150 COMMON EYECRIGHT. 



Culpepper, says, " If the herb was but as much 

 used as it is neglected, it would have spoilt the 

 spectacle-maker's trade, and a man would think, 

 that reason should teach people to prefer the 

 preservation of their natural sight before arti- 

 ficial spectacles." JMilton apparently held the 

 general opinion of its virtues, and represents 

 the Archangel Michael as employing it to 

 quicken the vision of our first parent, when 

 disobedience to his Maker had dimmed alike 

 the physical and mental eye. When directing 

 Adam to look forward into coming ages, he 

 first 



" The film removed 

 Which that false fruit, which promised clearer sight, 

 Had bred ; then purged with Euphrasy and Rue 

 The visual nerve, for he had much to see." 



No record remains to tell of the value of 

 Rue to the dimmed eyesight, but the use of 

 Euphrasy is still common in villages, though 

 some oculists consider that it is injurious to 

 the eye. Lightfoot says, that the Highlanders 

 make an infusion of the plant with milk, and 

 anoint the patient's eye with a feather dipped 

 into the liquid. 



