv affects the glandular
system, especially the  conglobi.te glands.   The disease is 
SCROFULA.
195
most common among children, and rarely  makes its  appear-
ance for the first time, after  the  body has  attained its full
growth.  It is supposed that the  disease is chiefly hereditary,
and is first developed by a depraved  condition of the  nutri-
tive functions, that the disease  of the glands is a secondary
effect, and that it is therefore not exclusively entitled to the
name scrofula.  Under this impression, physicians consider a
great variety of chronic and difficult diseases, such as cancer,
pulmonary tubercles, white swelling, &c, as being more or
less influenced by a scrofulous taint of the system.
  The symptoms which are usually considered to indicate the
presence of scrofula, are the following:—Slight inflammation
and swelling of the  wings or outer  cartilages  of the  nose;
swelling of  the glands of the neck, which,  though, they in-
crease gradually, at length  become  hard,—of an irregular
shape, and painful.   The color of the skin over the glands is
scarcely changed, but the protuberance or swelling is, some-
times, so great as to  constitute considerable  deformity, and to
interfere with the movement of the head,  and with swallow-
ing, or even to prevent opening the mouth.  After having re-
mained in this situation for an uncertain period, the  tumors
may disappear.  Such, at least, is  usually  the  case, in the
growing subject, and it is the most favorable termination; but
in young children they more frequently proceed to suppura-
tion.  The tumors soften, are painful, and fluctuation is per-
ceptible; the skin, covering them, becomes red and bluish, and
ultimately opens, giving  issue to a puriform fluid, which is
usually of a thinner kind than that from phlegmonous abscess-
cs;  and  is mixed with pieces of white  substances resembling
curds.   The irregular wound, resulting from the spontaneous
opening of the abscess, heals with difficulty, and the resulting
cicatrix'often constitutes an unsightly deformity.   Where the
scrofulous vice tinctures the organism deeply, the  scrofulous
inflammation first affects one gland, and  then another, and
ultimately the individual may die of consumption, or mesen-
teric disease.—(Rostan)
  In determining as  to the  existence of scrofula, the  practi-
tioner must bear in mind that simple tumefaction of the glands
in the neck  or any other  part of  the body, considered  alone,
is not sufficient evidence of the disease.  These  may become
inflamed and enlarge in  healthy  constitutions, from the  or-
dinary causes of inflammation.   Moreover,  there are several
other specific diseases, that give  rise to swelling in the con-
globate glands.  We have an example of this  character in
mumps (parotitis) and in the presence of ulcers, or injuries in
the  extremities, the glands situated between them  and the 
196
SCROFULA.
trunk of the body soon become inflamed, and enlarge.  Evi-
dent symptoms of constitutional derangement, connected with
the local symptoms, can alone be considered  true diagnostics
of the disease.

   Treatment.—In the treatment  of scrofula,  such a course
must be adopted as is calculated to effect a perminent change
in the condition of the nutritive and  secretive functions.—
For this purpose, the general system  must be well relaxed
and  thoroughly cleansed.  The stomach must  be kept in or-
der by the use of lobelia  emetics; the capillary  system, by
the use of sudorifics, or diaphoretics, and the  baths;- the bow-
els,—glandular and lymphatic  systems, by the use of man-
drake extract, alterative syrup, laxatives,  and  other depura-
tives and detergents.
  The emetics and baths, must be administered once twice or
three times a week, as the obstinacy of the case may require.
In the mean time, the patient; hou-lcl take the  alterative syr-
up, three times a day, in doses large enough to keep the bow-
els "loose.  Should there be difficulty in keeping the bowels in
this condition, the common cathartic  powders,  pills, or man-
drake extract may be taken, occasionally, with the syrup.

  Local treatment.—The tumor in  the indolent state, may often
be discussed by accompanying the general treatment with lo-
cal  applications.  An ointment, made by mixing  together
equal parts of the stimulating liniment and Wells' ointment
for scrofula, should be rubbed on  the tumor, and a plaster of
it laid over the whole of the swelled gland.  This application
should be alternated with a stimulating and relaxant poultice,
every second day.   But if the  tumor,  in spite of this treat-
ment, should proceed to suppuration, it must be treated after
this, in the same manner that is proper for an occult or open
scrofulous tumor.
  When the tumor is open, it must be  well washed  out, first
with soapsuds, and then with a strong astringent tea, made
of bayberry,  cranesbill, pond  lily, and sumac bark.  After
this, Wells' ointment should be applied, and  worn over the
sore, renewing it morning and evening, until it is healed.  At
the dressings, the sore must always be well cleansed with as-
tringent or alkaline washes,  as the case may  require. The
solution of chloride  of soda or lime,  should occasionally be
usjd as a wash, especially if the sore is very  foul.
   When the sore is very indolent and  difficult to heal, a pow-
der of equal parts of cayenne pepper and mandrake root may 
SCURVY^
197
occasionally be sprinkled on it.  For this purpose the tincture
of myrrh is also very good.

  Regimen.—Nothing is more important in the treatment of
scrofula, than proper attention to the diet and general habits
of the individual.   Fat meats, gravies, rich pies, &c, should
never be eaten by a patient of scrofulous habits.  Pork is par-
ticularly injurious, being peculiarly  calculated to  favor  the
scrofulous diathesis.  Indeed, it is supposed by many that the
disease, in the majority of instances, is brought on by the use
of swine flesh, either directly or indirectly through the parent.
It is even true that the name of the disease comes from,scrofu,
the latin name of the  hog; but this is in  consequence of the
disease  having so near a  resemblance to the common throat
disease  of that animal.
  Vegetables constitute the best food  for patients of  scrofu-
lous habits.   Free exercise in the open air, is also very impor-
tant.  Alcoholic drinks must be sedulously avoided.
                        SCURVY.

                       (Scorbutus.)

  The scurvy is a very  distressing disease that is characteri-
zed by extreme debility; emaciation; pale and bloated coun-
tenance; "spongy gums;  livid* spots on the skin;  offensive
breath;  oedomatous swellings in the legs; haemorrhages; foul
ulcers; foetid urine;  and extremely offensive stools.   The scur-
vy is a  disease of a putrid  nature, much more prevalent in
cold climates than in warm ones, and which chiefly effects sai-
lors, and such as are shut up in besieged places, owing, as is.
supposed, to their being deprived of fresh provisions, and due
quantity of acescent food, assisted by the prevalence of cold
and moisture, and by such other causes as depress the nervous
energy, as indolence, confinement, want of exercise, neglect
of  cleanliness,  much labor  and fatigue, sadness, desponden-
cy, &c.   These  several debilitating causes, with the  concur-
rence of a diet consisting principally of salted or putrescent,
food, will be sure to produce this disease.  It seems, however,
to depend more on  a defect  of nourishment, than on a vitia-
ted state; and the reason that salted provisions are so produc-
tive of  the scurvy, is, most probably, because they  are drain- 
198
SCURVY.
 ed of their nutritious juices, which are  extracted and run off
 in brine.   As the  disease  is apt to  become pretty general
 among the crew of a ship when it has once made its appear-
 ance, it has been supposed by many, to be of a contagious na-
 ture; but the conjecture seems by no means well founded.
   "A preternatural saline state of the  blood has been assign-
 ed as its proximate cause.  It has been contended, by some
 physicians, that the primary morbid affection in this disease is
 a debilitated state of the  solids, arising principally from the
 want of aliment.  The scurvy comes on gradually, with hea-
 viness, weariness, and unwillingness to move about, together
 with dejection of spirits,  considerable loss of strength, and
 debility.   As it advances in its progress, the countenance be-
 comes sallow and bloated, respiration is hurried on the least
 motion, the teeth become loose, the  gums are spongy,  the
 breath is very offensive, livid spots  appearfon different parts of
 the body, old wounds which have been long healed up break
 out afresh, severe wandering  pains are  felt, particularly by
 night, the skin  is dry,  the urine small in quantity, turning blue
 vegetable  infusions of a green color; and the pulse is small,
 frequent, and, towards the last, intermitting, but the intellects
 are, for the most part, clear and distinct.  By an aggravation
 of the symptoms, the  disease, in its  last stage, exhibits a most
 wretched appearance.  The joints become swelled  and  stiff,
 the tendons of the legs are rigid and contracted, general ema-
 ciation ensues, haemorrhages break out from different parts'
 foetid evacuations are discharged by stool, and a  diarrhoea or
 dysentery arises, which soon terminates the tragic  scene."—
 (Hooper)

   What is  called land scurvy or that form of the  disease that
 occurs on the shore, or where the individual is not exposed to
 the various remote causes, as  above enumerated, the  disease
 is  always more mild.  Blotches with scaly eruptions on differ-
 ent portions of the body, a sponginess of the  gums, and de-
 bility, are among the most prominent symptoms  observed in
 these cases.

   Treatment.—The cause of scurvy, very clearly indicates the
 course that should be  adopted  in the treatment.   In the first
 place, the patient should be  placed  in an airy and comforta-
bly warm  apartment.  This being done, the entire  surface
 ought to be well washed off with a wash made by stewing an
 ounce of the best cayenne pepper in a  pint of good vinegar.
 In the meantime, the following preparation, which is an ex-
cellent stimulating and astringent tonic, should be taken- 
                          SCURVY.                       199

                                                L ounce.
                                                2 'ounces.
                                                Li   do.
                                                6   do.

Pulverize and mix.  A table spoonful of this may be scalded
in a quart of water, and  the tea may be drank, first in small
and frequent doses; but afterwards it is best to take it in wine
glassful doses three to four times a day.
  The bathing with the vinegar and pepper, should be prac-
ticed once every day.  The bowels must be well cleansed and
regulated by the use of enemas, as the case may require.
  The cholera syrup and tincture of myrrh, are excellent ar-
ticles in scurvy, and should be  used in connection with the
other means.   Charcoal  has been found especially advanta-
geous in cases in which strong  symptoms of putridity prevail.
But for this  purpose, the  pyroligneous acid is better than any
other article that can  be  used.  This article should be freely
used throughout the treatment.
  When the gums are very spongy and sore, it is a good plan
for the patient to hold an infusion in the mouth for a few min-
utes three or four times a day,  made by scalding some sumac
berries in water.   For this purpose the tincture of  myrrh,
tincture of cayenne pepper, and a tea of the astringent tonic
are also very useful.

   Regimen.—In no disease is the success of the treatment more
dependant on the diet than it is in scurvy.   Salted meats and
oily substances, must be entirely abandoned; and the  patient
should make up his meals, as much as possible, of vegetables:
or if meat is used, it must be fresh and lean.  Vegetables of
the cruciferous tribe, as mustard, cresses, radishes, horseradish,
cabbages and turnips, used as food and medicine, seem  par-
ticularly indicated in  this disease.  The scurvy-grass  has al-
ways held a high character for its virtues in the cure of the
scurvy.
   Potatoes,  tomatoes, ripe fruits, &c, are all good, and  may
be  used as food, in proper quantities.
Take of cayenne p°pper,
  "   Bayberry,.........
  "   Golden seal,......
  "   White sugar,...... 
200
SMALL-POX.
                        SMALL-POX.

                          (Variola)

    "Small-pox—like measles—is an  eruptive fever,  propaga-
 ted by contagion, running a definite course, and, as a gener-
 al rule,—-to which, indeed, the exceptions are extremely rare,
 —affecting persons but once in the course of life.    Its origin
 is lost in antiquity, and the  common opinion is, that in these
 days, it never arises except  by contagion; yet there is reason
 to believe, that under an  exceedingly  unfrequent catenation
 of causes, it may be engendered.  It must have originated in
 the first instance, from common causes, and it would be very
 strange if the circumstances that gave rise to it then can nev-
 er now recur."
   The disease is  divided  into two distinct varieties, viz: the
 distinct and confluent.  In the former, distinct, elevated, disten-
 ded, and circular pustules are scattered over the surface of the
 body; and in the latter, the pustnles are exceedingly numer-
 ous,  depressed, irregularly  circumscribed, and confluent or
 joined.  But  as there exists  no essential  difference  between
 these varieties, the division isLnktogether arbitrary.   We find
 that in the same case, on some parts, the pustules are distinct,
 while on others, perhaps the face or breast, they are  quite
 confluent.

   Symptoms— In from seven to twenty days after the expo-
 sure, the  patient  experiences a sense of  languor, weariness,
 aching pains in the  back and lower extremities, slight creep-
 i lg chills, with flushes of heat, and pain in the forehead, when
 more or less nausea and vomiting, thirst,  tenderness of the
 stomach, and soreness of the fauces rapidly supervene.   The
 eruption now makes its appearance, first on the face,  neck
 and breast, then, on the following day, it is seen on the other
 parts of the body.   On the first and 'second days of the erup-
 tion, being about the fourth or fifth of the fever, the  inflam-
 ed points are papular, small, hard, globular, red,  painful, sep-
 arate and distinct from each other, the interstices being of the
 natural color and  appearance.  On the third, fourth and fifth
 days they become vesicular, containing a little yellowish fluid
 and the interstices become red.
  "During the sixth and  seventh days the  variola assumes a
very peculiar character;  it consists  of concentric rino-s of
which the exterior and interior are  opaque and  pustular; 'the 
SMALL-POX.                     201
intermediate one vesicular, and still transparent; it may there-
fore be denominated vesicular-pustular.   It is further distin-
guished by a central indentation, and a surrounding areola  of
rose-colored inflammation, which frequently coalesces with those
of adjacent pustules, when the eruption is numerous."
  About the eighth day, the eruption is perfectly pustular, and
the central indentation remains.  On the ninth and tenth, the
pustules become orbicular, and are filled; and finally, on the
eleventh,  twelfth  and Udrtecnth, the pustules  break or burst,
and scabs are formed.   This description applies to the distinct
variety; the confluent are more severe, and the appearance of
the pustules are different, according to  their number;  when
very numerous, they give a uniform appearance of redness to
the surface between the heads of the pustules.
  The fever generally runs  pretty high  as the eruption is de-
veloped, and in  the confluent variety, there is sometimes much
delirium, or coma.
  The febrile  symptoms, in  the latter variety, not unfrequent-
ly assumes a typhoid character, and a horrible  putrefaction
mayr follow.
  The sequela of small-pox are various, and sometimes veryr
distressing.   Chronic cutaneous affections, protracted ulcers,
necrosis, inflammations of the eyes, mouth, throat, ears, head,
and lungs; dropsies, epilepsy, mania, paralysis, and many oth-
er distressing  evils, sometimes result from small-pox.
•  The diagnosis of small-pox, after the  eruption  appears, is
not difficult, and before this, it matters not, as  the treatment
does not vary from that of the same symptoms in other affec-
tions.
  When the fever is mild, and the  strength of the patient
keeps up, and if, moreover, the color of the  eruption keeps of
a bright red, there is not much danger.  But if the fever runs
very high, and there is much delirium, the danger is consider-
able.  When there is a disposition of a typhoid character, and
the pustules turn dark or black, and the strength fails sudden-
ly, the case is almost certain to  terminate  in death.

   Prevention.—Vaccination seems to be  an effectual  prophy-
lactic against the  small-pox,  provided that  the vaccine mat-
ter be genuine, and produces its constitutional impression on
the subject.   The blessings of vaccination,  although known
before, were introduced to popular favor, by Dr. Jenner, and
he, like the authors of other valuable discoveries, met with
the usual opposition and persecution attending all innovations
on old and  established doctrines and practice.   Small-pox,
when genuine, generally occurs but once during life. 
202
SMALL-POX.
   Vaccina or cow-pox, as it is called, seems to be attended
with the various characteristics of  small-pox, only that it is
incomparably more mild.  The number of pustules is not gen-
erally any greater than that of the  insertions of the matter,
although rare instances have occurred, in which a number, or
even a considerable crop has been  produced.   The vaccine
matter as the name (cow-pox) indicates, is derived from the
cow.

  Varioloides—Modified  Small-pox.—"Soon after the general
introduction of vaccination, exanthematous affections closely
resembling small-pox, were occasionally observed in individ-
uals who had previously undergone  the vaccine disease in a
regular and satisfactory manner.  These varioloid affections
became more and more common;  and within the  last fifteen
years, they have appeared  in various countries, in  frequent
and extensive epidemics.   In the earlier periods of vaccina-
tion, these eruptions were generally regarded as  chicken-pox;
but subsequent inquiries lead to the opinion with many, that
they are the product of a peculiar contagion, acting on systems
but partially protected against small-pox  by previous vaccin-
ation; and this appears now to be the general opinion.
  From the  earliest times of small-pox,  of which we  have
any records, this disease  has indeed been frequently noticed
under various modifications, as remarkable and apparently as
distinct as the form we now call varioloid.  We find various
irregular forms of the disease described  by the early writers
under the names of the vesicular, pustular, and spurious small-
pox; swine-pox, sheep-pox, stone-pox, horn-pox, &c, &e, all
of which were regarded as having but one origin, namely, va-
riolous contagion.  After small-pox  inoculation was introdu-
ced, spurious variola was by no means uncommon; and  it has
always  been observed that genuine and  spurious small-pox
have in the same epidemics  come in and gone out  together,
in the same  manner as they have been uniformly observed to
do since vaccination  has been introduced.
  "It appears, therefore, that various circumstances, either of
a constitutional or accidental  character, may modify small-
pox in a variety of  ways;  and as  such  modifications  were
abundantly  observed before vaccination was practiced, we
need  not  be surprised that they should be .so frequent  now,
when a new and very extensive modifying cause exists  in the
influence of the vaccine disease.  That the present  varioloid
disease  is in  fact nothing but a modified form of small-pox,
may be regarded  as established by an abundance of  direct
and conclusive evidence."—(Eberle.) 
SMALL-POX.
203
  The disease has many of the symptoms common to the gen-
uine small-pox,  but they are invariably more mild.   Vario-
loides usually occurs but once during life.
  The following particulars  may be regarded  as among its
most prominent characteristics:
  1. The eruption appears in clusters, occurring usually from
the second to the fifth day.
  2. Unlike the small-pox, the eruption seldom or never en-
ters into complete suppuration.
  3. Excepting  in very violent cases, the eruption is seldom
attended with much fever; and the desiccation or scabbing,
invariably occurs much earlier than in small-pox, and instead
of inclining to leave pits or depressions, the scabs leave rath-
er an elevated disk or tubercle of a red appearance.

  Treatment.—On the proper treatment of small-pox, the pro-
fession  has for many years been much  divided.  The  great
question has always been on the  comparative merits of the
stimulating and the anti-phlogistic plan.   But it is unnecessary
here to give a detail of the various arguments that have been
adduced on cither side.  It is sufficient to know that we may
expect to be successful in our remedial applications, only when
we operate in concert with the  vital powers, for when  these
give way, the "chance is over" and all medicine  is useless. To
sustain  and promote vitality, then, is the only rational plan of
treatment in any case.
  When the fever runs high and the skin is dry  and husky, (a
condition unfavorable to the natural  developement  of the
eruption,) the body should be sponged with cold water, while
the other usual  means applied  in fevers are  instituted.   Lo-
belia, thoroughwort, saffron, seneka snakeroot and black co-
hosh, are all valuable here.  Should it be needed, the  lobelia
may be pushed to the extent  of emesis.   It is always comfor-
table in fevers, to have the air rather cool and the skin moist,
and this seems  especially  favorable in small-pox.  The pa-
tient's room should not only- be kept cool, but well ventilated,
and his surface should be daily sponged with tepid or cool al-
kaline washes, or lime water.  The skin should be kept re-
laxed and the determining  powers to the  surface.
  \n confluent small-pox, when the patient inclines to  a ty-
phoid condition,  stimulants and tonics  must  be freely used,
such as cayenne pepper, ginger, compound  tincture of  myrrh,
brandy, wine, columbo, gentian and poplar bark.
  About the time that the  pustules are filling, the circulation
should be well sustained with light nourishing food and stim-
ulating  medicine, thus to prevent the pitting  or pock-mark; and 
204
sprains.—st. Anthony's  fire.
with a view to this, the patient should be well guarded against
picking and scratching the pustules, which all have a disposi-
tion to do, owing to the  intolerable itching that attends the
drying up of the pustules.
  Tonics are required during recovery.
                        SPRAINS.

                       (Subluxatio)

  Sprains result from accidents, and  usually occur about the
joints, especially at the ankles and wrists.  They are attended
with considerable pain,  swelling, redness,  and sometimes a
yellow or dark green color of the skin.  The ligaments of the
joints are sometimes considerably injured; and when this  is
the case the parts are generally slow to recover.

  Treatment.—Some physicians recommend the application of
cold water, by pouring it  from  a considerable height on the
injured part.  If this course is taken, the skin, after the appli-
cation, should be dried  and well rubbed with a towel, and
then a coat  of the stimulating liniment, or the bathing drops,
or opodeldoc ought to be freely  applied.
  If the part is very painful, it may be steamed over a pot  of
bitter herbs, applying or laying the hot herbs over the sprain,
while the hot water is regularly poured over them.
  An application of bruised poppy, or jimson leaves will be
found very excellent to assuage the pain.
  The fomentations and liniments should be applied frequent-
ly, or as the case may require.
  Sometimes a relaxing poultice made of lobelia,  slippery
elm, and cayenne pepper will be found very advantageous.
              ST. ANTHONY'S FIRE.

                    (Erysipelas.)

Erysipelas is a febrile affection, attended with diffusive cu- 
st. Anthony's fire.
205
 taneous inflammation on some part of the body, characterized
 by redness, burning, heat, swelling, and vessication.

   Symptoms.—Previously to the  development  of the local
 symptoms, there is almost universally more  or  less morbid
 movement in the general system.  The digestive  organs  are
 usually impaired; there is  loss of appetite, a furred tongue,
 sometimes nausea and headache, and often a considerable op-
 pression in the region of the stomach.  After these symptoms
 have appeared for an indefinate  length of time, the eruption
 will make its appearance, sometimes preceded with a parox-
 ysm of fever.
   The inflammatory eruption comes out in the form  of an
 irregular stain or diffused blotch,  which has a disposition to
 enlarge rapidly.   Small vessicles generally appear about  the
 third day, which are filled Avith a yellowish serum.   The erup-
 tion sometimes assumes a latent  form, and seems to become
 chronic.  There is usually more or less .swelling of the parts;
 and this often becomes considerable.  When  the disease  at-
 tacks the face, the eyes are often closed by the swelling, and
 the entire countenance becomes so disfigured by the tumefac-
 tion, that it not unfrequently happens that the patient's best
 acquaintances will not know him.
   Although the dermoid texture (thatof the outerskin,)ismost
 subject to erysipelas, yet the inflammation is  known some-
 times to penetrate deeply into the body, or even to affect  the
 surfaces of internal organs.
   Erysipelas assumes various degrees of violence, and pre-
 sents different characteristics, which are however all owing to
 the idiosyncrasy of the patient—the  condition of the atmos-
 phere—the state of the system at the time of the attack, or
 the character of the treatment.
   These varieties have been severally called the erratic,  the
 suppurative, the oedomatous, and the gangrenous erysipelas,  ac-
 cording to  the character and termination of the disease.
   Among the various circumstances  and causes  that  tend to
 produce erysipelatous inflammations, the following might be
 named; 1, sudden transition from warm to cold atm<|sphere;
 2, local irritants;  3, general depraved and corrupt condition of
 the humors; 4, maltreatment of other diseases;  5, constitution-
 al predisposition.
   It is not a very difficult matter to distinguish this, from oth-
ier forms of diselt.se.   The local symptoms  are  generally the
most unequivocal diagnostics.  The  redness £nd swelling of
erysipelas, is generally attended wdth  an  intolerable itching
and burning.  The eruption differs from that of sea-let fever, 
206
st. Anthony's  fire.
in its more marked phlegmonous character,  and from that of
measles, by its diffusion, and the abruptness of its margins.
   When the disease  is of the erratic or wandering character,
it is comparatively mild and without danger.  When the red-
ness disappears, and is followed by the natural color  of the
skin,  and the fever subsides, the disease may be  expected to
terminate by resolution; and even when it terminates by sup-
puration, it is  not  considered dangerous,  although it is  very
distressing;  but when the skin in the oedematic or any other
variety, turns  purple or dark, and the swelling  becomes  soft,
gangrene is apt to supervene,  and carry  off the  unfortunate
sufferer.

   Treatment.—The indications in the  treatment of erysipela-
tous inflammation, are about the same as  in other violent in-
flammations; prompt relaxation, evacuations, and tonics are
required.
   When the case is a severe one, the  patient should be im-
mediately thrown under the relaxing power of lobelia or thor-
oughwort, and this should be aided with  the warm  or vapor
bath to equalize the circulation,  which,  when it is affected,
will subdue the erysipelas.   If the case be treated before ves-
sication takes  place,  the external application should consist of
equal parts of the alcoholic extracts of Peruvian  bark, lobe-
lia, mandrake  root, jimson leaves,  and cayenne pepper; these
should be mixed up into a suitable form for application, either
by the use of elm mucilage, or lard, and applied to the affec-
ted parts.  After vessication the external means should  con-
sist of the same  kind of an application, made of  the extract
of through wort,  oak  bark, and jimson leaves, prepared as be-
fore, and applied.  When  suppuration takes place, the parts
must  be treated  as in other cases of suppuration.
  Poultices, applied to erysipelatous parts, are  sometimes of
considerable benefit;  these should consist of slippery elm, thor-
oughwort, &c.   It should ever be borne in mind that the re-
laxing means must be thoroughly and  unremittingly  applied,
until  the inflammation subsides.  Diaphoretics are also  of
great advantage.  The evacuants should consist of sudorifics,
gentle emetics, and mild cathartics.  It must, however, al-
ways be  remembered, that irritating substances are  not  ad-
missible  as internal  means,  especially those among the  ca-
thartic class, as the disease is very susceptible of metastasis-
Attention to diet is necessary. 
ST. VITUS' DANCE.
207
                  ST. VITUS' DANCE.

                         (Chorea.)

  This singular disease consists of *an affection of the nerves,
giving rise to irregular and uncontrolable jerking or twitching
of the muscles of parts, or even, in rare cases, the entire body.
"It has been called St. Vitus' dance, because some devotees of
St. Vitus exercised themselves so long in dancing, that their
intellects were disordered, and could only be  restored by dan-
cing again  at the anniversary of St. Vitus."  The .disease
most commonly effects only one side at a time,particularly the
arm and leg.
  When chorea effects the muscles of  the face, it gives rise to
quite a variety of the most strange and  fantastical  grimaces-
and contortions.
  When any motion  is  attempted to be made,  various fibres
of other muscles act  which ought not; and thus an effect con-
trary to that intended, is produced.  The disease is chiefly in-
cident to children and young persons, of both  sexes, seldom
occurring for the first time, after the age of puberty.
  The intellectual faculties are seldom affected in this disease;
but it has been stated that when the  affection is very severe
and of long standing, more  or less injury of the mind  has
been experienced-
  Chorea may arise in debilitated habits, from any cause that
produces protracted nervous irritation.  The irrigation occa-
sioned by the presence of worms, and that  attending teeth-
ing, &c, may be  named among the  exciting causes of the
disease.

   Treatment.—The cure of chorea, may  generally be effected
by taking, in connection wdth a strong tea of  the nervine tonic
three or four times a day, the following preparation:

      Take of Black cohoBb,
       kW    Sculcap, ......
       11    AssafoBtida,---

Pulverize and digest in a pint of alcohol for six  days,  ami
pour off the  tincture carefully.  The • dose  is a teaspoonful
once in three hours.
   The good effects of the above are made more sufe by taking
some pills, made by rolling equal parts of lobelia  and skunk
cabbage root, in fine powder, with the extract of blue cohosh.
2 ounces.
• I oi nee. "
4  do. 
208
SUSPENDED ANIMATION.
or of lady slipper.  The dose of these is from one  to three,,
two or three times a day.

  Bathing.—The shower bath is an excellent  auxilary to the
other means in this disease.   The patient should take a show-
ering at least once a week, but would do much better to take
one every day.  After the bath, the skin must always be well
dried and freely rubbed with a coarse towel.

  Cathartics.—Cathartics have been found  of considerable
utility in this disease; but the articles used of this class must
be mild and unirritating.  Usually, however, it is only neces-
sary to keep the bowels open by the use of laxatives.
               SUSPENDED ANIMATION.

                         (Asphyxia.)

  It is known that when oxygen, the  supporter of physiolog-
ical* as well as< chemical combustion, is excluded  from the
lungs, that all the  vital functions will cease.   This condition
of the  body is now called asphyxia.   Formerly the term was
restricted to diseases of the heart; or rather, it was  used to
designate those affections that were characterized by suppres-
sion or want of pulse.
  Asphyxia may be  caused by any thing that will obstruct the
passage of atmospheric air to the lungs.   The common caus-
es of the difficulty, are  drowning, strangling or hanging, irrespi-
rable gases, fyc.   These will receive a short notice separately.

  Drowning.—When a person is submurged or falls  into wa-
ter, the instinctive motions of respiration  are continued,  but
as the irrespirable fluid is drawn into the windpipe, the irrita-
tion produced by its  presence, gives rise  to spasm in the mus-
cles of the glottis,  and thus the passage is instantly closed up;
and in this way we  may  account for the fact that  water is
neveriound in tne hingsof persons recently drowned.  It is,
^t'^Ut^AI^1,^l0e^al cTbmii°n: '8 ,>ere u^to~e^p7e88 that phenomenon
h^lmonll   eU"Tu0f °XygenWltlJ th6  elemems of'the b'°°d.  That
!a noThpr* f?i ^sennal charactenst.es of open and free  chemical  combustion
are not here to be round, it is not argued by any means; although the phenom-
enon seems to be much  modified by the laws crudity.' 8ee remarks on ftv ",
page 66; also—inflammation, page 122.                             ' 
SUSPENDED  ANIMATION.                209
however, generally the  case  that a frothy mucus is found in
the air cells or bronchial tubes, which, by most  pathologists,
is supposed to be dependant on the presence of water.  It  is
not improbable that although the trachea is very sensitive to
the irritation of water or any other foreign substance, yet du-
ring the few first inspirations more or less may be drawn even
into the lungs, and then by the coughing excited, the  most of
it be forcibly expelled, while the spasmodic contraction at the
glottis, which by  this time has  become permanent, prevents
the further admission of the fluid.   It is remarkable, that it is
also seldom the case that water is found in the stomachs of
those recently drowned.
  It is very certain that unless the submersion is attended with
violence, as contusion, &c, sufficient  to occasion death more
quick,  ha "" it would take  place in  consequence simply  of
submersion, u^.'.  +he  death is  always  occasioned by the ab-
sence of the atmospheric air or oxygen from the lungs.

  Strangling or hanging.—It has been supposed  that in cases
of asphyxia from this cause, the mischief is occasioned by the
obstruction produced to the circulation in the large vessels  of
the neck,—that from  engorgement in the  venous system, a
fullness or hyperaemia in the  brain is  occasioned, which, giv-
ing rise to apoplexy, in this way brings on death.  But this is
a mistaken idea,  for although the venous circulation  through
the jugulars and  other superficial vessels in the neck, is total-
ly obstructed, and notwithstanding a  considerable hyperaemia
of the vessels of  the brain is produced, yet it is certain from
the results of observation and experiment, that this is not gen-
erally the cause of the death, in strangulation.  In this, as in
other causes of asphyxia, this event follows as  the common
result of the exclusion of the atmospheric air or oxygen from
the lungs.

  Asphyxia r.v irrespirable gases.—These gases produce death
either negatively by their want of support  to  respiration, or
by their occasioning a  spasmodic  closure of the glottis and
thus preventing the entrance of the  atmosphere, or  oxygen,
the only supporter of respiration.   The gases  that  are esj e-
cially mischivous in this respect, are not very  many,  among
the most prominent, are carbonic acid gas, ammoniacal gas,
muriatic acid gas, deutoxide of nitrogen, and chlorine.

  Among the less frequent causes  of  asphyxia, are mechan-
ical hindrance to the expansion of the chest, as  in  tight la-
              14 
:!10
SUSPENDED  ANIMATION.
 cing &c; smothering; tumors in the chest; and the congenital
 causes.

    General symptgms, fyc.—The symptoms  attending asphyxia,
 although about the same  whatever be the  character of the
 mechanical cause, must nevertheless be expected to vary ac-
 cording as the supply  of oxygen is diminished, or totally with-
 held.   But the following description by Dunglison, will hold
 good in the generality of cases:
   "When the access  of oxygen is in a manner  prevented, a
 few seconds elapse before any uneasiness is experienced; but
 after this, a marked feeling of distress indicates  the necessity
 for satisfying  one of the most imperious wants—-that of respi-
 ring—the besoin dc respircr.  This feeling soon becomes insup-
 portable; the  animal gasps, and yawns repeatedly, and makes
 use of every  effort to obtain  a supply  of the  indispensable
 fluid.  The whole body is  agitated.  The  limbs quiver, and
 are convulsed, or thrown into tetanic spasms.  Almost instan-
 taneously, especially if respiration has been slightly practica-
 ble, and the supervention of asphyxia therefore  gradual, the
 feeling of distress is attended by vertigo and stupor: the face
 becomes livid, especially the lips,,and the  orifices of the mu-
 cous membranes;  and, at times, the whole  surface becomes of
 the same hue.  The sensorial  functions are  suspended in  a
 few moments; and, almost simultaneously, the muscles  loose
 their power of contraction, so  that  the  individual  falls.  In
 this state of apparent  death, an obscure circulation alone ex-
 ists in the great vessels, whilst the functions of the capillary
 system continue.   The praecordial region  presents, at times,
 a dulness on percussion, which  extends  as far as two inches
 to the right of the sternum, and three inches above the space
 usually occupied by the right heart.   This  dulness is owing to
 the engorgement  of the right cavities.  (Piorry)  Soon the
 circulation ceases, first of all in the larger  vessels, and after-
 wards in the capillaries; and, with this cessation, the functions
of ^-cretion, nutrition,  and calorification are  arrested.  The
 a-.sphyxia has now become positive death.
  "Examination of the body after death exhibits  general Av-
 idity of  the surface, and the face more especially.  The par-
enchyma of the different organs is filled with fluid, especially
 that of the liver—which is sometimes quite  purple__of the
spleen, kidneys, and lungs.  The whole capillary system, in-
 deed, is surcharged with blood of a dark color, which is descri-
 bed by some writers as always fluid, (Adelon) but to this there
 are many exceptions.  i^Bcrard)   The blood  appears to be
wholly collected in the  pulmonary artery, the right side of the 
                   SUSPENDED ANIMATION.                211

heart, and the venous system generally, whilst the pulmona-
ry veins, the  left cavities of the heart, and  the  arteries  are
empty, or contain but a small quantity of fluid.   The appear-
ances, howrever, differ somewhat, according as the respiration
is at once obstructed, or has taken place, although  imperfect-
ly for a time.  In the former case, death ensues more prompt-
ly, and there is less suffering; and, on examination, the cuta-
neous capillaries and the various organs are less charged with
blood, and the fluid is less exclusively collected in the  venous
system."
  The  pathological condition giving rise to the livid or dark
appearance of the countenance and other parts of the body,
and the distortion of the features, will not always insure these
phenomena  for any considerable time after death.  For  it is
often, if not generally the case, that the countenance assumes
its natural appearance; and  it is even  said  that not unfre-
quently there is quite a pacidity of expression—a "rapture of
repose", giving a singular contrast with the  previous appear-
ance.  Nevertheless, it is sometimes the case, especially when
there is mechanical obstruction in the superficial vessels, as in
hanging, that all the horrible appearances attending asphyxia,
are continued long after death. This condition of the dead
body is graphically described in Shakespeare's lines on  the
frightful physiognomy of Duke Humphrey:

     "But see! his face is black and full of blood;
     His eye-balls further out than when he lived,
     Staring full ghastly like a strangled man;
     His hair uprear'd; his nostrils stretch'd with struggling:
     His hands abroad display'd, as one that grasp'd
     And tugg'd for life, and "was by strength subdued."

   Treatment.—In the treatment of cases of suspended anima-
tion, the great object should be to bring about that condition
of the body most favorable  to the  performance of the physio-
logical or vital functions, as respiration, circulation,  calorifi-
cation, &c.   The first thing, therefore, that should he done, is
to remove the subject from the influence of the cause or  cau-
ses of  the asphyxia.   This being done, the body, if wet, should
be immediately dried  with the use of  a towel or  dry cloth,
and  then a course of the most lively  friction must  be institu-
ted with the use of the rubefacient oil, bathing drops, tincture
of cayenne pepper; or if  none of these are convenient, the
dry hand should be used.   In the mean time, efforts must  be
made to get down some permanent diffusive stimulant, as the
auti-spasinodic tincture, tincture of cayenne pepper, or myrrh, 
212
TETTER.
 &c.  Enemas, as warm as could be borne by a healthy  sub-
 ject, composed of the same permanent and diffusive stimulants,
 must also be frequently administered.
   By this time the preparations for a vapor bath may have
 been instituted, so that the patient may now be surrounded
 by a vapor of moderate heat.   The precaution must, howev-
 er, be observed, not to deprive the face of fresh and circula-
 ting air.  The vapor should, for a few moments, be kept at a
 temperature of only about 100 degrees, or  about that  of the
 body of a healthy man; and then it may be gradually  raised
 as the circumstances may seem to require.
   Artificial inflation of the lungs, has ever been regarded as
 a veryr  important  means  of resuscitation.   The inflation is
 generally made by forcing the air into the  mouth through a
 tube, or by means  of a common bellows,  whilst the nostrils
 are held close, to prevent the return of the  air through  them.
 The air must, however,  be forced in very moderately, and
 time should be given for it to pass out alternately with the in-
 flations. The process may also be favored by placing the
 hand on the breast or abdomen, and gently pressing alternate-
ly  with  the inspirations.
  Galvanism has of late been found very useful in those ca-
ses, and ff a  battery is at hand, it is advisable to  use  the
means.
                        TETTER.

                         (Hcrps)

  The term 'tetter' has  been used to  designate various erup-
tions of different characters.  But its signification is  now re-
stricted to an eruption consisting of a cluster of vesicles hav-
ing inflamed bases, and being separate  and distinct from each
other, and the skin remaining of the natural appearance be-
tween them.
  There are several  varieties of the disease that come under
the notice of the practitioner.   The most common variety
(H Phly-tenodes) may occur on  all parts of the  bodv, having
no determined form or seat.  It makes its  appearance  bv a
multitude of  very minute red points.   In the course of a few
days the skin upon which these  points appear,  becomes  uni-
formly red, and small transparent vesicles make their appear- 
TETTER.
213
ance.  These are aggregated into  irregular clusters of vari-
ous sizes, from a few to nine or ten inches in  circumference.
About the fourth or fifth day, the vesicles either burst and give
exit to the included fluid, or they begin to wither and concrete
into yellowish scabs, which usually fall  off about the eighth
or tenth day, and leave a red and irritable surface.
  A variety of  the disease resembling erysipelas, occurs on
the body, and consists of a band of vesicles, seated on a red
and inflamed surface.  This band generally commences in the
right illiac or lumber region, and  comes forward on the ab-
domen, and then inclines upwards  or downwards, rarely pas-
sing over the meridian line.   The common name of this  va-
riety is shingles (Herps Zoster) '
  Another very common variety  of this affection, is common-
ly called Ringworm, (Herps  Circinatus)   This makes its  ap-
pearance on various parts of the  body, and consists of circular
patches of small vesicles that break  in the course of four or five
days,  and are followed with a scaly appearance of the skin.
These patches are from an eighth of an inch, to two inches or
more  in diameter.  As these patches enlarge, their centers
sometimes present the skin in its natural appearance.

   Treatment.—The several varieties of tetter should be treat-
ed on the same general principles.   The system should be put
under the influence of  mild  aperients and  depuratives,  such
as the narrow dock root, elder flowers, and dandelion root; or
pills, made of equal parts of lobelia and the  mandrake  ex-
tract, may be used in doses of one  every evening.

  Local means.—An ointment, made by incorporating as much
of equal parts of  lobelia seed, blood root,  and white vitriol
(all well pulverized) as can well be mixed with a sufficient
quantity of paste, made by dissolving gum elastic in  lard, as
directed for scall on page 194, should  be worn over the erup-
tion, until the cure is effected. The  parts should be washed
off with strong astringents, or alkalies, as the case may seem
to require; once every day.
  An ointment, made of the buds  and burs of meadow fern,
is also very good for tetter.
  Fresh blood root, bruised and soaked in vinegar, imparts to
the latter a property that proves valuable in many cutaneous
affections, and is by many, especially recommended in this af-
fection.
  The various itch ointments will generally cure tetter. 
314
TIC DOULOUREUX.
                  TIC DOULOUREUX.

                        (Neuralgia)

  This is one of the most painful affections that are incident to
man.  It essentially  consists of an  intermittent pain that is
seated in a nerve, and shoots along its  course and ramifica-
tions.
  The pain generally occurs suddenly; but sometimes a slight
sensation of itching  or of heat, creeping or  numbness is felt
in the part, which gradually becomes more and more intense,
until the disease is fully established.   Then again the pain is
preceded by a feeling of coldness and numbness.   When the
disease has fully  set in, the pain is usually  extremely acute
and lancinating, and the velocity with which it traverses the
nerves, has been compared to an electric shock.
  The face is more commonly the seat of neuralgia than any
other part of the body.
  "When the pain is at its height, it seems as if burning nee-
dles were thrust into the affected parts.   After a time the ag-
ony diminishes,  and is alternately replaced by  a sense  of
numbness, which remains until the  pain recurs.   Exacerba-
tions and remissions of pain take place at intervals until ulti-
mately the pain becomes endurable, which it  scarcely was at
the heighth of the paroxysm."
  It is obvious that a disease so painful, could  not  long  exist
without affecting  the general system.   Sleep is driven away;
general restlessness sets in; digestion is poorly performed, anil
if the patient  is not  relieved,  the system will become worn
down, and in the worst cases, death not  unfrequently occurs
in the course of a week or two.

  Treatment.—The pain may generally be removed by the use
of the rubefacient oil, in which half its weight of gum  cam-
phor is dissolved.  This preparation must be  applied to the
affected parts with thorough and continued friction.   In rub-
bing on the liniment, the ends of the fingers should be drawn
along the course of the pain with considerable pressure.  In
the mean time, lobelia should  be taken  in nauseating doses.
It is the best plan to form some of the pulverized seed into
pills with the lady slipper root, and then  to give them once in
three hours in nauseating doses.
  The bathing drops will sometimes answer instead of the ru-
befacient oil, and it happens occasionally, that the pain may 
TOOTHACHE.
215
be readily relieved  by the  use of the rubefacient  solution.
  Hot fomentations of  bitter and relaxing  herbs, have also
been found useful.
  The vapor bath should be applied, together with emetic do-
ses of lobelia, if the pain does not yield to  the  other  means
recommended; and  these should be repeated daily, in extreme
cases, until the disease will  yield.
  The nervine tonic should  be used during the  entire treat-
ment, whatever may be the other means employed.
                      TOOTHACHE.

                       (Odontalgia.)

   This very troublesome complaint is very common, and needs
 no description, only as to some of its pathological conditions.
   The pain commonly called toothache, is not always caused
 by caries of the teeth.   Inflammation of the  alvaolo-dental
 membrane often gives rise to extreme  pain, when the teeth
 may be sound.  Ulcerations  may occur in the sockets of the
 teeth from inflammations of this  membrane, and the pus be
 discharged between the gum and the teeth; and sometimes
 the matter, not finding vent, will remain and give rise to a ca-
 rious condition of the bones, and  thus keep up a fistulous ul-
 cer.   The soft parts within the jaw bones, may also become
 inflamed, and cause what is commonly called the "jaw-ache.''
 This latter generally passes off by resolution.  However, in
 the majority of instances, the pain arises from caries of the
 teeth.  The crown  of the tooth is most commonly affected,
 but it sometimes happens that its  fangs or roots commence to
 decay first.  In this case the symptoms  do not differ  much
 from those  that characterize inflammation of the membranes,
 only that the difficulty lasts longer, or assumes more of a chron-
 ic form.  When the crown  or top  of the  tooth is affected with
 caries, it seems that the disease commences on the outer edge
 of the bony part, immediately under the enamel.   Carious
parts are generally  discovered by the painful sensation caus-
ed by the contact of cold or hot drinks,—by the touch of su-
gar, or other saccharine matter, before it can readily be seen
on examination.  The rpttening of the tooth, generally com-
 mences in a small point, and continues thence, until the whole
 crown is decayed away.  The bony part goes first, and after- 
216
ULCERS.
 wards the enamel or remaining shell is  broken down either
 by an effort at extraction, or by chewing hard substances.

   Treatment.—In cases  of inflammation of the  membranes,
 which may be known by the absence of caries,  by the  pain
 affecting a number of teeth at the same time,—by the affect-
 ed teeth seeming loose, and longer than the rest,—by the swel-
 ling of the cheeks, and  the  ulceration of the gums, the ex-
 ternal treatment should consist of a course nearly the same
 as that recommended for  glossitis, only it may  be milder in
 the commencement.  The teeth should not be extracted in ca-
 ses of inflammation of  the membranes, unless it becomes ne-
 cessary to do it when ulceration takes place, in order to give
 vent to the pus.
   In cases of  toothache from caries, the pain may be relieved
 by the introduction of a little oil of cloves, cinnamon, sum-
 mer savory, or some kreosote, which may be done by means
 of a little bit  of cotton or  lint.   When the pain is  relieved,
 the tooth should be cleaned out  and plugged up with a metal-
 lic substance,  such as tin, silver, or gold foil.   But when the
 tooth is so far decayed as not to be of much service, it should
 be extracted.
   The rubefacient oil, or bathing drops, applied  with consid-
 erable friction, will often give relief in  toothache as well as
jaw^-ache.  Some  advise destroying the nerve, and for this
 purpose, the introduction of a hot wire, or caustics, such as
 the carbonate  of potash, &c, if  well done, will generally be
 successful.
                        ULCERS.

                         (Ulcera)

  Ulcers are open, foetid, chronic  sores, which  have the fol-
lowing description by Hooper:  A purulent solution of conti-
nuity of the soft parts of the animal body, arising from a va-
riety of causes, as all those that produce  inflammation,  from
wounds,  specific irritation of the  absorbents,  from scurvy,
cancer, the venerial or scrofulous  virus, &c.   The proximate
or immediate cause is an increased  action of the absorbents,
and a, specific action of the arteries, bv which a fluid is sepa-
rated from the blood upon the ulcerated  surface.  They are 
ULCERS.
217
variously denominated;  the following is the most frequent di-
vision:
  1. The simple ulcer, which takes place generally from a su-
perficial wound.
  2. The sinuous, that runs under the integuments, and the or-
ifice of which is narrow, but not callous.
  3. The fistulous ulcer,  orfistula,  a deep ulcer with a narrow
and callous orifice.
  4. The fungous ulcer, the surface of which is covered with
fungous flesh.
  5. The gangrenous, which is livid, foetid, and gangrenous.
  6. The scorbutic, which depends on a scorbutic acrimony.
  7. The venereal, arising from the venereal disease.
  8. The cancerous ulcer, or open  cancer.
  9. The carious ulcer, depending upon a carious bone.
  10. The inveterate  ulcer, which is of long continuance,  and
resists the ordinary applications.
  11. The scrofulous xdcer, known by its having risen from in-
dolent tumors, its discharging a viscid, glaring matter, and its
indolent nature.
  The following four great distinctions between wounds  and
ulcers, are made by  Professor Richerand:  1. A wound arises
from the action of an extraneous body;—the cause of an ul-
cer is inherent in the economy.  2.  A wound is always idio-
pathic;—an ulcer is  always sjmiptomatic.   3. A wound has
essentially a tendency to heal, because the action of its cause
has been momentary;—an ulcer, on  the  contrary,  has a ten-
dency to enlarge, because  its  cause persists.   4. The treat-
ment of a wound is  purely surgical; that of an ulcer is medi-
cal as well.

   Treatment.—As ulcers, in nearly  every instance, are a re-
sult of an unhealthy condition  of the general system, it is a
very good plan, as a common rule, to commence their treat-
ment with such a remedial course as is calculated to obviate
the various primary, and incidental causes that may obtain in
the case.
  To regulate the secretions, equal parts of  fine lobelia, blood
root, and the mandrake extract, formed into pills, may be giv-
en in nauseating doses three times a day.  For this purpose,
the alterative syrup  is also very good.
  Laxative bitters are  very useful, as a general  remedy, in
the treatment of ulcers; they should be used throughout the
treatment.

  Local treatment.—-One of the  most important things, in the 
218
ULCERS.
 local treatmentttf ulcers, is to keep the  sore  clean.  It must
 be frequently' washed out with soapsuds, and  astringent infu-
 sions, made  of the astringent tonic, bayberry, sumac bark,
 white pond lily, &c.  After the washings, the sore  should be
 wetted occasionally with some pyroligneous acid;  or if this is
 not at hand, some tincture of myrrh, lobelia, or cayenne pep-
 per may be dropped into it at the dressings.

   Poultices.—Great benefit is often found in the use of poul-
 tices.   The ingredients of which these should be made must
 be selected according to the  condition of the  ulcer, whether
 they should be astringent, relaxant, stimulating or emollient.
 Among the astringent articles almost any of the simples will
 be found to answer, but the astringent tonic, bayberry, cranes-
 bill, sumac, and pond lily root are generally preferred.  Among
 the relaxants, the best are lobelia and thoroughwort.  Of the
 stimulants, ginger and cayenne pepper,  made up with meal,
 or slippery elm bark, are  generally preferred.  Slippery elm,
 comfrey, flaxseed, and mallows are the best emollients.

   Salves.—As soon as the ulcer  issues  healthy pus,  or that
 which is of a thick, yellowish, creamlike consistence, the sore
 will be  ready for the healing process.  To promote this, salves
 are of  great benefit.    Either  of  the  salves recommended
 among  the compounds, may be used.   It is sometimes best to
 change  them, first using one, and then another.
   At the dressings, the sore  must always be washed out, first
 with soapsuds, and then with some  astringent wash.
   If, at  any time after the use of the salves is commenced, the
 sore should become inflamed and painful, the emollient and
 relaxant poultices should be used.
   The plaster recommended for  the treatment of open can-
 cers, is  an invaluable application for old indolent and obstin-
 ate ulcers.
   In fistulous and sinuous ulcers, it is necessary to inject the ar-
 ticles used, into the opening of the ulcer, by means of a syringe
 made for the purpose, that can be got at  any  drug store.   In
gangrenous ulcers, antisceptic poultices, made  as directed for
 mortification, must be used.
   When the ulcer is very indolent and slow to  heal, it is some-
 times very good  to sprinkle some cayenne pepper or its oil, or
 the oil of lobelia into the sore.   When there is fungous flesh
 in it, some fine blood root,  mandrake root,  burnt alum, or
 what is  perhaps better than  any  thing else, a little carbonate
 of potash may be sprinkled  on the fungous parts; and then a
 poultice should be laid over  the whole. 
VAPORS.
219
                        VAPORS.

                     (Hypochondriasis.)

  This is a very singular and distressing disease, affecting both
the body and  mind.  It consists,  essentially, of a deranged
condition of the digestive organs, and functions of nutrition^
thus giving rise to depression of the animal spirits, and a dis-
turbed condition of the intellectual faculties.
  Hypochondria comes on with a sense of languor, listlessness,
or want of resolution and activity, with respect to any under-
takings.  The patient feels serious, sad, and timid; he is ever
pondering on the  ills and misfortunes of life; and  on the
slightest grounds, he suspects evil,  and from the most trivial
events, he takes alarm.  He is particularly  attentive to the
state of his own health; and the smallest changes of feeling,
are regarded as indications of constitutional unsoundness.—
Any unusual  sensation, however slight, he considers a pre-
monitory  symptom of  approaching disease, if not  the imme-
diate forerunner of death.  Sometimes he immagines  that he
is dying, or that he is actually dead; and so strong and fixed,
is his notion, that he will not be persuaded out of it, however
great the  pains taken.
                             e
   Treatment.—The medical treatment of patients affected with
low spirits,  should consist of such means as are  calculated to
improve the condition of the digestive organs.   The various
means, therefore, that are recommended for  dyspepsia under
page 120, should be instituted.
   Frequent cold bathing, is particularly advantagious in this
 affection.   Occasional emetics, tonics, and laxative bitters, are
 always required.   The grand object is to keep the system free
 of obstruction, and the organs in good tone.

   Moral means.—It is  always a matter of the greatest impor-
 tance, for the practitioner to secure the full  and entire confi-
 dence of  the  patient.   Every effort should be made to get the
patient to believe  that the  means  used will cure him; and
with a view to this, some important remedy—a celebrated ar-
canum, must  be talked of,—desires to get it, must be frequent-
ly expressed in his presence, and at the same time, doubts as
to the possibility of procuring it,  may  be evinced.  Finally,
however, the great desideratum is gained,—the  medicine  is
procured, and hence the cure will be certain.  Together with 
220
VAPORS.
 other good and prompt treatment, some  mild  remedy whose
 specific action is certain and well known, must now be given.
 The patient must be made to anticipate  certain effects; and
 to be assm-ed that if they  take place, all will be well.   This
 important remedy may be a safe but active  diuretic, any in-
 nocent article that will  stain the urine,  or that will produce
 some other prominent, or remarkable effect.
  Sometimes a cure may be effected, by instituting some in-
 teresting, engrossing, and absorbing  sceme, as some mining
 speculation, or some important expedition, and thus  insolating
 the attention and thoughts of the patient.
  Travelling is very beneficial to some.
  Moral and religious conversation is very beneficial, and if
 the patients mind can thus be engaged and engrossed, it is en-
 tirely the best plan of treatment.
  Some very singular and amusing means, have occasionally
 proved successful,   The writer has heard an instance related, <
 of a hypochondraic patient, who lived in  this country, at the
 time of its early settlements; and who withall, had a most
 horrible dread of the Indians.  The q^ief affliction of this in-
 dividual, was his belief that his  legs were  glass.   He never
 suffered himself  to be moved, and his legs must not even be
 handled, least by accident, they might be broken!  After keep-
 ing his room for  a year or  longer, he was  at length prevailed
 on to take a visit to a neighboring house, with the  assurance
 that the care he  would have, would  insure the  safety  of the
 enterprise.  A carriage was procured, the man  with glass legs
 was carefully placed into it, when the driver proceeded with
 the greatest care.  When  about a mile from his home, a con-
 versation with reference to some late depredations  by the In-
 dians, was introduced.  The fears of the hypochondraic were
 soon aroused, so that he  entirely forgot his glass legs.   Soon
 they were to pass through a strip of woods, and as  they drew
 near, the fears of the distressed man, evidently became more
 and more pressing.  The carriage had no sooner entered the
 woods, when five men (prepared for the design) in Indian hab-
 its, with rifles and  tomahawks in hand, rushed from the hill-
 side with tremendous  war-whoops, yells,  and  firing of their
 guns.  One of the men in the carriage, who  had risen up to
 make his escape, fell as dead to  the  ground, when the man
 with the glass legs leaped  from the carriage and  Hook to his
heels,1 and the Indians after him.  But the  stiff-legged man left
 them far in the rear; he was soon at his house, in a fine per-
 spiration.—The means were successful.
  The following, from Ewell's Medical Companion, are cases
that are not without interest: 
VAPORS.
221
  "Some hypocondriacs have fancied themselves miserably af-
flicted in one way, and some in another—some have insisted
that they were  tea pots; and some  that  they were  town
clocks,—this, that he had a big belly, and that his legs were
glass—one that  he was extremely ill,  and another that he
was actually dying.   But I have never  heard of any of this
blue devil class, whose extravagance ever yet came up to the
following, which was  related  to me by my noble hearted old
friend, the late Dr. Stevenson, of Baltimore; whose very name
always  sounds in my ears as the summary of every manly
virtue.
  "This hypochondriac, who, by the bye, was a patient of Dr.
Stevenson, after ringing the change on every mad conceit that
ever tormented a crazy brain, would have it at last that he
was dead,  actually dead.  Dr.  Stevenson having been sent
for one  morning in great haste,  by the wife of his patient,
hastened to his bed side, where he  found him stretched out at
full length,  his hands across his breast, his great toes in con-
tact, his eyes and mouthy closely shut,  and his looks cadaver-
ous.
  " 'Well, sir, how do you do?  how do you do  this morning?'
asked Dr. Stevenson, in his blustering jocular way, approach-
ing his  bed. 'How  do I do,' replied  the Hypochondriac,
faintly—'a pretty question to ask a dead man.'   'Dead!' re-
plied the Doctor.  'Yes; sir, dead, quite  dead.   I died last
night about twelve o'clock.'
  "Quick as lightning, Dr. Stevenson caught his cue, which
was to  strike him on the string of his character; on which,
the Doctor happily recollected he was very  tender.   Having
gently put his hand on the forehead af the Hypochondriac, as
if to ascertain whether it was  cold, and  also felt his pulse, he
exclaimed, in doleful  note, 'Yes, the poor  man  is  deade-
nough—it is all over with him, and now the  sooner he can be
buried the better.'  Then stepping up to his wife; and  whis-
pering her not be frightened at the measures he was about to
take, he  called to the  servant,  'My boy,  your poor master is
dead, and the sooner he can be put in the ground  the better.
Run to Mr.  C----m, for I know he always keeps  New  Eng-
land coffins by him, ready made; and, do you  hear, bring a
coffin of the largest size, for your master makes a stout corpse,
and having died  last night, and the weather warm,  he will
soon begin to smell.'
  "Away went the servant, and soon returned wdth a proper
coffin.   The wife and family having got  their lesson from the
Doctor, gathered  around him, and howded no little, while they
wer i putting the body in the coffin.  Presently, the pall-bear- 
222
VAPOR.
 ers, who were quickly provided and let into the secret,  start-
 ed with the Ilypocondriac for the church-yard.   They had not
 gone far before they were met by one of the  towns-people,
 who, having been properly" drilled by the facetious Stevenson,
 cried out, 'Ah Doctor!  what poor soul have you got there?"
   " 'Poor Mr. B----,' sighed the Doctor, 'left us last nignt.'
   " 'Great pity he had not left us twenty years ago,' replied
 the other, 'for he was a bad  man.'
   "Presently another of the towns-men met them with  the
 same question.  'And what poor soul have yrou got there Doc-
 tor?'
   " 'Poor  Mr. B----,' answered the  Doctor again, 'is dead.'
   '"Ah! indeed!'  said the other.   'And so the devil  has got
 his own at last.'
   " 'Oh villain!' exclaimed the man in  the coffin, 'if I was not
 dead, how I would pay you for that.'
   "Soon after this, while the pall-bearers were resting them-
 selves near the church-yard, another one  stepped up with the
 old question again, 'what poor soul  have you got theie,  Doc-
 tor?'  'Poor Mr. B----,' he replied, As  gone.'
   " 'Yes, and to h—11,' said  the other,  'for if he is not  gone
 there, I see not what use there is for such a place.'  Here the
 dead man bursting off the lid of  the coffin, which had  been
 purposely left loose, leapt out, exclaiming,  'Oh  you villain! I
 am gone to h—11, am I!  Well, I have come back again to pay
 such ungrateful rascals as you are.'   A race was immediate-
 ly commenced between the dead  man  and the  living, to the
 petrifying consternation of many  of the spectators, at sight of
 a corpse, bursting from the coffin,  and  in all the  horrors  of
 the winding sheet, racing through the  streets.  After  having
 exercised  himself into a copious perspiration by this fantastic
 chase, the Hypocondriac was brought home by Dr. Stevenson
 freed of all his complaints.   And by strengthening food, gen-
 erous wine, cheerful company, and   moderate exercise,' 'was
 soon restored to perfect health.
  "To demonstrate further, the happy effects  of  possessing
 quick wit, 'to shoot folly as it flies.'   1 will cite  another case
 of Hypochondriasis, which came  under the care of that phi-
 lanthropic and learned physician,  the late Dr. Crawford, of
 Baltimore, who, in every thing that was amiable and good,
 was not unlike his intimate friend, Doctor Stevenson.
  " A certain Ilypocondriac, who,  for  a long time, fancied
 himself  dying of a liver complaint, was advised by Dr. Craw-
 ford, to make a journey to the state  of Ohio.  After an excur-
sion of three  months,  he  returned home, apparently in  good
health; but upon receiving information  of the death of a twin 
VENEREAL DISEASE.
223
brother, who had actually died of a schirrus liver, he imme-
diately took the staggers, and falling down, roared out that he
was dead, and had, as he always expected, died  of a liver
complaint.  Dr. Crawford being sent for, immediately attend-
ed, and asked the Hypocondriac how he could be dead, seein^
he could talk.   But still he would have it that he was actual-
ly dead.   Whereupon the sagacious doctor exclaimed, 'O yes,
the gentleman is certainly dead, and it is more than probable,
that his liver was the death of him.   However,  to ascertain
the fact, I will hasten to cut him open before putrefaction takes
place.   And thereupon, getting a carving  knife, and whetting
it as a butcher would to open a dead calf, he stepped up to
him and began to open his waistcoat, when the  Hypocondri-
ac, horribly frightened, leaped up with the agility of  a rabbit,.
and crying out, 'Murder! Murder! Murder!' ran off with a speed
that would have defied a score of Doctors  to catch  him.  Af-
ter running  a considerable distance, until he was almost ex-
hausted, he halted; and not finding the Doctor  at his  heels,.
soon became composed.    From  that period, this gentleman
was never known to complain of his liver; nor had he for bet-
ter than twenty years afterwards, any symptom of this disease."
                 VENEREAL DISEASE.

                        (Sypiiilis.)

  This is a very contagious disease that prevails considerably
in some of our large cities.    It is supposed by some to be of
ancient origin, yet it did not make its appearance in Europe
until 1494 or 1495-
  The disease consists essentially of a specific poison, which,
when contracted gives rise to symptoms that mark  two dis-
tinct stages of the affection, the primary and the constitutional.
The primary or local symptoms, are not generally called syph-
ilis, but receive the name of gonorrhea venerea or clap, chancre,
and bubo, according to its different seat or appearance.

  Gonorrhoea.—Gonorrhoea may take place without the pres-
ence of the venereal poison; but when it follows as an effect
of this, it generally sets in, in from a few days to  one or two
weeks, with an uneasiness about the parts of generation, such
as an itching sensation in the glands of the penis, and a sore- 
224
VENEREAL DISEASE.
 ness and tingling feeling along the whole course of the urethra.
 Soon after this, a whitish matter will make its appearance, and
 there will be a degree of pungency or burning in making wa-
 ter.  There is considerable pain, in the glands, which will ex-
 tend with greater or less activity, upwards along the course of
 the urethra; the glands becomes red  and swollen, and  very
 tender to the touch.  The patient is usually much harrassed
 with painful excrections, particularly when  in bed, and when
 the urine is voided.   In many cases, the inflammatory action
 extends from the mucous membrane to the corpus or body  of
 the penis, giving rise to much tenderness and hardness in this
 part.   Attending this, there is  usually a very painful  symp-
 tom called chordee,  which consists in strong and protracted
 erections, whilst from the hard and unyielding condition  of
 the corpus  spungiosum, the penis is thrown  into a curved
 form with the head turned down and the body bent upwards.
 It is not unusual for small quantities of blood to be discharged
 with the gonorrhoeal flux.

  Chancres.—These make their appearance at an uncertain
 period after the venereal poison is contracted,—first by  one or
 more small pimples, excoriations, or ulcers,  that  are situated
 on  some part of the genital organs,—preceded,  usually, with
 an  itching in the part.  These sores enlarge and assume all
 the characteristics of the most obstinate ulcers, with thick
 hardened borders.   Nor is the induration confined to the mar-
 gins, for the whole excavated surface of the ulcer is hard  and
 unyielding.  The true venereal chancre is always of an indo-
 lent character, or slow in its progress.

  Bubo.—The glands situated at the junctions of the  limbs,
 possess a singular power of absorbing poisons carried into the
 circulation;  and thus from this striking arrangement of things,
 poisons starting in the extremities, are often  prevented from
 passing into the trunk among the vicera.   When these glands
 have, absorbed much poison, they swell considerably, and  not
 unfrequently suppurate  and break.
  The glands in the groin, are those usually affected with the
 venereal poison; but it is very seldom the case, that from this
 cause more  than  one in a side, becomes affected at a time.
 When a gland thus swells, it  is called bubo.
  The bubo may continue for a time in an inflammatory con-
 dition, and  then pass off by resolution, or it may suppurate,
 and then assume all the usual characteristics  of an obstinate
ulcer. 
VENEREAL DISEASE.
225
     Syphilis.—The constitutional effects of the venereal poison,
   are still more horrible than the primary symptoms.   The fol-
   lowing description is given by Hooper:
     ''When venereal matter gets into the  system,  some  symp-
   toms of it may often be observed in the  course of six or eight
   weeks, or probably sooner; but in  some cases, it will contin
   ue in the circulating mass of fluids for many  months  before
   any visible signs of its effects are produced.  The system be-
   ing completely contaminated, it then occasions many local ef-
   fects in different parts of the body, and shows itself under a
   variety of forms, many of which pat on the appearance of a
   distinct disease.  We may presume that this appearance de-
   pends wholly  on the  difference of  constitution, the  different
   kind of parts affected, and the different state these parts were
   in at the time the matter or poison was  applied.
     "The first symptoms usually show themselves on the skin
   and in the mouth or throat.  When on the skin, reddish and
   brownish  spots appear hers- and there  on the  surface, and
   eruptions  of a copper color are dispersed over different  parts
   of the body, on the top^fif which there soon forms a thick
t  scurf or scale.  This scurf falls off after a short time, and is
   succeeded by another, and the same happening several times,
   and at length casting off deep scabs, an ulcer is formed which
   discharges an  acrid foetid matter.  When the matter is secre-
   ted in the glands of the throat and mouth, the tongue will of-
   ten be affected so as to occasion a  thickness of  speech, and
   the tonsils, palate, and uvula will  become  ulcerated so as to
   produce a soreness and difficulty of swallowing, and  likewise
   a hoarseness in the voice.  In a venereal ulcer of the  tonsil,
   a portion  of it seems as if it was dug out; it is, moreover, ve-
   ry foul, and has a thick,  white  matter  adhering to it, which
   cannot  be washed off.   By these' characteristic marks it may,
   in general, readily be distinguished from any other species o\
   ulceration in these parts.
     "If the disease affects the eyes, obstinate  inflammation, a no
   sometimes ulceration, will also  attack  these  Organs.    The
   matter sometimes falls on deep-seated parts, such as the ten-
   dons, ligaments, and periosteum, and  occasions hard, painful
   swellings to arise, known by the name of nodes.
     "When the disease is suffered  to take its own.course, and
   not counteracted  by  ,     remedies, the patient will in- the
   course of time, be _.,;e      with  severe  pains, but more par-
   ticularly in the night time; his countenance will be sallow,
   his hair will fall off, he will loose his appetite, strength, and
   flesh;  his rest  will be much disturbed by night, and a small  «-
   fever of the hectic kind will arise-   The ulcers in the mouth  -.
               15 
226
VENEREAL DISEASE.
 and throat being likewise suffered to spread, and to occasion a
 caries of the  bones of  the  palate, an opening will be made
 from the mouth to the nose; and the cartilages and bones of
 the nose being  at length corroded, this will  sink on a  level
 with the face.  Some constitutions will bear up for a consid-
 erable time against the disease, while  others again will  soon
 sink under a general weakness  and  irritation produced by
 it.  *   *   *
   "The general appearances to be observed on dissection of
 those who die of lues, are, caries of  the bones, but more par-
 ticularly those of the cranium, often communicating ulcera-
 tion to the brain itself, together with enlargements and indu-
 rations of the lpinphatic glands, scirrhus of several of the or-
 gans, particularly the liver and lungs, and exostoses of many
 of the hardest bones."

   Cause.—It has already been stated that the venereal disease
 is produced by a specific  poison.  This is communicated by
 those affected with it, to others, by impure sexual intercourse;
 and thus in large cities where this unholy practice is exten-
 sive, the disease spreads very rapidly, as one individual may
 communicate the poison to an incredible number of others.
   The disease may also  be taken by the exposure  of any ex-
 coriated, wounded, or otherwise unprotected part of the body
 to the contact of the poison, as by kissing, laying against a
 person laboring under the disease, ecc.
   It is also supposed, and it seems  reasonable, that a child
 may by sucking at the breast, receive the poison from a nurse
 that is affected with syphilis; and on the other hand, that a
 child affected with it may communicate it to the nurse.
   It has also been stated, that the disease  has been commu-
 nicated by a wound with a lancet, or knife infected with  the
 poison.

   Treatment.—In recent cases, when the first symptoms of
 gonorrhoea appear, nothing more may be necessary than an
 active cathartic, composed of equal  parts of mandrake  and
 blue flag in powder; and at the same time washing the parts.
 and injecting them with the following compound:

     Take of Tincture of lobelia,..............................:.....2 ounces.
       •*     Tincture of myrrh,..............•........................1 ounce.
       "     Bulsim of fir,..---.......................................1  tit).

