History and Future of the Blackberry 207 



diseases of the mouth and eyes, as well as for the quinsy." The roots, 

 boiled in wine, were esteemed one of the best astringents by Roman 

 physicians, and used in all diseases of the mouth. The leaves, 

 pounded and applied to ringworms and ulcers, were said to bring 

 speedy relief. Boerhave, a renowned physician at the beginning of 

 the last century, affirms that the roots, dug in February or March 

 and boiled with honey, are an excellent remedy against dropsy. 

 In a work entitled "A Niewe Herball, or Historic of Plantes," first 

 written by D. Rembert Dodoen, physician to the German emperor, 

 and afterward translated into French, then from French into English 

 by Gerard Dewes, in 1578, the "nature" of the blackberry is set 

 forth as follows: "The tender springes and new leaves of the Bramble 

 are colde and drie almost in the thirde degree, and astringent or 

 binding, and so is the unripe fruite. The ripe fruite is somewhat 

 warme and astringent, but not so much as the unrype fruite." Then 

 are given a long list of "vertues," among which are the following: 

 "They do also fasten the teeth, when the mouth is washed with the 

 juyce or decoction thereof. The unripe fruite is good for the same 

 purpose, to be used after the same manner." "The leaves be 

 stamped & with good effect are applyed to the region or place of 

 the stomacke against the trembling of the hart, the payne & loose- 

 ness or ache of the stomacke." It is to be feared that Pliny and 

 others of these old writers do not rank high as medical authorities 

 at the present day, yet the plant and fruit of the blackberry are still 

 employed in various ways, with very gratifying results, in the treat- 

 ment of disease. 



According to legend, the origin of the disagreeably thorny char- 

 acter of the blackberry, as told by Waterton, was on this fashion: 

 "The Cormorant was once a wool merchant. He entered into part- 

 nership with the Bramble and the Bat, and they freighted a large 

 ship with wool; she was wrecked and the firm became bankrupt. 

 Since that disaster the Bat skulks about till midnight to avoid his 

 creditors, the Cormorant is forever diving into the deep to dis- 

 cover its foundered vessel, while the Bramble seizes hold of every 

 passing sheep to make up its loss by stealing the wool." 



Perhaps it would be casting discredit on the worthy ancestors 

 who braved so many dangers in the settlement of our country, to 



