Kidney – NoStonz Tincture

The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics Written by Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D. 1922 - Gravel Root

Botanical name: Eupatorium purpureum The root of Eupatorium purpureum, Linné (Nat. Ord. Compositae). Low meadows and woods of the United States. Dose, 5 to 60 grains. Common Names: Queen of the Meadow, Gravel Weed, Gravel Root, Joe Pye Weed. Principal Constituents.—Volatile oil and a resin (eupatorine). Preparations.—1. Specific Medicine Gravel-Root. Dose, 1 to 60 drops. 2. Decoctum Eupatorii Purpureii, Decoction of Gravel Root (1 ounce to Water, 16 fluidounces). Dose, 1 to 3 fluidounces. Specific Indications.—Vesical irritation; incontinence of urine, painful and frequent urination; pain and weight in loins extending to the bladder; scant and milky urine with admixture of blood and mucus. Action and Therapy.—While of some value in chronic gastro-intestinal irritation, with catarrhal secretion, and in some forms of cough, with free expectoration, the chief use of gravel-root is to relieve chronic irritation of the urinary passages. For this purpose it is one of the most satisfactory of medicines. It is adapted to cases in which there is constant urging to pass urine, accompanied by a sense of obstruction, and the excretion is mixed with mucus and blood. Though not curative, it is often invaluable in chronic nephritis, to meet many of the unpleasant urinary symptoms. For the uric acid diathesis gravel-root is one of the best of drugs. It will not, as has been claimed, dissolve gravel, but by its diuretic action it eliminates those particles which may form the nuclei of larger concretions. Besides, its effects upon irritated or inflamed parts due to such deposits when present is to soothe and heal them. It especially relieves the deep-seated pelvic perineal aching common to sufferers from cystitis and subacute prostatitis, For passive hematuria it is one of the best drugs we possess. When hydragogues have been used to deplete the body in ascites, gravel-root, by stimulating diuresis, greatly retards the reestablishment of the effusion. Gravel-root relieves the urinary disturbances of pregnancy so far as difficulty in voiding urine is concerned. It is also very useful in prostatitis, acting best after the acute inflammatory condition has been subdued. Gravel-root is a neglected drug and often should be employed in urinary disorders where less efficient and more harmful agents are displayed. High-colored urine, with blood and solids and voided with pain, and milky-looking urine, should lead one to hope for good results from its use. If the specific medicine is administered it should be given in hot water. The decoction is often the best form of administration. It acts well with the special sedatives, and if fever is present or the skin is hot, dry, and constricted it may be given with aconite or gelsemium.

The 1841 Thompsonian Materia Medica by Samuel Thompson - Dandelion Leaf

Dandelion. DIURETIC, Ton IC, APERIENT, AND HYDRAGOGUE. For dropsy—to correct the liver and digestive organs. LEoNToDoN TARAxAcuM. Folia, Radia. The leaves and root. Calya, double. Receptacle, naked. Pappus, stipitate, plumose. Scape, one-flowered. Leaves, runcinate. This plant is naturalized, and is a genus of five species indi genous to Europe. The leontodon is a perennial, herbaceous plant, with a fusi form root. The leaves are long, pinnatifid, runcinate, with toothed divisions, smooth, and of a dark green color. The flower stem rises six or eight inches high, or more, from the midst of the leaves. It is naked, erect, simple, smooth and hol low, and terminates by a large yellow flower, which closes at night and expands in the morning. The calx is double, smooth, with the outer scales bent downwards. The florets are ligu late, numerous and toothed at their extremities. The Recepta cle is punctate and convex. The seed-down stipitate and at maturity is so light and feathery as to be easily blown away with the least breath of air with the seeds attached, and is thus transplanted from one soil to another. The plant has a milky, bitterish juice, diffused throughout all its parts which exudes, when it is wounded. When very young the leaves are blanch ed or beautifully white. A full grown and fresh root is fre quently more than a foot long and as thick as the little finger. MATERIA MEDICA, 665 slender, round and tapering, full of a milky, bitterish juice, of a brown color outwardly, but white within, having a cord run ning through the centre. . When dry, it is much wrinkled, shrunk and brittle, and on being broken presents a shining, re sinous fracture. It has a sweetish-bitter, herbaceous taste. It yields its medical properties to boiling water. Medical uses.—The dandelion is diuretic, tonic, and aperi ent, and has a direct action upon the liver and kidneys, excit ing them, when languid, to action. It is most applicable to he patic diseases, and derangement of the digestive organs gene rally. In chronic inflammation of the liver and spleen, in cases of deficient biliary secretions, and in dropsical affections of the abdominal viscera, it is capable of being very beneficial, if pro perly applied. From experience we can speak decidedly in its favor. It is usually given in the form of extract, decoction, or SWrup. '.ounces of the green root, or two of [the dry, may be boiled in a quart of water, down to a pint, and a wineglassful be given six or eight times a day. SYRUP of DANDELIons.—For Dropsy or Stranguary. Take of fresh gathered dandelions, root and top, one pound, (or if dry, two pounds) of dwarf elder, green, two pounds, (or if dry, a pound and a half) one pound each of green strawberry and peach leaves, of green parsley, root and top, half a pound; bruise all these articles thoroughly, and put them into four gal lons of water, and simmer them down to three. Strain off and sweeten with good sugar, put it into a clean kettle and simmer till the scum rises and then remove it. Then take half a pound of pumpkin seeds, three fourths of a pound of water melon seeds, four ounces of juniper berries, and two ounces of bitter root; pulverize fine and add them to the syrup when it com mences to boil, which it should continue to do for about five minutes after they are added; then set off, skim it, and add one gallon of the best Holland gin. Tose, from a fourth to a glass, several times a day. If this does not start the water, it is doubtful whether any thing will. It is a powerful hydragogue, diuretic, diaphoretic, and moderately stimulant. It will operate more effectually, if the patient be in bed, and perspiration excited by taking stimu lants, and by having at the feet a steaming stone or jug of hot water. While under this operation, great care should be taken to prevent catching cold

