Volume 1

An historical account of mandrakes, both male and female. With a particular account of those which Rachel longed for.

Date:
1741
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An historical account of mandrakes, both male and female. With a particular account of those which Rachel longed for. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    great Foundation to build any lafting Superftrudture on what he has faid of the Mandrake. There are only four places in his Hijloria Plant arum, where he makes mention of this Plant, and in one only confiders the Medicinal Properties of it; the Leaves as a Remedy for Ulcers, and the Roots diced and beat up with Vine¬ gar as ufeful in Difeafes of the Joints, to procure Sleep, and to be given in Love Potions. (a) In other places he defcribes this Plant, but very inacurately, yet in particular takes notice of fome fuperfti- tious Ceremonies which were wont to be perform’d at the time of gathering or cutting of it. (b) This Ceremony is too. remarkable not to deferve a place here ; It is as follows: The Ma?idrake was cir-, cumfcrib’d three times with a Sword whilft another cut it down towards the Weft. They were alfo to dance round it, and to talk many things vspi u<ppofo(ricov. How¬ ever we muft acknowledge that Pheo- (a) Jt) T« y.dvS'pCf.y'o^ TO (Av QVbhOV (riVcLl tystcn TCI SA/ttf (JLiT clAQlTK tLOJ f^A,V <tzr£?f gqpnMZhcLS %u<&ei<rctv ts kai oE,et J,iu$&Qctv to. <&o£&y%iKoL, K&t mC9S vttvov kai Qttf&t. Hiit. JPlant. Lib. IX. cap. 10, [b) Lib. IX. chap. ix. fub finem, mtiy^A^HV 3 tt>v [xctvJ'eotyo&v eit cTg str^Av $Ag- vtovta Tov S'l’Ti&v WM'Xi*&cU> aai teyer.v cot mhmet foioMw* phrajlus