The roots and leaves are opening, cleansing the liver and gall; it opens all the secretions of the viscera, cleanses the blood, and is good in fevers and general debility. VERVAIN. This herb is good for headaches. Steep in good vinegar, and bind on externally. CROSSWORT. This herb is excellent in all bowel complaints, and is a good drink with your meals. The Shakers use this instead of tea and coffee; it makes a very pleasant drink when made weak; boil, or steep it in hot water, ten minutes, in order to make it palatable. FUMITORY Is an excellent herb, and makes a good, pleasant tea; is cooling; good for humors, and all cutaneous eruptions of the skin. QUEEN OF THE MEADOW. Leaves and flowers possess the same virtues. It is very seldom used by females in the United States. This herb should be in every collection; an excellent regulator in all urinary difficulties, where the evacuations are scant, or too profuse; strengthens the kidneys and bladder. BITTER ROOT, OR AMERICAN IPECACUANHA. Grows in wood bogs, and on low, sandy land; is emetic, and an excellent hydragogue, causing the water to pass off freely; is diaphoretic, possessing the same virtues as the English Ipecacuanha, but I prefer it as it is rather milder. It is the bitterest root we have it Botany. In another part of this book may be found a recipe for making the tincture. When properly administered, it is good in almost all ailments. LOBELIA, Sometimes called “emetic weed,” or “Indian tobacco.” I have used this herb with success; not sufficient to cause vomiting, but merely to loosen the phlegm and the gall cakes, or gall stones, which are formed by inward heat. It will act as an emetic and diaphoretic, but always have some balsamic herb with it, when used as such. I have found it excellent in asthmas, whooping cough, and phthisic. Take the seeds, mandrake root, and blood root, equal parts of each, say 2 oz., and put them into a quart of good rum or whiskey; add a teaspoonful of coriander seeds, pulverized fine; let them stand ten hours near the fire, shaking often; give a half teaspoonful in sweetened water; give six to ten drops to a child having the rattles, or croup; it will loosen colds immediately, and act beneficially on the whole system. Keep this herb always at hand; do not be afraid of it; give a little at a time, until relieved; I have saved the lives of hundreds with it. In severe cases, put boiled, or bruised onions on the soles of the feet, and, likewise, take a half teaspoonful of spirits turpentine, added to a tablespoonful of goose grease, or hen’s oil, and rub it in briskly between the shoulders and on the breast; repeat often if necessary, but this will not be required except in very severe cases. Lobelia is also good to smoke for asthma. RED RASPBERRY.