Shake well in a bottle.   This, if freely applied, will generally
soon remove the unpleasant symptoms in the  incipient stege
of the disease. 
                     VENEREAL DISEASE.                 227

  When buboes make their appearance, the parts should be
poulticed, if this be practicable, with the dregs of myrrh and
lobelia, with some fine slippery elm bark.  If this cannot be
done, a liniment made by mixing together equal  parts of the
stimulating liniment and  stramonium  ointment,  must be ap-
plied to the parts with gentle friction, three times a day. While
this is being done, the system must be  kept under the  influ-
ence of the cathartic  powder,  above recommended.
  When the tumors suppurate and break, they must be treat-
ed as is recommended for common ulcers.
  Chancres and syphilitic ulcers,  must be kept clean by wash-
ing them frequently  with a strong  solution  of carbonate of
potash.  If situated where poultices  may be applied, these
should be used:  they  may be made as follows:

     Take of Thoroughwort,.........................................."1
       "•   Narrow dock root,.................................... j
       "   Mandrake root, ...................................... )■ equal parts.
       "   Bayberry,................................................ |
       "   Slippery elm,..........................................J

Pulverize and form into a poultice by  addiig flour,  if neces-
sary.  This should be laid over the ulcer, and be renewed, or
a new one should be applied  every morning and  evening,
washing out the sore at the dressings  with a solution of pot-
ash, or an astringent  tea, as the case may require, until it is
ready to heal, when salves may be applied.
  When  the  ulcers are  very indolent, it is a good plan to
drop into them some tincture of myrrh  occasionally.   The an-
tispasmodic tincture,  and the tincture of lobelia, are  also ben-
eficially used in this way.
  When  the ulcer presents a dark  appearance,  or  exhibits
other signs of mortification, a poultice of the dregs of myrrh
should be applied, and renewed  as often as the case  may re-
quire.  The pyroligneous acid is  also  very good to  prevent;
mortification in these sores.
  Such  parts of the  treatment recommended for scrofulous
and common ulcers, as may be indicated here, should also bi-
ased.
  In cases of confirmed syphilis,  in which the  poison produ-
ces its constitutional effects, a more thorough  course of treat-
ment is required.  The vapor  and  lobelia may  be  required
once twice or three times a week, as the urgency of the case
may require.
  The system must be constantly kept under the influence of
the cathartic  powder* recommended  above.  The  doses of
  * Adding a h: If part of the blood root, will imortwc this compound lor tin* u*v. 
228                       wens.
this medicine, must be so regulated as not to operate too free
ly;  but only to produce two or three operations per day.
  The alterative syrup must be freely and perseveringly used
throughout the treatment.  There is perhaps no article that is
a better alterative than this compound;  and as articles of this
class are particularly indicated, the importance of its use will
be readily seen.
  The balsamic diuretics, are important remedies in the treat-
ment of syphilis.   Among the best of  these, for this use, are
the balsam of copaiva, and balsam of fir.   The queen of the
meadow root, will also be found very useful.
  When ulcers in the  mouth and  elsewhere make  their ap-
pearance, they must be managed, (in addition to  the general
4;varui. nt,) as nearly as possible, after the  plan recommend-
ed for ulcers arising from other causes.
  The use of  tonics is indispensable to the proper treatment
of syphilis.
                            WENS.

     Wens are roundish, loose, fleshy tumors, that grow superfi
   "dally, on various parts of the body.  They generally are sit-
   uated in the  cellular tissue, immediately under the skiri.__
   They are seldom painful, and  hardly  ever  become  trouble-
   some, tmly from the inconvenience arising from their bulk.

     Treatment.—The wen may, generally, be removed by wash-
   ing it frequently with salt water.
     The following preparation will, haftvever, act more prompt-
*  ly in its removal than the simple use of the salt water:  Take
   the yolks of eggs, any quantity, beat them up, add as much
   pitf^salt as they wi^dissolve, and wear this over the wen— %
   changing the application for a fresh one, every twelve hours.
     Wens may be conveniently and  safely taken out  with the
   i'mfe; or they may be removed by the use of caustics. 
WHITE- SWELLING.                  229
                  WHITE-SWELLING.

                       (Hydarihrus)

  White-swelling  is a very inveterate  and painful disease,
that is usually seated on some  of the joints of the body;
particularly the hip, knee, ankle, and elbow.   The  swelling
is generally very considerable, sometimes extending the  size
of the part beyond all  proportion.  The appearance of the
skin, as the  name implies, is natural or white, even when the
inflammatory symptoms are at the highest.
  The disease is usually very  painful and  distressing;* and
the pain is much increased by the motion of the joint. . As the
affection advances, the limb becomes stiff, and continues in a
crooked position.   The swelling  now becomes very hard, and
if the disease is not arrested, suppuration will take place,—
the tumor will break and discharge large quantities of mat-
ter, and not unfrequently some  pieces of bones. • Suppuration
sometimes makes  its. appealance  early in the disease; but
more usually it does not come  on for several months, and oc-
casionally not for a year or two.
   Various parts of the  joints  may  be the immediate seat of
the disease, as the  ligaments or  capsules, cartilages, tendons,
periosteum, and  even the bones.  The  ligaments sometimes
ulcerate  away so much as to  let the bones slip out of their
places, and thus expose them at  the "surface.
   It would hardly be expected that such severe and extensive
local disease, could long exist  without giving rise to more or
less constitutional derangement.  The general health gradu-
 ally becomes impaired; the appetite fails, and debility sets in.
 Considerable emaciation generally supervenes; and finally, if
the  disease  is not arrested, the  bowels become disordered,-—a
 diarrhoea sets in, and in some  severe cases, the patient  con-  *
 tinues to sink until released by death.

   Treatment.—White-swelling, in by far the  majority of ca-
 ses, is connected with a strumous  condition  of  the system;  •
 and therefore, in order to its  successful treatment; a general
 treatment, like that recommended for scrofula, mdst be adop- •
 ted.  The circulating fluids must be l^ept in a pure and heal-   „,
 thy condition; and for this purpose, gfeneral deturgents or de-
 puratives, alteratives, baths, laxatives,  cathartics, occasional
 emetics, and any other means  that are calculated to promote
   *It happens occasionally, that white-swelling progresses  with very little pah;,
 but th\s is rarely the case. 
230
WHOOPING-COUGH.
 healthy secretion, and improve the condition of the  general
 system, must be perseveringby used.

   Local treatment.—The affected part should be fomented  ev-
 ery day over a  pot  of  volatile herbs, as pennyroyal,  horse
 mint, marjorum, peppermint, &c.   Immediately after this fo-
 mentation, if the casejhas not yet suppurated, some stimula-
 ting liniment must be rubbed on the parts, freely.  Stimula-
 ting and relaxant poultices,  are also generally found of con-
 siderable advantage.  Binding on wilted, or bruised leaves of
 the  jimson, and changing it for a fresh application daily, will
 be beneficial, if the  parts are  previously well  rubbed, and
 bathed with the bathing drops.
   An application, made by  beating up  some  yolks of  eggs,
 and adding as much salt as the mass will dissolve, if constant-
 ly worn over the swelling, and renewed  by  a fresh applica-
 tion every morning and evening, will generally prove an ex-
 eellent means.
   If the swelling should not  readily yield to the above means,
 an irritating plaster must be  applied, and worn until its spe-,
 cific effects are  produced;  and after this, relaxant  poultices
 should be applied to keep up a discharge.
 When suppuration has taken place, and the sore does not rea-
 dily heal, but inclines to an ulcerous condition, a pretty strong
 solution of the carbonate of potash should be injected with a
 small syringe, designed for the purpose.  The sores must also
 be washed out, at least once  a day, with a strong astringent
 tea, by means of a sponge or syringe; and after this, some
 tincture of myrrh may be thrown into it, or instead of it, some
 pyroligneous acid.
  The sore must then be poulticed with  slippery elm, thor-
oughwort, lobelia, or astringent tonic, as the case mav require,
until it is ready to heal, when the salves should be used.
              WHOOPING  COUGH.

                    (Pertussis )

he whooping cough, is a very  distressing  disease, chiefly
med to children, and occurring but once in the same indi-
tal.   It seems to be propagated by a specific contagion.
he proximate cause of this affection appears  to consist oi 
WORMS.
231
a collection of viscid phlegm that accumulates in the bronchia,
trachea, and fauces, and which adheres so firmly as to be ex-
pectorated with great difficulty.   As soon as this phlegm be-
comes collected so as to excite irritation, a fit of coughing will
ensue, which will seldom cease until the  phlegm  is removed
either by the  coughing or by vomiting.  The patient will then
have relief until the irritation is again produced by anew col-
lection of the phlegm.   These paroxysms of coughing, which
may occur four or five times a day or oftener, are sometimes
extremely  severe.   The  patient not unfrequently becomes
strangled and turns black in the face; and, in some instances,
he may  fall  to  the ground  in a  manner  senseless.   The
coughing is attended with a peculiar kind whooping, whence
the name of the affection.    The disease, when left to run its
course, will generally continue from six weeks to several months
or longer.

   Treatment.—Lobelia seems to be a specific for this disease.
   It should be used in expectorant or slightly nauseating do-
ses, once in two or three hours.  It may be given in substance,
infusion, or in tincture.  Sweetening seems to add to its bene-
ficial  effects.   The oxymel of lobelia, is the best preparation of
the article for this disease, as it is about as prompt in its effects
as any other, and what is more, it is very pleasant and con-
venient to take.
   The swamp cabbage, flaxseed tea, and many other articles,
will be found useful, but will not be required when the lobelia
is at hand.
                        WORMS.

                        (Entozoa)

  The following very excellent treatise on worms is copied
from the American Edition of Marshall Hall's practice:
  The cavities and passages of the living body afford a hab-
itation to many species of parasitic animals, not only in man,
but in the lower orders of the animal  creation.   No  quadru-
ped, bird, fish, reptile, or insect, is known to be exempt  from
them, and in those which have been most observed, a consid-
erable variety of species has been brought  to light.   It is the
object of the present chapter, to give a short notice of those 
232
WORMS.
  which inhabit the human body, And which, in certain  cases,
  are instrumental in the production of morbid affections.
    The entozoa, says Cuvier, can only propagate themselves
  m the interior of the bodies of other animals.  There is hard-
  ly any animal which does not give support to several kinds of
  them, and frequently the same  species of them does not  in-
  habit more kinds of animal than  onc\   They  are not only
  found in the  intestinal tube, and  the  ducts communicating
  with it, but also  in the cellular tissue, and in the  substance of
  the most recondite viscera, such as the brain and liver.
   The difficulty of conceiving how they arrive in these  situa-
  tions, together with the observations that they are never met
 out of the living body, has caused some naturalists to believe
 in their spontaneous generation.  But it is now  sufficiently
 settled, not only that the greater part of them produce  either
 ova or living young, but that they have distinct sexes, which
 copulate like other animals.  We are therefore  obliged, says
 Cuvier, to believe that they are propagated by germs  suffi-
 ciently minute to enter the smallest passages, and that ani-
 mals sometimes contain these germs at the time of birth.     ■)
   Two orders of these parasitic animals are given by Cuvier,
 under the head of his Intestinaux.   These are—
   1. Cavitary animals, which have an intestinal canal  float-
 ing in a distinct abdominal cavity, and furnished with a mouth
 and an  anus.  This order  includes the  various cylindrical
 worms, well known to medical men.
   2. Parenchymatous animals, which have  vicera  imperfectly
 terminated, often resembling mere vascular ramifications, and
 in some cases hardly discoverable.  To this order belong the
 flat, worms, the vesicular entozoa, &c.
   Those who are curious in regard to the comparative anato-
 my and systematic arrangement  of these  animals, may find
 abundant information in the works of Hudolphi, Biemser and
 others.   For the present purpose, it is thought best.to confine
 ourselves chiefly to the common language and objects of the
 medical profession.                                         i
  For practical use, we may  consider the eutozoa,under three
general divisions:  1. The Cylindrical.  *>.  The Flat.  3.  The
vesicular, or hydatis.
                \. CYLINDRICAL ENTOZOA.

  These have cylindrical bodies tapering atone or both ends.
borne of these reside in passages, and exercisefthe powers of 
                         worms.                      233

locomotion; others spend their  lives closely coiled up in cir-
cumscribed cavities.
                         1.  LUMBRICUS.

    The first species of intestinal parasite is  the  long, round
  worm, commonly though improperly, called lumbricus by med-
  ical writers.  This is the escaris lumbricoides of Linnaeus.  The
  genus Ascaris has a cylindrical body,  tapering at both ends,
  and a triangular mouth surrounded with three small  promi-
  nences, or tubercles. #"The  species in question is, when  full
  grown, a foot or more in length, and is found not only in man
  but in various quadrupeds.  It is supposed to feed upon chyme,
  and inhabits the small intestines, from whence it creeps  up-
  wards to the stomach, and in rare instances in the fauces.  It
  is sometimes solitary, and sometimes exists in great numbers.
  The symptoms indicating  il£ presence are equivocal; but are
'*■ commonly considered to  he,  starting in the  sleep, itching of
  the nose, irregular or excessive appetite, emaciation, &c.—
  Nevertheless these worms are often suspected of being pres-
  ent, when they do not exist,  and  often exist in healthy  per-
  sons,  without doing any harm.  They are expelled in acute
  diseases, of which they are not the cause.  The best reme-
  dies arc active cathartics.   *  *  *
    The  subjoined figure represents a lumbricus of  middling
  size.
Ascaris  Lumbricoides. 
231
WORMS.
            »             2.  ASCARIDES.

    The next species is the maw worm, or pin worm, which is of
  small size, and exists in great numbers.  It is usually denom-
  inated, in medical books, by the plural  epithet ascarides.   It
  is the ascaris vermicularis, of Linnaeus and Rudolphi.  Brem-
  ser thought the three tubercles which characterize the  genus
  oscaris, were wanting in this species, while he found  the  cir-
  cular mouth which belongs to oxyuris.  He therefore changed
  the name to oxyuris vermicularis.  But it has since been  ob-
  served by  Dr. Bellingham, in the  Dublin Journal, that  the
  three tubercles are  always "\ isible in the recent state, also
  when the animal is preserved in water, but that when put in-
  to alcohol, the tubercles are obliterated, whence he thinks the
  mistake of Bremser arose.
    The  natural history of the small ascarides is curious and
  not   well understood.  Many individuals  are infected with
  them in childhood, but get  rid  of them as they advance in
  years.   Some, however, are troubled with them  during  the
  whole of a long  life, though they are represented as less  an-
  noying after middle age, thari*before.   They  most commonly
  appear periodically, both in children  and  adults, after  inter-
  vals  of from three to six weeks.  During  the intervals they
  are neither felt, nor seen in the  discharges.  Their periodical
  return is announced by a sense of itching and burning at the
  extremity of the rectum, felt principally in the evening, some-
  times producing  tumefaction, and eruption in the neighboring
  skin.  This irritation continues to recur every evening for per-
  haps a week, or  more, and then ceases.  During this time the
  worms are discharged alive and active in  every. alvine evac-
  uation.  Cathartics  and enemata bring away vast numbers of
  them, but without diminishing the  annoyance occasioned by
  those which remain behind.  At length they spontaneously
  cease to appear, the irritation  subsides, cathartics no longer
  bring them to light, and the inexperienced  practitioner flatters
  himself that the  evil is remedied.  Nevertheless,  after a few
  weeks, they  again return in undiminished  numbers, attended
  by the same phenomena as before.   Whether  the new race
  are cotemporaries of the old,  or descendants  from them, it is
  not easy to tell.
    It  is commonly believed tkat the principal residence of as-
  carides is in the rectum, because they are  most felt  there.—
V-They have been  found, however, in every  part of the alimen-
  tary  tube.  Many patients, immediately  after a cessation of 
worms.                      235
the annoyance in the rectum, are visited by pain in the epi-
gastrium, attended with costiveness and clay-colored dischar-
ges.  This state continues for two or three days,  and is then
followed, by a bilious diarrhoea.   We have repeatedly known
these consecutive events to  occur with great regularity for
half a dozen years, so much so, that our inquiries are gener-
ally directed towards this cause, when children  have  com-
plained of  epigastric pains at regular periods.  Whether, in
these cases, the worms ascend to the duodenum and mouth of
the biliary  duct, or whether the  whole is an affair of sympa-
thy, is difficult to determine.
  The nidus [nest] of these animals, and perhaps  the food al-
so appears to be the^nucus which lines the alimentary canal.
Buried in this substance they resist the effect of the  most vio-
lent cathartics and  vermifuges, oil of turpentine  and croton
not excepted.   If it be permitted to derive an hypothesis from
the phenomena which they exhibit, it would be, that during
a greater part of the time, they remain quietly imbedded in
this mucus, deriving from it their habitation and nourishment.
being at the same time secured from the effects of the  peris-
talic motion; but that at certain periods, perhaps at their gen-
erating seasons, they issue forth from this covert,  and mingle
themselves in the contents of the alimentary canal;  in conse-
quence of which, they are liable to be expelled with the com-
mon mass.
  We have known ascarides to be eradicated by a severe dys-
entery.   In some cases they  have been totally removed by
large  injections of oil, particularly of lamp oil.  But more fre-
quently they resist these and most other  remedies for a  series
of years.   A temporary  palliative may always be  found in
small injections  of weak salt water, or even of an ounce  or
two of cold water.
  The next figure exhibits ascarides  of the natural size, to-
gether with one specimen highly magnified:
Ascaris  Vermicularis. 
 236          S            WORMS.



                     3. TRICHOCEPHALUS.

   The third specimen of worm  inhabiting the human  intes-
 tine, is the trkhocephalus dispar.  This worm is about two inch-
 es long, of which length about two thirds consists of an  atr
 tenuated, thread-like filament, while the remaining third is
 many times larger.  Originally  the thread-like portion was
 thought to be the tail, and the animal was named Trichuris.
 But it is since found that the attenuated portion is the  head,
 and contains  the mouth of  the animal, so that the name is
 now changed to Trichocephalus.  The l^ge extremity of the
 male is usually coiled up, and has the genital organ project-
 ing from the end.  That of the female is more straight, and
 terminates with a simple aperture.
  It is  remarkable that  this  species  of worm is  among the
 most common in some parts of  Europe, while, in this coun-
 try it seems to  be exceedingly rare.   Cuvier speaks of it as
 one of the^most common worms of the large * intestines, and
 Mr. Joy, in the Cyclopedia of Practical  Medicine, says, it is
 discoverable in the bodies of almost all individuals.   But on
 this side of the Atlantic, some of our  oldest physicians  have
never met with it in practice.
Trichocephalus  Dispar.
%trt    ■____________________________________________________;______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
*<*  *FisM represents the trichocephalus highly magnified, the head being at a.
■*■   Fig. 2.is the male, and fig. 3 the female, of natural size. 
worms            *         237
                      4. STRONGYLUS

  The strongylus gigas is one  of the' largest species of ento-
zoa, and is found inhabiting the kidneys of man and of vari-
ous^quadrupeds.   It is usually of a blood-red  color,  and is
sometimes even two or three feet in length.  Its form is cylin-
drical and tapering, ending posteriorly in a trumpet shaped
extremity from which in the male, a spicular body, supposed
to be  the. organ of generation, proceeds.  In thigfsp^cies the
head is  obtuse, and the  mouth surrounded  with s$I"ridges  or
papillae.  These apmals are found of various sizes, and are
said to be never met with except when the structure  of ,the
kidney is in some measure destroyed or broken down.  Wheth-
er their  presence is a cause or consequence of disease, it not
sufficiently known.
  Many cases are on record of worms of this description, found
in the kidney, in postmortem  examinations, and of others dis-
charged from ih urethra during life.   They have generally
occasioned much irritation  and distress in the urinary passa-
ges.   Mr. Lawrence, in the Medico CJururgical  transactions,
mentions the case of a woman, who in the course  of a few
months, voided by the urethra no less than a thousand worms
These were supposed, by Brcmser, to be young- strongyli
In some ,other cases, the animals discharged have appeared
to belong to  different species.  The  following figure repre-
sents  the entire strongylus:
Strongylus Gigas.>  t 
238                     worms.
                        5. FILARIA.

  The Filaria Mcdincnsis, or Guinea worm, is a very trouble-
some inhabitant of hot climates, being found under the skin,
and  in the cellular and muscular substance of men and ani-
mals.  The Filaria  has a smooth, round, filiform body, and
an orbicular mouth.  The present species is distinguished by
its great length, which is sometimes three or four feet, and by
the ternfll&ation of the tail, which is pointed and curved.  Its
size is about that of  a pigeon's quill or smaller.
                      Filaria mcdincnsis.

  ■ These worms appear to be formed within the substance of the
  body, and are discovered wdien they  approach the surface bv
  an itching at the spot, followed by the formation  of a vesicle*
  or pustule,  where the  worm is about to>issue.  They have
  sometimes r.maincd for years in the ftesli without material in-
  convenience, while at other times thfey occasion  severe pain
  and inflammation.  When  they  appear at the surface, they
  are capable of being  wholly extracted.'  Great care is neces-
  sary to avoid breaking them, since a dead"portion left behind
  is found to occasion inflammation and abscesses   It is there-
  tore customary to use th- most gentle force,.extracting a small
/portion at a time, and winding it on a stick.  This operation
  is repeated about twice a day until the whole worm is mutu-
  ally extracted.                                      to
   Another species called FUaria bronchialis, has been found in
  the lungs  when in a  state  of disease.  It is sometimes met
 with in great numbers in the lungs  of inferior animals, but
 only one  instance is known of its discovery in those of man.
 It was found by 1 rentier in the enlarged  bronchial glands of 
WORMS.                      230
a phthisical patient.   It is called Hamularia subcomprssa, by
Rudolphi and others.
6.  TRICHINA.
  The Trichina spiralis is a minute worm lately discovered by
Mr. Owen, existing in  great  numbers in the muscular sub-
stance of the human body.  They are found in minute  cysts
of an ovoid or oblong  figure, resembling nits of pediculi  in-
terspersed among the muscular fibres.  When these cysts are
examined with a microscope,  they are found to contain one,
or sometimes two of these worms, coiled up in a spiral form.
According to Dr. Hodgkin, they are wholly confined to the
muscles pf Voluntary motion,  and to the tendons connected
with them.  He found them in one case, in every muscle of
the body which he examined,  even to the  lumbricales of the
loot.  He then looked for them in the oesophagus without dis:
covering the least trace  of them.   They ceased  abruptly at
the lowest  contractor of the  larynx.. They have  not  been
found in the heart;'nor iruany other involuntary muscle.  No
symptoms have been observed as pathognomonic of their pres-^
once.  They have been found in some cachectic subjects, and''
in others who died suddenly in apparent health.   *   *  *
•  . * 
240
WORMS.
//.  FLAT ENTOZOA
7. TAENIA.
   The  Tcenia solium or common  Tape worm,  is one of the
most troublesome and formidable inmates of the  alimentary
canal.  The genus to which it belongs is characterized by an
elongated, flat-body, composed of numerous joints, and hav-
ing f<|Jj|j^fickers on the head.   In the present species the head
is vmewhi*; hemispherical and flatened latterally having an
obtuse prominence in front.  The joints  are oblong and near-
ly square, and have been  compared in shape, to the seeds of
the gourd.   They are generally longer  than they are broad,
though the animal sometimes contracts them into the opposite
form.   The anterior portion  of the animal is much smaller
than the rest of the body, and the joints appear to be made up
of amorphous cellular texture, without any abdominal cavity,
and with but indistinct traces of internal organs.  Ee.eu joint
is somewhat rounded at its anterior extremity, and is received
into the posterior extremity of the preceding joint which is •?
larger and fringed.''
&ti
                       Taenia solium.                       '*

   The head which has been differently represented by writers,
 appears to be a-minute tubercle, terminating in a very sic ri-
 der neck.  It has, on its anterior part a circular  aperture or
.depression, surrounded by a star of sharp, curved processes or
 hooks...  These processes, however, are not constantly found,
 and arethought by some to disappear with age'.  On the four  ■
  *Fig. l shows the head and upper joints ~rf the body, of naturalize. FiTf
 is a uumbar of joints  of the body of a natural size. 
WORMS.
241
sides of the head are situated four apertures or suckers, which
seem to be mouths, as from each of them proceeds a vessel, run-
ning along the whole length of the animal near the margins
of the joints, and communicating with the rest  by transverse
passages in every joint.  Lateral orifices are found, generally
on alternate margins of the joints.
  The  tape worm  is capable of subsisting in the intestine for
an indefinite number of years, continually casting off joints,
which  appear in the stools.  Whether these joints are re-pro-
duced, and if so, in what manner, is a subject of hypothesis,
upon which different opinions are entertained.  Several tape
worms have been known to exist in the same individual.
  The symptoms indicating the presence of taenia are slight,
so as not to attract notice, until the joints are observed in the
discharges, or are found in the clothes or bed, having crawled
away from the  rectum.  But generally, if the worm has at-
tained considerable size, there is more or less pain,  sense of
weight, and uneasiness in the abdomen, voracious, appetite,
nausea, itching of the anus and nose and sometimes atro-
phy.   *   *   *
                    8. BOTHRIOCEPHALUS.

  The Bothriocephalic latus, or broad tape worm, was formerly
considered a species of taenia.   It however differs in the form
of its head, which is marked with furrows instead of orifices.
The joints are also very broad in proportion to their length,
and have orifices on their broad surfaces, instead of the edges.
This worm is common in Switzerland and Russia.  Its joints
separate with much more difficulty than  those of the taenia,
and it is more obstinate under the employment of remedies.
16 
243                       woxMi.
Bothrioccphalus latus.
                            9. DISTOMA.

      This animal is rare in the human species, and has hitherto
    been met with chiefly in the gallbladder, though in some quad-
    rupeds, particularly the sheep, it is often found in the liver in
    considerable numbers.   The  Distoma hepaticum is called Fas-
    ciola hepatica by the older naturalists.  It is a soft roundish
    flat animal, with two large roundish openings on the under
    side of the body.   WThen full grown, it is about  the size of a
    melon seed in man, but in quadrupeds it is often found some-
    times an inch long by half an inch wide.  Their general out-
    line is oblong, with  conical extremities, but the shape varies
    with the contractions of tlie animal.  The color is yellowish,
    or light brown.  It is known  to butcher by the name of fluke
    or fluke worm..


                    III. VESICULAR ENTOZOA.

      From a remote period anatomists have discovered in vari-
    ous parts of the bod)', both in man and in other animals, cer-
    tain organized cavities of preternatural formations, resem-
    bling cysts or bladders, and varying greatly  from each  other,
    both in  size and figure.   They are known among physicians
    by the name  of hydatids.   These were at first considered as
    morbid  changes in the animal  texture  in  which  they were
    found residing, but  later observers have discovered in them
m    * Fijr. I, is the head nnd upper joints of natural size. Fig. 2, the head inagcri-
l$*   tied,  l'iyf. 3, joints of th.o body of natural size. 
WORMB.
243
certain properties, which lead to the belief that they have a
separate vitality, or in other words, are distinct animals. This
opinion is derived chiefly from the contractile powers which
they exhibit when stimulated.  Some of them have been no-
ticed, when cut with a knife, to eject their contents with some
force; others retract or invert their cut edges, and some have
been observed to turn themselves nearly inside out.  Various
genera and species have been described, some of which are
regularly organized, others are very imperfect, minute or va-
riable, and, therefore, difficult of satisfactory description.
                     10. CYSTICERCUS.

  This genus has a complete organization, having a head fur-
nished with four suckers, and a neck  terminating in caudal
vesicle.  The species best known is the  cystieercus  cellulosus,
which is said to have been found in man, but is very common
in hogs, where  they exist in  great numbers, giving rise to the
disease called in England leprosy, and in the  United States,
measles. This species is from  two to ten lines in lengt\ and has
an ovoid or pear-shaped bladder, and a head, which,  under the
microscope, exhibits  thirty-two hooks, arranged in a double
circular row.  Several other species have been described.—
They usually reside in free cavities in the cellular texture, and
have been found even in the brain and eyes.
                     11. ACEPHALOCYST.

  The mpst common species of hydatid is the acephalocystis, an
animal, which,  as  its name indicates, consists of a bladder
without a head.  The shape of this hydatid is uniformly rounds
or oval, and it varies from the smallest perceptible size to the.
circumference of several inches.  The coats are translucent
and composed of- a white, semi-opaque, pulpy, matter, separ-
able into two layers.  It contains a thin, watery  fluid, whifeh
is commonly transparent, or slightly yellowish.  Many of these
Hydatids are included in a common  cavity or cyst, to which
they have no adherence, nor any to- each other.  The fluid in
which they are enveloped  is variously turbid and opaque,
while that contained in  the cysts themselves, is perfectly clear,
a circumstance which has been considered  as indicating an
assimilative function residing  in the tunics.  Some of them 
244                     worms.
 have a number of minute vesicles adhering to their inner sur-
 face, resembling small pearls in  appearance, and thought by
 Hunter and others to be young hydatids.
   Acephalocysts have been found in almost  every structure
 and cavity of the human body, they have  been vomited from
 the stomach, discharged  from the intestines, voided in the
 urine, coughed up from the lungs, and discharged from tumors
 in various parts of the body.
   The presence of hydatids is accompanied with various mor-
 bid affections, especially tumor, in the part  where they re-
 side.  Little is known of their therapeutic management, ex-
 cept in those cases which admit  of their  destruction by  sur-
 gical means.
   A number of other entozoa have been described or cited by
 those who have written works on the  subject, among which
 are  species of spiroptera,  cchin  ococcus, polystoma, fyc.   But
 most of these are either of doubtful authority, or too  imper-
 fect in their organization to afford interesting objects of ex-
 amination.   They are, therefore,  omitted here, together  with
 the numerous insulated cases in which terrestrial insects and
 particularly  larva of insects have accidentally  introduced
 themselves into the cavities  of the  body, and given rise to
 phenomena of disease.

   Treatment.—The agents used to expel worms may properly
 be  said to consist of three kinds; 1, those  that  destroy the
 worms; 2, those that remove them by mere mechanical means;
 and 3, those that have a tendency so  to  tone up and fortify
 the system against them as will result, ultimately, in their ex-
 pulsion.
  The only intestinal worms  of any importance, are the long
 round worm (ascaris lumbricus;) the pin worm (ascaris vermi-
 cularis;) the thread  worm (trichocephalis dispar;) and the two
 **Heties of tape worm (tcenia)  These may,  generally, all be
 removed by the  same means.  Nevertheless, it appears that
 some of our anthelmintics are the best in the removal of one
 variety, while others in another.
  The pink root seems to be  one of the  best articles to re-
 move the lumbricoides, or  long round worm.  It is best taken
 in infusion.   Half an ounce may be boiled for two hours in a
•covered vessel; and then, after useing gentle physic and spare
 diet for a day or two, the infusion should  be taken, in doses
 of a tablespoonful to  the cnild, and a teacupful to the adult,
 three or four times a day,  for  three days, when it must be fol-
 lowed with an active cathartic of senna, aloes, mandrake or
 rheubarb, to carry  off the  worms. 
WORMS.
245
  If the use of the pink root should not  prove successful, the
"wormseed oil may be used in doses of from five to ten drops
to a child, and from fifteen to twenty to an adult.   The med-
icine should be given two or three times a day for some three
days, and then be followed with a brisk cathartic.  It is a very
common practice to mix the wormseed oil with some castor
oil, thus making a vermifuge that is considerably  popular.—
A formula for the  preparation of this vermifuge  is given
among the  compounds.
  The male fern is also an excellent article for the removal
of this variety of worms; it is  given in powder or ethereal
extract.  The dose of the powder is from one to three drachms.
to be given in the form of electuary or emulsion, and repeat-
ed morning and evening for one or two  days, successively.—
The medicine should be followed with a brisk cathartic  of
castor oil or senna.
  When it is desired to destroy the animals, the cowhage will
be found an excellent article.   The common  way of prepar-
ing it is to  dip the pods into some syrup or molasses, and then
scrape off the spiculae or hairs with the liquid,  which, is in a
proper state for  administration,whenit has attained the thick-
ness of honey.  The  dose of this mixture is a  tablespoonful
for an adult, a teaspoonful for a child three  years old, to be
given every morning for three days, and then followed by  a
brisk cathartic.
   The pin  worm (ascaris vermicularis) is much harder to expel
than the long round worm.  This variety chiefly occupies the
rectum or lower part  of the large intestine, and is hence not
much affected by the anthelmintics used in the common way.
It is best, therefore, not only to .use the medicine per stomach,
as ordered for the other varieties of worms, but to administer
the same articles freely by injection.  Aloes seems to answer
best as a cathartic,  after the proper anthelmintics are used, as
it inclines to act more powerfully on the lower portion of the
intestines.   The dose of this  medicine  for the expulsion of
worms, is from ten  to twenty grains.  It is, perhaps, the best
plan to give ten grains morning and evening until the desired
effect is produced,—at the same time giving it by injection.
   Equal parts of lime-water and milk, given by injection two
or three  times a day, will sometimes remove the pin worms in
large quantities. Spirits of turpentine  with milk, in the pro-
portion of a teaspoonful of the  former  to a gill of the latter,
administered in the same way two or three times a day, will
also be found a  good  remedy.
   The annoyance^jrom  this variety of worms is very apt to
be renewed, even in cases in which complete relief had been 
346
WORMS.
 obtained.  Whether the worms renewing the difficulty were
 cotemporaries with those removed, or whether they are a new
 generation, it is difficult to tell.
   Perseverance in the treatment alone will afford  any thing
 like permanent relief from the annoyance of these worms.
   For the expulsion of the tape worm, the bark of the root
 of the pomegranate is, perhaps, the best  article that we pos-
 sess.  The best way to prepare the medicine, is to boil two
 ounces of the fine bark in two quarts of water, straining, and
 then boiling it down to one quart.   Of this the dose is a wine-
 glassful once in two hours  until all is taken, when it should
 be followed up with a brisk cathartic.
   The male fern is a remedy  of great  antiquity, Dioscorides,
 Theophrastus, Galen and Pliny, speak of it.   There is no an-
 thelmintic that has had greater popularity than this.  In 1775
 the King of France  purchased of Madame  Nouffer, a Swiss
 lady, the knowledge of a secret cure of the tape worm, that
 had gained great popularity.   This remedy, which was pub-
 lished by order of the  king, consisted of  nothing more  than
 the root of the male fern.  The manner of  its use was one
 large dose of the powdered root, (from  one to three drachms,)
 to be followed in two  hours with a  brisk cathartic.   If this
 process did not prove successful, it was to be repeated with
 proper intervals till the worm came away.
   The medicine is, however, more commonly used in  smaller
 doses for several days,  and then followed by the cathartics.
   All the other varieties of intestinal worms may be success-
 fully expelled by the means here recommended for those just
 treated.
   Those entozoa that occur in the parenchymatous, muscular
 and cuticular tissues, are of extremely rare occurrence, but
 when they do occur, they are removed with difficulty.
   In the treatment of  these cases, a strict attention to regi-
 men is necessary.  Cleanliness, above all other  things, must
 be scrupulously observed; the diet, exercise, and other habits
 must be so changed and regulated as will favor a condition of
 the system oposite that under which  the parasites were pro-
 duced.  A syrup, made of meadow  fern,  narrow dock, bur-
 dock, and black pepper, should be prepared and used persever-
 ingly.  The body may be exposed to sulphurous vapor.  The
 pomegranate bark should be taken two or three times a week,
 and an occasional dose of turpentine may be taken.   Togeth-
 er with these means, a good constitutional or general treat-
ment must also be instituted  and persevered in.  The diges-
tion must be well sustained, and the secretions must be kept
pure and regular. 
                          WOUND!.                     247

  The medicines that are commonly used to Invigorate and
tone up the system, and thus to dispose, protect and fortify it
against the invasion and generation of  worms  or parasitic
animals, are those of the bitter tonic class.  Among the best
articles are poplar bark, wormwood, the twigs of the peach,
white walnut bark, &c; but all the bitter tonics are service-
able.
                       WOUNDS.

                        ( Vulnum)

  A wound is the solution of continuity in the soft parts  of
the body.  They present many  different appearances, as re-
gards their  situation; the parts implicated; their direction;
size; shape;  the nature of the instrument or agent by which
they are produced; their more or less simple or complex char-
acter, duration, &c.
  The wound is called incised when made by a cutting instru-
ment; when  by, a  pointed  instrument punctured; when the
parts are torn or broken down by the wounding body, the in-
jury is called laceration;  when, in addition to the wound, there
is some venomous or poisonous substance  introduced, as  by
the bite of a serpent, the injury is called a poisoned  wound;
when the injury is inflicted by an obtuse or blunt body, it is cal-
led a contusion; and when caused by a bullet or other body pro-
jected from  fire arms, it receives the name of gunshot wounds.^
   Wounds also differ with regard to their liability to bleedr
Incised wounds generally bleed very considerably, especially
when  large  vessels are divided.   Lacerated and contused
wounds are less apt to bleed profusely; and punctured wounds
sometimes do not bleed at all.

   Treatment.—-In the  proper management of wounds, four
important indications are to be fulfilled: these are—1, to stop
the haemorrhage or bleeding; 2, to cleanse the wound of such
foreign substances  as may have been obtruded into the part
and left behind; 3, reduce or close up the wound, and so ad-
just the parts as will most favor  the  rapidity of the healing
process, and the smallness of the cicatrix; and 4, to secure
rest to the parts until they are healed.
   When the situation  and character of the wound, will admit 
248
WOUNDS.
 of the means of compression, the bleeding may in this way
 most generally be stoped.  But if this fails, the  most active
 styptics must be applied.
   It happens, sometimes, when large arteries are divided, that
 the haemorrhage cannot in any way  be arrested short  of a
 ligature.   In those cases the artery must be immediately ta-
 ken up and tied.
   As haemorrhage from wounds has been treated under a sep-
 arate head, it is unnecessary here to add  any thing further;
 see accidental bleeding.
   When the bleeding is arrested, the wound must be well ex-
 amined by means  of a probe, unless it is known from the
 cause or instrument by which the wound  was inflicted, that
 no foreign substance can remain.  But  unless it is necessary
 to disturb the wound to remove extraneous  bodies or to sew ft
 up, or in any other way to reduce the orifice,  the coagula
 or clots of blood and albumen should be carefully  left  to re-
 main.
   The wound being  cleansed  from foreign substances, the
 next thing to be done is to bring its margins together as near
 as possible to their original position.   This may sometimes be
 done by bandages, or by means of adhesive straps.  But if
 this is impracticable, a few stitches may be  taken through the
 margins of the wound and  the latter in this way brought to-
 gether so as to favor the restorative process as much as possi-
 ble. A few poultices of slippery elm  may now only be ne-
 cessary and then the wound healed up as fast as  possible, by
 the use Of proper healing salves and rest.
  Should there be much inflammation  and pain  during the
treatment,frelaxant"and emmollient poultices and washes will
be required.  Should ulceration set in, the sore must be treat-
ed as recommended for ulcers. 
PART  SECOND.
MATERIA  MEDICA.
  Materia medica literally  means matter of medicine; but by
this term is generally understood a full treatise on the mate-
rials that constitute that catalogue of agents, both natural and
artificial, that are commonly used as medicines or remedial
means.
  There is certainly no point in medicine on which physicians
are more divided than  they are on the extent or true limits of
the materia  medica.  While some contend that the  Vegetable
Kingdom is its only province; others, with the  same confidence,
declare  that it embraces the Mineral,  Vegetable, and Animal
Kingdoms.   There is still another and more important distinc-
tion, on which the two great classes of the medical profession
have taken opposite positions.  The Allopathic or  fashiona-
ble schools and practitioners of medicine, still embrace Poisons
and Medicines indiscriminately in their  catalogue, while the
Reformed schools and practitioners scrupulously reject all
such agents as are known to be intrinsically poisonous, select-
ing such only as are known to be perfectly safe in their oper-
ation or effects.
  It is objected on the  part of those unfriendly to the selected
materia medica, that all medicines are more  or less poisonous,
and that the virtues and usefulness of many important artic-
les depend entirely upon the poison they  contain.  It is also
argued  that even the  most simple  and common articles of 
250
MATERIA MEDICA.
 food, become poisonous when improperly used.  But the fact*
 in these premises are entirely  overlooked.  A  poison is an*.
 agent whose legitimate action in the  animal body has a ten-
 dency to destroy life.  No article therefore whose specific ten-
 dency in the Organism is to sustain and promote life or vitality,
 can rationally be said to be poisonous.   The mischief does
 not arise from the effects of any intrinsic power or properly
 of these articles, but is the legitimate result of the circumstan-
 ces attending their use.   Thus when an  excessive quantity of
 wholesome food is taken it will do mischief, but this does not
 argue that the food was poisonous, it being clear that the mis-
 chief was not in the quality, but in  the quantity of the food
 taken.
  An article that is intrinsically poisonous, is  mischievous at
 any dose, although the extent of this is generally in propor-
 tion to the quantity of the article  taken.  By thisr therefore,
 the poisonous agents are clearly distinguished.
  The doctrine, then, that medicines, in  order to insure their
 prompt  and beneficial effects, must necessarily be poisonous,
 is unfounded and  false.
  The fact that the materia medica of the Reformed practice
 is almost exclusively drawn from  the Vegetable Kingdom is
 not the  least circumstance in its favor, as it is known that ma-
 terials in a state of vital organization are infinitely more com-
 patible  with the  physiological laws,  than crude inorganic min-
 erals are found to be.
  In the use of highly organized medical agents, we have not
 only the advantage  of their remarkable potency, but  their
 value is much enhanced by the singular promptness attending
 their action. It is, therefore, not a little  amusing  to hear
those unfriendly to the reformed practice, when unable to an-
 swer the arguments in its favor, say that "botanic medicine will
do very well in common cases, but  in those  more difficxdt,  strong
 medicine will be required."

  In the following short treatise on materia  medica, the sever-
 al  articles are classed off according to  their most prominent
therapeutic  effects, thus affording facilities to  the practitioner
 that are not to be found in the old alphabetical arrangement.
 The practitioner need only turn to the class of the agents re-
 quired, when he is at once presented, not only with  a list of
 the most prominent agents of the kind, but he will know their
comparative value by the order in which they appear in the
chapter. 
CHAPTER I.
Medicines affecting, most prominently, the alimentary canal and
                        its contents.

                      I. EMETICS.

  Emetics  are substances whose specific action is  on the
stomach, and which are capable of exciting this organ so as
to produce vomiting by means independent of a mere disten-
tion, or of  any nauseous taste or  smell; but which, by  their
peculiar irritating effect on the nervous coat of the stomach,
uniformly,  either independently^ or by consent of the muscles
of the diaphragm and abdomen, bring about alternate  con-
tractions and relaxations of the muscles of this organ, so as
to eject its  contents.
  About the propriety of the  use of emetics, there is now but
little dispute.  Although there are still some who contend that
emesis is not a natural indication in  the  cure of disease.—
They seem not to recognize irritability as an element neces-
sary to the physiological condition, and hence regard all sub-
stances irritating the nerves as injurious.   Experience, how-
ever, proves the  absurdity of this doctrine, and  abundently
establishes the utility of emetics in the cure of disease.
  The importance of keeping the stomach  clean, and  in  a
healthy condition, will appear when we consider  that this  is
the ultimate source of all the humors  and secretions of the
entire body, and that when, therefore, the contents of this or-
gan are vitiated, all the humors will be corrupft&u in a corres-
ponding degree; nor does this view embrace all that is. im-
portant in  the premises;  for  the operation of  emetics is gen-
erally attended with an increased activity  of the  absorbents.
The relaxation common to the operation of an emetic is also,
in many cases, of great service, especially in such as spasms,
asthma,  cynancha  and rheumatism.   Emesis  is likewise  a
greatj promoter of  expectoration, and still more of  perspi-
ration. 
252
EMETICS.
     The shock or agitation given to the entire system in the act
   of vomiting, is, in  some  instances, of great  benefit.   Drop-
   sies, consumption, liver complaints, and many  other  violent
   diseases, are often known to yield to it.  By the same means
   emetics  also exert a beneficial influence over  the nervous sys-
   tem: and to the several conditions brought about by their use,
   fevers are known to yield more readily than to  the operation
   of any other medicine.
     The stomach being,  as it  were, the centre  of sympathy,
   much depends on its condition in view of this  relation;  and
   here it is worthy of remark that physicians have not general-
   ly been  sufficiently particular in their diagnostic  and patho-
   logical researches.
     Finally, the  evacuations produced by emetics,  are by no
   means confined to the stomach; the compression produced by
   the contraction of the muscles of the diaphragm  and abdo-
   men causes a free discharge from the liver, when  this organ
   is obstructed by thick  and vitiated  bile.   This  is brought up
   by an inversive action of the duodenum; and, as already hin-
   ted, the  capilliary and bronchial vessels, are  generally much
   relieved by the use of these agents.
     In the use of articles of this class, attention should be paid
   to the following particulars.
     1st. Unless circumstances require the immediate evacuation
   of the stomach, emetics should be administered in broken dos-
   es, repeated at short or suitable intervals, until the desired ef-
   fect is produced; as the  susceptibility of the  stomach to the
   impressions of these medicines, varies much in  different indi-
   viduals, and in the same  individuals at different times.  By
   these means, therefore, any individual may receive his proper
   .dose, as he will generally vomit  when he has received what
   is sufficient for him.
     2nd. As the contents of the stomach in  diseased habits of
   this organ, are often in different chemical states, it sometimes
   becomes necessary to  correct certain conditions  in order to
   procure emesis; thus, for instance, when the  fermenting pro-
   cess is in progress,  it becomes necessary to use an alkali;  and,
   as this condition is the most  common hindrance to emesis, it
   is well,  as a general rule, to observe the precaution of giving
   a small  portion of soda dissolved  in warm  water, or some
  * other suitable alkali, in the same way, in all cases when eme-
   sis does not take place after a suitable portion of the  emetic
i  has been taken.
     3rd. When there is much fever oreongestion, emetics should
   not be given in doses sufficiently large to produce vomiting, until
   the system is first well relaxed, and the pores of the skin opened. 
EMETICS.
253
  4th.  During the operation of emetics, the patient should
drink freely of warm diluents, such as thoroughwort, charnmomile,
or even warm water.  When the emetic sickens and does not
operate, and especially  if it relaxes the system  much, the
drink should consist  of some astringent infusion, such as that
of the  astringent compound or any of its ingredients.  Indeed
many physicians are in the habit universally of preparing the
emetic in a tea of some astringent  article, and  then to give
the latter freely as a drink during the operation.  Should the
operation be. protracted and fatiguing, the  patient should be
supported by drinking some nourishing broths,  gruel or por-
ridge.  The patient is often thirsty, and calls for cold water du-
ring, as well as after the operation  of an emetic, but it is not
always best to indulge him in the use of much cold water, as
it is too apt to chill  the stomach, and thus sometimes to occa-
sion cramp.  Pennyroyal or some other pleasant  stimulating
tea should be drank  in its  stead.  As a general thing it is
well to exhibit in connection with the emetic some stimulants,
such as cayenne pepper or ginger. 
254
LOBELIA IWW. AT A.
LOBELIA INFLATA.
Lobelia, Emetic Herbt Indian Tobacco, Puke Weed, $*. 
LOBELIA 1NFLATA.
265
    Special Emetics.


LOBELIA INFLATA.
     Lobelia, Emetic Herb, Indian Tobacco, Puke Weed, tyc..


              Sexual System.—Class 5; order 1.


   Description.—The lobelia has a white fibrous root, and  are
 upright pubescent stem, which is much  branched about mid-
 way, and generally  grows from one to two feet high.  The
 tops of the branches generally range with the  top of the
 stem, so as to give the plant quite a conical appearance from
 mid-way up.  The leaves are from one to three inches  long,
 lanceolate, but throwing the taper the longest toward the top;
 they are serrate, acute, sessile, pubescent on both sides, and
 stand scattered on the branches, and stem.  The flowers are
 of a "delicate blue color, numerous, disposed in leafy terminal
 racemes, and are supported on short axillary footstalks.  The
 pod, which immediately follows the flower, is of .an irregular-
 ly flattened oval, inflated, striated, and crowned with a collar
 divided into five irregular segements, constituting the corolla.
 The seeds are very minute, many in number, are found loose
 in the capsules, and when ripe are of a brown color.

   locality and habits.—This valuable  plant is indigenous  to
 this  country,  and grows on  every variety of  soil;  we fre-
 quently find it growing very plentifully in  neglected fields, in
 pastures, woods, and even by  the road-sides.  In its  wild  or
 natural state, is biennial, but by cultivation it may be brought
 to maturity in one year.   In its biennial habits, it puts forth,
 in the first season, only a few radical leaves, about an inch in
 diameter, laying close to the ground.   In the following sea-
 son it shoots forth its stalk and  branches, and commences flow-
 ering in July, and continues till  late in the season.  Some of
 the pods may be seen on the lower branches fully developed,
 while the topmost branches and stem are in full  bloom.  The
 entire plant exudes, when broken or wounded, an acrid milky
juice. 
256
LOBELIA INFLATA.
   Preparation.—Every part of the  plant is possessed of its
valuable medicinal properties, but the seeds are most  active.
Lobelia should be collected as soon as its lower leaves begin
to turn yellow, for at this time much of the seed is ripe, while
the herb is likewise in a proper state for preservation.  When
gathered, the plant should  be cut with care, so as to save the
seed which lays loose in the open pod, and should then be dri-
ed on sheets protected from  moisture.  When dry, the  pods
and leaves may be threshed off from the stem, and separated
from the latter, when the seed  may again be  procured sepa-
rately by means of a fine sieve.  For the mode of compoun-
ding and manufacturing, see  pharmacy.
  Lobelia yields its medicinal properties readily to water, al-
cohol, ether, and acetic acid.

  Medical Properties and Uses.—Lobelia is decidedly the most
efficient, safe, and prompt emetic  known, and unlike  almost
every other article, does not inflame, corrode, or in any other
way injure the  stomach in  bringing about its specific effects.
But of this article it may be emphatically said, that it oper-
ates in happy concert with  the  physiological laws. • It is true
however, that much has  been said and written  against it by
the profession as well as the  people, but this must reasonably
be expected, as the article  stands most prominent in the ma-
teria medica of the reformed system, which  constitutes the
most bold and successful innovation  on the old and establish-
ed practice ever known in  the  annals of medicine.   In addi-
tion to its emetic  properties, lobelia also possesses others, the
effects of several  of which, to some extent, are always devel-
oped on the exhibition of the former; and in this perhaps, the
medicine possesses its greatest  advantage over other emetics.
Preceding its operation as an emetic, we discover the mani-
festation of a singular relaxing power, which admirably  pre-
pares the system for free and thorough emesis;  and it is a rare
circumstance when the emetic operates without the superven-
tion of the most profuse diaphoresis.   In this, therefore, the
great objections to the exhibition of an emetic in cases of high
fevers, and congestion, are obviated; and  hence the  lobelia
emetic, when properly administered, becomes the most valu-
able remedy even in high congestive, as well as in any other
fever; and may be used moreover, with the rare but cheering
prospect of cutting short the fever, even in the height of the
paroxysm.
  This article may be used  with  safety, and  certain pros-
pect of advantage in  all cases in  which an emetic is  indica-
ted. 
LOBELIA INFLATA.
257
  When an emetic is indicated in asthma, the lobelia answers
a better purpose than any other article yet discovered.   Its re-
laxant and expectorant properties conjoined with the  emetic,
render it an excellent anti-asthmatic.   This combination of
agencies is what gives it its eminence in the treatment of con-
sumption, pleurisy, whooping-cough, croup, and all other pulmo-
nary complaints in which an emetic is  indicated.
  While lobelia is most  thorough in its operation, it is per-
haps at the same time the mildest emetic known.   This pecu-
liarity in the medicine arises from the  singular  combination
of agencies found in this article.  Thus the conditions neces-
sary to an easy operation, are always brought about, and the
system is well prepared by the medicine itself (if properly ai-
mmistered) before emesis takes place.
  As  the stimulating properties of the  lobelia are extensively
diffusive in their effects, it must  be expected that the charac-
ter of the attending symptoms, even when the medicine/is ad-
ministered in emetic doses, must vary,  or at least,correspond,
with the condition of the system before the emetic  was ad-
ministered.  When  there is much vascular obstruction, or
nervous irritability, the operation of the medicine is frequent-
ly attended with a variety of singular, but not always unplea-
sant symptoms, which are alarming to  many who are unac-
quainted with the medicine.   But the  experienced physician
does not regard those symptoms as particularly  indicative of
any unfavorable  crisis, and when they occur, endeavors to
moderate them only to quiet the unnecessary fears of bystan-
ders.   These effects»are described as follows in "Howards Bo-
tanic  Medicine"1:—
  "A diversity of symptoms attend the operation of lobelia
emetics, evincing the magnitude of its  powers and the surpri-
sing energy of its operation on the human system, which of-
ten terrify  those who are unacquainted with its  superior and
astonishing influence in arresting diseased  action, and resto-
ring health and harmony to the  human machine.  Its effects
are different on different individuals, and on the same individ-
uals at different times.  Sometimes there will be severe pain
in the stomach and bowels; strange, agitated and indescriba--'
ble, but not always unpleasant, sensations.   Convulsive brea-
thing, like the  sobbing of a child.  General distress, or  uni-
versal sickning feeling.  Sometimes perfectly easy and quiet,
without the power to move hand or foot, or even of rolling
the eyeballs in their sockets;  and at other times great restless-
ness and anxiety, with symptoms of a  most alarming charac-
ter prevail.  In some instances the countenance becomes pale,
and the skin cold, with the appearance of approaching death;
              17 
258
LOBELIA INFLATA.
 whilst in others, the countenance assumes a florid appearance,
 bearing the marks of health."
   The duration of these symptoms varies according to circum-
 stances; but they  generally last from thirty minutes to one or
 two hours; but have been known to last much longer.  When
 an emetic is administered to persons inexperienced in the use
 of lobelia, the physician should always be present at its exhi-
 bition:  for it has happened that persons, being frightened at
 the appearance of some of these symptoms, have sent for an-
 other physician, who, perhaps, just arrives and  administers
-some simple article, as these symptoms begin to decline, and
 the reaction takes place; and thus the latter physician, to the
 prejudice of the former, gains much  applause, although  he
 could not have prevented the results for which he receives this
 credit.
   In addition to these properties already natned, lobelia pos-
 sesses a number of othersr also of great value, which will  be
 considered in their proper places.
   The officinal preparations of this medicine embrace the pul-
 verized seed, the pulverized pods and leaves, the tincture pre-
 pared from the whole  or any part of the plant, and oxymel of
 lobelia.
   The dose of the seed, is from 15 to 30  grains; that of the
 pods and the leaves, is from  20 to 40 grains; and the tincture
 is generally used in  table spoonful doses.   In common prac-
 tice, the medicine  is  used by measure;  of the. seed, commonly
 called brown lobelia, from one to three tea spoonfuls are gener-
 ally used; the herb or  pods and leaves, commonly called green
 lobelia, is used in doses of from two to  four tea spoonfuls. The
 tincture is generally used in  portions of a  tea spoonful every
 ten or fifteen minutes, till it operates.  The powder is com-
 monly mixed up in a stimulating tea at about blood heat, and
 taken at three draughts, a third at a time, once in from ten to
 fifteen minutes.  Should the emetic sicken and not operate, a
 drink of some astringent tea,* an  alkali,f or some  cayenne
 pepper tea, will generally bring about a speedy reaction.
  * A docoetion of the astringent tonic compound, is very good for this purpoBu.
  fA half tea spoonful of  soda or saleratus dissolved in warm water. 
CEPHALIS IPECACUANHA.
259
CEPHALIS IPECACUANHA.
Ipecac.
Sexual System.—Class 5; order 1.
   Description.—Root perennial,  from four to six inches in
length, annulated, simple, or dividing into  several branches
descending obliquely into the ground, sending forth occason-
ally a few fibrils; it is when fresh, of a pale brown externally.
The stem, sometimes  partly under  ground, is some  two or
three feet in length, somewhat shrubby though slender, and
seldom rises more than a foot from the  ground.  It is of a
brown ash-color, smooth, pubescent near the top, procum-
bent and knotty, issuing small radicals from the knots.   The
leaves are opposite, petiolate, oblong,  ovate,  acute, entire,
from three to four  inches in length,  found on the ends of the
stem and branches, and of not more than four or six in number.
The axilla is beset with desiduous stipules embracing the stem.
The flowers are small and  white; the fruit or berry, which is
at first purple, turns almost black when ripe.

  Locality and habits.—This Ipecacuanha is a native of Brazil
and New Grenada, delighting in thick and shady woods, and
found in abundance in the vallies of the  granite mountains,
in the province of  Rio Janeiro, and Lucas mountains of New
Greneda. It flowers in January and February, and the  fruit
ripens in May.

  Medical properties, and uses.—This article ranks next  to lobe-
lia as an emetic; its operation, like the latter, is mild but cer- 
 260              EUPHORBIA IPECACUANHA.

 tain, and may be employed in all cases in which an  emetic
 is indicated.   It likewise possesses diaphoretic, stimulant, and
 expectorant powers, and hence is perhaps the best substitute
 for lobelia, in all cases in which  the  latter is useful.  Many
 physicians are in the habit of combining this article with lo-
 belia when they wish to  exhibit an emetic, and consider the *
 practice an improvement.  When it is desired  to administer
 an emetic to a patient of relaxed habits, it may perhaps be the
 best plan to use  this compound, as it is not so apt to relax the
 patient as much as the lobelia does alone.  By some, the  Ipecac
is strongly recommended in dysentery and  chronic diarrhoea.
  The mode of its administration is that  of the powder sus-
pended in warm water.   The  dose  is from twenty to  thirty
grains, given in three separate portions, ten to fifteen minutes
apart.
EUPHORBIA IPECACUANHA
                    Spurge Ipecacuanha.


             Sexual System-—Class 21; order 1.


 '  Dc cription.—There are several  varieties of this species of
plants, differing considerably, in the color as well as the shape
of their leaves, which are found from the round to the lanceo-
late, or even the linear, and from green to crimson,  and yet
the difference is only that they are varieties of the same spe-
cies, and are accordingly subdivided into 1, cespitosa; 2, pros-
trate; 3, rotundifolio; 4,  lanceolate;  5, uniflora,  &c.  The
root is perennial, of  a yellowish color, irregular and  large;
growing in the  sand sometimes to tlie size of a man's wrist,
and from four to eight feet in length.  The stems are numer-
ous, erector procumbent, smooth, dichotomous, jointed at the
forks, and of a  red, pale green, or yellow color.  The leaves
are opposite, sessile, entire,  smooth, and vary in shape and
color as above;  are small in  the spring, but grow in size with
the age of the plant.
locality and habits.—This plant is indigenous to  this 
                 ERVTHRONIUM  AMERICANUM.              261

trV, growing in pine barrens and  other sandy  places in the
]V$iddle and Southern States, in some places in  considerable
abundance, especially along the sea coast, in New Jersey,and
on the^banks of the Delaware. It is in bloom from May to Au-
gust. '

  Medical properties and uses.—The E. Ipecacuanha  is a pret-
ty good emetic, and acts with  considerable  certainty.   Like
many other  articles of this class, it has also something of a
cathartic effect.  But as an emetic, the Euphorbia Ipecacuan-
ha is not so good as the foregoing, or Cephalis Ipecacuanha.
ERYTHRONIUM  AMERICANUM.
Snake Leaf, Adders Tongue, Snow-Drop,Dog-Tooth  Violet, Sfc. 
262              ERYTHRONIUM  AMERICANUM.               /

                                                      i.

                                                      \
           ERYTHRONIUM  AMERICANUM.
Snake Leaf, Adder's Tongue, Snow-Drop, Dog- Tooth, Violet, $c.
              Sexual System.—Class 6; order 1.


   Description.—Root perennial, a solid pyriform bulb like all
 the lilies, and deep in the ground. It is white inside, and cov-
 ered with a brown loose tunic, sheathing the base of the stem;
 fibres thick and short, inferior to the  caudex.   Stem partly
 under ground, white below, and  greenish  purple above the
 ground, and from five to ten inches long.  The leaves, which
 are one or two in number, are lanceolate, smooth, sheathing
 at their base, and of a brownish green color, irregularly in-
 terspersed with darkish circular spots about a  line in diame-
 ter.  The flower is solitary, yellow,Jnodding; its petals lanceo-
 late and reflected.

   Locality and liabits.—This beautiful  plant is  indigenous to
 this country, and grows in .shady places, in meadows and low
 woods throughout the Northern and Middle States.  It flowers
 in the latter part of April and first of  May.

   Medical properties and uses.—The bulb of  the root and  the
 leaf, used in the recent or green state, is a very good emetic.
 Several of them should be mashed and soaked  in  warm wa-
 ter, which may be drank at intervals  of ten or fifteen min-
 utes, until it operates.  The whole plant is emollient, suppu-
 rative and anti-scrofulous.  Its properties  are impaired by-
 drying or boiling, and finally  entirely  destroyed, except as a
 nutritive, by age.   This article is much valued by  some as an
, emetic, and more so by others as an anti-scrofulous remedy.
 But as an emetic, it is far inferior to lobelia and Ipecac, and
 is Moreover much more inconvenient, as it must be used in its
 green state1.  For scrofula, and other ulcers,  it is used in  the
 form of a poultice.. 
SAHGU15ARIA CANADENSIS.              263
SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS.
       Blood root, Red Puccoon root, Indian Paint, fyc.


            Sexual System.—Class 13; order 1.


  Description.—Root perennial,  horizontal, fleshy, thick, and
knobby, with some fibres.  It  is often contorted, about the   , 
564
SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS.
     thickness of a finger, and  from two to four inches in length.
     When broken or wounded, it pours out a beautiful  red acrid
     juice, whence its name.  The scape, and leaf stalks, which
     arise from the end of the  root, are surrounded  by the  large «
     sheaths of the  bud.   The  leaf,  beautifully enveloping  the
     flower, rises about  four to six inches high, when it expands
     into a  large, cordate lobe, in shape like the asarum  canadeuse
     o: colt's foot.  It is smooth, yellowish green on the upper sur-   4|
     face—paler, and well  furnished  with nerves underneath.—
     Flower white, the petals of which are spreading, ovate,  ob-
     tuse, and concave above.   The plant comes up very early in
     the spring, -and is in full bloom in a few days after it is up.

       Locality and habits.—The Blood root is indigenous to this
     country,growing very plentifully in woodland and new grounds
     of rich  soil, in almost every state in the Union.

       Medical properties and uses.—The root of this plant is emet-
     ic in from ten to twenty grain doses of the powder.  It is al-
     so cathartic, expectorant, escharotic,  diaphoretic, and tonic.
     These other properties will be treated of in other places.  It
     is most too harsh to be used in large doses.   Its application is
     in those cases, generally, in which other emetics are  indica-
     ted.
       Although this  article may be used  as an emetic when arti-
     cles better suited are not at hand, yet, when an article of this
     kind £« good as the  lobelia grows so plentifully, there is little
     necessity to preserve many others for this use.

      In addition to the foregoing, there are  many other articles
     which,  although their most prominent properties are not em-
     etio, will, nevertheless, act in this way when administered in
   .  large doses.  These  are:—
     ' 1.,Thoroughwort, (Eupatorium perfoliaium)—A strong decoc-
     tion of  the leaves and blossoms of this plant is emetic in wine
   ■  glassful doses, taken once in ten  to fifteen minutes.  It produ-
     ces free and copious vomiting and profuse  perspiration, and
.  • 'is hence.very good in fevers, catarrh and pneumonial  affec-
     tions.                    MA
 ■   > 2. Vervain, (Verbena HasWta.)—A  strong decoction of the
.-; ■   root and herb, is emetic, and very useful in intermittents, dys-
     pepsia,  &c.
 . ,   3. Elder,  (Sambucus Canadensis)—A decoction of the inner
     bark and flowers, taken plentifully, acts as an emetic; and is
  •  good in  dropsies and fevers.
      4.  Black Locust,  (Robinia Pseudacacia)— The inner bark 
         BLOOMING SPURGE, LEATHER-WOOD, BAYBERRY, &C     265

 •of this tree possesses pretty active properties as an emetic, its
 (Operation being also generally prompt and  mild.   An ounce
 of the bark to a pint of boiling water, may be taken in rea-
 sonable  doses, and at suitable intervals, until emesis takes
 place.  It is recommended in the  early stages of dysentery.
    5.  Blooming Spurge, (Euphorbia  Corollata)—From ten to
 fifteen grains of the cuticle portion of the root, will operate as
%' an emetic;  but it is rather harsh in its operation.
    6.  Leather-wood, (Dirca  Palustris)—The bark of the root
 >of this article is recommended as a good  emetic in asthma,
 and intermittents.   The dose is from five to ten grains of the
  pulverized bark of the root.
    7.  Bayberry,  (Myrica Cerifera)—The  powder of the  bark
  of the root, in large doses, is emetic, and is very good in ca-
  ses of foul stomach.
    8.  Bitter Dogsbane  (Apocynum  Androsaemifolium)—From
  twenty to  thirty grains of the bark of the root, acts mildly
  but certainly as an emetic, and is useful in fevers and dyspep-
  sia.
    9.  Common • Salt (Sodii Chlori lum)—From one to three ta-
  ble spoonfuls, dissolved in warm water, and drank down, will
  operate speedily as an emetic, and is highly valued by some.
                    II. CATHARTICS.

