Page:Hardwicke's Science-Gossip - Volume 1.pdf/101

In all country-places there are very strange remedies recommended for various diseases. Generall, there is but little reason for the method of treatment. Often the doctrine that similia similibus curantur, or "like cures like," is its only foundation. Thus, the yellow bark of the berberry-tree is in some places administered as a cure for jaundice, only because it is yellow and the skin also is yellow in that disease. Our wise forefathers called the purple foxglove "throatwort," and prescribed it in cases of ulcerated sore throat, because the inside or throat of the flower is spotted like the human throat in a diseased state, and they thought that by these real or fancied resemblances nature pointed out the uses to which different plants ought to be applied. Whether the Digitalis was given internally, or used as an external application, I cannot tell; but if the former, I think it must have been a "kill or cure" kind of remedy.

I have heard of two remedies in Cheshire which have not even this shadow for their rationale. I observed a man intently hunting for something in the long wet grass. I went to see what he was looking for; in fact, he was trespassing in my own orchard, so I had a special interest in watching him. I found, however, that he was looking for some little frogs, which, if found, were to be placed (alive, I suppose) into the mouth of a child that had got the thrush!

The other remedy is a hedgehog, which is confidently recommended in cases of epilepsy! I have never been able to learn, however, whether it is to be cooked or raw, roasted or boiled, with spines or without, or whether it is to be tortured in some way, and made a charm of, as was sometimes done with other animals by our aforesaid wise forefathers, as in the following instance which I met with in an old farriery book. The remedy was to be used, "When a horse has been frightened or bitten by a mouse in its manger." The formula was:—"Take a mouse, and having cut a hole in the trunk of a tree (I think some particular tree was specified), there place the mouse, and fasten it up by nailing a piece of wood over the hole. Then, whenever the horse becomes unmanageable, or is frightened at any thing, take him to the tree (not a very easy matter, being unmanageable), and his fright will instantly cease, and he will become manageable."

Here, however, is a Cheshire remedy for warts, which is most wonderful, and which is by many implicitly believed in. Steal a piece of bacon. Rub the warts with it. Then cut a slit in the bark of an ash-tree; raise up a piece of the bark; put in the bacon, and close the bark down again. In a short time the warts will die away from the hand! but will make their appearance on the bark of the tree as rough excrescences!! This remedy has been quite successful in the case of my man, who told me!!!

The collector of Diatoms, Desmids, and other microscopic denizens of the waters, is often at a loss where to seek for the objects of his search. In the country every dirty ditch and stagnant pond or running stream is a nautral aquarium for him, but the dweller in town has to go some distance before he can meet with a suitable hunting, or more properly, fishing-ground. It is to the latter, therefore, the writer now specially commends the following remarks. Of localities, the Londoner will find at the west-end the Serpentine in Hyde Park, the ornamental water in Regent's and St. James's Parks, very rich in diatoms, particularly Diatoma, Surirella, Synedra, Plurosigma, Pinnularia, and some others.

Northerly he will find the ponds on Hampsteadheath and Highgate. In the east the docks, and in the south the Surrey-canal, Clapham and Wandsworth Commons, which contain many prolific ponds and ditches; so that a ride by omnibus, or a few miles' walk from almost any part of London, will bring the collector into the vicinity of his prey.

Then, as to collecting apparatus. The writer has found the most simple to be the following:—Half-a-dozen wide-mouthed bottles, one-ounce size, with turned-back brim, fitted

with good corks, and placed in a leather case for convenient carriage in the pocket, which case should also be provided with a pocket to contain a good stout india-rubber ring. A walking-stick or umbrella will complete his collecting implements. The use of the india-rubber ring will now be apparent. On reaching a likely spot for collecting, he is to remove from the case one of the bottles and the india-rubber ring. Having then placed his stick or umbrella under his arm, double the india-rubber ring over the ferrule end of the stick, and pass the neck of the bottle through the two loops thus formed.

This plan has been used by the writer for some years, and found to answer admirably; it has the advantage of taking up very little room in the pocket, and can be adjusted in an instant.

Art is nature passed through the alembic of man.—Emerson.