The 1841 Thompsonian Materia Medica by Samuel Thompson - Lobelia

LoBELIA INFLATA. Herba Semina. The herb and seed.— Calyz five cleft. Corolla irregular, five parted, cleft on the up per side nearly to the base. Anthers united into a tube. Stig ma two lobed. Capsule inferior or semi-superior, two or three celled, two valved at the apex. The lobelia inflata is a biennial, indiginous plant, usually from 12 to 18 inches in height, with a fibrous root, and a very hairy, solitary, erect, and angular stem, much branched about two thirds of the way, rising considerably above the summit of the highest branches. The leaves are scattered, sessile, acute, serrate, oval, and hairy. The flowers are disposed in numerous leafy terminal racemes, and supported on short foot stalks. The segments of the calyx are linear and pointed. The flower, which is of a delicate bluish color, has a border labiate, the upper lip being divided into two, and the lower into three acute segments. The pod is an oval, inflated capsule, crowned with the persistent calyx, and containing in two cells numerous very small brown seeds. The lobelia inflata is a very common plant, growing in pas tures, on the road side, and in neglected grain fields, through out the country. Its flowers appear towards the end of July, and continue to expand in succession until the occurrence of frost. When wounded or broken, the plant exudes a milky juice, possessing active emetic properties. All parts of the plant are possessed of medicinal activity; but the seed, leaves, and inflated capsules, are all that are used as medicine by Dr. Thomson. The plant should be collected in August or September, when the capsules have become a little yellow. Then the seed is ripe. The stalk should be separated between the leavs and the roots, and the herb carefully laid upon a sheet, thinly spread out to dry, in order to preserve the seed, leaves, and capsules. When thoroughly dried, take a straight stick and whip the herb, and the leaves and capsules are easily separated from the stalks, and the seeds are ejected from the capsules, all of which settle, leaving the naked stalks uppermost, which may be re moved, and you have the herb and seed together. Now gather the four corners of the sheet, and the substance settles into the centre. Shake the sheet latterally several times, and you may then remove the leaves and capsules, and have the pure seed at 582 THE THOMSONIAN the bottom; or the seed may be sifted through a fine sieve, to separate it from the herb. The seed should be bottled close, and the herb may be kept in boxes, all of which should be dry. The dried leaves of lobelia have a slight irritating odor, and when chewed, though at first without much taste, soon produce a burning, acrid impression upon the posterior parts of the tongue, and palate, very closely resembling that occasioned by tobacco, and attended in like manner with a flow of saliva, and a nauseous effect upon the stomach. The powder is of a green ish color. The plant yields its active properties readily to wa ter and alcohol; and water distilled from it retains its acrid taste. The lobelia contains a volatile oil, upon which its odor depends, and an acrid alkaline principle, to which its effects upon the system are probably ascribable. The seed contains at least twice as much of this principle in proportion as the whole plant. Lobelia is an emetic, and, in small doses, a diaphoretic and expectorant. The leaves or capsules, chewed for a short time, occasion giddiness, headache, tremors, and ultimately nausea and vomiting. When swallowed in full dose, the medicine ge nerally produces vomiting, attended with copious perspiration, and a general relaxation. Its effects in doses too large, or too often repeated, are great anxiety and extreme prostration of strength, and the appearance of the patient is very alarming to those who are unacquainted with its operation; but to the prac titioner those symptoms are almost an every day occurrence, consequently it gives him no uneasiness for the safety of the patient. In two or three hours the patient is through with the operation, and possesses as much vigor, if not more, than im mediately previous to the commencement of the course. If this medicine does not operate as an emetic aſter being taken in rea sonable quantities, in from three to five hours, it will pass off the same as any other harmless substance, and leave the person with a full flow of vigor and spirits, the same as if it had not been taken. Very unlike the tartarized antimony or ipecac, is the ope ration of the lobelia inflata. Those articles, when taken to cause vomiting, and failing to produce the desired effect, leave the patient with a distressing nausea, that is not got rid of ma ny times for several days. Fatal effects are frequently the re sult of taking tartarized antimony in too large quantities; but safe and salutary are the effects of the lobelia, in almost every form that it can be used, even by the most inexperienced hand, if he but follows the directions for its use. The first knowledge I ever had of it, was obtained by acci dent more than fifty years ago, and I never had any informa tion whatever concerning it, except what I have gained by my MATERIA MEDICA. 583 own experience. A great deal has been said of late about this plant, both in its favor and against its utility as a medicine; but all that the faculty have said or published concerning it, only shows their ignorance on the subject; for there is very little truth in what they have stated concerning its medicinal properties, except where they admit it to be a certain cure for the asthma, one of the most distressing complaints that human nature is subject to. It is a truth which cannot be disputed, that all they have known about this article, and the experi ments that have been made to ascertain its value, originated in my making use of it in my practice. In the course of my practice, a number of the doctors disco vered that the medicine I made use of produced effects which astonished them, and which they could not account for. This led them to conclude, that because it was so powerful in re moving disease, it must be poison. This, I think, can be very satisfactorily accounted for. They have no knowledge of any thing in their system which is capable of producing a powerful effect upon the sick except what is poisonous, and therefore na turally form their opinions agreeable to this erroneous theory. There is a power to preserve life, and