Sarsaparilla, and sarsaparilla so called : a popular analysis of a popular medicine, its nature, properties, and uses, how to insure its success as a remedy, the most approved forms, and the various phases of disease in which it may be advantageously employed / by Linnaeus Smilax.

  • Smilax, Linnaeus, active 1854.
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sarsaparilla, and sarsaparilla so called : a popular analysis of a popular medicine, its nature, properties, and uses, how to insure its success as a remedy, the most approved forms, and the various phases of disease in which it may be advantageously employed / by Linnaeus Smilax. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    * ON* SARSAPARILLA. HISTORY OF SARSAPARILLA. Sarsaparilla, of, according to the Pharmacopoeia, sarga^ is the root of certain species of smilax, a class of medicinal plants found growing in many parts of South America. The name is derived from the Spanish garzaparilla, or gargaparilla, the original name of the European rough bindweed (smilax cispera), to which the South American plant appeared to have some resemblance. In tracing the history of this drug, we find it by no means a new medicine; indeed, our acquaintance with its character and uses as a remedial agent may be dated from the days of Columbus and the discovery of America; for his followers found it in common use among the natives of the New World, both as a beverage and a medicine. It was first brought to Europe by the Spaniards, about the year 1530, with the character of being a depurative of great power, and a medicine of singular efficacy in cleansing the body of its morbid and corrupt humours, sweetening the blood (so-termed), and re- moving “ divers diseases wherein there ivas a chance of cure by sweating.” Its extraordinary success in many malignant forms of disease, and the remarkable cures it effected, soon attracted the attention of the most eminent medical men and n