tfllfe PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY. 
94 
and afterwards by Gerarde. In those days men’s constitutions 
must have been tougher than in the present time, for we 
think that few could stand such doses as were then common. 
Galen, moreover, writes—“that this root is profitable for 
tanners to thicken their leather hides with;” and, according 
to Gerarde, <£ the root of bryony stamped with some sulphur 
or brimstone, and made up into a masse or lump wrapped 
in a linnen clout taketh away the mophen freckles and spots 
on the face, if it be rubbed with the same dipped first in 
vinegar.” Withering says —“ A decoction made by boiling one 
pound of the fresh root in water is the best purge for horned 
Cattle.” The acrid and cathartic properties of the root are 
shared in some measure by all parts of the plant; the berries 
are emetic and even poisonous; the young shoots in the 
spring, however, are inert, and are sometimes boiled and 
eaten as greens without mischief. The active principle of 
the plant is distinguished by chemists as an alkaloid called 
bryonia. The French call the root Ncivet du Diable .” 
We cannot resist adding, even to this interesting account 
of bryony, the following remarks by Dr. M. J. Masters : 
“ The plant has a fetid odour, and possesses acrid, emetic, 
and purgative properties, and, from its elegant appearance, 
especially in autumn, when it adorns the hedges with its 
brilliantly coloured fruit, accidents are likely to occur to 
children and others incautiously tasting the fruit. The root 
is used as an application to bruises, and occasionally as a 
purgative ; but it is unsafe from its uncertain and sometimes 
violent action, whence the French call it Devil’s turnip.” 
The writer of this notice was once called on to ascertain 
what vegetable substance had been administered to a farmer, 
his family, and his cattle, by a wise man, who purported to 
be able to remove the spell of witchcraft under which he said 
they were all suffering. The man succeeded in obtaining 
considerable sums of money at different times from the credu¬ 
lous farmer, whose suspicions were at length awakened by 
the dangerous illness of some of the members of his family. 
It was not distinctly proved that the man had administered 
bryony; but the symptoms complained of corresponded with 
those which would be produced by that root, a quantity of 
which was found in the man’s house, also a powder, which 
was found to consist of the leaves of the hart’s tongue ( scolo - 
pendrium vulgare). 
When the mandrake was more esteemed than it is now, 
this root was frequently sold for it, as it occasionally 
branches in a similar manner, and, indeed, was forced to do 
