purgative. It is good in intermittent fevers to break the chill, if given
in large doses in the form of warm tea as the chill comes on; in less
doses a little warm it will sweat the patient freely; in large draughts
taken cold it acts as a tonic and prevents the return of the chill. It
is good in pleurisy as a sweat or in heavy colds; it is also good when
made into a syrup for bad coughs, and in some forms of consumption,
where the patient is weak and the skin hot and dry. It grows in almost
every part of the United States, but mostly in the Western and Southern
divisions, and should be gathered in September. Every part of the plant
is medicinal, but the leaves and flowers are best. It should always be
given in the form of a tea.
BITTER ROOT OR SILKWEED.
_Medical Properties and Use._
The root is the part used in the form of bitters in asthma and catarrh,
also coughs and dyspepsia and in rheumatism. It may be taken in the form
of bitters in quantities sufficient to purge gently and freely, or in
powder in 20 grain doses, 3 times a day, or it may be given in strong
infusion, 1 ounce of the root to a pint of water and drink in such doses
as the stomach will bear.
PLEURISY ROOT.
_Medical Properties and Use._
It has long been employed by the regular medical faculty as a valuable
medicine in pleurisy, catarrh, pneumonia, consumption and other diseases
of the breast, and is evidently useful in all these cases. It is good in
acute rheumatism and dyspepsia. It may be given in the form of a strong
tea, or in powder; if in powder from 20 to 60 grains may be given several
times a day, in sweetened water.
EXTEMPORE GASEOUS CHALYBEATE WATER.
Take of pure sulphate of iron 2 drachms, white sugar 3 drachms,
pulverize, mix and divide into 12 powders. Then take of super carbonate
of soda 2 drachms, white sugar three drachms, mix and divide into 12
powders. Mix one of each of the powders separately in half a tumblerful
of water, pour together and drink while effervescing. This is a pleasant
drink and a good tonic for a weak stomach.
GENTIAN.
_Medical Properties and Use._
Gentian possesses in a high degree the tonic properties which
characterize the simple bitters. It excites the appetite, invigorates the
powers of digestion. It may be used in all cases of disease depending
upon pure debility of the digestive organs, or requiring a general tonic
impression; as dyspepsia, gout, difficult menstruations, hysteria,
scrofula, intermittent fever, diarrhœa, and worms. It is given in the
form of infusion or tincture. The dose in infusion is a wine glassful 3
or 4 times a day. Infuse ½ ounce of the powdered root in a pint of water.
A tea spoonful of the tincture may be given as often in a little water.
RATTLEWEED ROOT.
This unites with a tonic power the property of stimulating the
secretions, particularly those of the skin, kidneys and mucus membrane
of the lungs. Its medical properties are found in its salutary effects
upon the nervous system, in neuralgia of the heart, in sciatica, and in
other forms of rheumatism. It is equal if not superior to the colchicum
in rheumatism, and far superior to it in neuralgia of any description. I
have used it extensively in those cases, and with the happiest effects.
I cured myself of a severe sciatica in twenty-four hours with it, but
the dose was too large, producing violent sickness, great prostration,
nausea, vomiting and profuse perspiration. I took 3 or 4 drachms of the
saturated tincture at one dose; but it effects the cure completely when
properly prepared. It acts upon the stomach and bowels powerfully, and
its full effects are not obtained until it purges freely. The following
is the best formula for its preparation.
½ pound powdered root,
1 pint alcohol.
Mix and macerate for 20 days and filter. One tea spoonful should be
taken 3 times a day, in sweetened water, which may be increased or
diminished so as to produce 3 or 4 operations on the bowels in 24 hours.
I have seen some persons that it would not purge. It sometimes produces
vertigo before it begins to operate, but these symptoms will all subside
after the purging commences, yet it will cure if it does not purge.
Several cases of Vitus’ Dance are recorded by Dr. Jesse Young, in which
it performed cures after other remedies had failed.--It is usually
administered in decoction by those living in the country. One ounce of
the powdered root is boiled in a pint of water for a few minutes, and
a small wine glassful given from 3 to 5 times a day according to its
effects.
PIPSISSEWAY OR WINTER GREEN.
