University of California Berkeley 
 
^ 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND 
 MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID 
 
GUIDE TO HEALTH, 
 
 BEING AN 
 
 EXPOSITION OF THE PRINCIPLES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 THOMSONIAN SYSTEM OF PRACTICE, 
 
 AND THEIR 
 
 MODE OF APPLICATION 
 
 IN THE 
 
 CURE OF EVERY FORM OF DISEASE; 
 
 EMBRACING A. CONCISE VIEW OF 
 THE VARIOUS THEORIES OF ANCIENT AND MODERN PRACTICE 
 
 BY BENJAMIN COLBY. 
 
 Third Edition, enlarged and revised. 
 Let us strip our profession of every thing that looks like mystery. RUSH. 
 
 MILFORD, N.H. 
 JOHN BURNS. 
 
 1846. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 TO THE FOURTH EDITION, 
 
 THREE editions of this work are already before the public. 
 The rapid sale of more than five thousand copies, and the constant 
 and increasing demand, from every quarter, for a still further ex- 
 tension of it, has induced the proprietor to issue the fourth edition. 
 He cannot but be grateful to a discriminating community for the 
 liberal patronage thus already bestowed. And at the same time, 
 he cherishes the hope and belief that he is deserving, in some 
 measure, of this consideration, in that he is delivering the world 
 from the use of the dangerous and deadly drugs to which the dis- 
 eased have so long and so vainly resorted, and directing them to 
 milder and far more effectual measures for the recovery and 
 preservation of health. 
 
 No pains have been spared to render this book what its title 
 indicates, A Guide to Health. A careful attention to its prin- 
 ciples and directions will enable almost any family to combat 
 successfully all the ordinary forms of disease, without being 
 poisoned by the fearful [remedies] of the druggist, or plagued by 
 the bills of those who prescribe or administer them. 
 
 It would be easy to add a long array of valuable names, as 
 recommendations to this treatise. But such a course (common 
 and laudable as it is) the proprietor deems unnecessary. If it 
 were not a recommendation in itself, surely the rapid sale of so 
 many thousand copies, and the constant demand from every di- 
 rection for more, would argue a blindness on the part of the 
 public, into which no one believes it has yet fallen. It is there- 
 fore trusted, as heretofore, on its own merits in the confident 
 belief that it deserves all the consideration it has yet received, and 
 with the expectation that it will continue to receive that patron- 
 age which it has already earned for itself. 
 
 THE PROPRIETOR. 
 MILFOBD, N. H., May, 1848. 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1845, 
 
 By BENJAMIN COLBY, 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of New Hampshire. 
 
U-l 
 PREFACE. 
 
 IN presenting to the public this little volume, advocating aud 
 explaining a system of Medical Practice, diverse from the popu- 
 lar systems of the day a system against which there exists 
 much unfounded, deep-rooted prejudice prejudice, not based 
 on a knowledge of its principles, on a trial of its remedial 
 agents, but on the false and ridiculous reports in circulation 
 against it ; a brief history of the circumstances and motives 
 that led to its publication, may not be uninteresting to the reader. 
 
 Having spent a large proportion of the last fifteen years of 
 my life in examining the different medical theories, and observ- 
 ing the results of those theories carried out in practice, I arrived 
 at conclusions that were to me startling that were painful to 
 contemplate that could not fail to inspire in every benevolent 
 man a fixed determination to wage an uncompromising war 
 against systems productive of so much sorrow, misery, and 
 death. 
 
 The evidences brought to bear upon my mind, in the testi 
 mony of the most eminent of the faculty, statesmen, and phi ' 
 losophers, and my own personal experience and observation, 
 compelled me to believe, although very reluctantly, in conse- 
 quence of the regard I had for those of my friends who were 
 engaged in the practice of medicine, that the science of medi 
 cine, as taught in the schools of physic, and as practised from 
 the time of Paracelsus until the present, was a series of blind 
 experiments with the most deadly poisons ; the effect of which 
 is now felt by millions of its unhappy victims, while millions 
 more sleep beneath the clods of the valley, cut off in the vigor 
 of youth and strength of manhood, by these poisons. I do not 
 feel responsible for a belief, that the force of evidence urges 
 upon me, any more than I should for falling to the ground from 
 a height, when all intercepting objects are removed. Justice 
 to my fellow-men demands of me that I should fearlessly express 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 iny views, and I shall not demur. It is ray candid opinion, and 
 that opinion has not been formed hastily, that nine tenths of all 
 the medical practice of the nineteenth century, including a 
 portion, but by no means an equal portion, of all the different 
 systems, is not based on scientific principles, or benevolence 
 and truth, but on cupidity, avarice, and a desire for fame, on 
 the one part, and ignorance and misplaced confidence, on the 
 other. Remove these pillars, and the gilded temple called 
 medical science, that medical authors have been propping up 
 for four thousand years the material of which it is composed 
 not being sufficiently strong to sustain its own weight would 
 fall to the ground with as much certainty as did the edifice 
 from which Samson, with giant's strength, removed the pillars, 
 
 One quarter part of nearly all the newspapers throughout the 
 country is filled with flaming advertisements of quack nos- 
 trums the most of which are prepared without any regard to 
 scientific principles or adaptedness to cure disease ; for which 
 millions of dollars are annually paid, and not one in a hundred 
 receives any permanent benefit therefrom. 
 
 The editor of the Portland Tribune gives the following as the 
 origin of that celebrated medicine, Brandreth's Pills : " A few 
 years ago, a young Englishman, by the name of Anson, was an 
 under-servant in a large pill establishment in London, where 
 he received trifling pay ; but he managed to lay by sufficient 
 funds to bring him to this country. He arrived at New York ; 
 called himself Dr. Brandreth, from London ; said he was a 
 grandson of a distinguished doctor by that name, who died 
 some years since. He was so extremely ignorant, that he 
 wrote his name, or scratched it rather, " Dr. Benjamin Bran- 
 dreth, M. D." He hired an office, made pills, advertised them 
 pretty freely, and now they are all over the country. By such 
 empiricism, this individual, whose real name is Anson, has ob- 
 tained the cognomen of " Prince of Quacks," and has accumu- 
 lated a handsome fortune, while not one in a thousand who has 
 taken his pills, has any doubts of his being a regular physician. 
 Such is the success of quackery ; and in this manner are the 
 American people gulled, when if known, they themselves, of 
 brown bread and aloes, could make a better pill. Mr. A., alias 
 Dr. B., in the course of time opened a shop in Philadelphia for 
 the sale of his medicine, and appointed a man by the name of 
 
PREFACE. v 
 
 Wright as his sole agent. In a short time the Doctor and he 
 quarreled, and had a newspaper controversy ; the result of which 
 was, Mr. -W. set up for himself, made a new pill, or rather gave 
 a new name to an old one, calling it the " Indian Purgative 
 Pill," advertised it freely, employed agents, &c., and now it is 
 used pretty extensively as an INDIAN medicine, when probably 
 not a son of the forest knows of its existence. 
 
 In a similar way nearly all the medicines advertised so exten- 
 sively, and recommended so extravagantly for their intrinsic 
 virtues, were first brought into existence. Should the thousand 
 pills of different names, daily vended in this country, and swaK 
 lowed by the dozen, be analyzed by the nicest process, they 
 would be found to contain nearly the same ingredients. 
 s "The 'Matchless Sanative,' said to be a German invention, 
 was sold in very small vials, at the moderate price of two dollars 
 and fifty cents, as a certain cure for the consumption. It wag 
 nothing more, we believe, than sweetened water, and yet hun- 
 dreds were induced to buy it, because its price was so exorbi- 
 tant, presuming by this that its virtues were rare j and many a 
 poor widow was drained of her last farthing to obtain this 
 worthless stuff. Even the Sanative, in its conspicuous advertise- 
 ments, was not lacking in lengthy recommendations of its super- 
 lative virtues throwing all other medicines far into the shade, 
 i Had regular physicians adopted a system of practice in ac- 
 cordance with nature, reason, and common sense, they would 
 have retained the confidence of the people, and no medicine 
 could have been successfully introduced, unless sanctioned by 
 themselves. But the misery and death occasioned by their 
 practice having been too apparent to be misunderstood, and 
 failing to cure in many curable cases, many have lost all confi- 
 dence in them, and are ready to catch at any medicine that ia 
 recommended for their complaints. Men with large acquisi- 
 tiveness and small conscientiousness, almost entirely destitute 
 of medical knowledge, taking advantage of this state of things, 
 have flooded the country with their pretended cure-alls, that 
 they themselves would never think of using if afflicted with 
 the same complaints for which they are so confidently recom- 
 mended. Benevolence, conscientiousness and knowledge may 
 have induced many to prepare and sell secret medicines, but 
 avarice and ignorance many more. 
 
\l PREFACE. 
 
 The only way to prevent quackery is to diffuse a knowledge 
 of medicine among the people, and also to point out to them 
 the proper course to pursue to prevent being sick. This I have 
 made a feeble effort to do in this little work, reserving nothing 
 for future emolument, for which I expect to be ridiculed by 
 those it is designed to benefit, and persecuted by those whose 
 craft is in danger; begging the pardon of the "literati" for 
 entering the authors' ranks with so few of the requisite qualifi- 
 cations, but asking no favors of the medical faculty, scientific 
 as they may be ; for if I have not succeeded in proving the 
 Thomsonian system true, it cannot possibly come farther from 
 the truth than their own. 
 
 I have endeavored to present plain, simple facts in a plain, 
 simple manner, so as to be easily understood by all. The tech- 
 nicalities of medical works are left out, or explained in a glos- 
 sary, where any medical word used in this work may be found, 
 with its meaning. I acknowledge my indebtedness to Drs. 
 Thomson, Curtis, and others, for the principles herein contain- 
 ed, especially to Dr. Curtis, Professor of the Medical Institute 
 at Cincinnati, who has done more than any other man to pre- 
 sent the Thomsonian system to the world in a receivable shape. 
 
 This little work is designed to be, as its name declares, a 
 Guide to Health. Not a guide for a few to enable them to get 
 rich by selling advice and medicine to the many ; but a guide 
 to all to enable them to avoid becoming the victims of the ava- 
 rice and duplicity of physicians. Many of them, to be sure, 
 take a philanthropic and noble course, consulting always the 
 interest of those who place confidence in them. But common 
 observation leads me to think that the large majority of physi- 
 cians consult their own interests first, in doing which they are 
 not " sinners above all others," as the common motto is, Let 
 every man look out for himself. Therefore, if every man was 
 his own physician, the interest of physician and patient would 
 be identified. Those who make the practice of medicine a 
 source of gair will ridicule the idea of every man being his 
 own physician. >3o have priests ridiculed the idea of letting 
 every man read..the Bible, and judge for himself of the impor- 
 tant truths therein contained. As well might the village baker 
 ridicule the idea of the good housewife making her own bread ; 
 alleging that it required a.loog course of &. "$L to make bread, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Vll 
 
 and the people must not only buy all their bread of them at an 
 exorbitant price, but pay them a fee for telling them what kind 
 they must eat, and how much. The preparation and use of 
 medicine to cure disease, requires no more science than the 
 preparation and use of bread. 
 
 Every head of a family ought to understand the medicinal 
 properties of a sufficient number of roots and plants to cure any 
 disease that might occur in his or her family, and teach their 
 children the same. This is in accordance with the declaration 
 of the learned and philanthropic, and justly celebrated Rush. 
 He says, " Let us strip our profession of every thing that looks 
 like mystery and imposition, and clothe medical knowledge in 
 a dress so simple and intelligible, that it may become a part of 
 academical education in all seminaries of learning. Truth is 
 simple on all subjects ; and upon those essential to the happi- 
 ness of mankind, it is obvious to the meanest capacities. There 
 is no man so simple, that cannot be taught to cultivate grain, 
 and no woman who cannot be taught to make it into bread. 
 And shall the means of preserving our health, by the cultiva- 
 tion and preparation of proper aliments, be so intelligible, and 
 yet the means of restoring it when lost, so abstruse, that we 
 must take years of study to discover and apply them ? To 
 suppose this, is to call in question the goodness of the Deity, and 
 to believe that he acts without system and unity in his work. 
 Surgical operations and diseases that rarely occur, may require 
 professional aid ; but the knowledge necessary for these pur- 
 poses is soon acquired ; and two or three persons, separated 
 from other pursuits, would be sufficient to meet the demands 
 of a city containing forty thousand people." 
 
 The imposition practised by medical men in writing their 
 prescriptions in Latin, and the evils resulting from it by the 
 ignorance or carelessness of apothecaries or their clerks, who 
 may know nothing of the language in which the prescription is 
 written the mistakes of whom have destroyed thousands of 
 lives, are too obvious to be misunderstood. The following nar- 
 ration of a circumstance which actually occurred in Boston a 
 few years since, taken from a paper published at the time, illus- 
 trates the folly of such a course : 
 
 " A respectable physician of this city lately wrote a prescrip- 
 tion of certain articles to be procured at an apothecary's, and at 
 
v jii PREFACE. 
 
 the bottom were the words, ' Lac Bovis.' A young lady took 
 the prescription to an apothecary, who did up three of the arti- 
 cles, and very gravely told her he had not the last-mentioned 
 article, Lac Bovis. She took the recipe to another shop, and 
 was there equally unsuccessful and upon her inquiring whe- 
 ther it was a scarce or costly article, she was informed he could 
 find no such article on his book, and he did not know where it 
 might be procured, or what the price of it might be. On re- 
 turning home, and acquainting her friends with her ill success, 
 she was not a little amused w r hen told she had been inquiring at 
 apothecaries' shops for cow's milk!" 
 
 With these preliminary remarks we submit this volume to the 
 people, trusting it may lead many a bewildered victim of disease 
 into the paths of health. 
 
 Nashua, JV. #., 1844. 
 
 PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 THE rapid sale of the first edition of this work, of one thou- 
 sand copies, has induced the author to revise, correct, and 
 enlarge it, and by the advice of those who were competent to 
 judge of its merits, to get it stereotyped ; this will enable him 
 to get out new editions as fast as the sale may require, making 
 such improvements as future investigation may lead him to 
 think proper. Those alone who have undertaken the task, 
 know the difficulty of explaining and clearly illustrating the 
 science of medicine, in as few words as must necessarily be 
 used, to treat on so many branches of the subject, as are treated 
 on in this small work ; but his object is to get out a work, 
 the price of which shall not be an obstacle in the way of any 
 person's possessing it who may wish, and thus diffuse more 
 generally the important knowledge therein contained. 
 
 Concord, April 10, 1845. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Abscess 133 
 
 Abortion 131 
 
 Adhesive plaster 110 
 
 Ague and fever 130 
 
 Ague in the face 132 
 
 Air 51 
 
 Anti-dyspeptic powder .... 1 08 
 Anti-spasmodic tincture ... 1 1 
 
 Anti : dyspeptic pills 116 
 
 Anti-emetic drops . 117 
 
 Antimony 28 
 
 Apoplexy, (see FITS.) 
 
 Asthma 1 33 
 
 Astringents 84 
 
 Balmony 89 
 
 Bayberry 84 
 
 Bathing 53 
 
 Barberry 91 
 
 Bethroot. 85 
 
 Brief review of the differ- 
 ent theories of medicine . .15 
 Bilious colic, (see COLIC.) 
 Boerhaave, testimony of. ...17 
 
 Bitter root 92 
 
 Barton, Prof., testimony of. .24 
 Bleeding from the nose . . . .134 
 
 from the lungs 1 34 
 
 from the stomach 134 
 
 Blistering 29 
 
 Bigelow, Dr. Jacob, testi- 
 mony 15 
 
 Brown, Dr. William, testi- 
 mony 19 
 
 Black cohosh 101 
 
 Biles 133 
 
 Breasts inflamed 161 
 
 Boiler, portable steam 123 
 
 Boneset 79 
 
 Blood-letting 29 
 
 remarks on, by Dr. J. 
 
 J. Steele..29 
 
 by Dr. Reid 29 
 
 by Dr. Beach 29 
 
 by Dr. Lobstein 30 
 
 by Dr. Thatcher 30 
 
 by Magendie 31 
 
 Bones broken, (see FRAC- 
 TURES.) 
 
 Bread of life, (see STIMU- 
 LATING CONSERVE,) 1J4 
 
 Bruises 134 
 
 Burns or scalds 135 
 
 Butternut 93 
 
 syrup 93 
 
 cordial 93 
 
 Calomel 22 
 
 remarks on, by Dr. Pow- 
 ell 22 
 
 by Prof. Waterhouse.24 
 
 by Prof. Barton 24 
 
 by Dr. Chapman. . . . 23 
 
 by Dr. Graham 23 
 
 by Dr. Robinson .... 23 
 
 by Dr. Cox 25 
 
 Hymn on 27 
 
 Canada snake root 83 
 
 Cancer 135 
 
 plaster 120 
 
 Canker, compound for 107 
 
 Canker rash 156 
 
 Cayenne 80 
 
 tincture of 114 
 
 Caustic vegetable, (see 
 CANCER.) 
 
 Catarrh in the head 143 
 
 snuff for 120 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Chicken pox 126 
 
 Cholera morbus 140 
 
 Clothing 50 
 
 Cold water cure 36 
 
 remarks on, by H. C. 
 
 Wright 37 
 
 Crawley, or fe.ver root 77 
 
 Coolwort 95 
 
 Comfrey 100 
 
 Camomile 100 
 
 Crane's bill 101 
 
 Colic 136 
 
 Composition powder 104 
 
 Compounds 103 
 
 Conserve, stimulating .... 114 
 
 Consumption 137 
 
 Convulsions 141 
 
 Corns 141 
 
 Cough powder 112 
 
 drops 113 
 
 Cholera syrup Ill 
 
 Course of medicine 122 
 
 directions for 125 
 
 Croup 141 
 
 Compound tinct. of myrrh. 114 
 
 Chilblains 144 
 
 Coughs and colds 144 
 
 Costiveness 144 
 
 Curtis, Dr., remarks on 
 
 midwifery . . 179 
 
 remarks on lobelia 74 
 
 Dandelion 95 
 
 Delirium tremens 145 
 
 Demulcents 99 
 
 Diarrhoea 140 
 
 syrup 122 
 
 powders 105 
 
 Diuretics 94 
 
 Diuretic syrup 115 
 
 Directions for a course of 
 
 medicine 125 
 
 Disease 60 
 
 the unity of 62 
 
 causes of 63 
 
 effects of 67 
 
 treatment of. 69 
 
 different forms of 127 
 
 Diet 49 
 
 Pislocations 146 
 
 Dose of medicine 104 
 
 Directions for gathering 
 and preparing medicine. 102 
 
 Diabetes 145 
 
 Dropsy 146 
 
 Dyspepsia 147 
 
 Dysentery 140 
 
 syrup Ill 
 
 Drowning, suspended ani- 
 mation from 163 
 
 Ear-ache 148 
 
 Elm poultice 116 
 
 Elm salve 109 
 
 Emetic powder 112 
 
 administering of 126 
 
 Enemas 122 
 
 Epilepsy, (see FITS.) 
 
 Erysipelas 14S 
 
 Essences 115 
 
 Effects of the remedies 
 used by the medical 
 
 faculty 22 
 
 Evan root 101 
 
 Exercise 51 
 
 Expectorants 96 
 
 Felons 149 
 
 Female restorative .106 
 
 powders 107 
 
 syrup 106 
 
 tonic powders 119 
 
 Fever 125 
 
 Fever and ague 130 
 
 Fits 149 
 
 Flowers, when to collect.. 102 
 
 Fractures 146 
 
 Food and drink 55 
 
 Fundament, falling of 149 
 
 Fluor albus 150 
 
 Galen's theory 16 
 
 Ginger 81 
 
 Golden seal 88 
 
 Gout 150 
 
 Gravel 150 
 
 Gum arabic 102 
 
 myrrh 91 
 
 Health 47 
 
 remarks on, by Dr. 
 
 Courtney.. 55 
 
 O. S. Fowler 58 
 
 High cranberry 102 
 
 Healing salve , 110 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 XI 
 
 Head-ache snuff 116 
 
 Hernia 158 
 
 Hemlock 87 
 
 Hippocrates' theory 16 
 
 Hoffman's theory 17 
 
 Hot drops 114 
 
 Homoaopathic system 33 
 
 Hydropathy 36 
 
 Hysterics, (see FITS.) 
 
 Hops 101 
 
 Horsemint 102 
 
 Hull's, Dr., bilious physic. 119 
 
 Indigestion 147 
 
 Inflammation, internal.... 151 
 
 external 152 
 
 Injections 122 
 
 powders for 109 
 
 Itch ointment 120 
 
 Indian hemp 1 01 
 
 Jaundice 152 
 
 Juniper 95 
 
 King's evil, (see SCROFULA.) 
 
 Lady's slipper 97 
 
 Laxatives 92 
 
 Leaves, when to collect.. .102 
 
 Liniment, stimulating 112 
 
 Lobelia inflata 73 
 
 remarks on, by Dr. 
 
 Curtis... 74 
 
 by Prof. Tully 75 
 
 by Dr. Waterhouse . .76 
 
 by Dr. Hersey 76 
 
 by Dr. Peckham 76 
 
 tincture of 113 
 
 administering of 126 
 
 pills 108 
 
 Lock-jaw, (see FITS.) 
 
 Lungs, consumption of. . . .137 
 
 Medicine, science of 13 
 
 remarks on, by Dr. J. 
 
 Graham ... 15 
 
 by Dr. Bigelow 15 
 
 by Jefferson 18 
 
 by Dr. Brown 19 
 
 by Dr. Whiting 21 
 
 by Dr. Waterhouse. .21 
 
 by Dr. Rush 20 
 
 dose of 104 
 
 Magendie on blood-letting. .31 
 
 Materia Medica 71 
 
 2 
 
 Measles 152 
 
 Mercury 22 
 
 Mineral poisons 20 
 
 Mayweed 100 
 
 Meadow-fern 102 
 
 ointment 121 
 
 Mother's cordial 107 
 
 Menstruation obstructed . . 154 
 
 profuse 154 
 
 Midwifery 167 
 
 remarks on, by Dr. 
 
 Beach . . 169 
 by Mrs. Arnold.. ..171 
 general directions in.. 171 
 previous treatment in. 171 
 treatment during labor 171 
 treatment after delivery!74 
 
 of after-pains 174 
 
 of costiveness 175 
 
 of flooding 175 
 
 of milk leg 175 
 
 of sore nipples 175 
 
 of tying and cutting 
 
 the navel string. . . . 173 
 management of the 
 
 placenta 1 74 
 
 tongue-tied children . . 1 76 
 rupture in children . . . 176 
 
 still-born infants 175 
 
 Mumps 153 
 
 Nervines 97 
 
 Nipples, sore 175 
 
 Ointment for piles 115 
 
 itch 120 
 
 meadow-fern 121 
 
 Opium 28 
 
 Obstructed menstruation .. 154 
 
 Ox gall 102 
 
 Palsy or paralysis 154 
 
 Pennyroyal 82 
 
 Piles 155 
 
 Pile ointment , 115 
 
 Pills No. 1 108 
 
 No. 2 108 
 
 Phthisic, (see ASTHMA.) 
 
 Plaster, adhesive 110 
 
 strengthening. ...... .110 
 
 cancer 120 
 
 Prickly ash 81 
 
 Poplar ,,,..,.83 
 
Xll 
 
 CONTESTS. 
 
 Pleurisy root 96 
 
 Polypus powder 118 
 
 Poultice, elm 116 
 
 Putrid sore throat 156 
 
 Pyrola 90 
 
 Pleurisy 155 
 
 Profuse menstruation 154 
 
 Queen of the meadow 94 
 
 Raspberry leaves 86 
 
 Restorative, female 106 
 
 Rheumatism 157 
 
 'Rupture 158 
 
 Relaxants 73 
 
 Salve, healing 110 
 
 f elder 109 
 
 Science of medicine 13 
 
 Scald head 158 
 
 Scalds, (see BURNS.) 
 
 Scarlet fever 156 
 
 Scrofula 159 
 
 Scullcap 98 
 
 Seeds, when to collect 102 
 
 Skunk cabbage 96 
 
 Slippery elm 99 
 
 Small pox 160 
 
 Smelling salts 116 
 
 Snake head, (see BALMONY.) 
 
 Snuff, head-ache 116 
 
 polypus 118 
 
 catarrh 120 
 
 Spiced bitters 105 
 
 Stimulants 79 
 
 Sumach 85 
 
 Saffron 101 
 
 Solomon's seal 101 
 
 Spikenard 101 
 
 Stimulating liniment 112 
 
 Smith's, Dr. Elisha, anti- 
 
 I mercurial syrup 121 
 
 Sudorific powders 119 
 
 Stimulating conserve 114 
 
 St. Anthony's fire 148 
 
 St. Vitus' dance 162 
 
 Stone 150 
 
 Stoppage in the bowels, 
 * (see COLIC.) 
 Strengthening plaster 110 
 
 Sore or inflamed breast . . .161 
 
 Syrup, dysentery Ill 
 
 female strengthening. 106 
 
 worm Ill 
 
 diuretic 115 
 
 butternut 93 
 
 for purifying the bjood 118 
 
 anti-mercurial 121 
 
 Synopsis of the medical 
 properties of plants used 
 
 occasionally 100 
 
 Spruce beer 118 
 
 Suspended animation 163 
 
 Shingles 162 
 
 Testimony of regular phy- 
 sicians in favor of female 
 
 midwives 177 
 
 Thomsonian system 40 
 
 t testimony of old school 
 physicians in favor of 42 
 
 Thorough wort 79 
 
 Tic doloureux 164 
 
 Tincture of myrrh 113 
 
 of lobelia 113 
 
 of Cayenne 114 
 
 of fir balsam ....115 
 
 Treatment of disease 69 
 
 different forms 127 
 
 children 1 76 
 
 Tonics 88 
 
 Tootn-ache drops 117 
 
 Unicorn 90 
 
 Uvaursi 102 
 
 Vapor bath 123 
 
 Vegetable caustic, (see 
 
 CANCER.) 
 Washington's treatment... 31 
 
 White pond lily 86 
 
 Witch hazel 87 
 
 Wintergreen 90 
 
 Worm syrup Ill 
 
 Wine bitters 117 
 
 Whitlows 166 
 
 White swelling 166 
 
 Wounds 164 
 
 Whooping cough 165 
 
 Yellow dock 101 
 
GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 * 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 THE SCIENCE OF MEDICINE. 
 
 WHAT is it ? What are the principles on which 
 it is founded ? and what are the results of those 
 principles, carried out in practice? Science is 
 knowledge. The science of medicine is a know- 
 ledge of the art of preventing and curing disease. 
 Where can this knowledge be obtained ? Should 
 we heap together all that has been written on the 
 subject of medicine, it would form a mountain, 
 the base of which would spread out over the 
 earth, and its summit penetrate the clouds. In 
 perusing these works, we are astonished and dis- 
 appointed : astonished, that such a combination 
 of talent, erudition, and persevering research, should 
 arrive at conclusions so visionary and unsatisfac- 
 tory ; disappointed, in not finding the knowledge 
 of a remedy for the cure of disease. We must 
 give these authors the credit of making untiring 
 effort, and bestowing incessant labor upon the 
 subject, but like the man who attempted to cross 
 a pond frozen over, during a violent snow-storm ; 
 the snow flew so thick, that he soon lost sight 
 of either shore, and after wandering many hours, 
 
14 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 he found himself on the same shore from which 
 he started. So with medical authors : having no 
 compass, and the visionary theories of others fly- 
 ing so thick about them, involved them in dark- 
 ness, and they wandered in uncertainty and doubt, 
 until they arrived at the same point from which 
 they started, having found no facts on which to 
 base medical science. 
 
 The reason is obvious. Truth is plain and 
 simple. God, in his wisdom, has adapted impor- 
 tant truths to the capacity of feeble intellects. 
 " has chosen the weak things of the world to 
 confound the wise." While the learned and wise 
 in the literary lore of medical universities were 
 groping amidst this darkness, uncertainty and 
 doubt, in search of facts on which to base a cor- 
 rect theory each fully conscious that the discov- 
 ery of such facts would enable him to write his 
 name high on the temple of fame Dr. THOMSON, 
 an illiterate farmer, stumbled on the prize. Rude 
 and uncultivated though he was, he discovered 
 facts which are destined to overturn the visionary 
 theories of his predecessors. With nothing more 
 than a general knowledge of the structure of the 
 human body and the functions of its organs, he, 
 by experience alone, dictated by common sense 
 and reason, obtained the knowledge of a safe and 
 efficient method of treating disease, that the expe- 
 rience of thousands, for forty years, has confirmed. 
 We shall endeavor to prove that the system of 
 practice introduced by Dr. Thomson, and improved 
 by many of his coadjutors, has more claim to the 
 appellation of " the science of medicine^ than any 
 other system that has been yet introduced. Im- 
 perfect though it may be, its success in the cure 
 of disease stands unrivalled. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 15 
 
 -^iiMMsim 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 BRIEF REVIEW OF DIFFERENT THEORIES OF MEDICINE 
 
 If medical works have been wanting in facts, 
 they have abounded in theories. 
 
 Dr. James Graham, the celebrated Medico- 
 Electrician, of London, says of medicine, " It hath 
 been very rich in theory, but poor, very poor, in 
 the practical application of it.' 7 
 
 Dr. Jacob Bigelow, Professor in Harvard Uni- 
 versity, says in his annual address before the Med- 
 ical Society, in 1836, " The premature death of 
 medical men brings with it the humiliating con- 
 clusion, that while other sciences have been car- 
 ried forward within our own time, and almost 
 under our own eyes, to a degree of unprecedented 
 advancement, medicine, in regard to some of its 
 professed and important objects, (the cure of dis- 
 ease,) is still an INEFFECTUAL SPECULATION." 
 
 It is almost universally believed that the science 
 of medicine, as taught in the schools of physic, 
 and practised by the regular faculty, is based on 
 established principles, principles that have been 
 handed down from generation to generation, that 
 are as demonstrable as those of mathematics, and 
 that a man who has studied three years, is pre- 
 pared to practise SCIENTIFICALLY. If this were the 
 case, it would save us the necessity of writing this 
 little volume, as the literary world groans under 
 the weight of medical works that have been 
 thrown upon it the errors of which, each suc- 
 ceeding author has proved to be as numerous as 
 its pages. $? ' 
 
 At what age of the world medicine for the cure 
 of disease was introduced, history does not ia- 
 2* . 
 
IQ A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 form us. Frequent reference is made in the bible 
 to leaves for the healing of the nations, the plant 
 of renown, and to various other botanic medi- 
 cines ; but we have no account, in that book, of 
 mineral poisons ever being used to cure disease. 
 Such an inconsistency, sanctioned by it, would 
 have placed in the hands of the infidel a more pow- 
 erful argument, against its truth than now exists. 
 
 At whatever age disease may have made its 
 appearance, the first man whose writings on medi- 
 cine have descended to posterity in any thing 
 like a respectable shape, is HIPPOCRATES, born in 
 the island of Cos, about 460 years before Christ. 
 Supposing himself descended from the ancient 
 and fabled Esculapius, he devoted his mind assid- 
 uously to the healing art. He examined atten- 
 tively the opinions of others, thought and judged 
 for himself, and admitted only those principles that 
 to him seemed founded on reason. As a theory 
 of life, he advanced the doctrine that the body is 
 endowed with a semi-intelligent principle capable 
 of applying to its own use whatever is congenial 
 with it, and calculated to improve and restore it ; 
 and of rejecting and expelling whatever is nox- 
 ious, or tends to the generation of disease. 
 
 He believed in the conservative and restorative 
 power of nature, when its laws were strictly fol- 
 lowed, or aided by suitable remedies. Hippocra- 
 tes studied diligently, and almost exclusively, the 
 great book of nature, instead of the visionary 
 theories of men, and probably adopted a more 
 correct theory, and safe and successful practice, 
 than any who succeeded him, until the time of 
 Thomson. 
 
 CLAUDIUS GALANUS, or GALEN, was bom in Per- 
 gamos, in Asia Minor, A. D, 131. He depended 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 17 
 
 on innocuous vegetables ; sometimes simple, gen- 
 erally very much compounded ; and his practice 
 was so successful as in many instances to be as- 
 cribed to magic. The theory of Galen was the 
 acknowledged theory of medicine until about the 
 time of 
 
 PARACELSUS, who was born in Switzerland, in 
 1493. He appeared as a reformer of the system, 
 of Galen, rejecting his safe botanic treatment, and 
 administering, with a bold and reckless hand, 
 mercury, antimony, and opium. 
 
 Notwithstanding thousands were destroyed by 
 this reckless quack, his practice has been handed 
 down to the present time, undergoing various 
 changes and modifications. Says Professor Wa- 
 terhouse, " He (Paracelsus) was ignorant, vain, 
 and profligate, and after living the life of a vaga- 
 bond, he died a confirmed sot. He studied mys- 
 tery, and wrapped up his knowledge in terms of 
 his own invention, so as to keep his knowledge 
 confined to himself and a few chosen followers." 
 It appears by Prof. Waterhouse, of Harvard Uni- 
 versity, that mercury, antimony, and opium were 
 introduced into common practice by Paracelsus, 
 who was the chief of quacks, which remedies con- 
 tinue to the present day to be the most potent and 
 commonly used by the faculty. 
 
 STAHL, a native of Anspach, rejected all the 
 notions of his predecessors, and has the credit of 
 undoing all that had been done before him. 
 
 HOFFMAN, his cotemporary and friend, supposed 
 life dwelt somehow or other in the nervous system. 
 
 BOERHAAVE, a native of Holland, selected from 
 all the preceding writings whatever he deemed 
 valuable, preferring Hippocrates among the an- 
 cients, and Sydenham among the moderns. This 
 
18 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 celebrated physician and scholar ordered in his 
 will, that all his books and manuscripts should be 
 burned, one large volume with silver clasps ex- 
 cepted. The physicians flocked to Leyden, en- 
 treating his executors to destroy his will. The 
 effects were sold. A German count, convinced 
 that the great gilt book contained the whole arca- 
 num of physic, bought it for ten thousand guil- 
 ders. It was all blank except the first page, on 
 ,which was written, "Keep the head cool, the 
 \feet warm, the body open, and reject all physi- 
 cians" How noble the course of this justly cele- 
 brated physician ! After thoroughly investigating 
 the theories of all his predecessors, and writing 
 out a theory of his own, which, when he came to 
 practise, he found so uncertain and dangerous, 
 that he would not leave it, with his sanction, to 
 entail misery and death on future generations. 
 He therefore gave his dying advice to the world, 
 with a full knowledge of the value of all the sys- 
 tems of medicine that had preceded him, to use a 
 few simple medicines, and reject all physicians. 
 Had this advice, given in the seventeenth century, 
 been regarded by the world, what a vast amount 
 of suffering and human life would have been 
 saved ! Its benefits would have been incalcula- 
 ble. A monument should have been erected to his 
 memory, on which should have been inscribed in 
 letters of gold, " HERE LIES AN HONEST MAN, THE 
 
 NOBLEST WORK OF GoD." 
 
