MEDICAL PREPARATIONS. 565 



To find the May-apple. — The May-apple (podophyllum pel- 

 tatum) is common in the Middle and Western States of the 

 Union. It grows in nearly all rich upland where the birch 

 and the sugar-tree is found, and in most creek and river 

 bottoms. It is about a foot in height, with a rounded stem, 

 sometimes dividing at the top into two branches, between 

 which is the flower. When not divided, the leaf at the top 

 looks somewhat like a little umbrella. The roots are brittle, 

 whitish-brown in color, and begin to branch within about an 

 inch of the top of the ground, forming a dense bunch. The 

 May-apple comes up early in the spring, and the stem dies 

 down about June. The roots should not be dug up and 

 dried, as drying destroys much of its medical efficacy. It 

 can nearly always be found. 



MAGIC NERVE LINIMENT. 

 III. 



Get a strong bottle, capable of holding eight ounces, into 

 which put 



Spirits of hartshorn 1^ oz. 



Sulphuric ether 1 J oz. 



Spirits turpentine ^ oz. 



Sweet oil » f oz. 



Oil of cloves ^ oz. 



Chloroform 1 oz. 



Shake well and your liniment is ready for use. The bottle 

 should be kept well closed, with a ground glass stopper, if 

 possible, as several of the ingredients of the mixture are 

 highly volatile. It should be kept in a dark place, or else 

 closely wrapped in thick paper or cloth, as light tends to 

 destroy its power. 



Use. — This liniment, as its name implies, is applied for 

 nervous affections, and is very soothing in its effects. It 

 allays the pain in cases of string-halt,, cramps, contraction of 

 the skin, sprains, and swelled legs and joints. It is used as 

 a counter-irritant to rub over the region of the throat in 

 colds, coughs, swelled throat, etc.; the lungs in bronchitis, 



