40 WILD FLOWERS. 



The high place which it formerly held in the English 

 herbals has been lost ; a state of things which was 

 probably in a great degree hastened by the supersti- 

 tious practice, of which Gerarde says ; " Divers doe 

 rashly teach, that if it be hanged about the necke, or 

 else carried about one, it keepeth a man in health/' 

 And yet that there was equal rashness in entirely 

 banishing it, and classing it with " signature medi- 

 cines " is shewn, not only by what we know of its 

 use in Wales, but also by the fact that an eminent 

 Dublin physician, having lately seen extraordinary 

 relief given by the use of this herb in a skin com- 

 plaint, where his professional skill and care had un- 

 happily proved unavailing, made public the remedy, 

 and by giving it the weight of his sanction and ap- 

 proval, caused its more general, and frequently very 

 successful, employment by the medical profession in 

 similar cases. It has also been internally admi- 

 nistered as a cathartic, but with what benefit I 

 know not. 



The root is edible and wholesome ; and is said to 

 have for some time formed the sole support of the 

 garrison of Rochelle, during the celebrated siege of 

 that place by Cardinal Richelieu, in the year 1628. 

 From this circumstance arose its French name of 

 Herbe du siege. 



