Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 33.djvu/172

 168 Southern Historical Society Papers.

day to day (no need of anything else). The two last-named reme- dies took the place of Dover's powder, quinine and all other diaphoretics, febrifuges end arterial sedatives.

" Phytalacca or poke was another favorite remedy the tincture when alcohol or whisky could be obtained; otherwise, tea of roots or berries. I used it in all cases of chronic rheumatism or neu- ralgia, enlarged glands, scrofula, syphilis, and all cases requiring alteratives, often combined with American sarsaparilla root, sassa- fras, alder and prickly ash.

" Female complaints gave me some trouble, but I soon learned the use of the black haw, squaw-weed, partridge berry, etc. I had been taught in the use of old text-books that opiates in large doses would control some cases of threatened abortion, when the patient had not lost too much from hemorrhage. I found that the black haw root tea would absolutely stop this tendency, not only in cases where there was but little hemorrhage, but where large quantities had passed, and would relieve the most severe cases of dysmen- orrhcea, especially when combined with squaw-weed, partridge berry or red shank.

" In stomach and bowel diseases I found but little difficulty in obtaining plenty of substitutes for opiates, astringents and the like; in fact, I believe that an all wise Providence has especially pro- vided the best antidotes in creation on the hills and dales, and by the vales and streams of our own Southland. In ordinary loose- ness of the bowels or diarrhoea, I gave an infusion of raspberry leaves or whortleberry leaves (both of which act finely on the kid- neys and bladder). Where there was nausea or sick stomach, a handful of peach leaves steeped in water and drank will settle it, or what is perhaps better, the kernel of two or three seeds cracked and cold water drank off of them. If stronger astringent is neces- sary, the inner bark of red oak, blackberry or dewberry root tea, or red shank root, are sure remedies.

"Agrimony tea, and, as a last resort, the nut-gall or ink-ball made into what, from its color, I called black wash (made by squeezing the juice out and adding a little copperas). This black wash is not only a splendid ink, but is a destroyer of syphilitic sores, warts, corns, ringworm, and old ulcers and excrescences of nearly every kind, much superior to lime water and calomel. Weakened prop- erly, it is good in obstinate bowel diseases, and can be used as an injection in gonorrhea, gleet, etc. Silk weed root put in whiskey