   Cathartics are agents which, in their action on the  animal
economy, have a specific tendency to evacuate the contents of
the intestines downwards, or which, when given in proper do-
ses, will excite purging.
  As the direction of  the  intestinal  tube from the stomach
down, is not in every part  in a course so as to favor the exit rf
of its contents by the laws of gravitation, it is evident that a
power separate from this, must ever be exerted when the con-
tents move forward  in their course.   This force is called  the
peristaltic motion.  This action prodiMps in the mean about one
alvine evacuation per day.  Constxpttion, therefore, is the re-
sult of a want of activity in this motion, or mechanical  resis-
tance.   The medical agencies that tend to increase the peris- *
taltic motion, or remove its  obstructions, are called cathartics.
But this effect is not all that is involved in the operation of a
good cathartic. The  detraction  of the serum and other hu-
mors, the diversion of the blood, the control of sympathy, the 
266
CATHARTICS.
 general relaxation of the system, the general excitation of the
 secretions, &c, &c, are all influenced to a considerable extent,
 by the operation of this class of medicaments.
   We find by Strabo, that this class of remedies was much iir
 use, even in the earliest days of medicine.  Thout, the Egyp-
 tian Hermes or  Mercury, always regarded as the founder of
 medicine,  seems to have practiced its use.   Purges, vomits,
 and clysters, were used by the  Egyptians for three days  suc-
 cessively in every  month.  Besides the Egyptians,  the  He-
 brews,* Assyrians, Greeks,  Romans, Persians, Chinese,  Hin-
 doos, and Arabians, all practiced the use of cathartics.
   But notwithstanding the popularity of this class of reme-
 dies, there has ever been  a diversity of opinion as to the pro-
 priety or even the safety of their use. While some consider our
 materia medica imperfect without them, others declare  them
 useless, nay, pernicious, and in many instances, rapidly fatal in
 their effects.  Nor  have the reformers done any thing to set-
 tle the controversy on this point, for there is even among them
 much difference of opinion  as to the matter.
   Dr.  Thomson, from his  settled  conviction  of the deplo-
 rable imperfections and dangers of the popular practice, was
 in his course of reform, led to guard well against the greater
 evils of that practice; and as this class of remedies of all oth-
 ers,  have been the  most  abused, he in his zeal and  enthusi-
 asm, fell into the error of the opposite extreme.  Having had
 on his mind the labors" of an entire revolution in medicine,
 and being  necessitated to frame his system without the advan-
 tages of even a good education, it is not at all strange that in
 some points he should deviate somewhat from a strictly philo-
 sophical course.  There are still many in the ranks of reform
 who are quite ultra in their views on this matter; some decla-
 ring positively that no medicine of this class can ever be used
 without danger.
   But the  error  on the other hand is no less marked;  there are
 some who, without doubt, do much injury by their indiscrimi-
 nate use.  The vis conservairix is but too often  divertedjby such
 interference from the fulfilment of better selected indications
 of cure; and thus by artificial intestinal  irritation, the conser-
 vative powers are calledA numerous  instances, from  parts
 much exposed, and whicflyin consequence, are irreparably in-
 jured.  Again, much purgation unquestionably produces di-
rect debility of the digestive organs, causing  dyspepsia and
 numerous  other distressing  evils.  Instances not unfrequently
 occur in which the constitutions of  patients are irretrievably
  *The idea of cathar.ics is eyinced in the prayer of the Psalmists—"Puree me
 with  Hyssop."                                           & 
CATHARTICS.
267
destroyed by the  improper use of  cathartics.   But does all
this argue that catharsis is not a  natural  indication of  cure?
Does the abuse of an agent prove its uselessness?  Catharsis
is»as certainly a true and natural indication of cure as eme-
sis, diaphoresis, or any other;  but it, like them, must be fulfill-
ed in a proper way, and at a proper time.  We must not con-
demn a medical agent,  simply because given  circumstances
^attending some of its applications are calculated to develope
mischief.  The question is, can such agents under proper cir-
cumstances, be found useful, or beneficial?
  To settle this matter in the present instance, two kinds  of
evidence may be brought to bear; first, that gained from the
physiological organization of  the human  economy; and sec-
ondly, that of our experience  in the use of cathartics.
  First, we discover that the  respective functions of the vas-
cular parts of the animal body, are governed by a compound
agency evinced in the nervous system.  We find that the sen-
tient extremities of the nerves of these parts, are  peculiarly
sensitive to certain stimuli;  and thus the stimulus of the blood
excites the  regular contractions  of  the heart and arteries,
thereby sustaining the circulation:—That the lacteals are pe-
culiarly sensitive to the chyle, which excites the fulfilment of
the normal functions of these organs.   The urinary  bladder
and uterus, answer their design in the economy of nature, by
the influence of certain exciting stimuli.  The intestines, ac-
cording to the same law, are controlled in their  functions on
the same principle.  The bile in the normal condition,  seems
to be the grand agent that sustains the peristaltic motion; but
in the abnormal, we find it increased by excestive ingesta, the
presence of irritating and offensive substances in the bowels,
and various  other causes.  The question now arises,—is this
a physiological or pathological  action?   This query is easily
 answered; and although this action is often attendant on dis-
 eased movement, yet, perhaps in this, as well as in numerous
 other instances, it can be traced as the legitimate effect of the
vis vita;, in the fulfilment of true and important indications of
cure.  Thus, we discover that living tissues and organs, are
not only supplied with means subservient to their  physiology
ical uses in the animal  economy, but are capable of self-de-
fence; and, moreover, of removing destructive  agents from
 the system:  and it is certain, that among the five grand means
of  the exit of extraneous matter from the system, viz: diapho- *
resis, catharsis, emesis, diuresis, and  expectoration or  exhalation
from the lungs, catharsis stands second in  importance; the first
 being diaphoresis.  Peccant matter in the diseased condition
of the body, passes from the bowels in every evacuation from 
<1
        268                    CATHARTICS.

        these organs.  The functions of the skin are no sooner distur-
        bed than are the bowels found vicariously to fill  the office of
        the cutaneous emunctuaries, the perspirable matter being ta-
        ken up and conveyed directly to the bowels, and  from thence
        expelled.  The morbific accumulations that occur in the fiver,
        are almost universally carried off by the bowels;  and so are
        those, in many instances, that occur in the  lungs.   Even the
        urinary  and uteral obstructions are sometimes relieved by in-
        creased  intestinal action.  Catharsis is one of the  most com-
        mon critical evacuations.  How often it happens tha,t our fe-
        vers end in spontaneous alvine evacuations.  Nor is it less
        frequent that this indication is spontaneously answered in ma-
        ny other diseases.
          In their organization, the relation existing between the in-
        testines and the general vascular system, is of the  most inti-
        mate character.   When the bowels are full of nutritious mat-
        ter, lymphatic absorption is active, and the arteries are rap-
        idly supplied; but when food is  sparingly taken, and the lac-
        teals consequently inactive, we find that cutaneous absorption
        is much enhanced.  When catharsis is  instituted, the absorp-
        tion from serous surfaces is always promoted in a correspond-
        ing ratio, and hence its utility in dropsies.
          2d.  The evidence that we gain on any point by experience,
        is, however, much more satisfactory than any other kind; and
        in this is found the strongest argument in favor of the use of
        cathartic medicines.  It happens  sometimes in obstinate fe-
        vers, that the usual means of relaxing & evacuating the system
        bytheuseof nauseants. emetics,  diaphoretics, and vapor-baths,
        fail, and that in spite of them all the fever continues to rage,
        even after the  exhibition of five or six courses of the medi-
        cines; and  it seems sometimes as if the  disease had gained
        violence, even from those powerful means themselves.  And
        in such  cases, the symptoms are often found to yield in a re-
        markable manner, to the use of proper cathartics.  In bilious
        fevers it is often very difficult to succeed in the treatment with-
        out the  use of this class of remedies.  The writer has a knowl-
        edge of various instances, in which patients  have  been well
\ J •     treated  by the usual  courses of emetics and  vapor, together
        with the free use of enemas, and after  the patient had been
        treated for a week or two according to the most rigid plan of
        application, he instead of improving, gave evident signs  of
        'increasing danger.  Under these circumstances, on the  exhi-
        bition of a few small portions of Pod. Peltatum  with capsi-
        cum, after several evacuations of very foetid and dark  stools,
     ;•  the patient began manifestly to improve. 
CATHARTICS.
269
  In those cases it is evident that the hepatic derangement
was alike beyond the reach of the emetics and enemas; and
without doubt the  condition of the small intestines may do
much to enhance the  obstinacy of such fevers.  Indeed, it is
almost universally the case, that the obstinacy of these fevers
arises in consequence of a local inflammatory action, and
which too, is frequently located in the jejunum and ileum, and
thus often alike beyond the  reach of emetics and enemas.
  In dysenteries, cathartics are often of signal service.   As-
tringents, and stimulating tonics, are generally used  by those
physicians who oppose the use of cathartics.  But it is a fact
which is corroborated by the experience of every practitioner,
that although the astringent plan is in many cases successful,
yet in some  it is not sufficient; and again in others astringente
alone extensively used are  unsafe; for  it  often happens  in
these cases, that   there  may be  excessive  looseness, and
violent tenesmus in the lower part of the bowels, while at the
same time, there is constipation, or obstinate obstruction and
consequent  inflammation of the upper parts of the same.  In
such instances, therefore, there may  be  much injury done by
instituting the use of astringents before the bowels are relie-
ved from the constipation, for these medicines, instead of re-
moving the  dysentery in this case, spend  their entire force on
the parts already obstructed.  Now, if in those cases a dose
of rheubarb  were first given, the astringents might have been
used not only with  impunity, but advantage.   Nor are  the
mischievous consequences of the common  practice of giving
astringents  alone in cases of dysentery, confined to those  pe-
culiarities already named; for as there is always in dysentery
a vast accumulation of morbific and offensive matter, it is not
best to stop the looseness,  and  contract the  bowels,  before
cleansing them.   This, in many instances, may and should by
all means be done, by the use of enemas;  but in some cases,
cathartics seem indispensable.
   Even in the extreme debility of typhus fever, instead of ca-
thartics increasing the prostration, in some instances the pa-
tient has been known apparently, or in fact, to have gained
strength from their continued use.  This is indeed reasonable
when the various  conditions necessary to the developement
of animal force  are considered. For while the absolute source ;
of force is found in the change of the relation of elementary^'
principles in the organism, this force can only be  brought to>.-y
bear on the muscular arrangement, by the agency of the ner- *
vous system.  When therefore the functions of the nerves are
obstructed, it is evident that debility must be one of its legiti-
mate results.  Thus, when  the irritation caused by the  char- 
270                     CATHARTICS.
 acteristic morbific contents of the bowels in typhus is obviated
 or relieved, the debility will be remedied in a corresponding
 degree.
   When poisonous substances are  lodged in the intestines, it
 seems that the utility of cathartics can  hardly be denied by
 any one.
   It is, perhaps, unnecessary to particularize  further on this
 point.  But lest the writer should be misunderstood in his ar-
 guments in favor of this class of remedies, it may perhaps be
 necessary to be something more definite as to the extent to
 which cathartics should be used.   It is  important to  remark
 that in this, as in the use of every other active and potent ar-
 ticle of the materia medica, that particular attention is neces-
 sary to the quantity and character of the medicine, as well as
 to the circumstances that may attend its use.   Very active and
 violent purgation is not only unnecessary, but should ever be
regarded as a pernicious practice.   Laxatives and mild ca-
thartics are  all that may be necessary in this class, to the cure
of disease; and there is perhaps  more  difference in mildness
and efficiency between  the  numerous  articles of  this class,
than any other. 
PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM.              271
PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM.
Mandrake, May Apple.
Sexual System.—Class 13; order 1.
  Description.—The root is perennial, creeping, usually sever-
 al feet in length, jointed, round, brown without and white
 within, and about the thickness of a pipe-stem; the joints and
 under side of the root is beset with slender fibres.  The stem
 is erect, round, smooth, about a foot in  height, and the bear-
 ing stalks divided at the top, bearing the flower and fruit  in
 the  fork.  The branches  bear each of them a large  peltate,"
 palmate  leaf,  slightly  lobed.   The  flower is nodding  and
 white.

  Locality and habits.—The  May apple is indigenous to this
country, growing in a rich soil, in the  woods, new groun^L
and on the road side; but delighting most in moist and slights
ly shaded grounds.  The flowers appear in May, whence one
 if its vulgar names, and the fruit ripens in August.
                               t 
272
PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUW.
   Medical properties and uses.—The root, properly  prepared, is
 perhaps the best cathartic now known;  being very mild, and
 although somewhatslow, yet certain in its operation.  It is
 alterative in its effects, and seems to have a considerable ten-
 dency to the glandular system, especially to the liver, on which
 its effects are as thorough as dare be claimed for mercuryr, and
 yret it is perfectly  safe, and not like it, calculated to exhaust
 or pervert the tone of this organ.   In fevers, especially  those
 of a bilious and intermittent character, and all scrofulous  af-
 fections and diseases of the skin, it is of  incomparable  utili-
 ty.  It, unlike most other articles of this class, leaves the bow-
 els in a lax and soluble condition, and hence is in many  in-
 stances, very useful in"habitual costiveness.  It possesses also
 in some degree, a diuretic property; and is an excellent arti-
 cle in the cure of  hydrocephalus, hydrothorax, and indeed in
 all other forms of dropsy.   All will  readily anticipate its um-
 fuiness in jaundice, and hypertrophy of the liver and  spleen,
 so common in intermittents.
   Dr. Bigelow in speaking  of this  valuable  article, says:—
 "The medical properties  of the podophyllum  peltatum, are
 those of a sure and active cathartic; in which character it de-
 serves a high rank among our indigenous productions.  We
 have hardly any native plant which answers  better the com-
 mon purposes of jalap, aloes, and rheubarb."
   The leaves, stem, and fresh shoots of the plant seem to  be
 poisonous; and indeed the root  itself,,in its recent or  green
 state, is very violent and dangerous in its effects.  But in dry-
 ing it, these violent properties are all dissipated, and the me-
 dicine, when prepared from the solid part of the root, scraped
 and well dried, and about a year old, is in proper doses per-
fectly mild and harmless.   The  dose is  from ten to twenty
grains of the powder. But the alcoholic extract is by far the
best preparation of this article.   In  this we have at least the
 advantage of the smallness of the dose,  if nothing more: hut
it seems likewise to'agree better with the stomach when pre-
pared in this way.  To make this extract, it is only necessarv
to  make a strong tincture of the medicine in this menstruum,
and then after filtering, or decanting it carefully, evaporating
the alcohol,  either with or without heat.  By the use of a des-
tU, the alcohol may be preserved for another process.   The
dose  of the extract is  from three to eight grains.
Jt§ 
RHBUM.                      273
  Rheum Compactum.                    Rheum  Emodi.


             Sexual System—Class 9; order 3.           ■'' ;


  Rheubarb has been in use for a long time,  and still it has
not yet been ascertained by the profession, what species  of
the Rheum yields the officional rheubarb.  The remoteness of     *
             18 
27 4
RHEUM.
 the country where it  is collected, and  the jealous  care  by
 which the monopoly of the trade  of this article is  guarded,
 has been effectual in retaining the secret.  There are several
 species now cultivated in this country.  Dr. Pereira mentions
 thirteen species:  viz.  R. Palmatum,  undulatum, compactum,
 rhaponticum, cmodi, crassinervium, capsicum^ tataricum, hybridum,
 confluence, fischeri, barbandifolium, and bullatum; the specimens
 of which were in his possession.   Besides these  we have ac-
 counts of several others, such asthe R.  auslrale,  leucorrhizo.i,
 h-'diiaauum, spiciforme, and moorcroftianum.
   There are however but few varieties of the  article  now in
 common use; these are articles of commerce, and are bought
 under the names of 1, Chinese Rhubarb;  2, Russian Rhubarb:
 3,  European Rhubarb.  Of these, the Russian,  which is some-
 times called Turkey Rhubarb, (owing to the fact  that it was
 formerly  derived from  the Turkish ports, whither  it was
 brought from Tartary,) is entirely the best, and next to this, is
 the Chinese.
   Rhubarb should always be purchased in the  root, and that
 selected which possesses an agreeable aromatic  odor, and is
 heaviest, of a lively color, and which when broken presents  a
 fresh appearance with red and yellowish veins intermingled
 with white, and that also has a bitter astringent taste, staining
 the saliva of a deep yellow when chewed.

   Medical Properties and Uses.— Rhubarb  is one  of our most
 valuable medicines; in it we find a singular combination of
 two properties, which in their effects are of an  opposite char-
 acter, the cathartic and the astringent.  But when the medi-
 cine is taken these properties do not exhibit their several ef-
 fects at the  same time;  the cathartic power is always exhaus-
 ted before the other takes effect.  This  circumstance is what
 so eminently adapts this medicine to the treatment of dysen-
 tery, cholera infantum and cholera  morbus.  Rhubarb is like-
 wise very good in the diarrhoea that often attends dyspepsia,
 and the last stages of consumption. It is very  mild in its op-
 era tion as a cathartic, and is not apt fo produce  watery dis-
 charges, but rather such as are of a fecal character.
  Rhubarb is recommended by authors  in cases  of habitual
 eonstjpation attending dyspepsia; but as will readily appear
 to a thinking individual, it certainly is  illy  adapted to  such
 cases, in view of its astringent qualities, which always leave
 the bowels in a confined condition.  It may however be relied
upon in all cases in which a medicine like this is indicated, as
it is'certam  and mild, and unless given in  over  doses will al-
ways be agreeable to the stomach. 
JUGLANS CINEREA.                  275
  The medicine yields its properties most  readily to water
and wine.  When therefore it is not given in substance the
infusion should be used.  Its properties are not well adapted
to extraction, as the dose of this must necessarily be half the
size of that of the powders,  which latter is from  10 to  20
grains, or from one to two teaspoonfuls.
JUGLANS CINEREA.
Butternut, O'dnut, White Walnut.
             Sexual System—Class 21;  order 7.


  Description.—The white walnut, is an indigenous forest tree
of considerable size.  The young branches are of a whitish-
grey color, whence the name, white walnut; are  smooth, and
in their situation incline to a horizontal  position.  The leaves
are long, lanceolate, serrate, and are finate, or  arranged in
pairs seven or eight in number,  with a terminal  one on  the
end of the petiole, like the locust.  As this is a very common
tree, further description is unnecessary.

  Locality and habits.—This useful tree grows in every part
of the U. States, and  Canadas;  most abundant on rich lands.
It flowers in May and the fruit ripens in September.

  Medical properties and  uses.—The extract made from  the
inner bark of the root and trunk of this tree, is  an excellent
cathartic, operating without pain or griping, and evacuating
the alimentary canal without depletion.   It has been used for
a long time, and was highly recommended by Dr. Rush among
the soldiers during the Revolutionary War.  The extract may
be formed into pills with a small portion of capsicum and used
in all cases in which  cathartics are indicated.   The extract
when of the consistence of molasses serves well as a material
for forming  pill mass, from dry  articles. 
276
LBPTAMDRIA VIRGINICA.
LEPTANDRIA VIRGINICA.
Black root, Bowman root% Brinton root, Culver's physic, fyc.


           Sexual System—Class 2; order 1.
  Description.—Root perennial, long,  woody, beset with nu-
merous long slender fibres, and of a blackish brown color with-
out.   Stems several,  upright, round, slightly pubescent, and
from two to four feet high.  The leaves are long, lanceloate,
serrate, and are arranged in whorls around the stem, four to
six  at a joint, which latter are about a hand's-breadth apart.
Flowers white, small, numerous, constituting  from three to
five terminal racemes.

  locality and habits.—The black root is  indigenous to this
country,  and is found throughout the Western and  Middle
States, growing on low grounds or moist places, in meadows,
along fences, &c.  It flowers in the latter part of July  and
first of August. 
LEPTANDRIA VIRGINICA.
277
  Medical properties und uses.—This is a pretty good cathartic,
and operates with considerable certainty and  mildness.   It
has been in high repute among the Aborigines of this country,
who used it in fevers and disorders of the stomach and bow-
els.  As several of its vulgar names  indicate, it has been a
favorite of several individuals of the profession.  It is spoken
of in Howard's Botanic Medicine, as follows:
  "The black root is very highly celebrated by those best ac-
quainted with its virtues and effects, as an efficient purge, op-
erating with mildness and certainty, without producing that
depression of the living powers, so common to other purga-
tive medicines.   In typhus and bilious* fevers, it removes the
black, tarry, morbific matter from the intestines, which it seems
so necessary to be carried off by some means or  other, and
does it in a most natural manner, without weakening the tone
of the  bowels, or leaving behind it the poisonous sting so of-
ten remaining after the use of calomel, the most universal ca-
thartic in fevers.  The black root is also a diaphoretic, anti-
septic,  and tonic.  It may be taken in doses of a heaping tea-
spoonful, in half a gill of boiling water, sweetened if most
agreeable, and  repeated in three hours if it does not operate."
  This article  as a catharticjs however not as valuable as
the first named in this class of remedies. 
JPOM/BA JALAP A.
IPOMiEA JALAPA.
Jalop.
                 Sexual System—Class 5; order 1.

      Description.—Nuttall gives the following  description of this
    article:—"The root of this plant is a roundish, some what pear-
    shaped tuber, externally blackish, internally white, wdth long
0'  fibres proceeding from its lower part as well as from its upper
    root-stalks.  A tuber produced by Dr. Coxe was, in its third
    year, between two and  three  inches in diameter.  The stem
    is round, smooth, much  disposed to twist, and rises to a con-
    siderable height  upon  neighboring  objects,  about which  it
    twines.  The leaves are heart-shaped, entire, smooth,  point-
    edjkdeeply sinuated at the base,  prominently veined on their
    under surface, and supported upon long footstalks.   The low-
    er leaves are nearly hastate, or with diverging angular points.
    The flowers, which are  large and of a lilac purple color, stand
    upon peduncles about as long as the petioles. Each  pedun-
    cle supports two, or more rarely, three flowers." 
ALOE.
279
  Locality and habits.—This plant is a native of Mexico, and
derived its name from the city of Xalapa in the State of Vera
Cruz, on the neighboring mountains of which, it grows  some-
times at the heigth of 6000 feet aboye the ocean.

  Medical properties and uses.—Jalap is an active cathartic, too
much so for common use; it is, however,  much used by the
practitioners of the Worthington school, and  Dr. Beach rec-
ommends it highly as an anti-bilious cathartic, and makes use
of it in several compounds.   This is  one of the most common
articles of this class in use in the fashionable practice; it is
commonly prescribed with calomel, thus "Calomel and Jalap''
is a very fashionable name.   This article, however, properly
belongs to the Botanical  Materia Medica,  although it is not
so valuable as many other cathartics. It is a powerful hydro-
gogue, producing copious watery discharges, and  hence may
be used in dropsies, &c.   The dose is from 20 to 40 grains of
the powder.
ALOE.
             Aloes.

Sexual System—Class 6; order 1.
  Description.—The perfoliate or socotrine aloes is among the
most important species, and is described by Lindley as having
a woody stem, straight, and naked below, considerably mark-
ed with the scars of leaves.  Leaves amplexicaul, ascending,
ensiform, green, curved inwards at the point, convex below,
rather concave  above, marked with numerous small white
marginal serratures, the parenchyma abounding  in a bright
brownish yellow juice.   Raceme  cylindrical, unbranched.—
Flowers scarlet at the base, pale in the middle,  green at the
point.
  This is the kind of aloes commonly called  socotrine, so  np*
med from the name of an Island  lying in the Indian Ocean.
But it is difficult to get the genuine article, as its  superiority
gives occasion to the practice  of fraud.   It is justly said by
Dr. Wood that much of the aloes  sold as socotrine, has never
seen the island of Socotra, nor even the Indian seas.  It has
been customary to affix this title as a mark of superior value 
280                       ALOE.
   to those parcels of the drug, from whatever source they may
   have been derived, which haye been prepared with unusual
   care, and are supposed to be of the best quality.   Thus, both
   in Spain and the  West Indies, the  juice which is obtained
   without expression, and inspissated in the sun without artifi-
   cial heat, has been called Socotrine aloes.
     Besides the aloe perfoliata or socotrina, we have other  yiel-
   ding  species, spicata,  vulgaris,  aborescens,  commelyni,  and
   multiformis, which are all natives of the Cape of Good Hope,
   and are commonly called Cafre aloes; and with these we have
   still others, viz: the Barbadoes, Indian,  Mocha, and the Caba-
   line.                 ->i
     The Barbadoes, commonly called hepatic aloes, from its re-
   semblance to the color of the liver, comes to us in large gourd-
   shells, and is a pretty good medicine, and when the  socotrine
   cannot be procured this may be substituted for it.
     India aloes is, perhaps, only an inferior article of the same
   kind as the Barbadoes.   Of this there are however several va-
   rieties;  1, that of Northern  India, which is of a dull black co-
   lor, is brittle, and has but a faint odor; 2, that from Guzerat,
   which is more gummy in its appearance and feel, and  is more
   difficult to fracture;  3, that  from  Salem, which is distinguish-
   ed from the  other varieties by the numerous large air cavities
t»  observed in the interior of the mass—its odor is similar to the
   socotrine; 4,  that  from Trichinopli, which resembles the Ca-
   fre aloes in bitterness, odor,  and color, but is more opaque.
    The Mocha aloes is a dirty mixture, which is of late impor-
   ted from Muscat, in chests containing nearly two  cwt.  each.
    The Cabalina or„ horse aloes, in appearance resembles the
  hepatic in color and consistence, but has a very rank and un-
  pleasant smell.  It is often sold for hepatic aloes, but is much
  inferior to it, and is now not much used, except by  farriers
  among horses.
    In selecting aloes for medical  use, that should  be taken
*»  which has an agreeable aromatic smell, and a regular semi-
  transparent and shining appearance, and if it  be soft it is no
  matter, but it should always be clean from foreign impurities.
  The best is always brought in skins and shells.   The Soco-
  trine should always be preferred.

    Medical properties and uses.—Aloes is a very certain but slow
  cathartic.  Its stimulating and tonic properties are well  cal-
  culated to sustain the system during the operation  of the med-
  icine.   Like the bile, this article seems to have a specific ten-
  dency to excite the peristaltic motion, as it little  effects  the
  exhalent vessels; the discharges it produces  being generally 
RICINUS COMMUNIS.
281
not very thin, but consisting chiefly of fecal matter and other
materials that may be found in the intestines at the time of its
exhibition.  It seems to act most prominently on the large in-
testines, sometimes giving rise to some irritation in these parts,
and hence, when its use is long continued at a  time, it has
been known to produce piles.  This effect, however, seldom
arises from the use of the genuine socotrine aloes.  A singular
ity about this medicine is, that an increase of quantity beyond-
the proper dose, does not seem to be attended  with a corres-
ponding increase of its action.  Aloes also possesses an emen-
agogue power of considerable value.
  The cases in which this medicine h most strongly indicated
are, loss of appetite, dyspepsia,  constipation, intermittents,
amenorrhoea, intestinal worms, want of biliary secretion, ecc.
The dose is from 5 to 10 grains, which will generally operate
in from 12 to 24 hours.   Its action can be somewhat quicken-
ed by using with it other articles of more activity.   Owing to
its extremely bitter taste, it is best administered in pill form,
two of which will generally be sufficient for a dose.
RICINUS COMMUNIS.
                      Castor oil plant.


            Sexual System—Class 21; order 8.


  Description.—This plant, which is sometimes called palma
christi, is a native of the Indies, where  it grows sometimes to
the height of 30 to 40 feet, but it is now cultivated in  almost
every part of the world.  As cultivated in this country it sel-
dom grows larger than from five to ten feet in height.
  That cultivated in this country will  bear the  following de-
scription:—The plant is of vigorous growth; stem erect, round,
hollow, smooth, branching, and something of a purpleish hue
towards the top, somewhat resembling the phytolacca decandra
or poke.   The leaf is large, peltate, palmate, serrate, smooth,
and of a bluish green color.   The flowers are monoecious and
destitute of  a corolla, constituting a knotty  pyramidal, termi-
nal raceme.  The pod is glucious, and of a roundish shape, 
282                  RICINUS COMMUNIS.
 having  three  projecting sides,  and  is  covered  with tough
 spines.   It is divided into three cells each, containing  a seed
 of the size of a grain of coffee, which produces the oil.

   Castor Oil is a medicine  of great antiquity; it was used by
 Hippocrates  and  others of his day, and it is now one of the
 most common articles of the cathartic kind in  use.  Dr. Eb-
 erle states:—"Castor oil is very mild, unirritating, but a cer-
 tain and prompt cathartic, procuring copious faecal evacua-
 tions, without appearing to excite the intestinal  emunctua-
 ries, since it hardly  ever occasions any very liquid or watery
 discharges.  Where we wish simply to evacuate the contents
 of the bowels, or avoid costiveness, there is no article belong-
 ing to this class  of remedies so  well adapted as  castor oil
 to answer our intentions.   Independent  of the mildness and
 completeness of its operation, it is less apt than any other ca-
 thartic to leave the bowels in  a dry or  costive condition."*
 Many other old school writers  have spoken  equally favor-
 able  of this  article, and among Botanical Physicians there
 are many who use it; yet there certainly are numerous other
 articles of this class much better than this.  It is true that it
 is prompt  and sure in its operation, but, although  authors
 claim for it great mildness, yet it is certain that its effects are
 more or less injurious to the digestive organs, and that occa-
 sionally considerable violence attends its use:|  and when the
 most is  said in its favor, it cannot be claimed that its medicin-
 al effects extend much beyond the limits of the intestinal canal.
   The chief use of this article  as a  medicine, is found in its
 adaptation to  the removal from the  intestines, any irritating
 or offensive accumulations, or poison that may be taken, as it
 produces but little  disturbance in any other part of the sys-
 tem, and is moreover  very  active in its  effects, operating
 sometimes in the course of one hour from the time it is taken.
 It serves as a vehicle in the use  of the chenopodium anthel-
 minticum or wormseed oil.
   One of the greatest inconveniences in the use of this article,
 is the difficulty attending its administration, owing to its nau-
 seous and disagreeable taste and smell, which to some is very
 disgusting.  The best way to obviate this is to take it in a lit-
 tle  wine, cider, or coffee.   The writer has used this article but
< -very little in practice, but it is  considerably recommended by
 Dr. J. Thomson, in the thirteenth edition of the New Guide
 to Health,

   * T/ierapeutics, page 129.
   t This may, however, arise from inpurities in the  artiele, which are so often
 met with. 
CASSIA.
283
CASSIA.
               Sexual System—Class 10;  order 1.



   Description.—There are several species of the cassia that
contribute in furnishing the  drug  of commerce.  As we find
the senna in market, it is  named according  to the  country
from whence it is brought; hence we have the Alexandria, the
Tripoli, and the India senna.
   The senna brought from Alexandria, embraces some three
or four species, the c. acutifolia, c. obovata, c. cynanchum c. oleafoli-
v,m, and the c. tephrosia apollinea.______________________

  t Fig. 1, is a specimen leaf of the ovate leaved Alexandria senna.  2. Speci-
men of the acute variety of the same. 3, Specimen of the Tephrosia or silver
leaved Alexandria senna.  4,  Specimen of the India  or Trinnevelly senna.  5,
Specimen leaf of the Coriaria myrtifolia,—an article with which senna is some-
times adulterated.   These leaves  are of a greyish-gfeen  color, and are tinged
with blue.  They have three paratel nerves, one prominent  one in the centre,
»nd one  on each side between this and  the edge or margin of the leaf.  6,  A
specimen loaf of tho Cynancum oleaelolium or argel,—a variety of the Alexan-
drian senna. 
281
CASSIA.
   The Tripoli senna consists of only one species,  the JEthi-
 opica.
   The India senna* consists chiefly of the cassia clongata; the
 leaves of which are  much longer than either of the above
 named.
   The Alexandria senna, until recently, has been considered
 the best for medical use.   But a finer  article of India senna,
 which is the production of Hindostan and  cultivated at Trin-
 nevelly is now brought to ns which is considered superior to
 all others.   This article, in England, is known under the name
 Trinnevelly senna and is there very highly esteemed.

   Medical properties and uses.—Senna is a prompt and efficient
 cathartic, but is objectionable on  the account of its tendency
 to produce griping and pain in its operation.  This may, how-
 ever, be obviated to some extent,  by combining with it some
 aromatic, such as the fennel seed.   It seems that the effects
 of senna are considerably improved by combination with bit-
 ters, and as the  article is chiefly  used  among  children, this
 hint may be  improved upon by  combining with it an equal
 quantity of peach leaves,whose properties are of known utility.
  Although this article is much used by physicians  yet it is
 certain that there are  many other  articles much better than
 this.  As a general thing, little more is  claimed  in  its favor
 than ^promptness of operation as a cathartic.   But what does
 this itself argue? Cathartics possess special  value only in the
 proportion of the power of fulfilling many' and important in-
 dications of cure.  Those articles which simply remove the
 contents of the bowels, without producing any other impress-
 ion, are comparatively of little value.
  By  Reformers, sena is chiefly used in combination with pink
root, for the removal of intestinal  worms.   The dose is from
half a drachm to two drachms.   When given by  infusion,
which is the best way, a half an ounce is scalded with an ounce
of manna, and a drachm of fennel seeed to a half pint of wa-
ter.  Take a third once in four hours 'till it operates.
  * This article is produced in Arabia,'and derives its name India, only fron
the rout by which it reaches ua. 
IRIS VERSICOLOR.--8AMBUCU8 CANADENSIS.        285
                  IRIS  VERSICOLOR.

                 Blue flag, Snake lily, SfC.

             Sexual System—Class 3: order 1.

  Description.—Root perennial, horizontal,  fleshy, fibrous.—
Stem two to three feet high, round on  one side, acute on the
other, and sometimes branched.  Leaves sword-shaped, stria-
ted, sheathing at the bottom.  Flowers from two to six in num-
ber and of a blue color.

  Locality and habits.—This beautiful plant grows all over the
United States, in  low wet places, in meadows and borders
of swamps.  It flowers in June.

  Medical properties and uses.—The blue flag is an active ca-
thartic, and in over doses, is emetic; it is also diuretic.  This
medicine is too harsh for common use, but from its adaption
to several obstinate diseases it well merits a place in our ma-
teria medica.  It is perhaps one of our best remedies in vene-
real affections; its action is searching, and  powerful on the
glandular system.  It enters into and is the basis of Dr. Smith's
Anti-mercurial syrup, which is held  in  high estimation, by
some, in mercurial and venereal affections.   The medicine is
also useful in dropsy, and in scrofulous complaints.   It is high-
ly recommended in colic,  and also in liver complaints.  The
dose of the powdered root is from 8 to 15 grains.
SAMBUCUS CANADENSIS.
            Elder, Sweet Elder, Black Elder §c.

                                               i
            Sexual System—Class 5.  order 3.


  The elder is a very common indigenous shrub, and needs
no further description. 
286             APOCYNUM ANDROC<EMIFOLIUM.

  Medical properties and uses.—The inner bark and young leaf
buds are a pretty active cathartic of a hydragogue character, &
being actively diuretic are very good in dropsy.   For this use,
a handful is usually stewed in a pint of cider, and drank at suit-
able intervals, in wine glassful doses.  The bark is also some-
times made into an ointment, for cutaneous affections.    The
flowers are much used in families, for children, and the berries
are recommended in rheumatism.
APOCYNUM  ANDROCiEMIFOLIUM.
Bitter dogs-bane, Bitter-root, Wandering milk meed, Honey bloom.
               Wild buckicheat, fly trap, Sec.
              Sexual System—Class 5; order 2.


-'■■■> Description.—Root perennial, long, horizontal.creeping,hat-
 ing a thick fleshy  bark, with a woody centre, and tasting at
•first somewhat like the root of the asclepius tuberosa, but af-
 terwards intensely bitter.  Stem erect, smooth, and about two
 to four feet  in  height.  The leaves are opposite,  petiolate,
 ovate, acute, entire, two to three inches long, and smooth.— 
AMYGDALUS PERSICA.
287
Flowers white, tinged with red, and disposed on loose nodding
axillary racemes.  Fruit, a pair of long slender and tapering
folicles or pods, containing the seeds and  seed-down.  The
whole plant when wounded exudes a milky juice.

  Locality, and habits.—The dogs-bane grows most  abundant-
ly in low wetish or meadow lands, but is occasionally found
on  uplands.   It is common throughout the U. States.  Its
(lowering time is in June and July.

   Medical properties  and uses.—The bark of the root is an ex-
cellent laxative, bitter-tonic,  strenthening the digestive or-
gans, and regulating  the bowels, and is highly useful in dy-
spepsia, liver  complaints,  intermittents,  jaundice,  &c.   It
is also useful in syphilis.  The dose, as a laxative, is from 10
to 15 grains.  In large doses it proves emetic, and actively
cathartic.  Age impairs its virtues.
AMYGDALUS PERSICA.
Peach tree.
Sexual System—Class 12; order 1.
  The peach tree needs no further description.

  Medical properties and uses.—The leaves, flowers, and buds
of the peach tree, are cathartic or laxative, and tonic, and are  • ?
much used in domestic practice, especially  among children..
They are good for worms, bowel-complaints, loss of appetite,
and constipation of the bowels.  The fruit or peach, is boiled
for the convalescent, as food;  the juice is very good to keep
the bowels open during recovery, and is excellent to promote
the appetite of the sick.   The  kernals are a good tonic,  in* ,
dyspepsia, and for a weak stomach and bowels.
  An infusion of  the leaves is very good for  urinary difficul- *
ties, especially for inflammation of the bladder.  Dr. Thorn-
son'esteemed the medical properties of the kernels very highly;
they enter into his restorative syrup No. 5. 
288              CONVOLVULUS PANDURATUS.
CONVOLVULUS  PANDURATUS.
American Jalap, Man root,  Man-in-the-ground,  Wild Potatoe,
            Wild morning glory, Cussander, fyc
Sexual System—Class 5: order 1.
   Description.—Root perennial, very large, and in shape, of a
 fancied resemblance of a man, whence some of its names.—
 It runs deep into the ground, growing larger as it decends, to
 sometimes two feet, when it  again tapers off.   The  root is
 sometimes found eight to ten inches in diameter, and three
 feet in length.   The stalk is a slender, herbacious, climbing
 vine, often from eight to twelve feet long.  The leaves, which
 are situated alternately with  long petoiles on the vine, are
 broad, heart-shaped at the  base, entire, and of a deep green
 color. The flowers resemble the morning glory, are white at
 the border, but purplish-red at the  base, and  stand on  long
 axillary peduncles.

  Locality and habits.—This plant grows throughout this coun-
 try, in sandy grounds, along fences, and in pasture fields.  It
 flowers from June to August.

  Medical properties and uses..—The American jalap is mildly
 cathartic, diuretic, and tonic.   Its laxative properties adapt it
 well to the relief of habitual costiveness, dyspepsia, liver com-
 plaints, &c. It is also very good in lung affections, being some-
 what expectorant.  It relieves whooping cough and asthma,
 and has proved serviceable in consumption.  The dose is from
20 to 30 grains of the powder, but is best used in extract; of
which the dose is  from five to  ten grains.   This  article will
cure the colt distemper, among horses. 
SPIGELIA MARILAND1CA.                269
III. ANTHELMINTICS.
  Anthelmintics are medicines  which have the power either
to destroy or expel worms, or prevent their generation in the
intestinal canal.   Some of  these remedies act as poisons to
the animals, others destroy them by  mechanical action, and
again others simply by their  purging  power, expel them alive;
and finally we find others, which, by their action on the system,
so dispose the  physiological condition of the  parts infected
with them, as to prevent their generation.
    Special Anthelmintics.


SPIGELIA MARILANDICA.
Pink  Root;  Carolina Pink, Indian Pink.
             Sexual System—Class 5; order 1.

   Descripton.—Root perennial,  yellow,  and  very fibrous.
Stems, several to the root, simple, erect, foursided, and from
a foot to a foot and a half in height.  The leaves are oppo-
site, sessile, ovate, lanceolate, entire, and smooth.   The flow-
ers are very handsome, of a bright scarlet outside,  and yellow
within;  they are about an inch long, and haye a tube swelled
in the middle, and are disposed in terminal racemes.

   Locality and. habits.—The pinkroot grows plentifully in Ma-  >-
ryland,  the  Carolinas, Kentucky, and  Florida.   It grows in  •
rich soil on the  borders  of woods, and blossoms in June and
July.

   Mfdical properties and uses.—The  root of this  plant  is a
valuable vermifuge, but its anthelmintic properties seem best
adapted to  the expulsion of the long round worm.  Its ek
fects are  certain in this species  of worms, which is the mom
common in this country; but it cannot be depended on, in tkfc
removal of any other kind.  The medicine should be used
fjr a day or two, in  proper doses, and should then be followed
             19 
290
CHENOPODIUM  ANTHELMINTICUM.
by a, briak cathartic.   The  dose  of the powdered root, for a
child three or four years old, is from ten to twenty grains. For
an adult, the dose is from one to two drachms, three times a
day.   The most  common form of its use, however, is in the
form of infusion.   Half an ounce of the root,, boiled in  a pint
of water for several hours, and given in doses of from a table-
spoonful to an ounce, to a child two or three years old; for an
adult, from a quarter to half a pint is a  proper  dose.   The
medicine is sometimes given in connexion with  a cathartic;
and for this purpose senna is most generally used, but the bet-
ter way is to give the pink root first and then the cathartic.
CHENOPODIUM  ANTHELMINTICUM.
Wormseed, Jerusalem Oak, Goosefoot, Src.
Sexual System—Class 5; order 2:
   Descrijttion.—The chenopodium  anthelminticum: Is an indi-
 genous perennial plant, with an herbaceous, erect, branching
 furrowed stem, which  grows  from two  to three feet high.,
 The  leaves are scattered, sessile, oblong,  lanceolate, pointed
 at both ends, dentate, and prominently veined.   The flowers
 arc  numerous, small, and of the same color with the leaves,
 or stems.

   I locality and habits.—This  plant is found in every part of
 this, country, growing,  plentifully around dooryards, in  old
 fields, and hy Ae  road sides.  It flowers  in June and July.
 The whole plant has a strong scent, very  offensive to soimv
 being that of the oil.
  There is another species of the chenopodium, the ambro-
 sioides, which  very closely  resembles this, but it does  not
 grow so- large, and may be  known moreover, by the differ-
ence in the racemes, which, in the  ambrosioides, is intersper-
 sed with small leaves.   It is stated by Eberle, that the latter
 is nearly as good an anthelmintic as the former.

  Modical properties and uses.—The wormseed, as it is com-
monly called,. & oae of our best anthelmintics.   The oil, which 
POLYPODIUM FELIX MAS.                291
is the usual form in which the medicine is used, may be given
in doses of from three to eight drops to a child two or three
years old.  The dose should be  repeated two to three times a
day, for two days, when it should be followed by an active ca-
thartic.   For this purpose, castor oil is commonly used.—
Wormseed oil is  often  combined, by physicians, with castor
oil, and put up in,ounce phials, and sold  as a popular vermi-
fuge.   For the preparation of these see dispensatory.
POLYPODIUM FELIX MAS.
Male Fern, Male shield Fern, fyc.
Sexual System—Class 24. order l—filiccs.
  Description.—Root perennial, horizontal, fibrous, and is sur-
rounded by the thickened bases of the curved footstalks, which
overlap each other in their oblique position around the rhizo-
ma.  The foot-stalks or  stipe, and mid-rib are covered with
brownish, transparent scales.   The frond or compound lsaf is
of an oval, lanceolate, acute, pinate, form; the pinnae or leaf-
lets are situated remotely below, but standnearer together to-
ward the top, and at the  summit seem, crowded.   They are
lobed, and of an oval shape, and. are the seat of fructification.
The general aspect of this plant is much  like that of all the
ferns; it grows in tufts or  bunches, and is found in pine woods,
in New Jersey, and Virginia.

  Medical properties and uses.,—The male fern  is actively an-
thelmintic, and has gained for itself a great character.  It was
used by Theophrastus and Galen,  who prescribed  it against
taenia and lumbicoides.   The great secret purchased* by Lou-
is XV. of France, from Madame Nouffer, consisted chiefly  of
this article.  The medicine is now in considerable use among
many physicians, and is generally regarded as a prompt and
efficient vermifuge, especially in the removal of the tape worm.
The dose of the powdered roots and radical portions of the
supes, is about three drachms, to be  given in emulsion  or
electuary.  The dose should be repeated morning and evening
for several days, and then followed with a brisk cathartic.
^T^prTc*^^"^"^' Wuni.waa,l»,000 franca* 
292                  PUNICA  GRANATUM.
PUNICA  GRANATUM.
Pomegranate.
                   Sexual System—Class 12: order 1.


        Description.—"The pomegranate is a small shrubby tree at-
      taining in favorable situations the height of twenty feet, with
      a very unequal trunk, and numerous branches, which some-
      times bear thorns.  The leaves are opposite, entire, oblong or'
      lance-shaped, pointed at each end, smooth,shining, of abright
      green color, and stan^at the ends  of the  young branches.—
      The petals are roundish and wrinkled, and are inserted into
      the upper part of the tube of the calyx, which is red, thick and
      fleshy.   The fruit  is a globular berry something larger than
      an orange, crowned with the calyx, covered with a reddish,
      yellow, thick, coriceous rind, and divided internally into many
      cells; which contain an acidulous pulb, and numerous oblong,
      angular seeds."

        Locality and habits.—"This tree grows wild upon both shores
      of the Mediterranean, in  Arabia,  Persia,  Bengal, China, and
      Japan, has been introduced into the East and West Indies, and
      is cultivated in all civilized countries where the climate is suf-
      ficiently warm to allow the fruit to ripen.   In higher latitudes
      where  it does not bear fruit, it is raised in gardens and hot-
      houses for the beauty of its flowers, which become double and
      acquire increased splendor of colouring by cultivation. Ifoubts
      have been entertained as to its original  country.  The nam?
      of 'Punicum Malum,' applied by the ancients to its fruit, im-
      plies that it was abundant at an early  age in the  neighbor-
      hood of Carthage.  The fruit of the pomegranate, for which
     ., the plant is  cultivated  in tropical climates, varies  much in
      size and flavour.  It  is said  to  attain  greater perfection in
fev  *'* holh these  respects  in the West Indies, than in its native coun-
 ■<+    'try."—17. S. Dispensatory.

        Medical properties and  uses.—The bark of the  root of this
      tree is a very ancient remedy for the tape worm, and it is now
      in extensive use as  an anthelmintic, in Hindostan, Germany,
      Switzerland, and France.  It may be administered in powder 
         PRIDE OF CHINA, COWHAGE, OIL OF TURPENTINE.      293

 or decoction: the decoction is made byT macerating two oun-
 ces of the bruised bark in a quart of water for some 24 hours,
 and then boiling down to a pint.   The dose of this is a wine-
 glassful, taken in from one to two or three hours, until the
 whole is taken.  The dose of the powder is from one to two
 drachms, once in two hours till five or six doses are taken.—
 The medicine, when used as an  anthelmintic, should  always
 be followed on the second day, by a good dose of oil or man-
 drake.
   The pomegranate bark is also astringent and  tonic;  and is
 classed among these by some writers.

    Pride of  China, (Melia Azedarach.)—This  beautiful tree,
 which is now cultivated in the southern part of our country,
» affords  a very good medicine of the  anthelmintic class.   The
 fresh bark of the root, and the berries are the parts used.  A
 handful of the bark is prepared in decoction, and given once
 in a few hours till it effects the bowels? or it may be given  in
 proper doses several times a day, and then be followed with a
 cathartic.  The medicine in large  doses, is emetic  and ca-
 thartic.
    Cowhage, (Dolichos Puriens)—The hairs produced by the
 pods of this plant, are an excellent  anthelmintic.   Their op-
 eration is  mechanical, destroying the animals by piercing
 them as with so many spears.    They appear  to be alike ef-
 fectual in the removal of" all kinds of worms; and there seems
 to be no danger in their use, as the alimentary canal is com-
 pletely protected against their harm, by the mucous mem-
 brane.  The dose is a teaspoonful of molasses, thickened with
 those hairs, morning and evening, for three or four days, and
 then followed with a cathartic.   The dose for  an adult is a
 tablespoonful of the compound, taken, in the same manner.
   Oil of Turpentine, (Oleum Terbinthince)— The oil or even
 the spirits of turpentine is actively anthelmintic, but the medi-
 icine is rather harsh, and should not be used while articles
 more mild and equally efficient are to be had.   The dose of
 the oil as an anthelmintic is about a teaspoonful  for an adult,
 but has been administered in much larger doses,  even to the
 amount of one or two ounces in  some cases of tape-worm.—
 When used, the medicine should be given at a single dose, and
 soon followed with a full dose of castor oil.

   There are many other articles  that are recommended as be-
 ing good to destroy and expel  worms.   The  Cabbage-tree
 (Geoffraea Inermis.)  Tartarian southernwood (Artemisia San-
 t onica.)  Camphor; the bark of  the Yellow Poplar (Lirioden- 
294
EXPECTORANTS.
  dron Tulipifera,) &c, are all  active  anthelmintics, and have
  their advocates.  But the best  medicines against worms are
  the bitter tonics, which act by a double  advantage.  Bitters,
«  while they are offensive  to worms,  are  equally effectual in
  obviating that condition  of the digestive organs*.which is fa-
  vorable to their  production.  A persevering use of the bark of
  any of  the  poplars, the wormwood, chammomile, or almost
  any other bitter article will effectually evacuate the system of
  worms.
                      CHAPTER II.

   Medicines affecting most prominently the respiratory organs.

                  I.  EXPECTORANTS.

  These are medicines  which  in  their effects promote the
bronchial secretions, and favor their exit from  the system by
expectoration.   Their use in consumption, peripneumonia,
pleurisy, whooping-cough, asthma, croup, &c, is well known.

                   Special Expectorants.

                        LOBELIA.

  Lobelia, in addition to its valuable  emetic and relaxant
properties, also proves itself one of the best expectorants now
known to the profession.  Few cases occur in  medical prac-
tice, in which this article will not fulfil  the ordinary indica-
tions of the use of expectorants; and in difficult cases, there
is perhaps no article that will answer a better purpose. The
almost uncontrolable  agency that this article possesses, in
equalizing the  circulation, makes  it actively jj antiphlogistic,
while its physiologically stimulating effects, are eminently cal-
culated to sustain vitality.  The medicine  may therefore bo
exhibited in view of its expectorant powers, in either the as-
thenic (high) or asthenic (low) diathesis, (state of action,) with-
out any of the apprehensions often betrayed by the friends of
Allopathy, in the use of stimulating remedies in fevers or in-
flammation.   When in possession of lobelia  therefore, the 
ARUM TRIPHYLLUM.
295
physician, in contemplating the use of expectorants, in  cases
of inflammation of the lungs, pleurisy, asthma, &c, need not
defer the administration until the  inflammatory symptoms
may have subsided, but he may proceed at once, and thus ful-
fil both indications.
  Lobelia may be safely used in .all  cases in which  expecto-
rants are called for.
  When the medicine is used as an expectorant it is best to
prepare it in the form of a tincture,  and for this purpose, vin-
egar is perhaps the best menstruum.  The dose is from 10 to
30 drops; of the powder the dose is from one to ten grains
ARUM TRIPHYLLUM.
Indian Turnip, Wild Turnip, Wake Robin, S\-c. 
296                   ARUM TRIPHYLLUM.



                 ARUM TRIPHYLLUM.


       Indian  Turnip, Wild Tnrnip, Wake Robin, <$-c.


             Sexual System—Class 21; order 7.
  Description.—Root perennial, bulbous, fibrous below.  Early
in the spring it puts forth a large, ovate, acuminate, variously
colored spathe, convoluted at the bottom, flattened and bent
over at the top like a hood, and supported by an erect, round,
green or purpleish scape.  Within the spathe is the fructifica-
tion, which, when mature, presents a bunch of beautiful scar-
let berries, which remain after the other parts of the plant are
decayed.   The leaves consist of one or two  triples, ovate,
lanceolate, entire, standing on long sheathing footstalks.

  Locality and habits.—This plant is a native of America, and
is found throughout the U. States, growing in damp woods, in
meadows, and along fences.

  Medical properties and uses.—The wild turnip, in its recently
dried state, is  actively expectorant, and very  applicable in
coughs, and all other cases  in which an expectorant is in-
dicated.
  It is best given in honey or molasses,  or  something  of the
kind, as it  is necessary to give it in substance,  for it will not
yield its active properties to alcohol, ether, water  or oil.  In
its recent state, it is too acrid for internal use, but has, in this
state been  found serviceable in whitloes,  and  other painful
healings, in the form of a poultice.
  The root, if entire, may be preserved in its green state for
a year or more if buried in the sand, or kept in a cellar. 
ICT0DES FCSTIDA.
297
ICTODES FCETIDA.
           Swamp Cabbage, Skunk Cabbage, <yc.


            Sexual System—Class 4; order 1.


  Description.—Root large, bulbous, and very thickly beset on
all sides with long, large fleshy fibres.  The top of this plant
consists of large radical leaves, somewhat similar to the com- 
298                 POLYGALA SENEGA.
mon cabbage leaf, but of a deeper  green color.   Its appear-
ance, when it emerges from the gronnd, is represented in the
cut.  The flowers are within the  spathe which they resemble
in color.   The seed, which is found at the base of the style,
consists of brown berries of the size of a pea.

  Locality and habits.—This singular herb grows in every part
of the United States, in wet lands, swamps and meadows.

  Medical properties and uses.—The  skunk cabbage is a good
expectorant, and is likewise anti-spasmodic and nervine.   In
catarrh, consumption, pleurisies, and especially in asthma,  it
will prove itself a very good remedy.   The  medicine should
be used in substance.  The dose of the powder is from a half
to a whole teaspoonful two to three times a day, as an expec-
torant, and oiltener as an anti-spasmodic.  Age impairs its
virtues.
POLYGALA SENEGA.
Seneka Snakerool.
Sexual System.—Class 16; order 8.
  Description.—The root is  perennial and branching, giving
rise to several erect, simple, smooth, round, leafy  stems, from
nine inches to a foot in height.  The stems are red, or purple-
ish  below, and green  above.  The leaves are alternate or
scattered,  lanceolate,  smooth, and  sessile, or arranged on
the stem upon short footstalks.  The flowers are white, small
and disposed in a close spike at the summit of the stem. This
valuable herb grows in all parts of our country,  but is  most
abundant in the south  and west.

  Medical properties and uses.—The senega root is a stimula-
ting expectorant, and is also diuretic, and emenagogue.   Its
expectorant powers are especially valuable in catarrh,  croup,
and  asthma.  Its pungent effect on  the tongue is very last-
ing, causing a free discharge of saliva.  The medicine is used 
LIQUORICE, fcC
299
in powder and decoction.   The dose of the former is from 10
to 20 grains.  A table spoonfnl of the coarse powder,  scald-
ed in a pint of water, and sweetened, is of proper strength:
this is  to be taken in table  spoonful doses, often repeated.

  There are several other articles that are highly esteemed as
expectorants .by some physicians, and perhaps merit a notice
under  this head.
  Liquorice,(Glycyrrhiza Glabra.)—The root, or extract of this
article, is a  good expectorant, and is much used.   The dose is
from 20 to 30 grains, of either the powder or extract.
  Hoarhound, (Marubium VulgareJ)—This is a popular reme-
dy in coughs, in domestic practice.   The tops are generally
combined with other articles of this kind, such as  the  spike-
nard, elecampane, skunk cabbage, wild turnip, &c; and form-
ed into a syrup.

  Spikenard, (Aralia Racemosa)—The root, and berries, of this
popular plant are very good in pectorial complaints; they re-
lieve pain in the breast, and are healing to the lungs.   This
article is most commonly used in syrups with other articles.

  Pleurisy root, (Asclcpias  Tuberosa)—This article also seems
to hold its  rank among the expectorant remedies—it is very
good in pleurisies, and hence its vulgar  name.    The usual
form of its use is in decoction, or syrup.

  Elecampane, (Inula Helenium)—This is a balsamic expecto-
rant and is  healing to the lungs.   It  is (best suited to follow
the use of the more active expectorants. It should not be used
in doses too large, as it is somewhat active in its effects.   The
dose of the  powder is from 20 to  30 grains.   In  decoction of
an ounce of coarse powder to a pint of boiling water, the dose
is from one to two fluid ounces.

  Wild Cherry, (Prunus Virginiana)—The bark of this stately
tree is an excellent remedy in coughs and consumption.   It is
anodyne and calms irritation, thus relieving  that  distressing
hacking that often attends affections of the lungs.  If there is
any single article  that will cure  the consumption, it is this.—
The writer has known confirmed lung difficulties  removed
simply by  chewing the bark and swallowing the juice—it is
a valuable  remedy in syrups for pulmonary affection.

   Onion, (Allium  Copa.)—Onion juice, is a popular remedy in
domestic practice-   It is used in croup,  asthma, whooping 
300
ARSARUM EUROPEUM.
cough, and all other lung affections.   The allium sativum, or
garlick is of like properties and is used in the same way.
CHAPTER III.
Medicines affecting most prominently  the folicular or glandular,
                   and excretory organs.

                     I. ERRHINES.             >

  These are a class of medicines designed for topical applica-
tion, and  are used as a snuff which, when applied to the
schneiderian membrane, promotes its secretions.  On persons
not accustomed to their use they  excite sneezeing.  Many
articles, under this definition, might be brought under this
head, but the practical application  of these remedies is con-
fined but to a limited number.   The  object of their use em-
braces the cure of a few diseases of the head only.   In  cases
of head-ache, tooth-ache, ear-ache, pain in the eyes, and rheu-
matic affections *about the head, the use of errhines is some-
times advantageous.   The mode of their operation is simple
and very easily understood; the irritation that  they produce
on the schneiderian membrane, causes an afflux to this organ,
thus relieving in other parts  the crowded or obstructed con-
dition which is the cause of the pain experienced in them.
Special Errhines.
ARSARUM EUROPEUM.
Asarabacca.
          Sexual System—Class 12; order 1.


Description.—Root  or rhizoma,  perennial.  Stem short, 
NARCOTTNA TABACUM.
301
round, simple, herbaceous and pubescent.  The leaves are op-
posite and stand on long footstalks; are kidney-shaped, entire,
pubescent, and,of a deep green color.  The flower is large, of
a dusky purple color, standing on a short terminal peduncle.

  Locality and habits.—The asarabacca is a native of Europe,
growing between 37 and 60 degrees North  latitude, in woods
and shady places, and flowers in May.

   Medical properties and uses.—This is a popular  errhine, and
produces a copious flow of mucus, which continues sometimes*
for several days.  The  root is rather severe,  and hence the
leaves, which are milder, are generally prefered.   They are  ,
used in fine powder, in the form of a snuff, two or three times
 a day until relief is obtained.   This  snuff is good in a crow-
 ded state of the head attending catarrhs &c.
NARCOTINA TABACUM.
Tobacco.
                 Sexual System—Class 5;  order 1.


      Description.—Root, annual, white, woody, and branched.—
    The stem is upright, tapering, woody, with a large pith, and
"■■   »rows from four to six feet high, with a branched top.   The
    leaves, which are very large below, but smaller higher up the
    stem, are alternate, sessile, smooth, entire, lanceolate and ol
    a yellowish green color.  The flowers, which are situated on
    terminal panicles, are of a pale pink and white  color.   The
    corolla is bell  shaped, having a border divided into five poin-
    ted sediments.                                   ■**

      Locality and habits.—The  Tobacco is a native  of America.
    but is now cultivated in every part of the world.   It is a sttf-  ,f
    pie article oT Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio.

      Medical properties and uses.—This is a powerful errhine, but  ■<
   • the patient is very apt to become accustomed to its use.  As 
£0"J                   MALAGOGUES.
 a snuff, this nauseous article has quite a large number of vo-
 taries, many of whom  have become so habituated to its en-
 slaving influence, that  they reckon it among the luxuries  of
 life.  Nor is its use as a snuff, the only  result of its intoxica-
 ting  power.  Independent  man,  so fond  of slavery,  against
 his natural taste, learns to chew it.  Nor da the more delicate
 of his species, the women,disdain the loathful habit-they smoke!
 —they snuff!!—and per chance they  chew  tobacco!!!—What
 strange infatuation! what apology is there for the habit? is the#
 practice graceful? is it convenient?  nay  is it  conducive  to
 health?.  Answer thou tobacco slave who  hast  but two hum-
 ble zoonic brethren in its use..
   Tobacco is narcotic and sedative, its use is therefore injuri-
 ous.  It has however been much appreciated by many, for its
 relaxant powers.  Its use as a relaxant,  among Reformers,
 however, is entirely superceded by lobelia.  As an errhine, a
 small pinch of the powdered  leaves  may be taken three to
 four times a day, or ofteaer if necessary,  until relief be ob-
 tained.

   Bayqerry, (Myrica Cerifeva)—This  is  a  very  good  errhine,
,and may be used in combination with the  powdered  herb of
 lobelia.
   Lobelia  Inflata.—The powdered herb is good in catarrhal
 headache,   and  inflammations  of  the  schneiderian  mem-
 brane.
   Wild Ginger, (Asarum Canadensis)—The  pulverized leaves
 are a veryr good errhine. •     v
..  •               II. SLALAGOGUES.

  These are medicines which act prominantly on the salivary
glands, producing a free secretion and discharge of saliva.—*
They are useful in fevers, and  inflammations  of the mouth,
tongue, fauces, and tbroa*, and  afford great relief when the
mouth is inclined to be dry and  parched.

                   Special  Sialagogues.

  PgicKLEY Ash, (Xanthomjlum Fraxinewm)—The bark or the
root of this article is-an excellent sialagogue, producing copi-
ous discharges of saliva, which continues for many hours.  It 
EUPATORIUM  PURPUREUM.
303
may be used in decoction, or the root may simply be chewed
and retained in the mouth for a few  moments, or if chewing
it is not convenient, the powder may be  moistened and held
in the mouth for a time.
  Cayenne Pepper.—The tea or tincture of this valuable med-
icine is a very good sialagogue.
  Lobelia Inflata.—All the preparations  of this article are
good sialagogues, and as such, may be used indiscriminately.
                    III.  DIURETICS.
         *
  Diuretics are medicines which are calculated to promote the
urinary evacuations.  Their use, in many cases, is of consid-
erable importance, especially in urinary suppressions, gravel,,
dropsies, fevers, and viceral inflammations.


                     Special Diuretics.
                                  «

             EUPATORIUM  PURPUREUM.
             Queen of the Meadow, Gravel Root.


            Sexual System—Class 17; order 1.


  Description.—Root perennial, horizontal, woody, with many ^  #
long black fibres.   Stem upright, smooth, purpleish green, hoi-   J
Tow, and from three to, five feet high.   The leaves, which are
situated on the stem in whorls of from three to six at a joint,
are lanceolate, serrate, and about four to eight inches in length,
and from one to two in width.   The flowers are purple, small,.
and numerous, and  are situated, in beautiful umbils on. the
top of the stem and branches.                       , '

  Locality and habits.—This useful plant grows m meadows,
in other low  grounds,  and in woods that are not too muxjla
shaded.   It flowers in July and August. 
304
JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS.
   Medical properties and uses.—This species of the eupatorium
is one of the most valuable  diuretics  known, operating with
ease and promptness.  It is singular that an article so valua-
ble as this, should not be more spoken of in  works on mate-
ria medica.  In the majority of cases this  article will give
immediate relief in backache: and in dropsies,  urinury sup-
pressions, and gravel, it is perhaps inferior to no other simple
article.  It is generally  used  in decoction;  an ounce of the
coarsely  powdered root scalded in a pint of boiling water,
and drank  in  the course  of two  or  three hours, is a prop*er
portion.
JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS.
Juniper.
Sexual System—Class 22; order 1.
    Description.—The  Juniper is  a bushy shrub,  attaining
sometimes to the height of twelve to fifteen feet, with many
branches.  The leaves are evergreen, narrow, entire, sharply
pointed, channeled, of a deep green color, and are attached to
the stem or branches in threes.  The flowers are axillary,ses-
sile, small; the males discharging a copious amount  of yellow
polen; females green, and on scaly stalks.  This tree is a na-
tive of Europe, but has been introduced into this country.  ?

     Medical properties and uses.—The berries  and oil are ac-
tively diuretic.   It is the oil of Juniper that gives to gin its
diuretic property.  An ounce of the bruised berries may be
scalded in a pint of boiling water,  and drank in the course of
a day, or the oil may  be taken in doses  of from one to three
dozen drops.  The Juniper may be used in all cases  in which
a dRrretic is indicated. 
APOCYNUM CANABINUM, COrAIBA OFFICINALIS.       305
APOCYNUM CANABINUM.
Indian Hemp.
Sexual System—Class 5; order 2.
  Description.—The Indian hemp bears a very close resemb-
lance to the bitter root (Apocynum Androsaemifolium.)   The
root, whicli is the part used  for medical purposes, is about
the thickness of a quill, and several feet in length.  The stems
are herbaceous, erect, branching, of a brown color, and from
two to three feet high.   The leaves, which are opposite, are
oblong, ovate, pubescent, and acute at both ends.  The flow-
ers are small and numerous, and are disposed in panicles like
those of the bitter root;  they are of a greenish yellow color
without, and of a pink or purple within.

   Locality  and habits.—This article grows in  meadows and
other bottom lands, along fences, and the skirts of woods, found
in most parts of the United States.

   Medical properties and uses.—The Indian hemp is a very good
diuretic;  it is also  diaphoretic*emetic, and  cathartic.   Some
Botanical physicians make much use of it in view of its diu-
retic properties.  It is generally used in decoction;  a half an
ounce of the root scalded in a pint of water, will be of suita-
ble strength.  This is to be drank through the course of a day.
COPAIBA  OFFICINALIS.
            Copavia.


Sexual System—Class 10;  order I.
Description.—There are a number of species of the copai-
           20 
 30t>               TEREBINTHINA VULGARIS.

 icra, that yield the balsam, but the C. officinalis, described in
 the U. S. Dispensatory, is considerable of a tree, growing in
 Venezula, and the West Indies.   The tree is of lofty growth,
 much branched, and has a heavy foliage.  The balsam is ob-
 tained by making deep incisions into the stems, from which
 the purebalsam flows.   It is  thin  and colorless when fresh*
 but acquires a thicker consistence, and yellow tinge, by age.

   Medical properties and uses.—The balsam is  diuretic, and
 gently stimulant, and laxative.   As a diuretic, it is much in"
 use in the treatment of urinary affections, and in gonorrhoea.
 But it is  somewhat irritating in its effects on the urinary or-
 gans, especially if the use  of the medicine  is long continued.
 The copavia is also considered valuable by some in affections
 of the lungs and trachea, and by  others in  dysentery, leucor-
rluoa, and for worms.   The  dose is from 20 drops to a tea-
spoonful  three times a day.
              TEREBINTHINA  VULGARIS.

                           Pine.

             Sexual System—Class 21; order 8.

   Dc-cription.—There are various species of the pine that yield
the turpentine of commerce.  We have l,thePinus Palustris,
2, the P. Ta^da, 3, the P. Sylvestris, ecc.  The Pines generally,
are tall forest trees, growing on poor lands in the eastern and
southern states.   The leaves are ever-green, very narrow and
long, and are generally in twains or threes, thickly set on the
small twigs.   The  flowers or catkins, are a singular conical
arrangement, which  hang on the ends^of the twigs.
   The oil and spirits are distilled from the  turpentine, or re-
sinous juice that is exuded from the tree.   The pure oil of tur-
pentine is perfectly limpid and colorless, of quite a strong pen-
etrating odor, and pungent taste.

  Medical iprperties and uses.—The oil of turpentine is stimu-
lant, diuretic, diaphoretic, rubefacient, and anthelmintic.  As
a diuretic, it is very active, and thorough,  but is rather harsh.
\\ hen long continued it is apt to irritate the urinary passages,
•md not unfrequently gives  rise to violent stranguarv.  The 
                  LE0NT0ND0N TARAXACUM.               307

dose as a diuretic, is from 10 to 30 drops, repeated every few
hours.
LEONTODON TARAXACUM
Dandelion, Pissabed.
Sexual System—Class 17; order 1
  Description.—The dandelion is an herbaceous plant, having
a perennial  fusiform, fibrous root, and many deeply toothed
radical leaves.  The flower which is yellow, stands on a long
hollow stem, and puts forth  early in the spring; the  whole
plant, when wounded emits a milky juice.   It grows in mead-
ows and pastures, all over the U. States.

  Medical properties and uses.—The root of this plant is a val-
uable diuretic, it is also tonic, pectoral, and alterative.  This
article is much used by the  German physicians, and  is un-
doubtedly one of our most, valuable indigenous plants.  But,
like many other useful articles, it is neglected on account of its
commonness.  The medicine is considered  serviceable in af-
fections of the kidneys, spleen, liver and lungs; and has been
found of benefit in many other glandular diseases.   The dose
is five to six grains of the extract, or a wine glassfull of the
strong decoction,three or four times a day.
t 
308                 GALIUM ASPERULA.
GALIUM ASPERULA.
Small Clevers,  Goose grass,  eye.
 ,           Sexual System—Class 4; order 1.


  Description.—This is a delicate herbaceous vine that grows
many feet in length; and being extremely  much branched,
forms mats of various sizes, kwhich are supported by bushes,
fences, or any thing that may chance to be in its reach.  The
leaves are small, numerous, lanceolate, linear, and are situa-
ted in whorls around the vine.   They are beset with prickles,
ore teeth that project backwards.  The flowers are white, very
small, and numerous. 
ASCLEPIAS  FIBROSA.
309
  Locality and habits.—Clevers is an indigenous plant, grow-
ing in meadows, along brooks, in new grounds, and in open
moist woodlands.

  Medicalpropei tics and uses.—This is a very  good diuretic,
operating with considerable ^promptness  and  certainty.  It
may be used in all cases in which diuretics are indicated.
  There is  another variety of clevers, called galium aperine,
which is of larger growth,  and is hence usually called large
clevers, that is also a good  diuretic.
  When used, the leaves and vines are generally prepared by
infusing them in warm water, which may then be drank freely.
ASCLEPIAS FIBROSA.
Silkwced, Fibrous Cottonwecd, Indian Hemp, Sfc.
Sexual  System—Class  18;  order 5.
   Description.—The root is perennial,  fibrous, white,  and
 smooth.  The stem is smooth,  shining, branched on the top,
 and from two to  three  feet in height.  It has a very strong
 flaxy bark, whence it is sometimes called Indian hemp.   The
 leaves are lanceolate,  acute  at both ends, smooth, entire, a-
 bout an inch in width, and about three inches in length.  At
'the top of the stem, they are usually joined at  the base so as
 to form  compound leaves  of a triangular  shape.  The flow-
 ers," which in their organization resemble those of the ascle1-
 pias generally, are found in bunches on the branches and top
 of the stem.   They are of  a dusky  yellow color, and appear
 in July.                                              «s*

  Locality and habits.—This species of the  asclepias seeqis to
 delight in sandy bottoms, and banks  of streams.  It flourish-
 es in most parts of the U. States.                        •!
                                                       i'
  'Medical properties and uses.—This article is quite a good di-
 uretic, and may be used with confidence in all cases in which
 medicines  of this class are found  useful.  Considerable ad- 
310
PARSLEY, &C.
 vantage may sometimes be gained by its use in fevers, and
 inflammation of the lungs and liver; and especially in cases of
 inflammation of the kidneys, bladder,  and  in gravel.  It is
 chiefly used by infusion.   A large table spoonful of the pow-
 dered root may be  scalded in a  pint of water, and drank in
 the course of three  or four hours.

