54 



An instance of cosmetic surgery, as performed by Finghin, 

 is found in the suture of the scalp wound with threads of 

 gold to blend with the golden locks of the royal patient. 

 The story of Conchubar's death, as popularly told, bears out 

 the excellent advice and skilled prognosis of his physician. 

 The story runs thus— Conchubar asked his druid what was 

 the cause of the change in the heavens, and the druid replied, 

 " Jesus Christ is being put to death by the Jews." " That is 

 a pity," replied Conchubar, " and if I were present, I would 

 slay all that are putting him to death." And with that he 

 drew forth his sword and went into an oak wood, and set to 

 felling the trees, saying that if he were amongst the Jews he 

 would treat them in the same way ; and through the strength 

 of the fury that seized him the ball bounded from his head 

 and a portion of his brain followed it, and with that he died. 



The female Druids, or Druidesses, were divided into three 

 classes. The first lived together in sisterhood, having vowed 

 perpetual virginity. They possessed supposed powers of 

 divination, healing and sorcery. 



The second were married women, who, however, cohabited 

 only for a short time or occasionally with their husbands. 

 They lived mostly with the Druids. 



The third, the lowest in rank and estimation, performed the 

 menial duties in connection with all Druidic rites. 



As Druidism is intimately connected with the oak, it is easy 

 to understand that the mistletoe was a favourite remedy. 

 The shrub, they believed, gave fertility to man and beast, and 

 was used by them as a specific against all kinds of poison. The 

 Vervane was another plant in their pharmacology. It was 

 gathered on a moonless night at the commencement of the 

 dog days. From it they made an ointment which was con- 

 sidered efficacious not only in preventing and curing diseases, 

 but also in conciliating friendship. They used the herb 

 Selago, a species of Savin, for diseases of the eye. This plant 

 was used by burning and allowing the smoke to ascend to the 

 eyes. 



Just as our modern surgeons are clothed in white when 

 performing operations, so the Druids were robed in white when 

 performing their rites. All other classes were forbidden to 

 wear this colour. 



