"ARGENTUM VIVUM.-Quicksilver or Mercury.

In regard to this, our author differs still more widely from doctor Thomson; but coincides with doctor Swaim, whose mercurial Panacea has been lauded, for nearly the same ailments that are set forth in the following extracts:

"It is said to be cold and moist in the second degree. Casalpinus saith, that, taken inwardly, it cleanseth the Bloud from filth, it kills and expells Worms. And 'tis certainly true, that it dissolves all manner of Coaggulations and Congealations of the Bloud and Humours, rectifies the Discrasie of the Bloud, purifies even the Marrow in the Bones, and resists all manner of Putrefaction and Malignity in the whole Body proceeding either from Bitings of venemous Creatures, Poison, Plague, &c.

"Outwardly it helps all kinds of Itch, kills Lice, and dissolves hard Tumours in any part of the Body, though in the Joints, eases ail manner of pains almost to a Miracle, resolves Nodes, Tophs, and Gums proceeding from King's-Evil, or the like, and has been found of Mighty use against Cancers of all sorts, whether Ulcerated or not. Some Authors say, that being worn about the Neck as an Amulet or Xenecton, it preserveth from the Plague, as also from Inchantments and Witchcraft. There is no particular Simple in the Shops, except Antimony, that will yield greater Variety of Remedies than Mercury, nor of which more various preparations are made, serving to Purge, Vomit, Sweat, Salivate, ease Pain, cleanse Wounds, heal Ulcers, remove Deformities of the Skin, &c."

"ARGENTUM, Silver.

To the following opinions of doctor Salmon, on the efficacy of silver, we confidently expect a feeling assent by the whole body of the people. After giving his readers the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin names of this celebrated mineral, doctor S. proceeds to say:

"It is cold and moist, and Cephalick, and therefore is said to strengthen the Head; and by chearing the animal Spirits, resists all diseases of that part, chiefly the Megrim, Apoplexy, Epilepsie, Vertigo, and other like diseases akin to them.

The Tincture prevails also against the Palpitation or trembling of the heart, and in some measure has the Virtue of Tincture of Gold, but not altogether so powerfull: It prevails against Madness, Melancholy, and other Distempers of the Brain, comforting and strengthening the same."

"AURUM, Gold.

But the virtues of the rex metallorum, although of the same kind, are incomparably greater than those of silver:

"It is Cordial, mundyfying, strengthening the Heart, chears the Spirits, strengthens the natural balsam of Blood, and therefore, is given successfully in all Diseases, wherein the Heat, Life, Vivacity, and Strength of both Body and Spirits need repairing; it is Sudorifick, cleanses the Bloud, discusses Humors, and resists the Poison of Mercury, and other mineral Fumes.

"And as its Tincture, given in Wine to ten or twenty drops, does revive those that are at Deaths-door; so also it is very good against the falling-Sickness, Apoplexy, Palsy, Vertigo, Megrim, Lethargy, and other Diseases of the Head, and destroys the Root and Seminaries of all malignant and poisonous Diseases: It resists Putrefaction aud is prevalent against the Plague, and all sorts of pestilential Diseases."

We recommend the king of metals to the afflicted, but cannot speak from experience, as we never yet had enough to make the trial. Even the steam-doctors themselves will scarcely gainsay this advisement; and we think it extremely probable, that however reluctant they may be to give, they will not often show many qualms about taking the precious metals.

"MARGARITA, Pearl.

Many of our readers will recollect, that a few years ago, when Prof. Rafinesque condescended to sojourn in the Backwoods, he proposed to our capitalists, to undertake the grow. ing of pearls; but their money was employed at that time in growing hogs; and, as they did not think it right to place pearls before swine, they declined the Professor's proposal; and he departed for Philadelphia, as a better theatre for his scientific enterprises. At that time, the wisest of us did not fully understand what the professor would be at; but it is clear to us now, that being a great antiquary, he had read the following notice, in doctor Salmon; and would have cured his patients with pearls instead of Pulmel, if his learning had been properly appreciated by our monied men.

"Authors say Pearls are cold and dry in the second degree, but I believe them to be rather temperate in respect of those Qualities; they prevail against Fainting, Swooning, Palpitation of the heart, and all other cardiac Passions, and cure Heart burnings in a moment by absorbing the Acid Humor; they chear the Heart, revive the Spirits, comfort Nature, and restore Strength lost; they stop all sorts of Fluxes, as Diarrheas, Lienteries, and Dysenterias, as also the Hepatick Flux. Aldrovandus saith, the levigated Pouder is good to be put into Collyriums for the Eyes, for that it takes away the sharpness of the Humor, takes away Clouds, Films, and Dimness, cleanses

them from Filth, and strengthens the Nerves by which moisture flows into them. Taken inwardly ad 3j. it removes Melancholy, and heavy pressures of the Spirits, defends against pestilent Diseases. Mylias saith, it stops the toothache and cleanseth the Teeth, and is mixed with other Cordial Remedies; It is also prevalent aginst Fevers and all preternatural heats; put upon sharp corroding eating Ulcers, and where the Nerves are bare, it does much good, and gives present ease in the pains thereof. They are by all accounted an excellent Cordial, by which the oppressed Balsam of Life, and decayed strength are re-created and fortified, as Paracelsus affirms."

Now here an important question arises, and will perhaps never be answered. It is, whether doctor Rafinesque would not have killed fewer people, (oysters excepted) if he had engaged in the practice with pearls, than will be destroyed by his 17 preparations of Pulmel.

