THE BOOK OF THE PEONY 



Pseon healed him, applying pain-assuaging 

 remedies." ^ 



This cure caused so much envy in the breast of 

 ^sculapius that he secretly plotted the death of 

 Pseon: probably the first recorded instance of 

 professional jealousy. But the wicked plotter 

 was destined to be foiled. Pluto, in gratitude for 

 what Pfeon had done, saved the physician from 

 the fate of mortals by changing him into the plant 

 that had been used in the cure. This plant has 

 ever since borne Paeon's name.^ 



The history of the cognate word paean is in- 

 teresting as showing some of the possibilities of 

 etymology. After the time of Homer, the name 

 of healer and the office of healing were trans- 

 ferred from Pseon to Apollo, who was thence- 



^ Iliad, 5, 401, etc. Another apparent instance of 

 the peony's efficacy as a cure for wounds is also given 

 in the Iliad (5, 899, etc.). " So spake he (Jove) and 

 bade PjBon heal him (Mars). And Pason laid assuaging 

 drugs upon the wounds and healed him seeing he was 

 in no wise of mortal mould. Even as fig juice rapidly 

 thickens white milk that is liquid before but curdleth 

 while one stirreth it, even so swiftly healed he impetuous 

 Mars." 



^ The Latin name Paeonia is the feminine of P^eonius 



— " belonging to Paeon." 



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