218 FLORA HISTORICA. 



qualities of these bulbs, the juice of which is so 

 strongly recommended as a cooling application to 

 inflamed surfaces, and as a resolutive to accelerate 

 the suppuration of indolent tumors, to say nothing 

 of its powers in the electuary Diasatyrion. 



Fabulous history tells us that the Orchis owes 

 its origin to the lascivious son of the Satyr Patella- 

 nus, and the nymph Acolasia, who presided at the 

 feasts celebrated in honour of Priapus. The youth 

 being present at the celebration of the feast of 

 Bacchus, laid violent hands on one of the priest- 

 esses of that god, which so incensed the Baccha- 

 nals against him, that they instantly tore him in 

 pieces ; and all the remedy which his father could 

 obtain from the gods was, that his mangled corpse 

 should be transformed into a flower, which should 

 retain his name of Orchis, as a blot upon his 

 memory. 



The Persians and Turks call the roots of the 

 Orchis Salop, and it is with these bulbs, as well as 

 the pal mated roots of other species of Orchis, that 

 they prepare their favourite drink of salop, which 

 is made palatable by the addition of milk and 

 ginger. This beverage is drunk hot, with the 

 same opinion of its qualities that was entertained by 

 the ancients. The salop powder was formerly 

 brought over fromTurkey in considerable quantities ; 

 and we have had our salop rooms in London, as well 



