The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-08-21
REMEDY FOUND.
Eastern Plant That Has Wonder.
full Healing Power.
CURES C0NSUNPT

CURES CONSUMPTION.
Agricultural Department to Begin
System of Experiments With Fenu-
greek, an Eastern Plant, Which Is
Said to be Cure and Prcventa-
tive of All Forms Of Tubercu-
IoSis.
a special to The News and Cour-
ier from Washington says Secretary
Wilson, of the department of agri-
culture, will soon begin experiment.
ing in the arid lands of Texas on the
famous food called fenugreek, which
scientists the world over are hailing
as possibly an agency of nature which
will combat the ravages of consump-
ton.
The virture ascribed to fenugreek
is its ability to build up the very It's
sues that the germs of consumption
tear down. Experiments with Won
derfully satisfactory results in the
growth Of this plant have been made
in California, Nebraska and New
Mexico, and the announcement will
soon be made of its introduction into
the arid west section of Texas under
irrigation by the department of ag-
riculture.
But a short time ago fenugreek
was almost unknown in America en-
cept as d constituent of condition
powders for grain and vegetable con-
Stunning animals. For perhaps hun
dreds of years, however. it has been
known in the East, where it has a
widespread use as a food and medi-
cine for both man and beast. It's
main use in that section of the globe
was what suggested its introduction
in this country as cure for consum-
ption.
Since time immemorial the Jewish
maiden of Tunis has been one who
desires much fat and such dainty
weight as $50 or 800 pounds is a
thing to be desired. With her fat
is welcomed and she never complains
if she tips the scale at $50 or 400.
The time-honored traditions OF their
lot have handed down the use of fen
ugreek as fat forming substance,
and even to-day it is still used.
Physicians recognizing the fact
that if they can, in treating a con-
sumptive case, keep flesh on their
patient the chances for recovery were
greater, came to the conclusion that
fenugreek would be of great use to
them. Accordingly it was introduc-
ed and many report that they have
used it with very satisfactory re-
suits.
The fenugreek plant itself is not
unlike common clover, and, indeed
is easily mistaken for that plant un-
less the two are closely compared.
The seed of the plant is the part used
in the consumption cure, there being
several ways by which it can be pre-
pared. Perhaps the easiest way is 10
put tablespoonful in tum5er OF
water and let it stand over night,
drinking the water in the morning.
Another method is to mix a coffee
spoonful of the seed in strained hon
ey to kill the bitter taste, and then
eat the mixture. The women Of Tun.
is, in their quest for fat, eat the seed
in the form of a confection and mix
ed with olive oil and in many other
ways.
Prominent among the few plysi-
clans who have tried the plant IN Ine
treatment of consumption is DR.. A. s.
Mansfelde, treasurer Of the Nebras-
ka State Medical Association, WIZ
has probably carried the experiment
further than any other American
practitioner. He was the first to re-
port to the department of agricul.
ture the use Of the plant as a cure IN
this country.
Although DR.. Mansfelde has re-
ported concerning one case it was OF
nature to show the great poSsibil-
ties of the plant. The patient in
question was young Irishman, who
was inthe last stages Of the disease
and although in the end he eventual
ly died, his lungs being so far gone
that they could not sustain any bodl-
ly yigor, he is reported to have taken
on flesh and continued to do so for
several weeks until the end came.
David Fairchild, agricultural eN-
plorer, in charge of the seed and
plant distribution of the bureau Of
plant industry, is responsible tor
bringing fenugreek to the notice Of
the American people. While travel
ing in the East he was struck with
the prevalence of fat women and on
enquiring into the cause got on the
track of the plant. He did not think
a great deal of the plant until later
when he learned that it was one Of
the principal ingredients of condition
powders for stock. Putting the two
together ne thought that results we'll
worth the trouble could be received
from the plant and accordingly in
troduced it into the United States.
1t is claimed by some that the
plant can be traced back as far as
the time of Nebuchadnezzer II, when
it was in common use as a relish for
meats and as medicine. Many leg
ends have been founded on the plants
great medicinal value. 1t is even
stated that Mohamet himself once
said that if the people knew the val
ue Of fenugreek they would obtain it
even at the price of gold. Another
legend claims that if bag of the
seed was tied to camel's back 1t
would cure it of its ills.
Fenugreek is planted in the fall
the same as winter wheat and comes
up early in the spring. 1t attains
height Of about that Of the ordinary
clover and. as stated before when full
grown looks about the same. The
odor of the plant is familiar to any
one who has ever handled condition
powders, such as are given to stock.
At present there is but acompara-
lively small quantity of the seed in