202     "  OSHA  "  AND  "YERBA  MANSA  "  OF  NEW  MEXICO. 
Add  the  acid  gradually  to  one-half  of  the  alcohol,  allow  the 
liquid  to  cool ;  to  the  other  half  add  the  cinnamon  and  ginger. 
Mix  the  liquids  and  filter.  If  desirable  to  have  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  same  color  as  the  officinal,  this  may  be  accomplished 
by  using  either  santalum  or  cudbear,  the  latter  being  prefera- 
ble from  its  being  more  permanent  in  an  aqueous  solution  and 
of  a  brighter  color. 
Chicago,  HI,  March,  1867. 
REMARKS  ON  "  OSHA"  AND  "  YERBA  MANSA"  OF  NEW 
MEXICO. 
By  Jacob  Krummeck,  (with  a  Note  by  the  Editor.) 
A  few  months  since  the  Editor  received  a  package  of  roots 
from  Mr.  Jacob  Krummeck,  pharmaceutist,  of  Santa  Fe,  New 
Mexico,  directed  to  him  as  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the 
Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  accompanied  by  the  following 
letter : — 
"  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  Oct.  14,  1866. 
"  Dear  Sir  : — This  will  be  handed  to  you  by  Dr.  William  R. 
Cruice,  of  the  military  service  in  this  Territory.  I  think  you 
will  find  them  an  interesting  subject  for  study.  One  is  the  root 
of  a  plant  called  by  the  Indians  4  Osha,'  and  in  my  opinion  is  a 
remote  species  of  Angelica.  This  plant  grows  around  springs 
of  fresh  water  high  up  in  the  mountains,  in  small,  low  bushes  ; 
has  a  small  oval  leaf,  and  a  bluish-white  flower,  which  emits  a 
fine  aroma,  similar  to  that  of  vanilla ;  the  leaf  and  stem  are 
odorless. 
"  This  root  is  extensively  used  in  Indian  medicine,  in  bron- 
chitic  affections,  asthma,  coughs,  etc.  The  Indians  usually  chew 
the  root  and  swallow  the  juice;  sometimes,  however,  they  boil  it 
in  water,  together  with  a  species  of  sugar  cane  which  grows  here 
wild.  In  this  latter  form  they  use  it  in  most  all  diseases  of  the 
lungs. 
"  I  have  tried  its  effects  on  myself,  being  afflicted  with  asthma, 
and  have  experienced  considerable  relief  from  it.  I  also  gave  it 
to  an  old  gentleman  in  a  case  of  severe  chronic  cough,  and  with 
success.    In  this  case  I  prepared  a  syrup  as  follows  :  one  ounce 
