56 THE SOUTHERN BOTANIC JOURNAL. THE Southern Botanic Journal. CHARLESTON, MARCH 18, 1837. den upon by the great. Those who have the temerity to oppose aristocracy and the grandees, run the risk of being ranked among the proscribed,—and many would The warm reception which the BOTAN- see innocence suffer, rather than exert IC JOURNAL has experienced among the their influence on the side of justice, and friends of the Thomsonian system, and thereby hazard the displeasure of the powthe rapid increase on the subscription list, erful. Such were not the sentiments of encourage the Publishers to enlarge the LaFayette, when he espoused the cause publication, so that it shall not be inferior of Americans! They were, at that period, in size to any similar paper in the United more despised by the aristocrats of EuStates; and the Editor will spare no pains rope, than the Thomsonians of South Cato render its contents profitable to the rearolina are by those who wish to domineer der. We are confident in the belief, that over them. Yet he, regardless of conse there is sufficient matter and spirit among quences, boldly embarked in the cause of the Southern Thomsonians to support the untrammelled rights, and lived to reap work, and to have among themselves a the reward of his magnanimity. His memvehicle to repel their foes, and give that ory will ever glow in the bosom of every impulse to the cause which interest and freeman and friend of humanity. humanity so loudly call for here. We hope, with Dr. Curtis, that spirited writers will engage in our defence, "in PREMIUM OFFERED. the little State of noble souls, against one JOSEPH T. WHITFIELD, Esq. of An- of the most oppressive laws that ever derson Court House, in a letter to the passed in an American legislature.”Editor of the Thomsonian Recorder, says "The South Carolinians were never made that the Friendly Botanic Society of that to be enslaved, they must-they will be place, have offered a premium for the free." Such are our sentiments, and such "best Essay, Speech, or counter-Report we think are the sentiments of every true to the Medical Committee" of the Legis- Carolinian; and it is upon this firm conlature of South Carolina. . We hope to viction that we labor so ardently to lay see some of the able pens of this State our grievances before them. We feel as nd elsewhere, espouse the cause of free-sured that when our wrongs are viewed i dom, and help their oppressed brethren a true light, our oppression will be at a to resist the tyranny exercised over them end. by our Medical gentry. The desire to see liberty and security preserved to every good citizen of South Carolina, and What it is, and how removed.—It is c the hateful appearance of an oppressive ten asked, what is meant by the wo monopoly daring to lift its despicable head Canker. Those who read the works on the soil of our State, will of them- Dr Thomson, are puzzled to find out w] selves be a sufficient stimulus to arouse he means by it; but a little closer attent the noble and generous to enlist in the would at once explain the matter. Hes cause of the persecuted, without pecuniary that disease is caused by loss of inw reward, We know that there is a gene- heat or cold, and that Canker is produ ral apathy in the world to take up for by cold. Now, it follows, as a matte those who are in the minority, and trod- course, that Thomson, who generall CANKER, perly so called, is generally taken away we will give a more elaborate idea upon by cathartics and emetics, without previ- this subject. ously loosening it from the coates of the stomach as though it existed in a fluid form THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN. in that organ and ready to be removed by the mere laxative effect of the Cathartic, It is hard to say what caused the wiseven without the agency of the muscular est of men to write the above sentence. coates of the stomach and bowels. This, If the invention of the Press had been however, is a mistake. The morbific sub- found out in his time we might suppose stance of the stomach is generally viscid that he had just seen a work issued, purand tough closely adhering to the mucous porting to be new, but which, at the same membranes of those organs where it is time, was nothing but a plagiarism-and seated, and it is not only necessary to give on the perusal thereof he would have exthat which will carry it off, but we must first administer that which will loosen it. For this, we give No. 3. The theory of this practice is based upon philosophical and chemical principles, which are as well established as any certainty in science can be. claimed what we now repeat "there is nothing new under the Sun." Not long since we saw a pompous advertisement in the papers from a well known reformer of reforms (that is to say a mere compiler who wishes to impose his compilation on the public as a new disThe sensibility of the part is weakened covery) that he had on his travels in the by the morbid matter settling upon the West discovered a certain cure for the vital organ. (See Journal, p. 36.) This Stone or Gravel-and this remedy is to morbid matter is lymph, composed of a be kept from the public until the discovgreat quantity of albumen, which, for erer chooses to give it to the world in his want of proper circulation, would putrefy production. We have also been in the and decay, and with it, the organs which West, and it was our good fortune to are thus encumbered. We apply the remedy:— make the same discovery through the agency of some friends who pointed out 1st. By stimulating these organs, in order the famous Panacea, and here we give it to raise the sensibility. to the public:-it is the LITHOSPERMUM 2nd. By giving an astringent, decoction, containing, with the stimulating quali- of the Botanists, and although we have no ties of the medicine, some tanin in a- doubt that it is an excellent remedy, yet bundance. This tanin has an aflinity it has long been abandoned by Physifor the albumen, which is coagulated, cians. The following is a description of and its nature is thus changed. It is the Plant, and remarks from several wriloosened from the coates of the stomach ters on the subject. 