Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-24

Miuiat was lmpiicated IN the propaganda The
conclusion was probably erroneous, but it made
a strong impression on the Sultans mind. and
from that moment Midhats fate was decided.
AS no legal proofs of his completely in the sedi-
tiOus agitation could be produced other means
had to be employed for getting rid of him, and
HEALING By HERBS.
Their Growth in Every Section, and the Trade in
Them.
In the beginiug Of the present century (says
the New York STAR Boston had visitation of
scarlet fever. The old school physicians were
unable to cope with the disease and their pa
tients were given over to DEATH Samuel
Thompson appeared among the sick He dis
carded the use of mineral medicines and the
compounds prescribed by the old pharmacopeia,
and as a consequence he was not recognized by
the regular physicians. But he cured his pa
tlents with syrup made from cobelia, beauti-
full biennial plant with pink flower and fbrous
root. His success aroused the envy of the old
school physicians and he was accused of witch
craft and placed on trial for his life The Boston
jury was sufficiently intelligent to acquit him,
and DR.. Thompson, who was the father of medi
cal botany in this country, came to be a recor-
nized authority among medical men. But full
justice was never done him-the regular physi-
clans stole his remedies and Incorporated them
in their books as their own.
At the present time the school of medicine
which DR.. Thompson founded can hardly be said
to have recognized representation. but the
simple remedies which he prescribed are used
to an extent hardly credible There are in this
city large number of establishments dono
business as botanic druggists Their business
consists in collecting, importing and selling
ilerDs. leaves, seeds and other vegetable matter
TO be Used in part for the manufacture OF tine
lures extracts and concentrations for the use
OF regular practitioners in part also, for the
manufacture OF perfumes, but in the main to be
disposed OF and applied as simple remedies. 1t
Is estimated that million pounds of medicinal
herbs reach this city annually.
While many medical men do not admit that
herbs possess any wonderful virtues there are
some among their number who stOutly advocate
their unfailing efficacy. Among them is the
coiored voudoo doctor, Joseph B. Bass, who
believes that there is nothing good in nature
outside the vegetable kingdom 1t is claimed
by his friends that he is the only man in this
city who speaks the V0ud0O language.
MIR. Walter Adams, wholesale botanic drug
gist gave some interesting information to the
reporter. He said the herbs used in the Ameri-
can pharmacOp9ia are mainly the products of
this country, but small proportion being i'm
ported. They arein endless variety. and are mer-
charitable as seeds, leaves, plants, bark and
roots.
50 In what particular section of the country are
these herbs grown, and what class of persons
pluck them?" asked the reporter
In every section from Maine to California"
he replied, land they are gathered for private
use by tens Of thousands Of people, but for the
market only small number Of persons make it
business"
"WhO are thew"
Principally the members of the Shaker COM
munities in this state and in Massachusetts,. Con-
necticut, Ohio and other states These people
cultivate farms of these herbs, and sell them
wholesale to druggists in the city and else
where"
SO Is the traffic larger"
-" carry stock OF 200, 900 pounds, and there
are several other large houses in the business.
1t is safe to say that 900 600 pounds of medic-
nal herbs are brought to this market eyery year
They are of course thoroughly dried when
gathered, and in the drying process they lose
about l0O per cent of their weight. The flowers
are usually gathered when in blossom, and
leaves, bark, seeds and roots about the months
OF september and october Any person can do
the work, but skilled man must direct and
supervise the gathering, drying and packing
The roots and barks are sold crude, cut
crushed or powdered. and the leaves herbs and
flowers crude, cut or powdered"
is the business important in pecuniary
sense1"
Mostly certainly so. Our goods cost from
three cents per pound to "a per pound. the
price being governed by the supply An az
ticle which can be had one year for twenty-five
cents cent per pound may cost next year So or o..
rms year, for instance, the plant known as
Crawiey, q preparation from which is largely
and successfully used in fever cases. has heen
sold as high as q pound"
What herbs are dealt in prineipally?"
my catalogue contains q list of nearly 5Oo
varieties, and it Is by no means Complete T
might say that medicinal herbs grow wild in
endless varieties, supplying fluid and solid ex-
tracts, tinctures, oils and Concentrations to the
pharmacOpGia, in addition to simple remedies
in the forms of teas, powders and syrups."
Are these herbs cultivated for the market?"
Many OF them are on the farms of the
Shaker communities. Before the great fire.
which consumed the Shaker buildings at Le-
banon In this state, some five years ago. that
was great place for the cultivation of mef]ic.
nal plants. Among those largely cultivatsd
are sweet balm, sweet basil, belladonna leaves
burdock root and leaves, caraway seed, castor
leaves, comfrey, dandelion. sweet fern. fox-
| gloves, horehOund, lettuce, IOvage root and
leaves, marigOld flowers, sweet morjoram, pars-
| ley root, leaves and seed, peOny root and
| flowers, poppy flowers, pumpkin seed. ounce
| seed, rose, rue, saffron, sage, spotted eandus.
! strawberry vines, sunfOwer seed, tanzy, THYME
| yellow dock and NORWOOD. A small proportion
of the herbs used are imported from France,
Germany and South America Irish moss which
il said 70 contain remarkable properties, Ii i'm
ported nom Ireland In considerable quantities,
tonic Is largely imported from China Many
roots aud herbs can be imported more cheapiy
than they can be raised here"
"There II IN incllnation In some circles To
class msn aslquacks Who adssret to botanic rsms-
.That may b, but think Il h . great mis-
take. A century ego the old school physicians
bad everything tAeif own way, but times have