38 NAT. ORDER. ARACEiE. 



The medical properties of this plant have of late attracted 

 the attention of physicians, in regard to its pectoral properties 

 Dr. Samuel Thompson, of Boston, says: "it has proved highly 

 beneficial in coughs, consumption of the lungs and asthma, foi 

 which we have successfully used it for more than forty years. 

 The root should be dried, pulverized, and given in doses of three 

 to six grains, four times a day ; or it may be given in honey, in the 

 sirup of preserves, or in any other saccharine matter, or it may 

 be made into a paste, with honey or sirup, and used in the form of 

 candy, by letting the substance dissolve gradually on the tongue, 

 so as to diffuse its warmth through the mouth, and thus used it is 

 good for apthous sore mouth and throat." The following is Dr. 

 Thompson's method of making cough drops. 



WAKE ROBIN COUGH DROPS. 



Take six ounces of dried wake robin, well pulverized, stir it 

 into one jjint of cold water, infuse it till the knobs, or small accu- 

 mulations of the powders, are well mingled with the water, then 

 pour on half a gallon of boiling water, and a heaped teaspoon-full 

 of caiisicum annum, cayenne pepper, half a gallon^ of molasses, 

 half a gallon of Jamaica rum, one pint of the tincture Lobelia in- 

 jlata, (common tincture of the herb,) and the juice of half a dozen 

 best Sicily lemons." 



This is one of Dr. Thompson's most valuable remedies for 

 coughs, colds, raising of blood, croup, asthma, or any other difficul- 

 ty of the lungs and throat. He strongly recommends that a small 

 vial of these drops should be carried by those who are affected 

 with a cough, and about half a teaspoon-full taken at a time, 

 whenever there is an irritation in the throat, or an inclination to 

 cough. This will keep the throat and lungs under a continual 

 stimulation or excitement, by which means expectoration will be- 

 come easy. It will also relieve pain in the side and breast, cholic 

 pains, &c. ; and is a valuable remedy for many other comi3laints. 



