STIMULANTS. _ 107 
told her to sprinkle some cayenne in her stocking before going. 
She did so, and that day the meeting was interrupted by the 
hasty withdrawal of the lady, followed by her husband; 
the young villain who caused this joke having a hard time of 
it to suppress his risibility. The young lady must have felt it 
rather hot to be comfortable. Speaking of cayenne again we 
must confess that some herbalists are a little too much in love 
with it. In reading over their treatment of disease you will 
almost invariably find a half to a teaspoonful put into all 
mixtures. We hardly think this is justified in all cases, as in 
prescribing care should be taken with each individual one, 
and stimulants given or withheld as indications justify. Dose 
of cayenne by itself is from five to thirty graius ; an ingredient 
in many compounds.* 
GINGER (Zryziper). 
This well-known root is a general favourite. It is grown 
abundantly in China, India, and warm countries. A description 
of the plant may be interesting. It has a biennial or perennial 
tuberous root, and an annual stem which rises two or three 
feet in height, is solid, round, erect, and inclosed in an 
imbricated membraneous sheathing. The leaves are lance- 
shaped, smooth, five or six inches long by an inch in breadth, 
and stand alternately on the sheath of the stem. The flower- 
stalk rises by the side of the stem, from six inches to a foot, 
and is clothed with oval acuminate sheaths, but without 
leaves, and terminates in a spike. The flowers are of a 
dingy yellow colour and appear two or three at atime. The 
roots are exported green or dried and bleached. We prefer 
the dried root, as it has not been impaired in the process of 
ee 
* Some of our critical readers may think that we are a little 
contradictory, seeing that under the head of diuretics we cautioned 
against stimulating an inflamed organ. Wedonot recommend stimulating 
the inflamed one, but equalising the circulation, which will so far take 
the stimulation from the point of danger ; still there is no rule but has its 
exception. Here is one or two: an inflamed sore throat is benefited by 
gargling with cayenne in infusion or tincture ; chronic inflammation of 
the stomach is another form of trouble often removed or relieved by it. 
