DWALE 



197 



Botanically the plant is the Alropa 'Belladonna, a 

 curious combination introducing the name of the most 

 dreaded of the Fates, Atropos, whose function it was to 

 cut the thread of human life, ' and the Italian words 

 signifying beautiful lady. The first, in view of the very 

 dangerous nature of the plant, calls for no explanation ; 

 while the second, the specific title, refers to the use that 

 was made of the plant in Italy and elsewhere, as an aid 

 to beauty, the herb, deadly as it is, being employed from 

 its curious property of dilating the eyes, or as a cosmetic 

 for the complexion. The old English name, dwale, is 

 probably from the Dutch word dwaelen, to be delirious, 

 though it has also been asserted that we derive it from the 

 French deuil, mourning. Amongst the suggestive names 

 we find attached to the plant by the early writers are 

 lethale, furiosum, and maniacum. 



The root, the leaves, the fruit, all possess very active 

 properties that, misdirected, may lead, as we have seen, 

 to fatal consequences, but which find their valued place 

 in medical practice. When one falls a victim to lumbago 

 a large belladonna plaster will be found of benefit, and 

 some belladonna liniment well rubbed in Is of great 

 efficacy in relieving muscular pains, while a tincture of 



' The lands and the riches that here we possesse 

 be none of our owne, if a God we professe, 

 But lent vs of him, as his talent of gold, 

 which being demanded, who can it withhold ? 



God maketh no writing that iustly doth say 

 how long we shall haue it, a yeere or a day 



But leaue it we must (how soeuer we leeue) 



when Atrop shall pluck vs from hence by the sleeue. 



TussER, Fiue Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie, 1 573. 