This is an evergreen found in pine woods and in light shady soils in all
parts of the United States, which blossoms in mid summer. The whole plant
has rather a pungent and bitter taste.
_Medical Properties and Use._
It is diuretic and tonic and is useful in all eruptive forms of diseases,
especially in scrofula and cancer. A strong decoction may be made of
the leaves and twigs, and a gill taken 3 times a day. Many cures of old
ulcers, sore throats and like affections have been ascribed to the use
of the pipsisseway. A decoction made of the leaves and given in small
portions is excellent for colic in children. For grown persons it should
be put in good rye whiskey, which, if made strong will seldom fail to
cure the severest cases of colic and cramps. The pipsisseway put into
whiskey and distilled the same as Wickey’s cholera medicine is much
better. Dose for an adult is from 1 to 3 tablespoonsful, for children
from 10 drops to a teaspoonful.
TO THE CONSUMER.
If you want to save money never buy your castor oil by the bottle, but
buy a pint of oil of some honest druggist, and you will then be able to
perceive the difference. If put up in bottles it will cost you from 50
to 62½ cents; by the pint it may cost you 31 cents per pint. This is a
great saving, as the article is always needed in a family. Never buy any
other medicine or any thing that goes by measurement in small quantities,
and especially such articles as come into every day use. Paying from 40
to 100 per cent. more for domestic articles will amount to a considerable
sum in 5 or 10 years. Some persons may say: “I am too poor and cannot
spare the money.” That kind of argument will not hold good. By saving 50
or 100 per cent. is the means to make you able. Try the experiment and
you will soon be convinced; money is worth but 6 per cent.
FOR PICKLING PEARS.
Take 1 pound of sugar to one quart of vinegar; 6 pounds of pears, peeled
and quartered; ½ ounce of cinnamon bark, broken in small pieces; ½
ounce of cloves. Dissolve the sugar in the vinegar, then put the pears,
cinnamon and cloves into a pot or crock, pour over the vinegar and
boil all together until the pears become soft, and you have a pickel
far superior to any preserves. This is worth giving a trial. Should the
pears be too sweet, add a little vinegar at any time, heating after the
addition.
ON THE PRESERVATION OF HEALTH.
As this work is designed for the benefit of families as well as other
purposes, it is hoped that a chapter on the preservation of the health
of young girls will not be out of place. What we design to say in this
chapter, will be applicable to the girl of ten years and upwards. It
is the duty of the mother or guardian so to direct the conduct of
the daughter that she may enjoy the blessings of life, and become a
useful member of society. But in order to lay the foundation of future
usefulness, the health should be well guarded in early life. Much of
course depends upon a good constitution, and strict attention should
be paid to its development and preservation. The child at an early age
should be guarded against all that would tend to weaken or derange this
desirable attribute of the human system.
Exposure is one of the principal sources of injury to the constitution,
and therefore the clothing should always be adapted to the season of
the year, and the temperature of the air, whether children are at home
or abroad. Girls are generally clothed sufficiently warm while at home,
but when they are going from home, they change their warm apparel for
thinner and cooler garments. They are often allowed to expose themselves
to the chilling blasts of winter, with their arms naked, their breasts
and shoulders exposed, and their feet clad with thin stockings and
shoes, in the place of those just laid aside, which were warm and
comfortable.--This is a practice that cannot be too much deprecated,
being one of the great evils of dress and fashion, upon whose altar
thousands have been sacrificed. How many do we find in these days with
enlarged tonsils and broken croaking voices, the fruits of exposure and
nothing else?
