4 o 
THE FERN WORLD 
amongst them being the power of curing coughs and 
asthmatic affections, the dried rhizomas being powdered for 
the purpose and mixed with honey. 
Finally, to two or three Ferns common in many parts of 
England, the Moonwort ( Botrychium lunar i a), and the Com- 
mon Adderstongue, various wonderful properties have been 
ascribed. The Moonwort has been considered an antidote 
for wounds, and the Adderstongue — ‘ an herb,’ according 
to Culpeper, ‘ under the dominion of the Moon and Cancer,’ 
- — is supposed to owe its name to its reputed power of curing 
the bites of adders and of other reptiles. From it an oint- 
ment is made called adders-spear ointment, which is supposed 
to be a specific cure for recent wounds, and is a good deal 
used as a popular remedy for them. It is made, according 
to Culpeper, of ‘ the leaves, infused or boiled in oil, om- 
phacine, or unripe olives,’ set in the sun for certain days, 
or the green leaves 1 sufficiently boiled in the said oil.’ He 
says, that amongst other things it ‘ helps sore eyes ; ’ and 
if the juice of its leaves be drunk with ‘ the distilled water of 
horse-tail,’ it ‘is a singular remedy ’ for ‘ all manner of 
wounds.’ 
Culpeper gives a quaint and curious account of the Harts- 
tongue. He asserts that ‘ Jupiter claims dominion over 
this herb,’ and he adds, ‘ therefore it is a singular remedy 
for the liver, both to strengthen it when weak and ease it 
when afflicted.’ He recommends that ‘ you shall do well to 
keep it in a syrup all the year ; for, though authors say it 
is green all the year, I scarce can believe it.’ Sueh a 
recommendation may indeed well be adopted ; for we go on 
to read that the distilled water of Hartstongue is ‘ very good 
against the passions of the heart,’ as well as ‘ to help the 
failing of the palate.’ It is also good, according to the 
Grecian botanist I fioscorides, against ‘the stinging and 
biting of serpents.’ 
