44 
ASSIGNATION. 
PIMPERNEL. 
Pliny states that the Greeks and Homans 
mixing the j uice of this plant with honey, used 
the compound for complaints of the eyes. 
Ettmuller, and others, regarded it as a cure 
for madness; and Quercetanus, who was noted 
for his ability to cure this disease, administered 
decoctions of pimpernel after antimonial vo¬ 
mits and laxative medicine. In malignant 
fevers, accompanied with low muttering deli¬ 
rium, or when the functions of the brain are 
disturbed, it is said to be an efficacious me¬ 
dicine. Its medicinal qualities, for various 
other diseases, have been highly extolled by 
many writers. 
The common pimpernel is a beautiful trail¬ 
ing weed, and one of the Flora horologicee, 
opening its flowers regularly about eight mi¬ 
nutes past seven o’clock, and closing them 
about three minutes past two o’clock. It 
serves, also, as an hydrometer; for, if rain 
fall, or there be much moisture in the atmo¬ 
sphere, the flowers either do not open, or 
close up again. It is frequently called the 
shepherd’s weather-glass. 
Closed is the pink-eyed pimpernel, 
'Twill surely rain, I see, with sorrow, 
Our jaunt must be put off to-morrow. 
DR. JENNER. 
