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Photografiiic

Sciences
Corporalion

23 WIST MAIN STRUT

WIBSTIR,N.Y. 14StC

(716)S72<4S03

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1 2 3

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/.y

i

TORONTO PUBLIC LffiRARIES

REFERENCE LIBRARY

PRESENTED BY

Tired 6* Ketoheson, Ssq*,
Toronto*

T^ CbNO/Z-T-^S U

•• 1

^-^s*.

f.

\ '

«#

NEW

GUIDE TO ^HEALTH

" ' . t"

BOVAXf XO rAMZ&V VB7SX0ZAN#

:i-. CONTAINING

A COMPLETE SYSTEM OF PRACTICE,
UPON A FLAN ENTIRELY NEVf.

*\

WITH A ii

l>E8CRIPT[0N OF THE VEGETABLES MADE USE OF, AND
DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARING AND ADMINISTERING
. .^ THEM TO CURB DISEASE.

TO WHICH IS ADDBD.

$. »IfeBirTIOV oW IBTBRALCAKtOI DIlSAM ATTXSOIO BT TBI AWHOB,
WITH THB HOPB or TBBATMBMV AMD COBB.

. - nr,5,..jr:

Bt SAMUEL THOMSON.

'.Hi I, h, :

I ' > .f " ■ ■■',■•»•

BAMtftTOltr

»1UNTID BY SMITH ABH> ^AGXtTAfffS*

MDCOCXXXir*

AV'

"; .•'

■^^

mk

\

:7> >^2>72

magnitude. 'The pia ^ ,,,^edge of my «> ^i.eciions are suf-

fic«nily f "P r ^Vporunt «"^J'<' ;„ been to confin", '' '; It
interest m ""' , "l!. roa'" "''J'" S Vf the iheorj, tha" *' ,f

practice, ana ^ general R , lUat tUey

»..to o? pretending '^f A^^ell known th^'/^^'j^ieine wl.ioh
*»^; „ .Sme ina»noes t.» n.meof m/ >«; ,„ ^estro;

u«wt of preien"»"& - . • ^eii m»""- i.^„ medicine wi.."-
yriociplos tieroir>^|:» « .

-'■,.•,•,

«.<**i"

-UafeKtii-aintto,..

ii<iipiiriii

■'#5^WP'-

.. o*«a*s^-

jeen a
short

of the

ijiabled
Bniall

j}\i the

lactice :

are suf-

lake an

ht have

it to the
lian what
stein, ^f
;v will he
jch ihuigs
that there
ttheia the

are in the
(fovenients,
mouB drugs
icine which
{ to destroy
ice, this has
erefore cau«
ave well die-
thcir aid m
that justice
y by examin-
5 therefrom ;
oi con for ma-
ree with the

ne>

■'" >■■-

PREFACE.

Written by a Friind.

TH".ns «' no'subjuci in wJiirli the grenl family ofmnnkind havo a d* epor
inli^rcst, l!i:i:i fhat of IMcilicine ; to Ics'ou tlio sum of humnn sufferin;;
tiv [(llcvi'iliri;; pciii and roinovinr; Uiose disoaiifis that all are eiihjcct to, u
u'diily of lh(! i;ren(csl im; ortanoe of uiij' uridertakinf; that mati cnn en-
p;i'|<) ill. Ili;H.It!i :.-; tltf friritest Messing th?«t cnn bo enjoyed in this life .
ail! to be dnprivc'd of it taluis awuy n'l our j)lea8ure9 and comforts and
ria!;i'3 (.'virry (hi-ig in llni world appear n dreary waste. Tliiswill
iTfidily bij adnj'tlcd by t- very one ; but in what mannor disorder can
bo^t br.' roriDVed or proveiif'd, is a siil'j(M.'t that has on^ajrcd tlie attention
(>r niat)y w'mo tn-'o, wlio hr>v(^ oxisted in diilorera tigeg, from tho earliest
nines t.» t!i ; pr.'SLnt diy, without, as wo humbly coDceive, very much
hos.ofmirp: mniikiiul by tlicir I ibors. Thoir enquires it would seem havo
boon dii'^cii^d t') (lie iiivrslicat' m of visionary thcorios, of t!ie form ftnd
curious conrtrnction of lit; body and membtrs, upon mechanical prin*
cii'lfH; loilii) ne-iiect of what is of Iho greatest iinporlance, a correct
and nn;U\\ pra{;iir;o Iw a direct application to li«e cause of disease. Thij
iplil.c purxijiniT as!;'>djw niiil lo.«ingsigijt of tlio substance : for there ara
ciTl.iin caiisps and cfTicts in (he worhs of creation that are l)eyond tho
conjprciien^iion of man, and ihc freneral piinciples of nnimatf d nature are
OS correctly known by ilio wh'jiu human faniily as by the most wise and
learnet'.

In Iho duTiTPnt ngps of the world tlio m'^-dical faculty have been very
prolific ill forrniri?; systi'nis of l!io theory and practice of medicine. —
One mail bijilds i:p u .svflein fjrarinil'.cr that comes after him to poll
down, wlio I'r rls- one td' his ( wn, whi;;h is followed for a time Rnd i«
tlicin .'upplarit'v,! by anotltcr. Tiiey have gone on in this way,aim(8t
every ag'i pri;du':iri:j a new systom, to the proscnt time, each onw jto-
ijouricfs tliH other to t)<3 v. roii', they certainly cannot all be right, and
tho most nJitural conclusion is liiut llioy are all wrong; fur no good has
rcsnlled from all Ihey have done, but on tho contrary it hP3 l^inded to
produce much confusion n-id don'ot, in llie irind-i of all who seek to gain
u correct knowli;di;o of the subjoci ; the bi'al evideiiiio of this is the bad
Buree-s that has ntior-.dcd the rt-ijular faculty in al' tluir piraclice, forlhey
do not pretend to a kiiowlediio of a ccrinin rcnin-ly fur any case of
dis'-Jise ; ant! It IS leadiiy admi
pi'-jfcssitwi, tliiit thrrc is no
inisf^rably condnc- od <'.« t!i:>.t of niedicine,

'i In; way to licfonie a l;rhi.!;ablH doctor a! the jrrespnt day is (n eppnd
three or four yoars in v.'iiat i!H:y mil rciditi^' uhviic, wLen they receivO"'
n <le^ieo and d'p'omii from .^oin; me lie li .soi'tit/ty. 1'hij t-.-ne' is sp-nt
in learning the liiliii nn;)iisrd llie diilorent jreparaliiins of in^dicn**,
according to thf^pinn .I'loplcd l.y this faculty, as nlio of iha dilTeriMit paila
o| tlie human bn,iy, witl. tho n :fncs, colorb and symptoms of ali liinds 'f
disease, divide'! uod ftui)(livid<.d irtT c* icany clar.s's and f< irnfi a.» Ibd-
gungo can bo foua-ita esfres?^ end su/Scierii kiiowic^'^s !?: iAcruaaie

ilied by the n.ost 'JiRtin,'!;u;:.hed men in the
.irt or science so iiliie understood and

^ - u tfitfen wUboat causing

. knnw how much poison can D« 6»T , .fc\f.ininortanco
of medicine *<>, »^"°^i5, JheVe quaY.fical.on. and a ''/^^^J^'^^ "a^ use-
Jmniediate d«*^\«J; medical career, as '««"'*"^°J:na cloister all the
they ^^oinmence the ;«Sd^,^vi ^^ had been shut np ^^^^^^.^ j^por-
ful in curing «J»9eose, as u | i^h the theory , but an J"" .. ^. hjch

»'«»«•• ?tmova oi SlIioX. they have .;;; ^^ '^ Jjf'ho are »o
tant in the ''6'"°^;; " }„ any other way. The e« P . . j, f,»p ,hem to
can never be Jfa"»J" "• J^r their care become sutueoiB ,p,uing

unfortunate ae ^^ ::°'y„%;S-^r from their ^fP''"";^; 't,,etr piactice haa
learn upon «"^ h^>e to sutt ^,, '^^^.^'X^A and mos..«v

this course lot ^nany > ^ ^ ^^U know n . th'^t «n ""f p,.of.-*Mon,

he«n wrong ; ««^d 'V' ^,o have boc.ne d'8l'n«"'»''«; '•" ,„X a„iipU-i, I

p..;on..<l If y-'^: y^.l'uXoaion,e ; rr.«;;nh.n^ ^.nj .pa ^.^ K.eir |

, tni^l.s^ nsi' o 1 "' \^;fu,.y jTiHV cine A^m.^^U ' « • " j'-.j.oir constitutions i

,v,ti. ^--^'^^^^^ZT^.V^^ b/e. n,n t'^^" ""l^. ;" ^ ' rom the young \

Sid Mi.terinK./nd adunn sten g ^^^^ """^ T",« ArotUcr eerioi,.
opHiin.&c.ia directly opposea J ^^^ *=^'J"*!.' rant of every thing

pKnciplea ^^""^"{..^."thaUbe people are ke^t ignorant «» « > jo^
5iWuye»»«»\^'ii^if;„e by its being keptin adead jai^ij^^^
It impojtarice m medume^ by ^'Ho^"mXrfety of such a

"Which there ««»,^® "° KJ, snbject, to '^o^JJlL'LP/Xld write their
very good '^""''•.^jXs opiiion, that if P^X'^l'^'i lay rediciue more
oTactice. and givee " •» °" ^^f our own country and lay u ^^^^^

J,«cript1on.ia the »anj«;B* ° j ,,ould result from it. In tj J ^„ ^^,^,^
Spen to the peoP»f • "?"j; fh^ medical societies in tb«8 cou y ^^^.^^^
Xop«la got up »J^;« y j'/JJa new names •? "P^^^' ^e \n ^r ovance of the
pew arrangement 'J »«°J„'';j^pf|ly keep the people n .g
•verjr ten T"" Ue ^e of, when prescribed by the «« y ^^ ^^.

Sjedicine they ^n**;* Jf .gak doubt but there » jn«°'J'". ^^.tng every
There can be not the leasi" purposes necessary ms ^^ j^,

Incur country to a„»we^^ntn,^p^^^^^^p^^^^^^^^^^ ^^"d^anage their
diMsase »r'»''''"^i° If' ot^ch influence in ^P^'^JL that the common
hnt the doctors have ^ «»"^". ^^ profit and ?:»'*?',;"„. most impor-
Sffalr. witb^^o ««ch art f^r tb«r ^Y^^ge of what is ot the utm ^ l^.^^

people are kept »>a«M'2"^ 'Jf ^ny man «nd«'»''^'%l?uFty, let him abow
iance fo' t»»^™ ^J.^'^ninctioWd by the '^g^^fjjtr so ."««"<""* *"
differing from y'^J^ '" ""^''his discoveries, or HJ^^.^'J^ « hue and cry
ever so mucb >"e«J»'\y ^j down like a wild beast . ana ^

curing diaease. he "/"""^ ""^d of the country to ine" ^^^^

unreasonable, we tbinK to ^^ the treat.

rairAci.

I causing
portance
sally use-
er all the
8t impor-
e, which
)0 are so

ihem to

ptirtsu'tng
Rclice hag

most BX-

V s'linpli'ii,
it of ilieir
nsliliitions
the young

rpd ; liul if

und not to

among tha

ly bleeding

antimony,

ifindbyony

licr serioui

every thing

nguage, for

. made some

ty of such a

j write their

ediciiie more

,ie new Phar*

itry, an entire

to be revised

orance of iho

enough growt
curing every
wledgo of »t;
manage their
klthe coronion
utnnost inopor*
sue a practice
,jethiDi show
•ucceseful in
a hue and cry
other. There
B public good;
lelvei, whether
sfl it. It •» no»
a fear that the

3 that the treat,
faculty, dunng

1

Ihe whole of his practice. He haibeen persecuted aad parsaed wtth aU
fhe naplice of demona, for no other eause that can be imagined than
because of his extraordinary success in curing disttase. which has tended
to enlighten the people, and do away their blind confidence in the in>
fallibility of doctors. This opposition has not been from the people at
large, for all who have hnd a correct knowledge of his system of practice
are not only well satislied, but are tlioroiiglily convinced of its superi*
ority over (lie prndice of the doctors ; and some of the faculty who have
examined the aiihject, allow tlif di^cnvpry to be <iri<;Inal and ingenious,
and tliai the princip|«>s (i|)nn wliicli it is fotinded are correct. If the
phy$icinn9 jL'iMiPrally hnd. instpad ot' trying to (ivstroy him and his pra<:«
tico, erupiiri'd into 'and mnde tlicmHt.ves acquainted with his improvo*
meniH. and treated hirn with that couitcsy due to every iogenioui man,
who devotes hiuisolt to tlio ndv;inc<)mHni of the arti and sciences, they
would have received much useful information on one of the most Im*
portant branches of the medical art, that is of the medicmal virtues of
the vpgeinblesof this country, with the best method of preparing and
adminisierinp; them to cure disease ; but they seem to consider everjr
thing relating to the subject as a sort of holy groundi on which no one
bas a right to tread but the regularly initiated.

Dr. Thomson began bis practice as it were from accident, with no
other view than an honest endeavor to be useful to bia fellow creatures ?
and bad nothing to guide him but his own experience. He not having
bad an education, has received no advantages Crom reading books,
which left bin mind unshackled by the visionary theories and opinions
of others; his whole studies have been in the great book of nature, aud
his conclusions have all been drawn from that unerring guide ; by this
he was enabled to form correct opinions of the fitness of things. His
first enquiry whs to know of what all anima! bodies were formed, and
then to ascertain what caused disease ; alter being satisfied on this hcAd,
the next thing was to find what medicine was the best calculated t < r«;.
move disease and restore health. For this he looked into the vegetah'je
kingdom, where he foand a large field for contemplation, and for ttie
exercise of his enquiring mind. Here by an invention of his own, that
of ascertaining the qualities and power of vegetables by their taste, be
was enabled at all times to find something to answer the desired purposei
his apothecary's shop was the woods and the fields.

In his practice it has always been his first object to learn the course
pointed out by nature, and has followed by administering those things
best calculated to aid her in restoring health. This is unquestionably
the only correct course that can be pursued with any chance of success,
for all the good that can be expected by giving medicine, is to assist
nature to remove the disease. The Success with which his practice hat
been attended, has astonished all who witnessed it, and has led the peo>
pleople to wonder how a man without learning coiitd perform what
conid not he done by the learned doctors ; this is not strange, for people
most generally form their opinions by what is fashionable, without ezain«
ining intd the nature of things. A man can be great wKbnut the advan*
tages of au education ; but learning can never make a wise man of a
fool ; the practice of physic lequires a knowledge that cannot he got bj
reading books, it must be obtained by actual observation and experience.
It is very common with the doctors to call all those who practice and
bave'notbesB regularly educated to the profsf sion, quacks and empirics.

fRBFAOC.

Tbt d«ffiiiition of tb« word qtinck, U an tcnorant preUndar ; and lhn»9
who are eiilttled to this appellation, are beat known by iha ((nowledga
they poBiesa In thair profession, and Uie suoceas with which they piimua
it : and there may be probably more ignorant pretenders found among
those who have received ji diploma than in any othurrJiiM. An empiric
is ono who is governed m hia prat'lico bj* his own exporiinental hnowl-
edge ; imd Dr. Thomson ran have no reasonMbJo objoction to he honored
by this title, for there is nnti)in;r valuable in the whule rango of the xw.d'
ical science, but what has been derived from this source. In and Mit
times the man who could discover any thing that proved to hu u ifful in
curing; disease, was entitled to honorable notice and a rfwai(ir>r hid
ingenuity, without regarding whrthcr he was learned or unle.ini" 1 In
this way the faculty have ohlninrd all their knowledge of vegolnble med-
icine, and if they had confined themselves to this it wnuld'huvo boen
ranch buffer for the people, than to m:ike use of those poisonous miiio-
rob, which have been the production of the iehined, and is the only
addition they have been able to miiUi' to (he Materia Mtidica.

Ill the following work Di'. Thomson hin endeavored to embody in a
small compass, ntid to convey to the politic in an [ttain and simplti terms
na lie WMB ciipHble, n correct kiiovvji>(tu;e ol' hi? Hy«lf>m ot firiUti-o, wilii
bis manner of treaiint, disriasi;, tof.'.,Mli< r 'vii!i a disciiption of ull thu
vegetable productions of our own counlry, tluU ho lia=s loutu) to be. iiso-
ful in curing disorder, uixl tli-s best mitirijrof |)repariii,',' end administer-
ing th-«m, it will be Coirid to coDtnin !i.«Ti'.!iil doul of inl'orriTition, upon
a siil'ji'ct of the groatest iinporlMnce to tlio pi'ople; bnin;j; th;; rcflull of
tliitty years Constant prMcfir.e,in attundins on all !:inds of diseitso com-
mon in this country. It {'tTt's t.» ihu pn!>lic an opp'irlnnity to moko
tlieiiiSi^ivi'B sijffi-i^MU'y acqvKiitited \vi !i tho shUjit,! to onahle'cverv oiio
who avails hini.iili' of it, to become his own piiysicitiu, with a trifling
expense.

'J'o ifktrodiice a new sysfcm of medical practicn and to make an cn'iro
clinnge of the public opinion on fo important u subject, is an undt^rlnking
of too great magnitude to bo effected without much difB^uity, ini iis
tupericrity over ull others be ever so great; for whoever undciiakes it
innst expect to have to contend against the Interest of n large chiB» of
the community, and the pc4Judiceaot the whole. That Dr. Thomson
iias been able to eir<JCtso much, \9 more surprising, than that he haa not
done more, for he has labored under many difficulties besides being op.

fiosod by a powerful combination, whose interest it is to keep the peopio
lack from adopting his practice. He has been obliged to saiiijty llie
people of what is for their interest, as well as for their peace and hap.
piness, against their own inclinations ; and has pursued his plan wit!i
wonderful perseverance, and with an honest and determined zeal to do
what he thought to be his duty, lie seems to have had in view inoru
the public good than his own interest, for liis whole plan has been to
give information to the peopio, as well as to relieve them from diseutii} ;
and to put it in their power to cure themselves and lamiliesin all ca-osi
of sickness, without being under the necessity of employing a doctor.
In pursuing this object he has spent the best part of Ims days, and h«» re-
ceived but a very small compensation for all bis labors ; the pecuniary
benefit that ho has realized tor his practice and rights sold, would be no
temptation to any one to undergo :he hundredth part of wbat be bss
Baffsredfrom persecuHon.

and lli<^»»
knowledge

they pur»u»
und Hinong
An empiric
intal Unowl-
1,0 li(»norpd
of llie mod-
Ill iim-'. 'lit
1)0 » = i!fiil in
ward 1 >r liiii
le:ini"J I"
golnble iTiod-
(lliavo linen
sonoiis mine-
is tlio only

eojlt'^dy in ft
simplts teriTn
rat ti-o. willi
on of all I lit*
Mid to l)fl iif-o-
ui admiiiisler*:
ria;»tiou, upoii
l-j \Ur; rC'fl:ill of
(liHe:*so coin-
unity to iniiUo
al)l«'cv(.'rv ono
With a iiiflns

mnUe an on'iro
nn unde-.rttiking
iffioulty, If'l ii9
ir und«ili<Ues It
I Imgo «'.lnB9 of
I Dr. Tlioin3on
lliiil he has not
esidiis being "p-
keep the ptoplo
i lo laUaty llio
neauo und hap-
3d his plnn witli
ined zeal to do
i in view inoru
ilan has bcfo to
n from diseasn ;
niiiesin all ca-ea
loying a doctor.
lays, and h«» re-
1 ; the pecuniary
lold, would be no
I of what be has

?iiepAtfe. 7

KothvvIthilHRding all (bt difflcaltiM Dr. Tbomion ha« is«t wtih, and
all tlio oppoKitioQ he hat to contend agtlnit, hit •jritero ii nad* w oJ*
by (ha {teopln renerally in many placei, and U fast ipreadingin all pnrt«
of the United States. WbereVAr the people become acquainted with It
they universally adopt It, and consider it of the grenleat value: loqiuch
80, thai tli(;re are hundreds who would not bo deprired of the tuforma*
tion thoy have received for any sum of money wbatever. In eevvral
towns large so'jieties hp.ve been formed of those who bave purcbnaed
the rights, nnd who obligate themaelvei to assist each other In cases of
sicknesii ; where this has been the ease, great benefit has been derived,
and the success of the practice baa been complete. This seems (o b«
the best plan fur introauciog a correct knowledge of the pystem and
practice among the people, and putting it in thoir power to derive the
most advantage from its uae ; and if a few of those men who have the
most influence in society, would examine into the suhject with impar-
tiality, they would readily be convinced of its superior usefulness, and
by taking on interest in ditTusing a knowledge of the practice among tlio
penpio, they would confer a greater benefit on mankind than by any
charitable act they could perform. ^

Thero has been one great obstacle in the way of e general eitenalon
of a knowledge of the practice, for the want of aome means to convey
onrrnct information how to prepare and administer the medicine, with
the best manner of treatment in curing disease ; and also (o prevent aJi
who adopt this system of practice, from being imposed upun by tbote
who pretend to make uae of it without a proper knowledge of the sub-
ject *, for there are quacks under this system as well as others. This ia
obviated bv the folldiving work, in which it is thought will be found auf-
ficient etplanations Jind directions to enable any ona. w ho pays vtriot
Attention to them, to make use of the practice with safety and suceest*

-■ i

hi

„->i

L

' •! tj.

1

<t

CO

use
iunt
whej
or hi
itf a[
stea[
gooi
"I

morl

ind(

ha VI

pit

prea

tak(

are!

I

A NLVV iiVlDi: TO HEALTH.

0 n, 1} O T A N I c; FAMILY P fl V d I C F A N.

1

INTUOUUCTION.

•

TiiERi: nrc thrun things which hnve in n greater or less de«
greo, nailed iho attention of men, viz: Religion, Oovernment
and Medicine. In ages pnst, these things were thought by
millinns to belong to three classes of men, Priests, Lawyers
nnd Physicinns. The Priests held the things of religion in
their own hands, and brought the people to their terms; kept
the Scriptures in the dead languages, so that the common
people could not read them. Those days of darkness are-
done away ; the Scriptures are translated into our owh Ian»
guage, and each one is taught to read for himself. Govern*
ment was once considered nsbelon^ring to a feWf who thought
Uierniclves *' born only to rule." The common people have
now become acquainted with the great secret of government;
and know tliat " all men are born free and equal," and that
Magistrates are put in authority, or out, by the voice of the
people, wiio choose thcin for their public servants.

While these, and many other things are brought where
'' common people," can understand them ; the knowledge and
use of medicine, is in a great measure concealed in a dead
language^ and a sick man is often obliged to risk his life,
where he would not risk a dollar ; and should the apothecary
or his apprentice make a mistake, the sick man cannot correct
it, and thus is exposed to receive an instrument of death, in-
stead of that which would restore him to health had he known
good medicine.

" It maybe alleged, (says Dr. Buchan) that laying medicine
more open to mankind, would lessen their faith In'it., This
indeed would be the case with regard to some ; but it would
have a quite contrary effect upon others. I know many peo-
ple who have the utmost dread and horror of every thing
prescribed by a physician, who will nevertheless, very readily
take a medicine which they know, and whose qaalities they
are in some measure acquainted with.

a

if i

'• I

10

NFAVoClOi; 10 HF.ALTH;

'A

'?

" Nolliing oVi'^r can, or will inspire mankind vviili an absf;*
lute confiilenco in physicians but by their being open, frank,
r«n(] undisguised in their behavior.

*' The most effectual way to destroy quackery in any art or
science, is to diffuse the knowledge of i.t among mankind. —
Did the pliysicians write their prescriptions in the common
language of the country, and explain their intentions to the
patient, as far us he could understand them, it would enable
them to knov/ wlien the mediciao had the desired effect ;
would inspire him with absolute confidence in the physician ;
and would make hini dread and detest every man who pre-
tended to cram a secret meuiciiiQ or poison down his throat."
It is true that much of what is at this day called medicine,
is deadly poison ; and were people to know what is offered
them of this kind, they wou'd absolutely refuse ever to re«
ceive it as medicine. This I have long seen and known to
be true ; and have laboured hard for many years to convince
them of the evils that attended such a mode of procedure with
the sick; and have turned my attention to those medicines
that grow in our own country wich the God of nature has pre-
pared for the benefit of mankind. Long has a general niedi«
cine been sought for, and I am confident I Have foun'd such as
are universally applicable in all cases of disease, and which
may be used with safety and success, in the hands of the peo-
ple.

After thirty years study and repeated successful trials of the
medicinal vegetables of our own country, in all the diseases
incident to our climate ; I can with well grounded assurance,
recommend my system of practice and medicines to the pub-
lic, as salutary and efficacious.

Great discoveries and improvements have been made in va*
rious arts and sciences since the first settlement of our coun*
try, while its medicines have been very much neglected. As
these medicines, suited to every disease, grow spontaneously
upon our soil ; as they are better adapted to our constitution ;
as the price of imported drugs is very high ; it follows, wheth-
er we consult health which is of primary importance, or ex«
pense, a decided preference should be given to the former, as
an object of such magnitude as no longer to be neglected. —
Yet in the introduction of those medicines I have been vio-
lently opposed, and my theory and practice condemned, not-
ifithstanding the demoastrative proofs in their favor. But

th(

pre

tiaj

uin

1

ity

he

ern

ami

not

age

ble

thoj

15

ling

smn

^ uatii
ofol
Pi
the n
. founi
and ■
air ui
pone
was
will
; the
' tainel
nion^

I h til
% ioodj
. and
i vvhei]
I el tin

era

the

\

th an absf/'
pcUi frank,

n any art or

mankind. —

,ho common

ions to the

iroulcl enable

ired effect 9

physician ;

an who pre-

his throat."

i medicine,

hat is offered

le ever to re-

d known to

1 to convince

•ocedure with

se niedicines

ature has prtj-

Teneral niedi*

foun'd such as

e, and which

ds of the pco-

ul trials of the
1 the diseases
led assurance,
les to the pub-

jn made in va«
t of our coun*
leglected. As
spontaneously
r constitution ;
follows, wheth-
(rtance, or ex-
the former, as
)e neglected.^ —
have been vio-
ondemned, not-
eir favor. But

OR, BOTANiC FAMILY PHY31CIAX.

a

those who lluiB condemn have taken no puins to throw off
prejudice, and examine the subject with candor and impur*
lialiiy. Such as have, are ihorougiily satisfied of their utility,
and superior excellence.

From those who measure a man's understanding and abil-
ity to be beneficial tj hislellow men only from the acquisition
he hag made in literature from books ; from such as are govs
erned by outward appearance, nnd who will not stoop to ex-
amine a system on the ground of its intrinsic merit, I expect
not encouragement but oppoiiition. But this u ill not discour-
age me. 1 consider the discovery I have made, of inestima-
ble value to mankind, and intended for the great benefit of
those who are willing to receive it.

ISeingborn in a new country, at the time almost an how-,
iing wilderness, my advantages for an education were very
small; but possessing a natural gift fur examining the things
of Nature, my mmd was left entirely free to follow that incli-
uation, by enquiring into the meaning of the the great variety
of objects around me.

Possessing a body like other men, I was led (o enquire into
the natute of the component parts of what man is made. I
found him composed of the four elements — Earth, Water, Air,
and Fire. The earth and water I found were the solids ; the
air and fire the fluids. The two first I found to be the com-
ponent parts; the two last kept him in motion. Heat, I found,
was life ; and Cold, death. Each one who examines into it
will find that all constitutions are alike. I shall now describe
the fuel which continues the fire, or life of man. This is cons
tained in tsvo things — food and medicines, which are in har-
mony with each other; often grow in the same field, to be used
by the same people. People who are capable of raising their
iood, and preparing the same, may as easily learn 'o collect
and prepare all their medicines and administer the same,
when it is needed. Our life depends on heat ; food is the fu-.
ei that kindles and continues that heat. The digestive pow-
ers being correct, causes the food to consume ; this continues
the warmth of the body, by continually supporting the fire.

The stomach is the deposit from which the whole body is .
supported. The he'\t is maintained in the stomach by con*
suming the food; and all the body and limbs receive their
proportion of nourishment and heat from that source ; as the
whole rouni is ^varmed by tliu lire \Yhich is consumed in the

4

i':

12

NEW GUIDE TO HEALTH

if

S^(

f

fire-place. The greater the quantity of wood consumed iii Uu'.
fire-place, the greater the heat in the room. S(» in ihe body ;
the more food, well digested, the more heat and support
through the whole man. By constantly rnceivinjr food into
the stomach, which is sometimes not suitable for liie best
iiourishnient, the stomach becomes foul, so that the food is not
well digested. This cemses the body to lose its heat — then
the appetite fails ; the bones ache, and tlie man id sick in ev-
ery part of the whole frame.

This situation of the body shows the need of medicine, and
the kind needed : which is such as will clear the stomach and
bowels, and restore the digestive powers. When this is done,
the food will raise the heat again, and nourish tlie whole man.
i^il the art required to do this is, tu know what medicine wiU
do it, and how to administer it, as a person knovTs how to
dear a stove and the pipe when clogged with soot, that the
fire may burn free, and the whole room be warmed as before.

The body, afte.r being cleared of whatever clogs it, will con-
sume double the food, and the food willafibrd double the nour-
ishment and heat, that it did before. We know that our life
rJepends on food, and the stomach being in a situation to re-
ceive and digest it. W^hen the stomach and bowels are clog-
ged, all needed is the most suitable medicine to remove the ob*>
struction in the system. All disease is caused by clogging
the system ; and all disease is removed by restoring the digeS'
live powers, so that food may keep up that heat on whichjifo
dependtj.

J have found by experience, that the learned doctors are
wrong in considering fever a disease or enemy; the fever is u
friend, and cold the enemy. This I found by their practice
in my family, until they hud five times given them over to
die. Exercising my own judgment, 1 followed afier them,
^and relieved my family ev« ry time. After finding a general
principle respecting fevers, and reducing that to practice, I
found it sure in all disease, where there wua any nature left
to build on, and in three years constant practice, I never lost
one patient.

I attended in nil the fevers peculiar to our country, and
always used it as a friend, and that returned the gratitude to
the patient. I soon began to give this information to the peo-
ple, and convinced many that they might as certainly relieve
themselrcs of their disensej as of their hunger. The cxpena|

erm

all
rni!
ma
niit
itth

aix. LOTANIC FAMILY rilYSICIAN

13

;uuicil ill iho
n ihe body j
and support
IT food into
for die best
le food is not
heal — then
u sick in ev-

nedicinc, and
stomacb and
thi3 is done,
e whole man.
medicine will
nows how to
soot, that the
ned as before.
js it, will con-
)uble the noui-
' that our life
tiiation to le-
wels are clog-
remove the ob-
i by clogging
ring the diges-
t on whichjiio

3d doctors aro
; ihe fever is a
T their practice

them over to
ed afier them,
ding a general

lo practice, I
any nature left
ice, I never lost

ur country, and
the gratitude lo
lion to the peo-
ertainly relieve
The cxpen^

io them, (o he always able to relieve iliemselves and families,
would be hut i^mail; and the medicine thoy nauy procure and
prepare themselves.

h has been acknowledged, even by those who are unfriendly
to me and m}' practice, tliat my medicine may be good iu
some purticular cases, hut not in all. Dut this is an error.
For there are but tvvo great principles in the constitution of
Uiings, whether applied to the mind or body ; the principles
of life, and the principles of death. That which contains
the principle of life, can never be tortured into an adminis«
traiionof death. If, then, a medicine is good in any case, 'it
is because jt is agreeable to nature, or this principle of life
the very opposite of disease. If it is agreeable in one case,
it must be absolutely so in all. By the active operation of
nature, the whole animal economy is carried on ; and the
father of the healing art, Hippocrates tails usj what is an ob-
vious truth, that Nature is Heat. The p'rinciple is the some
in all, differing only in degree. When disuse invades the
Irame, it resists in proportion to its force, till ovevpower^d
into submission, and when extinguished, death follows, and
it ceases to operate alike in all. If, then, beat is life^ and its
extinction death, a diminution of this vital flame in every in*
:>tance, constitutes disease, and is an approximatioifto death.
All then, that medicine can do in the expulsion of disorder, is
to kindle up the decaying spark, and restore its energy, till it
glows in all its wonted vigor. If a direct administration can
be made to produce this effect, (and it can) it is evidently im-
material what is the name, or color of the disease, w.hether
billious, 'yellow, scarlet, or spotted ; whether it is simple or
complicated, or whether nature has one enemy or more. —
Namos are arbitrary things, the knowledge of a name is but
the cummin and annis, but in the knowledge of the origin of
a mrilady, and its antidote, lies the weightier matters of this
science. This knowledge makes the genuine physician ; all
without it is real quackery.

