H3 



members of the Clan, there is no question but that this handsome 

 reed or c uik is the 



Badge of Clan Mackay. 



K'Eogh and Threlkeld's Works. — The Rev. John K'Eogh 

 wrote a work on the plants of Ireland "Botanalogica Universalis 

 Hibernia," and another on the animals, "Zoologica Medicinalis 

 Hibernia," about the year 1739, giving the Irish names as pro- 

 nounced by the peasantry at that period. Threlkeld's "Synopsis 

 Stirpium Hibernicarum" appeared in 1728. They are now rare 

 works, and are of no value save for the names, for they contain no 

 information except the supposed medicinal virtues of the plants 

 and animals given in them. 



All creatures, from the biggest mammal to the meanest worm, 

 and all plants, were supposed to have some potent charm or virtue 

 to cure disease. A large number of prescriptions are compounds 

 of the most disgusting ingredients. We can only now smile at 

 the credulity that would lead any one to imagine that by merely 

 looking at the yellow hammer (Emberiza citrinella) "by any one 

 who has the jaundice, the person is cured, but the bird will die." 

 Or that "the eyes drawn entire out of the head of a hare taken in 

 March, and dried with pepper, and worn by women, will facilitate 

 childbirth." 



He gives this singular cure for the jaundice. "A live moth, 

 laid on the navel till it dies, is an excellent remedy ! Nine grains 

 of wheat, taken up by a flea, are esteemed good to cure a chin- 

 cough — that insect is banished and destroyed by elder leaves, 

 flowers of pennyroyal, rue, mint, and fleabane, celandine, arsmart, 

 mustard, brambles, lupin, and fern-root" For worms — "Take 

 purslane seeds, coralina, and St. John's wort, of each an equal 

 part; boil them in spring water. Or take of the waters of hiera 

 picra (Picris hieracioides), of the seeds of the bitter apple, of each 

 one dram, mixed with the oil of rue and savin, spread on leather, 

 and apply it to the navel; this is an approved remedy." Epilepsy — 

 "The flesh of the moor hen, with rosemary, lemons, lavender, and 

 juniper berries, will cure it." And for children — " Take a whelp 

 (cullane), a black sucking puppy (but a bitch whelp for a girl), 

 strangle it, open it, and take out the gall, and give it to the child, 

 and it will cure the falling sickness.'' One more example will 

 sufficiently illustrate the value of these books. "'Usnea capitis 



