351 



add lard half a pound, simmer out the water, stirring it continually, 

 before and after removing it from the lire, till it cools. It forms a 

 brick-coloured anodyne, astringent ointment — admirably adapted to 

 the cure of hemorrhoidal tumours." During the past season we have 

 experimented some with the witch-hazel, and have given it in a 

 number of cases of disease; principally in chronic coughs, accom- 

 panied by that irritable condition of the system, which usually 

 marks the incipient stage of phthisis, and in hemorrhoidal affections. 

 And in most instances we have derived decided benefit from its use. 

 From our present experience, we think its action very closely re- 

 sembles that of the Lycopus Virginicus, already described; with the 

 single exception that the witch-hazel is more anodyne or narcotic, 

 and exerts less direct control over the action of the heart and arte- 

 ries. It is, indeed, a most valuable remedy in the treatment of those 

 diseases to which we have already alluded. And if we remember 

 that those conditions of the system which give rise to the develop- 

 ment of tubercles, and indeed to all other heterologous deposits, are 

 essentially conditions of irritability leading to morbid nutrition, we 

 shall readily perceive how applicable are such remedies as the Ly- 

 copus and Hamamelis, in their early treatment. They seem to fulfil 

 an indication, which is but imperfectly met by any combination of 

 our more common remedies, viz. : the allaying of irritability both in 

 the nervous and vascular systems, without inducing either debility 

 or derangement of the digestive functions. And we are by no means 

 certain that further investigation in regard to this class of reme- 

 dies will not enable us to control the early stages of phthisis or 

 even cancer, with as much certainty as we now control the common 

 forms of fever. Both the leaves and bark of the Hamamelis possess 

 medicinal properties, but the latter is generally used. Internally, it 

 may be given in the form of decoction made by boiling an ounce of 

 the bark in a pint of water; of which a wineglassful may be given 

 to an adult every three, six, or eight hours. Locally, it may be 

 used as a simple wash, or thrown into the rectum with a syringe, or 

 applied in the form of ointment. 



4. Cimictfuga Racemosa: Actcea Racemosa. Blade Cohosh. 

 Polypetalous exogenous. Mat. Ord. Ranunculaceae. Sex. Syst. 

 Polyandria di Pentagynia. 



The stem is simple, herbaceous, somewhat furrowed, from three 

 to six feet high ; flowers in a long terminal raceme with oftentimes 

 one or more shorter ones at the base. The flowers are white, on 



