198 UIVI BOTANICI. 



truth, the active philanthropist might experience a gladdening com- 

 fort in expatiating on the advantages to be derived from the re- 

 source of aromatizing apartments with a balmy steam, as the most 

 delicious antidote to the ennui which necessarily preys on the vic- 

 tims of idleness and frivolity. From the same eloquent physician,* 

 come the additional doctrines; that Balm solaces the soul of man, 

 and invigorates his vital energies, with its sweetness of smell, aus- 

 tereness of taste, and tenuity of parts ; that, with these qualities 

 also, it strengthens the inward bowels and organs, and thus facili- 

 tates the processes of digestion ; that it removes the megrim and 

 fulness of the brain ; and that it possesses a power to expel melan- 

 choly vapours from the spirits and the blood which permeate the 

 heart and arteries. These edifying revelations stand forth in the 

 Grete Her ball. rt beneath a prime figure of the plant, the simpler 

 says that " the Melisse hath grete vertu to waste and sprede hu- 

 mours, and that it is good agaynst hote and venymous apostumes, 

 medled with grece and layde to them, and agaynst all aches yf it be 

 layde to the sore placen ix dayes. The wyne that Melisse is sode 

 in is good to kepe one fro swownynge yf the cause be colde : yf it 

 be sode in wyne and oyle, and layde to boyles, it rypeth and soften- 

 eth them, and spredeth the hardnesse of the lyuer and mylte." 

 Balm moreover bears the credit of a generous All-heal, in the Gar- 

 den of Htalth.% where Virgil's precepts for the guidance of bee- 

 charming are approved and recommended. " When their hiues are 

 rubbed with Balme," the herbalist avers, " it keepeth the bees toge- 

 ther and causeth others to come to them. Seethe Balme," he adds, 

 "in white wine, and drinke it iii or iiii mornings together, to purge 

 the breast, to helpe the shortnesse of winde, to comfort the heart, to 

 driue away dumpish heauinesse, to helpe the falling sicknesse and 

 all other diseases." 



* Avicenna; Ebn-Sina; he was surnamed Schcikh- Reyes, the prince of 

 physicians. One of his tracts is entitled, De Cordc cjmque Facultatibtts libcllns, 

 <■ traductions J. B. Bruyerini, M.D. Sro, Lugduni, 1559. " Auicenne sayth, 

 that hasyll nuttes increase the brayae." Now, this aphorism being true, it 

 offers an instructive suggestion to the guardians of weaklings with light 

 heads and little brains. When a tiny brain occasions imbecility, let its vic- 

 tim be regaled often and freely with Hasyll-Nuites ; and, in due time, he 

 may have a big head with a large share of cleverness and virtue. 



-f- The Grete Herball ; Chapter ccxci ; folio, London, 1526. 



£ William Langham, Practitioner in Physick : — The Garden of Health, 

 conteyning the sundry rare and hidden vertues and properties of all kindes 

 of Simples and Plants ; 4to, London, 1579 ; p 60. Here, receipts are given 

 for the preparation of balme-tea, balme-ale and balme-wine, with instruc- 

 tions for using them effectually in the treatment of diseases. 



