ae BOTANIC PHYSICIAN. 
- ‘The Brook-lime may be used asa diet drink, like cresses. It is 
antiscorbutic, diuretic, febrifuge, and an excellent emmenagogue. - 
The most beneficial effects are experienced from this herb, in relieving 
obstructed menses, and in expelling a dead fcetus, when it should 
be taken in large quantities. In beginning fevers, and coughs, it 4s 
very useful, from its relaxing power. 
-Butcuer’s Broom, or Witp Myrtis. Ruseus. The root. 
“It grows in woods and thickets, in England, and probably in Ame- 
rica. It is a small evergreen shrub, and its first shoots from the 
ground are like the asparagus. It has a small, round, red berry, roots 
thick, white, and large at the head. * 
“A decoction of the root, with wine, has been recommended as an 
apérient and diuretic in dropsies, urinary obstructions, and -affec- 
tions of the kidneys ; also in the yellow jaundice, and headaeh. 
Se Sere i. 
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Broom. Genista. The plant. 
This plant has been highly recommended as a purgative and dit 
ee particularly in dropsies. The juice or decoction should be 
used, 
Buck-Tuorn. Spina Cervina. The Juice of the berries. _ 
This is a hedge prickly bush, or low tree, and grows common 
throughout the United States. The leaves are oval, pointed and 
serrated ; flowers male and female, upon different plants, small and oe 
ia clusters, and produces a round black berry containing four seeds. — 
~ Buckthorn berries have a faint disagreeable smell, and a nauseous 
bitter taste: They have long been in considerable esteem as cathat- — 
ties ; and celebrated in dropsies, rheumatism, and even gout ; though 
m these cases they may have no particular advantage over other 
purgatives. Henry prepared it in the following manner, for the drop~ 
sy: Steep one gallon of the expressed juice of buck thorn berries, @ 
an earthen pot for an hour ; then strain the liquor through a fine 
cloth, and add one ounce of ginger, one ounce of black pepper, 
’ half an ounce of powder of masterwort root ; to these add two quarts 
of molasses, and boil all down to two quarts, which should be pub 
into close covered pots for use. Take a gill of this syrup at a dose, 
and work it off by drinking half a pint of thin gruel, after each stool, 
which will powerfully purge off the water without griping. aes : 
common purge, the patient may take four table spoonsful, oF me 
ounces, fora dose, and drink thin gruel as above, a 
The juice, or decoction, causes gripings and pain, and therefore i 
the above syrup, made either with molasses or sugar, ameliorates 1 
and makes it a brisk and safe cathartic, which may be used as Ci 
cumstances require. pee 
__ The bark of the buck-thorn is said to be a mild tonic, astringent 
and antiseptic medicine and is recommended for the cure of ine 
