58 On the Medical Properties 



general use, as a remedy for diarrhoea, in this part of 

 the country. 



Lancaster, September 2d, 

 1800. 



P. S. Since I wrote the foregoing, I have had an 

 opportunity of conversing with Dr. Muhlenberg, on 

 the subject of the plant. He informs me, that, more 

 than twenty years ago, he recommended, in this 

 neighbourhood, the use of the St. John's-Wort, as a 

 specific in diarrhoeas, dysenteries, and those com- 

 plaints of a similar nature, to which young children 

 are so liable, in our summers. About the same 

 time, he mentioned it, as an excellent remedy, in 

 such cases (as well as in some others), to Dr. Schoepf, 

 who notices it, in his Materia Medica Americana, 

 under the name of Hypericum Virginicum. But 

 Dr. Muhlenberg terms the species we have so com- 

 mon here, Hypericum perforatum, the leaves, or pe- 

 tals of the flower having a number of apparent perfo- 

 rations, which contain a reddish-coloured balsam. It 

 is, I suppose, this balsam, or essential oil, which im- 

 parts a fine claret-colour to the spirit, in which the 

 flowers are infused. 



When it is given to children, for what is common- 

 ly called " the summer-disorder," or " vomiting and 

 purging," Dr. Muhlenberg recommends this tincture 

 prepared with brandy, with the addition of a small 

 quantity of cinnamon. This may be mixed with 

 a little sugar and water, when the medicine is admi- 



