54 THE BOOK OF HERBS 



" Nichersor, saith the Egyptians, dedicated it to the sun, 

 because it cured agues, and they were like enough to 

 do it, for they were the arrantest apes in their religion 

 I have ever read of." Why his indignation is so much ex- 

 cited is not clear, but probably it is because Agues (being 

 watery diseases) were under the moon, and therefore they 

 should have dedicated a herb that cured agues to the 

 Moon. However, he holds to the view that camomile 

 is good for all agues, although it is an herb of the sun 

 — who has nothing to do with such diseases, as a rule. 

 Turner criticises Amatus Lusitanus with some shrewd- 

 ness. This writer, who had apparently taken upon him 

 to teach " Spanyardes, Italians, Frenchmen and Germans 

 the name of Herbes in their tongues, writeth that 

 Camomile is commonlye knowne," and with this bald 

 statement contented himself. " Wherefore it is lykely 

 he knoweth nether of both [kinds of Camomile]. 

 Wherefore he had done better to have sayde, ' I do 

 knowe nether of both, then thus shortly to passe by 

 them.' Camomile is stUl officinal, and is used for fomen- 

 tations. ' If taken internally it should be infused with 

 cold water, as heat dissipates the oil.' " 



Feverfeiv is so nearly related to camomile that it may 

 be mentioned here. Indeed some writers call it " a 

 Wild Camomile," and give it Matricaria Parthenum for 

 a Latin name. Most botanists, however, place it "in 

 the genus Pyrethrum." Mr Britten calls it Pyrethrum 

 Parthenium. "Feverfew" comes from "febrifuge," 

 for it was supposed to have wonderful power to drive 

 away fevers and agues ; and it is still a favourite remedy 

 with village people. Nora Hopper brings it in among 

 the fairies : — 



There's many feet on the moor to-night, 

 And they fall so light as they turn and pass, 

 So light and true, that they shake no dew, 

 From the featherfew and the Hungry-Grass. 



The Fairy Music. 