a power to produce death, which of course are directly opposed to each other; and whatever tends to promote life cannot produce death, let its power be ever so great. In this consists all the difference be tween my system of practice and that of the learned doctors. In consequence of their thus forming an erroneous opinion of this herb, which they had no knowledge of they undertook to represent it as a deadly poison; and in order to destroy my practice they raised a hue-and-cry about my killing my patients by administering it to them. Some of the faculty even made oath that it was poison, and when taken into the stomach, if it did not cause immediate vomiting it was certain death. It is unnecessary for me now to point out the falsity of this, for the fact is pretty well known, that there is no death in it; but on the contrary, that there is no vegetable that the earth produces, more harmless in its effects on the human system, and no one more powerful in removing disease and promoting health. There is no mention made of this herb by any author that I have been able to find, previous to my discovering it, excepting Linnaeus, who has given a correct description of it, under the name of lobelia inflata; but there is nothing said of its medical properties; it is therefore reasonable to conclude that they were not known till I discovered the fact, and proved the plant to be useful. When the faculty first discovered that I used this herb in my practice, they declared it to be a deadly poison; and while per secuting me by every means in their power, and representing 584 The THOMSONIAN to the world that I killed my patients with it, they were very ready to call it my medicine, and allow it to be my discovery; but since their ignorance of it has been exposed, and they find it is going to become an article of great value, an attempt seems to be making to rob me of all the credit of causing its value to be known, and the profits which belong to me for the discove ry—in which some who have been instructed by me are ready to join, for the purpose of promoting their own interest at my expense. What is quoted in the Dispensatory, from the Rev. Dr. M. Cutler, concerning this herb, is in general correct, particularly as it regards its being a specific for the asthma, though he la bored under many mistaken notions about its effects when tak en into the stomach. He says, “if the quantity be a little in creased, it operates as an emetic and then as a cathartic, its ef fects being much the same as those of the common emetics and cathartics.” In this he is mistaken, for it is entirely different from any other emetic known ; and as to its operating as a ca thartic, I never knew it to have such an effect in all my prac tice. And I certainly ought to know something about it, after having made use of it for more than forty years, and adminis tering it in every form and manner in which it can be given, and for every disease that has come within my knowledge. It appears that all the knowledge he and other doctors have got of this herb's being useful in curing disease, particularly in the asthma, was obtained from me; ſor when I was prosecuted I was obliged to expose my discoveries, to show the falsity of the indictment. Dr. Cutler was brought forward as a witness at my trial, to prove the virtues of this plant by his testimony—that he cured himself of the asthma with it. He says, the first information he had of its being good for that complaint, was from Dr. Dru ry, of Marblehead. In the fall of the year 1807, I introduced the emetic herb, tinctured in spirit, for the asthma and other complaints of the lungs, and cured several of the consumption. In 1808, I cured a woman in Newington of the asthma, who had not lain in her bed for six months. I gathered some of the plants, about the size of a dollar, bruised them, and tinctured them in spirits, gave her the tincture, and she lay in bed the first night. I showed her what it was, and how to prepare and use it, and by taking this and other things according to my di rection, she enjoyed a comfortable state of health for twelve years, and has not been obliged to sit up one night since. The • same fall I used it in Beverly and Salem; and there can be no doubt but all the information concerning the value of this arti cle was obtained from my practice. - MATERIA MEDICA. 585 After Dr. Cutler had given his testimony of the virtues of this herb, and the doctors have become convinced of its value, they come forward and say it is good medicine in skilful hands. Who, I would ask, is more skilful than he who discovered it, and taught them how to prepare and use it in curing one of the most distressing complaints known 2 If it is a good medicine, it is mine, and I am entitled to the credit of bringing it into use, and have paid dear for it; if it is poison, the doctors do not need it, as they have enough of that now. Dr. Thacher un dertakes to make it appear that the fatal effects he tells about its producing, were owing to the quantity given; and says I admi nistered a tea spoonful of the powder; and when he comes to give directions for using it, says that from ten to twenty grains may be given with safety. It appears strange that different terms should produce such different effects in the operation of medicine. If a tea spoonful is given by an empiric, its effects are fatal; but if the same quantity is administered by a learned doctor, and called grains, it is a useful medicine ! It is said by Dr. Thacher, that it was employed by the abo rigines and by those who deal in Indian remedies; and others who attempt to rob me of the credit of the discovery affect to believe the same thing; but this is founded altogether upon conjecture, for they cannot produce a single instance of its hav ing been employed as a medicine ti!! I made use of it. The fact is, it is a new article, wholly unknown to the medical ſa culty till I introduced it into use; and the best evidence of this is that they are now ignorant of its powers, and all the know ledge they have of it has been obtained from my practice. It would be folly for me to deny, that it may have been used by the natives of this country; but one thing I am certain of that I never had any knowledge of their using it, nor ever received any information concerning it from them, or any one else. This plant is common in all parts of the country. Wherever the land is fertile enough to yield support for its inhabitanis, it may be found. It is confined to no soil which is fit for cultiva tion, from the highest mountains to the lowest valleys. In hot and wet seasons it is most plenty on dry and warm lands; in hot and dry