The practice of tight lacing is another fruitful cause of destruction
of health and broken-down constitutions. Young girls should not lace at
all--an easy smooth jacket to make the dress fit smoothly is all they
should wear. Are we asked why lacing is injurious? We answer, first, the
ribs are soft and very elastic and the cartilages that join them to the
breast bone are softer than the ribs. If then a jacket or corset be laced
around the ribs or chest, so as to prevent a free and full play of the
ribs at every inspiration, in the same proportion is the cavity of the
chest diminished, and consequently the lungs are deprived of a certain
amount of atmospheric air, in proportion to the contraction of the ribs,
produced by the laced jacket or corset. Thus the order of nature is
deranged and the system is deprived of that due proportion of oxygen
which is necessary to health, the vitality of blood and the vigor and
proper proportions of the system. One of the consequences of tight lacing
therefore is, that the lungs are prevented from discharging a due portion
of carbonic acid gas from the blood, and receiving in lieu therefor of
due proportion of oxygen from the atmosphere. Hence the person looks
pale, the lips assume a blue or purplish color, the breathing is labored,
the breast heaves and the circulation is prevented from going on as
freely as it should. The small air vessels of the lungs are partially
obliterated, they become diseased in their action and tubercles form in
them or the lungs; these remain to become in a few years the seeds of an
incurable consumption.
Again: The free action of the heat is prevented by tight lacing and the
consequence is it labors like a dying man, but in vain--it cannot get
relieved from its fetters. The blood is prevented from flowing with that
freedom and ease which are essential to the well being of the system,
and the violent exertions which the heart must make in order to carry
on the circulation, become the cause of disease in that organ, which
perhaps can never be cured. Another evil of lacing: The stomach is always
included in the deadly grasp of the corset. The lower floating ribs are
forced to take the place the stomach should occupy in part; the skirts
are compelled to grow too narrow, the liver is also pressed too closely
and the stomach is bound as with a cord. The gastric juice is partly
prevented from secreting and that which is secreted is unhealthy, the
ducts of the liver and pancreatic gland are prevented from performing
their healthy functions and consequently the food is not taken in due
quantity to nourish the system, and what is taken is not properly
digested, for the want of a free and healthy action of the digestive
functions. Dyspepsia is the result,--a feeble and finally a destroyed
constitution. For all the powers of nature must act freely and naturally,
or a sound constitution and good health can never be enjoyed.
Nothing is so fascinating to an intellectual young man as a well
cultivated mind, a rosy cheek, an intellectual eye, and a corresponding
expression of countenance; these you cannot have if you suppress any of
the healthy functions of the system. Exercise is another essential item
to promote the health of girls, and this they should be allowed to take
freely. At an early age, let them run and play, jump the rope, throw
the hoop, leap and skip; for free exercise gives freedom to the muscles
and joints and strengthens the nerves, all of which are necessary for
the building up of a good constitution. Girls should be allowed to
sleep one-third of their time or eight hours in twenty-four, and when
younger--they should sleep more. The young of all the animal creation
require more sleep than those that are fully grown: girls, therefore,
should retire early that they may obtain sleep enough; rise early and
enjoy the benefit of the morning air, which is bracing to their systems.
After children are ten years old, they should not sleep more than two
in a bed, and there should not be more than two beds in a room, unless
the room be very large and well ventilated. Girls should rise early and
air and set their rooms in order; they should use free ablution of cold
water over their breasts and arms, especially as far as they are in the
habit of exposing them to the air, as this will prevent their taking
cold as easily as they otherwise would. The diet of children should be
plain and simple, as their digestive powers are not as strong as those
of grown persons. The quantity should always be proportioned to the age
and strength of the child. Much mischief is done by letting children
eat too much. They should be allowed full time to eat and be taught to
chew their victuals well. They should be taught to eat any thing that
is common, so that they may appear easy at table at all times, and make
their friends so likewise. Frequent bathing is of great service to youth;
it invigorates the constitution and gives a fine complexion. The bath
may be changed according to the season; it may be cold, tepid or salt.
When the cold bath is used, either fresh or salt, the skin should be
well rubbed with a coarse towel, as well before they go into the bath,
as after they come out. When children are healthy liquid food is as a
general rule, better for them than solid food, because it supplies more
blood, and this is needed to form and build up the solids, but they
should be allowed some of both.
Children should always take light suppers and light breakfasts. Their
dinner should be of more substantial food and taken freely. But they
should never be allowed to eat in haste, as nothing aids the powers of
digestion more than the perfect mastication of food.
HEALTH.
ITS VALUE, CONDITIONS, PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION.
Health consists in the vigorous and normal or constitutional action of
all the physical organs and functions. Life consists in precisely the
same action: in proportion to the vigor of this action is the amount of
both health and life, but in proportion as the physical functions are
enfeebled or diseased, is health enfeebled and life diminished. But in
proportion as we improve our health do we thereby increase life itself.
