DWALE 195 



they go into the water to wash themselves, but to seek 

 after Crevises, by the eating of which they recover." These 

 crevises are what we nowadays call cray-fish, in French 

 ecrevisse. Whereupon another venerable authority says : 

 " For my part I can scarcely allow of this, because 1 never 

 saw any hogs feed upon this plant, much lesse to go into 

 the Rivers to catch Crevise : for in the mire wherein they 

 commonly wallow there be none." 



According to the Doctrine of Signatures " the Husk 

 wherein the seed of Henbane is contained is in figure like 

 to a Jaw-tooth, and therefore the Oyle of it, or the Juyce 

 of it by it self, being gargled warm in the mouth is very 

 efFectuall in easing the pains of the Teeth." 



DWALE (Atropa Belladonna) 



In the Dwale, or Deadly Nightshade, Plate XXXI., we 

 have yet another plant possessed of the most powerful 

 properties, and therefore to be dealt with with all due 

 caution. It may from time to time be found, and especially 

 on a chalky soil, and it would no doubt be much mort 

 common than it is, were it not for its evil repute, which 

 results in its eradication, and its medicinal value, which 

 leads to any stray plant being carried off at sight by the 

 herbalists. The plant may often be found near the ruins 

 of our ancient abbeys and monastic houses, and it is very 

 reasonably suggested that in many cases its occurrence is 

 a survival from the old herb gardens of the monks. 



The dwale grows ordinarily some two to three feet 

 high, though we have seen it quite four feet in height. 

 The branches have a way of drooping towards their 