seasons, on clayey and heavy lands. When the season is cold, either wet or dry, it rarely makes its appearance; and if the summer and fall are very dry the seed does not comé up, and of course there will be very little to be found the next SeaSOI). I have been in search of this herb from Boston to Canada, and was not able to collect more than two pounds, and in some seasons I have not been able to collect any. I mention this to show the uncertainty of its growth, and to put the people on their guard to be careful and lay up a good stock of it when Jo 586 THE THOMSONIAN plenty. In the year 1807, if I had offered a reward of a thou sand dollars for a pound of this herb 1 could not have obtained it. I have seen the time when I would have given two dollars for an ounce of the powder, but there was none to be had; and this fact taught me to lay up all I could obtain when it was p lentv. In ºum. when this herb is plenty, it may be ſound growing in highways and pastures, by the side of old turnpikes, and in stubble land, particularly where it has been laid down to grass the year before. When grass is scarce it is eaten by cattle, and is hard to be found when full grown. It is a wild plant, and a native of this country; but there is no doubt of its being com mon to other countries. It may be transplanted and cultivated in gardens, and will be much larger and more vigorous than when growing wild. If some stalks are left, it will sow itself, and probably may be produced from the seed; but how long the seeds remain in the ground before they come up, I do not know, having made no experiments to ascertain the fact. It is certain that it is produced from the seed, and there is no good reason to suppose that it may not be cultivated in gardens from the seed, as well as other vegetables. I think it most probable, however, from the nature of the plant, that it will not eome up till the seeds have laid at least one winter in the ground. This plant is different in one very important particular from all others that I have a knowledge of, and that is, that the same quantity will produce the same effect in all stages of its growth, from its first appearance till it comes to maturity. But the best time for gathering it, as has before been mentioned, is when the leaves and pods begin to turn yellow, for then the seed is ripe, and you have all that can be had of the plant. It should then be cut and kept clean, and spread in a large chamber or loft te dry, where it is open to the air in the day time, and to be shut from the damp air during the night. When perfectly dry, shake out the seed, and siſt through a common meal sieve, and pre serve it by itself; then beat off the leaves and pods from the stalks, and preserve them clean. This herb may be prepared for use in three different ways, viz., 1st. The powdered leaves and pods. 2d. A tincture, made from the green herb with spirit. 3d. The seeds reduced to a fine powder, and compounded with Nos. 2 and 6. Medical uses.—1. After the leaves and pods are separated from the stalks, grind them or pound them in a mortar to a fine powder, sift it through a fine sieve and preserve it from the air. This is the most common preparation, and may be given in many different ways, either by itself or compounded with other articles. For a common dose, take a tea spoonful of this pow der, with the same quantity of sugar, in half a teacupful of MATERIA MEDICA, 587 warm water, or a tea of No. 3 may be used instead of the wa ter; this dose may be taken all at one time, or at three times, at intervals of ten minutes. For a young child, strain off the li quor, and give a part as circumstances may require. 2. To prepare the tincture, take the green herb in any sta of its growth; if the small plants are used, take roots and f put them into a mortar and pound them fine, then add the same quantity of good spirits; when well pounded and worked toge ther, strain it through a fine cloth and squeeze and press it hard to get out all the juice; save the liquor in bottles close stop for use. Good vinegar or pepper-sauce may be used instead of the spirit. Prepared in this manner, it is an effectual counter poison, either taken, or externally applied. It is also an excel lent medicine for the asthma, and all complaints of the lungs. This is the only way in which the doctors have made use of the emetic herb, and they acknowledge it to be one of the best remedies in many complaints that has been found, though they know but little about it. For a dose, take from half to a tea spoonful. Its effects will be more certain, if about the same quantity of No. 2 is added, and in all cases where there are ner vous symptoms, add half a tea spoonful of nerve powder to the dose. 3. Reduce the seeds to a fine powder in a mortar, and take half an ounce of this powder, or about a large spoonful, with the same quantity of No. 2, made fine, and put them in a gill of No. 6, adding a tea spoonful of nerve powder, to be kept stop ped in a bottle for use; when taken, to be well shaken together. This preparation is for the most violent attacks of disease, such as lockjaw, bite of mad dog, drowned persons, fits, spasms, and in all cases of suspended animation, where the vital spark is nearly extinct. It will go through the system like electrici ty, giving heat and life to every part. In cases where spasms are so violent that the persons are stiff, and the jaws become set, by pouring some of this liquid into the mouth, between the cheek and teeth, as soon as it touches the glands at the roots of the tongue, the spasms will relax, and the jaws will become loosened so that the mouth will open; then give a dose of it, and as soon as the spasms have abated, repeat it, and after. wards give a tea of No. 3, for canker. This course I never knew ſail of giving relief. It is good in less violent cases, to bring out the measles and small pox; and if applied to pimples, warts, &c., will remove them. I have cured three dogs with this preparation, which were under the most violent symptoms of hydrophobia; several of my agents cured patients who had been bitten by mad dogs; and I have not the least doubt of its being a specific for that disease. For a dose, take a teaspoonful. 