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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 4 5 6 i6*«ii»«.*^»rae;^^ ^ SAiTL THOMSON, Botanist. His .system and practice orijrinatinjr with hinistlt. H()1;N Fl^BKl'AUV 9lh. 1769. .-*j&"-^^*'^-^'*A-i'-^^i'r;.-':-^.T^V'.*^rJf'..ft''T,..-«-iv'4-.^. r.ii'i1e^,i':^^^.. -■r.vTj.-?^*^- MrT"«--T' , ■/■Mrts-r'ijjfj ■ NEW GUIDE TO HEALTH; OR. lOTHIK Fimill PIISICIII, CONTAINING A COMPLETE SYSTEM OF PRACTICE On a Plan entirely ivewi WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE VBaBTABLBS HADE U5E OP. AND D|. RECTIONS FOR PREPARING AND ADMINISTBRINQ THEM TO CURE DISEASE. TO WHICH IS ADDETJ A DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL CASES OP DISEASE ATTENDED BY THE AUTHOR, WITH THE MODE OF TREATMENT AND CURE. THIRD EDITION. / SEP .) . IV SAIVIUEI- THOIVISOIM ^ /onJ 1/ -^^ W BOSTON: I'KINTRU FOK THE AUTHOR, BY J. HoWi;. I83I. /c^ A Repriut from third edition l.y A. I. Berniiiger, Indianapolis, ind., 1»M. .r.assl>J:i!a£±3Qsi:x-:;^ ■.^m District ct /Dassacbusetts, to wit: District Ci.krk's Oki-ick. Bk it RK.MK.MHKki:i>, That oil the twenty-third day of November, A. D. 1822, ill the forty -seventh year of the Independence of the United States, of America, Samuki Thomson, of the siiid District, has de- posited in this Office the Title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as Author and I'roprietor, in the words following, to wit: " New Guide to Health; or, Botanic Family Physician. Contain- ing a complete System of Practice, upon a plan entirely new; with a description of the vegetables made use of, and directions for preparing and administering them to cure disease. To which is added a de- scription of .several cases of disease attended by the author, with the mode of treatment and cure. By Samuel Thomson." In confonnity to the Act of the Congress of the Ihiited States, en- titled, " An Act for the Kncouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the times therein mentioned:" and also to An Act entitled, " An Act Supplementar)- to An Act entitled. An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books to the Autliors and Proprietors of such Copies dur- ing the times therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the Arts of Designing, Engraving and Etching Historical and other Prints." JNO. W. DAVIS, Clerk of the Distriet of Massachusetts. Reprint Copyrighted, WH, by A. I. Berninger. ■. J. CLAnKC, pniNTcn. lae %. clinton st.. chioaoo v'^ TO THE PROFESSION, AND FRIENDS OF PHYSIO-MEDICALISHI. Ever since I have read Samuel Thomson's writings, I have been much impressed with the great number of truths contained in them, and the wonderful amount of information which might be gained by both the profession and the public could his works be scattered broadcast. I think all who have read them, and are practicing the physio-medical sys- tem of medicine, will readily concede this. Understanding something of the darkness in which the medical world still .struggles; being personally thankful for a knowledge of the system, and having a burning desire to see the borders of this " vSchool of Medicine" extended, even to the ends of the world, I undertook, through the profession, to get out this reprint. For my success so far I thank all who have .supported the undertaking. The future .scattering of this knowledge lies largely with you. Will you not have a further part in this work by in- ducing all whom you can to read this book ? Upon hearing these truths you were convinced. Cer- tainly others will be also. Lef them hear. Yours for medical reform, A. I. BERNINGER. «^ i.!" Pi k rr r . il! m TO THE PUBLIC. Tlif preparing the following work for the' press has lx;eti a task of much difficulty and labor; for to comprise in a short compass, and to convey a correct understanding of the sub- ject, from such a mass of materials as I have teen enabled to collect by thirty years' practice, is a business of no small magnitude. The plan that has l)een adopted I thought the be.stto give a correct knowledge of my sy.stem of practice; and am confident that the descriptions and directions are .sufficiently explained to be understood by all those who take an interest in this important subject. Much more might liave been written, but the main object has been to confine it to the practice, and nothing more is .stated of the theory than what was necessary to give a general knowledge of the sys- tem. Ifany errors should be di.scovered, it is hoped that they will be viewed with candor; for in first publishing a work, such things are to lie expected ; but much care has been taken that there should be no error which would cause an>- mis- take in the practice, or preparing the medicine. Many persons are practicing by my .system who are in the habit of pretending that they have made great improvements; and in some instances it is well known that poisonous drugs have been madeuseofunder thenameof my medicine, which has counteracted its operation, and thereby tended to destroy the confidence of the public in my system of practice; this has never been authorized by me. The public are therefore cau- tiojied against such conduct, and all those who are well dis- posed towards my system are desired to lend their aid in exposing all such dishonest practices, in order that justice ' .-^' J»llj, II II . /f, AV.A'.Wt.V'/'. may l)e doiu-. Tliosc who possess tliis work may, by ex- ainiuinK it, ht; ablf to detect any improper deviatioiis there- from, and tlie\ are assured that any practice wliich is not conformable to the directions given, and does not agree with the principles herein laid down, is nnnnthori/ed by me. AGREEMENT. ■ The Sub.scril)er, who is the discoverer and proprietor of the system of medical practice contained in this work, agrees to give, whenever applied to, any information that shall be necessary to give a complete understanding of the obtaining, preparing and using all such vegetables as are made use of in said system, to all those who purchase the right; and the purcha.sers, in consideration of the above information, and also what is contained in this book, agree in the .spirit of mutual interest and honor not to reveal any part of said information to any person except those who purchase the right, to the injury of the proprietor, under the penalty of forfeiting their word and honor, and all right to the u.se of the medicine. And everj- person who purchases the right, is to be considered a member of the Friendly Botanic Society, and entitled to a free intercourse with the members for in- formation and friendlv as.si.stance. 1 in i i NKW (IIMDK TO I1KAI/I*H; OK, Botanic Kamh.v 1'iivsiciax. INTRODUCTION. There are three things which have, in a greater or less de- gree, called the attention of men, viz. : Religion, Govern- ment, and Medicine. In ages past, these things were thought by millions to belong to three classes of men, prie.sts, lawyers, and phy.sicians. The prie.sts 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 dark- ness are done away; the .Scriptures are tran.slated into c/ur own language, and each one is taught to read for himself, (iovernment was once considered as lielonging to a few, who thought themselves "born only to rule." The common l^ople have now become acquainted with the great secret of government, and know that "all men are born free and equal," and that magistrates are put in authority, or out, by the voice of the people, who choo.se them for their public servants. While these, and many other things, are brought where "common people" can understand them, the knowledge and u.se 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 ri.sk a dollar; and should the anoth- i J! .( .^ .\E\V (.(/DE TO HEALTH; Oh\ i ecary or his apprentice make a mistake, the sick man cannot correct it, and thus is exposed to receive an instrument of death, instead of that which would restore him to health, had he known good medicine. " It may be alleged," said Dr. Buchan, "that layhig 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 eifect upon others. I know many people who have the utmost dread and horror of every thing prescnbed by a physician, who will, neverthele.ss, very readily take a medicine which thej' know, and whose quali- ties they are in some measure acquainted with. " Nothing ever can, or will inspire mankind with an ab- solute confidence in physicians but by their being open, frank, and undisgui.sed in their behaviour. ' ' The most effectual way to destroy quackery in any art or science, is todiffu.se the knowledge of it among mankind. Did physicians write their prescriptions in the common language of the country, and explain their intentions to the patient, as far as he could understand them, it would enable them to know when the medicine had the desired effect; would inspire him with absolute confidence in the physician; and would make him dread and detest every man who pie- tended to cram a secret medicine or poison down his throat." It is true that much of what is at this day called medi- cine is deadly poison, and were people to know what is offered them of this kind, they would absolutely refuse ever to receive it as a medicine. This I have long seen and known to be true, and have labored hard for many years to con- vince them of the evils that attend such a mode of procedure with the sick, and have turned my attention to those medi- cines that grow in our own country , which nature has preparetl for the benefit of mankind. Long has a general medicine been sought for, and I am confident I have found such as are universally applicable in all cases of disease, and which may be used with safety and success in the hands of the people. After thirty years' study, and repeated successful trials of the medicinal vegetables of our own country, in all the dis- eases incident to our cHmate, I can, with well-grounded as- •m,. iior.iMc h'.\..m.y /•/ns/a.i.w o surance, recommend my system of practice and medicines to the public as salutary and efficacious. Great discoveries and improvements have been made in various arts and sciences since the first settlement of our country, while its medicines have been very much neglected. As these medicines, suited to every disease, grow spontane- ously upon our own soil; as they are better adapted to the constitution; as the price of imported drugs is very high; it follows, whether we consult health, which is of primary im- portance, or expense, 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 violently oppo.sed, and my theory and practice condemned, notwithstanding the demonstrative proofs in their favor. But those who thus condemn have taken no pains to throw oif prejudice, and examine the subject with candor and impartiality. Such as have, are thoroughly sat- isfied of their utility and superior excellence. From those who measure a man's understanding and ability to lie beneficial to his fellowmen only from the acqui- sition he has made in literature from books; from such as are governed by outward appearance, and wlio will not stoop to examine a system on the ground of its intrin.sic merit, I ex- pect not encouragement, but opposition. But this will not di.scourage me. I consider the discovery I have made of inestimable value to mankind, and intended for the great benefit of those who are willing to receive it. Being born in a new country, at that time almost a howl- ing wilderness, my advantages for an education were ver>' small; buc pos.sessing a natural gift for examining the things of nature, my mind was left entirely free to follow that in- clination by inquiring into the meaning of the great variety of objects around me. Possessing a body like other men, I was led to inquire into the nature 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 • component parts ; the two last kept in motion . Heat, I found , ■Altos'."' m 10 \E\V (H: IDE TO HEALTH; Oh\ 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 contained in two things, food and medicines, which are in harmony with each other; often grow in the same field, to be used by the same people. People who are capable of raising their food, and preparing the same, may as ea.sily learn to collect and prepare all their medicines, and administer the same when it is needed. Our life depends on heat; food is the fuel that kindles and continues that heat. The digestive powers being correct, causes the food to consume; this con- tinues the warmth of the body by continually .supporting the fire. The stomach is the deposit from which the whole body is supported. The heat 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 room is warmed by the fuel which is consumed in the fireplace. The greater the quantity of wood consumed in the fireplace, the greater the heat in the room. So in the body, the more food, well digested, the more heat and support through the whole man. By constantly receiving food into the stomach, which is sometimes not suitable for the best nourishment, the stomach becomes foul, so that the food is lot well digested. This causes the body to lose its he^t; then the appetite fails; the bones ache, and the man is sick in every 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 the whole man. All the art required to do this is to know what medicine will do it, and how to administer it, as a person knows how to clear 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, after being cleared of whatever clogs it, will • consume double the food, and the food will afford double the nourishment and heat that it did before. We know that our % I IIOTAXIC F. IMIL y I'HYSICIAX. 1 1 life depends on food, and the stomach being in a situation to receive and digest it. When the stomach and bowels are clogged, all tliat is needed is the most suitable medicine to remove the obstructions in the system. All di.sease is caused by clogging the system ; and all disease is removed by restoring the digestive powers, so that food may keep up that heat on which life depends. I have foutid by experience that the learned doctors are wrong in considering fever a disease or enemy; the fever is a friend, and cold the enemy. This I found by their practice in my family, until they had five times given them over to die. Exercising my own judgment, I followed after them, and relieved my family every- time. After finding a general prin- ciple respecting fevers, and reducing that to practice, I found it sure in all disease, where there was any nature left to build on, and in three years' constant practice I never lost one patient. I attended on all the fevers peculiar to our country, and always used it as a friend, -^nd that returned the gratitude to the patient. I soon began to give this information to the people, and convinced many that thej- might as certainly re- lieve themselves of their disease as of their hunger. The expense to them to be always able to relieve themselves and families would be but small; and the medicine they may procure and prepare themselves. This greatly disturbed the learned doctors, and some of them undertook to destroy me bj' reporting that I used poi- son; though they made no mention of my using their instru- ments of death, mercury, opium, ratsbane, nitre, and the lancet. I considered it my duty to withstand them, though I found my overthrow was what they aimed at. A plan was once laid to take me in the night, but I escaped. Next I was indicted as though I had given poison, and a bill brought against me for wilful murder. I was bound in irons and thrust into prison, to be kept there through the winter, with- out being allowed bail. I petitioned for and obtained a special court to try the cause, and was honorably acquitted, after forty days' imprisonment. I maintained my integrity in the place where my persecution began. In five years. \ ■ja^i^-J^ ---^ ^^,:^i~.^-'if^;.^l^,-^ii^C,-, 12 NEW a VI I'll'. TO HHALTH; OR, while vindicating this new and useful discovery, 1 lost five thousand dollars, besides all the persecution, trouble, lass of health, and reproach which has been in connection with the losses. It has been acknowledged, even by those who are un- friendly to me and my practice, that my medicine may be good in some particular cases, but not in all. But this is an error. For there are but two great principles in the consti- tution of things, whether applied to the mind or body— the principle of life and the principle of death. That which con- tains the principle of life may be perverted, by a misappli- cation, into an administration of death; as the stomach may be overloaded, and injured, even by wholesome food: but nothing that is wholesome in any case, unless abused, can be even tortured into an administration of death. If, then, a medicine is good in any case, it .is because it is agreeable to nature, or this principle of life, the very opposite of dis- ease. If it is agreeable in one case, it must be absolutelj- .so in all. By the active operation (Jf nature, the whole animal economy is carried on; and the father of the healing art, Hippocrates, tells us, what is an obvious truth, that nature is heat. The principle is the same in all, diflFering only in degree. When disease invades the frame, it resists in pro- portion to its force, till overpowered into submission, and when extinguished, death follows, and it ceases to operate alike in all. If then, heat is life, and its extinction death, a diminution of this vital flame in every in.stance constitutes disease, and is an approximation to 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 immaterial what is the name, or color, of the disease, whether bilious, yellow, scarlet or spotted; whether it is simple or complica- ted, or whether nature has one enemy or more. Names are arbitrary things; the knowledge of a name is but the cummin and annis, but in the knowledge of the origin of a malady, and its antidote, lies the weightier matters of this science. BOTANIC I IJMll.y I'HVSICIAN. \\\ This knowledge makes the genuine physician: all without it is real quackery. It has been a general opinion that extensive study and great erudition are necessary to form the eminent physician. But all this may be, as Paul saith, but science, falsely so called. A man may have a scientific knowledge of the hu- man frame; he may know the names in every language of every medicine, mineral and vegetable, as well as ever>' dis- ease, and yet be a miserable physician. But there have been men without this to boast of, from the earliest ages of the world, who have "arisen, blest with the .sublimer pow- ers of genius, who have, as it were, with one look pierced creation, and with one comprehensive view grasped the whole circle of science, and left 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. The practice of the regular physicians, that is those who get a diploma, at the present time, is not to use those means which would be most likely to cure disease, but to try ex- periments upon what they have read in books, and to see how much a patient can bear without producing death. Af- ter pursuing this plan during their lives, they know just about as much as they did when they began to practice of what is really useful to mankind. If a patient dies under their hands, why, it is the will of God, and they are sure to get extravagantly paid for their trouble, and nothing more is said about it; but if one out of hundreds of my patients die, and where the doctors have given them over as incurable, they at once cry out that it is quackerj', that I gave them poison, etc., for the purpose of running me and my medicine down, and to prevent it being used by the people. The fact is well known to thousands who have used my medicine, and to which they are ready to attest, that it is perfectly harmless, and I defy the faculty to produce one instance wherein it has had any bad effects. It is true that the study of anatomy, or structure of the human body, and of the whole animal economy, is pleasing .-.i.ii 14 NliW GUIDE TO HEALTH; Oh\ 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 knowledge. 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 di.sease, and one general remedy. One can be satisfied, and the other removed, by an infinite vari- ety 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 disea.se assumes, and is universally appli- cable. And acute disorders, such as fevers, colics and dys- enterj-, may be relieved thereby in twenty-four or forty-eight hours, at mo,st. REMARKS ON FEVERS. Much has been .said and written upon fevers by the pro- fessedly learned Doctors of Medicine, without throwing the most profitable light on the subject, or greatly benefiting mankind. They have been abundantly fruitful in inventing names for di.sease, and with great care and accuracy distin- guished the different symptoms, but they appear quite bar- ren as to the knowledge 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 physicians, there are a great variety of fevers; some more and some less danger- ous. But to begin with a definition of the name. What is fever? Heat, undoubtedly, though a disturbed operation of it. But is there in the human frame more than one kind of heat? Yes, says the physician, strange as it may appear, there is the pleuritic heat, the slow, nervous heat, the putrid heat, the hectic heat, the yellow heat, the spotted or cold heat, the typhus or ignorant heat, and many other heats, and sometimes, calamitous to tell, one poor patient has the most, or the whole, of these fevers, and dies at last for want of heat! I'll i! nOTANIC FAMILY PHYSTCIAN, i:, Is fever or heat a disease? Hippocrates, the acknowl- edged father of physicians, maintained that nature is heat, and he is correct. Is nature a disease? Surely it is not. What is commonly called fever is the effect, and not the cause, of di.sease. It is the struggle of nature to throw off disease. The cold causes an obstruction, and fever arises, in consequence of that obstruction, to throw it off. This is uni versally the case. Remove 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, physicing, starving, with all their refrigeratives, their opium, mercury, arsenic, antimony, nitre, etc., are so many deadly engines, combined with the di.sease, 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 mer- cury-, opium, nitre, and other refrigerents, to restore him to health, is as though a man should, to increase a fire 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 its rise from one great cause or origin, it follows, of course, 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 application 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 often short of that time the fever may be removed, or that which is the cause of it. But where the patient is left unas- sisted to struggle with the disease until his strength is ex- hausted, and more especially when the most unnatural and injurious administrations are made, if a recovery is possible, it must of necessity take a longer time. These declarations are true, and have been often proved, and can be again, to ! :U i-ji"'***'^* Ill \/:ii Gf //)/•: TO hi:. 1 1. Ill; oh\ !' f the satisfaction of every candid person, at the ha/.ard of an>- forfeiture the faculty may challenge. Notwithstanding all these things, how true are the words of the intelligent Dr. Her\'ey, who .says: " By what unac- countable per\'ersity in our frame does it appear that we set ourselves so much against any thing that is new? Can any one behold without scorn .such drones of physicians, and after the space of so many hundred years' experience and practice of their predecessors, not one single medicine has been detected that has the least force directly to prevent, to op- pose, and expel a continued fever? Should any, by a more .sedulous obser\'ation, pretend to make the least step towards the discovery of .such remedies, their hatred and envy would .swell again.st him, as a legion of devils against virtue; the whole society will dart their malice at him, and torture him with all the calumnies imaginable, without sticking at any- thing that should destroy him root and branch. For he who professes to be a reformer 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 has 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. Her\'ey. They have impris- oned him, and charged him with everything cruel and un- just; though upon a fair trial, their violent dealings have come down upon their heads, while he has not only been proved innocent before 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 balance by cold, outward and inward; and in the former there is a balance of heat outward and inward; both produce the same thing, that is, a total cessation of motion, which is death. The color of the skin has given name to both these diseases. 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 tl of any Je words at unac- t we set [^an any lis, and nee and ine has t, to op- ' a more towards y would ue; the ire him at any- he who resolve life and n some emedy f of the impris- md un- js have ly been elie\'ed ie. ause of ; cause ring a former roduce hich is 1 these of the essels, The /iO r.lML • lAMIl. y I'll) S/Cf. i\. 17 same effects that are produced by these two fevers nia\ be observed in the motion of the sea; when the tide is done run- ning up, there is what is called slack water, or a balance of power; and the same thing takes place when it is done run- ning 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 yel- low 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 facal, I shall pass over those of a less alarming nature, and merely oKserve tliat there is no other difference in all ca.ses of fever than what is cau.sed by the different degrees of cold, or lo.ss 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 ascendency, heat will be dispo.ssessed 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 cau.se of death. When the power of cold is nearly equal to that of heat, the fever or strife be- tween the two parties may continue for a longer or shorter time, according to circumstances; this is what is called along fever, or fever and ague. The battle between cold and heat will take place periodically, sometimes every day, at other times 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 enemy; if it is a friend, which I hold to be the fact, when the fever fit 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 increasing its power, you drive 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. V7'ien it is said that a fever will turn at .such a time, I pre.sume it must mean -trjsrss r TR AV;// Clini: TO IIEAI.rH: ON. I ^ that it has been ko"^; this is true, for it is thou gone on the outside, and is trying to turn again and go inside, where it belongs. Instead of following the dictates of nature and aid- ing it to subdue the cold, the doctor uses all his skill to kill the fever. How, I would ask, in the name of conunon sen.sc, can any thing turn when killed ? .Supjiort the fever and it will return inside; the cold, which is the cause of disease, will be driven out, and health will be restored. In all cases called fever, the cause is the same in a greater or less degree, and may be relieved by one general remedy. The cold causes canker, and l)efore the canker is seated, the strife will take place between cold and heat; and while the hot flashes and cold chills remain, it is evidence that the canker is not settled, and the hot medicine alone, occasionally assisted In- steam, will throw it off; but as the contest cea.ses, the heat is steady on the outside; then canker a.ssumes the power inside; this is called a settled fever. The truth is, the canker is fixed on the inside and will ripen and come off 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 discoverj'. By raising the fever with Nos. i and 2, and taking off the canker with No. 3, and the same given by injections, we may turn a fever when we please; but if this is not under- stood, the canker will ripen and come off itself, when the fever will turn and go inside and the cold will be driven out ; therefore they will do much better without any aid, than with a doctor. 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 weight, 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 de- stroy what heat remains, and plant 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 are the different degrees in canker. This is the /lo'/.i.v/r /•'.iA///.y /'//ys/r/.ix. w reason why there art' so niaiiy difl'ereiit fevers as are tiamcd; when one fever turns, another sets in, and so continues one after another until thehar\'est is all ripe, if tlie season islon^; enough; if not, the cold and frost take them off — then it is said they died of a fever. It might with as nnich 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 decided, for that power which bears rule in the l)od)- after death is what killed the patient, which is cold; as much as that which liears rule when he is alive is heat. When a person is taken sick, it is conunon to say, "I have got a cold, and am afraid I am going to have a fever;" but no fears are expressed of the cold he has taken; neither is it mentioned when the 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 a.s.sists the cold to kill the patient? Would it not have been more reasonable, or likely to have cured them, when the fever arose to throw off the cold, to have helped the fever and give nature the victory over its enemy, when the health would l)e restored the same as before they took the cold? We frequently see in the newspapers accounts of people dying in consequence of drinking cold water when very warm. Some fall 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 drink, by swal- lowing something hot before drinking the water, and swal- lowing a little at a time, which will prevent any fatal effects. This strange circumstance of being cold on a hot day, and which has never been accounted for in a .satisfactory manner to the public, I shall endeavor to explain in as comprehen- .sive and plain language as I am capable. The component parts of animal bodies are earth and water, and life and mo- tion are caused by fire and air. The inward heat is the fountain of life, and as much as that has the power above the outward heat, so much we have of life and .strength, and I I >& ,1 ..j » be beneficial to mankind. The rea.son wh>' these extraordinary cases api>ear so wonder- ful to the people, is because they are unacquainted with the cause. Why should we wonder at n person being cold on a hot day, when we are not, any more than we should wonder at another for being hungry, when we have just been eating; or that others can be in paiti, when we are enjoying good health? The one is as plain and simple as the other, when un- derstood. 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 pjiin. One person may have lost the natural power of heat by an ef- fect which others in similar situations may not have expe- rienced, and will suffer the consequences of cold in propor- tion to the loss of inward heat; this is manifest in the differ- ent degrees of sickness. If the inward heat loses its balance of power suddenly, death is immediate; which is the casein spotted fever, and in drowned persons. When the inward and outward cold is balanced, life ceases, and the blood, be- ing stopped in its motion, settles in spots, which appearance /!i>7:i.\/( / .It///.} rt/)s/ii.i.\. 31 has KJvcii name to what is calk-d sixnted fevvr The saiiu appt-araiices take place on drowiiwl |)ersous. and from the same cause. The practice of hleedin>{ for the purpose «>f ».nrhi)bf disease, I consider most unnatural and injurious. Nature never fur- nishes the 1«h1>- with more hlocxl than is neces.sxiry for the maintenance of health; to takeaway part of the blood, there- fore, is takinjfaway just so nuicli of their life, and is as con- trary to nature as it wouhl he to cut away part of their flesh. Many experiments have Iwen tried by the use of the lancet in fevers; hut [ believe it will be allowed by all, that mo.st of them have proved fatal; and several eminent physicians have died in consequence of trying the experiment on themselves. If the .system is di.seased, the blcnxl becomes as nmch dis- eased as any other part; remove the cause of thetlisorder, and the blood will recover and become healthy as soon as any otlier part; but how taking part of it away can help to cure what remains, can never be reconciled with common .sen.se. There is no practice used by the physicians that I coji- sider more inconsistent with ccmunon sense, and at the same time more inhuman, than blLstering to remove disease; jnir- ticularly in.sane persons, or what the doctors call dropsj- on the brain; in which case they shave the head and draw a blis- ter on it. Very few patients, if any, ever survive this appli- cation. What would be tlK)UKht if a scald should Ik; cau.sed by boilinjj water to remove disea.se? Yet there is no differ- ence between this and a blister made by flies. I have wit- nes.sed many in.stances where great distress and very bad ef- fects have been caused by the use of blisters; and believe I can truly .say that I never knew any l>enefit derived from their use. It very frequently cau.ses .stiangury, when the attempted remedy becomes much worse than the disease. In support of my opinions on the subject, I will give the following extract from the writings of Dr. Hillary, an eminent physician of T.^)ndon ; " I have long observed that blisters are too frequently, and too often improperly, used, as they are now so much in fashion. It is ver>- probable that we have no one remedy hi all the Materia Medica that is so frequently, and .so often I I' m i t I '^ .]M 22 NEW a (IDE 71) IIEAI/rH; OR, improperly, applied, not only in too many cases where thej- cannot possiHy give any relief, but too often where they must unavoidablj' increase the very evil which they are intended to remove or relieve. How often do we see them applied, and sometimes se\cral of thetn, by pretended dabblers in physic, not only where there are no indications for applying them, but where the true indications are against their applica- tion; as in the beginning of most fevers, and especially those of the inflannnator>- and of the putrid kind, where, in the first, the stimulous of the acrid salts of the canthart'des, which pass into the blood, must unavoidably increase both the stimulous and the momentum of the blood, which were too great before, and so render the fever inflammatory, and all its symptoms worse. " And it is well known that the cantharides contain a great quantity of alkaline semi-volatile salts, which pass into the blood, though they are applied externally; and attenuate, dissolve, and hasten, and increase its putrefaction, which is also confirmed by the putrid alkaline acrimony which the\- produce in the urine, with the heat and strangury, which it gives to the urinary passage. ' ' ON STEAMING. Steiaming is a very important branch of mj' sjstem of practic?, which would in many cases without it be insuffi- cient to effect a cure. It is of great importance in many cases, but considered by the medical faculty as desperate; and they would be so under my mode of treatment, if it was not for this manner of applying heat to the body, for the pur- pose of reanimating the system and aiding nature in restor- ing health. I had but little knowledge of medicine when, through necessity, I discovered the u.se of steaming to add heat or life to the decaying spark; and with it I was enabled, by administering such vegetable preparations as I then had a knowledge of, to effect a cure in ca.ses where the regular practitioners had given them over. In all cases where the heat of the body is so far exhausted as not to \^ rekindled by using the medicine and being nOTA.VIC l-\ i.MIL y rHYSICIAN. 