It has been a general opinion that extensive study and great
eriKlition, are necessary to form the eminent physician. But
a!i this may be, as Paulsaith, but science falsely so called. A
man may have a scientific knowledge of the human frame, he
may know the names in every language of every medicine,
mineral and vtgetable, as well as every disease, and yet ba a
miserable physician But there have been men without this

'^ : 4*^^

14

NEW oriDE TO HEALTH,

to boust uf, from the oariiest ages of the kvorld, who have
*' arisen, blest with tho sublimer powers of genius, who have,
Bs it were, with one look pierced creation, and with one coni*
prehensive view, grasped the who?e circle of science ; and
Jefi learning itself, toiling after them in vain." A man never
can be great without intellect, and he never can more than fill
the measure of his capacity. There is a power beyond the
reach of art, and there are gifts that study and learning can
never rival.

It is true that the study of anatomy, or structure of the hu-
man body, and of the whole animal economy is pleasing and
useful ; nor is there any objection to this, however minute
and critical, if it is not to the neglect of first great principles,
and the weightier matters of knowIed(;e. But it is no more
necessary to mankind at large, to qualify them to administer
relief from pain and sickness, than to a cook in preparing
food to satisfy hunger and nourishing the body. There is
one general cause of hunger, and one general supply of food ;
one general cause of disease, and one general remedy. One
can be satisfied, and the other removed, by an infinite variety
of articles, best adapted to those different purposes. — That
medicine, therefore, that will open obstruction, promote per-
spiration, and restore digestion, is suited to every patient,
whatever form the disease assumes, and is universally appli*
caple. And acute disorders, such as fevers, cholics, and dys-
entary, may be relieved thereby; ia twenty^four or forty -eight
hours at most.

REMARKS ON FEVERS.

Much has been said and written upon fevers by the profes-
sedly learned Doctors of Medicine, without throwing the must
profitable light on the subject, or greatly benefitting mankind.
They have been abundantly fruitful in inventing names for
disease, and with great care and accuracy distinguished their
different symptoms; but they appear quite barren as to the
kcowlecTge of their origin and remedy. To the first, but little
importance, comparatively speaking, can be attached ', the
latter is of the highest importance to all classes? of people.

According to the writings of learned physicains, there are
a great variety of fevers, some more and some less dangerous.
But to begin with a definition of the Name. What is fever ?
Heat, undoubtedly, though a disturbed operation of it. But

"A

y-v.

OR, BOTANIC FAMILY rHYSlCIAN

15

who have
I, who have,
x\\ one coin-
cience ; and
L man never
jorc than fill
beyond the
cuiniug can

re of ihc hii-
)leasing and
ever minute
at principles,
t is no more
> administer
in preparing
r. There is
pply of food ;
medy. One
ifinite variety
poses. — That
promote per-
ivery patient,
ersally appli*
lies, and dys-
or forty -eight

)y the profes.
wing the most
[in2 mankind,
ng names lor
iiguishcd iheir
•ren as to the
first, but little
attached ; the
? of people,
ains, there are
ess dangerous.
Vhat is ievcr ?
DDof it. But

► iii thftro in the human frame, more than ono kind of heat t
Yes, says the pliysician, Cslrange as it may appear,) there is
the pleurctic heat, the slow nervous heat, the putrid head, the
hectic heat, the yellow heat, the spotted or cold heat, the
typhus or ignorant heat, and many other heats ; and some-
times, (calamitous to tell) one poor patient has the most, or
the whole of these fevers, and dies at last for want of heat !

U fever or heat a disease ? Hippocrates, the acknowledged
father of physicians, maintained that nature is heat, and he h
correct. Is nature a disease ? Surely it is not. What is com-
monly called fever, is the eflect, and not the cause of disease.
It is the struggle of nature to throw off disease. The cold
ceuses an obstruction, and fever arises in consequence of that
obstruction to throw it off. This is universally the case. Re-
move the cause, the effect will cease. No person ever yet
died of a fever ! for as death approaches the patient grows
cold, until in death, the last spark of heat is extinguished.
This the learned doctors cannot deny ; and as this is true, they
ought, in justice, to acknowledge that their whole train of
depletive remedies, such as bleeding, blistering, physicking,
starving, with all their refrigeratives ; their opium, mercury,
arsenic, antimony, nitre, &c. are so many deadly engines,
combined with the disease, against the constitution and life of
the patient. If cold, which is the commonly received opinion
(and which is true) is the cause of fever, to repeatedly bleed
the patient, and administer mercury, opium, nitre, and other
refrigerents to restore him to health, is as though a man
should, to increase a firo in his room, throw a part of it out
of the house, and to increase the remainder, put on water,
snow and ice !

As it is a fact, that cannot be denied, that fever takes it«
rise from one g'reat course or origin, it follows of cause, that
one method of removing that cause will answer in all cases ;
and the great principle is to assist nature, which is heat.

At the commencement of a fever, by direct and proper ap«
plication of suitable medicine, it can be easily and speedily
removed, and the patient need not be confined long. Twen-
ty-four or forty-eight hours, to the extent, are sufficient, and of-
ten short of that time, the fever may be removed, or that which
is the cause of it. But where the patient is left unassisted, to
struggle wit!« the disease, until his strength is exhausted, and
more especially, wlien the most unnatural, and injurious ad-.

J«?

NEW GlJiDii: XO IILALIH

I '

' i'

ministrations nrc made, if a recovery is possibie, it (nu^l of nc
ccssily, takq a longer time. These dccLirutiuns are true and
have been often proved, and can be again, to the satisfaction
nf every candid person, ut the hazaid of any forfeiture the
Faculty may challenge.

Notwithstanding all these things, how true are the words of
,the intelligent Dr. Ilervey, who says " By what unaccount-
able perversity in our fraine does it appear, that we set our-
selves so much against any thing that is new ? Can any ont;
. behold, without scorn,- such drones of physicians, and after
the space of so many hundred years' experience and practise
of their predecessors, not one single medicine has been de«
tected, that has the least force directly to prevent, to oppose,
and expel a continued fever ? Should any, by a more sedu-
lous observation, pretend to make the least step towards the
discovery of such remedies, their hatred and envy would swell
against him, as a legion of devils against virtue ; the whole
society will dart their malice at him, and torture htm with all
the calumnies imaginable, without sticking nt any thing that
should destroy him root and brand). For he who professes
to be a refromer of the art of physic, must resolve to run the
hazard of the martyrdom of his reputation, life and estate.''

The treatment which the writer lias received from some of
the learned physicians since his discovery of the remedy for
the fever, and various other diseases, is a proof of the truth of
this last saying of Dr. Hervey. They have imprisoned him,
ftod charged him with every thing cruel and unjust ; though
upon a fair trial, their violent {dealings have come down upon
their heads^ while he has not only been proved innocent be-
fore the court, but useful ; having relieved many which the
other physicians had given over to die.

I will now take notice of the yellow fever. The cause of
this fatal disease is similar to the spotted fever. The cause
of death in the latter, is in consequence of its producing a bal-
ance of cold outward and inward ; and in the former there is
a balance of hent outward and inward ; both produce the
same thing, that is a total cessation of motion, which is death.
The colour of the skin has given name to both these disease.
The yellow is caused by the obstruction of the gall ; instead
of being discharged through its proper vessels, it is forced
and diffused through the pores of the skin. The same
effects that are produced ^7 these two fevers nmy be observed

OR, BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

if

it jnubt of n«
I arti iruo and
■i satisfaction
forfeiture tht

eihe words oi
at uuaucount-
^t we set oiJi-

Can any one
ans, and after
e and practise
i has been de-
jnt, to oppose,
y a more sedu-
tep towards the
ivy would swell
ue ; the whole
ire him with all

any thing that
e who professes
solve to run the
fe and estate.''
,d from some oi
the remedy for
pfof the truth of
imprisoned him,

unjust; though
lome down upon
red innocent be-
nany which the

The cause of
ver. The cause
producing a bal-
le former there is
)Oth produce the
(1, which is death,
h these disease,
the gall ; instead

kin. The same
5 uiRV be observe'-

-<4

1

in the motion of the sea; when the lido is done running up
there is what is called slack water, or a balance of power, and
the same thinnr takes place when it is running down ; when
the fountain is raised the water runs from it ; but when it is
lowered the water runs towards it. The same cause produces
the same effects in the spotted and yellow fevers ; for when
a balance of power between the outward and inward heat
takes place, death follows.

Having described the two kinds of fever which are the
most alarming, they being most fatal, I shall pass over those
of a less alarming nature, and merely observe, that there is
no other difference in all cases of fever, than what is caused
by the different degrees of cold, or loss of inward heat ,• which
are two adverse parties in one body, contending for power.
If the heat gains the victory, the cold will be disinherited, and
health will be restored ; but on the other hand, if cold gains
the ascendancy, heat will be dispossessed of its empire, and
death will follow of course. As soon as life ceases, the body
becomes cold, which is conclusive evidence that its gaining
the victory is the cause of death. When the power of cold
is nearly equal to that of heat, the fever or strife between the
two parties, may continue for a longer or shorter time, ^ac-
cording to circumstances; this is what is called a long fever,
or fever and ague. The battle between cold and heat wilt
take place periodically, sometimes every day, at other tiroes
every other day, and they will leave off about equal, heat
keeping a little the upper hand. In attempting to cure a case
of this kind, we must consider whether the fever is a friend,
or an enenemy ; if it is a friend, which I hold to be the fact,
when the fever lit is on, increase the power of heat, in order
to drive off the cold, and life will bear the rule ; but, on the
contrary, should cold be considered a friend, when the cold fit
is on, by incresaing its power, you drivei off the heat, and
death must ensue. Thus you may promote life or death, by
tempering cold and heat.

Much has been said by the doctors concerning' the turn of
a fever, and how long a time it will run. When it is said that
a fever will turn at such a time, I presume it must mean that
it has been gone ; this is true, for it is then gone on the out-
side, and is trying to turn again and go inside, where it
belongs. Instead of following the dictates of nature, and
aiding it to subdue the cold, the doctor uses all his skill to kill
3

t

\

*^-jfi^ >-.

18

M:\V C.VIDL TU HEXL'iH:

the fever. How, would 1 ask, in i!je name of rDinmoii sonsr,
can any lliinguirn when killed ? Support the lever iiiul il will
return inside ; iho cold, whicius the cause of tiiseiise, >vill hi;
driven out, and health will be restored, in all cases r.nlUM!
fever the cause is the same in a greater or less degree, and may
be reUeved by onegoneral remedy. Tic cold causes canker
and before the canker is sea.ted the strife will take placo bouvceii
cold and heat ; and while the hot flashes and cold chills re-
main, it is evidence that the canker is not settled, and the hot
medicine alone, occasionally assisted by steam, will throw it
ofC ; but as the contest ceases, and the heat is steady on the
outside; then canker assumr^s the power inside ; this is called
u settled fever. The truth is, the canker is fixed on the inside
and will ripen and come ofT in a short time, if the fever is
kept up so as to overpower the cold. This idea is new, and
never was known till my discovery. By raising the fever
with Nos. 1 and 2, and taking off the canker with Nu. 3, and
the same given by injections, wc may turn a fever, when we
please; but if this is not understood, the canker will ripen
and come off itself, when the fever will turn and go aside, and
the cold will be driven out ; therefore they will do much better
without a doctor than with. The higher the fever runs the
sooner the cold will be subdued ; and if you contend against
the heat, the longer will be the run of the fever, and when
killed death follows.

When a patient is bled it lessens the heat and gives double
power to the cold, like taking out of one side of the scale and
putting it in the other, which doubles the weis^ht and turns
the scale in favor of the disease. By giving opium it deadens
the feelings; the small doses of nitre and calomel tend to
destroy what heat remains and plants new crops of canker,
which will stand in different stages in the body, the same as
corn planted in the field every week, will keep some in all
stages ; so is the different degrees in canker. This is the
reason why there are so many different fevers as are named ;
when one fever turns another sets in and so continues one
after another until the harvest is all ripe, if the season is long
enough ; if not the cold and frost takes them off— then it is
said they died of a fever. It might with as much propriety
be said that the corn killed with frost, died with the heat.
The question, whether the heat or cold killed the patient, is
easily deeidcd, fur that power which bears rule in the body

«*»»?

OU, BOTANIC FAMILY rilV8iriA.\.

\9

won scnsr,

unci it \vill

se, will btt

ases cnlleti

e, and mwy

aes canl^er

ICO between

a chills re-

anil the hot

ill throw it

eady on the

his is called

II the inside

the fever is

is new, and

g the fever

h No. 3, and

LT, when we

3r will ripen

go aside, and

0 much better
ever runs the
ntend against
'cr, and when

1 gives double
• the scale and
Erht and turns
'um it deadens
lomel tend to
,p3 of canker,
y, the same as
ep some in all
. This is the
as are named ;
continues one

B season is long
off— then it is
nuch propriety
with the heat,
the patient, is
de in the body

ufier ilc.ttli is \>h;il killed the patient, which is cold -as uuich
aslliiit whicli hoars rule when he is nlive is heat. When si
person is taken sick it is common to say I have got a cold, and
am afraid I am goinjof to have a fever ; but no fears are ex-
pressed of tlio cold lie has taken ; neither is it mentioned
when ilio cold left him. The fashionable practice is to fight
the remains of heat till the patient dies, by giving cold the
victory ; in which case is it not a fact that the doctor assists
the cold to kill the patient ? Would it not have botn more
reasonable, or likely to have cured them, when t!ie fever arose
to throw off the cold, to have helped the fever, and «;ive nature
the victory over its enemy, when the health would be restored
the same us before they took the cold.

We frequently see in the newspapers accounts of people
(lying in consequence of drinking cold water when very warm.
Some faU dead instantly, and others linger for several hours :
the doctors have not been able to afford any relief when called.
The principal symptoms are chills, and shivering with cold,
which is viewed with astonishment by those who witness it.
Proper caution should always be observed by persons when
very warm and thirsty, who go to a pump to drmk, by swaN
lowing somethin;jf luot before drinking the waiter, and swallow-
ing a little at a time, which will prevent any fatal effects.

This strange circumstance of being cold of a hot day, and
which has never been accounted for in a satisfactory manner
to the public, I shall endeavor to explain in as comprehensive
and plain language as I am capable. The component parts
of animal bodies are earth and water, and life and motion are
caijaed by fire and air. The inward heat is the fountain of
life, and as much ns that has the power above the outward
heat, so much we have life and strength, and when we lose
this power of heat, our strength and faculties decay in pro*
portion ; and it is immaterial whether we lose this power by
losing the inward heat or by raising the outward heat above
it, as the effect is the same. If you raise flic stream level
with the fountain, it stops the current and all motion will
cease, and the same effects will follow by lowering the foun*
tain to a level with the stream. When the outward heat
becomes equal with the inwjyd, either by the one's being raised
or the other's being lowered, cold assumes the power and
death takes place.

Tt

0 cause of the fatal effects by drinking cold water, is be-

''*''*««*-.

I P«,.»;W„^»—..*."

20

NEW GUIDE TO HEALTH

cause tlio fountain of life is lost f by the tttream being ruined
above the fountain, or the inward heat lowered by throwing
into the stomach so large a (quantity of cold water as to givo
the outward heat the power of baluucing the inward, and in
proportion as the one approaches to nn equality with tho
other, so the strength is diminished, and when cqunl they die.
I shall now make some further remarks on this subject with
a hope that it may be beneficial to mankind. The reason
why these extraordinary cases appear so wonderful to tho
people, is because they are unacquainted with the cause.
Why should we wonder at a person being cold on a hot day
when we are not, any more than we should wonder at another
being hungry, when we have just been eating ; or that others
can be in pain, when we are enjoying good health ? The one
is as plain and simple as the other, when understood. The
want of inward heat is the cause of their being cold, just as
much as the want of food is the cause of hunger, or the want
of health is the cause of pain. One person may have lost
the natural power of heat, by an effect which others in similar
situations may not have experienced, and will suffer the con-
sequences of cold in proportion to the loss of inward heat ;
this is manifest in the different degrees of sickness. If the
inward heat loses its balance of power suddenly, death is im-
mediate; which is the case in spotted fever, and in drowned
persons. When the inward and outward cold is balanced, life
ceases, and the blood being stopped in its motion, settles in
spots, which appearance has given name to what is called
spotted fever. The same appearances takes place on drowned
persons, and from the same cause.

ON STEAMING.

Steaming is a very important branch in my system of prac-
tice, which would in many cases without it be insufficient to
effect a cure. It is of great importance in many cases con^
sidered by the medical faculty as desperate ; and they would
be so under my mode of treatment, if it was not for this man-
ner of applying heat to the body, for the purpose of reanima-
ting the system and aiding nature in restoring health. I had
but little knowledge of medicine when through necessity I
discovered the use of steaming, to add heat or life to tho
decaying spark ; and with it I was enabled by administering
such vegetable preparations as I then had a knowledge of, to

rflt'C
giveii
In
ns ni
fihieli
bed, >
by St
cnusei
in pre
plied
to dry
ease, \
add a I
life an(
cold.
Dr..
! by a dr
rbath, t
hearing
may an
Isettled 1
ion the f
r 'pose, ail
medicin
)f the t
to the 1
iiurning
fcring 01
Meaminj
Inhere tj
lame tii
mch sidi
felf am
Jf burni
fy this
lised bj
|qual h(
lanner,
fleasurf
:casioi
The
the d\

OR, BOTANIC FAMILY PilY81C(AN.

91

ig ruined
hrowing

to givo
, and ill
vitli tho
llicy (lie.
ject witli
e reason
I to tho
e cause.

hot day
t another
lat others
The one
)d. Tlic
, just as
the want
liave lost
in similar
: the con-
ird heat ;
s. If the
uh is im-
1 drowned
inced, life

settles in
; is called
a drowned

n of prac-
ifficient to
cases coti"
{\ey would
r this man-
if reaniraa-
Ith. I had
lecessity I
ife to the
ministering
edge of, to

effect n cure in casea wliero the regular practiiioiiers had
given tliem over.

In all cases where the heat of the hody is so far exhoustcd
ns not to be rekindled by usin*; the medicine, and bein«r
shielded Irom the surrounding nir by a blanket, or being in
bed, and chills or stupor attend the patient, then applied heat
by steaming becomes indispensably necessary ; and heat,
. caused by steam in the manner that I use it, is more natural
in producing perspiration, than any dry beat that can be ap-
plied to the body in any other manner, which will only serve
to dry the air and prevent perspiration in many cases of dis*
case, where a steam by water or vinegar would promote it, and
add a natural warmth to the body, and thereby increase the
life and motion, which has lain silent in consequence of the
cold.
Dr. Jennings has contrived a plan to apply heat to the body
1 by a dry vapor, caused by burning spirit, whioh he calls a vapor
I bath, the idea of which was, I have no doubt, taken from
hearing of my steaming to raise the heat of the body. It
ijnay answer in some cases and stages of disease ; but in a
isettled fever and other cases where there is a dry inflammation
jon the surface of the body, it will not answer any good pur-
)ose, and 1 think would be dangerous, without the use of my
ledicine to first raise a free perspiration ; for when the surface
)f the body is dry, the patient cannot bear it, as it will crowd
to the head and caune distressi the same as is produced by
mrning charcoal, or from hot stoves in a tight room, and will
)ring on a difficulty in breathing, which is not the case in
^teaming in my way. This machine can only.be used in bed,
rhere the vapor cannot be applied to the body equally at the
ianie time, therefore is no better than a hot dry stone put on
bach side and to the feet of the patient, for he can turn hint-
lelf and get heat from them as well as to have all the trouble
]f burning spirit and turning to the vapor of it, to get warm
fy this dry heat. When the patient stands over a steam
lised by putting a hot stone in water, which gives a more
|qual heat all over the body than can be done in any other
lanner, it can be raised higher, and may be' tempered at
|leasure by wetting the face and stomach with cold water as
:casion requires.

The u^ethod adopted by roe, and which has always answer-
' the desired object^ is as follows— Take several stones of

t ■.••

■•v^*f''*""

•• • .1,0 f.ro till rt;J l»"^ ^'"^" '^ ■

different .i/.es and P"t tl>em m ^e J^^^ '^ ^, ,^ ,, «. Urule j.i
♦imcreni • r.-g. and put one of mcni «" . » ^-^,,1 „>ubt be

;»'^ """f" ^f h he stino half i-^^'^?^;^^' « a o .l.ield hi»

oil. wettina the face una sionia steaming. » '"■"

Ky other plan, jn-y ^'f-^ „grecable to the ra-o'".
would make '"'"f"^'! """twe to ^.at>>l "vcr tho.-ou.";.,

«ih blankets s6 a8 to shield ^betn 1 ^>' couvenieiil ni casc-|

• *^'';„ which it is performed. * "f^'^V?. (j. then sleau|

r^mp^ .Ton. aadin'g a tea .poonfu^^ ol ^-,«J,/„,, ,„ J

^nd when in bed repeat it, add.ng ^ »• ' , i,„aou ; »he|

. the."om.ch .nda«Ut "' ^"P^'^feotL mode «W. ."«: '"'I

on liOlAMC FAMILY PlltSU IAN.

f

oi

, ilion tul;<

)i UfltU: •»'

u\ must be

a hiiieltl his

\\u\ bU'uni.

Hto keep ui»

faint, Uirow

will let ilowii

r iliey Imvc

gcnerully br

II over willi > ^

dressed, us j^

re they are

a, or compo

nt is too weak

(1, by healing

Ijissing, then

oths wet with

iect, occasion

er, when (aint.

jaming, whicli -

! to the palienl,

vcr the ^ieain.,|

I they niiglit sii J

i tW\g\\i be in a ill' 1

aid and covrvtil |

lUrrounditig air •

.venient in cwaa '

,hri)u<^h a course
as is frequent 1)
we been of long

course of mcdi
the most prope
ve No. 2 and 3
. G ; then steam
^lich will cleans
rspiralion ; whe
jde with the saw
rvoiis aflection,
[ler into each do
8CP, where imn-

ilintc relief \>* nnruii'd, Nos. 1, 9, 3, and 0, may be given to-
j^cilicr. Irtj*!ction8 in;»y bo ndniini.iicrpd nl nil times and in
iill rases of disease to lulvantum; ; it can never <ia haiiu. iinl
in njanv cases, iliny are indi: i^ciisalily necessary, cspociaiiy
wliero thcro \s cankrr and ndlammaLimi in liio bo^vclu, iMul
lliero is no (hinger of mortification, in wliicii case add a it-a-
spoonful of No. 0. In ivso of iliia l;ind li'.e injection should
be pivjMi first, or at the tiiitno tiinu of giving tliu conipoaAiion,
or No. 3.

The use of stnaminj; is i^nod in preventing sickness as well
as curing it. Wlien a person has been exposed to the cold
and is threatened with diseu.sc, it may be prevented and long
sickness and expense saved by a very little trouble, by stand'
ing over a steam and following the directions before given, tdl
tlio cold is thoroughly thrown ofl' and a lively perspiration
takes place; then go to bed taking the stone from the kettle
and wrap it in wet cloths and put it to the feet. This may be
done without the medicine when it cannot be had ; but is much
better to take Homething to raise the inward heut at the same
litne. A tea mrvle of mayweed or summer savory, or ginger
and hot water sweetened, may be given, or any thing that is
warming. This advice is for the poor and those who have
not a knowledge of the medicine; and will many times save
them much trouble and long sickness.

Steaming is of the utmost importance in cases of suspended
animation, such as drowned persons ; in which case place the
body over a moderate steam, shielded by a blanket from the
weight of the external air, and rarifying the air immediatefy
around them with the steam. Pour into the mouth some of
the tincture of Nos. 1, '2 and 6 j and if there is any internal
heat remains, there will be muscular motion about the eyes
and in die extremities. If this symptom appears, repeat the
dosQ several times and renew the hot stones, raising the heat
by degrees; if the outward heat is raised too sudden, so as to
balance the inward, you will fail of the desired object, even
after life appears. This is the only danger of any difficulty
taking place — always bear in mind to keep the fountain above
the stream, or the inward heat above the outward, and all will
be safe. Afterlife is restored, put them in bed and keep the
perspiration free for twelve hours, by hot stones wrapped in
cloths we: with water, and occasionally giving the tincture as
before mentioned, when the coldness and obstructions are

''V;>- ,.-

f

«i^ ■• n^ ■' '•'• ■■

u

NEW GUIDE TO HEALTH ;

t

thrown off, and the patient will be in the enjoyment of Im
natural strength. Beware of bleeding or hlowin<r in the mouth
with H bellows, as either will generally prove fatal.

In many cases of spotted fever steaming is as necessary as
in drowned persons; such'as when they fall apparently dead ;
then the same treatment is necessary to lighten the surround*
ing air till you can raise the inward heat so as to get the
determining power to the surface. Begin with a small stone
and as life gains increase rhe steam as the patient can bear it ;
if the distress is great, give more hot medicine inside, and as
soon as an equilibrium takes place the pain will cease. In all
cases of this kind the difiiciilty cannot be removed without
applied heat to the body, and is more natural by steam than
by any other means that can be made use of. In cases of long
standing, where the patient has been run down with mercury
and left in a cold and obstructed state, liable to rheumatism
and other similar complaints, they cannot be cured with med-
cine without applied heat by steam, as nothing will remove
mercury but heat.

When a patient is carried through a course of my medicine
and steamed, who has been long under mercurial treatment ;
and while under the operation of the steam, when the heat ia
at the highest, the face will swell, in consequence of the pois-
onous \ apor being condensed by the air, the face being open
to it. To relieve this put them in bed, and take a hot stone
wrapped in sever^il thicknesses of cloth wet with water, pour-
ing on a little vinegar, and making a live steam; put it in the
bed and cover the head with the clothes and let them breathe
the steam as hot as can be borne, until the sweat covers the
swelled part. This, will in about fifteen or twenty minutes
throw out the poison and the swelling will abate. This method
also is of great service in agues and teethache caused by cold ;
and many other cases of obstruction from the same cause,
especially young children stuffed on the lungs.

To steam small children, the best way is to let them sit in
the lap of a person, covering both with a blanket and set over
the steam, pouring a little vinegar on the stone ; or it may be
done in bed with a hot stone, wrapped iti cloths wet with
water, putting on a little vinegar ; and covering them with the
'^^d cloths laid loosely over them ; but in this way you cannot
exercise so good judgment in tempering the steam as when
you are so steamed with them. If the child appears lanquid

of lufl
mouth

sary as
r dead ;
rround-
get the
U stone
bear it ;
5, and as
. In all

without
am than
!S of long

mercury
jumatism
irith roed-
\ remove

medicine
reatment ;
iie heat is
• the pois-
eing open
hot stone
ater, pour-
ut it in the
im breathe
covers the
uy minutes
'his method
led by cold *,
ame cause,

them sit in
and set over
or it may be
hs wet with
lem with the
y you cannot
jam as when
)ear» lanquid

OH, BOTAMC FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

25

and faint, the outward heat is high enough ; put a little cold
water on the face or breast, which will restore the strength,
then rub them in a cloth wet with vinegar, spirit or cold water,
put on clean clothes, and put them in bed, or let them set up
as their strength will permit. This is safe in all cases of
uold nnd obstructed perspiration. It ought always to be borne
strongly in mind to give a child drink often, when under the
operation of medicine, or while steaming ; if this is not done
they will sufTer much, as they cannot ask for it.

In all cases of falls or bruises, steaming is almost infalable ;
and is much better than bleeding, as is the common practice*
which only tends to destroy life instead of promoting it. If
the person is not able to stand over the steam, it must be done
in bed, as has been described. Give the hottest medicine in-
side that you have, and keep the perspiration free till the pain
and soreness abates, and the strength will soon be restored.
If the advantages of this mode of treatment was generally
known, bleeding in such cases, or any other to remove disease,
would never be restored to by the wise and prudent.

The use of steaming is to apply heat to the body where it
is deficient, and clear off obstructions caused by cold, which
the operation of the medicine will not raise heat enough to do ;
for as the natural heat of the body becomes thereby lower
than the natural state of health, it must by art be raised as
much above as it has been below ; and this must be repeated
until the digestive powers are restored, sufficient to hold the
heat by digesting the food, then the health of the patient will
be restored by eating and drinking such things as the appe-
tite shall require. In this way the medicine removes disease,
and food, by being properly digested, supports nature and
continues that heat on which life depends.

Some who practice according to my system boast of carry-
ing their patients through in a shorter time without the trouble
of steaming ; this is easily accounted for ; steaming is the
most laborious parts of the practice for those who attend upon
the sick, and the most useful to the patient ; as one operation
of steaming will be more effectual in removing disease, than
four courses without it i and to omit it is throwing the labors
upon the patient, with the expense of three or four operations
more of the medicine than would be needed did the person
who attends do his duty faithfully.

■;l"

A'.

J^'^

si

m..

f

.1

96

NEW GUIDE TO HEALTH |

Cni-mcea, beyond »" .i°V";^"Unner or form «h»tover.
A Arr'ivei from using in »ny "'" ,u„„ -,5 a Rtent deal of
?" Sns ; bat on the other h»n^J X" luonic cases m
{"""./one More than nine-tenths of '^« f J»"h„a been tun
ra^e'come onder .ny ^'JiiTe o "he "abovrnamed medical
Zwn With some one or the whole o. ^^ encounter

EKt^^^arXt- o*" t^^^^^^

very hard to get tl«m ""'Xe thinE' a' <n«^^«='»»' '*"" '"f
*i,n.« who make use of these """S- „..i„us pretence of

cJk°heaSm"«tering them »n^« ^'f„; Xem , bSt this kind
, Aill and art in preparing and «s'ng '" ' i^ examine

and every particle of it, "^^' ,y to health.

strengthen the power of V^® f " ,u/ ^inds of any one of the

H?here should be ^J^ncTrn^^^^
truth of what I »^-' Vdtrc w" o tV^e constitution and hedUi
beinir poisonous and destructive ubi.shed by those

TIU -" rttel?T,eT«S re'Jiey 'wiU find evidence
.who recommend tueir use,

Oli, BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

27

BO tOlTl'

3 of lUe
^t I wish

ale body
trongest
hat have
ing tner-
1 to cure
se things
angei'ous
J practice

this sub-
decidedly
Q possible
whatever,
at deal^
casea that

been run
»d medical

encounter
,red under,
opium, and
fore taking
system, but

le, seem to
pretence of
lUt this kind
Id examine
[ that every
. for poison
11, will have
fool. The
jd to nature,

gystemi

will

one of the
. have named
)n and health
hed by those
ind evidence

enough to satisfy tlie most credulous, of the dangerous conse-
quences and fatal effects of giving them as medicine. To re«
move all doubts of their being poison, 1 will make a few
extracts from standard medical works, as the best testimony
that can be given iu the case.

*' Muriate of Mcrciiryy is one of the most violent poisons
with which we are acquainted. Externally it acts as a caustic ;
but even externally, it must be used with very great caution.'*

" Oxi/dof Arsenic^ is one of the most sudden and violent
poisons we are acquainted with." — " When the quantity is so
very small as not to prove fatal, tremors, paralysis and linger-
ing hectics, succeed." — " We are on the combined testimony
of many medical practitioners, conspicuous for their profes-
sional zeal and integrity, irresistably induced to declare our
opinion, at least, against the internal use of this active and
dangerous medicine.*'

" Antimony^ is a medicine of the greatest power of any
known substance ; a quantity to minute to be sensible in the
most delicate balance is capable of producing violent effects,
if takeu dissolved, or in a soluble state." '* All the metalic
preparations are uncertain, as it entirely depends on the state
of the stomach, whether they have no action at all, or operate
with dangerous violence."

" Nitre, Salt Petre. This powerful salt, when inadvert-
ently taken in too large quantities, is one of the most fatal
poisons." — ** For some interesting observations relative to the
deleterious properties of salt petre, the reader is referred to
Dr. Mitchell's letter to Dr. Priestly."

" Opiumy when taken into the stomach to such an extent as
to have any sensible effect, gives rise to a pleasant serenety of
mind." — ** In a large dose, gives rise to confusion of the head
and virtigo." — "In still larger doses it acts iu the same manner
as the narcotic poisons."

There are several vegetables that grow common in this
country which are poisons ; and in order that the public may
be on their guard against using them as medicine, I will here
give a list of those within my knowledge, viz Garden Hem-*
lock. Night Shade, Apple Peru, Poppy, Henbane, Poke-root,
Garget-root, Wild Parsnip, Indigo-weed, Ivy, Dogwood, To-
bacco and Laurel. In case either of these articles^ or any
other poison, should be taken through accident, or otherwise
a strong preparation of No. 1, with a small quantity of No. 2
v.'ill be fcunil to be a sovereif?n lemedy.

