ASTRINGENTS. 7 29: 
A Mr. McGregor, of the Peninsula, then living in Canter- 
bury, had a neighbour who was so hopelessly ill that the 
attending doctors gave him up. McGregor went to the bush, 
pulled off some stringy bark, cut it in pieces, and boiled two: 
ounces in a quart of water with an ounce of ginger down to 
one pint. This he strained and sweetened and gave him a 
wineglassful of it. Shortly after taking it he began to mend, 
and was wellin a couple of days. Those in the bush who 
are subject to this complaint should try this remedy. 
The bark of the wattle tree is another good astringent, 
having succeeded when other means have failed. In using 
these simple nature’s remedies you need not be afraid of a 
handful, as there is no fear of poisoning. They all may be 
prepared similarly to above, and given in doses suitable to age 
and condition of patient. 
GUM CATECHU. 
This is said to be the strongest vegetable astringent that 
we have. It is an extract of the wood of a small tree that 
grows in India, called the Acacia Catechu. The wood is cut 
into chips, boiled, the liquor reduced to a thickness, then 
evaporated in the sun tillitissolidand dry. Its only medicinal 
property lies in its astringency. It may be given in several 
ways: first, in powder, the dose being from a fourth to a 
teaspoonful ; in water, a decoction of one ounce to the pint; 
dose from a teaspoonful to a tablespoonful for fluxes of all 
kinds. A piece kept in the mouth and sucked is good for 
swelling of the uvula and curing the tickling cough caused 
by the enlargement; spongy gums and sore throat will also 
be relieved by its use. The tincture is a very good form in 
which to administer it, especially the compound tincture. 
It is thus prepared :— 
CatethteG anv wewse bs ever Kade ona wislee she aks op EOC 
BaP tI SLREO TN 0, ors on dal sie 0 Ser ea SRE do KES be kN % ounce 
RM ORERRPRENG aS Thin Boer Ny hips Hace 8 dS cL 1 pint 
Let it stand eight days, strain and bottle. Dose: half to two 
teaspoonfuls. As it enters into various compounds it is not 
needful to speak further of it at present. 