588 THE THOMSONIAN Much has been said of the power of the emetic herb, and some have expressed fears of it on that account; but I can as sure the public, that there is not the least danger in using it. I have given it to children from one day old to persons of eighty years. It is most powerful in removing disease, but inoffensive to nature. Its operation in different persons is according to their different tempers, moving with the natural current of the animal spirits. There are two cases where this medicine will not operate, viz. when the patient is dying, and where there is no death; or in other words, when there is no disease. There can be no war where there is no enemy. When there is no cold in the body there is nothing to contend against, and when there is no heat in the body, there is nothing to kindle; in either case, therefore, this medicine is silent and harmless. It is calculated to remove the cause, and no more—as food removes hunger, and drink, thirst. It clears all obstructions to the extremities, without regard to the names of disease, until it produces an equilibrium in the system, and will be felt in the fingers and toes, producing a prickling feeling like that caused by a knock on the elbow. This symptom is alarming to those unacquaint ed with its operation; but it is always favorable, being a cer tain indication of the turn of the disorder, and they generally gain from that time. In regard to the quantity to be given as a dose, it is a matter of less consequence than is generally imagined. The most im portant thing is to give enough to produce the desired effect. If too little is given, it will worry the patient, and do but little good; if more is given than is necessary, the surplus will be thrown off, and is only a waste of medicine. I have given di rections what I consider as a dose in common cases, of the dif. ferent preparations; but still it must be left to the judgment of those who use it, how much to give. The most safe way will be to give the smallest prescribed dose first, then repeat it till it produces the desired operation. In cases where the stomach is cold and very foul, its operation will be slow and uncertain, in which case give No. 2, which will assist it in doing its work. When this medicine is given to patients who are in a decline, or are laboring under diseases of long standing, the symptoms indicating a crisis will not take place till they have been carried through from three to eight courses of the medicine; and the lower they have been, the more alarming will be the symptoms. I have seen some who would lay for two hours, and sob like a child that had been punished, not able to speak or to raise their hand to their head—and the next day be about, and soon get well. In cases where they have taken considerable opium, and this MATERIA MEDICA. 589 medicine is administered, it will in its operation produce the same appearances and symptoms that are produced by opium when first given, which, having laid dormant, is roused into action by the enlivening qualities of this medicine, and they will be thrown into a senseless state; the whole system will ex hibit a complete mass of confusion, tumbling in every direction; it will take two or three to hold them on the bed; they grow cold, as though they were dying, remaining in this way from two to eight hours, and then awake, like one from sleep after a good night's rest—and be entirely calm and sensible, as though nothing had troubled them. It is seldom they have more than one of these turns, as it is the last struggle of the disease, and they generally begin to recover from that time. I have been more particular in describing these effects of the medicine, as they are very alarming to those unacquainted with them, in order to show that there is no danger to be apprehend ed, as it is certain evidence of a favorable turn of the disease. The emetic herb is of great value in preventing sickness, as well as curing it. By taking a dose when first attacked by any complaint, it will throw it off, and frequently prevent long sick ness. It not only acts as an emetic, and throws off the stomach every thing that nature does not require for the support of the system, but extends its effects to every part of the body. It is searching, enlivening, quickening, and has great power in re moving all obstructions; but it soon exhausts itself, and if not followed by some other medicine, to hold the vital heat till na ture is able to support itself by digesting the food, it will not be sufficient to remove a disease that has become seated. To ef. fect this important object put me to much trouble, and after try ing many experiments to get something that would answer the purpose, I found that what is described under No. 2, was the best and only medicine within my knowledge, that would hold the heat in the stomach, and not evaporate; and by giving No. 3, to remove the canker, which is the great cause of disease, and then following with Nos. 4 and 5, to correct the bile, re store the digestion and strengthen the system, I have had little trouble in effecting a cure. Properties.—Lobelia inflata is an emetic, stimulant, expecto rant, and diaphoretic.

The Family Herbal, 1812, was written by John Hill. - Marshmallow

Botanical name: Althaea officinalis Plate 32.Also see: Common Mallow - Marsh Mallow - Vervain Mallow - Musk Mallow Althaea. A tall wild plant, of the mallow kind, frequent with us about salt marshes, and the sides of rivers where the tides come. It grows to four feet in height. The stalk is round, upright, thick, and somewhat hairy. The leaves are large, broad at the base, small at the point, of a figure approaching to triangular, and indented round the edges: they are of a whitish green colour, and soft to the touch like velvet. The flowers are large and white, with sometimes a faint blush of reddish. They are of the same size and shape with those of the common mallow. The root is most used. It is white, long, and thick, of an insipid taste, and full of a mucilaginous juice. Boiled in water, and the decoction made strong, it is excellent to promote urine, and bring away gravel, and small stones; it also cures stranguries, and is good in coughs. Its virtues are the same with those of the common mallow, but in a greater degree.

The Family Herbal, 1812, was written by John Hill. - Parsley Root

Botanical name: Petroselinum crispum Petroselinum. Also see: Parsly - Macedonian Parsly. A very common plant in our gardens, useful in the kitchen, and in medicine. It grows to two feet in height. The leaves are composed of many small parts: they are divided into three, and then into a multitude of sub-divisions: they are of a bright green, and indented. The stalks are round, angulated, or deeply striated, slender, upright, and branched. The flowers are small and white; and they stand in large tufts at the tops of the branches. The seeds are roundish and striated. The root is long and white. The roots are the part used in medicine. A strong decoction of them is good against the jaundice. It operates powerfully by urine, and opens obstructions.