  Parsley, (Apium  Petroselium)—The  root of the  common
 garden  parsley, is  a very good  diuretic,  useful in dropsies,
 gravel, affections of the kidneys, &c.  It is prepared in strong
 infusion, and drank freely.
  Asparagus,  (Aspargus  Officinalis)—The root  of this well
 kridwn garden vegetable, prepared by scalding two ounces in
 the'green state, in a pint of boiling water, and drank freely, is
 also a pretty good diuretic.
  Elder, (Sambucas Canadensis.)—The  inner bark of the com-
 mon sweet elder is diuretic, and cathartic, and as such, is val-
 uable in dropsies, and kidney affections.
  Watermelon, (Cucurbita Citrullus)—The  seeds of this de-
 licious production, as well as those of the pumpkin, cucum-
 ber, muskmelon, and gourd,  are diuretic;  and are much used
 in domestic practice, for stranguary, inflammations of the u-
 rinary bladder, kidneys,  &c.  They are  used in decoction,
 which should be drank freely,
  Milkweed,  (Asclepias Syrica)—This article is  also some-
 what diuretic in its  effects, and has been  highly recommend-
 ed in dropsey.  It is used in strong infusion  and taken freely.
  .Corn Snakeroot, (Eryngiurrt Aquaticum)—This is a perenni-
 al plant, growing  some two  feet in  height, with branches.
 Its leaves are long,  resembling young  corn leaves,  and are
 thickly  beset along their edges, with spines or prickles, The
 flowers are disposed in globase heads.  The root which is tu-
 berous in form, has an aromatic, bitter, pungent tastes It is
 diuretic, stimulant and expectorant,  and is useful in dropsies.
g^vel, and kidney affections.  It  is also highly recommended,
 both as  an external and internal remedy, in snake bites.
  Fleabane,  (Evigeron.)—There  are several species of this
 plant that are possessed of nearly the same medicinal proper-
ties.  They have been  variously called, cocash, skevish, ska-
bish, frost-weed, squaw-weed, field-weed, &c.  They have a
yellowish perennial root, and a  round hairy stem, growing
fr&m three to  four feet high.  The leaves are long, lanceolate"
 and edged with hairs; the lower ones are toothed.   The flow-
ers are very small, white, numerous, and are arranged in ter-
minal peduncles.
  These plants possess valuable  diuretic,  tonic,  and  some- 
ANTILITHICS.
311
what astringent properties, particularly valuable in dropsies,
kidney affections, chronic diarrhoea, suppression of urine, &c.
The dose of the powdered root is from thirty to forty grains.
IV. ANTILITHICS.
  Under this head it is designed to notice such articles as are
known to have the power to alter the state of the urinary se-
cretion, so  as to prevent the  formation of calculi, or to dis-
solve them  when already formed.  Their operation is entire-
ly chemical.  In their effects  they disturb the chemical rela-
tion of the  several elementary principles of which these dis-
tressing obstructions are  constituted.
       Special  Antilithics.


CARBONAS SOD.E ET POTASS/E.
Soda  and Safer atus.
  As the various urinary  calculi are generally composed of  .
oxygen united with  a base, either in the form of lithic acid,   ■
oxalate of lime, and  cystic oxide, or of the earthy phosphates,   t
it is easy to discover the utility of such alkalines as soda and
potash, in  these  difficulties.  It is therefore unnecessary  |b<
refer to the amount of evidence that might here be adduced
in their favor.  But it should  be borne in mind, that the po-
tency of  these agents is only evinced in preventing, or obvia-
ting the lithic or calculine diathesis, or in other words, in pre-
venting the formation of calculi, while the elements  are free,
for it is known  that when these  formations exist, and the ele-
ments  thereby  rendered comparatively latent, that little c|n
reasonably  be  expected from these remedies.  The dose'of
these medicines,  is from a half to one tea spoonful, dissolved
in a half tea cup full of water, to be taken once or twice per
day. 
312                   DIAPHORETICS.
   Gravel root, (Eupatorium Purpurium)—This article is now
 gaining considerable reputation as a lithontriptic, and has, in
 the hands of the writer, given more general satisfaction than
 any other article  used by him for gravel.   The most distress-
 ing symptoms have been  known to yield to its use.   The use
 of the medicine should be commenced in small  doses, and in-
 creased to as much as the stomach will bear.
   Radish, (Rapnanus Sativus)—The juice  of the garden rad-
 ish, is highly recommended as an agent to dissolve urinary cal-
 culi,—it is recommended  that it should be injected  into the
 bladder, as well as used  per stomach.  The dose is as much
 as the stomach will readily bear.
   Honey, (Mel)-—This article is regarded by some  as  being
 very good to relieve the symptoms of gravel,  and  with this
 view, it may be used to sweeten other  articles, less pleasant
 to take.  Some affirm that  honey will actually dissolve the
 stone in the bladder.
   Carbonate  of Magnesia, (Magnesia Carbonas.)—This article
• is a very good antilithic;  it  is perhaps more prompt in preven-
 ting an excess of uric acid, than any of the alkalies.  It cer-
 tainly merits confidence,  and should be used in all cases when
 the deposition is of the lithic  kind.  But in calcerous forma-
 tions, this article, as well as the active alkalies, is perhaps of
 no use, nay, it is perhaps pernicious in its effects.   In all ca-
 ses in which  the deposition  consists of  a yellowish brown
 pink  or  lateritious  color,  the  alkalies are indicated.   The
* white precipitates generally consist of earthy phosphates, or
 calcareous formations, in  wliich the acids are perhaps most in-
 dicated.                 '"'
   Lime Water,  (Aqua Calcis)—This is also a good antilithic,
 and may be used freely as such, when articles of this kind are
 indicated.
   Uvae ursi folia, (Bearberry)—This article has had its share
 of favor as a remedy  in  gravelly affections.  De Haen, Far-
 rjar, and others, recommend it very much.  The dose of this
 article is from  10 grains to a teaspoonful of the powdered
 leaves, three times a day.
                  V.  DIAPHORETICS.

  Diaphoretics are  medicines which,  in their  action on the
animal economy, increase  the  natural transpiration  by the 
DIAPHORETICS.                    313
cuticular exhalents, or in  other  words, which  promote per-
spiration.
  By former usages this term expresses insensible perspira-
tion only, and when sweating was spoken of, the  term sudo-
rifiG was used.  The convenience of the latter term  in  ex-
pressing degrees of the perspirating phenomenon, is such as
still insures it a place in the medical vocabulary.  Neverthe-
less, it is designed to notice under the  above head, indiscrim-
inately, such articles as are found most valuable in promoting
general perspiration.  As obstructed perspiration is character-
ized by various conditions of the body, it is obvious that a va-
riety of articles may  contribute in forming a proper list of
these agents.  In some instances,  the obstruction may arise
from a spasmodic constriction of the emunctuaries,  while in
others it may be dependant on languor  of the  circulation, or
general debility.   It is plain that in the former case, the relax-
ing diaphoretics are indicated, and  that in the  latter, those of
a stimulating character are best.
  The diaphoretics are among the  most valuable medicines
that we possess, their  usefulness being  entirely equal to the
importance of perspiration.   Their application in fevers,'and
many other acute diseases, is almost indispensable,  while in
many chronic affections they are also, often of  great utility.
  Although stimulants generally produce perspiration, yet the
 notion that no article  or means but those  that are very pun-
 gent to the taste^, and which in their effects, manifestly in-
 crease, in a corresponding degree, the action of the heart and
 arteries, can produce  diaphoresis,  is not only unreasonable
 and absurd, but its erroneousness is witnessed almost every-
 day by all observers.  A  copious draught  of  any fluid  will
 usually promote  perspiration.  Sometimes a simple drink o;
 cold water will produce a copious  sweat.   Some  of the min-
 eral poisons, which manifestly diminish the action  of the hear'
 and arteries, are nevertheless, at the same  time,  diaphoretic:
 and  as  such, antimony  and nitras potassa,  might here be ,t
 named.

                    .Special Diaphoretics.                  #

   Lobelia, cayenne pepper, ginger, camphor,  cloves, cinna- '
 mon, peppermint, and many other  articles, whose ihost prom-
 inent properties give  them a conspicuous place elsewhere, are •
 among our best diaphoretics.  Several of these form some of
 the chief ingredients  of many of the  most popular diaphor-
 etic compounds, used bv the Reformed practitioners.  But, as
 the limits of this work will not admit of a separate notice of 
314              'xanthoxylum fraxineum
these  articles  in this place, it is thought proper to pass over
them here, to consider those articles whose most  prominent
properties, bring their consideration properly under this head.
XANTHOXYLUM FRAXINEUM.
Prickly Ash.
Sexual System—Class 20; order 5.
    Description.—The prickly ash is an indigenous shrub, from
  five to ten feet in  height, and considerably  branched.  The
  branches are beset with many strong, sharp,  scattered prick-
  les.   The leaves are pinate, with four or five pairs of leaflets,
  and one terminal one.  The flowers are small, of a greenish
  color, and situated in bunches about the base  of the young
  shoots.   They are followed with greenish red berries, which
  burst in the fall, and present a round black oval seed.  The
  prickly ash grows  all  over this country,  on  ipich bottom land,
  on the banks of streams, and on hillsides.

    Medical properties and uses.—The  bark of  the  root of the
  prickly ash is actively diaphoretic, and very permanent in its
  effects.   The berries,  which  are  more pleasant to  the taste,
  are equally .good.  The root  and berries when  chewed, im-
  part a very pungent and acrid taste, which is quite lasting.—
  Either, when chewed and held in the mouth, have been known
^to cure the toothache.  The medicine has gained quite a char-
  acter, in its effects in rheumatism.   It is likewise very good
  in catarrhs, pleurisies, and viceral inflammations.   As a  dia-
  phoretic, irf*fevers, and in many chronic affections, it holds a
  high rank.   The medicine is generally taken in infusion; an
  ounce of the powdered root, or half as much  of the berries, is
  scalded in a pint of water, and taken in wineglassful doses
 »once in an hour or two.
 5 
EUPATORIUM  PERFOLIATUM.              315
EUPATORIUM PERFOLIATUM.
         Thoroughwort, Boneset, TJioroughstcm, §-c.


       Sexual System—Class 19;  order 1,—sequalis.


  Description.—The root of the thoroughwort  is perennial,
horizontal, crooked, with fibres.  The stems, which are from
one to a dozen in number, are erect, round, hairy, branched at
the top, arid from two to three feet high.  The leaves are very
peculiarly shaped;  they  may be considered opposite,with their
broad bases joined around the  stem, or the two may be con-
sidered as  one leaf, perforated by the stem.  They extend
from three to four inches from the  stem, and taper regularly
from this into an acute point.   Like the stem, they are thick-
ly beset with fine white hairs, which give them, though of a  •
deep green, a paler appearance. The Flowers are small,  nu-
merous, whitish, and are arranged in  clusters or corymbs  on
the top of the stems and branches.

  Locality and habits.—Nearly  all the varieties of the  numer-
ous genus  to which this article belongs> delight in wettish rich
soil, growing very  plentifully in meadows, pasture grounds,
along streams, and in  open woodlands.  The  thoroughwort
may be found, in favorable places,  throughout the U.  States.

  Medical properties and uses.—This article constitutes one of
our surest,  and most permanent diaphoretics.  In-its action,
in producing diaphoresis, it is very analogous to  the lobelia
inflata, producing nausea and general relaxation; and is hence
of incalculable utility in the treatment of fevers, especially
those occurring  in the  Western States.   It is also  actively
tonic, and is therefore  peculiarly applicable  in intermittent,
and bilious remittent  fevers.  The Indians of our  country-
have used the  thoroughwort in these, and many other varie-
ties of disease, from time immemorial.  They prepared it in
decoction, and drank it freely before going into  their baths.   .
  For colds, and inflammatory  affections of the organs of the*
chest, this forms an excellent remedy.
  The thoroughwort infusion forms an invaluable relaxant
enema, useful in all fevers and inflammations. 
316                 POLEMONIUM REPTANS.
  Iii large doses the medicine proves emetic and cathartic.
  The most common preparation of this article is the infusion;
this is made by scalding an ounce of the  leaves  and flowers
in a pint of water.  The  dose  is a wineglassful once in an
hour, unless it should sicken, when the dose is to be smaller.
It is also prepared in pills  with cayenne pepper, which are ta-
ken as a diaphoretic and anti-dyspeptic, in doses of from two
to four.  The dose of the  extract is from  five to ten grains.
POLEMONIUM REPTANS.
Greek Valerian, Sweat Root, Bluebells.
Sexual System—Class 5; order 1.
  Description.—Root perennial, small; very fibrous, and white.
Leaves pinate like the locust, and situated on radical petioles 
ASCLEPIAS TUBEROSA.
317
  or footstalks, about 8 inches or a foot in height.  The flowers,
  which are small and of a beautiful blue color, are campanu-
  late or bell-shaped, and disposed on separate, branched stems.

   Locality and habits.—This  is a  very common indigenous
i  plant, growing in meadows, low wood lands, along fences and
  road sides.  It flowers early in the spring.

   Medical properties and uses.—The Greek Valerian is  an ac-
  tive diaphoretic, producing copious and free perspiration.  The
  medicine is applicable in all  cases in which diaphoretics are
  indicated.   It is one of the prominent ingredients in the sudo-
  rific powders.
   Besides its diaphoretic properties, it possesses others  that
  are much esteemed in consumption and other pectoral diseas-
  es.  The dose of the powdered root, is a teaspoonful.   The
  most common form in which it is used, is by infusion; a table
  spoonful of the root in coarse powder, is scalded in a pint of
  water, and drank freely.
                ASCLEPIAS TUBEROSA.


        Pleurisy Root,  White Root, Swallow Wort, fyc.


             Sexual System—Class 5; order 2.


  Description.—This species of asclepias  has a large, tuber-
ous, perennial root, which is  branched, rough,  and generally
crooked.   Within it is white, but externally it is of a dirty
yellow color.  In thp latter part of May it puts forth from one'
to a dozen or more stalks, which arrive at full growth in July.
These are round, pubescent, or wooly, erect, or inclining, bran-
ched at the top, and about the thickness of a little  finger.—
The leaves are oblong, lanceolate, thick or fleshy, entire, pu-
bescent, pale underneath, green on the upper side, and stand
alternately on the  stem,  and are scattered on the  branches.
The flowers, which are of a very beautiful orange yellow, are
disposed in bunches or  umbils on the tops of the  stem  and 
318                 SANICULA  MARILANDICA.
 branches.   The  flowers are followed  with oblong, pointed
 pods, which contain the seed and seed  down.

   Locality and  habits.—This beautiful and  valuable plant
 flourishes most on sandy  and gravelly plains, in neglected
 fields, along fences, in orchards,  and in pasture grounds.  It
 blossoms in July.

   Medical properties and uses.—The asclepias tuberosa is a mild
 but pretty certain diaphoretic, particularly useful in pleurisies,
 inflammation of the lungs, and other pectoral inflammatory-
 diseases.  It is an excellent article in hectic fevers attending
 consumption, and is also a good  remedy in  those  coughs at-
 tended with  a feverish condition  of the body, that arise from
 colds.  It promotes expectoration, equalizes the circulation,
 and sustains  a moisture of the skin.
   This article constitutes a valuable ingredient in diaphoretic
 compounds.  The infusion is the  most common form in which
 it is used.  It is, however, quite probable that the extract will
 before long be  the most common preparation of this article.
 The infusion is prepared by scalding an ounce of the powder-
 ed root in a pint of water; this  is to be drank freely, while
 other means are being used to promote  perspiration. *
  This article forms a valuable ingredient in syrups, prepared
for coughs and othjer pectoral diseases.
SANICULA MARILANDICA.
Indian Sanicle, Black Snake Root.
             Sexual System—Class 5; order 2.


  Description.— Root perennial, fibrous, the older fibres black
externally, the younger ones of a dirty white, or brown.  The
flower stem is erect, round, branched, and from six  to sixteen
inches in height.   The leaves are digitate, lanceolate, smooth,
entire, serrate, and generally five at a whorl.   The flowers
are small, white, and disposed in clusters on the tops  of the
branches. 
     SANICULA MARILANDICA.                319

SANICULA MARILANDICA.
Indian Sanicle, Black Snake Root.
  Locality and habits.—-The sanicle abounds in low, moist and
rich woodlands, in pasture grounds, along fences, and in new
grounds.  It is found in most parts of the United States.

  Medical properties and uses.—This is  a good  diaphoretic,—
useful in  malignant and protracted fevers.  It sustains a gen-
tle and permanent moisture of the  surface.   The medicine 
320
NEPETA  CATARIA.
also quiets nervous irritability, expels flatus, and forms an ex-
cellent external application to snake bites, and other poison-
ed, and angry wounds.  The dose, as an internal remedy, is a
tea spoonful of the powder.   It is, however, more  generally
used in strong decoction.
NEPETA CATARIA.
t
 
NEPETA CATARIA.    !*             321
NEPETA CATARIA.
Catnip.
             Sexual System—Class 13; order 1.


   Description.—This is a perennial, herbaceous plant, with a
4ioary, quadrangular, and branching stem, which grows fre-
 quently to the height of three feet.  The  leaves are opposite,
 cordate, dentate, and pubescent; they are  green  above, but
 whitish on their under surface.  The flowers, which are slight-
 ly purple, are  arranged  in  terminal racemes, and appear in
 July and August.

   Locality and  habits.—This plant is  found  in  abundance
 throughout the United States, growing in gardens, waste
 fields, along highways, and around old buildings.

   Medical properties and uses.—The leaves of this plant form
 one of our most valuable diaphoretics, producing perspiration
 without augmenting the heat of the body,  rendering it pecu-
 liarly  adapted to the cure of febrile affections.
   This plant is also  valuable as a carminative, and is highly
 recommended  in female obstructions,  hysterics,  headache,
 worms, and  spasms.   It is useful  in fomentations, and as  an
 ingredient in poultices for swellings.   An infusion of it, forms
 an excellent injection for children in colic, and restlessness.
   For internal use, it is employed in infusion; a handful should
 be infused in a pint of boiling water, and taken freely.
21 
322                LOBELIA CARDINALIS.
LOBELIA CARDINALIS.
Red Lobelia, Cardinal Plant, Sfc.
            Sexual System—Class 5;  order 1.

  Description.—Root perennial, fibrous, white, and smooth.—
Stem erect, simple, round, pubescent, from two to four feet in
height, and terminating in a spike of beautiful  red  cardinal 
anthemis  cotula.                  323
flowers, which in their  organization very  closely resemble
those of the lobelia inflata.  The leaves  are long, alternate,
lanceolate, entire, acute  at both ends, and serrate.

  Locality and habits.—The red lobelia seems to delight in low
wettish lands, and the banks of  streams.  It is found in most
parts of this country.   Its flowering  time is  in July and
August.

   Medical properties and uses.—Red lobelia is a pretty good di-
aphoretic,  particularly  useful in fevers, pleurisies, and  vi-
ceral inflammations.  It may be combined with thoroughwort,
 and taken freely by infusion.  It is also highly recommended
*in worm complaints, and as a nervine.
ANTHEMIS COTULA.
Mayweed, Dog Fennel, Wild Chammomile, c)-c. 
324                  akthemis cotula.
          ANTHEMIS  COTUL'A.


Mayweed, Dog Fennel, Wild Chammomile, Spc.
              Sexual System—Class 17; order 2.

                                            *
   Description.—Root annual, crooked, and fibrous; stem erect,
 striated, and branched, from one to two feet high, and bear-
 ing alternate,  sessile, flat,  doubly pinnated,  slightly hairy
 leaves,  with-- pointed  linear  leaflets. • The flowers,  which
 stand alone  upon the  summits of the branches, and  stems,
 consist of a central, convex, yellow disk,  with white  radial
 florets, which stand out horizontally during the day, but in-
 cline their disk toward the stem at night.

   Locality and habits.—This plant is indigenous to this coun-
 try, and is found in  abundance all  over the United States,
 growing by road sides, and in old fields.

   Medical properties and uses.—The Mayweed has been  too
 much neglected by physicians, on account of its commonness.
 It is a valuable, sudorific, stimulant, anodyne, emetic, &c, and
 is, eonsequently, useful in colds, asthma, dropsy, fevers, rheu-
 matism, hysterics, epilepsy, &c.  It forms one of the most val-
 uable fomentations in the treatment of swellings, contusions,
 piles, hysteric fits, suffocations,  &c.  The fresh plant,  bruised,
 or put into boiling water, or vinegar, and  laid  on the  skin,
 will produce a  permanent rubefacient effect.  For internal
 use^ it is commonly taken in  infusion,  prepared by steeping
 half an ounce  of the  powdered leaves, in a pint of boiling
 water.  This should be used freely.  Drinking of the  tea will
greatly assist the ..operation of emetics. 
NERVINE TONICS AND ANODYNES.             325
               HEDEOMA  PULEGIOIDES.

                        Pennyroyal.

              Sexual System—Class 2; order 1.

   Description.—This  indigenous  annual plant grows to the
 height of from 8 inches, to more  than one foot.   The root is
 small, branched, fibrous and of a yellowish color.  The stem
 is pubescent, and has numerous slender erect branches.  The
•leaves are opposite, numerous, and nearly acute.  The flow-
 ers are of a pale blue color, and are situated along the whole
 length of the branches.  It has an agreeable aromatic  smell,
 and a warm pungent taste.

   Locality and habits.—This plant is abundant throughout the
 United States, and is found in dry soils, in pastures, and by
 road sides.

   Medical properties and uses.—This article is much  used in
 domestic practice, where it is highly esteemed as a means of
 promoting perspiration.  It removes female  obstructions, re-
 lieves colds, &c.   As a stimulant, its effects are diffusible, pro-
 ducing an agreeable sensation of warmth, and a healthy glow
 throughout the whole system.  It is also valuable to facilitate
 the operation of emetics, and other medicines.
   It may be used in  infusion, tincture,  or essence.  The in-
 fusion, however, is preferable.
CHAPTER IV.
    Medicines affecting most prominently the nervous system.


       I. NERVINE TONICS, AND ANNODYNES.


  These are a class of medical agents that have a specific ef-..
feet on the nervous system, and chiefly evince their powers in 
326                CYPRIPEDIUM PUBESCENS.

quieting nervous irritation, relieving pain, and in stimulating
the nervous tissues to a healthy action.  These agents are not
necessarily narcotics, or soporifics, although the  most perma-    ,
nent and potent annodynes are such: or, it seems at least, that
the annodyne properties are generally associated, in medicin-
al plants, with the narcotic and soporific.   Nevertheless, it is
certain that there are articles of medicine  which  are consid-
erably prompt in quieting nervous  irritation, and  relieving
pain, that do not produce any stupefying or soporific effects.
   Medicines of this class are particularly  indicated  in cases
of nervous weakness, chorea, tetanus, epilepsy,  delirium tre-
mens, neuralgia, subsultus tendinum, &c.


            Special Nervine tonics and Annodynes.

              CYPRIPEDIUM PUBESCENS.
        Yellow Lady's Slipper,  American valerian.

           Sexual System—Class 18; order 2.

Description.—There are  several varieties of the lady's slip 
CYPRIPEDIUM PUBESCENS.
321
 per that are nearly of like value as nervines.  Besides the
 pubescens,*  we have the candidum, parviflorum, spectabile,
 and the acaule, all of which are used for  the  same purposes.
 The yellow lady's slipper is,  however, generally considered
 rather the best medicine.*
   In their appearance, the several varieties bear considerable
 resemblance, excepting that they vary  somewhat in size, the
 number of their leaves, and the color of their blossoms.   The
 candidum, has white blossoms, the spectabile  red, and some-
 times grayish, while, as already stated, that of the pubescens
 is yellow.  The acaule is of smaller growth than the rest.
   The root of the lady's slippers  is  perennial, of a dirty yel-
low or brown color, with long crooked  fibres, resembling the
 ravelings of knitting.  The stem is upright, round, and sheath-
 ed by the leaves.  The leaves are from two to six in number,
 lance-oblong, striated, entire, and  sheathing.   The flower is
 of a very singular formation, having a fancied or real resem-
 blance of a moccason, and is situated on the top of the stem.

   Locality and habits.—These plants grow in a rich soil in moist
 places, in open woodlands, and meadows.   The yellow vari-
 ety is, however, found on uplands,  as on hillsides, in woods
 where it is not too much shaded, and on plains.  It is common
 in most parts throughout the U. States.

   Medical properties and uses.—All the varieties of the lady's
 slipper above named, may be used indiscriminately, and will
 be found among our best nervines.  In their operation a pow-
 er possessed by few articles  of the materia medica, is evinced.
 They quiet nervous irritability, relieve pain, and seem to  re-
fresh both body and mind.   They are harmless in their effects,
and mayr be used in all cases in which articles of this class are
indicated.  They are  particularly useful in hysterical affec-
tions, hypochondriasis, delirium tremens, &c.   The writer has
known some of the most difficult cases of the latter kind yield
with remarkable promptness to the  effects of lady's slipper.
The dose is a teaspoonful of the powderered root,'or as much
of the tincture, often repeated.
  * Sometimes tailed lutcwn. 
328
SCUTELLARIA LATERIFLORA.
SCUTELLARIA  LATERIFLORA
Blue Sculcap.
             Sexual System—Class 13; order 1.


   Description.—Root perennial, fibrous, and yellowish.  Stem
 erect, square, from one to three feet in height, much branched;
 branches opposite, square,  and smooth.   Leaves  opposite,
 cordate, lanceolate, serrate, very thin, and supported on long
 petioles.  Flowers labiate, with a tube half an inch in length,
 of a delicate blue color, and situated along on the tops of the
istem and branches.  The flowers are followed by seed vessels
 of a very singular shape; they are  cuped, and  open at the
 sides. v

   Locality and habits.—The  sculcap  is  an indigenous plant,
 growing in pasture grounds, along fences, and in open woods. 
VALERIANA OFFICINALIS.
329
  Medical properties and uses.—Sculcap is one of our most ef-
ficient nervine  tonics,  and antispasmodics;  it operates with
promptness and certainty,  and is applicable in all cases of
nervous debility, and irregular nervous excitement.  The wri-
ter has been very successful  with this article, in connection
with lobelia, in the treatment of hydrophobia.  No article
seems to answer a  better purpose in cases of the nervous
weakness common to females.  It is also very applicable in
the  debility that follows protracted fevers; and has been high-
ly recommended for the cure of intermittents.
  This medicine, being a pure nervine tonic,  may  be relied
upon in all cases in which  articles of  this class are indicated.
The dose is a teaspoonful of the pulverized leaves, or as much
of the tincture.
VALERIANA OFFICINALIS.
English Va lerian.
Sexual System—Class 3; order 1.
  Description.—The exotic valerian is a large handsome her-
baceous plant, with  a fibrous perennial root.   The  stem is
erect, round, channeled, and from two to four feet in height.
The leaves of the stem are sheathing; the  radical ones are
larger, elliptical, and deeply serrate. In the former, the leaflets
are lanceolate and partially dentate.  The flowers are small,
white or rose colored, and situated in terminal corymbs.

  Locality and habits.—This plant is a native  of Europe, where
it is found in damp woods and meadows, and sometimes  on
uplands.

  Medical properties and uses.—This is an excellent^ nervine,
particularly servicable in hysterical affections, but may be used
with advantage in all cases in which the American Valerian
is found servicable.  The dose is a teaspoonful of the pulverized
root, but it is more commonly prescribed in tincture;  the dose
of this, is from one to two teaspoonfuls. 
330
LACTUCA ELONGATA.
LACTUCA ELONGATA.
>  $*■<-.»
#■
Wdd Lettuce, Trumpet weed. 
LACTUCA ELONGATA.
331
LACTUCA  ELONGATA.
Wild Lettuce, Trumpet weed.
              Sexual System—Class 17; order 1.


    Description.—This is an indigenous biennial plant, with a
  hollow stem, from three to six feet in height.  The leaves are
  very deeply toothed, somewhat resembling the dandelion,
  smooth on the under side, and sessile.   The flowers resemble
  those of the common garden lettuce, and like them, are dis-
  posed in corymbose panicles.

    Locality and habits.-—The wild lettuce is a very common
  plant, found throughout this country, growing in waste fields,
e open woodlands, and roadsides; but delighting most in a rich
•  soil.  It flowers in June and July.

    Medical propei ties and uses.—The milky juice of this plant,
  is an excellent annodyne, and nervine,  operating with safety
  and promptness.  It is without any narcotic power.  There is
  perhaps no better application  than this for  painful haemor-
  rhoidal tumors.   It seems to quiet the  irritation, and  rapidly
  to heal them.  The indications for its internal use, are tenes-
  mus, spasms,  chorea, &c.  The dose  is from five  to fifteen
  grains of the  inspissated juice. 
332
PANAX QUINOUEFOLIUM.
PANAX  QUINQUEFOLIUM
9
Ginseng.
Sexual System^—Class 5; order 2.
 m   Deso'iplion.—The ginseng has a perennial, fusiform root, of
  the size of a man's finger or larger.  The stem  is upright,
.  round, smooth, from six inches to a foot in height, and divided
  into three branches on the  top.   The leaves are  compound,
  consisting of five, or more rarely of three or seven petiolate,
  oblong, ovate, accuminate, serrate  leaflets.'  The flowers, 
ANGELICA ARCH ANGELICA.
333
which are arranged in a simple umbel, supported by a pani-
cle rising from the fork of the stem, are small and of a green-
ish color.  They are followed by a cluster of kidney-shaped,
scarlet berries, containing two and sometimes three seeds.

  Locality and habits.—This is an  indigenous plant, growing
in rich soil, in open woods and new grounds, throughout this
country.

  Medical properties and uses.—The ginseng is a good nervine
tonic, gentle stimulant, demulcent and diaphoretic. It is very
useful in nervous affections characterized by debility and irri-
tability.
  This plant is  valued extremely high in China, where no
medicine is much esteemed unless combined with this.  But
in this country, it is not much esteemed by the profession gen-
erally. Still, as a nervine, the medicine well merits a  place
in our materia medica.  The  usual dose is a tea spoonful  of
the pulverized root, but may be taken in much larger portions.
ANGELICA  ARCHANGELICA.
                Garden Angelica, Archangel.


            Sexual  System—Class  5; order 2.


  Description.—Root biennial, long, thick, fleshy, and fibrous.
Stem large, round, hollow, jointed, channeled, smooth, branch-
ed, of a purplish color, and some five feet or more in height.
The leaves which stand on long, round, hollow footstalks, are
doubly pinnate,with ovate, lanceolate, pointed, serrate leaflets,
of which the terminal one is  tri-lobed.  The  flowers, which
are small, are of  a greenish-white,situated in terminal umbels.
The seed is round and fiat, with a swelling in the middle.

  Locality and habits.—This plant is a native of Lapland and
Northern Europe, but is  now  cultivated in  nearly all our
gardens. 
334               ANGELICA ATROPURPUREA.
  Medical properties and uses.—The seed and root of this plant
are aromatic, nervine, and carminative, and are very good to
cover the taste of less pleasant medicines; and in their  use,
therefore, we have a double  advantage in all cases in which
articles of this class are indicated.
ANGELICA  ATROPURPUREA.
          Wild Angelica.


Sexual System—Class 5; order 2.
  Description.—This plant very closely resembles the forego-
ing, having a large perennial root, and a dark, smooth, hol-
low, herbaceous sterii, growing from four to ten feet high.—
The  leaves are ternate, and supported on  inflated  fobtstalks;
their leaflets are ovate, acute, serrate, and the three terminal
ones joined at the base.   The flowers are of a greenish white.
Seeds not so large as those of the archangelica, but of near-
ly the same shape.

  Locality and liabits.—The angelica A. is  found throughout
the United States, in meadows, and swampy places.   It flow-
ers in July.

  Medical properties and  uses.—This is an aromatic  nervine
tonic, stimulant, and carminative.  The seeds  and roots arc
the parts used.  They are a valuable remedy in diseases of
children, such  as colic, pains in  the stomach,  &c.  The seed
also  forms a very good vehicle for the administration of other
medicines, especially  cathartics,  disguising their  taste, and
modifying their griping effects.  Dose, from 30 to  60 grains,
in substance, or it may be used by infusion.

  Anise Seed,  (Anisum Semina)—This is a very good anodyne
and carminative, and is useful in colic,  and flatulent disorders
generally.  It  is peculiarly serviceable as a soothing anodyne
for infants, and in modifying the unpleasant  effects  of other
medicines.  The dose  for an  adult, is a tea spoonful  of  the 
ANTISPASMODICS.
335
powder, or a table spoonful of the tincture.  For a child two
years old, a tea spoonful of the tincture may be given.

  Fennel Seed, (Foeniculum Semina)—This  is also a valuable
anodyne, and carminative, and may be used in all cases where
the anise would be indicated.
  Camphor.—Gum camphor is an excellent  anodyne, opera-
ting with remarkable promptness.  It is particularly useful to
relieve afterpains  in  obstetrical  practice.   The medicine is
generally used in tincture, of which the dose is a tea spoonful
every 30 or 40 minutes, until  relief is obtained.
                 II.  ANTISPASMODICS.

  This is a class of remedies  that in their effects on the sys-
tem, have a tendency to modify irregular nervous action, and
thus to relieve spasms.   The medical agents constituting this
class, differ from the foregoing in their being more  powerful,
permanent, and relaxing in their effects.  It is true, however,
that many articles called nervines and  anodynes, are promi-
nently antispasmodic in their operation.
  Antispasmodics, as the name indicates, are particularly use-
ful in  all cases of  convulsions or spasms: such as epilepsy, ap-
oplexy, tetanus, chorea, hydrophobia, &c.   They are also ve-
ry serviceable to relieve that constricted condition of the cap-
illary  system, and tightness of the skin, that is peculiar to fe-
vers.  Arterial excitement may be modified by them, and thus
congestions are prevented or overco'me.


                  Special Antispasmodics.

                       LOBELIA.

  Lobelia inflata, without doubt, stands at the  head  of our
antispasmodics.   Nor are these properties of the medicine
less remarkable for their effects, than the emetic,  or any other
that it possesses.  Spasms of every kind, yield to the lobelia
with astonishing promptness.  The most violent spasms that
attend hydrophobia, or apoplexy, have  been  known to yield
to it in from 15 to 20 minutes.  It may  therefore  be used with
confidence in all cases in which medicines of this class are 
336            CAULOPHYLLUM THALICTROIDES.

indicated.  The dose, as an antispasmodic, in violent cases, is
a teaspoonful of the pulverized seed, repeated as often as it is
thrown up, or once in from ten to fifteen minutes.  The med-
icine should, in urgent cases, be administered by enema at the
same time.  For use as an antispasmodic, this article is usu-
ally combined with others of this  class:—See antispasmodic
tincture, among the  compounds.
CAULOPHYLLUM  THALICTROIDES.*
Blue Cohosh, Blueberry.
Sexual System—Class 6; order 1.
  Description.—Root perennial, extremely  fibrous, and  of a
dirty white or brown color.  Stem smooth,  erect, divided into
  *Leontiee Thalactroidea.—Linnaus.        "            ~     " 
CAULOPHYLLUM THALICTROIDES.
337
three branches at the top.  Leaves pinnate, smooth, and pal-
mate or lobed, with three, seldom five folicles, the lateral ones
nearly sessile, oblong, unequally  bifid, and  acute.  The ter-
minal  folicle is  separated,  larger than the rest, having five,
rarely three unequal lobes or segments.  Flowers  yellowish
green, small, and situated in a loose corymb in the forks of the
stem or branches, these are followed with blue berries of the
size of a cherry stone.

   Locality and habits.—The blue cohosh is an indigenous plant,
very common in some of the Western States, growing in rich
moist soil in open woodlands.  It blossoms in May  and June.

   Medical properties and uses.—The blue cohosh is antispas-
modic, emenagogue, and diaphoretic.  The medicine is cer-
tainly worthy of a high place among our indigenous  medical
plants, although it has not as yet received much attention by«,
authors.  The Indians of our country, it seems, practiced its
use very extensively as an  antispasmodic and  emenagogue.
 When first taken, the  medicine  imparts  a very unpleasant
 taste, and scratching sensation to the mouth and fauces, and
 is  hence  not without  some objection as a general antispas-
 modic.
   This article seems to exert a peculiarly  healthy influence
 over the muscular fibre, and is hence valuable as  a common
 drink in transient cases of cramp, and in rheumatism, chorea
 arid subsultus tendinum.
   The decoction or  infusion of blue cohosh, is highly recom-
 mended as  a drink before, and during parturition.  It is to the
 use of this  article during the last month of pregnancy, that
 the great facility in parturition, so common among the Indians,
 is ascribed; although in this, the  virtues of the  medicine are
 certainly overrated.
   When used in substance, the dose of the  pulverized root is
 from 15 to 20 grains;  but the infusion is generally prefered:
 an ounce of the root is scalded in a pint of water,  and left to
 steep for an hour on a hot stove  or coals.  Of this the patient
 is required  to drink freely at suitable intervals.
22 
333
FERULA ASSAFCSTIDA.
FERULA ASSAFCETIDA.
          Assafaetida.


Sexual System—Class 5; order 2.
   Description.—The plant yielding the drug of commerce, ac-
 cording to the U. S. Dispensatory, bears the following descrip-
 tion: "The root is  perennial, fleshy, tapering,  when of full
 size, as large as a man's leg, beset with many small fibres near
 the top, externally blackish, internally white, and abounding
 in an excessively foetid, opaque milky juice.  The leaves, all
 of which spring immediately from the root, are six or seven
 in number, nearly two feet long,  bipinnate, with the leaflets
 alternate, smooth, variously  sinuated and  lobed, sometimes
 lanceolate, of a deep green color and foetid  smell.  From the
 midst of the leavers rises a luxuriant, herbaceous  stem, from
 six to nine feet in height, two inches .in diameter at the base,
 simple, erect, round, smdbth, striated, and terminating in large
 plano-convex unibels* with, numerous radii.  The flowers  are
 pale yellow; the seeds ovel, flat, foliaceous, and of a reddish-
 brown color.  The plant is said to differ greatly both in  the
 shape of its leaves,.and the character of its foetid product, ac-
 cording to  the situation and soil in which it grows."
  The assafaetida gum as found in the  shops, is in reddish-
 brown irregular masses.  When broken it presents an irregu-
 lar yellowish-white surface, somewhat shining in appearance,
 but on exposure to the air it soon turns to a purplish-red, and
 afterwards to a reddish-brown, as  above.

   Locality and habits.—This plant  is a native of Persia, and
perhaps other eastern countries, flourishing  very abundantly
in the mountainous countries of Chorrassan  and Laar, where
the juice is collected by cutting  the root transversely at re-
peated intervals  while in  the ground,—the  juice  exuding
from the wounded surface.

  Medical properties and uses.—The assafcetida gum is an  ex-
cellent antispasmodic, and is also stimulant, expectorant, and
slightly laxative.   It  is peculiarly adapted to the treatment
of hysterical affections, convulsions in children,  epilepsy, col- 
VALERIAN,  &C
339
ic pains, cramp in the stomach and bowels,  dyspepsia, and
pectoral  diseases.  The usual  forms  of its use, are in pills
and tincture.  One common sized pill, or a tea spoonful of
the tincture is a  dose, which may be  repeated once  in an
hour or two until relief is obtained.

  Valerian.—Both the English and American (Lady's  slipper)
Valerian, are excellent antispasmodics, and may be  used as
such with confidence, especially in cases of hysterical fits, de-
lirium tremens, subsultus tendinum, and in some cases of ep-
ilepsy.

   Sculcap, (Scutellaria lateriflora)—This article is of late gain-
ing considerable popularity as  an antispasmodic.  It  may be
used in combination with other antispasmodics, in all cases in
which articles of this class are indicated.

   Skunk Cabbage, (Ictodes fcetida)—The root of this plant is
 an excellent antispasmodic.  It has been used as such for  a
 long time, and will generally maintain its character in ordin-
 ary cases.  It must be taken in substance in teaspoonful doses.
                                         #.
   Musk.—Excepting the lobelia, there is perhaps not another
 so powerful an antispasmodic.  But its unpleasant odour, and
 comparatively high price, however,- mal*es its use less exten-
 sive.  It is a valuable  remedy" in'all kinds of convulsions,
 spasmodic asthma, hicup, &c.   The medicine is usually given
 in substance; the dose is from 6 to 30 grains.

   Castor.—This, like the musk, is an animal production, pro-
 cured in cold Northern countries, as in Poland, Russia, Sibe-,
 ria, Thibet, and  Tartary.  The castor is a good antispasmod-
 ic, but is now chiefly restricted in its use to hysterical affections.

   Oil of Amber, (Oleum succini.)—This article  has generally
 been regarded as meriting a place among the antispasmodics.
 It is now principally used in spasmodic affections of the gen^
 ital organs.

   Carbonate of  ammonia, camphor, galbanum, gum ammo-
 niac, garlic, cayenne pepper, ether, and many other articles not
 here treated as such are in occasional use as antispasmodics,
 and not a few of them are valuable. 
340
emenagogues.
CHAPTER V.
Medicines affecting most prominently the Uterine System.
                     I. EMENAGOGUES.


    Emenagogues are a class of medical agents that promote
  menstruation.   It  is,  however,  doubted  by some authors,
  whether there are  any articles that have a specific effect on
  the uterus.  But although the sanguine practitioner may, in
  some  instances, be disappointed in the use of some of his
  agents of this class, yet it seems that the majority of our most
  experienced practitioners,  are  free to give their convictions
  in favor of the specific emenagogue effects of many of our
  remedies of this class.   It seems, moreover, that  even those
  who appear to be the most sceptical on this  point, are in the
  constant habit of prescribing articles of this class to fulfil the
  appropriate indications.

                     Special Emenagogues.

                 CIMICIFUGA RACEMOSA.*

      Black cohosh, Rattle weed,  Black snakeroot, Squaw root.

              Sexual System—Class 12; order 1.

    Description.—Root perennial, contorted or knotty, irregular,
 Mack without, with numerous long black fibres.  Stem erect,
 round, smooth, and divided  above into three branches, which
 divide again into three smaller ones  each, forming the  peti-
/oles of the leaves.   The leaves are large, and alternately de-
 composed, having oblong, lanceolate, acute, and deeply serra-
 ted leaflets.  The flowers are small, white, and disposed in a
 beautiful, long, terminal, wand-like  raceme  that  rises some-
 tunes^six  or eight  feet from  the  ground.  The flowers are
 followed with small, ovate capsules, that continue on the stem
 through the winter,  or until broken down.
   *This t)iun« is ijore described, on the authority of the U. S. Dispensatory, QS
 belonging to Cimiciftjga; yet it perhaps justly belongs te the Acteides family.
 This view ia strongly corroberated by Rafinesque, who calls it Botrophis, ma-
 king it a sub-genm of the Actea.  It is called Macrotys by Eaton and other*. 
CIMICIFUGA RACEMOSA.
341
CIMICIFUGA RACEMOSA.
Black Cohosh, Rattle Weed, Black Snakeroot, Squaw root. 
342
ACTEA ALBA.
  Locality and habits.—This stately plant beautifies nearly all
our western bottom lands, and rich hill-sides.   It flowers in
June and July.

  Medical properties and uses.—The black cohosh is perhaps
the best emenagogue that we  possess.   It is also  a good
nervine, and anti-spasmodic, removing chorea, epilepsy, and
many other affections of this kind.  It also promotes the se-
cretions of the general system very  remarkably, especially
those of the respiratory organs.  It is also an invaluable rem-
edy in rheumatism; the writer has used it for this purpose
with general satisfaction.   Still its most valuable properties,
perhaps, are the emenagogue.
  The medicine, when used as an emenagogue, should be
taken at, or commencing a little before the time of the usual
evacuation, and continued freely until the desired effect is
produced, at  the same time using such  other  means as are
best calculated to favor the object, as the foot, hip, or vapor
bath, &c.
  Black cohosh is commonly taken by infusion, but the tinc-
ture is also good.  The infusion is prepared by scalding an
ounce of the powdered root in a pint of water, and letting it
steep for an hour on a hot stove or coals; of this the patient
should take a  wine-glassful every hour until it affects the
head with a sensation of vertigo or dizziness, after which the
dose should be  lessened.   The dose of the tincture is a table-
spoonful three or four times a  day.
                      ACTEA ALBA.

               White cohosh, White bane-berry.

             Sexual System—Class 12; order 1.

*  Description.—The root, stem, and leaves of this plant, very
 closely resemble those of the  black cohosh,  which evidently
 belongs to this family.—See Cimiclfuga Racemosa.
   The stem of the white cohosh, however, is not quite so long
 as that of the black, and perhaps the leaves are not so large
 as those of  the  latter.   The fructification of the white co-
 hosh,  also differs considerably from that of the black.   It con-
 sists Sf a comparatively  short peduncle,  arising from the
 junction of the petioles  of the leaf, bearing a cluster of ob-
 long, white berries, which are situated on short, red, stems 
ACTEA ALBA.
343
supported on  the  common peduncle,—the whole  in form
somewhat resembling a bunch of grapes.

                     ACTEA ALBA.
White Cohosh,  White Bane-berry.
  Locality and habits—The white cohosh, and another species
called Red Cohosh,  very closely  resembling this, differing
only in the color of the berries, (which in that are red,) are
indigenous to this country, and are found, though not very
plentifully, in the middle and western states.

  Medical properties and uses.—The medical properties of the
white cohosh are very similar to those of the black, especially 
1
344
ASCLEPIAS SYRICA.
as regards their emenagogue powers,—both articles standing in
the first rank of this class; the dose is the same as that of the
black.  The red cohosh is also regarded as an emenagogue?
The berries of both the white and red, are said to be poison-
ous, and hence the name baneberry.
ASCLEPIAS SYRICA.
Cotton Weed, Silk Weed, Wild Cotton. 
ASCLEPIAS SYRICA.
345
                 ASCLEPIAS SYRICA.


           Cotton Weed, Silk Weed, Wild Cotton.


             Sexual System—Class 5; order 2.


  Description.—Root perennial, horizontal, white, of consider-
able length, and with but few fibres.  Stem erect, round, of a
green color, and from two to fiye feet in height.   Leaves op-
posite, oblong, round at both ends, entire,  smooth, green on
the upper side, white and prominently veined underneath.—
Flowers of a pale purple, sweet-scented, and situated in large
round clusters, rising axillary to the leaves.   The flowers are
followed with pods, containing the seed and seed-down.   The
pods are about an inch or more in diameter, perhaps three inch-
es in length, obtuse at the base, and pointed at the other end.
The  entire plant, when wounded, exudes a thick milky juice.

  Locality and habits.—-This beautiful plant is indigenous to
this country, and grows very plentifully on sandy plains, road
sides, and  on the banks of streams.  It flowers in  July and
August.

  Medical  properties and uses.—The cotton weed  is a  good
emenagogue, possessing also anodyne  properties of consider-
able value.  Its emenagogue powers have of late been well
attested in numerous cases.   While using the medicine, the,
patient should endeavor to promote its good effects by drink-
ing a tea of the  black cohosh, bathing the feet in warm wa-
ter, and applying such other means as are calculated to ac-
complish the object.   The dose of the pulverized bark of the
root is  from  20 to 30 grains, three to four times a day; Ql the.
tincture a  table spoonful is taken three times a day. 
346
LEONURUS  cardiac a.
LEONURUS CARDIACA.
Motherwort.
            Sexual System—Class 13; order 1.


  Description.—This is a well known naturalized plant, grow-
ing about door yards, wood houses, and  stables.  It has a
square stem, about two or three feet in height.  Its leaves are
rough, tri-lobed, serrate, opposite, and supported on long slen- 
pennyroyal, &c.                  347
der petioles.   The flowers are small, and  situated in clusters
around the stem, axillary to the leaves;  their calixes forming
a bunch of very sharp prickles.

   Medical properties and uses.—Motherwort possesses emena-
 gogue and tonic properties. It has for a long time been a pop-
 ular remedy in domestiemractice.  It is best used in combina-
 tion with the black cohosh, or some other more powerful arti-
 cle.  The dose is a wine glassful of a strong infusion, made
 of the leaves, either in the dry or green state.   The tincture
 is used in table spoonful doses.

   Pennyroyal, (Hedeoma pulegioides)—The pennyroyal has for
  a long time been regarded as possessing emenagogue powers.
  It is much used in domestic practice with a view to these pow-
  ers; nor has the profession been indifferent to its merits, as an
  agent of this kind.  The medicine is gently stimulant in its
  effects,  invigorating vital action, and promoting the  natural
  functions of the various organs.   In ordsr to exhibit its emen-
  agogue effects, the medicine must be taken in large and fre-
  quent doses: an ounce of the leaves and seed should be scal-
  ded in a pint of water and taken freely at short intervals,-—
  the patient sitting before a good fire, with the feet in a vessel
K  of warm water; or what is better, the vapor or hip bath may
  be applied.  The oil is sometimes prefered; the dose of this
,, is from ten to twenty drops, taken with sugar.
    Tansy, (Tanacetum Vulgare)—This well known garden plant
  is one of the most common articles used in domestic practice
  for menstrual obstructions.   The  medicine  is  an aromatic
  stimulating tonic, invigorating the system, and promoting the
  excretions.  The dose is a wineglassful of the strong infusion
  three or four times a day, with  other  means  to  promote its
  ClIGCtS.
    Rosemary, (Rosemarinus Officinalis)—This is an  evergreen
 *. shrub, that is a native of Asia Minor, and other parts border-
 - ing on the Mediterranean, but is now  cultivated in gardens,
  in Europe and in this country.  The whole shrub has a strong
  aromatic or balsamic smell, and pungent and  warming taste.
  The flowering summits of the branches, however, are the parts
  chiefly used for medicinal purposes.
    The rosemary is considered emenagogue in its effects,  lne
  writer has never used it as such; and cannot therefore speak
  of its effects in this way, from his own experience; but its dif-
  fusive stimulant powers seem to promise something m its fa-
  vor as an emenagogue.  The  dose is  from three to ten drops
  of the oil,  taken on sugar. 
348           .         madder, &.c.
   Madder, (Rubia tinctorum)—This is a perennial plant much
 cultivated in Europe as an article of commerce.
   Madder is said to possess emenagogue powers, and is rec-
 ommended as such, in  doses  of from 20 to 30  grains three
 times a day.  Wnen taken, it stains the bones of animals red,  *
 but is not generally supposed to possess any poisonous prop-
 erties.                             •
   Seneka snakeroot, (Polygala senega)—This article is a pretty
 good emenagogue, and" as a medicine  of this class, is much
 depended on by old school physicians, although it is much in-
 ferior to the black cohosh, and several other articles used by
 the reformers.  The  dose is a tea spoonful of the pulverized
 root, once in three or four hours.
   Smart-weed, (Polygonum hydropiperoides)—This  article is  '
 very highly recommended by Dr. Eberle, as an  emenagogue.
 The medicine, however, should not be scalded in its prepara-
 tion, as this process very much impairs its virtues. The pow-
 dered leaves may be taken  in substance, in tea spponful do- *
 ses; or the tincture prepared from the same, may be taken in
 the same doses, three or four  times a day.   This latter, is the
 form in which Prof. Eberle  was in the habit of using it.
   Aloes.—The emenagogue  properties of  this  article  are
 pretty generally known,  and  need no commendation.  The •
 dose is from five to ten grains three times a day. The med-
 icine is best taken in combination with cayenne pepper and
 myrrh, in the  form of  pills.  When  the patient is  troubled •
 with haemorrhoids, aloes is objectionable.
   Gum myrrh,  (Myrrha)—The common tincture of myrrh is a
 pretty good emenagogue, and may be  used  in teaspoonful
 doses, in connection with other medicines o^this class^to warm
 up the system  and promote  the good effects of the other med- ,--
 iciaes.                                                    -'  »
   Wild ginger, (Asarum  canadense)—This is a pleasant aro- ,.'.
 matrc, stimulant, and emenagogue.  The dose is a teaspoon-    '
ful of the powdered root, three or four times a day; or a strong '
infusion may be taken freely.
   Cayenne pepper.—This,  as well as most other active  stimu-
lants, is emenagogue in its effects.  It is not a difficult mat-
ter to discover how a general  excitant may prove effectual in    <
relieving particular obstructions. It will be seen by this prin-
ciple, that the  lobelia, if properly used, will prove  itself an
 emenagogue of no mean  character.
   The  oil of savin, and the black hellebore, have for many
years been popular articles  of the emenagogue class, among
 old school physicians; but  they are  not sufficiently safe in
 their use, and should be rejected. 
STIMULANTS OR EXCITANTS.
349
CHAPTER VI.
                 Medicines affecting various organs.


              I. STIMULANTS  OR EXCIT^TS.  W

                                               ,    w
      In the broadest or most extensive signification of the term
    stimulus or stimulant,  every article of the materia medica is
  l*i  embraced, as we cannot conceive of any  effect  in the  living
    economy, without admitting a stimulating or exciting cause cor-
    responding with the effect produced.   In  other words, to effect
   For produce action, is to stimulate.  For the sake  of distinction
    and convenience, however, the term stimulant is used in a
    comparative sense, to distinguish such articles of the materia
£ ■  medica, as evince very prominent, exciting, and invigorating
'    effects on the nervous and vascular systems,  without  giving
,,.  rise to any particular evacuation.
      With this definition of the term, it is evident that this class
    of agents is  perhaps the most  important  in the  materia med-
    ica; for as the  primary cause  of  all diseases is a diminished
    condition  of  the vital powers, or in other words, a want of
  " paramount vital resistance, those medicines that have  a ten-
    dency to stimulate, invigorate, and assist the vital powers, are
    of all the most important.
      Stimulants are particularly indicated in all  marked cases of
    debility, as in low Hirers, cholera, dysenteries, &c.  The effects
 *■«■ of most other medicines are also much promoted, in many in-
    stances, by combining or administering with  them proper
:  .  stimulants. 
350
    capsicum baccatum.



CAPSICUM BACCATUM.
Bird Pepper, Cayente Pepper.
fe"' 
capsioum  baccatum.
351
CAPSICUM BACCATUM.
                  Bird Pepper,  Cayenne Pepper.
                          *

          »   **  Sexual System—Class 5;  .order 1.
                                                *

     Description.—The genus capsicum, proves itself a very ex
 '  tensive family.  The West Indies produce many different spe-
" jcies.  It seems, according to Mr.  Hughs,  in his history of
   Barbados, that this island alone produces sqme twelve or
   fifteen different species.  The number  of the different species
   ia the East Indies, is perhaps still greater;  and this may also
   be said of Africa, and'perhaps of South' America. In the United '
k  States and Europe,  there are at least  from fifteen to twenty
   different varieties cultivated.  t It is  true that many of these
f': different species of capsicum, counted  in these several coun-
   . tries, may be the same^ yet the genus, is no doubt much riiore
   extensive than it has been generally supposed.
     The bird'pepp.es is common both  in Africa and the West
   Indies, arid is generally considered the  best of all the peppers;
   and of this, that cultivated in Africa, is also usually prefered.
   Tins species "is a perennial  plant, with a  greenish, woody,
   branching stem.   The  leaves are lanceolate, entire, smooth,
,  acute, and  of a  beautiful green color.   The blossoms are
\  white, and  small* The pod  or seed  vessel, is  about three-
   quarters of an inch injjjength, and about a quarter of an inch
   ■ in thickness.  It  is of a conical shape, with a rounded base^
  '' and when ripe, of a light red color.                    * Vy
      The capsicum brought to us from the East Indies is corisjd^  .
   ered much inferior to that coming from Africa, or the  West
   Indies.  • It consists of curved, tapering,  pods about an inch
   and a half or two inches in length,  and  when ripe, of a yeK
   low or bright  orange color.   It is brought to us from Bombay-
 , • or Calcutta in great quantities, and is distinguished •here.-a**
  \ the Bombay, East India, or Chilly peppers.
 (f A All, or any of these  varieties of  pepper, are ge&erally
 |  'ground up together indiscriminately, and are known under the
 ''. .name of cayenne pepper^
      Those varieties of capsicum cultivated in this  country and
   Europe, are annual, herbaceous plants, growing from a foot
   to eighteen inches in height.  The  pods are generally large, . 
 352                 CAPSICUM  BACCATUM.

 and of a crimson, scarlet, orange, or deep yellow color.  As a
 medicine, they are much inferior to the bird pepper.

   Medical properties and uses.—Capsicum is the  purest, most  ■■
 prompt, powerful, and permanent stimulant known.  When  *
 taken, it produces a very pungent and biting sensation in the
 mouth, which is much increased by the contact of the air.—
 The sensation produced in the stomach is warming, but as a
 general thing, by no means unpleasant.*  Soon its congenial
 stimulating effects will be felt  diffused by the  circulation
 throughout the body^ producing a very agreeable exhileratintf.
 and reviving influence.
   Cayenne pepper is extremely diffusive in its effects, and  '
 evinces a remarkable power of equalizing the circulation.   Il^  ^
 is therefore very applicable as  an internal and general reme-
 dy, in inflammations, and congestions  in fevers.  In these ca-
 ses, it will not increase the feverish and inflammatory'condi-
 tion, as is generally supposed by those unacquainted with the
 medicine.                                                   (
   When used in fevers, the skin must  always be kept in a free  „
 and relaxed condition by the  collateral  use of some  of the
 relaxing antispasmodics, as the lobelia, thoroughwort, &e—
 Thus while the system is relaxed, the  vital  energies may be *?
 assisted to repel and overcome disease.
   The medicine is particularly applicable in.all  cases of en-
 febled vital reaction.   Its use should never be neglected in low
 fevers, choleras, palsies, suspended animation, violent hemor-
 rhages, and severe cases of dysentery.
   Cayenne pepper is very servicable in dyspepsia or weak di-
 gestion.   Its continued use will remove  chronic  constipation
 of the bowels.
 -i As a gargle, in the putrid sore throat  of scarlet fever, this- '
 article has gained great popularity, even among  old school'
 practitioners.   In mortification, the medicine, as a local and
 general remedy, is of incalculable benefit.
  ■ Capsicum is one of our best rubefacients;  and, incorporated
with pitch, it forms plasters of  great value in cases of chron-
ic difficulties,  as affections  of  the spine, hip, liver,  lungs, and
 spleen.

   The use of  capsicum in febrile and inflammatory affections, fc
appears singular enough to old school practitioners, as they J
have entirely mistaken its effects on the living animal econo- J
my.  They view the medicine as being itself calculated to
  * When the stomach is cold, contracted, and  very irritable, the cnpeicum
sometimes produces considerable pain in this organ for a short time. 
                         ZINGIBER.                     353

produce an inflammatory and febrile condition of the system,
and are no little astonished at its real effects when by chance
they witness them.  The effects of this single article have
been the cause of the change  of the views of scores of old
school practitioners, with reference to the merits of the reform-
ed system of medicine.
  An aged alopathic physician and a very learned  and ex-
perienced man, in  the  acquaintance  of  the writer,  after
suffering for many years with a disease of  the heart, and af-
ter having lost all confidence in medicine, and having  been
repeatedly given up to die, was at length prevailed upon by
a humble reformer to try the effects of cayenne pepper.  The
result was, that in the space of about nine months the Doctor
was completely restored to health.
   The dose of cayenne pepper varies much according to the
object of its use, but as a general thing, from five to twenty
grains of the powder or tincture is taken.   The medicine is,
however, generally taken in combination with other articles.
                       ZINGIBER.


                         Ginger.


             Sexual System—Class 1; order 1.


  Description—The root of this plant is biennial or perennial,
creeping, and tuberous.  The stem is annual,  two or three
feet  high, erect,  solid,  round, and  inclosed in  imbricated
sheathing.  The leaves are alternate, smooth, lanceolate, and
acute.   The flowers are of a dingy yellow color and appear
two or three at a time, between the bracteal scales, and have
an aromatic smell.

  Locality and Habits.—Ginger is a native of Hindoostan, but
is cultivated throughout both the East and West Indies.

  Medical properties and uses.—This  is an agreeable aromatic
stimulant, considerably diffusive and permanent in its effects,
and  is an excellent substitute  for cayenne pepper, especially
              23 
354                    PIPER NIGRUM.
when given to children.   It is a good carminative, frequently
relieving pain in the stomach and bowels.  It is an excellent
addition to bitter infusions, and tonic preparations, giving to
them an agreeable cordial operation upon the stomach.  Ap-
plied to the surface, it acts as a rubefacient.
  Ginger forms a valuable local application, in the form of a
poultice, for the treatment of indolent ulcers, cancers, and
scrofula.
PIPER NIGRUM.
Black Pepper.
Sexual System—Class 2; order 3.
   Description.—The vine which bears the black pepper berries,  '^
 grows to the length of twelve feet.  The stem is round, smooth,
 woody, articulated and perennial.   The leaves are of a deep T^'
 ^reen color, entire, smooth, ovate, accuminate, and  attache^
 to the joints of the branches.  The flowers are sessile, white,
 supported by a cylindrical spadix, and are followed by round
 berries, which  are red when ripe.

   Locality and habits.—This plant grows  wild in Cochin-China
 and India, and  is cultivated in many parts of  Asia, and the
 Asiatic Islands.  It is propagated by cuttings, and supported
 by trees or props, provided for the purpose.  It  requires three
 or four years from the time of planting, before  it bears fruit.
 The berries are gathered before they are ripe, anddried-hence
 their black and shrivelled appearance.

  Medical properties and uses.—Black pepper is a warming
 stimulant, developing its effects throughout the whole system,
 to a considerable extent, although it produces its most perma-
 nent impression on the part to which it is immediately appli-  |
 *■■-.   It is frequently given with success in intermittent fevers,  ™
 but is more especially valuable in flatulency, indigestion, nau-   j
sea, and want of appetite, &c.  It is an  excellent article  in   :
bnmus, and other colics, frequently affording immediate relief.   A 
MYRRHA.
355
An infusion of the black pepper frequently arrests the exhaus-
ting diarrhoea  consequent upon scarlet and typhus  fevers.—
The common dose is a tea spoonful of the  powdered berries
gteeped in a cupful of water; or it may be taken in substance;
or steeped in boiling milk, which renders it more agreeable to
take, than when  prepared in any other way.   The dose may
be repeated in one or two hours, according to  circumstances.
Some highly recommend taking the seeds in the form of pills,
in the intermittent fever.   Dr. Louis Frank, physician to Ma-
ria, Duchess of Parma, cured fifty four out of seventy patients
by the use of this means.  He  gave eight or ten of the seeds
a day, and almost always effected a cure with the use of sey-
«nty or eighty of them.
MYRRHA.
Gum Myrrh.
  Gum myrrh is the  product of  a shrubby tree, growing in
Arabia and the East Indies.  As brought to us, it consists of
irregular reddish brown masses, of various  sizes.   It  has a
strong, but not disagreeable odour, and a pungent bitterish
taste.  That which is clean, and  light colored, is usually the
best.

  Medical properties and uses.—Myrrh is stimulant, diaphoret-
ic, tonic, antiseptic, and emmenagogue.   When used as  a
stimulant, it is usually prepared in tincture with brandy.—see
tincture  of myrrh.  The  tincture of  myrrh is justly a very
popular medicine; it is in  equal favor with families and prac-
titioners.
  The medicine  is especially serviceable in  all low fevers,
cholera, dysentery, scurvy, palsy, mortification and asphyxia.
It is also commonly prescribed, for colds, colic, diarrhoea, pain
in the breast, rheumatism, gout, &c.   The dose is a teaspoon-
ful or more of the tincture. 
356
OAMPHORA, &C.
CAMPHORA.
Gum Camphor.
  Camphor is a white gummy substance, of a very strong pe-
culiar smell.  The gum is produced by different species of the
Lauracese family, and perhaps by others.  The medicine is so
well known that it needs no further description.
                                                         J
  Medical properties and uses.—Camphor is an active stimu-
lant, and anodyne.   It is applicable in cases of pains in the
breast, stomach,  and  bowels; and in hysterical affections,
faintness, &c. It is also much used as an external applica-
tion.
  The usual  form in which the  medicine is used,  is in tine-.
ture, commonly called  camphire.  Of this the dose  is from a'&
teaspoonful to a tablespoonful.                           Jj
AMMONITE CARBONAS.
                  Carbonate of Ammonia.


  This article is prepared by pulverizing seperately, a pound
of muriate of ammonia (Sal. ammoniac,) and a pound and a
half of chalk,—mixing them thoroughly, and subliming with
a gradually increasing heat.

  Medical properties and uses.—Carbonate  of ammonia is an
active stimulant, diaphoretic, antispasmodic,  and antacid.—
As a stimulant it is particularly useful in typhus, typhoid, and
low remittent fevers, especially when there is subsultus ten-
dinum.  The writer has witnessed some of the most happy
effects from its use in these cases.  The medicine is also high-
ly recommended  as a remedy in gout,  and chronic rheuma-
tism. 
BPIRITUS VINI GALLIC!, &C.               357
SPIRITUS VINI GALLICI.
                          Brandy.


   Brandy is obtained by distillation from wine, and is among
 the strongest spiritous liquors that we possess.  The fourth
 proof French brandy is the best for medical purposes.

   Medical properties and uses.—Brandy is an active stimulant,
 but is not very permanent in its effects, and is hence not gen-
 erally much used by reformed practitioners simply as a stim-
 ulant; but  is more used as a solvent for the gums, and other
 medicinal substances.  It is generally used as a menstruum,
 in making tincture of myrrh, &c.  Brandy is, however, some-
 times given to patients low with typhus and  other fevers.—
 In these cases the dose is a teaspoonful or more.  But a more
tfusual form of its use is in panada, or toddy.
VINUM.
Wine.
   Wine is a spiritous fluid,—the result of the fermentation of
 grape juice.  There are a number of different kinds in mar-
 ket, but  those most commonly used  for medicinal purposes
 are the Shet ry, Madeira, Teneriffe, Port, and Claret.   Sherry is a
 sweet wine, containing about 20 percent, of alcohol by meas-
 ure, and has a dry aromatic flavor.  Madeira and Teneriffe, are
 slightly  sour, and in strength nearly correspond with sherry.
 Port is of a deep-purple color, strong, astringent, and slightly
 sweet.  It usually contains a considerable quantity of brandy.
I Claret is a red wine, containing a small proportion of alcohol,
*— has a delicate taste, is slightly acid, and somewhat astrin-
 gent.                                     ...  .
   Wines are generally used in cases of debility in aged per-
 sons  in low fevers, and in  slow  and tedious convalesence. 
368
MENTHA PIPERITA.
  As a stimulant, port wine is rather the best; but some of
the other varieties,  sometimes agree  best with  the stomach,
as well as the taste.
  Wine may be given in its pure state, or in the form of urine-
whey. This is prepared by putting a gill or more of wine into
a pint of boiling milk,—seperating the curd by straining, and
then sweetening the whey that remains,  with loaf sugar.—
Wine whey is of peculiar service  in  low typhoid fevers, act-
ing as a  healthy stimulant, while it often promotes perspira-
tion.  The quantity of wine necessary to be used,  depends
upon circumstances.  In sinking  states of the system, a pint
hats been used in a few hours.  It may be given  in doses of a
tablespoonful or more, and repeated as  the effects or circum-
stances may indicate.
MENTHA PIPERITA.
                       Peppermint.


            Sexual System—Class 13; order 1.


  Description.—This is a verry common plant, and needs but
little description.  It was introduced into this country from
Europe, and grows in gardens, and in wet places,  along
streams, &c.  In many places it is cultivated for distillation.

  Medical properties and uses.—Peppermint  is  an aromatic
stimulant, analagous in its effects to cayenne pepper, though
considerably less permanent.  It forms a very grateful drink
in feverirj on account of the cooling  sensation it produces in
the  mouth.  It is peculiarly serviceable in allaying nausea,
relieving pains in the stomach and bowels, expelling wind, in
covering up the disagreeable taste of other medicines, and in
preventing the griping effects of cathartics.   It is commonly
used in infusion.  The dose of the  powdered' leaves is a tea
spoonful, to a teacupful of hot water, and repeated according
to circumstances.  The essence is taken in tea spoonful doses.

  Spearmint, (Mentha Viridis)—This article possesses proper- 
CINNAMON, &.C
359
ties, as a stimulant, very analagous to the peppermint, and as
such may be used  in its place.   It  is also valuable as a  diu-
retic and vermifuge.
  Cinnamon, (Laurus Cinnamomum)—This is an agreeable ar-
omatic stimulant,  possessing considerable  power as a stom-
achic and carminative.  It is generally used as an ingredient
in medicinal compounds,  but may be employed  alone  as a
warming medicine for the stomach, to allay nausea, or to cor-
rect flatulency.  It forms a valuable ingredient in tonic com-
pounds, and in preparations for the cure of diarrhoea, &c.  The
pulverized bark, or the essence, may be used  in  tea  spoonful
doses.
   Cloves,  (Caryophyllus Aromaticus)—This  is  an aromatic
stimulant, and  is much employed  in medicinal compounds.
Used  alone, it is of service in  flatulency, colic,  nausea,  and
faintness.  It is extensively used as an ingredient  in  diapho-
retic preparations.  The dose is a small tea spoonful.
  Dittany,  (Cunila Mariana)—Dittany is a valuable stimu-
lant, tonic, nervine, and aromatic.   It is highly esteemed in
some parts of  the country, in domestic practice, for the relief
of headaches,  colds, fevers, hysterics, and  other complaints,
where  a stimulating diaphoretic would be proper.  The ad-
vantage in the use of this  medicine, is that while  it is an ac-
tive remedy, it is at the same time very plsasant to take.
  Horse Mint, (Monarda  punctata.)—This is  an indigenous
plant of considerable value as a stimulating diaphoretic,  and
is said  also to  possess active diuretic properties.   The horse
mint, combined with other stimulants, may be used as a change
in cases of protracted illness, where stimulants are  required
for a considerable  time.             J
  Wild Marjorum, (Origanum Vulga/e)—As an  active stimu-
lant, the wild marjorum is inferior tf> few of  our  indigenous
herbs.   The dried  leaves may  be ijised freely in infusion, or
the essence may be taken  in tea spoonful doses.   The oil is
an excellent rubefacient.
  Sassafras, (Laurus Sassafras)—The bark of the root of this
article, is stimulant and  antiseptic.  It is, however, chiefly
used as an external application, i,n the form of a poultice, for
mortification, foul  ulcers,  king's (evil, &c.  The oil is an  ac-
tive rubefacient.                k 
360                      tonics.
                       II. TONICS.

