Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

86

Materia Medica

Astringents

Geranium Macutatum. Or what is vargarly [vulgarly] called called cranes bill this is one of our indigenous plants, it is found in great abundance near Lancaster Pennsylvania this is a verry pure and powerful astringent it is neither bitter nor acid. It was used by the Late Dr Hand in cholera Infantum with success, of its utility in this disease I have no doubt, as I always thought the use of astringents and tonics was too much neglected in the cure of this disease, and I believe they are generally proper especially after the first stage, before this they generally do harm as there is generally fever in the commencement it is boiled in milk and taken as a drink. Howcher found the gum Robertinum usefull in calculous affections.

Heuchera Americana. This is commonly called American Sanicle or Allum root, from its styptic taste resembling sulphate of Allumine it grows in many parts of the United States especially in Pennsylvania, the root is verry pure and intense astringent, it is used in the western counties of this state as a cure for cancers and seems to be the base for a celebrated cancer powder. I do not suppose it has done much good in cancers, but in ulcers of long standing the astringents have been