•■.r^
*■•■

s

I
\

'. i

jt

28

NEW GUIDE TO HEALTH

DESCRIPTION OP THE VEGETABLE

MEDICINE USED IN MY SYSTEM OF PRACTICE.
In describing those vegetables which I make use of in reino*
ving disease and restoring the health uf the patient, agreeably
to my system of practice, I shall mention those only which
I have found riiost useful by a long series of practical knowl-
edge, and in the use of which I have been successful in
effecting the desired object. A great number of articles in
the vegetable kingdom, that are useful as medicine, might be
described and their medical virtues pointed out, if I thought
it would be beneficial ; in fact I am confident there are very
few vegetable productions of our country, that 1 have not a
tolerable good knowledge of, it having been my principal
study for above thirty years ; but to undertake to describe
them all would be useless and unprofitable to my readers and
could lead to uo good result. The plan that I have adopted
in describing such articles as I have thought necessary to men-
tion, and giving directions how to prepare and administer
them, is to class them under the six numbers which forms my
system of practice ; this was thought to be the best way to
give a correct and full understanding of the whole subject.
Each number is calculated to effect a certain object, which is
stated in the heading to each as they are introduced ; every
article, therefore, that is useful in promoting such object, will
be described as applicable to the number uiider which it is
classed. The three first aro used to remove clisease, and the
others as restoratives. There are a number of preparations
and compounds, that I have made use of and found good in
curing various complaints ; the directions for making them
and a description of the articles of which they are composed
are given as far as was deemed necessary. The manner of
applying them will be hereafter more particularly stated, when
I come to give an account of the manner of treating some of
the most important cases of disease which have come under
my care

No. 1. — To cleanse the Stomachy overpower ilie Coldf mid pro-
mote a free perspiration. Emetic Herb. Lobelia 1n-
FLATA of Linnseus. * %-

In giving, a description of this valuable herb I shall be more
jparticular, because it is the most important article made use

r

0

p

it
ki

fo

CG

P«
pl(

bui

«,

is

its
to I
con
whi
ahoi
to ai
my
In
cove
vvhic
this i
in re I
very
• any tl
ducinl
IS poij
greeal
ducet
and

ivveer
In coi
ibis hi
repre^
^ce, t]
by adf
oath,
it did
is unni
the fa[
on th(

■%,.

"-'*»■ "^mm

OR, BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

29

JTICE.

in reino*
grceably
ly which
i\ knowl-
:essful ill
fticles in
might bo
1 thought
5 are very
lave not a

principal
0 describo
aders and
e adopted
ry to men-
administer
forms my
)est way to
)le subject,
t, which 13
:ed ; every
object, will
which it is
ise, and the
ireparations
nd good in
aliing them
e composed

manner of
stated, when
ting some oi
Bome under

old, and pro-
Lobelia In-

shall be more
iz\o made use

of iu my system of practice, without which it would b& incom-
plete, and the medical virtues of which and the administering
it in curing disease, I claim as my own discovery. The first
knowledge I ever had of it was obtained by accident more than
forty years ago ; and never had any information whatever
concerning it,|except what I have gained jby my own ex-
perience. A great deal has been said or late aboiU this
plant, both in favor and against its utility as a medicine ;
but all that the faculty have said or published concerning
f it, only shows their ignorance of the subject; for there
is very little truth in what they have stated concerninjic
its medical properties, except wherein they have admitted it
to be a certain cure for the asthma, one of the most distressing
complaints that human nature is subject to. It is a truth
which cannot be disputed by anyone, that all they have known
about this article, and the experiments that have been made
to ascertain its value, originated in my making use of it in
my practice.

In the course of my practice, a number of the doctors dis-
covered that the medicine I made use of produced effects
which astonished them, and which they could not account for;
this induced them to conclude that because it was so powerful
in removing disease, it must be poison. This I think can be
very satisfactorily accounted for ; they have no knowledge of
any thing in all their medical science, which is capable of pro-
ducing a powerfu 1 effect upon thehuman system, except what
IS poisonous, and therefore naturaUy form their opinions a«
greeably to this erroneous theory. There is a power to pro»
duce death, ^ hich are of course directly opposed to each other;
and whatever tends to promote life, cannot cause death, let its
j power be ever so great. In this consists all the difference be-
>v tween my system of practice and that of the learned doctors.
In consequence of their thus forming an erroneous opinion of
this herb, which they had no knowledge of, they undertook to
represent it as a deadly poison; and in order to destroy my prac- ~
tice, they raised a hue«and<cry about my killing my patients
by administering it to them. Some of the faculty even made
oath, that it was poison, and when taken into the stomach, if
it did not cause immediate vomiting it was certain death. It
is unnecessary for mc now to point out the falsity of this, for
the fact is pretty well known, that there is no death in it ; but
oil the contrary thui there is no vegetable that the earth produo

I

I

!

1

NEW OUIPE TO HEALTH ;
30 .u_ finman system, unJ

none more puwo

""'^tre i.no mention of U,i, '•-^■J-.l^-^rl^VclS "^

h Jo abteto find, previous to -y «»^^°Son of.it under the

Unn^o ! «ho has given a correct de c ,. ^^^^^ _^^j ,

^Lobelia Inflaia i but there " """""'".oncludo that they

When the faculty first tnade he ms ^ .^ ^^ ^^ ^ ^^ aiy
i^ !;ir Herb in my practice, they o^c^* means in their

Emetic HerDiyF. by f\^ViUed my patients

Sower land' reponiSg to the world ^^^ /^XnTL'd allow

S"t\\'ll^y-'everyre^^^^^^^

i» to he my own discovery ' °;" '*' ■ - ^o become an article oi

been exposed, and they find ^^ i« go^^S^^^^^^ ,„ rob me of aU

treat value, an attempt ^^ems to be maK b ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^

^«;«^t fir causing its value to De Ru ^Vich some who

■ "'S'r'ITh.cf.eria h» »X ^r" one""'' ""'•"!" J^afiu!;
.,«» nf th'ia herb ; but is verv c* nnnearsthat all the

St^of H^ its vK is "orroved

knowledge he has on the '"bject, a' t» ^.^.^^^^^^

from othws, and is P"'''?'''y,,''"' doctors «ho knew nothing
ent" tai-ed of its power by '1^«» *,;" t»aW»S ''^* "! '!' ■?
tboot it, except what they 8»'"'VeInB dangerous to admims-
hasbeei before stated. A»""^,i Lquently destroys tho
ter it. and that if it does not P"^» ". "b2„„ ., and that even
pat ent° ""d sometimes m «'« " J^" .^be killed by eating .
Cesand cattle have bf »?"PPSrue?ana only proves tV.,.-
accidentally, « « »¥l'^ ''h' tX » melancholy '\«'lTr.tl
rSflnrtig^adJni^^^^^^^^^
hand of anoted empiric, f '» ^» "^'oSed leaves, and often

.■#

OR, BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

31

)nioting

It 1 have
pting by
nder the
medical
that they
»e useful,
used the
a deadly
i9 in their
y patients
and allow
;e of it has
Q article of
3 me of all
the profits
some who
he purpose

I to give an
,t in the de-
» that all the
is borrowed
culous ideas
new nothing
use of it, a»
9 to admiuis-
desiroys the
id that even
I by eating U
proves ths.vr
J story aiiout
adventurous
administered
ves, and often
samples of its
s, there is no
tlse statements
prejudice the
that 1 usually

prescribed is a rea^spoonful of the powder \ but that it ever
produced any fatal effects is altogether incorrect, and is well
known to be so by all who have any correct knowledge on tlie
subject.

What is quoted in the Dispensatory from the Rev. Dr. M.
Cutler, concerning this herb, is in general correct, particular-*
]y as regards its being a specific for the asthma ; though ha
labored under many mistaken notions about its effects when
taken into the stomach ; he says, ** if the quantity be a little
increased, it operates as rq emetic and then as a cathartic, its
effects being much the same as those of the common emetics
and cathartics." In this he is mistaken, for it is entirely difs
ferent from any other emetie known ; and as to its operating
as a cathartic, I never knew it to have such an effect in all my
practice. And I certainly ought to know something about it,
after having made use of it for about twenty years, and ad«
ministering it in every form and manner that it fian be given,
and for every disease that has come within my knowledge. It
appears that all the knowledge he and other doctors have got
of this herb being useful in curing diseases, particularly in the
asthma, was obtained from me ; for when I was prosecuted, I
was obliged to expose my discoveries to shew the falsity of the
indictment. Dr. Cutler was brought forward as a witness at
my trial, to prove the virtues of this plant, by his evidence
that he cured himself of the asthma with it. He says the first
information he had of its being good for that complaint was
from Dr. Drury of Marblehead. In the fall of the year 1807,
I introduced the use of the Emetic Herb, tinctured in spirit,
for the asthma and other complaints of the lungs, and cured
several of the consumption. In 1808 1 cured a woman in New-
in^jton, of the asthma, who had not lain in her bed for six
months. I gathered some of the young plants not bigger than
a dollar, bruised them and tinctured them in spirits, gave her
the tincture, and she lay in bed the first night. I shewed her
what it was, and how to prepare and use it, and by taking this
and other things according to my direction, she has enjoyed a
comfortable state of health for twelve years, and has never
[been obliged to sit up one nigiit since. The same fall I used
it in Beverly and Salem; ^id there can be no doubt but all
Ithe information concerning the value of this article was ob>
jtained from my practice. « j .

After Dr. Cutler had given his testimony of the virtues of

I

r-

^.EW GWDE TO HEALTH ;

fntrodacing .t '»«> ,""'^1. " '>»y "*" *!',"«" he fatal cff««»

tZx. »b»«V™Se eT^' re:!.pooni> of J ■« P- ft 'from
andwys t "*"'"'' ,e diteclions f"' """8 J'' aoDoar. strange
«heB he comes to g.«e i^,, „fe,y I« 'PP^ff.ets in

ministered by » i««" .„.,totv under the

medicine ! .„.,ibed in Thacher's P'«P*"''' ,/ Weed and
Thishetb IS dMeriDea Ematioo, Emetic v»e

names of Lobelia "•"?«' „al otiier names have been g'" ^
;Xn Tobacco ; ana '««] »^',,„ fo, the P"P»^«„°f a^Ja u
some by «£;VsStt; •" •f.«^'''ffl''Vv in ascertaining

?,bichlias been »»*V,' been one reason of 1'' ^e "K,^„!,aloo
that tiame, has probably n ^^^ ^,^^ """^ .f; '"e^d by that

to be « P»»J,"-o, notV here is a P^'-'^VsemWe'y different
given It, 1 know not ^^.^ country,b«t w em r y j^

rr'tht'he b bo'th in »PPe"»nhere"?s directions given for

»» £--,t"l ^itrp^-Je;^^^^^^^^^^^^^

that «*"?«»S°^*d that all the knowledge ihey n .^ ^^^

employed by the. bo. gm are «««■??''»? i°/tt "founded

atancc

use of

the mi

eviden

and

from n

say bui

country

knowie

conceri

The

growth

o six ce

ground,

bear the

and is si

it looks

and cold

livening

stalk froi

qumber (

in July ii

is folio we

taining i

resemblai

higher th

•went, and

rity about

«urn a litti

J what is ca

lyears exij

\ Thisph

[the land is

^ay befot

Kation, froi

fot and wc

liot and

lie season

earance;

aes not CO

|und the n

pna Bostoi

OR, BOTUnO VAHILI PUVQUilAa.

*'

uV

. of
ison

fects
ven ;
•j and
from

r \9 ot^
a usefuV

le ^}

•tanca of its having been employed m a medicine till I mada
use of it. Tlie fact is it ii a new article, wholly unknown to
the medical faculty, till I introduced it into use, and the best
evidence of this is, that they are now ignorant of its powers ;
and all the knowledge thev have of it has been obtained
from my practice, h would be folly for me to undertake to
say but that it may have been used by the natives of thii
country ; but one thing I am' certain of, that I never had any
knowledge of their using it, nor ever received any information
concerning it from them or any one else.

The Emetic Herb may be found in the first stages of its
growth at all times through the summer, from the bigness of
a six cent piece to that of a dollar and larger, lying flat on tho
ground, in a round form like a rose pressed flat, in order to
bear the weight of snow which lays oh it during the winter,
end is subjiect to be winter *killed like wheat. In the sprinff
it looks yellow and pale, like other things suffering from wet
and cold ; but when the returniug sun spreads forth its en*
livening rays upon it, lifts up its leaves and shoots forth a'
stalk from this height of from twelve to fifteen inches, with a*
number of branches, carrying up its leaves with its growth,
in July it puts forth small pointed pale blue blossoms, which
is followed by small pods about the size of a white bean, con-
taining numerous very small seeds. This pod is an exact
resemblance of the human stomach, havingan inlet and outlet
higher than the middle ; f^om the inlet it receives nourish«
ment, and by outlet discharges the seeds. It eomes to matu«
rity about the first of September, when the leaves and pods
turn a little yellow; this is the best time to gather it. It is
1 what is called by botanists a biennial plant, or of only two
[years existence.

This plant is common inall parts of this country. Wherever

the land is fertile enough to yield support for its inhabitants it

)ay be found. It is confined to no soil which is fit for culti*

t'ation, from the highest mountains to the lowest vallies. In

|ot and wet seasons it is most plenty on dry and warm lands ;

hot and dry seasons on clayey and heavy lands. When

le season is cold, either wet or dry, it rarely makes its ap-

iarance; and if the summer and fall is very dry, the seed

)es not come up, and of course there will be very little to be

lund the next season. I have been in search of this herb

>m Boston to CanBda, and was not able to collect more than

5 T :-: , .

tisW OWDK TO !l«ALTK;

growth, and ^^J ^^f S when plenty. la the yea ^^ ^^.^
lav up a good ^^"^^'J °* ^ _ .housand dollars for a po

Kd o'ffered f. '^^f.^e be^'^ ^° ^^^'^ tuars f 'anVunce-
herb, I should not h*;« ^^^ have gWeo two dollar^ o ^^^^^.,

leen the time "»^^ /J ^^ none to be had - wm

cattle, and is ha « ^^.^ ^^^ . but the re ^ ,,eaisplanted
plant, and a native countries, it »"?> " j^^d more

»^*'"KtTdTga^^^^^^^^^ and .Ul be -"^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ are left it
and cu\nvaiea » » „„ing wild. " »"" , , „ jhe seed ;

vigorous t .an "h«" «obably may be P'o^^jjefo, e they come
«ill sow '««'f' '"tStemain in the 6™""* °V°';rimenU to
but how long '*>«'« 'vet having ro»<le '"y "P*I' ftom the
"P' \t Te fac 'iHrcertain that •« - PJ, f^aUt may uc.

the plant, t lai ground. „,„nrtant particular,

iBBstone «'"«' '^iff..f„. in one »ery important F

■^"".ffi tt^ I l-ave a knowledge of that^th^ ^^ I
*""°.?" ^Sfptoduce the same effec ma. ^^,„,iiyJ
quantity will PJ". , appearance t " 't '?",.,„ niontionJ
e'O-^V^irtim: for gathering it, a. ha, ^;^'^^, for .her|

OR, BOTANIC FAMILY PHTSICIAK.

n

,0 eot-

o( »w
tt\ and

I bave^
n ounce
necesai-
B plenty,
id gtow-
iirnpiVies.
aid down
eaien bV
t IB a Wild
3 doubt of

f aod mote
.9 are left^t
^ the seed ,
etbeycomo
,er\tnent* to
,ed from the
M it may uo*
^ other vege-
the nature of
shave lam all

v.pen mentionl

Sgechamberof

\Vhen perfect

a common mj

ff the leaves ai

" Thi3 hel

\uud« fJ<>«^ *

green herb with ipirit. 3J. Tlie seeds reduced to a fine pow-
der, and compounded with Nos. 2 and 6.

1. After the leaves and pods are separated from the stalks,
pouud or grind them in a mortar to fine powder, sift it through
a fine sieve, and preserve it from the air. This is the most
common preparation, and may be given in many JifTerent
ways, either by itself or compounded with other articles.
For a common dose take a teaspoonful of this powder, with
the same quantity of sugar, in half a teacupful of warm water,
or a tea of No. 3 may be used instead of the water ; this dose
may be taken all at one time, or at three times, at intervals of
ten minutes. For a young child strain off the liquor, and give
B part as circumstances shall require. There is but one way
in which this herb can be prepared that it will refuse its ser«
vices, and that is when boiled or scalded ; it is therefore im-
portant to bear in mind that there must never be any thing
put to it warmer than a blood heat.

2. To prepare the tincture, take the green herb in any
Btage of its growth, (if the small plants are used take roots
and all) put them into a mortar and pound them fine, then
add the same quantity of good spirit ; when well pounded and
worked together, strain it through a fine cloth, and squeeze
and press it hard to get out all the juice ; save the liquor in
bottles, close stopped, for use. Good vinegar, or pepper sauce
may be used instead of the spirit. Prepared in this manner,
it is an effectual counter-poison, either taken, or externally
applied. It is also an excellent medicine for the asthma, and
all complaints of the lungs. This is the only way in which
the doctors have made use nf the Emetic Herb ; and they
acknowledge it to be one ^f the best remedies in many com*
plaints, that has been found, though they know but little about
it. For a dose take from half to a teaspoonful. Its effect
will be more certain if about the same quantity of No. 2, is
added, and in all cases where there are nervous symptoms,
add half a teaspoonful of nerve powder (Unibil) to the dose.

3. Reduce the seeds to a fine powder in a mortar, and- take
half an ounce of this powder, or about a large spoonful, with
the same quantity of No. 2, made fine, and put them in a gill
of No. 6, adding a teaspoonful of Umbil ; to be kept close
stopped in a buttle for use; when taken to be well shaken
together. This preparation is for the most violent attacks of
disease^ such as lockjaw, bits of mad dog, drowned perioDv

h

*• f ....mndtd •iilni»tton, wl'«»

«« ««m*. •»« i" »» "»"? "'. u wm K» through the .y.-

cMei where tM •(» pouring tome of «»« "H ^ , ,ho

*'''\rb.tVr«h«<!h^'''°*'"*;h1 .'p°^m.«m r«l«, .od
Ti?. M ih. roou of the toDKue, the '^^^ y, .m „pen i

«i>«n«ive»do»»"' "• »M,v a fa, canker. Ttiie ™"f': „,
~^™?it nndgWe»teaofNo.^><>' *• a i„ less violent
repeat It, »nu » ^ j|,,f, « ■■ gu» ^ applied

»•"' ""^ITnaou? the »•»'•» •"* T" P 1 have cured iVree
•"•.• »'',^f *««".&'. will remove *em. J h»;« « ^i„„„,

ri«k.:"t."p^»»f^ I « of the Emetic Herb, and
*-M Jch ht. bJeS .aid of '"e jwer of the Em^^, . j ,
~»"''r •JSrS'.t 'Set northe least danger .„-
uture the Pyhl'O »'•'« '^4„„ ftom one day old to per»
it; 1 have »«» « " ^werful in removing disease, b« '""J.
60 year.. It >• 7'» P^n in diff««°^P*Xe natuX"-

enemy. T^^J? * • and when there is no. ^^^7 '« this med-
icine 18 «j««»^ *"*; a. food removes hunger ana or ^^

prichliog ft«>'ng 1 ko tuav ^^^ „„acq«ainted .«""^^,io„^f

{hi. 'y^PT. !l«.»Xotable. being a «"'"" J'ftom that
rt:i"^X."Sder. and they generall ^-

„„««*-#«*«.-

^mm^

OR, DOT Ame rmuM nnmotAB.

m

. In

and
10 the
esthe

;, and
open 9
bated t
)ur»e I
violent
applied
d three
violent

, a man
lave not
For 9

erb, and
)ut 1 can
in using
ersons of
but inno-
s accord-
tural cur-
bere this
ying, and
ibere is no
is nothing
the hody
, this med-
•emove the
ink thirst.
It regard to

riuro in the
iroducing a
ibe elbow ;
yiib its ope-
ndication of
Q from that

itii maUof

■i

of leaf eoniequence than ii (enerallj Imagined. The moii
important thing i§ to give enough to produce the desired
effect. If too little is given it will worry the patient, and do
little good ; if more is given than what is neceiiary, the lur*
plus will be thrown off, and is a waste of medicine. I have
given directions what I consider at a proper dose in common
cages, of the different preparations, but still it must be left to
the judgment of those who use it, how much to sive. The
most safe way will be to give the smallest prescribed dose first,
then repent it till it produce the wished operation. In casea
where the stomach is cold and very foul, its operation will be
slow and uncertain ; in which case give No. 2, which ivill
assist it in doing its work.

When this medicine is given to patients that are in a decline,
or are laboring under a diseuse of long standing, the symp«
toms indicating a crisis will not take place, till they have been
carried through from three to eight courses of the medicine ;
and the lower they have been, the more alarming will be the
symptoms. I have had some who would lay and sob like a
child that had been punished, for two hours, not able to speak,
or to lift their hand to their head ; and the next day be about
and soon get well. In cases where they have taken consider-
able opium, and this medicine is administered, it will in its
operation produce the same appearances and symptoms, that
js produced by opium when first given, which having lain
dormant) is roused into action by the enlivening qualities of
this medicine, and they will be thrown into a senseless state ;
the whole system will be one complete mass of confusion,
tumbling in every direction ; will take two or three to hold
.them on the bed ; they grow cold as though dying ; remain-
ing in this way from two to eight hours, and then awake, like
one from sleep, after a good nif^ia's rest ; be entirely calm and
sensible as though nothing had ailed them. It is seldom they
ever have more than one of these turns ; as it is the last
struggle of the disease, and they generally begin to recover
from that time. I have been more particular in describing
these effects of the medicine, as they are very alarming to
those unacquainted with them, in order to show that there is
no danger to be apprehended, as it is certain evidence of a
favorable turn of the disease.

The Emetic Herb is of great value in preventing sickness
as well 88 curing it ; by taking a dose when first attacked by

'■t#**

ninD6 ^ VfBJi^^*^ '•
■« J*rthro«Uoff.«nafren.-/r^Proff*e

.ickne»»- ^'""L- , that nawte doei o"' ,7.,., of the body.
of the system ; •>« "V fl„ickenmg. ""V,,,,,, itself, »na

in removing »" » .„°e other niedicme «» "°. „ the food, 't
fnotfoHowed by some ^^, itself bj ^la^ "as become

tv„Tr.&i i^p"-' ^nsCg-rme-^Sh

edge of, that """l-^ V» „. No. 3 to ';«»°" '„';'„g will. N«s. 4
ev»po««' »l^/of d "ease; »»* '''fLs-. iotand sttengtlje"
i, the great "f ^»'^,e, restore the d'S^'^^J't „g 9 cute. D'-

,M CO' P'«''"'"';'.^,^^„„, „«„, Uai of ./.e^,.* -^
„,^_.To r.t.i-^t-p-'er.pira.io".

CAVENlSE.--C«J'f";';;-be unnecessary to

bv being g^Tv^a^n some degree, its »"» medicmj

vrilh U : ihU des"°y'' ent ; but it is not so goo^ J ^^ Soulh
:nLBkesitlesspu«gen^^^ ^^.^ ^^f .t WestTndia islands ;
as in the P»;!/;„ttWated inmany ofj^^ej^ Demarara

America, and is c"»tivj . ^,ntry is '^r^^S'" ^ ^-orid ; I
fC wbicb c««l^,«J^^otrowsin other part of ^^^.
and Jamaica. ^^ *^^^^^|a pounds ot U m ^ l" ,„d at Ports-
once bought one hund^e P ^^.^^^ . uad t g ,,,

brought f^^r L ascoodas ^"^y \TL\^i^^^ ^^ ^'^P''"
••»• "• "'/ •'when he pod. are green the) 8

|!

■• r

flb. BOTAltIC lAMILT rflYBICUH

39

em,

an^

X
t

essary to
ong time
id for uso
lit mixed
ig effects,
me dicing
of South ..
a islands ; |
Demarara '
world ; I
vfhich was
I at Ports-
There are
of Capsi"
jtimulating
; and poinl-
of a bright
ihered, and

ptwtned in salt and water, and brought to this country
in \)ottle9, when vinegar is put to them, which is lold undsr
the name of Pepper- Sauce. The ripe pdds ground to a pow-
der is what is used for medicine and cooking, but the Pepper
Sauce is very good, to be taken as a medicine and applied ex*
ternally ; the green pods hold their attracting power till ripe,
and therefore keep their strength much longer, when put in
vinegar, as the bottle may be filled up a number of timesi
and the strength seems to be the same ; but when the ripe
pods are put in vinegar, the first time will take nearly all the
strength.

I shall not undertake to dispute but that Cayenne has been
used for medical purposes long before I had any knowlodgf
of it ; and that it is one of the safest and best articles ever
discovered to remove disease, I know to be a fact, from *ong ex*
perience ; but it is equally true that the medical faculty nev>
er considered it of much value, aud the people had no knowl*
edge of it as a medicine, till I introduced it in my practice.—
Mention is made of Cayenne in the Edinburgh Dispensatory
as chiefly employed for culinary purposes, but that of lat..
it has been employed also in the practice of medicine. Th«
author says that ^Uhere cnn be little doubt that it furnishe
one of the purest and strongest stimulants which can be intrc
duced into the stomach ; while at the same time it has noth
iiig of the narcotic effects <>( ardent spirits. It is said t
have been used with success in curing some cases of disease
that had resisted nil other remedies." All tlisl am satisfiCi
is true, fur if given as a meJicine it always will be found use
ful ; but all tlie knowledge they had of it seems to havi-
becn derived from a few experiments that had been made^
without fixing upon any particular manner of preparing
or administering it, or in what disease, as is the case with all
other articles that are introduced into general practice. In
Thacher's Dispensatory the sqme account is given of Cay-
enne, as in the Edinburgh, nnd in almost the same words.

I never had any knowledge of Cayenne being useful as a
medicine, or that it had ever been used as such till I discov-
ed it by accident, as hus been the case with most other articles
used by me. After I had fixed upon a system for my govern-
ment in practice, I found much difficulty in getting something
that would not only produce a strong heat in the body, but
would retain Jt till the canker could be removedi and (be di«

1 I

40

KBW ooiOB TO e«Ai;rH

I

gestire poweri restored, to that the food by being properly di«
gested, would maintain the natural heat. I tried a great
number of articles that were of a hot nature; but could find
nothing that would hold the heat any length of time. I made
use of ginger, mustard, horse radish, peppermint, butternut
bark, and many other hot things; but they were all more or
less volatile, and would not have the desired effect. With
these however, and the Emetic Herb, together with tho
aid of steam, I was enabled to practice with pretty general
success. In the fall of thfe yea^ 1805, I was out in search of
Umbil, on a mountain, in Walpole, N. H. I went into a
house at the foot of the mountain, to enquire for some rattle*
snake oil :' while ita thehoiise I saw a large string of red pep-
pers hanging in the room, vi^hich put me in mind of what I
bad been a long (itAe ih search of, to retain the internal heat.
i knew them to be very hot ; but did not know* of what nature.
I obtained these peppjirs, carried them home, reduced them
to powder, and took some of the powder mysielf, and found it
fO' answer the purpose better than any things else I had made
lise of. I put it ih spirit with the Emetic Herb, and gave
tlie tincture mix«d ih a tea of witch hazle leaves, and found
that it Would retain the heat in the stomach after puking; and
preserve the strength of the patient in proportion. 1 made
tae of it in ditbrent ways for two years, and always with good
success.

In the fafl of ^07 I was in Newbui^port, and saw a bottle
of pepper-sauce, being thefitstl had ever seen; I bought it
And carried it home; got some of the same kind of pepper
tikat was dried, which I put into the bottle, this made it very
hot. On my way home was taken unwell, and was quite cold ;
I took a swollow from the bottle, Which caused violent pain
Ihr a few minutes, when it produced perspiration, and I soon
grew easy, it afterwards tried it/and found that after it had
expelled the cold it would not cause pain. From these ex-
periments I became convinced that this kind of pepper was
much stronger, and would be better for medical use than the
common red pepper. Soon after this I was again in Newbu-
ryport, and made enquiry and found some Cayenne ; but it
was prepared with salt for table use, which injured it for med-
ical purposes. 1 tried it by tasting, and selected that which
had the least salt in it. fafterwards made use of this article,'
and foaol it to answer all the purposes wi&hed : and was the

I

I
e

« il

f
u

/ H

! in

to

001

Poj

for.

broi

Bent

ttuc

puti

scan

amor

docto

Caye
stomj

howet
said al
its nn
came
in curl
use of I
was tl
made
to pati|
come
ppiTect
eiFects I
t'on ];j
poweri
life dei
*Hemoj
liimiteJ

0!i> BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICUN.

41

f

1

s

iV

)f

a

e-

n

at.
ire.
em
dit
ado
;ave
und
and
nade
good

tottle

ht it
jpper
very
cold)
paia
soon
it had
se ex*
was
n the
ewbu-
but it
' med-
which
article,'
■vas the

I

it

?erf thing I had long been in search of. The next year I
went to Portsmouth, and made enquiries concerning Cayenne,
and from those who dealt in the article I learned that it was
brought to this country from Demarara and Jamaica, prepar-
ed only for table use, and that salt was put with it to preserve .
it and make it more palatable. I became acquainted with a
French Gentleman who had a brother in Demarara ; — and
made arraugements with him to send to his brother and re-
quest him to procure some and have it prepared without salt*
He did so and sent out a box containing about eighty pounds
in a pure state. I sent also by many others, that were going
to the places where it grows, to procure all they could : in
consequence of which large quantities were imported into
Portsmouth, much more than there was immediate demand
for. I was not able to purchase but a small part of what was
brought, and it was bought up by others on speculation, and
£ent to Boston ; tne consequence was, that the price was 00
much reduced, that it wAuld not bring the first cost, which
put a stop to its being imported, and it has einco been very
scarce.

When I first began to use this article, it caused much talk
among the people in Portsmouth and the adjoining towns; the
doctors tried to frighten them by telling that I made use of
Cayenne pepper as a medicine, and that it would burn up th»
stomach and lungs as bad as vitriol. The people generally,
however, became convinced by using it, that all the doctors
said about it was false, and it only proved their ignorance of
its medical virtues, and their malignity towards me. It sooo.
came into general use, and the kno^viedge of its being useful
in curing disease was spread all through the country. I made
use of it in curing the spotted fever, and where it if as known, [
was the only thing depended oh for that diseases X have
made use of Cayenne in all kinds of disease, and had given it
to patients of all ages and under every circumstance that has
come under my practice ; and can assure the , public that it is,
perfectly harmless, never having known it to produce any bad
effects whatever. It is no doubt the most powerfi^l stimiila*^ ^
tion known ; its power is entirely congenial to nature, being ^
powerful only in raisingend maintaining that heatonf whicn
life depends. It is extremely pungent, and when taken sets '
the mouth as it were on fire ; this lasts, however, b|it a few
niitiutes, and I consider it essootially a benefit, for its effects **
5

i

m^'

**.,

42

NEW GDIDE TO HEALTH

on the glands causet the saliva to (low freel/, and loQTes the
iDOQth clean and moist.

The only preparation necessary Is to have it ground or
pounded to a fine powden For a dose, from halfioatea-
spoorful may be taken in hot water, sweete*^ed, or the same
quantity may be mixed with either of the other numbers, when
talien. It will produce a free perspiration, which'should be
kept up by repeating the dose, until the disease is removed. —
A spoonful, with an equal quantity of common salt, put into
a gill of vinegar, makes a very good sauce, to be eaten on
meat, and will assist the appetite and strengthen the di^esture ;
one spoonful of this preparation may be taken to good advan-
tage, and will remove faint, sinking feelings, which some are
subject to, especially in the spring of the year. Pepper sauce
is good for the same purpose. A tea*spoonful of Cayenne
may be taken in a tumbler of cider, and is much better than
ardent spirits. There is scarce any preparation of medicine
that I make use of, in which I do not put some of this article.
It will cure the ague in the face, by taking a dose, and tying a
email quantity in fme cloth and put it between the cheek and
teeth on the side that is affected, sitting by the fire covered
with a blanket. It is good to put on old sores.

RED PEPPERS.
These are very plenty in this country, being cultivated in
gardens, and are principally made use of for pickling ; for
which purpose the pods are gathered when green, and preserv-
ed in vinegar. It is of the same nature as Cayenne pepper, but
not so strong ; end is the best substitute for that article of a-
ny thing I have found. For medical use they should not be
gathered till ripe, when they are of a bright red colour ;
should be reduced to a fine powder, and may be used instead
of Cayennei when that article cannot be obtained.

GINGER.

