The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-11-01
VIRTUES OF PLANTS,
Medical Uses of the Ladies' slipper, Hore-
hound and "I.ife Everlasting"

mower, VellOWS, DIeSulnG-he Amerl-
can valerian. yellow umbel, male ner-
vine and Noah's ark. This plant with
SO many names is one brought to our
notice by the Indians. 1t has perennial
roots, with long, thick, fleshy fbers,
yellow in color, shape cylindrical, and
running mostly parallel with the
ground From one to five stems are
sent up, but generally only one. The
stems are hairy, sharp and straight,
rising from one to two feet above the
ground, with three to seven leaves and
one to three flowers. The leaves arise
one above the other on opposite sides
of the stem and enfold it at their base.
The leaves are oblong in shape and
hairy, marked with parallel lines of
pale color below and greenish above.
The flowers bloom in May and June
and are o. yellow color. The plant
seldom grows from seed and when
transplanted it should be taken up so
as to leave great deal of earth about
the roots. Select a moderately shady
situation and rich light soil. This
plant is one of the most beautiful
orchids and richly repayS cultivation.
For medical purposes the root is col
lected in the fall for early spring, dried
at once, and reduced to powder 1t is
popular remedy for excessive nervous
sensibility unaccompanied by organic
lesion. 1t is soothing in its nature and
is frequently called the American valer-
ian. 1t is also anti-spasmodic, tonic,
stimulant and diaphoretic, possessing
the same common properties as valer-
ian. 1t is of special value in morbid
sensibility of the eye. in neuralgia.
hysteria, nervous headache and insom-
MIA. The dose is a smooth teaSpoonful
of the powder mixed with sweetened
water or sirup 1t allays pain, quiets
the nerves, disposes to sleep without
the injurious effects of opium. The
root may be usefully combined in these
affections with calamus Sleep has been
induced in delirium tremens by giving
a teaspoonful of the powder in cupful
of sweetened boneset tea. 1t is reported
to have cured epilepsy. The pharma-
cies lleepa fluid extract of cvpripedium.
dose from ten drops to half teaspoon
full; also a preparation called cypripedin,
which is an impure alcoholic extract,
dose from one half to three grains.
Horehound, the white horehound, or
marrubium vulgare, is found growing
in waste places in the United States
and Europe. 1t is from one to one and
half feet high, has a perennial root
sending up yearly number of
foursided, straight downy stems
bushy, with roundish, ovate, crenate
wrinkled leaves over an inch in diane
ter. The flowers are white and grow
in crowded whOrls or rings in the angle
formed by the leafstalk and the stem.
The flowers are in bloom in July and
August. The whole plant has a whit
ish appearance from the down with
which its leaves are covered. 1t has an
aromatic but not agreeable smell. 1t is
tonic, stimulant. and laxative. and is
much used in coughs, being popular
remedy and safe and efficacious one
The stem, leaves and flowers are all
used and should be gathered when in
bloom. Horehound strengthens the
system generally and causes perspira-
tion. 1t is administered in the form of
an infusion or made into a strip with
sugar llt llIllSlOIl ID IIldtlt Nv put
ting an ounce of herb into a pint of
boiling water, of which a wineglassful
is a dose. The powder may be used in
doses of from twenty to forty grains.
1t is useful in the latter stages of liver
complaint and jaundice. Use wine
glaSsful three or four times day 1t
is principally employed in lung troubles
with much eXpectoration, using table
spoonful every two or three hours.
A syrup is made by taking an ounce
of horehOund and an ounce of liquorice
root; putting these into a pint of hot
water and boiling down to three
fOurths of pint; strain and replace on
the fire, adding enough white sugar to
make a sirup Dose, a tablespoonful
every two hours The horehound and
CONNECTIONS advertised have seldom
much of the herb in them, but consist
mostly of sugar or molasses with the
addition of tartar emetic, thus making
a powerful but unsafe remedy, espe-
cially for children.
Out of life everlasting" the negro
Caesar made his celebrated remedy for
curing the bites of rattlesnakes. 1t is
also commonly known as pearly ever
lasting. cutweed, silverleaf and none
so-pretty. Botanists call it antennaria
margaritacea and also gnaphalium
margaritaceum The term everlasting
flowers is given because the flowers
suffer little change of appearance in
drying and may be kept for years
without much diminution of beauty.
They are surrounded with an in
volucre From the appearance of its
heads of flowers it obtains the name
cat's-foot. 1t has perennial root
sending up a branching stem. The
leaves are spear-shaped, narrowing to
a sharp point, The flowers grow on
stalks varying in length SO as to form
a fiat top, and bloom in August and
September They have yellow disks
and white pearly rays. The plant
grows from one to two feet in height,
and is favorite garden growth. Stem,
leaves and flowers are medicinal and
are gathered when the flowers bloom.
This plant has successfully been used
as a substitute for tobacco in smoking,
and like tobacco it is sedative and
quoting. All ordinary chest pains,