Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-12-29
HYDROPHOBIA.

/ A few years since, accounts were published
n the foreign papers of the successful treat
nent OF cases OF hydrcphobia, by administering
ne root of the .Ahsma PlantGgo or Water
llantain. After the first publication Of the
accounts here, but little more was said about
!, and so far as We can learn, it never has
leen tried in this country. But by the follow
hg extract from late number of the Ham
burg Correspondenten, it appears that the con
inued use Of it in Europe has been attended
with complete success.
I The plant (.AIisma PIantago, Lime
{ Hsj ~hich is successfully employed as a
cure for the hydrophobia,. grows in "a
Ter, either in marshes, lakes OF ponds.
1t has a capillary root resembling that
OF the onion. Ii is in blossom during the
whole of the summer season. The lat
ter end of August is the fittest time to
gather it. 1t IS made use of in the fol-
lowing manner; One large root, or
two or three small ones, are first we'll
washed and dried in the shade. They
are then reduced 10 powder, and strewed
upon bread and butter, and in this way
administered to the patient. On the
second, or at the most the third trial.
this remedy will destroy the virus of the
madness, however violent it may be,
even when the symptoms of hydropho-
bia have already appeared. This root
operates with equal efficacy on dogs
which have been bitten, as well as on
mad dogs. During an interval of TWEEN
tv-fve years. this specific has constantly
been found an infalIible preservation a.
galnst madness. Ii has cured individu-
ais, in whom this disease had acquired
so decided character, that they attack
ed and bit all who came near them and
no symptoms of relapse were ever oh.
servable. Numerous cures have been
effected particularly in the government
ofZula.''
As fatal mistakes have often been made by
following imperfect or Incorrect descriptions
OF plants, we have preferred giving only the
scientific description, which can alone be de-
Iented upon, and which is as follows -
A,IsMA, genus of the herandria polyginia
lass and order: characters, perianthum three
Peaved, leaflets ovate, conoove, and perma-
hent; corollG three petalled, petals roundish.
large, fiat, and very spreading the stamina
have awl shaped flaments, shorter than the
corolla, anthers roundish; the pistiiluma has
germs more than five, style simple, stigmas
obtuse; capules Of the pericarpium compress
ed; seeds solitary and small.
Specific character :-.4lisma Plantago, or
Great Water Plantain; leaves ovate, acute,
smooth, entire, on long petioles capsules OBJ
tusely triangular; flowers purpIish, in kind
of umbel at the end Of a long scape.
Epilepsy.-A Physician of Triebel,
near Sorau, has discovered that the
root Of the common worwwood is an
efficacious medicine in Epilepsy. He
recommends gathering this plant in au-
tumn. drying it in the shade without be-
ing washed, and not pulverizing it till it
is wanted for use Ii should be admin
istered in the form of powder as soon as
signs of the approach of the fit are man
ifested. To an adult il may be given in
dose from fifty to seventy grains, in a
warm liquid. After the patient has ia
ken the medicine, he should go to bed
and cover himself well up, and not re-
.o,,o Eroro - All 4bo DopcD;rot;o, b,o