New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-03

DfODETTTt5.
| plucked OF selected green, cut into chin slices,
placed III vessel, soft.ned TO a pap by having
boiling tea poured upon it, aud then absorbed.
As remedies for paptation of the heart there are
ing and evening is made by boiling parsley root
Another is made with asparagus. third is
oiorafdI. and a plant called lherbc d chcrreaA Ivy
Creoles, which l cannot at present obtain the
botanical name of. This must be taken three times
u day
There is also II tea for rheumatism made from the
leaves of the plant called by tho Creoles choa-gra'
An infusion of the berries OF the same herb in
whiskey is used to rub the afflicted part with.
This herb is neither nor less than the common
pokeberry lpbytoidoca dcqHdra).
Chilblains not altogether common IN
Louisiana. where the frosts light and cold
Aspels have rarely duration of more than three
days. LemOn-luice is used 10 rub tie place with
There are several decidedly original remedies Tor
other ailments of the feet. For cold feet It ~
recommended that the members be wrapped IN
newspapers and tho socks or stockings pulled on
over the paper This s also said Ia prevent craDlp
| For sore feet fOOt-baths ut salt rock salt ana
water, or I've ami water. hot water poured over
fresh mn-lea eldcr-leaves. are al uini4iercd
There are creole remedies for headache, which by
reason of their savage simplicity seem worthy Of an
African origin. Theas chiefly CONSIST in applica-
tons 10 the forehead, temples or head of fresh
leaves, which changed soon rs the Teal begins
10 dry or wrinkle mp. Leaves Of the wild pantain
nre very pInuIar Tor this method of cure; hg-
leaves. eldrreavcs and orange leaves are also used
Rat the orange leaf is usually Smearei with lard
before being PILED. Another remedy Is 10 pour
little hot water, mixed with landanum. INTO the
ear wild plantan-lelves. dpred IN cola water.
are very often used also to allay inflammation OF
the eyes. when the fresh skin of a certain fish. or
tho excellent egg ponitce, is not immediately
In swelling nj the glands Of the throat the
swollen gland should be we'll rubbed with tailow;
and the tlllow Sncared Thoroughly melted by
holding close 10 tho skin without actually touch
ing il. the blade Of knife heated IN the tame OF
lamp or candle. Some saw tn point OF the heated
blade only should approach the skin. and that the
moved
immediately over the gland. This seems to be
purely supcrstitious idea
In crysipclas q ponitice Of amond-lfaves and rice
-four is generally applied TO the soro Almond
leaves. it may be Observed are also considered to
possess special virtue aud healing qualities Ia
relation t. affections of the eyes.
For overheatng Of the blood. an imaginary
disordcr.-tra male with the leaves oi Wild chcoiy
is rccO nmendel, but~ tea made with the leaves OF
the paidte de GuinSc potato vinel or leaves of
plant called hooi may be substituted. Somebody
told me that hOoli, or as he termed IT, dhoab' TOOK
its name from tho Spanish dlhtH or alcte a cOrrup-
tlOn of the Arabic dI-H ali, the gllyhower.' But
am inclined tn suspect an African origin for the
word moreover. the iODi shown me strongly
resembles tho plantain. having q large neshy Ie'f
which when stepped in water makes the liquid ropy
by reason of some yiscid secretion. J must leiVc
hotanists To decide the scientific appeation OF tins.
as we'll ~ of several other queer plants. ono OF
which. bearing little blue flower, is used to make
tea said 70 allav nervousness.
favorite indictment for teethng is Furnished
by the chicn dnidoGs grass. quitch grass or couch
grass lirfcTm rcpens which grows Wild on mauv
Ol our NeW-DrcanS Sidewalks or OdHqhCiIs. an
infusion OF the leaves - used to rub the infants
gums with.
There is a very funny remedy for carache which
il popular among the most Ignorant classes OF
Frcnrh-spealinP coOred peope, and prrhaps among
manv equally ignorant whites. OF course the
familiar plug of wool or cotton stepped IN laudnnum
il in vogue horc a. wei! A. everywhere else; but
much m ore eiicaciOns remedy Is alleged to bo u
plur OF L1inefe-H'GvF pOled into the ear. Ana tho
oldest idea connected with tho practice ~ that the
wool in question must lot he asked for. bnt muSt
he shipped OF the owners head surrcpttlousIy. IN
or'er to render ID eicaclous When duly stol"n.
and moiStened with laudanum. the wool never iails
tn cure
These recipes may serve to convey some idea of
the nature aud variety of Creole medicine. n
subject much larger. however than this essay can
Justly indicate. and Including much thnt must n'
left t. the cthnologsi and the fokorst to properly
utilize. Profanity ANGELO de Gubefnatis might ma
in Irrole ncdIcine-lOre some new material Tor MS
A." Nvthoiogie de1 PlanteS': but this material
belongs to a class Of the theme which cannot ~
present lttrmut to touch Ii has special INTEREST
only ~ fOlklorists ard those who have the leisure
aud the opportunity to study tho question OF
African surviyais IN the West Indies Rnd America
On the other hand the herb mr'icine oil the tteoIe
deserves some scientific attention. 80 far rs nv
limited observation enables me To lndge. the NOS
valuable part OF Creole medicine has be deVei-
Oprd hv climatic necessities Fcbriuges indcei,
form the most important portion OF tins domrstl'
medicine: and the art Of preparing these ms we'll ~
various suiprfcs aud ct-irinks, seems - u ave
been evolved by an experience not without serious
value
Finally lrt mo request the reader 10 observe that
have n-rl tho word Creole" only IN itS popular
seusn.- lust used 10 say ~ slave avs. u
Creole urgru.' or rs We say today. "tTcolr
egg" VI NY of these pr ser ptiors and ideas ar" oi
negro origin: and but few oi them arc nnN ever
used hv the educated frcnch.spelklng people o.
Louisiana. with the exception of certain ii~aurS the
medical value OF when has been laiterly recognize
by physic ans LAFCADIO HEAEN.