Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-02-25
Medicinal Properties of the Onion.

In q medicinal point of view, the onion
is gilmore imortance than any other ofour
domestic vegetables. 1t is powerful di-
uretic, and is said, as such, to have been
successfully used as a specific in dropsy,
gout, gravel, lumbago, and generally in
all affections of the kidneys and urinary
organs. AS an instance of Its efficacy in
dropsy, we shall relate circumstance
which came within our observation few
years since. We were travelling through
one of the middle departments of France,
in company with very eminent counsel.
lor, and member of the Partisan bar, who
had turned his attention to discovering
the medicinal properties of simples, in IL
lustration of favorite theory of his, that
all the ailments which affiict mankind
may be removed by remedies from the
vegetable kingdom, to the utter exclusion
Of all mineral substances.
One day we stopped and claimed the
privileges of hospitality at beautiful
"chateau belonging to distant relative
of our friend. We were most kindly re-
ceived by the lord of the mansion, fine
looking middle-aged man who, with tears
in his eyes, informed us that his lady,
whom our friend described as most gen.
tie, kind hearted, and noble.minded dame,
was dying of dropsy, all the medical men
in the neighborhood having stated that
nothing more could be done for her.
"That remains to be seen," said our friend
hastily. I" 1 must see her forthwith" and
he proceeded to her bedchamber dragging
US with him-a circumstance which will
create no surprise in those acquainted
with the manner of the French. The
lady was alarmingly i'll and had swollen
to an enormous size; she had been tapped
once before, but on the present occasion
had absolutely refused that mode of re-
lief
The Partisan lawyer, nothing dsunted,
called for some white onions. Having
peeled sufficient quantity he filed with
them pepkin or coarse earthen mug,
holding about three pints. Having put in
as many onions as the vessel would cen
tain, he filed this with cold water, covered
it and set it in the midst of the
warm embers, where the water would
simmer with very little ebullition.
He let tho onions stew until they
were reduced to q pap, and the water
to half its original quantity--a process
which required three or four hours, as the
vessel was kept closely covered and the
fire slow. He strained the liquor through
a linen bag, carefully expressing every
drop of juice from thespulp. Having ex-
tracted the liquor, he carefully weighed it,
and then, gently over the fire, but without
boiling, dissolved in it its own weight of
coarse brown sugar.
OF this syrup he gave his patient two
table-spoonfuls every two hours, a fresh
quantity being made, so as to keep up a
constant supply. In day or two the
lady felt better, and in about six weeks,
during which time we remained at the
chateau as guests, she was able to walk
with us about the grounds We had oc-
casion to visit our kind host about six
months after our former visit and found
his lady enjoying excellent health, and
valuing her cousins onion-syrup as a
specific for all the complaints "that flesh
is heir to."-C0r English Adgasine.