162 Cottage Medicine in Devonshire. 



Arum maculatum, or Wake-robin. The root of this, in its 

 recent state, is highly esteemed as a remedy for rheuma- 

 tism, used in the following manner:- — Two drachms of the 

 fresh root, washed, and the thin outer skin rubbed off, are 

 well beaten with an equal quantity of the powder of gum 

 guaiacum, to which half an ounce of honey is then added, and 

 the whole well rubbed together ; of this a small tea-spoonful 

 is taken three times a-day. 



Achillea millefolium, Yarrow. A strong decoction of this 

 herb is recommended by our village nurses, in all cases of 

 uterine haemorrhage, both as a drink and an injection. 



Asplenium scolopendrium, Hartstongue ; is used in decoction 

 for consumptive people, and for weak lungs. 



Agrimonia. Eupatoria, common Agrimony. An infusion of 

 this is used as a tea in feverish colds. 



Anethum fceniculum, Dill. An infusion of the bruised seeds, 

 as a diaphoretic in rheumatism ; the bruised seeds boiled in 

 their pap, as a carminative for infants. 



Althaa officinalis, Marshmallow. The leaves are used, 

 bruised, in emollient cataplasms and fomentations ; an infusion 

 of the root, as a mucilaginous drink for gravel, gonorrhoea, 

 dysentery, &c, and as an injection for the last. 



Anagallis arvensis, Pimpernel. The infusion drank as an 

 alterative. 



Angelica Archangelica. The leaves infused in cider and 

 water, with balm and borage, for a cool drink in summer. 



Anthemis nobilis, Chamomile. The leaves and flowers are 

 used in fomentations, the infusion of the flowers as a bitter 

 drink to strengthen the stomach; half an ounce of the dried 

 flowers, half an ounce of dried orange-peel, one drachm of 

 ginger, infused in a quart of boiling water : a tea-cupful drank 

 twice a-day. The flowers dried and powdered are frequently 

 given in doses of fifteen or twenty grains, with from three to 

 five grains of rhubarb, and ten of cream of tartar, two, three, 

 or four times a-day in the second stage of bilious remittent 

 fever. 



Arctium lappa, Burdock. Two ounces of the recent root, 

 boiled in three pints of water to a quart, a tea-cupful taken 

 three times a-day ; greatly esteemed for eruptions on the skin, 

 and as an antiscorbutic. 



For the present I must conclude, but hope to go through 

 our native plants for you in time; and wishing your useful 

 undertaking ever}' success, I am, Sir, &c. 



W. CoLLYNS. 



Kenton, near Exeter, October 26. 1826. 