 I Succeeding Boerhaave, were Haller, Cullen, 
 Hunter, Bostock, Brown, Rush, and Chapman, of 
 modern times ; the history of whom may be told 
 in the language of Thomas Jefferson, the illustri- 
 ous statesman and philosopher. In a letter to Dr. 
 Wistar, he says, " I have lived myself to see 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 19 
 
 the disciples of Hoffman, Boerhaave, Cullen, and 
 Brown succeed one another like the shifting fig- 
 ures of the magic lantern ; and their fancies, like 
 the dressers of the annual doll babies from Paris, 
 becoming from the novelty the vogue of the day, 
 each yielding to the next novelty its ephemeral 
 favors. The patient, treated on the fashionable 
 theory, sometimes gets well, in spite of the medi- 
 cine ; the medicine therefore cured him, and the 
 doctor receives new courage to proceed in his bold 
 experiments on the lives of his fellow-creatures. 
 I believe," continues Mr. Jefferson, " we may 
 safely affirm, that the presumptuous band of medi- 
 cal tyros, let loose upon the world, destroy more 
 human life in one year, than all the Robin Hoods, 
 Cartouches, and Macbeths do in a century. It is 
 in this part of medicine I wish to see a reform, an 
 abandonment of hypothesis for sober facts, the 
 highest degree of value set upon clinical observa- 
 tion, the least on visionary theories." 
 
 Dr. WILLIAM BROWN, who studied under the 
 famous Dr. William Cullen, lived in his family, 
 and lectured on his system, says in the preface to 
 his own works, " The author of this work has 
 spent more than twenty years in learning, teach- 
 ing and scrutinizing every part of medicine. The 
 first five years passed away in hearing others, and 
 studying what I had heard, implicitly believing 
 it, and entering upon the possession as a rich 
 inheritance. The next five, I was employed in 
 explaining and refining the several particulars, 
 and bestowing on them a nicer polish. During 
 the five succeeding years, nothing having pros- 
 pered according to my satisfaction, I grew indif- 
 ferent to the subject; and with many eminent 
 men. and even the vulgar, began to deplore the 
 
JO A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 healing art, as altogether uncertain and incompre- 
 hensible. All this time passed away without the 
 acquisition of any advantage, and without that 
 which, of all things, is most agreeable to the 
 mind the light of truth ; and so great a portion 
 of the short and perishable life of man was totally 
 lost ! Here I was r at this period, in the situation 
 of a traveller in an unknown country, who, after 
 losing every trace of his way, wanders in the 
 shades of night." 
 
 Dr. Brown's experience probably differs in only 
 one particular, from that of every student of the 
 theories of medicine, and that is, he spent seven- 
 teen years longer than is customary, to obtain 
 authority to kill according to law. 
 
 Dr. RUSH says, in his lectures in the University 
 of Pennsylvania, " I am insensibly led to make 
 an apology for the instability of the theories and 
 practices of physic. Those physicians generally 
 become most eminent, who soonest emancipate 
 themselves from the tyranny of the schools of 
 physic. Our want of success is owing to the fol- 
 lowing causes, 1st, Our ignorance of disease, of 
 which dissections daily convince us. 2, Our ig- 
 norance of a suitable remedy, having frequent 
 occasion to blush at our prescriptions." 
 
 Had not Rush so soon fallen a victim to his 
 own favorite practice of bleeding, he would un- 
 questionably have laid a foundation for medical 
 reformation, that would ere this have swept away 
 those false theories with the besom of destruction. 
 He says, " We have assisted in multiplying dis- 
 eases ; we have done more we have increased 
 their mortality. I will beg pardon of the faculty 
 for acknowledging, in this public manner, the 
 weakness of their profession." He then speaks 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 21 
 
 forth in the dignity of his manhood, and from the 
 honesty of his heart, " I am pursuing truth, and 
 am indifferent where I am led, if she only is my 
 leader." A man of so much benevolence and 
 conscientiousness as the venerable Rush could not 
 long have reconciled his acknowledgments and 
 practice. 
 
 Dr. L. M. WHITING, in a dissertation at an an- 
 nual commencement in Pittsfield, Mass., frankly 
 acknowledges that "the very principles upon 
 which most of the theories involving medical 
 questions have been based, were never established. 
 They are, and always were, false ; consequently 
 the superstructures built upon them, were as the 
 baseless fabric of a vision, transient in their exist- 
 ence ; passing away before the introduction of 
 new doctrines and hypotheses, like dew before the 
 morning sun. System after system has arisen, 
 flourished, and been forgotten, in rapid and melan- 
 choly succession, until the whole field is strewed 
 with the disjointed materials in perfect chaos ; and 
 amongst the rubbish, the philosophic mind may 
 search for ages, without being able to glean from 
 hardly one solitary well-established fact.' 1 
 
 Dr. BENJAMIN WATERHOUSE, after lecturing in 
 Harvard University twenty years, retired, saying 
 of all he had been so long and zealously teaching, 
 " I am sick of learned quackery." 
 
 We have now clearly shown, by incontestible 
 evidence, that the science of medicine, as taught 
 in the schools of physic, is based on no established 
 principles, and therefore must be false in theory, 
 and destructive in practice. Can the object of 
 medical science be accomplished by these theo- 
 ries, while all admit that object to be the preven- 
 tion and cure of disease ? 
 
tgj A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE EFFECT OF THE REMEDIES USED BY THE MEDICAL 
 FACULTY. 
 
 Notwithstanding the darkness, uncertainty and 
 doubt in which medical science is involved its 
 incapability of answering the desired object of 
 such a science ; if its remedial agents were inno- 
 cent, there would be much less occasion for a re- 
 form than there now is. Should we see a blind 
 man armed with a pistol, shooting into a group 
 composed of friends and enemies, should we not 
 suppose he would be as likely to kill his friends 
 as enemies ? Equally as liable is the physician, 
 armed with deadly poison, administered without 
 any certain criterion to guide him in their use, to 
 kill nature instead of disease, or kill more than he 
 cures. 
 
 The most common remedies used by the facul- 
 ty are, mercury in some of its forms, antimony, 
 opium, bleeding, and blistering. 
 
 MERCURY, or the ore which contains it, abounds 
 in China, Hungary, Spain, France, and South 
 America j and of all the metals used as a medicine, 
 is the most extensively used there being scarcely 
 a disease against which some of its preparations 
 are not exhibited. 
 
 CALOMEL, a preparation of mercury, is said to be 
 the Sampson of the Materia Medica, and, as an- 
 other has expressed, has destroyed more Americans 
 than Sampson did of the Philistines. 
 
 Dr. POWELL, formerly professor in the Medical 
 College at Burlington, Vt., in a letter to Dr. Wright 
 of Montpelier, says, " It is to be hoped the time 
 is not far distant, when all deleterious poisons will 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 33 
 
 be struck from our Materia Medica. It is my 
 opinion, calomel or mercury has made far more 
 disease since it has been so universally exhibited, 
 than all the epidemics of the country. It is more 
 than ten years since I have administered a dose 
 of it, although I have been daily in the practice 
 of physic, and I am sure I have been more suc- 
 cessful in practice than when I made use of it. 
 The last dose I had in the house, I gave to some 
 rats, and it as radically killed them as arsenic." 
 
 Dr. Powell, having administered calomel for 
 many years, could not have been mistaken in re- 
 gard to its effects. 
 
 Dr. CHAPMAN, Professor in the University of 
 Pennsylvania, after speaking of the extravagant 
 use of calomel at the South, says, " He who for 
 an ordinary cause resigns the fate of his patient to 
 mercury, is a vile enemy to the sick ; and if he is 
 tolerably popular, will, in one successful season, 
 have paved the way for the business of life, for he 
 has enough to do ever afterwards, to stop the 
 mercurial breach of the constitutions of his dilapi- 
 dated patients." 
 
 Dr. GRAHAM, of the University of Glasgow, 
 says, " We have often had every benevolent feel- 
 ing of our mind called into painful exercise, upon 
 viewing patients, already exhausted by protracted 
 illness, groaning under accumulated miseries of an 
 active course of mercury, and by this forever de- 
 prived of perfect restoration ; a barbarous practice, 
 the inconsistency, folly and injury of which no 
 words can sufficiently describe." 
 
 Dr. ROBERTSON, of Cincinnati, says in his lec- 
 tures, " It is astonishing, and will remain an as- 
 tonishment to future generations, that the very 
 rankest poisons are the greatest remedies now in 
 3 
 
24 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 use in the world, and have been for the last fifty 
 years past. It would be a melancholy tale, could 
 it be told of the millions who have perished 
 through this practice." 
 
 Prof. WATERHOUSE says, " When calomel is 
 pushed to a salivation, it delipidates, if we may so 
 speak, or dissolves the human fluids, all of which 
 are made of globules or round particles, on the 
 crasis of which depend the vital energy of our 
 bodies, and of course our health and vigor. After 
 the hazardous process of salivation, the physician 
 may, perhaps, be able to say, Now I have so far 
 changed the morbid state of the patient, that his 
 disease is conquered, and entirely overcome by the 
 powerful operation of the mercury. But then in 
 what condition does he find the sufferer ? His teeth 
 are loosened, his joints are weakened, his healthy 
 countenance is impaired, his voice is more feeble, 
 and he is more susceptible of cold, and a damp 
 state of the weather. His original disorder is, to 
 be sure, overcome, but it is paying a great price for 
 it. Secret history conceals from public notice in- 
 numerable victims of this sort." 
 
 Prof. BARTON, of the Medical College of Louis- 
 iana, says of the tomato, " I freely wish it success, 
 after having witnessed, for sixteen years, the hor- 
 rible ravages committed by calomel." 
 
 The administration of calomel, to be safe, de- 
 pends on circumstances beyond the knowledge 
 of the prescriber j therefore, he who administers a 
 dose of calomel, under any circumstance, strikes 
 a blow in the dark, the result of which will be 
 exhibited too late to be remedied. 
 
 In spite of the efforts of the medical faculty 
 to keep from the people a knowledge of the effects 
 of mercury upon the human system, which effects 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 25 
 
 they had heen accustomed to attribute to a chang* 
 in the disease ; some of their number, having too 
 much benevolence longer to administer the disease- 
 creating poison, have laid before the astonished 
 calomel-eater the legitimate results of its use ; 
 leading him to exclaim, Is it so ? that I have been 
 so long duped by pretended science so long 
 swallowing down that which has been destroying 
 my constitution, leaving me as I now find myself, 
 but a wreck of the man I once was ! Is it so ? that 
 man is so depraved, or so blinded as to deal out to 
 his fellow-man deadly poisons, to increase his dis- 
 ease and suffering, when his punishment for the 
 transgression of the laws of nature is already 
 greater than he can bear ? These facts, coming to 
 the knowledge of the people, have led many to 
 reject those physicians who give calomel or mer- 
 cury ; physicians, therefore, find it for their interest 
 to deny that they use it except in extreme cases. 
 But if, from this moment, the use of calomel 
 should be entirely abandoned, the suffering that 
 must necessarily follow the use of what has been 
 already administered will be incalculable. 
 
 Dr. Cox, a member of the medical faculty of 
 Cincinnati, who has recently renounced the old 
 school practice, thus writes in a communication to 
 the editor of the Medical Reformer: "I could 
 enumerate at least fifty cases of poison and death 
 by CALOMEL, that occurred in the practice of physi- 
 cians who were practising in the region of country 
 where I practised for the last seven years previous 
 to my coming to the city, many of whom were 
 sent to their graves mutilated, disfigured, and par- 
 tially decomposed before death released them from 
 their sufferings." Suppose each physician of the 
 thousands who are practising in the United States 
 
26 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 after the old school routine of giving calomel, were 
 to hand a list of the cases of death produced 
 by that mineral poison, that occurred within his 
 knowledge and region of labor, what a stupendous 
 and alarming amount of mortality it would make ! 
 In view of these facts, Dr. Cox comes to the fol- 
 lowing conclusion, and how could an honest man 
 have come to a different conclusion? "Lest I 
 should farther give countenance to a species of 
 legal and wholesale murder by the use of it, I 
 hereby notify my friends, that from this 22d day 
 of November, A. D. 1844, I forthwith and forever 
 relinquish the use of mercury, in any of its pre- 
 parations, as a medical agent." He says he has 
 found the simple plants of nature's garden far more 
 safe and efficacious than mercury ; he therefore 
 goes for a reform in the practice of medicine, and 
 hopes the time is not far distant when it will be 
 an offence against the statute law, as well as the 
 moral and physical, to administer mercury as a 
 remedial agent. There are, no doubt, thousands 
 of other physicians, who are constantly prompted 
 by an enlightened conscience to abandon the use 
 of poisons, and declare to the* world that there is 
 mischief in them. Even so mote it be. 
 
 " The following Hymn on Calomel," says 
 Smith, " is to be sung on certain occasions ; as 
 the following : 1st. When any one or more are 
 convinced of its dangerous and ruinous nature, 
 when applied under the name of medicine, so as 
 never to use it. "2d. When any one has taken it 
 until his teeth are loose, rotten, or have come out. 
 3d. When it has so cankered their mouths, that 
 they cannot eat their food. 4th. When it has 
 swelled their tongues out of their mouths, so that 
 they could not shut their mouth for some time. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 27 
 
 6th. When it has caused blindness, and partial or 
 total loss of sight. 6th. When it has caused large 
 sores on their legs, feet, arms, or any part of the 
 body. 7th. When it has caused palsy, epilepsy, 
 cramp, or any other distressing complaint. When 
 cured of any or all these difficulties, this is to be 
 sung by all such, and as many others as may join 
 heartily in putting down calomel. At the close of i 
 the hymn let some one of the singers repeat aloud 
 1 Amen. 
 
 (Tune, Old "Hundred. Very grave.} 
 
 Physicians of the highest rank 
 (To pay their fees, we need a bank) 
 Combine all wisdom, art and skill, 
 Science and sense, in calomel. 
 
 Howe'er their patients may complain 
 Of head, or heart, or nerve, or vein, 
 Of fever high, or parch, or swell, 
 The remedy is calomel. 
 
 When Mr. A. or B. is sick 
 " Go fetch the doctor, and be quick" 
 The doctor comes, with much good will, 
 But ne'er forgets his calomel. 
 
 He takes his patient by the hand, . 
 And compliments him as a friend ; 
 He sets awhile his pulse to feel, 
 And then takes out his calomel. 
 
 He then turns to the patient's wife, 
 " Have you clean paper, spoon and knife ? 
 I think your husband might do well 
 To take a dose of calomel." 
 
 He then deals out the precious grains 
 " This, ma'am, I'm sure will ease his pains ; 
 Once in three hours, at sound of bell, 
 Give him a dose of calomel." 
 
 He leaves his patient in her care, 
 And bids good-by with graceful air. 
 In hopes bad humors to expel, 
 She freely gives the calomel. 
 3* 
 
28 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 The man grows worse, quite fast indeed 
 " Go call for counsel ride with speed" 
 The counsel comes, like post with mail, 
 Doubling the dose of calomel. 
 
 The man in death begins to groan 
 The fatal job for him is done ; 
 His soul is winged for heaven or hell 
 A sacrifice to calomel. 
 
 Physicians of my former choice, 
 Receive my counsel and advice ; 
 Be not offended though I tell 
 The dire effects of calomel. 
 
 And when I must resign my breath, 
 Pray let me die a natural death, 
 And bid you all a long farewell, 
 Without one dose of calomel. 
 
 ANTIMONY, says Hooper, is a medicine of the 
 greatest power of any known substance j a quan- 
 tity too minute to be sensible in the most delicate 
 balance, is capable of producing violent effect. 
 Tartar emetic is a preparation of antimony, com- 
 monly used by the faculty as an emetic. A Mr. 
 Deane, of Portland, Me., was poisonepl to death a 
 few years since, by taking a dose of tartar emetic 
 through mistake j had it been administered by a 
 physician, his death would have been attributed 
 to some fatal disease. It is said that Basil Valen- 
 tine, a German monk, gave it to some hogs, which, 
 after purging them very much, fattened ; and 
 thinking it might produce the same effect on his 
 brother monks, gave them each a dose, who all 
 died in the experiment ; hence the word is derived 
 from two Greek words, meaning destructive to 
 monks. 
 
 OPIUM is obtained from Turkey and East India. 
 It is the most common article used by those who 
 wish to shuffle off this mortal coil, to accomplish 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 99 
 
 their object. In the form of paregoric it is used 
 to quiet children, and thousands have no doubt 
 been quieted beyond the power of being disturbed. 
 It does not remove the cause of disease, but relieves 
 pain by benumbing sensibility. 
 
 BLISTERING. This practice, though not so fatal 
 as bleeding, is evidently as inconsistent and more 
 tormenting. In some isolated cases, blisters may 
 produce an apparent good effect, but the amount 
 of injury is so much greater than the amount of 
 good accruing from their use, that they may well 
 be dispensed with. 
 
 BLEEDING. Blood-letting was introduced as a 
 frequent remedial agent, by Sydenham, in the 
 early part of the 16th century ; since which time 
 it has consigned millions to the tomb, and cut off 
 the fond hopes of many a tender parent, affection- 
 ate husband and wife, and dutiful child. 
 
 Dr. J. J. STEELE, a member of the medical 
 faculty of New York, says, " Bleeding in every 
 case, both of health and disease, according to the 
 amount taken, destroys the balance of circulation, 
 and robs the system of its most valuable treasure 
 and support. This balance must be restored and 
 this treasure replaced, before a healthful action can 
 be complete in the system." 
 
 Dr. REID says, " If the employment of the lan- 
 cet were abolished altogether, it would perhaps 
 save annually a greater number of lives, than in 
 any one year the sword has ever destroyed." 
 
 Dr. BEACH, a member of the Medical Society 
 of New York, says, " Among the various means 
 made use of to restore the sick to health, there is 
 none so inconsistent and absurd as blood-letting. 
 Those who were so unfortunate as to fall victims 
 to disease, were doomed to suffer the most extra- 
 
30 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 vagant effusion of blood, and were soon hurried 
 to an untimely grave." 
 
 Dr. LOBSTEIN, late physician of the hospital and 
 army of France, reprobates, in strong terms, the 
 use of the lancet. He says, " During my residence 
 of fourteen years past, in this happy land of liberty 
 and independence the United States I am bound 
 to say that in all my practice as a physician of 
 twenty-seven years, never have I seen in any part 
 of Europe such extravagance of blood-letting as I 
 have seen in this country. It is productive of the 
 most serious and fatal effects a cruel practice a 
 scourge to humanity. How many thousands of 
 our fellow- creatures are sent by it to an untimely 
 grave ? How many parents are deprived of their 
 lovely children? How many husbands of their 
 wives? How many wives of their husbands? 
 Without blood there is no heat no life in the 
 system. In the blood is the life. He who takes 
 blood from a patient, takes not only an organ of 
 life, but a part of life itself." 
 
 This testimony of Prof. Lobstein is deserving 
 the consideration of every individual, on account 
 of his high standing in the medical profession, 
 and his opportunity of judging from experience 
 and observation of the effects of blood-letting. 
 
 Dr. THATCHER, a celebrated medical author, 
 says, " We have no infallible index to direct us in 
 the use of the lancet. The state of the pulse is 
 often ambiguous and deceptive. A precipitate 
 decision is fraught with danger, AND A MISTAKE 
 MAY BE CERTAIN DEATH." Here is a tacit acknow- 
 ledgment that the most discriminating and cautious 
 physician cannot decide when bleeding is safe, 
 and he has no certain criterion by which to decide, 
 whether bleeding will relieve his patient place 
 
. A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 31 
 
 him beyond the reach of a cure, or immediately 
 destroy life. Well may such a science of medi- 
 cine be called the science of guessing. 
 
 Think of man within the short space of twenty- 
 four hours being deprived of eighty or ninety 
 ounces of blood, taking three portions of calomel, 
 five or six grains of tartar emetic, and blisters 
 applied to the extremities and the throat. Such 
 was the treatment of the illustrious Washington ; 
 of him who was first in war, first in peace, and 
 first in the hearts of his countrymen. To have 
 resisted the fatal operation of such herculean 
 remedies, one would imagine this venerable old 
 man should have retained the vigor of his earliest 
 youth. 
 
 Says Magendie, an eminent French r physiolo- 
 gist, " I assert, then, loudly, and fear not to affirm 
 it, that blood-letting induces, both in the blood 
 itself and in our tissues certain modifications and 
 pathological phenomena which resemble, to a cer- 
 tain extent, those we have seen developed in ani- 
 mals deprived of atmospheric oxygen, or drink, 
 and of solid food. "^ ou shall have the material 
 proof of the fact. Here are three glasses contain- 
 ing blood drawn from a dog on three different 
 occasions, at intervals of two days. The animal 
 was in good health, and I took care to supply him 
 with abundance of nourishing food. In the first 
 glass you see the serum and clot are in just pro- 
 portions to each other. The latter, which is per- 
 fectly coagulated, forms about four fifths of the 
 entire mass. This specimen of blood, consequent- 
 ly, appears to possess the desirable qualities. Now 
 turn your attention to the second glass. The 
 animal was still well fed when its contents were 
 drawn, and yet you perceive an evident increase 
 
32 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 in the quantity of serum. The clot forms, at the 
 most, only two thirds of the whole. But here is 
 the produce of the third venesection. Although 
 the animal's diet remained unchanged, we find a 
 still greater difference. Not only is the proportion 
 of serum more considerable, but its color is 
 changed. It has acquired a reddish yellow tinge, 
 owing to the commencing solution of the globular 
 substance." 
 
 If it was a fact, that the science of medicine 
 that teaches the doctrine, that the most powerful 
 poisons are the best medicines that drawing from 
 man his heart's blood is the best way to restore 
 him to health when sick, is based on the immuta- 
 ble principles of truth, and proved itself true by 
 the practice, then we should be bound to admit its 
 principles, however inconsistent they might ap- 
 pear. But if tli eye is a shade of doubt resting 
 upon our minds, let us rather trust to the unassist- 
 ed and undisturbed powers of nature, than to 
 remedies that require the banishment of reason 
 from her throne, before a thinking man can con- 
 sistently use them. Give a sick man poison that 
 we have positive evidence will destroy the life of 
 a well man, to cure him ? Take from a feeble 
 man his blood, on which his little remaining 
 strength depends, to strengthen him? Does it 
 appear reasonable, or does it carry with it the evi- 
 dence of its truth, by immediately .curing the sick, 
 or strengthening the weak ? 
 
 There is not, in my opinion, and I am not alone 
 in that opinion, to be found, in all the superstition 
 and ignorance of this or any previous age, a more 
 complete inadaptedness of means to ends, than the 
 old school system of medical practice to cure 
 disease, As consistently might we attempt to 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 33 
 
 heat an oven with ice, put out a fire with alcohol, 
 or fatten a horse with grindstones or shingle nails. 
 
 It is now the wonder of the more enlightened 
 of the present generation, how the belief in witch- 
 craft could have obtained among the most learned 
 of the 16th century. So it will be the wonder 
 of future generations, that their forefathers of the 
 19th century should be so hoodwinked, as to 
 swallow down deadly poisons, be bled, blistered, 
 and physicked ; sacrificing their own common 
 sense, for the pretensions of a class of men, whose 
 gain depended on the ignorance of the people of 
 the result of their remedies. 
 
 Are there not, besides, a sufficient number of 
 influences brought to bear upon mankind to drag 
 them down to the grave ? Is not alcohol slaying 
 its thousands ? war its millions ? and the trans- 
 gression of the physical laws of nature in food, 
 exercise, and dress, its tens of millions? Why, 
 then, should Pandora's box be opened for another 
 outlet for human life ? 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE HOMOEOPATHIC SYSTEM. 
 
 As this system of practice is different in many 
 particulars from the allopathic or old school sys- 
 tem, and is gaining the attention of the American 
 people, it may be expected that we should give it 
 a passing notice. 
 
 Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, of Germany, the au- 
 thor of this system, was formerly a physician of 
 the old school, and was said to be a man of talent 
 
34 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 and learning. Like many of his predecessors, af- 
 ter wandering in the shades of night for many 
 years in search of truth, he deplored the healing 
 art as altogether " uncertain and incomprehensi- 
 ble." He saw the danger of striking at random 
 with such deadly weapons as mercury, antimony, 
 opium & Co., and therefore labored to prove that 
 the ten millionth part of a grain of calomel was 
 better than 250 grains. This one fact he has 
 clearly proved, and we challenge the world to re- 
 fute it, that the patient who takes in finite ssimal 
 doses of poison will recover sooner, and be less 
 injured, than the patient who takes large doses. 
 Another fact can as easily be proved, that the pa- 
 tient who takes no poison does better than either. 
 
 The views entertained by Hahnemann of dis- 
 ease and the method of cure, are original, and re- 
 main yet to be proved. The distinguishing fea- 
 tures of his system appear to us visionary, and the 
 remedies inefficient, but generally harmless, though 
 not always. He includes in his Materia Medica 
 the most deadly poisons, given in such small 
 quantities, however, as to do little harm or good, 
 but sometimes increased so as to produce the most 
 alarming effect. Dr. Beach, of New York city, 
 says he was called to a distinguished dentist of 
 that city, (Dr. Burdell,) who was taken unwell, 
 and called a homoeopathic physician to attend him. 
 He requested him to give him no mercury ; but 
 contrary to his express desire, he gave him both 
 mercury and arsenic ; and he now states that he 
 has been injured, particularly by the latter. He 
 thinks the absorbents have taken up the poison, 
 and that it has settled in all his joints. They are 
 now swollen, stiff, and contracted j and he is una- 
 ble to walk. So indignant does he feel against 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 35 
 
 the practice, that he proposes to caricature it, by 
 exhibiting two rats, one in a healthy state, and 
 the other, after having passed through the ordeal 
 of taking ratsbane or arsenic, with the hair off. 
 The fundamental principle is, that in all diseases 
 we are to use a medicine in small doses to cure a 
 disease that will produce the same symptoms as 
 are manifested by the disease we wish to cure, 
 and that a medicine can be made to operate on the 
 particular portion of the system designed by the 
 prescribe!*, without effecting any other portion. 
 
 The position taken by the advocates of Hahne- 
 mann's system cannot be successfully defended, 
 there "being too many well-established facts in con- 
 trariety in it. But however much the old school 
 physicians may ridicule this system, the light of 
 truth now dawning upon the world will show, 
 that the consequences of their system (the allo- 
 pathic) are too serious to be ridiculed. While 
 Hahnemann may divert the patient with his grain 
 of calomel, mixed with a barrel of sugar, and a 
 grain of the compound divided into innnitessimal 
 doses, requiring him to regard the physical laws 
 of his nature in food, exercise, &c., allowing na- 
 ture all her power to contend against disease ; the 
 old school physician lifts his fatal club and strikes 
 at random, the force of which oftener comes on 
 the head of the only healing principle that exists 
 in man, termed nature, than on his enemy, dis- 
 ease. Much good, therefore, may result from this 
 system of practice, in the present benighted state 
 of the world on all medical subjects, by diverting 
 the patient while nature effects a cure. I 
 
 A large majority of the homoeopathic physicians 
 are seceders from the old school, and condemn in 
 unqualified terms the extravagant use of poisons, 
 4 
 
36 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 bleeding, blistering, and physicking ; having them- 
 selves seen enough of their destructive effects to 
 arouse their better feelings, and lead them to adopt 
 a system more in accordance with humanity. Al- 
 though we differ from them in theory and prac- 
 tice, we cannot but respect them for the uncom- 
 promising stand they have taken against the per- 
 nicious practice in which they themselves were 
 'once engaged, and to remove which they have 
 sacrificed their standing with the medical faculty, 
 been cast out from their society, and are now the 
 objects of their ridicule. An enlightened com- 
 munity will do them justice, which is aU, we 
 presume, they ask. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 HYDROPATHY, OR THE COLD WATER CURE. 
 
 There is no individual who appreciates the 
 value of cold water, both as the most natural and 
 healthy drink for man and beast, and as a valuable 
 remedial agent, than we do ; but we are not pre- 
 pared to admit that it will accomplish every indi- 
 cation in the cure of disease. There are cases in 
 which an immediate relief cannot be obtained 
 without the use of some medicine besides cold 
 water. We think, however, it may be success- 
 fully applied in a great variety of cases where 
 there is sufficient vitality to produce reaction ; 
 but much caution is necessary in its application, 
 or serious injury might accrue from its indiscrim- 
 inate use. The time is not far distant when the 
 virtue of pure cold water will be more generally 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 37 
 
 appreciated, and occupy an important place in the 
 consistent physician's Materia Medica. If it is a 
 fact that pure water will accomplish every indica- 
 tion in the cure of disease, we sincerely pray that 
 the time may speedily come when the fact will 
 be known to the world. Many, in whose judg- 
 ment and sincerity we have much confidence, 
 thus believe ; but we cannot so believe until we 
 have the evidence. We intend to thoroughly 
 investigate the subject, and shall always be gov- 
 erned in our theory and practice by the light we 
 receive. 
 
 A hospital has been recently established at 
 Graeffenberg, by Vincent Preissnitz, who makes 
 no pretensions to book learning or a knowledge 
 of medicine. He treats all forms of disease with 
 cold water alone, internally and externally, with 
 a success that is perfectly astonishing. It has 
 been stated on good- authority that out of 7600 
 patients, the most of whom had applied to nearly 
 every other source for relief, he has lost but thirty- 
 six. 
 
 But little is known in this country of his method 
 of applying this valuable remedial agent. 
 
 Mr. Henry C. Wright, of Philadelphia, a distin- 
 guished anti-slavery and peace-lecturer, has been 
 at Graeffenberg, and entirely cured of a pulmonary 
 disease : he writes thus to the editor of the Libe- 
 rator in relation to the Principal of the hospital 
 and the mode of cure : 
 
 " It requires the constant exercise of a desperate 
 resolution to carry on the cure amid such snows and 
 ice. With such a temperature, to have our bodies 
 packed up, twice a day, in a sheet wrung out of 
 water, whose temperature is down to freezing 
 (last evening, the sheet in which I was packed, 
 
38 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 three minutes before I saw spread out on the snow 
 before my window, frozen stiff as ice) to lie in 
 that wet sheet till I get warm, and then go down 
 into a bath-room, often full of snow and ice, arid 
 there throw all off, and smoking, plunge into that 
 dreadful bath, and stay in it one or two minutes 
 then to be rubbed dry, and have a long wet ban- 
 dage tied around the whole body then dress, and 
 go out and face these fierce, howling tempests, 
 the snow all blowing into your eyes, ears, hair, 
 neck, and bosom ; and then to have to sit down 
 in cold water, and there sit fifteen minutes at a 
 time sure, such a fearful process must kill or cure. 
 Strange to say, not one here seems to have the 
 least fear of the former. It kills no one it invi- 
 gorates and strengthens all, and produces a pretty 
 thorough indignation in each at himself, that he 
 should ever have subjected his body to the heal- 
 ing process generally pursued by the medical fac- 
 ulty. I am certain that the process though so 
 fearful that I almost catch my breath and shiver 
 all over to think of it has done me great good. 
 
 "Four days ago, a woman who had taken cold 
 during the day, and was not aware of the enemy 
 lurking in her, was seized in the night with a most 
 violent fever. I saw her in the morning, and she 
 looked exactly like a person in scarlet fever. A 
 wet sheet was at once wrapped about her whole 
 body, and changed and wet again eveiy twenty 
 or thirty minutes. This was pursued about twenty 
 hours, and water was applied in other ways. The 
 next day, I saw her up and dressed, and looking 
 as well and eating as hearty as usual. Not a par- 
 ticle of medicine was administered. I do not 
 believe that out of the three hundred patients 
 now here, or out of several thousands that have 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 39 
 
 been here, there is one who has the least fear of 
 fevers or colds. Each seems to feel that, so far as 
 fevers and colds are concerned, a certain remedy is 
 always at hand. I do think it is the duty of all 
 who have young children, to learn to apply this 
 remedy. How many diseases in little children 
 originate in cold ! 
 
 " Vincent Preissnitz is certainly an extraordinary 
 man has a countenance on which one loves to 
 look a man of unpretending simplicity, of quiet 
 look and demeanor, but of dauntless resolution 
 and unyielding firmness. If a patient puts himself 
 under his control, and he assumes the responsibili- 
 ty of the case, the patient must conform. He is 
 a man of very limited l&ok learning pretends to 
 none, has none says but little to his patients 
 has no theory at all and would be probably inca- 
 pable of giving a written account of his system. 
 Cold air and cold water are the only remedies with 
 which he attempts to combat disease, and he does 
 not pretend that he can cure all diseases with 
 these. But he makes his patients work for health. 
 We can't sit down in an easy chair, or stretch out 
 on a soft sofa, in a warm room, with a warm 
 wrapper gown on, and take little nice things, and 
 be petted and comforted, and all that ! No we 
 have to work, work, work no rest day or night 
 have but little heat, and no comforts at all, 
 (comfort is unknown here, in any thing.) Our 
 food is plentiful, but of the coarsest kind no tea, 
 no coffee, no condiments but salt milk and cold 
 water for drink ; dry, stale rye bread, butter, boiled 
 beef, soup, &c., for food. To cut our rye bread 
 is a labor of no small magnitude, and each must 
 cut for himself ; and to see barons, counts, princes, 
 cavaliers, priests, generals, doctors, and what 
 4* 
 
40 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 not, all mixed up together, cutting and gnawing 
 away at this coarse food, like hungry Avolves you 
 would suppose that the genius of famine had come 
 forth from the desert of Sahara, and was at our 
 table." 
 
 : CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE THOMSONIAN SYSTEM. 
 
 This system of medical practice, unlike most 
 other systems, is the result of experience. Facts 
 were first established, and then a theory based on 
 such facts. Without facts it is as impossible to 
 establish a correct theory as to commence building 
 a chimney at the top. There would be no diffi- 
 culty if the first brick could be made to stick. So 
 in medical science. Establish one important fact, 
 and you have a foundation on which you may 
 build with safety. 
 
 Dr. Thomson, the author of the system that 
 bears his name, was altogether unacquainted with 
 the prevailing theories of medicine. His mind 
 was therefore untrammeled. If, as Dr. Rush has 
 said, those physicians become most eminent who 
 soonest emancipate themselves from the tyranny 
 of the schools of physic ; was it good reason why 
 Dr. Thomson could not be a reformer, because 
 he had never been enslaved by these theories ? He 
 took reason and common sense for his guide, and 
 established every principle by long experience. It 
 was the inefficiency of the regular practice that in- 
 duced him to turn his attention to the subject of 
 medicine. His children were attacked by disease, 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 41 
 
 a regular physician was called, exhausted his skill, 
 and abandoned them to the cold embrace of death. 
 At this critical period, Dr. Thomson resolved to 
 call into exercise his own judgment in the use of 
 such remedies as he had become acquainted with 
 in his earlier days. Necessity is the mother of 
 invention. He applied these remedies, and suc- 
 ceeded beyond his most sanguine expectations. 
 All of them recovered under his treatment, besides 
 his companion who was given up by five phy- 
 sicians. 
 
 In this simple manner originated a system of 
 medical practice, based on the immutable princi- 
 ples of truth, that has saved thousands of suffering 
 human beings from the jaws of death, who had 
 been abandoned by the medical faculty to die. It 
 soon became a topic of conversation, in the region 
 around, that Mr. Thomson, an illiterate farmer, 
 had cured five of his family after the doctors had 
 given them up to die. Soon he was called to ad- 
 minister to his neighbors after all other remedies 
 failed, and such universal success attended his 
 practice, that his name and unexampled success 
 were soon known abroad : and so numerous were 
 his calls to attend the sick, that he was under the 
 necessity of relinquishing his farm and devoting 
 himself exclusively to the practice of medicine. 
 We now find the illiterate farmer a doctor a 
 graduate of the school of nature, with almost uni- 
 versal success for his diploma. 
 