Viewed in any and every aspect, health is life and life is health. By as
much therefore as life is valuable should health be preserved if good and
restored if feeble.
Health is the great seasoner or relish of all our blessings; nor is it
possible to enjoy the latter except by means of the former: without
health what can we be? What can we do?--What can we enjoy? For other
things being equal, our capabilities of accomplishing and enjoying are
proportioned to our health and diminished by disease. If we possessed
all the wealth, and all the honors, and all the blessings mortals can
possess, we could enjoy them only in proportion as we had health, and
their value would be diminished just in proportion to its decline.
Suppose we were sick and our appetite thereby destroyed, the richest food
and most delicious fruits, instead of rendering us happy would nauseate
us. How different if we were healthy. How a good appetite, the produce
of health, would enjoy them. Well might the glutted alderman offer a
ragged boy a guinea for his appetite for breakfast. The rich invalid is
poor, but he who is healthy is rich, because his fund of life and his
capacities for enjoyment are proportionally great. Reader, if brought to
the brink of the grave, your last hour come, what would you give? What
that you possessed would you not give for another year of life and its
pleasures? Astor’s thirty millions would be cheap. To impair health in
obtaining any amount of earthly goods is a dear exchange, since then to
preserve or regain health is to preserve, prolong or regain life itself,
and to impair the former is to destroy the latter and its pleasures,
as well as hasten death; and since the value of life so infinitely
surpasses that of all other earthly blessings, what consummate folly to
trifle with health on any account. Then how much more foolish and even
wicked virtually to throw it away for nothing, in our eager pursuit
of those trifling objects, wealth, honors, and the like, which mainly
engrosses mankind? What, sacrifice life upon the altar of mammon? For be
it remembered, that no human being can impair his health at any period
of his life, without proportionally shortening his days; without being
brought to a strict account at the close of life, and he compelled to
end it as much sooner than he otherwise would, as he has injured his
health during his whole lifetime. Let me urge upon you the infinite
importance of preserving your health. This effectually done, millions
of money bestowed on each reader could not equally benefit you, because
of the incomparable greater value of health than money. Let your own
experience testify. Which of you has not, some time or some how, induced
debility or pain in one portion of your system or another, which will
cripple you for life. A foolish ambition breaks down the constitution of
an incalculable number of our youths, unwilling to be outdone they will
work at the top of their strength as long as they can stand, perhaps
over heat themselves, or in a single day or week bring on some complaint
which debilitates them for life, and carries them to a premature grave.
An ambitious youth wishing to show his employers what a great day’s work
he could do, shovelled till he lamed his side, so that for fifteen years
he has been a partial invalid, cannot do any kind of work, nor more than
half the amount he formerly did, besides working in almost perpetual
pain. Nor is this the half; whatever enfeebles the health enfeebles the
mind by weakening and disordering the brain. So perfectly are body and
brain inter related, that all the conditions of either react upon each
other; whatever augments the health, strengthens the body and thereby
invigorates both the brain and the mind. What is the true value of the
mind? How much could you afford to give for double the amount you now
possess? Neither money nor any thing else can measure its value. To
improve our minds is the most effectual mode possible of augmenting all
the capabilities, all the pleasure, all the virtue of this life, and
ripening for another, and hence should be the paramount business of our
whole lives. Health allows you to be always on hand for business, from
which sickness takes you and compels you to entrust its management to
others, always disastrous, or cuts off your wages if a laborer, creates
large doctors, nurses and a host of other incidental bills, and occasions
a great variety of pecuniary losses. So measurably if any member of your
family is sick, especially a wife. How many, reader, if they and their
families had always been well, would have been rich who are now poor?
Considered which ever way you will, to preserve the health if it be good,
and if poor to regain and then preserve, should be the paramount business
of life, should take precedence over all others, and be our first great
concern. Come then readers one and all and let us make it our permanent
business to preserve and augment our health; let us allow ourselves to do
nothing that shall impair it; let us make and take time to do every thing
in our power to invigorate it.
HOW TO PROLONG LIFE.
