34 HISTORY OF BOTANY. 



Then for the bite of a mad clog (surely there is no com- 

 plaint for which there are more remedies) this I think has 

 fallen into neglect, and ma}^ be new to some of my readers : — 



" For bytynge of a wood* dogge. 

 "And if they" (walnuts) "be stamped with salte and an 

 onyon they be good for bytig of a wood dogge yf it be layde 

 thereto." 



This is a remedy which is certainly as well worth trying as 

 most that we have heard of since. 



Though the ' Grete Herbal ' is now, and has for some 

 time, been little thought of, three centuries and a half ago 

 it was different. The book ends with the pious flourish 

 which will be found on the following page. 



On the Continent of Europe there was at this time a great 

 amount of scientific botanical investigation. Otho Brunfels 

 published his 'Herbarium' in 1530, and this was followed 

 by a work of Valerius Cordus in 158G, called ' Dispensatory^ 

 or Pharmacopeia'; the learned Gesner also published a 

 * History of Plants ' in 1541. 



" " W6d," pronounced wood, is Anglo-Saxon for mad, and is fre- 

 quently to be met with in old English writings, as the early EngHsh 

 metrical romances. For instance we have in ' Eichard Cceur-de- 

 Lion': — 



" The swarte vis when the king seeth, 

 His black beard and white teeth, 

 How his lippes grinned wide, 

 * What devil is this ? ' the king cried, 

 And gan to laugh as he were ivode:' 

 " What ? is Saracen's flesh thus good ? " &c. 



Ellis's ' Early English Metrical Eomances.' 

 Collier, in his illustration of the Lancashire dialect (Tummas and 

 Meary) has this word, and I have little doubt that it is still in use in 

 out of the way places. It is interesting to note that it was falling out 

 of general use about this time. I have two editions of the * Grete 

 Herbal,' the earHer one (from which the above quotation is taken) has 

 " wood " the other " mad " dogge. 