 Little did he think, when he yielded to the 
 pressing requests of the suffering and dying to 
 administer to their relief, that he should call down 
 upon his head the curses and denunciations of the 
 whole medical faculty, whose craft they now saw 
 to be in danger. But he soon fully realized that 
 
42 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 the sentiment of the celebrated Dr. Harvey was 
 true " that he who attempts a reform in medi- 
 cine, runs the risk of the sacrifice of his life, 
 reputation, and estate." Such was his success in 
 euring the incurables of the faculty, that their in- 
 dignation was aroused against him, and poured on 
 his devoted head without mercy. Every means 
 within their power were used to destroy him and 
 his followers. If one in a thousand of his patients 
 died, although they might have been incurable 
 when he commenced upon them, he was charged 
 with murder, and in one instance was prosecuted 
 and put into prison. Notwithstanding the deep- 
 rooted prejudice, and time-honored usages of the 
 people, and the hellish animosity and unprecedent- 
 ed persecution of a profession whose influence was 
 almost omnipotent, Thomsonism has flourished 
 and progressed until its remedial agents have found 
 admittance into nearly every hamlet and mansion 
 in the United States. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE TESTIMONY OP OLD SCHOOL PHYSICIANS IN ITS 
 FAVOR. 
 
 Notwithstanding the medical faculty as a body 
 violently persecuted Dr. Thomson, and ridiculed 
 his system of practice, some of the most candid 
 and humane had the magnanimity to express their 
 conviction that his system was far more philo- 
 sophical than their own. i 
 
 Among the first and most unwavering of the 
 friends of Dr. Thomson, was Prof. Waterhouse, 
 of Harvard University. He says in a letter to 
 
A GUIDE; TO HEALTH. 43 
 
 the editor of the Boston Courier, " I remain firm 
 in the opinion that the system and practice of Dr. 
 Thomson is superior to any now extant ; for by 
 his remedies, as much can be accomplished in three 
 or four days, as can be done by the regular system 
 in as many weeks, and that too without injuring 
 the patient." 
 
 Dr. THOMAS HERSEY, too, of Columbus, Ohio, 
 an eminent physician and surgeon, who was sur- 
 geon in the United States army during the last 
 war ; after thoroughly investigating Dr. Thomson's 
 system, publicly renounced a system he had prac- 
 tised forty years, and adopted the more philo- 
 sophical system of Thomson. He says, " More 
 than forty years of life have been devoted to the 
 ancient or regular practice. Ten years have been 
 spent in ascertaining the claims of the Thomsoni- 
 an system. A partial learning was the first step, 
 and the result was a mixed practice, which I found 
 could not succeed. I found I must be a Thom- 
 sonian altogether, or abandon the cause. The 
 result has been, that thus resolutely pursuing this 
 course, I became astonished at its success. This 
 outri vailed any thing with which I had ever been 
 acquainted in private practice, or in my former 
 official capacity as surgeon in the United States 
 army, or any public or private station I had ever 
 been called to fill." He says also in a letter to 
 Dr. John Thomson, " My practice has been ex- 
 tensive my experience and opportunity for obser- 
 vation has seldom been exceeded ; but I venture to 
 pledge myself upon all I hold sacred in the pro- 
 fession, that in my estimation the discoveries made 
 by your honored father have a decided prefer- 
 ence, and stand unrivalled by all that bears the 
 stamp of ancient or modern skill." 
 
44 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 Dr. SAMUEL ROBERTSON, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 
 who pursued his studies in England, and after- 
 wards under the celebrated Dr. Rush, of Philadel- 
 phia, says, " I have renounced the depleting and 
 poisoning system altogether ; and hereafter, from 
 this day, my life shall be spent in diffusing a 
 knowledge of the superiority of the Thomsonian 
 system, however much I may be abused by my 
 former brethren." 
 
 Dr. W. K. GRIFFIN, of Clinton, N. Y., also em- 
 braced this system. He says, "After having 
 attended three courses of lectures at the college 
 of physicians and surgeons at Fairfield, and ob- 
 tained the degree of Doctor of Medicine, I com- 
 menced using calomel, opium, and the like, with 
 the most unshaken confidence. Frequent failures 
 I was wont to attribute to the inveteracy of the 
 disease. But experience soon taught me a differ- 
 ent lesson. I had frequent occasions to notice, 
 that when circumstances prevented the adminis- 
 tration of the popular remedies, nature performed 
 a cure much sooner, and left the patient in a more 
 favorable condition, than in cases where the scien- 
 tific medical books were followed. I communi- 
 ( cated this discovery to my confidential friends in 
 the profession, and found to my no small surprise, 
 that many of them were equally conscious of the 
 fact. ' But,' said they, { the people love to be de- 
 ceived, and in this respect it promotes our interest 
 to accommodate them. They call on us to pre- 
 scribe, and by crying down our own medicines, 
 ; we should at once throw ourselves out of busi- 
 ness. 7 
 
 \ " Though I had always possessed the strongest 
 prejudice against that class of men vulgarly called 
 jsteam doctors, yet testimony in their favor had at 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 40 
 
 length become so abundant, that I was forced to 
 relinquish in some measure my preconceived opin- 
 ions, so far at least as to give their system a fair 
 investigation. When I entered upon the Thom- 
 sonian practice, I was convinced that it possessed 
 rare virtues, yet it was natural for me to suppose 
 that those virtues had been much exaggerated by 
 the friends of the system. But in this respect I 
 was happily disappointed, for I discovered, as my 
 practical knowledge of the system increased, that 
 half its virtues had not been told." 
 
 STEPHEN DEAN, M. D., of Hamburgh, N. Y., 
 who was seventeen years a " regular," in giving 
 his reasons for renouncing the old system and 
 embracing Thomson's, says, "I tried the same 
 remedies upon myself that I used upon my pa- 
 tients, and they nearly ruined me, and I accord- 
 ingly threw away my lance, and all my poisonous 
 drugs, and adopted the safe, simple and efficacious 
 system of Dr. Thomson." 
 
 Dr. THOMAS EVELEIGH, M. D., of Charleston, 
 S. C., in a letter to the editor of the Thomsonian 
 Recorder, says, "The theory of disease upon which 
 is based the Thomsonian system of practice, I 
 consider as approaching nearer the truth than any 
 other theory with which I am acquainted ; and so 
 perfectly satisfied am I of this fact, that I have 
 abandoned the old practice altogether, and have 
 adopted Thomson's in preference ; and every day's 
 experience tends to confirm me in the opinion I 
 first formed, that the system is based on the im- 
 mutable principles of truth, and wants nothing 
 but faithful and intelligent practitioners, to evince 
 to the world its superiority over every other sys- 
 tem, I am persuaded that as soon as the public 
 
46 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 mind becomes enlightened upon the subject, it 
 must and will supersede every other practice." 
 
 We could fill this volume with the encomiums 
 of those who have practised many years on the old 
 school system, who have renounced the same, and 
 become thorough-going Thomsonians ; but enough 
 have already been introduced, to show that the 
 advocates of Thomsonism are not all an illiterate, 
 ignorant class of men. About three hundred more 
 might be added, whose testimony would be in ac- 
 cordance with those whose names we have insert- 
 ed, who have spent the usual time in studying the 
 works of the faculty, attended medical lectures, 
 and practised many years, poisoning people well. 
 After a thorough and candid examination of the 
 Thomsonian system, with all their prepossessions 
 against it, and a trial of its remedial agents, in all 
 the different forms of disease, they were compelled, 
 by the force of evidence, to abandon their poison- 
 ing system, and adopt one more in accordance 
 with nature, reason, and common sense. Thou- 
 sands of others have adopted a mixed practice to 
 secure the patronage of all parties. 
 
 
PART II. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 HEALTH. 
 
 Health the poor man's riches, and the rich man's bliss. 
 
 A STATE of health consists in the power of all 
 the different organs to perform, in an easy and 
 regular manner, all their proper offices. This state, 
 on which our happiness so much depends, is the 
 legitimate result of a correct mode of living. The 
 man, woman, or child, who daily transgresses the 
 physical laws of their nature, can no more expect 
 to be healthy, than they can expect to breathe 
 without air or live under water. 
 
 Ask the man who has not been free from pain 
 a single day for a series of years, what he consid- 
 ers the greatest earthly blessing, and he will tell 
 you, health. When deprived of this, all nature 
 wears a gloomy aspect. The glistening sun- 
 beams, the opening flowers, the green-clad trees, 
 the rippling streams, or the soul-cheering notes of 
 the feathered songsters, have for him no charms. 
 The aching head, the hacking cough, and the 
 hectic flush, admonish him, that soon he must 
 close his eyes on all things earthly. Then it is he 
 looks back with sorrow and deep remorse on a life 
 spent in constant violation of the laws of nature, 
 the result of which is always to produce misery 
 5 
 
4S A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 and disease in proportion to the extent of those 
 violations. 
 
 Thousands there are, who are this moment roll- 
 ing in wealth, who would give a quit-claim deed 
 of all creation, and place themselves in the condi- 
 tion of the man who depends on his daily labor for 
 his daily bread, if they could enjoy perfect health. 
 
 If health be thus valuable, that the miser will 
 pour out his gold, the epicure give up his sump- 
 tuous fare, and the young lady bid defiance to the 
 life-destroying fashions of the age, that they may 
 obtain it when lost, is it not worth preserving ? 
 
 How then can we preserve our health ? Here 
 is a question of more importance than any other 
 of the great questions that are now agitating the 
 world. Any question or enterprise, having for its 
 object the accumulation or preservation of wealth, 
 would weigh as little in comparison with this, as 
 the bubble in the opposite scale with the moun- 
 tain. It may be argued that health is a blessing 
 conferred upon us by Divine Providence, and He 
 continues or destroys it according to his own plea- 
 sure, without any agency of our own. This doc- 
 trine has prevailed to an alarming extent, and has 
 been sanctioned by those who profess to know 
 more about the mysterious dealings of Providence 
 than they do the physiological laws of our nature. 
 Is it not the height of injustice to charge upon 
 Him, whose " tender mercies are over all the works 
 of his hands, " our own folly ? He, in infinite 
 wisdom and goodness, has established certain un- 
 changeable laws, by which all matter, animate and 
 inanimate, is governed. Obedience to these laws 
 secures to us health and all its blessings, with as 
 much certainty as obedience to moral laws secures 
 peace of mind. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 49 
 
 In order therefore to preserve health, a proper 
 regard must be had to food, drink, clothing, exer- 
 cise, air, and bathing. 
 
 FOOD AND DRINK. On no one thing does per- 
 fect health so much depend, as on the quantity, 
 quality, and proper mastication of food ; notwith- 
 standing which, a majority of mankind swallow 
 down, half chewed, and in large quantities, a he- 
 terogeneous mass of beef, pork, butter, cheese, 
 mince pies, cakes, &c., regardless of consequences 
 or the object of eating and drinking. So long as 
 we thus transgress nature's laws, so long we must 
 suffer the consequences ; which are pain, debility, 
 and untimely death, in spite of physicians, regu- 
 lar or irregular, homoeopathic, hydropathic, or 
 Thomsonian even. Such is the difference in the 
 habits and constitution of man, that no universal 
 system of diet can be prescribed, adapted to the 
 circumstances of all j but a few simple rules should 
 always be observed. Eat, three times a day only t 
 a moderate quantity of such food as is the most 
 easily digested, which should be well chewed or 
 mixed with the saliva before it is swallowed. 
 The best food is coarse wheat bread, potatoes, rice, 
 ripe fruit, rye pudding, peas, beans, &c., and the 
 best drink is pure cold water ; avoiding tea, cof- 
 fee, fat meat, butter, cheese, &c. The real object 
 of eating should be kept in view, viz. to supply 
 the system with a proper amount of nutriment, 
 varying according to the amount of active exercise 
 taken, and the power of the digestive apparatus, 
 and not to gratify a depraved appetite. Every 
 man and woman should become acquainted with 
 the physiological laws of their nature, so as to eat 
 and drink and provide for their children in accord- 
 ance therewith. 
 
50 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 CLOTHING. The principal object 'of clothing is 
 to protect the body from cold and inclement wea- 
 ther, and therefore should be adapted to the cli- 
 mate, season of the year, age, &c. The practice 
 of dressing children very warm, serves to enfeeble 
 and relax the system, rendering them subject to 
 colds and all their attendant evils. They should 
 be accustomed to wear but little clothing when in 
 doors, and that perfectly loose about them. It 
 will be observed that those children who, from 
 necessity, are poorly clad and coarsely fed, are 
 usually more robust than those who are warmly 
 clad, and are pampered with all the nice things a 
 fond mother can obtain ; the good intentions of 
 whom do not prevent the suffering she is unavoid- 
 ably bringing upon herself and offspring. This 
 consideration only should be kept in view in dress, 
 regardless of fashion, that is, its adaptedness to 
 the convenience and comfort of the wearer, and 
 the season of the year. Too much cannot be said 
 against compressing the chest, as is the custom of 
 many females, who have thereby sacrificed them- 
 selves to the goddess fashion, and we fear many 
 more must be sacrificed at the same shrine before 
 the practice will be abandoned. Tight bandages 
 about the neck, or any part of the system, should 
 be avoided, as they obstruct the free circulation 
 of blood. 
 
 If a man would live in accordance with his 
 nature, take proper exercise in the open air, and 
 thereby produce a free circulation of blood, but 
 little clothing would be required ; but as he is 
 enfeebled by disease, Avant of exercise, &c., he 
 must keep himself warm by flannels, stoves, and 
 stimulating meats and drinks, until exhausted na- 
 ture gives up the struggle to sustain its requisite 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 5J 
 
 quantity of heat, which suddenly sinks to the tem- 
 perature of the ground six feet from the surface. 
 
 The real object of clothing seems, at the present 
 day, to be almost entirely overlooked ; fashion, 
 .instead of convenience and comfort, must be con- 
 sulted. How many render themselves miserable 
 because they have not the means of following 
 every foolish fashion that is introduced ! while 
 others toil incessantly, giving themselves no op- 
 portunity for the improvement of the mind or 
 innocent amusement, destroying their health and 
 happiness to obtain the means of rendering them- 
 selves ridiculous in the eyes of the really wise. 
 But so the world goes, and so it must continue to 
 go, until dress and shape become so ridiculous and 
 fantastical as to be a laughing-stock for each other. 
 Says the celebrated Cobbett on this subject, " Let 
 our dress be as cheap as may be without shabbi- 
 ness ; attend more to the color of your shirt than 
 to the gloss and texture of your coat ; be always 
 clean as your situation will, without inconveni- 
 ence, permit ; but never, no, not for one moment, 
 believe that any human being, with sense in his 
 skull, will love or respect you on account of your 
 fine, costly clothes." 
 
 The man or woman, who has independence 
 enough to dare dress consistently and decently, in 
 defiance of a foolish and pernicious fashion, if 
 holding a rank in society that gives them influ- 
 ence, will do much for the benefit of his or her 
 race. Ye professed followers of the despised Na- 
 zarene, shall we not look to you for the example ? 
 or must Christianity itself yield to fashion, and its 
 professors vie with each other in obtaining the 
 most gaudy and costly apparel ? 
 
 EXERCISE. It is a law of our nature that a cer- 
 5* 
 
52 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 tain amount of active exercise in the open air 
 must be taken every day in order to be perfectly 
 healthy ; and it is supposed that the amount ne- 
 cessary to procure all the food, clothing, &c., for 
 the whole, together with what would be naturally 
 taken in amusement and walks of pleasure, if di- 
 vided equally among those who were competent 
 to labor, would be the proper amount of exercise 
 for each ; but in the present arrangement of soci- 
 ety, the few must labor incessantly in active em- 
 ployment, exhausting the powers of nature, and 
 leaving the moral and intellectual powers unculti- 
 vated ; while the many are engaged entirely in 
 sedentary employments, or no employment, ex- 
 cept to consume what the hard labor of the few 
 produces. Both classes transgress the laws of na- 
 ture the one, in not exercising enough; the 
 other, in exercising too much. The facilities for 
 locomotion are such at the present time, and the 
 disposition of man to avail himself of them so 
 general, that nearly all action of the lower extre- 
 mities will be suspended by those who have the 
 means of paying the expense of being trucked or 
 cabbed to the cars, and by the cars to their desired 
 town or city, and then trucked or cabbed again 
 to the residence of a friend or the traveller's home. 
 The result of which is invariably, coldness of the 
 extremities, costiveness, head-ache, indigestion, 
 lowness of spirits, weakness ; then come Indian 
 purgative pills, calomel, blue pills, steam and lobe- 
 lia, a visit to the springs, a miserable existence, 
 and premature death. This is no picture of the 
 imagination, but a fac simile of what is daily 
 transpiring around us, and he whose eyes are open 
 cannot help seeing it'. But we do not expect to 
 turn the tide that is thus carrying so many on the 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 53 
 
 bosom of its waters to the grave. But the law 
 and its penalties cannot be evaded by its violators. 
 
 Walking is probably the most healthy exercise ; 
 riding on horseback, sawing wood, digging the 
 soil, are also excellent modes of exercise. Those 
 who cannot exercise in the open air in conse- 
 quence of ill-health or the inclemency of the 
 weather, should engage in such exercise as they 
 can bear within doors; and if not able to take 
 active exercise, make use of the flesh-brush or a 
 coarse towel two or three times a day. 
 
 AIR. But few are aware of the importance of 
 inhaling pure air, or duly consider the consequences 
 of inhaling that which is impure. A fruitful cause 
 of pulmonary complaints, colds, coughs, &c., 
 at the present time, is the practice of heating 
 rooms with stoves, which destroy, to a certain ex- 
 tent, the oxygen, and leave the air unfit for respi- 
 ration ; and if the rooms were kept perfectly tight, 
 the air would soon be rendered incapable of sus- 
 taining life. Our forefathers, by living in houses 
 well ventilated, and being almost constantly in the 
 open air, and sleeping in apartments where the 
 pure air of heaven was permitted to circulate free- 
 ly, were robust and healthy ; while their posterity 
 are so enfeebled by the pernicious customs of the 
 age, as to be under the necessity of wrapping up 
 head, ears and mouth, when they go out, lest they 
 should take cold, and by this very means predis- 
 pose the system to take cold. ; | 
 
 BATHING. Ablution, or bathing the surface once 
 a day in cold water, is a very important means of 
 preserving health. It invigorates and strengthens 
 the system, cleanses the surface, and renders a per- 
 son less liable to take cold. It should be done in 
 the morning on rising from bed. Take a bowl of 
 
54 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 water, and with the hand bathe the whole surface, 
 and rub briskly with a coarse towel. Those who 
 are feeble can use the tepid weak lye-water, fol- 
 lowed by brisk friction. We shall treat of baths 
 as remedial agents in another part of this work. 
 Let those who consider health of more import- 
 ance than the gratification of a depraved appetite, 
 or conformity to foolish and destructive fashions, 
 seek them a healthy location in the country, if 
 they are not already thus situated ; eat the fruits 
 of the field and garden alone ; dress consistently, 
 with reference to comfort rather than fashion ; 
 construct houses so as to be well ventilated ; throw 
 aside feather beds, air-tight stoves, tea and coffee, 
 beef, pork, butter, &c., take four hours active ex- 
 ercise in the open air every day when the weather 
 will permit, and bathe the surface in cold water 
 every day ; and above all, keep a conscience void 
 of offence : and with as much certainty as the 
 earth revolves round the sun, or water inclines to 
 run down hill, will they enjoy health, peace, and 
 competence. But those who are determined to 
 follow the foolish customs of the age ; live in in- 
 dolence or in constant toil, breathe the contami- 
 nated air of cities and large villages ; eat hogs and 
 sheep, rich pies and cakes, and live in constant 
 violation of the laws of nature, must suffer the 
 consequences pain, suffering, anxiety, parting 
 with loved children, constant sickness, &c. When 
 will mankind be wise, and observe the laws of 
 their nature, and thereby avoid the suffering that 
 inevitably follows their transgression ? In conse- 
 quence of the unnatural state in which man lives, 
 his body is constantly diseased, requiring the aid 
 of medicine to assist nature in her efforts to regain 
 lost energy. To supply this demand, physicians 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. ,55 
 
 and secret medicine-manufacturers, as thick as the 
 frogs of Egypt, have sprung up in every town and 
 city, many of whose remedies are as well adapt- 
 ed to cure disease as a hand-saw would be for 
 shaving, and the aggregate of whom, undoubtedly, 
 increase vastly the amount of disease and suffer- 
 ing. 
 
 The following remarks on the promotion of 
 health and longevity are from the pen of the cele- 
 brated Dr. COURTNEY, surgeon, R. N., of Rams- 
 gate, England: 
 
 "The human frame is so constituted that it 
 may, by wise training, not only be brought to 
 bear with impunity every vicissitude of climate, 
 but even be strengthened and hardened thereby. 
 The stomach the great store-house of the body, 
 and without the integrity of whose functions life 
 itself is but a burden can be rendered capable of 
 digesting any kind of food, and our bodies of per- 
 forming almost any amount of labor, so long as we 
 observe the rules which experience, physiology, 
 reason and common sense dictate. Of these rules, 
 the most important, perhaps, are the following : 
 moderation in eating and drinking, great personal 
 cleanliness, early rising, fearless and daily frequent 
 exposure to the weather in all its vicissitudes, 
 and total abstinence from intoxicating liquors. 
 Persons who would enjoy health and length of 
 days must give up the effeminate and luxurious 
 habits now so fashionable ; and must not live in 
 rooms defended from the breath of heaven, by 
 means of closely-fitting doors and windows, and 
 heated by enormous fires to a temperature that 
 must relax and enervate rendering them living 
 barometers, or like so many hot-house plants, to 
 whom every change is blight or death. The so- 
 
fl A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 called " comforts" of life are the very bane of 
 health. Lounging on sofas and in carriages, late 
 hours, soft beds, lying in bed till nine or ten in 
 the morning these, and the like luxurious habits, 
 combined with the sedentary amusements of card- 
 playing, novel -reading, &c. ; are of themselves 
 sufficient to dilapidate the strongest constitution. 
 
 11 The more exercise any person takes, the 
 larger is the quantity of oxygen he inhales, and 
 the warmer he becomes ; consequently the person 
 who takes but little exercise, inhaling little oxy- 
 gen, loses in a great measure its warming, vivify- 
 ing, and strengthening agency. When there is a 
 deficiency of oxygen in the system, the black 
 blood from the veins is but imperfectly changed 
 by the air in the lungs, and a blood unfit for the 
 purposes of life flows through the body ; the con- 
 sequence of which is must be, a falling off in 
 the health, to a greater or less extent. Hence 
 arise those very prevalent affections chilliness, 
 languor, low spirits, head-aches of different kinds, 
 faintness, palpitations, stupor, apoplexy, &c. 
 > "It has been imagined by persons ignorant of the 
 mechanism and physiology of the human frame, 
 that females cannot bear much exercise or ex- 
 posure to atmospherical vicissitudes, and that 
 passive exercise is more suited to their constitu- 
 tions. This is a mistake altogether an error 
 which has caused the loss of health in thousands 
 of instances. Constant and daily exercise in the 
 open air, early rising, a daily ablution of the body 
 with cold water, and the avoidance of over-heated 
 and badly-ventilated rooms, are essentials in the 
 code of health, which can no more be dispensed 
 with by the female than the male. Indeed, when 
 we take into consideration the many causes that 
 
A GUJDE TO HEALTH. 57 
 
 tend to weaken and impair the health of the 
 female, which do not at all interfere with man, the 
 necessity of the avoidance of enervating habits is 
 even more requisite on the part of the weaker sex. 
 To both sexes we would say, avoid easy chairs, 
 and cushioned sofas and carriages, and sleep not 
 on beds of down, but on hard mattresses, and keep 
 not on these beyond the time that nature requires 
 for repose. Let the pure breath of heaven gain 
 free admission to your apartments, but especially 
 to your sleeping apartments : and if you would 
 not, as you ought not, respire over and over again 
 the same corrupted air, do not stop its free circula- 
 tion by surrounding your bed with curtains. Our 
 fashionable habits are " the silken fetters of deli- 
 cious ease," which entail spleen, melancholy, &c., 
 on so many of the fair sex, and too many of 
 whom contrast, alas ! too forcibly, with Gay's 
 ^ivid but correct description of a country girl : 
 
 " She never felt the spleen's imagined pains, 
 Nor melancholy stagnates in her veins ; 
 She never loses life in thoughtless ease, 
 Nor on the velvet couch invites disease." 
 
 " It is more essential to have our bed-rooms well 
 ventilated than our drawing-rooms, because we 
 pass more time in them ; and when we consider 
 that the oxygen (oxygen is the great supporter of 
 life and heat) contained in a gallon of air is con- 
 sumed by one person in a minute, and that a 
 lighted candle consumes about the same quantity 
 in the same time, it must be evident to all that 
 thorough ventilation is essential to health that 
 perfect health, in fact, cannot be maintained with- 
 out it ; and that lights in our bed-rooms, when a 
 frequent renewal of the air in them cannot be 
 maintained, are exceedingly pernicious. Accord- 
 
58 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 ing to Dr. Arbuthnot's calculation, three thousand 
 human beings, within the compass of an acre of 
 ground, would make an atmosphere of their own 
 steam, about seventy-one feet high ; which, if not 
 carried away by winds, would become pestiferous 
 in a moment. It should be remembered that the 
 same air cannot enter the lungs more than four 
 times without carrying with it properties inimical 
 to the principles of life. A moment's considera- 
 tion of the state in which the air must be, that is 
 confined all night within bed-curtains, and is 
 respired innumerable times, will explain how it 
 is that many persons rise in the morning with pale 
 faces, bad taste in the mouth, want of appetite, 
 &c.; symptoms, however, which often arise from 
 other causes, and especially from the use of intoxi- 
 cating liquors. 'Being buried every night in 
 feathers,' says the celebrated Locke, 'melts and 
 dissolves the body, is often the cause of weak- 
 ness, and is the forerunner of an early grave.' }: 
 
 The following remarks on health are from the 
 pen of O. S. Fowler, who combines in his writ- 
 ings sound reason and a firm and fearless advocacy 
 of unpopular truths. He attacks the inconsisten- 
 cies and physiological errors of the age with the 
 spirit of a Luther. 
 
 " The plain inference drawn from this principle/ 
 that the principal temperaments and functions of 
 our nature require to be equally balanced, is that 
 mankind should exercise his muscular system by 
 labor, or being on foot in the open air, about one 
 third of the time ; should eat and sleep, (that is, 
 lay in his re-supply of animal life,) about one 
 third of the time ; and exercise his brain in think- 
 ing, studying, &c., about the other third of his 
 time each day." * * * 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 59 
 
 "I fully concur with Jefferson's opinion that 
 mankind have probably lost more by subduing the 
 horse, than they have gained by his labor. Riding 
 in carriages is so easy, so luxurious, to the dainty 
 belle, that all classes are, as it were, horse crazy, 
 and by shifting all their burdens, and most of their 
 locomotion, upon the horse, they stand in the light 
 of their own muscular action, which bids fair 
 soon to be obliged to employ horse-power, (or 
 perhaps steam-power,) with which to breathe and 
 eat." ***** 
 
 " Let us open our eyes upon what we see daily 
 and continually in our city. See that young 
 merchant, or lawyer, or clerk, or broker, whose 
 business shuts him up all day in his store, or at 
 his desk, till his circulation, digestion, cerebral 
 action, and all the powers of life are enfeebled, 
 walk merely from his door on to the side-walk, 
 possibly one or two blocks, and wait for an omni- 
 bus, to carry him a few blocks farther to his meals 
 or bed ! One would think that, starved almost to 
 death as he is for want of exercise, he would em- 
 brace every opportunity to take exercise, instead 
 of which, he embraces every opportunity to avoid 
 it. As well avoid living, which indeed it is. And 
 then too, see that delicate, fashionable lady, so 
 very prim, nice, refined, delicate, and all this be- 
 sides much more, that she does not get out of 
 doors once a week, order her carriage just to take 
 her and her pale-faced, sickly child to church on 
 Sunday, because it is two or three blocks off too 
 far for them to walk." * * * 
 " And what shall we say of those who sit and 
 sew all day. or work at any of the confining 
 branches of industry that preclude the exercise 
 except of a few muscles, and perhaps keep them- 
 6 
 
60 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 selves bent over forward on to their stomachs, 
 lungs, heart, bowels, and over eat at that ! Oh ! 
 when will man learn to live learn by what con- 
 stitutional laws he is governed, and how to obey 
 these laws ? When Physiology and Phrenology 
 are studied ; never till then. 
 
 " Fly swifter round, ye wheels of time, 
 And bring that welcome day." WATTS. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 DISEASE. 
 
 Medical theorists have arranged diseases into 
 different orders, classes, and kinds, according to 
 their symptoms, giving to each a different name, 
 and recommending for each a different mode of 
 treatment. This course has involved the practice 
 of medicine in darkness, perplexity, and doubt. 
 No physician can decide for a certainty, what or- 
 gan is primarily affected, or what name to give the 
 disease. He must therefore do nothing until the 
 symptoms are so far developed as to enable him 
 to give it a name, or lift his club and strike at 
 random. 
 
 Said Dr. Abercrombie, a distinguished physi- 
 cian, " I am under the necessity of acknowledging, 
 that since medicine was first cultivated as a 
 science, a leading object of attention has ever been 
 to ascertain the characters and symptoms by 
 which particular internal diseases are indicated, 
 and by which they are distinguished from other 
 diseases, which resemble them. But, with the 
 accumulated experience of ages bearing upon this 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 61 
 
 important subject, our extended observation has 
 only served to convince us how deficient we are 
 in this department, and how often, in the first step 
 of our progress, we are left to conjecture. A writer 
 of high eminence, Morgagni, has even hazarded 
 the assertion that persons are the most confident 
 in regard to the characters of disease, whose 
 knowledge is most limited, and that more extend- 
 ed observation generally leads to doubt." 
 
 Disease is nothing more nor less than a devia- 
 tion from a state of health, consisting in, or de- 
 pending on, an obstruction or diminution of the 
 vital energies ; exhibiting different symptoms ac- 
 cording to the extent of the deviation, the import- 
 ance of the organ affected, or peculiar state of the 
 person coming under influences capable of pro- 
 ducing a state of disease. 
 
 He who does not enjoy perfect health is more 
 or less under the influence of disease ; the cause 
 of which being continued, disease progresses, 
 acting on different organs, deranging different 
 functions, and exhibiting new symptoms, until the 
 powers of nature yield, and death is the result. ! 
 
 A disease is either general or local, functional 
 or organic. It is general, when the whole system 
 is affected ; and local, when it is confined to a 
 particular part. A disease is functional, when an 
 organ is laboring under some derangement j and 
 organic, when there is an alteration in the struc- 
 ture of the organ. 
 
0Q A GUIDE TO HEALTH, 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE UNITY OF DISEASE. 
 
 The doctrine of the unity of disease, as advo- 
 cated by ThomsonianSj has not generally been 
 understood, and therefore the medical faculty have 
 endeavored to bring the Thomsonian system into 
 disrepute by ridiculing it. We do not say every 
 form of disease is characterized by the same symp- 
 toms, or is located primarily or principally on the 
 same organ ; but that for the purpose of applying 
 medicine safely and scientifically, a division of 
 disease into classes, orders, and kinds, is not neces- 
 sary, neither is it possible. When we transgress 
 the laws of nature by constantly overloading the 
 stomach, the effect is general, every organ is more 
 or less deranged and debilitated, consequently not 
 capable of performing its functions. To what 
 organ then, should medicine be applied to remove 
 the cause and effect of disease ? Would not the 
 only rational course be to remove the first cause 
 by taking food in a proper quantity and quality, 
 and then, by general stimulants and relaxants, 
 arouse the different organs to action to throw off 
 the morbid accumulations, and thereby relieve 
 nature by removing the obstructions to her free 
 operations ? Let the form of disease or symptoms 
 be what they may, the only business of the physi- 
 cian is to remove the obstructions to nature's 
 efforts, and assist her in her operations. We may 
 as consistently divide hunger into a thousand dif- 
 ferent kinds, and prescribe one particular article 
 of food to nourish one portion of the system, and 
 another article to nourish another part, as to pre- 
 scribe a medicine to remove disease from a 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 63 
 
 particular portion of the system, without having 
 its natural effect on the whole system. An ex- 
 perience of fifty years by millions of patients 
 afflicted with every conceivable form of disease, 
 has sufficiently tested and established the fact, that 
 a Thomsonian course of medicine, judiciously ad- 
 ministered, is adapted to the cure of every form' 
 of disease, that is curable ; although in many cases 
 it may not be necessary to resort to it, as some- 
 thing more mild and pleasant in its operation will 
 frequently accomplish the object in the early stage 
 of disease ; neither is it necessary to administer it 
 when the powers of nature are so far exhausted as 
 to render a recovery impossible. On this one fact: 
 does the safety of the Thomsonian system depend 
 in the hands of the people that disease, wherever, 
 located in the human system, whatever its form 
 or the symptoms by which it is characterized, mayj 
 be successfully treated on general principles, with 
 remedies operating in harmony with the laws of I 
 nature. So that the mother may administer to 
 her child, the husband to the wife, and the wife 
 to the husband, with the most unshaken confi-[ 
 dence j and thereby avoiding the quackery for ; 
 which the present age will ever be memorable 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE CAUSES OP DISEASE. 
 
 We stated in the first chapter that health was! 
 
 secured by obeying the physical laws of our na-< 
 
 ture ; and in the second chapter, that disease was 1 
 
 a deviation from a state of health, or an obstruction 1 
 
 6* 
 
54 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 or diminution of vital energy. The cause of 
 disease must therefore be a transgression or viola- 
 tion of the laws of our nature. This violation 
 may be voluntary on our part, with or without a 
 knowledge of the consequences ; it may be pro- 
 duced by circumstances beyond our control, as 
 when we come in contact, inhale or take into our 
 stomachs poisonous substances or gases, or it may 
 be, according to the proverb, "the fathers [or 
 mothers] have eaten sour grapes and the children's 
 teeth are set on edge," or hereditary disease, de- 
 pending on the transgressions of our forefathers. 
 
 A fruitful cause of disease is the pernicious 
 fashions of the age. While reason and experience 
 would lead us to obey the laws of our nature, 
 fashion says, Follow me I will lead you into 
 the paths of pleasure : My laws require no self- 
 denial ; eat, drink, sleep, dress, just as the fancy 
 of my directors may dictate, which you will find 
 pleasing to the eye and gratifying to the taste, 
 after you have become accustomed to their use* 
 Disease you need not fear, as my friends, the 
 medical faculty, are always ready to administer to 
 you relief; and although they may give you 
 poisons, calculated to produce incurable disease, 
 you should submit patiently, and kiss the rod that 
 inflicts the fatal blow. Who would not rather 
 live fashionable, though it produces constant head- 
 ache, debility, nervous disease, palsy, consump- 
 tion, rheumatism, gout, &c., and employ fashiona- 
 ble physicians, and take fashionable medicines, 
 though death was the result, than to be called a 
 Orahamite or a Thomsonian ? 
 
 To be sure, says fashion, the pleasures I offer 
 you are but for a season, but who would not rather 
 to respected by the rich, and flattered by all, 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 35 
 
 though it lead to sorrow and death, than to live 
 consistently and die in obscurity ? 
 