23 shielded from the surrounding air by a blanket, or being in bed, and chills or stupor attend the patient, then applied heat by steaming becomes indispejisably necessary; and heat caused by steam in the manner that I use it is more natural in producing perspiration than any dry heat that can be applied to the body in any other manner, which will only serve to dry the air and prevent perspiration in many cases of disease, 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 have lain silent in consequence of the cold. • ' Dr. Jennings has contrived a plan to apply heat to the body by a dry vapor, caused by burning spirit, which he calls a vapor bath, the idea of vvhich was, I have no doubt, taken from liearing of my steaming to raise the heat of the body. It may answer in some cases and stages ofdisea.se; but in a .settled fever, and other ca.ses where there is a dry inflamma- tion on the .surface of the body, it will not answer any good purpose, and I think would be dangerous without the use of my medicine to first rai.se a free perspiration; for when the surface of the body is dry, the patient cannot bear it, as it will crowd to the head and cause distress, the same as is pro- duced by burning charcoal, or from hot stoves in a tight room, and will bring on a difficulty in breathing, which is not the ca.se in steaming my way. This machine can only be used in bed, where the vapor cannot be applied to the body equally at the same time, therefore is no better than a hot dry stone put on each side and to the feet of the patient, for he can turn himself and get heat from them as well as to have all the trouble of burning spirit and turning to the vapor of it to get warm by this dry heat. When the patient .stands over a steam raised by putting a hot .stone in water, which gives a more equal heat all over the body than can be done in any other manner, it can be raised higher, and may be tempered at pleasure bj' wetting the face and stomach with cold water as occasion requires. The method adopted by me, and which has always an- swered the desired object, is as follows: Take several stones of different .sizes and put them in the fire till red hot; then \. fiS h-a 24 x/iir (;f ■//)/■: to health; or. :r r take the smallest first, and put one of them into a pan or kettle of hot water, with the stone about half immersed; the patient must be undressed and a blanket put around him so as to shield his whole body from the air, and then place him over the steam. Change the stones as often as they grow cool, so as to keep up a lively steam, and keep them over it; if they are faint, throw a little cold water on the face and stomach, which will let down the outward heat and restore the strength ; after the\- have been over the steam long enough, which will generally be about fifteen or twenty minutes, they must be washed all over with cold water or spirit, and be put in bed, or may be dressed, as the circum- stances of the case shall permit. Before they are placed over the steam, give a dose of Nos. 2 and 3, or composition, to rai.se the inward heat. When the patient is too weak to stand over the steam, it may be done in bed, by heating three .stones and putting them in water till done hissing; then wrap them in a number of thicknesses of cloths wet with wa- ter, and put one on each .side and one at the feet, occasionally wetting the face and stomach with cold water, when faint. Manj' other plans ma\- lie contrived in steaming which would make less trouble and be more agreeable to the pa- tient, especialh- where they are unable to stand over the steam . An open worked chair may be made, in which they mights-it and be steamed very conveniently; or a settee might be made in the same manner, in which they might be laid and covered with blankets so as to shield them from the sur- rounding air. Such contrivances as these would be very convenient in cases where the patient would have to be car- ried through a course of medicine and steamed a number of times, as is frequently neces.sar>-, particularly in complaints that have been of long standing. As I have frequently mentioned a regular course of med- icine, I will here state what is meant by it, and the most proper way in which it is performed . Firstly, give Nos. 2 and 3, or compo.sition, adding a teaspoonful of No. 6; then steam, and when in bed repeat it, adding No. i, which will cleanse the stomach and ai ist in keeping up a perspiration; when this has done operating, give an injection made with 1 nOTAMC FAMll. Y niYSICl. I.V. •>r> the same articles. Where there are symptoms of nervous affection, or spasms, put half a teaspoonful of the nerve pow- der into each dose given, and into the injection. In violent cases, where immediate relief is needed, Nos. i, 2, 3 and 6 may be gi\'en together. Injections may be administered at all times, and in all cases of disease, to advantage; it can never do harm, and in many ca.ses they are indispensablj- necessary, especially where there is canker and inflammation in the bowels, and there is danger of mortification, in which case, add a teaspoonful of No. 6. In cases of this kind, the injection should be given first, or at the .same time of giving the composition, or No. 3. The latter i.s preferable. The u.se of steaming is good in preventing sickness, as well as curing it. When a person has been exposed to the cold, and is threatened with disease, it may be prevented, and long sickness and expense saved, by a very little trouble, by standing over a steam and following the directions before given till the cold is thoroughly thrown off, and a lively per- spiration 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 it is much better to take something to raise the in- ward heat at the same time. A tea made of mayweed or summer-savorj-, or ginger and hot water sweetened, may be given, or anything that is wanning. This advice is for the poor, a/id tho.se 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 sus- pended 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 immediately around them with the steam. Pour into the mouth some of the tincture of Nos. i, 2 and 6; and if there is any internal heat remains, there will be mu.scular motion about the eyes, and in the extremities. If this symptom ap- pears, repeat the dose 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 11 Ifi i i if iii -i^ • !mi(mm umSt'Aik*miii:\%t»tmJ,i f ' I' 2« y/tif GriDIi TO HliAl.ni; ON, of the desired object even after life appears. This is the onlj- 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. After life is restored, put them in bed and keep the perspiration free for twelve hours, by hot stones wrapped in cloths wet with water, and occas- ionally giving the tincture as before mentioned, when the coldness and obstructions are thrown oflF, and the patient will be in the enjoyment of his natural strength. Beware of bleeding, or blowing in the mouth with a bellows, as either will generally prove fatal. In many ca.ses of spotted fever, steaming is as necessar\- as in drowned persons; such as when they fall apparently dead; then the same treatment is nece.s.sary to lighten the surrounding air till you can rai.se the inward heat so as to get the determining power to the surface. Begin with a small stone, and as life gains, increase the steam as the pa- tient can bear it; if the distress is great, give more hot medi- cine inside, and as .soon as an equilibrium takes place the pain will cea.se. In all cases of this kind, the difficulty can- not 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 medicine without applied heat by steam, as nothing will remove mercury but heat. When a patient is carried through a course of my medi- cine and steamed, who has been long under mercurial treat- ment; and while under the operation of the steam, when the heat is at the highest, the face will swell, in consequence of the poisonous vapor being condensed by the air, the face be- ing open to it. To relieve this, put them in bed, and take a hot stone wrapped in several thicknesses of cloth wet with water, pouring on a little vinegar, and making a lively 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 /.'0/:i.\7c /:ij///.} /'Hvs/c/.iN. •>-, abate. This method also is of great service in agues and teethache caused by cold; and many other cases of obstruc- tion 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 sit over the steam, pouring a little vinegar on the .stone; or it may be done in bed with a hot stone, wrapped in cloths wet with water, putting on a little vinegar, and covering them with the bedclothes laid loosely over them; but in this way you cannot exercise .so good judgment in tempering the .steam as when you are .steamed with them. If the child appears languid and faint, the outward heat is high enough; put a little cold water on the face or brea.st, which will re- store the strength, then rub them with a cloth wet with vin- egar, spirit or cold water, put on clean clothes, and put them in bed, or let them .sit up, as their strength will permit. This is .safe in all cases of cold and 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 .suifer much, as they cannot ask for it. In all cases of falls or bruises, steaming is almost in- fallible; and is much better than bleeding, as is the common practice, which only tends to destroy life instead of promot- ing it. If the person is not able to stand over the steam, it must be done in bed, as has been described. Give the hot- test medicine inside that you have, and keep the perspira- tion free till the pain and soreness abate and the strength will be soon restored. If the advantages of this mode ot treatment was generally known, bleeding in such cases, or any other, to remove disease would never be resorted 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 .- I r li V I )■ !; li: ! iiSaeii..--- M I 2« yiiir (.(//)/•: ro iieai.th; or. until the digestive powers are restored sufficient to hold the heat by digesting the food ; then the liealth of the patient will be restored by eating and drinking such things as the appetite shall require. In this way the medicine remo\'es disease, and food, by being properly digestetl, supports na- ture and continues that heat on which life depends Some who practice according to my system boast of car- rying their patients through in a shorter time without the trouble of steaming. This is easily accounted for; .steaming is the most laborious part of the practice for those who attend upon the sick, and the most useful to the patient, as one op- eration of steaming will be more effectual in removing dis- ease than four cou'-ses without it; and to omit it is throw- ing the labor upon the patient, with the expen.se of three or four operations more of the medicine than would be needed did the person who attends do his duty faithfully. "^ ON GIVING POISON AS MEDICINE. The practice of jfiving poison as medicine, which is so common among the medical faculty at the present day, is 6t the utmost importance to the public; and is a subject that I wish to bring home to the .serious consideration of the whole bod}' of the people of this country, and enforce in the strong- est manner on their minds the pernicious consequences that have happened, and are daily taking place, by reason of giv- ing mercury, arsenic, nitre, opium and other deadly poisons to cure disease. It is admitted by those who make use of these things, that the introducing them into the sy.stem is verj' dangerous, and that they often prove fatal. During thirty years' practice I have had opportunity to gain much experience on this .subject, and am ready to declare that I am perfectly and decidedly convinced, beyond all doubt, that there can be no possible good derived from using, in any manner or form whatever, those poisons; but, on the other hand, there is a great deal of hurt done. More than nine- tenths of the chronic cases that have come under my care have been such as had been run down with some one or the whole of the a1x)ve-named medical poisons; and the greatest liOTA.MC I'AMIl. y PHYSICIAS. 2R difficulty I have had to encounter in removing the complaints which my patients labored under has been to clear the sys- tem of mercur>', nitre, or opium, and bring them back to the same state they were in before taking them. It is a very easy thing to get them into the system, but very hard to get them out again. Those who make use of these things a.s medicine seem to cloak the administering them under the .specious pretence of great skill and art in preparing and u.siiig them ; but this kind of covering will not blind the people if they would ex- amine it and think for themselves, instead of believing that everything said or done by a learned man must be right; for poison given to the sick by a person of the greatest skill will have exactly the same effect as it would if given by a fool. The fact is, the operation of it is diametricallv opposed to nature, and every particle of it that is taken into the sys- tem will strengthen the power of the enemy to health. If there should be doubts in the minds of any one of the truth of what I have said concerning the articles I have named as being poisonous and destrttctive to the constitution and health of man, I will refer them to the works published by those who recommend their use; where they will find ev- idence enough to satisfy the most credulous of the danger- ous consequences and fatal effects of giving them as medi- cine. To remove all doubts of their being poison, I will make a few extracts from standard medical works, as the be.st testimony that can be given in the case: ' ' Muriate of Mercury is one of the most violent poisons with which we are acquainted. Externally, it acts as an escharotic or a caustic; and in solution it is used for de- stroying fungous flesh, and for removing hepatic eruptions; but even externally it must be u.sed with very great caution." Yet, reader, this active poi.son is used as medicine, and by being prepared in a different form, and a new name given it, calomel, its good qualities are said to be invaluable, and a certain cure for almost every disease. " Oxyd of Arsenic is one of the most sudden and violent poisons we are acquainted with. In mines, it causes the destruction of numbers of those who explore them, and it is ^ I T i h I m \/: II (;/■//)/■: ro iii:.\lih: oh\ frequently the instrument by which victims are sacrificed, either by the hand of wickedness or imprudence. The fumes of arsenic are so deleterious to the huigs, that the artist ought to be on his guard to prevent their exhalation by the mouth; for if they !)e mixed and swallowed with the saliva. eflFects will take place similar to those which follow its intro- duction into the stomach in a saline state: namel)-. a sensa- tion of a piercing, gnawing, and burning kind, accompanied with an acute pain in the stomach and intestines, which last are violently contorted; convulsive vomiting; insatiable thirst, from the parched and rough state of the tongue and throat; hiccough, palpitation of the heart and a deadly op- pression of the whole breast succeed next; the matter ejected by the mouth, as well as the stools, exhibits a black, foetid, and putrid appearance. At length, with the mortification of the bowels, the pain subsides, and death terminates the suf- ferings of the patient." "When the quantity is so very small as not to prove fatal, tremors, paraly.sis and lingering hectics succeed." Notwithstanding this terrible description of the fatal ef- fects of this article, the author says: " Though the most vi- olent of mineral poisons, arsenic, according to Murray, equals, when properly administered, the first medicines in the class of tonics." "Of all the diseases," says Dr. Duncan, "in which White Oxyd of Arsenic has been used internally, there is none in which it has been .so frequently and so suc- cessfully employed as in the cure of intermittent fevers. We have now the most satisfactory information concerning this article in the Medical Reports, of the effects of arsenic in the cure of agues, remitting fevers, and periodical head- aches, by Dr. Fowler, of Stafford. ' ' Such are the powers of this medicine, that two grains of it are often sufficient to cure an intermittent that has continued for weeks! As an ex- ternal remedy, arsenic has long been known as the ba.sis of the celebrated caticer powders: "Arsenic has ever been ap- plied in substance, .sprinkled upon the ulcer; but this mode of using it is exceedingly painful, and extremely dangerous. There have been fatal effects produced from its absorption." No other escharotic possesses equal powers in cancerous af- /!()r.L\/c r.iM//.)- /'/ivs/c/.ix. ai fectioiis; it not infrequently amends the discharge, causes the sore to contract in size, and cases have been rchited of its Jiavinj^ effected a cure." " But," says Dr. WiUich, " we are, on the combined testimony of many medical practitioners, conspicuous for their professional zeal and integrity, irresist- ibly induced to declare our opinion, at lea.st, against the in- ternal u.se of this .ictivc and dangerous medicine." I shall leave it to the reader to reconcile, if he can, the inconsistencies and absurdities of the above statements of the effects of ratsbane; and ask himself the question, whether it can be po.ssible for an. article, the u.se of which is attended with such con.sequences, to lie in any shape or form proper to be used as medicine; yet it is a well-known fact, that this poison is in constant u.se among the faculty, and forms the principal ingredient in most of those nostrums .sold through- out the country under the names of drops, powders, washes, balsams, etc., and there can be no doubt that thou.sands either die or become miserable invalids in consequence. 'Wnlimouy, in the modern nomenclature, is the name given to a peculiar metal. The antimonial metal is a medi- cine of the greate.st power of ar.y known substance; a quan- tity too minute to be sensible in the most delicate balance is capable of producing violent effects if taken dissolved, or in a .soluble state. " " Sulphureted antimony was employed by the ancients in CoUyria against inflammation of the eyes, and for .staining the eyebrows black. Its internal use does not seem to have been established till the end of the fifteenth century; and even at that time it was by many looked upon as poisonous. " "All the metallic preparations are uncertain, as it entirely depends on the state of the stomach whether they have no action at all, or operate with dangerous vio- lence. " " The principal general medicinal application of antimony has been for the u.se of febrile affections. " "In the latter stage of fever, where debility prevails, its use is inad- missible." Of the propriety of using this metal as medi- cine, I shall leave it to the reader to judge for himself. ''Nitre — Salt-Petre. This salt, consisting of nitric acid and potash, is found ready formed on the .surface of the .soil in warm climates. " " Purified nitre is prescribed with ad- •mmmmm I ill \ 82 A'A/r (.f //)/■: TO Hl'lAl.TH; OR, vantage in 'unnerons disorders. Its virtues are those of a refrigerent and dinretic. It is usuall)- given in doses from two to three grains to a scruple, being a very cooHng and resolvent medicine, which by relaxing the spasnuxlic rigidity of the vessels, promotes not only the secretion of urine, but ^ at the same time insensible jwrspiration in febrile disorders; while it allays thirst and abates heat; though in malignant cases, in which the pulse is low, and the patient's strength exhausted, it produces contrary effects." "This powerful salt, when inadvertently taken in too large quantities, is one of the most fatal poisons. ' ' For .some interesting observa- tions relative to the deleterious properties of salt-petre, the reader is referred to Dr. Mitchell's letter to Dr. Priestly. I have found from a series of practical experiments for many years, that salt-petre has the most certain and deadly effects upon the human system of any drug that is u.sed as medicine. Although the effects produced by it are not so immediately fatal as many others, yet its whole tendency is to counteract the principles of life, and destroy the operation of nature. Experience has taught me that it is the most powerful enemy to health, and that it is the most difficult opponent to encounter, with any degree of success, that I have ever met with. Being in its nature cold, there cannot be any other effects produced by it than to increase the power of that enejny of heat, and to les.sen its necessary in- flixence. "■opium, when taken into the .stomach to such an extent as to have any sensible effect, gives rise to a pleasant seren- ity of the mind, in general proceeding to a certain degree of languor and drowsiness. " "It excites thirst and renders the mouth dry and parched." " Taken into the stomach in a larger dose, gives rise to confu.sion of the head and verti- go. The powers of all stimulating causes of making im- pressions on the body are diminished ; and even at times and in situations when a person would naturally be awake, sleep is irresistibly induced. In still larger doses, it acts in the same manner as the narcotic poisons, giving ri.se to vertigo, headache, tremors, delirium and convulsions; and these terminating in a state ef stupor, from which the person can- I' T liiiil I 1|- /••(>/.i.\7( /-.i.w//.) /•//i.s/c/.i.\. m not be amused. Tliis stupor is acconjpauied with siowuess of the pulse, and with stertor in hreathinjf , atid the scene is terminated in death, attended with the same ai)pearances as take place in an apixiplexy. ' ' "In intermittents it is said to have been used with K"od effect. " " [t is often of very ^jreat service in fevers of the typhoid type. ' ' "In smallpox, when the convul.sions before eruption are frequent and considera- ble, opium is liberally u.sed." " In cholera and pyrosis, it is almo.st the only thing tru.sted to." "The administration of opium to the unaccu.stomed is sometimes very difficult. The re- authors, seems to be four grains; but a dangerous dose is so apt to puke, that it has .seldom time to occa.sion death." From the above extracts, it will readily be .seen that the use of opium as medicine is very dangerous, at least, if not destructive to health ; its advocates, it will be okserved, do not pretend that it will cure any disorder, but is used as a palliative for the purpo.se of ea.sing pain by destroying sensi- bility. Pain is caused by disease, and tlw re can be no other way to relieve it but by removing the cause. Sleep pro- duced by opium is unnatural, and affords jio relief to the pa- tient, being nothing more than a suspen.sion of his .sen.ses; and it might with as much propriety l)e said, that a .state of delirium is beneficial, for a person in that situation is not sensible of pain. The fact is, opium is a poison, and when taken into the system, produces no other effect than to strengthen the power of the enemy to health, by deadening the sensible organs of the .stomach and intestines, and pre- venting them from performing their natural functions, so im- portant to the maintaining of health and life. In all the cases that have come within my knowledge where the pa- tient has been long in the habit of taking opium, I have found it almost impossible, after removing the disease, to re- store the digestive powers of the stomach. I have made the foregoing extracts on the subject of -, 1 l; t I M .\7:n(;t •//)/•: ro //a. //.///, rM*. fMtiHoiis for the |nir]>4)Si' ot' KiviiiK <( inore plain iiikI .siiiipU- view of the jK-rnicious c()iisc<|ut'iu'e.s cinisid by tlu-ir lK.'iiin ){ivt*ii ns iiufliciiic, than I could do in any otiior maimer. In tliis short addrcsH, it is impossible to do that justice to the Mulyect that I could wish, and which its im]N)rtance demand.H; btit I am not without ho|K- that what is here ^iven will sat- isfy every candi^l person who reads it of the truth of thosi- principles which it has been at all times my endeavor to in- culcate for the l)enefit of mankind, and convince them that what has a tendency to destroy life can never be useful in restoring health. In sui)port t)f what has l)een l)efore .said on the use of mercury. I will here ^ive a short extract from Dr. Mann's Medical Sketches, which is but a trifle in comparison with the many cases that he has j^iven of the fatal eflFects of that poison; " Calomel should ne\er Ik; admini.stered, unle.ss the patient is .so situated that the skin may be preser\'ed in its natural warmth. If this is not attended to during its admin- istration, either the bowels or the glands of the mouth suf- fer. To one t)f these parts it frequently directed all its stimulating iH>wers, and induced in one or the other high de- grees of inflammation, which terminated in mortification of the intestines, or destruction of not only the mu.scles, but the bones of the face. " Four cases under these formidable effects of mercurial ptyalism were admitted into the general hospital at Lewis- town, three of whom died with their jaws and faces dread- fully mutilated. The fourth recovered with the loss of the inferior maxilla one .side, and the teeth on the other. He lived a most wretched life, deformed in his features, and when I last saw the patient, incapable of taking food, except through a .small aperture in place of his mouth." 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 Hemlock. Night Shade, Apple Peru, Poppy, Henbane, Poke-root, Mandrake-root, Garget-root, Wild Parsnip, Indigo- weed, Ivy, Dogwood, Tobacco and Laurel. In case either I /t(>r.i\7tli».ri»o!.s«)u, should lit- taken tlimuKli accident, or otlicrwisc, a strong preparation of No. i. with a small (inantity of No. j. will k* found to \k' a soverdKU remedy . Cases fre(|Uently oecur lu the c<»untr;. of l)einK |M)i.soned externally hy .some of the alxne veKftahle jKHsonM, in which they swell very much. When tiiis hapjiens, by takiiiK No. 2, or ComiK>siti(m, and wa.shinx; with the tincture, or the third prej)aration of No. i, relief may be .siH.edily obtained. It i.s a conuuon thinn with the doctors to make use of many of the above mentioned vegetable poisons as medicine; but I wcmld caution the public against the u.se of tiiem in any way whatever, as they will have no other effect than to in- crease the difficulty, and injure the constitution of the pa- tient; being deadly poi.soiis, it is impossible that they can do any gcHMl. No dumb beast will ever touch them, and they are correct judges of what is good for f(X)(l or medicine. Great u.se is made in many parts of the country of garden hendiK'k, .scicuta, and it is recommended by the d(K'tors for many complaints, to be taken or applied externally. I have been cree the greatest poison of an>- veg- etable, and was used in ancient times to put criminals to death; but this wa.s before it was ever tlumght of that tiie .same article that would cause immediate death when taken for that purpo.se would also cure disease. Many persons that pretend to make use of my system of practice are in the habit of using .some of the vegetables that I have mentioned as poisonous. I wish the public to under- stand that it is entirely unauthorized by me, as there is noth- ing in my practice or writings but what is directly opposed to everything of a poi.sonous nature being used as a medi- cine: for it has always been my aim to ascertain and avoid the use of everything except such articles as I knew bj- actual experience to be agreeable to nature, and also free from all danger or risk in using them to cure di.sease. I therefore ^J^- :!<> A/i//' (.(//)/•: TO HEAI.ril: ON, caution tht- public against putting any confidence in such as make use of either vegetable or mineral poison. There have been several cases of death published by the doctors, which the>' say were caused b\- those who practice by my system; and from the description they have given of the treatment. I have good reason to suppo.se, if there is any truth at all in them, were attended bj- such as I have before mentioned, pretending to practice by my system without having a correct knowledge of it; and who are tampering with every kind of medicine they can find; for there is no such treatment of disease as they de.scribe ever been recom- mended by me, or that can be found in my writings or prac- tice. It is very convenient for them, and has become common to say, when they happen to be successful, it is their own great improvements; but when the patient dies, it is then laid to the Thomsonian system of practice. This is unjust, and ought to be expo.sed; and I ask all those who have a wish to promote the practice to adopt some means to ascertain the truth and make it public. THE DOCTORS WITHOUT A SYSTEM. 1 i*; sm. That the doctors have no .system is a fact prett}- generally acknowledged by themselves; or at least they have none that has been fixed upon as a'general rule for their practice. Al- most every great man among 1 hem has had a system of his own , which has been followed by their adherents till some other one is brought forward more fashionable. This is undoubt- edly a great evil, for it makes everything uncertain; where it is con.stantly changing, there can be no dependence on any thing, and the practice must always be experimental; no useful knowledge can be obtained by the young practition- ers, as they will be con.stantly seeking after new theories. What should we say of a carpenter who should undertake to repair a building without having any rule to work by, and should, for want of one, destroy the half of all he undertook to repair. The employers would soon lo.se all confidence in him, and dismiss him ns an ignorant blockhead. And is it not of infinitely more importance for those who undertake to nOT.lXIC FAMILY I'HYSICIAX. .{7 repair the human l)ody to have some correct rule to work by? Their practice is founded on visionary theories, which are so uncertain and contradictory that it is impossible to form an> correct general rule as a guide to be depended upon. In or- der to show the opinions of others as well as my own, I shall make a few extracts from late writers on the subject. Speak- ing of the revolutions of medicines, one .says: " We have now noticed the principal revolutions of medi- cine; and we plainly i)erceive that the theory of medicine not only has been, but is yet, in an un.settlefl .state; that its prac- tical application is wavering, fallacious, and extremely per- nicious; and taking a survey of the various fortunes of the art, we may well .say with Bacon, that medicine is a science that hath been more profes.sed than labored, and yet more la- bored than advanced, the labor having been in a circle, but not in progre.ssion. "Theories are but the butterflies of the day ; they buzz for a while and then expire. We can trace for many centu- ries past one theory overturning another, yet each in its succes.sion promi.sing itself innnortalit}-. ' ' The application of the rules which the practitioner lays down to himself is direct, and in their choice no one can err with impunity. The least erroneous view leads to some consequence. We mu.st remember the lives of our fellow- creatures are at .stake. For how man\- cruel and premature deaths, how many impaired and debilitated constitutions, have paid for the folly of theories— follies which have proved almost always fascinating! The study of a .sy.stem is more easy than an investigation of nature: and in practice it seems to smooth every difficulty." ' ' In my lectures on the art of phy.sic, " ' says Dr. R'ing, ' ' both theoretical and practical, I have fully proved that there is no necessity- for that bane of the profession, conjecture or hypothesis: and if I were asked whether, if I niyself were dangerously ill, I would suffer any hypothetical, however plau.sible, physician to prescribe for my malady, my answer - would be no, assuredly no, unless I wished to risk the loss of my life. I could give a remarkable in.stance of this. ■in, m 1 ■■ 0 (■ ' i \ ■ Ij i '. M l Ij 1 1 .•{H v/i/r (;///)/■: ro heai.th; or. " Speculation and hypothesis are ahvajs at variance with sound cxpcriincc and suarss/id prat lire." The above extracts evince the pernicious effects of false theor\- and h>pothesis, which at the present da>' constitute nearly the whole art of physic. The following just remarks are copied from the writings of the Rev. John We.sley: " As theories increased, .simple medicines were more and more disregarded and disused; till, in a course of years, the greater part of them were forgotten, at lea.st in the more po- lite nations. In the room of these, abundance of new ones were introduced by reasoning, siieculative men, and tho.se more and more difficult to be applied, as being more remote from common ob.servation. Hence rules for the application ofthe.se, and medical books, were immensely multiplied; till at length physic became an ab.struse .science, quite out of the reach of ordinary men. Phy.sicians now began to be held in admiration, as persons who were .something more than hu- man. And profit attended their employ, as well as honor. vSo that they had now two weighty reasons for keeping the bulk of mankind at a di.stance, that they might not pr>- into the my.steries of their profes.sion. To this end they increa.sed those difficulties by design, which were in a manner by ac- cident. They filled their writings with abundance of tech- nical terms, utterly unintelligible to plain men. Tho.se who understood only how to restore the sick to health, they branded with the name of Empirics. They in- troduced into practice abundance of compound medicines, consisting of so many ingredients that it was scarce possible for common people to know which it was that wrought a cure; abundance of exotics, neither the nature nor names qf which their own countrymen understood." "The history of the art of medicine in all ages," says Dr. Blane, " so teems with the fanciful influence of supersti- tious ob.servances, the imaginary virtues of medicines, with nugatory, delusive, inefficient, and capricious practices, fal- lacious and sophistical reasonings, as to render it little more than a chaos of error, a tissue of deceit unworthy of adniis- .sion among the useful arts and liberal pursuits of man." /!07'.L\/C /-.lAf/f.y /'HYS/C/.LX. 89 DESCRIPTION OF THE VEGETABLE MEDICINE USED iN MY SYS- TEM OF PRACTICE. In describing those vegetables which I make use of in removing disease and restoring the health of the patient, agreeably to my system of practice, I shall mention those only which I have found most useful by a long series of practical knowledge; and in the use of which I have been successful in effecting the desired object. A much greater number of articles in the vegetable kingdom that are u.seful as medicine might have been described and their medical virtues pointed out, if I had thought it would be Ijeneficial; in fact, I am confident there are very few vegetable produc- tions of our coinitry that I have not a tolerable good knowl- edge of, it having been my principal study for al)ove thirty years; but to undertake to describe them all would be useless and unprofitable to my readers, and could lead to no good result. The plan that I have adopted in describing such ar- ticles as I have thought necessary to mention, and giving di- rections how to prepare and administer them, is to cla.ss them under the numljers which form my system of practice; this was thought to be the best way to give a correct and full un- derstanding of the whole subject. Each number is calcu- lated 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 objects will be described as appli- cable to the number under which it is classed. The three first are used to remove disease and the others as re.storatives. There are a number of preparations and compounds that I have made use of and found good in cixring various com- plaints; the directions for making them, and a description of the articles of which they are compcsed, 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 oi, the manner of treating some of the most import- ant cases of disease which have come under mv care. '. ■!