104 THE MANDRAKE. 
It was believed that when the mandrake was 
taken from the earth, it uttered a dreadful shriek; 
and that any human being who was presump- 
tuous enough to remove it, was suddenly struck 
dead. Dogs, therefore, were used for this pur- 
pose. The earth was carefully lightened, and 
the plant fastened to the animal’s tail; he was 
then made to draw it forth, and pay whatever 
penalty the demon of the plant thought fit to 
impose upon the disturber of his rest. The pre- 
tenders to medical skill in those days made great 
profit by the little hideous images which they 
fashioned out of the mandrake root, and sold as 
charms against every kind of sickness and mis- 
fortune. ‘They were brought over from Germany 
in the reign of Henry the VIII., under the name of 
Abrunes, and by the help of certain pretended 
magical words, the knowledge of which the cre- 
dulous obtained at a great price, were said to in- 
crease whatever money was placed near them, 
It was believed, also, at that time, that the man- 
drake was produced from the decaying flesh of 
malefactors hung upon the gibbet, and was to be 
found only in such situations. Dr. Turner, who 
