SWEET ELDER (_Sambucus Canadensis_). Sweet Elder-flowers are a valuable
alterative, diuretic, mucous and glandular stimulant, excellent in
eruptive, cutaneous, and scrofulous diseases of children. An infusion,
fluid extract, or syrup, may be used in connection with the "Golden
Medical Discovery." Both will be found valuable for cleansing the blood
and stimulating the functions to a healthy condition. _Dose_--Of the
infusion of the flowers, from one-half to one ounce, if freely taken,
will operate as a laxative; of fluid extract, one-fourth to one-half
teaspoonful. The flowers, or inner bark of the root, simmered in fresh
butter, make a good ointment for most cutaneous affections.

IODINE. This agent, in the several forms of Iodide of Potassium, Iodide
of Ammonium, Iodide of Iron, and Iodide of Lime, is largely employed by
physicians, and often with most happy results. But for domestic use we
cannot advise its employment, as it is liable to injure the invalid,
when its action is carried too far, which is apt to be the case, when
not administered under the supervision of a competent physician.

MERCURY. The various preparations of mercury have a profound, alterative
effect upon the system. When taken for some time, they change the
quality and composition of the blood; cause a diminution in the number
of red blood-corpuscles, and an increase in the various effete
materials. In the vast majority of cases we prefer the vegetable
alteratives, but in rare instances they exert a beneficial influence, in
small doses. None of the preparations of mercury should be taken
internally without the advice of a skillful physician, therefore, we
shall not give their doses.


THE COMPOUNDING OF ALTERATIVES.