



44 
ASSIGNATION. 
PIMPERNEL, 
Purny states that the Greeks and Romans, 
mixing the juice 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 vomits 
and laxative medicine. In malignant fevers, 
accompanied with low muttering delirium, or 
when the functions of the brain are disturbed, 
it is said to be an efficacious medicine. Its 
medicinal qualities, for various other diseases, 
have been highly extolled by many writers. 
The common pimpernel is a beautiful trailing 
weed, and one of the Flore horologice, open- 
ing its flowers regularly about eight minutes 
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 atmosphere, 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, 
*T will surely rain, I see, with sorrow, 
Our jaunt must be put off to-morrow. 
DR. JENNER. 

