Part 6

CANCERS.--Take the leaves and small, tender tops or branches of poke-weed; pound together and squeeze out the juice, and put it into an earthen pot; set it in the sun, till it has acquired the thickness of an ointment; spread the plaster the size of the sore on the leaf of the plant, when green, and on black silk in the winter; apply a new plaster three or four times during the day, if the pain can be indured, which is sometimes very great. This remedy, which kills and loosens the cancer at the bottom and draws it to the outside, makes it apparently worse for the time, on first using, but nevertheless effects a radical cure in about five or six months. No physic or strong drink is to be made use of, except in case of fainting, when a little good spirits may be used. This has effected cures, in many instances, where the cancers were of an inveterate kind and of long duration, and has never failed of success.

SALT RHEUM OR SCURVY.--Take the poke-weed leaves, any time in the summer, pound and squeeze out the juice; strain it into a pewter basin, and set in the sun until it becomes a salve; then put it into an earthen mug and add fresh butter and beeswax, sufficient to make an ointment of common thickness; simmer the whole over the fire, and keep constantly stirring it until it is thoroughly mixed; when cold, rub the part affected twice a day, till the cure is completed, which will be in the course of three or four months; the patient will soon experience its good effects.

WHOOPING COUGH.--Take a good handful of dry colts-foot leaves, cut them small and boil them in one quart of spring water to half a pint, then take it off the fire, and when it is almost cold, strain it clean through a cloth, squeezing the herbs as dry as you can; then dissolve in it one ounce of brown sugar candy, finely powdered, and give a child three or four years old one spoonful, cold or warm, according to the season, and so in proportion to the age and strength, three or four times a day (or oftener if the fits of coughing come frequently,) till well, which will be in two or three days; it will soon abate the fits of coughing.

RHEUMATISM.--A specific and infallible cure for the most inveterate Rheumatism of many years standing, has been communicated by a man of character from the coast of Guinea. He says the negroes of that country easily remove it in a little time, by rubbing the part affected with a mixture of cayenne pepper and strong spirits; the rubbing must be continued for some time, and repeated till the cure is effected; the pepper must be reduced to powder. Several Americans, most grievously tormented with this intolerable disorder, have been so effectually relieved by this happy communication, as not to have the least remains of it, and with my own experience, I believe it, but would rather depend on it with the addition of drinking a glass of princes pine, steeped in good French brandy, morning and evening, for the blood; I do not doubt of its being an almost certain cure--but remember to guard against cold and wet.

SORE BREAST.--Take the sprouts of the first year’s growth of bitter poplar, and scrape off the bark, and the bark of sumack roots, a handful of each, half a handful of camomile and as much of mullen leaves; stew in one pound of hog’s fat over a moderate fire, then strain it clean and add half a gill of good rum; simmer again to the consumption of the rum, and it is fit for use.

FOR A POULTICE--Take roots and some of the tender leaves of scabious, pound in a mortar to a salve and spread it on a piece of thin leather; heat it hot by the fire until it is brown, cover it over with the before mentioned ointment, and apply to the breast; repeat as often as you find need.

ULCER.--A tea of white pine bark, elixir salutes and the yolk of an egg, is good for an inward ulcer that is broke.

BURNS.--Make a poultice of Indian meal and emptyings, to draw out the fire; when it is out, strew on red precipitate, then apply a plaster made of hog’s fat, mutton tallow and beeswax; simmer together, take it off and cool it so as not to curdle the egg, then put in the yolk of an egg, and stir it till it becomes the consistency of salve.

DISSOLVING STONE IN THE BLADDER.--Take the expressed juice of horse mint and red onion, one gill of each, every morning and evening, till the complaint be removed; if the green mint cannot be had, make a strong decoction of the dry herb.

WEAK JOINTS.--When the cord is stretched, take yarrow, Solomon’s seal, comfrey roots and mug-wort, make it into an ointment, with fresh butter or cat’s grease; to guard the stomach, make a tea of St. John’s wort.

FLUX.--Take two teaspoonfuls of clean hickory or oak ashes, quite hot, in half a gill of old spirits or milk, night and morning, two or three days if necessary; let the patient live on a flour diet altogether, and it is good to wear warm flannel next the stomach.

RHEUMATISM.--Take one pound of roll brimstone, pound it fine and put it into an earthen pot; pour thereon one gallon of boiling water, and stir it well; after standing about twenty-four hours, it is fit for use. Drink half a pint in the morning, before breakfast, and the same before going to bed, and a radical cure will be effected in the space of a few weeks.

