26

PRESCRIPTIONS.

in the stomach, bowels or limbs, &c. can receive nobetter remedy.

It is to be noticed, that if the skin is chafed withvinegar, and a small poultice of these roots applied,they will draw a good blister. When this is givenas a purge, bracing medicine should follow it, suchas No. 4, No. 5, or No. 9.

I have sometimes filled a phial with the roots, andthen put on spirits, and given a teaspoonful at atime, where the system requires warming and sti-mulating.

No. 3.

Culver's or Brinton's root,is a purge, and famous for the cure of the pleurisy.Its top is a weed growing two or three feet high,having leaves coming out of the stalk at joints,some three, some four and so on to seven at a joint,according to the age of the root; a white tasseledblossom grows on the top of each branch, frequentlyas long as one's finger.

Out of a common stool grow a number of paleyellow roots, about as big as knitting-needles,and taste very bitter. A large handful of the rootsmade into a decoction, is enough for a common dose.

This root is good for use when dry ; it possessesmuch of the narcotic, and requires the patientsometimes to be roused to keep him from fallingasleep during its operation. It may be powderedand used like jalap, generally as a purge.t My father, Hezekiah Smith, for the cure of thepleurisy, practised long with this root, and used tocure the pleurisy with amazing speed. I have foundthat the root No. 2 is fully as good, or better.—Bleeding should precede the purge, when the pulsebeats hard, and the inflammation is high.