34 PLANT NAMES 



for epilepsy or " falling sickness." The Walnut 

 resembled the human skull, which proved that it 

 could cure all diseases of the head, whether of the 

 scalp or the brain. But the height of absurdity 

 was reached when the conclusion was drawn that 

 Fern seed, being so small that the naked eye could 

 hardly discern it, must have the property of render- 

 ing a person who held it invisible. We find it in 

 Shakespeare: " We have the receipt of Fern seed; 

 we walk invisible." So also the yellow Celandine 

 was supposed to cure jaundice. Wood Sorrel (which 

 has a heart-shaped leaf) to cheer the heart, Liver- 

 wort to be good for the liver, and so on. 



These strange beliefs were held for centuries in 

 good faith by men of learning and sense. But by 

 degrees the practice of herbalism fell into the hands 

 of quacks, who preyed on the current credulity, and 

 finally disappeared with the advance of true science. 



The following are some names derived from 

 supposed medicinal virtues: Althea, from altho, to 

 heal. Alyssum, from a, not, and lussa, a rage, 

 because it was supposed to calm canine madness. 

 Anchusa is from ancho, to press tight. Gerard says 

 it is " most singular in deep punctures, or wounds 

 made with thrusts " — that is, it closes a gaping cut. 

 Aristolochia means "best in parturition"; it was 

 considered useful in childbirth. Asplenium, from 

 a, not, and splene, the spleen, used for spleen dis- 

 orders. Anagallis, from anagalao, to laugh, was 

 believed to cure sadness. Clerodendron is said to be 

 from kleros, a lot (whence come " clergy " — i.e., 