 It is so refined to enjoy a social glass of wine, 
 so beautiful to appear at church with waists of the 
 size of a broom-handle, net-work stockings and 
 slippers in the month of March so delicious to 
 eat hogs and sheep swimming in grease, rich 
 cakes and pies, bread well buttered and washed 
 down with strong tea and coffee so gentleman 
 and lady-like to lie in bed till nine o'clock, ride 
 out at eleven, dine at three, and eat a hearty sup- 
 per at ten so exquisitely beautiful to appear 
 abroad in curls and ruffles, cane and spectacles, 
 with feet and waists compressed into fashionable 
 shape, with delicate hands and unbrowned face, it 
 is evidence that one does not have to labor for a 
 living. Labor ! says fashion, the bare mention of 
 such a thing would shock the feeble nerves of any 
 of my followers. Labor ! ! never ! cheat, lie, 
 steal, rob, any thing, rather than submit to work 
 for a living. Let them do the labor who have not 
 wit enough to get a living without, or so much 
 of that foolish conscientiousness, that they will 
 not cheat when they have an opportunity, to ob- 
 tain the means of following me. 
 
 Thus following such pernicious and foolish fash- 
 ions is one of the most common causes of disease. 
 
 The evils of fashionable life are not confined to 
 the rich, but the laboring portion of community 
 have so mistaken their true interest, as to sacrifice 
 their health and comfort to obtain the means of 
 imitating the rich, and also by the using those 
 means when obtained. 
 
 He noble is who noble does. The farmer, me- 
 chanic, and manufacturer of that which is useful, 
 are the true nobility. Let them, then, take their 
 
66 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 proper station in the scale of beings establish 
 their own customs in accordance with reason and 
 the laws of our nature, so that a proper amount 
 of labor would be made attractive to all, and all 
 be under the necessity of doing their proportion 
 of all the needful labor none exempt except from 
 inability, and consequently none over-taxed or 
 over-burdened. All would then have time and 
 opportunity to become acquainted with the physi- 
 ological laws of their nature, so as to avoid those 
 customs and agents that bring upon them so much 
 disease. 
 
 The cause of all disease can be clearly traced 
 to the violation of some one or more of the laws 
 of our nature : 
 
 1st. By our forefathers ; producing in us heredi* 
 tary taints, such as consumption, scrofula, liver 
 complaints, &c. 
 
 2d. Insufficient or too great an amount of ex- 
 ercise. The former producing an inactive state 
 of the organs the latter producing an exhaustion, 
 in both of which states they do not perform their 
 proper offices. The stomach ceases to secrete the 
 necessary quantity of gastric juice to carry on 
 digestion, the bowels are costive, the morbific 
 agents generated in the system retained, the 
 wheels of life clogged until exhausted nature gives 
 up the struggle to keep in motion its machinery. 
 
 3d. Sudden changes from heat to cold, or cold 
 to heat. 
 
 4th. Eating and drinking that which is injuri- 
 ous in itself, or if not injurious in itself, made so 
 by the quantity taken. 
 
 5th. Poisons, coming in contact with the sur- 
 face, taken into the stomach, inhaled into the 
 lungs, or inoculated into the veins j such as the 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 57 
 
 miasma of swamps and lakes, the bite of snakes 
 or any poisonous reptile or animal ; the inhalation 
 or inoculation of a poison virus, as the small pox, 
 measles, &c. ; taking any substance into the sto- 
 mach capable of destroying life, in small quanti- 
 ties, although the destruction of life may be pre- 
 vented by the efforts of nature in expelling it from 
 the system, or protecting herself against its imme- 
 diate destructive effect, yet rapidly diminishing 
 the vitality of the system, and dragging its" victim 
 slowly but surely to the grave. 
 
 6th. Mechanical or chemical injuries ; such as 
 wounds, cuts, burns, freezes, &c. These causes, 
 acting separately or combined on the human sys- 
 tem a length of time, impede the vital functions, 
 obstruct the free operation of the organs, and 
 produce disease. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE EFFECTS OF DISEASE. 
 
 We have said that disease was an obstruction or 
 diminution of vital energy, caused by a violation 
 of the laws of nature. The effects of this ob- 
 struction are various, depending on the organ ob- 
 structed or disenabled, the extent of that obstruc- 
 tion, and the vital power existing in the system 
 to overcome the offending causes. The different 
 symptoms by which the different forms of disease 
 are characterized, are arranged by medical authors 
 into classes or kinds, giving to each class a differ- 
 ent name, as fever, which is subdivided into ten 
 or twelve kinds or colors, as scarlet, yellow, &c. j 
 consumption, fits, dropsy, rheumatism, &c. These 
 
68 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 are not separate and distinct diseases, but a mani- 
 festation or effect of disease. 
 
 Fever is not a disease, but the effect of an effort 
 of nature to overcome disease. Let an individual 
 be exposed to the cold after sweating, without any 
 exercise, and what is the result ? Pain in the head 
 and back, cold chills succeeded by a preternatural 
 degree of heat, pulse strong and quick. What is 
 the cause of these symptoms ? A contraction of 
 the minute blood-vessels of the surface and the 
 pores of the skin, in consequence of which the 
 circulation is thrown upon the large blood-vessels, 
 occasioning fulness and pain in the head, back, 
 &c., and retention of morbific agents, occasioning 
 an increased action of the heart and arteries. This 
 increased action generates more heat than in a 
 healthy state, which is retained in consequence of 
 the pores of the skin being closed, through which 
 medium the extra heat escapes in a healthy state. 
 This retained heat gives a name to the disease, as 
 fever means heat. It must appear evident that 
 this retained heat, called fever, is not the disease, 
 but the effect of disease. Disease assumes the 
 most dangerous forms when there is a deficiency 
 of fever, as in low typhus fever, cholera, cold 
 plague, paralysis, &c. Fever is an evidence that 
 nature is active ; whereas a loss of fever, before 
 the cause is removed, would be a certain indica- 
 tion of approaching death. 
 
 The effect of disease, then, is to produce all 
 those different phenomena that physicians have 
 classed under different names, as so many different 
 diseases. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 09 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 TREATMENT OP DISEASE. 
 
 We have so long been accustomed to consider 
 the most prominent symptom attending any form 
 of disease to be the disease itself, to destroy which 
 all our efforts should be employed, that it will be 
 somewhat difficult to present the subject in a true 
 light, and be clearly understood. 
 
 The belief generally prevails, that each form 
 of disease has a specific remedy, the knowledge 
 of which may be obtained by study or experience. 
 But I ask what specific remedy has the medical 
 faculty discovered for any form of disease ? Have 
 they a remedy for fever ? If so, why let it run 
 three or four weeks ? for consumption ? if so, 
 why so many die ? for dropsy ? if so, why fail 
 to cure in nearly every instance ? for dyspepsia? 
 if so, why send patients to the salt water, or some 
 fashionable place of resort? Perhaps we must 
 admit that the four thousand years' experience and 
 study of the learned and wise have made the dis- 
 covery that brimstone will cure the itch some- 
 times ; but we are not quite sure that this discov- 
 ery was not made by some old lady ! 
 
 The reason why so much unwearied effort, so 
 much experimenting, so much hard study and 
 close thinking, as has been bestowed on this sub- 
 ject, has not led to the discovery of a cure for 
 disease, is that, in their eagerness to grasp some 
 mysterious theory, far above the comprehension 
 of the unlearned, to discover some far-fetched and 
 dear-bought remedy ; they have overlooked plain, 
 simple truth, that lies directly in their path, over 
 which they have stumbled into darkness and error. 
 
70 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 They have trampled under feet the simple plants 
 of nature's garden, and ransacked the bowels of 
 the earth for poisons that would operate scientifi- 
 cally. But so long as the physical system is un- 
 der the control of established laws, so long will 
 such remedies fail to accomplish the object of 
 medical science, viz. to prevent and cure disease. 
 
 We have said that disease was obstructed or di- 
 minished vital action, exhibiting different symp- 
 toms, according to the extent of the obstruction, 
 the importance of the organs affected, and the 
 vigor of constitution, &c., caused by a violation 
 of the physical laws of our natures ; the effects of 
 which are fever, consumption, rheumatism, &c. 
 
 One or more of the following indications should 
 be accomplished in the cure of every form of 
 disease, viz.. relaxation, contraction, stimulation, 
 soothing, nutrition, and neutralization. These 
 indications assist nature in her efforts to remove 
 obstructions, and regain lost energy. 
 
 The only remedial agents necessary to be used 
 in the cure of any form of disease, are those that 
 are innocent in themselves, acting in harmony 
 with the laws of nature. 
 
 In order to make the subject plain, simple, and 
 intelligible to all, we shall give a description of 
 the roots, plants, barks, and other remedial agents 
 and processes used in accomplishing the necessary 
 indications, under the head of " MATERIA MEDICA ;" 
 also a description of a general process adapted to 
 the cure of nearly every form of disease, with 
 some variations ; usually termed a " COURSE OF 
 MEDICINE." And for the satisfaction of those who 
 may expect to find each form of disease, as classed 
 by regular physicians, treated upon separately, we 
 will do so in a brief but plain manner. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 71 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 MATERIA MEDICA. 
 
 Having mentioned the indications necessary to 
 be accomplished in the cure of different forms 
 of disease, we will now describe the articles cal- 
 culated to answer each of these indications, and 
 arrange them under their appropriate heads. It 
 will not be necessary for us to describe all the 
 remedies that might be used, but only such as are 
 the best, and will accomplish the object in the 
 shortest time. This course will reduce our Mate- 
 ria Medica to a small compass, but sufficiently ex- 
 tensive to answer all practical purposes. A few 
 simple remedies, properly applied, will do all to 
 cure disease that ever medicine was ever designed 
 to do ; air, exercise, diet, bathing, &c., must do 
 the remainder, and they will often do more alone 
 for the cure of disease than all other remedial 
 agents. 
 
 The following classification of remedies has 
 been adopted, in conformity with the theory advo- 
 cated in this work. Under each head we shall 
 mention those articles that may be used as a sub- 
 stitute for those we have described. 
 
 Lobelia inflata, 
 
 Crawley root, &c. 
 f Cayenne, 
 
 Ginger, 
 
 General Stimulants. < Prickly ash, 
 Pennyroyal, 
 '^Canada snakeroot, &c. 
 7 
 
.Bitter 4 
 
 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 Bayberry, 
 Betbroot, 
 Sumach, 
 
 Astringent. ^ Red raspberry, 
 Witch hazel, 
 Hemlock bark, 
 
 TONICS. 4 White pond lily. 
 
 "Golden seal, 
 Poplar bark, 
 Balmony, 
 Unicorn root, 
 Winter green, 
 Gum myrrh. 
 
 f Bitter root, 
 I Dandelion root, 
 Laxatives ..... < Butternut, 
 I Cayenne, 
 l^Boneset. 
 
 Ctueen of the meadow, 
 Cleavers, 
 
 Strawberry leaves, 
 Elder bark, 
 Coolwort, 
 w Burdock root, &c, 
 
 Lobelia, 
 Skunk cabbage, 
 j Pleurisy root, 
 Expectorants. . . ^ Hoarhou nd, 
 
 Boneset, 
 Cayenne. 
 
 f Cayenne, red pepper, 
 , Rubef orients. . . < Oil of hemlock, 
 
 cedar, 
 
 Diuretics .... 
 
 
 

 LOBELIA. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 73 
 
 f Lady's slipper, 
 Nervines ........ <( Scullcap, 
 
 
 (Slippery elm, 
 &, 
 Buck-horn brake. 
 
 RE LAX ANTS. 
 
 Relaxaiits are those substances that have the 
 power of relaxing muscular fibre, and alleviating 
 spasm. The best and most powerful is LOBELIA 
 INFLATA. 
 
 LOBELIA INFLATA. 
 
 Common names INDIAN TOBACCO, PUKE-WEED, EYE- 
 BRIGHT, &c. 
 
 Lobelia Inflata is a common herb, growing 
 plentifully in pastures, stubble fields, by the road 
 sides, and on the banks of streams, in almost every 
 part of the United States. It is a biennial plant, 
 growing from ten to eighteen inches high, much 
 branched. The flowers are palish blue, succeeded 
 by pods, or seed-vessels, which contain a multi- 
 tude of brownish and very minute seeds. It 
 blooms about the middle of July, at which time 
 the herb should be gathered for tincture ; but the 
 seed should not be gathered until the month of 
 September, or October. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. Lobelia, when first ta- 
 ken into the mouth, is nearly insipid, but soon 
 produces a burning, acrid sensation upon the back 
 part of the tongue and palate, attended with a flow 
 of saliva. The plant yields readily its medical 
 7* 
 
.74 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 qualities to water and alcohol, and may be pre- 
 served and used in a fluid state. 
 
 Lobelia is the most powerful, certain, and harm- 
 less relaxant that has ever been discovered ; and 
 as relaxation is an important indication in the cure 
 of the majority of the various forms of disease, 
 this article is almost indispensable in the Thom- 
 sonian Materia Medica. 
 
 " The true therapeutic action of lobelia/' says 
 Dr. Curtis, " I think is not generally understood. 
 Most persons are under the impression that it is 
 the principal agent in producing the action which 
 we call vomiting. But this must certainly be in- 
 correct. All practitioners, regular and irregular, 
 who habitually use it, agree that its effect is anti- 
 spasmodic, as it instantly relieves cramps, spasms, 
 fits, lock-jaw, &c., and relaxes contracted sinews. 
 It is also agreed that vomiting is produced by 
 muscular contraction, either of the chest, abdomen, 
 or stomach j or all combined. If this were the 
 effect of the irritation produced by lobelia, that 
 article would not be, as it certainly is, a sovereign 
 remedy for spasms. Where there is no disease, 
 that is, debility of the organs, the lobelia has not 
 the power to relax the system much, and hence 
 there is no room for any remarkable degree of re- 
 action, and of course there is little or no vomiting. 
 ' But,' says one, ' are you sure that lobelia possesses 
 no other control over the living body, than simply 
 to relax its several organs ?' I answer, not quite 
 sure ; but am perfectly convinced that, if it have 
 fifty other influences, this one of relaxation so far 
 predominates over them all, as to throw them en- 
 tirely into the shade. l But is not lobelia a sudor- 
 ific ?' Yes ; but its mode of producing this effect 
 is by relaxing, through nervous action, the con- 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 75 
 
 tracted mouths of the emunctories or pores of the 
 skin, and letting off the portion of the blood called 
 perspiration. It also promotes the secretion of the 
 bile and urine, by relaxing vessels whose unnatu- 
 ral constriction is the cause of the retention of 
 these fluids." " Lobelia is to be considered, at all 
 times, and under all circumstances, and wherever 
 applied, not only a pure relaxant, but the most 
 powerful and innocent yet known. This fact puts 
 to flight from obstetrics the use of instruments, 
 and even manual force, in every case except per- 
 haps the few patients whose pelves are known to 
 be remarkably deformed by rickets or some other 
 unfortunate circumstance.' 7 
 
 Some have been led to suppose, in consequence 
 of what appeared to them the alarming effects of 
 lobelia, in cases where there is but little vitality, 
 or it is improperly administered, that it is a poi- 
 son, the administration of which is very danger- 
 ous. But nothing can be farther from the truth. 
 
 In proof that lobelia is not a poison, we shall 
 adduce the testimony of some of the most enlight- 
 ened professors and practitioners of medicine of 
 the present age. 
 
 Says Prof. Tully, of Yale College, New Haven, 
 in a letter to Dr. Lee, " I have been in the habit 
 of employing lobelia inflata for twenty-seven years, 
 and of witnessing its employment by others for 
 the same length of time, and in large quantities, 
 and for a long period, without the least trace of 
 any narcotic effect. I have used the very best 
 officinal tincture in the quantity of three fluid 
 ounces in twenty-four hours, and for seven days 
 in succession : and I have likewise given three 
 large table-spoonfuls of it within half an hour, 
 without the least indication of any narcotic opera- 
 
76 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 tion. I have likewise given it in substance, and 
 in other forms, and still without any degree of 
 this operation. * * * I am confident (the old 
 women's stories to the contrary notwithstanding,) 
 that lobelia inflata is a valuable, a safe, and a suf- 
 ficiently gentle article of medicine." 
 j Here is the testimony of a celebrated professor 
 of Yale College, who had ample opportunity of 
 judging, from experience and observation, whether 
 lobelia was a poison or not. 
 
 < Says Prof. Waterhouse, of Harvard University, 
 Cambridge, " The efficacy and safety of lobelia 
 inflata, I have had ample and repeated proofs of, 
 in a number of cases, and on my own person, and 
 have reason to value it equal with any article in 
 our Materia Medica." 
 
 Says Dr. Thomas Hersey, surgeon in the United 
 States army in the last war, practising physician 
 and surgeon at Columbus, Ohio, " The lobelia in- 
 flata has been denounced as a deadly poison. The 
 imposition intended to be practised by such an 
 assertion, is too notorious to merit a serious reply. 
 I have administered lobelia successfully to the 
 child of thirty minutes, and to the hoary adult of 
 eighty years of age, and never knew any danger 
 result from its use." 
 
 j We could bring forward the testimony of thou- 
 sands of others, who have used lobelia for five, 
 ten, twenty, and some forty years, in proof that it 
 is perfectly innocent, acting in harmony with the 
 laws of life and motion. Those who have assert- 
 ed that lobelia is poison, have, in nine cases out 
 of ten, without any doubt, been such persons as 
 never used it, or saw it used, and therefore their 
 testimony is not to be depended on. 
 
 "But lobelia," says Dr. Peckham, "is some- 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 77 
 
 times given when the vitality of the system is so 
 nearly extinguished by disease, that little or no 
 effect is obtained from it. Nature is exhausted, 
 though the spark of life be not quite extinct. 
 Death will take place, and the lobelia may be re- 
 tained, and a like result would have followed if 
 so much warm water had been taken. If nature 
 be wanting, the best remedial process will be ex- 
 hibited in vain. She may be assisted to a certain 
 extent to save life ; but she has her bounds, and 
 she declares that thus far shalt thou come, and no 
 farther, and here shall thy remedial waves be 
 stayed. But because lobelia cannot go beyond 
 these bounds, and save life where nature, in her 
 omnipotence, has declared that life should no 
 longer be, such deaths are laid at the door of this 
 herb, and it is made answerable for a wrongly 
 imputed sin." 
 
 The different modes of preparing and adminis- 
 tering lobelia, will be given under the head of', 
 compounds and course of medicine. 
 
 CRAWLEY, OR FEVER ROOT. 
 
 This plant occupies high, sandy banks, in sandy 
 woods. The leaves spring forth all around the 
 bottom of the stem, at the top of the root. The 
 stock rises from six to eight inches high, bear- 
 ing yellow blossoms. The upper side exhibits a 
 smooth, dark green surface ; underneath they have 
 a silvery appearance. The roots are of a dark 
 brown or blackish color, are tender, and easily 
 broken, resembling the claw of the dunghill fowl. 
 It grows plentifully in almost all the United States. 
 i PROPERTIES AND USES. The pulverized root of 
 this plant composes the fever powder, so often re- 
 
78 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 commended in Dr. Elisha Smith's botanical work, 
 It is not commonly known among botanical prac- 
 titioners, and as we have not sufficiently tested it 
 ourself, shall depend on the testimony of Dr. Smith, 
 of New York. "It is," says he, "a powerful 
 febrifuge, and an agreeable anodyne. I have found 
 it a sure and quick medicine to excite perspiration, 
 without increasing the heat of the body. This 
 root is effectual in all remittent, typhus, nervous, 
 and inflammatory fevers, and will relieve cramps, 
 constrictions, and all pains caused by colds, &c. 
 It produces a general relaxation of the system, 
 equalizes the circulation, and brings a moisture on 
 the surface. It is an excellent medicine in pleu- 
 risy, inflammation of the chest and brain, and is a 
 sure remedy in erysipelatous inflammation." 
 
 " Pulverize the root fine, sift it, and put it in 
 bottles well stopped from the air. After proper 
 evacuation of the stomach and bowels, a small 
 tea-spoonful of this powder may be given every 
 twenty minutes, in a little pennyroyal or other 
 herb tea, till a gentle breathing moisture appears 
 on the skin, or till from four to six are taken, 
 jwhich has never failed in my practice of answer- 
 ing the purpose." 
 
 BONESET.- 7%e Leaves and Flowers. 
 
 This plant is also called thoroughwort, Indian 
 Sage, feverwort, sweating plant, &c. It grows 
 plentifully in almost every part of the United 
 States, and may be found in meadows and in low, 
 moist land. It grows from two to five feet high, 
 branched at the top. The leaves are the broadest 
 .where they are connected with the stock, and ta- 
 per off each way to a point. It remains in bloom 
 
THOROUGHWORT. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 79 
 
 
 
 from August to October. The flowers are of a 
 dullish-white color, and are found on the top of 
 the stem and branches. It should be collected 
 when in bloom, and carefully dried. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. The warm infusion of 
 boneset, in large doses, operates as an emetic ; ilx 
 small doses it produces perspiration, and promotes 
 all the secretions. The decoction, administered 
 cold, is both laxative and tonic. It acts as a gen-* 
 tie laxative without irritating the bowels. Many 
 families use the boneset alone in the cure of every 
 form of disease, and are seldom disappointed in 
 the result. There is no article in the Materia 
 Medica more general in its application that bone- 
 set, either the infusion or decoction ; it being a 
 relaxant, sudorific, antiseptic, stimulant, diuretic, 
 and tonic. 
 
 DOSE. To produce vomiting, take two ounces 
 steeped in a quart of water, but not boil ; drink a 
 cupful every fifteen minutes until it operates. 
 For sweating, take the same in small doses, often 
 repeated ; for a tonic and laxative, drink a cupful 
 of the decoction once in two hours. 
 
 STIMULANTS. 
 
 Stimulants are substances capable of increasing 
 the action or energy of the living body. Pure, 
 diffusable stimulants act in harmony with the laws 
 of life, and therefore assist nature in her efforts to 
 overcome disease ; while acrid and narcotic stimu- 
 lants produce local irritation, exhausting the pow- 
 ers of nature. The most pure and healthy stimu- 
 lant is Cayenne. 
 8 
 
80 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 
 
 C A YENNE . Capsicum . The Pods and Seed- Vessels. 
 
 The Cayenne most commonly used by Thom- 
 sonians is imported from Africa and^ the West In- 
 dies, being more permanent and gently stimulat- 
 ing than the American Cayenne. It is somewhat 
 difficult to get a pure article, such is the propen- 
 sity to defraud for gain. The African Cayenne is 
 frequently mixed with a cheaper kind, called 
 Bombay, or chilly peppers. Even those who pro- 
 fess to be friends of the Thomsonian system, have 
 been known to mix Indian meal, ginger, red lead, 
 logAvood, &c., with pure Cayenne, when grinding 
 it, and color it with dye-stuffs and red saunders. 
 
 Capsicum annuum, (Cayenne,) says Hooper, "is 
 one of the strongest and purest stimulants known. 
 This pepper has been successfully employed in a 
 species of the cynanche maligna, (putrid sore 
 throat,) which proved very fatal in the West In- 
 dies, resisting the use of the Peruvian bark, wine, 
 and other remedies commonly employed. In oph- 
 thalmia from relaxation, the diluted juice is found 
 to be a valuable remedy." 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. Cayenne is the purest 
 and undoubtedly the most powerful stimulant 
 known, and as stimulation is an important indica- 
 tion to be accomplished in nearly every form of 
 disease, this invaluable article is among the indis- 
 pensables. Taken into the mouth, it produces a 
 pungent, biting sensation ; and if taken in large 
 quantities into an empty stomach, it will frequent- 
 ly occasion considerable distress, so as to be alarm- 
 ing to those unacquainted with it. This is at- 
 tended with no danger, as it will soon pass away. 
 It should always be given in small doses at first, 
 increasing the quantity according to the emergency 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. Ql 
 
 of the case. The burning sensation produced by 
 Cayenne may be relieved by taking or applying a 
 small quantity of milk or cream. Cayenne may 
 be used with advaritage in all cases of coldness, 
 debility, indigestion, costiveness, and in combina- 
 tion with other medicines in nearly every form of 
 disease to which mankind are subject. 
 
 DOSE. From one fourth to a whole tea-spoon- 
 ful in hot water, if designed to produce perspira- 
 tion ; if for costiveness, one half tea-spoonful in 
 cold water or molasses three or four times a day. 
 
 GINGER. r/te Root. 
 
 Ginger is obtained from the East and West In- 
 dies. It is a perennial shrub, growing about three 
 feet high. Care should be observed in purchasing 
 it, as it is generally mixed with other articles. 
 For medicine, it is better to purchase the root 
 unpulverized. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. Ginger is warming and 
 moderately aromatic, and may be used in mild cases 
 as a substitute for Cayenne. It is used principally 
 in combination with other articles, and externally 
 for poultices. 
 
 DOSE. From a half to a whole tea-spoonful in 
 warm water, sweetened. 
 
 PRICKLY ASH. The Bark and Seed-Vessels. 
 
 This shrub is found in the Southern, Middle, 
 and Western States, growing in rich and com- 
 monly wettish soil, to the height of from ten to 
 fifteen feet. The bark is of an ash color, leaves 
 somewhat similar to those of the elder. The 
 branches are usually prickly, from which it derives 
 its most popular name. The seed-vessels are 
 
82 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 greenish red ; in the autumn they assume a brown- 
 ish color. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. The seed-vessels have 
 a warm, pungent taste, and are an excellent stim- 
 ulant ; the bark of the stem and root are also pun- 
 gent, but in an inferior degree. It is a valuable 
 remedy in all cases where stimulants are required, 
 as rheumatism, cold hands and feet, ague and fever, 
 &c. The bark is sometimes chewed for the tooth- 
 ache. 
 
 PENNYROYAL. The Herb. 
 
 This plant, which the God of nature has scat- 
 tered over almost every part of this country, is one 
 of the most valuable of the Thorn sonian Materia 
 Medica. Its qualities are a strong and hardly 
 aromatic but pleasant smell, a warm and pungent 
 taste. The medical principle resides in an essen- 
 tial oil, possessing the same smell and taste of the 
 herb. Its medical properties are carminative, (hav- 
 ing power to remove wind from the stomach and 
 bowels,) stimulant, (possessing the property of ex- 
 citing increased action in the system,) diaphoretic, 
 (promoting moderate perspiration. ) It also relieves 
 spasms, hysterics, promotes expectoration in con- 
 sumptive coughs, and is a good medicine in the 
 whooping cough. It is good also to take away 
 marks and bruises in the face, being bruised in 
 vinegar, and applied in fomentations. 
 
 A tea of this plant is perhaps the best drink 
 that can be given, together with the composition 
 powder, Cayenne, &c., to warm the stomach, and 
 assist an emetic in its operations. The tea should 
 be made and given warm, freely and frequently. 
 A person upon taking a " bad cold," (by the way, 
 he never has a good one,) by taking freely of this 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 93 
 
 tea may throw it off, and of course prevent fever, 
 it being caused by cold. This is a popular reme- 
 dy all over the country for female complaints ; 
 but still few persons are aware of its extensive 
 medicinal properties. 
 
 The best time for gathering this herb is about 
 the month of August. It should be tied up in 
 bundles, and hung in a warm, dry, and shady place 
 until dry ; then wrapped in paper, as the best means 
 of excluding the air, by which, if exposed, it will 
 lose a large part of its strength and virtue. This 
 plant, simple as it is, will do more in the curing 
 of the sick than all the poisonous preparations in- 
 vented since the age of Paracelsus ; bleeding and 
 blistering into the bargain. No family should let 
 the season for gathering it pass without securing 
 a good supply. 
 
 CANADA SNAKEROOT. The Root. 
 
 This plant is found in almost every part of the 
 United States, particularly in the Northern and 
 Eastern States, in the woods, and dry, shady places. 
 The root only is used. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. This is a pleasant, 
 warming stimulant and nervine. It is very use- 
 ful in all affections of the lungs, as colds, asthma, 
 croup, consumption, &c. The ordinary dose is a 
 moderate tea-spoonful, which may be taken in 
 warm water sweetened. A decoction with saffron 
 is excellent to give children when attacked with 
 any eruptire form of disease. 
 
 Black pepper, cinnamon, tansy, red pepper, bay- 
 berry, yarrow, &c., may also be used where stim- 
 ulants are required. 
 8* 
 
84 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 ASTRINGENTS. 
 
 Astringents are those substances that, when 
 taken internally or applied externally, contract the 
 'muscular tissue, or make it more dense and firm. 
 They depend for their astringency on tannin, a 
 'substance well known as being used in the tan- 
 king of leather. 
 
 I BAYBERRY. 
 
 This shrub grows most plentifully in towns bor- 
 'dering on the sea, although it is found in the in- 
 terior, in neglected fields, and on the side of stony 
 Chills. It grows in the New England States from 
 three to five feet high, and bears small berries, of 
 \vhich candles are sometimes manufactured, com- 
 bined with tallow. 
 
 The bark of the root is the only part used for 
 medicinal purposes, and should be gathered in the 
 spring before the bush vegetates, or in the autumn 
 before it has shed its foliage, as the sap is then in 
 the bark, and consequently possesses a greater de- 
 gree of medical virtues. The roots should be dug 
 and thoroughly cleansed from dirt, and while green 
 the rind may be easily separated from the trunk 
 "by pounding it with a wooden mallet ; after 
 which, dry the bark well, and pulverize it to the 
 consistency of ordinary flour, and it is then ready 
 for use. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. Bayberry is both astrin- 
 gent and stimulant, producing a pungent sensation 
 upon the glands ; it is therefore an invaluable 
 medicine for canker, whether located in the mouth, 
 throat, stomach, or bowels. It is an excellent 
 article for bowel complaints, and if given freely in 
 the commencement, will generally cure. It makes 
 
BAYBERRY. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. $5 
 
 an excellent tooth-powder to cleanse the mouth 
 and gums. There are many other articles useful 
 for canker, but bayberry is decidedly the best. 
 
 DOSE. It may be used either in the powder, 
 about a tea-spoonful at a dose, by mixing a little 
 sugar and warm water to it, or making an infu- 
 sion, and drinking freely of the tea, 
 
 BETHROOT. The Root, 
 
 The bethroot is found in damp, rocky woods, 
 delighting in a rich soil, and grows from one to 
 two feet high, surmounted at the top with three 
 leaves. It blooms in the month of May, bearing 
 a white flower. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. The bethroot being an 
 astringent, is useful in all kinds of hemorrhage, 
 immoderate menstruation, diarrhoea, dysentery, 
 fluor albus. flooding, &c. 
 
 DOSE. The pulverized root may be taken in 
 tea-spoonful doses, or it may be steeped, one ounce 
 to the pint, and given in gill doses. 
 
 SUMACH. The Bark, Leaves, and Berries. 
 
 The common upland sumach rises to the height 
 of from five to ten feet, producing many long 
 compound leaves, which turn red in autumn. The 
 berries are also red when ripe, and are of an agree- 
 able, but very sharp, acid taste. The bark, leaves, 
 and berries are astringents, tonics, and diuretics ; 
 either of which may be used in strong decoction 
 in all cases in which medicines of this class are 
 needed. 
 
$G A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 WHITE POND LILY. The Root ' 
 
 This herb grows in low wet grounds, and ponds 
 and pools of water, as indicated by its name. 
 
 The leaves are large, round, and cleft from the 
 edge to the stem in the centre, each lobe or por- 
 tion of the leaf ending in a short, acute point ; the 
 upper surface being smooth, glassy, and without 
 veins, and the lower surface reddish, with branch- 
 ing nerves. 
 
 The flowers are large and white, giving out a 
 very delicious, sweet odor ; opening to the sun in 
 the morning, and closing at night with the setting 
 of the sun. 
 
 The root, which is the part used as medicine, 
 is perennial, very long, somewhat hairy, blackish, 
 knotty, and nearly as large as a man's wrist. It 
 is a valuable article, used internally or externally. 
 Internally, it is a mild astringent tonic, very use- 
 ful in dysentery, diarrhoea, &c. Externally, it is 
 used in poultices for biles, tumors, inflamma- 
 tions, &c. 
 
 The powdered root given in tea-spoonful doses 
 in warm water sweetened, is almost a sure remedy 
 for bowel complaints in children, if given in the 
 first stages. 
 
 It is said that the fresh juice of the root, mixed 
 with the juice of the lemon, will remove freckles, 
 pimples, blotches, &c. from the skin. 
 
 An infusion of the root is good for sore or in- 
 flamed eyes. 
 
 RED RASPBERRY. The Leaves. 
 
 The red raspberry is so well known that it 
 needs no description. The leaves are a valuable 
 astringent, useful in bowel complaints, and for ex- 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. gy 
 
 ternal applications to moisten poultices for burns, 
 &c., and for washing sore nipples. A strong tea 
 is an excellent article, says Dr. Thomson, to regu- 
 late the labor pains of women in travail. 
 
 WITCH HAZEL. The Leaves. 
 
 This shrub grows on high lands and the stony 
 banks of streams, from New England to Carolina 
 and Ohio, from eight to ten feet high. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. Astringent, stimulant, 
 and slightly bitter. This is the best article in our 
 Materia Medica, says Dr. Curtis, for stopping he- 
 morrhage. We have used it in hemorrhage from 
 the lungs, stomach, and other parts of the system, 
 and have not yet seen a failure. A strong decoc- 
 tion, drunk and used by injection "per vagina" 
 is the best article we have ever used for profuse 
 menstruation, fluor albus, or uterine hemorrhage. 
 
 HEMLOCK The Bark. 
 
 This is a well-known astringent, being com- 
 monly employed in tanning leather. A decoction 
 of the bark is useful given by injection for bowel 
 complaints, and for the piles. Applied to sore 
 nipples it is a never-failing remedy. The oil com- 
 bined with other articles makes a valuable article 
 for bathing in rheumatism, &c. 
 
 Black birch, red and white oak bark, evan root, 
 marsh rosemary, hardback, and yarrow, are also 
 valuable astringents. 
 
88 i GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 TONICS. 
 
 Tonics are those substances, that when applied 
 to the living body, increase the strength by ren- 
 dering the muscular tissue firmer and more com- 
 pact. They should usually be combined with 
 stimulants, unless they possess a stimulant pro- 
 perty, 
 
 GOLDEN SEAL. The Root. 
 
 Golden seal grows in great abundance in Ohio 
 and the Western and Southern States, but is sel- 
 dom found in the Northern and Eastern. It is 
 sometimes called Ohio kucuma, yellow puccoon, 
 &c. The root is one or two inches long, and rough 
 or knotted, giving off a number of yellow fibres. 
 It grows from one to two feet high in rich, shady 
 moist lands. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. Bitter, stimulant and 
 tonic. It is useful in all cases of debility, indi- 
 gestion, &c. Combined with one part Cayenne 
 and one fourth part saleratus, it will aid digestion, 
 and prevent pain in the stomach after eating. A 
 strong decoction is excellent to wash sore eyes and 
 all old sores. 
 
 POPLAR.- The Bark. 
 
