But referring to the doctrine of signatures in folk-medicine, a
favourite garden flower is Solomon's seal (Polygonatum multiflorum).
On cutting the roots transversely, some marks are apparent not unlike
the characters of a seal, which to the old herbalists indicated its use as a
seal for wounds. [13] Gerarde, describing it, tells us how, "the root of
Solomon's seal stamped, while it is fresh and greene, and applied, taketh
away in one night, or two at the most, any bruise, black or blue spots,
gotten by falls, or women's wilfulness in stumbling upon their hasty
husbands' fists." For the same reason it was called by the French
herbalists "l'herbe de la rupture." The specific name of the tutsan [14]
(Hypericum androsoemum), derived from the two Greek words
signifying man and blood, in reference to the dark red juice which
exudes from the capsules when bruised, was once applied to external
wounds, and hence it was called "balm of the warrior's wound," or "all-
heal." Gerarde says, "The leaves laid upon broken skins and scabbed legs
heal them, and many other hurts and griefs, whereof it took its name
'toute-saine' of healing all things." The pretty plant, herb-robert
(Geranium robertianum), was supposed to possess similar virtues, its
power to arrest bleeding being indicated by the beautiful red hue
assumed by the fading leaves, on account of which property it was
styled "a stauncher of blood." The garden Jerusalem cowslip (Pulmonaria
offinalis) owes its English name, lungwort, to the spotting of the leaves,
which were said to indicate that they would be efficacious in healing
diseases of the lungs. Then there is the water-soldier (Stratiotes aloides),
which from its sword-shaped leaves was reckoned among the appliances
for gun-shot wounds. Another familiar plant which has long had a
reputation as a vulnerary is the self-heal, or carpenter's herb (Prunella
vulgaris), on account of its corolla being shaped like a bill-hook.
Again, presumably on the doctrine of signatures, the connection
between roses and blood is very curious. Thus in France, Germany, and
Italy it is a popular notion that if one is desirous of having ruddy cheeks,
he must bury a drop of his blood under a rose-bush. [15] As a charm
against haemorrhage of every kind, the rose has long been a favourite
remedy in Germany, and in Westphalia the following formula is
employed: "Abek, Wabek, Fabek; in Christ's garden stand three red
roses--one for the good God, the other for God's blood, the third for the
angel Gabriel: blood, I pray you, cease to flow." Another version of this
charm is the following [16]:--"On the head of our Lord God there bloom
three roses: the first is His virtue, the second is His youth, the third is His
will. Blood, stand thou in the wound still, so that thou neither sore nor
abscess givest."
Turning to some of the numerous plants which on the doctrine of
signatures were formerly used as specifics from a fancied resemblance,
in the shape of the root, leaf, or fruit, to any particular part of the human
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