A new guide to health; or, botanic family physician. Containing a complete system of practice, upon a plan enitrely new; with a description of the vegetables made use of ... to cure disease. To which is added a description of several cases ... attended by the author ... / [Samuel Thomson].

  • Thomson, Samuel, 1769-1843
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new guide to health; or, botanic family physician. Containing a complete system of practice, upon a plan enitrely new; with a description of the vegetables made use of ... to cure disease. To which is added a description of several cases ... attended by the author ... / [Samuel Thomson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Mustard.—The seed of this herb is principally used for culi¬ nary 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 create an appetite and assist the digestion; and given in hot water sweetened, will remove pain in the bowels and stomach. It is frequently used for rheumatism, both in¬ ternally and externally ; but Nos. 2 and 6 are much better for that purpose. Horse-radish.—The root of this plant is mostly used for culinary purposes, and it has some medicinal properties. It is of a hot nature, but very volatile ; its warming properties will mostly evaporate before it gets into the stomach. The roots may be given to promote an appetite and assist digestion. The leaves are sometimes applied to remove external pain, but are apt to blister. Balm oe Gtlead.—This tree is a species of the poplar and possesses some medicinal virtues. It resembles the kind of pop¬ lar that has been described, having similar tags; but the buds and leaves are larger. The buds bruised and tinctured in spirit, produce an effect something like the tincture of myrrh ; and are good, taken inwardly, as a restorative, and for bathing sores. The bark scraped from the twiggs and steeped in hot water, is a good corrective of the bile, and will operate both as 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, and is well known from the nut which it bears, of an oblong shape, and nearly as large as an egg, in which is a meat containing much oil, and very good to eat. The bark of this tree is used by the country people to color with. The bark taken from the body of the tree or roots, and boiled down till thick, may be made into pills, and operate as a powerful emetic and cathartic; a syrup may be made by boiling the bark and adding one third molasses and a little spirit, which is good to give children for worm com¬ plaints. The buds and twigs may also be used for the same purpose, and are more mild. White ash bark and balm of gilead may be mixed, equal parts, and made into syrup or pills. Those who are fond of drastic purges, may have their ends sufficiently answered by these preparations, and they are the most safe of any that I know of; and those who wish to be tortured with blisters, can have them cheap, by bruising the green shell of the nut, or the bark, and appljdng it where the blister is wanted, keeping the bandage wet, and in three hours they will be com¬ pletely 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 cause strangury.—The bark of the butternut is the principal ingredient in Dr. Hawkes’ rheumatic and cancer pills; and also of Chamberlain’s bilious cordial; which has been so celebrated for many complaints. It is called by some people oil nut, and lemon walnut. Blue and white nervine.—This is a well known herb, growing very common; it ranks next to the emetic herb, for a