■ i^JSI*^v~:S-J 4(1 AA/r (;(7/)f- TO in:.ii/ni: oh\ No. ■.— To cleanse the Stomach, overpower the Cold, and pro- mote a Free Perspiration. EMETIC HERB. LOBELIA INFLATA OF UN/EUS. In givitiK a description of this valuable herb, I shall be more particular, because it is the most important article made use of in my system of practice, without which it would be incomplete, and themedical virtues of which, and the admin- istering it in curing disease, I claim as my own discover)'. The first knowledge I ever had of it was obtained by acci- dent more than forty years ago, and never had any informa- tion whatever concerning it, except what I have gained by my own experience. A great deal has been said of late about this plant, both in favor and against its utility as a medi- cine: but all that the faculty have .said or published concern- ing it only shows their ignorance on the subject; for there is very little uth in what they have stated concerning its med- ical properties, except wherein they have ad;nitted it to be a certain cure for theasthma, one of the most distressing com- plaints that human nature is subject to. It is a truth which cannot be disputed by any one, 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 di.sease it must be poison. This I think can be very satisfactorily accounted for; they have no knowledge of anything in all their medical science which is capable of producing a powerful effect upon the human sys- tem, except what is poisonous, and therefore naturally form their opinions agreeably to this erroneous theorj-. There is a povi'er to produce life, and a power to produce death, which are of course directly opposed to each other; and whatever tends to promote life cannot cause death, let its power be ever so great. In this consists all the difference between my HOT. i.\/c /■: /J///. ) / '// ) s/( ■/. i.v. A\ system of practice and that of the learned doctors. In con- sequence 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 ni\ practice, they raised a hue-and-cry about my killing my pa- tients by administering it to them. Some of the faculty even made oath that it was poison, and when taken into the stom- ach, if it did not cause immediate vomiting, it was certain death. It is unnecessary for me now to point out the falsity of this, for the fact is pretty well known that there is no death in it; but, on the contrary, that there is no vegetable that the earth produces more harmless in its effects on the human system, and none more powerful in removing disea.se and promoting health. There is no mention made of this herb by any author, that I have been able to find, previous to my discovering it, excepting by Linaeus, who has given a correct description of it under the name of Lobelia Inflata: but there is nothing .said of its medical properties; it is therefore reasonable to conclude that they were not known till I discovered it, and proved it to be u.seful. When the facult\ first made the dis- covery that I used the Emetic Herb in m\- practice, they de- clared it to be a deadly poi.son ; and while persecuting me by every means in their power, and representing to the world that I killed my patients with it, the\- were \ery read\- to call it my medicine, and allow it tt) be my own discovery; but since their ignorance of it has been exposed, and they find it is going to become an article of great value, an attempt seems to be making to rob me of all the credit for causing its value to be known, and the profits which belong to me for the dis- covery. In which some who have been instructed bj- me are ready to join, for the purpose of promoting their own interest at my expense. Dr. Thacher, in his Dispensatory, has undertaken to give an account of this herb; but is very erroneous, except in the description of it, which is nearly correct. It appears that all the knowledge he has on the subject as to its virtues, is borrowed from others, and is probablj- derived from the rid- iculous ideas entertained of its power by those doctors who ' li i I' ^ I* ^1 I ii M'lw inini: TO niiALTH; oK\ knew nothing about it, except what they gained by my making use of it. as has been before stated. As to its being danger- ous toadmini.ster it. and that if it does not puke it frequently destroys the patient, and sometimes in five or .six hours; and that even horses and cattle have lieen suppo.sed to be killed by eating it accidentally, is as absurd as it is untrue, and only proves their ignorance of the article. He tells a melan- choly story about the Lolielia Inflata being administered by the adventurous hand of a noted empiric, who, he says, fre- (juently administered it in a dose of a teaspoonful of the pow- dered leaves, and often repeated; which, he says, furnishes alarming examples of its deleterious properties and fatal ef- fects. This, there is no doubt, alludes to me, and took its rise from the false statements circulated about me at the time of my trial, to prejudice the public again.st my practice. It is true the dose that I usually prescribe is a teaspoonful of the powder: but that it ever produced atn- fatal effect is altogether incorrect, and is well known to be so by all who have any correct knowledge on the subject. What is quoted in the Dispensatorj-, from the Rev. Dr. M. Cutler, concerning this herb, is, in general, correct, particu- larly as it regards its being a .specific for the asthma: though he 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 an emetic, and then as a ca- thartic, its effects being much the .same as those of the com- mon emetics and cathartics. ' ' In this he is mistaken, for it is entirely different from any other emetic 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 above twenty years, and administering it in every- form and man- ner that it can 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 disease, particularly in the asthma, was obtained from me; for when I was prosecuted, I was obliged to expose my discoveries to show the falsity of the indictment. Dr. Cut- ler was brought forward as a witness at my trial, to prove I nOr.lMC lAMII.Y PHYSICIAN. »:t the virtues of this plant by his evidence that he cured him- self of the asthma with it. He says the first information he had of its being good for that complaint was from Dr. Drur>-, of Marblehead. In the fall of the year, 1807, I introduced the u.se of the Emetic Herl), tinctured in spirit, for the asth- ma and 6ther complaints of the hr ifs, and cured several of the con.sumption. In 1808, I cure a woman in Newington of the asthma, who had not laid iti her bed for six months. I gathered .some of the young plants not bigger than a dol- lar, brui.sed them, and tinctured them in spirits, gave her the tincture, and she lay in bed the first night. I showed her what it was, and how to prepare and use it, and by taking this and otlier things according to my direction, she has en- joyed a comfortable .state of health for twelve years, and has never been obliged to sit up one night since. The same fall I used it in Beverly and Salem; and there can be no doubt but all the information concerning the vafue of this article was obtained from ray practice. After Dr. Cutler had given his testimony of the virtues of this herb, and the doctors having become convinced of its value, they come forward and .say it is good medicine in skil- ful hands. Who, I would ask, is more skilful than he who discovered it, and taught them how to prepare and use it in curing one of the most distressing complaints known? If it is a good medicine, it is mine, and I am entitled to the credit of introducing it into use, and have paid dear for it; if it is poison, the doctors do not need it, as they have enough of that now. Dr. Thacher undertakes to make it appear that the fatal effects he tells about its producing, were owing to the quantity given; and says I administered a teaspoonful of the powder; and when he comes to give directions for using it, says that from ten to twenty grains may be given with safe- ty. It appears strange that different terms should produce .such different effects in the operation of medicine. If a tea- spoonful is given by an :mpiric, its effects are fatal; but if the same quantity is administered by a learned doctor, and called grains, it is a useful medicine. This herb is described in Thacher's Dispensatory under the names of Lobelia Inflata, Lobelia Emetica. Emetic Weed. 1, ; 1 i' r! - J III -''\ \ «ft^-*j:ip-"%^.A" ■;; I 44 xj: If (.1 //>/■: TO //A. //.///, i)h\ ami Indian Tobacco; and several other names have l)een giv- en it, some by way of ridicule, and others for the purpose of creating p. prejudice against it; all of which has so confound- ed it with other articles that there is a difficulty in ascertain- ing what they mean to describe. I have been informed that theie is a poisonous root grows in the Southern vStates calletl Lobelia, which has been used as a medicine; the calling this heib by that name has probably been one reason of its be- nig thought to be poison. Why it has had the name of In- dian Tobacco given it. I know not; there is a plant that is called by that name, which grows in this country, but it is entirely different from this herb, both in appearance and med- ical virtues. In the United vStates Phannacopoeia, there are directions given for preparing the tincture of Indian Tobac- co; whether they mean this herb or the plant that has been always called by that name, does not appear; but it is prob- able they mean the Kmetic Herb, and that all the knowl- edge they have of it is from Dr. Cutler's description. It is said by Thacher that it was employed by the aborigines and by those who deal in Indian remedies: and others who are attempting to rob me of the di.scoverj- affect to believe the same thing; but this is founded altogether upon conject- ure, for thej- cannot produce a single instance of its having been employed as a medicine till I made use of it. The fact is, it is a new article, wholly unknown to the medical fac- ulty till I introduced it into u.se, and the be.st evidence of this is that they are now ignorant of its powers; and all the knowledge they have of it has been obtained from my prac- tice. It would be folly for me to undertake to .say but that it may have lieen u.sed by the natives of this 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 the ground, in a round form, like a ro.se pre.s.sed flat, in order to bear the weight of snow which lies on it during the win- ter, and is subject to be winter-killed, like wheat. In the I /.•<)/:i.\/(. /-.ij///,) /•//i.\7(/.i.\. 1.-, spriiiK it looks yellow and pale, like other things suffering from wet atul cold; but when the returning sun spreads forth its enlivening rays upon it, it lifts up its leaves and shoots forth a stalk to the 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 blos- soms, which are followed b.\ small pods al)out the size of a white bean, containing numerous very small seeds. This pod is an exact re.semblance of the human stonuich, having an inlet and outlet higher than the middle; from the inlet it receives nourishment, and by the outlet discharges the seeds. It comes to maturity alxnit the first of vSeptember. when the leaves and pods turn a little yellow; this is the Ixjst time to gather it. It is what is called by botanists a biennial plant, or of only two years' existence. This plant is conunon in all parts of this country. Wher- ever the land is fertile enough to yield support for its inhab- itants it may be found. It is confined to no soil which is fit for cultivation, from the highest mountains to the lowe.st valleys. In hot and wet .seasons it is most plenty on dry and warm lands; in hot and dry sea.sons on clayey and heavy lands. When the .season is cold, either wet or dry, it rarely makes its appearance; and if the summer and fall are very dry the seed does not come up, and of course there will be very little to be found the next season. I have been in search of this herb from Boston to Canada, and was not able to collect more than two pounds; and in some .seasons I have not been able to collect any. I mention this to .show the uncertainty of its growth, and to put the people on their guard to be care- ful and lay up a good stock of it when plenty. In the year 1807, if I had ofTered a reward of one thousand dollars for a pound of this herb, I should not have been able to have ob- tained it. I have seen the time that I would have given two dollars for an ounce of the powder, but there was none to be had; which necessity taught me to lay up all I could obtain when it was plenty. In seasons when this herb is plenty, it may be found growing in highways and pastures; by the .side of old turn- pikes, and to stubble land, particularly where it has been |!l- ! 1 -I m \/: II (.///)/: /(> hi:. 1 1. Til: OK\ laid dowji in grass the year Inifore: when jjrass is starce, it is eaten by cattle, and is hard to l)e fonnd when fnll grown. It is a wild plant, and a native of this country; hut there is no doubt of its l)eing common to other countries. It may be transplanted and cultivated in gardens, and will l)e much larger and more vigorous than when growing wild. If .some stalks are left, it will sow itself, and probably may be pro- duced from the seed; but how long the seeds remain in the ground before tliey come up, I do not know, never having made any experiments to ascertain the fact. It is certain that it is produced from the seed, and there is no gotnl reason to suppcse that it may not be cultivated in gardens from the seed as well as other vegetables. I think it most probable, however, from the nature of the plant, that it will not come up till the .seeds have laid at least one winter in the ground. This plant is different in one very importdit particular from all others that I have a knowledge of, that the same quantity will produce the same effect in all stages of its growth, from its first appearance till it comes to maturity; but the Ijcst time for gathering it. as has before been men- tioned, is when the leaves and pods begin to turn yellow, for then the .seed is ripe, and you have all there can be of it. It .should then be cut and kept clean, and spread in a large chamber or loft to dry, wl'ere it is open to the air in the day time, and to be shut froii the damp air during the night. When perfectly dry, shake oiit the seed and sift it through a common meal sieve, and preserve it by itself; then beat off the leaves and pods from the stalks, and preserve them clean. This herb may be prepared for use in three different ways: vi/: I St. The powdered leaves and pods. 2d. A tincture made from the green herb with spirit. 3d. The seeds re- duced to a fine powder and compounded with Nos. 2 and 6. I . After the leaves and pods are .separated from tlie stalks, pound or grind thera 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 different ways, either by itself or compounded with other ar- ticles. For a common dose, take a teaspoonful of this pow- der with the .same quantity of sugar in half a teacupful of 1 /u>T.i.\n /-.i.u/i.y r/nsic/.(.\. 47 warm water, or a tea t)f No. 3 may he u.sed instead of tht- water; this dose may lie taken all at one time, or at three times, at intervals often inimites, For a young child, strain off the li(|uorand give a part, as circiin:.,'iances shall require. There is but one way in whicu this herb can Ix- prepared that it will refuse its services, and that is when boiled or .scalded: it is therefore important to liear in mind that there must never be anything put to it warmer than a blmxl heat. 2. To prepare the tincture, take the greeii herb in any stage 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 spirits; when well pounded and worked together, .strain it through a fine cloth, and .squeeze and i)re.ss it hard to get out all the juice; save the liquor in bottles, close stopped, for u.se. Good vinegar or pepper-sauce may l)e used in.stead of the .spirit. Prepared in this manner, it is an effectual counter-|)oison, either taken, or externally applied. It is al.so an excellent medicine for the a.sthma, and all complaints of the lungs. This is the only way in which the drx'tors have made use of the Kmetic Herb; and they acknowledge 't to be one of the l)e.st remedies in many complaints that have l)een found, though they know but little about it. For a dose, take from half to a teaspoon- ful. Its effects will be more certain if alxjut the sanie quan- tity of No. 2 is added, and in all cases where there are nerv- ous symptoms, add half a teaspoojiful of nerve powder, Um- bil, to the dose. 3. Reduce the seeds to a fine jx)wdcr 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 clo.se stopped in a bottle for use; when taken, to be well shaken together. This preparatio'.i is for the mo.st violent attacks of disease, such as lockjaw, bite of mad dog, drowned persons, fits, spasms, and in all cases of suspended animation, where the vital .spark is nearly extinct. It will go through the system like electricity, giving heat and life to everj- part. In cases where the spasms are so violent that they are stiJBf, and the jaws become set, by pouring some of this liquid into ..._„_.J !' IX ■ si:\\ CI iDi.ro niiAi.rii: ON, the iiKiuth hftwceii the check and U-ctli, assoou as it touches the Kliiiuls at thi' nM)ts of tlif tongue the spasms will relax, and the jaws will liecome loosened so that the mouth will o|x:n: then ^ive a dose of it, and as soon as the spasms have abated, repeat it. and afterwards ^ive a ten of No. 3, for canker. This course I never knew fail of Kiviti),' relief. It is j>;ood in less violent cases, to hrin^ out the measles and smallpox, and if ai)plied to pimples, warts, etc.. will remove them. I have cured three dogs with this prepanition, who were under the most violent syuiDtoms of hydrophobia; one of my agents cured a man with it v ho had lieen bitten by a mad dog; and I have not the least doubt of its being a spe- cific for that disease. For a dose, take a tea.s|)o()nful. Much has been said of the power of the lunetic Herb, and some have expr^s.sed fears of it on that account; but I can as.sure the public that there is not the least danger in using it; I have given it to children from one day old to persons of eighty years. It is most powerful in removing disease, but intuxrent (m nature. Its operation in different iktsous is ac- cording to their different temi)ers. moving with the natural current of the animal spirits. There are two cases where this medicine will not operate, viz. : when the patient is dying, and where there is no death; or in other words, when there is no di.sease. There can be no war where there is no enemy. When there is no cold in the body there is nothing to con- tend against, and when there is no heat in the body there is nothing to kindle; in either case, therefore, this medicine is si- lent and harmless. It is calculated to remove the cause and no more, as food removes hunger, and drink thirst. It clears all obstructions to the extremities, without regard to names of di.sease, until it produces an equilibrium in the system, and will be felt in the fingers and toes, producing a prickling feeling like that caused by a knock of the elljow; this symp- tom is alarming to those unacquainted with its operation; but is always favorable, being a certain indication of the turn of the disorder, and they generally gain from that time. In regard to the quantity to be given as a do.se, it is mat- ter of less consequence than is generally imagined. The mo.st important thing is to give enough to produce the de- i I ; i /.'(>/. I \/( I wni. Y I'll) sin. I \. 411 sirwl elTfit. If t«M> little is KJveii. it will worry tht patient, mid (In little k">'«1; il inote is niveii than what is iieeessary, the suriilus will l)e thrown oflf, and is a waste of nie will he to ^ive the smallest pre scribed dose first, then repeat it till it produce the wished operation. In cases where the stomach is cold and very ftml. its operation will he slow and uncertain: in which case give No. J, which will assist it in doiiijr its work. See also under general directions in curing or i)revcuting disease. When this medicine is given to patients that are in a de- cline, or are laboring under a disease of long standing, the syniploms indicating a crisis will not take i)lace till they have been carried through from three to eight courses of the med- icine; and the lower they have been the more alarming will be the symptoms. I Inve seen some wlio would lie and sol) like a child wheen punished, 'or two hours, not able to speak or to raise their hand to their head; and the next day be abcmt, and soon get well. In cases where they have taken con.siderableopiuu!, and this medicine is adi'iiui.itcrcd, it will in its operation jiroduce the same appearances anc' symptoms that are produced by opium when first given, which, having laid dormant, is nmsed into action by the enlivening qualities of this medicine, and they will be thrown into a sen.seless state: the whole .sy.stem will i)e one complete ma.ss of confusion, tumbling in every direction: will take two or three to hold them on the bed; they grow cold as though d\- ing, remaining in this way from two to eight hours, and then awake, like one from sleep after a good night's rest, be en- tirely calm and sensible, as though nothing had ailed them. It is seldom they ever have more than one of tliese 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 ver>' alarming to tho.se 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 di.sea.se. i«fB*j«ff»vW(W5*'^™"f^*»'^**^J!»*»'-SK=fi>«t**«T:"fi»S^ 30 '* .\/:\r (.r //)/■: n) healtji: on. Tlie Emetic Herb is of great value in preventing sickness as well as curing it. B\- taking a dose when first attacked by any complaint it will throw it off, and frequently prevent long sickness. It not only acts as an emetic, and throws off the stomach everything that nature does not require for sup- port of the system, but extends its effects to every part of the body. It is searchitig, enlivening, (juickening, and has a great power in removing all obstructions; but it soon ex- hausts itself, and if not followed by some other medicine to hold the vital heat till nature is able to support itself by di- gesting the food, it will not be sufficient to remove a disea.se that has become .seated. To effect this important object put me to much trou!)le, and after trying man>- experiments to get .something that would answer the purpo.se, I found that what is described under No. 2 was the best and only medi- cine I have a knowledge of that would hold the heat in the .stomach and not evaporate; and by giving No. 3 to remove the canker, which is the great cause ofdisea.se, and then fol- lowing with Nos. 4 and 5 to correct the bile, restore the di- gestion, and strengthen the system, I have had little trouble in effecting a cure. For directions for preparing, etc. , see further on in this work. m- is brought from Demarara and Jamaica. It also g'ows in other parts of the world. I once bought one hundred pounds of it in the pod, ^n\ inrj'. \.\ii ■ /■: \mii. ) ■ /r.l.\/C /■.I.U//.)- /'//iS/C/.lX. .-.:: of pepper that was dried, which I put itito the bottle; this made it very hot. On my way home, was taken unwell, and was (juite cold. I took a swallow from the bottle, which caased violent pain for a few minutes, when it produced per- spiration, and I soon grew easy. I afterwards tried it and found that after it had expelled the cold, it would not cause pain. Krom these experiments I liecame convinced that this kind of pepper was much stronger, and would be better for medical u.se than the conunon red pepper. Soon after this I was again in Newburyport, and made inquiry, and found some cayenne, but it was prepared with salt for table use, which injured it for medical purposes. I tried it by ta.sting. and selected that which had the least .salt in it. I afterwards made use of this article and found it to answer all the purpo.ses wished, and was the very thing I had long been in search of. The next year I went to Portsmouth, and made inquiries r; --crn-ng cayenne, and from those who dealt in the anira ' ' -arned that it was brought to this country from Denr i nd Jamaica, prepared only for table use, and that salt ..^.^ put with it to preserve it and make it more palatable. I became acquainted with a French gentle- man who had a brother in Demarara, and made arrange- ments with him to send to his brother and request 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 conse- quence of which large quantities were imported into Ports- mouth, 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 sent to Baston. The consequence was that the price was so much reduced that it would not bring the first co.st, which put a stop to its being imported, and it has .since bean verj' .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 ! : \ .-)4 .\7:ir (,///)/■: ro iii:.\i/rn: oh\ the stomach and hmgs as bad as vitriol. The people gen- erally, however, became convinced by using it that all the doctors said about it was false, and it only proved their ig- norance of its medicinal virtues and their malignity towards me. It soon came into general use. and the knowledge of its being useful in curing di.sease was spread all through the country. I made u.se of it in curing the spotted fever, and where it was known, it was the only thing depended on for that disease. I have made use of cayenne in all kinds of disease, and have 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 powerful .stimulant known; its power is entirely congenial to nature, being powerful only in raising and maintaining that heat on which life depends. It is ex- tremely pungent, and when taken sets the mouth as it were on fire; this lasts, however, but a few minutes, and I consid- er it essentially a benefit, for its effects on the glands causes the saliva to flow freely and leaves the mouth clean and moist. The only preparation necessary is to have it ground or pounded to a fine powder. For a do.se, from half to a tea- spoonful may be taken in hot water sweetened, or the same quantity may be mixed with either of the other numbers when taken. 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 digesture. One spoonful of this preparation may be taken to good advantage, and will remove faint, sinking feelings, which some are subject to, e.specially in the spring of the year. Pepper-sauce is good for the same purpose. A tea- spoonful of cayenne pepper 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 small quan- i;^ /i()7\i.\/c F.LU/f.y /'//y.s/r/.ix. .-,.-, tity ill fine cloth, and put it hetweeii the cheek and teeth, on the side that is affected, sittinj? l)y the fire coxered 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 principal!)- r.iade use of for pickling: for which ]Hirpo.se the ixxls are gathered when green, and pre- served in vinegar. It is of the .same nature as cayeinie ])epper, but not so .strong; and is the best substitute for that article of anything I have ever found. For medical u.se they should not be gathered till ripe, when they are of a bright red color; should lie reduced to a fine powder, and may be used in.stead of ca>enne, when that article cannot be obtained. GINGER. This is a root which is brought from foreign countries, and is too well known to need any furtlier de.scription. It is a very good article, having a warniing and agreeable effect on the stomach. It is a powerful stimulant, and is not volatile like many other hot articles; and is the next be.st thing to raise the inward heat and promote perspiration; and may be u.sed with good success for that ])urpose, as a sub- stitute for cayeime, when that or the red peppers cannot Ix- had. It is .sold in the .sliops ground, but is sometimes mixed with the other articles to increase the quantity, and is not .so .strong. The best wa\- is to get the roots and grind or pound them to a fine powder. The do.se must be regu- lated according to circumstances: if given to raise the internal heat and cause perspiration, it nuistlie repeated till it has the desired effect. It makes a goo;.^,<.;i>?-**i.a.itEai%!fcS^^^_^ mt w-; // • (.1 •[/)/■: to hi:, ii. rii: or. case. It mav be taken 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 foregoing articles when they are not to be had, and may l)e prepared and administered in the .same manner. These four that I have mentioned are all the articles that I have been able to find that would hold the heat of the body for any length of time; all the others that I have tried are so volatile that they do little good. See under directions for preparing and using vegetable medicine. No. 3.— To scour the Stomach and Bowels, and remove the Canker. Under this head I shall describe such vegetable produc- tions as are good for canker, and which I have found to be best in removing the thrush from the throat, stomach and bowels cau.sed by cold, and there will be more or less of it in all cases of di.sease ; for when cold gets the power over the inward heat, the stomach and bowels become coated with canker, which prevents those numerous little vessels calcu- lated to nourish the sy.stem from performing their duty. A cure, therefore, 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 only such as I have found to be the best. Sev- eral things that are used for canker are too binding, and do more hurt than good, as they cau,se obstructions. I have adopted a rule to a.scertain what is good for canker, which I have found very useful, and shall here give it as a guide for others; that is, to chew some of the article, and if it causes the saliva to flow freely, and leaves the mouth cleai moist, it is good; but, on the other hand, if it dries up th juices, and leaves the mouth rough and dr>% it is bad, an( should be a\-oided. 11 nor.ixic hWMii.v rffvs/c/.ix. BAYBERRY. OR CANDLEBERRY A7 This is a species of the myrtle, from which wax is ol)- tained from the berries, and }j;r()ws common in many parts of this country. It is a shrub growing from two to four feet high, and is easil\- known 1)>- the iK'rries vvhidi it produces ainiually, containing wax in abundance. The.se grow cm the branches clcse to them, similar to the juniper. The leaves are of a deep green. The bark of the roots is what is used for medicine, and should be collected in the spring, before it puts forth its leaves, or in the fall, after done growing, as then the .sap is in the roots: this should be attended to in gathering all kind'- of medicinal roots; but those things that the tops are u.sed should be collected in the summer when nearly full grown, as then the .sap is in the top. The roots should be dug and cleaned from the dirt, and pounded with a mallet or club, when the bark is easily separated from the stalk, and may be obtained with little trouble. It should be dried in a chamber or loft, where it is not exposed to the weather; and, when perfectly dry, should be ground or pound- ed to a fine powder. It is an excellent medicine, either taken by itself or compoiuided with other articles; and is the best thing for catiker of any article I have ever found. It is highly stimulating and very pungent, pricking the glands and causing the .saliva and other juices to flow freely. Is good used as tooth powder, clean.ses the teeth and gums, and removes the scurvy. Taken as snuff, it clears the head and relieves the headache. It may be given to advantage in a relax, and all disorders of the bowels. When the stomach i.s very foul, it will frequently operate as an emetic. For a dose, take a teaspoonful in hot water, sweetened. ;» ■ .1 ii WHITE POND LILY.— The Root. This is well known from the beautiful flower which it bears, opening only to the sun, and closing again at night. It grows in fresh-water ponds, and is common in all parts of this country where I have l)een. The best time to gather it is in the fall of the year, when dry, and the water in the fa 11.11 ■)« x/iir a //)/■: ro ///■:. t/.r//. oa; |M)ii(Is low, as it 111 ly thtii he ohtnined with little difficulty. It has larjfc r(X)ts, which should I)t duK, washed cleau, split into strips, and dried, as has been directed for the bayberry root l)ark. When perfectly dry, it shouUl be pounded in a mortar, and preserved for use. This article is a very j'-ood medicine for canker, and all complaints of the bowels, gucn in a tea alone, or mixed with other articles. HEMLOCK-The Inner Bark. This is the common hemlock tree, and grows in all parts of New Knglaiid. 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 rind; dr>' it carefully, and pound or grind it to a powder. A tea made by putting boil- ing water to this bark is a good medicine for canker, and many other complaints. The first of my using hemlock bark as medicine was in 1814. Being in want of .something for canker, I tried some of it by chewing, and found it to answer, and made use of it to gootl advantage. Since then, have Ijeen 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 u.sed for drink in all cases of sickness, especially when going through a course of medi- cine and steaming. This, with bayberry bark and the lily root, forms No. 3, or what has been commonly called coflFee, though man>- other things may be added, or either of them may be used to advantage alone. The boughs, made into a tea, are very good for gravel and other ob.structions of the urinary pas.sages, and for rheumatism. MARSH ROSEMARY— The Root. This article is very well known in all parts of this coun- try, and has been made u.se of for canker and sore mouth. I have made use of it with bayberry bark as No. 3, in my practice for many years with good success; but after find- ing that the lily root and hemlock bark were better, have m __T_ //(>/•. i\/( • /•: \.