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being used in the same way. If a patient were nervous and rest- 

 less, a "poultice" (fomentation) of hops to the feet or abdomen 

 was thought to soothe. Children were given for colds such mild 

 remedies as "catnip tea," "spearmint tea" and thoroughwort 

 for hard colds. 



A persistent diarrhoea called for "wire-bush tea" a decoction 

 of Spiraea tonientosa. This was also given to calves with the 

 "scours." 



Cypripedium acaide ("valerian," nerve-root) was given to 

 nervous women, hysterical and sleepless; as it was given in rum, 

 sometimes the most temperate of women slept profoundly after 

 taking it! The rum-cherry (black) in rum or brandy and black- 

 berry cordial were valuable in diarrhoea. Cherry bark in rum 

 was a remedy for coughs. An analysis of many of the patent 

 medicines like Peruna and Paine's Celery Compound shows 

 that our Puritan ancestors in a prohibition state did not disdain 

 the use of alcoholics! under the guise of medicine. The "snake's 

 head" and "stingo" used as a tonic by the elders was Chelone 

 glabra in rum ("stingo" being the popular name for whiskey or 

 rum.) 



The old folks made wine and ink of elderberries and snuff 

 of pulverized bayberry leaves (AI. cerifera) which, from the 

 resulting sneezes, was surely powerful! Bayberry was used in 

 candles, of course. 



The bark of hornbeam, Carpinus caroliniana, was used in- 

 indigestion. Hops in addition to the uses mentioned was put 

 in rootbeer and new twigs of black birch and sassafras root 

 added. This was thought to be tonic in effect and a pleasant 

 beverage. 



After childbirth or in diseases of women, both motherwort 

 and mugwort were used. Pennyroyal was used for cramps and 

 it as well as tansy was taken in the hope of its being an aborti- 

 facient; smeared on the face and hands it kept away mosquitos. 



Chimaphila umhellata "Noble Pine" was used in cases of 

 tuberculosis and it was popularly believed that "if one chewed 

 a leaf a day, it would prevent consumption." 



Phytolacca or "garget" was used to "doctor" cows with gar- 

 get. (It is a valuable medicine in the treatment of glandular in- 

 fections and a certain type of throat infection.) Onions and 

 cranberries were used as poultices and the former for colds. 



