The Black Hellebore. 137 



mas Rose, because it frequently expands its petals at that season, 

 which having a resemblance to the common dog rose of our hedges, 

 has gained it this name. Our caution is equally demanded 

 against the whole of the Hellebore family of plants, on account 

 of the dangerous properties of their roots and leaves, which are 

 a most virulent poison. It is sometimes named after Melampus, 

 who travelled into Egypt, which was the seat of science at that 

 period, to study medicine. He afterwards cured the daughters 

 of Proetus, king of Argos, of mental derangement, with Helle- 

 bore, and from this circumstance it became so famous a medi- 

 cine for mad people that it was a common proverb used to hypo- 

 chondriacal persons, " Sail to Anticyra," an island in the Gulf of 

 Corinth, where it flourished in abundance. Melampus, it is 

 said, became acquainted with its cathartic properties by observ- 

 ing its effects upon goats. The princesses he cured were ordered 

 to bathe in a cold fountain after taking the medicine, and this is 

 the first instance upon record of the use of cathartics and bathing 

 with a medicinal view. Melampus gained still greater honor by 

 correcting the defects of Iphiclus' constitution by prescribing the 

 rust of iron to be taken in his wine for ten days successively. 

 Thus we find the celebrated steel medicine of the present day 

 was in use as Jong back as 3350 years. At that early period 

 the physicians were held as a sacred order of men, and none 

 durst profess physic in Egypt without being admitted a member 

 of the College of Priests. They were also considered the sooth- 

 sayers and prophets from their pretending to be assisted by in- 

 cantations and charms, the origin of which arts seems almost 

 coeval with physic itself; and these solemn mysteries were no 

 doubt resorted to in order to create a veneration and faith in the 

 minds of the patients for their physicians, which, however ridicu- 

 lous to us, might have had great effect on the minds of the vul- 

 gar, as it is an established opinion that the body is often influ- 

 enced by the affections of the mind. We have made this 

 digression to show the origin of many of the Greek and Roman 

 superstitious customs respecting plants. 



The Black Hellebore was used by the ancients to purify their 

 houses and hallow their dwellings ; and they believed that strew- 

 ing or perfuming their apartments with this plant would drive 

 the evil spirit away. This ceremony was performed with great 

 devotion, and accompanied with solemn hymns. In the same 