BROKEN BONES.--Take the bark of tag alder, wormwood tops and the white of hen-dung; boil in water till the strength is out, then strain and add one gill of hog’s fat, and simmer to an ointment; use with care not to hurt the bone.

SCALD OR BURN.--Take half a pint of milk, thicken it with Indian meal, add four spoonsful of soot and four spoonsful of molasses; wet the poultice with sweet oil and apply. The milk must be scalded, not boiled.

RICKETS AND CONSUMPTION.--To make two quarts of syrup: take a quart of malt, put it into two gallons of water and boil till the strength is out; strain it, and to the wort add brook and noble liverwort, rock polly pody, maiden hair, dog grass, comfrey roots, Indian beans, parsley, violets, daisy, Johnwort, low balm, tormentile, low bittory, elder flowers and garden berage, a good handful of each; boil them two or three hours, strain and let it settle, pour it off from the dregs and put into it a little licorice and annis-seed; boil it again, strain and put into it a pint of molasses, make it just boil, and it is done. Dose for a child three months old, a spoonful in the morning, before noon, afternoon and at night.

TO MAKE ELIXIR PRO.--Take one quart of good spirits, add to it two ounces of myrrh; let it stand in the warm sun four days, then add half ounce socotrin aloes and one ounce saffron; stir it as before, let it stand two days, then pour it off for use.

TO MAKE ELIXIR ASTHMATIC.--Take two ounces of flowers of benzoin, two ounces saffron, one ounce crude opium, half ounce oil of annis-seed and one pound spirits wine; put all together, stand four days in a warm place, frequently shaking it; strain, and add half ounce oil of annis-seed; shake it well. Dose, from 20 to 100 drops.

PILES.--Take one handful each of the bark of sumack roots, the green of alder, and mullen, put them all together in a clean earthen vessel, with hog’s lard; simmer over a moderate fire the best part of a day, then strain it through a cloth, and it is fit for use; anoint often.

STRENGTHENING SYRUP.--Take a handful each of asparagus roots; sweet apple tree bark, black and red alder bark, black cherry bark and hops; put all into two quarts water, and boil it down to one quart; add one ounce of rosin, sweeten it with loaf sugar, and add half a pint of gin. Dose, half a gill.

HEAD-ACHE PILLS.--Two ounces aloes, half an ounce mastic, two drachms dried marjoram, two drachms salts of wormwood; make them all into a powder, with juice of coolwort and sugar, as much as is sufficient. This compound strengthens the stomach, brain, nerves and muscles, and relieves them of humors; they open obstructions of the liver and spleen, and remove diseases therefrom. Take half a drachm on going to bed.

DEWEY’S TINCTURE.--Take two ounces gum guaiacum, half ounce alspice, one-fourth ounce salts of tartar or common pearlash, and one pint brandy; pulverize the gum and alspice, steep the whole in the brandy four days, and then strain off the liquor; add to it one tablespoonful of the volatile spirits of sal-ammoniac, and keep it corked close. Dose--a teaspoonful twice a day for about a week, before and at the time of being unwell.

STIMULATING EMBROCATION.--In case of mortification, take a drachm of sal-ammoniac to two ounces of vinegar and six of water. This forms a mixture of the proper strength.

POULTICE TO STOP MORTIFICATION.--Take beef brain, boil and skim it well, then take it off; take the blossoms of mayweed and feather few, powder them fine and put them in the brain, stirring them in; thicken it with Indian meal until fit for use. Do not put it over the fire after the meal is put in.

RHEUMATISM.--One pint neats foot oil, middling beef’s gall, half pint French brandy and one gill spirits turpentine, simmered well together; when applied to the parts affected, those parts should be well heated by the fire to make it take affect.

CHOLIC.--Take one handful of hoarhound and one handful of oak of Jerusalem, boil them well until the liquor is reduced to two tablespoonful, then add one tablespoonful of molasses; simmer the whole together, and add one spoonful each of good spirits and spirits of turpentine; stir them well together. Take one teaspoonful three times a day.

OPODELDOCK.--Take two and half pounds of alcohol, five drachms windsor soap, and four drachms camphor; digest in a glass vessel till the soap is dissolved; then add one ounce oil of sassafras, three ounces oil of lavender, half drachm each origanum and oil fir, four drachms alcohol and spirits ammonia; put into viol.

COMPOUND POWDERS.--Of jalap, cream tartar and senna, take equal quantities of each. Dose--one drachm or sixty grains.