\iii. y I'liisni. /.v. v.t mostly laid it aside. It is so binding in its nature that it is not safe to use it without a large proportion of bayl)erry bark. SUMACH— The Bark, Leaves and Berries. This appears to be a new article in medicine, entirely un- known to the medical faculty, as no mention is made of it b\ any author. The first of my knowledge that it was good for canker was when at Onirn River, in 1807, attending the dys- entery. Being in wan 'methingtoclear the .stomach and bowels in that complaint, found that the bark, leaves orl)er ries answered the purpose extremely well, and I'ave made much u.se of it ever since. It is well known, ai;.l is found in all parts of the country; some of it grows from eight to twelve feet high, and has large .spreading branches; the berries grow in l^rge bunches, and when ripe are a deep red color, of a pleasant .sour taste; and are used by the country people to dye with. The leaves and young .sprouts are made use of in tanning morocco leather. For medicine, the bark slumld be peeled when full of .sap, the leaves when full grown, and the berries when ripe; they should be carefully dried, and when used as part of No. 3 .should be pounded, and may be used altogether, or either separate. A tea made of either or altogether is very good, and may be given with safety in al- most all complaints, or put into the injections. It will scour the stomach and bowels, and is good for .strangury , as it promotes urine and relieves difficulties in the kidneys by re- moving obstructions and strengthening those parts. I have been in the habit of late years of making use of this article with bayberry bark and lily root, or hemlock bark, equal parts, for No. 3, or coffee, and it has always answered a good purpo.se. WITCH-HAZEL-The Leaves. I found the use of this article as medicine when I was quite young, and have made much use of it in all my prac- tice. It is too well known in the country to need any de- .scription; is a small tree or bush, and grows very common, especially in new land. A tea made of the leaves is an ex- cellent medicine in many complaints, and may be freely u.sed ■ku -I * < a ^m:": Ml A/.;/ (; I //)/■: lo iii u. ///. ok. to lulvantajje. It is the best tiling for hlecdii)^ at tlie stom- ach of any article I have ever found, either by K'viiiK a tea made of the dry leaves, or chewing them wlu-ti Kreeii: have cure{ood for the piles, and many com]>laints common to females; and in l)ear- iuK-down pains it will afford innnediate relief, if proiierly ad ministered. Tlie.se leaves may be used in No. .< to good ad- vantage, as a substitute for either of the other articles, or alone for the same purpo.se. RED RASPBERRY- The Leaves. This is an excellent article, and I l>elieve was never made use of as medicine till discovered by mc. When at Kastport, I had no article with me good for canker, and resorted to m>' old rule of tasting, and found that these leaves were good for that complaint; made into a strong tea, it answered every purpose wi.shed. I gathered a large quantity of the leaves, and dried them, and have been in constant use of it as a medicine ever since, and have found it an excellent article, l)oth for canker and many other complaints; for relax and other bowel complaints of children, it is the liest thing that I have found; by giving the tea and using it in the injections, it affords innnediate relief. A tea made of the leaves, sweet- ened, with milk in it, is very pleasant, and may be used freely. It is the liest thing for women in travail of any u.- ticle I know of. Give a strong tea of it, with a little of No. 2, sweetened, and it will regulate everything as nature re- quires. If the pains are untimely, it will make all quiet; if timely and lingering, give more No. 2 and Unibil in the tea. When the child is borti, 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 slipperj'-elm bark, is very good for burns or scalds; if the skin is off, by applying this poultice or wash- ■ ■ -'■•■••-i'--"- - imi. i.\/i • /•. /.I///. ) I'insu I. /.v. HI iiijj Willi the tea. it will harden ami stop smarting It may be used in Ni>. 3 as a substitute tor iither articles, or alone, to ^(Mjd efTeet. SQUAW-WEED Indian Name, Cocash. This is known in the country by the name ot" frost weed , or meadow scabish; it is a wild weed, and ^jrows in wetland, by the sides of briM)ks; it has a stalk that grows fom- or fi\e feet hij;h, which is rough and wooly, with a narrow leaf; and l)ears a blue blossom late in the fall, w hich remains till the frost kills it. The root lives thnmgh tlie winter, and in the spring juits forth a new stalk; the leaves at the bottcmi re- main green thnmgh the winter. The roots and to]) are used for medicine. It has a fragrant taste and .smell like lovage. It was the first thing I ever knew u.scd for canker, and was given to me when I had the cajiker-rash, being considered then the best article known for canker. I have frequently u.sed it for that complaint and found it very good. Take the green roots and leaves, brui.se them, and pour on hot water; give this tea sweetened. Ik may Ix; kept bv iulding a little spirit, and is good for rheumati.sm and nervous affections. It is perfectly harmless, and maybe u.sed freely. It makes a very good bitter, tinctured with hot water and spirit and is goor.l.\7t / . /.I///. ) /•//)>/( /. /.\ . DH .similar wliilc hhissums; wlitii Ihc stalk is Itinktii it dis charges a milky suhstaiuf: it has two Hiuall |h>(Is alM>ut thu size of thf i-ahhaKf seid |k»(h water flows over it; this differs some from the other in api)earance: the roots run deep in tlie>.iiid; it has leaves and IkmIs like the first, and both are K^>"'' 'or medicine. The hark of the root is used. The uhAs .should be duK and dried, and when perfectly dr>- may be pounded in a mortar, when the bark is ea.sil\- .separated from the womly part. Tliisroot is very bitter, and is one of the greatest correctors of the bile I know of, antl is an excellent medicine to remove costive ness, as it will cause the bowels to move in a natural man ner. A strong; decoction of this root, made by steeping it in hot water, if drank freely will operate as a cathartic, and sometimes as an emetic, and is most sure to throw off a fever in its first ^stages. It should be u.sed in all cases of costive- ness. GOLDEN SEAL, or OHIO KERCUMA. The Root. This article >i[rows only in the Western countrs . I am not well enough acquainted with the herb to gixe a descrip- tion of it; l)ut of the medicinal virtues of the root I have had a sufficient experience to recommend it as a very plea.sant bit- ter, and in cases where the food in the stomach of weak pa- tients causes distress, a teaspoonful of the powder given in hot water, sweetened, will give immediate relief. It is an ex- cellent corrector of the bile, and may be used for that pur po.se alone, or with the bitter root, or may Ix; compounded with either or all the articles described under this nundier, to restore the digestive powers. See under directions for ;.'.^e- paring and asing vegetable medicine. The purpo.se for which the articles described under this head are used is to regulate the .stomacli, so that the food 84 '' NliWCriDE TO HEALTH; Ol'!, taken into it may be properly digested; and I have men- tioned enough to enable those who make use of the practice to effect that object, if properly attended to. This is a ver\- important part of the system of practice, for unless the food is digested, it is impossible to keep up that heat upon which life depends. , _ lir , SI No. 5.— Syrup for the Dysentery, to Strengthen the Stomach and Bowels, and Restore Weak Patients. The articles used in this preparation are the bark of pop- lar and bay berry, which have been described, peach meats, or meats of cherry stones, sugar and brandy. PEACH MEATS. The meats that are in the peach stones have long been used as medicine, and need but little to be said about them, except that they are of great value to .strengthen the .stomach and bowels, and restore the digesture; for which purpose I have made much use of them, and always to good advantage. Made into a cordial, with other articles, in the manner as will be hereafter directed, form one of the be.st remedies I know of to recover the natural tone of the stomach after long sickness, and to restore weak patients, particularly in dysen- tery. A tea made of the leaves of the peach tree is very good for bowel complaints in children and young people, and will remove colic. CHERRY STONES. The meats of the wild cherry stones are very good, and may be u.sed instead of the peach meats, wlien they cannot be had. Get the.se stones as clean as possible, and when well dried, pound them in a mortar, and separate the meats from the stones, which is done with little trouble; take the .same quantity as is directed of the peach meats, and it will answer equally as well. A tea made of the cherries, pounded with the stones, and steeped in hot water sweetened with loaf su- gar, to which add a little brandy, is good to restore the di- gestive powers and create an appetite. ' /lor.i.y/c J\L\///.y /'j/)s/c/.i\. or, Bitter almonds may he used as a substitute for the peach meats or clierry stones, when they cannot lie liad. See under directions for preparing and usinj? vegetable medicine. No. 6 — Rheumatic Drops, to Remove Pain, Prevent 'Mortifica- tion, and Promote a Natural Heat. The principal articles used in this preparation are high wines, or fourth-proof brandy, gum myrrh and cayenne; for external application spirits of turpentine are added, and some- times gum camphor. The manner of preparing will be here- after given. GUM MYRRH. This is a gum obtained from a tree which grows in the East Indies, and is brought to this country and sold by the apothecaries for medicinal uses: there is nothing sold by them that po.sse.sses more u.seful and medicinal properties than this article, though the doctors seem to have but little knowledge of its virtues. All those whom I have heard ex- press an opinion upon it, consider it of very little value. When I obtained my patent. Dr. Thornton, the clerk of the Patent Office, said it wa.s good for nothing; all this, howev- er, does not lessen its value. The first knowledge I had of it was when I was laid up with my lame ankle at Onion River, as has been before related in my narrative. An old man from Canada, passing that way. and hearing of nix- case, called to .see me, and, observing the putrid state I was in, told my father that gum myrrh would be good foi me, as it was an excellent article to prevent mortification. He im- mediately obtained some of the tincture, and not having a .syringe, 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 himself and finding it a pleasant bitter. he gave me .some to take; by using it, there was a favorable alteration both in my bodily health and in the .state of m\- wound. After this I had great faith in this article, and was seldom without it. When I ca":c to have a family, I made much u.se of myrrh; it was one of the principal articles used in restoring my wife when given o\er by the midwife, as re- fl«t ■■' .\i:u(:iini:ronh:.\i.rii;Ok\ lated in my 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 Kiving the tincture when such symptoms appeared, it removed them. I used it at this time 1)y making a tincture with spirit; but after having a knowledge of cayenne, I put .some of tliis with it. which made it nutch 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 Ixid effects, particularly in .such as were .subject to hy.sterical af- fection. This was the origin of m\- rlieumatic drops, a prep- aration which has ])roved more generally useful than any one compound I make u.se of. In selecting myrrh for use, take that of a light brown color, .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 being used. SPIRIT OF TURPENTINE. Tliis article is too well known to need any description, be- ing used l)y 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 added to the rheumatic drops when used for the itch or other bad humors. It is a powerful article, and should be used with caution. GUM CAMPHOR. 1 shall .say but little about this article, as I never found any very great advantages from its use, though I never knew it to do any harm. It is made much use of, and I think there is more credit given to it than what it deserv^es. I have been in the habit of adding some of it to the rheumatic drops when used for bad .sprains, and in sucb ca.ses have found it useful; and I have no doubt but that it may be sometimes given to advantage to warm the stomach and relieve pain ; but there are other articles which I make use of for that purpose that are much better. .See under directions for preparing and using vegetable medicine. ' ^■^""""''-i'-nrffln-mT'-ir—iTr'm i />'()7.I.\/C F.l.h /'//)S/(/.IX. i>, NERVE POWDER. American Valerian, or Ladies' Slipper: sometimes called Umbil. or Male and Feinale Nervine. There are four species of this valuable vegetable, one male and three female. The male is called \ello\v umbil, and grows in swamps and wet land; has a large cluster of fibrous roots matted together, joined to a solid root, which puts forth se\- eral stalks that grow about two feet high; it has leaves some- thing resembling the poke leaf. The female kinds are dis- tinguished I)y the color of the blos.soms, which are red, red and white, and white. The red has but two leaxes, which grow (mt 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 blo.ssom of a \ery .singular form, that gives it tlie name of female umbil. This kind is foun.i on high ledges and in swamps. The red and white and white umbil grows only in swamps, and is in larger clusters of roots than the yellow, but in a .similar form; its topis similar to the red, except the color of the blo.s.som . , The yellow and red are the best for medicine; the roots should be dug in the fall when done growing, or in the spring, I^e- fore the top puts forth. If dug when growing, the roots will nearly all dr.\- up. When the roots are dug. they .should be wa.shed clean, carefully dried, and pounded or ground to a fine powder, .sifted through a fine sieve, and preserved from the air for- u.se. This powder is the best nervine known. I have made great use of it, and have always found it to produce the mo.st beneficial effects in all cases of nervous affection, and in hys- terical .symptoms: in fact, it would be difficult to get along with my practice in many ca.ses without this important arti- cle. It is perfectly hannless, and may be used in all ca.ses ofdi.sea.se with .safet\ , and is much better than opium, which is generally given in ca.ses of spasmodic affection, and which only deadens the feelings, and relieves pain only by destroy- ing sensibility without doing any good. It has been sup- po.sed b>- the doctors to be of a narcotic nature, but this is a mistake. The>- have drawn this conclusion, I suppo.se, from OH -^ .\i:\\ CI IDi: TO IIIIAI.TH: Oh\ its tendency to promote sleep, but this is altogether owing to its quieting the nerves, and leaving the patient at ease when nature requires sleep to recover the natyral tone of the sys- tem. Half a tea.spoonful may be given in hot water, sweet- ened, and the dose repeated if necessary; or the same quan. tity may be mixed with a do.se of either the other numbers, when given, and put into the injections, and where there are nervous symptoms it should never be di.spen.sed with. See under directions for ])reparing and u.sing vegetable medicine. I have thus far given a description of all the important vegetables made use of in my .system of practice, with the manner of preparing and using them. I .shall now proceed to describe a number of articles of less importance, all of which I have u.sed and found good in various complaints. Some of them form a part of my medical preparations, and many oth- ers may be used as substitutes for some that have been men- tioned. They are all of a warming nature, and may be used to advantage in throwing off disea.se in its first stages. SPEARMINT. This is a well-known herb, and makes a very pleasant tea, which may be freely u.sed in .sickness. The most valua- ble prop^ty it possesses is to stop vomiting. If the Emetic Herb or any other cause should produce violent \'omiting, by giving a .strong tea made of this herb it will .stop it, and sit plea.santly on llie .stomach. PEPPERMINT. This article is \ery hot in its nature, and may be u.sed to advantage to promote perspiration and overpower the cold. I have frequently used it for that purpo.se with .success, but it is volatile, and will not retain the heat long in the .stom- ach. In colds and slight attacks of disease, to drink freely of a tea made of this herb on going to bed will throw it off. The essence, put in warm water, is good to give children, and will relieve pain in the stomach and bowels. A few drops of the oil given in warm water, or on loaf sugar, are good for the same purpo.se. ; /.•(>/: i.\7( ■ /■-. I.I///. )■ /•//ys/( ■/. /.\-. ti'.i PENNYROYAL. - * . This lierb j^rows coniinou in all parts of the couiitn-, and is too well known to need any description. It is an article of great value in medicine, ar.d a tea of it may be freely used in all cases of sickness. It is jjjood for the stomach, being warming and cleansing: if drank freely, will produce jx-r- spiration and remove obstructions. In colds and slight at- tacks of disease, it w. be likely to thnw it off and prevent sickness. It is ver>- g xl for children, and will remove pain in the bowels and wind. In going through a course of med- cine, a tea of this herb may be given for drink, ntid will cau.se the medicine to have a plea.sant operation. SUMMER SAVORY. This herb grows in gardens, and is made use of to .season meats in cooking; it is of a very pleasant flavor and of a hot nature. A tea of it is good for colds, and may be u.sed freely in caseofsickne.ss. There is an oil made from this herb which will cure the toothache by putting a little on cotton wool, and applying it to the affected tooth. HOARHOUND. This plant grows conui. -n 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 loasen tough phlegiu, and remove hoarseness caused by a bad cold. The hoarhound candy is very useful for .such as are troubled with cough, particularly- old people and tho.se that are short-winded. ELECAMPANE. ^ The roo of this plant made into .syrup is good for a cough, and I nave made u.se of it for that purpose with ad- vantage in many cases, and can reconunend it as a .safe and useful remedy in comjilaints 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 l^UHMiJimx 70 .\/:u (:(//)/■: 7() ///■:. u.n/; o/s\ if used frt'ol} , and a hot stout* jnit to the feet, will in most cases throw it off. It jjrows coininoii in old fields, and by the sides of roads. WORMWOOD. This herb is a very wholesome bitter, and may be taken toadvantaji^e in diiTerenl ways. It is of a hot nature, and is jjood for the stomach to create an appetite and assi.st the - the swell- ing. CHAMOMILE. This is a well-known herb. The flowers are sold by the apothecaries and are made much use of in a tea for many complaints. It is got)d given in a tea for bowel com- plaints, and, externally applied, will relieve sprains, brui.ses, and sweUings, and remove callou.ses. corns, etc. , and restore shrunk sinews. BITTER-SWEET. This herb has long been e.steemed as a medicine of con- .siderable value for many complaints. It grows common in this country, in hedges where the ground is moist, and the top runs along the ground or climbs on bu.shes. Its taste when chewed is first bitter and then sweet, which has gi\-eu it its name. It is said to be a good medicine for internal in- juries and to remove obstructions, which I have no doubt is correct; but the only way I make use of it is for external ap- plication; the bark of the root with chamomile and worm- wood makes an ointment of great value, which is an excel- lent thing for a bruise, .sprain, callous, swelling or for corns. MULLEIN. The leaves of this plant are \ery good to bring down />'0/.l.\7(/\l.l///.)/'//}S/(7.l.\: 71 swelling and to restore eoiitracted sinews, by iMnniding them and applying them warm to the part affected. I'or external use they are an excellent article in many complaints. This herb is too well known to need any description. It is an important article in my .strengthening plaster. BURDOCK. The leaves of this plant, wilted by the fire and applied to an external injury, will allay the inflannnation and ea.se l)ain. and they are g(K)d pcmnded and put onto a bruise or sprain, as they will give immediate relief. It is made n.se of in the .strengthening plaster. The lea\-es are good applied to the feet in ca.se of fever, to keej) them moist and i)r()inote perspiration. SKUNK-CABBAGE. This vegetable grows common in all parts of New Ivng- land. It has large leaves something resembling cabbage, from which, and its di.sagreeable smell, it takes its name; il maybe found in the meadows and wet land. The root onl>- is used for medicine, and should be dug and split into strips and carefully dried; when dry it should be pounded or ground to a powder. This powder ma>' be taken in tea sweetened, or made into a syrup, or half a teaspoonfnl may be mixed in honey and taken in the morning; or at night when going to bed. It is good for a.sthma, ccmgh, difficulty of breathing, and all disorders of the lungs, and with other articles makes one of the be.st preparations for tlio.se complaints I have e\-er found. WAKE-ROBIN. This plant grows wild in this country. It has three tri- angular leaves. From between them it puts forth a naked stalk, on the top of which is a singular .stem or pi.s'til, en- clcsed in a sheath, resembling a flower, which is followed by a bunch of reddish berries. The root is used for medicine, and resembles a .small turnip. This root is extremely pung- ent and .stimulating, and is often given for colic and i)ain in the bowels, and to expel wind. I have mostly made use of it for cough and disorders of the lungs, for which I have found it a very useful article, and it forms part of my com- h:> II 79 ■'' XKii (,1 //)/■: /I) j//:.iLn/; ()h\ position for coughs. The root should be dried and reduced to a powder, and may he given mixed with hone> , or in a svrup. THOROUGHWORT. This lierb is well known in the countr>-, and is made use of by the people in tea for manj- complaints. It is of a warm- ing nature, and is good for cough and other complaints of the lungs. It is u.sed in my compound prepared for coughs. FEATHERFEW. This herb is stimulating and is good for hysteric com- plaints, a'ul many other disorders common to females. It promotes the passage of urine, and removes obstructions in those parts. It should be taken in tea alone, or may be added with chamomile, u'ld used to advantage in all cases of obstructions. CLIVERS. This is a sort of joint grass, and grows in mowing land, where the ground is wet. It has small leaves at each joint. The .stalk is four square and the edges are rough like a sickle. This herb, made into a .strong tea and drank freely, is very good for the .stoppage of urine, and may be made use of for all obstructions in tho.se parts to advantage. BLACK BIRCH BARK. A tea made of this bark is useful in curing all complaints of the bowels and to remove obstructions. I have made much use of it in dysentery. This tea, with peach meats or cherry- .stone meats, made into a .syrup, is an excellent article to re- store patients after having been reduced by that disease, and to promote the digesture. It is good for canker and all com- plaints of the bowels. EVAN ROOT. This is called by some people chocolate root, on account of its resembling that article in ta.ste, and is made u.se of by some for common drink instead of tea or coffee. It is good for canker, and may be used in No. 3 as a substitute for other articles. It grows common in this country, and is too well known to need de.scribing. ►t- /lOr.lA/C I-AM/Ll rHYSICI. I.V. "!l SLIPPERY ELM BARK. The inner bark of this tree is an article of much vahie, and niaj- be used to advantage in many different wajs. There are several species of tlie ehn that grow connnon in this country, and there are two kinds of the slippery ehn. In one the bark is rather hard and tough, and the other is very brittle; the latter is the be.st for medicinal uses. The bark should be peeled, the out.side ross shaved off, dried, and ground or pounded to a fine powder. If used internally, put a tea.spoonful of this powder into a teacup with as much .sugar, mix them well together, then add a little cold water and stir it until perfectly mixed, and then put hot water to it and stir till it forms a jelly thick enough to be eaten with a •Spoon. A teaspoonful may be taken at a time, and is an ex- cellent medicine to heal soreness in the throat, .stomach and bowels, cau.sed by canker; or more hot water niaj be put to it and made into a drink, and freely taken for the same pur- pose. I have made much use of this bark for poultices, and have in all cases found it a mo.st excellent article for that purpose. Mixed with pounded cracker and ginger it makes the best poultice I have ever found; for burns, scalds, felons, old sores, etc. , it is the best thing I have met with to allay the infianunation, ease the pain and heal them in a shori time. BALSAM FIR. T. balsam is obtained from a tree well known in many parts of 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 article in my healing .salve. When taken it may be dropped on loaf sugar. GENTIAN. This root grows wild in this country, and is found plen- tifully in Vermont. It was formerly collected for exporta- tion, and large quantities of it were sent to China, where it brought a great price. It is said the people of that countr\ considered it of great value, but for what purpose thej- use it, is, I believe, only known to themselves. It is a nervine, I '■ i ^gSl'JJ'JBfJ k 11 II- si' m Til 9 1 I "^ * .\7:u <.///)/■: /•<> ///:.!/. /•//■ oa. and iiia> hf used to advaiitajje in all cases of nervous afftc- tion, eitlKT aloni> or mixed with other articles. The root should \k- duK in the fall, dried and reduced to a fine powder; from lialf to a teaspoonful nia\ he j>;iven for a dose, in hot water, sweetened. SNAKEROOT. This is a well-known article, jj^rows wild, and may Iw found in most parts of this country. It is of a hot nature, and is made nuich use of in tea for mea.sles and other erup- tions to keep the disorder out, for which it is considered very Rood; this is owinjj to its warminj:^ (lualities, which keep the determining i)owers to the surface, which effect may he pro- duced by almost any .strong stimulant; but Xo. 2, or the composition powders, is nuich the best for that i)urpo.se. A tea made of this root may be given to advantage in many cm.ses of disea.se; it has a tendency to promote perspiration, and is got^l to remove pain in the .stomach and bowels, and expel wind. The roots, reduced to powder, may be mixed with gentian or umbil for all nenous complaints. MUSTARD. The .seed of this herb is principally made use of for cul- inary purposes, being eaten on meat, for which it is ground to a fine powder and mixed with warm water. It is very pungent and of a hot nature, but is volatile and will not hold the heat long enough to do much good in retaining the in- ternal heat. It is good to create an api)etite and a,s.sist the digesture, and given in hot water, sweetened, will remove pain in the bowels and stomach. It is frequently used for rheumatism, l)oth internally and externally, but Nos. 2 and 6 are much better for that purpose. HORSERADISH. » he root of this plant is mo.stly u.sed for culinar> pur- poses, and it has .some medicinal 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 digesture. The WSWi:' /;()■/. i.\/c i\ i.Mii. ) I'll » sn •/. ix. :r> leaves art- sonietiiiics applied U» remove extenjal pain, lail nn- apt tf) raise a blister. BALM OF GILEAD. Tills tret- is of the sj)eeies of the |H)|)lar, and possesses some medicinal virtues. It resembles the kind of poplar that has bt-eii described, ha\in); similar ta^s, but the buds and leaves are larger. The buds, bruised and tinctured in spirit, l)roduce an effect somethinji; like the tincture of myrrh, and are );(M)d taken inwardly as a restorative, and for bathing sores. The bark, scrajietl from the twigs and steeped in Imt water, is a good corrector of the bile, and will operate both a.s an emetic and cathartic; it is more harsh than the other kind of poplar, but may be used to advantage in many cases of disease. BUTTERNUT. This tree grows common in this country, antl is well known from the nut which it bears, ot an oblong shape and nearly as large as an egg, in which is a meat containing much oil, and vers- good to eat. The bark of this tree is used b\- the country people to color with. The bark taken from the body of the tree or roots, and boiled down till thick, ma.\- be made into pills, and operates as a i>owerful emetic and ca- thartic; a .syrup may be made by Iwiling the bark and add- ing one-third mola.s.ses and a little spirit, which is good to give children for worm complaints. The buds and twigs may also be u.sed for the same purpo.se, and are more mild. White-ash bark and balm of gilead may be added, e<|ual parts, and made into .syrup or pills. Tho.se who are fond of dra.stic purges may have their ends sufficiently answered by these preparations, and they are the most .safe and harmless of any that I know of; and tho.se who wi.sh to be tortured with blisters can have them cheap, by bruising the green shell of the nut, or the bark, and applying it where the bli.ster is wanted, keeping the bandage wet, and in three hours they will be completely 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 cau.se strangury. The bark of the butternut is the principal ingredient in Dr. Hawkes' i- If W"* .\/':u <;f //)/■:/() H/.u./f/. (^h\ rliLuniatic and cancer pills, and alsoofChanda-riain's hilious cordial, vvhicli have l)efn so celebrated for niany complaints. It is called by some people oilnut and lenum walnut. BLUE AND WHITE VERVINE. Tliis is a well-known herb, jfrowin^ very conmion; it ranks next to the Kinetic Herb for a puke, and may be used for that purixwe either alone or combined with thorouKhwort. It is K'ood to prevent a fever in its first .stages. This herb has been u.sed with considerable success in consumption, havin^i; cured several ca.ses where the dwtors had given them «)ver. It may be u.sed in a tea made of the dry herb, or prepared in powder like the Ivmetic Herb, PIPSISWAY. OR RHEUMATIC WEED. This herb grows on mountainous land, and on pine plains where the boxberry or checker- l)erry is found plenty. It is an evergreen, and grows from three to six inches high, has a number of dark green leaves alwut half an inch wide and from one to two inches long, with a .scolloped edge; bears several brown seeds resembling allspice. The tops and roots are u.sed for medicine. The roots when chewed are very- pungent, and will be felt for several hours on the tongue as though burnt. A strong tea made of this plant is good for cancers and all scrofulous humors, bj- drinking the tea and bathing with it the parts affected. Another evergreen plant, called wild lettuce, grows on the same kind of land, which pos.sesses much the same med- ical properties as the above. It ha,s round leaves from the size of a cent to that of a dollar, re.sembling a common let- tuce. The roots of this plant and of the pipsisway, dried and powdered together, equal parts, are good to cure all bad hu- mors. Take a tea.spoonful of the powder in a gla.ss of hot water, and bathe the parts affected with the same. It is also gfKKl to restore weak nerves. 60LDENR0D. This herb may be found common on pine plains and in hedges; it grows about two or three feet high, has a long 11^ i /.•()/:i.\/(/:i.i///.i/7ns/(7.i\. 77 luirrow leaf, very sniootli ami flossy, and a large cluster of yellow hlossoms; it has a sweet, spie\ taste and smell, re- seinhliiiK fennel or .inise. There i.s an oil obtained I'nmi this herb ^ood for medicine, and also prepared in essence is K(kmI for pain in the heud, to Ije taken, or the untside bathed with it. The oil is jjcmxI to scent the bayberrj and bitter- root snufT. which is very ^ood to be taken and snntTed U]) the nose. There are several herl)s that resemble this in aj)- pearance, but are very dilTerent in smell and taste. MEADOW FERN. This is a shrub and Rrowsin meadows and by the side of stagnant water, sometimes growing in the water: it is found in thick bunches, and grows fnnn two to three feet high. When the leaves are oflF it has a large bud, which is larger on some bushes than others; .some of them bear a small bjir, or cluster of .seeds, which, when rubbed between the fingers, leaves an oily or balsamy snb.stance, having a fragrant smell, .something like .spirits of turpentine. These burs, pounded fine and sinunered in cream, hog's lard or fresh butter, are almost a sovereign remed\- for the itch or external poison, and all l)ad humor sores. When the burs cannot be had, take the bu.sli and buds and make a strong decoction, drink of this and wash with the same. This liquor may be prepared in s>'rup, and by boiling it down may be made into ointment, as has been described for the burs; the syrup should be taken and the ointment put on the affected parts. This ointment, or the wash, is good for .salt- 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 brui.sed fine in a mortar and put in a pewter basin; add cream enough to make an ointment, keep it warm for twelve hours, but be care- ful not to scald it. Rub it on at night when going to bed. Three times using it will generally effect a cure. The fore- gf)ing described ointments, together with No. t,. and the 1 -wvn nn. ifiJi if ii |F''t! ' .«i 7« XAir (./ //>/■: TO llllAl.ril: Ok\ rliLUiuatic drops prepared with the spirits of turpentine, will he sufficient to cure any case of this complaint. PRICKLY ASH. This is a shrub or bush that grows in the Western coun- try, and is well known by the people there. It j^rows from eight to twelve feet high, and bears a berry that grows clo.st to the limbs; it has leaves like the white ash. The bark and the berries are used for medical purpo.ses. The lierries are very pungent, and are a powerful stimulant, as also the '>ark 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 times a day ; it is good for fever and ague, for which it is much u.sed, and for lethargy or .sleep- ine.ss.and for cold feet and hands, and other complaints cau.sed In cold. BITTER THISTLE. This herb is a species of the thistle, and is cultivated in gardens. It is of one year's growth, the seed being sown in the spring, and it comes to maturity in the fall. The stalk has a number of branches, and a great quantity of leaves. The leaf is .some larger than the Canada thistle, with prick- les like it, and it bears seeds about the size of the l)arley corn, with a beard on the end nearly as long as the seed. The leaves are used for medicine, which may be steeped in hot water, and drank like other herb tea, or they may be .re- duced to a powder and taken in molasses or warm water, or in wine or spirit. It is an excellent corrector of the bile, and may be safely u.sed for the purpose. The Cardis Bene- dictus, or beloved thistle, is cultivated in the .same manner, and may be used for the same purpo.se. ARCHANGEL. This herb grows wild in wet land, and may be often found among the grass, and at the edges of plough fields. It grows from four to twelve inches high ; the leaves are rather smaller than mint leaves; it bears a kind of bur containing seed, which grows round the .stalk at each joint. There are two a 1. /.'