176 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
ill odours from decayed stumps of carious teeth, within a foul- 
smelling mouth, this should be rinsed out each night and morning 
with Cinnamon-water, freshly prepared by adding half a tea- 
spoonful of genuine Cinnamon essence to half a toilet-tumblerful 
of water; thereby making an effective mouth-wash, and helping 
materially to prevent absorption into the blood of injurious 
septic matters which would engender rheumatism, and kindred 
toxic maladies. Another method for effecting the same salutary 
end may be copied from what used to be, and perhaps still is, 
practised by school-boys here and there—that of smoking pieces 
of Cinnamon bark instead of cigars, which would betray the 
offender by their forbidden nicotian odour; but these fragrant 
substitutes are hard to “ draw.” 
The volatile oil of Cinnamon has to be procured from the bark, 
and makes with spirit a convenient essence, or tincture ; being 
useful further for preparing an aromatic water of Cinnamon. 
For a sick, qualmish stomach either form of Cinnamon is an 
excellent remedy. Cinnamon bark by its astringency will also 
serve to stay bleeding from the bowels, likewise nose-bleeding, 
and uterine fluxes. A teaspoonful of the bruised and powdered 
bark should be infused in half a pint of boiling water, and a 
tablespoonful of the same, when cool, is to be taken frequently. 
Parenthetically it may be told here that, though not esculent, 
except when made into a tea by infusion with boiling water, 
one of our very common English wayside weeds, the small 
Shepherd’s Purse (Bursa Capsella Pastoris), is likewise singularly 
useful for arresting bleedings, and floodings; it is eminent 
among our most reliable remedies for staying fluxes of blood. 
The herb contains a tannate, and bursinic acid, as its active 
medicinal principles. Its tea should be made from the fresh 
plant, first bruised, and is to be taken a teacupfiul at a time 
every two, three, or four hours, as required. “ Shepherd’s 
Purse stayeth bleeding in any part of the body, whether the 
juice thereof be drunk, or whether it be used poultice-like, or 
in bath, or any way else.” It further bears the name of Poor 
Man’s Permacetty, ‘‘ the sovereignst remedy for bruises.” And 
in some parts of England the Shepherd’s Purse is known as 
“Clapper Pouch,” alluding to the licensed begging of lepers 
at our crossways in olden times, with a bell, and a clapper. 
They would call the attention of passers-by with the bell, or 
with the clapper, and would receive from them alms in a cup, 
