HISTORICAL SKETCH 4 
for use in dropsy and gravel. Among the Greeks and 
Romans it was one of the oldest and most valued med- 
icines, and to which most absurd virtues were attrib- 
uted. It was believed that if a person anointed 
himself with a liniment made of asparagus and oil 
the bees would not approach or sting him. It was 
also believed that if the root be put on a tooth which 
aches violently it causes it to come out without pain. 
The therapeutic virtues of asparagus seem to have 
been held in almost as high esteem by the ancients as 
those of ginseng are esteemed by the Chinese to this 
day. 