()■/: I. \7C l-AMII. Y'l'IIYSlCIAX. 79 kinds vvhicli grow near each other; the\- look very much alike, but are very diflferent in taste. One is very bitter and the other has no bitter taste, Init is very rough and of a bal- samic taste. They may be useil together in a tea or syrup, and answer two important purposes; the rough removes the canker and the bitter is a corrector of the bile. V>\ adding No. 2, the compound contains the three great ]irinciples of the healing art, viz: hot, rough and bitter. DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARING AND USING VEGETABLE MEDICINE. No. I — Emetic Herb. V The preparation of this herl) has been sufficiently de- .scribed, for which see page 44. It is prepared and used in three different ways, viz: 1. The powdered leaves and pods. This is the most common form of using it; and from half to a teaspoonful ma\ be taken in warm water, sweetened; or the same quantit\ may be put into either of the other numbers when taken to cleanse the ;->tomach, overpowei the cold, and promote a free perspiration. • 2. A tincture made from the green herb in .spirit. This is used to counteract the effects of poison (to be either in- ternally or externally u.sed) and for asthma and other com- plaints of the lungs. For a do.se, take a tea.spoonful, adding about the same quantitj* of No. 2 in half a teacupful of warm water, sweetened, and in all cases of nervous affection add half a teaspoonful of nerve powder. For the external effects of poison, take the above dose, and bathe the parts affected with the tincture, repeating it till cured. 3. The .seeds reduced to a fine powder and mixed .vith Nos. 2 and 6. This is for the mo.st violent attacks of .spa.sms and other complaints, such as lockjaw, bite of a mad-dog, fits, drowned persons, and all ca.ses of su.spended animation, where the vital .spark is nearly extinct. For a dose, give a teaspoonful, and repeat it till relief is obtained; then follow with a tea of No. 3 for canker. For children, the dose must be regulated according to their age. If very young, .steep a dose of the powder in half ti 80 .\EW Criim TO HEALTH; OK. a teacupful of warm water, or tea of raspberr\- leaves, atid give a teaspoonful at a time of the tea, strained through a fine cloth, and sweetened, repeating the dose every ten min- utes, till it operates, and give pennyroyal, or some other herb tea. for drink. No. 3.- Cayenne. Tliis is a medicine of great value in the practice, and may be safely used in all cases of dise ise to raise and retain the internal vital heat sitting by the fire, covered with a blanket, or in a warm bed. No. 3.— For Canker. Take bayberry root Ixirk, white pond lily root, and the inner bark of hemlock, equal parts of each pounded and well mixed together; steep one ounce of the powder in a pint of boiling water, and give for a dose a common wineglass full, sweetened. If the above cannot be had, take as a substitute sumach bark, leaves or berries, red raspberry or witch-hazel leaves, marsh rosemary-, or either of the other articles described un- der the head of No. 3; they are all good for canker, and may be used together or separate. When the violence of the di.sease requires a course of medicine, .steep one ounce of the above-mentioned powder, No. 3, in a pint of boiling water, .strain off a wineglass full while hot, and add a teaspoonful of No. 2, and the same quantity of sugar; when cool enough to take, add a teaspoon- ful of No. I , and half that quantity of nerve powder. Let this dose be given three times, at intervals of fifteen min- liOTAXIC FAMILY I'll VSHI.W. 81 iites, and let the same compound be given l)y injection, and if the case requires it again repeat it. If mortification is apprehended, a teaspoonful of No. 6 nia\- be added to each dose, and to the injections. After the patient has recovered sufficientl_\- from the oj)- eration of the medicine, which is usually in two or three hours, place them over the steam, as is directed on page 22. This operation is .sufficient for one time, and nuist be re- peated each day, or everj- other day, as the circum.stances of the case may require, till the di.sorder is removed. Three times will generally be .sufficient, and .sometimes once or twice will answer the purpose, but in bad chronic ca.ses it may be necessary to continue to carry them through a regu- lar course two or three times a week, for a considerable length of time. Great care must be taken to keep up an internal heat, so as to produce perspiration, after they have been through the operation, by giving occasionally No. 2, or the composition powder, for if this is not attended to, the patient may have a relapse, in which case it will be very difficult to raise it again, as they will fall as much below a natural heat as they have been raised above it by artificial means. During the operation give milk porridge, or gruel, well .seasoned, with a little cayenne in it, and after it is over, the patients may eat any kind of nourishing food that the appe- tite may crave. A teacupful of the tea of No. 3 should be taken night and morning to prevent a relapse of the disease, and dnr-pg 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, u.se the bitters No. 4, to correct the bile and re.store the digesture; and hrui 1 wineglass full of the syrup. No. 5, may be taken t\"o or three times a day, which will strengthen the stomach ar.d assist in regulating the digestive powers. The foregoing directions are calculated for the more vio- lent attacks of disease, and such as have become settled, but those of a less violent nature must be treated according to circumstances. In the fifst stages of a di.sease, it ma}- be 1 1 i' •■,' it i): 111 M' X'2 .\7:ir (;///)/■: ro ///■:. i/.///. oa\ most generally 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 remove the canker, and the bitters or a tea of pop- lar bark to regulate the dige.sture. For a .sudden cold, take a do.se of the composition powder on going to bed, and put a hot stone wrapped in wet cloths at the feet, which will in most ca.ses remove the complaint; but if these apphcations do not answer the purpose, the patient should be carried through a regular course as soon as possible. Steaming is .safe and will always do good, and the injections must not be neglected, particularly where the bowels are disordered. In consumption, and all old lingering complaints, give the com- position powder for two or three days before going through a regular course. No. 4.~Bitter5. Take the Bitter Herb, or balmony, barberry and poplar bark, equal parts, pulverized, one ounce of the powder to a pint of hot water, and half a pint of .spirit. For a dose, take half a wineglass full. For hot bitters, add a teaspoonful of No. 2. This preparation is calculated to correct the bile and cre- ate an appetite by restoring the digestive powers; and may be freely used both as a restorative and to prevent disease. When the above articles cannot be had, either of those that have been before described under No. 4, which are all good for the same purpose, may be used as a substitute. No. 5.— Syrup. Take poplar bark and bark of the root of bayberry, one pound each, and boil them in two gallons of water; strain off and add seven pounds of good sugar; then scald and skim it, and add half a pound of peach meats, or the same quantity of cherr}^-stone meats, pounded fine, When cool add a gallon of good brandy, and keep it in bottles for use. Take half a wineglass full two or three times a day. Any other quantity maj be prepared, b\- observing the same proportion of the different articles. This syrup is very good to strengthen the stomach and nor. \.\ic i-AMii. y riDsici.w. S3 bowels, and to restore weak patients, and is particular!)- use- ful in the dysentery, which leaves the stomach and bowels in a sore slate. In a relax, or the first stages of the dysen- tery, by using a teu of No. 3 freely and giving this syrup, it will generally cure it, and will also prevent those expo.sed fromtakingthedisea.se. No. 6 — Rheumatic Drops. Take one gallon of good fourth-proof brandy, or any kind of high wines, one pound of gum myrrh, pounded fine, one ounce of No. 2. and put them into a .stone jug, and boil it a few minutes in a kettle of water, leaving the jug unstopped. When settled, bottle it up for use. It may be prepared with- out boiling, bj- letting it stand in the jug for five or six days, .shaking it well every day, when it will be fit for u.se. These drops are to remove pain and prevent mortifica- tion, to be taken, or applied externally, or to be put in the injections. One or two teaspoonfuls of these drops may be given alone, or the same quantity maj- be put into a dose of either of the medicines before mentioned, and may be also used to bathe with in all ca.ses of external swellings or pains. It is an excellent remedy for rheumatism, by taking a dose and bathing the parts affected with it. In the headache, by taking a swallow, and bathing the head, and snuffing a lit- tle up the nose, it will remove the pain. It is good for bruises, sprains, swelled joints, and old sores, as it will alia}- the inflammation, bring down swelling, ease pain, and pro- duce a tendency to heal; in fact, tiiere is h?'-dly a complaint in which this useful medicine catniot be used to ad\;«ntage. It is the best preservnu've against mortification of ..ii>- thing I have ever found. For bathing, in rheumatism, itch, or other humors, or in any swelling or external pain, add one quarter part of .spirits of turpentine, and for .sprains and brui.ses a little gum cam- phor may be added. NERVE POWDER. This is the American Valerian or Umbil, and the prepar- ation has been sufficiently described, for which see page 67. This powder is a valuable and .safe medicine, and may be n m m I- S4 SEW ariniS. TO HEALTH; Ok\ used in all cases without danger, and when there are nerv- ous symptoms it must never be dispensed with. For a dose, take half a teaspoonful in hot water, sweetened, or the same quantity should be put into a dose of either of the other medicines, and also into the injections in all nervous cases. ^ COMPOSITION, OR VEGETABLE POWDER. Take two pounds of the bayberry root bark, one pound of the inner bark of hemlock, one pound of ginger, two ounces of cayenne, two ounces of cloves, all pounded fine, sifted through a fine .sii^ve, and well mixed together. For a dose, take a teaspoc. ul of this powder, with an equal quantity of sugar, and } It to it half a teacupful of boiling water; to be taken as soon 's .sufTiciently cool, the patient being in bed, or by the fire, covered with a blanket. Tl>i: lomposition is calculated for the first stages, and in ]e> .^ vii.'k'iit attacks of di,sease. It is a medicine of much val- ue, ar,.' may be safely u.std in all complaints of male or fe- mule .(.d for children. It is good for relax, ;lysentery, pai)i in the stomach and bowels, ayd to remov_- all obstructions caused by jold or loss of inward heat. By taking a dose on going to bed, and putting a hot stone to the feet, wrapped in wet cloths, it will cure a bad cold, and will generally throw off a disea.se in its first stage,s, if repeated two or three times. If the symptoms are violent, with much pain, add to each dose a teaspoonful of No. 6, and half a teaspoonful of No. I ; and in nervous symptoms add half a teaspoonful of nerve powder, at the samt; time giving an injection of the .same. If these .should not answer the purpose, the patient must be carried through a regular cour.se of the medicine, as has been before described. COUGH POWDER. Take four tea.spoonfuls of .skunk cibhage, two of hoar- hound, one of wake-robin, one o; No. i, one o. No. 2, one of bayberr>' bark, one of bitter 00'. , and one of nt . ve pow- der, all made fine and well mixed together. When taken, to be mixed with molasses. Take half a teaspoonful of the i noT.ix/c F.iA/if.y /•//ys/(/.i\. sn powder on going to bed, keep warm, and continue taking it till relief is obtained, particnlarl_\- on going to bed. Where the cough has been of long standing, it will be best, while taking this prescription, to go through a regular course of the medicine, and repeat it if necessarv . CANCER PLASTER. Take the heads of red clover, and fill a bra.ss kettle, and boil them in water for one hour; then take them out, and fill the kettle again with fresh ones, and boil them as before in the same liquor. Strain it off and press the heads to get out all the juice; then .sinnuer it over a .slow fire till it is about the consistence of tar, when it will be fit for use. Be care- ful not to let it burn. When used it .should be spread on a piece of bladder, .split and made .soft. It is good to cure can- cers, sore lips, and all old sores. : • SALVE. Take one pound of beeswax, one pound of .salt butter, one and a half pounds of turpentine, twehe ounces of balsam fir; melt and simmer them together, then strain it off into a basin, and keep it for use. It may be used to heal fresh wounds, burns, .scalds and all bad .sores after the inflamma- tion is allayed and the wound cleansed. STRENGTHENING PLASTER. Take burdock leaves and mullein lea\es, brui.se them and put them in a kettle with a sufficient quantit>- of water, and boil them well; then straiji off the liquor, press or squeeze the leaves, and boil it down till about half as thick as mo- la.sses; then add three parts of ro.sin and one of turpentine, and simmer well together until the water is evaporated; then pour it off into cold water, and work it. with the hands like shoemaker's 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 affected; and it is good to .strengthen weakness in the back and other parts of the bod\ . VOLATILE SALTS. Take crude sal ammoniac one ounce, pearlash two ounc- es, and pound each by itself; mix them well together, and ' I V ' II I 80 SEW an Di: TO HEALTH; OR. keep it close stopped in a bottle for use. By damping it with spirit or essence will increase the strength. Thi.s, applied to the nose, is good for faintness, and to remove pain in the head; and is mnch better than what is generally sold by the apothecaries. NERVE OINTMENT. Take the bark of the root of bitter-sweet, two parts; of wormwood and chamomile, each equal, one part, 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 fire for twelve hours; then strain it off, and add one ounce of spirits of turpentine to each pound ot ointment. To be used for a bruise, .sprain, callous, .swelling, or for corns. POULTICE. Make a strong tea of raspberry leaves, or of No. 3; take a cracker pounded fine and .slippery -elm bark pulverized, with ginger, and make a poultice of the same. This is good for old sores, whitlows, felons, and for bad burns, scalds, and parts frozen. Apply this poultice, and renew it at least as often as every twelve or twenty-four hours, and wa.sh with soap suds at every renewal, wetting it in the interim with cold water, or a tea of raspberry leaves, till it discharges; then ap- ply the salve till a cure is effected. INJECTIONS, OR CLYSTERS. This manner of administering medicine is of the greatest importance to the sick; it will frequently give relief when all other applications fail. It is supposed that the use of them is of great antiquity; whether this be true or not, the using them to relieve the sick was certainly a very valuable discovery, and no doubt thousands of lives have been saved by it. The doctors have long been in the practice of direct- ing injections to be given to their patients, but they seem to have no other object in administering them than to cause a movement in the bowels; therefore it was immaterial what they were made of. According to the plan which I have adopted, there are certain important objects aimed at in the admini.stration of m nor. iXK ■ /■: /.j///. )• /'//y.s/c/.i.y. sr medicine to remove disease, viz.: to raise the internal heal, promote perspiration, remove the canker, guard against mortification , and restore the digestion . To accomplish these objects, the medicine necessary to remove the complaint must be applied to that part where tlie disease is seated; if in the stomach only, by taking the medicine it may be removed; but if in the bowels, the same compound nuxst be adminis- tered by injection. Whatever is good to cure di.sease when taken into the .stomach, is likewi.se good for the same purpo.se if given l)y injection, as the grand object is to warm the bowels and remove the canker. In all ca.ses of dysentery, colic, piles, and other complaints where the bowels are bad- ly affected, injections should never be dispen.sed with. They are perfectly .safe in all cases, and better that they be u.«ed ten times when not needed, than once neglected when the\- are. In many violent ca.ses, particularly where there is danger of mortification, patients may be relieved by adminis- tering medicine in this way, when there would l)e no chance in any other. I do, therefore, most .seriou.sly advise that these considerations be always borne in mind, and that this important way of giving relief be never neglected where there is ajiy chance for it to do good. In many complaints pecul- iar to females, they are of the greatest importance in giving relief when properly attended to; for which purpose it is only necessary to repeat what has been before stated — let the rem- edy be applied with judgment and discretion to that part where the disea.se is .seated. The common preparation for an injection or clyster is to takeateacupfulof .strongteamadeofNo. 3; strain it off when hot, and add half a teaspoonful of No. 2, and a tea,spoon- ful of No. 6; when cool enough to give, add half a tea,spoon- ful of No. I , and the .same quantity of nerve powder. Let it be given with a large syringe made for that purpo.se, or where this cannot be had, a bladder and pipe may be u.sed. They must be repeated as occasion may require till relief is obtained. Many other articles may be u.sed to advantage in the in- jections; a tea of witch-hazel and red ra.spberry leaves, either or both together, are very good in many cases. For canker, I ; I' ijii. '> 1 1 Mr »« y/: II (•///>/:/■(> ///■:.!/. /■//. OA', a tea of cither the articles described under the head of No. 3, will answer a K"<>fl piirjiose. When the canker is removed, the bowels will be left sore, in wliich case give itijections of witch-ha/el or raspberry-leaves tea, with slippery-elm bark. When injections are used to move the bowels only, No. 1 should be left out. It is always safe to add the nerve jKuvder. and if tlRie are nervou - symptoms, it must never be omitted. STOCK OF MEDICINE FOR A FAMILY. ' * 1 ounce of the ICiiietic Herb, •_' ounces of Cayenne, li pound Bayherrj'-root Imrk, in powder, 1 pound Poplar bark, 1 pound of (linger, I pint of the Rheumatic Drops. This stock will be sufficient for a family one year, and with such articles as the\- can easily procure theni.selves when wanted, will enable them to cure anj- disea.se which a family of common size maj- be afflicted with during that time. The expen.se will be small, and much better than to employ a doctor, and have his extravagant bill to pay. ^i GENERAL DIRECTIONS IN CURING OR PREVENTING DISEASE. 1. Be careful to always ke<.'p the determining powers to the surface, by keeping the inward heat above the outward, or the fountain above the .streinn, and all will be safe. 2. It must Ije recollected that lieat is life, and cold death ; or, in other words, cold is di.sease; that fever is a friend and cold the enemy ; it is therefore nece.s.sary to aid the friend and oppose the enemy in order to restore health. ;,. That the con.struction and organization of the human frame is in all men es.sentially the .same, being formed of the four elements. Earth and water constitute the .solids of the body, which is made active by fire and air. Heat, in a pe- culiar manner, gi\es life and motion to the whole, and when entirely overpowered from whatever cause by the other ele- ments, death ensues. 4. A perfect state of health arises from a due balance of temperature of the elements, and when it is by any means iu)i\ i.\7( ■ /■: It///. ) /•//}. s/( ■/. I \ . MO destroyed, the body is more or less disordered. When tliis is tlie case, there is always a diminution of heiit, or an in- crease of the power of cold, winch is its opposite. 5. All disorders are caused 1)\ obstructed perspiration, which may be produced by a j-reat variety of means; that medicine, therefore, mu.st be administered that is best calcu- lated to remove obstructions and promote perspiration. 6. The food taken into the stomach, and being well di- ge.sted, nourishes the system and keeps up that heat on which life depends; but by constantly taking food into the stomach, which is sometimes not .suitable for nourishment, it becomes foul, .so that the food is not well dige.sted; this causes 'he body to lose its heat, and disease follows. 7. Canker is caused by cold, and there is al\vay.s luute or less of it in all cases of di.sea.se; continue to make use of such articles as are calculated to remoxe it as long as there is any appearance of di.sorder. 8. When the di.sea.se is removed, make free u.se of those things that are good to restore the dige.stive powers, not for- getting to keep up the inward heat by giving occasionallv No. 2. 9. Keep always in mind that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure; and give medicine on the first appearance of di.sorder, before it becomes .seated, for it may be then ea.sil\- thrown off, and much sickness and expen.se prevented. 10. In case of a fever increase the internal heat by giv- ing hot medicine, so as to overpower the cold, when the nat- ural heat will return inwardly, and the cold will pervade the whole surface of the body, as the heat had done before; this is what is called the turn of the fever. 11. If No. I should .sicken and not puke, there may be two causes for it, viz.: the coldness or acidity of the stomach; for the finst give No. 2 more freely, and for the latter dissolve a piece of pearlash about the size of a large pea in a wine glass of water, and let them take it, which will counteract the acidity. If this fails, make use of the .steam, which will open the pores, extract the cold, and .set the medicine in operation. i •» ' SEUlil inn TO HEALTH: Oh\ 12. In KiviiiK nit'dicine to children, give about onc-linlf. a little more or less according to their age, of the <|uantity directed for a grown person. He particular to offer them drink often, especially young children who cainiot ask for it. 13. Dysentery is caused by canker on the bowels, for which make free u.se of the tea of No. 3, with No. 2, and give the .same by injection in the first of the disease, and af- terwards give the syrup, No. 5, to strengthen the stomucli 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 l)y u.sing 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 mu.st be relieved by injections made of witch-hazel or red raspberry leaf tea, steeped strong, with No. 2, strained. If this does not give relief, gothrc gh a regular cour.se of medicine. r5. Women in a state of pregnancy ought to be carried through a regular course of the medicine, especially when near the time of deliver When in trai'ail give ra.spberry leaf tea, with a teaspoonful of the composition powders, or No. 2, and keep them in a perspiration. After deliver^' keep up the internal heat by j,ivingtl .■ conit < ■lition powder, or No. 2. This will prevent col should be symptoms of fever, carr>- course of the medicine, which w/; ing complaints peculiar in .such ca •, :, 16. In all ca.ses of a burn, scald, or being frozen, wrap up 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 compo.sition powders, 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 greater part of the body, apply cotton cloth of several thicknesses to the whole body, wet with the tea of raspberry leaves, thoroughly wetting it with the same to prevent it from becoming dr>', afu ' lins; if there !. .1 through a regular ird again.st all alann- •feiij. % i -^mmm^^^mM- IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) I) "■"- V V 1.0 ■iilM 12.5 ■50 "l^" MIH BOO itt Mi «2.2 I.I If. i^ 111^ 1.25 1 '-^ i '-^ Photogra{iuc Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716)872-4303 •w«*w IP'WIII.U .' II1WW>"»HWPPWW wmtiammm mmmmmmmmm v O t Aw i/j \ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques e^>. I. BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. »1 and give the hot medicine. When the scald is under the stocking, or any other tight garment, let it remain on, add- ing more cotton cloths, and wet the whole with cold water as often as the smart of the burn returns. i8. If the skin is off, or in case of an old burn, 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. P'or a fresh wound, cut, or bruise, wash immediately with cold water, and bind up in cloths wet with the same; keep a hot stone at the feet, and take medicine to raise a gentle perspiration; continue this till the inflammation is al- layed, and the wound perfectly clean.sed, then apph- the poultice or salve, till healed. The air must be kept from all wounds or .sores, as it will cavise pain, and prevent them from healing. 20. In sudden and deadly attacks, such as spotted or yellow fevers, fits, drowned persons, croup, etc. , the heat and activity of the patient are so much diminished that the common administration will not give relief; the determining power to the surface being .so .small, through the loss of in- ternal heat, that it will not give the medicine operation, as its effects are resisted and counterbalanced by the pres.sure of the external air. To counteract this pre.ssure, keep the room, by aid of a good fire, about as warm as a summer heat; and more fully to rarify and lighten the air, and aid the operation of the medicine, make a free u.se of the steam bath, and keep the patient shielded by a blanket; at the same time gfive occasionally Nos. i and 2. This course .should be unremittingly persevered 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 *Keep always in mind to give the p.itieut fresh air when .steainiiiK. and while eoiUK through a course of medicine, by making a quick fire of shavings, or vcrv light wood, and opening a window at the same time, as this will immediately change the foul afr in the room by driving it out, and supplying its place by the fresti air from the surrounding atmosphere. This mode is essential in all disorders, both in hot weather and in cold. Steaming is not essential in hot weather, except when going through a course of medicine; after which, a shower bath is good in the morning, as it lets down the outward heat, which gives power to the inward. S5 i II I '.•2 A7i//- GUIDE TO HEALTH: OA\ a strong tea of No. 2, sweetened, and repeat it till the mouth Ijecomes 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 not to have the outward heat too high, by too many clothes or fire, for if this is the ca.se, it will cau.se 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 rai.se the inward. 23. If the patient is restless, wet the head and body with cold vinegar, and if there are convulsions or spa.sms, give the ner\'e powder with No. 2. Injections must aLsobe u.sed. 24. Never make use of physic in cases where there is canker inside, for it will draw the determining powers in- ward and increa.se the di.sease. I have seen so many bad ef- fects from giving physic, that I have disapproved the use of it altogether; but if any is given after the operation, be care- ful to keep up the inward heat .so as to cause a free perspira- tion. 25. Avoid all minerals u.sed as medicine, suchasmer- curj-, arsenic, antimony, calomel, preparations of copper or lead, and al.so 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 profluctive of much harm; they are contrarj- to nature, and strengthen the power of the ene- my to health. Setons and i.ssues should al.so 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 eifects. 27. Be careful not to make use of saltpetre in any way whatever; it is the greatest cold of anything that can be taken into the stomach, and was never intended for any other purpo.se than to destroy life. It is a very bad practice to put it on meat, for itde.stroys all the juices, which are the nour- ishing part, and leaves the flesh hard and difficult to digest. IIOTAXIC I'AMII. Y PHYSICIAN. {f3 28. Never eat meat that is tainted or any way injured, as it will engender disease; for one ounce in the stomach is worse than the effluvia of a whole carcass. Eat salt provis- ions in hot weather, and fresh in cold. 29. Be careful about drinking cold water in very hot weather, as it will tend to let down the inward heat so sud- denly as to give full power to the cold. If this should hap- pen, its fatal eflFects may be prevented by giving the hot medi- cine to raise the inward heat above the outward. Be careful also not to cool suddenly after being very warm in conse- quence of uncommon exercise. 30. Remember that regularity in diet is very important to preserve health, and that if more food is taken into the stomach than is well digested, it clogs the system and causes disea.se. Therefore be cautious not to eat too much at a time, and have your food well cooked. This is verj- im- portant to those who have weakly constitutions. 31. Ardent spirit is slow poison; it is taken to stimulate, but this effect is .soon over, and much u.se of it destroys the tone of the stomach, injures the digestive powers, and causes disease. It is therefore much better, when the feelings re- quire anything of the kind, to make use of stimulating med- icine, such as Nos. 2 and 6, for these will answer a far better purpose. By a strict observance of the foregoing directions, you may save much pain and expense, and enjoy good health and long life, which is the earnest wish of the writer. TO MAKE MILK PORRIDGE. Put a quart of water in a kettle with a proper quantity of salt, and while heating, mix a gill of flour in a bowl with water/ made thick, and when the water is boiling hot, drop this into it with a spoon; let it be well boiled, then add half a pint of milk. This to be eaten while under the operation of the medicine, and is also good food for the sick at any other time, especially while the stomach is weak. TO MAKE CHICKEN BROTH. Take a chicken and cut it in pieces, put with it, opened and cleaned, but not peeled. the gizzard in Boil it till the ^1 Is ■;.fSi ■ va'-'Jf'SiM,;.- !t4 NEU- cuini: TO health: on. meat drops from the bone. Begin to give the broth as soon as there is any strength in it, and when boiled, eat some of the meat. Let it be well seasoned. This may be given in- stead of the milk porridge, and is very gootl for weak pa- tients, particularly in ca.ses of the dysentery. When the operation of medicine is gone through, I have said that the patient may eat any kind of nourishing food his appetite should crave, but the best thing is to take a slice of salt pork boiled, 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 digesture. Description of Several Cases of Disease, witii 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 skin is often so thick that it will 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 bum a small piece of punk, the 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 sufiicient to let out the matter; then apply poultice or salve. If painfixl, wrap it in cloths of several thicknesses, wet with cold water, and repeat this as often as it becomes hot or painful. Take the compo- sition or warm medicine, to keep up an inward heat. If the sore has been several days coming, and appears nearly ripe, apply a piece of unslacked lime to the part af- fected, wrap it up, and wet the cloth with cold water till the lime is slacked, and repeat this till the skin looks of a purple color; then open it as before directed. This method is more safe and quick in causing a cure than laying it open with a BOTANIC I'AMll.y rHYSIClA.W 95 knife, as is the practice of some doctors. By cutting the live flesh, it forms a leak and often spoils the joint, but by sear- ing them bj- either of the above modes, it secures and pre- vents the leak, and makes a speedy cure. FREEZES AND BURNS. These two names of disorder are one and the .same thijig, and require the .same treatment. Take a cloth wet in cold water, and wrap several thicknesses round or laid on to the part, to be kept wet as often as the pain increases. Gi\fc warm medicine in.side. If the .scald is dangerous, carr\ them through a regular course of medicine as though thev had a fever, or any other acute disorder; keep the cloth or poultice on to secure it from the air, from twelve to fourteen hours, till the soreness or pain is entirely gone. If the skin is off, put on a poultice of flour bread, wet with any of the articles composing No. 3, and keep it wet with this tea or water till the sore discharges; then wash with soap suds; when dres.sed, wash with tea of No. 3, and continue the poultice or salve until a cure is effected. A freeze is direct cold, and a bum is attracted cold; for as much as the heat opens the pores more than usual, the cold follows and closes them as much more than they were before the operation of the heat; this stops the perspiration from go- ing through the surface, and the water collects under the grain of the skin, which is called blistering; the water ap- plied in the cloth on the outside opens the pores and lets the water out by perspiration, and the grain adheres to the skin; the pain cea.ses and. the cure is completed. CURE OF MY BROTHER'S SON OF A SCALD. He was about fourteen years of age, and was taking off from the fire a kettle of boiling cider. The leg of the kettle, caught by the log, tipped it forward and poured the cider boiling hot into a large bed of live embers, which covered his bare feet with this hot mass. He was obliged to hold on till the kettle was set on the floor, and then jumped into a pail of cold water, and stood there until his father procured some cloths, which he immediately wrapped his feet up in. His 11 If tHI .V£ir a( IDE TO HEALTH; ON, father lay by the fire to attend to pour on water, to keep the cloths filled, which keeps the air from the surface, and eases the pain, for as the water wastes and lets the air to the bum, the pain will increase; but by pursuing this course for about two hours, the pain abated, and the boy fell a.sleep. Water was poured on the cloth but two or three times 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 ari.sen, nor a particle of skin broken. He put on his stockings and shoes as usual, and went about his work, perfectly well. CASE OF A BOY WHO WAS BADLY SCALDED. A lady took off from the fire a teakettle filled with boil- ing hot water, when her little .son, about six years old, stepped on the bail and turned the contents onto both his feet, and falling, one hand went into the teakettle. Both feet and one hand were badly .scalded. I happened to be present, and immediately 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 ap- pearance of blisters, nor any skin broken; and he put on his shoes and stockings and appeared as well as before the acci- dent happened. It had been the declared opinion of the family the night before, that the boy would not be able to go to school for a fortnight; but on finding him well in the morn- ing, were hardly willing to believe their own senses, or that the child had been scalded. OENEitAL REMARKS ON BURNS. Burns are the most easily cured, if rightly managed and understood, 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 winter and could not be healed, as also burns caused by boil- old, i his feet «nt, )art, and teet, In iree ght. ap- his ICCl- mily 0 to orn- that and nost. ' ngiy ' all I by Ror.txfc F.LVff. y /'hvs/cmjV. 97 blisters made with Spanish flies, which atnoiint to the same thing? By not being treated in a proper matnier in season, the canker gets in and eats ont the flesh, after which what is called prond flesh fills np the sore. The doctor applies iiis sugar of lead, vitriol and red precipitate to eat out the dead flesh. This affects the cords and draws them out of shape, and many times makes a sore that they cannot cure, which ter- minates in a mortifying canker sore. My friends, if you wish to avoid all this trouble, attend to what belongs to your peace and comfort, before it is hidden from your eyes; that is, attend to the canker, which always awaits such cases, and where the skin is off, in all cases of burns or blisters, ap- ply a poultice of cracker, or elm bark, wet with a tea of No. 3, until the canker is gone. Sometimes add ginger; if tlie inflammation is high add a little of No. 2 with the ginger, keeping the poultice wet with cold water; when the sore dis- charges, apply salve till a cure is effected. I shall continue my remarks on burns, by .showing the evil consequences arising from blistering. Not long since I knew a case where a doctor drew a bli.ster on a child's brea.st up to the heck, 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 off the dressing and showed her the mortified flesh all over the blister, and told her that was the disorder. She .seemed muchsurpri.sed, 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 my opinion that it was exactly a similar case, and that the child's death was caused as much by the blister as it would have been by a scald. The child died before morning. I had declined doing anything for it, as I was .satisfied that I could do it no good, and if I had made the attempt it would have been said that I killed it. I have seen many cases where I was perfectly satisfied that the patients died in consequence of blisters, not only on the stomach, but on the head. In many that I have wit- f w .v/: II (.