Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-11-08
With An Herb Doctor.

j half century ago medicinal roots
and leaves played conspicuous parts in
the practice of medicine. True, herbs
are still used as much as ever in the
manufacture of medicine, but it is only
the extract which enters into the phv-
sician's prescriptions and not the root
and branches" A Jersey City reporter
found on the corner of one of the streets
in the Eighth Ward, tiny shop where
aromatic odors. which streamed forth
from the open door. proclaimed herbs
of all varieties for sale. The store was
rather unique III its way, with its colony
OF black cats, whose backs forms tan
gents and angles in provoking manner
when any stranger entered on their do
mains. Large sheaves of herbs hung
pendant from tie ceiling, and Mysterious
rows of tin boxes told of unutterable
something's winch should hereafter serve
as poultices or as draughts. The propri-
etor, Mr.. Charles f.. Dennison, was ex-
tremely afflble, and in answer to nu-
merous questions gave his experience
as an herb doctor about as follows
''My business nas exIenied over a
number of years, and We're to tell you
all my adventures with herbs, aud with
the faithful. to whom root is so me-
thing to swear by, L woull fill yoIr
newspaper. / obtain the greater part
of my stock from the wooded country
around the town of Hancock, Berk-
shire county, Mass. The herbs are
gathered by persons of considerable
botanical knowledge, and are shipped
to me in cases. Among the herbs L
receive from Massachusetts, are tansy,
catnIp, wintergreen, white oak bark,
birch bark and elm bark. When they
arrive here dry them, and sometimes
weeks elapse before they are in "A proper
condition to sell. gather a quantity
of herbs III New Jersey, around Hoboken
and WeeLawkeR, and receive few
others from The South and West. Last
season [ sold over ton of birch bark
from which blrch beer was brewed. 1t
makes what is called temperance
drink. sell large quantity Of hops
for making hop pillows. 1t is very
old remedy forI lsomnia, and Is prescrib-
ed by every elderly woman III the
Eastern States. That there is great
virtue in them there can be no doubt,
us / have tried them when troubled
with Nervousness and wakeful nights
and they have invariably relieved me.
[ fancy there is an increase in the herb
business, moi generally, but in the lower
part of this city. A large number OF
colored persons have settled III the
Eighth Ward, and their demands for
herbs are astonishingly large. A few
years ago the market was overrun wit h
Indian herb doctors. They have all
disappeared now, and do not know OF
one that is lett to continue the business.
There is an Indian living i'll Macdouga
Street who Is one of my best customers.
He will lot take prescription from Il
physician, but when he feels iEdeSposed
he comes hore Tor the particular herb
which seems to meet his wants. Among
the herbs that are commonly used as
tonics are quassla wood and wild cherry
bark, and gentian wood gives the
strength to bitters. Gentian wood is
used also as substitute for chewing
tobacco.
Superstition enters to a marked de-
gree in the sale of herbs, There Is a
root known as the putty-root to The IN
itia,ed, and to the popular mind as
Adam and Eve which, III the minds
of believers, combines the most stink
ing appearance with powers OF good or
evil that are marvellous. 1t grows Ill
the meadows OF the Eastern States, and
the origin of the superstition res,s
among the Southern negrows. 1t Is
triangular in shape and has two long
roots reaching out III opposite directions.
1t is said to bring good fortune to any
person who may possess 1t. L sell them
for 81 apiece. Before they are properly
prepared, however, their wonderful
virtues remain dorment. The way III
which the negro completes the charDl
of Adam and Eve is very curious. lie
first obtains glass bottle which will
hold about two ounces of hquld he
fills thus with gin and then places the
root III the liquor to soak. After short
time the superstitious ones claim that
Adam. having less evil III his specific
gravity than Eve, will float, and his less
righteous better-half will sink instanter.
A colored woman who lives III Doml'
nick Street called upon me few daj
} ago and told me that she was bewItcheo
! by woman who lived in Clark Street.
and asked me if L could not give nei
something to break the charm VI
course L told her. Noi A man came IL
last night and sald bad luck had beeI
Int upon him, aud he wanted some
thing TO send his i'll fortune back to itS
author. Another man told me that h'
had been to Philadelphia and had car
ried a bottle with an Adam and Eve IL
his pocket. While he was in possession
of tins root he had all the money h'
could spend, but on his way 10 TIM
civ he accidentally broke tine bottle
and threw both it and the root out o
!, the window. Luck deserted him
, once. and he came to try another
J Holders of Adam and Eve are very care
full to let no other person touch th'
! bottle containing it, Tor, they explain
: luck leaves the bottle whenever 1t L
, touched by any person except III
= owner. A number of other roots haV'
the same attraction to superstition
, people, ANY herb that Is especially
peculiar in shape or color is immediatel.
thought to be taiisman of some power
The blood-root is always chosen De
b cause of its peculiar color, and Solo
4 mons seal because it has stranS
e shape. The gold seal Is also chosel
| because it has many curious npre
i which branch out i'll every direction
!, The old belief in the four-leayed Glove
{: IS familiar to every person, ana
= accredited with some very remarknbi
o occurrences.