44 THE NEW ZEALAND FAMILY HERB DOCTOR. 
itin our Nursery at Caversham. The preparation recommended 
for the other class of docks will do for this. The burdock 
seeds, however, have valuable properties in addition to their 
alterative ; they are nervine and diuretic. The leaves chopped 
up and simmered in lard make a good healing ointment for 
sores and inflammations ; also wet with spirits of hartshorn and 
vinegar they are fine for sprains and bruises. A tincture of 
the seeds, 2 ounces, bruised and steeped in a pint of proof 
spirit, makes an excellent blood cleanser, if persevered with. 
Dr Skelton strongly recommends the decoction of the 
Burdock as a wash in skin diseases, &c. 
POKE ROOT (Puytoracca DEcAnpRA). 
A. native of America, growing abundantly all over the 
States. It is described as a beautiful wild plant, attaining the 
height of eight feet. It has branching stems, broad green 
leaves, white flowers, green in the centre, which in autumn 
ripen into dark purple shining berries. The largest plants 
have often flowers and green and purple berries growing at the 
same time. In the spring the young shoots are boiled and 
eaten like spinach. The juice of the berries is said to be 
beneficial in chronic rheumatism. The root, however, is the 
part exported, as it is considered the medicinal part. 
As a blood medicine its virtue lies in reducing tumours, 
glandular swellings, &c. For these purposes it is not only 
taken inwardly, but the boiled root is mashed up and put on 
the swelling. The powdered root mixed with warm water 
will answer the same purpose. The decoction is made in the 
usual way, 1 ounce to the pint; a wineglassful 3 to 6 times a 
day. As this useful plant has been acclimatised in Europe, 
there is no reason why it should not be in the colonies. We 
intend to get-.some of the seeds this season and try them. 
Since writing the above we have seen in a reliable medical 
journal that the juice of the poke berry is a good anti-fat. 
A teaspoonful taken three times a day is recommended for 
this purpose, also for swelling of the glands. 