58 From the Encyclopedia Britanica.- sides, the last is a nursling of the gardens "LITHOSPERMUM' -Gromwell ;-A ge- of the curious. nus of the pentandria monoginia class. The corolla is funnel shape, with a naked mer until September sometimes, and in Time. They all flower from Midsumperforated faux, and the calix consists of the mean time the seed ripens. five segments. There are six species three of them native of Britain, viz: the Gravel, Stranguary, Travail in women. GOVERNMENT AND VIRTUES.-Stone, officinale or Gromwell; the purpuro caru--These are accounted to be of as singuleum, or lesser creeping Gromwell and lar force as any herb or seed whatsoever, the Arvense, or bastard Alkanet. The to break the stone and to avoid it, and the seeds of the officinale are accounted diu- gravel, in the reins or bladder, as also to retic." Dictionaire d'histoire naturelle--LITHO- help the strangury. This seed is of the provoke the urine, when stopped, and to SPERMUM or Gromwell, properties and greatest use, being bruised and boiled in uses. The seed of the Gromwell have a white-wine, or in broth, or the like, or the farinaceous and viscous taste. been said to be aperient and diuretic; drachms of the seed in powder, taken with It has powder of the seed taken therein. Two but the properties to dissolve the Stone women's breast milk, is very effectual to which were once attributed to them are produce speedy delivery to such women now disputed. The root of the wild as have sore pains, in travail and cannot Gromwell gives a beautiful red dye. be delivered. The herb itself (when the Goats and Sheep are very fond of these seed is not to be had) either boiled, or the plants." Culpepper's English Physician--GROM- purposes aforesaid, but not so powerful juice thereof drank is effectual to all the ELL-description. The greater Gromel or speedy in operation. grows up with slender, hard and hairy stalks, trailing and taking root in the are two beautiful engravings of this plant La flore Parisienne.-In this work there ground as it lies thereon and parted into one with yellow blossoms, the "Litho many other small branches, having hairy spermum officinale-Properties and Uses. dark green leaves. At the joints with The seeds have been recommended as the leaves come forth very small blue aperient and diuretic. The seed bruised flowers, and, after them hard, stony, in infusion of white wine have been emglobular seed. The root is long and ployed, but it is a remedy of little activiwoody, abiding all the winter, and shoots ty and upon which we cannot rely". forth fresh stalks in the spring. The smaller wild Gromel sends forth red blossoms, or wild gromwell-"All Another, the Lothspermum mofficinale with upright, hard, branched stalks, two or this plant passes for sudorific and the three feet high, full of joints, every one seeds as aperient.-The seeds reduced in of which grows small, long, hard and powder and mixed in White Wine or rough leaves like the former, but lesser; Water have been administered with some among which leaves come forth small success in retention of Urine but the benwhite flowers, and after them grayish eficial effects received are perhaps to be round seeds; the root is not very large attributed to the White Wine." but contains numerous strings. The Garden Gromel has several up-mily of the Borraginea or the Borrage TORRY has classed this plant in the faright, slender, woody, hairy stalks, blown tribe (see also Tournefort) he says it is and cressed, very little branched, with thought this family of plants contain a leaves and flowers like the former; after peculiar chemical principle approaching which in rough brown husks, is contained the Resins; but he tells us nothing of its a white hard round seed, shining like medical properties. BIGUELOW does not pearls and greater than either of the for- mention it in his Medical Botany,nor NUTmer; the root is like the first described ALL in his Elements of Botany. ELLIOT with branches and strings growing from says a species of it grows on Charleston it, which continue as the first all winter. Neck, but we have not met with it as yet, Place. The two first grow wild, in he does not mention any thing of its probarren or untilled places and by the way-perties. THE SOUTHERN BOTANIC JOURNAL. 59 United States Dispensatory. "LITHO-enlisted the skill of the most eminent phySPERMUM officinale, Gromwell, Milium so- sicians for the alleviation of his complaint.. lis. A European perennial, the seeds of which are ovate, of a grayish white, or He met with a man who professed to dispearl color, shining rather larger than solve the stone in the bladder; people millet seed, and of a stony hardness, from were resorting to him from various parts, which the generic name of the plant ori- and some came from a great distance; he ginated. From an opinion, formerly pre-cured several, and gave relief to almost valent, that nature indicated remedies a dapted to certain diseases by some resem- every one. This gentleman also applied, blance between the remedy and the cha and experienced considerable amelioraFacter of the complaint, or of the parts tion, in one day, from a decoction of a affected, the seeds of this plant were ap- handful of the root, boiled or steeped in a plied to the the treatment of calculus disorders; and they retained their ground in quart of water. The plant was shown to in the estimation of physicians as a diu- this gentleman and his son, after great retic, useful in complaints of the urinary persuasion, and he assured us of his opinpassages, long after the superstitious no- ion, that if he could have procured a suftion, in which their use originated, had ficient quantity of the article, a cure would been abandoned. But they are at present have been effected, and that he had found considered nearly inert, and are not employed." more benefit from the use of it, than from HOOPER uses similar observations on any other remedy he had ever tried,this subject. [See his Dictionary.] CUL- that it was far more efficacious than the LEN, in his Materia Medica, denies their uva ursi, or the spirits of nitre, or even specific property entirely. So far as we the salt, or the alkalies, &c., &c., which have consulted American authors, it ap- he had used in vain. Not being able to pears that they are ignorant of the exis- procure more of the Lithospermum; he tence of a species of the Lithospermum in submitted to an operation, as a dernier rethe United States. Perhaps, the little effi- sort, and died the next day. cacy found in its use in Europe, and the prevalent delusion which abandons the It is with unfeigned pleasure that we lay vegitable kingdom, and secks remedies in before our readers the able communimineral and metalic substances, has di- cation of our much esteemed friend S. rected their attention to other topics.