The Elements of Materia Medica and Therapeutics, Vol. II, 3th American ed., was written by Jonathan Pereira in 1854 - Ginger

Botanical name: Zingiber officinale Amomum Zingiber, Linn. D. Sex. Syst. Monandria, Monogynia. (Rhizoma, L. E.—Radix, D.) History.—Dioscorides [Lib. ii. cap. 190.] and Pliny [Hist. Nat. lib. xii. cap. 14, ed. Valp.] speak of ginger: the former calls it ζιγγίβερις; the latter zingiberi and zimgiberi. Botany. Gen. Char.—Corolla with the outer limb 3-partcd, inner 1-lippcd. Filament lengthened beyond the anther into a simple incurved beak. Capsule 3-celled, 3-valved. Seeds numerous, arillate.—Rhizocarpial plants. Rhizomes tuberous, articulated, creeping. Stems annual, enclosed in the sheaths of distichous leaves. Leaves membranous. Spikes cone-shaped, radical or rarely terminal, solitary, consisting of 1-flowered imbricated bracts (Blume [Enumeratio Plantarem Java.]). Sp. Char.—Leaves sub-sessile, linear-lanceolate, smooth. Spikes elevated, oblong. Bracts acute. Lip 3-lobed. (Roxburgh.) Rhizome biennial. Stems erect and oblique, and invested by the smooth sheaths of the leaves; generally three or four feet high, and annual. Leaf-sheaths smooth, crowned with a bifid ligula. Scapes solitary, six to twelve inches high. Spikes the size of a man's thumb. Lip dark purple. Ovary oval, with numerous ovules; style filiform; stigma funnel-shaped, ciliate. Capsule roundish, unilocular. Seeds numerous; mostly abortive. [Roxburgh, op. cit.; and Dr. P. Browne, History of Jamaica.] Hab.—Cultivated in the tropical regions of Asia and America, and at Sierra Leone. Native soil doubtful, probably Asia. Preparation.—Green ginger is sometimes imported from Jamaica. It consists of soft and juicy rhizomes with buds; and appears to have undergone but little preparation beyond picking and washing. The young shoots put forth every spring by the perennial rhizome are used in the manufacture of the delicious preserved ginger (conditum zingiberis). These shoots are carefully picked, washed, scalded, scraped, peeled, and then preserved in jars with syrup. (Dr. P. Browne.) The finest preserved ginger is imported from Jamaica usually in jars. Barbados preserved ginger is seldom brought over. The China preserved ginger is stringy. It is sometimes imported in the dried state. The dried rhizomes, called in the shops ginger (radix zingiberis), are prepared when the stalks are wholly withered, and the rhizomes are about a year old. In Jamaica, this happens in January or February. The rhizomes are dug up and separately picked, washed, and scraped; and afterwards dried in the sun and open air. (Dr. P. Browne.) The product is the uncoated ginger of the shops, formerly called white ginger (zingiber album). The coated ginger of the shops has obviously not undergone this careful preparation. In Barbados, the rhizomes are dug up, scraped clean, and sun-dried. [Hughes, Nat. Hist, of Barbados, p. 233, 1750.] The black ginger (zingiber nigrum), formerly prepared in Jamaica, is obtained by pickling and cleaning the rhizomes, scalding them gradually in boiling water, and afterwards sun-drying them. [Dr. P. Browne, op. cit.—According to Dr. Wright (Lond. Med. Journ. vol. viii.; also, Memoir of the late Dr. Wright, p. 185, 1828), two sorts of ginger are cultivated in Jamaica, viz., the white and the black; the latter has the more numerous and the larger roots.] Description.—The rhizome, called in commerce ginger root or simply ginger (radix zingiberis), occurs in flattish, jointed, branched, or lobed, palmate pieces, called races or hands, which rarely exceed four inches in length. Barbados ginger, the old sorts brought from Malabar and Bengal, and African ginger, are covered by a dry, shrivelled epidermis commonly called the "coat;" hence these sorts are usually said to be coated or unscraped; whereas the ginger of Jamaica, and the new sorts which of late years have been brought from Malabar and Bengal, have been deprived of their epidermis, and are, therefore, said to be uncoated or scraped. The external colour varies in the different sorts from pale or bright yellow to dark or brown: the palest sort is the fine Jamaica ginger; the darkest being the Bengal old sort; and the other sorts being intermediate. Ginger breaks moderately short, but the fractured surface presents numerous projecting pointed fibres, imbedded in a mealy or farinaceous tissue. A transverse section of the larger and more perfect pieces shows an outer, horny, resinous-looking zone, surrounding a farinaceous centre, which has a speckled appearance from the cut extremities of the fibres and ducts. The internal varies like the external colour; the best ginger is that which cuts pale but bright. The consistence of ginger, as ascertained by cutting, varies from soft to hard, or, as it is termed in trade, "flinty;" the soft being preferred. The taste of ginger is aromatic, hot, and biting; the odour of a fresh broken piece is peculiar and pungent, though aromatic. Varieties.—Seven kinds of ginger, distinguished partly by their place of growth, and partly by their quality, are known in English commerce. Of these, two are from the West Indies, four from the East Indies, and one from Africa. A. West Indian Gingers.—This division includes Jamaica and Barbados gingers. 