DECOCTION OF SARSAPARILLA.—Take four ounces of the root, slice it down, put the slices into four pints of water, and simmer for four hours. Take out the sarsaparilla and beat it into a mash; put it into the liquor again, and boil down to two pints; then strain and cool the liquor. Dose—a wineglassful three times a day. Use—to purify the blood after a course of mercury; or, indeed, whenever any taint is given to the constitution, vitiating the blood, and producing eruptive affections.
TO CURE BOILS.—The leaven of gingerbread placed on the boil, and left there until it bursts, has been found to be a good remedy. When the matter is removed, place some more leaven on the part. Another, and perhaps easier mode, is the application of the rough side of the nettle-geranium leaf to draw the boil, and the smooth side to be applied to heal it.
CURE FOR A DRY COUGH.—Take of powdered gum-arabic, half an ounce; liquorice-juice, half an ounce. Dissolve the gum first in warm water, squeeze in the juice of a lemon, then add of paregoric two drachms; syrup of squills, one drachm. Cork all in a bottle, and shake well. Take one teaspoonful when the cough is troublesome.
MEDICAL EFFECTS OF HOT WATER.—In bruises, hot water is most efficacious, both by means of insertion and fomentation in removing pain, and totally preventing discoloration and stiffness. It has the same effect after a blow. It should be applied as quickly as possible, and as hot as it can be borne. Insertion in hot water will cure that troublesome and very painful thing called a whitlow. The efficacy of hot water in preventing the ill effects of fatigue is too well known to require notice.
CURE FOR TOOTHACHE.—Dr. Blake recommends two drachms of alum, to be dissolved in seven drachms of sweet spirits of nitre; a piece of lint, or a small piece of sponge, to be dipped in the solution and applied to the tooth.
STING OF A BEE.—Apply sal eratus wet. It is said to be an excellent cure.
EARACHE may be relieved by dropping a little sweet oil and laudanum, warm, into the ear, and applying hot salt in flannel bags, so as to keep the part constantly warm. For sore throat, a gargle of alum and water will frequently prove of relief at the early stage of the disease.