UMBELLIFEROUS TRIBE 67 



mind becomes delirious, and the soul beholds what it either hopes or fears. 

 Hence we see that the transition from intoxication to that kind of inspiration 

 known to belong to the mysteries of heathen priestcraft is most natural." 



"Such artificial modes of assisting mental abstraction have," adds Dr. 

 Moore, " been at all periods resorted to. Thus Pliny informs us that the 

 soothsayers were accustomed to chew roots, supposed to be of a certain 

 species of henbane. The Hindoos employ the Indian hemp for the sanm 

 purpose; and in St. Domingo the supposed prophets chew a plant called 

 Cohaba, that they may be better able to look into the unseen world and per- 

 ceive the shadow of coming events. Sophocles calls the priestesses of Delphos 

 laurel-eaters, because they Avere in the habit of chewing the leaves of that 

 plant before they mounted the tripod. The natives of Kamtschatka are said 

 to use the plant Hnddmm sphondijlium, with a view to prepare themselves for 

 dedication to their gods." 



A kind of beer for ordinary purposes is also made of this plant, both in 

 Siberia and the neighbouring countries, and it is said by G-melin, in his "Flora 

 Siberica " to be better than that made of corn. 



The Cow Parsnip was formerly called Madnep ; the French term it Bene, 

 the Germans Heilkraut, and the Dutch Heilkriiid. It is the Spondillo of the 

 Italians, the Espondillo of the Spaniards ; and in Russia it is termed Pufschki. 

 The word Heracleuvi is derived from Hercules, who is said to have brought 

 the plant into some medicinal use, as Achilles is said first to have applied the 

 Yarrow to the healing of wounds. A modern French author has conjectured 

 that Hercules was not only a great hero, but also a superior botanist and 

 doctor ; and though this might be difficult of proof, yet it cannot be denied. 

 We know that in later days, towards the end of the seventeenth century, 

 the pilgrims to the Holy Laud were tended during sickness in the hospitals 

 prepared for them at Jerusalem, and that knights and soldiers, in imitation 

 of Hercules, Achilles, and other warriors, became physicians to the best of 

 their power, and carefully nursed the sick. The old, tedious histories of 

 knights of the middle ages show how the warriors strove to obtain the best 

 balsamic mixtures, and the celebrated composition called Baume de com- 

 mandei(r was made by these knights. True it is that, like Achilles and 

 Hercules, whom they copied, their botanic science was somewhat uncertain, 

 but they won the faith of the patient in their skill, and thus beneficially 

 acted on his body by means of his mind. Doubtless, too, their natural 

 sagacity, aided by that earnest will, which marvellously quickens the human 

 intellect, enabled them often to select appropriate plants for "physic drinks." 

 The soldier would, in the early ages of the woi'ld, be likely to practise the 

 art of healing, and to study the nature of the vegetable remedies, for the 

 sake of the companion who might have suffered from the sword of the com- 

 mon enemy. 



28. Hartwort {Tordijlkm). 



L Small Hartwort {T. offidiuUe). — Outermost petals of the flower 

 with two unequal lobes ; partial involucres lanceolate, about as long as the 

 umbels ; fruit rough, and the thickened margin distinctly notched. Plant 

 annual. This Hartwort, which has pinkish-white flowers, on a hairy stem, 



9—2 