1. Jamaica ginger.—Imported in barrels holding 1 cwt. each. It is an uncoated, pale sort, and when of fine quality occurs in large, bold, fleshy races, which cut soft, bright, and pale coloured. Inferior samples are small in the race, darker coloured, more or less flinty, and shrivelled. 2. Barbados ginger.—Imported in bags of about 60 or 70 lbs. It is a coated sort, in short, flat races, which are darker coloured than Jamaica ginger, and are covered with corrugated epidermis. B. East Indian Gingers.—This division includes two sorts from Malabar and two from Bengal, all of which are more liable to be wormy than either the West Indian or African sorts. α. Malabar Gingers. 3. Coated Malabar Ginger; Unscraped Malabar Ginger; Old sort of Malabar Ginger; Common Malabar Ginger; Bombay Ginger.—Imported from Bombay in bags or packets. It is a coated, dark, small sort. 4. Uncoated Malabar Ginger; New sort of Malabar Ginger; Tellicherry Ginger; Calicut Ginger; Cochin Ginger.—A pale, uncoated sort, imported in chests, casks, or bags, sometimes from Tellicherry, but usually from Calicut or Cochin. It resembles Jamaica ginger both in external appearance and flavour; but has externally more of a brownish or reddish tint. It first appeared in English commerce about 1841. β. Bengal Gingers. 5. Coated Bengal Ginger; Common Bengal Ginger; Old sort of Bengal Ginger.—Imported in bags. It is a coated or unscraped dark sort, which cuts flinty and brownish, but is plumper and less wormy than common Malabar ginger. 6. Uncoated Bengal Ginger; Scraped Bengal Ginger; New sort of Bengal Ginger; Calicut sort of Bengal Ginger.—Imported in chests of about 1 ½ cwts. It is an uncoated sort, darker than Jamaica ginger. It is not so large as the uncoated Malabar sort, and is harder and darker. C. African Ginger.—Only one kind of African ginger is known, viz., that from Sierra Leone. 7. Sierra Leone Ginger; African Ginger.—Imported in casks or bags. It is a coated sort; the races being generally larger, less flat, and less plump than those of the Barbados sort, which in other respects they resemble. Chinese Ginger.—The Chinese ginger described by Bassermann [Pharmaceutisches Central-Blatt für 1835.] is unknown in English commerce; the only ginger imported into England from China being preserved ginger. Assortment.—The uncoated gingers, namely, the Jamaica, uncoated Malabar, and uncoated Bengal, are assorted for commercial purposes, according to their qualities, somewhat thus— 1. Bold, soft, and bright ginger. 2. Smaller, but soft and bright. 3. Flinty and dark. 4. Shrivelled, and only fit for grinding. The Barbados, African, and coated Malabar and Bengal gingers are usually sold unassorted. The following are the quantities of ginger on which duty was paid for six years:— British West Indies. East Indies. Total. cwts. cwts. cwts. In 1835 6,496 867 = 7,363 1836 4,426 1,912 = 6,338 1837 9,157 3,520 = 12,677 1838 9,305 1,911 = 11,216 1839 6,537 818 = 7,175 1840 7,528 1,535 = 9,063 Washed Ginger; Bleached Ginger.—Ginger is sometimes washed in water, and then dried, by wholesale dealers, prior to its being offered for sale to the retailers. Some of the darker sorts are bleached by washing them in a solution of chloride of lime, and sometimes by exposing them to the fumes of burning sulphur. By this treatment the ginger acquires a chalky-white character, and is then often termed white-washed ginger. Ginger is said [Brande, Dict. of Mat. Med.] to be sometimes washed in whiting and water (or white-washed) under the pretence of preserving it from insects. Adulteration.—Powdered ginger is said to be sometimes admixed with flour and other amylaceous substances. The microscope would readily detect the adulteration, except in the case of East Indian arrow-root (Curcuma angustifolia), the particles of which are similar in appearance to those of ginger. Composition.—Ginger was analyzed in 1817 by Bucholz, [Gmelin's Handb. d. Chem.] and in 1823 by Morin. [Journ. de Pharm. ix. 253.] Bucholz's Analysis. Morin's Analysis. Pale yellow volatile oil 1.56 Volatile oil. Aromatic, acrid, soft resin 3.60 Acrid soft resin. Extractive, soluble in alcohol 0.65 Resin insoluble in ether and oils. Acidulous and acrid extractive, insolube in alcohol 10.50 Gum. Gum 12.05 Starch. Starch 19.75 Woody fibre. Apotheme, extracted by potash (ulmin?) 26.00 Vegeto-animal matter. Bassorin 8.30 Osmazome. Woody fibre 8.00 Acetic acid, acetate of potash, and sulphur. Water 11.90 The ashes contained carbonate and sulphate of potash, chloride of potassium, phosphate of lime, alumina, silica, and oxides of iron and manganese. White Ginger 102.31 Ginger. 1. Volatile oil of Ginger.—Is pale yellow, very fluid, lighter than water, odour that of ginger, taste at first mild, afterwards acrid and hot. 2. Soft Resin.—Obtained by digesting the alcoholic extract of ginger first in water, then in ether, and evaporating the ethereal tincture. The residual resin is yellowish-brown, soft, combustible, has an aromatic odour, and a burning aromatic taste. Is readily soluble in alcohol, ether, oil of turpentine, and hot almond oil. 3. Starch.—Ginger starch consists of thin flat disks, which resemble those of East Indian arrow-root (see Curcuma angustifolia) and plantain starch (see ante, p. 223). Physiological Effects.