April 1, 1865.] 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



B^ 



STRANGE EEMEDIES. 



In all country places there arc very strange reme- 

 dies recommended for various diseases. Generally, 

 there is but little reason for the method of treat- 

 ment. Often the doctrine that similia similihus 

 curantur, or "like cures like," is its only founda- 

 tion. Thus, the yellow bark of the berberry-tree is 

 in some places administered as a cure for jaundice, 

 only because it is yellow and the skin also is yellow 

 in that disease. Our wise forefathers called the 

 purple foxglove " throatwort," and prescribed it in 

 cases of ulcerated sore throat, because the inside or 

 throat of the flower is spotted like the human 

 throat in a diseased state, and they thought that by 

 these real or fancied resemblances nature pointed 

 out the uses to which different plants ought to be 

 applied. Whether the Digitalis was given internally, 

 or used as an external application, I cannot tell ; 

 but if the former, I think it must have been a " kill 

 or cure" kind of remedy. 



I have heard of two remedies in Cheshire which 

 have not even this shadow for their rationale. I 

 observed a man intently hunting for something 

 in the long wet grass. I went to see what he was 

 looking for ; in fact, he was trespassing in my own 

 orchard, so I had a special interest in watching him. 

 I found, however, that he was looking for some 

 httle frogs, which, if found, were to be placed 

 (alive, I suppose) into the mouth of a child that 

 had got the thrush ! 



The other remedy is a hedgehog, which is con- 

 fidently recommended in cases of epilepsy ! I have 

 never been able to learn, however, whether it is 

 to be cooked or raw, roasted or boiled, with spines 

 or without, or whether it is to be tortured in some 

 way, and made a charm of, as was sometimes done 

 with other animals by our aforesaid wise forefathers, 

 as in the following instance Avhich I met with in an 

 old farriery book. The remedy was to be used, 

 "When a horse has been frightened or bitten by a 

 mouse in its manger." The formula was : — " Take 

 a mouse, and having cut a hole in the trunk of a 

 tree (I thiiJc some particular tree was specified), 

 there place the mouse, and fasten it up by nailing 

 a piece of wood over the hole. Then, whenever the 

 horse becomes unmanageable, or is frightened at 

 any thing, take him to the tree (not a very easy 

 matter, being unmanageable), and his fright will 

 instantly cease, and he will become manageable." 



Here, however, is a Cheshire remedy for warts, 

 wliich is most wonderful, and which is by many im- 

 plicitly believed in. Sieal a piece of bacon. Rub 

 the warts with it. Then cut a slit in the bark 

 of an ash-tree; raise up a piece of the bark ; put 

 in the bacon, and close the bark down again. In 

 a short time the warts will die away from the hand ! 

 but will make their appearance on the bark of the 



tree as rough excrescences ! ! This remedy has been 

 quite successful in the case of my man, who told 

 me ! ! ! R. H. 



ON COLLECTING DIATOMS. • 



The collector of Diatoms, Desmids, and other 

 microscopic denizens of the waters, is often at a 

 loss where to seek for the objects of his search. In 

 the country every dirty ditch and stagnant pond or 

 running stream is a natural aquarium for him, but 

 the dweller in town has to go some distance before 

 he can meet with a suitable hunting, or more pro- 

 perly, fishing-ground. It is to the latter, therefore, 

 the writer now specially conmiends the following 

 remarks. Of localities, the Londoner will find at 

 the west-end the Serpentine in Hyde Park, the 

 ornamental water in Regent's and St. James's Parks, 

 very rich in diatoms, particularly Diatoma, Surirella, 

 Sijnedra, Phtrosigma, Pinnnlaria, and some others. 



Northerly he will find the ponds on Hampstead- 

 heath and Highgate. In the east the docks, and in 

 the south the Surrey-canal, Clapham and Wands- 

 worth Commons, which contain many prolific ponds 

 and ditches ; so that a ride by omnibus, or a few 

 miles' walk from almost any part of London, will 

 bring the collector into the vicinity of his prey. 



Then, as to collecting apparatus. The writer has 

 found the most simple to he, the following : — Half- 

 a-dozen wide-mouthed bottles, one-ounce size, Avith 

 turned-back brim, fitted 

 with good corks, and placed 

 in a leather case for con- 

 venient carriage in the 

 pocket, which case sliould 

 also be provided with a 

 pocket to contain a good 

 stout india-rubber ring. 

 A walking-stick or umljrcHa 

 will complete his collecting 

 implements. The use of 

 the india-rubber ring will 

 now be apparent. On reach- 

 ing a likely spot for collecting, he is to remove 

 from the case one of the bottles and the india-rubber 

 ring. Having then placed his stick or umbrella 

 under his arm, double the india-rubber ring over 

 the ferrule end of the stick, and pass the neck of 

 the bottle through the two loops thus formed. 



This plan has been used by the writer for some 

 years, and found to answer admirably; it has the 

 advantage of taking up very little room in the pocket, 

 and can be adjusted in an instant. 



A. J. Roberts. 



Art is nature passed ihrough the alembic of man. 

 — fjiiierson. 