SODA POWDERS.--Forty grains tartaric acid, in powders, fifty grains super-carbonate soda, and eighty grains Rochelle salts.

PAIN IN THE LEGS.--Take oil origanum and make a strong tincture; then add as much fine salt as will dissolve; bathe with this evenings.

ANOTHER.--Oil origanum, sassafras and lavender; add ether to dissolve the oils.

PHTHISIC.--Take buds of mandrake, dry them thoroughly and pound them finely, then take the same quantity of ipecac, put it into vinegar or warm water, and take a tablespoonful at a time, until it operates; then take roots of mandrake, split, dry and powder them fine, also a handful of rock lungwort, dried and powdered, and a spoonful of red vain-dock and tamarack gum; put all into a quart of gin, and drink half a wine glass full three times a day.

TO WARM THE BLOOD.--Take of wild colts foot roots and tops, white wood bark and skunk cabbage roots, three tablespoonsful each, powdered, in one pint of gin and one pint of water; infuse three days, and take half a wine glass full four times a day.

SALT RHEUM.--Take half pound litharge, one quart sharp vinegar, simmer over the fire till the litharge is dissolved; add one pound hog’s lard, tallow, fresh butter, and the fine dust of guiacum; apply a moderate heat till the vinegar is principally evaporated; stir till cold. Anoint the parts twice a day. This has cured very obstinate cases.

TO CLEANSE THE BLOOD.--Sarsaparilla, burdock roots, lignumvitæ and spice bush, in tea or syrup, with tar ointment made with mutton tallow.

INDIGESTION.--Take one quart of Lisbon wine, put in four ounces of Peruvian bark, three ounces of steel dust and one ounce of ginger; take a wine glass full four times a day, morning, noon and night, half an hour before eating; after supper, put two teaspoonsful of magnesia in water, and take before going to bed; to relieve the wind in the stomach, take a teaspoonful of ether in cold water.

DISTRESS IN STOMACH AND BREAST.--Inside bark of white pine and tamarac twigs of this year’s growth, a large handful of each, and two large wild turnips; boil in three quarts of water down to three pints; strain and add half a pound loaf sugar and half pint rum; bottle it close. Dose--half a gill three times a day, an hour before you eat.

FITS.--One drachm flowers of pine, one drachm extract of stramonium and fifteen grains assafœtida; make into pills the size of a pea. Take one every night.

DIABETES.--Take equal parts of the roots of Solomon’s seal and comfrey roots, and half as much spikenard; boil twelve hours and sweeten with honey; take sufficient to nauseate the stomach, three times a day; use medical beer with plenty sumach roots in it. Wash the abdomen every day with a wash made of equal parts tincture cantharadus and cinnamon water, mixed.

PLASTER.--Four ounces rosin, one ounce beeswax, half ounce each black and red pepper; put the whole into one pint of spirits, and simmer till it becomes thick; when nearly cold, add half ounce sassafras oil and half ounce gum camphor pulverized; spread on leather.

ASTHMA.--The vegetables which compose these drops, present themselves about the last of July or first of August, and should be procured at that time. Take half pound garden rue, one pound garden colt’s-foot, one pound tops and blows of purple vervain, half pound green tobacco leaves, half pound hyssop, one pound hoarhound, one pound arsmart, half pound oak Jerusalem, half pound elecampane roots and half pound sweet cicely roots.

Pound these ingredients in an iron mortar, boil them twelve hours, then throw out the roots and put half a pound rock weed, called spleenwort; then add four ounces stick licorice, two ounces seneca snake root and two ounces annis seed; boil down to one quart, then strain and boil down to one pint; add one ounce refined licorice, half pound loaf sugar, half pound of honey--bumble bee honey, if it can be procured. These drops must be corked tight in tin vessels; after fermentation, add an ounce of red cedar oil. Take one teaspoonful twice a day.

FOR RELAXATION OF THE SOLIDS.--Take four drachms each of colt’s-foot and sweet cicely, three ounces hartshorn rasped, two drachms guaiacum, two drachms each comfrey, Solomon’s seal and spikenard roots, and one drachm elecampane; boil or simmer all in a suitable quantity of water to three pints; strain and add one pound of honey; simmer, stir and strain again; when cold, add a pint of Madeira wine and bottle for use. Dose--half a gill three times a day.

SYRUP FOR CONSUMPTION.--Take spikenard, elecampane, comfrey and yellow willow root, put into a stone pot and cover; let it stand and steep twelve hours, then strain it and add loaf sugar and one pint wine to a quart. Take half gill three times a day.