 This noble tree, which is found throughout the 
 United States, is so well known that it needs no 
 description. It is the common white poplar of 
 Maine and New Hampshire. Its qualities are, 
 bitter, diuretic, and astringent it is also a tonic, 
 and somewhat stimulant. It is a first-rate article 
 for indigestion, canker in the stomach, consump- 
 tion, liver complaints ; also in diarrhoea! affections 
 and other complaints, occasioned by debility 
 

SNAKEHEAD. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. $g 
 
 acting as a universal tonic ; restoring the tone of 
 the organs, and producing a healthy action of the 
 liver j creating an appetite, and giving strength 
 and vigor to the whole system. Poplar bark is 
 perhaps the most universally applicable tonic of 
 Dr. Th3mson's Materia Medica. It possesses val- 
 uable febrifuge qualities, and on account of its 
 diuretic qualities, it is a good article in gravel and 
 dropsy. Dr. J. Young says, " I have prescribed 
 the poplar bark in a variety of cases of intermit- 
 tent fever, and can declare from experience that & 
 is equally efficacious with the Peruvian bark, if 
 properly administered. There is not," says he, 
 " in all the Materia Medica, a more certain, speedy 
 and effectual remedy in hysterics than the poplar 
 bark." This, let it be remembered, is " regular' 7 
 testimony. This article should be used in com- 
 bination with other articles forming " bitters," after 
 the system is cleansed with courses of medicine, 
 and all morbific matter expelled the system is 
 then ready to receive medicines of a strengthen- 
 ing character. The mode of procuring the bark 
 is to strip it from the tree, any time when the sap 
 prevents it from adhering to the wood. The outer 
 bark should be shaved off; the inner cut into 
 strips and dried in the shade. The mode of ad- 
 ministering it is to infuse it in water an ounce 
 of the bark to a pint of water, and give freely. 
 
 BALMONY. The Herb. 
 
 This herb is found in low, damp places, and 
 rich shaded soils, in all parts of the United States. 
 It is called bitter herb, snake head, &c. Tht 
 flowers are reddish white, and grow in clusters, 
 and do not bloom until late in autumn. 
 
90 A GUIDE TO HEALTH, 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. Thib herb is an excel- 
 lent bitter tonic and laxative, and is useful in cos- 
 tiveness, dyspepsia, loss of appetite, &c. It is an 
 important ingredient in the Spiced Bitters. It 
 may be given in a tea drank freely for worms in 
 children, or jaundice, yellowness of the skin, &c. 
 
 UNICORN. The Root. 
 
 The unicorn grows abundantly in Pennsylva- 
 nia, New York, and Connecticut, and may be 
 found in meadows and wood lands. It is known 
 by the name of blazing star, devil's bit, &c. It 
 grows about a foot in height, and terminates in a 
 long, graceful spike of flowers, of a whitish color. 
 It blooms in June. It has a tapering fibrous root, 
 which is an inch and a quarter long, and not quite 
 so thick as the little finger. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. It is a very excellent 
 bitter tonic and stimulant, and has been found 
 very useful in cases of suppressed menstruation, 
 and whenever a tonic and stimulant are required. 
 
 WINTERGREEN. The Root and Leaves. 
 
 This evergreen is found on pine plains and in 
 light shaded soils, in all parts of the United States. 
 It blossoms in midsummer. It is called pipsissi- 
 way, pyrola, white leaf, &c. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. The whole plant has 
 a pungent and bitter sweet taste. It is diuretic, 
 sudorific, and tonic. It is useful in all eruptive 
 forms of disease, and in cancerous or scrofulous 
 habits. It is frequently used in combination with 
 other articles in the form of syrups. (See Com- 
 pounds.) 
 
WINTER GREEN. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 91 
 
 GUM MYRRH. 
 
 This gum exudes from the body of a small tree 
 growing in Arabia Felix and Abyssinia. As the 
 juice exudes, it hardens and adheres to the bark. 
 There are two kinds of myrrh to be found in the 
 market the India and Turkey myrrh ; the former 
 imported from the East Indies, the latter from the 
 Levant. There is a great difference in the quality 
 of this article. The Turkey myrrh is usually the 
 most free from impurities, and when of good 
 quality it is reddish-yellow of a strong, peculiar, 
 and somewhat fragrant odor, and a bitter aromatic 
 taste. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. Myrrh is a tonic and 
 stimulant, and possesses anti-septic properties in a 
 high degree. It is therefore a useful article in all 
 cases of putrescency or tendency to mortification, 
 for chronic diarrhoea, and general debility. For a 
 dose, take half a tea-spoonful pulverized, in half a 
 cup of warm water, sweetened, and taken before it 
 settles. It constitutes the most essential ingredi- 
 ent in the Rheumatic Drops. In the form of 
 tincture, combined with the tincture of lobelia, 
 it is useful applied to fresh wounds, eruptions, old 
 sores, bruises, &c. 
 
 BARBERRY .The Bark. 
 
 This shrub grows plentifully in the New Eng- 
 land States, and is found usually in rocky or stony 
 fields, rising to the height of eight or ten feet. 
 The berries are oblong, of a scarlet color, and a 
 sharp acid taste. j 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. The bark of barberry 
 possesses qualities similar to the golden seal, and 
 is frequently used as a substitute. It is a bitter 
 
92 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 tonic, improving the appetite, and removing the 
 yellow tinge from the skin and eyes, and a valua- 
 ble article to take in the spring of the year for the 
 jaundice. 
 
 Camomile, archangel, elecampane, wormwood 
 and tansey, are also good tonics. 
 
 LAXATIVES. 
 
 Laxatives are those medicines that increase the 
 peristaltic motion of the bowels, without purging 
 or producing a fluid discharge. 
 
 BITTER ROOT. Bark of the Root. 
 
 Bitter root is found in all parts of the United 
 States where the soil is light and sandy. The 
 root is perennial, from a third to half an inch in 
 diameter, very long and intensely bitter. It grows 
 from two to three feet high, with bell-shaped, 
 white flowers. 
 
 j PROPERTIES AND USES. Dr. Thomson says in 
 one of the earlier editions of his work, " Bitter 
 root is one of the best correctors of the bile with 
 which I am acquainted, and is an excellent medi- 
 cine to remove costiveness, as it will cause the 
 bowels to move in a natural manner. A strong 
 'decoction of the root, made by steeping it in hot 
 ( water, will operate as a cathartic if taken freely, 
 and sometimes as an emetic, and is almost sure to 
 throw off a fever in its first stages." 
 
 It is a tonic, anti-spasmodic, .secernent, and 
 stimulant. Dr. Curtis says he has found it an 
 excellent article in all cases of torpidity of the 
 lower viscera, particularly of the liver and kid- 
 
BITTER ROOT. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 93 
 
 neys. This article alone has cured cases of dropsy 
 that had baffled all the skill of the regular prac- 
 tice. It will be found an important auxiliary to 
 the general treatment in removing obstructions 
 peculiar to females. 
 
 BUTTERNUT. Inner Baric. 
 
 This tree is too well known to need any de- 
 scription, being found in rich, moist, rocky soils, 
 near streams, in almost all parts of the country. 
 The inner bark of the butternut tree, says How- 
 ard, and especially of the root, " is a mild and 
 efficacious purge, leaving the bowels in a better 
 condition perhaps than almost any other in use. 
 In diarrhoea, dysentery, and worms, it is the best 
 cathartic we have ever employed. It may be pre- 
 pared in extract, pills, syrup, or cordial. For 
 making the cordial, take any quantity of the fresh 
 bark, split it into slips, of half an inch wide, beat 
 it with a hammer, so as to reduce it to a soft, 
 stringy state ; then put it into an earthen vessel, 
 packing it close, and pour on it boiling water suf- 
 ficient to cover the bruised bark ; set the vessel on 
 coals near the fire, having it closely covered, and 
 allow it to stand and simmer one or two hours. 
 Then strain off the liquor, and add sugar or mo- 
 lasses sufficient to make a syrup, when it may 
 be bottled, and one quarter of the quantity of 
 proof spirits added to preserve it. Dose for a 
 child, from half to two great-spoonfuls, repeated 
 at intervals of half or a whole hour, until it ope- 
 rates. For grown persons the dose must be much 
 larger. This preparation is mild, but highly effi- 
 cacious for the bowel complaints of children or 
 adults, and will cure without giving enough to 
 
94 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 operate as physic ; but for dysentery and worms, 
 enough should be administered to operate freely 
 on the bowels. It may be given in all ordinary 
 diseases of children with the happiest effect, being 
 a most valuable family medicine. 
 
 " The syrup is made in a similar manner, only 
 it is boiled down so as to make it much stronger 
 and more actively purgative." 
 
 DANDELION. The Leaves and Root. 
 
 This plant is too common to need description, 
 growing almost every where, on improved lands 
 that are not ploughed, as pastures, meadows, yards, 
 &c. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. The dandelion is diu- 
 retic, stimulant, tonic, anti-spasmodic, aperient, and 
 alterative. It is therefore useful in all cases of 
 urinary obstructions, jaundice, costiveness, con- 
 sumption, nervous debility, biliary obstructions, 
 &c. It should be used freely and perseveringly, 
 as its effects are gradual but sure upon the system. 
 It may be used in the form of extract made into 
 pills, combined with Cayenne and lobelia, or in 
 syrup. 
 
 DIURETICS. 
 
 ? t **>' * 4 
 
 Diuretics are those medicines, that, when taken 
 internally, increase the action of the urinary appa- 
 ratus. 
 
 QUEEN OF THE MEADOW. The Root. 
 
 Ciueen of the meadow, or gravel root, has 
 long, fibrous roots, white or brownish color. It 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 95 
 
 grows from three to six feet high, with pale red- 
 dish blossoms. It is found in wet ground, or near 
 streams, though sometimes on high land. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. This is a powerful di- 
 uretic, useful in all obstructions of the urinary 
 organs. It is considered by those who have proved 
 it, an unfailing remedy for the gravel. Used ia 
 strong decoction, freely. 
 
 COOLWORf .The Leaves. 
 
 This herb is found in woods, on shady banks, 
 and in rich cedar swamps, where the ground is 
 not very wet. The leaves are heart-shaped, 
 divided into lobes, and supported on footstalks 
 eight or ten inches high. The flowers are white, 
 and make their appearance in June. The green 
 leaves have the taste and smell of a cucumber. 
 They should be collected in July or first of August, 
 and dried without exposure to a damp atmosphere, 
 and preserved in sealed papers, or covered boxes. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. Coolwort is beneficial 
 in all cases of suppression of the urine or gravelly 
 complaints. The dried leaves may be steeped and 
 drank freely. 
 
 JUNIPER. The Fruit. 
 
 This shrub is so well known as to need no de- 
 scription. The berries, the only part used, are 
 ripe in August. It grows in abundance in all the 
 New England States bordering on the sea. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. The berries possess 
 powerful diuretic properties, and are useful in all 
 cases of strangury, dropsy, gravel, and all urinary 
 obstructions. 
 
 Cleavers, poplar, fir balsam, sumach, strawberry 
 10 
 
96 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 leaves, elder bark and blows, burdock root, and 
 spearmint, are , also valuable diuretics ; but are so 
 well known as to need no description. 
 
 EXPECTORANTS. 
 
 Expectorants are medicines that promote the 
 discharge of matter from the lungs, whether it be 
 mucus, pus, or any other morbid accumulation. 
 ,The best expectorant known is lobelia. 
 
 SKUNK CABBAGE. The Root. 
 
 This plant is found plentifully in the Northern 
 and Middle States. It grows in wet lands, having 
 many fibrous roots, sending lip many large, bright 
 green leaves, but without any stem or stalk. Its 
 smell resembles the peculiar odor of the skunk, 
 from which it derives its name. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. It is expectorant, anti- 
 spasmodic, and nervine ; useful in asthma, con- 
 sumption, cough, hysterics, and all spasmodic af- 
 fections. One third of a tea-spoonful of the pul- 
 verized root is enough for a dose, combined with 
 Cayenne and slippery elm. An over-dose produces 
 vomiting, head-ache, vertigo, and temporary blind- 
 ness. 
 
 PLEURISY ROOT. The Root. 
 
 This plant is sometimes called butterfly weed, 
 flux root, white root, &c. It is a beautiful per- 
 ennial plant, flourishing best in a light sandy soil 
 by the way side, under fences, and near old 
 stumps in rye fields. There are sometimes fifteen 
 or twenty stalks the size of a pipe stem, proceed- 
 
PLEURISY ROOT. 
 

 
 
LADIES' SLIPPER. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 97 
 
 ing from one root, rising from one to two feet in 
 height, and spreading to a considerable extent. 
 The flowers are of a bright orange color, and ap- 
 pear in July and August. These are succeeded 
 by long slender pods, containing the seeds. It 
 has a carrot-shaped root, of a light brownish 
 color. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. This root is diapho- 
 retic, expectorant, and anti-spasmodic, and is there- 
 fore useful in cough, pleurisy, colic, flatulence, and 
 to promote perspiration. It may be given in de- 
 coction, or in powder, a tea-spoonful at a dose, in 
 some warming herb tea, until relief is obtained. 
 
 NERVINES. 
 
 Nervines are those medicines that have a sooth- 
 ing influence, and quiet the nerves without de- 
 stroying their sensibility. They are beneficial in 
 all cases of extreme irritability, restlessness, and 
 inability to sleep. 
 
 LADY'S SLIPPER.- The Root. 
 
 This valuable plant has various names vale- 
 rian, nerve root, yellow umbil, &c. " There are 
 three or four species of lady's slipper, as the white, 
 red, and yellow, from the color of their flowers, 
 but the qualities are the same. It grows from one 
 to two feet high, and sometimes has leaves all the 
 way up the stock ; but more frequently they lie 
 on the ground ; the stock has one flower on it, 
 in the form of a purse or round bag, with a small 
 entrance near where it joins the stalk, and is some- 
 thing like a moccason slipper, from which resem- 
 
98 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 blance it probably derived the name of lady's 
 slipper." The roots are fibrous, and thickly mat- 
 ted together. It is found in all parts of the United 
 States. The roots have a bitter, mucilaginous 
 taste and a peculiar smell, somewhat nauseous. Its 
 properties are sedative, nervine, and anti-spasmodic. 
 It is good in all nervous diseases and hysterical 
 affections, allaying pain, quieting the nerves, and 
 producing sleep. It is used in nervous head-aches, 
 tremors, nervous fevers, &c. It is far preferable 
 to opium, having no baneful nor narcotic effects. 
 It has produced sleep when opium has failed. 
 The dose is a tea-spoonful of the powdered root 
 to a cup of pennyroyal tea, or an ounce of the 
 root may be infused in a pint of water, and drunk 
 freely in nervous disorders. In giving courses of 
 medicine in all cases where the patient is nervous, 
 it should be given with the other medicine, say a 
 tea-spoonful to each cup of the emetic. The root 
 should be dug late in autumn, or early in the 
 spring, and dried in the sun ; it should then be 
 pounded and sifted through a fine sieve, and bot- 
 tled for use. 
 
 SCULLCAP. The Herb. 
 
 This plant grows in damp places, and by the side 
 of streams. It has a small fibrous root, stem four- 
 cornered, and from ten inches to two feet high. 
 The flowers are blue, making their appearance in 
 July, and the seed-vessels of a light green color, 
 each one containing four seeds. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. " Scullcap has a promi- 
 nently bitter taste," says Mattson, a and is the 
 best nervine I ever employed ; it is also tonic and 
 anti-spasmodic. It is particularly useful in deli- 
 rium tremensj St. Vitus' dance, convulsions, lock- 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 99 
 
 jaw, tremors, ague and fever, tic doloureux, and 
 all nervous affections. It may be given with ad- 
 vantage to children, when health is impaired from 
 the effects of teething." 
 
 " The warm infusion may be drunk freely 
 through the day, or a heaped tea-spoonful of the 
 powdered leaves, with rather more than an equal 
 quantity of sugar, steeped in a tea-cupful of boiling 
 water, may be taken at a dose, and repeated as 
 often as the symptoms require." 
 
 DEMULCENTS. 
 
 Demulcents are those medicines that possess 
 soothing mucilaginous properties, shielding the 
 surface or membrane from the contact of any irri- 
 tating substance. 
 
 SLIPPERY ELM The Bark. 
 
 This tree, which grows in the Northern and 
 Eastern States, attains to the height of about thirty 
 feet, trunk slender, dividing in numerous branches, 
 furnished with a rough and light-colored bark, and 
 oblong leaves. The bark may be cut into small 
 pieces and put into water, either hot or cold, and 
 it will give out much of its mucilage ; but the 
 best; way is to take the bark and dry it thorough- 
 ly, then reduce it to a fine powder. It is use- 
 ful in cough, bowel complaints, strangury, sore 
 throat, inflammation of the lungs and stomach, 
 eruptions, &c. As an external application, in the 
 form of poultice, it is a valuable remedy far ex- 
 ceeding any known production, for ulcers, tumors, 
 swellings, chilblains, burns, sore mouth, thrush, 
 and as a wash. 
 
100 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 The surgeons in the revolutionary army expe- 
 rienced the most happy effects from its application 
 to gun-shot wounds, which were soon brought to 
 a suppuration, and a disposition to heal. When a 
 tendency to mortification was evident, this bark 
 bruised and boiled in water produced the most 
 surprising good effects. The infusion of the bark 
 is highly esteemed as a diet drink in pleurisy and 
 catarrh, and also in diarrhoea and dysentery. It 
 is very nutritious, and much used as food for the 
 sick. 
 
 COMFREY. The Root. 
 
 This plant is cultivated in gardens, and may be 
 found growing spontaneously by road sides. It 
 grows from three to four feet high, with yellowish 
 flowers. 
 
 PROPERTIES AND USES. Comfrey is mucilagi- 
 nous, and is therefore useful in coughs, dysentery, 
 soreness of the bowels, and for poultices. It may 
 be used in powder, half a tea-spoonful in two 
 thirds of a cupful of hot water. 
 
 Irish moss, buck-horn brake, hollyhock blos- 
 soms, flax seed, marshmallows, &c., are also muci- 
 laginous, and may be used in all cases of irritation, 
 internally or externally. 
 
 Synopsis of the medical properties of Plants used 
 occasionally. 
 
 CAMOMILE. An infusion drank warm is useful in 
 pulmonary complaints, and in all cases of debility , 
 applied as a fomentation in glandular swellings. 
 
 MAYWEED The infusion may be given to pro- 
 mote perspiration, and used externally in fomerv- 
 tations for white swellings, rheumatism, &c. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. JQJ 
 
 BLACK COHOSH. A syrup of this plant is useful 
 in coughs ; and a poultice made by thickening the 
 decoction with slippery elm is useful in all kinds 
 of inflammation. 
 
 INDIAN HEMP. This root has been used with 
 success in dropsy, by steeping an ounce in a quart 
 of water, and taking half a glass three or four 
 times a day. 
 
 SPIKENARD. The root of this plant has a warm, 
 aromatic, balsamic, fragrant taste, and is useful in 
 all pulmonary complaints, taken in infusion, de- 
 coction, or syrup. 
 
 SOLOMON'S SEAL. An infusion of the roots is 
 useful in all cases of fluor albus, (whites,) and in 
 immoderate flowing of the menses, arising from 
 female weakness. 
 
 SAFFRON. This plant is an excellent article to 
 promote perspiration, a tea of which is very valu- 
 able in all eruptive forms of disease, as canker 
 rash, measles, &c. 
 
 CRANE'S BILL is a good astringent, useful in 
 bleeding, internally or externally, or in hemor- 
 rhage from the lungs, bowels, or womb. 
 
 YELLOW-DOCK. A syrup made of this root, with 
 equal parts of wintergreen and sarsaparilla, is ex- 
 cellent to eradicate scrofulous and other taints of 
 the system.. 
 
 EVAN ROOT. This plant grows in low, marshy 
 land, and is sometimes called chocolate root. It 
 possesses slightly astringent and tonic properties, 
 and may be used with benefit in diarrhoea, dysen- 
 tery, and bowel complaints in general. 
 
 HOPS. Hop tea may be used with benefit as a 
 means of quieting nervous agitation, and promot- 
 ing sleep. It is useful in cases of delirium tre- 
 mens. The yellow powder which may be very 
 
102 A GUIDE 1O HEALTH. 
 
 readily obtained from hops by rubbing and sifting 
 them, contains the active principle of hops. This 
 powder, (called lupulin,) by being rubbed up in a 
 warm mortar, will form a paste, which may be 
 made into pills, and taken for the purposes above 
 mentioned. 
 
 MEADOW FERN. A strong decoction of the leaves 
 and burs of the meadow fern have been found very 
 useful in erysipelas, taken freely, and bathing the 
 part affected. It is also a valuable external appli- 
 cation for all eruptions and troublesome humors. 
 
 HORSEMINT. A strong tea affords relief in gravel 
 and suppression of the urine. 
 
 UVA URSI. A tea drank freely is useful in ul- 
 ceration of the kidneys and bladder, and all uneasy 
 obstructions. 
 
 HIGH CRANBERRY. A strong tea drank freely 
 (says Smith) is very effectual in relaxing spasms 
 and cramps of all kinds. 
 
 GUM ARABIC makes a line mucilage for stran- 
 gury and scalding of the urine. 
 
 Ox GALL, made into pills, combined with golden 
 seal and Cayenne, says Dr. Osgood, is of inesti- 
 mable value in those cases of dyspepsia accompa- 
 nied with flatulency, sour eructations, and obsti- 
 nate constipation of the bowels. For the method 
 of preparing it for use, see Compounds. 
 
 Directions for gathering and preparing Medicines. 
 
 The remedies used for the cure of disease should 
 be gathered with much care, and by persons who 
 have a sufficient knowledge of the roots and plants 
 they wish to gather, to be a guarantee against any 
 mistake being made. The season of the year in 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 which they are gathered is to be regarded, with- 
 out which the medicine cannot be depended on. 
 Every practitioner should gather as much of his 
 own medicine as possible. 
 
 Herbs and leaves should be gathered while in 
 blossom. If left till they have gone to seed, the 
 strength is much diminished. They should be 
 dried and carefully kept from the air. Herb tea, 
 to do any good, should be made very strong. 
 
 Barks and roots should be collected in the spring 
 or autumn. They should not be pulverized a 
 long time before they arc required for use, as they 
 lose their strength. 
 
 Flowers should be gathered when in perfection, 
 and in dry weather, dried in the shade, and kept 
 from the air. 
 
 Seeds should be gathered when they are fully 
 ripe, separated from chaff and dirt, and kept in 
 bottles or jars for use. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 COMPOUNDS. 
 
 The principal objects in combining medicines 
 are, to increase their strength, accomplish differ- 
 ent indications at the same time, or to render them 
 more pleasant and agreeable. A large number of 
 the compounds offered to the public, are prepared 
 without any regard to either of these objects, but 
 according to the fancy of the one who prepares 
 them. Much imposition is practised on the people 
 by compounds, that could not be done with simple 
 medicines, as a knowledge of their component 
 parts would destroy their value. 
 11 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 We do not say that the compounds hereafter 
 mentioned are the best that could be prepared, or 
 that they will invariably effect a cure ; but we 
 know them to be useful in the cases for which 
 they were designed. 
 
 Dose of Medicine. 
 
 The quantity of medicine to be taken at a dose, 
 depends on the age, sex, or peculiarity of consti- 
 tution. The quantity mentioned in this work is 
 an average dose for a full-grown man. Females 
 require less. For children the doses may be gra- 
 duated by the following rule : 
 
 For a youth of fifteen years, the dose may be 
 two thirds the quantity for a grown person ; for a 
 child of ten years, one half the quantity ; for one 
 of two years, one sixth the quantity ; for a child 
 of one year, one tenth the quantity. 
 
 COMPOSITION POWDER. 
 
 Take of bayberry 2 Ibs. 
 
 " " ginger lib. 
 
 " "Cayenne... 2 oz. 
 
 " " cinnamon 2 oz. 
 
 " " prickly ash 2 oz. 
 
 All to be finely pulverized, and sifted through 
 a fine sieve, and well mixed. 
 
 DosE.-^One tea-spoonful in two thirds of a cup- 
 ful of hot water, sweetened ; milk or cream may 
 be added to make it more agreeable. 
 
 This compound, being stimulant, astringent, 
 and tonic, is an invaluable family medicine, being 
 adapted to all forms of disease, in connection with 
 laxatives, if costiveness be a prominent symptom, 
 or relaxants in cases of constriction. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 105 
 
 SPICED BITTERS. 
 
 Take of poplar bark 2 Ibs. 
 
 " " golden seal... 8 oz. 
 
 " " prickly ash bark 12 oz. 
 
 " " ginger 8 oz. 
 
 " " cloves 8oz. 
 
 " " cinnamon 4 oz. 
 
 " " balmony 8 oz. 
 
 " " Cayenne 6 oz. 
 
 " " white sugar 5 Ibs. 
 
 The whole finely pulverized, sifted, and well 
 mixed. This is an excellent tonic compound, use- 
 ful in all cases of indigestion, loss of appetite, jaun- 
 dice, general debility, and all other cases where 
 the system is in a weak, relaxed state. They 
 should not be used in cases of constriction, as in 
 fevers or tightness of the lungs. 
 
 DOSE. Take a tea-spoonful of the powder, in 
 half a cupful of hot water, three times a day, be- 
 fore eating ; or take the same quantity into the 
 mouth dry, and wash down with cold water. 
 
 DIARRHCEA POWDERS. 
 
 Take of bayberry * . . .4 oz. 
 
 " " golden seal 4oz. 
 
 " " rhubarb 4 oz. 
 
 " " saleratus 1 oz. 
 
 " " gum myrrh oz. 
 
 " " cinnamon ....2oz. 
 
 " " peppermint plant. . . . .2 oz. 
 
 " " loaf sugar lib. 
 
 All finely pulverized, sifted through a fine sieve, 
 and well mixed. 
 
 This is. one of the most valuable preparations 
 known for diarrhea, cholera morbus, summer com- 
 
106 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 plaint of children, dysentery, &c. It comes the 
 nearest to a specific for these forms of disease, in 
 the early stages, .of any medicine we have ever 
 used. 
 
 DOSE. Put a tea-spoonful of the powder into 
 two thirds of a cupful of hot water, and add two 
 tea-spoonfuls of loaf sugar ; and for a child one 
 year old, give one or two tea-spoonfuls of the tea 
 once in fifteen minutes, until the desired object is 
 accomplished. 
 
 FEMALE RESTORATIVE. 
 
 Take of poplar bark 5 Ibs. 
 
 cloves 8 oz. 
 
 cinnamon 8 oz. 
 
 bethroot 1 Ib. 
 
 witch hazel leaves 1 Ib. 
 
 loaf sugar 8 Ibs. 
 
 Cayenne 6 oz. 
 
 All finely pulverized, sifted, and well mixed. 
 
 This compound is particularly designed for 
 weakly complaints of females, such as fluor albus, 
 bearing down, weakness, profuse menstruation, &c. 
 
 DOSE. A tea-spoonful in half a cupful of hot 
 water, three times a day. 
 
 FEMALE STRENGTHENING SYRUP. 
 
 Take of comfrey root. 4 oz. 
 
 " " elecampane root 2 oz. 
 
 " " hoarhound .....loz. 
 
 Boil them in three quarts of water down to three 
 pints ; strain and add while warm 
 
 Bethroot pulverized % oz. 
 
 Loaf sugar 1 Ib. 
 
 Brandy . * * t . t *. 1 pt. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 107 
 
 DOSE. From half to two thirds of a wine glass- 
 ful, three or four times a day. 
 
 This is used in female weakness, bearing down, 
 of the womb, fluor albus, debility, barrenness, &c. 
 
 THE MOTHER'S CORDIAL. 
 
 Take of partridge-berry vine, dried ... 1 Ib. 
 " " high cranberry or cramp bark 4 oz. 
 
 " " unicorn root 4 oz. 
 
 " " blue cohosh 4 oz. 
 
 Boil in two gallons of water to one ; strain and 
 add one pound and a half of sugar, and three pints 
 of brandy. Its effects are to shorten and diminish 
 the sufferings of child-birth, and thus place both 
 mother and child in a state of safety. It should 
 be used daily for two weeks immediately preced- 
 ing confinement as a preparatory. j 
 
 DOSE. From half to a wine-glassful two or three 
 times a day, and one at bed-time, in a little hot 
 water. [Dr. P. F. Sweet.] 
 
 FEMALE POWDERS 
 
 Take of gum myrrh 4 oz. 
 
 " " Cayenne 4 oz. 
 
 " " unicorn 4 oz. 
 
 " " tansy 4 oz. 
 
 " " gum aloes... oz. 
 
 All finely pulverized, sifted, and well mixed. 
 
 DOSE. Half a tea-spoonful in molasses or ho- 
 ney, three or four times a day. This compound 
 is designed for obstructed or suppressed menstru- 
 ation. 
 
 COMPOUND FOR CANKER. 
 
 Take of bayberry . .4 oz. 
 
 " " white pond lily ...... 4 oz. 
 
 " " Cayenne ..loz. 
 
 " " loaf suar 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12 Ibs. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 All finely pulverized, sifted, and well mixed. 
 
 DOSE. Half a tea-spoonful in honey, or a tea- 
 spoonful steeped in a cupful of water, to gargle 
 the mouth and throat. Useful in all cases of can- 
 ker in the mouth, stomach, or bowels. 
 
 ANTI-DYSPEPTIC POWDER. 
 
 Take of Cayenne 2 oz. 
 
 " " golden seal 2 oz. 
 
 " " saleratus oz. 
 
 DOSE. Half a tea-spoonful, when well mixed, 
 in half a cupful of hot water about fifteen minutes 
 after eating. Useful in all cases of indigestion or 
 pain in the stomach after eating. 
 
 PILLS. No. 1. 
 
 Take of lobelia seed 4 oz. 
 
 " " Cayenne 4 oz. 
 
 " " valerian 4 oz. 
 
 " " slippery elm 2 oz. 
 
 " " dandelion extract . . . .4 oz. 
 
 Mix and roll in slippery elm. Designed to relax 
 the system gradually, so as not to produce vomit- 
 ing. Useful in all cases of constriction or fever, 
 head-ache, liver complaint, &c. 
 
 DOSE. From one to four at night, or as often 
 as the nature of the case may require. 
 
 PILLS. No. 2. 
 
 Take of butternut extract ... .2 oz. 
 
 " " rhubarb 2 oz. 
 
 " " Cayenne 1 oz. 
 
 " " cinnamon .......... 1 oz. 
 
 " " lobelia seed 1 oz. 
 
 " " aloes oz. 
 
 " " golden seal 2 oz. 
 
 *.?**; " slippery elm , . 4 oz. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 10g 
 
 Moisten with gum arabic water. Mix and make 
 into pills. These pills are designed for universal 
 application in all cases not accompanied with loose- 
 ness of the bowels. Their efficacy in biliary 
 obstructions and costiveness has been unprece- 
 dented. 
 
 INJECTION POWDER 
 
 Take of bayberry . . * 4 oz. 
 
 " " Cayenne 1 oz. 
 
 " " lobelia herb 4 oz. 
 
 " " slippery elm 2 oz. 
 
 " " valerian 2 oz. 
 
 All finely pulverized, and well mixed. 
 DOSE. Two tea-spoonfuls in a gill of hot wa- 
 ter, given about blood warm. 
 
 ELDER SALVE. 
 
 Take the white-pithed elder sticks, run them 
 quickly through hot embers, and the cuticle will 
 easily slip off. Then scrape off the green bark, 
 and make a strong decoction. Put into a quart of 
 this, a half-pint of mutton tallow, as much neat's 
 foot oil, and a table-spoonful of balsam of fir. 
 (Sweet oil or fresh butter, and pine turpentine will 
 do, instead of neat's foot oil and balsam, when 
 these cannot be had.) Boil till it ceases to spar- 
 kle and make a noise, when it will be done. More 
 mutton tallow would make it harder ; less of this, 
 and more oil, would make it softer. It should be 
 very soft for cancers and burns, and pretty hard for 
 fresh wounds that contain no canker. No better 
 salve is made than this. It combines the proper- 
 ties of a protector and healer, while it is entirely 
 permeable to the matter of the sore, and if often 
 changed, will effectually remove it. [Dr. Curtis.] 
 
J10 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 HEALING SALVE. 
 
 Take of beeswax 1 Ib. 
 
 " " white turpentine 1 Ib. 
 
 " " balsam fir lib. 
 
 " " fresh butter lib. 
 
 Melt and simmer them together, then strain off 
 for use ; to be applied to cuts, bruises, ulcers, &c. 
 after the inflammation is removed. 
 
 ADHESIVE AND STRENGTHENING PLASTER. 
 
 Take of rosin 2 Ibs. 
 
 " ' beeswax 2^- oz. 
 
 " ' mutton tallow 2^ oz. 
 
 " ' camphor 1 oz. 
 
 " ' brandy 1 gill. 
 
 " ' oil of hemlock. . . . . . oz. 
 
 The beeswax and tallow to be put in first, then 
 the rosin ; melt over a slow fire, stirring them till 
 melted ; then add the camphor ; after it is dissolved, 
 add the brandy gradually, then turn it into cold 
 water, and work it until it will remain on the top 
 of the water. This is a valuable application for 
 pain in the side, back, &c., rheumatism, or weak- 
 ness in any part of the system where it can be 
 applied. It may also be applied to ulcers, wounds, 
 &c., as a salve. It may be used also to confine 
 the edges of deep or large wounds, and thus ena- 
 ble them to heal with greater facility. 
 
 ANTI-SPASMODIC TINCTURE, 
 OR THIRD PREPARATION OF LOBELIA. 
 
 Take of lobelia seed, pulverized. . .1 Ib. 
 
 " " Cayenne 4 oz. 
 
 " " valerian ..4oz. 
 
 " " Holland gin ,1 gal. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 .11 
 
 Infuse for ten days in a closely-stopped vessel, 
 shaking it every day ; then strain off for use. 
 
 This preparation is valuable in violent attacks 
 of any form of disease, such as lock-jaw, fits, hy- 
 drophobia, suspended animation, to expel poison 
 of any kind from the system ; as an external 
 application, it is useful in sprains, bruises, rheu- 
 matic pains, &>c. 
 
 DOSE. A tea-spoonful, repeated as often as the 
 nature of the case requires, in some warming tea. 
 
 DYSENTERY OR CHOLERA SYRUP. 
 
 Take of white pond lily, root 4 oz. 
 
 " " green peppermint plant. . .8 oz. 
 " " bayberry 4 oz. 
 
 Boil in one and a half gallons of water down to 
 one gallon, strain and add 
 
 Gum myrrh 1 oz, 
 
 Cayenne oz. 
 
 Rhubarb 4 oz. 
 
 Saleratus ^ oz. 
 
 Loaf sugar 1 lb. 
 
 Fourth proof brandy 1 pt. 
 
 DOSE. Haifa wine-glass once in two hours. 
 This syrup is an invaluable remedy for diarrhoea, 
 dysentery, cholera morbus ? and the summer com- 
 plaints of children. 
 
 WORM SYRUP. 
 
 Take of butternut bark 4 oz. 
 
 " sage 2 oz. 
 
 " gum myrrh 2 oz. 
 
 " " poplar bark 2 oz. 
 
 " bitter root 4 oz. 
 
 Boil in one gallon of water down to two quarts. 
 
112 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 strain and add two pounds white sugar and a half 
 pint of Holland gin. 
 
 DOSE. Four tea-spoonfuls once an hour until 
 it acts gently on the bowels. Designed to expel 
 worms from the stomach and bowels. 
 
 EMETIC POWDER. 
 
 Take of lobelia, herb 4 oz. 
 
 " " lobelia, seed 4 oz. 
 
 " " bayberry 2 oz. 
 
