Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-05-07
CHAPTER XVI.
MEDICINE.

mostly ascribed to worms; for the
expulsion of which a solution OF
common salt was given, and the
dose was always large. well re-
member having been compelled to
take half tablespoonful when
quite small. TO the best of my
recollection it generally answered
the purpose.
Scrapings of pewter spoons was
another remedy for the worms.
This dose was also large, amount
ing, should think, from twenty to
forty grains. 1t was commonly
given in sugar.
Sulphate of iron, or green cop
peras, was a third remedy for the
worms. The dose of this was also
larger than we should venture to
give at this time.
For burns, poultice of Indian
meal was a common remedy. a
poultice of scraped potatoes was
also a favOrite remedy with some
people. Roasted turnips, made
into a poultice, was used by others.
Slippery elm bark was often used
in the same way. | do not recOl-
lect that any internal remedy or
bleeding was ever used for burns.
The Group, or what was then
called the "bold hives" was a com
mon disease among the children,
many OF whom died Of it. For the
cure of this, the juice of roasted
onions or garlic was given in large
doses. Wall ink was also favor
ite remedy with many of the old
ladies. For fevers, sweating was
the general remedy. This was
generally performed by means of a
strong decocton of Virginia snake
root. The dose was always very
large. If a purge was used, it was
about halt a pint of a strong de-
coctiOn of walnut bark. This, when
intended for purge, was peeled
downwards; if for a vOmit, it was
peeled upwards. Indian physic, or
bowman root, species of ipecacu-
anha, was frequently used for
vomit, and sometimes the pOcoon
or blood root.
For the bite of rattle or cop.
per-nake, a great variety Of spe-
cifics were used. | remember when
a small boy to have seen man,
bitten by rattle-snake, brought
into the fort on a mans back. One
of the company dragged the snake
after him by q fOrked stick fastened
IN its head. The body Of the snake
was cut into pieces of about two
inches in length, split open in sue
cession, and laid on the wound to
draw out the poison, as they eX-
pressed it. When this was over, a
fire was kindled in the fort and the
whole OF the serpent burnt to ashes,
by way Of revenge for the injury
he had done. After this process
was over, large quantity OF chest
nut leaves was collected and boiled
in pot. The whole of the wound
ed mans leg and part Of his thigh
were placed in piece of chestnut
bark, fresh from the tree, and the
decoctiOn was poured Oh the leg so
as to run down into the pot again.
After continuing this process for
some time, quantity of the boiled
leaves were bound to the leg. This
was repeated several times a day.
The man got well but whether
owing to the treatment bestowed
on his wound, is not 80 certain.
A number Of native plants were
used for the cure of snake bites.
Among them the white plantain
held a high rank. This was boiled
in milk, and the decoctiOn given
the patient in large quantities. A
kind of fern, which, from its re-
semblance to the leaves OF the
walnut, was called walnut fern,
was another remedy. A plant with
fibrous roots, resembling the seneca
snake root, Of a black color, and a
strong but not disagreeable smell,
was considered and relied on as the
Indian specific for the cure Of the
sting of a snake. A decOction of
this root was also used for the cure
of the sting of snake. A decoc-
tiOn of this root was also used
for colds. Another plant, which
very much resembles the one above
mentioned, but which is violently
poisonous, was sometimes mistaken
for it and used in its place. knew
two young women, who, in con-
sequence of being bitten by rattle
snakes, used the poisonous plant
instead of the other, and nearly
lost their lives by the mistake. The
roots we're applied to their legs in
the form of poultice. The violent
burning and swelling occasloned
by the Inflammation discovered the
mistake in time to prevent them
from taking any of the decOction,
which, had they done, would have
( been instantly fatal. 1t was with
difficulty that the part to which
the poultlce was applied was saved
from modification, so that the
remedy was worse than the disease.
Cupping, sucking the wound, and
making deep incisions which we're
filed with salt and gun.power,