. The wild-flowers of Selborne and other papers . ransversely across, some markslike unto a seal will be noticed. This was sufficientto show the old herbalists that the plant was speciallycreated for the express purpose of sealing or heal-ing wounds. The root of Solomons seal, saysGerarde, taketh away in one night, or two at themost, any bruise, black or blue spots, gotten by falls,or womens wilfulness in stumbling upon their hastyhusbands fists. In spite, however, of the quackery which was in-separably bound up with the profession of the herbalist,there can be no doubt that a belief in the vi
. The wild-flowers of Selborne and other papers . ransversely across, some markslike unto a seal will be noticed. This was sufficientto show the old herbalists that the plant was speciallycreated for the express purpose of sealing or heal-ing wounds. The root of Solomons seal, saysGerarde, taketh away in one night, or two at themost, any bruise, black or blue spots, gotten by falls,or womens wilfulness in stumbling upon their hastyhusbands fists. In spite, however, of the quackery which was in-separably bound up with the profession of the herbalist,there can be no doubt that a belief in the virtue ofsimples was very general among all classes in theolden times. There is a curious passage in GeorgeHerberts Country Parson, in which the saintly poetof Bemerton insists on a knowledge of simples aspart of the necessary equipment of a parish parson, except in ticklish cases, is to be thephysician of his flock. He is to keep by him onebook of physic, one anatomy, and one herbal. Heis to make the vicarage garden his shop, for home-. JOHN (iKKAKl)K b. 1545 : d. 1607 THE USE OF SIMPLES 21 bred medicines are both more easy for the parsonspurse, and more famihar for all mens bodies. So,when the apothecary useth either for loosing, rhubarb,or for binding, bolcarmena, the parson, says Herbert, useth damask or white roses for the one, and plain-tain, shepherds purse, knotgrass for the other, andthat with better success. So for salves, the parsonswife—for the wife, says Herbert, is to be chosen, notfor her qualities of the world, but for her skill inhealing a wound—seeks not the city, but prefersher garden and fields before all outlandish surely hyssop, valerian, mercury, adders tongue,yarrow, meliot, and St. Johns-wort, made into a salve,and elder, camomile, mallows, comphrey, and smallage,made into a poultice, have done great and rare in curing of any the parson and his family useto premise prayers, for this is to cure like a parson,and this raise
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectplants, bookyear1906
