THE PEARL OF PRACTICE. 245 



in order. Does the patient (poor victim !) or the mixture of long- 

 named ingredients " hum " ? And why " damnable " ? 



"A Receipt to make Damnable Hum. Take spices de Gemmis 

 Aromaticum Rofatum, Diarrhodon Abbatis, Letificans Galeni, of 

 each four drams, Loaf-sugar beaten to a powder half a pound, 

 small Aqua Vitse three pints, strong Angelica water one pint; 

 mix all these together, and when you have drunk it to the Dregs, 

 you may fill it up again with the same quantity of water. The 

 same powders will serve twice, and after using it it must be made 

 new again." 



Some of the receipts have been " proved " ; for instance : 



" The Lady Drury's Medicine for the Colick, Proved. Take 

 a turf of green grass, and lay it to the Navil, and let it lye 

 till you find ease, the green side must be laid next to the 

 belly." 



Another was " Proved by Mrs. Joyce, Widow." . 



We must finish our study of this most fascinating, quaint little 

 leather-bound volume; but\, strange title attracts us here, a 

 stranger ingredient there, and it is hard to stop for example: 

 " A very good glyster for the Wind." " Syrup of Turnips." " A 

 purging Juleb." " A Vomit for an Ague." " A Cordial Electuary 

 for Stuffing of the Stomach." " For a Noli me tangere." " For 

 pin and web in the eye." 



Scraped amber taken in hot broth is a truly " precious" draught 

 for fainting. 



For stomach-ache one is told to cut " scarlet " into the shape 

 of a heart, wet it in strongest cinnamon or wormwood water, heat 

 it, and lay very hot to the stomach. 



" The Claws of a Goat burned to Powder " ; " Unicorns-horn " ; 

 " Blue Lilly roots " ; " Woodlice, dried, and made into fine pow- 

 der" all to be taken internally! Split salt herrings applied to 

 the feet in fever. 



Let us be thankful that we live in this nineteenth century, 

 albeit one of multitudinous patent medicines, hypnotism, Chris- 

 tian science, and magnetic and electric remedies. We humbly 

 trust that what little medicine we are forced to take will better 

 bear analyzing than the strange pharmaceutical compositions of 

 animal, vegetable, and mineral matters gleaned from the Wake- 

 field heirloom. We return this treasure with many thanks. It is 

 eagerly seized and quickly locked up in the grandfather's desk 

 almost as ancient as itself. We are assured that it is regarded as 

 a priceless " Pearl," and worth more to its owners (from its an- 

 tiquity and associations rather than its intrinsic value, we sup- 

 pose) than its weight many times over in purest gold. 



