.THE MISTLETOE IN HEREFORDSHIRE. 371 
It is not likely that the Mistletoe could possibly escape the effect of 
so much authoritative denunciation. As the object of the New Year's 
Day festival, it had become a sign of the religion itself; and the very 
mention of its name, and certainly of the virtues attributed to it with 
so much pomp and ceremony, would be strongly condemned. The 
Mistletoe, however, was not thus to be lightly set aside. Laws might 
denounce it as an emblem of paganism, but no power could prevent 
its private use. It had become a household, or rather, perhaps, a per- 
sonal mark of the religious faith of the people. ‘The belief in the chief 
virtue given to it so solemnly was a part of their religion itself, and the 
more it was denounced, the more strongly would it maintain a place in ~ 
their faith. When at length the Old Style of computing time had 
passed away, with the Druidical priesthood and their ceremonies, and 
the New Style had become established, the sixth day of the moon's 
age must obviously have lost more and more of its significance. As 
the people became accustomed to the change in their New Year's Day, 
we can readily imagine that the Mistletoe would become associated 
with the change, as still the sacred charm for prosperity in the coming 
year, and the cherished symbol of their old festivities. 
Medical writers of all times seem to have regarded the belief in the 
fertilizing powers of the Mistletoe as a mere fanatical superstition, and 
unworthy of scientific notice. Hippocrates, Dioscorides, Galen, Mat- 
thiolus, Paracelsus, Kolderer, Cartheuser, Colbatch, Loseke, Van Swie- 
ten, ete. etc., whilst they extol its virtues as a remedy for epilepsy in 
chief, and also for paralysis, chorea, hysteria, and other nervous and 
-convulsive diseases, and the glutinous matter of the berries for external 
uses, say nothing whatever of any more special virtue. Even in epi- 
lepsy, says Plitiy, * Quidam id regione efficacius fieri putant, prima 
Luna collectum e robore sine ferro. - Si terram non attigit, comitiali- 
bus mederi? (p. 442). The real properties of the plant itself " 
those of a slight tonic. (Barton and Castle, ‘ British Flora Medica, 
vol. iii. p. 146.) The leaves and shoots have an astringent and rather 
-bitter taste, and “ strong extracts made from them are nauseous, bit- 
terish, and sub-austere.” (Lewis's Mat. Medica, p. 575.) The ber- 
ries are reputed to act as a purgative, and are even now sometimes 
given to sheep for this purpose. 
In Prussia in times of great scarcity the branches and leaves of the 
Mistletoe have been used, says Bock (Nat. Hist. of Prussia, vol. iii. 
VOL, II. [DECEMBER 1, 1864.] 2D 
