wormwood. 407 



that the dogs, who are great lovers of this 

 plant, use it as a medicine against their na- 

 tural diseases. This has caused a dispute 

 among the learned, whether Diana or the dogs 

 first discovered the virtues of one species of 

 this plant called Mugwort. 



Although we now cultivate thirty distinct 

 species of this plant in our gardens, its vir- 

 tues were never less called into action, or its 

 qualities less generally known, than at pre- 

 sent. The bitter cup is too often met with 

 by accident to induce us to seek it, and the 

 sweets of this life are found too few to be 

 neglected; yet the constitution may be bene- 

 fited, and the appetite renewed, by an occa- 

 sional draught of wormwood. 



The Egyptians made great use of worm- 

 wood in their worship of Isis. Branches of 

 it were carried by the priests of this goddess 

 in their solemn and religious processions, 

 when they recited in verse the arts which 

 had been taught by this deity. 



The Romans used this vegetable in their 

 solemnities and sacrifices, particularly during 

 the festival holidays called Latins, when 

 those who gained the prize in the chariot - 

 race or other games had a draught of worm- 

 wood presented to them ; and I believe, Baj B 



