BASIL. 61 



under a stone, it would breed serpents ; from 

 this notion its use was decried ; — and when it 

 was transplanted into our climate, which was 

 found too cold for serpents, these reptiles 

 degenerated into worms and maggots, which, 

 we are told, this vegetable will engender, if 

 it be only chewed, and put into the sun. 



Basil was condemned by Chrysippus, more 

 than two hundred years b. c. as being hurtful 

 to the stomach, a suppressor of urine, an 

 enemy to the sight, and a robber of the wits. 

 Diodorus added, that the eating of this plant 

 caused cutaneous insects ; and the Africans 

 were persuaded that no person could survive 

 if he were stung by a scorpion on the same 

 day that he had eaten basil. 



We notice the story told by Hollerus of 

 this plant, to shew how far superstition and 

 credulity carried the ill effects of basil. He 

 relates, that an Italian by frequent smelling 

 this herb, bred a scorpion in his brain. 



Notwithstanding these impressions were 

 so much against reason, and the decided 

 opinion of the Roman physicians as to the 

 beneficial qualities of the plant, it never be- 

 came a favourite in medicine, and has been 

 but little used for culinary purposes, although 

 Philistis, Plistonicus, and others, extolled its 



