GU2 
MR. W. II. BIUWl'XL ON SOME OBSOLETE DISHES. 
garden from Hanvicli, and from Langtree I’oint on the other 
side of the Avater. He gives directions as to the manner to 
condite Eringos. Ihe roots having been boiled in “faire Avater by 
the s}3ace of fouro lioures till they be soft,” Avere to be “pilled 
clean as ye pil parsncps,” and the pith drawn out at tlie end of the 
root ; they were then to be jmt into syrup made of sugar, 
Avhite of egg and clear Avater, to Avhich had been added a saucer full 
of rose Avater, and spoon full of cinnamon Avater and a grain of 
musk, and soaked and infused until the next day, Avhen they Avere 
to be Avrapped in paper Avith sugar and dried in a stove, 
]’1labre. INFr. Geldart has kindly given me a note about 
Hellebore, but even Avith his assistance I cannot determine the 
plant intended. ]\Irs. Lancaster, in ‘English Eotany,’ thinks that 
Hellebores Avere called generally by the name y<^rairum] and in 
the index to synonyms to Gerard’s Herball, Ave hnd “ Verafrinn, id 
esf, HeJ/eboi-us,” and he calls White Hellebore “ Verainnn album,” 
describing it as a plant “ Avith leaves like unto great gentian folded 
into plaits like unto a garment irlaited to be laid up in a chest ” 
Avhich flourished in his garden. He also says : “ It AA^as reported 
unto me by the Eisho]) of Nonvich, that White Hellebore 
groAveth in a Avood of his OAvn near to his house in Eonvich.” 
Sir James Smith tells us in Eees’ Cyclopaidia that White 
Hellebore, so called from the colour of the root, Avas cultivated 
in this country previous to 159G by Gerard, but he gives us no 
information as to Avhen it Avas introduced. 
The Elack Hellebore {lleUeborux niijer) he tells us Avas 
unknoAAui in this country until cultivated by Gerard. This is our 
Christmas Lose, and Avas also called Mekimpodium, because the 
daughters of Prietus, smitten Avith insanity by Eacchus, Avcrc 
restored to reason by the shepherd Melampus, Avho administered 
Elack Hellebore as a purge. Perhaps this is only a poetic AA^ay of 
saying that the young ladies took to drinking, and Avhen suffering 
from the eftects of their insobriety, derived benefit from this 
medicine. Gerard considered a purgation of Hellebore good for 
mad and furious men, and those molested AA'ith melancholy. 
IMr.s. Lancaster also alludes to the poAvcrful action of Jl(dlebaru-'< 
nvjer. “It is used by some venturesome (piacks to cure Avorms in 
the body Avhich it never faileth to do, Avhen it killeth not the 
patient it Avould certaiidy kill the Avorm, the Avorst of it is, it Avill 
