Only the largest persons could hold a whole dose.

Castor-oil was the principal beverage.
The dose was half a dipperful, with half a dipperful of New Orleans molasses added to help it down and make it taste good, which it never did.

The next standby was calomel; the next, rhubarb; and the next, jalap.

Then they bled the patient, and put mustard-plasters on him.

It was a dreadful system, and yet the death-rate was not heavy.