186 DIVI BOTANICI. 



vindicate his birth-rii;ht and to gain the throne ; but, on finding 

 that his attempt would be ineffectual, he retired to his Cyprian Sa. 

 lamis, and there ended a life full darkly checkered with adventure 

 and peril. 



Teucrium the Plant. — This herb's name prolongs the distinction 

 of Teucer, as an honoured and original distributer of remedies which 

 depend on the virtues of this vegetable for their effects. Recently 

 arranged systems of Botany make the term represent a family of 

 shrubs, under-shrubs and herbs ; and in this many kinds are in- 

 cluded. Few of these grow spontaneously in this island ; they are 

 the Germanders* and Wood-sages, to which the Ground-pine is an 

 intimate ally. If Teucer took his medicines from plants comprised 

 in this family, they would act as cordial and bitter restoratives 

 adapted to the cases of persons suffering from loss of appetite, weak- 

 ened digestion, nervousness and rheumatic gout. Sage-germander 

 or Wood-sage possesses the bitterness, and has much of the flavour, 

 of hops : it is sometimes used in brewing, and is not unwholesome ; 

 but it imparts too dark a colour to the liquor. When, from neces- 

 sity or accident, the Water-germander has been eaten by cows, their 

 milk acquires the odour of garlick. 



Although, in these latter days, the Teucrium denotes extensively 

 the group of plants above-mentioned, yet the fitness of its applica- 

 tion may be questioned, at least with respect to its originality. 

 Pliny particulai'izes the herb which had its name in honour of the 

 Prince of Salamis under the subsequent description ; and therefore, 

 this being faithful, the evidence is conclusive that the naturalist 

 speaks not of a Sage or a Germander. He says,t " In the same age 

 wherein Achilles lined, prince Teucer also gaue the first name and 



• All the sorts of plants comprehended vnder the title of Teucrium, are 

 doubtlesse kindes of Germander. Thej' are not altogether without force or 

 power to open and dense : they maj- be counted among the number of them 

 that do open the liuer and spleen : when boiled in water and drunk, they de- 

 liuer the bodie from all obstructions and stoppings. There be Enipiricks or 

 blind practitioners of this age, who teach that with this herbe, Asplen'mm, 

 Ceterach, or Splecmvort, not onelj' the hardnesse and swelling of the spleene, 

 but all infirmities of the liuer also may be effectually and in a short time re- 

 niooued, insomuch that the sodden liuer of a beast is restored to his former 

 constitution againe, that is, made like vnto a raw liuer, if it be boyled againe 

 with this herbe: but this is to be reckoned among the old wiues fables — 

 Gerardc's Herball, or Generall Historie of Plants, p. 657, 1141 ; folio, London, 

 1633. All this is a servile transcription from Lyte's Nievve Herball, p. 25, 

 113, and 408, with exception of the concluding judgment. 



t Holland's Nalvral Historic of C. Plinivs, ii., 216. 



