140 
DICTIONARY OF THE 
Rarity, Mandrake. 
“ Not poppy, nor mandragora, 
Nor all the drowsy sirups of the world 
Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep 
Which thou ow’dst yesterday.” 
Shakspeare. 
The ancients attributed great virtues to the mandragora ; 
but as they have left us no exact description of the plant, we 
are ignorant to what species they gave the name. Charlatans, 
by a gross artifice, sometimes make several roots assume the 
shape of a man, and tell the credulous that they are true 
mandrakes, found only in an almost inaccessible part of China. 
They are fabled to utter cries when pulled up, and the person 
who uproots them is supposed to die soon after. To procure 
this root, they say it should be carefully uncovered, and 
pulled up by means of a string attached to a dog, which then 
bears the penalty of the impious deed. 
Reason, Goals Rue. 
This plant is thought useful in cases of disordered intel¬ 
lects. 