///)/■: TO ///■:. I /.///,() a; nessecl, where a blister was drawn on the head, as soon as it began to draw their senses were gone, and did not rctnrn till they died raving or stupefied. More than half the cases where the head was shaved and blistered that have come witliin my knowledge have died. I never could see an>- reason why a scald on the head or body, done on purpose, should have a tendency to effect a cure when the {lerson is sick, and the same thing happeiiing to them by accident, when well, should destroy their health or cause their death. If a person .should have their head or stomach .so badly scalded as to take off the skin, we .should con.sider them in the most dangerous condition; but nothing is said aljout it when drawn on purpose. I shall leave it to the reader to reconcile, if he can, this inconsi.stency. I have known mo.st dangerous stranguries caused b>- blisters on the .sides and limbs, and those who applied them did not know the cause, and I have been applied to for relief. MORTIFICATION OF THE LIMBS. 1 was called on to go on board a vessel at Eastport, to see 'a young man who had had a block fall from mast head on his foot, weighing thirteen and a-half pounds; which brui.sed all his toes to pieces except the little one. The accident hap- pened on Friday, and I did not see him till the Tuesday fol- lowing, during which he had neither eat nor .slept. His nerves were much affected, and he had spa.sms and convulsions through the whole system. I took off the dressing from his foot, and found it black and the smell very offensive: The captain of the vessel, who appeared to be very anxious about him. asked me if I could help his foot. I told him that I must first tr\- to .save his life, for liis whole body was as much disordered as his foot. He requested me to do what I thought best. I put a poultice of meal on his foot, and wet the cloth with cold water to allay the heat; then gave him medicine the same as though he had been attacked with a nervous fe- ver. The captain attended him through the night, and I went to see him the next morning, and found him much bet- ter. The captain said he was astonished at the operation of nOTAXtC I'ARIII.y I'HVSICI.W. w the medicine, for that his voinitiiix aii more satisfaction. OLD CANKER SORES ON THE LEGS. When I was a yonng man I was much troubled throuKh the winter, for many years, with sores on my legs. At the commencement of cold weather, if I broke the graiji 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 sometimes spread under the grain like a burn, and feci 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 canker, I took some of the articles composing No. 3, steeped strong, and washed the part affected with it. If there was a bad .smell, I first washed the sore with strong soap .suds, taking off all the loo.se skin which was blistered with cankery humor, and then wa.shed with a tea of No. 3 to destroy the canker and harden the sore, sometimes wetting it with the drops. If the in- flammation runs high, and the sore spreads fa.st, I put into it a pinch of fine No. 2; then put on a poultice of white bread and ginger, wet with the above tea, wrapping it up with several thicknes.ses of cloths wet with cold water; wet- ting them as often as dry, so as to be painful, and did not let the sore come to the air for twenty-four hours. In this time, if kept well wet and warm, it will discharge ripe matter, and the inflammation and canker will abate. When next dressed, wash first with soap suds as before, then with the tea; if the soreness is gone, you may apply the healing salve, with the wet cloths, if going to bed, to keep out the air; put occasion- ally a hot stone wrapped in wet cloths to the feet to keep up a steam, wetting the sore if painful with cold water. Take medicine to keep up the inward heat, such as compo- sition or hot bitters, and when these do not answer the pur- pose, go through a course of the medicine, and repeat as oc- casion may require. This method, if persevered in, I sel- dom knew to fail of success. I was called to attend a case of this kind not long since, where the inflammation and pain were very great, and fast nor. ixn ■ i-wmii. y /•/ns/i i. ix. m spreadiiiK under the irmm of the skin: there had been ap- pliefl ail ehn and ginger poultice, made with tea of No. .v I opened and only added a pinch of No. 2, and hiid on the jKniltice again, putting on a wet cloth: and ordered it kept wet with cold water till next morning, when on dressing it. found the ijiflamniation abated, the sore discharged ripe mat- ter, and by two dressings more of the same, the cure wns completed. CASE OF THE BITE OF A RAT, SUPPOSED TO BE MAD. Not long since I was sent for to attend a man who had been bitten on one of his eyebrows bj- a rat, supposed to be mad. The .wound healed in a few days, then turned purple round it, as though the blood had settled, and turned more black, until he was blind. He was .sick at the stom- ach, and had a high fever. I carried him through a course of the medicine, but with little advantage. The .swelling and dark color progres.sed till he was about the color of a blackberry pie. These appearances led me to suspect that the madness of the rat was caused by eating rat.sbane, and communicated this poison to the man by the bite, as he ap- peared the same as a persoti I had once seen who had been killed by taking that poison. I then wa.shed his face with a strong tea of Nos. i and 2, and gave the .same inward with No. 3, carried hini through another course of medicine, keeping a cloth on his face wet with the tea as before, to keep out the air when under the operation of the medicine, to sweat his face and throw the poison out. I kept him in a sweat for several days, occasion?' Ij- with his face secured ffom the air, which method had the desired effect of bring- ing the poison out. By continually keeping up the perspi- ration, the swelling abated, but whenever this was not well attended to, .so as to keep the determining powers to the .surface, the spasms would increase to such a degree that his life was frequently despaired of. He was carefully attended in this manner about one month before I could determine in my own mind whether the disease or nature would gain the victory; after which time he began gradually to gain his health, and in about six months he appeared to be clear of II i. Hi k I •;'•! ' ■', '.'.■!!!**'•' 1(12 .\7:ir criDE to health: or. the poison. The man was sixty years of age, and the acci- dent happening in the fall of the year, it was much more difficult to conquer this cold and deadly poison, than it would have been in warm weather. This case convinced me that the cause of mad rats and mad cats is owing to the rats hav- ing been poi.soned by ratsbane; the cats eat them and become affected by the poison, which makes them mad, and by bit- ing the people communicate the poison from which many fa- tal consequences have frequently happened. BAD WOUND IN THE EYE CURED. While I was at Eastport, Maine, a man was cutting turf about twelve miles from that place, and accidentally had a pitchfork stuck into one of his eyes by a person who was pitching the turf near him. It passed by the eyeball atid stuck fast in the skull, so that it was with considerable exer- tion that he could draw it out. The eye swelled and closed up immediately, and the people were much frightened and sent for me, but it so happened that I could not go. I gave directions to the man who came after me to return and carry him through a course of medicine as .soon as possible, keep- ing several thicksiesses of cloth wet with cold water on hi? eye, and r.ot open it for twelve hours, and to keep him in a per.spiration the whole time. This was faithfully attended to, and on opening the wound after the above time, the swelling was all gone, the eye was open, and a large quan- tity of blood was in the wet cloth which had been drawn from the eye. They continued the wet cloth and gave him warm medicine inside, keeping him in a gentle perspiration for the next twenty-four hours, which cleared the eye of all the blood, restored the sight, and amended his health that he was well in about a week, to the astoilishment of all who saw him. CANCER SORES, A conci.se and general treatise on this violent and often fatal 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. I the acci- iiich more II it would i me that rats hav- id become nd by bit- manv fa- ittiiig turf Uy had a I who was eball and able exer- md closed tened and I. I gave and carry ble, keep- iter on hi? > him in a attended time, the irge quan- rawn from him warm ion for the of all the h that he II who saw : and often le subject, n all sores cording to of canker, nOTAXIC FAMH.y PHYSrClAX. 1(»;5 being the most powerful effects of cold, and conse(|uently the greatest degree of inflammation; therefore the remedies ought to be those of a warming nature as the greatest pre- ventives against canker. Whenever a violent inflammation is discovered, it is supposed that heat causes the difficulty; but the fact is, it is only evidence of a war between heat and cold, for there is no inflanunation where there is perfect health, because heat then bears complete rule, and no dis- ease can take place until the cold makes an attack on the body, which causes an unnatural heat, to oppose an unnatural cold. Wherever the cold takes possession, the inflammation shows itself, by .stopping the circulation; the effect is swelling, inflamed callous, arising from some leak caused by the natural course being stopped. If it suppurates and di,scharges, it is called ulcer, bile, and the like, and the canker goes off with the putrefaction. If the leak is so .slow as to callous as fast as they discharge it, it becomes a hard, dead lump of flesh, and not having circula- tion enough to support it, it begins to rot. Here the canker shows its eating nature; being seated in the dead flesh, and eating on the live flesh, which is intermixed with it, it causes pain and distress in proportion as the body is filled with cold- ness and canker; if this is .sufficient to keep the power above the natural circulation, the patient will continue in this dis- tressed situation, being eaten up alive, until worn out with the pain, death comes as a friend to relieve them. This is the natural termination of this dreadful malady, which is far better than to combine with it the common form of practice in using arsenic, which only helps to eat up and di.stress the patient. In order to give a more correct idea of the dangerous effect of making u.se of arsenic in cancers, I shall make a short ex- tract from Thacher's Dispensatory on the subject: "Arsenic has long been known to be the basis of the celebrated cancer powder. It has been sprinkled in .substance on the ulcer, but this mode of using it is excessively painful and extreme- ly dangerous, fatal effects having been produced from its ab- sorption. This fact I have known in several instances where Davidson's agents and others have undertaken to draw out 104 NEiV GriDE TO HEALTH; OR, cancers when the patient would absorb enough of this poison, which, seating on the hnigs, caused them to die with the con- sumption in the course of one year." My wish in exposing this nostrum is to benefit those who may be ignorant of the imposition, for it may be relied on as a truth, that there is more or less poison in all those burning plasters used to cure cancers, and I would advise all to beware of them; it will be much safer to risk the cancer than the cancer quack. The principal object aimed at is to take out the bunch, and in doing that by the above method, a worse evil is in- oculated, which is more fatal than the cancer. The tumor is a mixture of live and dead flesh, and is often under a live skin; if it isneces.sary to make an incision through the live skin in order to dissolve the dead flesh, the best way is to burn a piece of punk on the place, and repeat it till the flesh is dead enough to suppurate. The smart will be but two or three minutes, and not so painful as the arsenic for the same time, which will last for twelve hours. Where the tumor is small, the cancer balsam will be found sufficient, by repeat- ing the plaster for two or three weeks, to take out the dead flesh and remove the canker; after this is done, apply a ginger and elm poultice wet with a tea of No. 3. If the sys- tem appears to be generally affected with the cancer humor, carry them through a common course of medicine, and re- peat ' badly; I placed him on the floor and took his foot in my lap; as soon as the wound was higher than the body, the bleeding ceased. I then poured ^1 lOM A'/iU' GUIDE TO HEALTH; OR, on cold water till the wrtund was white; then put in a few drops of No. 6, took two or three stitches to bring the wound together, dressed it with salve, and it soon got well with very little soreness. Another ca.se was of a little girl who cut off the main arterj of the middle finger, and it bled verj' fa.st. I put my thumb above the wound and stopped the blood; then poured on cold water with 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, of Durham, was troubled with a rup- ture;.his bowels came down, swelled, and were very painful. A doctor was .sent for from Portsmouth, who applied a bag of snow, which drove the pain to the stomach and caused puk- ing. The swelling increased and became ver>- hard. The ca.se now becoming 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 possi- ble. My directions were faithfully attended to, and as soon as he became warm, the nerves slackened, the swelling abated, all appearance of mortification disappeared, the bow- els went back, and in twelve hours he was restored from a dangerous .situation to almost his usual state of health. In this ca.se may be seen the difference between the artificial and nature's physician, which is the same as between fire and .snow. no PANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. AGUE IN THE FACE. KID This is caused by cold in the glands of the mouth, which keeps back the saliva till it causes swelling and soreness; the canker becomes prevalent at the same time, which causes se- vere pain in the face and throat. The sooner a cure is at- tempted the better; to effect this, take a dose of the tea of No. 3, with a teaspoonful of No. 6 in it, for the canker; then tie a .small quantity of No. 2 in a fine piece of cloth, wet with No. 6, and put it between the teeth and cheek, on the side where the pain is; sit by the fire covered with a blanket, and breathe the 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. 6. If the ca.se is of long .stand- ing, so that the sy.stem is affected, and this does not remove the complaint, give a dose of No. i . If it is caused by de- cayed teeth, fill the hollow with cotton wool, wet with oil of summer-savory, or .spirits of turpentine, which will deaden the nerve and stop its aching. This is good in all cases of teethache, and will generally effect a cure without extract- ing. 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 prac- ticed of 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. In cases 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 pow- der, 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, plac- ing 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 ' i 111) x/:ir Gi '//)/■: ro mi.ii.ni: on. I % I of joint by a fall froiii 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 to take hold of the arm above the elbow and an- other below, to steady it; and then placed my fingers against the end of the bone on the under .side, and my thumb again.st 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 men. I then wrapped it up with the same towel, which had become cold. This brought the muscles to their proper tone, and kept the joint firm in its place. I 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 danger 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 doc- tors had exhausted all their skill in vain to .set it. One of my agents being present, undertook it by my plan of treat- ment, and after he had relaxed the mu.scles sufficiently, put his knee against the hip joint, and, placing his 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 sea.son, and I have been much afflicted with it myself in my young- er days, often being poisoned in such manner as to .swell and nOTAXfC lAMll.y rHYSICIA.W 111 break out very badly, and I knew no remedy but to let it have its course, which was almost as bad as the smallpox. Ojie of my sons was often afflicted in this way, and one season was poisoned three times, so as to be blind for several days. 1 long sought a remedy without success, till I found it in the Emetic Herb. Washing with a tincture of the green plant, as is 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 be- come 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 washing with the tincture. A tea made of the powdered leaves and pods will do to wash with when the tincture or green plant cannot be had. The powderetl seeds, with Nos. 2 and 6, third preparation, may also be used for the same purpo,se. MEASLES. This disease is \ery conmion, especially among children, and is often attended with bad consequences, when not prop- erly treated. It is a high state of canker and putrefaction: and if the determining powers are kept to the surface, it will make its appearance on the outside, and go off of itself; but ifc6ld overpowers the inward heat, so as to turn the deter- mining powers inward, the di.sease will not make its appear- ance, and the patient will become much distressed, frequent- ly 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 putrefaction inside, which sometimes seats upon the lungs and causes consump- tion; or it turns to the stomach and bowels, when they die sud- denly, as has been the case with hur^dreds for a few years past. I have attended a great many cases of the mea.sles in the cour.se of my practice, and never lost one, and never have known of any that have died of this disorder who were at- tended by any of my agents. When the symptoms make their appearance, give a dose of the composition powder, or of No. 2 ; then give the tea of No. 3 to guard agaitist canker. 112 .v/;/r vrinii to hf.ai.th; or, and add some No. 2 to overpower the cold; and when the second dose is giveti, add No. i, to clear the stomach and promote perspiration. As .soon as this takes place, the dis- order will show itself on the outside. By continuing to keep the determining power to the surface, nature will take its regularcour.se, and the disea.se will go off without injuring the constitution. If the bowels appear to be disordered, give an injection; and be careful to keep the patient warm. I once had a case of a young woman who had the meas- les; she lingered with the .symptoms four or five days, and then became very sick, turned of a dark purple color, and had 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. i , which caused such a vio- lent struggle that I had to hold her in the bed; but it was soon over, for in about ten minutes she vomited, and a perspira- tion took place, which was followed by the measles coming out, so that she was completely covered with the eruption. She was soon well and about her work. SMALLPOX. This disease is the highest state of canker and putrefac- tion which the human body is capable of receiving, and is the most contagious, being taken in with the breath, or it may be communicated by inoculation, in which case it is not so violent and dangerous as when taken in the natural way. The distressing and often fatal consequences that have hap- pened in cases of the smallpox are more owing to the man- ner in which it has been treated than to the disease. The fashionable mode of treatment in this disease has been to give physic and reduce the strength, by starving the pa- tient and keeping them cold. This is contrary to common sense, as it weakens the friend and strengthens the enemy; and the same cause would produce similar effects in any oth- er disorder. All that is nece.ssary is to a.ssist nature to drive out the canker and putrefaction,' which is the cause of the disease, by keeping the determining powers to the sur- face, in which case there will be no danger. The same man- ner of treatment should be used in this complaint as has been I >\f> BOTANIC FAMILY rHYSIClAX, m directed for the measles. The canker-rash, and all kinds of disease that a person is not liable to have hut once, such as chickenpox, swinepox, etc, are from the same cause, and must lie treated in a similar manner. COUGH. The general opinion is, that cough i.san enemy to health, and ought to be treated as such; but this idea I hold to be altogether an error; lor it is the effect, and not the cause, of disease. When the lungs are di.seased, there will be a col- lection of matter, which must be thrown off; and the cough is like the pump of a ship, which discharges the water, and prevents her from sinking; .so also the cough throws off what collects on the lungs, which, if suffered to remain, would soon putrefy and cause death. It is a common saying, " I have a bad cough, and can get nothing to .stop it;" and the doctor often .says, "If I could stop your cough, I should have hopes of a cure;" but this is as unrea.sonable as it would be to stop the pumps of a ship, which would cause her to sink the sooner. A.sk a sailor what he would do, and he would .say, "Keep the pump going till you can .stop the leak, and when that is stopped, the pump will become useless, as there will be nothing to throw off. ' ' Such medicine should be given as will promote the cough, till the cau.se can be removed, which is cold and canker on the lungs; after this is done, there will be no more cough. If a cough is cau.sed by a sudden cold, it may be removed by taking the composition powder on go- ing to bed, with a hot stone wrapped in wet cloths put to the feet, to produce a perspiration, at the same taking the cough powder, which will make the patient raise easy, and also help to remove the cause. When the cough has be- come .seated and the lungs are diseased, they must be car- ried through a regular course of the medicine, repeating 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; continue to give the cough powders till cured. 114 .\i:w ciiDi: TO ffi:.u.rf/; oa'. JAUNDICE. Much has been said alxjiit the bile, or gall, being an ene- my in case of sickness; but this is a mistake, for it is a friend, and should be treated as such. It is the mainspring ot life, and the regulator of health, as without it the fcxxl could not be digested. When people have what is called the jaundice, it is the prevailing opinion that they have too much bile, and it is said they are bilious. This is a mistaken notion, for there is no such thing as having too much gall; it would be more correct to say there was not enough. The difficulty is caused by the stomach l)eing cold and foul, so that the footl is not properly 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 appetite, costivencss, faintness, and the patient will be dull and sleepy; these are evidences of bad digesture and loss of inward heat. The only way to effect a cure is to promote perspiration, clean.se the stomach, and restore the digestive powers, which will cau.se the bile to be used for the purpose nature designed it. Nature has contrived that each part of the body should perform its proper duty in maintaining health, and if there were no obstruction, there never would be disease. The gall bladder grows on the liver, and is placed between that and the stomach, so that when the latter is filled with food, the bile is discharged into the stomach to digest it. The bile never makes disorder, for it is perfectly innocent, being na- ture's friend: and those appearances called bilious show the effect of disease, and not the cause. The gall is a very bit- ter substance, and it is the practice of the doctors to order bitter medicine to cure the jaundice, and this seems to be the universal opinion, which is correct; but it certainly contra- dicts the notion that there is too much bile, for if there be too much, why give medicine to make more? I have attended many cases of this kind, and never had any difficulty in ef- fecting a cure. My method is to give No. 2, or the compo- sition powders, to raise the internal heat, and No. i to cleanse the stomach and promote perspiration; then give the bitters, 1 in > r. \sn • lAMii. ) /•// ) siciAw lii No. 4. to regulate tlie J)ilc' and rt'stort- the dijfvstivf powcn». If the complaint lias l)ecn of lonjj standinK, an ' fht- system is inudi disorderecj, they nmst ht- carried thronKli a io<1, and may he freely used for all bilious complaints. WORMS. A great deal is said about worms causing sickness, and there is scarcely a di.sease that children are afflicted with but what is attributed to worms. The dwtors talk about worm complaints, worm fevers, worm colics, etc., and give medi- cine to destroy the worms; by so doing, they frequently de- stroy their patients. There was never a greater absurdity than their practice, and the universal opinion about worms causing disease. The fact is, they are created and exist in the stomach and bowels for a u.seful purpose, and are friendly to health, instead of being an enemy; they are bred and sup- ported by the cold phlegm that collects in the stomach and bowels; this is their element; and the more there is of it. the more there will be of the worms; they never cause disease, but are caused by it. Those who are in health are never troubled with worms, because they are then quiet, and exist in their natural element. Every one has more or less of them, and the reason why children are more troubled with what is called worm complaints, is liecause they are more subject to be disordered in their stomach and bowels than grown per- sons. When children are sick, and their breath smells bad, it is said they have worms, and everything is laid to them; but this is owing to disease caused by canker, for there is nothing in the nature of worms that can affect the breath. In cases of this kind, the only thing necessary is to cleanse the stomach by getting rid of the cold phlegm and restoring the digestive powers, when there will be no difficulty with the worms. The common practice of the doctors is to give calomel and other poisons to kill the worms. This nmst appear to any ilC :ii i ■^^^' 11(1 NEW GUIDE TO HEALTH; OR, one who examines into the subject to be ver>' wrong as well as dangerous; foi the worms cannot be kiUed by it without poisoning the whole contents of the stomach. I once knew of a case of a child who, after eating a breakfast of bread and milk, was taken sick; a doctor was sent for, who said it was. caused by worms, and gave a dose of calomel to destroy them, which caused fits. The child "omited and threw up its breakfast, and a dog that hapj/ened to be in the room ate what the child threw up; he was soon taken sick and died; the child got well. The fortunate accident of the child's throwing off its stomach what it had taken probably saved its life, for if there was poison enough to kill a dog, it must have killed the child. The absurdity of such practice is like the story related by Dr. Franklin of a man who was troubled with a weasel in his barn, and to get rid of the weasel he set fire to his barn and burnt it up. I had the following relation from the doctor who attended the cases: Three children had what he called a worm fever, and he un- dertook to kill the worms. One of them died, and he re- quested liberty to open it and see what would destroy worms, in order to know how to cure the others; but the parents would not consent. The second died, and the parents con- sented to have it opened; but after searching the stomach and bowels, to their surprise no worms could be found. The third soon after died. The fact was, their death was caused by canker ^n the stomach and bowels, and the medicine given increased the difficulty by drawing the determining powers inward, which aided the cold to promote the canker. Where children die by such treatment, the blame is all laid on the worms, and the doctor escapes censure. I have had a great deal of experience in what are called worm complaints; and after having become acquainted with the real cause have had no difficulty in curing all that I have undertaken. I began with my own children. One of them was troubled with what was supposed to be worms. I em- ployed a doctor, who gave pink root, and then physic to car- ry it off with the worms. It would shortly after have an- other turn, which would be worse. He went on in this way, and the worms kept increasing, till I became .satisfied that he BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAX. 117 was working on the effect, and neglected the cause, when I dismissed him and undertook the cure myself. I first gave the warmest medicine I then knew of to clear off the cold phlegm, and gave bitter medicine, such as poplar bark, wormwood, tansy, and physic made of the twigs of butter- nut, to cleanse the stomach and to correct the bile. Bj- pur- .suing this plan the child soon got well and was no more troubled with worms. A child in the neighborhood where I lived, about six years old, was taken sick in the morning, and the doctor was sent for, who gave medicine for worms. Soon after, it had fits, and continued in convulsions during the day, and at night died. I was satisfied that its death was hastened, if not caused, by what was given. When the stomach is diseased, or when poison is taken into it, the worms trj' to flee from their dange*-, which causes distress, and they sometimes get into knots and stop the passages to the .stomach. Much more might be said on this subject: but enough has been stated to put those who attend to it on their guard against the dangerous practice of giving medicine to kill worms. My practice has been what I shall recommend to others to do in case of what is called worm complaints: to give the composition powders, or No. 2, to warm the stomach: a tea of No. 3, to remove the canker; and the bitters or either of the articles described u?ider No. 4, to correct the bile. If they are bad, carry them through a course of the medicine, and give the bitters. When there are nervous symptoms give the nerve powder. Injections should also be frequently given. The butternut .syrup is verj' good. If there is dan- ger 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. The)- are, when single, about half an inch long, and one third as wide: they join together and appear like tape, and often come away in long pieces of several yards. I was once troubled with them, and used to be faint, and have no appetite. I cured my.self by taking the butternut physic, which brought away 1 118 A'A/r GUIDE TO HEALTH; OR, several yards a* a time; and by taking the bitter medicine, to correct the bile, was never troubled with it again. I have often heard about people having a greedy worm ; but this is a mistaken notion, for there was never any such thing. The difficulty is that the stomach is cold and disor- dered, so that the food is not properly digested, and passes off -without nourishing the system, and this creates an unnatural appetite. Remove the cause by warming the stomach and correcting the digestive powers, and there will be no further difficulty. In the year 1805, I was called to see a young woman who, it was supposed, had a greedy-worm. It was thought to be very large, and would frequently get into her throat and choke her, almost stopping her breath. Her mother told me that the day before, one of the neighbors was in, and told a story about a person having a monster in her stomach, which was taken in by drinking at a brook. This terrible account .so frightened her daughter, that the worm rose into her throat, and rhoked her so bad that she had fits. I took the girl home with me, and gave her a dose of hot bitters, with .some of the nerve powder that night. The next morning I carried her through a course of the med- icine, as well as I knew at that time, which cleared the stomach and bowels, and strengthened the nervous system. I told her there was no worm that troubled her, and she had faith in what I said. I gave her medicine to correct the bile and restore the digesture, and she soon got well, being no more troubled 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 disor- der not being removed, and the patient being run down by the fashionable practice, until nature makes a compromise with disease, and the house becomes divided against itself. There is a constant warfare kept uji between the inward heat and cold; the flesh wastes awav in consequence of not digest- ing the food; the canker become seated on the stomach and bowels, and then takes hold of the lungs. When they get ^«*'*K«£'«1S^S«SP' ine, »rm; luch sor- sofF ural and ther ung was her Her 3ors r in lok. the she ;r a jht. led- the em. had bile no iby iced sor- by iiise self, leat est- and get nor A NIC FA. Mil. Y PHYSICIAN. 