146 



Medicinal Plants. — The common belief that a plant grew 

 not far from the locality where the disease prevailed that would 

 cure that disease, led to many experiments which ultimately 

 resulted in finding out the undoubted virtues of many plants; but 

 wholesale methods were frequently adopted by gathering all the 

 herbs, or as many as possible, in that particular district, and 

 making them into a bath. 



At the battle of "Magh Tuireadh," we are informed "that the 

 chief physician prepared a healing bath or fountain with the 

 essences of the principal herbs and plants of Erinn, gathered 

 chiefly in Lus-Magh, or the Plain of Herbs ; and on this bath they 

 continued to pronounce incantations during the battle. Such of 

 the men as happened to be wounded in the fight were immediately 

 plunged into the bath, and they were instantly refreshed, and 

 made whole, so that they were able to return and fight against the 

 enemy again and again." — Professor O'Curry. 



Incantations with Plants. — Cures by incantations were most 

 common.- A large number of plants were thus employed. When 

 John Roy Stewart sprained his ankle, when hiding after the battle 

 of Culloden, he said : — 



"Ni mi 'n tibhaidh rinn Peadar do Phal, 

 'S a luighean air fas leum bruaich, 

 Seachd paidir n' ainm sagairt is Pap 

 Ga chuir ris na phlasd mu'n cuairt." 

 I'll make the incantation that Peter made for Paul, 



With the herbs that grew on the ground. 

 Seven paternosters in the name of priest and Pope, 

 Applied like a plaster around. 



"And if the dislocated joints did not at once jump into their 

 proper places during the recitation, the practitioner never failed 

 to augur favourably of the comfort to the patient. There were 

 similar incantations for all the ills that flesh is heir to; the tooth- 

 ache could not withstand the potency of Highland magic; 

 dysentery, gout, &c, had all their appropriate remedies in the 

 never-failing incantations." — Mackenzie. See "Beauties of Gaelic 

 Poetry," page 268, where several of the "orations" repeated 

 as incantations are given. Mr. W. Mackenzie's " Gaelic Incanta- 

 tions and Charms" will furnish interesting examples. 



Plants and Fairy Superstitions. — A large number of plant 

 names in Gaelic have reference to fairy influence. At births many 



