66 



Calendula blossoms were crushed and put in alcohol, used on 

 sprains and cuts of horses and cows. Sometimes a salve was 

 made in tallow. Perhaps there is no more healing ointment than 

 that made of Calendula in modern times, in spite of the scep- 

 ticism of the U. S. Dispensatory. 



Plantain was crushed and put on poison ivy eruption, as was 

 jewel weed {Impatiens hiflora). A salve made from plantain was 

 healing and soothing to ulcers and hemorrhoids. St. Johnswort 

 (//. perforatum) was used on bruises and on stiff muscles. 



Grated horse-chestnuts made into a "salve" were also ap- 

 plied to hemorrhoids. 



After months of cold winter without green vegetables and 

 canning not having reached its present extent, anything that 

 could be used as greens was welcomed and considered in some 

 degree medicinal, particularly dock and dandelions, horse- 

 radish, grated or the leaves as greens, mustard, cowslips, pig- 

 weed, red-root, house-leek, "pusley," milkweed, unfolding 

 brakes, Phytolacca sprouts, "tongue" (aster), "wild beet," 

 Saxifraga Penyisylvanica being the chief herbs used. Geranium 

 maculatum and ordinary red clover were known as "blood 

 remedies" and healing for sore mouths. Ledum groenlandicum, 

 "Labrador tea" was esteemed as a tonic. Lycopus Virginicus 

 was used for some ailment and viburnums of various kinds in 

 cramps. These "teas" were decoctions and infusions prepared 

 by "steeping" and would not keep unless in alcohol or syrups. 

 It is interesting to note that while many of these remedies are 

 still used in homeopathic and eclectic medicine, the U. S. Dis- 

 pensatory dismisses most of them as of little or no value. A few 

 quotations follow: 



Anise seed used in colic (sometimes caraway do.) 



Berheris vulgaris, bark of the root — bitter tonic, mild laxa- 

 tive, used in liver trouble. 



Calendula powers no virtues but used as a local application 

 in inflammations, wounds and ulcers. 



U. S. D. often refers to a plant as used in "days of therapeu- 

 tic darkness," "no action, feeble action, etc." 



Chimaphila iimhellata, used by No. Am. Indians in scrofula 

 or rheumatism — no properties except feeble diuretic. 



Coptis trifolia, simple bitter tonic. In N. E. used as local 

 application in aphthous ulcerations of the mouth. 