This a root which is brought from foreign countries, and is
too well known to need any further description. It is a very
good article,, having a warming and agreeable effect on the
stomach. It is a powerful stimulant, and is not volatile like
many other hot articles ; and is the next best thing to raise
the inward beat, and promote perspiration, and may be used
with gOfod success for that purpose, as a substitute for Cayenne

-«w«r

be

y

or
lea-
ame
?hen
> be
,d.—

into
n on
tuve ;
dvan-
le are
sauce
yenno
• tban
dicme
article,
tying a
jk and
•ovetcd

vated in
ng ; for
preserv-
pper,but
cle ofa-

not bo
1 colour ;

instead

es, and is
ia a very
. on tbe
ati'e like
g to raise
ay be used
t Cayenu^e

OR, BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

43

j

when that or the red peppers cannot bo had. It is sold in the
shops ground, but is somctimea mixed with other articles to
increase the quantity, and is not so strong. The best way is
to get the roots, and grind or pound them to a fine powder. —
The dose must be regulated according to circumstances ; if
given to raise the interial heat, and cause perspiration, it must
be repeated till it has the desired effect. It makes an excel-
lent poultice, mixed with pounded cracker, or slippery elm
bark, for which 1 make much use of. To keep a piece of the
root in the mouth and chew it like tobacco, swallowing the
the juice, is very good for a cough and those of a consump-
tive habit ; and this should be aiso done by all who are ex*
posed to any contagion, or are attending on the sick, as it
will guard the stomach against taking the disease. It may
betaken in hot water, sweetened, or in a tea of No. 3.

BLACK PEPPER.

This may be used to good advantage as a substitute for the
foreign articles, when they are not to be had, and may be
prepared and administered in the same manner. These four
that 1 have mentioned, are all the articles I have been able to
6nd, that would hold the heat of the body for any length of
time; all the others that I have tried ore so volatile that they
do little good.

No. 3. — To scour the Stomach and Bowelst and remove the

Cafl^er.
Under this head I shall describe each vegetable productions
are as good for Canker, and which I have found to !)e best ir.
removing the thrush from the throat, stomach, and bowels,
caused by cold, and there will be more or less of it in all cases
or diseases ; for when cold gets the power over the inward
heat, the stomach and bowels become coated with canker,
which prevents those numerous little vessels, calculated to
nourish the system from performing their duty. A cure there-
fore cannot be effected without removing this difficulty, which
must be done by such things as are best calculated to scour off
the canker, and leave the juices flowing free. There are many
articles which are good for this, but I shall mention such only
as I have fouiid to be best. Several things that aire us^d^fbr
canker are too binding, and do more hurt than good, as they
cause obstructions. I have adopted a rule to ascertain what

i|

- . ■ ■■ vi ■ -IfMiilU'''

.^^

\\

NEWariDETOHEAlTH;

Ilea *-!" . . of therooi is «"»" _ .^ ,.„ forth its

deen green. ine»«*^»^" , _„,.:«<, before it puis iu»

bS is easily -parated fto» ^^>^. .„ a chamber or loft,
with little "ouble. I'/' °"\,,e weather ; and when perfectly
where it is cot exposed W "« powder. It is an

dry. should bo pound or pounded to ,''„„po„nded with

excellent medicine, cither «^f "">"(.„, banket of any article I

' toge in a relax, .r.^ -' Jiff e^^ently operate as an emet.c-
rorat<^:taC-;oo„fulVhot«aters.^^^^

^VHITE POND ^fXmm&ler which it

fall at
as it n
which
as has
fectly i
use. ■:
compla
other a

This
of New.

from the
preserve
grind it
thid barli
plaints,
was in It
some of i
to good a
it, and ha
canker ar
tea made
it is good
fordrink i
I a course o
and the L
Icalled coff
leithef of tl
padeinto
of the urin

This art
fnd has bei
lade use c
f>r many y
ilyroot G
ide. It U
ithout a U

^§"-*» ■■' '

OB, BOVAKIC FAMILY PHTSICIAll.

45

Q

le
if
it

UiB

g^»

an-
ran-
of a
:ine,
h its

is in
ids of
tiould
\ then
eaned
en ibe
tained

jr loftj
rfeclly
,t is an

jd wi^^
itticle T

r prick-
' to flow
jtU and
lars the
, advan-
hen the
letic. —

which it
light. It
U of this-

tisinlthe

fall at the year, when dry, and the water to (he ponds h low,
OS it may bo obtained with little dilHcuIty. It has large roota
which should be dug, washed clean, split into strips, and dried
as has been directed for.the Bayberry root bark. When per-
fectly dry it should be pounded in a mortar, ond preserved for
use. This article is a very good medicine, for canker, and all
complaints of the bowels, given in a tea alone, or mixed with
other articles.

HEMLOCK— T/ifi inner Bark.
This is tho common Hemlock tree, and grows in all. parts
of New-England. The best for medicine is to peel the bark
from the young tree, and shave the ross from the outside, and
preserve only the inner rhine ; dry it carefully, and pound or
grind it to a powder. A tea made by putting boiling water to
tbii3 bark, is a good medicine for canker and many other com.
plaints. The first of my using the Hemlock bark as medicino
was in 1814 ; being in want of something for canker, tried
some of it by chewing, and found it to answer, made use of it
to good advantage. Since then have been in constant use of
it, and have always found it a very good medicine, both for
canker and other complaints of the bowels and stomach. A
tea made of this bark is very good, and may be used freely ;
it is good to give the emetic and No. 2 in, and may be used
fordrink in all cases of sickness, especially when going through
a course of medicine and steaming. This with Bayberry bark
and the Lily root, forms No. 3, or what has commonly been
called coffee, though many other things may be added, or
jeiiher of them may be used to advantage alone. The boughs
pnade into a tea are very good for gravel, and other obstructfons
)f the urinary passages, and for rheumatism.

MARSH ROSEMARY— <Ae JJoo^
This article is very well known in all parts of this country,
hd has been made use of for canker and sore mouth. I have
lade use of it with Bayberry bark, as No. 3. in my practice,
)r many years with good success ; but after finding that the
lily root and Hemlock bark were better, have mostly laid it
lide. It is so binding in its nature that it is not safe to use it
lithout a large proportion of the Bayherry bark. ' \

m

' 11

I

■1?4l

-t

-ft.

f

48

f^t^omm-^onz^tta,

I

NEW uv»*^-

ThUeppe«. tobe« nej ^^ no men"on ' ™"^^ ^^ f„

known to the med'C»' UnowledgB that . ^^^^ ^^

nnv author. ;i "« "Anion RWet m 1^"^', , ,» .wmach and
cSerw»s«h«»»'''„Tsov.etl.ing to de tU^^^^^^^^^^^^
tety; being. «;;"jj,,. found that t.ebmU,l«

bowels in that coi»v vt,emely ««"' "* • f.und in all paita
„„B«eied .ho r'l'"\X «ell Uno«n, «»'^ ' ;°;^\,e feet high,
use of it e»ci- •>.."="• ,/„Vu «ro«s ft"" f S' V-^rs ■ 'ow in larg"

»'■'}'? '"tZ ;; e" inV^.-"»'^>r J; '^d c" "rrof » Pheasant
ondhaslaigesp.t ^^.^ ^ '^"°' ^^neoplotoayewltl•:—

bunches, and « '^" "J^d by tlio country peop. ^ ;„ ,„,„,ng

sour taste; »"' "'i^s sp.""'' "'", "".Ik should be peeled
The leaves and young ' jj mo the haiK^"". ,,e berries

Morocco leather. J "' " f^i.eo full l?!«T' f vvl en used as
„h S full »f f ':• ;:iw be e»refully d'.^^'.t^u.^d aUogother
when ripe-, **Lld be pounded »"*. >"»»'';, "tether, is very
part of No, 3, should ^-^ 1 ^^^ „f ,w,er «' ^ "^^ifcomplai..''-
5r either separa.c. ^ e "T the stomach and

good ond may be 8"^^ ;,. n will »<=?»' ''\,ea urine and
St put into the "'J.^'v'"" ,tanguary as it P'''T, „\,,truction3
. bowels, and is g""'*. ^"L* ufdoeys, by """Trn^tbe habit late
?^,Teves difficulties « the k ^^ ^ >'«'?,^Bavbery •>»'»' "'"^

the best ibing for bleeam« ^^^ oftbe dry leave > ^ ^^^
ever found, either ^J S^^^^^ eured several ^^%i,od.vesseJ
tng tbem ^^'^,^'Znu'eaX^ng off the ^^\^^^^^^^ bleej
p&nt is cauBed by^^.^gmove ibo canker a";^ f ^P^^g for iJ

very set
No. 2, is
females i
relief, if I
No, 3 to
articles, <

This is

use of as

I had no r

old rule oi

that com|:

purpose \

and dried

medicine

both for c£

other boN^

that I ha\

injections,

leaves swe

used freel}

article I ki

sweetened.

If the pains

lingering, j

child is boi

it; this pre

nipples witl

slippery eln

isjoff, by ap]

hardeujand

|8titute for o

Si

This is kr

leadovv sea

|he side of b

'igh, which :

blue blosso

The roo

>fth a new

%

..fiiti-'r'i

OB, DOTAnrc FAMILY PHtSICIAIf.

47

II

Lby
Uot
fsen-
land

[ pavia

Lb'igb'
1 \argo
\easant.

with.-—
tanning
3 pee\ea
B berries
I used as
\togclber
.r, is very
,mp\aint9,
,macU and
urine and
bsiructiona
sbabitlale
bark ftnd
colVoe,

very aefTiccable. An injection made of this tea whhalfttle
No. 2, is good for tho piles and many complaints common to
females ; and in bearing down pains it will afTord immediate
relief, if properly administered. These leaves may be used in
No, 3 to '^nod advantage, as a substiiuto for either of the other
articles, or alone for the same purpose.

RED-RASPnERRY— <7te Leaves.
This is on excellent article, and I believe was never made
use of as medicine till discovered by me. When at KastporC
I had no article with me good for canker, and resorted to my
old rule of tasting, and found that these leaves were good for
that complaint ; made into a strong tea, it answered every
purpose wished. I gathered a large quantity of the leaves
and dried them, and have been in constant use of it as
medicine ever since, and have found it an excellent article,
both for canker and many other complaints ; for rela^ anjl
other bowel complaints of children it is tho best thing
that I have found ; by giving the tea and using it io the
injections, it affords immediate relief. A tea made of the
leaves sweetened with milk in it, is very pleasant, and may be
used freely. It is the beet thing for women in travail of any
article I know of. Give a strong tea of it with a little No. 2
sweetened, and it will regulate every thing as nature requires
If the pains are untimely, it will make all quiet ; if timely and
lingering, give more No. 2. and Umbil in the tea. When the
child is born, give it some of the tea with sugar and milk in
it ; this prevents sore mouth ; and the tea is good to wash sore
nipples with. A poultice made with this tea, and cracker or
ilippery elm bark, is very good for burns or scalds ; if the skin
isjoff, by applying this poultice, or washing with the tea, it will
hardenjand stop smarting. It may be used in No« 3, as asub-
j^l was (l^^'-^lstitute for other articles, or alone, to good effect,
raclice. ^T

lipiion •, ^3 »| SQUAW-WEED— I?i^«art name Cocash.

ciaUy i^ "°;J This is known in the country by flie name of frostvwecd, or

eadow scabish ; it is a wild v/eed, and grows in wet land by

*— " «^® ^*^® of brooks ; it has a stalk that grows four or five feet

article 1 b^^'migb, which is rough and woolly, with a narrow leaf, and bears

ves, o^^'^fll blue blossom late in the fall, which remains till the frosl kills

. The root ITves through the winter, and in the spring puts

irth a new stalk ; the leaj^s at the bottom remain gceen

,,or

^ Tbia cowl
blood-vesselj

strong wr "
boveU to

■y-::

:i,

\

\e

■v»HiaK**'3B.^||w>^''

■'-ikrrt

«■ The toouon* top "« "'^iJ ,„ the ficsj

» . - t «ver ki^®^ 1 :«rt considerea *"*• « . .^^^t com-

A tea of It *nay o ^ ^^lis nutnDer,
r«sto^nufa&epo«e«^^

POPLAR BAB ^; ^^, ^,o« eom-

for inediciDe ; bu\ uic ^.^^^^ ^^^^^* '^ ^Uier kind. It i^^**
It has tags banging ©V" ^^^^n ^^^^°."\"'; ^^ vhe taste—

ou^, ^iich U about aj^f^/e extreme yb^^J^,,,, ,„ vegu-
short brittle twigs.;; ;*[^ ^^ ^ne ot tbe be^ any .^^'"^^f

ptesetve the innet bark, *h. ^^^^ (No. 4; ^^^.^,^,^ g,

tako
and I
if tall
(itom
Is go
and t
this t

Th
pleasi
also p
or top
the dij
season
der, nn
of this
be free

Bn

This

and in

lar whii

milky 8

cabbage

dering,

erable d

from dif

The kin

mi Ik- we

grows n(

it, this di

run deep

both are

The roo(

may be j

the wood

greatest c

medicine

move in i

made by j

a» a catha

<^mi^-

»feitAir--

'mn^

OIK BOTAffIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

49

id

d.
itt-
.nd

red
50\d

iofi*

H

tako a handful of the bark pounded or cut into small strips,
and put into a quart mu<;, and /ill it with boilinf; water, which
if taken freely will relieve a relax, headache, falntness at the
stomach, and many other complaints caused by bad digestion.
Is good for obstructions of the urine and weakness in the loins ;
and those of a consumptive habit will Und great relief in using
this tea freely.

BARBERRY— <Afl Bark.
This is a well known shrub, producing red berries, of a
pleasant sour taste, which are much used as a pickle, and are
also preserved with sugar or molasses. The bark of the root
or top is a good bitter, and useful to correct the bile and assist
the digesture. The ba:k should be collected at the proper
season, carefully dried and pounded or ground to a fine pow>«
der, and is used as a part of the bitter (No. 4 ) A tea made
of this bark is very good for all cases of indigestion, and may
be freely used.

BITTER.ROOT, or WANDERING MILK-WEED.

This valuable vegetable grows in meadows and in hedges,
and in appearance is something like buck wheat, having sinii«
lar white blossoms ; when the stalk is broken it discharges a
milky substance ; it has two small pods about the size of the
cabbage seed pods, with a silky substance. This herb is wan-
dering, that is the roots run about under ground to a consid-
erable distance, and produces many stalks, which grow up
from different parts of the root to the height of about two feet.
The kind that is commonly known by the name of wandering
milk-weed, grows on upland ; there is another kind which
grows near rivers and on islands, where; high water flows over
it, this differs some from the other in appearance ; the roots
run deep in the sand ; it has leaves and pods like the first, and
both are good for medicine, The bark of the root is used. —
The roots should be dug and dried ; and when perfectly dry,
may be pounded in a mortar, when the bark is separated from
the woody part. This root is very bitter, and is one of the
greatest correctors of the bile I know of; and is an excellent
medicine to remove costiveness, as it will cause the bowels to
move in a natural manner. A strong decoction of^ this root,
made by steeping it in hot water, if drank freely, will operate
I as a cathartic, and sometimes as an emetic ; and it is most
7

't

.*♦•

■ '*^»

"'^^ibf " 'fflt^**

'.I ^ It ihouU be used

^ tf a fever ia its first Blogcs. H •^^ouia

sure to tbrow off a ft^^^^^^^^^

irt ttU case* o( cosuvcnc ,,^^r\mK'-th Root.

c».e» wl'ere »>'» '"T "" ,ho pow<et given m l-o «»
distress, a tea 8P.<»"»|"\."' ,elief. I« " »" ° '?„„e or wUh the

of .i„ bile, and may b» -„„p„„„ded wuh e^J °^, digestive

b uct root, 01 m»> , ^i,,, number, to losioi

,iole. described under ^^^^^ ,^i,

PO"""- . fnr which the ""<='«" "''.hat the foo'l ta-

The V'Vf'Jll *i„\aie the •'""^''VVhave ■...entioned

(tead are used. '' '" ";,'^,^,,y digested ; »"° / "* f.oe to effect

it 19 iinpossiii'*'

The article, use* in ^^::X^^ P-"-»"' "

PEACH l^^^'^^Ua-e long been used

The nteat. that ^^l^Z^^ ^^l^:^
. asredicine. and need bu U ttle^ »rg*tichp»rP '»>"''

that they "« "f J " "he digestu.e ; for ' ''''L'^ advantage.-
bowe\8, and restore tneB always to Sr"" ° „„«, as will
„ade much use of tbero, ^^^.^^„^ „ 'J"* "edies 1 k>>o«

Made into a cordial, «'";»' f jhe be»' ""?* , 'f' « sick-

Hereafter directed Jom.""^, , be stomach ^^^^^^

(M, UOl'AMC FAMILY HlVrilCtAiN.

51

used

it-

lion of

[ficieni

and in

I causes

f sweet-

^rrectot

with the

I the at-
Ijgestive

nder this

a foo«^ ta-
.lentioned
e to effect
important
i digested,
.U life de-

ru of poplai^

ig been used
fem, except
9toniac\iand

irpose 1 V^ave
advantage. |

.edies X know
ter long sicK-
; in dysentery.

very good for

bowel complaints in chililrcn and young people, nnd will re*
move clioiic<

CHERRY STONKS.

The meats of the wild cherry-stones ore very good, and
may bo used instead of the peach* meats, wlieii they cannut
be had. Get these stones as clean ns possible, when well dri
cd pound them in a mortar, and scparato the meaii from the
stones, which is done with little trouble ; take the same quan*
tity as is directed of the peach-meats, and it will answer equal-
ly ns well. A tea mado of the cherries pouudeJ wiih the Htonos
and steeped in hot water sweetened with loaf sugnr, to which
add a little brandy, is good to restore the digestive powers,
and create an appetite.

Bitter almonds may be used as o substitute for the peach*
meats or cherry-stones^ when they cannot be had.

No. 6. — Rheumatic Drops, to remove pain^ prevent mcrtijica-
tioHt ^^d promote a natural heat.

The principal articles used in this preparation, nre high
wines, or 4th proof brandy, gum myrrh, and Cayenne ; for
external application spirits or turpentine is added, and some-
times gum camphor. The manner of preparing will be here-
after given.

GUM MYRRH.

This is n gum obtained from a tree which grows in the East
Indies, and is brought to this country and sold by the apothe-
caries for medical uses ; there is nothing sold by them that
possesses more useful and medical propi^rties than this arti<
cle ; though the doctors seem to have but littie klowledge of
its virtues. All those who I have heard express an opinion
upon it, consider it of very little value. Wl»en I obtained my
patent, Dr. Thornton, the cferk of the raient Office, said it
was good for nothing; all this however, does not lessen its ya*
lue. The first knowledge I had of it was when I was laid up
with my lame ancle at Onion River, as hhs been before related
in my narrative. An old man from Canada passing that way and
hearing of my case, called to see me, and observing the putrid
state I waa in, told my father that gum myrrh woulklbegocd
foi me, as it was an excellent article to prevent mortification.

^

^

^y^,^

«0

KEVV GUIDE TO HEALTH ;

He immediately obtained some of the tincture, and not hav
ing o-ajringe, he took some in his mouth, and squirted it
through a quill into the wound ; the smarting was severe for a
short time. By tasting it hinrself, and finding it a pleasant bit-
ter, he gave me some to take ; by using it, there was a favor-
able alteration, both in my bodily health and in the state of
my wound. After this I had great faith in this article, and
was seldom without it. When I camo to have a family, I
made much use of myrrh ; it was one of the principal articles
used in restoring my wife, when given over by the mid-wife,
as related in ray narrative. In several cases of bad wounds
and old sores, it afforded great relief; and in what the doctors
call worm complaints in children, by giving the tincture when
such symptoms appeared, it removed them. I used it at this
time by making a tincture with spirit; but after having a
knowledge of Cayenne I pat some of this with it, which made
it much better. I found out by accident that boiling it would
prevent the fumes of the spirit from rising to the head, which
would otherwise, in some cases, produce bad ejects, particu-
larly in such as were subject to hysterical affection. This was
the origin of my rheumatic drops, a preparation which has
proved more generally useful ihan any one coni^ ound I make
use of. In selecting myrrh for use, take that of u light brown
colour, somewhat transparent, and of a bitter taste, a little
pungent. It should be reduced to a fine powder, by being
pounded in a mortar, before used.

SPIRITS OF TURPENTINE.

This article is too well known to need any description,
being used by painters. The only way in which I use it, is in
such preparations as are intended for external application, in
which I have found it useful. A proportion of it should be ad-
ded to the rheumatic drops, when used for the itch or other
bad humours. It is a powerful article, and should be used with
caution.

GUM CAMPHOR.

I shall say but little about this article, as I never found any
very great advantages from its use, though I never knew it do
any harm. It is made much use of/ and I think there is more
credit given to it than what it deserves. I have been in the
habit of pjjding some of it to the rheumatic drops, when used

f
h
ti

ei
m

Aa

1
and

in s

■ ?il"i

v.:..„*,i^ar«*"

■V

Oa, BOTAWIC FAMliY PtirSlCiAff.

SA

tlBV«

edit
for a

tbit-

avor-

ateof

I, and

lily? *
rticles

l-wife,
rounds
lectors
B when
at this
iving a
h made
t would
I, which
particu-
rhis was
hich has
i I make
Vit brown
e, a little
by being

scription,

ise it, is in
cation, in
)uld be ad-
or othei
used with

found any
knew it do
ere is mof®
eea in the

when used

for bad sprains, and In such cases have found It usefh) ; and I
have no doubt but that it may be eometimes given to advan'*
tags to warm the stomach and relieve pain ; but there are oth-
er articles which I make use of for that purpose, that are
much better.

NERVE POWDER.

American Valerian, or Ladies^ Slipper; eometimei called
Umbil, or Male and Female Nervine.

There are four epeciea of this valuable, vegetable, one male
and three female ; the male is called yellow umbil, and grows
in swamps and wet land ; has a large cluster of fibrous roots
matted together, joined to a sohd root, which puts forth sev-
eral stalks that grow about two feet high ; it has leaves some-
thing resembling the poke leaf. The female kinds are dis<
tinguished by the colour of the blossoms, which are red, red
and white, and white. The red has but two leaves, which
grow out of the ground, and lean over to the right and left,
between which a single stalk shoots up to the height of from
eight to ten inches, bearing on its top a red blossom of a very
singular form, that gives it the name of female umbil. This
kind is found on high ledges and in swamps. The red and
white, and white umbil, grows only in swamps, and is in largGor
clusters of roots th^n the yellow, but in a similar form, its top
is similar to the re^., except the colour of the blossom. The
yellow and red are the best for medicine ; the roots should be
dug in the fall when done growing, or in the spring before
the tops put forth. If dug when growing the roots will near-
ly all dry up. When the roots are dug they should be wash-
ed clean, carefully dried, and pounded or ground to a fine
powder, sifted through a fine sieve and preserved from the air
for use. ^

This powder is the best nervine known ; I have made great
use of it, and have always found it to produce the most ben*
eficial effects, in all cases of nervous affection, and in hysteric-
al symptoms : in fact it would be difficult to get along with
my practice in man^ eases without this important article. It
is perfectly harniless and may be used in all cases of disease
with safety ; ai/d ia-daucb better than opium, which is geosr?
ally given in caifes of spoimodic affection, and which only

i*;!s

m

"f*^ ■■"■ .

«BW OCIOE TO HE»T«
84 .In «nlv by destroying sen*

ha,e drawn th' conems-.^ ^^^ ""'Sf^'nawre requires

P'O^'^L'Sing the patient at ^^^^^''^'^J! Half a tea
nerves and '«"" f „atural tone of the 8y» ^ j, j, jose

iroV^i-qs^s^-rsfpo-si^

I have thus far gj-r™';^"- ^p^^^^^^^ ZZ

Betables>ade o^e "/'"."^l ,^em. I shall now P"'«f ^^ieh I
fer of preparing ana «»gfi^,, ""P'""'"r.;Jnts Somo of
scribe a nunaberPf»n^'«4 i„,„iou. ^"'PXd""'"? "'*-

to advantage id throNving

SPEARMINT. „ pleasant tea,
. «pU known herb and makes a very r ^^^^^^^^

PEPPBRMINT. ^ 10 ad-

purpoie*

^^ ■ •

W"

oa. BOTANXC FAUItV PtUTSICIAtf .

55

in*
he
icy

to
the
ires

tea
lose
tha^
into
ould

t ve-
mans
tode-
lich I
mo of

oth-
men-

used

int tea,
valuable
Emetic
oroitingi
, and sit

PENEROYAL.

This herb grows common in all parts of this country and is
too well known to need any description. It is an article of
great value in medicine, and a tea of it may be freely used in
all cases of sickness. It is good for the stomach«Jbeing warm-
ing and cleansing; if drank freely wil^ produce perspiration
and remove obstructions. In colds and slight attacks of dis-
^ ease it will be likely to throw it off and prevent sickness. It
is very good for children and will remove pain in the bowels
and wind. In going through a course of medicine a tea of
this herb may be given for drink, and will^cause the medicine
to have a pleasant operation.

rUMMERSAVORY.

This herb grows ' :'dens and is made use of to season
meats in cooking; : $ J* a very pleasant flavour and of a hot
nature. A tea of it is good for colds and may be used freely
in case of sickness. There is an oil made from this herb,
which will cure the tooth-ache, by putting a little on cotton
wool and applying it to the affected tooth.

HOARHOUND.

This plant grows common in this country and is made much
account of in removing cough. An infusion made of the
leaves, sweetened with honey, is good for the asthma, and all
complaints of the lungs. The syrup of this plant will loosen
tough phleghm and remove hoarseness caused by a bad^ cold.
The hoarhouud candy is very useful for such as are troubled
with cough, particularly with old people, and those that are
short winded.

^>

^^

led 10 ad-
1 cold. I
is; but it
stomach,
^ofa tea
The ea-
nd will re-
ops of the
jt the same

ELECAMPANE.

The root of tlus plant made into a syrup is good for a
cough ; and I have made use of it for that purpose with ad-
vantage in many cases, and can recommend it as a safe and
useful remedy in complaints of that kind.

MAYWEED.

A tea made of this herb to be drank hot when going to bed
is very good for a cold ; and in slight attacks of a fever if
used freely and a hot stone put to the feet, will in most cases
throw it off. It grows common in old fields and by the side of
roads.

Rk'

i

m-

¥^^^.

mUtam.

_ -I

56

K^w omm TO HBA*/ru;

WORMWOOD. ^ ^e ^ai,en to

founded and"«^.u.ed in .p.nt. wh.ch « go
bruize or sprain.

TANZY. hiffhways, and

'V "Ta^ '^rte k 'ein» and kidney. , and , goo

those tliat "aye " j urine— The gtej j^^ ,^^1-

rgoldrput'oHf^le. and .pra», and «.U V

ting.

CHAMOMILE- ,„-n\dbv the a-
Thisis aweilknown herb <i.«flo?er,»«s^^^^^^^
poKv and are made m eh u^e^on ^^ comp «««,. and

'^

f1

BITTER-SWEET ^^ofeonsid;

Th.he.bh...ongb-e^^^^^^^^^^

MULLEN. .^^._i„e downswel-

OR, BOTANIC FAMILY PHTTBICIAW

t)

lod

the
ded

i\\Q tt"

J com;
a, ao^

• consid-

ime. ^^
to te-
- bttt tVie
[lion ; ^^«

tog ^°* ^

them a«*

is tuo well known to need any description. It it an impor*
tant article in my strengthening plaster.

BURDOCK.

The leaves of this plant wilted by the fire and appHad to
any external injury, will allay the inflamation and ease pain ;
and they are good pounded and put on to a bruise or sprain,
as it will ^ give immediate relief. It is made use of in the
strengthening plasters.

SKUNK-CABBAGE-
This vegetable grows common in all parts of NewsEogland ;
it has large leaves something resembling cabbage, from which
and its disagreeable smell, it takes its name ; it may be foutid
in the meadows and wet land. The root only is used for
medicine ; which should be dug and split into strips and caren
fully dried ; when dry it should be pounded or ground to a
powder. This powder may be taken in tea vweetenedi or
made into a syrup, or half a tea spoonful may be mixed in
honey and taken in the morning, or at night when going to
bed. It is good for asthma, cough, difficulty of breathing, and
ell disorders of the lungs, and with other articles makes one of
the best preparations i^r those complaints I have ever found.

WARE-ROBIN.

This plant grows wild in this country. It has three tHtn*
gualar leaves, from between them it puts forth a naked stalk,
on the top of which, is a singular item or pistill enclosed in a
sheath, resembling a flower, wbiefa is followed by^ • bunch off
redish berries. The root is used for mediotne, and rissem^
bles a small turnip. Thir root *^ extremely pungent and
atimniating ; and is often given for cholic and pain in
the bowels, and to expel wind. I have mostly made use of
it for cough and diserdersof the lungs, for which I have found
it a very useful article, and it forms part of my eompositio&*
for coughs. The root should be dried and reduced to a pow^
der, and may be given mixed with honey, or in a syrup.

THOROUGHWORT.

This herb is #eU known in this country, and is made us#
ofby the people in tea for many complaints. It' is of a'
^vming nature, and is good for eough and other aoH^

8

■ -if'

„EW OtJlDE rO HEALTH
^ , . „i,«.ed in my compound prepared for

cuughs.

with Chamomile, and used 10

struction.
, ., „ vr.. CLIVERS. _^^^.„g ,,„d,

Thi. i. . .or. of join, f"" J,"if,Ueave. a. each j«.nM

Thit herb made mio ^strong te^ ^^ ^^^^ ^3^ ^f for all

C.».a.o.S»

.,fbr!;«":^nd.o^e»ovcobs„uc^»n.

,1.11 of it in dysentery. A his J««» ^ excellent article to re-

^tone mVaU made into a ^y^jP^^/^^^ed by that disease, and
rtpatft.!. after having been redu^ced ^y^^^^^ ^^^ ^^,^^^,

to pwroote the digesture. 111*6
pleinte of the boweU.

EVAN ROOT. on account

»m. for"commoo arink in.te«d of tea or ^^^^^^ ,„ „,^

kBWB to «««d deietlb'ng- ■-

8UPPEW.B1.M BABK.^^|.^^,^^ ,„a

I

•''(•i

OR, BOTANIC PAMI&T PHTSICIA!!.

69

I

,todfoc

U pro*

be added
,- of o^*

ins .^«''J;

e a sickle,
very goo*
for aUob-

compla»'^^f
made much
Its or cherry
ariicle to re-
iisease, ««<»
aud aU com-

t, on account
^'use of by

tUule tot oi^j
id i» wo well

Leh va\o«» •^^

UUitWie°«;t
I,oneibebafk

tatter is tlio best for medical uses. The bark should be peeled,
the outside ross shaved ofl*, dried, and ground or pounded to
a fine powder. ]f used internally, put a tea spoonful of thii
powder into a teacup, with ns much sugar, mix them well to*
gcllier, then add a little cold water, and stir it till perfectly
mixed, and then put hot water to it, and stir till it forms a
jelly thick enougii to be eaten with a spoon. A tea. spoonful
may be taken at a time, and is an excellent medicine to heal
soreness in the throat, stomach and bowels, caused by cnnker :
or more hot water may be put to I and made into a drink and
freely taken for tlie same purpose. 1 have made much use
of this bark for poultices, and have in all cases found it a
most excellent article fur that purpose. Mixed with poun«
ded cracker and ginger, it makes the best poultice I have ev«
er found, fur burns, scalds, felons, old sores, &c. it is the beat
thing 1 have met with to allay the in£lamutiou, ease the pain,
and heal them in a short time.

BALSAM FIR.

This Balsam is obtained from a tree well known in many
partsof this country ; it is taken from small blisters which
form in the bark. It is of a very healing nature, and is good
to remove internal soreness. It forms an important orticia
in my healing salve. When taken it may be dropped on loaf
sugar.

GENSANG. ' ■(■ ■■
This root grows wild in this country, and is found plenti*
fully in Vermont. It was formerly collected for exportation,,
and large quantities of it was sent to China, where it brought a
great price. It is said the people of that country considered it
of great value ; but for what purpose they use it, is I believe,
only known to themselves. It is a nervine, and may be used
to advantage in all cases of nervous affection, either alone or
mixed with other articles. The root should be dug in the
fall, dried, and reduced to a fine powder^; from half to a tea
spoonful may be given in a dose, in hot water sweetened.

snakeroot!'.

This is a well known article, grows ^vild, and may be found
in most parts of this country. It is of a hot nature, and is
made much use of in tea, for measles and other eruptiond, to

ti

t r

00

MEW QUIDB TO HEALTH ;

!'.

\

\ ■

keep the disorder out, for which it is considered very good n
this is owing to its warming qualities, which keeps the deter^
mining powers to the surface, which effect may be produced
by almost any strong stimulant : but No. 2, or the compoai*
tion powders, is much the best for that purpose. A tea made
of this root may be given to advantage in many cases of dis-
ease; it has a tendency to promote perspiration, and is good
to remove pain in the stomach and bowels, and expel wind.
The roots reduced to powder may be mixed with gensang or
umbil for all nervous complaints.

MUSTARD.

The seed of this herb is principally made use of for culina-
ry purposes, being eaten on meat; for which it is ground to a
^ue powder and mixed with warm warter. It is very puns
gent and of a hot nature ; but is volatile and will not hold
the heat long enough to do much good in retainig the internal
beat. It is good to create an appetite and assist the dig^s-
ture ; and given in hot water sweetened, will remove pain in
the bowels and stomach. It is frequently used for rheuma^
tism, both internally and externally ; but Nos. 2 and 0, are
much better for that purpose.
\-

HORSERADISH.

