1913-14.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 233 



Canada balsam from small blisters in the bark. This is 

 good to remove internal soreness, and forms an important 

 article in Thomson's healing salve. 



Hemlock, Abies Canadensis. The inner bark is dried and 

 powdered, made into a tea, and administered for " canker 

 and other complaints of the bowels and stomach." The 

 boughs, made into a tea, are very good for gravel and for 

 rheumatism. 



Araceae. — Skunk Cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus. The 

 root dried and powdered, made into a tea, is good " for 

 asthma, cough, difficulty of breathing, and all disorders of 

 the lungs." 



Liliaceae. — Wake Robin, Trillium erythrocarpum. The 

 root, dried and reduced to powder, is given with honey or 

 in a syrup ; it " is extremely pungent and stimulating and 

 is given for cholic and pain in the bowels and to expel 

 wind . . . for coughs and disorders of the lungs." 



The empiric is not quite true to his principles, for he uses 

 a few exotic plants : bitter almonds, ginger, black pepper, 

 cloves, and myrrh. Myrrh, indeed, is the main ingredient 

 in his celebrated medicine, which he calls No. 6. 



He is not wholly averse from chemical preparations : sal 

 ammoniac, lime, spirits of turpentine, all appear as remedies. 



Products of the animal kingdom he does not discard, 

 butter, honey, beeswax, milk, etc. 



Vegetable products are frequently met with — turpentine, 

 rosin, pearlash, etc. ; but these ma}' fairly be included in 

 his theoretical category. 



The school founded by Thomson 1 afterwards merged in 

 the Eclectic School, and at length has practically dis- 

 appeared. Many of the Thomsonian remedies are, how- 

 ever, in common use in the farming community to this day. 



1 It must not be thought that all botanical physicians were followers 

 of Thomson ; quite the reverse is the fact. Many practised by the 

 light of nature, some relied upon their own experience, while some few 

 had a real medical education. 



I have before me a duodecimo volume printed at New York in 1829, 

 "The Improved System of Botanical Medical Practice ... by William 

 Barber." Barber practised in Vermont and other New England States, 

 then came to Auburn, New York, and finally to New York City. He 

 wholly repudiated Thomson's system. He says : " My preparations are 

 of my own discovery." He pestered the New York Legislature year 

 after year for a license to practise. He was a quack and pretender of the 

 rankest kind. 



