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A RARE AND LITTLE-KNOWN PUBLICATION 



By Arthur Hollick 



About sixty years ago a monthly publication was issued under 

 the title "The People's Medical Journal and Home Doctor," 

 edited by Frederick Hollick, M.D., and published by T. W. 

 Strong, 98 Nassau St., New York. 



Volume I, Nos. 1-12, includes the period from July, 1853, to 

 June, 1854. Volume II, Nos. 1-6, from July to December, 1854, 

 when it terminated. A complete series is in my possession, and 

 I have never seen, elsewhere, even a single copy of any one of 

 the numbers. 



The contents cover rather a wide range of subjects; many 

 statements of fact are curiously at variance with our present 

 knowledge, and much of the diction appears cjuaint and at times 

 crude, according to our modern ideas of style and expression. 

 Doubtless, however, it was classed as a reliable popular scientific 

 journal at the time of its publication, and it probably reflected, 

 more or less accurately, the popular ideas and scientific concep- 

 tions then prevalent on the subjects treated. 



Among these subjects are many relating to botany. One series 

 of articles is included under the title "Medical Botany of the 

 United States," illustrated by a number of woodcuts of medicinal 

 plants, with the scientific and popular names under which they 

 were then known. The species figured are Hepatica Hepatica, 

 Hydrastis canadensis, Ranunculus acris, Coptis trifolia, Cimici- 

 fuga racemosa, Magnolia virginiana, Berberis vulgaris, Caulo- 

 phyllum thalictr aides, Podophyllum peltatum, Papaver somni- 

 ferum, Sanguinaria canadensis and Eupatoriiim perfoliatum. 

 Their recognized and traditional properties and uses are de- 

 scribed, and some of the remarks are interesting, when read in 

 the light of what we have learned during the last half century. 

 In connection with Berberis, for example, is the statement that 

 "many people suppose that the pollen, or dust of the flowers, 

 will cause rust in wheat, but the most careful experiments have 

 proved this notion to be entirely without foundation." The 