 " " Cayenne 4 oz. 
 
 " " valerian 2 oz. 
 
 All finely pulverized, and well mixed. 
 
 DOSE. Put four tea-spoonfuls in a cup of hot 
 water, and give four tea-spoonfuls of the tea, after 
 the sediment settles, once in ten minutes until it 
 operates freely as an emetic. 
 
 STIMULATING LINIMENT. 
 
 Add 1 oz. oil hemlock, 1 oz. oil cedar, 1 oz. oil 
 spearmint, to a pint of the anti-spasmodic tincture. 
 Useful in all cases of pain, not attended with in- 
 flammation and paralytic affections. 
 
 COUGH POWDER. 
 
 Take of Cayenne oz. 
 
 " " lobelia, herb 1 oz. 
 
 " " slippery elm 2 oz. 
 
 " " skunk cabbage. .... .1 oz. 
 
 " " wake robin 1 oz. 
 
 " " valerian. ...loz. 
 
 " " prickly ash. ........ 1 oz. 
 
 All finely pulverized, and well mixed. 
 DOSE. Half a tea-spoonful in hot water, sweet- 
 ened, once in two or three hours. Valuable in all 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. U$ 
 
 cases of cough, consumption, croup, asthma, hoarse- 
 ness, &c. 
 
 COUGH DROPS. 
 
 Take of lobelia herb 4 oz. 
 
 " " hoarhound 2oz. 
 
 " " comfrey 2 oz 
 
 '* " elecampane 2 oz. 
 
 " " boneset 4 oz. 
 
 Boil in three quarts of water to three pints, strain 
 and add two pounds of white sugar and one pint 
 of Holland gin. i 
 
 DOSE. Two or three tea-spoonfuls once an 
 hour j for asthma, croup, cough, whooping cough, 
 consumption, &c. 
 
 TINCTURE OF MYRRH. 
 
 Take of gum myrrh 4 oz. 
 
 " " alcohol 1 qt. 
 
 Infuse for twelve days, and strain. This is an 
 excellent wash for offensive ulcers, and for all 
 wounds where there is a tendency to mortification. 
 
 TINCTURE OF LOBELIA. 
 
 Take of lobelia, herb ....... .4 oz. 
 
 " " alcohol Ipt. 
 
 " " water 1 pt. 
 
 Infuse twelve days, and strain. This is a con- 
 venient form to administer in many cases, espe- 
 cially for children, and for external application in 
 eruptive forms of disease. 
 
 An acid tincture is prepared by putting 4 oz. 
 lobelia herb into a quart of vinegar. 
 
114 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 TINCTURE OF CAYENNE. 
 
 Take of Cayenne 4 oz. 
 
 " " alcohol or vinegar. ... 1 pt. 
 
 Infuse for ten days, and strain. Used in all cases 
 of paralysis for bathing, and for rheumatism, swell- 
 ed joints, &c. 
 
 COMPOUND TINCTURE OF MYRRH, 
 OR HOT DROPS. 
 
 Take of gum myrrh . 12 oz. 
 
 " " Cayenne 1 oz. 
 
 " " fourth proof brandy. ... 1 gal. 
 
 Put them into a jug or glass demi-john, and shake 
 them several times a day for a week, when the 
 liquor may be poured off and bottled for use. 
 
 This preparation is useful for bathing in cases 
 of debility or a relaxed state of the surface, as in 
 night sweats to check diarrhoea, relieve pain in 
 the stomach or bowels, and also for the tooth-ache. 
 
 DOSE. From one to four tea-spoonfuls in hot 
 water. For the tooth-ache, wet a piece of cotton 
 in it, and put it into the tooth. 
 
 STIMULATING CONSERVE. 
 
 Take of golden seal 2 oz. 
 
 " " poplar bark 2 oz. 
 
 " " prickly ash. . 2 oz. 
 
 " " cinnamon 2 oz. 
 
 " " Cayenne 1 oz. 
 
 " " loaf sugar 4 Ibs. 
 
 All pulverized and well mixed. Knead them into 
 a stiff dough with the mucilage of slippery elm, 
 adding 1-4 oz. each of the oils of pennyroyal and 
 peppermint. It may be made into cakes or loaves 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. H5 
 
 "of a convenient size. This preparation is useful 
 for coughs, colds, sore throat, hoarseness, &c. It 
 may be carried in the pocket and eaten freely. 
 
 TINCTURE OF FIR BALSAM. 
 
 Take of fir balsam. 1 oz. 
 
 " " alcohol 1 pt. 
 
 Shake them well together. To be applied to 
 fresh wounds, bums, and ulcers. A tea-spoonful 
 taken two or three times a day is beneficial in 
 coughs, soreness of the bowels, &c. 
 
 ESSENCES. 
 
 Take, of the essential oil of the essence you 
 wish to make, one ounce, alcohol one pint, shaking 
 them well together. 
 
 PILE OINTMENT. 
 
 Take of hemlock bark, finely pulverized, one 
 ounce, fresh lard six ounces ; mix them together 
 thoroughly. It may be confined to the parts by 
 means of a bandage, and a piece of cotton. 
 
 DIURETIC SYRUP. 
 
 Take of queen of the meadow. . . .4 oz. 
 
 ' juniper berries 4 oz. 
 
 1 ' cleavers 4 oz. 
 
 <c " burdock root or seed 4 oz. 
 
 Make a strong decoction ; strain and add two 
 pounds of honey and half as much Holland gin 
 as there is of the tea, and bottle for use. 
 
 DOSE. Take half a glass three times a day. 
 This preparation is very useful in gravel, stran- 
 gury, dropsy, &c. 
 12 
 
116 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 HEAD-ACHE SNUFF. 
 
 Take Df bayberry 1 oz. 
 
 " " blood root J- oz. 
 
 " " sassafras bark. ..... 1 oz. 
 
 Finely pulverized and mixed. 
 
 SMELLING SALTS. 
 
 Take of pearlash 1 oz. 
 
 " " sal ammoniac oz. 
 
 Pulverize each by itself, and mix. Preserve in 
 a closely stopped bottle. 
 
 ELM POULTICE. 
 
 Take of slippery elm. . . . 2 tea-spoonfuls. 
 " " lobelia herb.... 1 do. 
 " " ginger I do. 
 
 Mix in warm water. Useful in all cases of pain 
 and inflammation ; if the skin is off, the ginger 
 may be omitted. 
 
 ANTI-DYSPEPTIC PILLS 
 
 Empty the contents of three large ox galls into 
 a quart bowl, immerse into a vessel of boiling 
 water, and keep the water boiling quite gently for 
 the space of six or eight hours, or until the gall 
 shall have acquired the consistency of thick mo- 
 lasses ; then remove it from the fire, and let it 
 stand until it becomes cool ; then mix with it a 
 powder, composed of five parts of finely pulver- 
 ized golden seal, and one part Cayenne, and mould 
 it into a pill-mass ; then divide it into five grain 
 pills. Administer from two to four, according to 
 the nature of the case, three times in twenty-four 
 
BLOOD ROOT. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 117 
 
 hours. They rectify the acidity of the stomach 
 and remove the distress, and regulate the bowels. 
 [Thomsonian Advertiser.] 
 
 ANTI-EMETIC DROPS. 
 
 Take of salt 2 oz. 
 
 " " Cayenne 1 oz. 
 
 " " vinegar 1 qt. 
 
 Mix. Dose, a table-spoonful whenever there is 
 great nausea or vomiting. 
 
 TOOTH-ACHE DROPS. 
 
 Take of oil of sassafras oz. 
 
 " " oil of summer savory . . . oz. 
 " " oil of cloves oz. 
 
 Mix ; dip a piece of cotton in the drops, and put 
 it in the tooth. 
 
 WINE BITTERS. 
 
 Take of poplar bark .3 Ibs. 
 
 " goldenseal 1 Ib. 
 
 " balmony 1 Ib. 
 
 " scullcap 8 oz. 
 
 " unicorn 8 oz. 
 
 " Cayenne 4 oz. 
 
 Put these materials into a convenient vessel, add 
 four gallons of water, and boil gently for half an 
 hour, or until the liquid is reduced to about three 
 gallons, keeping the vessel in the mean time close-; 
 ly covered ; strain through a coarse cloth, and add 
 fifteen pounds of sugar, and boil again until the. 
 scum ceases to rise, which will be in about five) 
 minutes. This done, strain the liquor a secondj 
 time through a cloth or sieve, and when nearly 
 12* 
 
118 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 cool add the infusion of half a pound of prickly 
 ash berries and a pound of cinnamon, prepared by 
 steeping them in a close vessel with twelve gallons 
 of sweet Malaga wine. The preparation is then 
 fit for use, and should be put into clean bottles or 
 kegs. 
 
 DOSE. Half a wine glass three times a day be- 
 fore eating. Useful in dyspepsia, loss of appetite, 
 debility, sinking at the stomach, drowsiness, head- 
 ache, &c. 
 
 FOR POLYPUS IN THE NOSE. 
 
 Take blood root, bayberry, and black pepper, 
 equal parts, all finely pulverized and well mixed. 
 To be taken as snuff, or blown into the nose 
 through a quill. 
 
 SYRUP FOR PURIFYING THE BLOOD. 
 
 Take of yellow dock root. . . .4 oz. 
 
 " " dandelion root 4 oz. 
 
 " " wintergreen 4 oz. 
 
 " " sarsaparilla 4 oz. 
 
 " " blue cohosh 2 oz. 
 
 Boil in one gallon of water : strain and add one 
 pint of Holland gin. Dose, a wine-glassful once a 
 day. Useful in all cases of scrofula, mecurial dis- 
 ease, cancer, or any eruption of the surface, 
 depending on an impurity of the blood. 
 
 SPRUCE BEER. 
 
 Take four gallons of water, boil half of it ; let 
 the other half be put cold into a barrel, and upon 
 this pour the boiling water ; then add three quarts 
 of molasses and a little of the essence of spruce, 
 t stir them together ; add a gill of yeast, and keep 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. Ug 
 
 the whole in a moderate heat, with the bung out, 
 for two days, till the fermentation has subsided ; 
 then bottle it, and it will be fit for use in a week 
 or ten days. 
 
 DR. HULL'S BILIOUS PHYSIC. 
 
 Take eight ounces aloes, one ounce each of mace, 
 myrrh, cinnamon, cloves, saffron and ginger ; four 
 ounces of the dried leaves of the garden sunflower. 
 Pulverize the articles separately, and mix them 
 thoroughly. Dose, a tea-spoonful. 
 
 We insert this recipe for the benefit of those 
 who wish to take occasionally a portion of physic ; 
 it is probably as good as any thing of the kind. 
 
 SUDORIFIC POWDERS. 
 
 Take of lobelia, herb 4 oz. 
 
 " " pleurisy root. . . . 4 oz. 
 
 " " skunk cabbage 4 oz. 
 
 " " crawley root .4 oz. 
 
 DOSE. A quarter of a tea-spoonful once an hour, 
 until a gentle perspiration is produced. In typhus 
 or scarlet fever it may be increased as the case may 
 require. Valuable for producing perspiration and 
 equalizing the circulation; highly useful for a 
 cough, and admirably adapted to break up a cold. 
 
 FEMALE TONIC POWDERS. 
 
 Take of comfrey 2 oz. 
 
 " " elecampane 2 oz. 
 
 " " rosin 1 oz. 
 
 " " loaf sugar 8 oz. 
 
 All finely pulverized and well mixed. Dose, a 
 tea-spoonful once a day in hot water. A valuable 
 remedy for the fluor albus or whites. 
 
1<JO A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 ITCH OINTMENT. 
 
 Take of tincture of myrrh. ... 1 qt. 
 " " tincture of lobelia. . . . 1 qt. 
 " " spirits turpentine .... pt. 
 
 Mix and apply to the entire surface night and 
 morning. 
 
 CANCER PLASTER. 
 
 Take of red clover blossoms any desirable 
 quantity, and water sufficient to cover them ; boil 
 gently until the strength of the blossoms is ex- 
 tracted, which will be in about an hour ; strain 
 through a coarse cloth, and use pressure sufficient 
 to force out all the liquid ; pour this into some 
 convenient vessel, and place it in a kettle of water 
 over the fire ; boil until the liquid is of the con- 
 sistence of tar. 
 
 Spread this on a piece of linen, or soft leather. 
 It is one of the best applications for open or run- 
 ning cancers and ill-conditioned sores or ulcers of 
 every description, deep, ragged-edged and other- 
 wise badly conditioned burns. 
 
 CATARRH SNUFF. 
 
 Take of blood root .2 oz. 
 
 " " skunk cabbage. ...! oz. 
 
 " " lobelia oz. 
 
 " " snake root oz. 
 
 " " slippery elm 1 oz. 
 
 All finely pulverized, sifted and well mixed. 
 Useful in catarrh and stoppage in the nose. 
 
BLUE FLAG. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 121 
 
 MEADOW-FERN OINTMENT. 
 
 Take of meadow-fern leaves and balm of Gilead 
 buds, well bruised or pounded, each three ounces ; 
 fresh lard, a pound. Moisten the buds with water, 
 and simmer them in the lard over a slow fire until 
 they cease to be glutinous, which will be in three 
 or four hours ; then add the meadow-fern burs, 
 also moistened with water, and continue the sim- 
 mering until their strength is extracted, which 
 may be determined by rubbing them through the 
 fingers, and ascertaining that they do not emit a 
 fragrant smell. Pass the ointment through a 
 coarse cloth or sieve, and pour it into some con- 
 venient vessel. 
 
 An excellent application in tetters, scald head, 
 soreness of the lips, itch, poison from ivy or dog- 
 wood, and various cutaneous eruptions. 
 
 DR. ELISHA SMITH'S ANTI-MERCURIAL SYRUP. 
 
 Take of sarsaparilla 2 Ibs. 
 
 ' " guiac. chips I Ib. 
 
 ' " blueflag 6oz. 
 
 ' " prickly ash bark 3 oz. 
 
 ' " liquorice 4 oz. 
 
 ' " stramonium* seeds ^ oz. 
 
 Boil in two or three waters, until the strength is 
 obtained, forming two gallons of the decoction ; 
 to which is to be added, when cold, one and a 
 half gallon of molasses and two ounces of the oil 
 of sassafras ; the whole to be well shaken together 
 and bottled for use. 
 
 This compound is highly recommended by Dr. 
 
 * This article we always reject from the compound, for rea- 
 sons well known to Thomsonians 
 
122 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 Smith of New York, for cancerous, scrofulous, 
 and all other humors and taints, particularly for 
 those forms of disease produced by mercury that 
 every where exhibit themselves, and venereal. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 A COURSE OF MEDICINE. 
 
 This does not consist in the application of a 
 single remedy, as many have supposed, but of a 
 series of remedies, following each other in quick 
 succession, by which disease is overcome immedi- 
 ately, instead of allowing it to progress a great 
 length of time. It includes injections to evacuate 
 the bowels, and stimulate them to action ; vapor 
 bath, to promote perspiration, and throw from the 
 system the morbific matter that has been retained ; 
 relaxants and stimulants, to arouse nature to throw 
 off the morbific accumulations of the stomach ; a 
 second administration of the injection and applica- 
 tion of the vapor bath ; concluding with washing 
 over with cold or warm saleratus water. 
 
 ENEMAS OR INJECTIONS. 
 
 This mode of administering medicine consti- 
 tutes a very important part of the Thomsonian 
 practice, and ought not to be omitted in conse- 
 quence of a false delicacy on the part of the 
 patient, or to avoid the labor on the part of the 
 physician. In no other way can medicine be ad- 
 ministered to accomplish so much, in obstinate 
 cases, as by injections. They not only act on the 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 123 
 
 bowels to remove faecal matter, but also produce 
 the effect with much more promptness, than the 
 medicines composing the injections will produce, 
 when taken into the stomach. In all cases of 
 irritability of the stomach, colic, stoppage in the 
 bowels, costiveness, fits, lock-jaw, &c., injections 
 are indispensable. They should be prepared in 
 reference to the indications to be accomplished. 
 
 If the object is simply to evacuate the bowels, 
 half a tea-spoonful of composition, and as much 
 slippery elm in a gill of hot water, will answer 
 the purpose. If to check a diarrhoea, or for the 
 piles, a strong tea of hemlock bark should be used 
 instead of hot water. But the formula under the 
 head of compounds, (see Index,) will be the- best 
 for ordinary cases, increasing or diminishing the 
 quantity of lobelia, &c., as the case may require. 
 Dr. Thomson says, with much truth, that it is 
 better to administer injections ten times when 
 they are not necessary, than omit them once when 
 needed. 
 
 VAPOR BATH. 
 
 This invaluable remedial agent has been in use 
 from time immemorial. Among the Russians, 
 Egyptians, and Turks, it has been used for cen- 
 turies as a luxury, and as a cure and preventive of 
 disease. It is a well-known fact that for five 
 hundred years Rome had no physician but her 
 baths, which they frequented at least once a week, 
 and by many daily, whether in a state of health 
 or sickness. The Rev. W. Tooke says that he 
 has no doubt but that the Russians owe their 
 great longevity, their extraordinary robust health, 
 and their entire exemption from certain moral 
 diseases, to their daily use of the vapor bath. 
 13 
 
124 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 The use of the vapor bath is quite common among 
 the Turkish ladies, who probably would not suffer 
 in point of beauty and delicacy, by comparison 
 with the females of any other country, yet they 
 use the vapor bath, followed immediately by the 
 cold shower bath, which gives them a ruddy, 
 florid glow of countenance, unknown to but few 
 females. The American aborigines have their 
 baths, out of which they rush, and plunge into 
 cold running water, beside which their baths are 
 purposely built. In view of the fact, that three 
 fifths of all we take into the system is thrown out 
 through the pores of the skin, what can be more 
 important to health, than an unobstructed state of 
 that organ ? and what remedial agent better adapt- 
 ed to remove the cause of disease than the vapor 
 bath ? which tends to remove obstructions from 
 the skin, and arouse a healthy action in the system, 
 determines the blood to the surface, and throws 
 from the circulating fluid the various impurities 
 with which it is loaded. 
 
 The modes of applying the vapor are various. 
 The most convenient and economical mode we 
 have ever seen, is a tin box, about four inches 
 square, with a horizontal partition, about one and 
 a half inches from the top, in which are inserted 
 five tubes, the size of common lamp tubes, to come 
 even with the top of the box, with a hole for 
 turning in alcohol, which should be stopped tight, 
 and the partition wiped dry before lighting the 
 wicks ; this is to be used for a lamp to generate 
 heat, after putting in wicking and filling it with 
 alcohol : another box of the same size, with legs 
 about four inches long, the cover soldered on to 
 the top, and a half inch tube inserted to allow the 
 steam to pass off; this box should be nearly filled 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 125 
 
 with water and placed over the lamp, after light- 
 ing the wicks. Place this under a chair in which 
 the patient is to sit, divested of all his clothes. 
 Take a blanket or a piece of oiled cloth or silk, 
 the size of a blanket, sew the sides together, and 
 run a string into the top, so as to draw it up, 
 around the neck. Put this over the patient and 
 chair ; the feet should be immersed in warm water 
 at the same time ; and warming teas or composi- 
 tion administered while steaming. A pipe may be 
 fixed to convey the steam from the boiler to the 
 bed, if the patient is unable to sit up, or to apply 
 it to any portion of the system. When there is 
 sufficient vitality in the system to favor re-action, 
 the last vapor bath of the course should be follow- 
 ed by a cold hand-bath or washed all over with 
 cold water ; after which the patient should be 
 rubbed briskly two or three minutes, and dressed, 
 if able. After remaining in doors an hour or two, 
 he may take exercise in the open air, if the 
 weather is sufficiently mild and pleasant, and he 
 feels able so to do. 
 
 DIRECTIONS FOR A COURSE. 
 
 Put four tea-spoonfuls of composition, one of 
 valerian, and 1-2 do. of cayenne into a pitcher, 
 pour on it a quart of boiling water. Give the 
 patient two thirds of a cupful of the tea. Then 
 administer an injection according to the directions 
 under that head. As soon as the injection has 
 done operating, administer the vapor bath accord- 
 ing to the directions on the preceding page, giving 
 the composition tea two or three times while 
 steaming. After the patient has remained in the 
 bath fifteen or twenty minutes, he should be wiped 
 
jog A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 dry, put on his shirt and get into bed, and a 
 steaming brick be put to his feet. He is then 
 ready for the administration of the lobelia. 
 
 ADMINISTERING LOBELIA. 
 
 Put one tea-spoonful of the seed of lobelia, and 
 two of the herb, well pulverized, into a cup, add 
 one tea-spoonful of Cayenne, one of nerve powder, 
 and a few drops of the oil of sassafras, and fill 
 the cup with hot water. After it settles, give four 
 tea-spoonfuls of the tea once in ten minutes until 
 the patient vomits freefy ; give in the mean time 
 half a cupful of the tea from the pitcher or penny- 
 royal tea once in five minutes. If the patient is 
 sick at the stomach and does not vomit, give half 
 a cupful of the tea from the pitcher, with a Jittle 
 saleratus in it. After the patient has vomited 
 once, give porridge and pennyroyal tea freely. If 
 the quantity of lobelia mentioned above does not 
 produce vomiting and nausea, add a tea-spoonful 
 of the seed to the sediment, fill it up with hot 
 water, and give the tea of it at one dose. After 
 the vomiting is over and the stomach well settled, 
 another injection should be administered, after 
 which the patient should be steamed a second 
 time, and washed over with cold water, if there 
 be sufficient heat in the system to produce a 
 re-action. After the course is completed, he may 
 eat a light meal, and if the weather is very mild 
 and pleasant he can go out ; if not, he should 
 remain within doors. 
 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 127 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE TREATMENT OF DIFFERENT MANIFESTATIONS OP 
 DISEASE. 
 
 Having arrived at the knowledge of what dis- 
 ease is, its cause, the indications necessary to be 
 accomplished, and the means to be used to accom- 
 plish those indications, we have now to point out 
 the particular circumstances or symptoms requiring 
 the accomplishment of each of these indications, 
 and the mode of applying the remedy. This we 
 shall endeavor to do in a manner so plain and 
 simple, that any person may not be at a loss to 
 know what course to pursue in any form of 
 disease. 
 
 A large proportion of the different forms of 
 disease depends on constriction or spasm, either 
 general or local, producing an obstruction of the 
 secretions, and a retention of the morbific impuri- 
 ties of the system. The cause is cold, or any 
 irritating substance applied to, or taken into the 
 system. The result is local or general excitement, 
 usually termed fever or inflammation. Other 
 forms of disease depend on relaxation, paralysis, 
 injuries, or change in structure of some organ. 
 Notwithstanding the general adaptedness of " a 
 course of medicine," as described in this work, for 
 the cure of every form of disease, yet some of the 
 different manifestations of disease may require a 
 modification of the treatment, so as to accomplish 
 the object sooner and with less suffering and 
 inconvenience to the patient ; we shall therefore 
 give a particular description of such forms of 
 disease and their symptoms and peculiar treat- 
 ment. 
 
 13* 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 FEVER. 
 
 This manifestation of disease is but the effect 
 of an effort of nature to expel from the system 
 some irritating substance. Its division into colors 
 and classes is unnecessary, as these different 
 symptoms are but the same cause acting on differ- 
 ent organs. The usual symptoms are pain in the 
 head, back and limbs ; full, quick pulse ; chilli- 
 ness, succeeded by a preternatural degree of heat 
 on the surface ; thirst j tongue coated, and general 
 weakness. 
 
 Treatment. In the first stages, a full course 
 of medicine is the best process to remove the 
 cause of fever. If this fails to remove the cause, 
 and the pulse is full and quick, and the surface hot 
 and dry, give a half tea-spoonful of crawley root in 
 some warming tea once an hour, and bathe the 
 surface in saleratus water, nearly cold, every two 
 hours. Give an injection once in two hours until 
 free perspiration appears on the surface, after which 
 rub with a dry woollen cloth once an hour, and 
 change the sheets twice a day. If this course 
 fails to produce perspiration, put two tea-spoonfuls 
 of the emetic powder into a cup of hot water, and 
 give two tea-spoonfuls of the tea every half hour 
 until vomiting is produced. If there is a coldness 
 of the surface or extremities, steam freely and 
 add a tea-spoonful of Cayenne to the emetic 
 powder, and continue its use until the surface be- 
 comes warm and moist, and the pulse regular. In 
 some forms of fever there appears to be a paralyza- 
 tion of the nervous system, as in putrid fever, 
 where the common portions of medicine will have 
 no effect j in which cases, give the anti-spasmodic 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 129 
 
 tincture in great spoonful doses, by injection and 
 into the stomach, until free vomiting is produced. 
 In the treatment of fever, as well as in every 
 other form of disease, the quantity and power of 
 the medicine should depend on the obstinacy of 
 the disease. The indications to be accomplished 
 in all colors and forms of fever, are to produce a 
 free, easy and general perspiration, and maintain 
 it ; and to remove obstructions from every part of 
 the system. If pennyroyal or catmint tea will do 
 this, it is all that is required, but stop not short 
 of giving a pound of lobelia, and other things in 
 proportion, until you have accomplished those ob- 
 jects. Many Thomsonian physicians fail to cure 
 fevers, by depending on fixed potions of medicine, 
 or going through a certain process as directed by 
 some medical author : instead of keeping in view 
 the object for which the medicine is given, and 
 persevering until that object is accomplished. We 
 would therefore urge upon all who undertake to 
 cure fever, especially of the typhoid type, to 
 pursue a thorough course of treatment in the early 
 stage, and they will seldom fail of success. If 
 friends object, let them take the responsibility and 
 manage the case in their own way. Suffer no 
 one to take charge of the patient who is not 
 friendly to the medicine, if it can be possibly 
 avoided, or you will be disappointed in the result. 
 Caution should be used, after the cause is removed, 
 that the patient does not take cold or over-load 
 the stomach and bring on a relapse, which is 
 always more difficult to overcome than the first 
 attack. After the fever abates, and the coating 
 comes off the tongue, give a tea-spoonful of the 
 spiced bitters three times a day. 
 
130 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 SSf!*.\3 
 AGUE AND FEVER. 
 
 The first symptoms of this form of disease are 
 general debility, loss of appetite, more or less dis- 
 tress at the pit of the stomach, obstructed perspi- 
 ration, restlessness and languor, aching in the back 
 and limbs, and increased sensibility to cold. 
 
 The cold stage, or chill. The chill comes on 
 with a coldness along the back, and an irresistible 
 desire to yawn and stretch. There is a general 
 coldness and contracted state of the skin, and a 
 sensation down the back as from the trickling of 
 cold water. The jaws begin to quiver or chatter, 
 and a general shivering takes place over the whole 
 body ; which, in some instances, continues but a 
 few minutes, and in others for several hours. The 
 chill is succeeded by flashes of heat, which con- 
 tinue to increase until the fever is fully developed. 
 Distressing vomiting often occurs at this period. 
 
 The re-action, or hot stage. In this stage of 
 the disease the countenance becomes flushed, and 
 the skin dry and hot ; the pulse rises and becomes 
 full and strong ; there is pain in the head, back 
 and extremities, and not unfrequently more or less 
 delirium. The duration of the fever varies in 
 different cases, but finally effects a crisis by a 
 restoration of the secretions from the skin arid 
 kidneys, and thus terminating in 
 
 The sweating stage, or crisis. As perspiration 
 takes place, the breathing becomes less difficult ; 
 the pulse softens, and a general abatement of all 
 the distressing symptoms takes place. These three 
 stages form what is called a paroxysm of the fever, 
 which occur every day, every other day, or once 
 in three days, and generally about the same hour 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. J3J 
 
 of the day the patient remaining tolerably com- 
 fortable between the paroxysms. 
 
 Treatment. The indications of cure are to aid 
 nature in her efforts to expiel from the system 
 morbific matter on which the disease depends. 
 To do this, administer a full and thorough course 
 of Thomsonian medicine, commencing an hour or 
 two before the time at which the chill comes on. 
 Bathe the surface with the stimulating liniment 
 after the last steaming. Then take a tea-spoon 
 twice full of Cayenne, and as much bayberry and 
 golden seal, and steep it in a pint of hot water, and 
 take half a cupful once in three hours, and four 
 of the pills No. 1, at bed time. Avoid for a short 
 time any exposure to damp or cold air live tem- 
 perately exercise moderately, and bathe the sur- 
 face every morning in cold water if the weather 
 be warm, or Cayenne and vinegar if it be cold. 
 If, after this process, there are any symptoms indi- 
 cating a return of the disease, take another course 
 of medicine, and repeat every day until the symp- 
 toms entirely disappear. 
 
 ABORTION. 
 
 The premature expulsion of the foetus has be- 
 come quite common among those who, though 
 they designedly use no means to produce it, yet 
 their habits of compressing the chest or tight 
 lacing does do so, and still more so among those 
 who resort to poisons to accomplish that object. 
 Language cannot portray the wickedness of the 
 latter, or folly of the former. Says Dr. Curtis, 
 " Of the multitudes that have sunk under the pre- 
 mature expulsion of the foetus, the dark and silent 
 regions of the grave alone contain the record. I 
 
132 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 have no doubt that if all who have thus committed 
 suicide, could array themselves before us, the 
 effect would be insupportable to the most hardened 
 feelings of our nature." 
 
 Other causes than those mentioned tend to pro- 
 duce abortion, such as falls, reaching too high, 
 frights, lifting, .hard labor, grief, &c. The usual 
 symptoms are pain in the back, loins, and lower 
 part of the abdomen, chills, nausea, flowing and 
 palpitation of the heart. 
 
 Treatment. In this case, the old adage is em- 
 phatically applicable, that " an ounce of prevention 
 is worth a pound of cure." Let those who are 
 expecting to become mothers, whose habits of 
 compressing the chest predisposes them to an 
 abortion, take one or two courses of medicine to 
 relax the muscles of the abdomen, and two of the 
 pills No. 1, at night. When the symptoms of 
 abortion are exhibited, take freely of composition, 
 and put a jug of warm water at the feet. If this 
 does not relieve, take a full course of medicine, 
 which, if it has not progressed too far, will pre- 
 vent it ; if so, it will assist nature to expel the 
 foetus, the life of which has now become extinct in 
 consequence of the detachment of the placenta ; 
 after which take the Female Restorative three 
 times a day before eating, and two of the pills No. 
 1, at night. 
 
 AGUE IN THE FACE. 
 
 The face on one side, or both, frequently be- 
 comes swollen and exceedingly painful, depending 
 on decayed or ulcerated teeth or a cold. 
 
 Treatment. Inhale the steam of Cayenne and 
 vinegar, and tie up a tea-spoonful of Cayenne in a 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 133 
 
 thin rag and put it between the gum and cheek, 
 and it will produce a free discharge of saliva, 
 which usually affords relief. If this does not 
 remove the pain and swelling, a full course of 
 medicine should be resorted to. 
 
 ASTHMA AND PHTHISIC. 
 
 The symptoms of these forms of disease are, 
 difficulty of breathing, which generally comes on 
 towards night, tightness across the chest, together 
 with a peculiar wheezing, being frequently threat- 
 ened with immediate suffocation on attempting to 
 lie down. Towards morning the symptoms abate, 
 and the patient feels much easier. At other times 
 the symptoms are so mild as to subject the patient 
 to little inconvenience, and in children it is usually 
 called phthisic. 
 
 Treatment. Haifa tea-spoonful of tincture lo- 
 belia, or half tea-spoonful of skunk cabbage, repeat- 
 ed as occasion requires, in half a cupful of penny- 
 royal tea, will usually afford immediate relief. 
 For a permanent cure, take two or three full 
 courses of medicine in as many days, after which 
 take spiced bitters, composition, and pills No. 1, 
 according to directions, for two or three weeks. 
 
 ABSCESS AND BOILS. 
 
 An abscess or boil is produced by an effort of 
 nature to throw from the system morbific matter. 
 
 Treatment. Apply a poultice of slippery elm, 
 lobelia and a little soft soap, which will soon bring 
 it to a head. When it is fit for opening, which 
 may be known by the thinness of the skin in the 
 most prominent part of it, it should be punctured 
 with a lancet or some sharp-pointed instrument. 
 
134 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 BLEEDING FROM THE NOSE. 
 
 The blood-vessels of the nose are more easily 
 ruptured than in any other part of the system ; 
 when, therefore, there is a determination of blood 
 to the head, or any external violence, a profuse 
 discharge sometimes takes place. 
 
 Treatment. Immerse the feet in warm water, 
 and drink freely of composition or pennyroyal tea 
 to equalize the circulation ; and it will soon cease. 
 
 BLEEDING FROM THE LUNGS AND STOMACH. 
 
 These are usually considered dangerous forms of 
 disease ; but their danger depends on other symp- 
 toms. If there are other symptoms of consump- 
 tion, bleeding from the lungs is difficult to cure. 
 
 Treatment. A strong tea of witch hazel leaves 
 will usually check bleeding from the lungs or 
 stomach. If this does not check it, give a tea- 
 spoonful of composition once in fifteen minutes, 
 and immerse the feet in hot water. After giving 
 composition two or three times, add half a tea- 
 spoonful of anti-spasmodic tincture to the same, 
 and continue it until vomiting is produced. No 
 danger need be apprehended in taking an emetic 
 of lobelia. I have given them repeatedly in these 
 cases with the happiest result. 
 
 BRUISES OR INJURIES FROM BLOWS OR FALLS 
 
 If the injury be not very severe, bathing with 
 cold water, hot drops, or wormwood moistened 
 with spirits, and taking a tea-spoonful of composi- 
 tion, is all that is required. But if very severe, 
 the vapor bath should be immediately adminis- 
 tered, with a free use of composition, which is far 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 135 
 
 preferable to bleeding. If the patient is injured 
 so as to be insensible, put down the throat or give 
 by injection a great spoonful of anti-spasmodic 
 tincture, which will restore sensibility. In some 
 cases, a thorough course of medicine ought to be 
 administered. 
 
 BURNS OR SCALDS. 
 
 The best application that can be made to burns 
 or scalds, when first done, is cold water. Take a 
 cloth wet in cold water, and wrap several thick- 
 nesses round or lay on the part, to be wet as often 
 as the pain returns. Give warm medicine inter- 
 nally. If the skin is broken, apply a poultice of 
 slippery elm, wet with raspberry leaf tea. 
 
 CANCER. 
 
 Cancer usually seats upon the fleshy portions 
 of the system, as the breast, lip, &c. It com- 
 mences with a small hard bunch, gradually in- 
 creasing, attended with sharp, lancinating pains, as 
 though needles were being run through it. It 
 sometimes continues in this way a number of 
 years, at other times it proceeds rapidly to ulcer- 
 ation, discharging a thin, acrimonious fluid, cor- 
 roding and destroying the contiguous parts. 
 
 Treatment. If suppuration has not already 
 commenced, the sorrel salve or the dried juice of 
 wood sorrel should be applied ; or if this fail to 
 produce suppuration, the caustic potash, prepared 
 by burning red oak bark to ashes, in a stove or on 
 a clean hearth, drain boiling water through them 
 till the strength is obtained ; boil the lye to the 
 consistence of brown sugar. Keep it in a glass- 
 stopped bottle, as it destroys cork. Put some on 
 14 
 
136 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 the cancer for fifteen minutes. If it smarts much, 
 sponge it with vinegar ; wash it off with warm 
 soap suds, made of Castile soap. The cancer 
 plaster mentioned in this work should then be 
 applied. Then poultice with lobelia, slippery 
 elm, and catmint. After which apply the elder 
 salve. Courses of medicine should be frequently 
 given, and a syrup of pipsissiway, sarsaparilla, and 
 yellow dock root taken freely. 
 
