STRAWBERRY 91 



panting and beating of the heart, and it is good to the 

 overflowing of the Gall, which causeth the yellow Jaundice. 

 The Berries themselves are excellent good to refresh and 

 comfort the fainting Spirits, and to quench thirst." Some 

 people have even been known to eat strawberries because 

 they liked them, and found in that a sufficient justification 

 for their internal application. Dryden tells us of happy 

 folk who were " content with food which Nature freely 

 bred," and so " on wildlings and on strawberries they fed." 

 The only serious drawback that we know of to strawberries 

 is that they are procurable for too short a time, and so 

 these contented people that Dryden appears to have found 

 somewhere would perforce have in a short season to change 

 their dietary. 



The Syrupus pilosella, a mixture in favour with our 

 ancestors as a soothing and healing preparation, owes 

 something at least to the strawberry, though, as that 

 appears to be about one-thirtieth of the prescription, we 

 cannot quite say what proportion of the accruing benefit 

 may be ascribed to it. " Take of Mouse-ear three handfuls, 

 the roots of Lady's-mantle one and half ounce, the roots of 

 Comfrey, Madder, white Dittany, Tormentil, Bistort, of 

 each an ounce, the leaves of Wintergreen, Horse-tail, 

 Ground-ivy, Plantain, Adder's tongue. Strawberries, 

 St. John's-wort, with the flowers, Golden-rod, Agrimony, 

 Betony, Burnet, Avens, Cinquefoil, red Colewort, red 

 Roses, of each a handful, boil them gently in six pounds 

 of Plantain water to three, then strain it, and when it is 

 settled add Gum Tragacanth, the seeds of Fleawort, Marsh 

 Mallows, and Quinces made into a Mussilage by themselves 

 in Strawberry water, of each three ounces, white sugar two 