The following should be carefully perused especially by the young. Are
there any among you my young friends, who desire to preserve your health
and cheerfulness through life, and at length arrive at a good old age? If
so listen to what I am about to tell you.
A considerable time ago I read in one of the newspapers of the day, that
a man had died near London at the advanced age of 110 years, that he had
never been ill, and that he had maintained through life, a cheerful,
happy temperament. I wrote immediately to London to know if in the man’s
treatment of himself there had been any peculiarity which had rendered
his life lengthened and so happy, and the answer I received was as
follows:
“He was unusually kind and obliging to every body; he quarreled with no
one; he ate and drank merely that he might not suffer from hunger or
thirst and never beyond what necessity required; from his earliest youth
he never allowed himself to be unemployed; these were the only means he
used.”
I took a note of this in a little book where I generally write all that
I am anxious to remember, and very soon afterwards I observed in another
paper that a woman had died near Stockholm at 115 years of age; that she
never was ill, and was always of a contented disposition. I immediately
wrote to Stockholm to learn what means the old woman had used for
preserving her health, and now read the answer:
“She always had a great love of cleanliness, and in the daily habit
of washing her face, hands and feet in cold water, and as often as
opportunity offered she bathed in the same.--She never ate or drank any
delicacies or sweet-meats, seldom coffee, seldom tea, and never wine.”
Of these likewise I took a note in my little book. Sometime after
this I read that near St. Petersburg, a man died who had enjoyed good
health until he was 120 years old. Again I took my pen and wrote to St.
Petersburg, and here is the answer:
“He was an early riser, and never slept beyond seven hours at a time;
he never was idle; he employed himself chiefly in the open air, and
particularly in his garden; whether he walked or sat in his chair he
never permitted himself to sit awry or in a bent posture, but was always
perfectly straight. The luxurious and effeminate habits of citizens he
held in contempt.”
After having read all this from my little book I said to myself: “you
will be a foolish man indeed not to profit by the example and experience
of these old people.” I then wrote out all that I had been able to
discover about these happy old people upon a card, which I suspended over
my writing desk, so that I might always have it before my eyes to remind
me what to do, and from what I should refrain. Every morning and evening
I read over the contents of my card and obliged myself to conform to its
rules.
And now my dear young readers, I can assure you on the word of an honest
man, that I am much happier and in better health than I used to be.
Formerly I had the headache every day and now I suffer scarcely once in
three or four months. Before I began these rules I hardly dare to venture
out in the rain or snow without catching cold. In former times a walk of
half an hour’s length fatigued and exhausted me, now I walk miles without
weariness. Imagine then the happiness I experience, for there are few
feelings so cheering to the spirits as those of constant good health and
vigor. But, alas! there is something in which I cannot imitate these
happy old people, and that is I have not been accustomed to all this from
my youth. Oh! that I were young again that I might imitate them in all
things; that I might be happy and long-lived as they were.
Little children who read this, you are the fortunate ones who are able
to adopt in perfection this kind of life. What then prevents your living
henceforward as healthful and happily as the old woman of Stockholm or as
long and useful as the old men of London and St. Petersburg.
LIQUID OPODELDOC.
Take ½ pint 95 per cent. alcohol, 1 ounce camphor, ½ pint turpentine;
dissolve the camphor in the alcohol; then add the turpentine. For
rheumatism, head ache, sore throat, old strains, swellings, cramps,
numbness, stiffness, weakness, pains in the joints, corns, slight burns,
frost bitten feet, &c.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE.
Rub it well on the part affected with your hand or a piece of muslin,
night and morning, and if convenient, at noon. In obstinate cases avoid
as much as possible exposure to a damp atmosphere, to the extremes of
heat and cold. Keep the feet dry and comfortable, and be temperate in
eating and drinking. For corns, lay a piece of flannel on them and
moisten occasionally with the opodeldoc, avoid tight shoes. Travellers
and families ought always to keep a bottle by them; it only requires a
trial to prove its efficacy; keep the bottle closely stopped. In some
cases of rheumatism and other affections, if a piece of flannel be worn
over the part, relief will be obtained sooner.
DR. WICKEY’S CHOLERA MEDICINE.