  Tonics are medicines which give vigor and tone to the sys-
tem, without increasing the heat of the body, or, as a general
thing, materially effecting the pulse.
  It has been supposed by Cullen and others that the tonic
power of medicines depends upon their bitterness;  and at first
thought, this idea would seem to be correct, as it is a fact that
nearly all our best tonics are extremely bitter substances.—
Yet it is established by experiments, as well as by  observa-
tion, that some articles that are but slightly bitter,  are, never-
theless, very good tonics; and on the  other  hand,  there  are
some again that are very bitter and yet are of but little value
as tonics.
  Tonics are indicated in nearly all cases of debility, and are
ever servicable to restore the  patient after the force of the dis-
ease is broken up.  In intermittent and remittent fevers, it is
almost impossible to succeed  without the use of these agents;
and the treatment of most other diseases is imperfect without
them.
  The application of  this class  of remedies has not been so
particularly pointed out in the part treating  on practice,  ex-
cepting in those cases in which the tonics  are  indispensably
necessary;  for  it was supposed that the  practitioner, once
learning their general application, could not fail in discover-
ing readily, all  the indentions for their use.
  When the protracted^ e of tonics is required, the articles
taken should be occasionally  changed, as the system soon be-
comes habituated to them,  which makes their further use less
beneficial, than other arti rAcs.of this class.
                        • i
                    Speciaf Tonics.

                CORNUS ^FLORIDA.

       Dog wood, Box wooa, American Cinchona.

           Sexual Syst em—Cless 4; order 1.

Description.—This is a $*mall tree growing throughout the 
HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS.        ,        361
  United States.  It has an  extremely rough bark externally,
  which is redish within.  It generally attains to the height of
  20 feet, or more, with crooked, spreading, branches; the small
  ones of which bear the marks of the old leaves.  The leaves
  are opposite, ovate, lanceolate, serrate, and of a pale color be-
  neath.  It flowers early in the spring,  and bears oblong red
  berries, disposed in clusters.

    Medical properties and uses.—The dog wood is tonic, astrin-
  gent, stimulant, and like many other articles of the class, an-
  tiseptic.  As a tonic it is second to none, and equalled only by
  Cinchona as an anti-periodic.   Although it is actively astrin-
  gent, there is no danger of producing constipation of the bow-
  els by its use, but it, on the contrary, often produces a laxa-
  tive  effect, especially when fresh. It has long been  employ-
  ed as a substitute for Peruvian bark, the action of  which it
  very much resembles, and from which circumstance it has re-
  ceived the name  American Cinchona.  It is useful in all ca-
  ses where tonics are indicated, and especially serviceable in
»  leucorrhoea,  prolapsus, dyspepsia, fiver complaints,  &c; but
  the most striking effects are observed  by its use in intermit-
  tents,  which it cures with nearly the same certainty as the
  Sulphate of Quinine.   It has heretofore been recommended
  to be used in decoction, but it is evident that it does not read-
  ily yield its properties to water, for the watery extract is near-
  ly inert, and by this circumstance the medicine has, in a great
  measure, fallen into disuse.  In fevers of the sthenic charac-
  ter,  none of its preparations are proper, 1 at in those  of a low
  character they are particularly indie ed.  In intermittents
  the finely pulverized bark may be given in 25 grain doses, re-
  peated every two hours, between the paroxysms.  The dose
  of the alcoholic extract is from 5 to» "> grains.
            HYDRASTIS  CANADENSIS.


              Golden Seal, Yellow Puccoon.


          Sexual System—Class 12; order 13.

Description.—This is an indigenous plant, with a  yellow
irennial root an inch or more in length, contorted, irregular, 
362               HYDRASTIS  CANADENSIS.
and giving off quite a number of very  yellow fibres.   The
stem is round, hairy, from six to twelve inches high, and divi-
ded at the top into two petioles, of unequal length.   The
leaves, which are two in number, are lobed or palmate, une-
qual, serrate, and somewhat resemble the leaf of the maple
tree.  It bears a single terminal, flesh-colored flower.
HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS.
Golden Seal,  Yellow Puccoon.
  Locality and Jiabits.—Golden seal is found principally in the
States West of the Alleghany mountains, growing in forests,
at the foot of hills, or in vallies, always preferring a rich soil. 
FRASERA VERTICELLATA.
363
  Medical properties and uses.—This is an excellent bitter tonic.
It seems to have a peculiar effect upon the stomach,  promo-
ting its healthy functions, removing indigestion, and relieving
the disagreeable sensations which the use of food frequently
produces when thfe digestive organs  are impaired.   It also
acts upon the liver, regulating its secretion, and by this means
promoting a healthy condition of the bowels.   It may be em-
ployed with advantage in intermittent and remittent fevers,
jaundice, worms, in colic, faintness or weakness  at the stom-
ach, &c.   The infusion forms an excellent wash for sore eyes,
and in this form it is a valuable application to old sores.  For
internal use it may bs taken three or four times a day, in the
form of powder, in teaspoonful doses in warm water sweet-
ened—repeating the doses as the symptoms may indicate.—
The infusion may be used if prefered.  The  root  is the part
employed in medicine.
FRASERA  VERTICILLATA.
American Colombo.
Sexual System—Class 4;  order 1
 Description.—Root triennial,long, fusiform, yellowish,branch-
ed, and fleshy.  Stem solid, smooth, erect, round, and fromlfive
to ten feet high.  Leaves of a deep green color, eptire, sjssile,
glabrous and disposed in whorls, commencing at the  rooTfcttd
ascending to the summit with regularly diminishing intervals,
and becoming smaller as they ascend.   The lower braves are_
oblong,  and lanceolate;  the upper ones, lanceolate- and pom- ■
ted.  The radical leaves,  from five to twelve in number, are
procumbent, elliptical, and obtuse.   The flowers  are yellow-
ish-white, numerous, forming a large pyrimidal, terminal pan-
icle, a foot or more in length.

  Locality and habits.—This plant is found in all parts of this
country,—excepting the regions East of the Alleghany moun-
tains,—growing in open woodlands, in sandy soils, and in
meadows. 
364
GENTIAN A.
  Medical properties and nises.—The Colombo root, when dried,
possesses valuable tonic properties.  Tt is also  laxative, and
antiseptic.   In cases of debility arising from indigestion, it
generally affords relief.  It may  also be employe'd with ad-
vantage in colic, nausea, diarrhoea and to remove the disa-
greeable sensations, produced by food,  common with dyspep-
tics.  As an antiseptic it may be used  internally by infusion,
—externally, in  decoction, or in the shape of a poultice.
  For internal use, the dose is a teaspoonful of  the powdered
root, in warm water.  The fresh root, is emetic and cathartic.
GENTIANA.
American Gentian.
Sexual" System—Class 5; order 2.
  Description.—There are a number of species, and many va-
rieties of gentian,  all having a pretty close  resemblance to
each other, and generally possessing nearly the same medical
properties.  The yellow gentian, however, is  the kind that is
mostly used by the reformed practitioners.   This plant has
many long spindle-shaped  roots, which have a thick fleshy
bark,-and woody centre.  The stalks,  which are from six to
twelve or more in  number, are somewhat reclining, and about
two feet in height.  The leaves are oblong, smooth, entire,
and perforated by the stem.  The flowers are  axillary to the
leaves, and  are followed by beautiful, oblong,  red berries,
crowned with  the calyx.

  Locality and  habits.—Gentian may be found in  nearly every
section of the  United States, usually choosing dry soils, road
sides, old fields, and commons.

  Medical properties and uses.—The root of this plant consti-
tutes one of our most valuable bitter tonics,-^-is also stimulant,
alterative, laxative, and in large doses cathartic.   Perhaps no
single article in the materia medica will produce  better and 
P0PULUS.
365
more  permanent effects  in the cure of liver affections than
this.  The most doubtful cases have  been known to yield to
its powers in a comparatively short timef even after  the skill
of the doctors had been exhausted to no purpose.
  It promotes digestion, relieves heartburn, will correct a cos-
tive state of the bowels, and may be used, successfully in
all cases where a bitter tonic is proper.  It also exerts a sooth-
ing effect upon the lungs, and is a valuable  auxiliary in the
treatment of pulmonary  consumption.
  A teaspoonful of the powdered root may be taken at a dose,
and repeated three or four times a day, according to circum-
stances.  Double the dose will prove cathartic.
POPULUS.
Poplar.
Sexual System—Class 20; order 8.
  Description.—There are a,number of species of the poplar
family, differing considerably in  their appearance; most of
them, however, possessing nearly the same medical properties.
  The populus tremuloides, or American aspen, sometimes
called quaking aspen, is, however,  the  only species  much es-
teemed for its  medical products.   This is a very beautiful for-
est tree, growing to a considerable height.  The  bark on the
young tree is smooth, and  white.   The leaves are cordate,
ovate, lanceolate, entire, serrate, of a  deep green above, pale
underneath, prominently veined, and supported on long slen-
der petioles.

  Locality and habits.—-The quaking aspen is found in  most
places throughout the U. States, but is, perhaps,  most abun-
dant in the Northern and Middle  States.  In  some places it
grows in groups or patches, about springs, and rocky places.

  Medical properties and uses.—The inner bark of this tree is
a pleasant tasting, and pure, yet powerful bitter  tonic.   It is
useful in all cases of debility, especially in debility of th£di- 
366                  CHELONE  GLABRA.
gestive organs.  As an  ingredient in tohic cordials, it is in-
valuable.
  Poplar bark sets very agreeably on  the stomach, and is
therefore generally prefercd when the continued use of tonic
remedies is required.  As the medicine very readily yields
its active properties to water, it is unnecessary to use it in sub-
stance.  A teaspoonful of the fine bark  may be scalded in a
pint of water, and after  sweetening it with white sugar, may
be drank through the course of a day.
  The inner bark of the tulip tree or  yellow poplar (lirioden-
dron tulipifera,) is also a very good bitter  tonic, but u still
more valuable as a prophylactic against  worms.
CHELONE  GLABRA.
Balmony, Snake-heal, Turtle-bloom.
Sexual System—Class 13; order 2.
  Description.—Balmony has a  perennial fibrous root, which
sends up annually a number of  erect, smooth, round cornered,
squarje stems, from two to four feet in height, and occasional-
ly branched at the top.  The leaves are opposite, lanceolate,
acute, entire, serrate, green in the fore part of the season, but
becoming speckled with a white mould or dust, early in the
fall.  The flowers, in some varieties, are white, in others pur-
pleish, and  of a very singular shape, somewhat resembling a
snake's head with the mouth open.  They are disposed in clus-
ters axillary to the leaves, and in terminal racemes.

  Locality and habits.—The  balmony is an indigenous plant,
growing in  wettish places, along  streams, in meadows and
pasture grounds.  It is common in most of  the  States.  Its
flowering time is in July. 
CHELONE GLABRA.
CHELONE GLABRA.

^t'v'^
Balmony, Snake-head, Turtle-bloom. 
363
CROTON ELEUTHERIA.
  Medical properties and uses.—All physicians agree in consid-
ering this article among our purest bitter tonics, and  as such
may be used in all cases in which articles of this class are in-
dicated.  The dose is from 10 to 20 grains of  the  pulverized
leaves. The medicine is considerably used in tonic compounds.
CROTON ELEUTHERIA.
Cascarilla.'
             Sexual System—Class 19; order 15.


  Description.—The shrub that produces the cascarilla bark, it
is said, grows from four to twenty feet in height, and is much
branched at the top.  The  leaves are ovate, cordate,- lanceo-
late, elongated towards the apex, entire, bright  green  above,
and stand alternately, on short petioles.  The flowers are whi-
tish,  and are disposed in axillary and terminal racemes.

  Locality and habits.—This shrub is found growing wild in
the West Indies, especially in the Bahamas and in Jamaica.

  Medical properties and uses.—The  cascarilla  bark is a very
pleasant tasting, aromatic,  bitter tonic, and has been  substi-
tuted for cinchona, but is not quite so efficient as an anti-in-
termittent as that article.   Yet its very agreeable  taste  and
smell make  up, to a considerable extent, what it  seems to
lack  in power.  Its  chief application is in dyspeptic habits, as
a general  stomachic bitter, and as a tonic in the infirmity of
old age and convalescence.   This is quite a favorite tonic
among the Germans.
  Cascarilla is a very important article in compounding bit-
ter tonics, for while it forms a good ingredient as a medicine
of this class, its value at the same time is increased by its pow-
er of improving the taste and flavor of the compounds  into
which it enters. 
BERBERIS CANADENSIS.
369
BERBERIS CANADENSIS.
American  Barberry.
             Sexual System—Class 6; order 1.


  Description.—Barberry is a very pretty  shrub, rising" from
four to eight feet in height, with long bending branches, hav-
ing many dots, ahd triple thorns.  The leaves are crowded,
unequal, smooth, glossy,-ob-oval, obtuse  and serrate.   The
flowers are slender, either nodding or pendulous, yellow, and
rather small.   The berries hang in loose bunches, are oblong,
red, smaller and less juicy than the berberis vulgaris or Eng-
lish barberry.  The filaments possess a  remarkable degree
of irritability, for on being touched near  the  base, a sudden
contraction takes place, which may be repeated several times.
  It is found from Canada to Virginia, growing on mountains,
hills, among rocks, and in barren soils; but is seldom met with
in the Western States.  The whole shrub is acid; in the  ber-
ries this acid is very pleasant, but is mixed with some astrin-
gency.  The  bark is bitter, and of a bright yellow color.

  Medical properties and uses.—The bark of the barberry is an
excellent bitter tonic, and although  somewhat astringent, is
also laxative,  and in  large  doses even cathartic, producing
copious  discharges  without  pain,   In no case  is  it found
to produce watery  discharges, or to irritate and  debilitate
the bowels;  but on the contrary, is almost a specific  in
chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, arid bilious fevers.   It is oa.»
of our best remedies in liver complaints,  attended with  dys-
pepsia and habitual  costiveness.  The berries are  antiseptic,
acid, sub-astringent and refrigerant.   They have been strong-
ly recommended in putrid fevers.
24 
370
CINCHONA.
CINCHONA.
Peruvian Bark.
              Sexual System—Class 5; order 1.

   Description.—The barks brought to us under the name of
 cinchona, are the products of  many different species  of the
 large cinchonaceae family.  It is said that the barks of all the
 cinchonas which have hairy and woolly blossoms, possess an-
 ti-intermittent properties.
   The mast prominent species are the C. Condaminea, C. Mi-
 crantha, C. Lancifolia, C. Cordifolia, and the C. Magnifolia.
 The first of these is a tree, which, when full grown,has astern
 about 18 feet high, and a foot in  thickness,  with opposite
 branches, the lower ones of which are horizontal, and the up-
 per ones elevated or inclined upwards at  their ends.   The
 bark on the trunk is ash  gray, with fissures; that on the small
 branches is  greenish, smooth, glossy, and admits of easy sep-
 aration from the wood.   The leaves, though of various shapes,
 are generally ovate, lanceolate,perhaps four inches in length,
 about two or less in width, smooth, and scrobiculate or pitted
 at the junction of the  veins beneath.  The flowers arc .dis-
 posed in axillary, corymbose, and downy panicles.
   The second is quite a large  tree,  attaining the height of
 some 40 feet,  with a proportional  thickness.  Its leaves arc
 from four to twelve inches in  length, by from two to six in
 breadth, somewhat pointed, smooth, shining on the upper sur-
 face,.and pitted  at the  axils of the veins beneath.  The flow-
 ers, if we except the C. Lancifolia, are smaller than those of
 any other species; they are situated  in terminal, loose, and
 lealiess panicles.
  The  third  or C. Lancifolia,, is a beautiful tree, from 30 to 40
 feet in height, with a trunk from one to. four feet in diameter.
  Its leaves  are oblong, lanceolate, very acute at both  ends,
revolutc at the edges,  smooth above, and  not pitted.   The
 flowers are situated in fisre-blossomed axillary cymes, and are
 the smallest of amy in the family or genus.
  The fourth or C. Cordifolia, is a small spreading tree, from
 15 to 20 feet in  height, having a body of proportional thick-
ness., which is covered with a smooth bark, of a greyish color.
The {eaves vary  much in shape: but are mostly roundish-ovate,, 
CINCHONA.
371
heart-shaped, and about nine  inches long.   They are smooth
and shining on the upper surface, and  ribbed  and pubescent
below.  The flowers are in dense, brachitate, downy panicles.
  The fifth or last named species, is a stately tree, with veiy
large, oblong, ribbed leaves;  smooth,  and shining on both
surfaces, and often 10 inches or a foot in length.  The flowers
are in  large, terminal, leaflesslhryses, and have a fragrant
odour.

  Locality and  habits.—The cinchonas  are  natives of South
America, abounding in the Republics of New Grenada, Equa-
dor, Peru, and Bolivia.- They seem to delight in mountainous
places, being principally found on the Andes, at an elevation
of from 1200 to 10,000 feet.

  M'dicat properties and  uses.-^-Thz pcruvian bark is a very
powerful tonic, and  is also'somewhat astringent, and  antisep-
tic.   In its operation, it  evinces  a singular power  of over-
coming diseases characterized "by  periodicity of action,  and
hence it is particularly adapted to the  treatment of intermit-
tent and remittent fevers.
  As a  remedy in agues, the  yellow bark is entirely  the best,
and next to this, the red;  the  pale variety being much inferior
in its anti-intermittent properties'.
  Peruvian bark is not only useful in  eases of iftermittents
an I remittents, but is serviceable in all other  cas§s in which
active tonics are indicated.
  The dose of the bark is necessarily large, and hence physi-
cians haVe- Tabor.eds and successfully too, to make preparations
of it that may be equally effectual in smaller doses.   The ex-
tract of cinchona, i.i  efficacy, is equal  t > the bark, and may
be used successfully ia much  smaller doses.  The sulphate of
quinine, however, has in a manner superceded the use of both
the bark and the extract,  but  its  effects are not qhite so cer-
tain, and from its comparatively high price is apt to  be adul-
 terated.
  T,he dose of the pulverized  pcruvian bark is 20 to 40 grains,
taken three times  a  day; that of the extract is from  10 to 20;
and that of the sulphate  of quinine  is from 5 to  10  or more.
These doses are to be  repeated two, three, or four times a day,
as the circumstances may indicate. 
372                SABBATIA  ANGULARIS.
SABBATIA ANGULARIS.
American Centaury.
            Sexual System—Class 17; order 3.


  Description.—This is  an annual or biennial herbaceou5
plant.   It has a fibrous  root, an erect, smooth, square  stem,
with branches above, and rising to the  height of one or two
feet.  Leaves ovate, acute, entire, smooth, opposite, sessile,
and embrace half the circumference of the stem at their base.
The flowers are numerous, purplish red, growing on the ends
of the  branches,  and altogether forming a large  terminal
corymb.

  Ijocality and habits.—Centaury is found in the Middle and
Southern States, usually  prefering low  meadow ground, but
sometimes growing in uplands, in woods and old fields.

  Medical properties and uses.—Centaury is ranked among our
most valuable tonics.  It likewise possesses considerable an-
thelmintic properties.  It may be used in dyspepsia and  in all
cases where medicine is needed to promote  the  appetite and
invigorate and strengthen the general system.
  The medicine has long been esteemed of value in intermit-
tent fevers.  The usual form of its preparation for that pur-
pose, is that of bitters prepared in liquor.   It may also be em-
ployed in the form of infusion, or in powder.
  The dose of the powder is a teaspoonful  in some appropri-
ate  vehicle. 
HELONIAS DICECIA, &C.                373
HELONIAS  DICECIA.
Star root, Unicorn.
Sexual System—Class 6; order 3.
  Description.—Root perennial, oblong, irregular, terminating
abruptly, of a  dirty white color, and beset with many small
fibres.   Leaves radical, lanceolate, procumbent, and of a pale
green color.  Stem  from eight to sixteen inches in  height,
erect, and terminating in a spike of white flowers.

  Locality and  habits.—The star root is found in most parts of
the United States, growing in sandy plains,  on  hill-sides, in
open woods, and in meadows.

  Medical properties and uses.—The root of this article is pos-
sessed of tonic, nervine, and expectorant properties.  It is par-
ticularly serviceable in female weakness.  This aigjgle is very
much esteemed by some as a tonic  and  by  otljjrif as a ner-
vine.   It enters as a valuable ingredient into the compound
called woman's friend.  The dose of the pulverized root is from
ten to twenty  grains.
ASTROLOCHIA SERPENTARIA.
     Snake root, Little black snake root,  Virginia snake root.


             Sexual System—Class 18; order 6.


  Description.—The  Virginia  snake  root has  a perennial,
knotty root,  beset with  numerous long, slender,  whitish.
fibres.   Stem crooked, round, slender, jointed, and from six to
twelve  inches  in  height.  Leaves from  three to seven  in 
374              ASTROLOCHIA  SERPENTARIA.
number,  alternate, cordate at the  base,  lanceolate, entire,
smooth, and veined.   Flowers nearly  radical,  solitary, and
purplish.  Capsule oboval, with six angles,  and six cells.—
Seeds minute, and many.
ASTROLOCHIA SERPENTARIA.
    Snake root, Little black snake root, Virginia snake root.


  locality and habits.—There are  few parts in the  United
States, where the Virginia snake root may not be found.  It
delights in mountainous  countries, and is  chiefly found in
oien woodlands.                   , .

  Medical properties and uses.—Most authors on  materia med-
ica, agree in considering this article  an active  tonic, diapho-
retic, antiseptic, and  emmenagogue.  The root may be used 
MENISPERMUM CANADENSE.
375
in fevers, especially  in  intermittents and remittents.  It  is
also good in rheumatism, gout, dyspepsia, general debility, &c.
It isgenerally taken in tincture or bitters, but may be taken
in substance, infusion, or pills.   The latter form, perhaps, is
preferable, as its exceedingly  bitter taste  is thereby avoided.
The doss of the substance is ten grains.
MENISPERMUM CANADENSE.
Yellow pardla, Moonseed.
Sexual System—Class 20; order 13.
  Description.—The yellow p aril la is an indigenous, perennial
plant   Its root is woody,  round, horizontal, of a beautiful
yellow color, with few fibres, very long, and generally about
the thickness of a pipestem, but sometimes of the thickness of 
37t5
PRUNUS VIRGIN!ANA.
a finger.  Stem a climbing vine, slender, smooth, winding,
and of a  brown color.   The leaves are peltate, cordate, en- ^
tire, roundish, smooth, and somewhat  resembling the leaf of
the maple tree.

  Locality and habits.—Rich hill-sides,  banks of  streams, and
hedges, are  the  places  and situations, usually  preferred by
this plant.  It is very common in the Western States.

  Medical properties and uses—This is an, excellent laxative
bitter tonic,  and is very useful  in the treatment of dyspepsia,
habitual costiveness,  liver affections,  diseases   of the  skin,
syphilis," and in all cases of debility,  attended with habitual
torpor of the peristaltic motion.
  As  a bitters to be used during convalescence from the  ague
and fever, this is an invaluable article.
  The root  should  be  well dried,  and then broken up in a
mortar,  when it will be ready to be prepared, either by  infu-
sion, or by putting it into wine.  When thus prepared, it is to
be drank freely without any particular reference to quantity.
PRUNUS VIRGINIANA.
Wild Clterry.
Sexual System—Class 12; order 1.
  This is a forest tree, indigenous to  this country, and too
common to need description.

  Medical properties and uses.—The inner  bark of  the  wild
cherry has a very pleasant bitter taste.   It is a good tonic,
laxative, nervine,  and  annodyne.  As a  strengthening and
healing medicine to the lungs, there is, perhaps, not a better
article in the materia  medica.  The medicine  has, in the
hands of the writer, given  general  satisfaction in the treat-
ment of pectoral diseases.   In  pulmonary  consumption.
where there is much debility of the system, and irritability of
the lungs, this article will be of special service.   The medi- 
ASTRINGENTS.
377
cine may be taken in substance, in teaspoonful doses, but the
extract is better, and much more convenient; the dose of this
is from  5  to 10 grains.  When taken  by infusion, a table-
spoonful of the fine bark may be scalded in a pint of water,
and taken in wineglassful doses, three times a day.
  Bitter Ash, (Euonymus Atropurpureus)—The  root of this
shrub is intensely bitter, and is a very good tonic, and laxa-
tive.  Its application is in such cases as were pointed out for
other articles of this class.   By  some, it is considered equal
to the dog-wood as an anti-intermittent, and febrifuge.
  Wild Hoarhound, (Eupatorium Teucrifolium)—This is a val-
uable tonic, and is much used by Southern planters.
  Hops, (Humulis Lupulis)—The polen or yellow dust of the
hop, is an invaluable tonic, in intermittent and  remittent fe-
vers,  as well as in other cases where articles of  this kind are
required.
  Gold Thread, (Coptis Trifolia)—The root of this plant is a
pure  and very bitter tonic; useful in dyspepsia,  and all cases
of debility.
  Vervain, (Vcrbina Hastata.)—Both the blue and white ver-
vain  are good tonics, and are much used in some parts of the
country, in the treatment of  fever and  ague.  The  tops and
roots are used in a strong decoction.
  Peach Meats—The meats of the peach stone, .are highly
recommended as a medicine in cases of weak digestion.  Dr.
Thomson  regarded them as being  peculiarly  beneficial to
the stomach and bowels.
  Camomile,  (Anthemis Nobilis)—Camomile is  a very pop-
ular tonic, and is much ussd in domestic practice.  Besides
its tonic properties, it is also used by some as an  anthelmintic.
                      III. ASTRINGENTS.


      Astringents are commonly defined to be  substances that
    contract or condense and support  the tissues of the  body.—
    When taken into the mouth, they produce a marked sensa-
    tion of roughness or puckering of the lips, tongue, and palate.
      The usefulness of this  class of medical agents, has, in gen-
    eral  been too much overlooked by medical authors and prac-
i    titio'ners    Astringents have  usually  only  been considered
    with reference to their  immediate and independent effects on 
378
ASTRINGENTS.
the substance of the organs.   But it is not unreasonable to
suppose that these agents, like some others, may  in their ef-
fects, sustain certain specific, harmonious relations with the
vital laws, so as to promote the conservative powers in a
manner entirely independent of their superficial and most ob-
vious impressions on the economy.  A  part may become dis-
eased,—take  on inflammation,  and soon  manifest  signs of
gangrene; if now an application of some active astringent be
made, the morbific cause will be suspended, and the part re-
cover.   Now here was an agency evinced entirely different
from the power of mere contraction.  If astringents are given
in combination with stimulants, the latter are rendered much
more permanent  in their effects.   Hemorrhages are some-
times instantly arrested in distant parts, by the simple intro-
duction of some active astringent into the  stomach.   In this
case it cannot reasonably be supposed that the effect was
produced by the direct influence of the medicine on the hem-
orrhagic parts.
  The accoucher  of the Reformed system,  well  knows the
singular power that some  of our astringent articles possess
over the irritated  uterus.   A single dose of these,  sometimes,
stops untimely pains that may have harrassed the patient for
several  days.
  In view of these facts, it must be admitted that  astringents
possess a peculiar curative  power that  is manifested, not on-
ly in their local effects, but in their influence on the general
system.
  The  local and  immediate effects of  astringents,  are  also
somewhat  remarkable: in  gonorrhoea, lucorrhcea, and diar-
rhoea, a strong infusion locally administered, will, if perse-
vered in, seldom fail of giving relief.
  The singular promptness of these medicines in arresting
hemorrhages,  when  locally  applied,  entitles them to the
name of styptics.
  In cases  of unhealthy secretions, and  morbific accumula-
tion on mucous surfaces,  and  especially  those  of  the ali-
mentary canal, astringents  are  almost  indispensable. They
cause a contraction of the tissues, and thus disengage the com-
paratively inelastic, morbific, coating, which is thus discharg-
ed,  sometimes in  large pieces, commonly called false mem-
brane or canker.
  Prolapsus and  excessive relaxations also imperiously  de-
mand the use of astringent medicines.
  As a general tonic and restorative, astringents are of great
value.   They  seem to render the animal  tissues more  firm
and capable of resisting  morbific  influences.  But their use 
GERANIUM MACULATUM.
379
as tonics is not always indicated when medicines of a  resto-
rative or toning character may be serviceable.  For this pur-
pose the bitter tonics are more generally applicable.
  Astringent vegetables do not all necessarily produce con-
stipation.   Many articles  of this class may be used internal-
ly for a long time without materially affecting the bowels in
this  way.   Moreover, there are  astringent articles that are
considerably laxative in their effects; and some, such as rhu-
barb, are, indeed, commonly used as cathartics.
      Special Astringents.


GERANIUM MACULATUM.
Cranesbill, Crowfoot geranium-
Sexual System—Class 15;  order 10.
  Description.—The cranesbill has an irregular,  knotty, con-
torted, pitted, brownish, perennial root, with few fibres.  The
stem is erect, round, pubescent, about a foot or more in height
and with few branches.  The leaves are palmate or deeply
divided into from five to seven lobes,  which are rough, hairy,
variously incised at their extremities;  the lower ones suppor-
ted on long radical petioles  that  are  purplish at their base;
and the upper ones opposite and smaller.  The  flowers are
purplish, with  five petals,  and  are supported on peduncles
arising from the joints of the stem,  and bearing each two
flowers on  short pedicels.  The pistil of the flowers is very
long and  projecting,  like a cranes bill,—whence the vulgar
name of the plant.

  Locality and habits.—This  is a  very common plant, found
throughout this country, especially in the Western States.

  Medical properties and uses.—The root of the  cranesbill  is
one of the  most pure  and powerful astringents, and styptics
Aat we possess.  Being easily procured, and not  objectiona- 
380
MYR1CA CERIFERA.
ble on account of any unpleasant  taste, or other offensive
properties, it is likely still to improve  in popularity as an  as-
tringent, although it is already in great favor as such.  The
medicine is particularly useful in hemorrhages, prolapsus, dia-
betes, diarrhoea, and, after the bowels are well cleansed, in
dysentery.   The decoction of this article is also very good as
a wash in aphtheous sore mouth, and as such in the treatment
of old sores, cancers, &c.  The decoction is made by boiling
an ounce of the coarsely powdered root in a pint of water,—
letting it settle, and pouring off the tea.   For internal use this
is taken in wineglassful doses once an hour, or as the circum-
stances may indicate. When the  medicine is  taken in sub-
stance, a teaspoonful is considered a dose.
MYRICA CERIFERA.
Bayberry, Wax-myrtle.
            Sexual System—Class 20;  order 4.


  Description.—Bayberry is  a shrub  growing from two to
twelve feet in height.  The stem is much  branched, and has
a greyish bark.   The leaves are narrow and tapering at the
base, lanceolate at the other end, and slightly toothed toward
the  point.   They are somewhat disposed to twist; are of a
deep shining green on their upper  surface,  and  stand alter-
nately and somewhat crowded on the ends of the small bran-
ches.  The flowers are of a greenish*purple.  The fruit is a
globular naked berry, single,  or in  clusters  around the bran-
ches.  When these are boiled, a greenish-white  wax is ob-
tained, which is  used for various  purposes, as  for  candles,
xalves, and plasters.

  Locality and h obits.—The bayberry bush  is found all  along
the  Atlantic Coast, from New England to Louisiana.  It gen-
erally grows largest in the south.   It flowers in May. 
MYRICA  CERIFERA.                 381
MYRICA CERIFERA.
Bayberry, Wax-myrtle. 
382                  NYMPHiE 0D0RATA.
  Medical properties and uses.—Bayberry is an invaluable stim-
ulating astringent.  When an infusion of the  medicine is ta-
ken intojhe mouth, it produces quite a pungent and  astrin-
gent  sensation,  with a flow of saliva.  When swallowed it
occasions a  sense  of warmth  but by no means unpleasant
feeling in the stomach.
  Few, and perhaps none of our astringents have a more ex-
tensive application than bayberry.  In all  cases where it is
wished to produce  an exciting and bracing effect in the system,
this will be our best article. In the exhibition of its curative
powers, the medicine, instead of producing its effects at the
expense  of the., tonic power of the system, will,  indeed, add
vigor to the very- organs on which it spends its influence.
  Bavberry is highly valuable in  cases of dysentery,  cholera
morbus, and all other excessive evacuations.   An infusion of
bayberry forms an excellent drink to be taken before and du-
ring the operation  of' an emetic.   It prepares the general sys-
tem, and especially the stomach for its easy, safe, and  effectu-
al operation.  When compounded with some appropriate lax-
ative, it forms an excellent preparation to be used in the treat-
ment of strumous habits.   The decoction  makes a very good
wash in the  treatment of cancers, and ulcers:  in the fistulous
ulcer, it should be injected by means of a proper syringe.
  Cranesbill has not been placed before this article in the pres-
ent class of agents, because it is a more valuable medicine,
but simply because it is a purer astringent,—bayberry being  \
also stimulant.   It is in view of its con joined stimulating and
Ionic  properties, that the bayberry is, by  many physicians,
combined with diaphoretic compounds.
  The dose of the  pulverized bark of the root of bayberry is.
a teaspoonful, repeated  as circumstances may require. The:
strong infusion is taken  in half teacupful doses.
                 NYMPHiE ODORATA.

                     White Pond Lily.

            Sexual System—Class 12; order 1.

  Description.—The root of this plant is perennial,  two or
three inches in diameter, several  feet in length, beset with
libres, fleshy, round, light colored within,  darker without, and 
NYMPHX. 0D0RATA.
383
somewhat knotty.  The leaves are large, round, peltate, cleft
to the stem, entire, smooth, glossy, green above, reddish white.
below, and stand on long radical petioles.  The flowers are
large and white; they open to the sun in the morning  and
close in the evening.  They are supported on long stems rising
from the root.

                NYMPHiE ODORATA.
White Pond' Lily. 
384                      TRILLIUM.
   Locality and habits.—This beautiful plant is found in many
 parts of the U. States, growing in ponds and  marshes.  In
 some of these places it grows very plentifully.  Occasionally
 large mats or patches of it, are found floating in the water,—
 the roots being loosely surrounded by a collection of decayed
 vegitation, or light mud.

   Medical properties and uses.—The root of the white pond lily
 is a very pure and inoffensive astringent.  It is not apt to dis-
 agree with the stomach or taste, and hence is very convenient
 for use among children.
   This article, though equally serviceable in all cases in which
 medicines of this kind are indicated, has its special use in the
 form of a poultice for delicate parts that may require astrin-
gent applications, as for a wash in aphthae a drink, for bowel
complaints in children,—enemas in dysentery,  and injections
in prolapsus, and gonorrhoea.  The usual form of its internal
use is by infusion, taken freely.
                       TRILLIUM.


                   Beth Root, Wild Lily.


             Sexual  System—Class G; order 3.


   Description.—There  are many species of the trillium, most
of which are medicinal.  The white, red, and purple flower-
ed varieties, are, however, mostly used.
  The root of these plants is perennial, bulbous, oblong wrin-
kled, with fibres, about an inch in diameter, and abouftwo in-
ches in length.   The stem is simple, upright, round, smooth,
green, from eight to twelve inches or more in height, and sur-
mounted with fhVee  broad, obtuse-accuminate  leaves, about
the size of a dollar.  The flowers of the different species, dif-
fer somewhat in their color, size, and position; some are white,
some red, some purple, and others mixed.  In all the species,
the fiowers arise from the fork of the stem, between the leaves
in some they are erect, in others pendulous or nodding
*. 
HAMAMELIS VIRGINICA.
3*5
  Locality and habits.—The trillium genus of plants is peculi-
ar to North America.  Some of the species are most common
in mountainous countries, and others in rich bottoms.  Some
of the varieties of most species are found in the majority of
the  States.

  Medical properties and uses.—The beth roots are astringent,
styptic, tonic, antiseptic, detergent, and somewhat  expecto-
rant.   As an astringent, most of these plants are excellent in
hemorrhagic aflcctions, and fluxes.  The Indians considered
that the purple flowered varieties, were best in all sanguine-
ous effusions, especially  bleeding from the lungs,—that the
red flowered varieties, were  best in  monorrhagia, and the
white flowered in leuchorrhcea.
  Although these plants have but recently been introduced
into notice as medicines,  yet the experience of very many of*
our practitioners fully testifies to their superior merits.   Aside
from  their  utility in "hemorrhages, they are of considerable
value in pectoral diseases.  As an external application, in the
form  of a  poultice, the fine root is superior to almost  any
thing else in foul ulcers, gangrene, carbuncles, ccc.   Professor
Raffinesque  considered the beth roots, combined with blood-
root,  certain  remedies, if preceded  with a cathartic, in cases
of carbuncles and ulcfers.  The dose of the pulverized root is
a teaspoonful.  When taken in  infusion a table spoonful of
the fine root is scalded in a pint of water and drank freely.
HAMAMELIS VIRGINICA.
Witch Haxel.
             Sexual  System—Class 4;  order I.


  Description.—This is an indigenous shrub, growing from
to fifteen feet in height.  The lea\es are entire, ob-ovaio, eo-
tusely toothed,  and cordate, with a small sinus; they are  ot a
deep green color when they first put out, but  soon fade, as-t-
ming a yellow appearance.   The flowers are yellow, and ap-
pear in the winter; but the fruit, which consists of a cars-. - 
:>Mi
RHUS GLABRUM.
containing two oblong black  seeds, does not  ripen until the
following summer.

   Locality and habits—The witch-hazel is found in nearly ev-
ery section of this country, usually growing in elevated and
stony places—sometimes on the margin of swamps and along
streams.

   Medical properties and uses.—This is one of our most valuar
ble astringents; it is also styptic, tonic, and antiseptic.  As an
astringent, it is valuable in all eases where this class of medi-
cines is indicated.   The infusion may be employed with great
advantage in hemorrhages from the stomach, or lungs; and in
the form of an injection will usually afford relief in cases of
irritabb  piles, and in bowel complaints generally.  It  also
forms an excellent medicine for uterine hemorrhages, bearing
down pains, flour albus, &c.  In these cases it should be ap-
plied to the parts implicated,  by the use of a syringe.
   The decoction forms a useful wash for inflammatory affec-
tions of the eyes, for old sores, &c, and in this form, or in the
form  of  a poultice, is an excellent application for external
piles.  The leaves are the part generally used.
RHUS GLABRUM.
                         Sumach.


             Sexual System—Class 5; order 3.


  Description.—Sumach is  a  shrub growing from four to
twelve feet high, with  a stem generally crooked, having ir-
regular branches, and covered with a light gray bark.  The
leaves are pinnate, green on  the upper surface—lighter be-
neath—lanceolate, acutely toothed,  accuminate and glabrous.
In the latter part of the season they become  of a fiery red
color.  The flowers are greenish  red, and are  arranged in
erect, terminal thyrses,  forming a conical bunch, as large as a
man s fist.  These  are followed by clusters of small red ber-
ries, covered with a delicate down, of an agreeable acid taste. 
RUBUS STRIGOSUS.
387
  Locality and habits.—This shrub is found in all the Northern,
Middle, and in some of the Western State, growing in hilly
places, in waste fields, along fences, &c.

  Medical properties and uses.—The bark, leaves, and powder
which covers the berries, possess valuable  astringent,  tonic,
detergent, and diuretic properties.  The decoction  forms  an
excellent wash for ulcers and old sores; it also forms a valua-
ble gargle in mercurial sore mouth, sore throat, &c; and may
be used with great advantage as an  application in tetter and
many  cutaneous  diseases.   Taken  internally it produces a
tonic effect upon the skin, and may be employed with advan-
tage when  that  organ is in a relaxed and debilitated condi-
tion.   It may  also be used with advantage  in stranguary, and
in bowel complaints.  The  bark  of the root is esteemed of
value as an antiseptic; and,  made into a poultice,  is almost
unequalled as a remedy for old ulcers.
RUBUS  STRIGOSUS
Red Raspberry.
Sexual System—Class II; order 13.
  Description.—This is a bushy, perennial  shrub, with slen-
der, upright stems, which have a reddish bark, beset with nu-
merous stiff bristles or spires.  The leaves are rough, lanceo-
late, accuminate, serrate, with deep latteral notches, green
above, and white beneath.   The  flowers are white, and dis-
posed in clusters.   The fruit is red when ripe,  of a conical
shape, granular, and edible.

  Locality and habits.—This  plant is found in most  of the
States, growing in waste lands, and in stony places—frequent-
ly among rocks on the sides and summits of mountains. 
388                  RUBUS STRIGOSUS.
            i

            V
                  RUBUS STRIGOSUS.
Red Raspberry.
  Medical properties and uses.—The leaves of the red raspber-
ry form a mild and agreeable astringent, possessing slightly
tonic properties, and a pleasant aromatic taste.  It forms an
excellent medicine  in the treatment of bowel complaints of
children.  In such cases it may be given in  decoction, per
stomach, or  by injection.   It is also valuable as a medicine
to be used  in connection  with capsicum  and sculcap. or la-
dy's slipper, for the purpose of regulating labor  pains.   Dr. 
STATICE LDVIONIUM.
380
Thomson recommends a tea of this to be given occasionally
to very young children.   He  says it will  prevent the  sore
mouth to which they are liable.  It also constitutes a sooth-
ing and cleansing wash for burns, sores, and irritated surfaces.
  Among the particular indications  for its use, are the  calls
for astringent applications  in  parts where  mild, unirritating
and  pure medicines alone  are admissable,  as in the eye, in-
flamed sores, &c.
    STATICE  LIMONIUM.


        Marsh Rosemary.


Sexual System—Class 5; order 5.
  Description.—Root perennial, fleshy, and branched.  The
  »\ver stem is round, smooth, upright, about a foot in height,
„kd considerably  branched at the top.  The leaves are radi-
c\{  or standing on long radical  petioles; they are  obovate,
cuneform, obtuse at the outer ends, accuminate, entire, flat
and shining on their margins, somewhat thick and firm.  The
flowers are numerous, small, bluish-purple, and arranged on
the upper sides of the terminal branches.

  Locality and habits.—Marsh rosemary is principally found
along the sea coast from New England to Florida.  It flowers
in August and September.

  Medical properties and **».—The root of this plant is a very
powerful astringent, antiseptic, and styptic.   The medicine.
however, is not much used as an internal remedy, as it is con-
sidered  to have a tendency to  produce constipation of  the
bowels.  As an external application, in the form of a poultice
to inveterate ulcers, cancers&c. itis very highly esteemed. Ihe
decoction is also much valued as a gargle and wash in sore
moutl or aphthea, and sore  throat.  Dr. Mattson also recom-
mend  an ointment made of the root for the cure of piles 
390
STATICE LLMONIUM.
STATICE LIMONIUM.
Marsh Rosemary. 
EUTROPHICS OR ALTERATIVES.
391
      Evan Root, (Geum Rivale)—The root of this article, which
    is sometimes called chocolate root and water evans, is a gentle
    astringent, and is much used in domestic practice, in the form
    of a strong decoction, for bowel complaints among children.
      Dewberry, (Rubus Trivialis.)~Blackberry, (Rubus Villosus.)
    The bark of the root of both these species of the rubus is power-
    fully astringent,and as such, is much used in dysentery and diar-
    rhoea, after the bowels are well cleansed by the proper means.
      Matico, (Piper Angustifolium)—This plant  is a native  of
    Peru; the flowering tops and leaves are brought to us, and are
    to be got in the shops.
      The matico is astringent, and powerfully styptic.  The pul-
    verized leaves and flowers should be applied to  the bleeding
    parts; or a strong decoction may  be made of them, and the
    parts washed with it.  The  decoction is also good in uterine
    and all other hemorrhages, as well as bloody flux.  It will al-
    so be found useful in gonorrhoea and leucorrhoea.
      Hemlock Spruce, (Pinus  Canadensis)—The inner  bark  of
1    this tree is an active astringent, and is much used as  such  in
    some parts of this country.  Some are in the habit of com-
    bining this article, as well as  many other  astringents, (espe-
    cially bayberry,) with the stimulants, for the purpose of ren-
    dering the latter more permanent.  The hemlock bark is used
 ,   in all cases  in which articles of the astringent class are indi-
ct  cated.  The infusion is generally prefered.   This is to be ta-
    ken freely, that is, without any particular reference to quantity.
VI. EUTROPHICS OR ALTERATIVES.
  These are medicines tiiat are calculated to obviate morbid
conditions of the body without necessarily producing any ma-
terial increase of the evacuations.
  Alteratives are supposed to effect chiefly  the functions of
nutrition and absorption, and that they so modify  or change
these important phenomena as to produce a new action,—one
contrary to that which contributed to the disease.
  These agents are chiefly intended for chronic diseases, espe-
cially such'as scrofula, white-swelling,  consumption, syphilis,
and the various cutaneous diseases.
  It may be observed  that although an  evacuant power is not
necessary to the specific operation of eutrophics, yet this is by« 
3D 2
s.\r>aparilla.
no means a hindrance to them.  A medicine, therefore, whose
operation is followed with a marked improvement  of health,
although proving slightly laxative, will nevertheless  be  con-
sidered an alterative, when it will appear  that  the laxative
ttfect could not have been the cause of the improvement.
Special Eutrophics.
SARSAPARILLA.
             Sexual System—Class 20; order G.


 ' There are many different articles used in  medical practice
under the name of Sarsaparilla, and in many instances, per-
haps the majority, articles  possessing none of the  properties
of the  true Sarsaparilla arejadrninistcred forthisdrug.  These
circumstances could not do otherwise than bring the Sarsapa-
rilla more or  less into  disrepute;  and yet there is  but little
doubt but that the genuine medicine possesses alterative prop-
erties of no mean character.  The most of the Sarsaparilla of
commerce is produced by the smilax genus of plants.  But it
is not yet certainly  known what  species of smilax it is that
produces the  genuine or best article.   It  has been  supposed
that the smilax Sarsaparilla of the U. States is identical with
the smilax of Honduras, which produces the  best Sarsaparilla
that is  brought to us.
  The  smilax Sarsaparilla has a long slender stem or vine,
which is  somewhat angular and  beset with prickles.   The
leaves  are alternate,  unarmed,  ovate,  lanceolate, nerved,
glaucous beneath, and supported with footstalks accompanied
with long tendrils.  The flowers are  disposed in bunches of
three or four on a common peduncle, which is longer than the
petioles of the leaves.  This plant is usually  found growing
in. swamps and hedges, through  the  Middle and  Southern
States.
  The  Honduras Sarsaparilla is brought to us directly from
the Bay of Honduras, and comes in bundles two or three feet
in length, which are composed of  a number of roots  folded
lengthwise  and wound or tied around in the middle, to secure 
RUMEX CRISPUS.                   303
it, with a long piece of the root.  These  bunches are packed
in large bales, covered with skins.  The thickness  of these
roots is about that of a pipe stem, and the color of the bark
is of a reddish-gray.
  Much of this Sarsaparilla is brought  to us from Jamaica.
whither it is brought from Honduras.  This that comes by this
rout is generally called Jamaica Sarsaparilla.
  There  are still other  varieties of Sarsaparilla  that  are
brought to us from different countries, which generally bear
the names of  the ports or countries from whence  they are
brought:  thus we have the Brazilian,  Lima,  Caraccas, Peru-
vian,  Vera Cruz,  and Mexican Sarsaparillas.

  Medical properties and uses.—The Sarsaparilla root has  for
many years been considered among the  best alteratives
that we possess.   It is particularly useful in syphilis, strumous
habits, tubercular consumption, &c.  When  the medicine is
prepared for use, it should not be much  boiled,  but may be
broken up fine, and then be simmered for a few hours in wa-
ter at a moderate heat; or it may be reduced to a fine pow-
der, and then digested for three or four days in warm water,
This  is then to be taken freely.  The extract of Sarsaparilla
that is found in the shops is not, generally, worth much.
  When Sarsaparilla is selected for use, that  should be taken
that has the strongest odour.
RUMEX CRISPUS
                   Narrow-leafed Dock.


             Sexual  System—Class 6; order 3.


  Description.—Root perennial, large, fleshy,  branched,  spin-
dle-shaped,  and of a yellow  color.  Leaves  many, radical-,
large, lanceolate, entire, crisped, and are supported on long
grooved petioles.  The stem is upright, smooth, furrowed, with
a few bracts as it ascends, and branched at the top.  The ter-
minal branches are beset with many small flowers, which are
followed with numerous small three sided seeds. 
394
ARALIA NUDICAULIS.
  Locality and habits.—This is an extremely common indige-
nous plant, growing about door-yards, in meadows, along fen-
ces, and in lanes.   It floAvers in July.

  Medical properties and uses.—This  and nearly all the other
docks, especially the broad-leaved, and the bur docks are good
alteratives, tonics, and detergents.
  These plants are  excellent eutrophics, and as such, may be
used with advantage in all scrofulous, strumous, scorbutic, and
scirrhus affections.   They are particularly useful in cases of
chronic  diseases of the skin that are  dependant on a vitiated
state of the humors.
ARALIA NUDICAULIS.
                    False Sarsaparilla.


             Sexual S}rstem—Class 5;  order 5.


  Description.—This is a common plant in the western coun-
try, and is much used under the name of sarsaparilla.  It has
a long, horizontal, perennial root, of about the thickness of a
pipe stem, with a grayish  bark.   The stem is upright, round,
smooth, about a foot or more in height, and divided on the top
into three petioles, bearing as many quinate, or thrice ternate
leaves.   The leaflets of these are oblong-oval,  accuminate,
rounded at the base, smooth on both sides, and serrate.  The
scape or flower  stem is naked, shorter than the leaf, and ter-
minated by three umbels with numerous yellowish-green flow-
ers, followed by small round berries.

  Locality and habits.—This plant is found on uplands or hilly
grounds, growing in woods, new-grounds, &c.  It is found in
most of the Western States.

  Medical properties and uses.—The false sarsaparilla is used
for the same purposes of the genuine sarsaparilla, only it is
not so good, and must be  taken in larger  quantities.  It is 
ARALIA RACEMOSA.
395
generally taken in  decoction, or infusion,  and drank in por
tions as large as the stomach will bear.
ARALIA RACEMOSA.
Spikenard.
Sexual System—Class 5; order 5.
  Description.—-The spikenard is a beautiful luxuriant plant,
with long, perennial, horizontal, spindle-shaped, and branch-
ed roots, which have  a grayish  bark.  The stern is round,
smooth, branched, and of a purplish-green color.  1 he leaves
are large, compound or thrice ternate, with oblong-oval, lan-
ceolate, accuminate, smooth, entire, serrated  leaflets,   lhe
The flowers are arranged in umbels; they  are  followed with
round, purple or dark berries.

  Locality and Habits.—Spikenard delights in a rich soil, and 
39b                 CELASTRLS SCANDENS.
is found in ravines, along fences, in the woods, and often se-
lects piles of vegetable mould,  as the remains of logs or tim-
bers.   It grows in most of the States.

  Medical properties and uses.—Besides its general application
where alteratives are indicated, it seems, according to the
opinion of  some, to  be particulary serviceable in pectoral or
lung affections, and female weakness.  The green root forms
an excellent poultice.
CELASTRUS SCANDENS*
Staff  Vine, False Bitter-Sweet.
Sexual System—Class 5; order 1.
   Description.—Root woody, long, with a thick fleshy bark.
and beautiful yellow cuticle.   The  stem is a long vine, with
a rough bark, which has a grayish  cuticle, but yellow derm.
The vine is generally supported by bushes, and trees, around
which it binds, sometimes, so tightly as to  burry itself in the
solid wood.  It is much branched at the  top, and bears, in
the fall, numerous clusters of beautiful orange colored, ob-
long berries.

   Locality and habits.—This singular plant  is found most plen-
tifully in the rich  Western bottoms.

  Medical properties and uses.—The bark  of the root of tliis
plant,  is considerably alterative in its effects.   It is chiefly
u^ed in decoction or infusion, for chronic  cutaneous  affec-
tions.  In order to insure its good effects, its use must be per-
severed in.   In  some  medical books this article is  recom-
mended in the form of an ointment, for scrofulous tumors, and
other obstinate swellings.   But this credit was gained by it
from the popularity of the real bitter-sweet, for which it has
been mistaken^as already remarked.
  *This plant, thougb entirely dissimilar, is often confounded with the .wlunum
dulcamara, or Woody night-shade. 
CELASTRUS SCANDENS.
307
CELASTRUS SCANDEN:

S:of Vine, False Bitter-suwt 
398              SILPHIUM PERFOLIATUM.
SILPHIUM PERFOLIATUM

Cup Plant, Ragged-cup. 
SILPHIUM PERFOLIATUM, &C              390
              SILPHIUM PERFOLIATUM.

                  Cup Plant, Ragged-cup.

             Sexual System—Class 17;  order 4.

  Description.—Root perrennial, long, crooked, pitted, joint-
ed, with fibres issuing from the joints.  Stem upright, square,
about an inch  in diameter, branched at the  top, and from
two to six feet in height.   The leaves are  large, ragsrr-'d.
clasping or cupped, opposite, and diminishing in size as they
ascend up the stem.   The flowers are terminal, with a broad
disk, and beautiful, yellow, spreading petals.

  locality and liabits.—The cup-plant is  found  in the rich bot-
toms  of our western rivers.   In some  places it grows very
plentifully.-

  Medical properties and uses.—The root  of this beautiful
jilant, when taken into the mouth, has a strong scratching or
acrid taste,  which is very durable in its effects.  It excites the
secretions, and operates  as a general deobstruent.   Its effects
are also prominently eutrophic, and detergent.  In all chronic
viceral affections, this article will prove itself a valuable rem-
edy.  As a  diaphoretic it is not inferior, and hence the medi-
cine is particularly serviceable in viceral inflammations, such
hs chronic hapatitis and chronic inflammation of  the spleen.
It is prepared in strong decoction, and taken in half f-a-cup-
ful doses, according to the symptoms.
                 ALNUS  SERRULATA

                  Black Alder,  Tag Alder.

            Sexual System—Class 19; order 4.

  Description.—This is a shrubby tree or bush, rising from
five to fifteen feet in height.  It is much branched at the top,
and has a grayish bark.  The leaves are large, roundish, or
oblono-, accuminate, and serrate.  The flowers are in aments
or tags, like those of the hazel, and appear in autumn. 
400
ANTISEPTICS AND  DISINFECTANTS.
  Locality and habits.—The black alder is found in wet lands,
along brooks, and in swampy places.  It grows in  bunches,
that is, there are generally a  number of stems, say from six to
several dozen to a root.

  Medical properties and uses.—The bark of the root, the tags,  ,::
and boughs, are good  alteratives, and detergents.   The med-
icine is generally used in diseases of the skin.   It js prepared .  !
in strong decoction, and taken freely.  The decoction makes
a good wash for old foul ulcers.

 Guiacsjm.—The shavings, or  gum of guiacum are actively al-
terative, and may be used in all cases  in which articles of this
class are indicated,  especially in chronic diseases.
VII. ANTISEPTICS AND DISINFECTANTS.
  Antiseptics are remedies which have a tendency or  power
to prevent putrefaction or mortification, or of obviating it
when it has already taken place.   Disinfectants are  agents  m
that are capable of neutralizing morbific and offensive afllu-  1
via:—they are also antiseptic in their effects.
Special Antiseptics and Disinfectants.


  ACIDUM  PYROLYGNEUM.
            Pyroligneous Acid, Vinegar of Wood.


  This acid is obtained by the destructive distillation of wood.
sic. prepare it, a furnace should be built, and a strong sheet-
 on cylinder of any size, with  a tight lid, placed in  it.   To
rhe top of this, an iron tube, about a foot in length, should be
fixed: to this there should be fixed a worm of a common still. 
CARBO LIGNI.
401
or any other suitable tube, long enough to condense the va-
por.   This worm or tube must pass through a tub or trough
of water, to  favor  the  condensation.   The apparatus being
complete, the cylinder may be filled with some solid dry oak,
or any other  good dry wood, and the lid carefully luted with
clay so as to  make  the  whole  air-tight.  A good fire may
now be raised and continued until the products cease to come
over.  The products in the vessel, previously prepared to re-
ceive it, are an impure  pyroligneous acid, which will answer
for ordinary  external use, but for internal use, and for the
preservation  of meat, &c, it should be purified by redistillation.

   Medical properties and uses.—This is perhaps the most pow-
erful antiseptic that we possess.  The article, of moderate
strength, needs only be applied two or three times to gangre-
nous parts to restore them.  As a cleansing and healing ap-
plication in the treatment of ill-conditioned ulcers,  cancers,
and scrofulous sores, it, perhaps,  has no rival.   The medicine
is applicable in all cases in which a powerful antiseptic, and
healing medicine is required.
   Any kind  of meat may be preserved by dipping it into this
 acid a few times, and it will neither injure the meat, or spoil
 its  flavor, but rather improve the latter,—at least for some
 palates.
CARBO  LIGNI.
Charcoal.
  This is prepared by piling anv quantity of good solid wood
in a conical heap, and covering it with  earth or sod  to pre-
vent the free access of air; several holes being left at the^ bot-
tom, and one at the top, in order to give it some draught  so
as to commence the combustion.  This being attended to, the
wood is then kindled  from  the  bottom.  As  soon  as the fire
has fairly started, the.hole  at the top  is closed, and after the
fire has pervaded the  wood pretty generally, those at the bot-
tom too.                     .   .       . ,     ,     ,.  ..  ,
  By those means the combustion is carried on  by a  limited
supply of oxygen, and  with a smothered flame, and hence 
102                  CALX CHLORINATA.

nothing more than the more volatile parts, as the oxygen and
hydrogen are dissipated, while the carbon, in the form of char-
coal, is left behind.

  Medical properties and use -s — Charcoal is actively antiseptic,
and absorbent.   In the form  of a poultice with yeast, it is
very  good to arrest mortification.  With the same view.it
may  be taken  in large doses, internally, when  gangrene of
the stomach or bowels  is threatened.  It is an excellent arti-
cle, to be  used in typhoid fever and dysentery.  Meatembed-
ed'in fine charcoal  is preserved for many months.
CALX CHLORINATA.
Chlorinated Lime,  Chloride of Lime.
  This is prepared by the manufacturing chemist, by the a^
tion of chlorine on hydrate of lime.  It may be  purchased at
the shops much cheaper than it  can be made by the practi-*
tioner.'
  Good chlorinated lime is a dry  or slightly moist, grayish-
white, pulverulent substance, possessing an acrid, bitter, pun-
ge.jit,  astringent taste, and a  feeble odor, resembling that of
chlorine.

   Medical property and  uses.—Chlorinated lime is perhaps the
most powerful disinfectant that we possess.  It is of eminent
service, to purify the chambers of  the sick.   For this purpose
it is simply to be put in a dish or saucer, which is then to be
placed in some convenient situation in the room.
   A M>lution of chlorinated lime makes an excellent wash for
foul  ulcers,  burns, chilblains,  and cutaneous  eruptions.  It
makes, when of suitable strength,  a very good gargle in cases
of putrid sore throat, and sore  mouth  and gums.  The chlo-
rinated lime constitutes the popular bleaching powder that is
»o evtensively used. 
CHLOR1NUM.
CHLORINUM
                          Cldorine.


  As a  disinfectant for clothing and  infected apartments,
chlorine has long been a popular agent.  A mixture that will
yield chlorine for three  or  four days, in a quantity sufficient
for all ordinary purposes, may be made by mixing  intimately
one part of common salt with one part of black oxide of manga-
nese, and after placing this into a shallow earthen  dish, pour-
ing on two parts of sulphuric acid, previously diluted with two
parts  by measure of water, the mixture boing stirred with a
stick while it is being made.   If the vessel,  containing this
mixture, is placed in a room that is infected with a poisonous
contagion or effluvia it will perfectly purify it: or if clothes
are held over the fumes rising from the mixture, or even hung
in the room containing it, they will be rendered pure.
  Persons using the chlorine, should  be careful not to inhale
much of it, as it is injurious to the lungs.

  It is unnecessary here to notice severally, all the antiseptics
that are found among the tonics, astringents, and stimulants.—
It must  sutfice to say that the most active articles in all these
classes,  as, for  instance, cinchona, columbo, hydrastis can.,
geranium,  bayberry, white pond lilly, cayenne pepper, gin-
ger, black  pepper, tine, of myrrh, and even  sassafras bark,
are all   excellent antiseptics.  When used, they should  be
made up with yeast, charcoal, or slippery elm mucilage, and
applied to  the parts: or, if needed internally, they  may be ta-
ken down  in decoction, infusion, or tincture, in large dose*. 
404                ALKALIES OR ANTACIDS.



                       CHAP. VII.


       Medicines whose effects are prominently chemical.


             I.  ALKALIES OR  ANTACIDS.
  These are remedies which are calculated  to obviate acidi-
ty in the stomach and  elsewhere.  This  they effect by com-
bining with the acid and thus neutralizing it.  These agents
are not of very extensive application, but in some cases are
nevertheless considerably important.
  Alkalies are chiefly indicated in the heart-burn attending
dyspepsia,—to  promote  the operation  of emetics,—in  the
treatment of poisoning by  the  ingestion of the concentrated
acids, and in urinary calculi, caused  by an excess of uric or
some other acid.
   Special Antacids.


KODJE CARBONAS.


  Carbonate of Soda.
  Carbonate of soda is obtained by the manufacturing chem-
ist,  from the ashes of the ChenopodiaceaD and Algaceae fami-
lies of plants.  It is also found in certain parts in Egypt, Hun-
gary, and South America, occurring in a native state.
  The carbonate of soda, as it occurs in the shops, is in opaque,
porous masses, of a white color, and made up  of numerous,
aggregate, chrystalline grains.
  The bicarbonate of soda is now rather more in use than the
carbonate.  It is preferred because it is more pure, and is more
pleasant to the taste, as well as the stomach. 
POTASSiE CARBON AS.
405
  Medical properties and uses.—Either of these preparations of
soda may be taken in from a half to a whole teaspoonful doses,
dissolved in water.  A dose of it may occasionally be taken
in cases of heartburn, acid eructations, and all other cases in
which alkalies are indicated.
POTASS.E CARBONAS.
              Carbonate of potash, Salceratus.


  This, like the soda, may be obtained either from the veget-
able or mineral kingdoms.   Salagratus is, however, chiefly pre-
pared from common wood ashes.  As found in the  shops, it
consists of a coarse granular white powder, and  has a nau-
seous, alkaline taste.   It is very soluble in water, but is insol-
uble in alcohol.

  Medical properties and uses.—Salseratus is a very good alkali
but little  inferior to carbonate of soda.  It may be used  in
all cases in which the latter is found useful.

  Carbonate of Ammonia.—This is an  excellent antacid, and
Is at the same time considerably stimulant  and diaphoretic.
It is therefore rather better than either soda or salieratus, in
dyspeptic sour stomachs, as well as in some other cases.
                  CHAPTER VIII.


     Medicines whose action is prominently mechanical.


      I.  DEMULCENTS AND EMOLLIENTS.


The  class of demulcents, by many writers on therapeutics, 
406
ULMUS FULVA.
is now considered separate from  that of emollients;—the for-
mer is now made to comprise such agents as are capable of
shielding sensible surfaces from the action of acrid matter, by
covering or  coating them  with a viscid and  soft  material;
whilst the latter embraces articles that not only effect this, but
at the same time, so insinuate themselves into the textures, as
to render the parts more  lax  and flexible by  their relaxing
power.  These agents will, however, here be  considered to-
gether.
  They are particularly serviceable in  irritation  and inflam-
mation of the mucous membrane of the stomach, bowels, and
urinary passages; as well as externally in chafes, burns, bruis-
es, and irritable  wounds.  They should be used in large and
frequent doses, for as they chiefly depend on  mechanical prin-
ciples for their action, this end is sometimes prevented by the
digestive process—changing the character of the agent—when
it is taken in small portions.
Special Demulcents and Emollients.


       ULMUS FULVA.
                       Slippery Elm.


             Sexual System—Class 5;  order 2.


  This is a very common forest tree, and needs no description.

  Medical properties and uses.—The mucilage of the slippery
elm bark is one of the  best  demulcents that we possess; and
as it is easily procured  and pleasant to take, it is very exten-
sively used in medical practice.  It may be used with the cer-
tain prospect of benefit in all cases in which demulcents  are
indicated.  It is particularly serviceable in  inflammation of
the mucous surface of the alimentary canal, and in the form
of a poultice or cataplasm, in cases of burns, chafes, irritable
ulcers, wounds, bruises, and healings. 
ACACIA, &.C.
407
ACACIA.
Gum Arabic.
            Sexual System—Class 15; order 10.


  The gum arabic brought to us, is the product of a number
of different trees of the leguminose order, growing in Arabia,
Upper and Lower Egypt, Hindostan, and  other  places.  As
found in the shops, it consists  of  roundish or   amorphous
pieces, or irregular masses of various sizes, more or less trans-
parent, hard, brittle, and pulverize able.   Its color is usually
of a yellowish white, but frequently presents various shades.

  Medical properties and uses.—Gum arabic is an excellent de-
mulcent, and will be found useful in catarrhal affections, and
irritation of the mouth and fauces, as well as in inflammation
of the stomach, bowels, kidneys, bladder, &c.  It also serves
as a very good vehicle for taking less pleasant articles.
CONVALLARIA MULTIFLORA.
•  Solomon,s Seal.
             Sexual System—Class 6; order 1.


  Description.—Root  perennial, horizontal, jointed,  white,
round, with some fibres.   Stem  terete, and  inclining,  or
arched.   Leaves alternate, clasping, oblong-ovate, lanceolate,
and nerved.  Flowers white, numerous, and pendulous.
  There is another variety of Solomon's Seal that grows more
plentifully than this, which,  although  smaller, is equally val-
uable. 
408              CONVALLARIA MULTIFLORA.




            CONVALLARIA MULTIFLORA.
Solomon's Seal.
  Locality and habits.—These plants are found  in most parts
of the U. States, growing in rich soil, in rocky and mountain-
ous countries.

  Medical properties and uses.—Solomon's Seal  is demulcent
and tonic,—boiled in milk, it forms an excellent medicine in
the treatment of irritable piles, and inflammatory diseases of
the bowels generally.   It is also quite serviceable in leucor-
rhoea, and gonorrhoea.   The medicine is beneficially used in 
BATHING.
409
the form of a poultice, in the treatment of inflamed and raw
surfaces.—The  root is the part used;—dose, as much as the
stomach will bear.

  Flax  seed, (Linum Se.mina)—Flax seed tea is an excellent
demulcent, and is particularly serviceable  in  scalding of the
urine.—It is to be taken freely without any particular refer-
ence to  quantity.
  Marsh mallows, (Allhcea Officinalis)—The root of this plant
may be  used with advantage in all cases in which demulcents
are required.
  Olive Oil, (Oleum Olivcea)—Sweet oil is an excellent emol-
lient, and  is exceedingly  serviceable as a liniment  in  burns,
chafes, and inflamed surfaces generally. It forms an ingredi-
ent in many valuable  cerates and liniments.
  Oil of Almonds, (Oleum Ami/<rdala>)—This  is a good emol-
lient, and  may be used as such in all cases in which the sweet
oil is found serviceable.
  Lard, (Adeps)—Hogs lard is a good emollient and is much
used by many physicians instead of sweet oil.

