DIAPHORETICS. 79 
DIAPHORETICS. 
‘These medicines act through the blood on the sweat glands 
of the skin. The way in which this is effected is explained by 
some physologists: ‘The heart’s action being quickened, the 
blood is sent with greater force to the surface of the body. 
The capillaries or hair-like terminations of the arteries are 
filled a little more quickly than the veins can carry it off; 
thus the blood is left in the cooling parts of the body, the 
sweat glands are stimulated, and the watery elements expelled 
from the system with morbid matter; the natural temperature is 
restored, and the healthy functions of the body go on in the 
even tenor of their way.” 
The importance of these sweating medicines in fevers, 
catarrh, inflammation, cholera, and similar diseases cannot 
be ever-estimated. 
The leader in this class is 
YARROW (AcuiniEA Mitteroxium), 
isa good oldremedy, and one whichis heldin high esteem by those 
who have tried it. In our early days of herbalism we only heard 
and read of its excellence, but we soon had occasion to try it ; 
having caught (according to the common phraseology) a 
severe cold, we felt the half-dead feeling which the French 
call malaise, we had also feverish symptoms. A trial of 
yarrow was determined upon. One ounce of the dry herb 
was put into a pint of boiling water with a teaspoonful of 
composition powder, infused one hour, strained and sweet- 
ened. We drank it hot in bed, put a hot bottle to our feet, 
covered up and went to sleep, and in the morning not a 
vestige of the cold was left. Ours was not an unusual 
experience; in thouands of cases the same has happened; 
yes, and we might say that all things being equal the same 
will be the result in every instance. Dr. Coffinin his “Guide 
to Health ” tells us of an old Quaker herbalist (whom we might 
term a yarrowmaneist) who, when asked what was good for a 
eold said: “Thou shalt make a strong tea of yarrow, drink 
