Cures for coughs, aches, pains and snakes

r TARDWOOD trees now valued JTfor lumber used in paneling, flooring, furniture, cabinets and woodworking were once important for their contributions to the medicine chests of the Indians and early settlers of America.

Housewives throughout the Eastern part of the country sought out the red and sap gum trees (Liquidambar styraciflua), popularly known as sweet gum, to obtain the sap which they used in preparing ointments and syrups to be applied as external treatment for wounds and skin problems. The bark of the same tree was often boiled in water with the resulting liquid prescribed as a remedy for those suffering from dysentery. Leaves and roots were used in a decoction which was applied as a liniment to ease the pain and discomfort of all types of injuries.

Coughs in early days were treated with a syrup made from the sweet sap of the American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis). The method of obtaining this sap was unique. A piece of green branch was held over a fire to release the sap which ran out the other end as a warm juice. This was caught in a container and administered to the ailing person as a soothing syrup.

Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) produced a resin which was made into a salve to be applied as a medication on cuts, burns and scratches. Tea brewed from the buds and bark of this tree was a frequently prescribed gargle for sore throats and coughs. The cottonwood, considered the fastest growing tree in North America, was and is a major species on the Mississippi delta and nearby adjoining rivers.

Tupelo and black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) grow all over the Eastern United States. Years ago tea made from boiling the inner bark in water was a popular remedy to apply to skin eruptions. It also was considered useful for reducing the swelling and inflamation of the skin caused by poison sumac and poison ivy. Small twigs frazzled at the end were favored as tooth cleaners in absence of commercial toothbrushes.

Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra), widely found throughout the South, was first used by the Indians who claimed it reduced pain and inflamation. Settlers used the inner bark to make a poultice or salve for wounds, skin irritations and rheumatism. They also made tea from the leaves for those with upset stomachs.

Persimmon (Diospy ros v igin ia n a) is

Story at a Glance

Hardwood trees once valued lor medicinal properties... early settlers used sap, leaves, bark for remedies...commercial lumbering has obliterated herbal link.

famed today for its use in golf club heads. The Indians warmed sap from the tree to use as a cure for earaches. Liquid from boiled bark was thought to cure thrush when used as a mouthwash. Tea made from the leaves, either green or dried, has a rich Vitamin C content. It also has been used as a rinse to give luster to hair. A strong astringent can be made from the green fruit.

White ash (Fraxinus americono) grows in many areas of the U.S. It too was used by the Indians who stuffed it into their shoes and boots to keep rattlesnakes away. If this didn't work, a decoction of buds and bark was used to treat snake bites. Decoctions of the inner bark have been used by herbalists as reducing aids.

Red maple (Acer rubrum) which grows all over the Eastern half of the country was recommended for internal problems. Tea made from the bark and leaves was used as a general tonic, supposedly with a medicinal effect on the liver and spleen. Vinegar made from the sap was thought to be useful in curbing the appetite and treating diarrhea.

Many old timers recall their grandmothers relying on these and similar herbal remedies. Those who now find the answer to every ailment on the shelves of the local pharmacy should remember that many of these home remedies were steps in the development of the pharmaceuticals in use today, just as modern lumber practices evolved from humble beginnings.

Industry's Pac Man Studied

Retailers may be dealing with mechanical robots when the results of a two year study being conducted by Battelle's Columbus Division are revealed.

Asking questions such as will robots be used in the construction industry in the future, how will they be applied and what impact will they have on organizations serving the in-

Asbestos Hard to Replace

Despite the publicized hazards of asbestos, no new substances have been found for many of its applications.

For example, no replacement has been found for the asbestos used in electrical insulation. Nor has a corrosive resistant substitute been found for the asbestos-cement pipe used in soils in the Southwest.

Although shredded wood pulp and fibers made from the residue of iron dustry, the focus will be on mechanical robots programmed to do a variety of tasks ranging from laying bricks to spraying fireproofing materials. Also included in the study will be the use of remote-controlled equipment and partial robot control innovations such as computer technology.

The study will include Canada, West Cermany, Sweden, England and Japan as well as the U.S. Growth projections will extend through 1995.