The blood root is an active emetic and cathartic, which acts finely on the liver. It has been given in pneumonia, catarrh, whooping cough, croup, consumption, rheumatism, jaundice and dropsy of the chest. For rheumatism, it may be given in 2 or 3 grain pills, 3 or 4 times a day. It is an effectual remedy for the yellow water in horses: 3 or 4 ounces of the fresh root may be bruised and a pint of water added, the juice of which should be squeezed out for a drench; 1 or 2 doses will cure. It purges the horse freely. The tincture is often used: 2 ounces of the root to a quart of spirits makes the tincture, ½ an ounce of which is a dose for an adult. BONESET OR THOROUGHWORT. _Medical Properties and Use._ Thoroughwort is tonic, diaphoretic, and in large doses emetic and purgative. It is good in intermittent fevers to break the chill, if given in large doses in the form of warm tea as the chill comes on; in less doses a little warm it will sweat the patient freely; in large draughts taken cold it acts as a tonic and prevents the return of the chill. It is good in pleurisy as a sweat or in heavy colds; it is also good when made into a syrup for bad coughs, and in some forms of consumption, where the patient is weak and the skin hot and dry. It grows in almost every part of the United States, but mostly in the Western and Southern divisions, and should be gathered in September. Every part of the plant is medicinal, but the leaves and flowers are best. It should always be given in the form of a tea. BITTER ROOT OR SILKWEED. _Medical Properties and Use._ The root is the part used in the form of bitters in asthma and catarrh, also coughs and dyspepsia and in rheumatism. It may be taken in the form of bitters in quantities sufficient to purge gently and freely, or in powder in 20 grain doses, 3 times a day, or it may be given in strong infusion, 1 ounce of the root to a pint of water and drink in such doses as the stomach will bear. PLEURISY ROOT. _Medical Properties and Use._ It has long been employed by the regular medical faculty as a valuable medicine in pleurisy, catarrh, pneumonia, consumption and other diseases of the breast, and is evidently useful in all these cases. It is good in acute rheumatism and dyspepsia. It may be given in the form of a strong tea, or in powder; if in powder from 20 to 60 grains may be given several times a day, in sweetened water. EXTEMPORE GASEOUS CHALYBEATE WATER. Take of pure sulphate of iron 2 drachms, white sugar 3 drachms, pulverize, mix and divide into 12 powders. Then take of super carbonate of soda 2 drachms, white sugar three drachms, mix and divide into 12 powders. Mix one of each of the powders separately in half a tumblerful of water, pour together and drink while effervescing. This is a pleasant drink and a good tonic for a weak stomach. GENTIAN. _Medical Properties and Use._