DIVI BOTANICI. 33 



has also been conferred on Apuleius* the phytologist, whose Book on 

 the Medical Virtues of Vegetables it frequently accompanies. Hence 

 in modern times, has arisen a bibliological discussion attended with 

 a display of erudite argumentation, unencumbered with the shew of 

 one single fact, for maintaining as well as resisting the pretension, 

 that the monograph " De Vetonicd" was composed by Apuleius, 

 whose distinct personality remains undetermined. Could, however, 

 the writing be fairly disembarrassed of the blemishes, improvements 

 or ornaments imposed upon it by successive transcribers, it would 

 be found not destitute of appearances confirming the probability of its 

 having originally been an epistle, the result of a recreative exercise, 

 addressed by Musa to Marcus Agrippa, the son-in-law and heroic 

 friend of Augustus, and truly patriotic favourite of the Roman 

 people. 



Musa's Herba Vetonica is the Wood-betony ; and, in his mind, it 

 possesses energies available in the treatment of forty-six different dis- 

 eases. Hence came the Italian compliment " ha piii virtu che JBet- 

 tonica" you have more virtues than Betony ; and hence the adage, 

 "vende la tonica e compra la Bettonica," sell your coat and buy Be- 

 tony. Until fashion had inspired a taste for occult and outlandish 



having aspired to describe the Betony and its salutary properties. Between 

 the Monograph on Betony, however, and the Apuleian Herbal with its 

 exxviii plants, there is this essential and characteristic distinction — that the 

 former consists of simple and precise directions harmoniously accordant with 

 the spirit and experience of the times when Musa was eminent as a physi- 

 cian, while the latter has its precepts entangled with the rubbish of many 

 superstitious injunctions. 



" Pliny's praises of Betony, in the style of his translator, are tinctured 

 with extravagance, the offspring of a benign credulity. " Surely," he says, 

 " an excellent herb this is, and aboue all other simples most worthy of praise. 

 The leaues brought into pouder, be good for many vses: there is a wine and 

 vineger condite with Betony, soueraigne for to strengthen the stomack and 

 clarifie the eiesight : this gloriovs prerogatiue hath Betony, that look about 

 what hovse soeuer it is set or sowed, the same is thovght to be in the pro- 

 tection of the gods, and safe enovgh for committing any offence which may 

 deserue their vengeance and need an expiation or propitiatory sacrifice." 

 Natvral Historie, Book xxv, chap, viii.— Musa's Tract, " De Herba Vetonica, 

 deque nominibus ejus et virtutibus" has been often published in medical collec- 

 tions, as that of Albanus Torinus, folio, Basilece, 1528 and 1549; that of Ga- 

 briel Humelbergius, 4to, Tiguri, 1537 ; that with the title " Medici Antiqui 

 Omnei," folio, Venetiis, 1547; and that of J. C. G. Ackermann, 8vo, Norim- 

 berga, 1788, in which it is made the first chapter of Apuleius' Phytotjraphy. 

 It is described in the Bibliotheca Botaniea of Seguier, 4to, Htigie-Comitum, 

 1740, p. 283 ; and in that ofHaller, 4to, Tiguri, 1771; Tom. i, p. 63. 



VOL VIII., NO. XXIII. C 



