Externally, used for.—­For piles.

Part used.—­The herb.

Gather.—­Just as the flowers appear in dry weather, and dry in the shade.

Flowers (when).—­July and August.

Grows (where).—­United States in moist places.

Prepared (how).—­Warm or cold infusion.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—­Warm infusion, a handful of the herb to a quart of water and used freely to allay fever in inflammations, colds, etc.  Cold infusion is good in highly colored or scalding urine.  Local, saturate cotton with the strong infusion or diluted tincture, and apply to piles; use it hot.

Spikenard.  Spignet.  Pettymorrel.  Pigeon-weed.  Aralia Racemosa.

Internally, used for.—­Coughs, colds, chronic rheumatism, syphilis.

Part used.—­Root.

Gather.—­In autumn.

Grows (where).—­In dry rocky woods in United States.

Prepared (how).—­Decoction.  Syrup.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—­Decoction, used freely in above diseases.  It is an old home remedy.  A syrup can also be made of it.

Smartweed. Water Pepper.  Polygonum Punctatum.

Internally, used for.—­Suppressed menstruation, to wash out the bladder, good for gravel, colds and coughs.

Externally, used for.—­Fomentations.  Part used.—­The whole herb.

Gather.—­Autumn.

Flowers (when).—­August and September.

Grows (where).—­About brooks and streams.

Prepared (how).—­An infusion or a tincture made from the fresh plant.  Use cold water to make infusion.  Fomentations, simmer in water and vinegar.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—­Dose of infusion, one to three ounces.  Tincture, one to two teaspoonfuls.  Apply fomentations for colic, bloating of abdomen; used often with other plants externally.  For menstruation give half teaspoonful of the tincture four times a day a week before menstruation.  Use small doses for other troubles.

[Herb department 441]

Snake root, Virginia.  Aristolochia Serpentaria.

Internally, used for.—­Sweating for feverish conditions where eruptions are tardy in coming out.

Externally, used for.—­For snake bites.

Part used.—­Root.

Gather (when).—­May and June.

Grows (where).—­Hill-sides, in rich shady woods.

Prepared (how).—­Powdered root.  Infusion made by using four teaspoonfuls of the powdered root to a pint of water and let steep.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—­Take two to three tablespoonfuls of the hot infusion every three to four hours.  Dose of powdered root, ten to twenty grains in hot water.

Solomon’s seal.  Convallaria Multiflora.

Internally, used for.—­Female weakness, leucorrhea, menorrhagia.

Externally, used for.—­Poultice for piles.

Part used.—­Root.