CHAPTER XL 



HIS ASTRONOMICAL STUDIES I " JOHNNIE MOON." 



DUNCAN'S study of Culpepper introduced him not only to 

 the plants that had medicinal virtues, but to the stars that 

 " governed " them or had " dominion " over them, according 

 to the astrology of the author and the time. In order 

 to gather the cinquefoil when Jupiter is "angular and 

 strong," it is necessary for the gatherer to know not only 

 Jupiter, and his position in the sky, but those relations 

 to the other planets and constellations that constitute 

 his angularity and strength ; if loosestrife is " an herb 

 of the Moon and under the sign Cancer," and if rue is 

 " an herb of the Sun and under Leo," to do the plants 

 justice, you must not only know the Sun and the Moon, 

 which, as the facetious astrologer says, " every boy that 

 plays with a pop-gun will not mistake," but you must 

 know both the Lion and the Crab, especially if either of the 

 former is in "the house" of the latter. And this knowledge 

 is all the more necessary to a true Culpepperian physician, 

 for doth not the mild and learned Culpepper asseverate 

 " I would willingly teach astrologers to be physicians, for 

 they are most fitting for the calling ; if you will not believe 

 me, ask Dr. Hippocrates and Dr. Galen, a couple of gentle- 

 men that our College of Physicians keep to vapour with, 