  In addition to those already noticed, there are a number of
articles  that are valuable demulcents,  and which  are  at the
same time quite nutritious, but cannot here be treated  separ-
ately.   Among the most important of  these are, Arrow root,
Tapioca, Sago, Barley, Oatmeal, Iceland Moss, &c.  These
are all good in  cases  of  inflammation of the mucous mem-
brane of the stomach  and bowels,  and in all  cases of irrita-
bility of these organs.
CHAPTER  IX.
BATHING.
  Whether we consider bathing as a hygienic means, or cura-
tive agent, it is of paramount importance; for such is the hu-
man organization,—such the relation of the external  surface
to the entire system, that the slightest derangements in its func-
tions produce effects on the constitution of no small magnitude. 
410                      bathing.
  The perpetual supply and metamorphosis or change of the
organic elements of the body, are indispensable to its physiolog-
ical or healthy condition.   Now, all these exhausted elements
are found immediately in the capillary vessels, and have  no
convenient  chance of  exit from the body,  excepting that
through the pores of the skin. When, therefore, the emunctuaries
of the skin are obstructed, this vast amount of peccant mat-
ter is retained in the body; some of it remaining in the capil-
laries, while much of it is carried in the circulation, and thus.
in both instances, giving rise to much irritation and fever.   If
the,obstruction should prove permanent,  these materials will
be retained in the system, and continue to increase their mis-
chief until they make their escape, littles by littles, through the
other and more remote outlets.
  But this is not the greatest mischief that arises from obstruc-
tion of the cutaneous exhalents: the functions of these organs
involve the regulation of the temperature  of the body.  All
these changes in the supply and metamorphosis or waste of
the materials, are attended with a corresponding evolution of
caloric or heat.*  Now, this heat, according to the laws of the
economy, was intended to have been regulated by the evapo-
ration from the surfacef   As there is no evaporation sustained
while the pores are closed up, the heat of the body must evi-
dently increase at no slow rate.  It will now be seen that in
obstruction of the cutaneous exhalents,"an evil of  a two-fold
character is evinced:  first, a fever is generated by the retained
perspiration, which, by its  irritation increases the  activity of
the circulation, and hence the increased supply of oxygen and
consequent combustion: secondly, it perpetuates this fever by
the extinction of the natural means of its removal,—that is
perspiration.
  These mischiefs are liable to occur  at any time that obstruc-
tion of the  functions of the skin may  take place; and  the
magnitude of the evil, will always correspond with the extent
of the obstruction.
  There are still other difficulties that are liable to  occur from
this cause: besides the bond of union between  the different
parts of the body, by means  of the  sanguiferous  system of
vessels, there is  another—the nervous system.  Now, the skin
is more extensively supplied with nerves than any other part
of the body: it must  appear, therefore, that from the extensive
nervous sympathy existing, that there is a great  liability to
mischief from this circumstance.  The  nerves are functiona-

  * This is the source of animal heat.
  t The disposition of the body to perspire, always corresponds with the amount
of its sensible heat. 
BATHING.
411
ries which superintend all the manifestations of vitality in the
body.  The morbid excitement, therefore, that is consequent
on obstructions of the skin, must also be communicated to the
entire system by  this means.  Whatever nervous depression
or derangement there may be, it will always be attencbd with
a corresponding der ression of all the energies of the system.
  There is still another chain of general association, i. e., the
lymphatic system.  These  vessels have  their chief origin in
the skin;  their functions, therefore, are extremely much influ-
enced by obstructions of this organ.   A large amount of the
morbific matter that may accumulate in the  capillary vessels,
is carried into the circulation by the lymphatics.  Thus the,
now famishing, organs of the entire body,  instead of being
supplied with fresh and healthy blood,  are irritated and  op-
pressed by this impure and noxious mixture.
  The secondary evils resulting from obstructions of the skin,
are also of  considerable note.  The  whole  system laboring
under such an  accumulation of morbific agencies, it is but
reasonable  to expect that, in addition to the  acute attacks im-
plicating the general system, as in fevers, there is also a great
liability to local inflammations and permanent chronic diseas-
es, especially of those organs that from their construction, po-
sition, and  use in the economy, are most exposed  to the delete-
rious infiuencies.   The lungs are perhaps more exposed to this
cause of mischief, than any other of the more important vice-
ra; for  while the blood must all necessarily pass through them,
they are also liable to particular obstruction from the specific
termination of the  materials destined  for expectoration.—
 Hence  irritation, congestions, and inflammation of this organ
are so extremely apt to  occur;—hence  the  cough attending
our colds,—the oppressive pain, and  other inconveniences so
 frequently experienced in the breast.  Nor does ulceration and
consumption of the lungs occur less commonly from this than
 any other cause.
   The intestines are next in exposure to this cause  of disease.
 The frequency of derangements here is well known to all ob-
 servers.  The  bowels, like the lungs, are compelled to act vi-
 cariously in the removal of the obstructed perspiration.  Dys-
 enteries, diarrhoea, cholera, &c, are  of common  occurrence
   It is unnecessary further to particularize  the  infinite,  and
 endlessly varied  forms of diseased action, that may result in
 the different parts of the system, from this prolific source: it
must suffice to say that this is the most fruitful of all the caus-
 es of disease.
   In view of all these facts, it cannot but appear obvious that
the best remedy  for  this grand source  of  disease is of the 
412
BATHING.
greatest importance, and this remedy cannot be expected to be
found elsewhere but in attention to  the surface.
  Dr. Ewell remarks on this head, in his lectures on Hygie-
ine:—"The evacuations of the body, from its superfluous, im-
pure, and noxious particles, are no less necessary  than  its
nourishment.  The same power which changes and assimilates
our food and drink, likewise effects the  due and timely evac-
uations of the secretions.   It is an  object of the  first conse-
quence, that nothing remain in the body which ought to  be
evacuated; and that nothing be ejected, which may be of use
to its preservation.  How many persons do we find who com-
plain of bad health, notwithstanding eve-ry attention th3y pay
to air, aliment, exerci^p, and sleep; while others enjoy a good
state of health, though totally careless with regard  to these
particulars, and all  owing to a difference in the  state of the
evacuations.  If these be disordered, ,the most rigorous ob-
servance  of dietic rules is insufficient to insure  our health;
while on  the contrary, most of these rules may be neglected,
for  some  time, without any  injurious consequences, if tho
evacuations be regular."

          "The grand discharge, the effusion of the skin,
    Slowly impair'd, the languid maladies
    Creep on, and through the sick'ning functions steal;
    As, when the chilling east evades the spring,
    The  delicate Narcissus pines away
    In hectic languor; and slow disease
    Taints all the family of flowers, condemned
    To cruel Heav'ns.  But why, already prone
    To fade, should beauty cherish its own bane!
    O shame ! O pity! nipt with <pale quadrille,
    And midnight cares, the bloom of Albion dies."
                                            [Armstrong.

  Bathing stands at the head of all our means of promoting
the natural and healthy functions of the skin,—its importance
has been  known, to some extent, from the earliest antiquity.
The ancient Egyptians were particularly fond of the practice.
From the Throne to  the humblest subject this hygienic rule
was observed; and though the Nile  afforded  abundant facili-
ties  for bathing, and was frequented even by  Pharaoh's
daughter, and  her attendants, yet extensive baths were erect-
ed at public expense.   The Hebrew Law-giver enjoined up-
on the Israelites,  the  strict  observance of the ordinance  of
washing and bathing.
  Among the Greeks and Romans bathing, if possible, was 
VAPOR  BATH.                    413
still more popular; they, particularly the latter,  erected baths
of the most magnificent character:  those of Caracalla were
constructed with great taste.  They are said to have been em-
bellished with two hundred pillars, and furnished with sixteen
hundred  seats,  and  thus sufficient to  accommodate  three
thousand people at a time.
Special modes of bathing.


  I. VAPOR BATH.
  There is no form of bathing so extensively useful as the va-
por bath.   Heat is the most relaxing  and stimulating agent
that we possess, and whenever applicable will seldom fail of
the object of its use.  The writer has  elsewhere observed
that the vital phenomena are manifested only at certain tem-
peratures, and that at certain points of this the animal func-
tions entirely cease.*  It will  appear then,  that the diminu-
tion of the animal temperature is identical with disease.   In
all cases, therefore, in which the heat  of the body is found to
run low, as in typhus fever, cholera or cholera morbus, palsy, as-
phyxia, &c, the vapor bath is of incalculable service.
  A moist heat seems to be peculiarly congenial to the body,
it "entry invigorates and  equalizes the circulation,—this last
circumstance makes the vapor bath especially valuable in lo-
cal inflammation, particularly  when  implicating the pleura,
or lungs.
   A course of the bath  eminently prepares the system for the
easy  thorough, and successful operation of emetics, and it is
a good plan always to preceed the latter with it in difficult
cases.  So  commonly are these  two  important  means used
together,  by Thomsonian practitioners, that they have inher-
ited the common title of "the course of medicine:'
   If the vapor bath did  not fulfil  any other indication than
the promotion of the cutaneous excretions, it, as a remedial
agent, would even  then, perhaps, be equal to  any other now
known, and it is ncft probable that a  more safe, prompt, and
efficient means  of restoring the excretions  of the skin  will
ever  be discovered.   Its value in this  respect can  only  be

  *Sue rcuuri.e cm fsver, page 66. 
414
VAPOR BATH.
 fully appreciated when the numerous mischiefs already hint-
 ed at, as resulting from obstructed perspiration, are properly
 considered.
   It is impossible to notice all the particular indications for
 its use.  But as the most prominent of these are pointed out
 in th2 part treating on practice; it is unnecessary to be par-
 ticular here,.
   Various means of applying vapor  to the body have been
 successfully used, the most common  of which, is to place the
 patient on "a split-bottomed chair, and surround him with a
 quilt or blanket.    A shallow vessel, containing about two
 quarts of boiling water, is now to be  placed under the chair,
 and hot bricks, or sand stones, carefully put into it successive-
 ly as they cool  off.   The good effects of this process are much
 enhanced by placing the feet of the patient in a vessel of wa-
 ter, as hot as can be borne.  When the bath is  administered
 to persons in a carpeted room, or where it is wished to avoid
 wetting tne floor, two  narrow boards may be  placed over a
 tub, and the chair set upon them; then placing the vessel into
 the tub, and bringing the quilt close around it, the bath may
 be administered as  already directed.
  Another and still more  convenient way of administering
 the bath, is to procure some half dozen or more joints of cop-
 per or tin tube, say  ten inches in length, and from a half to
 an inch in diameter,—let the joints  gradually diminish  in
 size, from one end to the other, so as to make the smaller end
 of one fit or embrace the larger one of the other,—the size
 of every subsequent tube diminishing from the two. middle
 ones to either end.   This arrangement of the tube is calcula-
 ted to admit of shoving back all  the small ones  into the two
 largest, with a  view of more convenience in carrying them.
 In addition to this, it is necessary to procure a plate of a cop-
 per or sheet-iron, sufficiently large to cover the  opening of a
 large tea-kettle; through the centre of this, a hole should be
 made, large enough to admit of a screw,  which should have
 a ring or flat top, so as to admit of turning it, and a shoulder
 below it to fit tightly on the plate.  This  screw should pass
 through the plate some four inches, and should enter the cen-
 tre  of a piece of iron, which should be half and  inch wide, a
 fourth of an inch thick, and long enough  to reach in a hori-
 zontal position, diametrically across the tea-kettle, about two
 inches below the plate through which thp  screw passes.  All
 that is now necessary to the completion of the apparatus is a
small elbow to  the  tube, and  a hole  midway   between the
 screw and the edge  of the plate, corresponding  to the size of
the elbow, and  another one at any convenient place in the 
VAPOR BATH.                    415
plate, to admit of replenishing the water during the operation
of bathing.   In order to make the plate rest on the mouth of
the tea-kettle so as to confine  the steam,  it may be best  to
fasten a piece of wollen cloth to the under side of it, cutting
it away around  the holes.
  When a bath is administered with this apparatus, the screw
is to be passed through the plate, and made to enter the iron
below, when the latter is to be put into a tea-kettle, 'one end
first.  Now by  raising the  screw with its  fixings,  so as to
bring both ends  of the  iron below, against the sides of the
tea-kettle, the plate may be tightly screwed down on the ket-
tle.   The latter,  being half full of hot  water, may now  be
placed on a hot stove or fire, and the tube inserted by its elbow,
while the other hole is stoped with a cork.  The other end of
the tube is made to pass under the chair of the patient, who
is to be surrounded with a quilt to confine  the vapor.
  Several very convenient fixings may be  added to this tube:
a slide, covering a hole in the tube, may be so  constructed  as
to regulate  the  steam or temperature according to pleasure.
A small box may be fixed with a cap on it, and with pieces
of tube soldered  into it, so as to fit into the main tube, at the
junction between the two  largest joints.  This arrangement
will admit of administering medicated vapor baths.   Any vola-
tile medicine, such as camphor, amonia, turpentine, and the
essential oils may thus be communicated to the body with the
greatest facility, while the  skin  is so much relaxed, and the
circulation active. 
416                     VAPOR  BATH.
  By the use of a spirit lamp, a still  more  convenient  appa-
ratus may be  prepared—a  representation  of which is here
given:—
  In the use of this apparatus nothing more is necessary than
to place the patient on a chair, and surround him with a quilt,
in the same way as for bathing  with the  heated bricks,  and
then placing the apparatus, fully trimed, under the chair.
  To trim or prepare the apparatus for bathing, the lamp must
be filled with alcohol, and  cotton wicks put into it the same
as for any other lamp, when the cap  may be  placed  on the
  *Fig. 1, a view of the spirit-lump bathing  apparatus, complete. 2, a sitfe
view of the furnace part, without the lamp, or boiler.  3, the boiler with it* pot,
fsraud cap raised.  4, the spirit lamp with its cap raised to show the uicka. 
VAPOR BATH.                    4l .
lamp-cup—the wick wetted with some of the spirit, and  the
lamp lit and placed in the furnace under the boiler, which is
to be nearly full of boiling water.
  Medicated baths may be administered with this apparatus,
simply by putting the intended preparation into the water of
the boiler.  With this, it is not necessary to have the  oil, or
concentrated form of the  articles used, as the  boiler is suffi-
ciently large to receive the articles in their crude state.   But
still, the oils, gums, and spirits are much more convenient,  and
perhaps nearly as  cheap.
  In administering the vapor bath,  the head of the patient
should never be covered with the quilts,  unless it should be
necessary to relieve diseases of the  head or face, as it is very
unpleasant for the patient to inhale the hot vapor as long as
it is sometimes necessary to continue the bathing.
   The patient should always take a few drinks of some stim-
ulating or diaphoretic teas before entering, and, sometimes, du-
ring the use of the  bath, especially if it should be difficult to
raise the perspiration.
   It is always best to raise the  heat of the bath gradually, so
as not to increase the momentum of the circulation too  rap-

   If at any time the patient should feel faint, his face, neck,
 and breast may be wiped with a towel wrung out of cold wa-
ter; or should this not prove sufficient, the heat of the vapor
 may be  let down, either by moving the slide on the tube, if
 this is used, or by removing the apparatus.  It is sometimes
 only necessary to open the quilts a littb, and thus to  let   out
 the steam. Should the patient feel  very faint, he may be  pla-
 ced in a horizontal  position, by leaning him backward in his
 chair  into the arms of  a bystander.  He should then have
 some cordial, stimulating drink, or tincture of myrrh.  In the
 mean time, the bath should  be kept up at  a low temperature.
   It is a rare case that patients grow faint, if the bathing  pro-
 cess is properly conducted.  But these remarks are here  giv-
 en, so that when this does occur, the practitioner may know
 what to do.

   The length of time that the vapor bath  should be continu-
 ed at a time,  is not very definite,—depending entirely on the
 nature of the disease—the idiosyncrasy of the natient. &c —
 But it is always advisable to continue it, um     ^  patient
 should become too weary, until he sweats t.eeiy.   s reliev-
 ed from the pain, or uneasiness for whicn he r,     rized.—
 The practitioner is sometimes deeeivedin the pn-c  ee, as  well
 as the extent of the perspiration, by misiak.-ig uie condensed
              27 
418                     TRPIP BATH.

vapor-on the body for sweat.  The surest sign of a free per-
spiration, is to see it profuse on the face.
  It is a general  practice either to shower the patient as  he
is taken out of the bath, with.a  basin of cold  water, or to
wipe him with a  towel wrung out of  the same,  in order thus
to excite a contraction of the skin, which is now unusually re-
laxed.  This is a very good practice, and should generally be
pursued, except in cases when it is intended to follow the bath
with  an emetic, or when the patient  feels chilly, or, finally,
when it is intended to keep him in a permanently relaxed con-
dition, to promote some particular object in the  treatment of
his case.
  The practice of applying cold water or the shower bath so
suddenly after the hot vapor, seems objectionable to some per-
sons.   But however revolting the  practice may seem to them,
it is nevertheless safe and  philosophical.  All unacquainted
with the practice, may be assured that they are  less liable to
take cold in this case, than  they would be to  take the  same
showering without being preceded with ths vapor.   "Taking
cold" is  a negative expression, and philosophically speaking,
means loxin" heat, but in common  parlance, it means a  dimi-
nution of the animal temperature to the extent  of producing'
injury to the system, by checking the excretions, &c.  But it
e;tnnot be reasonable to suppose that an individual would  be
more likely to sustain  injury from the loss of heat, when  he
has ten or fifteen  degrees of it to spare, (as is the case after a
good bath,) than he would  be when the heat is of the natural
standard, and there is none to spare.
                    H.  TEPID BATH.

  The warm bath has been in use both as a hygienic mcarw,
and as a remedial agent, from the earliest age  of medicine,
but it is now almost entirely superceded by the vapor bath, as
the latter is more convenient, and efficient, and will, moreover,
answer all the indications that can be fulfilled with the  tepid
bath.   Nevertheless, at large bathing establishments the warm
water is still considerably used.
  In m dical practice, the tepid bath is considerably service-
able in the treatment of many diseases of  children, and in
these oases,  it is,also perhaps more convenient than the vapor
bail). 
TEPID BATH.
419
  In the use of this bath for children, no fixings are  necessa-
ry, more than a common wash-tub of suitable size.   This is
to be about two thirds full of water, as warm as the child can
bear.  The patient, after taking some suitable  stimulating
or diaphoretic drinks, is then to be immersed into this, up  to
his neck, and continued there, if  comfortable, until perspira-
tion  appears on the face. During the time the patient remains
in the bath, the stimulating drinks should be  occasionally re-
peated.
  Adults, in the use of this bath, require cisterns or other ves-
sels of suitable size, and should likewise have the water  as
warm as it can be borne.  In order to be successful in produ-
cing a free perspiration on grown persons, it is necessary  to
take stimulant and diaphoretic drinks pretty freely.
  During the use of this bath, it is always very serviceable to
apply  friction to the surface of  the  body, by the use of the
hand.  This aids in relaxing the skin, and in bringing the ter-
mination to the surface.
  When the  patient is taken out of the bath, he should  be
briskly rubbed with  a dry  towel, thus to give activity to the
skin and in other ways promote the good effects of the bath.
  The general indications to be answered in the  use of Uib,
are about the same as for the vapor bath.

       "Against the rigours of a damp, cold Heaven,
       To fortify their bodies, some frequent
       The gelid cistern; and where naught forbids,
       I praise their dauntless heart.   *  *   *   *   *
       With us, the  man of.no complaint demands
       The warm  ablution, just enough to clear
       The sluices of the'skin; enough to keep
       The body sacred from indecent soil,
       Still to be pure, ev'n did it not conduce,
       As much it does, to health, were greatly worth
       Your daily pains.   'Tis this adorns the rich;
       The want of this is poverty's worst wo----
       With this external virtue, age maintains
       A decent grace; without it,  youth and charms
       Are loathsome.  This the venal graces know;
       So, doubtless, do your wives; for married sires
       As well as lovers, still pretend to taste;
       Nor is it less, all prudent wives can tell,
       To lose a husband's than a lover's heart."—Armstrong 
420
SHOWER  BATH, *.0.
                  III. SHOWER BATH.

   The shower bath is more used as a hygienic means than as
 a curative agent.  But there are many circumstances under
 which the application of cold water in this way, is very ser-
 viceable in the cure of disease.  In feverish conditions of the
 body, more especially, showering wdth cold water is often of
 great utility.  It has a tendency, to equalize the circulation,
 and very remarkably promotes the functions of the skin.  It
 is a very general practice among reformed physicians, to fol-
 low the vapor bath with a cold shower bath, as already stated.
   The best time for administering this bath is in the morning,
 when  the body is most vigorous.  If  administered  at any
 time in the day, it is a good plan to precede it with a dose or
 two of some stimulating drink.
   After the bath, the  body should be well dried, and briskly
 rubbed with a coarse towel, in  order  thus to excite the func-
 tions of  the skin, and produce a healthy reaction.
   Apparatuses of various forms of construction, have been
 used for the administration of this bath; but it is unnecessary,
 here to  give a description of any of  them, as there are  but
 few who will not be able to make or procure one of some
 form or other.   The only principle to be observed in the con-
 struction of apparatuses for this purpose, is to let the water
 be distributed in its descent, and to wet the whole body at the
 same  time.    This may be effected  by causing it to pass
 through  a tub  or  vessel having a perforated bottom.  The
 quantity of water to be used at a time, varies  according to
the nature of the  case, or the wish of the subject or patient:
 the amount generally used, is from a quart, to several gallons.
The water is also used at various temperatures,  according to
the object to be accomplished; but it  is the usual practice to
 take it at the natural  temperature of common spring water.
IV. SPONGING.
  Sponging with cold water,  as  a curative means, is of the
greatest importance in many cases of disease.  In all cases of
high fever, and as  a  local means, in violent inflammation, 
SPONGING.
421
cold water applied in this manner, is of incalculable benefit.
It has a tendancy to let down the heat very remarkably, and
to equalize the circulation.  In all cases when there is much
heat and dryness of the skin, this potent means should not be
neglected, it should be the first thing that is done by the prac-
titioner, who will, in many  instances,  find  it sufficient to
break up the most violent paroxysm of fever.
  In some obstinate cases, it may be advisable to roll the pa-
tient up in sheets wet  with cold water, and to renew them as
often as they  grow warm, until the  febrile  symptoms  give
way.  So efficient, indeed, is this part of the Reformed Sys-
tem of Medical  Practice, that a class of practitioners have
embraced it as an exclusive system, and use it in all cases of
disease, and the success  attending their treatment is not a lit-
tle  astonishing.
  The water used for  this purpose, should be soft, fresh, and
 cold. 
 
PART THIRD,
PHARMACY.
     Few articles of medicine are furnished us by the hand of
   nature in such a state of preparation as to require no labor to
   apply them to their use.  As found in their crude and elemen-
   tary state, they were considered with reference to their gene-
   ral character and virtues, in-the department of Materia Medica.
   (It then belongs to  Pharmacy to prepare these articles by Pul-
   verizing,  Compounding,  Extracting,  Concentrating,  Distilling,
   fyc, so as to be ready for exhibition in the cure of disease.
     Some medical substances, although possessed of valuable
   properties, may contain these so much attenuated, or buried
   so deeply in crude particles, that without their being concen-
   trated or extracted, will be of no use.  Again, some medi-
   cines are found very active, but are so transient in their ef-
   fects, that unless combined  with others  acting more  perma-
;   nently, are of but little value.  Others also,  in  their action,
l'   involve functions which are liable to be controlled by certain
   conditions which make  it necessary to use with  them  articles
 *  possessing other properties.  Thus Lobelia, for instance, will
   sometimes not  produce emesis or vomiting, on account of too
   much relaxation of the stomach; which,  however, is immedi-
   ately produced if an astringent is combined with the  emetic.
   Acidity of the stomach will also sometimes  prevent  emesis,
   which may likewise, in this instance, be brought  about by
   combining with the emetic an alkaline sufesta-nee.  Moreover. 
424                    RUBEFACIENTS.
all medicines, chemical and mechanical agents excepted, are
dependant for their action on the vital principle of the animal
system, and are universally more or  less facilitated  in  their
action on the living tissues, by the use of excitants.   Finally,
some articles of medicine are too acrid or pungent to be ta-
ken alone, while others are very offensive to the  taste and
stomach, and make it necessary  to  be combined with some
more mild and  agreeable.  These  considerations, aside from
the necessity of adapting all medicines to their -various  uses
by forming them  into  pills, drops, ointments, plasters  &e,
show the necessity of embracing at least a short treatise on
pharmacy in a  work that is designed to  benefit  families and
private individuals.
  A chapter is devoted to dispensatory at the end of this part
of the work.  The utility of this is self evident.
CHAPTER  I.
Medicines named according to their application.
I. RUBEFACIENTS.
  The word Rubefacient comes from rubens 'red' and fa'cio 'to
make;' meaning to 'make red:  The object in the use of these
preparations, is to produce  irritation, with a view  to divert
action fromone part of the system  to another.  This class of
remedies therefore embraces many preparations that have gen-
erally been confounded with the liniments.  But as the latter
are named according to their application, while the name of
this extends only a little  further,  and  embraces its effects, it
matters but little which class they are placed in, as many of
the  liniments are also very irritating and produce quite a red-
ness of the skin.   These preparations are applied to the sur-
face, and generally with much friction.

                SINAPISM OR MUSTARD PLASTER.
Take of, Oround Mustard-.■•
       Rye or wheat flour
4 parta.
X part. 
LINIMENTS.
425
Add warm water to give it a proper consistence, and mix.—
This application should remain on a part only long enough to
produce a deep redness of the  skin, and should  never  be left
to remain long enough to  produce blistering.  When  an ap-
plication of this kind can be made, the sinapism will be found
to be one of the best rubefacients.
   Use.—To be applied to the bottoms of the feet, to relieve
headache.   Also useful to be  applied to parts affected  with
rheumatism, &c.

                    RUBEFACIENT SOLUTION.

     Take of CnyennePepper....................................1 ounce.
            Saleratus.............................................i  do.

Pour on this, a pint of boiling water;  then let it simmer one
hour, stirring it occasionally, when it is to be removed  from
the fire to settle.   After this, the liquid is thrown off for use.
   Use.—This preparation is intended for  immediate use, and
is an excellent rubefacient, and very well calculated to bring
about an action in the surface.  In low fevers this is an inval-
uable preparation.

                       RUBEFACIENT OIL.

     Take of Oil of Cayenne Pepper,........................1 ounces.
            Oil of lobelia,....................................2  do.
            Spirits of turpentine,...........................1 ounce.
            Oil of dittany,......;.............................1  do-

 Shake well together,  and  apply sparingly.
   Use.—This preparation is  the  best rubefacient the writer
 has ever used; it is permanent in its effects, and may be used
 in all cases in which  medicines of this class are indicated.

            horse radish,—(Cochlcaria  Armoracia.)

   The leaves and root, bruised and applied, make a very good
 rubefacient, but are  more  particularly useful  applied to the
 feet.
                   II. LINIMENTS.

Liniments are  liquid preparations employed externally in 
426
LINIMENTS.
frictions or embrocations.  They  are generally composed of
oily, spiritous, and gummy or saponaceous  substances,  such
as the essential oife,  alcohol, aqua of ammonia,, soap, cam-
phor, &c.   They are  particularly useful in rheumatism, neu-
ralgia, quinsy, pleurisy, sprains, bruises and many other pain-
ful affections.

                    •LINIMENT OF AMMONIA.

   Take of Water of Ammonia,.................................1 oun«e.
           Olive Oil,.......•..........-•-......•..-.......•..........4 ounces.

Mix well.
   Use.—This is a popular remedy, in common practice, for in-
flammatory affections of the threat, catarrh, and pectoral dis-
eases of children generally. It  may be rubbed on the skin, or
applied by saturating a  piece  of flannel and laying it1 over
the affected part.

            BATHING DROPS OR STIMULATING LINIMENT.

   Tad« of Best alcoholic tincture of lobelia seed,............1 pint.
          Tinctuie of cayenne pepper, (best,)...............1 do.
          Oil of sassafras,—......................................2 ounces.
          Oil of pennyroyal,.......................................2  do
          Oil of wild marjorum, or  dittany,..................2 do
          Gum  camphor, ••........................................2  do
          Castile soap, .............>......-..........................2  do

Shave the  soap and camphor fine; put it into a bottle, an3
add all the remaining ingredients,—shake until  the soap and
camphor is dissolved,  and it is fit for use.
  'Use.—This is one of the best and most convenient of all
stimulating liniments, and may be advantageously  used in all
cases in which articles of this kind  are  indicated,  especially,
in inflammatory swellings, sprains, bruises, rheumatisms, pains
in the breast, side, bowels, &c.

             STIMULATING AND RELAXING LINIMENT.         ■''•''

   Take of Stramonium ointment,....................2 pounds.
          Tincture of lobelia, (best,)..-..............4 ounces.
          Tincture of cayenne pepper, (best,)........4   do.
          Oil of Sassafras^............................2  do.
          Oil of pennyroyal,.........................2   do.
          Spirits of turpentine*........__>.............2  do.

Melt the stramonium ointment, and, adding the rest of the in-
gredients, mix  them well, and keep close. 
                             OINTMENTS.                      427

      Use.—Applied to the throat and neck, it is-a.n excellent re-
    medy in quinsy, croup, and sore  throat attending  scarlet fe-
    ver.   And applied over the  breast, shoulders, and  back, will
    relieve asthma in an astonishingly short time.   It may also be
    used in all cases in whioh the foregoing is recommended, or is
    found useful.

                             •OPODELDOC.

       Take of Common Soap,.........................3 ounces.
              Camphor, ...-,.,,.........................t ounce.
              Oil rosemary,............................1 drachm.
              Oil origanum............................1   do.
              Alcohol,...............................1 pint.

    Dissolve  the camphor and  oils in the  alcohol; then add  the
    soap,-and digest by means of  a sand bath, till it is dissolved.
      Xfse.—Same as for other liniments of this class.

                          ANODYNE LINIMENT.

       Take of Gum Camphor,..........................1 ounce.
«               Extract of wild lettuce...................i  do.
               Oil of hemlock,.......................... i do.
               Tincture of lobelia,..............---........1 pint.

    Shave down the camphor, and digest in the tincture for several
    days, shaking  it occasionally; pour off the  tincture, add the
    oil and mix.
       Use.—This is an excellent  combination to relieve pain in
    swellings, sprains, toothache,  after pains, inflamed  breasts,
    rheumatism, &c. Use it frequently with friction.

                     LINIMENT  FOR BURNS AND SCALDS.

        Take of Olive oil,............................)
               Freeh flaxseed oil......................> equal parts.
               Limo  water,,....... *.........-■........j

    Shako well together and apply to the parts affected.
*II. OINTMENTS.
The term ointment or ungentum, comes from ungere, «to an- 
428
OINTMENTS.
noint.'  These preparations are intended for topical applica-
tion, and are generally of a consistence somewhat analagous
to lard, softer than  salves or plasters, and harder than lini-
ments.   They are usually  made of some vegetable  sub-
stance, incorporated with lard, butter, wax, &c.   Their use is
to sustain a local application of medical substances, external-
ly, to the parts affected;  and serve the compound purpose of
protecting  parts deprived of thsir integuments  or skin, from
the atmosphere, while at the same time, they serve to cleanse
and heal the diseased surface.

                SIMPLE STRAMONIUM OINTMENT.

   Take Stramonium leaves, (green;) bruise them to a pulp;
put them in a pot or kettle; pour on enough  melted  lard and
spirits (equal parts) to cover them; simmer over  a slow fire,
till the leaves are nearly of a crisp;  then  press  out the lard
and  return it into  your  kettle, to receive a  fresh lot  of  the
leaves,—adding spirits,—and thus continue  until you have
the strength of three kettlefulls of the leaves, when the lini-
ment must be strained and put up in jars.
   Use.—This is very good for piles, burns and scalds, wounds,
chafes, and ulcers.  But  this ointment is chiefly used as a ba-
sis for other preparations.

                      PILE OINTMENT.

     Take Yarrow, (leaves and tops.).....................)    .
         Sumac, (bark of the roots,)..................\ ec*ual PttrU>

Boil these in water  so  as to extract the  strength; strain and
boil down to the thickness of molasses; then add an  equal
weight of stramonium ointment, and incorporate well and put
it up in small prescription bottles.
   Use.—This, applied as an ointment, night and morning, will
be found an excellent remedy for the piles, and is also good
in venereal sores, &c.                                   M
                                                       ■JSf:
                 Thomson's, pile  ointment.

   "Take lovage seed, burdock seed, and prickly ash bark,each
one ounce;  bark of green osier, the  flowers of yarrow and
pipsissaway, each two ounces; pulverize and simmer  all the
articles well together in two pounds of fresh butter or lard, for
two or three hours over a slow  fire; or it may  be kept in a
white earthen or brass vessel, where it will simmer very slow- 
ointments.                      429
ly for a day or two, in order that all the strength of the arti-
cles may be extracted; then strain and press out all the liquor."
  Use.—"This is a very valuable article  for piles, and every
species of old sores.   Before  using it, let the sore be washed
with clarified lime water.  This is also an excellent ointment
to put upon the neck and breast for quinsy or putrid sore throat,
after which put a flannel about the neck.   It is also good for
stiff joints and rheumatic pains, in such cases add a little cay-
enne."

                      V ARROW OINTMENT.

  Take yarrow blows any quantity and simmer them in fresh
butter.
   Use.—For piles, apply to the parts affected.
                                              /. Thomson.

                       IODINE  OINTMENT.

      Take of Iodine,..........................................£ drachm.
             Iodide of Potassium........................* drachms.
             Lard.............................................2 ounces.

 Rub  the whole together in a wedgewood mortar, so as to form
 a liniment of a mahogany color.
    Lfa?.—This is the only certain remedy now known for the
 cure of bronclwcclc or goitre, sometimes called big-neck.   It is
 applied with friction over the part affected.  It is also useful
 in  all scrofulous tumors, and ulcers.

                 WELLS' OINTMENT FOR SCROFULA.

      Take of Tobacco (best quality)..............................\ ounc"-
             White ash moss....................................4, ou,nct;8-
• 4  do.
• 4  do.
Soot...........................................
Tivr..............................................
Anti-spasmodic  drops*............................- ao>
Hogs lard.............................................4 do"
Boil the  tobacco, moss,  and soot in two gallons of water,
down to one gallon, strain off and boil down  to one quart;
Ten add the lard and tar,  and simmer  over  a nre of coals,
down to a pint and a half, and add the anti-spasmodic drops

""/^-Apptied for scald head, itch, scrofulous ulcers, &c.
will be found excellent.___________---------------
  <  f^uYc-^p^d of^ruufparuo. tincture ot lubelm and cayeuno p,p^r. 
430                      PLASTERS.
                     OINTMENT FOR ITCH.

     T»ke of Sulphur, (pulverized)........................-......I ounce.
           Venice Turpentine..................-.............. k  do.
           Oil of lavender......................................i drachm.
           Stramonium Ointment..............-•-'...........-2 ounces.

Mix the whole well in a wedge wood.mortar.
   Use.—For itch and tetter, apply to the parts affected for four
nights in succession; then wash off and change clothes.

           dr. joiin Thomson's ointment for burns.

  Take Beeswax and Burgundy pitch and melt them togeth-
er;  then mix with itsweet oil, until the compound has the con-
sistency of ointment.
  Use.—Dr. Thomson says that this will ease the pain of a
burn almost immediately on its  application.  It is also good
for fresh cuts, or wounds and bruises of the flesh.
                     IV. PLASTERS.

  From- cmplastrtcm  "to  spread upon."  Plasters, like oint-
ments, are intended for external application; they are of more
consistence than the latter, and are generally hard enough in
common temperatures to retain their solid form, but are ren-
dered soft or pliable  by the heat of (ho  body so as to adhere
and feel comfortable to the parts to which  they  are applied.
These preparations generally have an oily or fatty substance
for their base, in which are incorporated the various medicinal
substances upon which their various effects arc dependent.
  In view of receiving permanent benefit from the use of plas-
ters they should be worn for some  time, but should be renew-
ed every few days, and the parts washed with soap, and after-
wards well brushed with a stiff flesh brush.

              Thomson's strengthening plaster.

  Take of the green leaves of burdock and mullin, equal parte;
bruise and put them into a kettle, with a sufficient quantity of.
water; boil them well; then strain off the liquor, pressing the
leaves:  boil down to the thickness of molasses, and then add,
a quantity, of rosin equal, in weight, to that of your syrup, 
PLASTERSr.
431
and one third as much of turpentine; simmer  until the water
is all evaporated, when it may be thrown into a basin of cold
water, and as it is cooling, worked into sticks.  The consis-
tency of the plaster is regulated by the quantity of turpentine;
if too thick or hard, add more of the latter, and vice versa.
   Use.—This plaster is very good to relieve weakness in the
back, breast, and loins.  It should be spread on soft leather, and
applied to the parts  affected.

               DR. BEACH'S STRENGTHENING PLASTER.

   Take of hemlock gum, and one fourth the quantity of white
turpentine; dissolve,  and strain them together.
   Use.—This forms an excellent  strengthening and stimula-
ting plaster: useful in  chronic rheumatism, weakness  in the
back, &c.

           dr. john Thomson's strengthening plaster.

   Melt two ounces of rosin; add to it a teaspoonful of cayenne
pepper, and lard sufficient to make it of the proper consisten-
ce, which may be known by dipping a knife or spoon into i^t,.
 and then putting  it into cold water.   If you get it too soft,
 add more rosin and pepper;  if too hard, more lard and pepper.
   Use—To be applied as a plaster to  the back  or limbs, for
 rheumatic pains.'  Decayed teeth that are  troublesome may
 be filled with it, and thus relieved  immediately.  Applied to
 the face or breast it  is  excellent for the cold or ague affecting
 those parts, and i? applied to the face, will  relieve it in cases
 of tic  dolorcaux.

                      ADHESIVE PLASTER.

    Take of Common turpentine,...................- -2 pounds.
           Salt butter,.,...........................•-"* pound.
           Beeswax,.............................,...2 pound*
           Balsam of fir............................-* <J0'
           Rosin,..,...............-................2 d0"

 Pot the whole into a suitable vessel and melt,  stirring it so
 as to incorporate it well.   The quantity of rosin, and  butter
 should  be  regulated  according to  the season  in  which
 it  is intended to be  used;  in  the winter season  it re-
 quires more butter, and in the summer more rosin.
 4  Use —This is spread on  suitable cloth, which is to be cut
 into'narrow strips and used to dress wounds and cuts    By  it
 [he edges of cuts &.c., may  be brought together without the
 use <a£ the needle. 
432
PLASTERS.
  It is applied in the following manner:—First take a strip of
the plaster and fasten one end of it in the middle of one side
of the wound, so as  to  bring its direction directly  across it;
then place the hand directly against the opposite side and thus
draw the  lips of the  wound  together, when the strip may  be
laid down and fastened.  If  the wound or cut be large, a strip
may, in like manner, be placed on  each side of this, midway
between the first strip and the margin of the  wound.  After
this, the intermediate parts may be laid over with  additional
strips, being careful to leave space  sufficient  to admit of the
escape of  such matter as may accumulate in the wound.  The
adhesive plaster may likewise be advantageously used to fas-
ten and secure other  dressings and  bandages that may be ap-
plied to wounds, and sores.  -

                Thomson's cancer  plaster.

  Take and fill a large brass kettle with the heads of red clo-
ver; keep  them close by placing on them a weighty substance;
pour on water  sufficient to  cover  the  clover, and boil it for
several hours;  after which, this lot  is to be removed,  pressing
out the liquid, and a new lot of the clover to  be replaced and
boiled  again in the same way as before. This is then like-
wise to be removed, and the liquor strained and returned into
the kettle  to be boiled down to the consistence of tar; taking
great care not to burn it.  To avoid burning it, the extract,
when it is becoming somewhat thickened, might be put into
a tin basin, and this then boil in  a  kettle of water, and thus
evaporated to  the proper consistence.
   Use.—Spread on a  delicate skin, or piece of leather, (or
what is better, a piece of beef's bladder, split and rubbed be-
tween the hands until it becomes soft,) and placed on the sore,
will be very good in healing cancers, and scrofulous ulcers.—
At the  dressings, the sores should  be well washed out with
soap suds  and  some astringent wash.                        *

                    IRRITATING PLASTER.

  Take of mandrake root, blood root, Indian turnip, and poke
root, finely pulverized, of each half  a pound; cover with  al-
cohol, and let it stand until nearly  dry.  Melt four pounds of
pure or strained Burgundy  pitch, and add half a  pound of
pure Venice turpentine.  Tlu n stir in the powdered roots, and
incorporate the whole  well  toother.  Simmer until formed
into a sofr. plaster.—{Beach's  Family Physician.
  Care is  necessary in the preparation of this plaster, so that 
SALVES.
433
the powders are not burnt by the hot pitch and turpentine.—
It should be prepared on coals.
  Use.—This plaster is designed to be applied over the parts,
in casss of deep seated  chronic  affections, such as affections
of the liver, lungs, stomach, kidneys,  spine, and sciatica or hip-
ale.  Spread on a piece of leather and applied, it  produces a
severe itching; and  in  the course of a day brings out a crop
of small pustules which discharge matter.
  This preparation was invented by Prof. Morrow of the Ec-
lectic Medical  Institute at Cincinnati O.

                     ASTRINGENT PLASTER.

  Boil the inner bark of white oak in  water, and evaporate the
liquid to the consistence of tar.  Use.—Good for ruptures, and
extreme relaxation of parts; also for foul ulcere.
                       V. SALVES.

  Salves, like ointments,  are  intended for external use, but
differ from  them in consistence, and form of application; the
former being applied in the form of a plaster, while the latter
are generally used in the form of a liniment.  Salves are cal-
culated for open sores and raw surfaces, and serve as  well to
protect the parts from the atmosphere and cold,  as to impart
such properties as are calculated to facilitate the healing pro-
cess.  The consistence of these preparations  ought to be so
adapted to  the temperature of the atmosphere, as to admit of
being spread on cloth without the aid of additional heat.

                  THOMSONS HEALING SALVE.

                                         . I pound.
                                         . I  do.
                                         .8 ounces.
                                         12  do.

Simmer together and strain.
  Use.—Very good to heal fresh wounds, burns,  and other
sores.
Take of Beeswax,....
       Salt butter,..
       1 urpontine,..
       Balsam of fir,
28 
iSi                     POULTICES.
                       BLACK  SALVE.

   Take of Flaxseed oil,..........................1 pint.
          Sweet oil,..............................I do.'
          Red lead,..............................4 pound.

Simmer down to a salve, being careful not to burn it.
   Use.—Few  articles seem to  do better  in healing  up old
sores, and putrid ulcers.  This preparation is very analagous
to Shepard's salve or  Judkins ointment.   Perhaps the better
way to prepare this, is to put the oils in a  pot and heat them
until they will scorch a feather, when the lead may be stirred
in to form the salve.—This salve is very highly recommended
by Dr. J. Thomson.

                       GREEN SALVE.

   Take of 8tramonium ointment,..................1 pound.
         Turpentine,............................1 do.
         Bay berry  tallow, ......................1 do.

Melt together, stirring it some, while cooling.  If the bayber-
ry tallow cannot be had, take half a pound each of rosin and
sweet oil, in its steod.
   Use.—The same as  other healing salves.
                    VI.  POULTICES.

  In these preparations we take medicines in  a state  more
simple and  crude, and  apply them to parts affected.   They
;?ct more promptly than salves, ointments, or plasters; having
nothing to intervene between the medicines and parts affect-
ed,  (such as oUs, gums, wax, Sf-c)
  Poultices  are designed  either to disperse  tumors, promotejJ
suppuration, relieve  inflammation, or produce a healthy dis-
clnirge from ulcers.   They ought generally to  be kept warm,
and always  moist or wet,  and should be frequently renewed.

                 BREAD AND  MILK POULTICE.

  Boil a  sufficient  quantity of crumb of bread, in  sweet or
fn-.sh milk, to thicken it, and stir in one teaspoonful of ground
ginger.
  Use—This forms a very good application  in cases of pois- 
POULTICES.
435
onous bites and stings, painful swellings, and sores.   It should
never be suffered to get dry and hard, which may be prevent-
ed by sprinkling warm  water or milk on it.   One of the best
things about this poultice, is, that the ingredients of which it
is made, are always at hand.

                        ELM POULTICE.

  Take of fine slippery elm bark, a sufficient quantity; stir it
in hot milk, or water, a quantity sufficient to make it of a prop-
per consistence.
   This  poultice is emmollient,  relaxant,  and in  point of
efficiency, there are few that excel it in any case where med-
icines of this class are  indicated.

                       CARROT POULTICE.

    Take  of Boiled carrots, (bruised,)....................1 pound.
           Flour,....................................1 ounce.
           Butter,....................................4  do.

 Mix them with a sufficient quantity of hot water, to  form a
 pulb.
   Use.—This will be found  a  valuable application to sores,
 swellings, scrofulous, and many other inveterate and irritable
 ulcers.—(American Prac)

                      ALKALINE  POULTICE.

   Take of ley, rather  weak, warm it,  and stir in a sufficient
 quantity of fine slippery elm bark to form a poultice.
   Use.__This is very good in old sores, fistulous ulcers, white
 Bwellings, and inflamed breasts.

                YEAST  AND CHARCOAL POULTICE.

   Take of good hop yeast, warm it, and  stir in fine charcoal,
 a sufficient quantity to form a  poultice.
   Use —Apply in mortification, adding a  table spoonful of
 compound tincture  of myrrh.  It is  likewise very excellent in
 foul ulcers that are slow in healing; also good m cancer sores.

                    POULTICE FOR  SCROFULA.

   Take of the powdered roots entering into the irritating plas-
 ter, equal parts; mix them up in good yeast, and apply in the
 form of a poultice. 
436                     POULTICES.
                     ANODYNE POULTICE.

  Take of stramonium  leaves, a  sufficient  quantity; bruise
them into a pulp; add slippery elm powder and warm water,
just enough to form a poultice.
  ^Use.—This is the  best preparation to relieve pain, even in
deep seated parts, and in inflammatory swellings, that the wri-
ter has ever been able to obtain.   It should be kept warm and
moist.   Painful cancers are relieved  by its application, in a
remarkably short time.

                   ASTRINGENT POULTICE.

  Take of the astringent tonic compound, a sufficient quanti-
ty, add slippsry elm powder or  wheat flour, enough to make
it adhesive, say  one fourth the quantity,  and mix up  with
boiling water.
   Use—In healing old ulcers, cancers, &c, an astringent poul-
tice, sometimes, is very necessary, especially if the sore is filled
with spungous flesh.  This is  a very excellent application,
if used cold, to joints that  are much  disposed  to luxation;—
also good for ruptures.

                    RELAXANT POULTICE.

   Take of Lobelia herb, (fiie,)........................2 ouneea.
          Thorough won, (./me,) ....................1 ounce.
          Slippery elm, (fine,)........................1  do.

Mix well with warm water.
   Use.—This is an excellent application in  cases of painful
inflammatory  swellings, and  as  an  application to  luxated
joints of long standing, to prepare them for reduction.

              STIMULATING  ASTRINGENT POULTICE.

  Take of the Diaphoretic Powders,  a suitable quantity, and
form into  a poultice with powder of slippery elm or wheat
flour, and hot water.
   Use.—Good to restore parts affected  with gangrene; also
excellent  to apply over  the throat in scarlet fever, and putrid
sore throat. 
FOMENTATIONS.                   437
                 VII. FOMENTATIONS.

  Fomentations are simple preparations, which are most gen-
erally made of bitter and relaxing herbs, and are applied with
water, as hot as can be borne.   They serve to relieve pain in
affected parts, by taking off the  tension and spasm  of  the
muscles.

                   RELAXING FOMENTATION.

  Take of Lebelia herb  and thoroughwort, equal parts, and
put them into a  basin; throw on hot water  sufficient to cover
them.
  Use—Place the  affected parts over  the basin, and put'the
herbs on them; then keep wet constantly,  by  gently throw-
ing on the liquor.  The latter may be ke, t hot by placing in
it, occasionally,  a small sand stone, or piece  cf brick,  previous-
ly heated.   This process is to be  continued until relief is ob-
tained, which generally occurs in  from 15 to 30 minutes.
  When it is d sired to apply a fomentation to parts that can-
not be extended over a vessel, the  herbs may, nevertheless, be
applied, being previously a little pressed so as to prevent the
fluid from running  out of them after they are applied.   But
perhaps the better  way to apply the fomentation, in  this case,
is to put the herbs into a linnen bag, large  enough  to  cover
the affected part, and thus apply it.  It may  also be kept warm
by applying a hot brick to the  exterior of the herbs.   The
application  must be continued sufficiently wet by sprinkling
on, occasionally, a  little hot water.

                FOMENTATION OF BITTER HERBS.

       Take of Cntnip, ......
              Tnnsey,......
              Wormwood,
              Iloarhound,
              Camomile,

Boil for a few minutes in water.
   Use—This is  an excellent application  in all inflammatory
affections, whether superficial, or deepseated, especially, in
painful tumors,  and viceral inflammations.
Y equal parts. 
438
WASHES.
                          HOPS.

  Hops, boiled in water or vinegar, make a very good fomen-
tation for inflammation of the throat, bowels, and for colic.

                    STRAMONIUM LEAVES.

  If used as ordered in the application of hops, these are like-
wise very good; and so are elder leaves.
                     VIII. WASHES.


   These are preparations for external use, they are intended,
 chiefly, for cleansing and cooling the skin, in fevers, eruptions,
 &c, also for cleansing sores.   Washes or lotions, are gener-
 ally made of water in which some medicinal substances are
 suspended.

                        COLD WATER.

   Soft water that is clean, and cold, is  one of the best appli-
 cations in burning fevers; it lets down the temperature remark-
 ably,  and relieves the patient very much.   Its use, has been
 particularly pointed out in the body of the work, and will not
 here require attention.

                      ALKALINE WASH.

   Take one half an ounce of salertetus; dissolve it in a pint of
 warm water, then, when cool, it is ready for use.
   Use.—This is a good  preparation to  remove the oily  sub-
 stance that commonly accumulates on the skin  of the sick,
 and well.   It also promotes the circulation, and facilitates cu-
 taneous transpiration; (sweating)

                    ASTRINGENT WASH.

  Take of the astringent tonic compound, an ounce, to a pint
 of boiling water; scald, and when cool, strain.
   Use.—This is intended to be used at the  time of dressing
ulcers, &c, for cleansing out the sore.  It is a very good wash
for scald-head, and for the canker sore mouth and throat. 
GARGLES.
439
               SOLUTION OF CHLORINATED SODA.

  "Take of chlorinated lime a pound; carbonate of soda two
pounds; water a gallon and a half.  Dissolve the carbonate
of soda in three pints of the water, with the aid of heat. To
the remainder of the water add, by small portions at a  time,
the chlorinated lime,  previously well triturated,  stirring the
mixture after each addition.  Set the mixture by for  several
hours that the dregs may subside; then decant the clear liquid
and mix it  with the  solution of carbonate of soda.   Lastly,
decant the  clear liquor from the  precipitated carbonate of
lime, pass it through  a linen cloth, and keep it in bottles se-
cluded from the light."—(U. S.  Dispensatory)
  Use—This is one  of our best remedies in cleansing and
healing indolent, scrofulous, syphilitic, and gangrenous ulcers.
It is  likewise good in ulceration of the gums, carbuncle, mor-
tification, and putrid sore  throat.
   Chloride  of Lime is much cheaper, and as it will answer ve-
ry well instead of the chlorinated  soda for many purposes, it
should not be overlooked  in this place.   A wash may be pre-
pared from this, by adding two or three drachms or about a
half  a table spoonful to a  pint of water, and afterwards filter-
ing it.  This solution is used for medical purposes the  same
as the above.   It possesses the  power of arresting animal and
vegetable putrefaction, and of destroying pestilentious and in-
fectious miasms.   A corpse may be preserved for a long time
by wrapping it up in a shset completely wet with a solution
made of the strength of a pound of chloride of lime, to two
gallons of  water.
                     IX. GARGLES.

  These are  preparations  that consist of infusions, decoc-
tions, &c.  They are designed as washes for sore mouth and
throat, and are generally made of stimulating and astringent
vegetables.   Their use, with adults is attended with little in-
convenience, but children require  assistance, which may be
rendered by tying a piece of linen to  a probe or stick, and
thus applying the medicine by dipping the swob first into the
wash and then applying it alternately. 
440
INJECTIONS.
                     ASTRINGENT GARGLE.

  Take of the  Astringent  Tonic Compound one ounce, and
scald it in half a pint of boiling water, and strain.
  Use.—In scarlet fever, putrid sore throat, quinsy, nursing,
and mercurial  sore  mouth,  this will be  found a very good
remedy.

          GARGLE FOR SORE THROAT IN SCARLET FEVER.

  The following recipe was communicated to  the  writer by
a friend  and from  a knowledge of the remarkable success
that has attended its use in the hands of several respectable
physicians, it is considered worthy of a place here.

   Take of Privet, (the leaves,)...................."|
          Sage,  (the leaves.).....................|
          Black  H;iw, (the bark of the root,)........J- equal parts.
          High black berry, (bark of Vie root.)......j
          Sumac, (berries).......................J

Boil  in a kettle till the strength is extracted; strain and add to
every quart one teaspoonful  of fine borax, one teaspoonful of
fine alum, one  tablespoonful of fine gun powder, and one gill
of spirits turpentine.
  It is advisable to make only  a small quantity at a time as it
is apt to sour.
  Use.—Make  a swab by tying a piece  of cloth on a small
stick, and thus  wash the throat and mouth with the liquid.—
This article in some parts has  gained  for  itself considerable
popularity, in the cure of the sore throat attending the scar-
let fever.
  Remarks.—The above may  seem to be a harsh remedy in
the botanic practice, but as it is not to be taken internally, the
objectionable ingredients will not be likely to do any mischief.
X.  INJECTIONS.
  As the too frequent use of cathartics  is  known  to be very
injurious, and  as an operation of the  bowels is sometimes in-
dispensable when cathartics, administered in the ordinary way, 
INJECTIONS.
441
   arc entirely inadmissable, the use of enemas or injections, is
   very important.  But the extent of their beneficial effects is,
   in this as in other cases, much dependant on  the  kind,  and
   character, of the medicine used.  The use of this method of
   medication  is, in general, too much  neglected.  Many cases
   of disease occur, in which it is impossible to succeed  without
   the use of the syringe, especially in bowel  affections, locked
   jaw or  tetanus, &c.   Life  may  be  sustained for a  consid-
   erable time when food  cannot be taken in the ordinary way,
   by the use of apropriate injections.
      The application of th se prepartions is now made  so sim-
   ple with the use of the syringe, that directions in this matter,
   are hardly necessary.    When the preparation designed for
   the injection is made,  and strained  off, the syringe  may be
   filled by placing the point into it, and  then  gently drawing
   back the piston or handle; or the cap may be taken off and
   the preparation thrown into the syringe in this  way.  After
   the syringe is thus filled, the  point  must  be  turned upward,
   and the piston pushed up until the fluid begins to discharge,
   in order thus to remove all  the  air that may be drawn  into
   the syringe.   The latter may ihei be placed in the  hand of
   the patient in a position so that he  may introduce it; when
   the syringe must be firmly held by  the left hand of the nurse,
   so that he may, with his right, gently throw up the contents,
I   by pushing back the piston.   The injection, thus administered,
   does not make any exposure of  the  patient  necessary; each
   sex,  moreover, is capable  to administer to its own wants, in
   this matter.   Enemas may, in general, be made of the same
   articles that would be administered per  stomach, for similar
   purposes; few  specimens are, therefore, necessary.

                         COMMON INJECTION.

I       Take of Sweet milk,................................
'             Sweet oil,-.....................-.............
             Molasses, ....................................
             Sileenitus. fine, ...........................
             Slippery elm, powder, ..................

    Warm the milk in a pan, and stir in the other ingredients.
      Use—in dysentery, cholera infantum, colic, inflammation of
'   the bowels, costiveness, &c, this is an excellent remedy.

                        RELAXANT INJECTION.

      Take of a strong tea of thoroughwort, one pint, and add  a
• 1 pint.
1 ounce.
2 ounces.
• 1 teaspoonful.
I   4°- 
442
POWDERS.
heaping teaspoonful of green lobelia, and as  much slippery
elm powder; stir it well, and when cool, it is ready for use.
  Use.—This is a suitable remedy, in all cases when it is found
that common diaphoretics, per stomach, will not  work well;
and, indeed, in all cases in which a free relaxtion of the  sys-
tem is required; particularly in burning fevers, &c.  By add-
ing to this, one or two  more  teaspoonfuls of lobelia, one of
nervine tonic,  and a quarter of cayenne  pepper, it forms an
excellent preparation for strangulated hernia,  locked jaw or
tetanus, fits, hydrophobia, colic, intussusceptio, &c.

                   ASTRINGENT INJECTION.

  Take of the astringent tonic compound, two ounces, scald
it in a large bowl, and strain; then add a teaspoonful of tinc-
ture of myrrh.
  Use.—The astringent enema is very serviceable in dysentery,
diarrhoea, hemorrhages from the  bowels,  diabetis, piles,  and
prolapsus.

                   STIMULATING INJECTION.

  Take a strong  tea of pennyroyal  or peppermint, and add
half a teaspoonful of cayenne pepper, as much lobelia, (green)
and one teaspoonful of tincture of myrrh.
  Use.—This is particularly serviceable in all cases of consti-
pation and torpidity of the bowels, and in cases where morti-
fication of the intestines is apprehended.
  Soapsuds.—If made very strong, this constitutes a very good
enema for habitual  costiveness,  and in  some  cases of dys-
entery.
CHAPTER SECOND.
Medicines named according to their forms of preparation.


                  I. POWDERS.
  Under this head, may be arranged  all those prep arationa
kept in the dry state, which are generally of the consistence 
POWDERS.
443
of fine flour.  These are the most simple preparations of all
medicines, and are made with the least injury to the articles
used.  They should always  be kept in tightly stopped vessels,
and som3, in order to preserve thsm, it is necessary to exclude
from the light.

                    DIAPHORETIC  POWDERS.

       Take of Bayberry,........................1 pound.
              Pleurisy root,  ....................I   do.
              Ginger,   ........................I   do.
              Colic root,*    ....................2 ounces.
              Gloves,   ........................2   do.
              Cayenne pepper,   ................2   do.
                                                *
 Pulverize, and mix well  by  means of a seive.
   Use—This is a medicine  of great value, and of very exten-
 sive application.   Its great utility seems to  arise from  the
 combination of its stimulant and astringent properties, which,
 in this instance, are attended with effects, much mere perma-
 nent than those following either of these alone.   The advan-
 tage of these combinations were never  brought  into popular
 favor, until Dr. Thomson introduced his composition diaphor-
 etic powders, but they have now gained for  themselves such
 a reputation that it is not necessary to say any  thing in their
 favor.
   The diaphoretic powders, as the name imports, are good to
 promote diaphoresis or sweating; and to warm up the system
 and thus produce  a healthful glow all over  the  body, and an
 equalizing effect on the  circulation.  They sustain the react-
 ing power of the system, and hence are very  beneficial in all
 cases of disease, which have their cause in debility.   In colds
 or catarrh, a teaspoonful of the powder, with as much  sugar,
 and one tablespoonful of cream may be scalded in ateacupful
 of boiling water, and taken before going to bed; or a table-
 spoonful  mav  be scalded  in a large bowl of boiling  water
 sweetened and creamed to  the taste, and taken at intervals of
 from ten to fifteen minutes, being  surrounded  by a blanket,
 and having the feet placed in a pail of hot water.  In  this
 way, oft times a  fever,  and many other cases of disease, may
 be entirely thrown off in their first stages.   A tea of those

   •A notice oflhis valuable plant  was accidentally omitted in the  part treating
 on materia medca.  I,B botanical  name is liatru spicata, and  it belongs to claa.
 17?ndcrdeTl. It has a perennial,  bulbous, oblong, root,  which has many
  mall fibres   The stem is round, about  three feot high, and bears a tassel of
 .call purple colored  flowers.  The leaves are linear, very long, and curved.
 Slipltntli lound in prairies and meadows in the Western State,.   It » an ex-
 cellent diaphoretic, diuretic, and anodyne. 
444
POWDERS.
powders is very good for pain in the  stomach, bowels, back,
and breast, and will also sometimes cure the headache.   In
dysentery  it is an excellent remedy; and in low fevers it is
much better than any kind of spirits.  A strong tea is gener-
ally prepared of this article,  to be used during the operation
of an emetic, and  during the operation of a Thomsonian
course of  medicine; as well as during the use of the common
vapor and shower baths.
  Dose—A teaspoonful in a teacupful of boiling water, well
sweetened and creamed to the taste.

          Thomson's composition  diaphoretic  powder.

  Take cf bayberry, two pounds, ginger one pound, cayenne
peppei*and cloves of each two ounces;  all finely pulverized
and mixed.
  Base—A teaspoonful in a teacupful of boiling water sweet-
ened and creamed  to the taste.

                 dr. j. Thomson's formula.

  Take  of bayberry, ginger,  poplar, and hemlock bark, of
each one pound, of red or white oak bark, half a pound, three  f
ounces cf cayenne  pep er, and two ounces of cloves;  all fine-
ly pulverized  and mixed.
  Dose—A teaspconful in boiling water sweetened.
  Both these  preparations are used as above.

                    sudorific powder.

      Take of Lobelia, (brown,)..............................t ounce.
             Greek  Valerian, ..............................I do.
             Prickly As!i bark, ...........................1 do.
             Cream of Tartar,...........................— I do.

Pulverize, and mix well.
  Use—Excellent  in  fevers,  pleurisy,  erysipelas &c.  This
powder forms a valuable sudorific, and diaphoretic, and is em-
inently adapted in  all cases in  which a copious sweat is re-
quired; when the skin is dry and hot, and when it will not do
to give the active stimulants,  such as pepper and ginger,  this
serves a good purpose.  The dose is half a teaspoonful, every
15 or 20 minutes, until perspiration appears, when it may be
kept up with doses less frequent. 
POWDERS.
445
                        EMETIC POWDER.

               Take of Lobelia (brown,)............I ounce.
                     Blood root................••-1 drachm.
                     Saleratus................••• 1  do.

  Pulverize separately and mix well.
    Dose—A teaspoonful.every fifteen minutes till it operates.
    Use-—This, perhaps, in point of efficacy and promptness, is
  the best emetic that can be used, and may be safely adminis-
  tered in all cases in which an emetic is indicated.

                        LOBELIA EMETIC.

    Pulverize the leaves and pods of the lobelia inflata to a fine
  powder, and sift through a fine seive.  Keep it close in a dark
  glass vessel.  This is the article sometimes referred to under
  the name of "green lobelia:''   The "brown lobelia" consists sim-
  ply of the  ripe  seed of  the lobelia very finely pulverized.
    Dose—Same as  the above.
     Use—In  asthma, croup, and in  whooping-cough, this emetic
  is particularly serviceable, but like the  above, it may  safely
  and  advantageously b3 used in all cases in which an  emetio
  promises relief.

                        CATHARTIC POWDER.

         Take of Mandrake  root,..............................2 ounces.
               Peppermint herb,...........................1 ounce.

  Pulverize,  and mix with a fine seive.
     Dose.—A large teaspoonful in two portions one hour apart.
     Use—In bilious  fever, jaundice, dropsies, and, indeed, in all
  cases in which a cathartic is -indicated,  this  is a very good
  medicine.   Its effects  on the  liver, and glandular system, gen-
  erally, is equal to that of calomel, but has none of its  perni-
  cious and dangerous consequences to follow it.  In its opera-
>  tion it is somewhat slow but  permanent, and continues longer
  than almost any other cathartic; and  what is another excellent
  quality about it, is that  it never is followed by constipation of
  the bowels, as is the case with nearly every other kind of ca-
  thartics.   This will not prevent the use of water, or food, but
  operates better if the  food consists of gruels  and broths. 
446                      POWDERS.
                COMPOUND CATHARTIC POWDER.

      Take of Mandrake root,..............................2 ounces.
             Soccotrine Aloes,...........................1 ounce.
             Black root,....................................1  do.
             Blood root,....................................i  do.

Pulverize the articles separately, and mix well.
  Dose—A teaspoonful in two portions, half an hour apart.
  Use—This preparation may be regarded as a common ca-
thartic, to be used as occasion requires.  It is well adapted to
intermittent and bilious fevers, jaundice, headache, liver com-
plaints, dropsy, colic. &c.  This will ever  prove itself an ex-
cellent cathartic, seldom griping the bowels.
  Like the above, this is safe  with respect to food or drink.

                 beach's common purgative.

      Take of Jnlap root, .................................1 pound.
             Alexandria senna,........................2 pounds.
             Cloves,.......................................2 ounces.

Let these  articles be  separately pulverized; then mix them
together, and pass through a fine seive.
  Dose—A teaspoonful.  It should be put into a teacup, with
a lump of loaf sugar, and a gill of boiling water added; giv-
en to the patient when cool, fasting, or on an empty stomach.
  Dr. Beach speaks  of this as follows:—"This forms the best
general purgative that is known.   It combines  power  with
mildness of action, and  acts  through the  whole  alimentary
canal, cleansing it, and  producing a healthy action.   It may
be given to every  age  and sex; it removes offensive accumu-
lations from the bowels without bringing  on subsequent con-
stipation; and it stimulates every contiguous organ to a heal-
thy state.  It is useful in all diseases where physic is required.
It is very valuable in bilious and febrile diseases.  The artic-
les must be genuine.  I have  seen it made so bad that I could
not recognize it.   Gruel alone to be drank during the day the
above is taken."

                       NERVINE TONIC.

       Take of Sculcap leaves,.............................1 pound.
             Lady's slipper,...............................1  do.
             Ginseng root,  ..............................4  do.

The above articles are to be well pulverized  and mixed.
   Dnsc.—One teaspoonful in  hot water  sweetened.
   Use.—This forms  an active tonic  for  the  nervous system, 
POWDERS.
447
and is very useful  in  all cases of nervous weakness,  palsy,
subsultus tendinum or muscular twitching, delirium tremens,
epilepsy and other fits, locked-jaw, &c.

                  ASTRINGENT TONIC COMPOUND.

          Take of Bayberry........................8 pounds.
                 White pond lily (root.) ■■■........1  pound.
                 W itch hazel (leaves.)............ 1   do.
                 Hemlock, or white Oak (inner bark.) 1   do.
                 Geranium (cranes bill.)........—  1   do.
                 Birthroot....................-■•  I   do.

All made fine and  mixed.
   Dose.—One ounce, scalded in a pint of boiling water, strain-
ed and sweetened, may be drank freely, as  occasion may re-
quire.
   Use.—This is one of the most valuable  preparations in the
book, its use being very extensive.   Emetics are generally
mixed up in a tea of this article, and enemas are frequently
made of it.  As a wash for ulcers, cancers, and scald head;
and as an injection for bleeding from the bowels and womb,
and for  gonorrhoea,  leucorrhoea, &c. it cannot be exceeded.
A strong tea made of this article and drank freely, will most
generally restrain nearly all kinds of hemorrhages, especially
if there is combined with it a suitable portion of cayenne pep-
per.  It  is very good  in  diabetis,  and after the  bowels are
cleansed, in  dysentery; and when  the water is removed in
dropsy, it is good to use a strong tea of this  article  to brace
up and contract the solids, so as to prevent  the re-accumula-
tion of it.  It likewise makes a very good wash for canker in
the mouth and  throat;  and the powder  forms a very  good
pultice for many purposes.

                        BITTER TONIC.

          Take of Poplar bark...
                 Dogwood bark
                 Bayberry.....
                 Golden seal.....
                 Colombo root-
                 Cloves............
                 White Sugar---

All to be finely pulverized separately, and well mixed.
   Dose___A teaspoonful is to be taken in  any way the patient
wishes, three times a day.                     -
   Use__This preparation is intended to tone up and strength-
en the system,  after  the force of the disorder is broken up by
A pound.
 1   do.
 I   do.
 I   do.
 1   do.
 6 ounces.
 5 pounds. 
448
POWDERS.
the use of the other medicines.   The bitter tonics  are very
good to be occasionally used by persons of weak and lax hab-
its, especially in the spring of the; year.  The bitters generally
promote the appetite.

                  Thomson's spiced bitters.

  Take of fine poplar bark, one  pound, balmony seven oun-
ces, bayberry four ounces, ginger  four ounces, cayenne one
ounce, cloves three ounces,  golden seal three ounces,  sugar
two pounds,  and let them be well mixed.
   Use—Put  a tablespocnful of this compound with four oun-
ces of  sugar, into a  quart  of boiling water.  Take  a  wine-
glassful of this three times a day, before eating.   A(^aspoon-
ful of these powders, with  one of sugar,  may be taken in a
cup of hot water; or an ounce may be scalded in half a pint
of hot water, and put into a quart bottle, which may be filled
with good Malaga wine.  Prepared  in this way, it is an ex-
cellent bitter for weak patients.                           /

                     laxative bitters.

       Take of Yellow pnrilla,..............................t pound.
             Bitter root,....................................I   do.
             Wild cherry bark,...........................J  do.

Pulverize, and mix with two pounds of fine white sugar.
   Dose.—A teaspoonful three times a day before  eating.
   Use.—In dyspej sia, habitual costiveness, feverish habits, losa
of appetite, in slow recoveries from fevers,  dec, this will be
found  a very good article.

                      woman's friend.

       Take of Poplar bark..................................5 pounds.
             Star loot, ....................................i pound.
             Cinnamon bark, ...........................£   do.
             Cloves,  .......................................4   do.
             Goldenseal, •-•••............................i   do.
             Cayenne pepper, ...........................4 ounces.
             White sugar,.................................8 pounds.

All made fine and well mixed.
   Dose.—One teaspoonful is to be taken in a gill of hot water.
   Use.—This is an excellent article for female weakness. 
INFUSIONS.
449
                   EXPECTORANT  POWDER.

      Take of Skunk Cabbage ..............................1 pound.
             Indian Turnip.................................J  do.
             Blood root.......................................^  do.
             Lobelia (brown,) ..............................\  do.

All to be pulverized very  fine and well mixed.
  Dose.—A teaspoonful in honey or molasses three  times a
day or oftener, if necessary.
  Use.^—To promote expectoration or the discharge from the
lungs in asthma,  inflammation of the lungs, pleurisy, whoop-
ing-cough, croup, consumption, and colds, this is an invalua-
ble remedy.

                      ERRHINE POWDER.

     Take of Bayberry,..........................................2 ounces.
           Lobelia (green,)...............................••£ ounce.
           Wild ginger............................•..........1  do.

Pulverize very fine, and drop on  it a teaspoonful of the oil of
golden rod or burgamot,  and  mix thoroughly, and  keep in
tightly stopped bottles.
  Use.—This makes a  very good  snuff to remove stoppages in
the nassal fossa, by means of sneezing; and will likewise re-
lieve the head when stopped from catarrh  or cold.
                      II. INFUSIONS.

