T. 



THE SICK man's COMPANIOJf* , 53 



There is commonly another kind growing wiih 

 it, and they both look very much alike, but one 

 has a rough and balsamic taate, and the other is 

 remarkably bitter. Both may be used together, 

 in the form of a tea or syrup, and ansvver a very 

 important purpose; the bitter corrects the bile, 

 and the rougfi removes the canker and other ob- 

 structions; and by adding a little cayenne or 

 red pepper, you have acomponnd containing the 

 three great principles of the healing art, hot, 

 rougli, and bitter. 



Iron weed. — This is sometimes called DeviPs 



bit, and commonly grows about five or six feet 



high, with tolerable large leaves, scattered around 

 the main stalk, which is seldom if ever divided 

 only near the top, where it produces large clus- 

 ters of bluish purple flowers. It will be found 

 mostly in poor crawfish meadow grounds, and 

 along streams in moderately rich bottoms. The 

 roots are long and tough, frequently almost dis- 

 troying meadow grounds where it takes a start. 

 This root is a good tonic bitter, giving strength 

 and tone to the stomach, and removing canker 

 and other obstructions. A tea made of the 

 roots, is also an excellent medicine to destroy 

 worms in children, and to give strength to the 

 system in such cases. By steeping the root in 

 spirits it makes a good stomach bitter, for weak 

 constitutions and those who require a little stim- 

 ulus. It is also a valuable article when combin- 



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