fend the entrance of the tube ; hence no insects ever appr 
This is a powerful medicine, and may be employed to su 
many valuable purposes. Its effects when swallowed are: to di- 
minish the irritability of the system ; to increase the action of the ab- 
sorbents, and to increase the discharge by urine. In excessive doses 
it produces vomiting, purging, dimness of the sight, vertigo, delirium, 
hiccup, convulsions, and death. For these the best remedies are cor- 
dials and stimulants. ; 
Internally, digatalis has been recommended in inflammatory dis- 
eases, (from its remarkable power of diminishing the velocity. 
circulation,) in hemorrhages, spasmodic affections, as asthma, 
tations, in madness, dropsy, scrofula, gonorrhoea, and aneurism. 
ternally it has been applied to scrofulous tumors. 
It may be exhibited in substance, either by itself or conjoined with 
some aromatic, or made into pills with balsam of fir, or with soap and 
gum ammoniac. Of the powder may be given, at first, one grain twice 
a day, gradually increasing the dose till it acts upon the pulse, kidneys, 
stomach and bowels, when its use may be suspended. It may also 
be given in infusion : a drachm of the dried leaves may be infused 
four hours in four ounces of hot water, adding an ounce of spirits to 
preserve it. Half an ounce of this infusion may be taken twice a 
day. For a decoction, four ounces of the fresh leaves may he boil- 
ed from two pounds of water to one, and halfan ounce of the strained 
liquor taken every two hours till four are taken. For a tincture, put 
one ounce of the dried pulverized leaves into four ounces of fourth 
proof spirits, and Jet it stand in a warm place forty-eight hours, fre- 
quently shaking it up : this when strained, forms a saturated tincture, 
of which twenty drops may be taken twice or thrice a daye 5 
Digitalis, though one of the most powerful narcotics, acts likewise 
‘as one of the most certain diuretics, in dropsy, apparently from its 
power of promoting absorption. It has frequently succeeded where 
other diuretics have failed. In this disease, it is best given in sub- 
stance. 
For relieving the scalding in gonorrhea, and assisting in the cure, 
it may be pilled with balsam of fir, which is very convenient and ap- 
propriate. 
Frostwort. Cistus Canadensis. The leaves. 
This plant rises two feet high ; leaves numerous, ovate, very small, 
and of a whitish color, like frost, and grows on small purple stalks ; 
flowers of a pale color and inconspicuous, which terminate 1n a small — 
pod containing very small seed. It is newly discovered, and grows 
in the woods on Long Island, and plentifully in New Jersey, and is 
Known by the name of Frostwort, from its color. : 
Tt has been found effectual in the cure of scrofula or king’s evil. 
For the cure of this disease, let the patient drink of the following in-_ 
fusion three times a day ; put four ounces.of the dry leaves into a — 
tea pot filled with boiling water : and wash the sores with the same. 
or an external application to the tumors, take one handful of the 
‘dry leaves, a quart of rum, and a table spoonful of black pepper; set 
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