The family doctor, or, Sick man's friend : shewing the medical properties and use of the most valuable medical roots and herbs, and how to apply them in the cure of diseases in domestic practice : from the first authority, together with many valuable recipes / by P.E. Sanborn.

  • Sanborn, P. E. (Peter Elkins), 1796-1845.
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The family doctor, or, Sick man's friend : shewing the medical properties and use of the most valuable medical roots and herbs, and how to apply them in the cure of diseases in domestic practice : from the first authority, together with many valuable recipes / by P.E. Sanborn. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    p quarts of water, down to three quarts; take a gill of this decoction four times a day. Wild Indigo : Baptista Tinctoria—made into a wash, the tops and roots may be used ; it is good to wash old sores, to cleanse them and prevent mortification; a gargle is good against sore mouth. An ointment, made by simmering the root with hog's lard, is good against painful, obstinate ulcers, sore throat, sore eyes and nipples. Cayenne Pepper : Capsicum—is one of the most pure and powerful stimulants in nature. It produces a general warmth through the whole system ; it warms the stomach and equalizes the circulations ; it is good in colds. Mr. Stephens administered the following formula to about four hundred patients laboring under the malignant sore throat or scarlet fever, with great success. Take three table spoon- fuls of cayenne, add two table spoonfuls of fine salt, pour in a pint of hot water, and strain when cold ; then add an equal quantity of sharp vinegar ; take a table spoonful every hour. The small green African cayenne has four or five times the strength of our common cayenne, or bell peppers—for most purposes, the common is the best. Golden Thread, Yellow Eoot : Coptis Trifolia.—This root is tonic; promotes digestion, and is good in bitters. This root simmered in hog's lard with the same quantity of camomile, makes an excellent ointment for sore lips, cracked hands, and chilblains. Senna : Cassia Senna—is a safe, prompt and energetic; physic ; when united with spearmint or peppermint, it does not produce griping. I have used it combined with salts in case of suppression of urine and costiveness, with very good effect. Solomon's Seal is very highly esteemed in cases of the whites ; it may be taken in tea at the discretion of the pa- tient. Saffron : Crocus Sativus—produces a determination to the surface ; good in all eruptive diseases, or diseases of the skin; it allays pains that attend menstruation; it is useful in hysteria, and acts against spasms. *1