This is a plant that grows in the shape of a vine, clambering stumps and stubs of trees, fences and stone walls, in a majority of districts of the United States. The root is usually about one quarter of an inch in diameter, and is many feet and yards long, so that when you dig an entire root up without breaking it, you may truly call it a vegetable cord grown by nature, of a bright golden yellow color. The root is the part that we use, and should be gathered in the months of July and September. It is better to prepare it immediately after digging, but it will retain its virtues a number of months after digging. This root is one of our most valuable remedies, and of great value to the medical profession. Physicians have praised it through every classical publication in the land. Sarsaparilla is a remedy that is undoubtedly alterative in its action. It can be taken freely in the form of an infusion or decoction without fear of doing harm. To make a tincture of it, fill a bottle half full of the finely cut root, add equal parts of water and alcohol, and let stand fourteen days, shake well each day. Dose, tablespoonful four or five times a day. In all bad cases of blood diseases and eruptions of the skin, a half pint of the strong tea of the root should be taken in connection with the tincture every day. Let the patient bathe the whole body twice a week with pure water, rubbing the skin after bathing well with a rough towel. Do not charge your stomach with nuts, knick knacks, and fat meats, and you will find, inside of four weeks, that sarsaparilla is a blood purifier and alterative. I saw a case of scrofula caused by bad vaccine virus. The flesh seemed as though it would fall from the bones, and the physicians that were in attendance gave her up and said she would have to die. The mother made a strong syrup or tea of sarsaparilla root and made her drink it instead of water. It did the work. She got well.

It has been used by millions, and has been recommended by the same number to be a very valuable remedy, and a remedy that should find a place in every house in the land.

Medical properties and uses. -- The medical properties of this plant is generally known as an alterative and blood purifier. It is noted in its blood purifying history. I have known of a number of cases of blood diseases that the common syrup of sarsaparilla has cured where noted physicians have failed in their attempts with their lauded remedies. It acts kindly and freely on the kidneys, gently stimulating the sudoriferous glands as well as the sebaceous glands of the skin. It increases the appetite, and gently counteracts a constipated condition of the bowels. When taken freely for a considerable length of time it will overcome and cure a majority of our many troublesome skin and scrofulous diseases in general. When a person takes it freely they will find it will act on the kidneys similar to watermelon, and the sweat from the skin will be of a greasy, waxy nature. Try it if you don't believe it.