The root of this plant is mostly used for culinary purpose s,
and it has some medical properties. It is of a hot nature,
but very volatile ; its warming qualities will mostly evaporate
before it gets into the stomach. The roots may be given to
promote the appetite and assist the degesture. The leaves
are sometimes applied to remove external pain, but is apt to
.raise a blister.

I " ■ ■ - - .,

BALM OF GILEAD.

This tree is of the species of tj^e poplar, and possesses some
medical virtues. It resembles the kind of poplar that has
been deecfibed, having similar tags; but the buds and leaves
are larger. The bud bruised and tinctured in spirit, produces
an affect something like the tincture of myrrh; and is good
taken inwardly as a restorative, and for bathing sores. The
bark scraped from the twigs and steeped ilk hot water, is a
good corrector of bile, and will operate both as an emetic and

P

I

ai

ai

cc

be

be

thi

dir

giv

aisc

ash

mad

ges

arati

Ika

can J

or th(

ing tl

plete
This
will n

princi

pi//s,

been

PfOp](

-■*^.

:\ '

W

f

good }
deter*
)duced
mpoai-
a made
of dia-
ls good
[ wind,
sang or

(f cuUnft-
)und to a
ry puns
not hold
le internal
he dig'is-

ve pain ^"
• rheuroa-
ind 6, are

I

purpose 9»
[hot nature,
^ evaporate
le given to
The leaves
It is apt to

Issesses Bome
Mar that ba»
jsand leaves
Lit, produces

land ia po?^

■ gores. The

Qt v»8ter, is a

kn emetic and

OB, BOTANIC FAMILY PCITSICIAIT. Cl

cathartic ; it is more harsh than the other kind of poplar, but
n ay be used to advantage in many cases of disease.

BUTTERNUT.

This tree grows common in this country, and is well known
from that nut whjch it bears, of an oblong shape, and nearly
as large as an egg, in which is a meat containing much oil,
and very goodHu eat. The bark of this tree is used by the
country people to colour wi^h. The bark' tuken from the
body of the tree or roots, and boiled down till thick, may
be made intq pills, and operates a| a powerful emetic and ca-
thartic ; a syrup may be made by boning the bark, and ad-
ding one third molasses and a little spirit, vihich is good to
give children fur worm complaints. The buds and twigs may
also be used for tho same purpose, and more mild. White
ash bark and balm of gilead may be added, equal parts, and
made into syrup or pills. Those who are fond of drastic pur-
ges may have their ends sufficiently answered by these prep-
arations, and they are the most safe and harmless of any that
I know of; and those who wish to be tortured with blisters
can have them cheap, by bruising the green shell of the nut,
or the bark, and applying it wiiere the blister is wanted, keep*
ing the bandage wet, and in three hours they will be com-
pletely drawn, and the skin as black as that of an African. —
This is much quicker and safer than if done with flies, and
will not cause stranguary. The bark of the butternut is the
principal, ingredient in Dr. Hawkes's rheumatic and cancer
pills, and also of Chamberlain's billions cordial, which have
been so celebrated for many complaints. It is called by some
people oilnut and lemon walnut.

BLUE AND WHITE VERVINE.

This is a well known herb, grows very common ; it ranks
next to the emetic herb for a puke, and may be used for that
purpose either alone or combined with thoroughwort. It is
good to prevent a fever in its iGrst stages. This herb has been
used with considerable success in consumption, having cured
several cases where the doctors hod given them over. It may
be used in a tea made of the dry herb, or prepared in powder
1 like the emetic herb. .^ . , i^{ .

number of a«M««" ,„„g, „iih a ^"'X jops a«>l '»"»
ftom one to «"l"^f ^ ,mWn.g "" ^P""'- ..ewed » " very r"""

Another evergreen P'""*' .„essc5 much the same
,„me kind of land, «''"='' V^^ ,„,„d leaves, fro» th* ^^^
Tperties as tlje abov- It '^^ . „„ oommo" le^^*; j„ed

the parts affeCed «»■' ^

weak nerves.

GOLDENROD- ,„a i„ hedges i U

TMsherbmaybefou^d- Cg^^^lf ^^ Mo'i
grows about t«o »' >h.«" ^ ,^, 'ITresembUng fennel
f ery ."tooth »nd g^y. ,„,„ and smeU, e em B^^^
.cm. ;.it % « 7;?':S oil obtained from tVns h^ ^_^S .

Sue , -'J%-nhe^"sirb"a^^^^ Jtl. itj^, ^ „t
rt.e head, to be 'fken. ojj' „„i bitter-root soult_^ ^^^

tr^o-ra^rcrt^aen^d -.ed ^P^^^^^^^^^^^^^

^ 1 u«rh«i that f es^"^" *
geveral herbs ina

different in smell ana .. . ,

MEADOW VEKN^ ^ ^^^^ ^jde of

This is a shrub, and g--,:;„^Llhe water ; U is found -

thick bunches, and gr^^^^ ^,„d, ^^''"^V^n bur. or cluster

,He leave. "« «f,;^^'o^«e of 'bem bear -«"»^^„'"e leave. s«

«»•-'

OR, BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN

6S

is an
las a
I, and
bears
roots
r \iun-

rue, n«
or can*

dbaiW-

J on the
,ned*»cal

e. The
lowdered
,. Take
^nd bathe
xo restore

«

bedgcs •, it
avrow loat,
eWow bloB-
»\ing fe«ne\
rb good for

t for pa»n »"
.^ The Oil

fuff, ^vV»ich is

' T^bero are

but are very

aV the side of

high. Wt^en
Ireer on some
fbur, or cluster

Igeri leave" an

oily or balsamy substance, having a fragrant smell lomething
liko spirits of turpentine.

These burs pounded fine and simmered in creami hog'slard,
or fresh butter, is almost a sovereign remedy for the itch, or
external poison, and all bad humour sores. When the burs
cannot bo had, take the bush and buds, and make a stroujs: de-
coction ; drink of this, and wash with the samo. This liquor
may be prepared in syrup, and by boiling it down may bo
made into ointment, as has been described for the burs : the
syrup should be taken, and the ointment put on the aflTected
parts. This ointment, or the wash, is good for sait*rheum, or
canker sores, and may be used freely.

YELLOW DOCK.
The root of this plant is well known, as being made into
ointment for the itch. The roots should be bruized fine in a
mortar, and put in a pewter bason, add cream enough to make
an ointment, keep it warm for twelve hours, be careful not to
0cald it. Rub it oo at night when going to bed. Three timet
usmg it will generally effect a cure. The foregoing described
ointments, together with No. 3, and the rheumatic dropt pre-
pared with the spirits of turpentine, will be sufficient to cure
any case of this complaint.

PRICKLY ASH.

This is a shrub or bush that g^rowi in the western eountry,
and is well known by the peo^^le there. It grows from eight
to twelve feet high, and bears a berry that grows close to the
limbs; it has leaves like the whiteash. The bark and berries ara
used for medical purposes. The berries arrvery pungent, and
are a powerful stimulant, as also the bark of the top and roots,
though not so strong. It should be pounded to a powder and
steeped in hot water, then put into wine or spirit, and it makes
a very good hot bitter. Take half a glass two or three timei
a day : it is good for fever-and^ague, for which it is much uted|
and for lethergy, or sleepiness and for eold ftet and haodsiand
ether complaints caused by cold.

BITTER THISTLE.
The herb is a species of the thistle, and is euhifated in gar-
dens. It is of one year's growth; the seed bliog sown in tba
•priog, and It § omef to maturity iu ibt ftdl. The stalks has a

^r*.

^ttW««n>E TO HEALTH;

lU ..-«tiiv of leaves. The

be«d on '''^"^"Xh may be steeped m I'ol _^.

„,ed for n'«*'«'°'J,b tea, »' '*"y """^ , „v in «ine or spirit.
a,at.k i.ith other h"" « ' »»rm .««ter. ». •» «^ ,afel, used

der .nd '*«" m m»;jf,t„, of the b.le. and «"»y * j ,hi,tle.
It i, .n excellent co^ ^^^^., B'-^J'^'^ay be used for the

for that purpose. » ^^„„er, end may

ii cultivated m the sau

lamepurpo'*-

ARCHANGEL. ^^^ ^f,g„ ,„ong

^hich g'?y;"',f.„ste. 'One >• «'S;'''n'baUa»ic taste.-
rt, tery different in ta^^ ,„a °i^ and answer two

„o bitter w'»>^ Wgether in a tea or syrup^ «» ^^ the
They may o* "' .. . the rough removes tne *■ ^ j„n,'

bitter 18 a co"«<^ °; ^y,,ee great pnnciplw oi
pound contaioi the «r»

^ bot. rough, and bitter. ^ ^

.4 *.,•.

DIRECTIONS

, The prep,ra.io^ „n1-i"f TIC HERB.

ferent^^.y,, ,^ f ^' '» prepared and a,ed fnt'ZSu.

drov^rned 3?^! ' T*' as lock-jaw brrlr'^'^ *?""»» and
I 9 «••. «tfaiD6d tbrougliaitt;

lii^^

J'

*'♦

¥■

I

(■■/

ft

«EWa«.DB«HEM.TH,

„EWav.P"'- _,., _,y , en minute.,
. ...ned. tepeMing *e dose "''V ,„„ he,b lea
, eloil. ^nd »«" 7/a' gwl pennyroyal, or some
liU it operawi , an" »
for drink.

No. 2.-CAYENNE. .„a may

^ »»f'V "::f heafot tl" »y»tem. cause M ^ ,y
internal vit^l he" ^«e» to the s por a

and keep »*>» d«'e'm^ 6^^^^^^^^ ^ , fine P ^^^^^^ „, „»
nreoaraiion « to »»" spoonful, in "" ,^ ,n,xed

r in a waiw^ bed*

«!„■ 3 -FOB CANKER. ,„a the

--,j^:S^.;xr3it^n^

"-"»^5p?or a-r: a — » "^ ^^''^ ^""^
boiling water, and g.v .^^^^ ^„„^,h

,„e«tened. .,„„.. be had, take o'^^'i.-h.bazle leaves,
Iftbe above cannot »e berry or wtcn ^^^ „„.

bark, leave. orJ'^^Xroi the f " "f^fc^nker, and may
marsh-rosemary, or e ^^^ ^„ good for

t-^Vto^lS^^^^^^^^^^^^

"when the "»'«»»* "fXe above m«»»»"',trfaU «httehot,

cin., »t««P,rS««er. 'train off a «'f 8^Tquamity of s«-

i„ a pint of bo'l"* J„}[,o. 2. ^'^^^WH^LoaM of N0..I.
and add a tea-spoonwi ^^^^ »4f * '"f "?, his dose b8g«v-
ffar ; when cool enoogn -owdei. l-et 10 j ,,,6

faVbalf .hat q«»f i.^Jvrof V<=«» anH *Vc«e re<l»ire.
en threetimes, at inter injection, and .1 me ^

.am. compound be gJJ«yj.ficat.on « aPP-eM ^^^^ ,_,.^,,

" »«* "rC e'm-v be added to each do.e
.poSlofNo^e-'-y mdentl J from the opera-

«^B»- , ,;,„, ha, tecovered itiffice""?
After the patient B»i re

*

/*■

llCSt

I lea

OR, DOffANIC^FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

(V7

1'

may
in U»e

eonly

For a

)r a tea

I in\xed

\\ bealtb
\j\an\tet»

;d and vreU

inap-m;«f
e glass fvi"»

ttte sumach
az\e leaves,
escribed uo-
^er, and may

^ivsc of med\-

aUwhilebot,
Lanutyofs'}

and let lUe
e'caseteqoAtes

^d to tbc mjec-
Lmtbe opera-

tion of the medicine, which is ususflly in ^o or.threc hours,
place them over tiie steam, as is directed^ pageSl.

This operation is sufficient for one ^me, and must be re^
peated each day, or every other day, as the circumstances of
the case may require, till the disorder is rehioved. Three
times will generally be sufficient, and sometimes Once or twica
will answer the purpose ; but in bad chronic cases it may be
necessary to continue to carry them through a regular qourse
two or three times a week, for a <;onsiderable length of time.

Great care must be taken to keep up an internal h«at, so as
to produce perspiration, after they have been through the op<
eration,by giving occasionally No. 2, or the composition pow-
der ; for if this is not attended to the patient may have a re*
lapse, in which case it will be very difficult to raise it again, as
they will fall aa much below a natural heat as they have raised
above it bv artificial means.

During the operation give milk porridge, or gruel, well sea-
soned, with a little cayenne in it ; and after it is over the pa«
tient may eat any kind of nourishing food that his appetite
shall crave.'

A tea«cup full of the tea of No. 3, should be taken night and
morning, to prevent a relapse of the disease, and during the
day drink frequently of a tea made of poplar bark; and if
costive, use the bitter root.

As soon as the disorder is removed, use the bitters (No. 4)
to correct the bile and restore the digesture ; and half a wine
glass full of the syrup, (No. 5) may be taken two or three times
a day, which will strengthen the stomach and assist in regu^
lating the digestive powers.

The foregoing directions are calculated for the more violent
attacks of disease, and such as have become settled ; but thctie
of a less violent nature must be treated according to circuity -
stances. In the first stages of a disease, it may be most gen*,
erally thrown off by a dose of the emetic herb, with No. 2, to
raise a free perspiration, followed by a tea of No. 3, to re-
move the canker, and the bitters or a tea of poplar bark to re**
gulate the digesture* For a sudden cold, take a dose of the
composition powder on going to bed, and put a hot stone,
wrapped in wet cloths, at the feet, which will, in most casef,
remove the complaint; but if these applications do ao^ answer
the purpose, the patient should be carried through a r«gu|a« ,
course as soon as possible.—Steaming is safe, and will alwqf f;;

5»-

iiki%liiiiiiMiltiilMlirifflfiiT'''Mir'7iii'

•*.''r:fmmmm-^'f^"

Jim GUIDE rO HEALTH ;

.i

<W ' » nnt be neglected, paUicu-

No;4.-BlTTERS. ^^^ p.pi^r

Ufa«i''«g^'"»^""- ,. thebUeandore-

NV- „,,i„„i, caUalaud to oo„ec, ih^^^ ^„^„,y

h.^ been before d«crAed und« ^^ ^ ^^,^,j„,,.
for the same purpose, may

No. 5.— SVRCP- _ . „ one pound

add »ewu P»»"l' °fT°chrneat8, or the same f *»*7 „<,„ of
.ddl»Uapo»nd of P ach ^^^ y^^lJ^^f^H^S.^.n.
ly-stone «»®^"'/^ep it in bottles for use.

JSfJuTttro^hre/ume^^^^

4 Any ?«"" q^nff."«I artiL,s' ^,„„,eh and

«oportion ««« a» ^ ^^ strengthen «« ' ,g,,„ use-

'••^•^'a ?o resto^re «eak patients t »»f '' P^nd to^eU in

*owefe and «» J"'" „hich leaves the »«'"*,';;,. dysentety.by
|Mtathedy.entery,«h^^^^^^^^^^,^ f^^^^^^^^^

•"^^Ta'of No 3 freely, and 8';"" « l'";' ' J erfrom taU.ng
. ^§ «« u! .nd «iU tdso prevent those exp

«„ 6.-RHE«MATIG »ROJ=- „, »„y kind
^^ Ko. ?i, and put tb«";;"\° Ji ' the jug unstopped.--

'

■ t. -

■ - »» ■ ■,

W"

• ■».

•"•wwsswo"*??!!.

.f.

OR, BOTANIC FAMILY FHYSICIAff.

69

I-

lar
0 a
aUe
\of

cre-
roay

3.

>that
good

pound
Ef, and
it, and
r Cher-
lion of
a wine

te sam«

icb and
[rly nse-
)\?el9 in

kteiiy,^y
Uu gen-

[ti taking

>vithout boiling, by letting it stand in the jug for five or six
daN's, shaking it well every day, when it will be fit for use.

These drops are to remove pain and prevent mortification,
to be taken, or applied externally, or to be put into the injec-
tions. One or two tea-spoonfuls of these drops may be given
alone, or tlie same quantity may be put into a dose of either
of the medicines before mentioned : and may be also used to
bathe with in all cases of external swellings or pains. It is
an excellent remedy for rheumatism, by takin<r a dose and
bathing the pans affected with it. In the head^ache, by tak^
ing a swallow, and bathing the head, and snuffing a little up
the nose, it will remove the pain. It is good for bruises, sprains^ 4%!^
swelled joints, and old sores ; as it will allay the inflammation,
bring down swelling, ease pain, and produce a tendency to
heal — in fact, there is hardly a complaint, in which this useful
medicine cannot bo used to advantage. It is the best pre-
servative against mortification of any thing I have ever found.
For bathing, in rheumatism, itch, or other humours ; or m
any swelling or external pain, add one quarter part of spirits
of turpentine ; and for sprains and bruises, a little gum cam-
phor may be added.

No. 7.— NERVE POWDER.

This is the American Valerian, or Umbil, and the prepara-
tion has been sufficiently described, for which see page 53.
This powder is a valuable and safe medicine, and may betrsed
in all cases without danger ; and when there are nervous symp
toms, it must never be dispensed with. For a dose, take half
a teaspconful in hot water sweetened ; or the same quantity
should be put into a dose of either of the other medicine, and
tklso into the injections, in all nervous cases.

No. g.—COIMPOSITION, or VEGETABLE POWDER.

Tal^e two pounds of the liayberry root bark, one pound of
the inner bark of Hemlock, one pound of Ginger, two ounces
of Cayenn two ounces of Cloves, all poutided fine, sifted
through a T'^e sieve, and well mixed together. Foradose^,
tsi^e a teaspoonful of this powder, with an equal quantity of
, and put to it half a teacupfui of boiling water ; to be
as soon as sufficiently cool, the patient being in bed, or
^e fire covered with a blanket. j,

iii composition if 6i(|iculated for the first stages, andi^

>*»

;4

- '%

h

4

fS^nfi-A

«nd may be wfely "»ea in for ^^^^ dp .^^^ caused

V^j and putting a »?i"^"j «,ii\ generally turow u

'nt ic^e a b,d CO ; -td".i!olr »«"- »»- ,1^ a' ua-

"i*^ first Stages, it '^eP^'^uch pain, add ^o «^ j. andm

through a tegular CO ^ ^pERS. . «„„-

described. ^^ 9.'C0«GH J^^abbage. »«» of «o«^

' TaU four -.P"-^:;, U of N- ^rof no-e ^"'lo bi

,f ,,e medicine, a ,,sTER ,^,,,, ^

Take tbe hewU of «a . ^ „ take «^em ^^^^^

b„i\ then, in «»'"uh ftesb one., and »«>•' '"heads to get out
iS. kettle aga.n v'th ^ „ff, «„d press the " .^ ^^ „t the

tSft^uKtU^-^ffi^^^^^^

^j|^ •"';»•

No. U.-SA.LVE- ^^ ^ ^,, o«|
' 1 f Rpe« wax, one 00. "■ . _ ,,gn,.ftti.

;. _ ^ V ■ ■'. -. ■'■■ • ■'

'. ^ ■'■■ ;

OR, l^OTANiC FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

71

I

in

jed

rto

ihs,

ase,

inp-

tea-

idm

der •,

these

irried

)efore

ttoar-

one of

>owderi

sn to be
powder
,\U relief

\ be best
^x couf se

)Ui and fill
I before ift
J to get out
s about the
f careful not
|n tt piece of
anccts, sore

Butter, _
• ]^Wam*nr.J
yintoabaff^

and keep it for use. It may be used to heal fresh wounds,
burns, scalds, and all bad sores, after the inflammation it
allayed, and the wound cleansed.

No. 12.— STRENGTHENING PLASTER.
Take Burdock leaves and Mullen leaves, bruise them and
put them into a kettle, with a sufficient quantity of water, and
boil them well; then strain off the liquor, press or squeeze the
leaves, and boil it down till about half as thick as molasses ;
then add thrree parts of Rosin and one of Turpentine, and
simmer well together, until the water is evaporated ; then
pour it off into cold water, and worke it with the hands like
shoemakers' wax, if too hard, put in more turpentine, when
it will be fit for use. It should be spread on soft leather, and
applied to the part afiected ; and it is good to strengthen
weakness in the back and other parts of the body.

No. 13.— VOLATILE SALTS.

Take crude Sal Amoniac one onnce, Fearlash two ounces,
and pound each by itself, mix them well together, and keep
it close stopped in a bottle for use. By damping it with spirit
or essence will increase the strength. This applied to the
nose is good for fuintness, and to remove pain in the head ;
and is much better than what is generally sold ^by the apothe*
caries.

No. 14.— NERVE OINTMENT.

Take the bark of the root of Bitter-sweet two parts, of
Wormwood and Chamomile, each equal, one fnart, when green
or if dry moisten it with hot water ; which put into horse or
porpoise oil, or any kind of soft animal oil, and simmer them
over a slow lire for twelve hours ; then strain it off, and add
one ounce of spirits of Turpentine to each pound of ointment.
To be used for a bruise, sf^in, calice, ^swelling, or for coroi^

No. 18.— POULTICE.
Make a strong tea of Raspberry leaves, or of No. 3 ; take »<;
cracker pounded fine and slippery Elm bark ^pulverised, wtth/^
Ginger, and make a poultice of th$ same. This is goedlteii^
old sores, whitlows, felons, and for bad burns, scalds and pKt«
frosen. Apply this poultice and renew it at least as often at
every twelve or twenty-four hours, and wash with soap tudt
,at«iFery renewal; wetting it in the interim with coldwstif,

V^

>.^;

>"!.

fl

A. I. «•■

*>■

,. ,,1'.- ^■

'?»*i

'" ■t>i'*,'

iV

.beittWetillaeate.. CLYSTERS.

,hein to !«''*\',,bt thousand* of 1"" »!^ f diteoUug injec- I . #

e,y, and no douM 11 . j^ ^be pjart'se "■ to ,^^^gn„

The doctorshavelon 0 .^„„, bu, '"'y^tfa movement

♦■'»"' ^'^'fln admto'"^8 *'"";„Sal wh«t they «cro

other obJ»'' " .Xrefore it w»» immatena

in the bowels , "«« ^^^ cer-

t"*'" "K „ .o the plan «1''='' ^ '' u '.'dSration of med.-
Aecordmg 'o Iho P'»' ^ ^ ■„ the adminmru „ta

tainimporlant ob eo<. «.me ^^^^^ the interna b^a,P^^^.^^^

cine to ".>"»** ^"rtUcanker,gu«rd»B«^?«"^^^ ,he

''VP'TorTlheTge'tion. To accojnpl. h 0.e,e^^^ J be

and restore me ui J ,emove tne *="./ .gj: fmtbe

applied to ^^l^»7,^^\„g the medicine '^^^l^^Zm.xer^^ by
stomach o-^^y ^^yie "a^e compound must be aam . ^^^.

if in the fe°^^^:» ^^^^^^^^^ tS cure disease when . ^
injection. ^^^'ukeUJe good for the '^"^^P^^Pbowels, and
the stomach, « ^^^^'^^Ji object i%*«J"Tery!cholic, pileB.
by injection, as tiie gr ^^^^ ^^ ^^^1 Ip badW affected,

xLove the «^;;»^J^;„t;Viere the bowels are bad Y ^^^^^^^^
& and other ^^«\f^^^l, be dispensed ^J'^' Jl^'^ imes when
^ injections «^«"^^ "'I letter that they be ^e^cn ^ ^^^y
Wie in all cases, ^^° °f ^^^^^^ when f^^l^ ^ortifica-
•not needed, ^^^^^^lythere there i« f^an^^^^^^^^ in

,ioleni cases, P^^»^'^^^^^^^ by admimstermg j ^^

tlon. patients may he ^ ^^ ^^ ^^*f !I ^derations be
this way. v'ben ^bere wou ^^^^ ^^^^^ ,f«t wav of giving

therefore, «»«5' S"aVd that this important way °^^^^^^ .,
,^^ar borne in mmd , «« ^ ^^^^^ ,„y cha^^^^^ ^^

^lief, be never neg ^^ i^ints V^^f^^'^^ ^ben properly

^'^^^

't

OR. BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

73

li-l

t.

c-

no

jnt

cro

cer-
edi-
:noW
LUon»
,, t\ie

si \>^

d;but
Pted by

k given

effected,

leg ^heti
10 many

Vicino m
tt(onsbe
, of g'^^"^"?,

[I pTopetiy
kU\ be««;
[rcbftse V^«

The common preparation for an injection or clyster, it to
take a teacupful of a strong tea made of No. 3, strain it off
wiien hot, and add half a teaspoonful of No. 2, and a teaspoon^
ful of No. 6; when cool enough to give, add half a teaspoon-
ful of No. 1, and the same quantity of nerve powder. Let
it be given with a large syringe made for that purpose, or
where this cannot be had, a bladder and pipe may be used.
They must be repeated as occasion may require, till! relief
is obtained.

Many other articles may be used to advantage in the injec«
.ions; a tea of witch*hazle and red raspberry leaves, either
or both together, are very good in many cases. For canker,
a tea of either the articles described under the head of No. 3,
will answer a good purpose. When the canker is removed,
the bowels will be left sore, in which case give injections of
witch-hazle or raspberry leaves tea, with slippery elm bark.
When injections are used to move the bowels only, Np. 1
should be left oat. It is always safe to add the nerve powder
and if there is nervous symptoms it must never be omitted^

Stock of Medicine fob a Family.

• « ;

1 oz. of the Emetic Herb, /

■ , 2 oz. of Cayenne, , ^ A

'/ ', 1-2 lb. of Bayberry root bark in powder,

lib. of Poplar bark, v,

1 lb. of Ginger.

1 pint of the Rheumatic Drops. ' .

This stock will be sufficient for a family one year, and with
such articles as they can easily procure' themselves when
v/linted, will enable them to cure any disease, which a family
of common size may be afflicted with during that time. The
expense will be small, and much better than to "(mploy a doc-
tor and have his extravagant bill to pay.

'.■>■'

k

i,
i

r-i

..•^.^■■'

NEW cvicr. TOllBAtTH;

GENERAL DIRECTIONS,
I, CRINO OR PRKVENT.no DISEASE.

cessary to ai(\ the Inen ^^^^^

restore heaUh. jj^n and organization o ^^^ ^^

3. That the con tr";.,^^^y ^^^'"Tstitue the solids of
frame, is »n a\l men ^^ ^^^^^ ^^"'^i "ir Heat in a

the four elemem • ^^^^^^..^.e by fiye and a^r. ne ^^^
the body, which 19 maa ^^^ «»o^'°" ^Mv,„eby the oth-
peculiar J^V'J'll'X^XU f-rom whatever cause by
when entirely ove^P ^ue balance ov

er elements, deatn e ^^ ans^s from « «« ^^^^g

7. Canhet i» cause* nyo „,;„„« to m*** „* i, a„,

-«-Hter-*P - = .:e:ttr.v.„/oo.,ion.u

forgetting to Keep «i

Iv No. 2. ^

2.

^^a^- i

OR, BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

75

to i^^®
fd, ox

deat^ •
,rc ne-
,r(ier lo

rmed of
5oVid9 of
eat in ^
:>le ; an*
vUc olVi-

alance o«

jVhen i^»'
m increaaa

,„p\rat»on,

TV S

BTspiration.

Uc9f0Ul,90

py to lose

y»more or

^ of svtcn

is any

use
lihere

use of t^o»f
owers, not
QC^sionai>

9. Keep always in mind that an ounce of prevontive is bet-
ter than a pound of cure ; and give medicine on the fitst ap-
pearance of disorder, before it becomes seated; for it may
bu then ea.sily thrown olfand much sickness uud expense pre-
vented.

10. In case of a fever, increase the internal heat by givinpf
hot medicine so as to overpower the cold, when the natural
heat will return inwardly, and the cold will pervade thewhola
surface of the body as thu heat had done before : this is what
is called tlio turn of the fever.

11. If No. 1 should sicken and not puke, there may be
two causes for it viz : the coldness or acidity of the stomach :
for the first gve No. 2 more freely, and for the latter dis-
solve a piece of penrNash about the size of a large pea in a
wine glass of water, and let them take it, which will counter-
act the acidity. If this fails make use of the steam, whicli
will open the pores, extract the cold, and set the medicine
into operation.

12. In giving medicine to children, give about one half,
a little more or less, according to their age, of the qu^Mity
directed for a grown person. Bo particular to offer meni
drink often, especially young children who cannot ask for it.

13. Dysentery is caused by canker on the bowels for which
make free use of tea of No. 3, with No. 2, and give the
same by injection, in the first of the disease, and afterwards
give the syrup (No. 5) to strengthen the stomach and bowels
and restore the digestive powers.

14. The piles is canker below the reach of medicine given
in the usual way, and must be cured by using a wash of No.
3, made strong, and by giving injections of the same, with No.
2. What is called bearing down pains in women, is from the
same cause; and must be relieved by injections made of
witch hazel or red raspberry leaf tea, steeped strong, with No,
2, strained. If tliis does not give relief, go through a regular
course of medicine.

15. Women in a state of pregnancy, ought to be carried
through a regular course of the medicine, especially when
near the lime of delivery. When in travail, give raspberry
leaf tea, with a tea spoonful of the composition powders, or
No. 2, and keep them in a perspiration. After delivery keep
up the internal heat, by giving the eomposition powder, or
No. 2. This will prevent cold and after pains; ifihej^

**

76

|41irW GUIDE TO HEALTH ;

!(;

should be «ymptonit of fever, carry them through a regular
course of medicine, which will guard against all alarming
complaints, peculiar in such cases.

IG. In all cases of a burn, scald, or bein^ frozen, wrap ^p
the part in cloths wet with cold water, often wetting them
with the same, to prevent their becoming dry, and be careful
to give hot medicine, such as No. 2, or the composition pow-
ders, to keep up the inward heat. Pursue this plan for
twelve hours, and then, if the skin is off, apply the poultice,
or salve. If there should be convulsions, or fever, a regular
course of the medicine must without fail be attended to.

17. When a scald is over the whole or greatest part of the
body, apply cotton cloth or several thickness to the whole bo*
dy, wet with a tea of rasberry leaves, throughly wetting it
with the same to prevent it from becoming dry ; and give the
hot medicine. When the scald is under the stocking, or any
other tight garment, let it remain on, adding more cotton cloths
and wet the whole with cold water as often as the smart of
the burn returns.

18. If the shin is off, or in case of an old burji, to guard
against canker, apply a poultice of cracker and slippery elm
bark, made with a tea of raspberry leaves ; washing it with
soap suds when the poultice is changed, and then with the
same tea. When any part is frozen, the same method must
be taken, as for a burn,

19* For a fresh wound cut, or bruise, wash immediately
with cold wliter, and bind up in cloths wet with the same ;
keep a hot stone at the feet, and take medicine to raise a g^«
tie perspiration ; continue this till the inflammation is allayed
and the wound perfectly cleansed, then apply the poultice or
salve till healed. The air must be kept from all wounds
or sores, as it will cause pain and prevent them from
liealing.

20. In sudden and deadly attacks, such as spotted or yel-
low fever, fits, drowned persons, croup, &c. the heat and ac
tivity of the patient is so much diminished, that the common
administration will not give relief; the determining power to
the surface, being so small, through the loss of internal heat,
that it will not give the medicine operation, as its effects are
resisted and counterbalanced by the pressure of the externol
air. To counteract this pressure, keep the room, by aid of
a good fire, about us warm as a summer heat ; and more fuN

kei

;«^a||i^^f^.^• '^^'^:'m:'>

OR, BOTANIC FAMILY rHTSiClATf.

Tl

;ular
ning

them

ireful

povr-

i for

egulat

of the
jole bo-
lting »*
give the

r, Of any
on c\otb9
Binait ol

10 g«a^*
pety e\ia
igit vrUh
k%\th iHe
tbod m«8l

imediaiely
the same ;

aise a g^;

is allayed
poultice or
all vfounds

lem fro«»

,ted oryel-
eat and ac
Vie common
ng pover to
ternal heat,
ts effects are
^V^e external
k^y aid of
;nd more fuW

ly to rarify and lighten the air, and aid the ope ration of the
medicine, make a free uie of the steam bath; and keep the
patient shielded by a blanket, at the same time give occasion-
ally Nos. 1 and 2. This course should be unremittingly per-
severed in till the patient is relieved.

21. If the glands are dry, so that there is no moisture in
the mouth, or if the patient is much pressed for breath, give
a strong tea of No. 2, sweetened, and repent it till the mouth
becomes moist. No. 3 should not be used while the mouth
is dry ; if any is used, add a large portion of No. 2.

22. Be careful noi to have the outward heat too high, by
too many clothes or fire ; fur if this is the case, it will cause
a balance of the outward and inward heat, and will prevent
the medicine from operating by stopping the circulation : and
the patient will be very much distressed. When this hap-
pens, throw cold vinegar on the face and stomach, and give
more hot medicine, which will let down the outward heat and
raise the inward.

