A Cordial for a Nervous Affection

[ A Cordial for a Nervous Affection ] Sarah Creighton Wilkins

Contributors
Contributor Role
Compiler
Contributor Name
Sarah Creighton Wilkins

Date: Late 18th or early 19th century; exact date unknown.

Publication Format
Manuscript

Type
Medicine

Symptoms
nervous affection

Ingredients
Peruvian bark
Virginian snake root
saffron
brandy
weak wine
wine
water

Places
Halifax
Nova Scotia

Source: Manuscript Notebook of Sarah Creighton Wilkins
Institution: Nova Scotia Archives | Source Origin: MacDonald Family Fonds | Reference: MG 1 No. 1 / Microfilm Reel 10,618

Description

A recipe for a cordial for nervousness.


Images
Transcription

A Cordial ^for a ^ Nervous affection

1 once of powder d Peruvian Bark
2 drams of Viginian Snake Root
1 ditto saffren
put them together into 1 pint of Brandy
let them infuse five days then pour
it clean off. & take 1 large tea
spoonful in a glass of weak wine
& water 2 or 3 times a day

Annotations
A type of birthwort particular to North America, the Virginian variety was used medicinally by the Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq and employed by settlers to treat croup, fever, and snake bites.
The bark of the cinchona tree used to treat malaria and other fevers.