 CHICKEN POX. 
 
 This eruption is usually preceded by feverish 
 symptoms. About the second or third day, the 
 pimples become filled with a watery fluid, which 
 is never converted into yellow matter as in the 
 small pox j and about the fifth day, they usually 
 dry away, and are formed into crusts or scabs. 
 
 Treatment. Give composition or saffron and 
 snake root tea, which is all the medicine that is 
 usually required in this form of disease. Should 
 the constitution of the patient be so feeble that the 
 eruption is not well thrown out, a course of medi- 
 cine should be administered, and repeated if 
 necessary. 
 
 COLIC. 
 
 This form of disease is attended with severe 
 pain in the bowels, nausea, and sometimes vomit- 
 ing, and distention of the stomach. It is usually 
 occasioned by some acrid substance taken into or 
 generated in the stomach, such as unripe fruit, 
 vitiated bile or gas, undigested food, &c. 
 : Treatment. Some cases require thorough treat- 
 ment. Nothing will afford relief so quick as 
 enemas, which should be given every ten minutes 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 137 
 
 until relief is obtained ; then cleanse the syringe, 
 and administer a pint of slippery elm tea by in- 
 jection, to soothe the bowels. It is sometimes 
 necessary to give a full course of medicine. Mild 
 cases may be cured by taking a tea-spoonful of, 
 composition, hot drops, or some aromatic tea. A 
 few drops of anti-spasmodic tincture in pepper- 
 mint tea, is excellent. 
 
 CONSUMPTION. 
 
 Pulmonary consumption is characterized byj 
 emaciation, debility, cough, hectic fever, and pu- 
 rulent expectoration, night sweats, &c. One writer 
 enumerates thirty different species of consump-j 
 tion ; but this enumeration seems unnecessary for 
 practical purposes. When one lobe is affected, 1 
 the disease is very slow in its progress, often last- 
 ing for many years ; but when the substance of j 
 both lungs is affected, the disease progresses rapid- 
 ly, commonly called the galloping consumption. : 
 
 This disease has prevailed extensively from the 
 earliest periods of history to the present time, and 
 has swept more from the earth than the sword or 
 famine. In all northern climates it commits the 
 most terrible ravages. A writer, some years 
 since, computed that out of a population of eleven 
 millions, in the island of Great Britain, fifty-five 
 thousand annually died of the consumption ; and 
 the same fatality attends the disease in this 
 climate. I presume one third of all those who 
 die in this country are taken off by pneumonic 
 diseases, or affections of the lungs ; all which 
 shows not only the prevalence and fatality of the 
 complaint, but likewise the inefficacy of the vari- 
 ous methods of treatment, including the vast 
 number of boasted nostrums of the day, with 
 
138 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 which the community are now so shamefully de- 
 ceived and imposed upon. 
 
 A consumptive taint may be transmitted from 
 parents to children, and produce a development 
 of the disease at different periods of their lives, 
 owing to those circumstances which are calculated 
 to call this consumptive predisposition into action. 
 A whole family has enjoyed comparative good 
 health, till a certain period of life, when, upon a 
 sudden attack of severe cold, or some other excit- 
 ing cause, consumption has supervened and proved 
 fatal to all ; no doubt, some such case has come 
 under the observation of the reader. 
 
 Among the remote causes, we may enumerate 
 the particular formation of the body; such as 
 prominent shoulders, narrow chests, &c.; scrofu- 
 lous habit, bronchitis, pneumonia scrofula, and the 
 sequel of eruptive diseases ; particular employ- 
 ments, exposing the person to inhalation of dusty 
 particles of matter, and fumes of metals and mine- 
 rals; sedentary life, depressing passions, great 
 evacuations, intemperance, nursing of infants too 
 long, and whatever else induces debility ; tight 
 lacing, which serves to compress the chest and 
 circumscribe the action of the pulmonary mus- 
 cles ; and lastly, the application of cold to the 
 body, when in a state of perspiration, which is by 
 far the most common of all causes ; which shows 
 the danger of the ball-room, where exercise is per- 
 formed till the pores are opened, and suddenly 
 closed by the application of cold, which ends in 
 consumption; nearly every patient who applies- 
 for medical aid, in speaking of the cause of his 
 disease, refers to the time when he experienced a 
 sudden check of perspiration, and dates it from 
 that period. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. jgg 
 
 I may also mention those positions of the body 
 which oblige the person to continue long in a 
 stooping posture, as at the desk, in the manufac- 
 ture of shoes, factories, sewing, &c.; also such 
 employments as keep the hands and feet unnatu- 
 rally cold. j 
 
 The proximate or immediate cause may be 
 ascribed to irritation on the delicate coat of the 
 lungs, producing organic change or lesion of their 
 structure, subsequently inducing tubercles or 
 ulcers. There is a deleterious agent or fluid 
 carried to this organ, which all of us daily receive 
 into the system in our food and drink, instead of 
 being carried off by the excretory vessels of the 
 system. As an evidence of this, we find that as 
 soon as a person whose lungs are weak, or who is 
 predisposed to consumption, experiences a check 
 of perspiration, or to use a common expression, 
 takes cold, he immediately feels an irritation on 
 the lungs, and begins to cough. This demon- 
 strates that there is an offending matter, or nox- 
 ious agent, which should be carried off by per- 
 spiration ; hence the importance of keeping up a 
 uniform determination to the surface, in order to 
 preserve health. j 
 
 Treatment. It is generally supposed that pul- 
 monary consumption is incurable. But the suc- 
 cess of the Thomsonian practice in curing this 
 form of disease, goes to prove that in many cases 
 it can be cured. The patient, in order to be cured, 
 must be willing to pursue strictly the prescribed 
 course ; denying himself of every indulgence that 
 is injurious, and faithfully attending to every pre- 
 scription calculated to benefit him. \ 
 
 It is generally necessary to administer two or 
 three courses of medicine iu a week, after having 
 14* 
 
140 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 prepared the system for them hy taking warming 
 medicines a number of days previously. Between 
 the courses, take one of the pills No. 1, every four 
 hours, and the composition and spiced bitters ac- 
 cording to the directions under the head of com- 
 pounds. 
 
 A proper regard to diet, exercise and air, is very 
 important in consumptive cases. The food should 
 consist of coarse wheat bread, rice, ripe fruit, &c.,' 
 eaten at regular meals only, and regular exercise 
 in the open air, if the strength and weather per-' 
 mit. An effort should be made to exercise as 
 much as possible, as many persons have been 
 cured by a persevering effort of this kind. The 
 surface should be bathed all over twice a day in 
 cold water, if there be sufficient vitality to produce 
 re-action ; or if not, brandy and water, followed 
 by friction with a coarse towel fifteen or twenty 
 minutes. The feet should be protected from wet 
 and cold. 
 
 CHOLERA MORBUS, DIARRHOEA, AND DYSENTERY. 
 
 These forms of disease are considered some- 
 what different ; but the same method of treatment 
 may be properly applied to each. In the first 
 stages, or in mild attacks, the diarrhoea powder or 
 syrup taken according to directions will effect a 
 cure. If the attack is severe, a full course of 
 medicine should be given, followed up by in- 
 jections, containing a large proportion of slippery 
 elm, every half hour, until relief is obtained. For 
 children, a tea of slippery elm and loaf sugar 
 should be given freely ; also the diarrhoea powders, 
 and injections of hemlock bark. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 141 
 
 CONVULSIONS OR FITS. 
 
 Fits are occasioned by an effort of nature to 
 overcome some obstruction. j 
 
 Treatment. In cases of fits of every descrip- 
 tion, an injection should be administered, com- 
 posed of slippery elm and anti-spasmodic tincture, 
 in quantity according to age and severity of the 
 attack, as soon as possible. If the jaws are locked, 
 put some of the anti-spasmodic tincture into the 
 back part of the mouth, and they will soon be- 
 come relaxed, then give a great suoonful in some 
 kind of warming tea. In order to effect a perma- 
 nent cure, full courses of medicine should be 
 resorted to, with a constant stimulant and tonic 
 treatment. Regard should also be had to diet and 
 exercise in the open air, which are a sine qua non 
 in the cure of all cases. 
 
 CORNS. 
 
 To cure these troublesome consequences of 
 tight shoes, avoid the first cause, or wear shoes 
 sufficiently large for the foot, and wear a piece of 
 India rubber over the corn, and a cure is certain. 
 
 CROUP. 
 
 This heretofore frightful form of disease, which 
 has ever baffled the skill of the faculty, and proved 
 so almost universally fatal under their treatment, 
 is generally too well known in this country, from 
 unpleasant experience and observation, to need 
 much explanation by way of description, for every 
 American mother must sooner or later have wit- 
 nessed more or less cases. It is a form of disease 
 peculiar to children, and has seldom or never been 
 
142 A GUIDE TO HEALTH 
 
 known to attack a person who has arrived at years 
 of puberty. It mostly attacks infants, who are 
 suddenly seized with difficulty of breathing, attend- 
 ed with a rattling noise and like a multiplicity 
 of other forms of disease, is caused by the appli- 
 cation of cold, or, which is synonymous, a loss of 
 the requisite quantity of heat for maintaining a 
 healthy action in the animal economy, and conse- 
 quently occurs more frequently in the winter and 
 spring than in other seasons. In cases of croup, 
 the mucous membrane of the trachea or windpipe 
 becomes greatly inflamed, which induces a great 
 secretion of a very tenacious coagulated lymph or 
 mucous matter in the windpipe and bronchial ves- 
 sels, which greatly impedes respiration, and if not 
 relieved, in most cases will sooner or later prove 
 fatal by suffocation, or total obstruction of the 
 respiratory organs. 
 
 Treatment. In treating croup, thorough, and 
 sometimes often-repeated emetics should never be 
 neglected, as they are almost the only prescription 
 upon which much reliance can be placed ; and 
 lobelia is undoubtedly the most safe and effectual 
 for this purpose of any thing known. It may be 
 administered in powder or in an infusion, and in 
 cases in which children are obstinate in taking 
 medicine, the latter is preferable. A sufficient 
 quantity should be given in all cases, to produce a 
 thorough evacuation of the stomach, as there is 
 little or no danger from the size of the dose, as no 
 more will be used in the stomach than is necessary 
 to produce the requisite cleansing and evacuation, 
 the excess being thrown off as useless. The 
 tincture or infusion of lobelia may be continued 
 in small doses of a tea-spoonful or so, after the 
 stomach has been well cleansed and evacuated, 
 
A GUTDE TO HEALTH. 143 
 
 and it will produce an excellent effect of arousing 
 action in the stomach, loosening the viscid secre- 
 tions upon tho mucous membrane of the trachea 
 or windpipe, promote expectoration, and allay the 
 inflammation which usually accompanies and par- 
 ticularly affects the bronchial vessels. If the 
 emetic in cases of croup does not operate freely and 
 effectually, enemas or injections, well charged with 
 tincture or third preparation, should be repeated 
 until the stomach is effectually cleansed from all 
 impurities. The child during the operation of the 
 medicine should, if possible, be made to perspire 
 freely, which may be done by feeding it with 
 warm herb drinks and composition tea, by warm 
 bathing, putting warm bricks or boiled blocks 
 about the child in the cradle or bed. 
 
 CATARRH IN THE HEAD. 
 
 The glands and membranes of the head secrete 
 a fluid to keep the mouth, nose and eyes moist, 
 which sometimes become obstructed, causing a 
 flow from the nostrils, makes the eyes tender, irri- 
 tates the nose and occasions sneezing, or falls into 
 the throat and windpipe, and causes coughing, 
 and, if long continued, the consumption. 
 
 Treatment. Take one or two full courses of 
 medicine, then use the catarrh snuff mentioned in 
 this work. Dr. Beach recommends the following- 
 remedy : " Take common sage a table-spoonful, 
 black pepper a tea-spoonful ; pulverize, and smoke 
 two or three pipes during the day, and force the 
 smoke through the nose." Dr. Leavitt, of New 
 York, recommends a snuff of blood root, gum 
 arabic, and gum myrrh, equal parts, pulverized. 
 
144 1 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 CHILBLAINS. 
 
 These are painful swellings, attended with in- 
 tolerable itching, which make their appearance on 
 the hands, feet, nose, ears, and lips, in cold 
 weather. 
 
 Treatment. Bathe frequently in the rheumatic 
 drops, and apply the meadow-fern ointment. If 
 there is much pain or inflammation, apply the elm 
 poultice. 
 
 COLDS AND COUGHS. 
 
 The application of cold to the body, giving a 
 check to perspiration, is the general cause of these 
 complaints. A cold is usually attended with dif- 
 ficulty of breathing, a sense of fulness and stop- 
 ping in the nose, head-ache, cough, &c. 
 
 Treatment. Take a tea-spoonful of composi- 
 tion and two of the pills No. 1, at night, which 
 will generally cure. If the cough should con- 
 tinue troublesome, take the cough drops or pow- 
 ders mentioned in this work. Should these fail 
 to break up the cold, take a full course of medi- 
 cine and avoid exposure for a few days, and a 
 cure is certain. 
 
 COSTIVENESS. 
 
 Costiveness is generally occasioned by improper 
 food and sedentary habits ; and the best remedy 
 is to take active exercise in the open air, and live 
 principally on coarse wheat bread, fruit, rye pud- 
 ding, &c.; avoiding tea, coffee, fine flour bread, 
 and physic. 
 
; A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 145 
 
 DIABETES. 
 
 The diabetes is an excessive, frequent, and 
 sometimes an involuntary flow of urine. It is 
 accompanied with great debility, costiveness, vora- 
 cious appetite, emaciation, &c. 
 
 Treatment. The most important indication in 
 this form of disease is to increase the action of the 
 skin and produce free perspiration. For this pur- 
 pose the vapor bath should be frequently used, and 
 the sudorific powders taken at night. The spiced 
 bitters should be taken three times a day, and the 
 surface bathed in Cayenne and vinegar every 
 morning. If the patient is advanced in years and 
 the constitution broken down, if the course pre- 
 scribed above does not cure, it may be considered 
 incurable. But if young and tolerably healthy in 
 other respects, apply thorough courses of medicine 
 until a cure is effected. 
 
 DELIRIUM TREMENS. 
 
 This horrid disease is confined principally to 
 those who are addicted to the free use of ardent 
 spirits. The patient imagines he is surrounded 
 by robbers, reptiles, or wild animals, and flies to 
 the door or window to escape. His hands become 
 tremulous, and he is restless and talkative. 
 
 Treatment. A full course of medicine should 
 be administered, steaming the patient in bed with 
 heated stones wrapped in a damp cloth, placed at 
 the feet and back. Give frequently of valerian or 
 scullcap tea during its operation. The injections 
 should be repeated and their strength increased, 
 until the patient is quiet and inclined to sleep. It 
 is found that kind treatment is much more sue- 
 
146 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 cessful in restoring the patient than violence, as is 
 usually the case under all other circumstances. 
 
 DROPSY. 
 
 Dropsy is an accumulation of watery fluid in 
 the cellular membrane, or any of the cavities of 
 the body. It is caused by a weakness of the ab- 
 sorbent vessels, which are unable to take up the 
 fluid and discharge it from the system through 
 the natural channels. 
 
 Treatment. In the early stages, this form of 
 disease may be cured by a free use of the diuretic 
 syrup, stimulating conserve and pills No. 2, with a 
 vapor bath occasionally. But in the more ad- 
 vanced stages, full courses of medicine are required, 
 repeated once or twice a week. The patient 
 should avoid drinking much, and live principally 
 on dry food. 
 
 DISLOCATIONS AND FRACTURES. 
 
 Simple fractures or dislocations may be reduced 
 by any person of common mechanical ingenuity. 
 The first object is to relax the muscles. The 
 world is indebted to Dr. Thomson for the best 
 mode of accomplishing this object. He directs 
 the patient to take a dose of Cayenne and valerian, 
 to promote perspiration, &c. Then wet a large 
 cloth in hot water, and apply as hot as can be 
 borne, around the injured part, and for some dis- 
 tance above and below it. 'This being done, hold 
 a vessel under, and pour on water as hot as can 
 be applied without pain, and so continue for fifteen 
 or twenty minutes, when the cloth must be taken 
 off, and the bone or bones placed in their proper 
 position. If the case be a broken bone, it must 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 147 
 
 be splintered ; but if it be a joint out of place, 
 nothing more will be necessary than to pour cold 
 water on the part, which will contract the muscles 
 and keep the bone in its proper position. Lobelia 
 taken in broken doses, will also produce relaxation 
 of the muscles, and is often very necessary in 
 dislocation or fracture of large bones. Difficult 
 cases of this kind will, of course, require the aid 
 of experienced surgeons. 
 
 DYSPEPSIA, OR INDIGESTION. 
 
 This form of disease may depend on any cause 
 tending to produce weakness or inaction of the 
 stomach, or obstruction in the secretion of gastric 
 juice or bile. It is usually attended with pain 
 after eating, costiveness, emaciation, colic, lowness 
 of spirits, languor, &c. 
 
 Treatment. The symptoms attending this form 
 of disease may be relieved by medicine, but the 
 cure can alone be effected by proper diet and ex- 
 ercise. The anti-dyspeptic powders will relieve 
 the pain and soreness of the stomach after eating ; 
 pills No. 2 and injections should be used for the 
 costiveness, and a course of medicine occasionally, 
 to throw off the morbid accumulations, and stimu- 
 late the different organs to action. The diet 
 should be simple, avoiding tea, coffee, butter, pork, 
 and use but little meat of any kind. The coarse 
 wheat bread is one of the very best articles of 
 food in the complaint. Pour or five hours' active 
 exercise in the open air should be taken every day, 
 and the whole body bathed in cold water every 
 morning, followed by brisk friction with a coarse 
 towel. Sedentary occupation should be given up, 
 and those more in accordance with the laws of 
 nature substituted. 
 15 
 
148 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 ERYSIPELAS, OR ST. ANTHONY'S FIRE. 
 
 This form of disease sometimes attacks all parts 
 of the body, but is usually confined to the face 
 and extremities. The inflammation appears in a 
 small spot, and gradually spreads to a greater or 
 less extent over the surrounding surface. When 
 confined to the face, the symptoms are sometimes 
 violent, swelling so as to close the eye-lids. On 
 the fourth or fifth day, blisters of different sizes 
 make their appearance on the inflamed surface, 
 containing a clear and watery fluid which after- 
 wards becomes of a straw color and more or less 
 glutinous. In twenty -four or forty-eight hours 
 the blisters break, when the redness and swelling 
 begin to subside, and the adjacent cuticle peals oft' 
 in the form of scales. 
 
 Tieatment. In mild cases of this form of dis- 
 ease, a tea of meadow fern, taken freely and used 
 for bathing, is all that is required. In more severe 
 cases, composition and injections should be used, 
 and if necessary a full course of medicine, repeat- 
 ed as occasion may require. A poultice of slip- 
 pery elm will soothe the irritation and relieve the 
 pain. 
 
 EAR-ACHE. 
 
 Children are peculiarly liable to this distress- 
 ing form of disease, occasioned by exposure to 
 cold and dampness, or an abscess forming in the 
 ear. 
 
 Treatment. The ear-ache may be relieved by 
 steaming the side of the head, and using the warm 
 foot bath. The heart of a roasted onion, put into 
 the ear as hot as it can be borne, will generally 
 relieve. Syringing the ear with warm soap-suds 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 149 
 
 will sometimes relieve the pain. A bath of hops, 
 simmered in vinegar and applied warm, has been 
 found very beneficial. 
 
 FALLING OF THE FUNDAMENT. 
 
 This is often met with in children, occasioned 
 by debility and relaxation of the parts. 
 
 Treatment. It should be gently replaced with 
 the fingers, smeared in lard or sweet oil. If inflam- 
 mation and swelling have taken place, so that it 
 cannot be easily returned, steam the part and poul- 
 tice with slippery elm. Injections of hemlock, 
 witch hazel or sumach will be found useful to 
 strengthen the debilitated parts. The bowels 
 should be kept free. 
 
 FELONS AND WHITLOWS. 
 
 Felons and whitlows are very painful, being 
 an inflammation of the covering membrane of the 
 bone, and usually attack the finger joints. 
 
 Treatment. As soon as matter forms, an in- 
 cision may be made with a lancet to let it out. 
 Dr. Thomson recommends burning a piece of 
 punk the size of a pea on the affected part, cover- 
 ing the other portions of the finger with a cloth 
 or napkin wetted with cold water. The burning 
 may be repeated, if necessary ; and the pain, it is 
 said, is very slight. As soon as the vitality of the 
 skin is destroyed, it is to be punctured with a 
 needle, slightly elevated, and a small portion of it 
 cut away, so that the pus may escape. This 
 accomplished, the elm and ginger poultice may be 
 applied as on any other sore. 
 
150 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 FLUOR ALBUS, OR WHITES, 
 
 Is so called from its appearance, which, though 
 at first it is generally milky, sometimes changes to 
 green, yellow or even brown, shows itself in an 
 irregular discharge from the uterus and vagina. 
 It is often attended with severe pain in the back 
 and loins, weakness, loss of appetite, dejection of 
 spirits, paleness and chilliness, and sometimes by 
 difficult respiration, palpitations, faintings, and 
 swelling of the lower extremities. 
 
 Treatment. Full courses of medicine should 
 be administered twice a week, and the composi- 
 tion and pills No. 1 intermediately, with injections 
 "per vaginam" of a strong tea of witch hazel, and 
 the female restorative three times a day, until a 
 cure is effected. ' 
 
 GOUT. 
 
 This is a very painful form of disease, generally 
 attacking the small joints. It usually attacks men 
 who indulge in high living, and lead a sedentary 
 life. A celebrated physician recommended to a 
 person afflicted with the gout, that he live upon a 
 sixpence a day, and earn it. Attacks of this com- 
 plaint rarely occur before the age of thirty-five or 
 forty. 
 
 Treatment. The affected part should be 
 bathed with the stimulating liniment, and full 
 courses of medicine repeated until relief is obtain- 
 ed. The elm poultice should also be used. 
 
 GRAVEL, OR STONE. 
 
 The formation of small, sand-like concretions 
 in the passage from the kidneys is called the 
 gravel; but if they are formed of so large size 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 151 
 
 that they cannot pass the ureters, or urethra, it is 
 called the stone. The gravel often afflicts aged 
 persons ; the stone, children from infancy to fifteen 
 years of age. They are attended with fixed pain 
 in the loins or small of the back, sometimes 
 shooting down the thighs, numbness of the thigh 
 or leg on the side affected, frequent disposition to 
 pass water, which flows in a small quantity, 
 sometimes attended with a discharge of bloody 
 urine. 
 
 Treatment. The best article we have ever 
 used as a solvent for the stone, is queen of the 
 meadow root and cleavers, a strong decoction, 
 drunk freely. The diuretic syrup will usually 
 afford relief. In violent paroxysms of pain, 
 fomentations should be applied to the painful part, 
 of hops and wormwood, and a full course of 
 medicine given. I knew an instance where the 
 stone was passed with the water while in the 
 steam box, and a cure immediately effected. I 
 
 Persons afflicted with the gravel or stone, should 
 avoid the use of fermented liquors, such as cider, 
 beer, and especially wines, and all sour sub- 
 stances ; at the same time giving preference to 
 soft, instead of hard water. 
 
 INFLAMMATION OF ANY INTERNAL ORGAN OR 
 MEMBRANE. 
 
 In all cases of internal, local inflammation, the' 
 great object to be accomplished is to equalize the 
 circulation, which the faithful administration of, 
 full courses of medicine seldom fails to accom- 
 plish ; fomentations should be applied to the part 
 affected, of wormwood, hops and tansy, wet in 
 vinegar. The intermediate treatment should be 
 'the spiced bitters three times a day, and composi- 
 15* 
 
152 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 tion at night, with the daily use of injections. If 
 costive, take two of the pills No. 2, at night. A 
 free use should be made of a tea of slippery elm, 
 and milk porridge should be the principal article 
 of diet. Chronic inflammations can only be cured 
 by a proper regulation of the diet, exercise, bath- 
 ing, &c. 
 
 EXTERNAL INFLAMMATION. 
 
 All cases of external inflammation should be 
 bathed often in weak lye water, or a tea of mea- 
 dow fern, and poulticed with the elm poultice, 
 omitting the ginger. If very violent, the same 
 course should be pursued as in internal inflamma- 
 tion. 
 
 JAUNDICE. 
 
 This form of disease is characterized by yellow- 
 ness of the skin, drowsiness, pain in the right 
 side, clay-colored stools, &c. It is occasioned by 
 an obstruction of the bile in its passage through 
 the biliary ducts into the duodenum ; it is absorb- 
 ed, going into the circulation, rendering the blood 
 impure, and deranging the operations of all the 
 organs. 
 
 Treatment. The spiced bitters, composition, 
 and pills No. 2, taken according to the directions 
 under the head of each, will almost invariably 
 cure jaundice. If they should fail, two or three 
 courses of medicine should be taken in connection 
 with the above-named articles. 
 
 MEASLES. 
 
 This form of disease is attended with feverish 
 symptoms, hoarseness, vomiting, swelling and 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 153 
 
 redness of eyes, a hoarse, dry cough, drowsiness, 
 sneezing, and a thin, watery discharge from the 
 eyes and nose. The tongue is covered with a 
 white coat, and the breath very offensive. On the 
 third or fourth day, the eruption makes its appear- 
 ance about the face and forehead. It consists of 
 small, red spots, which run into each other and 
 form patches, which begin to disappear in three or 
 four days. 
 
 Treatment. In mild cases, all that is necessary, 
 is to give composition, or saffron and snake-root 
 tea, to keep the skin moist, with an occasional in-J 
 jection to open the bowels. If the eruption does 
 not make its appearance, and the feverish excite-, 
 ment continues, it will be necessary to give lobe- 
 lia enough to produce vomiting, and injections 
 often. The nettle rash, which this resembles, 1 
 should be treated in precisely the same way. 
 
 MUMPS. 
 
 This form of disease comes on with a swelling, 
 sometimes on one and sometimes on both sides of 
 the face and neck, at or near the angle of the 
 jaws. The glands begin to swell and continue to 
 enlarge until the fourth day, when the swelling 
 declines, and in a few days is entirely gone. 
 
 Some danger attends this form of disease when 
 the patient takes cold, transferring the swelling to 
 the breasts of females and testicles of males. 
 
 Treatment. But little if any medicine is re- 
 quired in this form of disease unless the patient 
 take cold, in which case a full course of medicine 
 should be administered, repeated as often as the 
 nature of the case requires. 
 
154 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 OBSTRUCTED OR PROFUSE MENSTRUATION. 
 
 These forms of disease are characterized by 
 general debility, pain in the head, coldness of the 
 extremitieSj palpitation of the heart, &c. 
 
 Treatment. The general treatment for each 
 of these forms of disease should be precisely the 
 same, viz. : full courses of medicine to remove 
 the obstruction and equalize the circulation. In 
 case of profuse menstruation, give the female re- 
 storative, a tea-spoonful three times a day, and 
 inject a strong tea of witch hazel into the vagina. 
 
 In obstructed menstruation, in addition to full 
 courses of medicine, steam frequently and admin- 
 ister the female powders and pills No. 1, according 
 to directions. 
 
 PARALYSIS OR PALSY. 
 
 This form of disease is characterized by loss of 
 sensibility and motion, generally of the left side, 
 but sometimes confined to a particular part, as one 
 or both hands, arms, or legs. It is occasioned by 
 a loss of nervous energy, in consequence of an 
 aifection of the brain or spinal marrow, or a com- 
 pression or injury of the nerves. 
 
 Treatment. Full courses of medicine, com- 
 bined with stimulating liniment applied to the 
 part affected, will seldom fail to effect a cure. The 
 spiced bitters, composition, injections, and pills 
 No. 1, should be taken daily, according to 
 directions, and the stimulating liniment applied 
 twice a day. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 PILES. 
 
 These tumors are occasioned by the passage of 
 hardened faeces, forcing down the blood in the 
 veins until the lining membrane is ruptured, and 
 the blood presses out and forms small tumors ; 
 and when these are ruptured, profuse bleeding 
 sometimes takes place. 
 
 Treatment. The best remedy we have ever 
 found for the piles is the pile ointment mentioned 
 in this work ; it seldom fails to relieve ; injections 
 should also be used of hemlock bark and slippery 
 elm ; a tea of mullen should be drunk freely, and 
 the bowels kept open by using coarse wheat bread, 
 rye pudding and ripe fruit. Physic of all kinds 
 should be avoided, and costiveness prevented by 
 diet and exercise. 
 
 PLEURISY. 
 
 Pleurisy is an inflammation of the membrane that 
 lines the internal surface of the chest, commonly 
 affecting the right side. It is attended with acute 
 lancinating pain in the side ; hurried and painful 
 breathing ; a short, dry cough ; the skin dry and 
 hot ; the pulse hard and frequent ; and the tongue 
 coated. Inflammation of the pleura is very liable 
 to produce adhesions between the side of the chest 
 and lungs ; an occurrence, however, not productive 
 of much danger or inconvenience. But under 
 unfavorable circumstances, an abscess is sometimes 
 formed, which is always attended with more or 
 less hazard to the patient. 
 
 Treatment. Slight attacks will, in general, 
 require nothing more than the vapor bath and 
 warming teas; but in more violent attacks the 
 
156 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 patient should be kept under the influence of 
 lobelia until relief is obtained. A bath of hops 
 or a poultice of lobelia and slippery elm may be 
 applied to the side. 
 
 CANKER RASH, PUTRID SORE THROAT, AND 
 SCARLET FEVER. 
 
 These forms of disease combined, have prevail- 
 ed to an alarming extent in diiferent sections of 
 New England, consigning to the tomb the fond 
 hopes of many a devoted parent. Notwithstand- 
 ing their alarming fatality when treated by the 
 old school practice of physicing, bleeding and 
 blistering, they have been almost invariably cured 
 by the simple remedies of Thomson. The 
 Thomsonian treatment, as can be proved by sta- 
 tistical accounts, will cure ninety-nine cases out 
 of a hundred of scarlet fever and canker rash. 
 
 " Thes carlet fever," says Beach, " is so denomi- 
 nated from the scarlet color and eruptions which 
 appear on the body. It occurs at all seasons of 
 the year, but generally in the fall or beginning of 
 winter. 73 
 
 i The scarlet fever commences with a chill and 
 shivering, like other kinds of fever, with nausea 
 and vomiting, great sickness succeeded by heat, 
 thirst, and head-ache ; sometimes in a very mild, 
 degree, at others more violent. The pulse is ac- 
 celerated, the breathing is frequent or interrupted, 
 the eyes red, and the eye-lids swollen. In two or 
 three days the flesh begins to swell, a pricking 
 sensation is experienced, and an eruption appears 
 on the body in the form of a red stain or blotch, 
 or rather of a fiery redness. It usually appears 
 first upon the face, breast and arms, then over the 
 whole body, of a uniform red color. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 157 
 
 In the progress of the disease, one uniform red- 
 ness, unattended, however, by any pustular erup- 
 tion, pervades the face, body, and limbs, which 
 parts appear somewhat swollen. The eyes and 
 nostrils partake likewise more or less of the red- 
 ness, and, in proportion as the former have an 
 inflamed appearance, so does the tendency to de- 
 lirium prevail. 
 
 Treatment. Thorough Thomsonian treatment, 
 judiciously and perseveringly applied, has proved 
 a certain cure in this form of disease. An emetic 
 course should be given once or twice a day, with 
 frequent injections. The surface should be bathed 
 a number of times in a day with weak lye. Great 
 care should be taken to prevent taking cold after 
 the patient begins to recover. 
 
 Injections should be administered once in four 
 hours, and the skin kept moist with a free use of 
 cayenne and bayberry. 
 
 The throat should be frequently gargled with 
 bayberry tea, or cayenne and vinegar. Mullen 
 leaves, wet in vinegar, should be applied to the 
 throat externally, and the entire surface frequently 
 bathed with meadow-fern tea. 
 
 RHEUMATISM. 
 
 This form of disease is usually occasioned by 
 checking perspiration, and is most prevalent when 
 the weather is damp and variable. The pain is 
 very acute, and frequently changes from one part 
 of the system to another. 
 
 Treatment. This form of disease yields readily 
 to the Thomsonian practice. The patient should 
 take three or four courses of medicine in as many 
 days, if the attack is very violent. The part 
 affected should be bathed with the stimulating 
 
158 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 liniment, and the spiced bitters, composition and 
 pills No. 1, used according to direction until a cure 
 is effected. I have no doubt cold water, judiciously 
 applied, will cure this form of disease ; but I have 
 never proved it. 
 
 R'UPTURE OR HERNIA. 
 
 This is a protrusion of a portion of the bowels 
 or omentum, forming a tumor or sack under the 
 skin. It generally occurs at the groin and inner 
 part of the thigh. When the portion of the 
 bowels becomes confined in the sack by the con- 
 traction of the orifice, it produces alarming effects, 
 such as vomiting, pain and stoppage in the bowels, 
 and if relief is not soon obtained, mortification 
 takes place. This is called strangulated hernia. 
 
 Treatment. The first object to be accomplish- 
 ed, is to replace the protruded portion of the 
 bowels, which may generally be done by pressure 
 with the fingers, the patient lying on his back, 
 with his thighs bent upon his body and his head 
 elevated. A strangulated hernia cannot be return- 
 ed until the inflammation and swelling are sub- 
 dued. This can be speedily accomplished by a 
 full course of medicine, or lobelia taken in small 
 potions until the system is sufficiently relaxed, 
 when it may be gently returned. 
 
 Dr. Logan, of Pennsylvania, recommends the 
 application of a strong decoction of white oak 
 bark to effect a permanent cure for hernia. 
 
 SCALD-HEAD. 
 
 This eruption usually commences with a brown- 
 ish spot on some part of the head ; which soon 
 discharges matter so acrid as to excoriate the skin, 
 and spreads so as sometimes to entirely cover the 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 head. Children are particularly subject to this 
 eruption, which is occasioned by improper diet, 
 uncleanliness, or contagion. 
 
 Treatment. It is necessary to administer two 
 or three courses of medicine to cleanse the system 
 from the impurities that occasion the eruption. 
 First wash the head two or three times a day 
 with Castile soap, then a strong tea of meadow 
 fern burs and leaves ; after which apply a poultice 
 composed of slippery elm, pond lily root, and bay- 
 berry, using the composition tea internally to favor 
 perspiration. Particular attention should be paid 
 to diet, avoiding butter, tea or coffee. 
 
 SCROFULA OR KING'S EVIL. 
 
 The first appearance of this form of disease is 
 commonly in small, round, movable tumors under 
 the skin, without pain or discoloration, generally 
 in the neck, behind the ears, and under the chin, 
 which, after a while, suppurate and degenerate into 
 ulcers, discharging a white matter instead of 
 healthy pus. It is occasioned by impure air, un- 
 wholesome food, the use of mercury, or whatever 
 tends to derange the health. 
 
