The genesis of the American materia medica : including a biographical sketch of "John Josselyn, gent," and the medical and materia medica references in Josselyn's "New-Englands rarities discovered," etc., and in his "Two voyages to New-England," / with critical notes and comments by Harvey Wickes Felter.

  • Felter, Harvey Wickes, 1865-1927.
Date:
[1927]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The genesis of the American materia medica : including a biographical sketch of "John Josselyn, gent," and the medical and materia medica references in Josselyn's "New-Englands rarities discovered," etc., and in his "Two voyages to New-England," / with critical notes and comments by Harvey Wickes Felter. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Water-Mellon 41 [p. 57].—“For heat and thirst in Feavers.” “It is often given to those sick of Feavers and other hot Diseases with good success.” New-England Daysie, or Primrose42 [p. 58].—“For Burns and Scalds.” “It is very good for Burns and Scalds.” “An Achariston, or Medicine deserving thanks.” “An Indian whose Thumb was swelPd, and very much inflamed, and full of pain, increasing and creeping along the wrist, with little black spots under the Thumb against the Nail; I cured it with this Umhellicus veneris Root and all, the yolk of an egg, and wheat flower, f. Cataplasme.” Briony of Peru 43 [p.58] (“we call it though grown here) or rather Scammony; some take it for Meclioacan: The green Juice is absolutely Poy- son; yet the Root when dry may safely be given to strong Bodies.” Wild Damask Roses44 [p. 58].—“Single, but very large and sweet, but stiptick.” Sweet Fern45 [p. 58].—“Sweet in taste, but withal astringent. For Fluxes. “The People boyl the tender tops in Molosses Beer, and in Possets for Fluxes, for which it is excellent.” Bill Berries 46 [pp. 59-60], “two kinds, Black and Sky Coloured, which is more frequent. To cool the heat of Feavers, and quench Thirst.” “They are very good to allay the burning heat of Feavers, and hot Agues, either in Syrup or Conserve . . . or for cold Stomachs, in Sack.” Sumach 47 [p. 60].—“For Colds.” ‘ The English used to boyl it in Beer, and drink it for Colds; and so do the Indians, from whom the English had the Medicine.” 41 Citrullus vulgaris Schrad {Cucurbita Citrullus L.). Watermelon. (Felter.) 42 No doubt our pretty Saxifraga virginiensis Michx., or Early Saxifrage (Tucker- man). (Felter.) 43 Probably Convolvulus scpium L., the Great Bind-weed or Hedge Bind-weed. Mechoacan is the “Indian briony, or briony or scammony of America” from the Caribbee Isles. (Felter.) 44 Rosa Carolina L. (Tuckerman). This is probably the Carolina Rose, noticed also by other early writers. (Felter.) 45 Comptonia asplenifolia L., or Sweet Fern [now listed Myrica asplenifolia, L. (Felter)], according to Emerson (“Trees and Shrubs of Mass.”), still used (middle of nineteenth century) in New England for “molasses beer” for the same purposes mentioned above (Tuckerman). 46 l actinium pennsylvanicum Lam. (Low Sweet or Early Sweet Blue-Berry), and l dccinium corymbosum L. (High or Swamp Blue-Berry), were the species mostly used (Tuckerman). They were among the fruits called Whortleberries, or the Atti- taash of the Indians ( some opening, some of a binding nature; when dried they were used like currants and called Sautash” (R. Williams). (Felter.) 47 Thus, species not certain, but possibly the Rhus typhina L., or Staghorn Sumach. ood ( New England s Prospect”) calls it “dear shumach,” which is probably synony¬ mous with Staghorn Sumac. (Felter.)