But we must hasten into other compartments of the 'Druggist's Shop.'

We have already intimated, that doctor Thomson has found RED CLOVER a cure for Cancers. The following is his formula:

"CANCER PLASTER.

"Take the heads of red clover and fill a brass kettle, and boil them in water for one hour; then take them out and fill the kettle again with fresh ones and boil them as before in the same liquor. Strain it off and press the heads to get out all the juice; then simmer it over a slow fire till it is about the consistence of tar, when it will be fit for use. Be careful not to let it burn. When used it should be spread on a piece of bladder, split and made soft. It is good to CURE cancers, sore lips, and old sore:'

In justice to doctor Salmon, and to compare the great and 'gifted' men of different centuries, we shall transcribe a part of his remarks on this rare and powerful medicine:—

"It is temperate, drying, astringent and strengthening; eases fretting pains of the bowels and brings forth sharp and slímy humours; is an excellent vulnerary whether inwardly or outwardly used; and mixt with Honey and dropt into the Eyes, it eases their pain and inflammation, and takes away the Pinn and Web; and being drunk it cures the bitings of Serpents or other venomous Beasts, heals green Wounds and gives ease in the Gout."

It was doubtless when his genius was pampered by 'living in clover,' seasoned with 'cayenne' and 'brandy,' that orator Robinson burst forth into the following ejaculation, which might be compared to Dean Swift's 'Pious Meditations on a broomstick'

"If the immense riches of medical virtue, inherent in the plants and flowers of the field, were collected in one volume, it would realize the aspiring hope of the great and good Dr. RUSH, the perfect cure of all the maladies of the human race. And the rays of human thought are converging on this sublime, and grand, and awful elevation the perfection of the healing art; and will continue to concentrate their energies until the full blaze of glorious triumph shall burst upon the world."

We have quoted doctor Thomson's opinion of the virtue of chicken broth, but he seems to be ignorant of the still greater efficacy of turkey-buzzard broth. The following are the words of doctor Salmon:

"The Flesh is seldom eaten, but the Broth thereof, and the substance thereof eaten, are said to cure the Leprosie, Elephantiasis, Swellings, Tumors, King's-Evil, Botches, Boils, Scabs, malignant Herpes, Tettars, or Ring-worms, Gout, Epilepsies, Convulsions, Palsies, Morphew, Elephantiasis, Struma, Spitting of Blood, and helps dimness of sight."

In reference to the last important object, we would respectfully advise the people to try this broth for awhile, before they resort to our Eye Infirmary, where the regular doctors might poison them with 'marcury' and 'bleeding.' If it should fail, they might have recourse to the following recipe, of which doctor Salmon seems to have a still higher opinion:

"R. Ashes of a Cat's Head 1 oz.

White Vitriol in fine Pouder,

Saccharum Saturni ana ǝj.

"Mix them for a Pouder; or mix them with Honey for a Balsam. Blown into the Eyes, or annointed thrice aday; it cures Blindness, and most Diseases of the Eyes, as the Pin and Web, Pearls, Clouds, Films, &c."

"Mus, the Mouse and Rat.

"A Murine Cataplasm, of Excellent Virtues.

"R. Flesh of a Mouse, cut and beaten in a Mortar, 3ij.

Juice of Garlick or Onions (inspissated to the thickness of
Treacle) a spoonful.

Pouders of Viper's heads 3j.

Honey, Bears Grease, Turpentine, Soap, ana 3ss, mix them for a Cataplasm.

"It draws Thorns or Splinters out of the Flesh; and cures the bitings of a SHREW, Serpents and Scorpions."

This is, certainly, a prescription of extraordinary powers.

It has been long known, that if a splinter or thorn, after it is extracted from the flesh, be greased with bear's oil, or some other fat, and 'laid on the shelf,' the wound will heal up much more kindly than if that measure be neglected; but a poultice that would draw it out, without the assistance of the 'riglar' surgeons, who delight in giving as much pain as possible, was most desirable; and this has been supplied by doctor Salmon. We commend it to the use of the people. It would give us pleasure, to speak with equal confidence of another property of this valuable mixture-its power of curing the bite of a shrew. On this point we have had no personal experience; but should, really, doubt its efficacy, if we had not the authority of so great a name in its favor. Whether the vipers or the honey which enters into its composition, contributes most to the cure, might be a question, but perhaps they are both necessary. How far the application of this prescription to the shrew itself, might prevent its biting, deserves consideration; and, as prevention is better than cure, it might be well for a man, whose house contains, one of these animals, to try it. Perhaps the honey might be efficacious; and we are sure its powers in that way have not been fully tested: If that should fail, after a fair experiment, he might add the vipers.

Doctor Salmon sets forth in the Wood mouse, a valuable quality, which we feel it our duty to make known:

R. Ashes of the whole animal, recently killed, 3ij.
Honey Ziss mix them.

"Being applied, it cures all Fractures of the bones; and, as Authors say, it makes the Fracture whole and strong in a few days."

We are happy in being able to furnish this important receipt, to all who do not live in the neighbourhood of a natural bone-setter; and it might perhaps sometimes succeed, when one of these 'naturals' may chance to fail.

"PUMEX, The Pumice Stone.

The next receipt which we shall extract from the cornu copia medica is mineral and may, therefore, be looked upon with suspicion by the people, but we hope they will not act