FLAX SEED SYRUP.--Take one pint flax seed and a small handful spikenard; boil in about three parts water until it becomes quite thick, then strain it through a thin strainer; add half pint molasses or strained honey, put it on to simmer, and be particular to take off the scum. The flax seed and spikenard should be washed clean. Take two tablespoonsful on going to bed, one in the morning, fasting, and one a little before dinner.

MARKS ON CHILDREN.--Take one gill of rum, one gill port wine, one spoonful tar, one spoonful black pepper and a piece of mutton tallow; take a parsnip and pound so as to get the strength; simmer the whole together in fresh butter till the liquid part is evaporated; then strain the ointment and anoint the sore.

COUGH SYRUP.--Take tamarac twigs, inside bark of white pine, oak of Jerusalem, colts-foot, maiden hair and wild turnip; half gill three times a day.

STOMACH PLASTER.--Four pounds beeswax, two pounds frankincense (gum therics), two and a half pounds burgundy pitch, two pounds rosin, one pound Venice turpentine, two and half ounces winter’s bark, two and half ounces oil spearmint, four ounces alspice, two and half ounces camphor, two and half ounces cloves, six ounces red sanders.

WEAK STOMACH.--Take half pound green bark balsam fir, one pound white pine bark, half pound bark sumach roots, two ounces garden sallindine, and a little milk weed roots; boil in four quarts of water down to two quarts, add one pint of good rum, and sweeten with honey or sugar; take half a gill three times a day, an hour before eating.

PAIN IN THE BREAST.--Take white pine, one ounce grated touch-wood, and put in one quart French brandy; quarter gill three times a day.

Make a tea of golden maiden hair for a common drink.

STRENGTHENING SYRUP.--Take white pine, pitch pine and balm of gilead buds; make a syrup. Dose--half gill three times a day; live upon a light, nourishing diet.

FOR CONSUMPTIVE FEMALES.--Take polly pod roots, boil them in water to suitable strength, then sweeten, and add one pint of sweet wine to one quart. Take half gill three times a day.

Take pepperage chips from the east side of the tree, and make a tea for a constant drink.

CATAMENIA.--Give a tea of lady shoe, and polly pod roots, for an obstructed catamenia.

FITS.--Take wild indigo roots, make a poultice, and put on the stomach, hands and feet.

TO STRENGTHEN.--Take two ounces prickly ash bark and one ounce crawley, and make a syrup. Take half gill three times a day, fasting.

KING’S EVIL.--A tea of seneca would be good for the patient to drink frequently; for a bath, take white maple bark, boil it and wash the parts affected, and apply the bark as a poultice.

FEMALE DEBILITY.--To prevent raising her food after eating, give her trule root, pulverized, instead of pepper, and tea of the former roots, a little before eating.

BEER.--Take two parts sumach roots, four parts each sassafrass and black alder, two parts wild cherry and spice bush.

CHILBLAINS.--Take off the dirt from an ant-hill; then take the dirt and ants’ eggs, put them into boiling water; draw off the water, and save a bottle of it, to drink two or three times a day, half a gill at a time; with the remainder wash the feet.

TO WARM AND CLEANSE THE BLOOD.--Take prickly ash berries, bark of white wood roots, brook lime, bark of bitter sweet roots and culver, and a little bloodroot.

SYRUP FOR CONSUMPTION.--Take one pound bark bitter sweet roots, one pound sarsaparilla roots, one pound inside of black birch bark, one pound twigs of sweet fern, one pound prickly ash bark; put into six quarts water, boil it to four, and strain the liquor into a large pewter basin; add a quart of rum, one pound loaf sugar, and simmer till the scum is raised; skim it off, and put into bottles for use. Take half gill three times a day, an hour before eating.

CHOLERA MORBUS.--Take one part alspice and two parts saffron, steep them together and drink often; sweeten with loaf sugar.

SALVE--To remove swellings, weakness of back or joints, and sores. Take one pound rosin, two ounces beeswax, one ounce spermacetti, one ounce mutton tallow; melt and stir these together, raise to boiling heat, take it off the fire and stir again, adding as much good cogniac brandy as will work in; put this salve into a glass jar, cover with brandy, and cork it tight for use.

FELONS--On the fingers, may be effectually cured, it is said, in three hours, by making a poultice the size of a small bean, of quick lime slacked with soap, bound on the spot and renewed every half hour.

