168 
JOHN FAUST. 
palpitation and other affections incident to pregnancy, or arising 
from uterine disorders, and for after-pains. But it is particu¬ 
larly valuable in preventing abortion and miscarriage, whether 
habitual or otherwise, whether threatened from accidental causes 
or criminal drugging. 
“ It tones up the system, preventing or*removing those har¬ 
assing nervous symptoms, that so often torment, wear down, and 
disqualify the pregnant woman for the parturient effort. It ena¬ 
bles the system to resist the deleterious influences of drugs, so 
often used for the purpose of procuring abortion. It is well 
known that the inner bark of the cotton-root is used by many to 
induce miscarriage, one pint of the strong decoction being suffi¬ 
cient for this purpose. 
“ The regular exhibition of the viburnum completely neu¬ 
tralizes the effect of the gossypum, compelling the delinquent 
mother, however unwilling, to carry the foetus to full term. 
“ Some farmers on whose plantations I have used this medicine 
and who have-seen so much of its effects on negro women who 
always managed to miscarry, declare their belief that no woman 
can possibly abort if compelled to use the viburnum. This may 
be claiming too much for it. But it has certainlv prevented 
abortion in every case in which I have ordered it for the purpose. 
Negatively, miscarriage has never taken place, so far as I am in¬ 
formed, in any case in which this medicine was used as a preven¬ 
tive. 
“ Brief notes of a few cases will give a better idea of my mode 
of employing this medicine. 
“ Case I.— Mrs.-, widely known as an authoress, of very 
pale, delicate appearance, aged about twenty-seven, when some 
three months married aborted from injury received in leaping 
from the floor into bed. Once or twice subsequently she abort¬ 
ed at the same stage of pregnancy: once, I learned, twins. In 
disgust, she came under my care for severe intermittent fever, and 
on the 16th day of September, 1864, being again pregnant, she 
consulted with a view to- prevent abortion. I ordered tincture 
viburni. She continued going on well for more than three months 
after the usual time for her misfortune, when, removing beyond 
