Transactions of the Medico-Botanical Society of London, for 1832 and 1833.

  • Medico-Botanical Society of London.
Date:
1834
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Transactions of the Medico-Botanical Society of London, for 1832 and 1833. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    9G On (he Medical Plants mentioned by Shalcspcare. called tootlied-violets, and sometimes dog’s-tooth violets, or the Erythronium dens canis; called also in Hampshire, where it is abundantly wild, the dog’s or hound’s tooth violet. The name of hound’s-tree, or hound’s or dog’s berry, given to the Cornus, would authorize a trial of this fruit likewise in this horrible complaint. Whether the word Madnep indicate another cure may be inquired, and whether the name apply to Heracleum Sphon- dylium, Heracleum Panaces, Partinaca Opopanax, or the Angelica Archangelica? But, if we are to believe Pliny, we are indebted to the oracle for the discovery that the root of Cynosbatos, or Cy- norrhodon, Rosa canina, or dog-rose, is a remedy for hydro- phobia. It will appear, from the following extracts, that our medical roses were all known to Shakspeare, and celebrated by him, although not indeed for their therapeutic efficacy. Notwithstanding the best conserve is made from the fruit of the Rosa arvensis, or apple-rose, yet we must suppose that our poet, by scarlet hips, referred to the fruit of the common briar. “ The oaks bear mast, the briars scarlet hips.” Timon, act iv. sc. 3. The R. damascena is used for syrups, and the variety y of Martyn must be the true damask-rose, so elegantly and poetically referred to in the following passages: “ Fair ladies mask’d are roses in the bud; Dismask’d, their damask sweet commixture shews, Are angels veiling clouds, or roses blown.”— Love’s L. L.o. v. s.t!. “ There was a pretty redness in his lip, A little riper and more lusty red Than that mixed in his cheek ; ’twas just the difference Betwixt the constant red and the mingled damask.” As You, Like It, act iii. sc. 5. “ I have seen roses damasked red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheek.”—Sonnet 130. “ Gloves as sweet as damask-roses.”—Winter’s Tale, activ. sc. 3. He also contrasts the red with the white rose, both of which contain the same medical astringent property. The white rose being rubbed on alkaline paper, instantaneously produces a very beautiful yellow colour, which may be used as a dye. 4