  These are very simpls preparations, and are generally made
at the time they  are  intended to be used.  This way of pre-
paring medicine  is alike popular  and ancient, and is one of
the best forms in which medicine can  be taken, at least those
kinds which will  give out their virtues to boiling  water.  In-
fusions consist of nothing more than  teas,  and this hint will
preclude the necessity of giving many examples or formulas.
As a general thing infusions may be made by putting a hand-
ful of the article  or articles, intended to  be used, into a teapot
or large bowl, and throwing on boiling water enough to cov-
er it;  unless otherwise directed this may be the way to make
the preparation whenever an infusion  is  ordered.  As a gen-
eral thing, they may also be drank  freely, without  reference
to exact quantities  unless this is mentioned.
             29 
■i'vl)                     DECOCTIONS.
                    DEMULCENT INFUSION.

  Take of flaxseed, half an ounce, liquorice root, bruised, two
drachms, boiling water, a pint, and macerate for four hours in
a covered vessel, and strain.
  U^c,—Very  good in inflammatory  affections of the throat,
and the mucous lining of the lungs, urinary pass-ages, and
bowe.ls.

                   ANTHELMINTIC INFUSION.

  Take of Carolina pink, senna, and loaf sugar, half an ounce
each: add a little  milk, and scald in a pint and a half of boil-
ing water.  A half an ounce of manna is sometimes also
added to the above  ingredients.
  Use—This is a popular remedy for worms.  The whole of
the infusion should be drank,  unless it should operate  freely
with less—taken in the course of two days.

                   EMMENAGOGUE IN FL" SION.

  Take of black cohosh, motherwort, water-pepper or smart-
weed, of each one ounce; pour  on v. arm  water  enough to
cover, and strain.
  Use.— It may be drank in half tea upful doses, three or four
limes a day, till it affects the head,  when less must be taken,
until it has the desired effect.   If a teaspoonful of the tincture
of myrrh is added to ec,ch dose, it  makes it act much  more
promptly.  This is an excellent emmenagogue.
HI.  DECOCTIONS
  Derocuons are made by boiling substances in water for
some time, with a view to extract such properties that are not
readily obtained by simple infusion.  The process should be
conducted in a covered vessel, so as to confine the vapor on
the surface of the liquid as much as possible, and thus also
prevent the access of atmospheric air, which is sometimes apt
to exert a pernicious agency over the medical substances, in
this state of  elevated temperature.
  Articles subjected to  this mode of preparation must be dis- 
DECOCTIONS.                     451
 criminately selected; for there are many which, although, they
 yield their active and desired medical properties to the water
 in this process, yet the nature of these properties may be such
 that their affinity for the water may be overcome by the grav-
 ity of the atmosphere, and thus they may escape.  The exam-
 ples of those articles are the various mints, «nd all  articles
 whose active properties consist in an essential oil; they, there-
 fore, must not be boiled, but they may be  used in the  form of
 infusion;  or  they may  be distilled.  Some  ingredients, also,
 yield their properties  with  less boiling than others.   In the
 process of making decoctions, therefore, such articles as need
 the most boiling should be put into the kettle first, and the rest
 added according to the amount of boiling they require, as. no
 article should be boiled longer than is necessary to extract its
 virtues.   The bulbous ingredients, should always be  bruised
 or sliced fine.
   As these preparations are all liable to become sour and
 spoil, they should only be. prepared for immediate use.

                  DECOCTION  FOR RHEUMATISM.

     Take of Black cohosh..........................I o-mce,
            Piickly ash bark......................i do
            Poke  berries dried....................£ do.
            Burdock seeds........................£ do.

 Bruise, and boil an hour in a quart of water, and strain.
   Dose.—A wine-glassful, sweetened, three times a day.
   Use.—Few articles will be found a better  internal 'remedy
 for rheumatism, sciatica, and gout.   While this is used inter-
 nally, the bathing drops should be used externally.

                    DECOCTION FOR DROPSY.

  Take of the  inner bark of sweet elder, the fibrous roots of
 queen of the meadow, parsley root, dandelion root, and wa-
 ter melon seeds, a handful of each; bruise and boil them one
 hour in two quarts of water, and filter.
  Dose—A wine-glassful three or four times a day.   It may
 be sweetened.
  Use.—This is more particularly intended for dropsies, but in
very good for affections of the kidneys and urinary passages
 It causes a free discharge of urine. 
4.V2
TINCTURES.
                     IV. TINCTURES.

   Tinctures are prepared by macerating medicinal substances
 in spirits; the menstruum most generally used is alcohol.—
 These preparations are very convenient, as they seldom need
 any other qualification for use than simple dilution in watsr
 or some simple syrup.   The time that it is generally necessa-
 ry for the substances to remain in the solvent for the extrac-
 tion of their virtues,  is  two weeks: but if heat b2 applied, a
 much shorter time  will  answer.  When tinctures are made,
 the substances to be used should generally be dry, and either
 bruised or ground  fine;  and then put in a  glass vessel, and
 tightly stopped.  The vessel should be occasionally shaken
 up, and when ready for  separation, the tincture, after the sed-
 iment is settled, may be carefully  decanted, or it may be
 filtered.

                    TINCTURE OF  LOBELIA.

   This may be prepared from  the green or  dry  herb, which
 should be taken (in any quantity,) and after bruising in a mor-
 ter, may be put in a glass or tin  vessel, and  pressed down
 close, when enough alcohol should be thrown on it to cover
 the herb; the vessel should then be stoped and put in the warm
 sun for several days.   After this, the liquor  may  be pressed
 out and strained.   Some add to every gallon of this tincture,
 a teaspoonful of the oil  of sassafras.
   Dose.—As an emetic for a child, a  teaspoonful should be
 given in water or a tea of astringent tonic, and repeated every
 ten minutes till it operates.  For an adult this preparation is
 not strong enough for an emetic.   As an expectorant, the dose
 for a child is from ten to  twenty drops, and for an adult from
 a half to a whole teaspoonful.
   Use.—As  an emetic, the  tincture  of lobelia is particularly
 serviceable in asthma, whooping-cough,  croup, inflammation
 of the lungs, and in pleurisy.   As an expectorant, it may be
 used in all those cas:s with particular  advantage;  and is also
 good in all other cases in which  expectorants  are indicated.
 The tincture of lobelia also  makes  a very good rubefacient,
 and application to  ulcers, inflammations, wounds,  bruises,
 eruptions, and poisons of every kind.  It is also an active an-
 tispasmodic, perhaps better than  any other  single article in
The materia  medica.
   Lobelia seed.—This makes a very good tincture,  possessing 
TINCTURES.
453
the same general properties as that made from the herb,  and
can be made much stronger.  This tincture may be prepared
by digesting one pound of finely pulverized seed of lobelia in
a gallon of alcohol for five or six days; when the  tincture
may be  decanted.  The, dregs should be saved, for poulti-
ces &c.
   Use—This tincture may be applied to all the purposes for
which the above is used;  and being  much  stronger  it serves
very well as an emetic for adults.  This tincture affords a very
important ingredient  for the bathing  drops, and antispasmodic
tincture

                  SOUR  TINCTURE OF LOBELIA.

   This is prepared in the same way as  the  foregoing, only
that in this, instead of alcohol, good  vinegar is used.  It  is
better as an expectorant, and  as a counter poison,  than the
alcoholic tincture.  This is  very good for all  bites and stings
whose poison consists of an alkaline principle.  With the sour
tincture  prepared from the seed of lobelia the  writer has cured
a number of cases of hydrophobia.

                     TINCTURE OF MYRRH.

     Take of Gum Myrrh...........................1 pound.
            Cayenne Peppwr,.......................1 ounce.
            brandy (fourth proof)..................I gallon.

Pulverize the myrrh and pepper, and put the whole in a glass
or earthen vessel, placed in the hot sun for  8  or 10 days,  sha-
king it occasionally.   It may then be left to settle, when the
tincture may be decanted.  This may be prepared quicker,by
putting the ingredients in a stone jug and placing it  in a  ket-
tle of boiling water,  and thus leaving the spirit to boil for 15
minutes, stirring the  ingredients occasionally with a stick.—
To conduct the process safely, the jug should be left unstopped
to give exit to  tne vapor.
   This is Dr. Thomson's celebrated No. 6. or Rheumatic drops,
so highly esteemed as a family medicine by all who are ac-
quainted with  it.

               dr. john Thomson's improved no. 6.

   Macerate for several days in one gallon of high cherry  spir-
its, one pound  of gum myrrh, four ounces of  golden  seal, four
ounces of bayberry, one ounce of cayenne pepper, all made
fine.  Pour off the tincture and bottle for use. 
454                     TINCTURES.
                COMPOUND TINCTURE OF MYRRH.

  A very good and cheap article of this kind may be made
by preparing a menstruum to be used instead of the  brandy,
in the following manner;—Digest for several days, in a gallon
of alcohol, one pound of bruised peach meats, or what is bet-
ter, two pounds of dried wild cherries, pounded fine; let  the
drees settle, and throw off the liquor.
  Take the liquor or brandy, thus obtained, and dig st in it
for one week, l'i ounces of* good gum myrrh, two ounces of
prickly ash berries,  one ounce of fine sculcap, and one ounce
of cayenne pepper, all made fine.  After the dregs settle,  the
tincture may be decanted and bottled for use.
  Dose—One teaspoonful or more  may  be taken at a time
and often repeated.
  Use—All the above preparations of *myrrh, are invaluable
compounds, and are  justly entitled to a high station, in  the
phalanx of botanico medical agencies.  Th y are all powerful-
ly antiseptic, stimulant, and tonic; very  useful in typhus and
scarlet fevers, dysentery, mortification, rheumatism, and colds.
This tincture is good to relieve pain,  and even severe colic is
sometimes  entirely relieved by it alone.  It is very good to be
used by injection with a tea of the astringent tonic, in all  ca-
ses when mortification of the bowels is apprehended.  As an
externa]  application, it is excellent in scald head, eruptions of
the  skin, bruises, cuts, sprains,  neuralgia, rheumatism,  and
gout.  For fistulous, scrofulous,  and venereal ulcers, it, with
lobelia tincture, makes an excellent injection.

                  ' ANTISPASMODIC TINCTURE.

   Take of Lobelia tincture, (prepared from, the seed,)... .1 pint.
          Tincture of myrrh,........................1  do.
          Neivine tincture,..........................1 do.

Mix.
  Dose.—-One teaspoonful or more, to be repeated as often as
may be necessary.
  Use.—This is an excellent antispasmodic, very useful in all
cases of fits or spasms, tetanus,  hydrophobia, neuralgia, colic,
cholera, delirium tremens, suspended animation,palsy, erysip-
elas, dropsy, &c. 
WATERS.
455
NERVINE TINCTURE.
    Take of Sculcap (leaves dried,).................... I pound.
           Lady's slipper...........................I  do. ■
           Ginseng................................4  do.
           Alcohol................................I gallon.

Pulverize the dry articles, and digest in the alcohol for a week
or ten days, in  warm sun heat, shakaie, it up occasionally.—
Pour off the tincture, and add a tea-poo dul of the oil of anise.
  Dose.—A  small tablespoonful of t lis may ->e  taken at a
time, but less is generally used; this dose may be  repeated as
occasion may require.
  I se—This is an excellent  remedy for  nervous weakness,
cramps, palsy,  neuralgia, fits, tetanus, m^nia, hysterics, hypo-
chondria, and nervous headache.
V. WATERS.
  Several different preparations are made by suspending med-
icinal substances in water, generally consisting of such as do
not contain any saccharine  matter, nor any other property
that is calculated to impair the preparation  by changing the
chemical  relations of  the ingredients.  These preparations
are known under the appelatica  of liwaters."
COLLYRIUM.
     Take of Crocus Martus.......................1  drachm.
           Sulphate of zinc......................4  sciupks.

Pulverize,  and dig st in a  quart  of rain water, and  filter
through paper.
  Use. —This is an excellent preparation for chronic sore eyes;
—apply it with the finger to the inner angle of the eyes, two
or three times a day.                           .
  Poisonous minerals have ever been  ustly  rejected by all
true Botanical physicians;  and few have  been more  scrupu-
lous in this matter than the writer, and it now affords  him
satisfaction that it has not  been the simple ipse dixit of an\
man, men, author, or school, that has brought him in the posse-
sion of his present opinions, but that it was the result of vb- 
456                      WATERS.
 scrvation and sound induction.   Now if these would lead him
 into the practice of fashionable medicine, he would of course    j
 follow; but this is impossible.   Nevertheless, certain  mineral    I
 substances have been  found very  serviceable as external ap-
 plications.  The above preparation has exceeded every thing    ]
 else as a common eye-water that the writer has ever become
 acquainted wdth.  It seldom fails of doing some good.

                      EGG EVE-WATER.

   Take the white of six boiled eggs; throw  on this, half an
 ounce of fine white vitriol;  chop up  fine; mash, and mix the
 whole well together; put it in a strong piece of cloth and press    (
 out the juice.                                                 I
    Use.—This  remedy  has  long  since  gained considerable    '
 credit in the cure of sore eyes;—it is said to cure the cataract.

                   Thomson's eye-water.                      n

   "Take of green ozier, the bark,  scraped  fine, one handful;
 add half a pint of soft water, about milk warm; let  them  J&
 stand and steep at about the same warmth, for two hours or  Jl
 more;  add a piece of pure pearlash, [or salaeratus] the size of fl
 a large sugar pea, a tablespoonful of refined sugar, and a stem  \%
 glassful of French brandy;  filter through paper, and bottle for    .
 use."'                                                       i
   Dr. J. Thomson  the son of the original proprietor, adds an
 equal quantity  of ozier infusion, and yellow lily, and uses Ja-
 maica rum instead of the brandy;  he adds, moreover, to every
 two quarts of the water about half an ounce of white vitriol,
 previously made fine.

                   EFFERVESCING DRAUGHT.

   Take in a tumbler  about a wineglassful of equal  parts of
 lemon-juice and water, and  in another, half as much water in
 which a tablespoonful of white sugar, and 15 grains or about
 half a teaspoonful of carbonate of soda or potassa is dissolved;  »
 pour the contents of one glass into the other and drink as soon
 as effervescence commences.
   Use.—This is diaphoretic, and diuretic,  and  makes a very
good and pleasant drink in  fevers.  It is also an  excellent
remedy  in scurvey. 
EXTRACTS.
457
                  COMMON NEUTRAL DRAUGHT.

     Take of Soda................................* teaspoonful.
           Tartaric acid........................4   do.

Dissolve each separately in a tumbler about one third full  of
water: there may be mixed with the soda two  teaspoonfuls
of white sugar, and when all is dissolved, the contents of one
glass is to be thrown into the other, and the mixture drank  as
soon as the effervescence commences.   It  depends entirely
upon the relative proportions, whether the mixture will effer-
vesce well, and as the purity and strength of the ingredients
may differ much, it is hard to give a correct formula; but ex-
perience will soon enable all to make it readily.
   Use—This is an excellent beverage in fevers.
VI. EXTPvACTS.
  Extracts are made in  several  ways; most commonly they
are prepared by evaporating the decoction, made in the usua,
way, down to the proper  consistence, by means  of heat.—
Another way to obtain extracts, is to  evaporate the tincture
prepared with alcohol.  On account of the  smallness  of the
dose necessary  in the use of extracts, they  make a very con-
venient form of administering medicine.  Great care is neces-
sary in evaporating the  liquids, least they should be burned,
and thus rendered useless.   When the liquor becomes some-
what thick, it is best to  put it in a smaller vessel, which may
then be placed  in a kettle of water and thus reduced  to the
propper consistence by boiling; or the vessel may be placed in
a sand bath.   Bottles containing extracts should have a piece
of bladder or skin tied over them to prevent the preparation
from moulding.

                 EXTRACT OF WHITE WALNUT.

  Take of the  inner bark of the root, or trunk of  the butter-
nut tree any quantity; put it into a kettle, and pour on enough
clean soft water to cover it; boil until" the strength is extrac-
ted then strain and, after cleaning the kettle, put it back and
evaporate to the consistence of thick molasses.   At this stage,
as much as is wished to be  used for  the purpose  of making 
458
EXTRACTS.
pills may  be taken out.  To as  much of this as is wished  to
be used in the liquid form, there may be added to every gallon
one quart of good sugar house molasses, and one pint of West
India Rum, and well mixed.
  Dose.—One tablespoonful.
  Use.—This  is a ^ery mild, but  efficient cathartic.  Dr.  J.
Thomson in speaking of it says:—"I first used this compound
in Montreal, in cases of cholera in 1832, and was well pleased
with its lively, searching and stimulating effects, as it would
start a moisture in the palms of the hands in  a very f;w min-
utes, relieving  all pains,  and cramp,  in the extremities."—
This extract is a very good preparation for children, for' as  its
taste is not unpleasant they are generally more r ady to take
it than many other medicines of this  class.  But aside from
this, it seems, in its properties, well adapted for children; it
relieves colic pains, removes worms, and is very good to pre-
vent that unnatural bloated appearance of the bowels that is
common with  some children.  This preparation  is  good in
nearly all cases in which cathartics are indicated, but should
never be long continued at a time, as the system is apt to be-
come accustomed to  its use,  and will make it necessary to
take very large doses.

                       DOCK EXTRACT.

  Take of the clean  roots of the narrow  leafed  dock, any
quantity; slice them up, and boil them in a kettle with equal
parts of alcohol or whisky and water, until its virtues are ex-
tracted; strain the fluid, and boil  down carefully until it as-
sumes the consistence of soft soap, when it  must be further
evaporated to the consistence of a  thin plaster, by  means of
shallow dishes placed in the warm sun heat.
   Use—This, formed into pills with the extract of dandelion,
and mandrake in equal parts, makes perhaps the best anti-
scorbutic cathartic known;  and as such, the dock extract is
very good even alone.  The dose of this or of the compound,
is from two to four common sized  pills.  This is an excellent
article for internal use in the cure  of  all  scrofulous com-
plaints, and  for  a morbid  state  of the  secretions.  It also
makes an excellent external application  in all  bad ulcers,
which it cleanses and  heals very rapidly.   Combined  with
Thomson's extract of clover it improves his cancer plaster.

                    EXTRACT OF OAK BARK.

   The extract made  by evaporating  the  decoction of either 
EXTRACTS.                      459
the white oak, black oak,  red  oak, or chestnut oak  bark,
makes a very good astringent, which may be successfully ap-
plied to ruptured membranes, as  in  the case of openings be-
tween the fibres of the  abdominal  muscles,  so common in
children.  It is also  good to  ap, ly to some ulcers, and is al-
ways good to be used in the form  of a  plaster over joints
that are much disposed to luxation.   It is very good to ba ap-
plied  as a styptic to  bleeding surfaces; and by dissolving it in
hot water, it may be used internally in all cases in which as-
tringents are indicated.

                    EXTRACT  OF MANDRAKE.

   Digest two pounds of fine mandrake root in a gallon of al-
cohol for one week, stirring it occasionally;  then  add two
quarts of water; put the whole into a kettle; boil  two hours
 and strain, then evaporate to the consistence of syrup; wh.-n
 it must be put into another vessel and  evaporated to the
 thickness of honey.   Now mix with every pound of this, one
 ounce of cayenne  pepper, and  one ounce of sculcap, very
 finely pulverized, and form into pills-
   Use—This is one of the  best cathartic pills that can be
 made, operating mildly  and  slowly, but  with certainty.  It
 seems eminently adapted to the  new views in medicine, as it
 invigorates and  stimulates the system, instead of prostrating
 it, as  many cathartics do.  Those who take  it will find that
 when it is done operating, they will feel relieved, and free, as
 it operates very prominently on the secretory and excretory
 systems, evacuating and stimulating as  it  goes.  Used as a
 plaster, it is good to cure cancers, and kings evil.

                     EXTRACT OF DOGWOOD.

   An extract of the inner bark of dogwood may be made in
 the same way that  the extract of mandrake is prepared, add-
 ing the pepper and sculcap  likewise.
   Us* —This is an  excellent tonic,  and seldom fails of curing
 the intermittent fever, if its use is preceded with an emetic, and
 a cathartic of the anti-billious pills.  It may  be used in pills,
 two  of which may be given  two or  three times a day. 
4G0
OILS.
VII. OILS.
  Oils are generally divided into two classes; the "fixed," or
expressed, and the "volatile" or essential, so named from their    ,
respective characteristics in relation to the vaporizing influ-
ence of heat.  Substances possessing the characteristics of oil,
are furnished us by the vegetable, animal,  and mineral king-
doms.  The vegetable kingdom, for example, furnishes such
as the  linseed, castor, olive, and the various essential oils; the
animal kingdom the spermaceti, and lard oils;  the mineral
kingdom the petroleum or bitumens, found at Amiano in the    '
Duchy of Parma, at Gabian in France, upon the borders of
the Caspian Sea, in the kingdom of Ava, and in Barbadoes,
Trinidad, and other West  India Islands,  as  well as  in the
United States, on  the  Kenhawa in Virginia, in Kentucky, -
western  Pennsylvania, Ohio,  and  on the shores of Seneca
Lake in New York.  That which is obtained in  the latter    i
place, has received  the name of the lake,  and is hence called   Jj
"■Seneca Oil"  As nearly all the oils used in medical practice, -uM
can be bought of the Apothecary cheaper than they can be .9
made on a small scale, the mode of the preparation of only a  fl
few will here be given.                                       ^j

                      OIL OF LOBELIA.                          '

  Take of lobelia se-d, finely pulverized, six ounces; put it in-
to a tincture bottle, an 1 pour  on it one  quart  of sulphuric
nether; stop it up, and let it stand for five or six days, shaking
it occasionally; after which let it settle,  and throw  off  the
tincture and filter; put  the tincture into shallow vessels placed
in the  sun h^at, and let it evaporate.   As the tincture begins
to thicken, it may be thrown together  into one of the vessels
to prevent the loss of w hat would  otherwise  adhere to  the
vessels.  When the aether is evaporated, an impure oil of the
lobelia remains.
  Dose—As an emetic, from eight to ten  drops are sufficient;
as an  expectorant,  two or three.
   Use.—The oil of lobelia contains all the active properties
that any of the other pr parations of this article do, and has
at the same time, the advantage of the smallness of the dose
required. 
OILS.
461
                   OIL OF CAYENNE PEPPER.

  The oil of cayenne pepper may be obtained  in the same
way that the oil of lobelia is made; but may be manufactured
somewdiat cheaper, by tincturing it in alcohol instead of the
aether, and evaporating  it by a slight heat from a water or
sand bath; or it may be put in a tin pan or cup, which may
then be set on a brick, placed on a hot stove, and thus evap-
orated.
   Use—This, like the oil of lobelia,  possesses all the virtues
of the article from which it is  obtained, and being so much
concentrated, will serve purposes that are not so easily accom-
plished by the more crude preparations  of pepper.  It is, for
instance,  much better as a rubefacient.   It  is very  good in
sciatica, lumbago, rickets, white swellings, palsy, &c.

                       VERMIFUGE OIL.

       Take of Castor oil,..........................I pint.
              Worm seed oil,......................2 ounces.
              Oil of anise,.........................1 ounce.

Mix well.
   Dose.—One teaspoonful  to a child two years  old, three
times a day  for several  days, when, if it  does not operate, a
dose of white walnut extract must be given.
   Use.—It is very good  to expel worms.

                      ANTHELMINTIC OIL.

   Take half a pound of Carolina pink root; pulverize,  and put
 it in a suitable bottle; pour on a quart of sulphuric aether, and
 digest for a  week; pour off" the  tincture, and'evaporate in the
 same way you do to obtain the oil of lobelia.  When of the
 thickness of molasses, mix  well with a pint  of castor oil.
   Dose—A  tablespoonful for an adult, taken in  the morning,
 at noon, and at night, fasting;  for a child, half  as much is a
 dose.  If it does not operate, give a dose of the white walnut
 extract, the  following day.                       m
   Use__This is a very good vermifuge,  and is safe in its use. 
462
ESSENCES.
VIII. ESSENCES.
   These preparations are made by  dissolving the essential
oils in alcohol, in the proportion of from one to two ounces
of the former to a pint of the latter.   Many of them are very
good medicines.

                   ESSENCE OF PEPPERMINT.

   This is a stimulant, carminative, and diaphoretic; useful in
fevers, flatulency, nausea, colic, and other pains in the stom-
aeh and bowels.
   Dose—A teaspoonful, in water, sweetened.

                   ESSENCE OF SPEARMINT.

   As an antiemetic, the spearmint is a good article, general-
ly relieving nausea in a short time.  It is moreover a good
anthelmintic or worm medicine; and may also  be used for all
the purposes for which the peppermint is beneficial.
   Dose—A teaspoonful on sugar.

                    ESSENCE OF JUNIPER.

  Essence of Juniper is a very good  diuretic,  and carmina-
tive; good in dropsy, inflammation of the  kidneys, and stop-
age of water generally; also good for pain in "the  stomach
and bowels.
  Dose—A teaspoonful, taken in any way.

                   ESSExVCE OF CINNAMON.

  This is sometimes used as medicine, and may be regarded
as a stimulant, diaphoretic, carminative, and rubefacient; use-
ful in colic pains, pain in the  stomach,  and in dysentery.—
The dose i3 from "0 to 30 drops. 
CONSERVES AND CONFECTIONS.
463
IX. CONSERVES AND  CONFECTIONS.
  These are preparations in which medicinal substances are
incorporated with saccharine matter,  with a view either  to
their preservation, or more convenient administration.

                   CONSERVE OF HOLLYHOCK.

     Take of Hollyhock  flowers, (the petals,)..........2 pounds.
            White sugar, (pulverized,)...............4  do.
            Poplar bark.............'................2 ouncos.
            Bay btfry,.................—...........2  do.
            Golden seal,..............™...........2  do.
            Cloves,................................2  do.
            Cinnamon,............................2  do.
            Hitter root,.............................2  do.
            'Cayenne pepper,........................2  do.
            Oil ol wiutergret.il, or pumjro)al,.........[ ounce.

 Beat the  flowers  to a jelly,  in a mortar;  add the sugar, and
 beat airnin  until thoroughly mixed, then add all the other in-
 gredients, well pulverized*;  knead, and work till  perfectly
 mixed.*  This  is to  be  kept in  a close vessel; or it may be
 rolled  into cakes and dried.
   Use.—This is an exc  llent stimulating tonic,—useful in dys-
 pepsia, jaundice,  loss of appetite,.sore throat, &c.   It stimu-
 lates and invigorates the system, and  promotes its various
 functions.  It  may be  carried in th? pocket,  and  eaten  in
 small  portions at  libitum, or whenever necessary.

                      LENITIVE ELECTUARY.

   "Take of senna, eight ounces;  coriander seed, four  ounces;
 liquorice root,  bruised,  three ounces: figs, one pound; pulp of
 prunes, pulp of tamerinds, pulp  of purging cassia, each, half
 a pound; refined sugar, two pounds and a  half; water four pints.
 Rub the senna and coriander  together,  and separate ten
 ounc?s of the powder with a sieve.  Boil the residue with the
 tiffs and liquorice root,  in  the water,  to one half; then press
 out the liquor and strain it.   Evaporate  ^he strained liquor
 ■by means of a water bath, to a pint and a half; then add the
 sugar  and  form  a syrup.    Lastly, rub the  pulps gradually
  *Should the hollyhock mucillngc  not be sufficient to form a dough with the
 b.llanre of the ingredients, a  suitable quantity of slippery elm mucilage may
 be .dded°and when the hollyhock eaanot be obeyed at all, the elm mucill.p
 will answer in its stead. 
464
SYRUPS.
 with the syrup, and having thrown in the sifted powder, beat
 the whole together till they are thoroughly mixed."— U.  S.
 Dispensatory.
   The pulp of cassia is obtained by boiling the bruised pods
 in water, straining the decoction, and evaporating to the con-
 sistence of an electuary.   The  pulp  of prunes, may be pre-
 pared by boiling the fruit in a small  quantity  of water to
 soften it,  then pressing it through a hair sieve, and evapora-
 ting to a proper consistence.  The tamerinds; should they be
 too dry for use, may be treated in the same way.
   Use.—The lenative electuary, is one  of the  best and most
 pleasant laxatives,—eminently adapted  to costive habits.  In
 the use of this preparation individuals  may perhaps be said
 to take medicine by way of luxury.   The dose is  from a tea-
 spoonful to a tablespoonful.

                     CONSERVE OF ROSES.

   "Take of red roses, unblown, a pound, refined  sugar three
pounds.  Bruise the roses;  then, gradually  adding the sugar,
 beat the two together till they are thoroughly mixed.
   Use.—This is a very good article in which to take such med-
 icines as are disagreeable to the taste; it is slightly astringent,
 but is not very valuable  as a medicine taken alone.  It  is
 sometimes used in making up batches for pills.
X.  SYRUPS.
  Syrups are fluid preparations in which sugar or some other
saccharine  substance is combined with vegetable infusions,
decoctions, expressed juices, fermented liquids, or simple wa-
tery solutions.
  The vegetables are generally boil?d until their strength is
extracted, and the wratery  portion  considerably  evaporated,
when the liquid is separated, strained,  and a sufficient quan-
tity of refined sugar added to preserve the preparation.
  In making syrups it is best to add a little  spirits to the wa-
ter; or what is better still, to the herb before the  water is ap-
plied, in all cases when such  articles  are used in the syrup,
which do not yield their virtues so readily  to water as to alco-
hol.   The spirit thus added will not  change  the  character of 
BYRUPS.
465
the compound, so far as the existence of the former is con-
cerned, as it is generally driven off in the process of the evap-
oration.
                      ALTERATIVE SYRUP.

     Take of Sarsaparilla............................3 pounds.
            Narrow-leafed dock root................3  do.
            Dandelion root..........................2  do.
            Black alder bark........................2  do.
            Guiacum shavings......................2  do.
            Burdock root, or seeds...................2  do.
            Bassafins bark of the root................2  do.
            Mandrake root.....................'.....2  do.

 Boil in equal parts of whiskey and water sufficient to cover
 the ingredients in the kettle, for two hours; strain and boil
 down to half the quantity; add half a pound of clarified su-
 gar to every pint of syrup; bottle up and keep in a cool place.
   Dose—A half a wineglassful three times a day.
   Use.—It is hardly possible to find a better alterative medi-
 cine than this, and it is certain that all who observe its effects
 in venereal diseases, scrofula, consumption, and many cutane-
 ous diseases, must admire it.

              dr. J. Thomson's stimulating physic.

   Take  of  mandrake root and white  walnut  bark, each half
 a pound; bruise well in a mortar,  and boil in half a gallon of
 soft water,  down to a pint; strain  off and press the dregs.—
 Add equal  quantities of molasses  and fourth proof Jamaica
 Rum; put it in a glass bottle and shake it well together; stop
 it tight,  and it is fit for use.
   Dose—One tablespoonful.
   Use.—The Doctor recommends this as a cathartic which
 will operate without pain, and as  a medicine  of great  value
 in costive habits,  colics, and distress in the  head, when it is
 caused by constipation of the  bowels.

            Thomson's syruf of prickly ash berries.

   Take prickly ash seed and peach meats, of each two oun-
 ces; pulverize and put into one pint of fourth proof Jamaica
 Rum, and add loaf sugar sufficient to make it of the consis-
 tance of molasses.   This he says is one of the best remedies
 for syncope or faintness used in  the Thomsonian practice.—
 He does not say how much should be given at a dose, but the
 strength of the compound will admit of taking a tablespoon-
 ful or more.
               30 
466
SYRUPS.
                     EXPECTORANT SYRUPt

     Take of Wild cherry bark......................1 pounds-.
            Spignet root.............................t pound.
            Pleurisy root..........................I  do.
            Black cohosh root..........................I  do.
            Blood  root................................. i  do.
            Liquorice root ••-........................4  do.
            Elacampane...........,................i  do.

Bruise, and boil in a sufficient quantity of water and whiskey^
(equal parts) to cover the whole in the kettle, until the strength *
is extracted, or for about two hours; strain off the liquid, and
boil down to half the quantity, and add to every quart, two
ounces of skunk cabbage  root, and one ounce of Indian turnip
root, all very finely pulverized.  Now take to every  quart of
this, three ounces of good tincture of lobelia,  and dissolve in
it one  ounce of oil of annise,  to  every pint  of the tincture-
and add this to as much good sugar house molasses as there
is syrup; mix to every quart of this molasses, two ounces of
balsam of tolu, dissolved in half a pint of hot alcohol.   Now
add the whole  together; mix well, and put it into a jug in a
cool place.
  Dose.—From a  teaspoonful  to  a tablespoonful, often  re-
peated.
  Use—This is one of the best medicines for pulmonary dis-
eases that can  be made; it brings on a copious expectoration,
and keeps it up.   It is likewise very healing to the lungs.  It
is particularly useful  in all  cases of  consumption, pleurisy,
bad colds, asthma, whooping-cough, &c.

             dr. j. Thomson's remedy for cough.

  Take four ounces of flax  seed, well- pulverized, and twoi
ounces of fine  liquorice root;  pour upon the ingredients one
quart of boiling water, and place it over a quick fire; let it
boil for 20 minutes; strain off: press the grains or dregs; then
add half a pound of good honey, and half a pint of pure lem-
on syrup;  simmer over a slow fire  for  ten  minutes; skim it;
set  away and let it cool.   Then  add half a drachm, (a half
teaspoonful) of cayenne  pepper, one gill of tincture  of lobe-
lia, and half a  pint of fourth  proof Jamacia Rum; shake to-
gether and bottle for use.
  Dose.—A  tablespoonful.
  Use.—Good  for irritation in the lungs,, for  colds,  asthma,
croup, and difficulty of breathing. 
SYRUPS.
467
                    SYRUP OF RHEUBARB.

  Take of rheubarb root two  pounds, wild cherry bark one
pound, all made fine; boil  in  a gallon of water,  down to a
half; strain, and add brandy in which is dissolved half an ounce
of oil of wintergreen, one  pint, and two pounds  of loaf su-
gar.  Keep it in a cool place.
  Dose.—A wineglassful, often repeated, till relief is obtained.
   Use.—This is an extraordinary remedy in dysentery.

                       CHOLERA SYRUP.

   Under this name is  known the preparation so  popular in
 the treatment of the spasmodic cholera  in the United States.
 The name is still continued, although it  is more proper to
 name medicines after  their properties  or ingredients, than
 the diseases for the cure of which they are used.

       Take of Lndy's slipper root,........................8 ounces.
              Bayberry,....................................8  do.
              Golden seal,.................................4  do.
              African cayenne, (best,) ...............1  do.

 Pulverize, and boil together the above ingredients, until their
 strength is extracted, in a sufficient quantity of water to make
 one gallon of the decoction; then strain and add:—

             Best fourth proof  West India rum,.........1 gallon.
             Uood sugalhouse molasses, ..................I  do.
             Tincture of myrrh,..............................I  do.

 Mix, and bottle for use.
    Dose—One tablespoonful, three or four times a day; or of-
 tener, as circumstances may require.
    Use—To relieve the stomach and bowels in cholera and
 cholera morbus, as well as cholera infantum, it is an invalua-
 ble remedy.  It is likewise good in  dysentery, colic, dyspep-
 sia, &c.

                Thomson's strengthening syrup.

    Take one pound each, of poplar  bark and  bayberry; boil
  them  in two gallons of water;  strain  off and add seven
  pounds of sugar; then scald  and skim it.   Then mix with it
  half a pound of peach meats and as much cherry stone meats,
  pulverized.  When cool, add  a gallon of good  brandy, two
  ounces of caraway seed; pulverized, and one  ounce of  cay-
  enne pepper. 
46a
BALSAMS.
  Use.—Valuable in weakness of the digestive organs; also in
dysentery, and cholera morbus. The dose is a wineglassful.
XI. BALSAMS.
   Balsams, strictly speaking,  are the products of vegetables,
 either exuded spontaneously, or from wounds or incisions made
 in the plant or tree.   The number of natural balsams now
 known is five, embracing  B.  Peru, B. Tolu, B. Benzoin, solid
 styrax or storax, and  liquid  styrax.    There  are, however,
 many preparations known in pharmacy under  the name of
 balsam, which are compounds so formed as to exhibit the ap-
 pearance, smell, and consistence of the natural balsams: these
 are called artificial balsams.   Examples of  the latter only,
 are here intended to be given.

                  BALSAM OF WILD CHERRY.

  Take of the inner bark of wild cherry, any quantity; boil in
 a suitable quantity of whiskey, for three hours; strain, and
 evaporate to the consistence of tar; then add to every pint of
 this, two ounces of the tincture of Tolu balsam, and mix well.
 Then take as much  honey as there is of this  compound, and
 incorporate well, adding to every j int,  a half ounce of oil of
 anise, and one and a half ounces of tincture of lobelia.
  Dose—A teaspoonful or more, three or four times a day.
  Use.—The balsam of wild cherry, is an excellent medicine
for the lungs,—very useful in consumption, pleurisy, coughs,
colds, and asthma.

                   BALSAM OF IIOARHOUND.

  This may be  made  by treating the herb  in the same way
that the bark of tb.3 wild cherry is used, in making balsam,
leaving out the Tolu.
  The dose and use of this are the  same as those of the bal-
sam of Tolu. 
MUCILAGES.
460
                       XII. MUCILAGES.


     These are bland, viscid, watery solutions of vegetable mat-
   ter; designed in practice, to lubricate  irritated surfaces, and
   as a drink  in affections of  the alimentary canal and urinary
   organs.  They are also used in making pills.

                     MUCILAGE OF SLIPrERY ELM.

     Take of slippery elm bark, fine, one tablespoonful; pour on
   a quart of boiling water; let it stand until a thick mucilage is
   formed.
      Use—This is good in many diseases, especially in cases of
   inflammation of the stomach and bowels; also in dysentery.
   It may be drank freely.
\
\                      MUCILAGE OF GUM ARABIC.

          Take of Gum arabic,..............................1 ounce.
                Boiling water,...........................I teacupful.

   Pulverize the gum, and  rub it gradually in the water until it
j   is all dissolved.
L     Use—This mucilage, in its medical properties, is very much
I  like the above  and may be used for the same purposes.

I                      MUCILAGE OF FLAXSEED.

      Take of flaxseed one ounce, and  throw on it one pint of
i  boiling water;  let it stand for an hour or two.
      Use—This is exceedingly serviceable in asthma, inflamma-
   tion of the lungs, stomach, bowels, kidneys, bladder and ure-
   thra; also for scalding of the urine.

                  MUCILAGE OF THE PITH OF SASSAFRAS.

      Take of the  pith found in the young shoots of sassafras, and
   soak it in cold water, for several hours.
      Use.—Good  for inflamed eyes. 
470
PILLS.
XIII.  PILLS.
                      ANTIBILIOUS PILLS.

       Toke of Mandrake root,..............................2 ounces.
             Succotrine Aloes,...........................1 ounce.
             Blood root,....................................I  do.
             Cayenne pepper, ...........................2 drachms.
             Lobelia seed,.................................1 drachm.

Pulverize the above articles very fine, separately; mix them
well, and pass them through a fine  sieve.  Mix up with the
white walnut extract  and make into pills.
  Dose—From four to six.
  Use—These  pills will do  all the good that calomel  will,
and are at the  same time entirely safe.  They are  especially
useful  in bilious remittent fever, fever and  ague, jaundice,
bilious colic, inflammation of the  liver, dropsy,  and sick-
headache.

                     NERVINE TONIC PILLS.

       Take of Sculcap leaves,..............................1 ounce.
             Valeiian,  ....................................1  do.

Pulverize, and mix into pills with molasses.
  Dose—Three to six.
  Use.—If a dose of these pills is  taken  twice a  day for a
long time, they will be found very servicable in the shaking
palsy, St. Vitus dance, and all nervous weakness.  For more
prompt action,  they should be made of the extracts of those
articles.

                         TONIC PILLS.

       Take of Extract dogwood,............... two parts.
             Extract thoroughwort,............one part.
             Cayenne pepper, ................a fourth part.

Mix, and form into pills.
  Dose.—From two to four, three times a  day.
  Use.—These pills are excellent in the treatment of intermit-
tent and remittent fevers, and in  all cases  of debility and loss
of appetite. 
DISPENSATORY.
471
                      LAXATIVE PILLS.

      Take of Bitter root,.___......... 4 >.........2 ounces.
             Gentian,..........................1 ounce.
             Extract of yellow parillo,...........£  do.
             Bird pepper,......................i  do.

Pulverize the dry articles, and  mix with the extract, adding
enough molasses to form into a mass of proper consistence;
then form into pills.
  Dose—From one to four, three times a day.
  Use—Few articles are more servicable than these pills, in
habitual constipation, indigestion, headache, loss of appetite,
jaundice. &e.

                     beef's gall pills.

  Take of beef's gall that has dried in the cyst or bladder to
a proper consistence; add  one fourth part of bird pepper and
form into pills.
  Dose.—From two to four.
   Use.—This is a cathartic that is, perhaps, more  congenial
in its operation  on the human body,  than any  other prepara-
tion now known.  It is especially useful  in bilious colic, con-
stipation, and some chronic diseases of the intestines.
CHAPTER  III.
DISPENSATORY.
  In dispensing medicines, as well as in compounding, it is nec-
essary to have a knowledge of means by which definite quan-
tities may be taken, and estimated, as by measure and weight.
Several scales are now  in  use by  the apothecaries of our
country: for compounding medicines, the U. S. Dispensatory
directs the use of the troy weights,  and the avoirdupois for
buying and selling. 
472
DISPENSATORY.
               I. TABLES OF WEIGHTS.

                   apothecaries' weight.*
20 grains (gr.). • • -make- • • A scruple, • • • -marked.....scru.
 3 scruples...............1 drachm,...............dr.
 8 drachms...............1 ounce,.................oz.
12 ounces................1 pound,................lb.

                    avoirdupois weight.
16 drachms (dr.)' • • -make- • • -1 ounce,.....marked.....oz.
16 ounces..................1 pound,................lb.
              II.  TABLE OF MEASURES.

               apothecaries' or wine measure.
  1 gills (gls).....make.....1 pint,.....marked......pt.
 2 pints...................1 quart,................qt.
 4 quarts..................1 gallon,...............gal.


        III. WEIGHTS OF FLUID MEASURES.


  As there is much difference in the sizes of spoons and other
utensils in domestic use, which are often used as graduates in
administering to the sick, a table showing their respective
weights may not, therefore, be altogether useless.

  A teaspoonful is about equal to one fluid drachm, or about
     60 drops.
  A tablespoonful is very nearly equal to five fluid  drachms.
  A wineglass will contain about two fluid ounces.
  A teacup will contain about four fluid ounces.
  A pint is very nearly equal to a fluid pound.

  It will be observed that the above table is made out accord-
ing to the weight and measure of water, and that many med-
ical  fluids may differ somewhat from this  table, according to
their density.  This must rather be considered as an example
of the average and comparative sizes of domestic utensils.
  ♦Apothecaries' weight is the same as troy weight, only having different di-
tisions between the grains and ounces: the latter embracing the pennyweight,
wliiab contains 24 grains,—20 6f which make an ounce. 
DISPENSATORY.
473
IV. TABLE OF  DOSES.
  Whereever  a dose is mentioned in this work, unless other-
wise directed, it is intended to be understood that for an adult.
Females generally require about one fourth  less than males.

  The dos? for a child ten years of age, is, as a general thing,
    half the quantity that is proper for an adult.
  The dose for a child two years old, is about half the quan-
    tity proper for one often years of age.
  The dose for an infant should be about half that which is
    proper for a child two years of age.

  It is to be observed that in those individuals that are much
in the habit of taking medicines, the organs become accus-
tomed to their action, and that when an article has been ta-
ken for several weeks or more, the dose must be increased to
insure its good effects. 
GLOSSARY,
OR
DICTIONARY OF MEDICAL AND  BOTANICAL TERMS

               USED  IN THE WORK.
Abdomen.  The belly.
Abscess.   A tumor containing
  pus, or a collection of matt r.
Abnormal.  Unnatural, irreg-
  ular.
Absorbent.  A vessel that ab-
  sorbs or takes up fluids.
Acetabulum.  The socket that
  receives the  head of the  os
  femoris or thigh bone.
Acid.  Sour; that  which im-
  parts to the tongue  a sharp
  or sour taste.
Acrid.  Sharp, burning, or pun-
  gent.
Acoucher.  A midwife, or one
  that attends in parturition.
Acuminate.  Taper-pointed; a
  narrow or linear point.—The
  point usually inclines to one
  side.                     I
Acute.   In botany it  means
  sharp pointed, but less grad-
  ually so than  acuminate;  in
  pathology the term is appli-
  ed to diseases which are  of
  short duration, but attended
  with violent symptoms; it is
  opposite to chronic.
Albumen.   A viscid animal  or
  vegetable  principle, resem-
  bling the white of eggs.
Alkali.  A substance which is
  capable of uniting with acids
  and destroying their acidity;
  among the most common are
  potash, soda, &c.
Alterative.  A medicine capa-
  ble of changing the condition
  of the system without produ-
  cing any sensible increase of
  the evacuations.
Alveola.  The sockets for the
  teeth.
Alvine.   Belonging to  the in-
  testines.
Ament.  Flowers  on  chaffy
  scales, and  arranged on a
  slender stalk.
Am^.lexacaulis.  Clasping the
  base of the stem.
Amenorrhcea.  An obstruction
  of the menses.
Anasarca   Dropsy, of the cel-
  lular membrane.
Anastamose.   Joining togeth-
  er.
Annual.  Yearly.
Annulated.  Having  a  ring
  round the capsules;   as  in
  ferns, &c.
Anodyne.  That which relieves
  pain.
Antacid. Substances that neu- 
GLOSSARY.                      475
  tralize acids;  some  of the
  most common are soda, pot-
  ash, &c.
Antiseptics.   Medicines that
  guard against mortification
Anthelmintics.      Medicines
  which  destroy  or  expel
  worms.
Antilithics.  Substances which
  guard against, or  remove
  urinary calculi or gravel.
Antispasmodics.    Medicines
  which  relieve  cramps  01
  spasms.
Aperient.  That which gently
  opens the bowels.
Apex.   The top or summit.
Articulat d.  Jointed.
Ardor.  Heat.
Aroma.  Fragrance, scent.
Aromatic.   Sweetscented, fra-
  grant.
Arthroida.  A joint movable in
  every direction.
Ascites.  Dropsy of the belly.
  blossoms and seed the sec-
  ond.
Bifurcation.  The condition of
  being  divided,  forked,  or
  parted.
Bract.   Floral leaf; a leaf near
  the flower which differs from
  the rest of the same plant.
Bronchia.  The aircells of the
  lungs.
Cachexia.  A' general weak,
  relaxed, and disordered state,
  without  fever-
Cadaverous.   Deathlike; hav-
  ing the appearance of a dead
  human  body;  wan,   pale,
  ghastly.
Calculi.    Small  limestones,
  found in the cavities  of the
  body, as in the urinary and
  biliary cysts.
Callus.   Bony matter,  found
  about fractures.
Calor.   )
Caloric. $
Heat.
Assimilation.  The conversiouCalyx.   The flower-cup or out-
  of food into nutriment.     |   er covering of flowers.
Astringent.   That which  cor-iCampanulate.   Bell-form.
  rects looseness and debility, Canula.  A small tube, usually
  by rendering the solids dens-,   belonging to sharp  instru-
  er and firmer, known by its!   ments designed for removing
  puckering   effects  on  the,   fluids.
  mouth
Atony.  A state of inactivity.
Atrophy.  A wasting,' without
  any sensible discharge.
Axillary.  Growing out of the
  axils; leaves  or fruits are
  said to be axillary when they
  proceed from the angle form-
  ed by the stem and branch.
Biennial.  In botany plants are
  said to be biennial  when
Capillary.  Hair-like; a  term
  used to designate those small
  vessels  found between the
  terminations of the arteries
  and  the  commencement of
  the veins, and in which the
  change from  arterial to ve-
  nous blood is effected.
Capsule.  A little  seed vessel
  that opens  when  the seed
  ri; ens.
              That which ex-
they are of two years dura-jCarminative.
tion, putting forth leaves the   pels wind.
firet year only, and bearing)Cartilage.    Gristle; a white 
476
GLOSSARY.
   semi-bony substance.       (Congestion.  A  preternatural
 Catamenia. The monthly evac-|  collection of blood or  other
   uation peculiar to the female   fluids; thus we  speak of a
   sex.                         congestion  in  a part when
 Catheter.  A small tube design-   the vessels are much crowded
   ed for drawing the urine.     or over distended.
 Caudex.   The main  root  of Concave.   Cuplike, hollowed.
   plants.                     Concrete.   Collected,  united
 Cautery.   A burning  applica-!  into a solid form.
   tion.         #              Confluent.  Runing  together,
 Cellular.   Containing cells, orj  meeting in their course.
   cavities.                  [Congenital.  Born together: a
 Cerebellum.  The lesser brain,   disease or defect is said to be
 Cerebrum.  The brain, or an-|   congenital  when  existing
   terior and larger portion of   from the time of birth.
   the soft mass within the skull. Conglo'bate.  Round, collected
 Cespitosa.  Turf.            |   into a ball or roundish form.
 Chronic.   A term applied to Constipation.  A confined state
   diseases  which are  of longj   of the bowels.
   continuance,   and   usually Contagious.  Catching,  capa-
   without much fever.        |   ble of being communicated/ •'*
Chordee.  A  morbid contrac-|Convalescence.  The state or
   tion and curvature of the cor-j   condition of recovery.
  pus cavernosum  or  body of Convoluted.  Rolled  up  in a
   the penis.                 I   cilindrical form.
Cicatrix.  The  seam,  scar or Cordate.  Heart-shaped.
   mark  remaining after the Coriaceous.  Resembling  lea-
  healing of a wound, or ulc 5r |   ther.
Coma.     ) Strong propensityCorolla.   The most prominent
Comatose.5   to sleep.       j   and beautiful  part of flow-
Combustion. Rapid oxydation,   ers,  usually  enclosing the
  or the combination of oxygen   stamens.
  with other elementary  bod- Corpse.   The dead body.
  ies.  In   common  parlance Cortex.   The bark or skin of a
  the term is only used to des-!  plant or tree.
                            Corymb.   A kind  of inflores-
                              ence in  which  the   flower
                              stalks spring  from different
                              heighths   on  the  common
                              stem, and forming a flat top.
                            Coryza.    An  increased  dis-
                              charge of  mucus from the
                              nose.
                            Crassamentum.   The red par-
                              ticles of the blood.
                            Crepitus.  A sharp  crackling
  ignate  this   phenomenon
  when attended with a flame.
Coagulation.  A thickening or
  separation  of fluids into  a
  more  dense or solid condi-
  tion, as the curdling of milk,
  &c. •
Coalesce.  To unite, to join in-
  to one, to run together.
Colliquative.    Excessive  or
  weakening. 
GLOSSARY.                     477
  sound.                    [Dispnaea
Cutaneous.  Belonging to  the   ing.
  skin.                      IDigitate
Cutis.   The skin.
Cutis vera.  The true or inner
  skin.
Cuniated. ) xir  ,    r     ,
Cuniform. \ Wedge-formed.
Decarbonization.  The act of
  giving off carbon.
Deglutition.   Swallowing
Dentate.   Toothed.
Delirium.  Alienation of mind.
  craziness.
Demulcents.   Soothing, lubri-
  cating, and mucilaginous ap-
  plications.
Depiction.  The act of empty-
  ing, particularly the removal
  of the blood, as by vencscc
  tion.
Depuration.   The act of puri-
  fying.
Derm.   The true skin.
Detsrgent.  That which  scat
  ters or disperses
           Oppressed breath-

          Like fingers.
Dolor.  Pain.
Duodenum.  The first portion
  of the intestines; the part in
  which the food becomes mix-
  ed with the bile.
Efflorescence.  Redness;in bot-
  any it means the powder sub-
  stance found on  lichens, as
  well  as the  flowering of
  plants.
Effluvia.   Exhalations   from
  bodies in a state  of decom-
  position, as from carcasses,&c.
Electuary.  A. compound made
  by  combining medical sub-
  stances with saccharine mat-
  ter, as honey, molasses or
  treacle.
Elliptic.   )
Elliptical. I
Emaciation.  Leanness, a fall-
  ing away of the flesh.
Eme'sis.  Vomiting.
Oval.
Diagnosis.  The distinguishingEmetic.   A vomit or puke.
  marks of particular diseases, Emmenagogue.  That  which
  the symptoms by which anyj   tends  to promote the men-
  disease  is  known from  all
  others are called its diagnos-
  tics or diagnostic  symptoms.
Diaphoresis.   Perspiration.
Diaphoretic.   That which, be-
  ing taken internally, produ-
  ces, diaphoresis, or perspira-
  strual discharge.
Emollient.   That which has a
  tendency  to render  parts
  more soft or pliable, as well
  as to relieve irritation  and
  inflammation.
Enccia.  Continued fever.
Enema.  An injection.
                        two
Diaphragm.  The  midriff orjEnsiform.   Sword-form,
  muscular division between;   edged, as in the flag and iris.
  the chest and abdomen.—ItjEnteritis.  Inflammation of the
  assists in respiration.       |   bowels.
Diathesis.  Condition  of thelEntozoa
  body, as the inflammatory,&c.
Discuss.   To scatter.
                Scaling off.
               Forked.
Desquamation.
Dichotomous.
          Worms.
Epidemic.  A disease of gen-
  eral prevalence.
Epidermis.  The cuticle, scarf
  or outer skin, 
478                     GLOSSARY.
Epigastric.  From 'epi'  wponJExtraneous. Foreign,without,
  and 'gastricus'  stomach, i. e.|   not intrinsic.
  upon the stomach; that divi-Extravasation.  Effusion; a for-
The  ejection or
wind from the
  sion of the abdomen  imme-
  diately before the stomach.
Ercthismus.  Increased  sensi
  bility and irritability.
Erosion.  The act of eating a
  way.
Eructation.
  raising of
  stomach.
Erysipelas.   Inflammation  of
  the skin; St.  Anthony's fire.
Eschar.  The dead  substance
  produced by  applying caus-
  tic, &c.
Evacuents.   Medicines  that
  promote the excretions of the
  body.
Exacerbation.  An increase in
  the violence of symptoms or
  disease.
Exanguious.   Without  blood.
Exanthema.  )  Acute eruptive
Exanthemata}    disease.
Excitants.  Stimulants.
Excoriate.  To remove the skin,
  by means of acrid substances;
  to gall.
Excrescence.   A preternatural
  tumor growing on the body,
  as a wart, polypus, &c.
Excretion.   Matter  thrown
  from the surface a collection
  of matter on the surface.
Exotic.   Plants arc called "ex
  otic" when brought from for
  eign countries.
Exostosis.  An unnatural bony
  extuberance.
Expectorant.   That which fa-
  cilitates discharges from the
  lungs.
Expiration.   The act of breath-
  ing out.
  cingout of the proper vessels.
Exude.  The act of discharging
  through the pores of the skin;
  emitting from the surface.
Faeces.  The alvine excretions,
  stool.
Fauces.  The back part of the
  mouth.
Febrile.  Pertaining to  fever.
        Fever.
        Having  an  offensive,
          strong, or   rancid
l!
,1
The thigh bone.
Febris.
Fetid.
Foetid.
  smell.
Femoris.
Os femoris.
Fibre.)  A thread; a fine slen-
Fiber.J    der substance which
  constitutes, in the aggregate,
  the flesh  of animals;  a fili-
  mmt or  slender  thread  in
  plants; in the plural, it means
  the finer roots cf plants.
Fibril.  A branch  of  a fibre;
  a very small fibre.
Fibrin.   A peculiar organic el-
  ement or  compound of ani-
  mals and vegetables; it chief-
  ly constitutes the  fleshy parts
  of animals.
Fibrous.  Having fibres; in bot-
  any a root is said to  be  fi-
  brous when it has many small
  radicals.
Fibula.  The smaller bone  in
  the leg.
Flatulency.   Windiness in the
  stomach.
Flatus.   Wind.
Floret.  A little flower; a part
  of a compound flower.
Follicle.  A small gland; a seed
  vessel which  opens length-
  wise on one sid?  only. 
GLOSSARY.
479
Foliaceous.   Leafy.
Fomentation.   The act of ap-
  plying warm liquids to parts,
  by means of flannels, &c.
Fungus.   Proud flesh.
Fusiform.    Spindle-shaped or
  tapering.
Ganglion.  A knot; in  anato-
  my the term is applied to cer-
  tain  natural   knot-like en-
  largements, that occur in the
  nerves.
Gangrene.  Mortification; the
  first stage of mortification.
Gastric. > Pertaining  to the
Gastro.  $    stomach.
Gastritis.  Inflammation of the
  stomach.
Gelatin.   One  of the primary
  compounds  of animal  and
  vegetable bodies, soluble in
  water, but not in alcohol.—
Pertaining   to
  liver.
Herbaceous.
  herbs.
Hereditary.   That which  has
  descended from an ancestor.
Herps.  Tetter.
Hernia.-  Rupture.
Hematuria.   The voiding of
  blood with the urine.
Hemoptysis.   A spitting of
  blood;  bleeding  from  the
  lungs.
Hemorrhage.  Violent flow of
  blood.
Hemorrhoids.  Piles.
Homogeneous.   Of the same
  kind or nature; consisting of
  similar parts.
Humors.   Liquids; the fluids of
  the body, as the blood, bile,
  and humors of the eye.
Hydarthus.  White-swelling".
When dissolved in water, it'IIydragogue.  A medicine that
Laving an Hydrocele
           turn.
  thickens, on cooling, into ;
  well  known  tremulous e
  lastic substance, called jelly
Glabrous.  Smooth,
  even surface.
Glairy.   Resembling the white!Hydrometra
  of an egg; of a viscid, trans-
  parent appearance.
Glaucous.  Sea-green; mealy,
  and easily rubbed off.
Gonorrhoea.  A morbid slimy
  discharge from the penis in
  ven real complaints.
GuttaSerena.  Blindness occa-
  sioned by a diseased retina.
Hastate.  Shaped like  a  hal-
  bert;  it differs from arrow-
  shaped in having its side  pro-
  cesses more  distinct and di-
 • vergent.
Hepatic.   Pertaining  to the
  liver.
Hepatitis.  Inflammation of the
  causes watery discharges.
Hydrocardia.  Dropsy  of the
  heart.
           Dropsy of the scro-
Dropsy  of the

 Dropsy of the

 Dropsy of the
  womb.
Hydrocephalis.
  brain.
Hydrothorax.
  chest.
Hydrops.  Dropsy.
Hydrophobia. Rabidness;mad-
  ness from  the  bite of rabid
  animals.
Hygiene.  A plan of restoring
  or preserving health without
  the use of medicine, as by di-
  eting and  proper exercise.
Hyperaemia.  Fullness  of the
  blood-vessels.
Hypertrophy.  Enlargement. 
460
GLOSSARY.
Hypochondriasis.) Vapors, low
Hypochondria.  $ spirits, blues
  or horrors.
Hypochondrium.   That  por
  tion of the abdomen that lies
  on either side of the epigas-
  tric region, immediately be-
  low the false ribs.
Ichor.   A sanious matter flow-
  ing from ulcers.
Icterus.   The jaundice.
Idio miasmata.  A  miasm  a-
  rising from the human body.
Idiopathic.  A  disease is  said
  to be idiopathic when it has
  an  independent origin, that
  is, one that is not symptom-
  atic.
Idiosyncrasy.   Peculiarity  of
  disposition, such as to render
  the person peculiarly liable
  to certain diseases,  which.
  perhaps, a hundred other per-
  sons, not having this predis
Ingesta.   The substances re-
  ceived into the stomach.
Ingestion.  The act of receiv-
  ing into the stomach.
Inorganic.  Not in an organ-
  ized state.
------itis.   The  termination
  'itis'' indicates inflammation;
  whenever,  therefore,   the
  name  of any organ termi-
  nates in this way, that organ
  is to be understood to be in
  a state of inflammation; thus
  the latin name of the stom-
  ach is gastricus, and inflam-
  mation of the stomach is call-
  ed gastritis; the name of the
  intestines is cntera,  and in-
  flammation of the bowels is
  called enteritis, &c.
Jejunum.   The second portion
  of the  small  intestines,  so
  called  because it is usually
  found
                                   empty.
position, would cscape<4rom.|Kino  miasmata.    Vegetable
Ileum.  The last or lower por-
  tion of the small intestines.
Imbricate.   Laying over like
  scales, or shingles on a roof.
Indicate.  To point out.
Indication.   Course  pointed
  out; an object to  be  accom-
  plished  in  the  cure of dis-
  ease;  a course to be pursued
  in the treatment of a case.
Indurated.  Hardened.
Infection.  Contagion; the prin-
  ciple or cause of a disease.
Inflated.  Filled with wind; in
  botany the term,  is applied
  to capsules or vesicles which
  are hollow or naturally con-
  tain air.
Infusion.  A tea; a prepara-
  tion made by infusing a med-
  ical substance in  water.
  miasma.
I Labiate.  Liped.
Labia pudendi.   External lips
  of the female organs of gen-
  eration.
Laceration.  The condition of
  being torn;  a wound produ-
  ced by tearing  of the flesh.
Lanceolate.      Spearshaped,
  narrow,  with  both ends a-
  cute.
Larynx.   The   cartilaginous
  cavity situated behind  the
  tongue  at  the commence-
  ment of the wind-pipe.
Lateritious.   Brick-like;  like
  the dust of a brick.
Linear.   Long  and  narrow
  with  both sides parallel, like
  the blades of grass.
Lepra.   The leprosy. 
GLOSSARY.                     4*1
Lesion.  An  injury or wound
Ligaments.   Any thing  that
  ties;  in  anatomy,  a  strong
  firm band by which the bones
  are joined together.
Ligate.  To tie or bind.
Ligature.  The thread or cord
  by which any thing is tied.
Livid.  Black  and blue,  lead
  colored, purple.
Lobed.  Divided into lobes^
Luss.  . A pestilence, poison or
  plague.
Lymph.  The  pale rose-color-
  ed   fluid contained  in  the
  lymphatics.
Lymphatics.   A very delicate
  set of vessels found in abun
  millet seed; a miliary erup-
  tion is  one whose vessicles
  resemble millet seeds.
Mobility.  Capacity  of  being
  moved; moving faculty.
Morbid.  Diseased.
Monoecious.  A plant is said to
  be monoecious when  it has
  both pistilate and staminate
  flowers.
Mucus.   A viscid fluid secreted
  by the mucous membrane.
Muscles.  The  organs of mo-
  tion in animals, being bun-
  dles of fibres united and sur-
  rounded  by  cellular  mem-
  brane; the muscles constitu-
  ting the flesh.
dance  in  most parts of the Nausea.  A  sickness  at the
  body; they absorb and carry
  the lymph.
Mania.   Madness, insanity.
Meninges.  ' The  two  mem-
  branes  that  envelope  the
  brain,  the duramater and pi-
amater.
Metamorphosis.   A change of
  form, relation or shape; some
  times it means the matter or
  substance changed.
Metastasis.  A  translation or
  change to other parts.
Miasmata.)  Malaria; a pestif-
Miasma.  )    erous vapor a-
  rising from marshes or moist
  places containing much veg-
  etable or animal mould.
Midrib.  The main or middle
  rib of a leaf,  running from
  the stem to the
  pex.
Midriff.  The  diaphragm  or
  broad muscular partition be
  tween the chest and a  do-
  men.
Miliary.
             stomach, and inclination  to
             vomit, yret not sufficient to ef-
             fect it; it is sometimes  pro-
             duced by a disgusting smell,
             taste, or sight.
           Nephritis.  Inflammation of the
             kidneys.
           Neurology.  The science of the
             nerves.
           Neuralgia.   Painful  affection
             of the nerves.
           Nidorous.    Resembling  the
             taste  and smell of roasted
             meat.
           Normal.  Regular, natural.
           Nosology.   A  systematic  ar-
             rangement or classification
             of diseases.
           Nutritive.   Having the quality
             of nourishing.
point or a,Oblong.  Longer  than  oval,
             with both sides paralel.
           Obovate.  Ovate with the nar-
             row end towards the stem or
             place of insertion.
           Obtuse.  Blunt,  rounded, not
             acute.
Of the appearance of
    31 
482                      GLOSSARY.
Odor.  Smell, scent, perfume.lPalpitation.   A beating of the
lEdema.   Swelling;  a  soft
  swelling,  as byr a collection
  of water.
(Edematous*    Pertaining   to
  oedema.
Oesophagus.   The  gullet,  or
  channel leading to the stom-
  ach.
Omentum.  The caul or epip-
  loon, a membraneous cover-
  ing that drops or hangs over
  the front of the entrails.
Opaque.  Impervous to light,
  dark,  obscure, not transpa-
  rent.
Ophthalmia.   A disease of the
  eye.
Ophthalmitis.   Inflammation
  of the eyes.
()rganic.  Pertaining to an or-
  gan or organization.
()s.   Bone; mouth.
Ossify.  To turn to bone.
Oval. /■ Of the shape  of an
Ovate .$     egg.
Oxydation.   The chemical uni-
  on of any substance with ox-
  ygen.
Oxygen.  A  subtile gaseous
  element, which is a constit
  uent of the  atmosphere,  as
  well  as  most organic  sub-
  stances;  it is the  supporter
  of combustion,  and  almost
  the only acidifying principle:
  it is this element in the at-
  mosphere that supports res-
  piration,  and it is upon  its
  union with combustable sub-
  stances in the body that the
  latter is  dependant  for  its
  heat.
Palmate.   Hand-shaped, so di
  dived as to resemble  a hand
  with  the fingers spread
  heart, particularly  a preter-
  natural  beating, such as is
  occasioned  by a fright,  or
  some violent agitation.
Pancreas.   A long gland situ-
  ated on the  duodenum,  or
  rather between this and the
  bottom of the stomach; it se-
  cretes a fluid that is dischar-
  ged into the duodenum, and
  assists in digestion.
Panicle.   A  loose,   irregular
  bunch of flowers, with sub-
  divided branches, as the oat.
Paracentitis.   In surgery, the
  operation called tapping.
Paralysis.   Palsy; the loss of the
  power of  muscular motion.
Parenchyma.  In  anatomy, a
  loose spongy substance; the
  spongy  cellular tissue that
  connects parts together, par-
  ticularly those of the vicera,
  as the aircells and blood ves-
  sels in the lungs, & the absor-
  bents arteries and  veins  in
  the liver; in botany  it means
  nearly the same thing.
Paronychia.  A whitlow or fel-
  lon.
Parotid.  Near the ear.
Paroxysm.    An  obvious in-
  crease or  aggrivation of the
  symptoms of disease, which
  may last longer or shorter
  and then decline.
Pathological.   Pertaining   to
  pathology.
Pathologist.  One versed in, or
  treating on pathology.
Pathology. The doctrine or law
  of diseases; that which treats
  on the nature of diseases.
Peccant.   Morbid, bad, corrupt,
  injurious. 
GLOSSARY.
463
Peduncle.   A  stem bearing
  flowers and fruit.
Peltate.  Having  the  petiole
  attached to some part on the
  under side of the leaf, as in
  the mandrake
Pendant.  ) Hanging   down.
Pendulous.)   drooping.
Penis. The  cylindrical  male
  organ of generation.
Perennial.   Lasting more than
  two years.
Perfoliate.   Having  the  stem
  running through the leaf.
Pericardium.   The  membra-
  nous sack that surrounds the
  heart.
Periosteum.   The  membrane
  that invests the  bones.
Peristaltic motion.  The vermic-
  itransparent, tenacious fluid
  secreted  in the  lungs;  in
  chemistry  it means  water
  from distillation.
Phlebitis.  Inflammation of the
  veins.
Phlegmasia.  Inflammation.
Phlegmonic.  )  T  „
», ,  °          Inflammatory.
Phlegmonous.)             J
Phrenitis.  Inflammation of the
  brain.
Phthisis.   Consumption of the
  lungs.
Physiology.    That    science
  which contemplates the prop-
  erties and functions of ani-
  mals and plants; the science
  of life.
Physiological.  Pertaining to
  physiology.
  ular motion of the intestines.'Pinnate.   Leaves are called
Peritoneum.  The membrane!  pinnate when they are com
  by which  all  the  vicera of
  the abdomen are surrounded.
Peritonitis.   Inflammation of
  the peritoneum.
Permeate.   To  pass through
  the pores of any thing.
      1  The plague.
             leaf of the
Pestis.
Petals
The
                         cor-
  olla in flowers; it  is usually
  colored.
Petichiae.  A red or purple spot
  which  resembles a flea bite.
Petiolate.  Pertaining  to peti-
  ole.
Petiole.  The stalk which sup-
  ports the leaf.
Pharmacy.  That part of med-
  ical science that treats on the
  preparation,  compounding.
  and preservation of medical
  substances; the  business o'
  the apothecary.
Phlegm.  A thick, white orsem
    posed of two rows  of small
    leaflets situated on both sides
    of a common petiole,  as in
    the locust, rose, &c.
  Pleura.    A membrane which
    lines the internal surface of
    tne chest or  throat,  and cov-
    ers its vicera; it forms a great
    process,—the  mediastinum
    which divides the thorax in-
    to two cavities.
  Pleuritis.  Pleurisy; inflamma-
    tion of the pleura.
  Pnenmonia.  Inflammation of
    the lungs.
  Pollen.   Fine  flour, as the dust
    that flies in  a mill:  in bota-
    ny it means the fine  dust that
    is contained within the an-
    thers of flowers.
  Post mortem. ■  After death.
ofjPrajcordia.  The region imme-
    diately in front of the heart;
    but itis frequently applied 
484
GLOSSARY.
to the whole of the forepart Pulp.   A  soft mass;  the soft
  of the thorax
Priapism.   A  preternatural or
  continual erection of the pe
  nis.
Primary.    First in order  of
  time, importance, cause,  or
  effect.
Procumbent.  Laying
  ground.
Prolapsus.   Falling down, de-
  scent.
Prognosis.   The foretelling of
  the event of diseases, by the
  symptoms and other circum-
  stances in the case.
Prognosticate.   To foreshow:
  to tell the future
  the present.
Prophylactic.  Preventative.
Prostate.  Thenameofaglam
  in the male, situated just be
  fore the neck of the bladder,
  and surrounding the begin-
  ning of the urethra.
Proximate.  Nearest, next;  in
  pathology it is applied to the
  immediate effects of the ex-
  citing cause of disease, and
  hence may be said to be the
  disease itself.
Ptyralism.   Salivation;  an in-
  creased  discharge of saliva
  from  the  mouth,---often!
  brought on by the use of mer-i
  cury.
Pubescent
  woolly.
Pubis.) Hair, down, or wool:
Pubes.J     in  anatomy  the
  shear-bone is called os pubis
  because the integun.enfs over
  ii are covered with hair,  in
  the adult.
Pulmonary.  Pertaining to the
  hmgs
            succulent part of a plant, or
            its fruit.
          Pultaceous.  Macerated,  soft,
            nearly fluid.
          Pungent.   Sharp, acrid,  pier-
            cing, biting.
          Puriform.  Pus-like.
   on the'Pus.   A yellowish  white mat-
            ter secreted in suppurations
            and ulcers, and always pres-
            ent in the  healing of lesions
            in the solids.
          Putrid. In a state of dissolu-
            tion or disorganization; cor-
            rupt, rotten.
          Pyriform.   Pear-shaped.
events byRaceme.   A kind  of inflores-
            cence in which the  flowers
            are arranged  by simple pc-
            diccls on ail sides of a  com-
            mon peduncle, as in the cur-
            rant and grape.
          Radii.  Rays.
          Radical.   Pertaining  to  the
            root; growing from the root.
          Radicle.  A minute fibre  of a
            root.
          Radix.  A root; the part of a
            plant that is in the ground.
          Reflected.  Thrown back, re-
            turned;  turned backward.
          Resuscitation.   The act of re-
            viving, from apparent death;
            the state of being revived.
          Respiration.  The function of
            breathing.
          Roseola.  Measles.
          Rube facient.   Th at which pro-
            duces redness when applied
            to the body.
          Rubor.  Red, Redness.
          Rhizoma.   A large fleshy or
            woody part or  organ  of a
            root,  analogous  to  a stem
            under ground, which is nei-
Hairy, downy, 01 
GLOSSARY.                      485
  ther a tuber nor a bulb.
Saccharine.  Pertaining to su-
  gar; sweet.
Saliva.   The fluid which is se-
  creted by the  saliva glands,
  and serves  to moisten  the
  mouth and  tongue, as welliSecretion
  as to assist in mastication.
Sanative.  Healing; having the
  power to heal.
Sanguiferous.      Conveying
  blood; the sanguiferous ves
  sels  are the  arteries and
  veins.
Sanguinary
King's evil.
Pertaining to scro-
Pertaining to sanies
              Bloody; a medi-
  cal plant.
Sanguineous.  Abounding with
  blood; plethoric
Sanies.  A thin  limpid  and
  greenish matter discharged
  from ulcers.
Sanious.
Scabies.  The itch.
Scape.  A stalk  that  springs
  from the root,  and supports
  flowers  and  fruit, but  no
  leaves,  as the dandelion.
Scarletina.  Scarlet fever.
Sciatica.   The hip disease.
Scirrhous. Pertaining to scir-
  rhus.
Scirrhus.   A hard or indurated
  tumor, which at first is of the
  natural color, but the disease
Scrofula.  >
Scrophula.J
Scrofulous.
  phula.
Scrotum.    The   pendulous
  pouch containing the testes.
            The act of secern-
  ing, or  producing  specific
  collections from the general
  circulating mass, as the bile,
  saliva mucus, &c; the mat-
  ter secreted.
Segment.  A part or principal
  division of  a leaf, calyx, or
  corolla.
Semina.  Seed.
Sensorial.   Pertaining  to  the
  sensorium or seat of sense.
Serum.  The thin or watery
  is apt to assume a malignant
  form, when the skin may turn
  purple or livid  and the sur-
  face irregular, and the tumor
  proceed  to  ulceration.   In
  this  condition  the  affection
  generally receives the name
  of cancer.
Scorbutic.  Pertaining to scor-
  butus.
Scorbutus.   Scurvy.
                   or
  part of  the  blood;  also the
  same of milk.
Serrate.  Jagged, notched like
  saw-teeth.
Sessile.  Sitting down; placed
  immediately  on  the  main
  stem without a footstalk.
Sialagogue.  That  which pro-
  motes salivation.
Sinapism.  A mustard plaster.
Sinnate.   A leaf is said to be
  sinnated when its sides or
  margins have breaks in them
  or are  hollowed  out like a
  bay.
Slough.  To separate from the
part that
mortified
  live flesh; a dead
  is  separating;
  part.
  Sloughing.  Separating in a
dead mass.
Solution.    In  pharmacy,  it
  means  a liquid containing
  some substance in a dissolved
  or suspended condition.
Sordes.  Foul matter, dregs, fil-
  thy matter; sordes  are apt to 
486                     GLOSSARY.
   collect about the teeth of per-
   sons  that  neglect  cleaning
   them: this term is also equiv-
   alent with sanies and ic/ior,
   the offensive matter running
   out of old ulcers and sores
Sordid.   Filthy, dirty, foul.
Spasmus.  Spasm.
Spasmodic.    Partaining   toi
   spasm.
Spadix.  An elongated recep-
   tacle  of flowers.
Spatha.   A sheathing  cabyx
   opening length-wise on one
   side, and  consisting of one
   or more valves.
Specific. A remedy that certain-J
 ly cures any particular disease
Sphacelus.   Mortified  parts;
   mortification
Spike.   Aland of inflorescence
  in which the flowers are ses
   sile, or nearly so, and thus
   forming a spiral  projection,
   as in  the mullien and  plan
   tain.
Sputa.   Spittle.
 prefixed to others when it ii
 desired to speak of parts that
 lay under;  it means,  there-
 fore, that this lies under the
 other  part  whose name  it
 preceeds: thus, subscapula-
 ris, under the scapula,—sub-
 maxillary, under the maxilla
 or jaw, &c.  In pathology it
 is used to express an imper-
 fect or feeble state of disease;
 as subacute, not  acute, less
 than  acute  &c.  In botany
 when  shape  or  any  other
 character cannot be precise-
 ly defined, sub is prefixed to
 the term used; it then means
nearly  so;  as subrotundus,
roundish;  subsessiles,   not
quite destitute of a footstalk,
&c.  In chemistry the term
is applied when  a salifiable
base is predominant  in  the
compound, there being a de-
ficiency of the  acid; as sub-
carbonate of potassa, subcar-
bonate of soda, ccc.
Stimulants.) Excitants, as pep- Subsultus tendium.  Atwitch-
Stimuli.   5    Pei*> &c
Stipe.   The stem of a fern or
  fungus; the stem of the down
  of seeds, as in the dandelion.
Stipule.  A  leafy appendage
  situated at the base of leaves
  or petioles.
Stomachics.   Medicines thai
  regulate the stomach and set
  pleasantly.
Striated.  Marked  with
  paralel lines.
Struma.  Scrofula;  it  is alsc
  applied to bronchocele.
Strumous.  Pertaining to scro
  phula; scrophulous.
Sterertorous. Snoring.
Sub.  In anatomy this word is
  ing of the tendons, arising
  from convulsive jirking of the
  muscles.
Sudamina.   Small   vessicles
  that come on suddenly with-
  out fever.
Sudorifics.   Medcines  which
  promote sweating.
Suppuration.  That process by
  which pus is formed in an
  inflamed part.
Syncope.  Fainting.
Synocha.  Inflammatory fever.
Synochus.  A fever  of a  sub-
  inflammatory character.
Synovia.   Joint water.
Syphilis.  The venereal disease.
Temporal.   Belonging to the 
GLOSSARY.
487
  temple.
Tenesmus.  A continual incli-
  nation to go to stool without
  a discharge.
Tendons.  The white cord or
  shining end of muscles; sin-
  ews.
Terminal.   Extreme, situated
  at the end.
Ternate.   Three together
  the leaves of the clover.
Tetanus.  Locked-jaw.
Thorax.  The  chest, or cavity
  within the breast.
Thyrse.  A panicle  which is
  dense.
Tissue.   Texture;  a general
  name for parts.
Tonic.    That  which  tones,
  strengthens, or braces up.
Tonsilitis.    Inflammation of
  the tonsils.
Tormina.  Severe pains.
Trachea.  The windpipe.
Translucent.  Admitting light,
  but  yet not so as to render
  objects  distinctly  visible; I niflora.
  simi-transparent.          |Uniflorus
Transude.  To  pass through Urethra.
    the spermatic chord and ves-
    sels.
  Tusses.  A cough.
  Typhoid.  The term typhoid is
    now  applied  to  a distinct
    species of fever whose pri-
    mary seat is in the intestines;
    it has many of the symptoms
    of typhus.
asjTyphus.  A species of contin-
    ued  fever  that is character-
    ized  by great debility, and a
    tendancy of the fluids  to pu-
    trefaction; the pulse is weak
    but corded.
  Umbilical.  Pertaining  to the
    navel.
  Umbilicus.  The navel.
  Umbel.  A  kind of  inflores-
    cence in which the flower-
    stalks diverge from a centre,
    like  the sticks of an umbrel-
    la, as in the parsnip, fennel,
    &c.
  Umbelifferous.   Pertaining to
    or bearing umbels.

