THE INSANE ROOT 



A certain cure for rheumatism is to carry about a small 

 piece of elder cut after the fashion of a rude cross. 



Evelyn speaking of it says : " If the medicinal properties 

 of the leaves, bark, berries, etc., were thoroughly known, 

 I cannot tell what our countrymen could ail for which he 

 might not fetch a remedy from every hedge, either for sick- 

 ness or wound." 



The other species {Sambitcus ebulus, or Banewort) has had 

 its name explained as follows by Sir J. E. Smith : " Our 

 ancestors evinced a just hatred of their brutal enemies the 

 Danes in supposing the nauseous, fetid, and noxious plant 

 before us to have sprung from their blood." 



Of all these, however, the Mandrake (Mandragora) is 

 connected with the most extraordinary and remarkable 

 superstitions. The plant is distinctly poisonous, and has 

 peculiar divided roots which sometimes have a very rough 

 resemblance to the human body. It was supposed to be 

 alive, and to utter the most piercing shrieks when it was 

 pulled out of the ground. In those accounts, which are 

 based on that given by Josephus, it is the person who pulls 

 out the root, and not the plant, that shrieks, subsequently 

 rolls on the ground, and finally dies in torments. There- 

 fore, if you wish to pull up a mandrake, the correct course to 

 pursue is as follows : Tie a dog to the plant by its tail, and 

 then whip the dog. It will pull up the mandrake, and then 

 die in frightful agony ! 



This is the " insane root " of Macbeth, but its various uses, 

 real or pi-etended, are too numerous to explain in detail. 



Thus it was used for the following purposes : as a poison, 

 an emetic, a narcotic like chloroform, in love-philtres and 

 love-charms, as well as to dispel demons, who cannot bear its 

 smell or its presence. 



370 



