MEDIAEVAL MEDICINE. 



435 



flax and stamp it and temper it with holy water, and give it him to 

 drink.'' 



The following is a remarkable remedy : " For an adder or snake that 

 has crept into a man's body. Take a fat loin of veal and roast it, and 

 take a panful of sweet milk, somewhat warm, and set it on the ground. 

 Then hang the man by the feet, so that his mouth be but little above the 

 flesh, and let him open his mouth that the savour may go up into his 

 body ; and look that there be nobody in the house but hidden behind 



NOMEN HERJBAE OLYXATRVMs 



From Herbarium Apuleii Platonici. 

 Fig. 114. 



something ; and let each of them have in his hand a besom ; and they 

 shall see the vermin come out and bite the flesh, and afterwards go to 

 the milk and drink. Then let them be ready and slay it. Do so till 

 all be out, and afterwards give him good drink till he be whole." 



Illustrations by means of which the plants could be identified which 

 a applied drugs were early recognised as valuable additions to the verbal 

 descriptions of them. 



A MS. of Dioscorides' work, now at Vienna, is probably the earliest 

 existing example, being of the fifth century of our era. One illustration 



