The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-11-09
VIRTUES OF PLANTS,


The plant is known in common par
lance as the ladies' slipper, moccasin
flower, yellows, bleeding-heart, Ameri-
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, heshy fibers,
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 aud enfold it at their base.
The leaves are obloug in shape and
hairy, marked with parallel lines of a
pale color below and greenish above.
The flowers bloom in May and juno
and are o. a yellow color. The plant
seldom grows from seed and when
transplanted it should be taken up so
IS 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 apti-spasmodic, tonic,
stinulant and diaphoretic, possessing
the same common properties as waller
ian 1t is Of special value in morbid
sensibiiity of the eve, in neuralgia,
hysteria, nervous headache and insom
MIA. The dose is a smooth teaspoonful
OF the powder mixed with sweetened
water or sirup. Ii allays pain, quiets
the nerves, disposes to sleep without
the injurious effects of opium. The
root may DE uscfully combined in these
affections with calamus. Sleep has been
induced IN deliriun tremens by giving
a teaspoonful Of the powder in a cupful
OF sweetened boneset tea Il is reported
to have cured epilepsy. The pharIna-
cies keepa fluid extract Of cypripedium,
dose from ten drops to half a teaspoon
full; also pre- paration called cypripedin,
which Is al impure alcoholic extract,
dose from one half 20 three grains
Horehound. the white horehound. or
ularrubiUm vulgare, is found growing
in waste places in the United States
and Europe. IL is from one To one AMI
& half feet high, has a perennial root
sending up yearly number OF
four-sIded. straight dOwny stems,
bushy. with roundish. ovate- crenate,
wrinkled leaves over an inch in dIa me
ter. The flowers are white and grow
in crowded whorls or rings IN the angle
formed by the leatstalk and the stem
The flowers are IN bloom in July and
August The whole plant has q whit
ISL appearance from the down with
which its leaves are covered IL has an
aromatic but not agreeable smell IL -
tonic, stimulant. and laxative, and IS
much used in coughs. being popular
remedy and safe and efhcacl0us one
The stem, leaves and flowers are al
used and should be gathered when IN
bloom Horehound strengthens the
system generally and causes perspi-a-
ton. IL Is administered IN the form o..
an infusion or made into strip with
sugar The infusion Is made or put
ting an ounce OF herb into pint G.
boiling water. Of which \ wlneE lassfa.
Is dose The pow3e. may be used n
doses OF from twenty 10 forty grains
Il Is useful II the latter stages OF liver
complaint ans jauniice- Use wine
glasstal three o. four times day IL
Is principal employed in lung troubles
with much expeetoratioa- using a table
spoonful every two or three hours
4 s-rup IS made % taking q oaacs