The physicians of Myddvai : Meddygon Myddvai, or The medical practice of the celebrated Rhiwallon and his sons, of Myddvai, in Caermarthenshire, physicians to Rhys Gryg, lord of Dynevor and Ystrad Towy, about the middle of the thirteenth century / From ancient mss. in the libraries of Jesus College, Oxford, Llanover, and Tonn; with an English translation; and the legend of the lady of Llyn y Van ; translated by John Pughe and edited by the Rev. John Williams ab Ithel. Pub. for the Welsh mss. society.

Date:
1861
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The physicians of Myddvai : Meddygon Myddvai, or The medical practice of the celebrated Rhiwallon and his sons, of Myddvai, in Caermarthenshire, physicians to Rhys Gryg, lord of Dynevor and Ystrad Towy, about the middle of the thirteenth century / From ancient mss. in the libraries of Jesus College, Oxford, Llanover, and Tonn; with an English translation; and the legend of the lady of Llyn y Van ; translated by John Pughe and edited by the Rev. John Williams ab Ithel. Pub. for the Welsh mss. society. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    17/512 (page 13)
    Pliny enumerates some of the plants most in repute among the Britons for their medicinal proper- ties. He mentions the mistletoe, and observes that in Druidical language it signified All heal, omnia sanantem—a name indicative of the efficacy which it was supposed to possess ; and it is remarkable, as corroborative of his assertion, that Oil iach is to this very day one of the names by which the plant in question is known to the Cymry. Nor does it appear that its virtues, real or traditionary, were forgotten in comparatively recent times. In the Book, of Howel Veddyg, a descendant of the celebrated phys- icians of Myddvai, and which forms the second part of the present volume, we are informed that the mistletoe was efficacious in cases of general debility— nervous complaints—brain fever—rheumatism—affec- tion of the heart, liver, bowels, kidneys, spine— epilepsy—paralysis—insanity. It will strengthen the sight and hearing, and all the bodily senses—prevent barreness—and whosoever takes a spoonful of the powder in his ordinary drink once a day, shall have un- interrupted health, strength of body, and manly vigour. Another plant mentioned by Pliny, is the selago,* a kind of club moss, resembling savine, which, according to him, the Druids much admired for its medicinal qualities, particularly in diseases of the eyes. The samolus,f or marshwort, is said also to have been greatly used by them to cure their oxen and swine. Welsh Botanology comprehends several plants, which either by name or tradition, are associated with the art of healing, and may be referred purely * Lycopodium Selago, or Upright Fir Moss. + Siimolus Valerantii, or Water Pimpernel.