This aromatic plant rises about two feet in height: the root is perennial, large succulent, and tapering the stalk is striated, and round: leaves are three together; the terminal leaf is often cut into three lobes, these are placed on long foot-stalks, which terminate in a sheathed covering to the stalk there is no general involucre, the partial is composed of one or two leaves. HISTORY. This excellent plant grows on high rich soils, in New-Jersey and on Long-Island. MEDICAL VIRTUES. The root is a warm aromatic, is salivant, expectorant, and laxative. Held in the mouth it excites spitting; infused in water sweetened with honey, promotes expectoration, and has been found beneficial in the cholic and flatulent disorders of the bowels; it is good to promote the menstrual discharge, helps digestion, asthma, colds, disorders of the brain, catarrh, palsy, apoplexy, and quartan ague, PREPARATION. Take of the powdered root one drachm, in a glass of Madeira wine, before the fit of an ague, and infuse two drachms in half a pint of boiling water: a tea-cup full of the warm infusion, must be taken three times a day in all the above complaints. MAY-APPLE, OR MANDRAKE. PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM, DESCRIPTION. This plant rises three feet in height: leaves two or three, large, broad at the base, terminating in a sharp point: flowers yellow, producing a large berry something like a lime, and from whence it derives the name of yellow may-apple, which when ripe is esculent and delicious. HISTORY. It grows on uplands, in meadows and in the woods, and its roots are about the size of a goosequill; long and milky. MEDICAL VIRTUES. I have found the root both an emetic and a poworful cathartic, far superior to the imported jalap, 4 You must dig it in May, take the bark from off the root, dry it and pulverize it for use. I have cured many violent rheumatic complaints, which had baffled the exertions of some eminent physicians, by discovering they proceeded from the imprudent use of mercury. PREPARATION. Dissolve four drachms of the powdered bark of the root, and two ounces of sal epsom, in two quarts of metheglin: dose, a wine glass twice a day with an anodine at night. Rub the knees and shins every night and morning for ten minutes before the fire, with the following ointment: boil skunk cabbage root cut thin, in two quarts of rain water down to one; strain it, and put two pounds of hog's lard into the decoction; let it simmer over hot embers until the water is consumed, and then stir in one ounce of the flower of sulphur. This is an excellent anti-rheumatic ointment, especially for the pains which proceed from the mercury. imprudent use of MAY WEED, OR WILD CAMOMILE. DESCRIPTION. This herb rises two feet in height : leaves ovate: flowers yellow, resembling camomile flowers, only something smaller. HISTORY. It grows by the road sides in low grounds, and is to be found plentifully near the Delaware river, in the state of New-Jersey. MEDICAL VIRTUES. The leaves are a powerful sudorific, and answers all the intentions of camomile flowers. |