7.  Blood Purifier, Beech Bark and Blackberry Root a Good.—­“One gallon white beech bark (after the rough bark is removed), good big handful of blackberry root (cut fine), and also of sassafras root.  Cover with cold water and steep to get the strength, then strain.  When cool (not cold) add one pint baker’s yeast and one cup sugar.  Let it stand twenty-four hours in a warm place.  Then strain and set in a cool place.  Take a wineglassful three times a day before meals.  This has been highly recommended to me by a friend from Kalkaska, Michigan.”

8.  Blood Purifier, from a Madison, Connecticut, Mother.—­“Take blackberry root, black cherry bark, spruce boughs, wintergreens:  sarsaparilla roots; steep in a large vessel, till all the goodness is out; strain and when lukewarm put in a cup of yeast, let work and bottle up.”

9.  Blood Purifier, How to make, Celery Compound for a.—­

“Celery Compound      2 ounces
Chamomile Flower      1 ounce
Sassafras Root        1 ounce
Senna Leaves          1 ounce
Mandrake              1 ounce
Wintergreen Essence   1 ounce
Whisky                1 gill
White Sugar           1 pound
Hops                  2 handfuls

Steep three hours in four quarts of water, strain, add sugar, when cold add wintergreen and whisky.  Dose:—­One teaspoonful before meals and at bedtime.”

10.  Blood Purifier, Another Effective Herb Remedy.—­“Pour boiling hot water on four ounces of gentian root with two ounces of dried orange peel, a sufficient amount of water should be used to exhaust the strength in the root and orange peel; then boil in a porcelain pot until there is left one-half pint of the concentrated infusion to every ounce of gentian root used.  Then to every one-half pint add one half ounce alcohol.  The effect of the alcohol is to coagulate it from a quantity of jelly looking substance which must be separated by straining.  This is one of the best strengtheners of the human system.  Dose:—­One teaspoonful in an ounce of water.”

[258 Mothers’ remedies]

11.  Blood Purifier, Burdock for.—­“The root is the part employed eliminating very rapidly the specific poison from the blood.  Best administered in decoction by boiling two ounces of the root in three pints of water, to two pints.  Dose:—­One tablespoonful four times a day.”  Burdock is a splendid blood purifier and is not expensive.  It can be purchased at any drug store for a reasonable amount.

Diseases of the thyroid gland.—­Inflammation of the thyroid gland, (Thyroiditis),—­Acute inflammation of the gland, simple or suppurative.  It may develop in a patient with goitre, or acute infectious diseases, or from other parts, or from wounds.  The gland is enlarged and soft and may contain abscesses.

Symptoms.—­Pain, tenderness, and enlargement of the part or of all the gland.  Fever may be present even in cases without signs of pus forming (suppuration).  If there is great enlargement, there may be symptoms of compression of vessel, nerves or the windpipe.