1 66 THE BOOK OF HERBS 



measles ; both probably on the " Doctrine of Colour 

 Analogy " referred to the rash. An old Herbalist told 

 me that he considered Marigolds nearly as good as 

 Saffron and " more home-grown, so to speak." Dr 

 Primrose, a physician in the reign of Charles II., who 

 wrote a book on " Popular Errors in Physick," inveighs 

 against the custom then in vogue of covering '' the sick 

 [with measles or small-pox] with red cloaths, for they 

 are thought by the afhnitie of the colour to draw the 

 blood out to them, or at least some suppose that it is 

 done by force of imagination. And not onely the people, 

 but also very many physicians use them." Marigold-tea 

 is at anyrate a better survival as " treatment " than this 

 system ! Meadow-SafFron is still officinal, and is well 

 known in the form it is usually dispensed. Tincture of 

 Colchicum. Broom has a place in the pharmacopoeia, 

 and is also a popular remedy. Furze is not officinal, 

 but a preparation made from it, Ulexine, is mentioned in 

 a well-known medical dictionary. An infusion of Furze- 

 blossom used to be given to children to drink in 

 scarlet fever. Camomile is officinal, and the great 

 authority, Dr Schimmelbusch recently recommended it 

 as a mouth-wash, for disinfecting the muscous membrane 

 after cases of operation in the mouth. In a fomentation 

 Camomile heads are a recognised anodyne ; and Wild 

 Camomile and Red Pimpernel are given locally for 

 asthma, it is said, with great success. Boy's love, 

 (Southernwood), Plantain leaves. Black Currant leaves, 

 Elder buds, Angelica and Parsley, chopped, pounded, 

 and simmered with clarified butter, make an ointment for 

 burns or raw surfaces. A maker of this particular oint- 

 ment near Exeter, died a year or two ago, but up to her 

 death it was much in request. Butter is always better 

 for making ointments than lard, because cows feed on 

 herbs, and all herbs are good for something. Sage 

 poultices and sage gargle are very good for sore 



