RETURN FROM PITTSBURG 321 



in two quarts of water until reduced by half ; the 

 patient takes a third of this decoction three mornings 

 together on an empty stomach. It reduces the symp- 

 toms, and if continued effects a complete cure. If the 

 fresh roots and simples are at hand they are pounded 

 and expressed and a large spoonful of the juice given 

 daily. Two spoonfuls are said to be sufficient for a 

 cure. The herbs and roots, after expressing or boil- 

 ing, are laid upon the wound, or as a substitute a leaf 

 of tobacco steeped in rum. Both of these plants are of 

 European origin and grow in America as aliens, only 

 in the settled parts and not in the wilds. How the 

 negro got a knowledge of them is not certain ; per- 

 haps through some European? for both plants have 

 been of old praised and used in the treatment of wounds, 

 and besides, one of them, the Hoarhound (Marrub.), 

 has been greatly commended for the bite of noxious 

 animals and mad-dogs. 



Among all the remedies used exteriorly the most 

 effective and reasonable are : the application of a liga- 

 ture immediately above the wound ; the sprinkling on 

 of salt and pepper, gunpowder, or tobacco ; timely and 

 repeated cupping, the searing of the wound, on the 

 spot or as soon as ever it can be done : these remedies 

 are now and again used with good results by the 

 country-people or by surgeons. And the fat of the 

 rattle-snake is at times rubbed over the wound, but 

 from this very little indeed should be expected. 



A rattle-snake of uncommon size was killed in the 

 year 1778 in Redstone Settlement, a part of the above- 

 described Glades. It was 18 ft. long and the strip't 

 skin measured two and a half feet in breadth. There 

 prevails a tradition among the country-people in 

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