119 into this situation, it is called a seated consumption, and is pronounced by the doctors to be incurable. I have had a great many cases of this kind, and have in all of them, where was life enough left to build upon, been able to effect a cure by my system of practice. The most important thing is to raise the inward heat and get a perspiration, clear the system of canker, and restore the digestive powers, so that food will nourish the body and keep up the heaf on which life depends. This must be done bj' the regular course of medicine, as has been directed in all violent attacks of dis- ease, and persevering in it till the cause is removetl. This complaint is called by the doctors a hectic fever, because they are subject to cold chills, and hot flashes on the surface; but this is an error, for there is no fever about it; and this is the greatest difficulty, for if there were a fever, it would have a crisis, and nature would be able to drive out the cold and effect a cure. The only difficulty is to raise a fever, which must be done by such medicine as will raise and hold the inward heat till nature has the complete com- mand. When patients are very weak and low, they will have what is called cold sweats. The cau.se of this is not understood; the water that collects on the skin does not come through the pores, but is attracted from the air in the room, which is warmer than the body, and condenses on the surface; the same may be .seen on the outside of a mug or tumbler on a hot day, when filled with cold water, which is from the same cause. It is of more importance to attend to the preventing of this complaint, than to cure it. If peo- ple would make use of those means which I have recom- mended, and cure themselves of disease in its first stages, and avoid all poisonous drugs, there would never be a case of consumption, or any other chronic disorder. FITS. These are produced by the same cause as other com- plaints, that is, cold and obstructions; and may be cured by a regular course of the medicine, which overpowers the cold, promotes perspiration, and restores the digestive powers. Poison, or anything else which gives the cold power over >H^ l-.'o NEW UUIDE TO HEALTH; OR, the inward heat, will cause fits, because the natural tone of the muscular power is thereby destroyed, which produces violent spasms of the whole system. So much has already been said on this subject, that it is unnecessary to saj- more to give a correct idea of the manner of cure. ST. ANTHONY'S FIRE, NETTLE SPRING, OR SURFEIT. These are all caused by overheating the system and cool- ing too suddenly, which leaves the pores obstructed, and then, by taking more cold, will bring on the warfare between cold and heat, when they break out and itch and smart, as if stung by an insect. When the heat gets a little the upper hand, so as to produce perspiration, it will disappear till they get another cold. The only way to effect a cure is to give the hot medicine and steam till they are brought to the same state of heat as that which first caused the disease, and then cool by degrees. This I have proved in several in- stances, and never had any difficulty in entirely removing the cause in this way. Make use of a tea of No. 3, for canker, and the bitters to correct the bile, and a little ner\'e powder to quiet the nerves, and they will soon be restored to perfect health. STRANGURY, OR GRAVEL. This disorder is often caused by hard labor, and expos- ure to cold, in the early part of life; and when they gfrow old their heat diminishes, the bile becomes thick, and a sedi- ment collects in the bladder, which obstructs the passages. The glands through which the urine passes are clogged and become diseased, so that there is a difficulty in voiding the water, which causes great pain. It is seldom that there is a cure in such cases; but relief may be obtained by a course of the medicine, and making free use of the poplar- bark tea. A tea of the hemlock boughs is ver^' good; and also I have known great relief from using the wild lettuce and pipsisway, the tops and roots bruised and steeped in hot water. Many other articles that are good to promote the urine may be used to advantage. mrr.ixfc F.iAf/Ly /wvs/c/.lv. iji 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 limbs. This may be cured by raising the internal heat and causing a profuse perspira- tion, when the water will pa.ss off in a natural way; then make use of such medicine as will remove canker and restore the dige.stive powers, when the food, being digested, will keep up the natural heat of the body and continue the perspira- tion. The other kind is caused b.\- cold and obstruction: but instead of the water collecting and remaining in the bodj- and limbs, a leak forms in the glands and lets it into the trunk of the body, where there is no vent to let it off. This cannot be cured without tapping, and is very seldom com- pletely cured. I have never knowti but two who were in this .situation to be perfectly re.stored. One was a girl whom I attended. I tapped her and took away seventeen pounds of water; then swathed her up close, and gave medicine to keep up a perspiration. She did not fill again, and was com- pletely cured. The other was a man who had been tapped twice. I carried him through the course of medicine several times, and gave the juniper ashes, with molasses and gin, which carried off large quantities of water, 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 in my narrative, which wene cured; and enough has been said to give an idea of the cause and manner of treatment. BILIOUS COLIC. The name of this complaint is erroneous, for bilious means the bile, and no one ever heard of a bile colic, or pain caused by gall, as it is a friend to health, and never caused disease or death. This pain is caused by a disordered stomach and wantofdigcsture; the stomach is filled with canker, which gets into the narrow passage from the stomach, when the ac- Vi-I XEll- GUIDE TO HEALTH; OK, tioii of the bowels ceases; after the pain subsides those parts where it was are very sore. To cure it, raise the inward heat by giving the hoi medicine, remove the canker with No. 3, and give the bitters to correct the 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 cau.sed 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, which only increases the disease by re- ducing the strength of the patient, without removing the cause. I was once called to a soldier at Kastport, who had a violent pain in his side. The doctor that attended him had bled him five times without removing the pain, which made him so weak that it was with difficulty he could be held up in the bed. I 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 might have been done in three days, if he had not been bled. I 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, which caused a strangury, and he was in great distress. I declined doing anything for him with- out the consent of the commanding officer, who was not present. The soldier begged of me to tell him what to Jo for the latter complaint, as he could not live so. I told him to take off the blister, which was immediately done, and it gave instant relief. By carrying them through a course of medicine, as has been directed for other violent attacks, it will cure all cases of this complaint without danger; and it is much better than bleeding or blisters, which only increase the difficulty. RELAX. This complaint is caused by indigestion, or loss of the powers 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; st-_ «'X'''-rr'-?'^'!r»,!*?^«^?«s*^5^'s?s?swij;^^tssii©i'a^ii*i; BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 123 cleanse the stomach with No. i , and give the bitters to cor- rect the digesture. A dose of the composition powders, with a teaspoonful of No. 6 in it, will in most cases effect a cure. The bayberry and poplar bark are good, and also many other articles that have been described are good to restore the di- gestive powers. DYSENTERY. This is a distressing complaint, and is very common, es- pecially among children. Although much has already been said on this subject, yet its importance will justify some further directions. It is cau.sed by cold, which gets the as- cendency over the inward heat, so as to draw all the deter- mining powers inward; the stomach is disordered, the digestive powers are last, the bowels become coated with canker, the food is not digested so as to afford any nourishment or heat to the system, and all the juices flow inward, and pass off by the common pa.ssage. The canker makes the bowels very .sore, and when anything f>asses them, it causes excruciating pain. The best plan of treatment is to carry the patient through a regular course of medicine, and repeat it, if occasion should require, every day till relief is obtained. During the operation, give the chicken broth, and after the disease is checked, give occasionally a little brandy and loaf sugar burned together, and a strong tea of poplar bark. Give the syrup. No. 5, two or three times a day, until entirely recov- ered; and the bitters, No. 4, may be given night and morn- ing, to restore the digesture. Care must be taken to keep up the inward heat in the interim, by giving occasionally No. 2 in a tea of No. 3, sweetened. Steaming is very im- portant in this complaint, and injections must often be ad- ministered. RHEUMATISM. This complaint is caased by cold obstructing the natural circulation, which causes pain and swelling. It often affects the joints, so that they grow out of shape. A cure is easily eflFected, if timely and properly attended to, which must be done by such medicine as will cause perspiration and re- move obstructions. In common cases, taking the rheu- '^^IH^ II iH m 124 X/Cir GUI HE TO HEALTH; Oh\ matic drops, and bathing the part affected witli the same, will remove the complaint. When the case is bad, carry them through a course of the medicine, and bathe with the drops, repeating it as occasion may require till cured. At the same time, give a tea of poplar bark or hemlock boughs; and nmny other articles which have been described as good for this complaint may also be made use of to advantage. The gout is from the same cause, and the .stomach being greatly disordered and very sour, which produces a burning sen.sation. I have cured several cases by the common cour.se of medicine, and giving the bitters to restore the digestive powers. SORE LIPS. They are common in very hot or cold weather, when there is nearly a balance of the power of outward and inward heat, or outward and inward cold, which produces canker. To cure it, take a strong dose of a tea of No. 3, with a teaspoon- ful of No. 2 in it, when going to'bed, and wash them with the same; then wipe them dry to take otF the matter collected ; then wet them again with the tea, and put on as much ginger as will stick; repeat the same again fo- two or three times, till the coat is sufficient to keep out the air. When this comes off, repeat the same process again, until the soreness is gone; then wash again with the tea, and wipe them drj', and ap- ply warm tallow till a cure is completed. SORE EYES. This is generally caused by being expcsed to sudden changes of heat and cold, which produces canker; and where this is, ttere will be inflammation. There are many things good for this complaint; but the best that I have found is white pond lily root, marsh rosemary, witch hazel and red raspberry leaves. Make a strong tea with all or either, and add one-third as much of No. 6, with a little of 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 effected. At the same time take the tea to clear the system of canker. nOr.lXfC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. •125 HEADACHE. This pain proceeds from a foul stomach; the bile loses its powers, the food clogs by not being digested, and the effect is felt in the head, which is the fountain of sense. Some.- times there is sickness at the stomach; when this happens, it is called sick headache, and when they vomit the head is relieved. This proves that the cause is in the stomach. It must be cured by cleansing the stomach and restoring the dige.stive powers. A dose of composition powders, sitting by the fire wrapped in a blanket, will generally give relief; but if it should not, take a dose of No. i, in a tea of No. 3, and take the bitters to correct the bile; No. 2 should also be taken to warm the stomach, and if it is sour, take the pearl- ash water. It is very fashionable with the doctors to tell about dropsy in the head, but in this I have no belief; for there is no disease in the head but what proceeds from the stomach, except from external injury. If they understood 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 increa.ses the disease; and if they die, it is laid to the dropsy in the head, and this is satisfactory, because the doctor .says so. CORNS. These come on the joints of the toes, and are very troub- lesome. They may be cured by soaking the foot in warm water till the corn is soft, when shave it thin; take a strip of bladder or skin of suet, eight or ten inches long, and half an inch wide, and nib it till soft; then supple it well in rattle- snake's oil, or the nerve ointment; wrap it round the toe, and keep it on till worn out. If this does not cure, repeat the same till the corn is removed. I have seldom known this to fail of a cure. VENEREAL. The disease that is called by this name is more com- mon in seaports than in the country, because there is a more promiscuous and illicit intercourse of the sexes than in other places. It is a ver>' high state of canker and putrefaction, which takes hold of the glands of those parts that are first VM x/-:ir aiini- to hiialth: oh\ affected with it; and if not checked, the whole system will Ijecouie diseased by the venereal taint. It is more conimou among .seafaring men, becau.se of their being long absent at sea, and on coming on shore they give free scope to their pas.sions, without being very .scrupulous about the manner of their indulgence. It originates, probably, with those com- mon women, who have connection with many different men, and going beyond the impulse of nature; this impure con- nection causes uncleamiess, which produces the disease, and when seated, is contagious. The reason why this disease caases so much fright and alarm is owing to two caases; the first is the disgrace that is attached to the di.shonesty in getting it; and the other is the manner in which it has generally been treated; in giving mercury to cure it, the remedy becomes worse than the dis- ea.se. That this disorder cannot be cured by any other means is altogether an error; for I have cured a number of cases by very simple means. The first symptoms felt are 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 applying cold water and making use of the rheumatic drops; if there is much soreness, make use of the tea of No. 3, with the drops in it, which must be taken as well as applied to the parts. If the disease has been of long standing, and the whole system has become affected, they must be carried through a course of the medicine. Where there has been mercury made use of, and there is all the attendant consequences of such treatment, it is much more difficult to effect a cure, and is only done by a full course of the medicine, and repeating it for a number of times; raising the heat by steam each time as high as they can bear, to throw out the mercury and remove the canker, at the same time applying the poultice; then give the bitters to correct the bile. I had a case of a woman, who was brought to me on a bed, fifteen miles. She 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 mercurj-. Different doctors had attended her for eleven months, and she had constantly been growing 1 HOr.imC FAMILY PHYSILIAX. I -.'7 worse. She liad been kept ignorant of her disease till a few- days before brought to nie, on account of her husband. I carried her through five courses of the medicine in twoweeics, and applied a poultice of white bread and ginger, made witii a tea of No. 3. This completely broke up the disorder, and by giving medicine to correct the bile and restore the di- gesture, she was cured, and returned home in three weeks after coming tome. By taking things t<> restore her .strength, she has enjoyed good health ever .since. Another woman was cured in the same manner, who had been in this way for six years, and unable to do any business. I attended her three weeks, when she was restored to health, and returned home. In less than a year after, 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 have 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 comnmnicated to parts where 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 will sometimes be affected with the venereal taint whose parents had the disease. A disease similar in appearance, with much the same symptoms, may be brought on by overdoing and being exposed to the cold. I once had the case of a young mar- ried man, who, by straining himself from loading mill logs and being exposed to wet and cold, caused a weakness in the back and loins, and he had what is called a gleet, and an in- flammation, with all the symptoms common in the venereal. His wife became affected in the same manner, and they con- tinued in this situation three months, when I was called to attend them ; and by making use of such things as I then had a knowledge of to strengthen the loins and remove the canker, I was able to cure both in a short time. The man had all the symptoms that appear in the venereal except hard bunches in the groins, called buboes These I am satisfied are caused by mercury, for I never knew any to have them except they had taken mercury. By syringing with mercury and sugar of lead, it dries the glands and contracts the pass- ' '':^vlt^-:l^^U^ * Ifl' fr. !-. 1 ".'H X/i 11 CI -iin: TO HE. \L TH: OR, age, and stops the discharKc when the putrid matter, instead of going oflF, collects in the groin and fonns hard tumors, which remain a long time and have to be brought to a head to let off the putrid matter. Bunches of a .similar kind ofteti come on different parts of the l)o' at this time appears to be altogether a matter of speculation with the medical faculty, by their exorbitant price for attendance. The tax on the poor classes is very heavy; and this is not the greatest grievance that they have to bear, for they are often deprived of their wives and children by such ignorant and unnatural practice as is ver>' common in all parts of the country. Thirty years ago the practice of midwifery- was principally in the hands of experienced women, who had no difficulty; and there was scarce an instance known in those days of a lii nfViiWii'V'-i- nOTANlCFAytll.Y rilVSIClAN. Ijii woman dying in child-bed, and it was very unoonunon fnr them to lose the child; but at the present time these things are HO comnum Ihat it is hardly t;i ked about. There must lie »ome cause for this difference, and I can account tor it in no other way than the unskillful 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 I brought up a family of children, 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 prif^e was one dollar. When the doctors began to prac- tice 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 all 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 practiced as a midwife for twenty years. In an interview of about twenty minutes, .she gave me more useful instruction than all I ever gainetl from any other .source. I have practiced cojisidera- bly in this line, and have always had ^ery 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 possession of all their naUiral powers. They should be carried through a course of the medicine .several times, particularly a little before delivery, and keep them in a perspiration dur- ing and after delivery, which will prevent afler pains, and other complaints common in such ca.ses. Beware of bleed- ing, opium, and cold baths; invigorate all the faculties of the body and mind, to exert the most laborious efforts that na- ture is called upon to perform, instead of stupifying, and substituting art for nature. I will relate a case that I was knowing to, which will give a pretty fair view of the prac- tice of the doctors. A woman was taken in travail, niu the midwife could not come; a doctor was sent for; when became V.W NEW GUIDE TO HEAL TH; OR, the prospect was that she would not be delivered in two hours. He gave her some medicine which caused vomiting, and turned the pains to the stomach; she continued in this situation for twelve hours, when her strength was nearlj' gone. He then bled her, and to stop the puking gave so much opium as to cause such stupor that it required all the exertions of the women to keep the breath of life in her through the night; in the morning she remained very weak, and continued so till afternoon, when she was delivered with instruments. The child was dead, and the woman came very near dying, and it was six months before she got her strength again. Many more cases might be given of the bad success of bleeding and giving opium to stupify, and making use of art, instead of assisting nature to do her own work. I have given instruction to several who have bought tht right, and their practice has been attended with complete success. Many men that I have given the information to have since attended their own wives, and I have never known an 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 their wives in the hands of young inexperienced 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 in- stances, would induce the husband to throw them out at the window, if permitted to be present; but this is not allowed, for the very same reason. The following cases, and the mode of treatment, each of which presents something new and difficult, will present to view all that will be further necessary on this subject. These will be added by way of supplement. ii.- BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 131 red in two vomiting, ued in this was nearly tig gave so red all the life in her '^ery weak, vered with •man came le got her of the bad id making 11 work, lought tht I complete rmation to ver known ig married luch more e hands of nowledge, :e is to try I many in- out at the )t allowed, tit, each of present to :ct. These SUPPLEMENT TO THE THIRD EDITION. INTRODUCTION. " The Hebrew women are lively, and are delivered ere the mid- wives come in unto them." Exodus i. 19. As an introduction to what I have further to say on the subject of midwifery, the above may answer as a text; from which I have only to observe that, had this important branch been preserved in its simplicity, attended only by women, as it seems to have been in the days of the ancient Egyptians, when the Hebrews were slaves under Pharaoh, who ordered the midwives to kill all the Hebrew male chil- dren at their birth, women might still have been delivered with as little trouble to the midwives, and as little pain to themselves, as, from the account, it appears that they were then. For, as a cover to their humanity, and to escape pun- ishment from the king, the midwives excused themselves for not killing the male children on account of the liveliness of the Hebrew women. If those women had had the doctors of the present day, with their pincers, Pharaoh would have had less cause to have issued his decree to kill the male children, as many might have been killed with impunity before it was known whether they were male or female. Has the nature of women altered, which makes the mode of having children so much more difficult and mysterious now than it was then, or is it the speculation of the doctors, for the sake of robbing the people of twenty dollars, the regular tribute here for each child born ? And should the child be bom, fortunately for the mother and child both, before the arrival of the doctor, 132 XJSir GUIDE TO HEALTH; OR, he even then, instead of the price of a common visit, consid- ers himself entitled to a half fee, that is. ten dollars. In all this, you may see the mystery- of iniquity. Then dismiss the doctor; restore the business into the hands of women, where it belongs; and save your wife from much unnecessary pain, your children, perhaps, from death, and, at all events, your moniy for better purpo.ses. Then will your children be born naturally, as fruit falls from the tree, when ripe, of itself From this source, the doctors and their pincers, may be traced the miserable health of women, unable to stand on their feet for weeks and months, and never finally recover, all caused by those horrid instruments of steel, to extend the passage not only for the child, but for the instruments also. In this harsh and unnatural operation, they often not only crush the head of the child, but also the neck of the bladder. After this, there is an involuntary di.scharge of the urine, bearing-down pains, etc., in.somuch that life becomes an in- tolerable burden, without remedy. Can any one believe there was ever an instance of this kind among the Hebrew women, where midwives only were known, or where nature only was the midwife? I think not. Is there any such thing known among the natives of this country, where na- ture is their only dependence? History gives us an account of their squaws having a pappoose at night, and wading several rivers the next day, when driven by Christians in warfare; and by the simple use of taking the unicorn root, they prevented themselves from taking cold. If all these views of the subject— what has been stated in the body of this work, and what is hereto follow— be not satisfactory, neither would people be persuaded though one should arise from the dead. FURTHER REMARKS ON MIDWIFERY. As I am often called lipon for verbal information 6n this important subject, I shall endeavor in this supplement to give some further in.structions, by relating several import- ant cases, and their mode of treatment, which have occurred since my last edition was published. In addition to the bad practice of the doctors, as before i-r^'ri]m-n'4T>,M-'-'»y ■ ROTANIC FAMll. Y /'HVS/CIAX. VX\ related, I will state another case, qf which I was an eye-wit- ness. My brother's wife, about thirty years old, was in travail with her first child. The midwife called on me for advice, on account of a violent flooding, which I immediately relieved by the hot medicine. At the same time, some people present privately sent for a doctor. When he came, I told him there was no difficulty, and all that was wanting was time. After examination, he said the woman had been well treated. He then took command, and very soon began to use too much exertion. He was cautioned by the midwife; but he showed temper, and said, "Why did you send for me,, if you know best?" I told him he was not .sent for by our request; we found no need of any other help. The doc- tor persisted in this harsh treatment for about seven hours, occasionally trying to put on his instruments of torture. This painful attempt caused the woman to shrink from her pains, and the child drew back. After making .several un- successful attempts, he got himself tired out and a.sked me to examine her situation. I did .so, and told him that the child was not so far advanced as when he came. He asked me to attend her. I refused the offer, and told him that he pro- nounced the woman well treated when he came, but she had not been so treated since, and I was not liable to bear the blame. He then sent for another doctor, and let her alone till the other doctor came, in which time nature had done much in advancing her labor. The doctors were astonished at her strength in thus holding out, and I now firmly believe that with the use of the medicine which had been given her, and v/hich ought to have been continued, nature would have completed her delivery. The second doctor did but little more than to say the instruments could now be put on; which shows how far nature had completed her work. The first doctor put on the in.strumeuts of death and deliv- ered her by force, using strength enough to have drawn a hundredweight! Thus the child was, as I should call it, murdered; the head crushed, and the doctor put it in a tub of cold water twice; an application, one would have sup- posed, sufficient to kill it, had it been well! The woman flooded, like the running of water, so as to I 134 NEW GUIDE TO HEALTH; OR, be heard by all in the roqpi. The doctor called for cold wa- ter to put on as soon as possible. I told the doctor that he need not trouble himself any further about the woman, I would take the care of her. I gave her a spoonful of fine bayberry , cayenne and drops, and got her into bed as soon as possible. The alarming situation soon abated; but her senses were gone, and her nerves all in a state of confusion. I re- peated the dose, with the addition of nerve powder. I put a hot stone, wrapped in cloths wet with vinegar, at her feet, and also at her back and bowels, until she got warm. Then her nerves became more composed. When the doctor left her, he said there was a doubt whether she lived over twelve hours. At that time she was so swollen as to stop all evac- uations, besides other injuries she had received by the use of force instead of aid. The midwife used her best endeav- ors to promote a natural discharge, but in vain. But when all other soi-'-'?es fail, then comes my turn. I succeeded, and saved her from mortification. The second daj , I carried her through a course of medicine, steaming her in bed, for she was as helpless as though all her bones had been broken. All the way she could be turned was to draw her on the un- der sheet, and so turn her that way. After the second course she began to help herself a little. I was with her most of the time for five days and nights. I then left her, with medicines and directions, and she gained her health in about two months. I gave them directions how to proceed in case she should ever be in the like situation again. She had another child in about two years; the child lived, and both did well, by keeping away the doctor, as I am satisfied would have been the case the first time, had this scourge of humanity been kept away. I have been more particular in relating this case, than I otherwise should have been, had I not been an eye-witness to all the proceedings, and of course to'all the facts which I have stated, which I could not have believed had I not seen them; and had it been at my own house, I think I should not have waited for a door, but have pitched the monster out at the window. Yet I have reason to believe that this is only a sample of the general practice where nature moves slowly. l\ BOTANIC FA MIL Y PHYSICIAN. 