Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-05-14
sARsAPARILLA.
The BEST Blood Purifying Medi-
cine fn the World. W

|"N
The Best blood Purifying Medi-
cine fn the World. M
The English word sarsaparilla is de-
rived from two Spanish words, zarza and
pariita, which signify thorny vine.
SarsaparilIa, as found in commerce,
comes from different sources, and is
divided into varieties according to the
place of collection or shipment. The
Lisbon sarsaparilla, as it is known in
Europe, is the product Of Brazil, and
comes from the ports of Para and Ma
ranham. The Caracas sarsaparilla
comes from Laguayra, while the Jamaica
variety is really derived from Central
America, and simply seeks the Island of
Jamaica as an easy channel for reaching
market. Much of the drug which is used
in England is gathered on the Pacific
slope of the Andes. Mexico also con-
tributes its share of the healing vine,
which, gathered by the natives, passes
into the hands of merchants at Vera
Cruz and Tampico. The variety of sarsa-
parilIa which has always commanded
the highest price, and which is con-
fessedly the best, grows in Honduras. 1t
is found in commerce in bundles two
or three feet long, composed of a number
of the roots folded on themselves, packed
in bales of hundred pounds each, and
covered with the hides of the cattle which
roam in such countless numbers through
the forests of that tropical cline. Very
few medicines have undergone greater
changes of reputation than sarsaparilla.
When the naughty Castilian founded his
first settlement in the West Indies, now
nearly three hundred years ago, he was
soon made acquainted with the medi-
cinal properties of the thorny vine. 1t
entered into the composition of all the
celebrated alternatives used by the natives
of those islands. 1t was soon introduced
into Europe, where it rose rapidly into
favor. Experience quickly placed its
efficacy beyond reasonable doubt. 1t
was Incorporated in all the continental
pharmacopias, and passed into almost
universal popular use. Such was the
demand for the new blood purifier that it
was impossible to supply it. I'm
principled dealers began to tamper with
and adulterate it. They gathered and
sold roots which resembled it in form
and appearance, but which possessed
none of its powers. The remedy fell
into disfavor. A few British physicians
determined to test anew its virtues.
About the middle of the last century Sir
William Fordyce obtained from Central
America few bales of the genuine
plant. He experimental with it through
out a series of years. As the result of
his observations he declared that it was
without an equal as an Alternative, a name
given to all those medicines which change
existing morbid action without percent
ible influence over any of the functions.
He called it the great blood purifier He
wrote and spoke and lectured on it. He
pronounced it specific "a genuine,
sterling, genial specifc-for all condi-
tons of the system requiring purifier
and alternative. He declared that il
cured every form of cutaneous disease
-pimples, papule eruption, stains, tan,
blotch or ulcer That it subdued scrof
ula, conquered rheumatism and neural
gia, and cured other diseases in all their
multitudinous shapes. 1t will rid the
blood of all impurities 1t will destroy
all peecant humors, 1t will clear TIE
skin 1t will renovate the entire system.
Few diseases which originate in impure
blood can resist its searching power.
Scarcely any state of the system which
needs an Alternative can withstand its ac
ton. This is the season of the year to
use it. In Edward Wilder's compound
of sarsaparilla and potash it is found in
its purity. This, as well as all of Wild |
er's excellent remedies can be had at the |
of C. c. Ward & Bro, W. n.
Wilkerson & Co., G. W. Jones & Co.,
and Goodyear q Falls, in this city.