FIGWOET TRIBE 11 



The Euphrasy is slightly bitter and astringent, and was formerly very 

 much valued as a remedy for ophthalmic disorders. Lightfoot says that the 

 Scotch make an infusion of the plant with milk, and anoint the patient's 

 eyes with the liquid. All our old herbalists iised it in various Avays. 

 Culpepper says of it : "If the herb was but as much used as it is neglected, 

 it would half spoil the spectacle-maker's trade ; and a man would think that 

 reason should teach people to prefer the preservation of their natural before 

 artificial spectacles ; which, that they may be instructed how to do, take the 

 virtues of Eyebright as followeth : The juice, or distilled Avater of Eyebright, 

 taken inwardly in white wine or broth, or dropped into the eyes, for divers 

 days together, helpeth all infirmities of the eyes that cause dimness of sight. 

 Some make conserve of the flowers for the same effect. Being used any of 

 the ways, it also helpeth a weak brain or memory." He adds, that, mixed 

 with strong beer and drunk, or the powdered herb made into an electuary 

 with sugar, and taken, it " hath the same powerful effect to restore the sight 

 decayed through age : and Arnoldus de Villa Nova saith, it hath restored 

 sight to them that have been blind a long time before." Gerarde, too, 

 recommended the use of the plant in nearly the same manner, both to take 

 away "darknesse and dimnesse of the eyes," and that it might "comfort the 

 memorie " ; and he directs that the plant should be gathered during its 

 flowering season for "physicke's use." 



It is not Avonderful that, having such universal repute, the poets of old 

 times should have referred to it. Thus we find Milton representing the 

 Archangel as clearins: the vision of our first father — 



" Then purged with Euphrasy and rue 

 His visual orbs, for he had much to see." 



Michael Drayton says- 



"The fumitory get, and Eyebright for the eye, 

 The yarrow wherewithal he stops the wound -made gore." 



So, too, we find Spenser saying — 



' ' Yet Euphrasie may not be left unsung, 

 That gives dim eyes to wander leagues around." 



Thomson, in later days, influenced probably by the earlier poets, as much as 

 by popular notions, says also — 



"If she whom I implore, Urania, deign 

 AVith Euplirasy to purge away the mists 

 Which, humid, dim the mirror of the mind." 



A friend of Lobel is recorded to have lost his eyesight by the use of the 

 plant ; but this is not likely, as the Eyebright, when infused, gives a good 

 eye-water, possessed of a slight astringency, though, as an internal remedy, 

 it must be quite powerless. It is still in use among the descendants of some 

 of the old " simplers." The author, on going into a small shop in Dover, 

 saw a quantity of the plant suspended from the ceiling, and was told that it 

 was gathered and dried as being good for weak eyes. The person who had 

 gathered it told her of a wonderful cure which had been performed in his 

 family by its use ; and as the narrator Avas one in whose general truthfulness 