—Ginger is one of the aromatic stimulants (see vol. i. p. 253) which possess considerable pungency or acridity. Its dust applied to the mucous membrane of the nostrils acts as an irritant, and provokes sneezing. The rhizome chewed is a powerful sialagogue. The powder mixed with hot water, and applied to the skin, causes a sensation of intense heat and tingling, and slight redness. When taken into the stomach, ginger operates as a stimulant; first, to the alimentary canal; secondly, to the body generally; but especially to the organs of respiration. Like some other spices (the peppers, for instance), it acts as an excitant to the genital organs. Furthermore, it has been said to increase the energy of the cerebral functions. It is less acrid than pepper. Uses.—Its principal consumption is as a condiment. Its powers in this way are considerable, while its flavour is by no means disagreeable, and its acridity scarcely sufficient to enable it, when taken with food, to irritate or inflame. As a stomachic and internal stimulant, it serves several important purposes. In enfeebled and relaxed habits, especially of old and gouty individuals, it promotes digestion, and relieves flatulency and spasm of the stomach and bowels. It checks or prevents nausea and griping, which are apt to be produced by some drastic purgatives. It covers the nauseous flavour of many medicines, and communicates cordial and carminative qualities to tonic and other agents. As a sialagogue, it is sometimes chewed to relieve toothache, relaxed uvula, and paralytic affections of the tongue. As a counter-irritant, I have frequently known a ginger plaster (prepared by mixing together powdered ginger and warm water, and spreading the paste on paper or cloth) relieve violent headache when applied to the forehead. Administration.—Powdered ginger may be administered, in doses of from ten grains to a scruple or more, in the form of a pill. Made into a paste with hot water, it may be applied as a plaster, as already mentioned. Preserved ginger (conditum zingiberis), though commonly used as a sweetmeat, may be taken with advantage as a medicine to stimulate the stomach. Ginger lozenges, ginger pearls (commonly termed ginger seeds), and ginger pipe are useful articles of confectionery, which are frequently of benefit in dyspepsia accompanied with flatulence. 1. TINCTURA ZINGIBERIS, L. E. D. [U. S.]; Tincture of Ginger.—(Ginger, sliced [in coarse powder, E. D.], ℥ijss [℥viij, D. (U. S.)]; Rectified Spirit Oij. Macerate for seven [fourteen, D.] days, and strain, L. D. "Proceed by percolation or digestion, as directed for tincture of cinchona," E.)—A very valuable carminative. It is commonly employed as an adjunct to tonic, stimulant, and purgative mixtures. Its dose is fʒj to fʒij. The tincture, made with proof spirit, becomes turbid by keeping, in consequence of the mucilage it contains. Essence of ginger is prepared as a tincture, except that the quantity of rhizome should be increased. Some preparers of it concentrate the tincture by distilling off part of the alcohol. 2. SYRUPUS ZINGIBERIS, L. E. D. [U. S.]; Syrup of Ginger.—(Ginger, sliced, ℥ijss; Boiling Distilled Water Oj; Sugar lb ijss, or as much as may be sufficient [Rectified Spirit as much as may be sufficient, L.]. Macerate the ginger in the water for four hours, and strain; then add the sugar, and dissolve it.—The Dublin College directs it to be prepared with Tincture of Ginger f℥j, and Simple Syrup f℥vij. Mix with agitation.)—Used for flavouring. It is scarcely strong enough to be of much value. An extemporaneous syrup may be prepared by adding the tincture of ginger to common syrup. The Syrupus Zingiberis of the United States Pharmacopoeia is made by adding f℥ij of tincture of ginger (prepared with ℥viij of ginger, and Oij, wine measure, of alcohol) to a gallon of syrup, and evaporating the alcohol by a water-bath. 3. INFUSUM ZINGIBERIS; Infusion of Ginger; Ginger Tea.—This is a very useful domestic remedy, and is prepared by digesting from ʒij to ʒiv of Ginger in f℥vj of Boiling Water, for two hours. When flavoured, it is employed as a carminative in flatulence, &c, in doses of one or two tablespoonfuls. 4. CEREVISIA ZINGIBERIS; Ginger Beer; Ginger Pop.—For the following excellent formula for the preparation of this popular and agreeable beverage, I am indebted to Mr. Pollock, of Fenchurch Street: "Take of White Sugar lb xx; Lemon (or Lime) juice f℥xviij; Honey lb j; Ginger, bruised, ℥xxij; Water cong. xviij. Boil the ginger in three gallons of water for half an hour; then add the sugar, the juice, and the honey, with the remainder of the water, and strain through a cloth. When cold, add the white of one egg and f℥ss of essence of lemon; after standing four days, bottle. The bottles are to be laid on their sides in a cellar, and the beer is ready for use in about three weeks. If a little yeast be used, the beer is ready in a day or two; but in this case it does not keep well." This yields a very superior beverage, and one which will keep for many months. Lemon-juice may be purchased for sixpence a pint in Botolph Lane, Thames Street. A formula for the preparation of Ginger Beer Powders has already been given (see vol. i. p. 523).