The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-08-23
White Oak Bark.

mind TO indite article upon the merits OF
the bark of the White Oak as a curative agent.
We can write esperimentally on the subject
for we have tested its qualities our person,
on members of our family, and upon dome>-
tic animals. And in all cases where used. il
has proved one of the most valuble Of astrin
gents and eurstives.
Eight wears ago were brought to the
brink OF the grave. by long protracted
chronic diarrhoea. The bowels We're badly
liberated; food passed rapidly through the sys-
tenn, without undergoing much change. large
does of laudanum opium only seemed 10
control the action of the bowels for a few hours
and then the reaction worse than before
taking the medicine. We had tried Afo +
pathy, Homeopathy and Hvdropathy, and all
to no propose, and in the early part OF the T
summer of l847 were advised by our physI- /
clan TO make trip TO the North, as We could
not probably live through the summer in St.
Louis He has since told us that it was his
opinion that we could not live ever 10 return
TO ST Louis and he thought 1t extremely /
doubtful about reaching Boston alive.
+ OF the trials OF that Journey We cannot
speak in detail. Of our sickness at Cincinnati, +
at Buffalo on the canal, when death seemed
near at hand. and our devoted, and feeble
wife was compelled to peril life and limb to
procure suitable medicine and sustenance tor
her apparently dying husband and infant But
we were preserved and in due time arrived at
the home Of our fathers to go through the
same round in New England, of consultation
and medicaling pills and tinctures, compounds
and simples diets and emolients, that had been
travelled over here, and with the same results,
getting no better, but rather worse.
The living doctor having utterly failed TO
render US anv service our dear partner be
took herself to see if in all the theory and
practice of the healln : art there was record
ed the cure of such disease as the one with
which we were afflicted. In her researches
she read of the successful treatment of ap
parentlv similar affection In BRUSH soldier
who had sent home from the East and was at
the time of the commencement of the cure,
living in the dead, or dying. ward of military
hospital As in our las had been pro-
nounced a case of ''cancer of the bowels, y
and he was regarded ''iucurable,' but AS a
last resort, the attendant physician ordered a
bath of a solution of oak bark and copious in
iections of the same, made very strong; he was
also required to drink II freely. The result
was a speedy and permanent cure. Prompt
" acting upon these hints, good supply of
the bark was obtained, a large quantity injected
three of four times day into the bowels. and
it was also drank freely And this treatment
pursued perseverngly, patiently. and uninter-
ruptedly for months, at length wrought per-
manent cure.
The mode of preparation and application
was this: With drawing knife or axe the
bark was taken from the trees; the rongh, out
er bark taken Off and the inner bark put to
an iron vessel and boiled in water for several
hours, then strained and the liquid is ready
for use When used as an injection. large
portion-a pint or more-was first given
which soon came away, bringing any quaint
tv Of caps Of the ulcers with which the bow
els were apparently lined; after this small
quantity made very strong. given with
% or 80 drops of laudanunl, which at first
would restaiu the action of the bowels, FOL
/ two or three hours, afterwards, tie cure
progressed. for long period. Bandages We
with some stimulating spirits, were applied
/, around the abdomen to stay up the bowels
All other remedies had failed and after com
rnencing the use of this, all others wer,
laid aside, and we ascribe our full, entir'
recovery, under the blessing of God, anl
F.. the cea>eless, sleepless watchfulness of on
beloved companion, TO the of the oal
bark.
Since then We have often used it to wasl
obstinate sores with great success. Applle'
in a bread poultice to deep ulcers from neg
e lected blister it speedily eff cts cure, and W
u do not know that we have ever tried 1t withou
i having occasion to be satisfied with the results
Il But one Of the most remarkable instances 0
" its virtues was in the following case OF appll
Il cation 70 the foot of horse:
Going to the stable morning, we foun
g our horse quite lame and thinking that per
{ haps he had stepped on nail, we led him t
Z the blacksmith's near by, had the shoe take
T, off and the foot examined, but as signs
q injury were discovered, the smith said th
u u difficulty was not in the foot but IN the shoulc
q er, aud he was treated with sundry rubbing
RI applications of liniment. spirit turpentin'
&c. all to no purpose, and as he continued
get worse, farrier was sent for, who, attt
II pairing away great part of the hoof /
Il length found where the nail lad penetra.e
g Bv this time pus had commenced formin.
O which increased rapidly, and in few da,
'e lieve that by inserting finger above the ho
II and passing it round we could have taken Il
= hoof entirely off without any difficulty
Of Poultices. bathings, liniments, all did no got
nc at all. and we resorted to oak bark. The 70
y aud leg were bathed in it, poultice made
70 it and applied with long bandage wet IN
y u and this kept wet and renewed twice da
ie Soon the sore began 70 heal, and in a sho
20 time the hoot was well as ever.
, Ia addition 10 what We have written OF o.
own experience, we have Just me. in the ii
y pecanoe Farmer with the following account
= the successful treatment Of -Hurraia in cattl
y BY the same means. It was communicai'
pc to the Farmer by Mr. C. Hays, who has h'
y considerable experience with the disease, a.
q, a, formerly lost good many of his cattle, b
"a latterly has succeeded in curing every ca
n among his own cattle, and for some others
I! His mode of procuring IS as follows:
- Take White Oak bark newly peeled fro
- the tree, as much as YOU can easily eacor
- pass with the thumbs and fingers OF b.
= hands. Boil this In one gallon OF water fol
= short time; then pour the water off, and d