MALE BUCKLER FERN. 
39 
common, it is less appreciated than it deserves. In 
olden times, however, it was the hero of the fern tribe. 
It is supposed to be the fern that supplied the mystic 
fern seed gathered so ceremoniously on St. John’s 
Eve, and imparting the marvellous power to “walk 
invisible.” Gathering fern seed was ever associated 
with witchcraft and demonology. Newman tells us 
that “Vagabonds” used to make “lucky hands” or 
“ St. John’s hands,” out of the curled-in young fronds, 
and sell them as charms to put on the troughs from 
which cattle drank.] 
The medicinal properties of the Male Fern have 
been held in high repute for many years; it is even 
now retained in our Pharmacopoeias as a vermifuge, 
and was recommended by Theophrastus, Dioscorides, 
and Galen. Lately it has been extensively employed 
as a remedy for tapeworm, and with good effect.* 
Tragus has a very curious passage on the subject of its 
curing wounds caused by reeds, and says that the 
antipathy of the Male Fern and the Reed is so great, 
that the one will not grow in company with the other. 
The same author also recommends a piece of the root 
of the Male Fern to be laid under the tongue of a 
horse that may have fallen sick from any unknown 
cause; by which means the disease will be expelled, 
* The attention of modern medical practitioners was probably first 
directed to it in consequence of its being the ostensible remedy of 
Madame Norisser, of Switzerland, who sold her secret method of 
expelling tapeworm to Louis XVI. for 18,000 francs. 
