1913-U.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 227 



the United States, few remained long in the same place, 

 and they were generally ignorant quacks — although 

 occasionally a man of real genius in the treatment of 

 disease was to be found amongst them. Xot a few were 

 of the Thomsonian School, of which the founder was 

 Samuel Thomson, born before the American Revolution in 

 what is now New Hampshire in. 1769, ob. 1843). He 

 patented some of his medicines, which are not yet completely 

 forgotten, and which seem to have met with a ready sale. 



In 1832, at Hamilton in Upper Canada, was published a 

 small volume of 120 small octavo pages which purports to 

 contain his practice of medicine, except what he reserved to 

 be taught orally to those who bought the right to use his 

 system. His theory was that " medicines suited to every 

 disease grow spontaneously on our native soil," and that 

 these "are better suited to our constitution."'" 



In this book he names the plants he employs, and gives 

 their qualities and the method of applying them. 



I propose in this paper to give an account of the pharma- 

 copoeia. I italicise the names Thomson uses, and in giving 

 the botanical equivalents I shall use the names given by 

 Gray in his " Field. Forest, and Garden Botany." 



RANUNCULACEAE. — The only member of this family is 

 the Golden Seal or Ohio Kercuma. Hydrastis Canadensis, 

 recommended as a very pleasant bitter and an excellent 

 corrector of the bile. 



Xymphaeaceae. - This is represented by the White 

 P<>n J Lily. Xymphaea odorata or X. tuberosa : its roots 

 are to be dug up in the fall, washed clean, cut into strips 

 and dried. Being then powdered, it is used as a tea for 

 bowel complaints. 



Cruciferae. — The Crucifers appear only in Mustard, 

 Brassica nigra. " to create an appetite and assist the 

 digesture/' and internally for rheumatism, and Horse-radish, 

 Nasturtium Armoracia, for the same purposes — but this is 

 apt to raise a blister. 



Rxtaceae. -This family furnishes Prickly Ash, Zan- 

 thosylum Americanum. whose bark or berries in wine or 

 spirit make a very good hot bitter ; " good for fever and 

 ague, for sleepiness and lethargy, cold hands and feet, and 

 other complaints caused by cold." 



