So, too, certain plants of the saints acquired a notoriety for specific
virtues; and hence St. John's wort, with its leaves marked with blood-like
spots, which appear, according to tradition, on the anniversary of his
decollation, is still "the wonderful herb" that cures all sorts of wounds.
Herb-bennet, popularly designated "Star of the earth," a name applied to the
avens, hemlock, and valerian, should properly be, says Dr. Prior, "St.
Benedict's herb, a name assigned to such plants as were supposed to be
antidotes, in allusion to a legend of this saint, which represents that upon
his blessing a cup of poisoned wine which a monk had given to destroy
him, the glass was shivered to pieces." In the same way, herb-gerard was
called from St. Gerard, who was formerly invoked against gout, a complaint
for which this plant was once in high repute. St. James's wort was so called
from its being used for the diseases of horses, of which this great pilgrim-
saint was the patron. It is curious in how many unexpected ways these odd
items of folk-lore in their association with the saints meet us, showing that
in numerous instances it is entirely their association with certain saints that
has made them of medical repute.
Some trees and plants have gained a medical notoriety from the fact of
their having a mystical history, and from the supernatural qualities ascribed
to them. But, as Bulwer-Lytton has suggested in his "Strange Story," the
wood of certain trees to which magical properties are ascribed may in truth
possess virtues little understood, and deserving of careful investigation.
Thus, among these, the rowan would take its place, as would the common
hazel, from which the miner's divining-rod is always cut. [9] An old-
fashioned charm to cure the bite of an adder was to lay a cross formed of
two pieces of hazel-wood on the ground, repeating three times this formula
"Underneath this hazelin mote,
There's a braggotty worm with a speckled throat,
Nine double is he;
Now from nine double to eight double
And from eight double to seven double-ell."The mystical history of the apple accounts for its popularity as a medical
agent, although, of course, we must not attribute all the lingering rustic
cures to this source. Thus, according to an old Devonshire rhyme,
"Eat an apple going to bed,
Make the doctor beg his bread."Its juice has long been deemed potent against warts, and a
Lincolnshire cure for eyes affected by rheumatism or weakness is a
poultice made of rotten apples.