This section of the book is from "The Complete Herbalist" by Dr. O. Phelps Brown. Also available from Amazon: The Complete Herbalist: The People Their Own Physicians By The Use Of Nature's Remedies.
MEDICINAL PART. The leaves.
Description. -- This is a tree, growing about
twenty feet high, with round rusty branches. The leaves are crowded,
alternate; leaflets oblong, acute, and serrate; flowers small, greenish,
and becoming purple; the fruit so far unknown.
History. -- This tree grows upon the table-lands
of Northeastern Abyssinia, at an elevation of several thousand feet.
The flowers are the parts used. They are gathered when in full bloom,
and are used in their fresh state, but are equally valuable when properly
dried. After drying they are powdered, and in this form they are
mixed with warm water and administered. The value of this medicine
has been known for a long time, having been introduced in the French practice
over forty years ago. It is quite difficult to procure even the adulterated
or spurious article in America or England; the genuine is not to be obtained
at any price in the drug-stores. In the stores, however, can be obtained,
at great cost, an active resinous principle, extracted from the flowers,
and sometims the unripe fruit, to which the names of Toeniin and Koussin
have been given. The dose of this is set down at twenty grains.
Properties and Uses. -- In large doses it will produce
heat of the stomach, nausea, and sometimes vomiting, and occasionally will
act powerfully on the bowels; but this is only when injudiciously taken.
Its chief property is developed in the destruction and expulsion of worms,
especially the tape-worm. It is the surest of all remedies for that
distressing affliction, when compounded with other ingredients which I
have mentioned elsewhere. Taken in the proper dose, it seems to have
no general effect, but operates wholly and solely upon the worms.
The dose of the powdered flowers in infusion is half an ounce to half a
pint of warm water. It must be reduced for children. If the
medicine does not operate in four hours, use castor-oil. It is one
of the ingredients of my Male Fern Vermifuge. (See page 469.)
 
Continue to: