38 NAT. ORDER. ARACE^. 
The medical properties of this plant have of late attracted 
the attention of physicians, in regard to its pectoral properties. 
Dr. Samuel Thompson, of Boston, says: "it has proved highly 
beneficial in coughs, consumption of the lungs and asthma, foi 
which we have successfully used it for more than forty years. 
The root should be dried, pulverized, and given in doses of three 
to six grains, four times a day ; or it may be given in honey, in the 
sirup of preserves, or in any other saccharine matter, or it may 
be made into a paste, with honey or sirup, and used in the form of 
candy, by letting the substance dissolve gradually on the tongue, 
so as to diffuse its warmth through the mouth, and thus used it is 
good for apthous sore mouth and throat." The following is Dr. 
Thompson's method of making cough drops. 
WAKE ROBIN COUGH DROPS. 
Take six ounces of dried wake robin, well pulverized, stir it 
into one pint of cold water, infuse it till the knobs, or small accu- 
mulations of the powders, are well mingled with the water, then 
pour on half a gallon of boiling water, and a heaped teaspoon-full 
of capsicum annum, cayenne pepper, half a gallon of molasses, 
half a gallon of Jamaica rum, one pint of the tincture Lohelia in- 
Jlata, (common tincture of the herb,) and the juice of half a dozen 
best Sicily lemons." 
This is one of Dr. Thompson's most valuable remedies for 
coughs, colds, raising of blood, croup, asthma, or any other difficul- 
ty of the lungs and throat. He strongly recommends that a small 
vial of these drops should be carried by those who are affected 
with a cough, and about half a teaspoon-full taken at a time, 
whenever there is an irritation in the throat, or an inclination to 
cough. This will keep the throat and lungs under a continual 
stimulation or excitement, by which means expectoration will be- 
come easy. It will also relieve pain in the side and breast, cholic 
pains, &c. ; and is a valuable remedy for many other complaints. 
