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St. John's Wort. 
also formerly called “the balm of the warrior’s wound,” and 
“ the herb of war,” in allusion not merely to its presumed 
healing powers, but also to the little dots on the leaves, which 
look like small holes. As the poet sings, 
“ Hypericum was there, the herb of war, 
Pierced through with wounds, and marked with many a scar.” 
The utility of this plant in the cure of wounds was not alto¬ 
gether imaginary, and although more powerful agents have now 
taken its place, it is still used in some medicines on account of 
its balsamic qualities, and its flowers still supply a fine purple 
dye with which oils and spirits are coloured. 
The authoress of “ Flora Domestica ” says that, as the 
flowers rubbed between the fingers yield a red juice, the plant * 
has also been styled amongst fanciful medical writers sanguis 
hominis, or human blood. Some species of the hypericum are 
noted for their remarkable fulness of blossom, and as such 
they have obtained the notice of Cowper : 
“ Hypericum, all bloom, so thick a swarm 
Of flowers, like flies, clothing its slender rods, 
That scarce a leaf appears.” 
After this profusion of blossom has died away, the plant 
bears a number of reddish-tinted berries, with an odour which 
has been aptly compared to that of rosin. 
