Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-03-03
Medicinal Properties Of the Onion.

In medicinal point of view. the onion
is of more imortance than any other OF our
domestic vegetables. It is a powerful d.
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 a circumstance
which came within our observation lew
wears since. We were travelling through
one of the middle departments OF FRANCE
in company with a very eminent counset-
Tor, and member of the Partisan par, VINO
had turned his attention to discovering
the medicinal properties OF simples, In II.
lustration of favorite theory OF MIS- tnas
| all the ailments which afiiict mankind
may be removed by remedies rom !no
vegetable kingdom, to the utter exclusion
OF all mineral substances.
One dav we stopped and claimed tho
privileges of hospitality at beautiful
achateau belonging to distant relative
of our friend. We were most kindly re-
ceiyed by the lord of the mansion, fne-
looking middle-aged man who, with tears
in his ewes, informed US that his lady,
whom our friend described as most gen.
tie. kind-hearted, and undetermined dames
was diving of dropsy, all the medical men
in the neighborhood having stated that
nothing more could be done for her.
q That remains to be scen," said our friend
hastily. ~ must see her forthwith, and
he proceeded to her bedchamber dragging
ma with him-a circumstance which VIII
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. pa
The Partisan lawyer, nothing daunted.
called for some white onions. Having
peeled q sufficient quantity he filed with
them pepkin or coarse earthen mug
, holding about three pints. Having put IN
: "A many onions a. the vessel would CEN
, tain, he filed this with cold weter, covered
il and BET 1t In the midst OF the
. warm embers, where the water would
, simmer with very little ebulit,on.
He let the onions stew until they
: we're reduced to pap, and the water
to half its original quantity-a process
! which required three or four hours, % the
! vessel was kept closely covered and thu
I fire slow. He strained the liquor through
+ q linen bag, carefully expressing every
! drop of Juice from the::pulp. Having ex'
!, trscted the liquor, be carefully weighed II
!, and then. gently over the fire, but without
, boiling, dissolved In It its own weight o.
o coarse brown sugar. =.
Il Or this syrup he gave bis patient two
!. table-spoonfu every two hours, q fresf
+ quantity being made, 70 80 10 keep UP. I
q constant sppply.l In . day or two tn
n lady felt better, and In about six weeks
l. during which time we remained at th.
: chateau as guests, she was able TO wan
0 with US about the grounds. We had oc
. casion to visit our kind host about az
d months after our former visit, and found
his lady enjoying excellent health, and
b valuing her cousins onion.syrup g
= specific for ell the complaints that hesl
10 Il heir To. - Cor. EHgIish KagGs3nS.