23. If the patient is restless, wet the head and body with
cold vinegar ; and if there are convulsions or spams, give the
nerve powder with No. 2. Injections must also be used

24. Never make use of physic in cases where there is can-
ker inside, for it will draw the determining powers inward,
and increase the disease. I have seen so many bad effects
from giving physic, that I have (disapproved the use of it alto-
gether; but if any is given, after the operation, be careful to
keep up the inward heat, so as to cause a free perspiration.

25. Avoid all minerals used as medicine, such as mercury,
arsenic, antimony, calomel, preparations of copper or led ;
and also nitre and opium. They are all poison, and deadly
enemies to health.

26. Beware of bleeding and blisters, as they can never do
any good, and may be productive of much harm; they are
contrary to nature, and strengthen the power of the enemy to
health. Setons and issues should also be avoided, as they
only tend to waste away the strength of the patient, without
doing any good ; it is a much better way to remove the cause
by a proper administration of medicine^ which will be more
certain and safe in its effects. '

27' Be careful not to make use of salt-petre in any way
whatever ; it is the greatest cold of any thing that can be
taken into the stomach, and was never intended for anf other

'"Is. Never eav i".^*;;'; f„, „„e ounce m I ^^,^ ,„.
U wiU engondet mse« ,^ ^ ^^^, „cMe.

worse tlmn the '""''j fresh in coW. i,o« weiil'cr

To... in hot "'"''"^^n, .Uing cold "-^^^ Vo la^-'J »? '",
2-.). Be careful »houi .^^„ja i eat J 5,^ jaial

., it will tena to le\,f°*".j. U tUw »^»" „ "i ciiie to raise

8'- f-" rer; ;« »^" >.y ^"'"j/'b: caTe^i? »iso -ot to

cool sudden y,«f'" """V . ....,,. U very i."ro"»»\:°

„ol suddenly, , after ue.. (, ._^

common exercise. „,a,ity .« diet r* ve y ^^ j„j^ i,.a

30. Remembei tliai r. „ (uoa •» t ^^^^^^

preserve health •- ""f , '^:,\ed, it clogs t^ V^^. „, „ time,
stomuch than ■;«;»,« Lutious not^. eat «« i„j,„„ant to
disease. *"'f',i well cooked, m'^'
imd have your >"°" . constitutions. , stimulate,

those •ho >'»'%S slo« poison i '' '» '^^f it destroys the
•»1 Ardent spin' '» • "^n j niucli use ui causes

?.;.;f.ffect is soon over, an" .^^ powers, and c

«"°3t Ardent spirit « « "^ P.„a much use

but this effe« i«J-" res'the. digest.e^ ,

tone
disease

disease. I. » ^r^r^ to" maUe use of ^^J'-^S; purpose,
anv thing of '>>« /g j^, these will answer » '» . , you may

1)
1

the eai "'*'"• -

^ ---tSerr.S\rrrit:!

Sade "hick, and vvhen the wau the,. »dd >^f„. '„t a.e

""""tlW «\t he "omach is weak-
specially wh.1 BBOTH ^^,^,a ,„

TO MAKE i^'"' . , . put the g. ^j^^
Take a chleU.Yod'.t'-t Sot peeled. Bo.l
with it, opened »na

ripe,

A-

OR, BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

7f

il\cr

fatal
raise
ot to
)f un-

I)

rr.ent Jrops from the bone. Begin lo gire the bpolh ai loon
as there is any strengih in it ; anil when boiled eat aome of the
mcnt. liCt itbo well Bcnsoned. This may be given insteod
of the milk porridge, and is vety good for weak patients, par-
tioiilnrly in cases of the dysentery.

Whnn the operation of medir.ino is gone through, I hove
8f\id that tho puiient may cat any kind or nourishing food
hi^ appeiito sliotiki crave ; but the best thing is to take aslico
of salt pork broiled, or beef steak, well done, and eat it with
pepper sauce ; or take cayenne, vinegar and salt, mixed to-
gether, and eat with it, which is very good to create an appe-
tite and assist the digcsture.

I

ant to

10 the

causes

a ixirwt
tani to

vvnulate

roya

the

icl causes
rg requite

purpose,
you may
and long

tuantity of
with water,
op liiis into
aUapn»\«'
.lion of the
other time,

Joi\ it tiU tue

*«#«44«

Description of several eases of Disease, with directions how

they may be cured.

FELONS.

This sore always comes on a joint, and is often caused by
some strain, or bruise, which makes a leak in the joint or
muscle, and the sooner it has vent the better. If it is brought
to a head by poulticing, the skrn being so thick that it will
often be caused to break through the back of the hand, before
it can get through the skin on the inside. The best way to
give it vent, that I have ever found, is to burn a small piece
of punk, tho bigness of half a pea, on the place affected. If
you think the flesh is dead down to the matter, you may prick
the point of a needle into the dead skin, and raise it up and
cut out a piece under the needle sufficient to let out the mat-
ter ; then apply poultice or salvo.— If painful, wrap it in
cloths of several thicknesses, wet with cold water, and repeat
this as often as it becomes hot or painful. Take the compoii-
tion, or hot medicine, to keep up an inward heat.

If the snre has been several days coming, and appears nearly
ripe, apply a piece of unslacked lime to the part affectedf,
wrap it up and wet the cloth with cold water, till the lime is
slockei 'f and repeat this till the skin looks of a purple color ;

'^ en U ..».ero- ^^^^ Jn^ U open .;* ,»X^-.

forms a leaK, jj^ojes,

aid makes a spee y Bl^RN^' ., ,^„,e tbing,

•FKESZ^S Ai> j,„d J«f ^;7^ in cold

These t«o -t;:^?^^^^, « ^^ »" ^^

P«'' '" Sn"w«- " ^''medicine »» ^^ough they ,^.„e
i^atm »=d'""!. "r couve of '"/"'"keep the e»'"'^°i'tSe sore-

fevei, ot a^y;, Vrointhe »'"•"''« .he akin i» »"• * V4„ 3, ei'i
„eBS or pa>n '» « nv, a„y of the « sote dischatS ^^^

flour bread, «e^« . „. or «»«^'i ,e,sb v ith the te^^ ^^

\

;;.!. «i'h »?'n« po-l'''^' 5' 'harn^s attracted »» » I .'"^old
I, and co«'»»« ^'t'cold, and »^u»'ore than «f »'> rbefote
Afte«*«''h'atopen» *" &"ethan ^"^""l 2'^o« bom
«»"«'' " ' A ctose. them as »»* "Ls the P«»P"Cdet *«

ftreal^euiet" r^i^ard, *"°Jw coveted "? "r/ottiii was set
*• '""^^ZW e»ber.,^^^^^^^^ '"l^^ttetd stood

into a large OT , ooV?**, oaiV of cold «»"''.,e ioirne-

thU hot mass , ne ^^ ,„»o a pa j^ «»"^i^ Xe to at-

"° ***Srbuttherptocat!V°Tathcr »aW by *;,^^ keep.

the ait from tne su

OR, BOl'ANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

n

exst
i a
luce

of tio.

. Cor ft»
\.« co\d

waste and lets the air to the burn, the pain will increase ; but
by prusuinj; this course for about two hours, the pain abated,
and the boy fell asleep. Water was poured on the cloth but
two or three limes during the rest of the night, and in the
morning preparation was made to dress the wound, when, to
the surprise of all present, no blister had arisen, nor a particle
of skin broken. He put on his stockini^s and shoes as usual,
and went about his work, perfectly well.

CASE OF A BOY WHO WAS BADLY SCALDED.

A lady took off from a fire a tea«kettle filled with boiling
water, when her little son, about six years old, stepped on tho
bail, and turned the contents on both his feet, and falling, one
hand went into the tea-kettle ; both feet and one hand were
very badly scalded. I happened to be present, and immedi-
ately tore up cloth sufficient to do up each part, wetting them
with cold water. I then put him in bed and gave him some
warm medicine, put a warm stone at his feet, and wet the
cloths as often as he complained of pain. In about two hours
he fell asleep, after which, two or three times wetting the
cloths, kept him easy through the night. In the morning, on
taking off the cloths, there was no appearance of blisters, nor
any skin broken ; and he put on bis shoes and stockings, and
appeared as well as before the accident happened. It had
been the declared opinion of the fumWy that the night before,
that the boy would not be able to go to school for a fortnight ;
but on finding him well in the morning, were hardly willing
to believe their own senses, or that the child had been scald
ed.

GENERAL REMARKS ON BURNS.
Burns are the most easily cured, if rightly manged and un«
derstood, of any wounds I ever attended ; and are the most
difficult and dangerous, when not understood, and wrongly
treated. How often have we seen these sores continue all wia-
ter, and could not be healed ? As also burns caused by blisters
made with Spanish flies, which amount to the same thing. By
not being treated in a proper manner in season, the canker
gets in and eats out the flesh, after which what is called proud
flesh fills up the sore. The doctor applies his sugar of lead,
vitriol and red precipitate to eat out the dead flesh ; this af«
feet! the curds, and draws th«m out of shape, and m«ny times
U

.fKh-

¥*-»:^X

'*««*«Srt(*gMi|fc«K;

:*f-«aa.iii,

p

8fi

NEW GUIDE TO HEALTH;

makes n sore that they cannot cure, \\hich terminates in a
mortifying canker sore. — My friends if you wish to avoid all
th?g trouble, attend to what belongs to your peace and com-
fort, before it is hidden from your eyes; that is, to attend to
the caiikor, which always awaits such cases, and where the
skin is off in all cases of burns or blisters, apply a poultice of
cracker, or elm bark wet with a tea of No* 3, until the canker
is gone. Sometimes add ginger; if the inflamation is high,
add a little of No. 2, with the ginger keeping the poultice wet
with cold water, and when the sore discharges, apply salve till
n cure is efifected.

I shall continue my remarks on burns, by shewing the evil
consequences arising from blistering. Not long since I knew
a case where a doctor drew a blister on a child's breast up to
the neck, for being stuffed at the lungs. It lingered with this
scald near its vitals about a week ; I was then called to visit
the child, and found it to be dying. The mother asked me
what I thought was the matter with it ; I took oifthe dressing,
and showed her the mortified flesh all over the blister, and
told her that was the disorder. She seemed much surprised ;
and I then asked her if the child had been scalded, and it had
mortified in like manner, whether she would have had any
doubt of its being the cause of her child's death ? She said
that she should not I gave her n.y opinion, that it was ex-
actly a similar case, and that the child's death was caused as
mnch by the blister as it would have been by a scald. The
child died before morning. I had declined doing any thing
fo? itf as I was satisfied that I could do it no good ; and if
1 had made the attempt, it would have been said that I kil-
led it.

I have seen many cases where 1 vras perfectly satisfied that
the patients died in consequence of the blisters, not only on
the stomach, but on the head. In many that 1 have witnessed
where a blister was drawn on the head, as soon as it began to
draw their senses were gone, and did not returu till they died
riving, or|stupified. More than lialf the cases where the head
was shaved and blistered^ that have come within my knowl-
edge, have died. I never could see any reason why a scald
on the head or body done on purpose, should have a tendency
to rffect a cure, wl>en the person is sick, and the same thing
happening to them ty accident, when well, should destroy
their health or cause their death. If a person should have

1

I'

nei^
and
bett
oft
oiTi
the
1
up t\
was

p;untf

ias/j
a sUni
5fne/if
keep
slimy I

itii

next al

S ill fi

)id all
com-
end to
re the
lice of
;anker
5 high,
ce wet
Ivetm

he evil
[ knew
It up to
ith this
to visit
lied me
-essing,
er, and
5rised ;
A it had
lad any
!ihe said
was ex-
lused as
I. The
ly thing
; and if
at I kil-

fied that
only on
itnessed
began to
[jey died
the head
Y knowl-
/ a scald
tendency
me thing
[1 destroy
luld have

t

^R. BOTANIC FAMfLV PHVSIClAv
^'^'^^hend or stomach so b«.i , ^"^^^^'^^- 85

.vve should consider thn^ '? '^^"'^"^ «' to take oft',., , •
b"t nothing is saiSnh •'" ^^^ '"ost danJrnn, ''.^- ''""'
'^^velt to t^ereaier to"; " "''^» ^^^^-o"/;^^^^^^^^^
cy- I havp f... i^econc e, ifUt, p.,„ ';"!^P?se. I shall

blisters on thiT" '"^^^ dangerous sfr"' ^'"' '"^^^n^i^t.n.

d" no. see hiZiil JeTTf""' ''^PP^neVrF,", T" 'A'
«ad ne ther ^^.t^ I ^ "esday follovvm.r . J • '^'"^3^' aid f

i'^^ spasms anH?' '^T' «'« "erve Jerl,; 1""/ ^"'''■^'' ''«

^-^''^ious abZ*h;,„^ ?^P^''^'" «^t''e vessel «nn« ".^ ^''^ ^''»^»
him f ;.nf r """» ^'^sked nie iY r V .j , ^'^Peared to be verv

•'■e cloth ,viil, r„tA . ''""'"ce of meal on l,i. <• '' ' "'''■"
medicine U e s",„'^ "•■"?■■ '" ""V the he, ,/°°'' ""'^ '""
nervou, fe eV "L """:«'' ''« hart be;l', ,'','-'"1 ^'f <-' ''""

'■'"Ji'n,isfo„,,„,,. , """^d also reconclod

'"e'l (tTi tz, ';.- f-p 'his tooir:;;;^!,: '■<= v-^-^^

^een it fm,.. . r"^« 't with vine«rar ♦ V 'i, '"^ "ffens ve

,i

•*i

■#*

■?^,,

84

HEW CUIDE TO HEALTH;

cut none of the flesh hul what was dead, to stop in part tho
putrification. I then put on anoiher poultice, and ordered it
to be kept wet with cold water, and a warm stone wrapped in
a wet cloth, to be put on his fcet, lo keep a steam, jfiving him
warm medicines inside, to keep up the inward heat ; and by
weftini? hi? fotJt with cold water, it kept the deteiminjr power
to the surface ; thus raising the fountain and lowering stream.
Ky this treatniont it becomes impossible that mortification can
gM fVum the liml)s to the body, any more than a log that floats
Jivcr tiie liam, can go back into the pond, when the fountain
it kept full. The next day I dressed his foot, and found that
the dead flesh hnil digested very much ; T again soaked it in
peai 'ash, and then washed in viuegar as before, which was of
aren't vf vice in allaying the bad smell. I then caused him to
^e carried tlno":Gjh a rrgular coui^e of medicine, which com-
pletely restored his bodily health ; his appetite was good, and
all pain and soreness abated, so that he took food regularly,
and lost no sleep afterwards, till he got entirely well, which
was in about four weeks.

Tl'.e captain was a very good nurse, and was faithful in at-
tendance on the young man till he got well, and expressed the
liiirhest gratitude (or my attention and success ; and as a proof
of his confidence in the medicine, he puichased a rijjht, for
which he paid me twenty silver dollars, observing at tlie same
time, that he never paid fur any thing with more sausfaction.

OLD CAxNKER SORES ON THE LEGS.
When I was a voung man, I was much troubled thro' the
winter, for many years, with sores on my legs. At the com-
mencement of cold weather, if I broke the grain on my shin,
it would become a bad sore, and continue through the winter ;
the canker would get into it and eat to the bone, and son)e-
times spread under the grain like a burn, and feel the same,
being extremely sore, with stings and twinges like a cancer.
These sores were so troublesome, that it led me to invent a
cure; finding the cause to be a canker, I took some of the ar-
ticles con posing No. 3, steeped strong, and washed the part
nflTected with it ; if there was a bad smell, I first washed the
sore with strong soap suds, taking off all the loose skin, which
was blistered with cankery humor, and then washed with u
tea of No. 3, to destroy tho canker and harden the «oro
Bometimes wetting it with the dropa. If the inflaraation run

i

c

V

c

h

in
nej
the
salv
put
to /c
coJd

03 c

the p

'IS oc

doni

^vhere
■■^prcid

/'''edui

poultice
with CO

^'■e inthx

'/rcoi

two

} i

CASE

(Jeen bnt
j^ound //

r'-h but li
K^^^ed, till

r '•at xvas
f"s poise

"'son . I J

s.

;:ej*f(*r«N*

■ iKniMiy'"'''*''*'^'

the

on, BOTANIC FAMUr PHYS.e/A«.

.■><

>v/.. ' :: rev, ■-'''- '^-Ks^vte:; ^:r' -^ «- -^o-

"< painiui a,,, II , I *'''''" "lien as ilrv .

ti^e nurnose on .7 ^ '"^'^'•'''> «"cj when tluZ ? *""' ' ^"^'j

«'i'l| -'.I >"nie :?,:"» "-• -•'='., an.. oV;' ,, te!:' "'» *
CASE OF THE P,T,. .n ■■"'"="•"» -'Meed. * ^

round/, :^r"''' ''^'''^^^'inafevvda^Vh' '"^''^°''^^'^ ^^ '^-^

pressed \ "^'^''^"^^'.^^- Tlie svv > ini J'T't «^'"«rf'^ci„e

, "Pptarances ed rnp »« "'ackberrv m'p

" a strong tea of No. i

IteK-

i.
r

^^

''jf|ttM^.-e

7

II

NEW GUIDE TO HEALTH i
36 J th No 3. carried hiiB

tV,.o..gl. »•'.'"''" """^^ before, to keep »"? .""J "' "a throw
de. ti.e "F; ■"" j ^^p, him in a sweat f»' '^';, • ,, method

de rm-.vios '•'>««" '" •''\%t «t f equently despaired of He
1, , (leiireelhfttViislife wasiteiiu J month, oe-

" 'irefuUv attended in this manner Oout on ^.^^^^^

T Tro«lddetermi..ein my ov-n ™'"f^ ^'^"^ , Ume he began
^""Ite «»nW gain .he victory; "f'" «^'^;'- „„„ths he ap-
"„d«a Iv To gain his health, and - "bo^« »'=' „,, ,;^,y years
^' T,l he clear of the poison. 1 his >"* , f ,,5 year, it
Pra»e and the accident bapP-;»S "^^I'jS deadly poison
.much more difficult to conquer this eold a ^^^,,„.

Zn.t would have beeu in vv»rm «eatter. ^^.^

^mirat '^V/rshte": t e -'^aX^n ^^^''-tt^.ig

BADWOUNinNJHEEYECmiED.^._^„ ,„,.
WhilelwasatKastp.-., M^"^' \,^ accideiUaily »..« a

stuck fast in tne skui , swelled anu ci i

.„at he could draw It ouu i^^e ey_^^^ ^^^^ , a .ent .J_

re'- "^i-VapVene' "-Vj^^^e IfretC and^ carry hi™
rn's .0 the man « » -- ;^-, ^l. ,. possible, keeping sev^

ritcU«:r o'f cToU. wet -""-^^teTbi " ■" » O-'";"-

£rvfr:^3^i!fris^^

CO

ke(

hoi
am
asti

tal

Tfie

of a

tlieij

beinj

greai

to be

agair

't is s

only

inflar

bear.

cold 1

heat t

posses

tion;

some I

suppur

and tb<

so slow

hard, d

to supp

*Pg uati

flesh, w

ptoporti

if this is

iat'on, tl

Jng- eaie

as a Trie I

')*' this d

^vilh it th

Joly ho' I

In Old

feet of n

■a^*

.•.^....A' *,

OR, BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

87

i\m
un-

, oc-
Bthod
con-
>aied ;

ep ^^«
crease

of H«

d'lsease
e begai^
I be ap-

ly y®®'^.^

^e year > it
j\y poison
,30 convuv
uis baving
,ecome a

ma"y

iata'j

I bo >^'»^

!vc baU ami
'^vabie exev-

1 gave divcc-
U carry bi«i

\us eye, and
kn a perspira
4 to ; and on

o blood r^aj
ho eye. *• •

continued the ivet cloth, and gave him warm medicine inside
keeping him in a gentle perspiration for the next twenty four
hours, which cleared the eye of blood, restored the sight, and
amended his health, that he was well in about a week, to the
astonishment of all who saw him.

CANCER SORES.

A concise and general treatise on this "iolent and often fa-
tal disease, may convey some useful ideas on the subject.
The cause of this sore is very little understood- In all sores
of an eating nature there is more or less canker according to
their violence. A Cancer is the highest degree of canker,
being the most powerful effects of cold and consequently the
greatest degree of inflamation, therefore the remedies ought
to be those of a warming nature, as the greatest preventives
against canker. Whenever a violent inflamation is discovered
it is supposed that heal causes the difficulty ; but the fact is,
only evidence of a war betwen heat and cold ; for there is no
inflamation where there is perfect health, because heat then
bear, complet' rule ; and no disease can take place until the
cold ma^^QS an attack on the body, which causes an unnataral
heat to oppo'.e au unnatural cold ; wherever the cold takes
possession, tne snflanition shows itself by stopping the circular
tion ; the effect \n swelling, inflameu calous, arising from
some leak, cuused by the natural course being stopped. If it
suppurates and discharges, it is called ulcer, bile, and the like
and the canker goes off vith the putrifacUon. If the leak is
so slow as to calous as fast as they discharge, it becomes a
hard, dead lump of flesh, and not having circulation enough
to support it, it begins *o rot ; here the canker shews its eat-
ing nature ; b'^'ng seated in the dead flesh, and eating on live
flesh, which is intermixed with it, causes pain and distress, in
ptoportion as the body is filied with coldness and canker
if this is suiT'cient to keep the power above the natural circu-
lat'on, the patient will continue in the distressei situation be-
ing eaien up alive, until, worn out with the pain, death comes
as a friend to relieve them. This is the natural termination
•)f this dreadful malady ; which is far better than to combine
with it the common form of practice in using arsenic, which
only h^i'ps to eat up and distress the iv.tiont.

In order to give a more coriert idea of the dangerous ef-
fect of makiiig use of arsnic U ancers, T shall make a short

y il

«

.-■*'<
>*,,

I ' '

*_

88

NEW

extract from Thatcher

GUIDE iO HEALTH

ipensalory

l»o s

ul'jccl.

It

Ar!

=;'?--:^:";i:;ri,r

;i,ich sealing on ihe "'"f - ^»"'\^,..> My «isl' "' "1'"?'"^

Tl e rincipl object aimod » ^^^"^tnrse evil b inculuu J,

in i; ng that by '''^•>''«:^ "!!,;" r'. Tbe .»">-' - " . """ff
",,:.i, is more fatal than tho <anc.,r. ^^^ j,,.,,, . .f

■ rurofli»e anrt dead flesh, a.|<l . ""^^^^^^ ,;,„ ,t,,„, ...

■'If to dissoWe the dead A'-"''';-'" ," ;, liu'tho flcbh .sd^aJ
;;et ^f r«..k on the place -^r»; 'L „,. uv. or t .-o,:
enough to suppurate. 11". »"• ;, ,•„, ,he sa.-..c y

mhiuies, and not so paii.lul as ""- „ ,„, u„noHr is si.uili,

^;it'w,ll last for twelve hour. Where^^ ^^^ v^^pc.ting t e
thP rancor basam Will be lomm ,,j^. dcivJ lUi>>i

plastefJr two or throe ""l^''. 'i^o,.:, apply a g'"g"
Za remove thecanker; »""' ''^'^g. If the cy^tc.n np.

r d ehn poultice wet wj^' ""=^t[ U.e cancer l."--". ^Jf^
pears to be generally airectedw i ^^^.^^^ ^„j ..^.^^at t..e

!h>m throueh a common course "i

same while attending to the sore. „f „„ mdia.-.

"Tha.^ a cancer on my foot about the b,

corn which has troubled no »« «• ,''y i„„er of tl... cance.
7 .«in<re9. I curcd.tbyoppl>int.»l; ^^,,^,0 thori; is
riam ?repeating it tw.ce at each ^^"'^ \, p„„k first,
d^ld flesh u.Hlor the ski.., .t .s b st ^o bur ,^ ,^ ^^^^
fnd then apply the P""""=« "„ ^" ^7,,'dicate the canker from
tended to always g.ve "edtcme to "« ^^ „^, „„ ,„„.

le system, both hefo« «^J "ft*', a,e U. «■»'»'« "^y ^^
Three cancers on the breast . ,^^g, „ „ hal.

that I could not cure. One ol inem

u

tf)
up
flc
bui
the
hav
.'lbs

tllGi

thci

cure

on t

dii'fi

I

Gua

canlj

pouli

in th

n^atei

the s:

and c

given

bid dc

t Wf

who hf

hia bee

tended

grow w

said the

'Jis, iha

ted upoi

him thr

^hen he

sed of J>

used ; «

^ay, sore

"ad beet

and reco

health ar

ed with t

■■..'^-*-.s*^*

°"' "^^'^^'c FAjntr PHrsu

""=y 'iv d • but'^,'!,';'' ""'"■"? "'»» comfomM'" ■"■'' keep
0/1 tlie breast awl ,"'*'' ™^ care many othl„ """"P'sie a

poultice f the infll ?<'<''e"'e, and renKaf .?"'™'' '<» 'h«
in llie so/p if '"''''na"on is grea, „,„P- ' "—"« the ginger

"'«"""' "^"^ U?a1l%''"™P"'"'»" « /noI r„"", "'^

„ f ^A' called to aae^d^r*^?^ ^t^KED.

groB- worse Th* ^'''^ «•« for, and L ^1" •'*«o" at-
.aid they m" •I^,,''''""'-' had 'operati*; '"'^ '""'inued to

his, <hat^he wasl " "."'^'- ' " "as th"r on?„ ""* "''«> wd
'cd upon was TnLh ° ''^'='™ The side Z™?"' ?'"«" as
him through a" et i"""'"' '" "<"■<> than tl,l „, '"^ '""^ <>P«a.
«hen he w^s aWe m ^ """'" »f medicine .wi^"'- ' "'''•^■i
"ed of No 3 »,l!" S? """ of doors ^LT"" '"■ ""■<"• days

oay, sometimes w«ak '^PP^'^d freely sevprli I- ^' ""«»
h«d been dSv^T^^^^^'-naliy with th^^^^ ^""'^ '» the

wneii going to -.^

f

':.'*

s '

h J

i »■

1

w

f

if

nr

w ctVlDS TO UEALIH

bed nr"«»'t* piloi and chafei in young and old. Qemember

SORK HEADS IN CHILDREN, (SCALD HEADS.)

This sore often comes after havin^r had the itch ; kernels
form in the neck ; it is contagious, being caused by canker
and putrifaction. The most efTectual way to cure this dia*
case, is to carry them through a course of medicine several
times, as the case may require, previous tp which, tiie iiead
should be oiled, and covered with cabbage leaves ; or draw a
bladder over the bead, to keep out the cold air. The head
should be covered so as to make it sweat as much as possible^
in order to dissolve the hard scabs. After laying all night
the smell will be offensive : wash the head in soap suds, whuu
clean wash it also with a tea of No. 3. after which wash with
II tea of No. I. Sometimes annoint it with the Rheumatio
Drops and nerve ointment — let it come to the air by degrees.
Be careful to guard the stomach by givinpf composition, warii
bitters, &c. The ointment, drops, and No. 1, in powder or
juice, may be occasionally used together or separate. Con-
tinue to wash with soapsudj,and then with No. 3 occasionally,
until a cure is effected.

To make an oil to cure Scald Heads, take a green fro^,
add to it fresh butter, simmer slow in a pt^n before the fire, till
the frog is roasted to a crisp, and it become a thick oil — then
oint the head, keeping it covered to prevent exposure to the
air.

SORE BREASTS.
Some women suffer very much from this complaint, whieh
is caused by cold, occasioning obstructions in the glands of the
l>reasts. When they are swelled^ bathe with the rheumatis
drops, or pepper vinegar ; if this does not remove the swelling,
and it should be necessary to bring it to a head, apply a poul-
tice of lily root made thick with ginger, or slippery elm bark ;
at the same time give the composition powder, or No. 2, to
keep up the inward heat. If the woman is sick, carry her
through a regular course of the medicine, which will remove
the complaint and restore her to health in a short time. I
have cured many who were very bad, by pursuing the above
plan, and never met with difficulty. I attended a woman in
Fortsmoutb, who had both breaits badly swelled. She was

y

«

tnbcr

)S.)

crneU

;nnUct

is dis-
several
s head
draw a
e head
(oss'iblo,
II nighl
9, when
ash witli
icumaiio
degrees,
n, wariii
jwder ot

te. ^""'
asionaUy.

een fro?»
hefiie,tiU

oil— then
re to tHe

indsoftno

I rheumatie

le swellings

Inly a POJ*^"
Telmbark-,

L No. 2, to
carry her
j\\\ remove
\x\ time. I
the above
^otnan in
She v»ft»

OR, BOTAlNfC FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

91

Bitting by the window with it up, and could hardly get her
brcntli ; she could not bear to Iiave any fire in the room, com-
plaining that it made her faint. I told her that if I could not
make her bear heat, I could do lier no good. I gave her some
No. 2, to raise the inward heat, and caused u good (ire to be
made in the room. The inward heat cained as fast as thn
outward, and in one hour she could bear as warm n fire as I
could. 1 carried her through three regular courses of the
medicine in live days, and at tho same time applied tho lilly
poultice, which brought them to a head without pain, and ehe
was soon well.

TO STOP 13LErJ)ING.

Internal bleeding is from the stomach or lun<Ts, and is cans*
ed by canker, or soreness of the stomach ; it often takes place
very suddenly, and creates much alarm. The patient some-
times trembles with fright, and often hasfitsof the ague, which
is caused by the cold increasing in proportiou to the loss of
blood. In the first place shield them from tho air with a
blanket, by the fire, and give tho hottest medicine you have; if
nolhinjj better can he had, give hot water, or any kind of hot
tea ; and get a perspiration as soon as possible ; then apply the
steam bath ; giving ginger tea, or No. 2, if you have it, if not
black pepper. As soon as there is an equilibrium in the cir" '
culation, there will be no more pressure of the blood to the
stomach or lungs than to the extremities, and the bleeding
will cease. It has been ray practice in cases of this kind, to
give some of the rheumatic drops, shield them from the air
with a blanket, placed by the fire ; then give a dose of the
composition powders, and No. 2 ', and if this dose does
not answer the purpose, then give a dose of No. 1, which
with the steam, I never knew fail of stopping the blood;
and by giving medicine to remove the canker and restore the
digestive powers, I have always been able to effect a cure.
The same applications will answer for other weakening and
alarming complaints in women.

External bleeding caused by wounds in the limbs, may be
stopped by placing the wound higher than the body. One of
my sons cut his leg very badly ; I placed him on the door and
took his foot in my lap ; as soon as the* wound was higher
than the body the bleeding ceased. I then poured on cold
water till the wound was white; then put in a few drops of No.
6, took two or three stitches to bring together, dressed it with

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PhologFaphic

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Corporalion

23 WeST MAIN STRUT

WIUTIR.N.Y. USM

(716) S72<4S03

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92

NEW GUIDE TO HEALTH

i\

salve, and it soon got well with very littlo soreDess. Another
case of a little girl, who cut off the main artery of the mid-
dle finger, and it bled very fast. I put my thumb above the
wound, and stopped the blood ; then poured on cold water
vith my other hand, and washed the wound well ; then placed
her hand above her head, which prevented it from bleeding,
till I could get ready to dress the wound. It bled no more, and
soon got well.

RUPTURE.

This difficulty is caused by a hurt or strain, which makes a
breach in the tough film, or membrane, that supports the
bowels in their place, and the intestines come down into the
cavity between this membrane and the skin ; being sometimes
very painful and difficult to be got back : and have to be kept
from coming down by a truss. When the bowels come down
and remain any length of time, they become swelled, and are
very painful, causing great distress and danger : and some-
times have proved fatal, as they cannot be got up again till
the swelling is removed. This may be effected by a course
of the medicine without danger.

A Mr. Woodbury, ot Durham, was troubled with a rupture ;
'his bowels came down, swelled, and was very painful ; a doc-
tor was sent for from Portsmouth, who applied a bag of snow,
which drove the pain to the stomach and caused puking. The
swelling increased and became very hard. The case now be-
coming desperate, and the family being alarmed, I was sent
for, and on hearing the circumstances, sent some medicine,
and gave directions to sweat him as soon as possible. My
directions were faithfully attended to, and as soon as he be«
came warm, the nerves slackened, the swelling abated, all
appearance of mortification disappeared, the bowels went
back, and in twelve hours he was restored from a dangerous
situation, to almost his ,usual state of health. In tbis case
may be seen the difference between the artificial doctor, and
nature's physician, which is the same as between fire and snow.

- AGUE IN THE FACE.

This is caused by cold in the glands of the luoutb, which
keeps back the saliva till it causes swelling and soreness, the
canker becomes prevalent at the same time, which causes
severe pain in the face and throat. The sooner a cure ii at*

. ■ V

an
by

wh
get
pail
is a
out

pOfl

proi
ther
borr

to CI

reia:
trou
I
joint
abou
to be
asthf
the h
wrapi
then]
from
minut

h4-

»*p*'

."teho...