             One-flowered.

             The  membranous
  the pores of any thing.
Triennial.  That which
of
canal that conveys the urine
from the bladder.
  three years duration; every Ureters.  The two membranous
  third year.                 I  canals that convey the urine
Trilobed.  Three-lobed.      i  from  the  kidneys into  the
Triple.  Three-fold; thres uni-j  bladder.
  ted; three times.           |Uticaria.  The nettle rash.
Tuber.  A solid fleshy knob.  Uterus.   The womb.
Tubercles.  Knots,  lumps, orjVaccina.
    Swelling

A swelling.
  tumors.
Tumefaction
Tumor.
Tumour
Tunica.) A membrane or cov-l
Tunic. >   ering.
Tunica vaginalis.  A sheathing
  tunic;  the  tunic embracing
          The cow-pox.
Vagina.  The canal leading to
  the womb.
Variola.  The small pox.
Varioloides.   Modified  small-
  pox.
Vermifuge.  A  medicine  that
  destroys or expels worms.
Vertigo.  Dizziness. 
«5ARY.
4**

Vessication.  The formation of
  vessicles; blistering.
Vicid.   Glutinous, sticky.
Viscera.  The entrails; the or-
  gans of the chest and  abdo-
  men.
Viscus.   An organ, as the liv-
  er, stomach, &c.
Virus.   Poison, contagion, foul
  matter.
Villous.  Like velvet.
Vis vitae.  Vital force.
Vis medicatrix  naturae.  The
  healing power of nature.
Whorls.  Flowers and leaves
  are said to be in whorls when
  they are situated in circular
  order around the stem.
% 
   BOTANICAL  CLASSIFICATION.


  It will be observed that a notice of the Class and Order to
which the plants belong, is given in the part on Materia Med-
ica.  It is thought, therefore, that a table, explaining the Ar-
tificial  or Linnaeen System of Classification, would be of con-
siderable service to  persons unacquainted  with botany, in
whose  hands this work might chance to  fall.
  It is  to be  understood that  this system is  founded  on the
principle that vegetables, like animals,  are  propogated by a
regularly organized  Sexual  System, embracing Male and Fe-
male organs of generation.  These organs are situated in the
flowers of the plants,  and constitute the gcrmen or womb,—
the style (wh n necessary,) which serves  to elevate the stigma,
which  receives the polcn or farina faecundens, that impreg-
nates the gcrmen;—the stamen (when necessary,) which serves
to elevate the anther, which produces the polen or generating
principle.
  For  the sake of convenience, the Greek numerals were u-
sed to  distinguish the  respective  classes  and  orders.  The
word 'Andria,' signifying Lusband, was applied to the stamen,
and'Gynia,' signifying Wife, was the name given to the pis-
til or bearing part.  Now it was only left to a; ply the numer-
als to these names to distinguish the classes  and orders.
  As both the Latin and Greek numerals  are frequently used by
botanical writers, a table of both is here given.
	LATIN.		GREEK.
1 Unus	11 Undecim	1 Monos	11 Endeka
2 Bis	12 Duodecim	2 Dis	12 Dodeka
3 Tres	13 Tredecim	3 Tries	13 Dekatreis
4 Quatuor 14 Quatuordecim		4 Tettares	14 Dektettaris
5 Quinque	15 Quindecim	5 Pente	15 Decapente
6 Sex	16 Sexdecim	6 Hex	16 Dekaex
7 Septem	17 Septendecim	7 Hepta	17 Dekaepta
8 Octo	18 Octodecim	8 Octo	18 Dekaocto
9 Novem	19 Novendecim	9 Ennea	19 Dekaennea
10 Decern	20 Vaginti	10 Deka	20 Eikosi
Many, Multus.              Many, Polus. 
490
BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION.
    MONANDRIA (from lmonos'' one, and '■aner'1 stamen, i. c, one stamen.)

  This class contains two orders distinguished by the respect-
ive numbers of pistils in the flowers of their genera.

                         (We have but few examples of this
 • , r*. i  ,  n/f      •   \   class of plants in the U. States, but
 ~ ( Ord.  1, Monogyma, ^  . -n Soutb; America) and in the Eagt
 < / n a o  rr    *     (  i Indies, there are some of consider-
 u ( Urd. 2, Uigynia.   ;   able im}:ortance> as the gingCr,ar-
                         {^rowroot, &c.

     DIANDRIA (from ldiV two, and '■aner'' stamen, i. e., iwo stamens.)

  This class contains  three  orders, all  distinguished  by the
respective numbers of pistils in the flowers of their genera.

                         (This class, though  somewhat lar-
 c ( Ord.  1, Monogynia, \  | ger than  the  first, is also some-
 S < Ord. 2, Digynia,   > ^ what limited; among its most im-
 j ( Ord. 3, Trigynia.   )   portant genera are the leptandria,
                         y^olca, and piper.

    TRIANDRIA (from '■tries'' three, and 'aner' stamen, i. c, three stamens.)

  This class contains three orders, which are distinguished by
the number of pistils in the flowers of their genera.
« fOrd. I, Monogynia,

    Ord. 2, Digynia,

    Ord. 3, Trigynia
                      Triandria  is  a  larger  class  of
                      plants than the two first; the first
                      order embraces  the crocus or saf-
Ord  2 Di<rvnia    K< fron genus, and iris or flower-de-
                    ^ luce.   The second contains the
                      large famify of gr -sscs or gramina,
                      embracing the grains, as the wheat,
                     ^ryc, oats, &c.
 TETRANDRIA (from 'teltares" four, and 'aner"1 stamen, i. e.,four stamens.)

  This class contains three orders, which are distinguished by
the number of pistils in the flowers of their genera.

                         (There is a very great dissimilarity
    'Ord. \, Monogynia,~\   existing  between  the  respective
                       LJ orders of this class; it contains the
Ord  2 Dio-vnia    W oruera U1 uus ciass>ll contains ine
      '   °^   '   |  ] houstonia, plantago, gahum, and the
Ord. 4, Tetragynia. J  \ cornus, rubia, and hamamelis gen-
                    i^era. 
BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION.
491
  fOrd.
    Ord.
    Ord.
S << Ord.
    Ord.
    Ord.
   LOrd.
1, Monogynia,
2, Digynia,
3, Trigynia,
4, Tctragynia,
5, Pcntagynia
6, Hexagynia,
12, Polygynia.
A
    PETANDRIA (from '■penW five, and 'aner' stamen, i. e.,five stamens.)

  This class contains seven  orders, all distinguished by the
number of pistils in the flowers of their genera.

                          ' This is a very extensive class of
                           plants,  and with the syngenesia,
                           embraces, perhaps,  one fourth of
                           the entire  vegetable kingdom.—
                           Among the genera of this  class,
                           are found  in promiscuous  profu-
                           sion, some  of the most valuable
                           medicines, with some of the most
                           active poisons.  In  the first order
                           are found the lobelia, cayenne pep-
                           per, jalap, ipecac, cinchona, Carolina
                           pink, aloe, 6re   In the second, the
                           elm, gentian, the asclepias or milk-
                           weeds, angelica, the apocynums, &c.
                           Among the poisons found in this
                           class, are the mix vomica, thorn ap-
                           ple, poison  hemlock, w.ld parsnip,
                          ^nightshade, fyc

    HEXANDRIA (from 'hex'' sir,  and 'aner"1 stamen, i. e., six stamens.)

  This class contains four  orders, distinguished by the re-
spective numbers of pistils in the floweis of their genera.

                          rMany genera of this class are dis-
                           tinguished for the beauty of their
                           flowers; the first contains the lily.
                           tulip, crown-imperial, hyacinth and
                         ^ the humble violet.   The second or-
                           der furnishes the  rice, one  of the
                           most important of all fruit bearing
                          ^plants.

  HEPTANDRIA (from ^tcpta? seven, and '■aner'1 stamen, t. e., seven stamens.)

  This class contains three orders, distinguished by the re-
spective number of pistils in  the flowers of their genera.

     ^                    (There are, as yet,  few medicines
     Ord. 1, Monogynia^  | of much importance discovered in
     Ord. 3, Trigynia,  W this class.   The first order embra-
 <  \        _       .  J  1 ces the horse chestnut, that beauti-
    1 Ord, 4, Tetragynia.J  ^fd ornamentai tree.
~ fOrd. 1, Monogynia,')
„J Ord. 2, Digynia,    I
S^ Ord. 3, Trisrynia.   f
o (^ Ord. 12, Polyandria) 
492
BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION.
   OCTANDRIA (from 'octo'' eight, and »aner» stamen, i. e., eight stamens.

  This class contains four  orders,  distinguished  by  the re-
spective number of pistils in the flowers of their genera.

 -  rr\ *  *  *,      • ^  fThis, like the seventh class,has not
 I  (Y^-h^nogyntaA      t mrnished  many valuable ar-
 «■<£"}  2.^»««i    U tides of medicine.  The buckwheat,
 3  I  2*1' ?* ln^ma^   [  I smart weed, and jeffersonia, are em-
 g  LOrd. 4, TeZr^nir/J  ^^ [r [t

 ENNEANDRIA (from '■ennea'' nine, and '■aner'1 stamen, i. c, nine stamens.

  This class contains three orders, distinguished  by the re-
spective number of pistils in the flowers of their genera.

                          f Enneandria is not  a  large  class,
 x  f Ord. 1, Monogynia A   but it contains some  very useful
 ™)n  1  9  ru    "      I J plants; it embraces the ca7WjoAor,cm-
 » <^  ura. z, uigynia,    >< ?Mf^onj sassafras, spice, and «z.«Aew-
 c  l^Ord. 3, Trigynia.  J   nu^ trees, as well  as the  rhubarb
                          Land other valuable  plants.

     DECANDRIA (from '■deka' ten*, and 'aner'' a stamen, t. e., <m stamens.

  This class contains six orders,  all distinguished by the re-
 spective number of pistils in ths flowers of their genera.

                          rThis is the last class in the  artifi-
                            cial system, which is distinguished
                            by distinct and separate stamens;
                            other classes may  have the same
                            number of stamens as this or oth-
                        )><{  ers before it, but are not separate
                            and distinct;  theyr  have their an-
                            thers joined, or are otherwise dis-
                            tinguished.   Ths  sennas, winter-
                            green  and beautiful pink, are con-
                            tained in this class.
 rOrd. 1, Monogynia,
  Ord. 2, Digynia,
j Ord. 3, Trigynia,
 | Ord. 4, Tetragynia,
  Ord. 5, Pentagynia,
 ^Ord. 10, Dccagynia. ^
ICOSANDRIA(/rom 'ei'Aosi' twenty, and 'aner* a stamen, t. e., twenty stamens*

  This class contains three orders all  distinguished by the re-
spective numbers of pistils in the flowers of their genera.
  *Thie is a very improper mini a tor this class, us it is not bv any  uieuns con-
fined to twenty stamens, but in some instnnces contains many more.  Th« moat
prominent distinguishing  feature of the clnss,  is the insertion of the  etnmene in-
to the calyx, and heace tho more appropriate  name of calyaodria has be«n pro-
posed for it. 
BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION.              493
« f Ord. 1, Monogynia,')
  J Ord.2to5,Di-fW
^ I   tagynia
o LOrd. 12, Polygynia. J
ri
                         rThis class is distinguished by its
                          having its stamens inserted  into
                          the calyx.    The second, third,
                          fourth and fifth orders of this class
                          ar3 united into one, called Di-Pen-
                          tagynia.  The apple, pear, peach,
                          plum, cherry, almond, sloe, and
                          many  other  very valuable fruits
                          belong to this class.  It  is suppo-
                          sed that the fruits of those plants
                          having their stamens inserted in-
                          ^to the calyx, are never poisonous.

  POLYANDRIA (from 'polus' h/ ny, and '■aner'' stamen, r. e., many stamens.
  This class contains three orders which are distinguished by
the respective numbers of pistils in the flowers of their genera.
                          rPolyandria has its distinction by
                          having its   stamens,  which  are
                          from twenty, to sometimes several
                          hundred, inserted into tli3 recepta-
                          cle, or  the top  of the flower stem.
                          Like the class before this, it has
                          the second, third,  fourth and fifth
                          orders united into one, called Di-
                          Pentagynia. Among the most im-
                          portant plants in this  class, are
                          the mayapfle, white pond  lilly,
                          ^Chinese tea, &c.
1, Monogynia,~\
          in-  \
a  fOrd
» J Ord. 2

g  LOrd
tagi/nia,
12, Pologynia.
<
DIDYNAMIA (Jrom *dis'
twice, '■dys'' two, and '■nemo? a filament, i.e.,Jow
     stamens.)
  This class has two orders, distinguished,—the first by its na-
ked seed, and the second by having its seed enclosed in a per-
icarp.
                         rThis class is distinguished by the
                          different lengths and number of
                          its stamens; their number  i; four,
                          two of which  arc short ?r than the
                          others; they stand in pairs; the in-
                       )-<( ner pair is shorter, and converging.
                          In the first order, we have ths mar-
                          jorum, mints, hyrssop, balm, hore-
                          hound, catmint, &c;  the  second
                          embraces the trumpet-flower, the
                         ^foxglove and others.
S  f Ord. 1,
* j   mia.
2^ Ord. 2,
g  ^  mia.
Gymnosper-^

 Angiosper- f
          J 
494               BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION.
TETRADYNAMIA (from 'tetra^ tour, 'dw' two, and'-nema1 a filament, v *,
                    two and four filaments.)
  This  class has two orders, distinguished by the shape of
their pods; those of the first are short and round,  while tho
pods in  the second order, are long and narrow.

                         rThe  distinguishing marks of this
                          class, are  that  it has six stamens
                      •v    with  two  shorter than the rest;
                      J    they are  always found in pairs;
Ord. 1, Siliculosa,
Ord. 2, Siliquosce.  J
hthe two shorter  ones stand oppo-
site each other.   To this class be-
 long the cruciform tribes, as the
 cabbage,  mustard,   radish,  tur-
^nip, &c.
 IIONADELPHIA (from '■monos'1 one, and 'delphos* brother, i. e., one brother.)

  This class has six orders, distinguished by their respective  <w
numbers of stamens instead of the pistils; the stamens are
united, some only at the bottom, but others throughout; thus.
forming: a tube: the anthers are not united.
   fOrd.
►   Ord.
SJOrd.
3 } Ord.
g  | Ord.
   I^Ord.
1, Monandria,
3, Triandria,
5, Pentandria,
7, Ileptandria,
10, Decandria,
13,Polyandria
I
X
J
                          The circumstance of the union of
                          the stamens has given this and the
                          following class, the name of del-
                          phia  or brotherhood: the orders,
                          therefore, are known by the num-
                          ber of stamens.  To this class be-
                         , long the geranium genus, the pas-
                         lesion flower, mallows, &c.

 DIADELPIIIA (from 'dis- twice, and idelphos> a brother, i. e., two brothers.)

  This class has two orders, distinguished by their respective
numbers of stamens.  Another delphia class containing more
families or unions, has  been recognized, but its genera are
now referred to class Polyandria.

                         rDiadelphia, as its name  denotes,
                          is a class containing two brother-
                          hoods, that is, the stamens are u-
                          nited  into two bodies.   The fifth,
                        <; sixth, seventh and eighth  classes,
                          are united  into one, and is called
                          Pent-Octandria.   In this class we
                          find the seneca snake root, the liq-
                         [^uorice, and the leguminous tribes-
(Ord. 5 to  8, Pent-
I  Oclandria.
(Ord. 10 yDecandria. 
BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION.               405
SYNGENESIA (fromlhe Greek'syri togatiier, and 'genesid' origin, because its
                      anthers are togatiier.)

  This class has five orders distinguished by the difference in
their efflorescence.   In  order 1st, the florets are all perfect,—
containing both  stamens and styles.  In order 2d, the florets
of the disk or centre are perfect, while those of the margin or
ray, contain only pistils.  The 3d order has perfect florets in
the disk, while those of the ray have neither pistils nor sta-
mens.  In the 4th order we find that the  florets  of the disk
have stamens but no pistils, while those of the ray have  pis-
tils but no stamens.   Finally, in the 5th order the florets are
all  perfect like those of the first order, but it differs from that
order  in  having  a perianth to each floret.  In all the other
plants of this class the florets are destitute of any thing resem-
bling a distinct calyx.
ri f Ord. 1, Mqualis,
  '' Ord. 2, Siiperflua,
                         ' This class is distinguished  by its
                           flowers  being compound, that is,
                           composed of many individual small
 2 \ Ord. 3, Frusjranea, y\  flowers  or florets,  disposed in a
 <  | Ord. 4, Necessari,     I  common receptacle, forming heads
 o  i Ord. 5, Segregata.   j  |  as in tii3 daisy, dandelion,  and
                         I thistle.
                                                   I
G YN ANDRIA (named so from the circumstance of the pistils and stamens growing
                           together.)

  This class has five orders, distinguished by the number of
filaments or stamens in the flowers of their  genera.

                          rThis class is characterized by hav-
                           ing its stamens situated on the pis-
                           til, sometimes on the germen,  and
                           again on the style.   In many in-
                           stances  they consist of little more
1, Monandria,
2, Diandria,
}
£  I 0rd-
2i Ord. b,Pcntandna, f< than a collection of glutinous po-
xn  | Owl  n  tt*~.~mj-..in  i                 ...
%  l^Ord.
6, Hcxandria,
10, Dccandria. j
 len, called polina.  As  example*
 of this class, the lady's slipper, and
 Virginia  snake   root   might  be
yarned.
      MONCECIA (from lmonos! one, and 'oil-o*' house, t. e., one house.

  This class has seven orders; the first, second, third  fourth,
fifth and sixth are distinguished by the number  of their sta-
mens" the seventh order has its stamens united into a coiumiu 
498
BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION.
'Ord. \,Monandria,"
 Ord. 3, Triandria,
 Ord. 4, Tetrandria,
 Ord. 5, Pent mdri t,
 Ord. 6, Hexandria,
 Ord. 12, Poh/andria
 Ord. 15,  Monadel-
   phia.
i  i
M
i  i
'The class  Moncecia  (one house)
 contains plants  where, growing
 from the same root, there are flow-
 ers containing only stamens,  and
 others only pistils.  This class em-
 braces the  breadfruit, fig, mulber-
| ry, Indian corn, and th? cucumber
Land mellon tribes.
DICECIA (from 'diV two, and 'oi'fco*' house, i. e. two houses.)
  This class contains ten
of stamens in the flowers,
mens unitsd into a single

   f Ord. 2, D'andria,  1
    Ord. 3, Triandria,
    Ord. 4, Tetrandria.
    Ord. 5, Peniandria,
    Ord. 6, Hexandria,
 gj { Ord, 8, Oclandria,
    Ord. 9, Enneandria,
    Ord. 10, Decandria.
    Ord. 12, Polyandria
    Ord.  15,  Monodel-
      phia.
orders, distinguished by the number
except the last, which  has its sta-
body.

  Dicecia is a class which, as its name
  denotes,  consists of two housss,
  that is, it has its stamens on one
  plant or tree, and its pistils on a-
{  nother.   This class  contains the
j  willows,  dates,  palms, bayberry,
  hop,  prickly ash, poplar, cocculus,
|  the  pitcher  plant,  and  the  nut-
Imeg.
CRYPTOGAMIA.
  This class contains six orders; the first of these contains the
ferns; the second the mosses;  the  third, the  liver-worts;  the
fourth, the algae or sea weeds; the  fifth, the lichens; the sixth,
the mushrooms, which  are  all characterized by  peculiarities
that readily distinguish them.
                        r Cryptogamia, the last class that is
                          now embraced in this system of
                          classification, i- one whose sexual
                          organs are either entirely conceal-
                          ed or can  only be discovered  by
                          the strictest scrutniy.  All plants
                       \ { that  cannot be  associated  in any
                          of the other classes are now refer-
                          red  to cryntogamia.  This class
                          embraces  t.u '^'/p-dys, Iceland
                          and Irish mos<=eb, the knotty facus,
                          from which the so.la and iodyneis
                        I made, &c.
fOrd. 1, Fdices,
I Ord. 2, Musci,
i Ord. 3, ILpaticae,
j Ord. 4, Algae,
| Ord. 5, Lichenes,
L Ord. 6, Fungi, 
INDEX.
                                                     ^a£G
             A.          Page!Anasarca,  .............. 55
Acacia, ................407JAngelica archangelica, .. .333
Accidental bleeding,.....22'Angelica atropurpura,. . . .334
Acephalocyst,...........243:Animal poisons,.........184
Acid, poisoning by........183Animation suspended,. . . .208
Acid, pyroligneous.......400iAnise seed,..............334
Acidum, pyroligeum......400|Anisum semine,.......... ib
Actea, alba.............342|Anodynes,..............325
Adeps,.................409 Anodyne liniment,.......427
Adder's tongue,..........2G1
Adhesive plaster,Thomson's431
Alcohol,................184
Alkalies,................404
Alkalies, poisoning by. . .  .183
Alkaline wash,.........  .438
Alkaline poultice, .......435
Allium copa,............299
Almonds, oil of..........409
Alnus serrulata,..........399
Aloes,'..................348
Alteratives,.............391
Alterative syrup,.........465
Althea officinalis,........409
Ambustio,...............29
American centaury,......372
American cinchona,......360
American columbo,......363
American  gentian,......364
American valerian,......326
American jalap,..........288
American barberiy,......369
Amenorrhcea,...........172
Amonia carbonas,........356
Amonia, carbonate of. .. .356
Amonia, liniment of......426
Amygdalus  persica,......287
             32
Anodyne poultice,........436
Antacids,...............404
Anthelmintics,...........289
Anthelmintic oil,.........461
Anthelmintic infusion,. . . .450
Anthemis cotula,.........323
Anthemis nobilis,........377
Anthrax,..............36
Anticiptics,.............400
Antibilious pills,.........470
Antilithics,..............311
Antimony, effects of......  ib
Antimony, poisoning by.. .  ib
Antispasmodics,.........335
Antispasmodic tincture,.. .454
Apium petroselium,......310
Apocynum androsemfolum,286
Apocynum canabinum, ... .305
Apoplexia,..............  17
Aqua calcis,............312
Arabic gum,.............407
Arabic gum  mucilage,. . . .469
Aralia nudiculis, ........394
Aralia racemosa, . . . .395, 299
Archangel,.............333
Ardor ventriculi,.........113
Arsarum europium.......300 
198                       INDEX.
Arsenic, poisoning by.......183!Bitter dogshane,-----265, 186
Arthritis.................109 Bitter root,..............286,
Arum triphyllum,........295|Bitter herbs, fomentation of437
Asarabaca,..............300JBladder, inflammation of. . 131
Asarum canadensis,. .348, 302Blackberry,.............391
Ascaris lumbricoids,......233 Black root,..............276
Asclepiastuberosa,. . .299, 317JBlack alder,.............399
Asclepias  syrica,.....310, 344Black locust,............264
Asclepias fibrosa,........309
Ascites,  ................  55
Asiatic cholera,..........38
Asphyxia,................208
Asphyxia from irrespirable
Black pepper,............354
Black snakeroot,.....340, 318.
Black cohosh,...........340
Black salve,.............434
Black elder,.............285
   asses,................ .209iBleeding,............... 22
Asparagus officinalis,.....310jBleeding from  the bowels,  ib
Assafoetida,----.......=. .338Bleeding from the lungs,.. 24
Asthma,................ 21.Bleeding from the nose,.. . 25
Astringents,............377;Bleeding from piles,......24
Astringent garles,. ...... .440JBleeding from the stomach, 26
Astringent injection, .... .442'Bleeding from the urinary
Astringent plaster,.......433!   organs,............... 27
Astringent poultice,......436;Blood root,..............263
Astringent wash,  .......438JBlooming spurge,........20.")
Astrolochia serpentaria,.. .373 Blue bells,...............31(5
             B.             JBlue cohosh,............336
i'jalsams,................468|Blue herry,..............  ib
                         468;Blue flag,*...............2s:>
                         468|Blue sculcap,............32>s
                         366Boneset,................315
                            Botanical classification,. . .489
                            Boils,................... 28
Balsam of wild cherry,
Balsam of hoarhound,
Balmony,.............
Barberry. American......369
Bath, vapor-............ .413
Bath, tepid- ••...........418
Bath, shower............420
Bowels, inflammation of . .131,
Bowman root,...........27&
Bathing, .........____, .409 Boxwood,...............30ft
Bathing- drops,.. . ........420'Brain, inflammation,of the 133
Bayberry,.......380s 265, 302Bread and milk poultice,. .434
Bearberry,..............312|Brinton root,............ .276*
Beach's common purgative,446 Bronchocele,............108
Beefs gall pills......... . .471
Beach1 s strengthening plas-
  ter, ..................431
Berberries canadensis,... . .369
Bird pepper,.............350
Bites of snakes...........184
Bubo,..................224
Burns and scalds,........29
Butternut,..............275
             C.
Bethroot, ..  . .'.......... .384|Cachexia scrophulosa, . . . .194
                             Calculus,...............110
                             Calx chlorinata,.........402
Bitter ash.
.377'Caraomilc,..............377 
INDEX.
499
Camphora,  .............356jCimicifuga racemosa,.....340
Cancer,  ................  32Cinanmon,..............359
Cancer plaster,..........432 Cinnamon, essence of.....462
Cancer plaster, Thomson's  ib Cinchona,...............370
Capsicum baccatum,  . .. .350tClassification, botanical..  .489
Carbuncle,..............30Clavus,................. 43
Carbonate of  amonia,. .. .356jCloves,.................359
Carbonate of magnesia, . .312tCochlec.ria amoracia,.....42.">
Carbonate of soda,.......404 Cold water wash,........438
Carbonate of  potash,.....405Collyrium,..............45f>
Carbo ligni,.............401jCommon  purgative pow-
Carbonas sodae) et potassa, 31 li  der,..................440
Carcinos,...............  32iCommon neutral draught,.457,
Cardinal plant,..........322jCompound cathartic pow-
Caryophylus aromaticus,. .359|  der,..................440
Carrot poultice,..........435iCompound   tincture   of
Carolina pink,...........289i  myrrh,     -            151
Cascarrilla,.............368iComposition   diaphoretic
Cassia,.................283J  powder, Thomson's  -  444
Caster oil,............._. .282|Confections,     -    -     463
Castor,................ .339 Confection of hollyhock     ib
Cathartic powder,........445JConfection of roses,    -  464
Catnip,................320 Conserves,      -    -     463
Caulophyllum thalictroides,330Constipation,    -    -    13
Cayenne pepper,---351, 348|Consumption,   -    -       10
Cayenne pepper, oil of. .. .461|Continued fever, -    -   79
Celastrus scandens,.......396iConvalaria multifloia.     4U7
Centaury, americana.....372 Convulsions,     -    -  100
Cephalalgia,............112!Cohvulvulus  panduratus,  2S<
Cephalis ipicacuanha,---259 Coptis trifolia,    -    -  377
Chancre,  ...............224 Copaiba officinalis,   -    305
Charcoal,...............40l!Copavia, balsam -    -  305
Chelona glabra,..........366JCorns,     -     - '  -      43
Chenopodium anthelminti-   Corn snakeroot,  -    -  310
  cum..................290.Cornus florida,   -    -     3SO
Chilblains,.............. 37JCostiveness,      -    -   43
Chickenpox, ............ 36Cough,    -               4..
Chlorine,................403|Cough Syrup,    -   . -  460
Chloride of lime, wash---439,Cowhage,  -     -    -     293
Chloride of  lime,.........402jCow pox,    -    -    -  202
Chlorinum,..............403'Cramp,    -     -    -      4..
Cholera, Asiatic.......... 38 Cranesbill',   -    -    -  3,
Cholera morbus,.........  40
Cholera of children,......  39
Croten eleutheria,    -    :n>»
Croup, .    -     -     -   40
Cholera svrup . .. .'.......407 Crowfoot, -    -     -     379
Chorea . .'.............    j )7;Cucurblta citnfllus,     -  311 
500                       index.
Culvers physic, -
Cunila mariana,  -
Cup plant,
Cussander,  -
Cylindrical entozoa,  -
Cynanche trachealis,
Cypripedium pubescens
Cysticercus cellulosus,
Cystitis,   -    -    -
             D.
Dandelion,  -
Deafness, -
Decoctions,  -
Decoction for rheumatism,
Decoction for dropsy,
Delirium tremens,
Demulcents,
Demulcent infusion,  -
Dewberry,
Diabetes, -
Diaphoretics,
Diaphoretic powder,  -
Diarrhoea,   ...
Dirca palustris,
Distoma hepaticus,
Dislocations,
Disinfectants,
Ditany,
Diuretics,   -
Dock extract,
Dog tooth violet,  -
Dog fennel,
Dog wood,  -
Dog wood', extract of
Dolichos puriens, -
Dothinenteria,  - .
Dr. .1. Thomson's diaphor-
  etic powder.  -
Dr. J. Thomson's strength-
  ening plaster,
Dr. J. Thomson's improved
  No. 6,  -    -    -
Dr. J. Thomson's stimula-
  ting physic,   -
Dr. J. Thomson's remedy
  for cough,
276 Dropsy,                   54
359 Dropsy of the belly,  -      55
398 Dropsy of the chest,    -   55
288 Dropsy of the head,  -      55
232 Dropsy of the scrotum,  -   59
 46 Drowning,      -    -•    208
326 Dysentery,   -    -    -  102
243 Dyspepsia,      -    -     116
131 Dispensatory,     -    -  471
    Dyspnoea  orthopnaea  et
307   convulsiva,     -    -   21
 47              E.
450|Earache,                  60
451 Effects of arsenic, -    -  182
45llEffects of antimony,  -     183
 48 Effervescing draught,   -  456
405'Egg eye water,  -    -     456
450iElder sweet,     264, 285, 310
391'Elecampane,    -    -     291)
l01,Elm poultice,     -    -  435
312!Emmenagogues,     -     340
443'Emmenagogue infusion,   450
 50 Emetic herb,    -    -     255
265'Emetic powder,   -    -  445
242Emetics,  -     -    -     251
 5rEmollients,   -            405
400;Enecia typhus,             84
359;English valerian,  -    -  329
303'Enlargement of the glands 181
458 Euonymus atropurpuriens, 377
2611 Enteritis,                 131
323iEntozoa,     -     -    -  231
360|Entozoa, cylindrical"  -      ib
459;Entozoa,  ascaris  lumbri-
293   coides  -     -        • 233
 89JEntozoa,  ascaris vermicu-
   j   laris   ...     235
444'Entozoa,trichocephalus dis-
      par    -     -    -     236
431 Entozoa,  strongylus gigas  237
    Entozoa, filaria mediensis  238
453!Entozoa, filaria bronchialis 239
    Entozoa,  trichina spiralis  239
465,j Entozoa,  tinea    -     -  240
   j Entozoa,  bothriocephalus
466|   latus      -    -     -  241 
INDEX.
501
  Entozoa, distomahepaticus
  Entozoa, vesicular
  Entozoa, cysticercus cellu-
    losus   ...
  Entozoa, acephalocyst  -
  Epilepsia,
  Epistaxis,   ...
  Erethismus,
  Erythronium americanum,
  Erigeron,  -    -    -
  Errhines,    -
  Errhine powder,
  Erysipelas,
  Eryngium aquaticum,
  Essences,
  Essence of peppermint,
  Essence of spearmint,  -
  Essence of juniper,
  Essence of cinamon,
^Eupatorium teucrifolium,
  ■fapatorium perfoliat'm264,
^rhipatorium purpurium,303,
  Euphorbia corolata,
  Euphorbia ipicacuanha,
  Entrophics,  -
  Evan root,
  Expectorants,
  Expectorant powder, -
  Expectorant syrup,
  Excitants,
  Extracts,
  Extract, white walnut
  Extract, narrow dock
  Extract, oak bark
  Extract, mandrake
  Extract, dog wood
               F.
  Fainting,
  Falling of the fundament,
  Falling of the womb, -
  False sarsaparilla,
  False bittersweet,
  Febris, -    -    -    -
  Febris intermittens,  -
  Febris remittens, -
  Febris continua,
242	Febris icterodes, -	91
242	Felon,	6*
	Fennel seed,	335
243	Fernuculus,	28
ib Ferula assafoetida,		338
61 Fever,		66
25|Fever, intermittent		73
181;Fever, remittent		76
261 Fever, continued -		79
3 lOjFever, inflammatory -		82
300 Fever, typhus		84
449 Fever, typhoid -		89
204 Fever, yellow		91
310Fever, scarlet -		95
4(52 Fibrous cotton weed,		309
462 Filaria medinensis,		238
462 Filaria bronchialis,		239
462 Fits, -		100
462Fla\- seed, -		409
377,Flax seed mucilage, -		469
,315'Flcabane, -		310
,312Flux,		102
265iFlux of urine,		101
260 Fly trap, -		286
SOLFceniculuin semine,		335
ibj Fomentations, -		437
294iFomentation, relaxant		137
449iFomentation of bitter herbs 437		
466:Fomentation of hops		43 S
349 Fomentation of stramoni-		
457! um leaves,		438
457 Fractures,		104
458iFrasera verticillata,		363
458French measles,		107
459J G.		
459 Co -Ilium asperula,		30S
Garden angelica, -		333
63 Gargles, -		439
64 Gargle for sore throat,		440
65(Gargle, astringent		440
394JGasses,		184
396; Gastritis, -		144
66i Gentian.		364
73 Geranium, maculatum,		379
76iGeum rivale,		391
7i;	Ginger, ...	353
 
502                      INDEX.
148
474
299
377
361
308
Ginseng,    -    -    -  332
Glands, enlargement of the 181
Glossitis,
Glossary,  -
Glycerhiza glabra,
Goitre, -
Gold thread,
Golden seal, -
Goose grass,
Goose foot,  -
Gonorrhoea,
Gout,  -    -    -
Gravel and stone,
Gravel root, -
Green salve,
Greek valerian,
Gum acacia,
Gum arabic, -
Gum arabic mucilage.
Gum camphor,
Gum myrrh,
             H.
llamamelis Virginica,
Hartshorn,
Headache,
Humulus lupulus, -
Hydarthus,
Hydrastus canadensis,
Hydrocephalus,
Hydrops,
108, Hydrophobia,
        Hydrothorax,
        Hypochondriasis,
        Hysterics,
    290iHysteria,  -
    223!             I.
 -  109! Icterus,
    HOjIctodesfoetida, -
 -  303 Impetigo,
    434|Incubus,
 -  316jIndigestion,  -
    407;Indian paint.
 -  407 Indian cup plant,
    469iIndian hemp,
 -  356|lndian moccasin,
355, 348JIndian pink,
        (Indian sanicle,
 -  385 Indian tobacco, -
    356lndian turnip,
 -  112Hnflammation,  -
     377
     229
     361
      55
  -    54
     159
  -    55
     219
  -   114
     114

  -   155
297,  339
  -   193
     171
  -   116
     263
  -   398
305,  309
  -   326
     289
  -   318
     255
  -   295
     122
134
Healing salve, Thomson's  433 Inflammation of the blad'r, 131
Heart-burn, -    -    -   113 Inflammation ofthe bowels, ib
Hedeomapulageoides,325,347jlnflammation of the brain, 133
Ilelonias dececia, -
1 femlock, -
Hepatitis,
jIcrnia,   -
Herps, -
Hoarhound, balsam of
Hoematamesis,
Huematuria,
                         373'Inflammation of the eyes,
                         39^Inflammation of the kid
                         136j  neys,
                         19l[Inflammation of the liver,
                         212'Inflammation ofthe lungs
                         468JInflammation of the mouth, 141
                         26jInflammation of the pej*i-
                         27J  toneum,   -            142
1 loemorrhagia accidentalis, 22 Inflammation ofthe pleura, 143
135
136
138
Haemorrhoids,
Ha?moptysis,
Hollyhock, conserves of
Honey,      -
Honey bloom,  -
Hops,  -    -
Hops, fomentation of
Horse mint,  -
Horse radish,
175|Inflammation ofthe stom-
 24j   ach,    ...    144
463 Inflammation ofthe tongue, 148
312 Inflammation ofthe tonsils, 149
286 Inflammatory fever,    -   82
377JInfusions, -              449
438,Infusion, demulcent    -  450
359|Infusion, anthelmintic     450
425 Infusion, emmenagogue   450 
index*                        503
Injections,	440	Liquorice,	299
Injection, astringent	442 Liniment, stimulating and		
Injection, common	440 relaxent -		426
Injection, relaxant	442 Liniment for burns & scald;		>,427
Injection, soapsuds, of	442jLiver, inflammation of the		136
Injection, stimulating	442|Lobelia emetic,		445
Intermittent fever, Intussuceptio,	73 (')QA 1ri,Lobelia inflata, < * ' 151 ' }2oo,		302 303
Inula, helenium	299|Lobelia inflata oil,		460
Invagination of the intes-	Lobelia tincture, -		452
tines,	151 Lobelia tincture, sour		453
Iodine ointment,	429 Lobelia cardinalis,		322
Ipecac, ...	259'Locked jaw,		158
lpomrea jalapa,	27 8,Lungs, inflammation of the		• 13S
Irritating plaster, -	432 M.		
Iris versicolor, -	185|Madder,		;;h
Itch, - - -	153 Madness, canine		159
Itch ointment, -	430,Magnesia carbonas,		312
J.	Male fern,		291
Jalap, -	278 Male shield fern, -		291
Jaundice, -	155;Man-in-the-ground, -		28S
Jerusalem oak,	290Mandrake, -		271
Juglans cenera,	275 Mandrake, extract of -		459
Juniper, -	304Manroot,		28b
Juniper, essence of	462JMania a potu, -		48
Juniperus comunis,	304jMarjorum, wild		3551
K.	Marsh mallows,		409
King's evil,	194 Marsh rosemary,		389
L.		Materia medica,	24!-)
Lactuca elongata, .	331	Matico,	391
Lard,	409!Mayapple,		271
Laurus cinnamomum, -	359 Mayapple, extract of		459
Laurus sassafrass,	359JMayweed,		323
Laxative pills,	471iMeasles,		161
Leather wood, -	265	Mel, -	312
Lcontodon taraxacum, -	307	Mclia azedarach, -	293
Leonurus cardiaca,	346Mcnispermum canadense.		375
Lenitive electuary,	463jMentha veridis,		358
Leprosy, -	156 Mentha piperita,		358
Lime, chloride of -	402 Mercury, effects of		180
Lime water,	312 Milk sickness, -		166
Linum semina,	409 -Milk and bread poultice,		434
Liniments,	425|Milk weed,		310
Liniment of amonia,	426 Modified smallpox,		2(12
Liniment, anodyne -	427 Monarda punctata,		359
Liniment, stimulating -	426	Moonseed,	375
 
50 4                       INDEX.
Mortification,
Motherwort, -
Mouth, inflammation ofthe
Mucilages,   -
Mucilage of slippery elm,
Mucilage of gum arabic,
Mucilage of flax seed,   -
Mucilage ofthe pith of sas-
  safras,     -
Musk,
Myrica cerefera,  380, 265,
Myrrh, tincture of
Myrrh, compound tinct. of
             N.
Narcotics,    ...
Narcotina tobacum,  -
Narrow leafed dock
-\arrow leafed  dock, ex-
  tract of    -
Xepeta cataria, -
Nephritis,
Nervine tonics,  -
Nervine tonic pills,
Nervine tonic powdprs,
Nervine tonic tincture,  -
Xettle rash,
Neuralgia,   -
Neuralgia from mercury,
Xeutral draught,  -
Night mare,
Nose, bleeding  of the
Nympha) oderata,
             O.
Oak bark  extract.
Obstructed menstruation,
Odontalgia,
Oils,   -
Oil of almonds,  -
Oil of amber,
Oil, anthelmintic
Oil of cayenne  pepper,  -
Oil of lobelia,   -
Oil of olive,  -
Oil of turpentine,
Oil, vermifuge,
Oil-nut,   -
167	Ointments, -	427
346	Ointment, iodine	429
141	Ointment, itch	430
469	Ointment, pile -	428
469	Ointment, pile, Thomson's 428	
469	Ointment, stramonium	428
469	Ointment, Thomson's, for	
	burns, -	430
469	Ointment, Wells', for scro-	
339	fula, -	429
302	Ointment, yarrow,	429
453	Oleum amygdalae, -	409
454	Oleum capsicum,	461
	Oleum olivaea,	409
184	Oleum lobelisea,	460
301	Oleum ricini,	281
393J01eum succini, -		339
Olive oil,		409
458,Onion,		299
320,Opthalmia, -		134
135 Opodeldoc,		427
325 Origanum vulgare,		859
470 P.		
446,Palpitation of the heart,		173
455Palsy, -		174
17l|Panax quinquefolium,		332
214jParacusis,		47
181 Paralysis, -		174
457Parsly, -		310
171iParnoychia,		65
25 Parotitis,		170
382'Peachmeats,		377
	Peach tree, -	287
458	Pennyroyal, - 325,	347
172	Peppermint, -	358
215	Peppermint, essence of	462
460	Peritoneum, inflammation	
409	ofthe -	142
339	Peritonitis, -	142
461	Pernio,	37
461	Peruvian bark,	370
460	Pertusis, -	230
409	Pestis, - - - -	177
293	Pharmacy,	423
460	Phrenitis, ...	133
275	Phthisis pulmonalis, -	40
 
index.                       505
175
 24
470
470
471
471
470
470
306
289
391
Physic, common  -
Physic, Doctor Thomson's
  stimulating
Pile ointment,  -
Pile ointment, Thomson's
Piles,     -    -
Piles, bleeding of the
Pills,-
Pills, antibilious,  -
Pills, beef gall  -
Pills,  laxative
Pills, nervine tonic
Pills, tonic
Pine,
Pink root,
Pinus canadensis,
Piper angustifolia,
Piper nigrum,  -
Pissabed,
Plague,
Plasters,
Plaster, adhesive
Plaster, astringent
Plaster, Beach's strength'g 431
Plaster, cancer   -     -  432
Plaster, irritating    -      ib
Plaster, Dr. J. Thomson's
  strengthening     -    430
Plaster, Thomson's cancer 432
Pleurisy,  -    -    -    143
Pleurisy root,     -  299, 317
Pleura, inflammation of the 143
446|Poisoning by mercury,  -
    Poisoning by narcotics,
465 Poisoning by snake-bites,
428 Polemonian reptans,  -
428 Polygala senega,  -   298,
Pie ur itis,
Pneumonia,
Podophyllum peltatum, -
Podophyllum peltatum ex-
  tractum,  -
Poisoning,
Poisoning by acids,
Poisoning by alcohol,
Poisoning by animal poi-
  sons,   -
Poisoning by alkalies,  -
Poisoning by antimony,
Poisoning by arsenic,  -
Poisoning by gasses, -
   Polygonum hydropiperoi-
     des,  -     -    -    .
   Pomegranate,
   Polypodium felix mas, -
   Poplar,
   Populus tremuloides,
   Porrigo,   -
   Potash, carbonate of
   Potassa carbonas,
   Poultices,
   Poultice, alkaline
391 (Poultice, anodyne -
354;Poultice, bread and milk
307iPoultice, carrot
177 Poultice, elm,
430 Poultice, scrofula
431 Poultice, relaxant -
433 Poultice,  stimulating  as-
     tringent
   Poultice, yeast and char-
     coal  -     -    -
   Powders,  -
   Powder, Beach's common
     purgative,
   Powder, compound cathar-
     tic,
   Powder, cathartic -
143 Powder, diaphoretic   -
138 Powder, emetic
271'Powder, errhine
   [Powder, expectorant
459iPowder, J. Thomson's di-
179J  aphoretic  -    -    -
183 Powder, nerve  tonic   -
184 Powder, sudorific -
   Powder, Thomson's  com-
184  position diaphoretic -
183 Practice of medicine,  -
  ib Prickly ash,  -    -   :02,
182 Prickly ash berry syrup,
184jPride of China,
179
184
184
316
348

348
292
291
365
 ib
193
405
405
434
435
43(5
434
435
 ib
 ib
436

436

435
442

446

446
445
443
445
449
449

444
446
444

444
 17
314
465
293 
506                      INDEX.
Prolapsus ani,  -
Proctorrhagia,
Prunica granatum,
Prunus virginiana,   299,
Puke weed,
Pyrolygneous acid,
             Q.
Queen of the meadow,
             R.
Rachitis,    -
Radish,    -
Ragged cup, -
Raphanus sativus,
Rattle weed,
Red elm, «-
Red lobelia, -
Red puccoon root,
Red raspberry,
Relaxent poultice,
Relaxent fomentations,
Relaxent injections,
Remedy for cough, Thorn
  son's,    t-
Rheum,   -
Rheubarb syrup,  -
Rheum compatum,
Rheum emodi,
Rheum palmatum,
Rheumatismus,
Rhus glabra,
Ricinus comunis,  -
Rickets,
Ringworm,  -
Roseola,
Robinia pseudacacia,
Rosemarys
Rosmarinus officinalis, -
Roses, conserves of  -
Rubia tinctorum,  -
Rubiola,   -
Rubus strigosus,  -
Rubus trivialis,  -
Rubus villosus,
Rubefacients,
Rubefacient solution,
Rumex crispus,
 64
 23
292
376
255
400

303

189
312
Rupture,
S.
Sabbata angularis,
Saleratus, -
Salivation,  -
Salves,    ...
Salve, Thomson's healing
Salve, black
Salve, green -
Sambucus canad's 264, 310
Sanguinaria canadensis,
398 Sanicula marelandica,
312 Sarsaparilla,
340 Sassafras,
406Scabis,
322 Scald head,  -
263 Scall,
387 Scarletina,
436 Scorbutus,  -
437 Scrofula,
441 Scullcap,   -    -    328,
   Scurvy, ....
466 Scutelaria lateriflora, 328,
273 Seneca snake root,   298,
467 Senna,
273 Shingles,
273 Shower bath,
273Sialagogues,  -
188 Silk weed,
309,
386jSilphium perfoliatum
281 Simple stramonium oint'nt,
189 Sinapism,
213 Skunk cabbage, -    297,
107 Slippery elm,
261 Slippery elm mucilage,
347 Small pox,
 ib Smart weed,
464 Snake bites,  -
348 Snake head,
164 Snake leaf,  -
387 Snake lily,
391 Snake root,   -
 ib Snow drop,
424 Soda, carbonate of
425 Soda and saleratus,  -
39?|Soda3 carbonas,
 191

 372
 405
 180
 433
  ib
 434
  ib
 285
 263
 318
 392
 359
 153
 193
  ib
 95
 197
 191
 339
 197
 339
 348
 283
 213
 420
 302
 344
 398
 428
 424
 339
 406
 469
200
 348
 181
 366
261
285
 373
261
404
 311
 404 
INDEX.                       507
Sodium chloridum,
Solomon's seal,
Solution, rubefacient,
Sour dock,  -
Sour dock,  extract of
Spasmus,  -
Spearmint,
Spearmint, essence of
Spigelia marylandica
Spiritus vini gallici,  -
Spikenard,   -    -  395,
Spirit lamp vapor bath, -
Sprains,   -
Spruce,  -    -    -     -
Sponging,  -
Spurge ipicacuanha,
Squaw root,
St. Anthony's fire, -
St. Vitus dance, -
Statice limonium, -
Star root,  -
Staff vine,
Stimulants,
 Stimulating astring't poul-
   tice,
 Stimulating  injection,
 Stimulating physic,
 Stimulating liniment,
 Stimulating  and  relaxent
   liniment,
 Strangling or hanging, -
 Strangling by irrespirable
   gasses,     -    -
 Stramonium  ointm't, sim-
   ple   -
 Strengthening    plaster,
   Beach's   -
 Strengthening plaster, Dr.
   J. Thomson's
 Strength'g plaster,  Thom-
   son's -    -    -    -
 Strengthening syrup, Dr.
   Thomson's -
 Subluxatio,
 Sudorific  powder, -
 Sumach,
265 Suspended animation,  -
407 Swamp cabbage,
425 Sweat root,  -
393 Sweet elder,
458 Swallow wort,
 45 Syncope,  -    -    *
358JSynocha,
462|Syphilis,
289iSyrups,  -    -    -     -
357|Syrup, alterative
299lSyrup, cholera
416JSyrup, expectorant  -
204!S}rup, Thomson's prickly
39ll  ash   -
208
297
316
285
317
 63
 82
223
464
465
467
'466
420 Syrup, rheubarb, of  -
260             T.
340 Tancetum vulgare,
204|Tag alder, -
207|Tansy,  -
389Tinea capitis,
373!Tepid bath,  -
396,Terbinthina vulgaris,
349Tetanus,
   Tetter,
436Thomson's cancer plaster,
442lThomson's healing salve,
465'Thomson's pile ointment,
426 Thomson's  strengthening
   j   plaster, -
  ihThoroughwort,    -   315.
209!Thoronghstem,  -
   ITic doloureux,
  ib Tinctures, -
    Tincture, antispasmodic
428 Tincture, Dr.  J. Thom-
      son's improved No. 6
431 Tincture, lobelia  -
             lobelia, sour
             myrrh,  -
             nervine
   Tincture,
 ib|Tincture,
   jTincture,
430Tobacco,
   |Tonics,
467 Tonsilitis,
204
444
Toothache,
Trillium latifolium,
386]Trumpet weed,
465
467

347
399
34'
193
418
306
158
212
430
433
428

430
264
315
214
 152
454

453
452
453
  ib
455
 301
 360
 149
 215
 S84
 331 
508
INDEX.
Tussis, -	.	45	Wax myrtle,	-	380
Turtle bloom,	.	366	Wells' ointment for scrof-		
U.			ula,	-	429
Ulcers,	.	216	Wens, -	-	228
Ulmus fulva, -	-	406	White baneberry,	-	342
Unicorn root,	-	373	White cohosh,	-	ib
Uticaria,	-	171	White pond lily,	-	382
Uvse ursi, -	■	312	White root, -	-	317
V.			White swelling,	-	229
Vaccina,	-	202	White walnut,	-	275
Valerian, American	326,	339	White walnut extract,		457
Valerian officinalis,	-	329	Whooping cough, -	-	230
Vapor bath,	-	413	Wild angelica, -	-	334
Vapors, - - -	-	219	Wild camomile,	-	323
Varicella, -	-	36 Wild cherry,		-	376
Variola,	-	200	Wild cotton, -	-	344
Varioloides,	-	202	Wild buckwheat,	-	286
Venerial disease, -	-	225	Wild ginger, -	302,	348
Verbena hastata,	264,	377	Wild hoarhound,	-	377
Vermifuge oil,	-	461	Wild marjorum,	-	359
Vervain,	264,	377jWild morning glory,		-	288
Vinum, -	-	357|Wild potato, -		-	ib
Vinegar of wood,	-	400)Wild turnip,		-	295
Virginia snakeroot,	-	373Wine, -		-	357
Vulnum,	-	247:Witch hazel,		-	385
W.		jWorms, -		.	231
Wake robin, -	-	295| Wormseed,		-	290
Wandering milkweed,		286|Wood, vinegar of -		-	400
Washes,	-	4 381 Wounds, -		-	247
Wash, alkaline -	-	ill			
Wash, astringent -	-	ibj X.			
Wash, chloride of lime		439j,r „ .			(302 (314
Wash, cold water -	-	438	Aantnoxymm iraxineum,		
Wash, solution of chlorin-			Y.		
ated soda -	-	439	Yeast and charcoal	poul-	
Water melon,	-	310	tice,	.	435
Water dock, -	-	393	Yellow ladyslipper,	.	326
Waters..	-	455	Yellow parilla, -	.	375
Cbllyrium, -	-	ib	Yellow puccoon, -	-	361
Water, egg eye -	-	456	Yellow root,	.	ib
Water, Thomson's eye -		456	Z.		
Effervescing draught		456jZingiber,		.	353
Com'n neutral	a	457	Zoster,	-	213
 
ERRATA.
  There are many errors in this work, as must be the case
with the first edition of any book, unless time can be had to
bestow special care upon the proof, which could not be gain-
ed when this work  passed  through the press.  The most of
these, however, are typographical, and can easily be corrected
by everyr reader.  It is therefore thought unnecessary particu-
larly to notice those of this character, hoping that the candid
reader will look over them.  Nevertheless, there  are a few,
that are of a more important character,  and that should be
corrected here:—On page 35, sixth and seventh lines from the
bottom, for 'sulphate  of copper' read subacetate of copper; on
pa. 369, fifth line from the bottom, for 'and bilious fever' read
und is very good in bilious fever; on pa. 391 Sec. vi,  and on pa.
400 Sec. vii, should have been iv and v.  Possibly there may
be others of some importance that may in the hurry, have been
overlooked.
i
THE ENL. 
 

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:S              BY J- KOST, ML D.              '&
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7
Are your Kidneys all right?  Do you know they are not diseased?

  The purpose of the kidneys is to remove the waste of muscular  exertion
and improper digestion from the blood and pass it off through the water.
If this work is not wholly done every day then the blood breeds disease and
death.  The lungs and skin take out the carbonic acid, the kidneys the uric
acid, the  liver the biliary acid poisons.   Because kidney disease has few
symptoms peculiarly its own, and often no pain,  A person will seldom sus-
pect the kidneys as the source of ailment.

  SITUATION.  There are two kidneys located in the small of the  back.
One is immediately below the liver on the right, one below and behind tho
stomach on the left.  All the blood passing through them is relieved Df its
surplus water (uric acid waste) which flows down the ureters into the bladder.
When the  kidneys are in a healthy condition, only the water escapes.
When they are inflamed by disease, the walls of the blood vessels are soft-
ened and expanded, and the albumen or life of the blood escapes, because
of the loss of nerve force.   This condition is Albuminuria or Bright's disease.

  SYMPTOMS.  Backache, unusual desire to urinate at night, fluttering
and pain in the heart, tired feelings, unusual amount.of greasy froth in
water, irritation, hot and dry skin, fickle appetite, scalding sensations, acid
bitter taste, with furred tongue iu the morning, headache and neuralgia,
heartburn with dyspepsia, intense pains upon sudden excitement  in the
small of  the back, deposit of mucous sometimes after urination, abundance
of pale, or scanty flow of dark colored water, sour stomach, loss of memory,
rheumatism, chills and fever, pneumonia, dropsical swelling, red or  while
brick dust,  albumen and tube casts in the water, constipation, alternating
with looseness, short breath, pleurisy and bronchial affections.
  Neglected kidney disease will certainlv result in chronic Bright's disease,
and while it may not speedly run its course, it will surely prove fatal in  a
few vears, and make the patient's life very miserable.
  Don't we beg of you. reader, postpone treating your case promptly.  If
you feel out of sorts, don't let disease get a grip on your constitution.  Kid-
ney disease steals on  you  like an Indian and strikes you, when you  do not
know it  Take your case in  hand at once.  The  doctors cannot cure you;
this they admit.  Treat yourself with Oris Native Herbs.  It has cured in
thousands of cases after the doctors have given up.

TWO  HUNDRED DAYS TREATMENT  ONLY COSTS $1.

  The cheapest and most effective medicine, prepared from  Nature's owu
remedies yet discovered.               .
  Sent to any address upon receipt of price.   A Box of three packages, with

* ^^^^SlSS^ob are followed or MONEY REFUNDED.


                       People  Will  Have it.

   Messrs GODBY& CO., Canvassing Agents in the  County of Pulaski,
V    for the DR PERKINS MEDICAL CO., sold at retail ONE HUNDRED
AND FIFTY BOXES of OUR NATIVE HERBS in 15 DAYS! 
8
                        Nervous Diseases.

  The nerves enter into and control the action and vitality of every muscle
and organ in the system.   The nervous system is the life of the body, and
whatever deranges it deranges every natural  function.  Many a strong-
appearing man and woman fret because they do not feel so well as formerly,
and yet the physician tells them they have an organic disease! They are
weak, listless, unambitious, sleepless, neuralgic, have a sense of weight on
the top of the head, occasional impaired  appetite,  aversion to work and in-
disposition to  remain  idle, etc.   Perhaps the chief distinction of a real
nervous derangement is that the patient is worse in the morning, gradually
growing better as night appcoaches. After a while this nervous unrest will
attack the mind or settle upon some organ of the body with fatal effect.
  TREATMENT. Sleep  regularly, avoid excitement, unnecessary labor
and  worry,  and  commence at once a  thorough course of Our Native
Herbs, Barks and Roots, until relief is obtained, by quieting the nerves and
oleansing the blood of all acid irritation.
                                      Condor, Ga., May 10th,
The Dr. Perkins Medical Co.:
  Dear Sir: This is to certify that I have been a terrible sufferer for twelve
years from Nervous affection and Liver complaint; about "fifteen months
ago I was seized with a severe Kidney trouble, was confined to  my bed for
twelve months; I was a pitiable object I assure you, Gentlemen; I could not
stand on my feet; I could not get up, and a part of the time I could not bare
to be raised up in bed, so severe was the pain.  I had six of the best doctors
I could find and spent about $100 in drugs and doctor bills and none of the
lot benefitted me in the least.  When Hamlin Lewis, General Agent for the
Dr. Perkins Medical Company,  brought me a box of Our Native Herbs for
which I paid him $1.00 and I consider it the best  investment I  ever matte.
It has done me more good than the six doctors arid the.$100 worth of med-
icine.  I have taken your medicine about five months: I was a pitiable object
up to that time; I was skin and,bones and so weak and sick that I never ex-
pected to be again able to get up.  Now I weigh 175  pounds and am able to
attend to my work.  When I see any of  my  friends they say "well I never
expected  to see you up again, you  look better than you have for fifteen
years.'' I earnestly recommend it to all nervous afflicted as I was.  This
wonderful medicine is a great blessing to the country and I bless providence
that I got a hold of them before it was too late.  Our Native Herbs have
done so much for me that I shall spend a great part of my time currying
it around to the afflicted people of my county. Gratefully yours,
                                                     A.K. SPrVEY.
                                     Mannboro',  Amelia Co., Va.,
The Dr. Perkins Medical Co.:
  Dear Sirs:  For twelve or fifteen years I havo been a great sufferer from
Liver complaint, Neuralgia and Nervousness.  T!:<* doctors di-1 me no good.
  I could not sleep or eat. I tried all kinds of medicine and found no relief
until I procured a box of Our Native Herbs of your agent.  I am ferfectly
well now and want to recommend this Valuable Medicine to the public.
It has been a great blessing to me.  I cheerfully send you this testimonial
without any solicitation from you.                    R.  S. REAVES.
Do not fail to use Our Native Herbs for pains in the back, chest or side. 
 
 
Kost, J., Botanic medicine
Condition when received: The half leather binding with
marbled paper boards had been rebound in the past; however,
it bore extensive mold. All pages were stained, soiled and
covered in thick mold residue that was black, purple and rust
colored. Black mold pervaded  the top edge and foredge. The
mold was thick. A previously  mended tear, approximately 6
inches long, was located on page 360. Pages were wavy and
buckling.
Conservation treatment: All 508 pages were surface cleaned
using a Hepa vacuum. Selected pages of mold infestation were
further surface cleaned using a block polyvinyl eraser
(Staedtler). All pages were deactivated using a lightly sprayed
mixture of 20% deionized water with 80% ethyl alcohol
(Nasco) and brought into plane using mild pressure in a book
press.
Conservation by Rachel-Ray Cleveland
NLM Paper Conservator, 04 / 2006
ufc'"" 
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