-B. ABBOт, and we sincerely hope that he This plant grows plentifully in middle will not forget to redeem his pledge, by a Tennessee and Kentucky, and particular- dorning our columns with the productions ly around Nashville. The Indians were of his lucid pen, communicating the exwell acquainted with its properties, and perience he has had in his professional there are now some people who keep it as career. We have no fear of the result of a great secret, and give to the plant won- the system, but with the help of a vehicle derful attributes for the removal of calcu- to spread before the world the result of i. The root and seeds are generally used the practice, it must advance with a more substantially, or in infusions. We have rapid and firm step. We hope our friends. found it advantageous in complaints of will imitate him in assisting us in the work the urinary organs. We were well ac- of humanity, and with such able co-labor quainted with a gentleman of respectabili-ers in the cause, we feel satisfied that we ty, who labored under the influence of will be able to overcome the the demon calculus disorders for thirty years, and prejudice, and to establish our cause upon who had every means in his power, and its true merits in the esteem of the world. St. James, Goose Creek Parish, Charleston, Dist., March 9. To Dr. D. F. NARDIN, Editor of the Southern Botanic Journal. hope that the days of darkness have gone by, that the happy results of the Thomsonian system will excite people to manifest a more general attention or interest on Medical subjects,-to think no longer SIR:-I have received the first number that they can do nothing in matters of reof your paper. I have looked for it with ligion without the Priest,-that when they anxiety; and now it has arrived, I wish may want an indenture drawn, or to make it success. I regard the paper as being a will, they need send for a Lawyer, a vehicle or an instrument well calculated and that whenever disease makes its to enlighten the minds of the people on appearance among them, that it is nethe very important subject of Medicine, cessary to fly in haste for the M. D.; and and to bring about that reformation in Me- whatever his prescriptions may be, they dical practice, which is so much need- are so binding as to admit of no appeal from his dictations; but so far from Permit me to congratulate you as occu- this being their only resource-with the pying a high and honorable station, en- Thomsonian system properly understood, gaged in a good cause, one that holds out they can have the Doctor, and the remedies and promises the most extensive and last- at hand. ed. ing benefits to mankind. Your labours I am confident in asserting, that the will be often painful and perplexing, but knowledge and use of Doctor Samuel yours is the cause of truth. (Truth is Thomson's practice and remedies, have mighty and must prevail!) Therefore pro- taken from the mass of the people a greaceed fearlessly to expose naked truths, to ter burden than any other discovery made the eyes of the world. by man; it is only surpassed by that of Your paper I trust will be the means of redemption. In their application to the giving an impulse to the Thomsonian removal of disease; Thomsonian remecause that it has never before received in dies have no rival; they have eclipsed the the Southern section of the country. Al- fame of all that have been in though it has been but a few years since them; and Thomson's cotemporaries and before vogue the introduction of the system into this competitors are compelled to bow in his State, yet invention has been on the alert, presence. Envy has raised its despicable head, and Malice has yawned terribly! but in the march, gaining ground, spreading rapidly The Botanic practice is onward in its face of it all, the system has travelled on from one section of the country to anowith resistless strides, it is making its way ther; and it occasions some of our Regular through city, town and country. Medical gentry, to feel bad and look bad, Men of learning and humanity are es- for they look angry. Some affect to laugh pousing the good cause. The success at their calamity; the faces of others, if which has attended the proper practice of you but name the subject, immediately the system, stands in defiance of contradic-assume a blackened aspect! tion, and will ensure its triumph against I have examined the Thomsonian systhe opposing interest of the Faculty, and tem, and I think I understand it, I have the credulity of their uninformed and bi-witnessed its extraordinary effects when goted adherents. The more vigorous the applied in practice; I have known Thomefforts of the enemies of the Thomsonian son's mode of practice prevail so powercause, the more resistless will be its march, fully in the removal of disease in its most the more complete its triumph. The peo- afflictive forms, that I cannot be skeptical. ple of this happy country have been im- And I am happy and strong in the faith, posed upon too long by the pretensions of that the Thomsonian luminary is advanthe Medical Faculty. No science has been cing and rising superior to the strong preinvolved in greater darkness than that of judices of an interested Faculty; that the Medicine; false theories have prevailed, people are rushing to the light; that the a dangerous and unsuccessful practice, dark and heavy swell of bitter Medical without any uniform system, has every strife and desolation, is fast receding from where been received. But I ardently among us. Dr. Thomson has not toiled |