THE PLANT WORLD 3 



conclude that Pinones are a verj- efficacious counteractant against x^oi- 

 son, for this Indian was undoubtedly bewitched." The powdered root 

 oi Aristolochia may be also used in drink 'as an antidote to enchant- 

 ment if the body be afterwards nibbed with a mixture of the same pow- 

 der and other herbs. 



Our respect for the abilities of plants cannot but be increased by 

 the study of this work. Saffron ( Carthamus) has so great power that, 

 placed in the hand, it penetrates immediately to the heart. A little 

 bag of it put on the stomach keeps one from breakfasting, and " it is 

 certain that if given to drink in quantity it despatches from this life to 

 the other the patient who dies at once and laughing." The seeds of 

 Datura metd act like laughing gas, keeping one unconscious for a long 

 time, "laughing, weeping, sleeping, speaking and answering while in 

 reality ignorant of what he does." The antidote is the root itself gath- 

 ered on the side Avhich faces the east. 



The water in which Romero (Rosmarinus) has been boiled prevents 

 wrinkles, and is a " most healthful bath, cleansing the body from all 

 weakness, pain, weariness, melancholy, sorrow and anxiety, preserving 

 the strength and enlivening all the members and feelings and who uses 

 it twice a month and sweats need fear no infirmity." 



He who takes the "holy plant," Artemisia grata, with him when 

 walking, mil suffer no ill from the sun nor from the moon. 



The sacred quality of certain plants and divine interposition in 

 their use as medicines, are commonly spoken of. Diospyros is 

 recommended for a certain skin disease if it be newly developed, but 

 if it be of long standing, " only God our Lord will be able to take it 

 away." The leaves of Fleurya api)lied to the pulses of one who has 

 chills, will effect a cure in five days "by the help of God." Of Aspara- 

 gas officinalis we are told, "blessed be God who created this plant for 

 the aid of the poor." "It suffices for the praise" of Brassica that 

 Christ our Lord compared "the holy Faith, living and pure, to the 

 grain of mustard. But, nevertheless, we ^vill mention here, for our 

 advantage, some properties and virtues of this seed according to Pliny, 

 Dioscorides and Avicena." 



We clearly have much to learn of the i^roperties of common arti- 

 cles of food. For example, "He who eats the least of melons is the 

 best off for thej- are all congealed water and without sustaining power," 

 Very ripe guavas are a healthful food, and two of them should be eaten 

 after a meal, for tliej^ aid digestion, " tightening the mouth of the stom- 

 ach so that its natural heat connot escape and making the food sink to 

 the bottom of it." We have been accustomed to think of Spanish gar- 

 lic as vigorous, but hardl}^ to the extent here asserted : " He who eats a 