■MK

^i;:^

/•-tfif "i*»W--y «■

OR, BOTANIC FAMILY FHYSICUN,

93

notliet
,e mid-
ove the
d water
I placed
leeding»
ore,oad

makes a
)ort8 the
into the
omeiimes
;o be kepi
►me down
1, and are
nd some-
again till
,y a course

a rupture ;
Ful ; a doc-
ig of snow,
iking. The
ise now be-
I was sent
medicine,
isible. My
L as he be-
[abated, oil
iwels went
dangerous
tVis case
Idoctor, und
e and snow.

)utb, which

)reness, the

iich causes

cure U at-

tempted t!jc better ; to effect this, take a (k)se of the tea of
No. 3, with a teaspoonful of No. G in it, for the canker ; then
tie a small quantity of No. 2 in a fine piece of cloth, wet with
No. G, anil put it between the teeth and cheek, on the side
where the poin is ; set by the fire covered by a blanket, and
breathe tiie warm air from the fire ; this will prick the glands
and cause the saliva to flow very freely, which will take out
the soreness and relieve the pain. The face may be bathed
at the same time with No. G. If the case is of long standing,
so that the system ia affected, and this does not remove the
complaint, giv3 a dose of No. 1. If it is caused by decayed
teeth, fill the hollow with cotton wool, wet with oil of Sum-
raersavory^ or spirits of turpentine, which will deaden the
nervft, and stop its aching. This is good in all cases of the
teeth ache, and will generally effect a cure without extracting.

TO RELAX THE MUSCLES IN SETTING A BONE.

This may be done by bathing the part with warm water,
and is much better than the method that is generally practised,
by extending the muscles by the strength of several persons,
which weakens the part so much that the bones are liable to
get out of place again ; besides, the operation causes severe
pain to the patient, and much trouble to the operator, which
is all obviated by my method, lu case where a joint is put
out, or a bone broken, give a dose of No. 2, or the composition
powder, with half a teaspoonful of nerve powder, which will
promote a perspiration, prevent fainting, and quiet the nerves;
then wrap the part in cloths wet with water as hot as it can be
borne, and pour on the warm water, placing a pan underneath
to catch it, for a short time, when the muscles will become
relaxed, so that the bones may be put in their place with little
trouble.

I was once called to a woman who had put her elbow out of
joint by a fall from her horse. It was badly out, being twisted
about one quarter of the way round. I ordered some water
to be made hot immediately, stripped her arm, and as soon
as the water was hot, put a towel in a large tin pan, and poured
the hot water on it till well wet ; as soon as cool enough,
wrapped it round her arm from her wrist to her shoulder ;
then placed the pan under her arm, and poured on the Water
from a pitcher, as hot as she could bear it, for about fifteen
minutes. I then took off the towel, and directed one person

t

-n

f.

I

:) .

94

N£W GUIDE TO HBALTH ;

to take bold of the arm above the elbow, and atiother below,
to steady it : and then placed my fingers against the end of
the bone on the under side, and my thumb against that on the
upper side, and by a gentle pressure each way, set the joint
without pain, or force on the muscles, to the astonishment of
all present, who calculated that it would require the strength
of several meu. I then wrapped it up with the same towel,
which had been cold ; this brought the muscles to their proper
tone, and kept the joint firm in its place ; put her arm in a
sling, and she walked home that night, about a mile, and the
next day was well enough to knit all day.

In case a shoulder is out of joint, I relax the muscles in the
same manner, and put the arm over my shoulder and lift up,
which has always put the joint in its place, without any dan*
ger, and with very little pain to the patient; and then by
applying cold water, the muscles will become braced, so that
there will be no danger of its getting out again. I knew of a
case where a man had his hip turned out, and several doctors
had exhausted all their skill in vain to set it ; when one of
my agents being present, undertook it by my plan of treatment
and after he had relaxed the muscles sufficiently, put his knee
against the hip joint, and placing bis hand on the inside of the
knee, turned the leg out, and crowded the joint into its place
without any difficulty.

POISON BY IVY OR DOGWOOD.

Many people are troubled with this difficulty every season,
end I have been much afflicted with it myself in my younger
days, often being poisoned in such manner as to swell and
break out very badly, and knew no remedy but to let it have
its course, which was almost as bad as the small pox. One of
my sons was often afflicted in this way, and one season was
poisoned three times, so as to be blind for several days. I
long sought a remedy without success, till I found it in the
emetic herb. By washing with a tincture of the green plant,
as directed in the second preparation of the emetic herb, on
the first appearance of the disease, is a certain remedy. If
the complaint has been for any length of time, and has become
bad, it will be necessary to take a dose of the powdered emetic
(first preparation) to clear the system of the poison, at the
same time of washing with the tincture. A tea made of the
powdered letvei and pods, will do to wash vith| when the

\^-

H'^

■ >.»Lli|^<«li»IIH<>Mllll'«*''l»*'''**>«iMk'

Oa, BOTANIC FAMTLT PIlTSICIAi^.

9S

below,
end of
on the
; joint
nent of
trengih
3 towel,
proper

m in a
and tlio

es in the
[lift up,
any dan-
then by
I, so that
new of a
il doctors
»n one of
treatment
t his knee
side of the
3 its place

'ry season,
y younger
swell and
let it have
One of
leason was
[\ days. 1
[ditin the
reen plant,
ic herb, on
[ernedy. If
lias become
fered emetic
^son, at the
lade of the
I, when the

tinctare or green plant cannot be had. The powdered leeds,
with Nos. 2 and 6, (third preparation) may also be used for
the same purpose.

MEASLES.
This disease is very common, especially among children,
and is often attended with bad consequences, when not pro-
perly treated. It is a Iiigh stato of canker and putrifaction :
and if the determining powers are kept to the surface, it will
make its appearance on the outside, and go off of itself; but
if cold overpowers the inward heat, so as to turn the deter"
mining powers inwards, the disease will not make its appear'*
mice, and the patient will become much distressed, frequently
producing fatal consequences, if some powerful stimulant is
not administered to bring the disorder out. To give physic
in cases of this kind is very dangerous, as it strengthens the
power of cold, and keeps the canker and putrifaction inside,
which scni?*:''.:. ^c.^'.^ ^.j/ou ilio lungj, and causes cunsiuup-*—
tion ; or turns to the stomach and bowels, when they die sud-
denly, as has been the cr le with hundreds, for. the two years
past. I have attended a great many cases of the measles in
the course of my practice, and never lost one : and never have
known of any that have died of this disorder, who were atten-
ded by any of my agents. When the symptoms make their
appearance^ giva a dose of the composition powder, or of No.
2 ; then give the tea of No. 3 to guard against canker, and
add some No. 2 to overpower the cold ; and when the second
dose is given, add No. 1, to clear the stomach and promote
perspiration ; as soon as this takes place the disorder will
show itself on the outside. B/ continuing to keep the deter-
mining power to the surface, nature will take its regular course,
and the disease will go off without injuring the constitution.
If the bowels appear to bo disordered, give an injection, and
be careful to keep the patient warm.

I once had a case of a young woman who had the medsles;
she lingered with the symptoms four or five days, and thea
become very sick, turned of a dark purple color, and a high
fever, when I was called to attend her. I gave her a strong
dose of No. 3, steeped, {and put in it a spoonful of the third
preparation of No. 1, which caused such a violent struggle
thm I had to hold her in the bed ; but it was soon over, for in
about ten minutes she vomited, and there was a perspiration,

^;

^'^Miiib.

yo

TTETT GUIDE TO HEALTH;

I

I

rr

fi

I'

which was followed by the measles coming out, so that she
w as completely covered with the eruption. She was soon well
and about her work.

SMALL POX.

This disease is the highest slate of canker and putrifaciion,
%yhich the human body is capable of receiving, nnd is the most
contagious, bemg taken in with the breaih, or may be com-
municated by inoculation, in which case it is not so violent
and dangerous as when taken the natural way. The distres-
sing and often fatal consequences that have happened in cases
of the small pox, are more owing to the manner in which it
has been treated, than to the disease. The fashionable mode
of treatment in this disease has been to give physic, and re<»
duce the strength by starving the patient and keeping them
cold. This is contrary to common sense, as it weakens the
friend and streuprthons the enemy ; and the sanie cause would
produce similar eifects in any other disorder. An that is ne-
cessary is to assist nature to drive out the canker and putri-
faction, which is the cause of the disease, by keeping the
determining powers to the surface, in which case there will be
no danger. The same manner of treatment should be used
in this complaint as has been directed for the measles. The
canker-rash, and all kinds of disease that a person is not liable
to have but once, such as chicken-pox, swine-pox, &c., are
from the same cause, and must be treated in a similar manner.

COUGH.

The general opinion is, that cough is an enemy to health,
and ought to be treated as such ; but this idea I hold to be
altogether an error, for it is the effect and not the cause of
disease. When the lungs are diseased, there will be a col*
lection of matter, which must be thrown off, and the cough is
like the pump of a ihip, which discharges the water and pre-
vents her from sinking ; so also the cough throws off what
collects on the lungs, which if suffered to remain there would
soon putrify and cause death. It is a common saying, that I
have a bad cough, and can get nothing to stop it ; and the
doctor oflon says, if I could stop your cough, I should have
hopes of a cure ; but this is as unreasonable as it would be to
stop the pumps of a ship which would cause her to sink the
sooner. Ask a sailor what he would do, and he would say,

'^^,

1

t

a
b,

re
tJ]
pe
na
be(
pe
elee
Ilea
tioo
whi
desi
iV
forir
obstj
grow

fc

OR, DOTANIC FAMILY PHtSISIAW.

or

she
well

;Tion,
most
coin-
iolcnt
istres-
i cases
Inch it
J mode
and re*
I them
ens the
B would
at is ne-
il patri-
ping the
e will be
1 be used
es. The
not liable

&c., a^e
[r manner.

to bealib,
i)ld to be
le cause ot
1 be a col-
|e cough IS
V and pre-
8 oflf what
kiere would
[ng, tbat I
' -and the
lould have
-ould be to
[to sink the
would say,

keep the pump going till 5»ou can stop the leak, and
when that is stopped the pump will become useless as
there will be nothing to throw oflf Such medicine should
be given as will promote the cough, till the cause can
bo removed, whiclj iscold and canker on the lungs ; after
this is done there will be no more cough. If u cough is caused
by a sudden cold, it may be removed by taking the composi-
tion powder on going to bed, with a hot stone wrapped in wet
cloths put to the feet to produce a perspiration, and at the
same time taking the cough povrder, which will make tlio
patient raise easy, and also help to remove the cause. When
the cough has become seated, and the lungs are diseased, they
must be carried through a regular course of the medicine, re-
peating the same as occasion may require till a cure is effected,
at the same time giving the cough powder, especially on going
to bed.

Whooping-cough must be treated in the same manner ; con-
ttnue to give the cough powders till cured.

JAUNDICE.

Much has been said about the bile, or gall, beincr an enemy
in case of sickness ; but this is a mistake, for it is a friend,
and should be treated as such. It is the mainspring to life,
and the regulator of health, as without it the food could not
be digested. When people have what is called the jaundice,
it is the prevailing opinion that they have too much bile, r.nd
it is said they are billious; this is a mistaken notion, for there
is no such thing as being too much gal], it would be more cor-
rect to say there was not.enougli. The difficulty is caused by
the stomach being cold and foul, so that the food is not pro-
perly digested ; and the bile not being appropriated to its
natural use« is diffused through the pores of the skin, which
becomes of a yellow color. The symptoms are want of ap-
petite, costiveners, faintness, and the patient will be dull 'and
sleepy ; these are evidence of bad digestureand loss of inward
heat. The only way to effect a cure is to promote perspira-
tion, cleanse the stomach, and restore the digestive powers,
which will cause the bile to be used for the purpose nature
designed it.

Nature has contrived that each part of the body should per-
form its proper duty in maintaining health, and if there is no
obstruction there would never be disease. The gall bladder
grows on the liver, and is placed between that and the tto-
13 ^ V

1

«

'#6fr

•- »*"««««wr-.

«.M|^.|Wy.,-

95

NEW eVlDB TO HEALTH ;

\r'

\

\ \-

s-

\

rnacli.so thrtV when the latter is filled with fooj, the bile is
discliarged into the stomach to digest it. The bile never
rnaUes disorder, for it is perfectly innocent, being nature's
friciid ; and those appearances called billions, show the effect
of disease, and not the cause. The gall is a very bitter sub-
stance, and it is the practice of the doctors to order bitter
medicine to cure the jiiundice, and this seems to be the uni*
vorsial opinion, which is correct; but it certainly contradicts
the notion that there is too much bile, for if there is too much,
why give medicine to make more ? I have attended many
rases of tliis kind, and never had any difliculty in cflfectini; a
cure. iMy method is to give No. 2, or the composition pow-
ders, to rnise the internal heat, and No. 1, to cleanse the
stomach and promote perspiration ; then give the bitters (No.
4,) to regulate the bile, and restore the digestive powers. If
the complaint has been of long standing, and the system is
much disitrdered, they must be carried through a regular
course of the medicinCj and repeat it as occasion may require,
at the srime time give the bitters two or three times a day till
the appetite is good, and the digesture restored. Any of the
articles described under the head of No. 4, are good, and may
be freely used for all billious complaints.

WORMS.

A great deal is said about worms causing sickness, and
there is scarcelv a disease that children are aiilicted with, but
is attributed to worms. The doctors talk about worm com-
plaints, worm fevers, worm cholics, &.c. and give medicine to
destroy the worms ; by so doing they frequently destroy their
patients. There was never a greater absurdity than their
practice, and the universal opinion about worms causing dis-
ease. The fact is, they are created and exist in the stomach
^nd bowels for a useful purpose, and are friendly to health,
iirstead of being an enemy; they are bred and supported by
the cold phlegm that collect in the stomach and bowels, this is
their element ; and the more there is of it, the more there will
lie of the worms, because they are then quiet, and exist in their
MitMral element ; every one has more or less of them ; and
tke reasan why children are more troubled with what is called
wtiran complaints, is beeaust they are mora subject to be dis*
ordlerad ia the^. stomach and bowels than gro vn persons.
Wbta ehildrea are siek, aad their breath smells bad, ir is said

-.,..*

v^**

- liWiiP'"

he bile is
bile never
5 nature's
tbe effect
bitter svib-
rder biltet
J the uni"
:ontraclicts
too much,
led many
'(rectini» a
sition pow-
leansfc the
liters (No.
owers. If
system is
a regular
ay require,
a day till
Vny of the
1, and may

kness, and
i with, but
irorm com-
ledicine to
stroy their
than their
ausing dis-
le stomach
to health,
jported by
bvels, this is
e there will
(ist in their
hem ; and
at is called
: to be dis-
n persons.
d» it is said

OB, BOTAWC FAMILt Pt»SlCJ<W

t^ettrngridol the cold nhln^m , ^'^^"'^ t'lo stomach hv
power, ,vl,en there .vH, C nS^lCh/'^"'^ *'^« ^'^^' -e
1 he common practfcp nPti "'/"^""y vviih the worms

Tl.e ab,,urdi,y of such p cfe !',""?' """^ I'i'le. Le chiw"

rJ. J . ®^«» after died tK !• ° "^°''*"s could be found

them ^" «^'ti'. I began Jhh !f ^'"""^ «" ^^^^t T have
»»^e»« wa. troubled with Vh^r ire J.„r"f^^''^'^"- 0"e of

li

i

• I

100

NEW criDE ro riEALTn ;

I

\ :

employed a doctor, who gave [link roof, nnJ then physic to
carry it off with the worms. It wouhl shortly after have ano-
ther turn, wliich would he worfc ; he went on in t!)is way, nnd
the worms kept inereasing, till i hccanie sjitjsfied that he was
working on the efi'cct, and nt-gleeicd tlie ccose ; when Idis-
n)issed liiin, and undertook the cure niyseir. 1 firstly ^ave tlic
warmest medicine I tiien knew of to clear olV the cold phlegm ;
and ga\c hiitcr nieJieine, such as poplar bark, wormwood,
tanzy, and pliysie made of the twigs of butternut, to cleanse
the stomach and to correct the bile. By pursuing; this plan
the child soon j:ot well, nnd was no more troubled with worms.
A eliihi ill the neigli'jourhood where I lived, about six years
old, was iriKcn sick in the morning, and the dootor was sent
for, wlio r.ive medicine for worms ; ioon after it had fits, and
continni^d in convulsions during the day, and at night died. I
was s.Misfied ili.-.t i:s death was hastened if notcaused by what
was given. \\ hen the stomach is diseased, or when poison is
taken into it, the worms try to^ee from their danger, which
causes l!i^:!•(S^, and they sometimes get into knots, and stop
tiie pai;&r:ges of tlie stomach. I\luch more might bo said oil
this suhjcct ; but enough has been stated to put those who at-
tended to ir on their guard ogninst the dangerous practice of
giving medicine to kill the worms.

JMy practice hn3 been, and sliall recommend to others to do,
in ease of what is called worm complaints, to give the compo-
sition powders, or ISo. 2, to warm the stomach, a tea of No. 3,
to remove the canker, and the bitters, or either of the articles
described under No. 4, to correct the bile. If they are bad,
carry them tjjrough a course of the medicine, and give the
bitters. When there arc nervous symptoms, give the nerve
powder. Injections should also be frequently given. The
butternut syrup is very good. If there should be danger of
mortification, make use of No. 6, both in the medicine given,
and in the injections.

The tape*worm is from the same cause as other worms, and
may be cured in the same manner. They are, when single,
about halfau inch ?ong, and one third as wide : they join to-
gether, Mnd appear like tr^pe, and often come away in long
pieces of several yards. I was once troubled with them, nnd
used to be faint and no appetite ; I cured myself by taking
the but^erout physic, which brought away several yards at a

V.V"

V ^:a««.

,^m*-'

im* MU' J

OB, BOTANIC PAMILT PHTSlCIAIf.

101

ysic 10
e ano-

\ie was
n 1 di'5"
ave the
hlegm ;
11 wood,
cleanse
lis plan
worms,
ix years
was sent
fits, and
diod. I
by wW»t
poison IS
IT, which
and Stop
0 said on
B who at-
ractice of

erstodo,

e compo-

of No. 3,

^e articles

are bad,
, give the
[he nerve

,n. The
Jangev of
uc given,

Lrms, and
Jen single,
ly join to-
iy'in long

liem» nn<^
iy taking
[arda at a

lime ; and by taking the bitter medicine to correct the bile,
was never troubled with it iigain.

I h.ive often licard about people Iio.ving a greedy-worm, but
tins is a misinlseii notion, lur ilitre was never any such thing.
"J'iic (.iiliiculty id ilic stcmach heiiuj cold and disordered, so
thai iliu Ibo'l iu nut pifiperly digcsied, passes olVwithout nour-
ibiiiiig the system, niui this crciiies a>» unnaltiial appetite. Kc-
inovc the cause I.y waining tlie Bt{inia( h and correcting the
digestive powers, and tiiere, will bo no iurther difficulty. In
the year 1S15, I was called to see a youiifij woman, who it was
supposed had a £frecdy*\\()iir). It was lh()Uj|;lit to be very
huge, and would licquentlv get into l.er throatand choak her,
nlniost stopping lier breath. IJcr mother told me that tho
iliiy htroreoutf of the neighbours was in, and told a story about
a person having a mon&ter in tho stonjach, which was taken
in by drinkinjr at a brook ; this terrible account so IVightened
lier daugliter, that the worm rose into her throat and choaked
her so i)ad that she had fits*. I took the girl honie with me,
and gave licr a doso of hot biltcrs, with some of the rK;rve pow-
der that nigiit ; t'le next morsnug I carj led her thro'i;;h a course
of the medicine as well as I knew ut that time, which cleared
the stomach and bowels, and strengthened the nervous sys-
tem. I told her that there was no worm that would trouble
her, and she had faith in what I said. I gave her medicine to
correct the bile and restr.re the digcsture, and !»he soon got
well, being no more troubkid about the worm. The difficulty
was caused by a disordered stomach, and want of digesture,
which produced spasms in the stomach and throat.

CONSUMPTION.

This complaint is generally caused by some acute disorder

not being removed, and the patient being run down by the

fashionable practice, until nature makes a compromise with

(Jisea.'je, and the house becomes divided against itself. There

is a coi'stant warfare kept up between the inward heat and

cold, the flesh wastes away in consequence of not digesting

the food, the canker becomes sealed on the stomach and bow<»

els, and then takes hold of the lungs. When they get into

ithis situation, it is called a seated consumption, and is pro-

lounced by the doctors to be incurable. I have bad a great

lany cases of this kind, and have in all of them, where there

ai life enough left to build upon, been able to effect a cure

»

109

KEW GU1D£ TO HEALTH ;

by my system of practice. The'most important thing is to
raise the inward heat and get a perspiration, clear the systoni
of canker, and restore the diji^estive ])0\vers, so that food will
nourish the body, nnd keep up that heat on which lilu de-
pends. Tiiis must 1)1! done liy tlio rt'i^ultir courscj of medi-
cine, as hns been directed in all violent attacks of disease, and
presorviiijjr ill it till the cause is removed.

1 his fninpliiini is called l>y iho doctors a hctic fever, bo..
bause th« v are subjeot to '.o'd ehilis and hut flvslics on the
surfico ; but this is an «'(roi', ftv ilipro ij no ll'vpr about it;
and tliis is thu greatest diiriunity, it" tI.C!\3 was it would have
a ciisi:^, and nature would 1)0 aide to drive out thu cold and
effjrt a cure ; the only diHiculty is to raise a fever, which
must be done by such medicine as will raise and hold the
inward heat, tilt nature has the complete command. When
the patient is Vi?ry weak and low, they will have what is called
cold FweatH ; the causo of this is not uiiderstoo(i ; the wa-
ter that collects on the skin does not come through the fiorcd
but is attracted from the air in the room, which is warjner
than the body, niul condences on the >'irr.iec ; liio tMtno may
be seen on tin; outride of a mui;; or tuinlder on a hot dny,
when filled with cold water whidj is from the tame ctnise. Lt
is of nioie imporiiinv'e to uttend to i!ie [Jifventiiiq il.is com-
plaint than III cure it. If people would make u:^o of those
means which I ll^ve recomniciided, and cure themselves of
disease in its fust stagos, and avoid all polsionous drugs, iJiere
would never be a case of consumption or any other chronic
disorder.

FITS.

-These are produced by the same cause as other complaints
that is, cold and obstructions ; and may be cured by a regu*
lar course of the medicine, which overpowers the cold, pro-
motes perspiration, and restores the digestive powers. Poi-
son, or any thing else, which gives the cold power of the in-
ward heat, will cause fits, because the natural tone of ihc
muscular power is thereby destroyed, which produce violent
. spasms on the whole system. So much has already been said
on this subject, that it is unnecessary to say more to give a
correct idea of the manner of cure.

as

Rre

had

Mh

rcct

and

T

to CO

their
colie(
g'atid
conio
water
cure i
the mi
tea of
great
tops a
articlej
advantj

Thci
posing t
which
Jto-col/e(
jrai^jing t
\vhen th
»8e of su
''gestive

4$

i

^

OR, nOTANIC FAMILY PriYSICIAr*.

103

mg is to
0 system
fooil will
, lilo lie-
of meili-
icasc, and

fever, l)L\.
as oa t)»«
about it ;
'OuM l»»ve
, coUl and
ver, NvhJch
a hold the
and. Wl»en
hat U called
)(i ; iho W.A-
n\\ lUe pored
[7 13 Wivrnur
„. b\\>"c may
, a l»<it di»y,
lue c'.inse. it
,, x.\,h lom-

u>c of »l»*'se
lUemselvcs of
s drUL];s,vl»ere

iher chronic

licr comi^'aints
red by a regu-
Ihe cold, pio-
poNvers. Voi-
Iver of ilie in-
^\ tone of ibe
foducc violent
ready been said
lore to give a

ST. ANTFIONY'S FIRR, NETTLE SPRING, OR

SURFEIT.

Tlieso nro nil rausod by uvorheatinnf the system and cooling
too siK!(!(Mily, wIiIlIj lonvcs ilie pores obstrucieil, and tiien by
taking more cold will briii;* on the warfare between cold nnd
boar, wlicii tbi;y break out and ilcli and smart, ns if stung by
an insect. Wlion tho iieat i^otsa litile the upper band, so os
lo f)rudiice perspiration, it will disappear till tbey get another
cold. Tho only way lo elVect a cure is to jiive the hot medi-
cine, and sleanj till iliey aio brought lo the same slate of beat
as thai which first caused the disease, and iben cool by de..
grens. This I have proved in several instances, and never
had any difliculty in entirely removing tho cause in this way.
IMukenseof a lea of No. IJ; for canker, and the bitters to cor-
rect the bile, and a liiiie nerve powder to quiet the nerves,
and they will soon be restored lo perfect health.

STRANGUARY OR GRAVEL.

This disorder is often caused by hard labor, and exposure
to cold, in the early part of life; and when they grow old
their heat diminishes, the bile becomes thick, and a sediment
collects in the bladder, which obstructs the passages ; tho
jirlands through which tho urine passes, arc clogged, and be*
come diseased, so tha*: there is a dilFienlty in voiding tho
v/ater, which causes great pain. It is seldom that there is a
cure in such cases ; but relief m.iy be obtained by a course of
the medicine, and making free use of the poplar bark tea. A
tea of the hemlock boughs is very good ; and also I have known
great relief from using the wild lettuce and pipsisway, the
tops and roots, bruised and steeped in hut water. Many other
articles that are good to promote the urine, may be used to
advantage.

DROPSY.
There are two kinds of this complaint ; one is caused by
losing the inward heat so as to stop the natural perspiration,
which causes the water that is usually thrown off in this way,
to collect in the body and Rmbs. Tiiis maybe cured by
Iraising the internal heat, and causing a profuse perspiration,
Iviien the water will pass ofT in a natural way ; then make
ise of such medicine as will remove canker and restore tho
ligestive powers, when the food being digested will keep up

t * _j^"

104

NEW GUIDE TO HEALTH;

the natural heat of the body, nnd continue the perspiration.

Tlie other kind is caused by cold and obstruction ; but instead

of tiie water collecting and remaining in the body and limbs,

a leak forms in the glands and lots it into the iriiiik of the

body, wjiere there is no vent to let it off. Tin's cafUUil be

cured wiilioui teppln'r, and it is vcry.seldon coujpleteiy cured.

I have never known but two who were in thia isiiuaticn to bo

perfectly restored. One was a girl who I attended : ltap;»cd

iicr, and took away seventeen pounds of water ; then swathed

her up close, and gave medicine to keep a perspiration ; sho

(iid not fill again, and wai completely cured. The other was

a man, he had been tapped twice. 1 carried him through iho

course of medicine several times, and gave the jmiiper aslies

with molasses and gin, which carried off large qaanlities of

v/ater, and he entirely recovered from the disorder. I have

cured a number who had the first mentioned complaint, by

the common course of medicine ; one woman was cured by

taking the wild lettuce, bruised and steeped in hot water.

Mention has been made of several cases of this disease it. my

narrative, which were cured ; and enough has been said to

give an idea of the cause and manner of treatment.

DILLIOUS CHOLIC.

The name given this complaint is erroneous, for billioug
means the bile, and no one ever 'leard of a bile choiic, or
pain caused by gall, as it is a friend to health and never caused
disease'Jor death. This pain is caused by a disordered stomach
and want of digesture ; the stomach is filled with canker,
which gets into the narrow passage from the stomach, vvlien
the action of the bowels cease : after the pain subsides, those
parts where it was are very sore. To cure it, raise the inward
heat by giving hot medicine, remove the canker with No. 3,
and give the bitter to correct tl:e bile, and repeat it till a cure
is effected. If the case is bad, carry them through a course
of the medicine, and often give injections.

PLEURISY.

This is a distressing complaint, and is caused by cold ; or
want of inward heat : I never had any difficulty in curing it
by my common practice. The only remedy made use of by
the doctors is to bleed : this only increases the disease, by re<
ducing the strength of the patient, without removing the cause.

di

'S^

OR,, BOTAmC F.\MILT PHYSlCiAW.

lOd

,\ration.
. instead

vnuoi be
,^y carcu.
-.rn to b3

vi\on ; s^^o

oibcf NVfis

lirougb ibo

er. l^^^^°

,s cured by
^ hot water.

been siu'i to

Qt.

for b\Uln\39

U

ile cliobc

never cause

lered stow^c

,,ub can^vcr,

,omncb, vvbeu

\ubs\des, tbose
.,e Abe inward

f svitb No. 3,
L it tiW « cure
•ougb B course

Id by cold ;o^

Inade use ot by
I disease, by re

loving tl^<^^^^^''

I' was once called to n soldier at Eastport, nho had a riolent
pain in his side : the doctor thrit attended him, had bled him
five times, without removing the piiin, which made hira so
weak that it was with difffculty he could be held up in the bed.
1 relieved him in one hour by a common course of medicine
and bathing his side with the rheumatic drops. It took three
weeks to get up his strength, which mij^ht have been done in
three days if he had nut been bled. 1 was called to another
case of the kind, of a soldier at the same place. He had
been bled, and a large blister put on his side to remove the
pain, wliich caused a stranguary, and lie was in great dis-
tress. I declined doing any thing for him without the cons
sent of the commanding officer, who was not present. The
Bohlier begcjed of nic to tell him what to do for the latter com-
plaint, as he could not live so. I told him to take off the blis"
ter, which was immediately done, and it gave instant relief.
By carrylnj; them thro' a course of medicine, as has been di«
reeled for other violent attacks, will cure all cases of this com-
plaint, without danger ; and is much better than bleeding or
blisters, which increase the difficulty.

RELAX.

This complaint is caused by indigestion, or loss of the pow-
ers of the gall, which-becomes thick, in consequence of cold,
or loss of inward heat, when the stomach will be sour. The
best remedy is to give No. 2, which will thin the gall ; cleanse
the stomach with No. 1, and give the bitters to correct the di-
gesture. A dose of the composition powders with a tea-
spoonful of No. C, in it, will in most cases effect a cure.
The bayberry and popular bark is good, and also many other
articles that have been described as good to restore the digef*
tive powers.

DYSENTERY.

Tiiii? is a distr3»9ing complaint, and is very common, espe-*
cial!y among children ; although much has already been said
o n this subject ; yet its importance will justify spme further
directions. It is caused by cold, which gets ithe ascendancy
over the inward heat so as to draw all the detsj^fl^ing powers
inward ; the stomach is disordered, the digestive^j^wers ore
lost, the bowels become coated with canker, the food is not
digested so as to alTurd any nouritihmeut or heat to the system
14

106

KBW dome TO HEALTfl ;

and all tho jaioesflov? inward ond pass off by the common
passage. The canker makes the bowels very sore, nnd when
any thing passes them it causes excruciating pain. The brst
plan of treatment is to carry the priiient through a regular
course of medicine, and repeat it, if occnsifxi should require,
every duy till relief is obtained. DuritrgUio operation, give
the chicken broth, and after the disease is checked, give occa*
Bionally a little brandy and lonf sugar btirtied togetiier, and a
strong lea of popular bark. Gtive the syrup, (No. 5,) two or
three times a day, until entirely recovered ; and the bitters
(No. 4) may be given night and moruinj» to restore i!io diges-
ture. Care must be taken to keep up the inward heat in the
interim, by giving occasionally No. 2 in a lea of No. 3, sweet-
ened. Steaming is very important in this complaint, and in-
jectioas must often be administered.

RHEUMATISM.
This complaint is caused by cold obstructing the natural
circulation, which causes pain and swelJJM^. It often nfTi^cfs
the joints so that they grow out of shape. A cu;e h ea-^.Iy rS
fected if timely and properly attended to, whici) funsi bij dona
by such medicine as will cause perspiration ami roniovc ob«
•truciions. In common cases by taking the rlieurn itic drops,
and bathing the part affected with the satni will reinjve the
complaint. When the case is bad, carry them through a
course of the medicine, and bath with the drop?, repeating it
as occasion may require till cured. At the same time give n
tea of poplar bask or hemlock boughs ; and many other arti«
eles which have been described a^ good for this complaint,
nay also be made use of to advantage.

Tbe gout is from the same cause, and the stomach being
greatly disordered, and very sour, which produces a burning
aeasatioa. I hare cured several cases by the common course
•f medteina, and flriviaflT tbe bitter to restore the

fpovtrs.

igestt\

- SOEE LIPS.

