HONEYSUCKLE. 299 



qualities of this plant, had we not accidentally 

 opened the work of a student in physic, who 

 flourished in London, in the year 1681; and 

 as we conclude it is but little known to the 

 students of 1823, we extract it for the sole 

 purpose of benefiting the faculty by a laugh. 

 This learned ^Esculapian author says, under 

 the head 6 Woodbind,' " It is a plant so 

 common, that every one that hath eyes knows 

 them; and he that hath none cannot read 

 a description if I should write it. Doctor 

 Tradition, that grand introducer of errors, 

 that hater of truth, that lover of folly, and 

 that mortal foe to Doctor Reason, hath 

 taught the common people to use the leaves 

 of flowers of this plant in mouth waters ; and 

 by long continuance of time hath so grounded 

 it in the brains of the vulgar, that you cannot 

 beat it out with a beetle. All mouth waters 

 ought to be cooling and drying, but honey- 

 suckles are cleansing, consuming, and digest- 

 ing, and therefore no ways fit for inflamma- 

 tions : Thus Doctor Reason. And, if you 

 please* we will leave Doctor Reason awhile, 

 and come to Doctor Experience, a learned 

 gentleman, and his brother. Take a leaf and 

 chew it in your mouth, and you will quickly 

 find it likelier to cause a sore mouth, or throat, 

 than to cure it. It is an herb of Mercury, 



