Questions and Replies.

The same remarks apply to these as to the Correspondence, published on the preceding pages, which remarks appear under that heading:—

George D.—(1) Is water sufficient to extract the properties of the herbs recommended by Mr. Hool for Constipation, or will they require Spirits of Wine?
Answer:—Water will extract all the medicinal properties, which is far better than using spirits or making it into a wine with raisins as you suggest.
(2) Pineapple juice is recommended by some for throat troubles, but we have had no experience with it, and cannot say if it is good for indigestion.
(3) Is the Common Privet of the same properties as Wild Cherry Bark?
—Yes. If cattle have been killed by eating it, the woody fibre will have probably set up indigestion and inflammation, which would have caused the death.

W. F.—Red Nose.—This condition in your teetotal friend is due to irritation of the stomach, which may be caused by some dietetic error, and we advise that a local Herbalist be consumed as to the best means of finding out the cause, and for treatment of the trouble.

"Ignoramus."—(1) For Piles: A better agent than Pilewort—which is a poison—is Yarrow. Knotgrass is also better than Pilewort (see formula in article on "Constipation.")
(2) "Lady Franklin's Pile Ointment." We are not aware that its use is favoured "in the present day." Yes, Chickweed Ointment is far better.
(3) Quassia Chips. Are they bad in any effect of their use? Yes. On the mucous lining of the stomach and bowels, which they tend to destroy.

E. G. C. (Battle Creek, U.S.A.).—Yes. Purple Loosestrife herb (Lythrum Salicaria), boiled and used as a wash, will strengthen your eyes. Eyebright herb will also help you in the same way.

E. L. T. (Bristol).—To meet the case of effusion of blood to the face take Common Agrimony in infusion, about a half-teacupful night and morning. Persevere with it.

J. D. (N. Wales).—For your bronchial catarrh use Slippery, Elm and Lentil Food.

W. G. (London).—There is nodding Bur-Marigold (Bidens Nutans), also Bur-Marigold (Bidens Tripatati), three-parted in leaf. Both have therapeutic properties. Bur Marigold is known in some localities as Beggar's Plant.

"Bewildered."—Spermatorrhoea requires a regular course of botanic treatment, and you should consult a Medical Herbalist.

K. K. (Leicester).—The case mentioned is one of Cancer on the Liver. Rub very freely three or four times a day with Third-Preparation, and afterwards with Chickweed Ointment. Bind, with soft cloth, and wool on top of that, but foment with hot Comfrey liquor before each application. Give blood mixture herbs before each meal, and one cayenne pill after each meal, also liver and nerve pill night and morning. As the person is so old and the vitality is probably low, attendance by an experienced Herbal Practitioner is necessary for a time.

B. R. B. (Southport).—In the case of strangulated hernia, or rupture, put the patient to bed, letting him lie on his back with his head low, and his feet raised, above the level of his body; then rub the part affected with No. 6 (Thomson's Compound), and afterwards with Chickweed Ointment, giving Third Preparation (Antispasmodic Tincture) in teaspoonful doses, one in a teacupful of hot water every 20 minutes, until the patient gets very hot. Also rub the hernia as above at least every half-hour, when it will gradually relax and return to its place with gentle pressure. By carrying out these instructions there is no need to undergo an operation.

W. S. (Cleckheaton).—Dropsy of the Scrotum. Make a strong infusion of Yarrow (or Thousand Leaf). Take a teacupful three or four times a day. Also use simple Tincture of Myrrh as an outward application to the part affected, overnight.

R. T. (Burton-on-Trent).—For Stiff Muscles, rub first with No. 6 (Thomson's Compound), and afterwards with Chickweed Ointment. Also take half a teaspoonful of Third Preparation (Antispasmodic Tincture) in warm water every three hours. No special diet required, as long as it is a light one.

G. R.—Seminal Weakness.—A remedy for this complaint is given in the article on "Tuberculosis is Not Consumption, &c." The shrinkage you refer to is paralysis, and requires special nervine treatment. We could give you an address where this could be obtained, if you require it.

Lady C.—Sea Buckthorn grows all round the sea coast, and produces large quantities of berries, which are yellow when ripe. They are very succulent, smooth, and gratefully acid to the taste. They are eaten by the Tartars, and the Gulf of Bothnia fishermen used to prepare a mixture of them with sugar, which much improves the flavour of fresh fish. Every part of the plant will dye yellow. The species grow in common soil and sand, and are readily increased by cuttings. Medicinally, it is an acrid, drastic purgative, and not fit to use.

Miss M. H. P. (Hailsham).—A far better remedy than Swamp Root is Buchu Leaves and Bur-Marigold. Give this, and stop all sweets, to prevent the bed-wetting. It cleans and tones the bladder.

A. S.—(1) Tincture of Prickly Ash Berries (also Bark) is good for the nerves. Take 30 drops 3 times a day of the fluid extract of the bark.
(2) From the information given, we think the boy should be circumcised.

Varicose Veins.—Rub with No. 6 every night and morning until a cure is effected. It has a double action: It gives tone and strength to the veins and valves of the veins, and resolves the plasticity of the blood. For a medicine take the Blood Mixture Herbs.

H. T.—We do not recommend bullocks' gall to be used, as it does not give the beneficial results as an aperient that is claimed for it. It creates an appetite, but does not remove constipation, nor bring the bowels to their normal state. We can recommend you a preparation that will act as an aperient in case of constipation, and if its use be followed for a time it will bring the bowels back to their normal condition. (See article on "Constipation.")

Cymro.—What are the right herbs to use when suffering from inability to keep the mind fixed on any one subject owing to seminal losses?—Answer: Scullcap herb and Valerian herb or root.

G. D.—As to a treatment for catarrh and ulcerated throat, take the Third Preparation of Lobelia. Non-poisonous fruit juices and the fruits themselves are all medicinal.

A. G. G. (Deptford).—In answer to this I must refer you to the Blood Mixture Herbs accompanying the article on "Venereal Disease." Dr. Greer's description of psoriasis is a good one, but as an outward application a wash with Dock Leaves after being boiled will be better, leaving out the borax and glycerine. Let him get fluid extracts if he likes to do so. "Maceration" is steeping the ingredients for a certain length of time before doing anything else with them. Pages referred to in Greer's book: 493 and 706; not 607.

W. H. W.—Marsh Pennywort.—I have known Marsh Pennywort for a great many years, but have never used it in medicine as it is considered not a fit plant for that purpose. Hydrocotyle: water: torverum: a cup or vessel. Marsh Pennywort is a plant having a roundish leaf, a little depressed in the centre so as to hold a drop of water, but it gets its name owing to its leaf being peltate, or a good imitation of being rivetted on to the top of the stalk in the centre. It is of the genus Aquatics and marsh water plants. They are not very beautiful, their flowers being almost obscure and of a dull colour.

Hydrocotyle vulgaris is supposed to produce liver rot in sheep when they are put to pasture where it grows. The fluke or flounder insect (Fascida hepatica) has been found where the plant grows. It belongs in the Linnean system of classification to Class 5.—Pentandria, and the second order Digynia; and in the Natural system of classification to the order Umbelliferacea. There are eight kinds, only one being British, the others are foreign.

Common Plants and their Uses in Medicine was written by Richard Lawrence Hool, F.N.A.M.H., in 1922.