HERBS. 369 
blossoms which characterize this fragrant plant are conspicuous 
in early springtime about the bottom of almost every hedgerow 
throughout our country. It is gifted with a balsamic odour due to 
its particular volatile oil, and its special resin. For making a tea 
of this Ground Ivy: one ounce of the bruised fresh herb should 
be infused in a pint of boiling water, and a wineglassful thereof, 
when cool, should be taken three, or four times in the day. The 
whole plant was employed by our Saxon progenitors for clarifying 
their so-called beer, before hops had been introduced for this 
purpose. The Ground Ivy thus acquired its allied titles “ Ale- 
hoof,” and ‘“ Tun-hoof.” Other names which it commonly 
bears are “ Gill go by the ground,” ‘“‘ Haymaids,” “ Catsfoot,” 
and “ Lizzy run up the hedge.’ Gill tea, as brewed by country 
persons, is sweetened with honey, sugar, or liquorice. The 
expressed juice of the herb is usefully astringent against bleedings. 
‘ Boiled in mutton broth,” says Gerarde, “it helpeth weak, and 
aching backs.” Dr. Pitcairn extolled this plant before all other 
vegetable medicines for curing consumptive diseases of the lungs. 
In the Organic Materia Medica, of Detroit, U.S.A., 1890, it is 
stated ‘‘ Painters use the Ground Ivy as a preventive of, and 
remedy for lead colic. A wineglassful of the freshly made 
infusion, or tea, is to be given repeatedly.” Said Dr. Oliver 
Wendell Holmes, in his farewell address to the medical students 
at Boston College, “there is no form of lead poisoning which 
more rapidly, and more thoroughly pervades the blood, bones, 
and marrow than that which reaches the young author through 
mental contact with type-metal. ‘Qui a bu boirra, * He whe 
has once drunk will drink again,’ tells a French proverb. So, 
the man, or the woman who has tasted type is sure to resume the 
seductive indulgence, sooner or later. In my early college days, 
a students’ periodical, conducted by some undergraduate friends 
of mine, tempted me into print. Such was my first attack of 
author’s lead-poisoning, and I have never quite got rid of it from 
that day to this.” A snuff made from the dried leaves oi the 
Ground Ivy will render marked relief against a dull congestive 
headache of the passive kind. Succus hujus plante naribus 
attractus cephalalyiam etiam vehementissimam et inveteratam non 
lenit tantum, sed et penitus aufert. The herb remaineth green, 
not only in summer, but also in winter, at all times of the year. 
In earlier English days the herb Lavender was used, and 
deservedly, as a rare condiment of cordial virtues, and welcome 
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