 Treatment. Thorough courses of medicine are 
 absolutely necessary in this form of disease. Give 
 three courses a week, and steam every day ; giving 
 in the mean time, and following up afterwards 
 with the spiced bitters, composition, and pills No. 
 1, according to directions. Bathe the tumors with 
 stimulating liniment, if there is no inflammation 
 on the surface ; if inflamed, apply the elm poul- 
 tice. If ulceration has taken place, wash with 
 Castile soap suds, and continue the elm poultice 
 with the addition of pond lily root, until the dis- 
 charge ceases. 
 16 
 
160 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 The diet should consist of coarse wheat bread, 
 rice, ripe fruit, rye pudding, &c., avoiding all 
 grease, tea, coffee, and fermented or distilled 
 liquors of all kinds. Perseverance is a very im- 
 portant requisite in this as well as most other 
 chronic forms of disease. 
 
 SMALL POX. 
 
 In this form of disease, the eruption appears at 
 first in small red spots, hardly prominent, but by 
 degrees rising into pimples. There are generally 
 but few on the face ; but even when more numer- 
 ous, they are separate and distinct from one an- 
 other. On the fifth or sixth day a small vesicle, 
 or bladder, containing an almost colorless fluid, 
 appears on the top of each pimple ; for two days 
 these vesicles increase in breadth only, and there 
 is a small pit in their middle, so that they are not 
 raised into spheroidical or globular pustules or 
 eruptions, till the eighth day. 
 
 As the pustules increase in size, the face swells 
 considerably, if they are numerous on it ; and the 
 eyelids particularly are so much swelled, that the 
 eyes are entirely shut. As the disease proceeds, 
 the matter in the pustules becomes, by degrees, 
 first more opaque or cloudy, then white, and then 
 at length assumes a yellowish color. On the 
 eleventh day the swelling of the face is abated, 
 and the pustules seem quite full. On the top of 
 each a darker spot appears j and at this place the 
 pustule, on the eleventh day or soon after, is 
 spontaneously broken, and a portion of the matter 
 oozes out, in consequence of which the pustule is 
 shrivelled, and subsides ; while the matter oozing 
 out dries, and forms a crust upon its surface. 
 
 Treatment. No disease yields more readily to 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 thorough Thomsonian treatment than small pox. 
 The patient should begin by drinking freely of 
 composition and cayenne, after which a full course 
 of medicine should be administered, and an emetic 
 course with injections as often as the nature of 
 the case requires. The intermediate treatment 
 should be composition and raspberry tea, with Cay- 
 enne No. 2, and injections often administered. The 
 patient should be in a room where the air can be 
 kept pure, and should not be suffered to change 
 from a mild to a cold atmosphere, without due 
 precaution. His diet should be light, and chiefly 
 vegetable. If costiveness prevails, injections are 
 far preferable to cathartics. This course of treat- 
 ment, with careful nursing, will effect a cure. 
 
 SORE OR INFLAMED BREAST. 
 
 This form of disease very commonly attacks 
 females after child-birth, and frequently results in 
 a broken breast. 
 
 Treatment. Fomentation of bitter herbs and 
 the elm poultice, with the internal use of compo- 
 sition, will usually afford immediate relief. Dr. 
 Barrett, of Norfolk, Va., recommends the following 
 application : 
 
 " Take the kernels of white oak acorns, either 
 green or dry, (they will keep for years,) pound 
 them fine, and stew them in hog's lard over a slow 
 fire, until you get the virtues of the acorn well 
 incorporated with the lard. Add about lard 
 enough to cover them, and make it as strong of 
 the acorns as you well can, then strain and pre- 
 serve them for use. This is to be applied with 
 considerable friction two or three times a day, ac- 
 cording to symptoms, and a piece of soft flannel 
 
162 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 worn over the breast. You may cut a hole in the 
 flannel, so as to nurse a child without removing it. 
 
 " If this is well applied before matter is formed, 
 it will not fail one time in a hundred to prevent 
 the breast from rising, whether the child is or is 
 not nursed. It will soften every hard place, ease 
 pain, and cause the milk to flow out naturally, so 
 that the breast in no case will need drawing." 
 
 He says, " I have seen and known so many 
 cases, I speak with confidence." 
 
 ST. VITUS' DANCE. 
 
 This disease is characterized by the involuntary 
 action of some of the muscles. The disease first 
 affects the legs by a kind of lameness, and the 
 patient drags them after him in an unusual man- 
 ner, nor can he hold his arms still, but is constant- 
 ly throwing them about in an ungraceful manner, 
 which it is impossible for him to avoid. 
 
 Treatment. In the early stages this form of 
 disease may be cured by a free use of composition 
 and valerian, half a tea-spoonful of each at night, 
 and two of the pills No. 1. If this does not cure, 
 the courses of medicine must be resorted to, which 
 in combination with nervines and tonics will effect 
 a cure. 
 
 SHINGLES. 
 
 This form of disease is characterized by a clus- 
 ter of blisters on an inflamed surface, commencing 
 in most instances on the right side of the abdo- 
 men. It is attended with loss of appetite, lassi- 
 tude, slight head-ache, nausea, more or less febrile 
 irritation, together with scalding heat and tingling 
 in the skin, and shooting pains through the chest 
 and stomach, 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 163 
 
 Treatment. Take composition and pennyroyal 
 tea freely, and two of the pills No. 1, at night j 
 and apply the meadow-fern ointment to the erup- 
 tion, and it will generally soon disappear. 
 
 SUSPENDED ANIMATION FROM DROWNING. 
 
 When a person is taken out of the water soon 
 after drowning, the face exhibits a turgid and livi<J 
 appearance ; the eyes are open and staring ; the 
 limbs somewhat stiff; the tongue thrust a little 
 beyond the teeth ; and the epigastrium tense and 
 tumid. Under favorable circumstances, life may 
 be restored even after the heart has ceased to act. 
 
 Treatment. The patient should be taken to a 
 suitable place and rubbed dry with warm flannels, 
 and covered warm. The face should be turned 
 somewhat downward to allow the water to run 
 out of the mouth, but he should not be handled 
 roughly. An injection should be administered, 
 composed of third preparation, cayenne and slip- 
 pery elm, and a table-spoonful of the same admin- 
 istered at once, in lukewarm water. No other 
 means can be employed that are so well calculated 
 to arouse the nervous influence and excite respira- 
 tion, as powerful stimulants administered by injec- 
 tion to the bowels or introduced into the stomach. 
 The injection should be frequently repeated. Rub 
 the surface thoroughly in pepper-sauce, and put a 
 bottle of hot water at the feet. The first symp- 
 toms that attend returning animation, are twitch- 
 ing of the muscles about the mouth ; soon follow- 
 ed by efforts to breathe ; sudden motion of the 
 limbs ; a small and weak pulse, beating at irregu- 
 lar intervals ; and a discharge of frothy fluid from 
 the mouth. As soon as the patient can swallow, 
 stimulants, such as third preparation of lobelia or 
 
|4 A UIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 pepper tea, must be given in small doses frequently 
 repeated. Yomiting is often induced when anima- 
 tion is being restored, which is always a favorable 
 symptom. 
 
 Suspended animation from the inhalation of 
 gas from burning charcoal, or by lightning, or 
 fainting, should be treated as above directed, if 
 they do not recover after dashing cold water into 
 the face, and coming to the air. 
 
 TIC DOLOUREUX. 
 
 This form of disease, though of rare occurrence, 
 is probably the most painful of any malady that 
 feeble nature has to contend with ; and medical 
 writers generally concur in opinion that nothing 
 short of an operation, dividing the diseased nerve, 
 can afford relief. Our experience, however, 
 though limited, induces us to believe that the 
 disease will readily yield to proper remedies. It 
 is characterized by severe paroxysms of pain, 
 affecting the nerves of the face. 
 
 Treatment. Thorough courses of medicine 
 will usually cure this form of disease. The worst 
 case we ever saw, was cured by taking two 
 thorough courses in twenty-four hours ; no relief 
 being obtained until after the operation of the 
 second course, when the patient was entirely easy, 
 and has not, to our knowledge, had an attack 
 since. 
 
 WOUNDS. 
 
 Wounds are divided into incised, or those done 
 by a sharp instrument, lacerated when done by a 
 rough instrument, punctured when done by a point- 
 ed instrument, and poisoned or gun-shot wounds. 
 Wounds produced by a sharp instrument. The 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 165 
 
 first object is to stop the bleeding. When an 
 artery is cut, the blood is of a bright scarlet color, 
 and gushes from the blood-vessel in a jet, with 
 great force. When a vein is cut, the blood runs 
 in an even, unbroken stream, and is of a purple- 
 red color. The bleeding may be stopped with a 
 pledget of lint rolled up and pressed directly upon 
 the mouth of the artery. The next object is to 
 cleanse the wound from all extraneous substances. 
 The sides of the wound should then be placed 
 together, and confined by narrow strips of sticking 
 plaster. Over these strips should be placed a 
 cushion of soft lint ; and over the whole a bandage 
 drawn agreeably tight, and making equal pressure. 
 In lacerated, punctured, and gun-shot wounds, 
 inflammation sometimes takes place, requiring a 
 poultice of slippery elm mixed with lye-water. 
 They require much the same treatment as wounds 
 produced by a sharp instrument, but are much 
 more difficult to heal. Caution should be used to 
 prevent taking cold, as serious consequences some- 
 times follow, especially in punctured wounds. 
 
 WHITE SWELLING. 
 
 The white swelling is a common and exceed- 
 ingly painful disorder. It has been considered 
 incurable by the faculty, who have frequently 
 resorted to amputation as the only remedy. 
 
 The knee, ankle, wrist, and elbow, are the joints 
 most subject to white swellings. As the name 
 of the disease implies, the skin is not at all altered 
 in color. In some instances, the swelling yields, 
 in a certain degree, to pressure ; but it never pits, 
 and is almost always sufficiently firm to make an 
 uninformed examiner believe that the bones con- 
 tribute to^the tumor. The pain is sometimes 
 
166 A GUIDE TO HEALTH 
 
 vehement from the very first ; in other instances, 
 there is hardly the least pain in the beginning of 
 the disease. In the majority of scrofulous white 
 swellings, let the pain be trivial or violent, it is 
 particularly situated in one part of the joint, viz., 
 either the centre of the articulation, or the head 
 of the tibia, supposing the knee affected. In some 
 cases, abscesses form a few months after the first 
 affection of the joint ; on other occasions, several 
 years elapse, and no suppuration of this kind makes 
 its appearance. 
 
 Treatment. Courses of medicine are indispen- 
 sable in this form of disease. A thorough course 
 should be administered once a week. During the 
 intervals the knee should be bathed with the 
 stimulating liniment, and poulticed with the elm 
 poultice combined with the sediment of drops No. 
 6. Composition, spiced bitters, and pills No. 1, 
 should be taken according to directions. The 
 diet should consist of coarse wheat bread, rice, 
 potatoes, ripe fruit, &c., avoiding butter, meat, tea 
 and coffee, &c. 
 
 WHOOPING COUGH 
 
 This form of disease usually attacks children, 
 occurring but once in the same individual. The 
 cough acquires a peculiar shrill and whooping 
 sound, in many cases almost producing suffocation. 
 
 Treatment. The bowels should be kept regu- 
 lar by injections, and the tincture of lobelia used 
 in small quantities, to keep the cough loose. The 
 patient should be kept from the evening air, the 
 feet kept warm and dry, and particular regard paid 
 to the diet. 
 
PART III. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 MIDWIFERY. 
 
 THERE is no part of the practice of medicine or 
 surgery, in which a reform is more loudly called 
 for, than in that of midwifery. But few are fully 
 conscious of the unnecessary suffering and de- 
 struction of human life, produced by the unnatural 
 interference of male accoucheurs. Were the dic- 
 tates of nature and the light of reason followed, 
 instead of the false theories of those who profess 
 to be learned and wise, the homes of many child- 
 less parents might now be made cheerful by the 
 innocent merriment and fond caressing of their 
 offspring. We do not charge upon the faculty a 
 disregard for the sufferings of the female sex ; we 
 know them to be as humane, as benevolent as 
 others, but a strong inducement is held out to 
 them to retain this practice under their " exclusive 
 jurisdiction," when they must know that females 
 are fully competent and far better adapted to per- 
 form the office of midwife than males. That strong 
 inducement is the fee. If this service was to be 
 done gratuitously, the probability is, physicians 
 would soon come to the conclusion that their pre- 
 sence was not necessary at the time of child-birth. 
 No physician can have failed to notice that his 
 
103 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 introduction into the chamber of parturition pro- 
 duces an unfavorable change in the patient, that 
 frequently is not entirely overcome. Do they 
 argue that females are not competent to officiate as 
 midwives ? If we search the annals of history, 
 we shall find that females were the only midwives 
 until the seventeenth century. It is said that dur- 
 ing the latter part of the sixteenth century, a phy- 
 sician in Hamburgh was publicly branded, because 
 he was induced by curiosity to be present at a 
 delivery, in female attire. Madame Boivin, the 
 celebrated lecturer on midwifery, in Paris, has 
 superintended the delivery of more than twenty 
 thousand women. Many American women have 
 devoted their time to the business, with a success 
 seldom equalled by the other sex. Females who 
 understand the Thomsonian system, and have 
 given their attention to the practice of midwifery, 
 have seldom met with any difficulty. My own 
 experience and observation compel me to believe 
 that ninety-nine in a hundred of the cases that are 
 so very alarming and often fatal to mother or child, 
 would be comparatively safe and expeditious under 
 the management of such females. Mrs. Whitney, 
 formerly of Nashua, has attended many cases with 
 perfect success and satisfaction to all concerned. 
 Any other woman may be equally successful, by 
 obtaining a knowledge of the medicines and the 
 management of such cases. If women cannot be 
 obtained who will take the responsibility, let those 
 husbands who are convinced of the impropriety 
 of the present practice, inform themselves upon 
 the subject, and attend upon their own wives. 
 We know a Methodist minister in Maine, who has 
 attended upon his wife with eight or nine child- 
 ren, without any trouble, and we know of many 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 169 
 
 others who do the same. We hazard the asser- 
 tion, unpopular as it may be, that the presence of 
 a physician is no more necessary to the safe deliv- 
 ery of ninety-nine cases in a hundred in child- 
 birth, than it is when a healthy woman is eating 
 wholesome fruit. 
 
 " Females have been made to belie ve, says 
 Dr. Beach, " that physicians only are competent to 
 assist them in the hour of child-birth, and that 
 midwives are incompetent j by which, this branch 
 of medicine has been very unjustly and improperly 
 wrested from them, and monopolized by the fac- 
 ulty. Did females know the ignorance, the un- 
 timely and rash interference with the unwieldy 
 hands of doctors, the exposure, the rash attempts 
 to accomplish delivery, the injury done by bleed- 
 ing, minerals, ergot, and instruments, I state, did 
 they know alt this, the serpentine charm which 
 now unfortunately deludes them would be broken, 
 and they would shrink with disgust and horror at 
 the very thought of employing males in parturi- 
 tion or child-birth. Nothing but the grossest 
 ignorance leads them to embrace a practice so 
 unnatural and revolting. In nearly every case, 
 nature is quite sufficient to expel the child ; and 
 when aid is required, females are in every respect 
 calculated to render all the assistance required, 
 except perhaps on some rare or extraordinary cases. 
 A very little instruction and experience will enable 
 any sensible female to become proficient in this 
 branch of medicine ; and I venture to affirm that 
 her success will be far greater than that of male 
 practitioners. Iri proof, I refer to the practice of 
 Mrs. Ruth Stebbins, of Westfield, Mass., Mrs. 
 Halsey, of New York, and hundreds of others, 
 whose great success is ample evidence of their 
 
170 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 skill and competency. Also, Madame Boivin, and 
 Lachapelle, of France, who have been present at 
 the delivery of more than forty thousand cases, 
 nearly all of which terminated favorably, even 
 without aid ; and observe also the great success 
 of other midwives in Germany, Denmark, and 
 other parts of the world. So stupidly or wilfully 
 blind are many females, that they are ignorant 
 that nature accomplishes the delivery, and that 
 the doctors get the credit and the fee, while the 
 worthy and skilful midwife is pronounced igno- 
 rant or incompetent. I cannot see why such a 
 custom, so recent, unnatural, and novel in its cha- 
 racter, should have prevailed and gained such an 
 ascendency, except in the same manner that every 
 other foolish and absurd fashion prevails. 
 
 " I have practised this branch of medicine ever 
 since I began my profession ; but so fully con- 
 vinced have I been that it is wrong, and belongs 
 to the other sex, that I have abandoned it to its 
 rightful owners, the female midwives ; and I am 
 therefore as anxious to bring about a reformation 
 in this department as in other branches of medi- 
 cine. I trust that I shall have at least the enlight- 
 ened portion of community to sustain me in a cause 
 of such vital importance both to the moral and 
 physical well-being of the female sex. The tales 
 that are told by designing physicians of the hair- 
 breadth escape of numerous women, to whom 
 they have been called just in time to save life, 
 and of the danger of trusting to females, have filled 
 those over whom they have an influence with 
 awful apprehension, and thereby secured to them- 
 selves a branch of medicine that reason, experi- 
 ence, and the finer feelings of the female sex loudly 
 proclaim, belongs only to females." 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 171 
 
 Says Mrs. Arnold, of Westfield, Mass., in a let- 
 ter to the editor of the Botanic Medical Reformer, 
 " It (man-midwifery) is contrary to every principle 
 of delicacy and refinement, and disgusting to 
 every feeling of our nature. It is an unheard-of 
 practice in most countries, except in some parts 
 of Europe and enlightened America. It is degrad- 
 ing to our natures, and a reproach to any people 
 who submit to the practice." 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 8ENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR TREATMENT IN CHILD-BIRTH 
 
 PREVIOUS TREATMENT. The mother's cordial^ 
 mentioned in this work, should be taken two or 
 three weeks previous to confinement. If costive, 
 take enough of the pills No. 1, to keep the bowels 
 regular. If troubled with acidity of the stomach, 
 take the anti-dyspeptic powder after eating. Take 
 half a tea-spoonful of valerian and as much com- 
 position, occasionally at bed time. 
 
 TREATMENT DURING LABOR. When labor com- 
 mences, which may be known by the regular 
 " bearing-down pains" send for the most expe- 
 rienced woman in your vicinity ; if she will not 
 take the responsibility, let the husband take it 
 himself, provided he or the woman know how to 
 proceed. If neither know any thing about it, get 
 the best Thomsonian physician you can find, and 
 in case there is none near, get the regular that 
 gives the sick the least medicine. The physician 
 or midwife should first ascertain whether the 
 pains are true or false. True pains may be known 
 by their location, being more concentrated in the 
 17 
 
172 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 portion of the bowels, through the loins and hip, 
 returning every ten or fifteen minutes, leaving the 
 woman comparatively easy in the intervals. 
 
 It will be proper for the midwife, at this period, 
 to examine, in order to ascertain what part of the 
 child presents, which may be done by passing the 
 largest finger, dipped in sweet oil or slippery elm 
 aucilage, up the vagina, and the nature of the 
 presentation can be determined. In ninety-nine 
 cases in a hundred, the presentation will be natu- 
 ral, the head presenting. If the feet or breech 
 presents, the labor should be allowed to progress 
 without turning, as the most experienced mid- 
 wives admit that more danger and suffering at- 
 tends an interference, than when nature is left 
 wndisturbed. If the arm or shoulder present, the 
 delivery is not impossible, but difficult, until the 
 infant be turned, and the feet brought down into 
 the passage. 
 
 When it is ascertained that the labor is natural, 
 or that there are no impediments or obstacles, 
 there will be but very little more to do than to 
 superintend the person. It will be necessary to 
 give instruction to the attendants to have every 
 thing required in readiness. The usual custom is 
 to turn the feather-bed back towards the head, 
 and lay a folded coverlet or rug upon the under 
 bed ; the woman should lie on the left side, near 
 the edge of the bed, with her feet in contact with 
 the bed-post, and a pillow between the knees. 
 The attendants should be cheerful, not exciting 
 the fears of the woman by ominous looks or the 
 relation of unfavorable cases of the kind. If the 
 pains are severe and protracted, let the bed be 
 immediately arranged, and all necessary provision 
 made for the birth of the child. If labor pro- 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 gresses slowly, add a tea-spoonful each of composi- 
 tion cayenne and valerian to a pint of strong rasp- 
 berry leaf tea, and give in half cupful doses. If the 
 pains continue severe, in consequence of a rigidity 
 of the muscles, and but little is accomplished there- 
 by, administer an injection, composed of two tea- 
 spoonfuls of the injection powder, and give the 
 emetic powder, prepared the same as for an emetic, 
 in small quantities, until the system becomes re- 
 laxed. Local relaxation may also be produced by 
 applying warm baths to the parts. Dr. Burns, in 
 his work on Obstetrics, remarks, " A fundamental 
 principle in midwifery is, that relaxation or dimi- 
 nution of resistance is esseritial to an easy delivery ; 
 and could we discover any agent capable of effect- 
 ing this rapidly and safely, we should have no 
 tedious labors, except from the state of the pelvis 
 or position of the child." The agent so earnestly 
 desired by Dr. Burns, is found in the lobelia infla- 
 ta, which " rapidly and safely" relaxes the mus- 
 cular system, without producing permanent de- 
 bility ; the use of which will render unnecessary 
 the barbarous steel, so frequently used by the 
 faculty to kill the unborn child. 
 
 In the last stage of labor, the hand may be 
 kept near the parts, to know the moment when 
 the head of the child presents, as some little assist- 
 ance at this time is called for, to remo've the 
 obstruction arising from the clothes, to support the 
 head of the child in its passage and in the inter- 
 val of pains, and keep it from pitching downward, 
 and to detach the umbilical cord from the neck, 
 when found around it. After the birth of the 
 head, the pains follow each other in quick succes- 
 sion until the child is born. 
 
 TYING AND CUTTING THE NAVEL STRING. After 
 
174 \ A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 the birth of the child, and all pulsation has ceased 
 in the navel string, it should be tied with two 
 ligatures, one about an inch, and the other two 
 inches from the body, cutting the cord midway 
 between the ligatures. The child should then be 
 handed to the nurse to be washed clean and dressed. 
 MANAGEMENT OF THE PLACENTA OR AFTER-BIRTH. 
 After the delivery of the child, the mother 
 should take some warm porridge, and be allowed 
 to remain quiet, until the labor pains are renewed, 
 when the navel string may be gently drawn, and 
 the placenta will be expelled. If it should be 
 retained more than an hour, administer an injec- 
 tion the same as before, which will generally pro- 
 duce the desired effect in a few minutes. If the 
 operation of the injection does not expel it, give 
 the emetic powder as before directed, which will 
 increase nature's efforts, and never fail to accom- 
 plish the object, without the necessity of manual 
 force. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 TREATMENT AFTER DELIVERY. 
 
 Soon after the discharge of the after-birth, the 
 mother should be got up, her clothes changed, her 
 person washed with warm water by means of a 
 sponge or cloth, and the bed properly arranged, 
 into which she should be immediately placed. A 
 broad bandage may be put around the abdomen, 
 and a soft linen or cotton cloth should be pro- 
 vided to absorb whatever may be discharged, and 
 removed as often as necessary. She should now 
 take some warm porridge or gruel, and be allowed 
 to remain quiet. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 175 
 
 AFTER-PAINS. These frequently come on soon 
 after the delivery. A warm brick at the feet, 
 composition tea and nerve powder will usually 
 prevent or relieve after-pains in a few hours. If 
 not, administer a course of medicine. 
 
 COSTIVENESS. To prevent costiveness, take two 
 of the pills No. 1 at night, and a mild injection 
 every morning, for a few days, and avoid tea and 
 coffee, and fine flour bread. ; 
 
 FLOODING. But little danger need be appre- 
 hended from flooding, as it rarely takes place 
 when the work is left to nature, with the aid of 
 remedies that act in harmony with her. If, from 
 any cause, it should take place, equalize the cir- 
 culation by giving lobelia in small quantities until 
 vomiting is produced. Put a warm brick at the 
 feet, and inject, if necessary, per vaginam, a strong 
 tea of witch hazel. , 
 
 MILK LEG. This is a white, elastic, and ex- 
 quisitely sensible swelling, commencing in the hip, 
 groin, or back, and proceeding down only one leg 
 at a time, attended with heat, pain, and an inability 
 to move the limb, and great suffering when moved. 
 The effect usually extends to the other leg, and 
 frequently becomes general. To prevent or cure 
 this form of disease, steam the lower extremities, ' 
 and bathe in stimulating liniment, give composi- 
 tion and pills No. 1. If this does not remove the 
 cause, give a full course of medicine. | 
 
 SORE NIPPLES. This complaint is exceedingly 
 troublesome to young mothers. Apply the meadow 
 fern ointment mentioned in this work, and protect 
 them with the nipple shields. 
 17* 
 
176 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 TREATMENT OF CHILDREN. 
 
 STILL-BORN INFANTS. When the child does not 
 show any signs of life, after being completely 
 discharged, a little cool water should be dashed in 
 the face, and along the spine, and upon the breast. 
 If the sprinklings do not succeed, immerse in 
 warm water, and rub the surface freely ; also put 
 a little Cayenne tea into the mouth from your 
 own, or through a silver tube. There is no harm 
 in persevering in the use of the means that have 
 been found successful, for you can but fail ; and 
 instances have been known of success after an 
 hour's apparently fruitless labor. 
 
 MECONIUM. The first evacuation from the bow- 
 els is called the meconium. Much uneasiness is 
 sometimes manifested among nurses lest it should 
 not be discharged, and physic frequently resorted 
 to. A little molasses and water is all that is re- 
 quired, and seldom any thing to promote its dis- 
 charge, except the mother's milk. 
 
 FLATULENCY OR COLIC. There is no custom 
 more injurious than that of dosing children for 
 every little appearance of uneasiness ; it deranges 
 the stomach and bowels, and leads to serious diffi- 
 culty. A little weak composition will usually 
 relieve flatulence or colic. 
 
 TONGUE-TIED. Sometimes there is a thin, white 
 membrane, extending under the tongue almost to 
 the tip, so as to hold the tongue from projecting 
 beyond the teeth. This membrane should be 
 slightly cut with a pair of sharp scissors. If it 
 does not prevent the child from nursing, it need 
 not be cut until the child is a year old, and per- 
 haps not at all. 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 RUPTURE. Sometimes, from crying or other 
 causes, infants are afflicted with ruptures ; when 
 this happens, the earliest attention is required. 
 The infant or child should be placed in a recum- 
 bent position or on its back, then press the tumor 
 or protruded part back, make a compression of 
 linen, which has been previously wet in a decoc- 
 tion of oak bark, apply it over the rupture, and 
 secure it with a bandage. If this fails to keep it 
 in its proper situation, apply a truss. 
 
 TESTIMONY OF REGULAR PHYSICIANS IN FAVOR OF 
 FEMALE MIDWIVES, AND AGAINST THE INTERFE- 
 RENCE OF DOCTORS. 
 
 Says Dr. Beach, President of the Reformed 
 Medical College of New York, " Thanks and 
 blessings have been poured upon me, under the 
 idea that I had saved lives in labor, when I 
 had merely looked on and admired the perfectly 
 adequate powers of Nature, and superintended the 
 efforts of her work ; and it is Nature that accom- 
 plishes all, while the accoucheur gets the credit 
 of it. There is not one case in a thousand in 
 which you can do more than remain a silent spec- 
 tator, except to calm the fears of the ignorant and 
 timid attendants. The mischief and injury that 
 is done by the untimely interference of art, is in- 
 calculable. In pregnancy, women are bled till 
 they have not strength enough to accomplish de- 
 livery ; and, when it takes place, the forceps or 
 other instruments are used, which often prove fa- 
 tal to the mother or child, or both. 
 
 " Were all women instructed in this branch, 
 
|78 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 many lives would be saved. They ought to be 
 instructed in midwifery, and those who are of a 
 proper turn of mind should be well qualified to 
 act in the capacity of mid wives : NO MAN SHOULD 
 
 EVER BE PERMITTED TO ENTER THE APARTMENT OF 
 A WOMAN IN LABOR, EXCEPTING IN CONSULTATIONS 
 OR ON EXTRAORDINARY OCCASIONS. THE PRACTICE 
 IS UNNECESSARY, UNNATURAL, AND WRONG." 
 
 Dr. Bard, in speaking of the abominable inter- 
 ference of doctors under the pretence of making 
 room for the child to pass, says, "It is impos- 
 sible to censure this dangerous practice too severe- 
 ly ; it is always wrong, nor can there be any 
 period in labor the most easy and natural, the 
 most tedious and difficult, the most regular or pre- 
 ternatural in which it can be of the least use ; 
 in which it will not unavoidably do great mis- 
 chief : it will render an easy labor painful ; one 
 which would be short, tedious ; and which, if left 
 to nature, would terminate happily, highly dan- 
 gerous." 
 
 Says Dr. McNair, " All that is proper to be done 
 in a case of natural labor, from its commence- 
 ment to its termination, will suggest itself to any 
 person of common understanding ; and I have 
 long labored under the conviction that the office 
 of attending women in their confinement should 
 be entrusted to prudent females. There is not, 
 according to my experience and the reports of the 
 most eminent surgeons, more than one case in ten 
 thousand that requires the least assistance. I am 
 aware, however, that there are crafty physicians 
 who attempt and often succeed in causing the dis- 
 tressed and alarmed female to believe that it would 
 be altogether impossible for her to get over her 
 trouble without their assistance ; and for the pur- 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 179 
 
 pose of making it appear that their services are 
 absolutely necessary, they will be continually in- 
 terfering when there is not the least occasion for 
 it. It is my confirmed opinion, after forty years' 
 practice, that there would be much less danger in 
 cases of confinement, if they were entrusted alto- 
 gether to females. There is no doubt in my mind 
 but that one half of the women attended by these 
 men, are delivered before their proper period ; and 
 this is the reason why we see so many deformed 
 children, and meet with so many females who 
 have incurable complaints. If the business was 
 entrusted to aged mid wives, they would give more 
 time, and nature would have an opportunity to do 
 its work , and if necessary, advice might be had 
 with more safety." 
 
 " It is a very common circumstance," says Dr. 
 Beach, " for an inexperienced practitioner to rup- 
 ture the bladder in the attempt to rupture the 
 membrane, which would render the woman mise- 
 rable during life. I am acquainted with twenty- 
 five or thirty females who have met with this sad 
 misfortune, and many of them were attended by 
 those who were termed our most successful or old 
 experienced physicians." 
 
 Dr. Rush, speaking of child-bearing among the 
 Indians, says that " Nature is their only midwife. 
 Their labors are short, and accompanied with but 
 little pain, and she returns in a few days to her 
 usual employment ; so that she knows nothing of 
 those accidents which proceed from the careless- 
 ness or ill management of midwives or doctors, 
 or the weakness that arises from a month's con- 
 finement in a warm room." 
 
 Says Dr. Whitney, " I pledge myself as a phy- 
 sician, that all honest doctors will tell you that 
 
1Q A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 
 
 labor is the work of nature ; and she generally 
 does it best when left to herself." 
 
 Says Dr. Curtis, Professor of the Medical Insti- 
 tute at Cincinnati, speaking of the use of instru- 
 ments, the lancet, opium, and ergot in midwifery, 
 " Strange to tell, these and similar are the means 
 which men have introduced into the ' art of aiding 
 women in child-birth/ on account of which they 
 claim superiority of skill over the proper sex, 
 whose highest ambition was to watch the indica- 
 tions of nature, to aid her timely and promptly. 
 Sad change ! when almost constant wretchedness 
 takes the place of rare and partial inconvenience. 
 I lay it down as a rational position, on the strength 
 of historical testimony as well as sound logic, that 
 women are as able as other animals to reproduce 
 their species without extrinsic aid." 
 
 Says Dr. Dewees, a popular author on Midwife- 
 ry, " It is a vulgar prejudice, that great and con- 
 stant benefit can be derived from the agency of an 
 accoucheur, especially during the active state of 
 pain ; and this feeling is but too often encouraged 
 by the ignorant and designing, to the injury of 
 the patient, and to the disgrace of the profession." 
 
 Dr. Blundell, in his Obstetrics, relates a case 
 where he was called in consultation, after the sci- 
 entific M. D. had labored two days to eifect the 
 delivery of a child. He says, " On entering the 
 apartment, I saw the woman lying in state, with 
 nurses, accoucheur, and all the formalities attend- 
 ing a delivery ; one small point only was necessary 
 to complete the labor, which was, that she should 
 be pregnant ; although the practitioner, one of the 
 omnipotent class, had distinguished the child's 
 head, there was in reality no child there. A few 
 hours after, the patient died, and on examining 
 
A GUIDE TO HEALTH. jgj 
 
 the abdomen, we found the peritoneum full of 
 water, but the womb was unimpregnated, and no 
 bigger than a pear." 
 
 Dr. Ewell, in speaking of man midwifery, after 
 thirty years' practice, says, " I view the present 
 increasing practice of calling upon men in ordi- 
 nary births, as a source of serious evils in child- 
 bearing, as an imposition upon the credulity of 
 women, and upon the fears of their husbands ; as 
 a means of sacrificing delicacy, and consequently 
 virtue it is the secret history of adultery. " In 
 his remarks to the ladies on this subject, he says, 
 " Away with your forebodings when pregnant ; 
 believe the truth, that in all human probability 
 you will do perfectly well, that the most ordinary 
 woman can render you every needful assistance 
 without the interference of doctors. Their hurry, 
 their spirit for acting, have done the sex more 
 harm than all the injudicious management of mid- 
 wives, of which they are so fond of talking. This 
 Dr. Denman, Dr. Buchan 5 and many other really 
 great physicians, have long since remarked." 
 
 In view of the facts here presented, coming 
 from the highest authority, who that has candidly 
 considered the subject, does not feel a spirit of 
 indignation against a class of men who should thus 
 dupe and deceive confiding and suffering females ? 
 Let light on this subject be diffused among the 
 fair sex, and an eternal veto will be put upon the 
 practice of male midwives. " Even so let it be. 11 
 
Milford Thomsonian Depot. 
 
 JOHN BURNS, 
 
 AT HIS ESTABLISHMENT IN 
 
 MILFORD, IV. H., 
 
 KEEPS CONSTANTLY ON HAND FOR SALE AN EXTENSIVE STOCK 
 OF 
 
 GENUINE 
 TIIOMSONIAIV IVIEDICIIYES, 
 
 AMONG WHICH ARE THE FOLLOWING, VIZ : 
 
 Cayenne, 
 Green Lobelia, 
 Brown do. 
 Nerve Powder, 
 Golden Seal, 
 Ginger, 
 Slippery Elm, 
 Poplar Bark, 
 Fine Bayberry, 
 Coarse do. 
 Unicorn root, 
 Bethroot, 
 Balmony, 
 Scnllcap, 
 
 Also, 
 
 Composition, 
 Spiced Bitters, 
 Female Restorative, 
 Strengthening Plaster, 
 Cancer Plaster, 
 Meadow-fern Ointment, 
 Stimulating Liniment, 
 Head-ache Snuff, 
 Healing Salve, 
 Anti-Dyspeptic Bread, 
 Cough Powder and Drops, 
 Wine Bitters 
 Hot Drops, 
 Nerve Ointment, &c. 
 
 Various kinds of Syrups, 
 
 Nearly every article used in the Botanic practice may be 
 found at this establishment, warranted pure and free from 
 adulteration. 
 
 The proprietor of this establishment will take any of the 
 roots, barks and herbs mentioned in this work, in a crude state, 
 in exchange for compounds or prepared medicines. 
 
att 
 
I 
 
 KI 
 BPlri