AND FAMILY DISPENSATORY. 185 
mention many other plants and animals of a poifonous nature which are found in 
foreign countri¢s; but, as our obfervations are chiefly intended for this ifland, we 
fhall pafs thefe over. It may not however be amifs to obferve, for the behoof of 
fuch of our countrymen as go to America, that an effectual remedy is now faid to be 
found for the bite of the rattle-fnake.---The prefcription is as follows : Take of the 
roots of plantain and horehound, in fummer, roots and branches together, a fuffi- 
cient quantity ; ; brutfe them in a mortar, and fqueeze out the juice, of which give, 
as {oon as poffible, one large fpoonful; if the patient be {welled, you mutt force it 
down his throat. This generally will cure; but, if he finds no relief in an hour 
after, you may give another fpoonful, which never fails. ---If the roots are dried, they 
mutt be moiftened with a little water. To the wound may be applied a leaf of good 
tobacco moiftened with rum. We give this upon the faith of Dr. Brookes, who 
fays i it was the invention of a negro; for the difcovery of which he had his freedom 
purchafed, anda hundred pounds per annum fettled upon him ome S life, by the 
_ General Affembly of Carolina. 
Or INFLAMMATIONS anp ABSCESSES. 
FROM whatever caufe an inflammation proceeds, it muft terminate either by dif. 
- perfion, fuppuration, or gangrene. Though it is impoffible to foretel with certainty 
in which of thefe ways any particular inflammation will terminate, yet a probable 
conjeéture may be formed with regard to the event, from a knowledge of the pa- 
tient’s age and confticution. Inflammations happening in a flight ‘degree upon 
colds, and without any previous indifpofition, will moft probably be difperfed ; thofe 
which follow clofe upona fever, or happen to perfons of a grofs habit of body, will 
generally fuppurate ; - and thofe which attack very old people; or perfons of a dropii- 
cal habit, will have a ftrong tendency to gangrene. 
’ CURE.---If the inflammation be flight, and the conftitution found, the siper 
fion ought always to be attempted. This will be-beft promoted by a flender ‘dilut- 
ing diet, plentiful bleeding, and repeated purges. The part itfelf mutt be. foment- 
ed, and, if thefkin be very tenfe, it may be embrocated with a ‘mixture of three- 
; fourths of fweet oil, and one-fourth of vinegar, and _ af ds covered with a 
piece of wax plaifter. If, notwithftanding theft. ‘applications, t the Symptomatic fe- 
ver increafes, and the tumour becomes larger, , with violent pain and pulfation, ,it 
will be proper to ‘promoted the fu <curation. The beft application for this purpdle 
is a fofs poultice, which may. be renewed twice a-day. ‘If the fuppuration _ eo 
but lowly, a raw onion cut fmall or bruifed may be fpread upon the poultite. 
‘When the abcefs i is Tipe or fit for opening, ¥ which may eafily be known | from the 
thinnefs of the {kin in the mottj ‘prominent “y of it, a Auctuation of matter : er 
38. 3 , 
