HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS. 
trials and experiments of several eminent physicians and prac- 
titioners it may very safely be recommended as a strong tonic 
bitter, and may be used wherever such a remedy is required. 
It has a pleasantly bitter and somewhat pungent taste, is 
slightly laxative, and of course alterant, aiding the system to 
remove obstructions and recover its tone, and is highly es- 
teemed and thought valuable throughout the United States. 
It keeps the bowels moderately open, without acting as a 
purgative or reducing the strength of the patient. It is highly 
useful during recovery from fevers, for dyspeptics, or those 
who are troubled with indigestion, or any other complaint, to 
remove the heavy, disagreeable sensation often produced by 
indigestible food. A teaspoonful of this root pulverized, tak- 
en in a little hot water, sweetened, with the addition of a 
little cayenne, will give immediate relief from the distress 
caused by unhealthy food in the stomach. When used di- 
rectly after eating, it aids digestion and removes heaviness 
from the stomach. A small particle of this powder, the size 
of a pea, will remove the inquietude. 
Golden Seal is an excellent corrector of the bile, and may 
be used for that purpose. It is very good in jaundice, and in 
all derangements of the digestive organs. In colic, also, it 
may be used with exceeding good etfect. Compounded with 
poplar-bark, one part of the former and two of the latter, four 
parts of good sugar, and one eighth part cayenne, it forms. 
a compound that is valuable in every family, where it should 
be always at hand. . 
__ Turmeric-root is very popular and much used in some of 
the Western States in form of an infusion as a topical appli- 
cation in chronic ophthalmia and other diseases of the eye, and 
there is evidence sufficient of its efficacy in these complaints. 
The Indians are said to have employed it in the same form 
for old sores, and as an external application to ulcers. It is 
likewise highly probable that it may be found useful in many 
external complaints as a topical tonic. 
A strong decoction of Hydrastis Canadensis and poplar- 
bark, with one tenth as much powdered peach-kernels, and 
one tenth of strong tincture of myrrh, with an equal measure 
of dry sugar, make an excellent dysentery or cholera syrup. 
_ This plant was well known to and extensively used by the 
_ Indians, both as a dye and for medicinal purposes. The root 
_ yields a brilliant yellow color, which appears to be permanent 
_ and might be advantageously employed in the arts. In an 
account of the principal dyes used by the Indians, by Hugh 
_ Martin, in the third volume of the Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc. 
1783, he states that, from experiments made by himself and 
others, it was found to succeed perfectly with silk, wool, and 
