The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-29
PHARMACY OF THE FOREST.
Some Remedies Not Generally Known
Save TO WOodsmcn.

5hNt w NOuubHhci.
LAcHNE, Canada, Jan. 2s.-There is a
pharmacy Of the woods, and some Of its
remedies are Of wonderful efficacy.
Few people in the outside world know
that there IL produced in the pine woods
tonic and febrifuge greatly resembling
quinine in taste and efficiency. But the
lumbermen know 1t and owe much to its
properties when run down in health after
seven months Of diet OF pork and beans,
bread, tea and frozen pork
The sovereign remedy in these cases is
pine apple. Up among the branches, near
to where dry twig shows that the great
tree has just passed it's acme OF growth,
a drab colored fungus OF a rude conical
shape generally about half as big as a
mans head, olings to the bark This is
the pine apple Of the woods.
Some woodnen uee it as powder cLips
cut from it being dried at the FIRE and
rubbed down by hand Others use an
infusion prepared by boiling. 1t is fine
tonic, acts gently as di,retic and scatters
feverishness rapidly. 1t produces violent
headache il used to excess, and it is said
TO bring on insanity II used for q long time
continuously.
Where pine apple is not available,
hemlock bark is successfully used. The
bark Is taken from young vigorous tree,
shredded and boiled until the liquid be-
comes Of rich red brown color. A large
spoonful Of this Ia taken at meal time
and acts as tonic and purgative That
this should be its effect il remarkable, con-
siderinG that hemlock bark contains so
much astringent tannin that it ia greatly
Used in the manufacture of le1ther.
This is also the great "shanty- remedy
for horses.
When changes OF weather are frequent
and the trapper or lumberman suffers from
cough he seeks a remedy in a balsam tree
Upon the smooth bark are blisters some
times inches long, and within these il
fragrant. thin gum. This contains benzoic
acid and resinous turpentine and is a
world famed remedy where there Is raw
ness about the breathing apparatus. Bal
sam is also often used for cuts or sores
and has much healing virtue.
Sarsaparilla, which ia a sort Of half cousin
to ginseng, Ia we'll and favorably known
as q cleansing and restorative agent. The
roots are found growing in decayed wood.
ara easily obtained and have been used "a
spring medicine and in the ceremonious
cle8nsings by the Indians from times i'm
memorial
Cedar oil is a valuable IMMINENT, and as
general pain killer had immense vogue
az one time among patent medicine men.
Guides and trappels still believe in It.
Every woodsman is a stanch believer in
the virtue Of skunks grease az an embro-
cation.
Bears oil is often mixed With q crude
kind Of turpsntne distilled from the old
roots Of 9 pine stump. and it is considered
70 be Of great value when rubbed upon the
chest in cases of inflammation Of the lungs
or Of pneumonia. In extreme cases a
spoonful is administered TO the sufferer.
A poultice of well boiled Eastwood
suckers is also highly recommended in
cases of lung trouble. The bark OF slip
perry elm il ased, in pulmonary troubles
as a substitute forxrish moss, and is really,
when properly prepared. good nutritious
and palatable food
A decoction Of cherry bark and spruce
bark boiled and strained, Is an old Indian
remedy for coughs, which has been largely
sold under various names for years by
vendors Of patent medicines. The white
trs PIPER nowadays dissolvee spruce gum
in alcohol. adds g certain proportion
Of the spirits to the bark mixture and
sweetens the whole with maple sugar
Perhaps the most experienced chemist
could not prepare better cough syrup
than this makes.
The great specific in cases Of incipient
cholera is a strong tea made from black
berry bush roots, fortified with spirits
and made very sweet
For scratches, ohapped hands and other
sores, woodland science furnishes the most
grateful ointment TO be found anywhere.
Ii is delightfully."- fragrant, mild sweet
and OF speedy action. It is made from
the gum laden buds Of the whitevood or
poplar, which ia often called from it's value
as provider Of unguent the Balm Of Gilead
tree The buds are boiled down with
deer's fat in proper proportion and little
hohey is added as the mass cools, That
nothing finer in its way has ever been dis
covered ia the common verdict OF all who
have ever made use Of 1t,