Tkey are eomcaon in very hot or cold weather, vr^en thnre
isaearly a balance of tbe power of outward and inward boat,
•r aajtward and inward cold, which produces canker. To
eare it, take a strong dose of a tea of No. 3, with a tea-spoon*
^i of Ne. S, in H, wben going to bed, and wasli thetn with

15!

mmm

common
nnd when
The bpsl
ft regular
1 require,
tion, give
rive occa-
ler, und a
5,) two or
[he bitters

iho tliges-
eat in tlio
,. 3, swcet-
:it, and in-

ilie natural

ft en nfTu'cts

is eusi'.y cf^

list bo dona

eiTKJVC ob"

n itic drops,

iein)ve tbe

tbroii:;b a

epeating it

itne given

other arti-

complaint,

lach being

a burninjc

ion coiirs*

digaitiva

liward ho;it,

inker. To

U:a-spoc)rt-

tUetn with

OR. noTAfno FAMAT rinrstCTtviT.

W

the same, then wipe them dry to take off the matter' collected;
then wet them ogiin with the tea, and put on as much ginger
as will stick, repeal the same again for two or tiiree times, till
the coat is sorficient to keep out the air, wiien this comes uif,
repeat the same process again, until the soreness is gone, then
wash again wirh the tea and wipe them dry, and apply warm
tallow till a cure is completed.

SORE EYES.

This is generally caused by heing exposed to sudden changes
of heat and cold, which produces canker, and where thia is
there will bo inilammatioii. There are many thinjrs good
for this complaint ; hut the: host that I have found is white
pond lily root, marsijroseniary, wiich-hazle, and red raspber«
ry leaves ; make a snopg tea wiih all or either, add one third
as much of No. G, wiih a iiiile No. 2 ; bathe the eyes several
times in a day ; every morning put your face in cold water,
open and shut the eyes till well washed ; repeat this till a cure
is afTocted. At the siune time fake a tea to clear the system -
of canker.

HEAD ACHE.

This pain proceeds from a foul stomach, the bile loses its
power, the food clojis by not being digested, and the effect
is felt in the head, which is the fountain of sense. Sometimes
there is sickness at the stomach j when this happens it is cal-
led sick head-athe, and when they vomit the head is relieved.
This proves that ihe cause is in the stomach. It must he cu-
red by clcansincr the stomacli nnd restoring the digestive po
ers. Adoseofiho composiudn powders, sitting by the . *-"
wrapped in a blanket, v/ill generally give relief; but ifiisho-*;

1 in a tea

nof, take a dose of

?\0.

of No. 3, and take the

ters to correct tlic l)i!e ; No. 2 should also betaken to warmf
the stomach, aiid if it is sour take the pearlash water. It if
very fashionable with the docto' s to tell about dropsy in ilm'^^
head, but in this 1 have no hi lief; for there is no disease in
the head but what proceeds from the stomach, except from
external injury. If they understot»d the real cause, and,
would give the proper medicine to remove it, there would be
no difficulty in the head ; but when a child, is sick, they give -
calomel and other poisons, which increase the i;iifiease; and if:
they die, it is laid to the dropsy in the head, and ^^ ii Mti»»
factory because the doctor layi so. '>0%yK

J

'' '-N.,

■'fetf*"'

''^

/ ■ •

108

U

NEW GlTtDE TO HEALTH ;
CORNS.

These come on ilio joints of the toes, and nre very trouble
some. They may be cured by soaking the foot in warm wji-
ter till the corn is soft, shave in it thin ; take n sirij) bladder
or skin of suet, eight or ten inches long, and halfan inch wide,
rub it till soft} then soople it well in rattle-snake's oil, or the
nerve ointment ; wrap it round the toe and keep it on till worn
out; if these does not cure, rej)eat the same till the corn is re-
moved. I have seldom known this to fail of a cure.

* i

r

VENEREAL.

The disease that is called by this name is more common
Sn seaports than in the country, because there is a more pro-
miscuous and illicit intercourse of the sexes, than in other
places. It is a very high slate of canker and putrifaction,
which takes iiold of the glands of those parts thai are ihst af-
fected with it; and if not checked the whole system will be-
come diseused t)y the venereal taint. It is more common
arrjong seufiuinir men, because of llieir being long absent at
Si-a, and on coining on shore, they {»ive free scope to their pass
eions, without being very scrupulous about the manner of their
i::du!genc<?. It originates prt)!)ably wiili those common wo-
men, who have conneciion with many difterent men, and go-
ing beyond the imjuilse of nature ; this connection causes un-
cleanness, which produces the disease, and when sealed is
contagious.

The reason why this disease causes so much fright and

^ alarm, is owing to tuo causes ; the first is the disgrace that is

*'"i*ached to the dishonesty in getting it ; and the other is iho
-,nner in whicli it has generally been treated, in giving mer-

^ ,ry to cure it ; the remedy becomes worse than disease. Thai
iTiis disorder cannot be cur«d by any other means is altogether

^_n error ; for I have cured a number of cases by very sinple
means. The first symptoms felt is a scalding sensation and
pain when voiding the urine; and within twenty-four hours
after this is experienced, it may be cured in that time, by ap-
plying cold water and making use of the rheumatic drops ; if
there is much soreness, make use of ihe tea of No. 3,wiih the
drops in it; which mustbc taken as applied to the parts. If the
disease has been of long standing, and the whole system bait
become a/Tected, they must be carried through a course of the
nvdifiiie. Where there has been mercury made use of, tRel

I

£iiHMii

on, B0IAWK5 FAMILY PHYSiaAN.

109

y trouble
warm vvii-

ij) bladder

inch wide,
oil, or the

)U till worn
corn i» ro-

re common
I more pro-
an in oilier
mtril'action,
are first at-
em will be-
)re common
nn absent at
to their pasN
nnerofiheir
ommon wo-
»en, and go-
n causes un-
leii seated is

h fri«hl and
;race that is
other is tho
giviiii? mer-
seasc. That
is altogether
very si«ipl6
insation and
tour hours
1 time, by np-
itic drops J if
I. 3, with the
[parts. It" the
Q system has
•oMrse of the
|e uso of, iH^

there is nil the attendant consequences of such treatment, it is
much more difficult to effect a cure ; and Is only done by a
full course of medicine, and repeating it for anumberof times ;
raising the heat by stcauj each time as high as they can bear,
to tiirow out the mercury and remove the canker, at tho
same liiue applying tiio poultice ; then give bitters to correct
the bile.

I had a case of a woman who was brouglu to me on a bed
fifteen miles. Slie was in a very putrid state, and as bad as
she could well be, with all the consequences that are caused
by being filled with mercury. Different doctors had attended
her for eleven months, and she had constantly been growing
worse. She had been kept ignorant of her disease till a few
days before brought to me, on account of her husband. I
carried her through five courses of the medicine in two weeks,
and applied a poultice of while bread and ginger made with a
tea of IVo. 3. This complr lely broke up the disorder, and by
giving medicine to correct the bile and restore the digestuie,
she was cured, and returned home in three weeks after coming
to me. IJy taking things to restore her strength, has enjoyed
good health ever since. Another woman was cured in the
same manner, who had been in this way for six years, and un-
able to do any business. I attended her three weeks, when
she was restored to health and re'.urned home. In less than
a year alter she had two children at a birth, and has enjoyed
good health to this day.

This disease may be produced by other means than what
liavo been described. It may be taken in with the breath, by
being much exposed in attending on those who are in a very
putrid stage of the complaint ; or may be communicated to
parts wiiere the skin is broken, and in many other ways ;
when they will have many of the symptoms the same as when
taken in the common way. Children 'jwill sometimes be af-
fected with the venereal taint, whose parents have had the dis-
ease. A disease similar in appearance, with much the same
symptoms, may be brought on by overdoing, and being ex-
posed to the cold. T once had a case of a young married
man, who by straining himself in loading mill-logs, and being
exposed to wet and cold, caused n weakness in the back and
loins, and he had what is called a gleet, and an inflammation,
with all the symptoms common in the venereal. His wife
became affected io the some manner, and they continued io

\

.

no

BHuW GVmS TO BEALTB

this situation three months, when I vraa called to attend them ;
and b^ making use of such thinr;s as I then had a knowledge
of, to strengthen the loins and remove the canker, was able to
cure hotli in a short time. The man had all the symptosns
that appear in the venereal, except hard bunches in the groins,
callod buboes.

These I a:n satisfied af^ caused by mercury, for I never
knew any to have tliem except they had taken mercury. l\y
eyringinjr viih mercury and sugar of lead, dries the glands
and contracts the passage, and stops the discharge, when tho
putrid matter instead of going off, collects in the groin and
forms hard tumors, wliich reniuin a long time, and have to be
brought to a head to let off the putrid matter. Bunches of a
similar kind often comes on different pans of the body, caused
by mercury.

Much more might be ft'ritten on tliis subject, but it is diffi-
cult to find proper terms to convey all the directions that may
be necessary in all cases. Enough has been said to give to
those who arp so unfortunate as to have the disease, a general
knowledge of the nature of the complaint and the best man-
ner of effeci ing a cure ; and to those who are fortunate enough
to escape it any thing further will bo unnecessary. Those
who purchase a right, or who may ap[)ly for assistance, will
have such verbal directions as will enable them to effect a cure
in all cases of the venereal by a safe and simple method of
treatment.

s*

MIDWIFERY.
This is a very difficult subject to write upon, as I know of
no words, that would be proper to make use of, to convey the
necessary in.'brmation to enable a person to attempt tlie prac^
tice with safety. The great importance of the subject, how-
ever, induces me not fo be silent: and I shall endeavor to
make known to the public such thongiits and conclusioi.s as
long experience and much solicitude has enabled me to form,
concerning those who arj suffering, and are constantly liable
to suff'ir from the erroneous and most unnatural practice of
the present day. The practice of midwifery at this time ap-
pears to be altogether a mauer of speculation with the medi-*
Col faculty, by their exorbitatit price for attendance. The tax
on the poor classes is very heavy ; and this is not the greatest
grievance that ihey have to bear, for they are often deprived

Hi

a J
tal

.he

OR, BOTAmc FAMILY rHrSICUW,

111

end ihem ;
knowledge
vas able to
symptoms
the groiiiSf

for I never
jrciiry. 15y
I the glands
, when iho
jjroin and
I liave to be
niches of a
)ody, caused

,ut it is diffi-
,118 lh:u may
d to give to
se, a general
le best man-
mate enoui^li
ary. Those
listance, will
effect a cure
method of

,9 I know of
:o convey the
Inpt tlic piac-
Isnbji^ct, !»ow-
endeavor to
loncliisior.s as
me to form,
iSianily liable
[l practice of
this lime ap-
ith the medi-
ice. The tax
It the greatest
ffien deprived

of their wives and children, by such ignorant and unnatural
practice as is very common in all parts of tiie country.

Thirty years ago tlie praciics of midv^ifery was principally
in the hands of experienced women, w!io had no difiiculty ;
and there was scarce an instance knoun in tI)ose days of a
woman dying in child-bed, and it was very uncommon for
them to lose the child : but at the present lime these things
are so common that it is hardly talketl about. Tiicro i.iust
bo some cause for this diffujenre, and 1 can account for it in
no other way than the unskillul treatment they experience
from the doctors, who have now got most of the practice into
their own hands. In the country where I was born, and
where 1 brought up a family of ciiildren, there was no such
thing thought of as calling the assistance of a doctor, a mid-
wife was all that was thought necessary, and the instances
were very rare that they were not successful, for they used no
art, but afforded such assistance as nature required ; gave
herb tea to keep them in a perspiration and to quiet the
nerves. Their price^was one dollar — when the doctors began
to practice midwifery in the country, their price was three
dollars, but they soon after raised it to five ; and now they
charge from twelve to twenty dollars. If they go on in this
ratio, it will soon take ail the people can earn to pay for their
children.

All the valuable instruction I ever received was from a
woman in the town where I lived, who had practised as a mid'>
wifti for twenty years; in an interview of about twenty min*
utes, she gave me more i^seful instruction, than all I ever
gained from any oth^r source. I have practised considerably
in this line, and have always had very good success. It is
very important to keep up the strength of women in a state
of pregnancy, so that at the time of delivery, they may be
in pos6cs3i^)n of all their natural powers ; they should be car-
ried thrqvigh a course of the medicine several times, particu'
■arly a 5(itile before delivery, wiiich will prevent after pains,
nnd cothcr complnints common in such cases. Beware oi'
bieey(ing, opium, and cold baths; invigorate nil the faculties
of tfhe body and mind, to exert the most laborious efforts that
•uu/ure is called upon to pcrforn), iiiiiread cf s!.iinif/ini» and
BiifAtituing art for n?itur«. I will rehxtj a c:js« that I was
:ii^wing to, which will give a pretty fair viev.- cS the praotit:**
iliJie doctors. A woman was taken iu travail and the mid-

lis

REW QWDE TO HEALTH

xrifo could not come, a doctor was sent for — vrlien lie cnme,
the prospect was that sho would bo delivered i«i two hour:? ;
lie gave her some medicine, which caused vmniting,. an.i
turned the pains to the stomacli — slie continued in I'.iis situa-
tion for twelve hours, when her strength was nu.u'ly goiio ; ho
liion bled her, and to stop liie puking gave so mii".i» opiiini as
to cause such a stupor that it required all the cxDitious of the
women to keep the breath of lift; in her through ih.t; nio^'ot ; iti
the triorniuir she remained verv v/oak, and cotuiihied so till
afternoon, when she was delivered with instruments. The
chihl was deid, and ihe woman came very near dying, and it
was six montlis before sho got her streni;th n^-ain. IMany
more cases might be given of the had success of bleeding and
giving opium to stupify, and making use of art, instead of
assisting nature to do her own work.

1 have given instruction to several who have bouglit the
right, and th^ir practice has been attended wiih complete suc-
cess. Many men that I have given the information to have
since attended their own wives, and [ have never known on
instance of any bad consequences; and if young married men
would adopt the same course, it would be much more proper
and safe, than to trust theii wives in the hands of young inex-
perienced doctors, who have little knowledge except what
they get from books, and their practice is to try experiments;
their cruel and harsh treatment in many instances would in-
duce the hnsband to throw them out of the window, if per-
mitted to be present ; but this is not allowed for the very
same reason.

All who purchase the right may receive she necessary ver-
bal i.nstructlon, to enable them to do all that is required in the
practice of midwifery ; as well as to be able to become their
own physician and surgeon, at a trifling expense.

ASIATIC CHOLERA. '^ ^

Though the Indian or Asiatic Cholera has travelled \over
mountains and seas, and carried oflf myriads of human be-
ings to another world in every variety of climate, from tVie
burning deserts of Arabia to the frozen shores of the VVhi :e
Sea, it excited but little interest or attention in this counti, ;
rmtil a few months ago. But since its appearance on our ow:
nhnres and its mortality in our own towns, it has becoiUB r
subject of absorbing interest, and an abridged sketch of ii^

n lie cnmet
two liourn ;
iiitirig,. ami
1) lliis sitim-
y (Toiio ; ho
•,h opium aa
lions ol' the
0 ni,cijht ; in
iiiiecl so till
ictits. The
ying, and it
■am. IMaiiy
Icetling and
t, iiistcail of

J bought tlic
ompleie suc-
tion to have
3r known on
married men
more proper
young inex-

except what
experiments;
;es would in-
ndow, if per-

for tlie very

iccessary ver-

cqtiired in the*

become thcisr

\ ^-

ravelled'' yOver
n( iiumau be-
ito, from tVie
of the VVhi :e

this counti' '
ceon our o^\t
jas becoius :\

sketch of it^

From cLl^.ma r.?'"?''"' ""•"-a"";, 'ol^.^^f ""'"go m

'■» its course .fm.' '^' ^"'^^ «PPearance7n r./ "^''^^^'"'^er
AurunLrrarj''n?'!? "'"">' othei places ,," ?^''"^^«-taking
travpl. '^"'^ ^ «f>na/i. To tlL , ° famous cities of

coast. In ■L?;,'''''"'"'.? isseif over ih» !f , 'i." e^'remity

f"" in st weet dr.- '''?' '* "rot ou"", i^"\f, IT^V«''« ■
" supposed lo I. l"-"*'' one-fourth of .!„ p ."^^ ^^^n^e

tl.e la„3i?J„t,? '"'^'■'l on I'er arrira?!!' m"*" "'""S'' 'here

}

114

NEW C.UIDR TO HEALTH ,

to tlio kingdom of Arracnn, where it arrived in il»o early pait
of 1S19. It proceeded from Arrncnii toSitim, in the capital
. of which it destroyed 40,000 iiiliabitants. Having traversed
the kingdom of Siam, it passed through tiie Peninsula of Mal-
acca, and visited in regalar succession the Islands of Sumatra,
Java, and Borneo. It reappeared in Java in 1S22, when it re-
jrioved 100,000 souls into eternity. In tlie same year (182^)
ii pnid a terrific visit ta Colebes, Amboyna, and several other
Islands, of the Eastern Archipelaijo. It attacked Cochin
Chiija and Touquin in IS^IO ; entered Cliina and began its
ravages at Canton and scattered its fatal poison over the Phils
ippioo and Spice Islands, towards the close of the same year.
It arrived at Pckin in the early part of iSrJJ, and proved so
mortal to Pekin and Nankin durini^ that and the two follow-
ing years, in defiance of the sirlclest precautions, that the
public treasury was obliged to furnish funds to bury the dead.
In about one year the Cholera travelled over the whole Indi-
an Peninsula, containin<T (300,000 square miles ; and in less
than two years it ravaged a territory in Asia of about 1,'dOO
leai^ues in length, and 1,000 in breadth — nearly one hundred
and twenty millions of square miles.

The Cholera re-attacked Bombay in ?32l, and takinj^ the
islands in its course, it proceeded westward towards Eurojje.
It crossed the Arabian Sea, and made its appearance at Mus
cat, situated at the eastern extremity of Arabia; to -the in-
luibiiants of xhis commercial city it proved very destructive.
Passing on bolh sides up ilie straits of Ormus and the Persian
(julf, it extended on the Persiui side to Shiraz, Yeza, Ispa-
han, Tabereez, and into Armenia; and on the Arabian side,
at the head of the Persian Gulf, it attacked Bassorah, an Ot-
toman town, with terrible mortality, sweeping off one-fourth
of the population in 11 days. To the northward it proceed-
ed up the Euphrates and Tigris to Bagdad, and slew one third
of the inhabitaats. From Bagdad it ascended to Astrachau
a.populous town on the northern shore of the Caspian, Sea,j
at the Month of the Volga, where it arrived In September,!
18ii^. — To the westward from Bassorah, it proceed to ihej
shores of the Mediterranean, ravaging Arabia, Mesopotamia,!
and Syria. In 1823 it appeared at two points on the frontieij
of Europe.

From 1823 to 1830 Asia has been annually subjected to the
scourge of this terrible pestilence: It did uot, howeve^i pasi

Engl
2.
it eiil
%

.?*'"%

f

OR. nOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

115

eiivly pait

[le capUal
traversed

,h of Mul-

f Sumatra,

when it re-

ear (l8'2*i)

/era! othi^r

icd Cochin

d beii;an iia

rQV ihe Vhils

! some year.

I proved so

two loll ow-
ns, tliat ihe

ry the dead.

whole Iiuli-

and in l«s3

f about i;300

one hundred

nd taking ^^^®
avds Europe,
ranee at Mus
tolilie in-
destructive.

nd ilie Persian
Yczrt, Ispa-
Arabian side,
ssorah, an Ot-
off one .fourth
,id it proceed-
\ slew one thira
to Astrachaii
Caspian, Sea,
in September,
proceed to the
, ^lesopotamiaj
oa the frontier

subjected^to th«
)t, however, pasJ

o\tjr into tlio European torrltorios unti! July, 1830, when af-
ter severely rC'aUaoNint; Astratrlmti, it pnssod idnng iho Don, jT/
the Dneiper nnd the Volt^a into Eur(>pe, travciMin^ a y^uva <^f -^
10,000 inilps in less than tlirto niouili';. Ir pcoediUcJ to the '
heart of the Russian Cmpira ; ninon ; tlirj IJoii Ca«s;»cks iis
ravajjes were extensive ; it niaile succt'S'^ivu attacka upon the
Capitals of tluj several provinces so'.illi of Moscow ; it eutm'-
eil Mus: w throe months afior its re api,)(U"irance at Astrachan
nnd nv.iic a prey of about 5,000 inhabitants. In lS!3i, the
Cholera onlrrcd I'olauil, by the Russian armies, and vi^iitcd
most of l!io villacjes and towns of that unfortunate Uiagdoni.
It soon roachod the shores of tlie Baltic, successively aitacked
I^i^i and Danlzic, and in defiance of ri<.Md quarromine regU"
h.iions and every possible precaution, entered St. Petersburg.
It pnss?'.l into Prnssia, and mads its appearance in 13erlin,
llamburt^li ami other German cities. It passed from Syria in-
to Asia Minor, and \vas very destructive in Smvrna. I'roM
Astrachan it directed its course westward to the Sea of Asojdi,
traversed the noriliern .sl.'orcs of the Rlack Sea to the mouUi
of tlie Danube, which it nscciuUKJ, sconrj;ing Hungary in its
march, and arrived at Vionna beforo the winter of iS*31. — On
the approach of winter its malignity appeared tosubside upon
the Co:ilinent of Knrope. Tlie Britisji nation, however, was
soon parali/ed with a prmic of alarm by its sudden appearance
nt Sunderland, nn tlio eastern coast of Eiiffland. Soon afier
it appeared in other places, visited Edinburgh, Glasgow and
Ireland. It has since crossed the Ailantic, arrived upon (»ur
sliore.--, entered our tov/ns, tern.inated the probationary slate
of several thousands of our neighbors and coin^.tiymen, and
einpticd many a lia'Dilatlon of itd most needed iiruvtos. It
still exists anujnii us, ii'id prevails to a con?idt'raljle extent i'l
Now Vork and other places in the «;ei<!:lil>''iir.:i Siatcs.

\VIi':!tlior thb p >sfilf.!i^cii in y(5t destiijed ti» circiunnavagatH l!ie •'"holi;
inlinbiicd f;lobt>, is only kii'jwn to Uiai who has ia so foarlul a munntir
pciircd l)is vialoC wratli upon llie fiir.

Ill ronclusioa we be^ to add a fmv gpr.eral observations on iliis diijnasc;

1. Ills not generally admillod by piiysicians iliat \hc. Cholera is ii
disease peculiar to t!i« pro=ent century. IMiyi^icians of liidia protiss to
have liic best aulliority ibr bolieving that it carried <,ft' 30.000 inhabitants
of Bengal in 17(52, and re visited that region in 1681 ; thai it appeared at
Madras in 1774, in the isle of l^anco in 1795, and in Arcol in 17S7. ii
is also aifirmed l)y respectable authority that (iie epidemic pestilence in
England in 1669 & lG7fi was no other than the present spasmodic cholorr.

2. An alarming fact connected v/ith the history of the Ciiolcrn, islbiu
it eitablishcs ilgolf permanently inRlmoBl every pl^oc Ibat it atltfoki,!' -a.

4

sii#

/%.

KEW r.tJIDF. TO HEALTH;

',

f I

i)reaks out at intctvali in its drcaJful rnva^^os upon tho inlinbit.ui(s. It
attacked Calcutta 14 timfiu or ovwry yo.ir from Id 17 t(» 1830 ; Mndras 9
times; Bombay 12 timos tho principal rilio:) of India frequently. Its
frequent irruptions in ('liit:n, PcrHiu and Syriu, furnisli uljundiuit tacts of
tiie aarao kind ; tho sanio iti liUuly to Ijo l!io ciiso in Kii!;l)ind ; ituill
probably bo tho samo in tlii:i country. It hi\» hi'cu tucorutiiicd tluit up
to May 1831, tlicru huvu bt>cn six huiidiod and fitly bix irruptionu of Iho
Cholera.

3. The dcstruclivcncsii of tho disease exceeds tho mortality of any
plague or pestilonco recorded in anciont or modern, H.icreil or profuiHj
nistory. Its mortality in India for iho last fourioon yeara has bctn esti-
mated at two millions fuu imndroir thousand annually. At tlie lowest
estinaato it has swept oft' IS millions of human beings in llindobtan, rtml
36 millions in Europe and tho rest of Asia— about one in 10 of thu in-
habitants of tho globe.

4. I'he capriciousness of ihc disease is very extraordinary, and several
facts connected with it appear to bo unaccountablo upon a^^corluined
principles of physiology. In soiro cases not uioro than one halforono
third of tho infected perish ; at other timca.J without any pcrcepliblo
variation of circumstances, six out of seven of its victim.s perisii. It is
stated that the disease has sometimes taken a complete cn-cio round a
town or village, passed onto another district, und then, after the hipso of
BCveral weeks, returned, passed by tho placed hertolbrc infected, and
ravaged the places which had so recently cscapad. In the very heart of
a cholera district have beeri found neigliborhood.snnd piUchcs' of terri-
tory perfectly free from the inteclion of Iho discaae. It is sometimes
most fatal in filthy habitations, crowded neijjhborlioods, low moist places
and the hot season ; yet it oriyi.)ated in a country where ablniious aro
frequent Jeven as a roli|:;ious ceremony — it was proportionubly ns ues-
structive in the province of (!uucasus, where there aru but 8 iniiabituuta
to the square league, as in Ilindoalan, where there are I'JOO in the samo
space — it malignantly ravaged tho villages of tho Itimiuya mountain.^,
8,000 feet above the level ot Ihc sea, and in unwatcied Aruhia— it at-
tacked Moscow in tho dead of winter, with the thermoneter 10 degress
below zero, and spread with increasing lapidity as the weather grew
colder. Who can explain these phcnomuna of this disease ?

As a preventntive of this dreadful disease, I would recom-
mend the use of Charcoul. The following is extracted from
the National Republican :

" Pulverised charcoal, kept from contact with air by being
bottled and used inwardly, as the case may require, will
cleanse and heal the stomach and bowels. It removes cos-
tiveness ; it will cure disagreeable breath and cleanse rotten
teeth. It will stop mortificF.tion by repeating poultices to e
wound, Cyeast will assist in the poultice. j It will cleanse
wounds by absorbing all putrid matter and not affect the
sound. It will absorb all eruptions on the skin by putting on
either dry or in oil. The best method I have found to use

^•*^.

••*

)lt.Ul(9. It

MnJraa 9
eiUly. In
luit tacts of
lid ; it wilt

0(1 tllllt l)|)

lionti ol'tlio

li(y of nny
Ml' prwluiit)
H been esli-
llie Iwwt'st
luatan, ritid
I ol' thu tn»

arulsovcrnl
iscorluiiieJ
lialfor ono
pcrceplililo
rish. It ii
i\o 101111(1 a
Llic liipso of
fcctcd, nnJ
jry heart of
2s' of terii-

sometimes
fioist placca
jliilious aro
ilily ns deS"
iiiiialjilauts
in llio sanio
liiouiitaiiif),
rabia — it at-

It) degress
lalber j^row

Id rccom-
zied from

• by being
(uire, will
rioves cos^
nse rotten
Itices to o
ill cleanse
affect the
putting on

ind to use

t

i

■y;

%■

lis

KEVVeUlDETOireAUH;
CURE FOB THE CHOLERA.

, 1 • ^ .\,J9 disease, an

Of 240 individuals in this town atucM ^V ,^ed ^^ , u
Of 240 ina exception of two, wio ^ j^^^ ^

were saved wU" "'« ^ f gtrong spirits o^J'^" ' f „ow-

and lastly, ''f »" ^ "' o°e it f<« l"«>« ''»"" 1° loon «s a

in some >vr.rm P »5f',,Vm\„a»ntly be put "„^'J„°fuiiy and
revson is attacked lu Inm ,^ n.bbod pow^ " ^ ,^

,some warm l,"r;',,i„'i„aiantly be put " "„"„fuiiy and
revson is attacked a ^;n>^^^^ f^^' *-« /"tM" oi g ^t'"

Persevc e in ibis c^''^'/"!"; '„''„'d tody being kept well un-

der tbe l-ed elothei^) he J'!'^ ^^^,^ j„„ or three boms, i

n:\on, and must be 'x'P' '" „ ,,ed to fall asleep. Af'"

on no account must ho be »'»««" ^ j ^nd he will foil i iW

°; „' ve the extra covermg ftorn the^b ^_ ,^^^^ a

Tf ubbing that the P» '«" ..^^ j^ .° st chill «h"f *" P"; ;;
nhove the bed clothes, for me si t ^^ ^j^^^^ ,3 cramp

?S ^ on would -.>^-"A\"'„?; I';- nnd -bes.^fy hot 0
in the stomach apply dry ^f' »' , bladder of hot .«..tet
the pit of tbe stomach, and V'^" ""^^t point is to pro uoe a
lolhe region of the navel. , '''^..f;",^ „l,i„„ of the blood to

the commencement « the a ,
violence on its inward pans.

. -*■ ■

t

M *■

INDEX
TO THE NEW GUIDE TO HEALTH.

Ague in the face,

92

Case of bile by a rat cured

, 85

Americiin Valenarian,

51

Case of a scalded boy.

8l

f Archangel,

64

Cure of my brother's son.

80

Balm of Gilead,

60

Cough powder.

7Q

lialsam fir,

11 1

59

Description of diseases.

75

Ijai berry,

49

Directions — veg. medicine

, 65

r5ayl)erry,

44

Dropsy,

103

Black Pepper,

43

Dysentery,

105

Bitter herb,

48

r^Iecampaine,

55

Bitter root,

40

El jr. I>"rk,

58

liittersweer,

50

Fiiicifc neru,

AXS

Birch b:irk,

o8

Evan root,

53

Bitter thistle,

63

Featherfew,

ib.

Bitters,

68

Felons,

79

Bleeding,

91

Fevers,

14

Bile — see No. 4.

Fits,

102

Bilious cholic.

104

Fever and ague,

17

BurclocU,

57

Freezes,

80

Butternut,

61

Gensang,

59

Burns,

81

General directions,

74

Bones, how set,

93

Gravel,

103

Bad wound in eye cured,

86

Ginger,

42

Camphor,

52 Golden seal,

50

Cayenne,,

38

Gout, . '

115

Cancers,

87

Golden rod,

62

Cancer plaster^

70

General remarks on burns,

81

CnnkersoreSi

84

Headache,

107

Chamomile,

65

Hemlock bnrk,

45

Cherry stones.

51 Hourhound,

55

, Clivers,

58 'Horseradish,

60

Composition powders,

69 |Injections,

72

; Cough,

96|Introduction,

9

Chicken broth,

78 Internal heat— see No. 2.

Consumption,

101

Jaundice,

97

:. Counter poison — see No.

1.

Ladies* slipper,

53

(Course of medicine,

20|Lock ja«r,"

35

Corns,

108;

Lily root,

44

'■■ • < \ »

120

Measles,

Marshrosemary,

Mayweed,

Milk porridge,

Myrrh,

Mullen,

Mustard,

Meadow fern,

Mortification of limbs.

Muscles, how relaxed.

Mad dog^ — see No. 1.

Midwifery,

Nerve powder,

Preparation of do.

St.-

108
71
28
65
38
66

Nervine — see nerve powder

Nerve ointment,
No. 1, des. Emetic herb.
Preparation of do.
No. 2, des. of Cayenne,
Prepar 'ion of do.
No. 3, Janker, description, 43

Preparation of do. 66

No. 4, Bitters, &c. 48

Preparation of do. 68

No. 6, Syrup, &c. 50

Preparation of do. 68

No. 5, Rheumatism, &c. 51

Preparation of do. 68

Peachmeats, 50

Peppermint, 54

Pennyroyal, * 65

. . Ptpsisway, . 62

Pleurisy, * 103

Poisons, 26

Poison by ivy, &c. 94

Poplar bark, 48

Prickly ash, 63

Poultice, , • 71

Piles, •" ' 89

Hemarki on fo?ert, 14

Eflttx, 105

INDEX.

95 Red peppers,
45 Red raspberry,

55 Rheumatism,

78 Rheumatic drops,
51 Rheumatic weed,

56 Ruptures,
60 Salve,

62 Scalds,

83 Scald heads,

93 Small pox.

Sore lips,
110 Sore eyes,
53 Sore breasts,
69 Skunk cabbage,

Slippery elm bark,

Snake root,

5**-*ning,
Sumacii,

Squaw weed,

Spirits of turpentine,

Spearmint,

Summersavery,

Syrup,

Strengthening plaster,

Stock of medicine,

St. Anthony's fire,

Stranguary,

Surfeit,

Tansey,

Thoroughwort,

3d preparation No. 1,

Umbil — see Nerve powdc

Venereal,

Volatile salts,

Vegetate powder,

Vervine,' white and blue,

Vegetable medicine,

Witch-hazle,

Worniwood,

Wakerobin,

Worms,

Yellow dock,

42

47
106

^^

62

92

70

80

90

06
106
107

90

57

58

59

20
. 46

47

52

54

57

63

71

73
103

ib.

ib.

5G

57

28
r. )

109

71

CO

61

23

5S
63

■4

y\

4^

47

106

v8

92

ro

80

90

96

106

107

90

57
58
59
20
\ 46

47

52

54

57

68

n

73
103

ib.

ib.
56
57
28

109

71

C9

llue, 61

M

m

5$
57

>wdcr.

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63

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