PRESCRIPTIONS.

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one instance, it was taken in bitters, chewed, and in de-coction, so that a man took as much as six pounds ofthe root in nine days, but had his back cured, with whichhe had been a cripple for some years.

6. I have experienced myself, great relief in a chronicrheumatism, by only taking it in liquor as bitters.

7. From the foregoing facts, I am encouraged tothink, that a decoction of this root will likely cause theintermission of a fever, and may perhaps become a gen-eral cure for fevers; but a purge, or vomit, should begiven before it.

8. It merits a trial in hysteric, and hypochondriaccomplaints, and in all cramps, spasms, epileptic andconvulsion fits, and to prevent the return of the appo-plexy, that king of terrors.

Observe—That the using of this root has never beenknown to issue in indirect debility. It never occasionsvomiting or purging, nor a flow of urine, sweat, or sali-va ; nor does it occasion sleep or stupor, like opium; butthe patient sits easy as to all these, tho using this pun-gent root most liberally.

If these ideas should be justified, when put to a suffi-cient further proof, this root must be placed in the firstrank of simples, of all the materia medica; and I shouldnot hesitate to conclude the entire propriety of theseremarks, was it not that I remember to have heard, fiftyyears ago, that it was a root of excellent virtues; andwe may wonder why those virtues have not brought itinto use, more generally ere now. But, why should wewonder when so small a portion of the riches of the fieldof nature is yet discovered ?

ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS.

Page xxi, instead of the second paragraph of chapteriii, read—It would surprise you to see this floating allover you, in a state of good health, like water over apiece of watered meadow, and a steam flying from youin every direction, like your breath in a frosty morning,which you might discover by a good microscope.8