Chronic Rheumatism.—Unicorn root (aletois farinasa), is good with prickly ash bark; add a small quantity bloodroot; it is necessary in some cases to add spirits, for flatulency, colic or hysterics. Take a teaspoonful in warm water.
Tincture of Soap Anodyne.—Take two ounces hard soap, shaved, one ounce opium, one ounce camphor, half ounce of rosemary, two pounds alcohol; let the soap and opium stand three days; shake often, then add the camphor and oil. This is good for sprains, and pains of all descriptions.
But one thing I would remark; that is, where opium is used frequently, it will debilitate; but from three to five times will not injure, but will allay pains for the time being.
Rheumatism.—Take one ounce mandrake, two ounces Epsom salts, put into one quart metheglin wine—wine glass twice a day; an anodyne at night, say a cup of strong hop tea; rub the parts affected with the following ointment: boil skunk cabbage in water, make a strong decoction, then add hog’s lard, simmer all the water away, and add sulphur. This is an excellent anti-rheumatic ointment. It must be rubbed near the fire.
For Humors.—Make a very strong decoction of boiled oats, to one pint of which add one ounce saltpeter; this is good for swellings. For carbuncles, mix equal parts of bloodroot, beth root and honey; purge with anti-bilious pills.
Rheumatism.—Take bark of sumach roots, and cayenne, if it can be borne by the patient; boil in rum and bathe the parts; take inwardly a strong decoction of prickly ash bark. I would recommend salt and vinegar, with cayenne, for bathing, but in most cases it must be hot, and applied with cloths.
Indian Turnip, or Wake Robin.—For chronic, deep-rooted rheumatism, pains, debilitated habits, loss of appetite, lowness of spirits, faintness, &c. Take three pounds fine Indian turnip and three pounds fine loaf sugar; mix them together in a mortar; there must be equal parts of each, well mixed. Take a teaspoonful three times a day, half hour before eating; it must be taken dry, if possible. Begin with half teaspoonful and increase to whole one.
Gravel.—Life root is good for the gravel.
Dropsy.—Wild lettuce is good for dropsy, ten or twelve grains a day; use white cohosh as drink, also cuckles seed mixed with juniper berries.
Gall, &c.—Low centuary, of all herbs, is one of the best for overflowing of the gall, and, in my opinion, is good in jaundice and all bilious complaints, and also in cleansing the blood from humors; it must be used plentifully and for some weeks.