135 The argot or rye spar, which is a very improper medicine, was also frequently given in this case; but it ought to be particularly guarded against in all cases. Another instance happened in the country very recently, only about six weeks since, where the doctor was with a young woman in travail, who had fits. The doctor bled her, and took away her child dead by force. The woman is yet in a poor state of health. What could we expect otherwise, where learned men forbid the laws of nature to take their course, take the blood, " which is the life, " to enable wo- men to go through with the most laborious task which na- ture is called on to perform ? Consider of these things, my friends, and govern yourselves accordingly. Now let rac exhibit the other side of the picture. I was called upon to attend a young woman in child-bed about four weeks ago, eighty miles in the couiitry. I attended. She had been sick, and sent for help before I arrived, and had got about again. About one week after, she was taken again, with every appearance that she would be delivered soon. In about six hours the pains all flatted away; she grew pale and dull in spirits, and the motion of the child had nearly ceased. She had labored hard and got cold, and had a bad cough, and the moisture of the glands was so thickened, that she could not spit clear of her mouth. I saw that there was no use in any further delay. On Thurs- day I carried her through a thorough course of medicine, and steamed her twice in the course of the day, and then let her rest. About the same time she was taken the night be- fore, to wit, about eleven o'clock, her pains were regular, her animation and vigor returned; a fine son was born about three o'clock, and she walked from the fire to the bed; a por- tion of coffee and cayenne was administered, and a steaming stone put to her feet. As soon as her perspiration was free, all after-pains ceased, and there were none of those alarming symptoms common to learned ignorance. The second day she showed symptoms of a child-bed fever and broken breasts. I carried her through another course of medicine 13ti NEW GUIDE TO HEALTH; OR, and steam. The fiftli day she took breakfast and dinner be- low with the family, and carried her child up stairs. The eighth day she rode out two miles, paid a visit and came back. On the ninth day, I carried her through another course of medicine, and got her so far cleared that shecouU spit clear of her mouth for the first time after I saw her. On the tenth day, she rode the same distance; and I have no doubt that, had she been attended in the common way, she would have had the child-bed fever, broken breasts, and a poor health afterwards. This ca.se caused much conversation. Why so? It was the different mode of treatment, reversing every mode com- monly attended to. " What .shall we do?" say the people, " we shall never dare to employ a doctor again." I an.swer: "Call the doctor and obtain his advice, then reverse everj' prescription given by him in a case of child-bed. If he tells you to have a doctor, have a midwife. If he says, ' Be bled, ' keep your blood for other uses. If he says, ' Keep yourself cold,' sweat yourself. If he says, ' Put cold wa- ter on your bowels, ' take hot medicine inside, and a steam- ing stone at your feet. If he says, 'Take physic,' use wann injections. If he says, ' Starve yourself,' eat what your appetite craves. ' ' By strict observance of the foregoing anti-directions, you may enjoy your health, and save the heavy bill for the many visits of the doctor, besides saving him from the trouble of keeping you sick. This is the mode of having patent babies, so highly recommended by Dr. Robinson in his 12th lecture, who says: " Even in child-bed delivery, a matter never to be forgotten, this practice has very nearly removed the pain and punishment from the daughters of Eve, threatened to our progenitor and entailed upon her offspring. A lady of good sense, and without the least coloring of imagination, .said it was easier to have five children under the operation and influence of this new prac- tice, than one by the other management and medicine. And she had had experience in both cases, and has been sup- ported in the evidence by every one who has followed her example." I'l.iy.w. BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. VXl This extract speaks volumes in favor of the treatment in the last-named case. The following case of midwifery I shall mention, with the mode of treatment, for the purpose of giving instruction to others: I was called to visit a woman ii Greenfield, Saratoga County, N. Y., who had been in tra. ail ten days, and her life despaired of. I think there were not less than ten men and women present, and the seal of despair was set upon each one's countenance. The woman in a low voice said, "I cannot see what can be the use of a woman's undergoing the distress I have for ten days, and die after all, as two sisters of mine have done in a similar case but a short time ago." I replied that pain and distress were the common lot of all mankind, and the duty of every one is to alleviate the mis- eries of others as far as it is in our power. She asked me if I thought I could help her. I assured her that I would do everything I could for that purpose. There were several persons present who owned the right. I took out my medi- cine, and put in a teacup a large spoonful of composition, one teaspoonful of cayenne, one of nerve powder, and one spoonful of sugar, filled the cup with boiling water, stirred them well together, and set it down. While settling, I took a large teaspoonful of brown emetic, and having poured off the tea into another cup, stirred in the powder, and handed it to the woman, who swallowed it, apparently with all pos- sible faith that it would help her. I called for assistance to regulate the bed and other things, which were in disorder about the room, as soon as possible. Everj' attention was paid, the medicine roused the efforts of nature, so that the woman was in readiness before we were. This called all to her assistance; the desired object was obtained in less than fifteen minutes after taking this friend of nature; a fine son was born alive, and the woman comfortable and able, with steadying, to walk from the fire to the bed, to the great joy of all present. The gloomy veil of despair was rai.sed from the countenance of all, and they heartilj- partook of the joy and thankfulness of the woman and family, in.somnch that 13H NEW GUIDE TO HEALTH; OK, some of the women present declared that they would never have anj' other children but patent ones hereafter. One of my agents, Joseph Michell, went with me, and we retumetl in the space of two hours, in a violent snow storm. He declared that that expedition was worth one hundred dollars to the society. The next day, the husband came and purchased the right, with instruction on the branch of midwifery ; and has attended his wife twice since, with un- usual success. One of my agents says he has frequently heard the woman relate the foregoing case, but never with- out shedding tears. CASE OF MIDWIFERY IN COLUMBUS, OHIO. This woman I agreed to be with when confined, which was expected in about three weeks. I went to see my son, about 1 30 miles. While there, I fell and broke two of my ribs. I had a violent cough, and almost lost my life. I did not return short of about six weeks, and then in a very poor state of health. I arrived at the house about eleven o'clock at night. The woman was then in travail. She said she had waited for me three weeks. The midwife said the wa- ters had been discharged three days, and the woman was in a low and lingering state, often wishing for me. I went to bed that night, but did not sleep much, on account of the distress of the woman, and noise of the moving in the house. I was solicited about noon the next day by the husband and wife, her father and mother, my ag^nt and his wife, with an earnest desire to attend the woman, as her mind was set on my attention. I reluctantly consented, as I was weak in body and mind, and hardly able to undergo the anxiety and responsibility of so difficult a case. I however agreed to do the best I could. I prepared a dose similar to that men- tioned in the foregoing case. It was gfiven. It soon had the desired effect, by rousing the system to action. I deliv- ered her in about half an hour. But the child was appar- ently dead. I took the placenta, or after-birth, with the child. The grandmother being seated in the comer, she placed the after-birth on a bed of embers, while rubbing the child; and as soon as the substance on the coals had gained HOTANIC FA MIL Y PHYSICIAN. \m iver 1 we rm. Ired ime liof un- itly ith- lich on, my did oor 3ck she wa- i in tto the ise. ind an on in nd do itt- lad iv- ar- :he ;he he ed warmth enough to fill the umbilical cord with warmth and moisture, it was stripped towards the body of the child, and so continued until a sufficient degree of warmth through this medium was conveyed into the body of the child as to ex- pand the lungs, which was effected in about fifleen or twen- ty minutes; then the string was separated in usual form. I relate this case for the information of those who may not have studied the principle of heat's gfiving life, as is mani- fest in the present case. There was no other possible way of communicating heat to the vitals except through that channel or stem, which had supported the growth of the child up to that time, the same as any vegetable fruit is supported from the vine or tree by the stem. If the vine be cut off, or pulled up, the fruit will wither and die. Now what was the cause of the death of this child ? Recollect the fore part of this statement. The water had been discharged three days. All that time the child had been starving, the same as the fruit loses its support when the vine is cut. But by raising artificial heat through the placenta and umbilical cord, by putting the former on the embers, and conveying the heat to the body of the child through the medium of the latter, it gave the child one more meal, which roused it into action, and which was to last till the next means nature has pro- vided can be obtained. Before the child is born, it is .sup- ported by this stem from the mother internally; after birth, from the breast of the mother externally. This food sup- ports the child till he can eat more solid food, and thus no longer need the breast. Now the attention of the mother, . May be employ'd to have another; And so go on with all the '-est, Your house be fill'd with children bless'd. CASE OF A FALSE CONCEPTION. About two years ago, I was called on by one of my agents at Eastport, Me., who appeared to be much alarmed, and requested me to go with him to visit a woman with whom he had been all night, and could gfive her no relief. She had flowed so much that she lay fainted away more than half the time, and the rest part of the time she was puking. 140 .\7':u- acini: to iikai.tii; oa; I asked him if she was in a pregnant state. He thought not. I answered I thought it must be the case. I went with him. and on the way asked him if he had given her an emetic ? He had not. If he had used an injection ? No, he did not think it would answer. Notan.swer! What is your medicine good for, if it is not a friend in the most alarming case? When entering the hou.se, the man .said: " My wife has been fainted away more than half the time since you left, and the rest of the time .she has been puking." I directed • my agent to go after his .syringe. The first thing I could find warm was some worniwood tea. I took some in a cup, and added some cayenne, nerve powder, and Emetic Herb, sweetened, as heretofore directed. She took it. I then .steeped one pint of coffee, and had time to give her about one glass, with a requisite portion of the same article as before, when the .syringe arrived. I then prepared about a gill of this liijuid, and added the same proportion of the articles taken, and charged the syringe with it, and ordered the nurse to administer it. I, with my agent, left the room for the .space of about ten minutes, when we were called in, and found the nurse much surprised at the discharge. The like was never .seen by any one present. The appearance was like a hog's heart secured in a membrane. The people were at a loss what to call it. My a^ent was of opinion that there was some human .shape in it. 1 said no. To satisfy him- self, he opened it with his knife, and found it solid fle.sh. I told them it was a false conception, and void of human .shape. I then repeated the dose as before given, and repeated the injection in usual form, which cleared her of all disorder, and set nature at liberty. All flowing, puking, and faint- ing ceased from the first application I made. The woman soon got well, and in less than one year had a fine son, and her health remains good. Many thanks were given me by the family, believing, as they said, that what I administered to the woman, together with what I prescribed, had .saved her life. I shall clo.se this subject with a few brief remarks. The foregoing cases I have described for the purpose of showing the difference between forcing nature, and aiding ROTAXIC FAMILY rHYSICIAN. 141 and assisting her. They are two theories directly opposed to each other, and can never harmonize together. As soon as learned ignorance begin.s to use force to extend the pass- age, the child cea.ses from its natural progre.ssion and draws back; as nature shrinks from all .such operations, and force mu.st then do the whole; and if the child should he caught by such force, as the dog catches his game, it will be likely to .share the .same fate, as in the case first mentioned. I shall not follow up the simile by comparing a doctor to a dog, though it might be made a very striking one. Is not this the caase of many women lingering out a miserable exist- ence in pain and torment, who are often heard to say, " I have never been well since my last child was born. I was in the hands of the doctor three days, and at last was deliv- ered with instnmients. I did not stand on my feet for six weeks, and have never regained my health." Yet the doc- tor is looked upon as her benefactor, and is thanked for sav- ing her life. Query — Were these evil consequences ever known where nature did her own work, and the child born before the doctor could get here? In all my practice, I nev- er knew an in.stance where the woman could not bear her weight upon her feet the same day. Nor have I ever heard of a single instance where nature had been a.ssisted accord- ing to my practice by others, where the patient was not able to bear her weight on her feet the same day of her deliver)'. As to the cau.se of the difference between those attended ac- cording to nature and those attended secundum artem (ac- cording to art), I shall leave the reader to dec'defor himself. Another evil in this branch which I shall mention here, and of which women have generally either felt or heard, is that of taking the after-birth by force. The doctor says, " It has grown fast to the side," and tears it off, .so as to be heard by those present. Alarming, if net fatal, con.sequences are the result. The question is, what other way can be done? Answer: The same as in taking the child. Assi.st nature, instead of forcing it. The only rule given by me to those who wish to attend their own wives or others is simply this: After the string is separated from the child, be careful not to lose it by letting it draw back, as this is the oniy sure guide . (if IV: NKIV G I '//)/-• TO HHALTH; ON, to the placenta. Take the string between the thumb and finger of the left hand, drawing it straight, while having the same between the thumb and finger of the right hand, slip- ping it forward until you find the solid part to which the string is attached. Take a steady pull when the pain is on. After a few .seconds it will begin to give way, turning inside out, as turning the lining to the sleeve of a coat. But if it stick fast, take care not to break the .string, as, if you do, you lase your guide. Keep the woman well fed with hot medi- cine, to prevent flooding. Then carry her through a course of medicine, and when the .system is slackened it will often come of i^lf. I would prefer having it remain till it discharges itself, according to nature, as it certainly will in time, than to be taken away by force, as I have seen done. The danger is far less. But I never knew a ca.se of the kind where the woman had been sufficiently cleared by the medi- cine near the time of her delivery. I knew one instance where the woman had been treated by force in this way, and she had been so injured that all her urine ran away as fast as it collected. The doctors had so injured her that they declared she would never live to have another child. But they were mistaken. The next one she was attended by my direction, and carried through, I think, thirteen courses of medicine before delivery. I attended her. She was sick but about two hours; was delivered and cleared without any difficulty, and both she and her child did well. There are as great errors committed in u.sing force for the after- birth as for the child. The inflammation caused by using force in taking the child causes the obstruction in taking the after-birth. When learned ignorant pretenders, who know nothing about following the umbilical cord for their guide, proceed inward, where they have no business, they often commit irreparable injury, and instead of taking the after-birth, they injure the womb, sometimes by turning it wrong side out, which causes distressing bearing-down pains, and thus the woman must linger out a miserable ex- istence until death comes as a welcome fnend to relieve her. Thus, kind reader, I have given you the most important particulars I now think of, and as to any further general b^MU ..w.'rtii • and ? the slip- the J on. iside if it you ledi- urse will 11 it 1 in Mie. :ind edi- ince and fast hey But nij' i of lick my the by in «, for ss, ng ng ivn er. nt •al BOTANIC FAM[I. Y PHYSICIAN. 148 directions, I can do no Ixitter than to refer you to the Cicner- al Dinrtions, as laid down in this book; and it is my opin- ion that you are lietter off with your own judgment and this book, than with all the scientific ignorance, called knowl- edge, as tdught in the schools, without it. Hence njy ad- vice to you is: Dismiss all doctors of law, physic and divinity. Pray for your own soul, if you know what it is, doctor your own body, and make your own will. By so doing you will .save your share of the greate.st tax ever impo.sed on man- kind. OUTLINES OF TREATMENT IN THE HOUR OF TRAVAIL. To point out a regular rule or form for every woman, would be out of my power, as they are re.stless, shifting their position in every form and manner to find a place of rest, which is as difficult a? that of Noah's dove. When they be- come .so far advanced that they cani.ot satisfy themselves any longer in their own way, then you may a.ssist them in the be.st manner to help themselves, and to enable others to help them, by assisting nature to do her own work. The seat is prepared in different ways, according to their fancy. Those who have had children ought to Ijc the best judge how to aid and assist them in this particular. I shall only give advice how to proceed in .some alarming and diffi- cult cases, to be handed down for the benefit of generations yet unborn, as none can be obtained from the progress of the learned for four thousand years. And if any beneficial in- formation shall now be obtained, it must be from the illiter- ate, who have studied nature rather than books. I have no authors, dictionaries or concordance to assi.st my feeble ef- forts in acquiring a correct judgment. Necessity and expe- rience are the only sources of my knowledge, from which I draw all my lessons. Among the most desperate cases is the flowing of females; pregnant or not, the treatment is the same. If it happens before delivery, give a portion of composition, with more cay- enne and hot witer, sweetened; or some drops, cayenne and snuff, or fine bayberry, as substitutes. If after delivery, the same. When the woman grows weary and worn out. I ' 144" NFAV GUIDE TO HEALTH; OR, and pains begin to die away, give a portion of the third preparation, in some composition and nerve powder. This will compose the system so as to rest or reinforce nature and hasten delivery. It is of great service when the pains are lingering, at the time of giving the above-name'd medicine to use an injection, in common form, made of the same com- pound. This will hasten or delay delivery, as nature re- quires. Remark. About the time of deliverj' apply a cloth sev- eral thicknesses, wet with hot water, to slack the muscles; repeat it qpcasionally, and keep it hot till nature is ready to perform her work. I attended one woman in this city with her first child. Her strength failed, her pains slacked; I gave her a table- spoonful of the liquid of the third preparation; wrapped her warm, which caused her to vomit once, and raised a perspi- ration; she fell asleep, and in this situation rested four hours, when the head of the child was so far advanced as to have been visible. She awoke, her travail recommenced with reinforced vigor. She was delivered rather in a cold state; she flowed badly. I gave her some No. 2 and drops, with a little fine baj'berry, which had the desired effect. She walked from the fire to the bed, and did well. There is another distressing complaint incident to females worse than having children ; and often no relief from the doc- tors. I have seen women in as great agony with false pains as at the delivery of a child. A strong tea of witch-hazel leaves and nerve powder, and a little cayenne, .strained, used by injection either way, or both, I have seen relieve like throwing water on the fire. The disorder is canker, and must be met with its antidote where it is. These few remarks, together with the foregoing cases, will be sufficient information on this subject. In conclus- ion, I would ask, Can we attach sufficient value to a medi- cine that will give rest to a weary patient in travail, and re- store the nefves and muscles to a giant ike strength, as re- freshed by wine, and continue the strength until delivery is completed; and at the same time guard against all those alarming complaints which too often follow afterwards ? A of the third A'der. This nature and he pains are ed medicine ; same com- B nature re- a cloth sev- lie muscles; is ready to first child, ler a table- rapped her ;d a perspi- four hours, IS to have need with cold state; ps, with a he walked to females n the doc- "alse pains itch-hazel ned, used lieve like tiker, and • ing cases, conclus- > a medi- , and re- th, as re- livery is all those rds? A BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. ijr, medicine to which you may resort with perfect confidence in times of the greatest peril, that, if anything can, will save your wife and child, and the fee of twenty dollars from the doctor. This is the regular fee in cities, though it is less in the country. SUPPLEMENT TO THE VENEREAL.- See page 125. There are four diseases, or rather four names of disease, which are often made fatal in consequence of the name, i . Venc-eal. 2. Hydrophobia. 3. Smallpox. 4. Erysipelas" As the remedy is laid down in the Medical Pocket Book, the name is doctored instead of the dista.se. If a child has a sore ear, and it runs a yellow water, it will spread like fire, as often seen on a pot; and it will inoculate where it touches! While on the child's ear, women call it a canker .sore, and there is nothing alarming under this name. Any old woman can cure it. But take the same infection from the ear, and inoculate with it in that part of the body where venereal is seated, and call it venereal, the consequence is the sam« and by the same mercurial treatment there would be all the alarming consequences as though the disorder was gener- ated in any other way. Yea, if the pafiei.t was well, with the same administration of mercury, in the same way, and to . the same extent, the buboes and shankers would often make their appearance in the same manner without the supposed di.sease as with. They doctor the name instead of the dis- order. The patient, therefore, as often loses his life by the mercury as by the supposed disease. Equally so in hydrophobia, by taking mercurj' the rem- edy becomes worse than the disease. In either of the above cases, the disorder is far easier cured by a regular course of medicine than the poison given for it; as the mercury is harder to eradicate from the .system than all the natural disease incident to mankind. Since my last edition was publi.shed, the .smallpox has been thoroughly attended to, and the general rule, as there laid down, found to answer every purpo.se and produce the desired effect. To bring out the smallpox, as in the meas- les and other similar disorders, be careful not to have too l-lti NEW a VIDE TO lU AI.TH; Ok\ much outward heat while the pock is filling. I visited a family in Cinciiniati last winter who had the smallpox, and who had had the kinepox previous. The appearance of the pustules was more like poison or measles than that of the smallpox. When it turned, it began to flat, instead of dry- ing off; and when it had flatted down to the vitals, it turned in, and one died, and the other it left in a miserable state of health, the pits hard and blue, lik<; other poison sores; and I am of an opinion that more people die in consequence of having the kinepox, than it would to let the smallpox have its natural run. Because the nature of the smallpox, when taken the natural way, is to clear the system from every other putrefaction, which, on the turn, scabs off with it. Not so in the kinepox. The infection partakes of every disorder of the persons of which it was taken — itch, venereal, cancer humors, or, worse than all the rest, mercurial taint given by the doctor. When part or all of these diseases are inoculated into a healthy pers5on,and have no way to discharge themselves from the system, tHey create worse disease than the smallpox. I knew a man in Portsmouth, N.H.,who was inoc- ulated with the kinepox, the infection taken from a man who had cancer humor. He was a healthy man when inoculated. I saw him within two years, and it was judged that he had more than half a peck of cancers on diflFerent parts of the • l)ody and limbs. He imputed it entirely to this inoculation, and highly disapproved of the kinepox. He died in the most distressed condition. The learned have added uuthiuK to the healing art: but they have done much in taking the knowledge of the simple remedies from the people. They have sub- stituted the poisonous minerals, which have multiplied the forms of disease, and thereby added to our bills of mortality. They have taken midwiferj- from the tender hands of women , and substituted the torturing instruments of steel, where- by not only children, but woinf:n. have been scarified. In relation to such practice, Kobiuson says, I,ec. viii, page 10.5: "It is, in truth, like running the gauntlet among armed Indians, or red-hut plough-shares, to escape from the poiKoiis or medical practice." Why do old people die more in a 7i- bleeding, by fever powders, or by poison, all tend to lessen inward heat, and to diminish life in the same proportion ; and when it is entirely extinguished, death follows as a natural consequence, and from the same cause, loss of heat, whatever it may be that puts out the fire. The putting out of the fire, or extinguishing inward or vital heat, is the cause of death. All practitioners, therefore, may by this rule either con- demn or justify themselves by looking back on their former practice, and asking themselves the question: "Have I cul- tivated the heat of my patients, to prolong their lives; or have I extinguished their heat, and thereby killed or destroyed them ?" Is Hot this question fully answered > See how the lives of human beings are daily sacrificed, at all ages, from birth to death ! Who, I would ask, is authorized to .say in such a case, " The Lord gives, and the Lord taketh away, and blessed be the name of the Lord," when they are de- stroyed in this manner ? In everything that breathes, the breathing is from the same cause. Without heat, there is no breathing. But when heat is continually generatecl or evolved in a confined room, excepting at one avenue, as in the lungs, there mast be breathing, or, what is the same, an inhaling of cold air, and an exhaling of oxygen or vapor from it. Every animal l)ody has its lamp, in proportion to its bigne.ss; and its con- tinuing to burn is much owing to the one who trims or takes care of the lamp. If it be replenished with water instead of oil, and with an icicle for a wick, it is like the method in which the doctors trim the lamps of their patients. Taking ROTANIC FAM/L V /'HVSfCf.iX. 149 out the blcKxl is like pouritig out the oil ; and the cold poison is as the icicle for a wick. The effect soon follows, which is cold and darkne&s. Can we doubt this being the fact at the present time ? Do we not often see the head of a family suddenly made cold by his lamp being put out; and three or four children taken from one house, all having their lamps blown out ? Can any one suppose that had their lamps been trimmed with good oil, and good wicks, that they would not have continued burning as long as the body of the lamp re- mained whole ? But if we continue not our own guards and sentinels, but employ artificial and leanied fools to watch over us, and save our oil for their own use, and trim our lamps with water and ice, we cainiot wonder at seeing our wives and children "dashed in pieces like the potter's ves- sel." When we employ seamen to drive our coach of life, instead of horsemen, and as long as cu.stom, superstition, error and bigotry are the ruling principles of the world, we never can expect to live while all the oil in our lamps is consumed, but to be blown out by the breath of ignorance, if nothing worse, as mankind has been in all ages where the poi.sonous breath of the BohonUpas overtakes them. The Priest and Doctor claiming: the control. One of the flesh, the other of the soul. Hell and the pit, from which they dig their stuff. Are never filled, yea, never crj- enough. The effect of relijfious meetings, ivherc xvomen chiefly at- tend, in the absence of their husbands. If women are allowed to attend day and night meetings, for the purpose of having the priest pray for their souls and pardon their sins, wHile their husbands and children are left at home, how long will it be before the sandals of the priest will be left at the door, as in soiue other countries, as a token that the husband must not enter, lest he should see and learn how the priest pardons his wife's sins? The doctor also, who comes in for a full share in these secret privileges, if he l)e allowed to examine .secretly our wives and daughters for the purpose of finding .some .secret complaint, which is indecent for the husband or father to witness or to know, as was the case of R 's wife and -*» loO XEW cvinr. to huai.th; oh\ Dr. A , of this city, hut a few years since, who is to be responsible for the mode of examination? If men will allow their wives to be thus privately exam- ined by these crafts, for the purpose of pardoning their sins and removing their indecent disorders, will they not soon claim all the indecent jobs in their families ? If it be inde- cent for a man to lie present at the birth of his child, why not equally indecent to Ik* present at its generation ? And so we must let the priest and the doctor generate, as well as bring into the world, all our children ! The priest could still bap- tize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, in whose name, also, he might pardon the sins of their moth- er ! In this way, those two crafts might liberate the affection- ate husband from all the toils of his family, excepting that of their maintenance ! Arouse, husbands, from your lethargy. Gird on every man his sword by his side. The sword of truth, I mean. Go in and out of your camp, and whenever you please, till you have driven all such miscreants from your borders. Take the protection of your wives and daughters into your own hands; keep them at home at all proper times, and when they go to meeting, go with them; when they are so sick as to need a doctor, which, if properly treated, would seldom be the case, be present at the examination; if they need prayers, pray for them yourselves; if they want children, be sure to be their real father, and take a fatherly care of them in bringing into the world, as well as afterwards; nourish them with due attention, instruct them in all that is good; but save them, by all means, from the pincers of learned doctors, or the fears of missionarj- mules. 49*AII people who have been attended by Patent Doctors are cautioned agrainst puttinf; themselves under regular doctors, as the cases have generally proven fatal to the patient, and the blame palmed on the Patent Doctor; some al- ter two weeks in their care. SEAMEN'S DIRECTIONS. After purchasing the right, and having a sample of med- icine numbered, these directions are the first lessons learned, as it gives a short and coiicise view of the system and prac- tice. In the first .stages of disease, one gill of No. 3 may BOTANIC FAMILY PHYSICIAN. |5l be used simple, with or without sugar. In more violent at- tacks, use from a half to a teaspoonful of No. 2; let the pa- tient he covered with a blanket, by the fire or in bed; apply a hot .stone at the feet; if this does not relieve them, add the emetic, No. i , and nerve powder, and go through a course of medicine. In all ca.ses where the glands are dry, and much fever, the emetic should be used without .spirit; the bitters are also best taken in hot water, sweetened, than with .spirit. The objection to phy.sic and bleeding is given in these directions hereafter. The complement of medicine given as a family stock is more to show the .simplicity of the articles than the rt (juisite quantity required. Give chil- dren drink often, sick or well. »®"The public are cautioned against employing any one who shall pretend to use his own improvements with my System of Practice, as I will not be accountable for any mal- practice of his. Th' Btuetic number one's desifj^u'd A general med'cine for mankind. Of every country, clime, or place. Wide as the circle of our race. In every case, and state, and stag-. Whatever malady may rage; For male or female, young or old. Nor can its value half Le told. To use this med'cine do not cease. Till you are helped of your disease; For NATURE'S FRIEND this sure will be. When you are taken sick at sea. t,et number two be used bold, To clear the stomach of the cold; Next steep the coffee, number thkek, And keep as warm as you can be. A hot stone at the feet now keep. As well as inward warmth repeat. The fountain 'bove the stream keep clear. And perspiration will appear. When sweat euough as you suppose. In spirit wash, and change your clothes; Again to bed, both clean and white. And sleep in comfort all the night. Should the disorder reinforce, Then follow up the former course; The second time I think will do. The third to fail I seldom knew. f :•' lo2 X/iir a LI IDE TO miAl.TH; Ok\ Now Inkr your liiUt-rH |,j tin. ,yuj. Tw.i, three, or four tiiiies in a ,|nv Your nppelilf if it lie kikxI, Y.)u iiiny eiit niiy kiiul of fo<«| I'liysic I woiiUI l,y „u menus ilii«ise To Imve yo;i first or IohI to iihc; I'or if you mice it much In course, It will . lun: \.\n lAMii. y phys/i /.ix. I.Vl INJ^EX. AKiit in the I'lici- kni American Viilt- nan (|7 Archaueel 7s Halm ofCilead 75 llalHnm of Kir 7;| llarherry tt2 llnyberry ] ] . . 57 Black I'cpper r,)! Hitter Herb til Hitter Root ta Hittersweet 70 Bircii Bark 72 Bitter Thistle 78 Hitters «2 UleedinK lo7 Bile (see No. 4 ) Hilioiis Colic lai Bnrdock 71 Hiitteruiit 75 Burns yu Bones, how set 100 Camphor At) Cayenne oO, 80 Cancers |oa Cancer Plaster 85 Cancer Sores itti Chamomile 70 Cherry Stones tM Clivers 72 Composition Powders 81 toUBh us Chicken Broth |»:^ Consumption l-js Counter-Poison (see No. 1). Courseof Medicine •24 80 Corns 125 Description of Diseases m Directions for Preparing VeKetable Medicine 79 Drowned Persons m Dropsy ) 21 Dysentery i£\ Klecampaue ||u Klra Bark 7;j Hmetic Herb 40. 70 Gvan Root , .' 72 , Keatherfew 72 Felons 114 Fevers ' 14 FHs ::,Aiy Fever and Ague 17 Gentian ' ' 73 ^ General Directions 88 Gravel 120 - Giiifer 55 : Golden Seal »|3 Gout 121 Golden Rod 7b \ Headache i^-, Hemlock Dark ,> Hoarhuiind ' ] , ^^^^ Hurscrndish 71 Injections 8(1 lutru)^ Ner\'e Powder 1)7 Preparation of do 8;i Ner\'ine (see Nerve Powder). Nettle Spring \-jn\ Nerve Uintment ......'. nn No. 1. Kmetic Herb, description of. 40 Preparation of do 70 No. 2. Cayenne. de.scriptiou of.... . ,'i0 Preparation of do 80 No. 3. To remove Canker, descripl tion of articles for that purpose. . .'Kl Preparation of do 80 No. 4. Bitters to correct the flile, le- .scription of articles for that pur- pose oj Preparation of do 82 No. ,5. Syrup for the Dysentery, de- scription of the articles usecl (M Preparation of do 82 No. «. Rheumatic Drops, descrip- tion of articles used 65 Preparation of do 8;} Peach Meats '. '. ' 54 Peppermint ] «8 Pennyroyal ." fly Pipsisway '78 Pleurisy .......'.'.' 122 Poisons 28 Poison by Ivy, etc no Poplar Bark " (j2 Pnckly Ash 78 Poultice 8fl P''es-- :.'.'.■.■ .'105 Remarks on Fevers 14 1 I I.-. I /.v/v \. Riliix ;, ,,..,,,,,, IlM Ki'd l'i|i|ui)t. ., ,, .....■.!.',! .V) kr.l KaspiHiry '..'.'.'.'.'.. im Kill lllll;llH||| |._>:( KlicMinatii- Driijw ',,..'.'.'.. ii'i Kill iiiiiiillc W KiniliiriN M4lvf .... Scaliln ; Mlliiacli Sjiiaw WViil Spiritf. Ill Turpentine SjicariMiiit iin SiiinnKT Sasiirv '..'..'.... mt Syiiip .' ....'.,..'.. n:i StrciiKlluniiiL I'liinter ..'..'.. K, Stork 111 Mciljoiiif s.s St, .VnlliiJin -s i.'irc i-m >traiiKiii\ ',,,,, siiiii it ..■ Tansy 'I'H iiiiiiKliwcirt I iiilill i»ff Nerve l'iiw HI 711 .'III .'ill 711 71 m:. 77 |:ll |:li; l.f. |:I7 |:w |:lti ll:i ll.'i III) 117 ll'.i I .VI ^^s^s<^ism£^iSss^ 1M t r