SOL AN ACE M. 489 



tries bordering on the Mediterranean, where it grows in rich soil. There 

 are two varieties mentioned by old authors, the male and the female ; the 

 first having larger leaves and a round berry, whilst in the latter the 

 leaves are narrower and more fetid, and the berries oval. The Man- 

 dragora formerly enjoyed much reputation, and the most wonderful powers 

 were attributed to it. The root was fancied to bear so strong a resemblance to 

 the human form, that it bore the name of Antromorphon ; and Matthiolus 

 (Co?nment. Dioscor.) says that it was a kind of profession in Italy to prepare 

 these roots so as to give them the proper figure, or even to imitate them with 

 those of Bryony, &c. It was also named Circcea, from its being supposed 

 to be one of the ingredients of Circe's cup. It was collected with magic rites ; 

 a circle was three times traced round it with a naked sword, and as the per- 

 son who plucked it from the ground was considered to be exposed to many 

 dangers, it was usually torn up by fastening it, by means of a cord, to a dog, 

 who was chastised till, in his efforts to escape, he eradicated it. It is as- 

 serted .by Albertus Magnus that the most potent roots grow under a gibbet. 



It was said to be eminently aphrodisiac, and was much used for the pur- 

 pose of exciting love ; hence the name of Mandragontis bestowed on Venus. 

 Some commentators are of opinion that the Mandrake, mentioned in our trans- 

 lation of the Bible, as found by Reuben and carried to his mother Leah, was 

 this plant ; but it was evident, from the account and from the reference 

 made to it in Solomon's song, — " the mandrakes give a smell, and at our 

 gates are all manner of pleasant fruits," — it is not probable that reference is 

 had to so nauseous and offensive an article as the Mandragora. The He- 

 brew word Duddim is said to be derived from Dadim, breasts, or Dodim, 

 friends, twins; and hence must mean something that is double; and as the 

 Mandrake roots are remarkable for their bifurcate form, and are, as stated, 

 considered to promote love, the general idea was that they were alluded to in 

 the various texts of Scripture. But in the Talmud it is also called Siglin, 

 which has been considered to be the jasmine or lily, and hence it must have 

 had a pleasant smell. At present the most generally adopted idea is that it 

 meant the fruit of the plantain or banana. Dr. Milligen (Curios. Med. Ex- 

 perience) seems to think that allusion was had to an orchis, which has twin 

 roots and an agreeable smell. 



Among its other properties, it bad the precious one of doubling the amount 

 of money it was placed with. It was also of great utility in detecting hidden 

 treasures, and had a variety of other miraculous powers. 



As a remedial agent, it was used by the ancients as a narcotic and stupe- 

 fiant, and is constantly spoken of by Hippocrates, Galen, and Celsus, as 

 proper to lull the pain of surgical operations, and is said to have been the 

 drug which Hannibal infused in the wine left in his camp, when he feigned a 

 retreat, and thus rendered his enemies, who partook of it, unable to withstand 

 his subsequent attack. The use of it now is almost abandoned. Boerhaave, 

 however, recommended it as a cataplasm to scrofulous tumours, and Hoff- 

 mann and Swediaur to scirrhous and syphilitic indurations. It was also pre- 

 scribed, in small doses, in gout, and it is stated with much success. Pallas 

 says that it is much employed in Siberia for a multitude of complaints. 

 Lemery observes that it is good for inflammations of the eyes, erysipelas, 

 scrofula, and tumours generally. Brandt and Ratzeburgh (Pe?-eira, ii. 335) 

 say that when used internally it purges violently. It does not appear to have 

 been analyzed ; but it is clear, from its very active qualities, that it contains 

 some principle analogous to or identical with Atropia, and probably could be 

 used in all cases to which the belladonna is applicable. 



