Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-04-23
ne,nnrres of oar Fields and Forests.

Resources Of our Fields ana rOrests'
In compliance with the suggestion Of the Surgeon
General, we begin to day the publication OF extracts
from the valuable work of DR.. Porcher We call the
specia attention Of farmers and planters, OF house
wives gardeners and all who deal with herbs, to these
extracts in the hope that they will devote themselves
with energy to the patriotic task Of collecting and pre-
parng medicinal plants for the use Of the soldiers In
the field and in hospitals The extracts will be con'In
Jed from day to day until all the easily procured ana
readily prepared plants mentioned by Dr. Porcher have
been noticed. We hope country subscribers viii
cut out these articles they appear paste them in some
old blank book and keep them for reference. vast
deal Of good may be done, aud an immense stock OF
native medicines may be gathered before next winter
sets in if the hints here given are attended to. Would
it no, be wise for the Surgeon General to offer hand
some premium to the person who sends in next fall the
largest best assorted and prepared collection of med
enal plants and preparations: OF course, fair price
will be paid for al medicines, and ready sale will be
found fer them:
SassafraA-Whilst engaged in active duties as Sur
econ 10 the Hocombe Legion, whenever soldier sui
tered from measles, pneumonia bronchitis, or e0d his
companion or nurse directed TO procure the roofs
and leaves of Sassaras and made with this sup
/ piled that Of Flax Seed or Gum Arabic
Bsns (Ses7H,n) The planters and farmers through
out the Confederate States should and cure all the
leaves Of the Bene growing, 10 be used in camp
dyseutery colds, coughs etc. among our soldiers, in
place Of Gum Arabic Flax Seed. One or two leaves
in tum5er Of water implrts their muclasinous prop
| critics
Dogrooi (Cornus Floridal-Since the war, the bark
has been employed with great advantage IN place of
ouniue in fvers-by physicians in Sumter district, )
C. and elsewhcre-parcuarly in cases of low forms OF
fever and in dysentey, the river courses, of ty
-phoid character It is given as substitute for Peruvian
iarks In fact in almost any case where the Cinehona
bark was used.
Ig7id Jriqp (podophylltfm PcItatlaa( can be
used "a a laxative in place of rhubarb or jaap, or
wherever purgltiYe Is required. Every planter in the
Confederate States can produce the OPIUM mustard, and
fax seed that is required, either for the army or for
PofoDhyllra peltai,ua, L. Wild jahp; May-apple.
We have employed this plant among negroes as sub.
sute for iaap and the ordinary catharticS aud find
hat it every purpose being easily prepared by
be person having charge OF them. Thirty grains of
the root in substance given, or an infusion OF one
ounce in pin, OF water OF which wine glassiul three
times day is the dOse employing the Liriodendrou
uipera as substitute for quuine during the stage Of
ntermisson of all mild cases of intermittent fever
We would invite the particular attention Of planters TO
the extensive use of these medicines upon their pana
| tons we have caused them TO be used on one on
which upward Of hundred negroes resided, and we
found that during period Of seven months, including
L the mCutnS OF summer, they were useO II all
| cases and apparently fulfilled every indication.
Papdrer Sonnifsr,aa. Opium PoPPu-"The poppy
NAV become of the mos; profitable crops, if we
I've the means of disposng of the seed or if we knew
how to extract the OIL BY proper cultivation It may
r., made 10 produce from nine to ten bushels of seed
per acre. and one bushe yields twenty Tour pounds OF
GOOD oil This OIL especially the FIRST portion which is
odpressed and mixed in the mill with slices Of apple,
"a dopbss the purest Kind of oil for the table, and the
most agreeable that is known. 1t is inferior to none,
xcenng the finest Nice Lucca oil. Ii is preferable
- % secoud-rate oil of those places and the peculiar
,aste of olive oil may be impaired to it by the addition
/ of a small quantity of that oil OF superhne quality =
The LARGEST heads which employed Tor medical or
| 5,naste use are obtained from the single lowered
L5 mt only for the purpose Of extracting opium, but
1so on account Of the bland esculen oil that is ex
crossed from the seeds which simply emulsye and
contain none Of the narcotic principle For the latter
nurpose if no other its culture in this country worthy
of attention Certainly, it Is object worthy of pub
n, announcement as the annual amount Of opium i'm
rorted into the United Statss IA valued at upward Of
sO7 600 If thiS true some years since how much
more essential to US is its production now ls62 when
gum opium aud morphine are SO very difficult to obtain
nnird in researches upon these subjects during the
month of June under the order OF the Surgeon Gene
raj was enabled to collect. in few days. more than
an ounce Of gum opium, apparently OF very excellent
quality having all the smell and taste OF opium which
have administered to the sick from specimens Of the
red poppv found growing in garden Stateburgh,
Is C. / have little doubt that all require could be
gathered by ladies' and children within the Confederate
States If only the slightest attention paid TO cult
waiting the plants in gardens 1t thrives well and
hears abunOanily. IL is generally known that the
gum which hardens after inciSng the capsules is then
ready for use and may be prescribed gum opium CT
audanum and paregoric may be made from it. with al
| cohol or whisky.
The poppy it is said, produces better when planted in
the fall
In obtaining gum opium, the capsules are cut longtu
dnaly only through the kn, though some advise that
il should be done from below upward. hnd longitu
dnal incisions the most economical This is generally
done late in the afternoon, the hardened gum being
sorsDed of early next morning Boys or girls can easily
attend to this If the capsules are cut only on one
side the same operation may be repeated the other
side, and fresh supply Of opium obtained. knife
with three four edges cutting about the twelfth OF
fourteenth part Of inch some times used 1t the
incision is too deep the juice passes within the poppy
head
, L,riOds,,drOn hIiPiterG L. Tulip tree; white wood
poplar Grows in sWamps; difused. Collected in St
Johns, Charleston district; Columbia NeWbern. Fl
June.
This plant is tonic, diuretic, and diaphoretc aud i
generally considered one Of the most valuable Of the
Substitutes for Peruvian bark. Dose Of bark x1-xxi
grs tits stimulant tonic, slightly diaphoretic The
Infusion or decocton is made in the proportion of al
ounce to pint Of water dose one or two huid ounces
The steamer St. Johns, from Nassau has been chased
- ha Won Enn aptrfca mr.