Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-02-10

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Mn. SKINNER,
SlR--rhc Bene plant, or Seaa mum
TaaicHm is tender annual plant, thai
is easily injured by the frost, and re-
qaires a warm climate TO bring lis seed
10 maturity. The plants grow erect,
the stems from three to six feet high,
with numerous branches, barring their
seed in small square Capsules. The
seed should be planted as early in the
spring as ii is nseal to SOW the seed OF
other tender annual plants.
One leaf Of the bcnc plan, immersed
in tunbler Of pure water, changes The
whole Of il Immediately, iale perfect
ancilaSe; thar is, clear, iasteless aud
inodorous. Sick children take this un-
cilage with The same avidly they would
drink cold water--and as il is perfectly
innocent, they may be allowed to take
as much i il as thev lks
The Bene muci'age is useful in all
cases where other mild and muciiagia9ns
remedies are proper to be recommended.
II is particularly useful in the dysentary
and summer complaints of children; and
the leaves may be applied in cases Of in
ilanatioD oil the eyes, and as "a dressing
Cor burns, histers, &c. There is n,
provident family, that knew the value
OF the Bene plant, believe, who wonld
ever neglect planting few Of these
seed every spring, in some border Of the
IL m, han .,lt
hand in cases Of need, during the sum-
mer season. Although the sesamun
requires warm climate to bring lis seed
to maturity, il will grow we'll enough il
any part OF the United States to furnish
It's mucilage, during the whole Of tie
season j, is most generally wanted.
The greatest quantity of this muci'age
is obtained from he youngest leaves;
and it is best when made from them
while green, Just as they are pulled from
the plants These leaves, however, may
be gathered a, any time during the sum
mer, and if carefully dried, they will
serve to afford mucilage until green
leaves NAV be had again.
The sesamum is one of the most in
valuable plants | know. | do not mean
to say, however, that such entire depen-
dence ought to be placed on this, or any
other remedy, as to neglect such means
as have heretofore been found useful In
all cases IF dysentary and co!era infan-
tun (bolh OF which are diseases OF ,rea,
danger) me advice Of skilful physician
should always be obtained when pac,i1a-
BILE. But may safely assert, that if The
virtues ofthc. Bene leaves were known
as generally as they shouldbe, they would
save the good people Of the United
States many thousand dollars annually.
that are now spent to procure nauseous
drugs of various kinds, tha, are not only
useless but often injurious to those who
take them.
In August last, boy about six or
eight years old, was severely afflicted
with bowel complaint, following the
meazIes; and for two weeks he had
tried various remedies, that had been
prescribed for him, but with little advan-
tage. For the last six hours, before l
was called on to visit him, he had sat
almos, constantly on the stool, passing
small quantities Of bloody and Shiny
matter; and crying with the pain and
gripping Of his bowels. made him
warm infusion of the Bene leaf, and let
him drink as freely as be would. In less
than hall an hour his pain ceased and he