94 CETERACH OFFICINARUM. 
until the time of Elizabeth ; for Gerarde, then writing, 
says, " There be Empericks or blinde practitioners of 
this age, who teach, that with this herbe not only the 
hardnesse and swelling of the Spleene, but all infirmities 
of the liver also may be effectually, and in very short 
time removed, insomuch that the sodden liver of a beast 
is restored to his former constitution agaiue, that is, 
made like unto a raf Jirer, if it bee boyled ngatue with 
.his herbe. 
" But this is to be reckoned among the old wives fables, 
and that also which Dioscorides telleth of, touching 
the gathering of Spleenewoort in the night, and other 
most vaine things, which are found here and there 
scattered in old books : from which most of the later 
writers do not abstaine, who many times fill up their 
pages with lies and frivolous toies, and by so doing do 
not a little deceive young students." 
Although neglected as a medicinal herb, it is still of 
some commercial value, being used as a bait for rock- 
cod fishing on the coast of Wales. The Rev. Hugh 
Davies says, it was becoming very scarce about Holy- 
head owing to its consumption for that purpose. 
This and some other Ferns are extremely retentive of 
life, of which we have this testimony from Dr. Daubeny, 
Professor of Agriculture, at Oxford. 
" I have a specimen of Hymenophyllum Tunbridgense 
which has been preserved in a bottle, corked and 
sealed over, for more than three years, and which, even 
now, judging from its appearance, would seem to be 
living. For tht- first two years it looked as fresh as 
