216 MEALS MEDICINAL, 
Speculum Mundi (1643), “advised his gentle readers to be 
discreet in their generation, and to gather to themselves great 
armstul of never-dying Borage (so called because of its fair blew 
flowers, ripe seeds, and buds, which may all be seen on it at once), 
and bravely plunge it into wine, where,” saith Master Swan, 
“it cannot but be good, and comfortable, and pleasant for the 
brain, and heart; it increaseth wit, and memoire, engendereth 
good blood, maketh a man merrie, and joyfull, and putteth 
away all melancholie, and madness.” 
Our garden herb, Thyme (the Thyme of Candy, Musk Thyme), 
which is used by the cook as a flavouring, or for seasoning 
purposes, is an excellent cordial. Its proper name, Thymus 
serpyllum, denotes a procumbent creeping plant, whilst “ thumos ” 
signifies the courage which it inspires. It is anti-spasmodic, 
good against nervous, or hysterical headaches, for flatulence, 
and the headache which follows inebriation. Thyme tea is 
aromatic, fragrant, and refreshing. The plant depends for its 
virtues on an essential oil consisting of two hydrocarbons, with 
thymol as the fatty base, this thymol being a famous antiseptic. 
The Romans gave Thyme as a sovereign remedy to melancholy 
persons. A little of the herb added to wine imparts thereto a 
most grateful savour; mixed with food it helps dimness of - 
sight. The herb, wherever it grows wild, denotes a pure atmo- 
sphere, and is thought to enliven the spirits by the fragrance 
which it diffuses into the air around. ‘“ I know a bank whereon 
the Wild Thyme blows,” says Oberon, King of the Fairies, in 
A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Another variety of the same is 
Lemon Thyme (Thymus citriodorus), distinguished by its parti- 
coloured leaves, and its lilac flowers. Small beds of this Thyme 
are cultivated at Penzance, in which to rear millepedes, or 
hog-lice, for administration against scrofulous disease in several 
of its forms. The said millepede was the primitive medicinal 
pill. It is found commonly in dry gardens, under stones, or 
rubbish, and rolls itself up in a ball when touched, having a 
brown, horny armour, in plates, around its diminutive body, 
which body abounds with a nitrous salt, this having long given 
the creatures a reputation for curing inveterate struma, as well as 
some kinds of bladder-stone. From three to twelve were ordered 
of old daily throughout a hundred days, in Rhenish wine, for 
overcoming cancerous disease. Other popular designations 
which it bears are Old Sow, Grammar Sow, Saint Anthony’s 