COLD FEET.--Take one ounce and half common salt, put into one quart rum and add one ounce oil origanum; rub the feet well every night.

FEMALE WEAKNESS.--Take one ounce golden seal, half ounce tansy, half ounce motherwort seed, not quite half ounce golden thread, ounce beth root, one ounce white cohosh; put all into four quarts water, boil six minutes, keep warm seven hours, strain and let cool; add one quart Madeira wine, and drink a wine glass morning, noon, and before tea.

SPIRITS OF LAVENDER.--Take one ounce cinnamon, two drachms cloves, four drachms nutmeg and three drachms red saunders, to two quarts spirits, half ounce oil lavender, and four scruples oil rosemary.

HYSTERIC PILLS.--Take one ounce hepetick, half ounce each aloes, New England saffron, and castor; powder and mix them well together, then add two ounces pitch pine turpentine; stir well together and it is fit for use.

CURRANT WINE.--Take one gallon of water for every gallon currants; press the currants and strain the liquor; add three pounds sugar to gallon liquor; let it stand in an open vessel while the scum is rising, then skim, put it up and cork tight. Two bushels of currants will make a barrel of wine.

SARSAPARILLA SYRUP.--Take one pound sarsaparilla, thirteen ounces princes pine, nine ounces yellow dock, two pounds poke root, two pounds black cohosh, two pounds mandrake, one ounce blood root, two pounds bitter sweet, two pounds juniper berries; boil and strain, and to every thirteen pints syrup, add three-fourth pound extract dandelion, one ounce extract white ash, one and half grains licorice to fifteen gallons syrup, and three pounds sugar to a gallon.

DIURETIC DROPS.--Two ounces of sweet spirits nitre, one ounce balsam copavia, two ounces oil almonds, one ounce spirits turpentine; mix together and add one scruple champagne. Dose--a small teaspoonful given in mucilage of gum Arabic, three or four times a day.

These drops are useful in scalding of urine, from syphilitic or other inflammations.

BLOODY FLUX.--Take fresh butter, melt and skim curdy part; give two teaspoonsful two or three times a day.

ANOTHER.--Take three-fourths ounce old cheese, scrape it fine in a pint new milk, thickened with flour; let this be the diet; purge with rhubarb.

PLASTER--To draw all humors to one place. Take two quarts strong beer, not sour, four ounces copperas, four ounces bole Armenia, six drachms Venice turpentine, and one pint tar; pulverize hard substances, and mix all in an iron vessel; simmer (not boil,) over a slow coal fire, stirring often, until it is reduced to one quart; take it from the fire, stirring it constantly while cooling; it will take from twelve to sixteen hours to prepare it.

_Manner of Using._--Spread it on a piece of soft leather, two inches or more in diameter; put the plaster on when you want to draw the sore; dress it once in two days, until it begins to run, then dress every morning.

_Manner of Dressing._--Take the plaster off, and scrape off the salve; wash the sore one morning with Castile soap, and the next morning with milk and water; remove all the old salve before putting on fresh.

_Medicine Internally._--Make a tea of three pints water to one ounce mandrake root; when cold, add a quarter pound salts; take half tea cup on going to bed. Drink sarsaparilla and spotted maple tea; be careful not to overheat the blood.

ASPARAGUS ROOTS.--An excellent ingredient in all compositions intended to cleanse the viscera, especially where there are obstructions, and in jaundice and dropsy, as it operates on the urine; it is likewise used in disorders of the breast.

SUDORIFIC DROPS.--Two ounces ipecac, two ounces saffron, two ounces camphor, two ounces Virginia snake root, two ounces opium, three quarts Holland gin or spirits; let stand two weeks and strain. Dose--one teaspoonful in a cup of catnip or pennyroyal tea, given every hour. To raise perspiration in colds, fevers and inflammations, I know of no medicine so sure in its operation as this.

MADAME YOUNG’S MEDICA MENTUM.--Half ounce of gum aloes, one ounce each of rhubarb and ginger, one teaspoonful myrrh and cayenne pepper, and one quart spirits; steep twenty-four hours, and add one teacup sugar and half pint water. Take one to two tablespoonsful an hour before eating. This is good for dyspepsia, or any derangement of the stomach.

BOWEL COMPLAINT.--One ounce rhubarb, one teaspoonful saleratus, and one pint boiling water; when cold, add two teaspoonsful essence peppermint; a tablespoonful to be taken every hour.

SPRAINS, BRUISES, &c.--One pint soft soap, handful salt, and tablespoonful saltpetre; apply with bandage.