24 THE OLD ENGLISH HERBALS 



off, boil the polypody fern and foment the head with that so 

 warm. In case that a man be bald, Plinius the mickle leech 

 saith this leechdom : ' Take dead bees, burn them to ashes, 

 add oil upon that, seethe very long over gledes, then strain, 

 wring out and take leaves of willow, pound them, pour the juice 

 into the oil; boil again for a while on gledes, strain them, 

 smear therewith after the bath." Leech Book, I. 87. 



The two prescriptions for hair which is too thick are in the 

 same chapter : 



" In order that the hair may not wax, take emmets' eggs, 

 rub them up, smudge on the place, never will any hair come up 

 there." Again : " if hair be too thick, take a swallow, burn 

 it to ashes under a tile and have the ashes shed on." 



There are more provisions against diseases of the eye than 

 against any other complaint, and it is probably because of the 

 prevalence of these in olden days that we still have so many 

 of the superstitions connected with springs of water. Both 

 maythen (camomile) and wild lettuce were used for the eyes. 

 In the following for mistiness of eyes there is a touch of pathos : 



" For mistiness of eyes, many men, lest their eyes should 

 suffer the disease, look into cold water and then are able to see 

 far. . . . The eyes of an old man are not sharp of sight, then 

 shall he wake up his eyes with rubbings, with walkings, with 

 ridings, either so that a man bear him or convey him in a wain. 

 And they shall use little and careful meats and comb their heads 

 and drink wormwood before they take food. Then shall a 

 salve be wrought for unsharpsighted eyes ; take pepper and beat 

 it and a somewhat of salt and wine ; that will be a good salve." 



One prescription is unique, for the " herb " which one is 

 directed to use is not to be found in any other herbal in existence. 

 This is " rind from Paradise." There is a grim humour about 

 the scribe's comment, and one cannot help wondering what was 

 the origin of the prescription : 



