HISTORICAL SKETCH 3 



for use in dropsy and gravel. Among the Greeks and 

 Romans it was one of the oldest and most valued med- 

 icines, and to which most absurd virtues were attrib- 

 uted. It was believed that if a person anointed 

 himself with a liniment made of asparagus and oil 

 the bees would not approach or sting him. It was 

 also believed that if the root be put on a tooth which 

 aches violently it causes it to come out without pain. 

 The therapeutic virtues of asparagus seem to have 

 been held in almost as high esteem by the ancients as 

 those of ginseng are esteemed by the Chinese to this 

 day. 



