Sentence:  <WSD>Mephitis</WSD>, in water, did not at first relieve the cough, so that I was compelled to prescribe another remedy; but after taking this for a short time, the father averred that he thought the first remedy, <WSD>Mephitis</WSD>, had a better effect than the last. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A dilution of fluids derived from (skunks) or (polecats).