merican doctor declares that
there is a certain medicinal property in the prune which acts directly
upon the nervous system, and that is where the evil passions have their
seat. He reports that he tried the experiment of including prunes in the
meals of the vicious, intractable youths of a reformatory, and that by
the end of a week they were peaceable as lambs. Most writers who comment
on this seem to suggest that any fruit which is mildly aperient would
produce the same effect. But the mother of a large family tells me that
she has observed that prunes seem to possess a soothing property that is
all their own.

_Prune Tea._

Prune tea is an excellent drink for irritable persons. It is made as
follows: To every pint of washed prunes allow 1 quart of distilled
water. Soak the prunes all night, and afterwards simmer to rags in the
same water. Strain, and flavour with lemon juice if desired.

_Potato._

The potato is a cheap and homely remedy against gout, scurvy, and
rickets. Dr. Lambe tells how he cured a case of scurvy solely with raw
potatoes. One of the favourite dishes of that good old doctor was a
salad composed of sliced raw potatoes and olive oil.

In order to preserve the medicinal properties of potatoes when cooked,
they must always be steamed in their jackets. The skin may be removed
before eating, but care should be taken not to allow a particle of the
potato to adhere to it. The valuable potash salts chiefly lie just under
the skin.

A raw potato scraped or powdered to a pulp is an excellent remedy for
burns and scalds.

Dr. Fernie recommends the following decoction with which to bathe the
swollen and inflamed joints of rheumatic sufferers. Take 1 lb.
potatoes, cut each into four, but do not peel them. Boil in 2 pints of
water until stewed down to 1 pint. Strain, and use the liquid.

Eaten to excess potatoes are apt to cause dullness and laziness.

_Radish._

The radish is commonly cited as indigestible, but for all that it is
commended by old writers as a potent remedy for stone. If not too old,
well masticated, and eaten at the beginning of a meal, I do not think it
is more indigestible than the majority of vegetables.

A syrup made with the juice expressed from pounded radishes and cane
sugar is recommended for rheumatism, bronchial troubles, whooping-cough,
and pustular eruptions.

Dr. Fernie notes that the black radish is especially useful against
whooping-cough, probably by reason