The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-09-20
SmaIIpcx--An Antidote and
Cure.
The following appeared in late is
sue of the Nashville American as COM
munication to that paper:

- -
sue of the Nashville American as a com
munication to that paper:
As smallpox is becoming epidemic in
many parts of the country, the press
should assist in extending the subjoined
recommendation. The fy-trap and
pitcher plant grows abundantly, and
can be found extensively in South Car
olina. 1t can be used as tincture OF
in decoction. 1t can be obtained al
all drug stores.
If we have really an antidote to this
dreadful scourge and loathsome disease
in an innocent plant which grows all
around us, there is no better time than
the present to establish its efficacy and
extend its usefulness.
The following letter, addressed to the
Editor of the Evening Mall" London,
England, in May, 1860, by Cosmo G..
Logic, Surgeon Major Royal Horse
Guards (Blue,) Windsor, proves suffi-
GENTLY its certainty in curing the small
pox.
Sir-Sometime ago, seeing a paper
written by Assistant Surgeon Mills, of
the Royal Artillery, on the efficacy of
the North American plant called the
saracenia purpurea, or pitcher plant, in
the treatment of smallpox among the
Indians, my colleague (Mr. Agnis and
myself have given this remedy-which
has been imported into this country by
DIR. Mills)-a fair trial. and am hap
pv to say the eleven cases in our hands
have recovered under its peculiar in
fuence. This remedy consider boon
to the public for this reason: 1t is SO
easily managed, any person can make
a decOction or infusion of the root like
tea.
An ounce of the root is sliced and in
fused in a quart of water, and allowed
to simmer down to pint, and given in
two tablespoonful doses every four
hours, while the patient is well nour-
ished with beeftea and arrowroot.
-Four of the cases in my hospital have
been severe continent cases. (ssCon-
fluent" means where the head, face and
neck are swollen into misshapen mass,
and the pustules thickly running into
each other.) They have, throughout
the disease, all been perfectly sensible,
have been free from pain, and have new
er felt weak.
The effect of this medicine, which I
have carefully watched, seemed to arrest
the development of the pustnles, killing
as it were, the virus from within, there
by changing the character of the dis
ease, and do away with the cause off
pitting, Gf may SO express myself to
tha nninitiated. and thus avoiding the
necessity of gutta percha and India rub
Der applications, or of opening the pus-
Jules. In my opinion all anticipations
If Disagreement from pitting may nowl
De Gained, if this medicine is given
rom the commencement of the disease.
may here caution the public that the
Useful part of the plant is its root. as
recommended by DIR. Miles.
With the usual kindness of DR.. Glib
on, the Director General, have been
IMPLY supplied with it for the use of nv
egiment: So much am / impressed
nth the efficacy of it in smallpox over
ne old mode of treatment that hone
Q hear of it in every country gentle
lan's medicine chest, and before lonp
hat we shall see no more faces, as des.
ribed by Dickens, like the interior |
lrface OF sliced mullins. {