Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-22
The MlslIetOe as q Medicine.

While giving the mistletoe all credit for its
medicinal attributes, Pl1ny. 1t must be con-
fessed, rather detracts from the mistletoe's
merits by making Its general efficiency depend
upon gathering II at the time OF the full moon
without the employment OF any iron tool In the
operation, and Its particular efficiency In cpl
earth; three conditions carefully ensured by the
Dru1ds ere they distributed mistletoe cuttings
10 our aboriginal ancestors that they might
protect themselves against witchcraft and
ailments without troubling the doctors OF the
period.
When there were no longer any Druids in the
land to gather the holy plant with due solem-
with no solemnity at all, but. II Aubrey tells
truth, With very unpleasant consequences, for
he gravely relates how some 1ll-advised folk
cut the m1stletOe from an oak at Norwood to
sell to the London apothecaries for ten shlllIngs
each time land one fell lame shortly after;
soon AFTER each OF the others lost an eye;" and
a rash fellow who, unwarned by these exam
pies, adventured to fell the oak ,iIself, broke
mis- leg within very short time OF committing
the sacreligiOuS act
The fact that the apothecaries of the seven
mistletoe shows that it was still in repute as a
medicine. Boyle lauded its virtues loudly, tell
Ing of young lady of great birth, long trOu-
bled with an almost hereditary epileptlc dis
temper. who was wearted by courses OF phystc
prescribed by the most famous doctors OF the
time, and instead of mendiDg In health gre "
worse and worse, until she would have eight or
ten severe fits In day. One day she fell down
suddenly as If dead; but coming TO again, an
ancient gentleman who happened casually to
be present strongly advised her to take as much
powder OF the true mistletoe OF the oak as
would lie upon sixpence early every morn.
ing, In black cherTy-water or beer; advice fol-
lowed by the sufferer with such good effect
that she herself assured Boyle that she never
had one lit after the first dose. The gentleman
who came so opportunity to the distressed
damsels relief declared that he had never failed
to cure epilepsy with mistletoe powder, when
he was able to administer the right Sort-that
from the oak.
Why oak mistletoe should alone be OF avail it
is not easy to understand. Nicholas CuIpepper,
the author OF the once popular English Physi-
cian held that that plant was OF SUCH blessed
Holy Cross, since Its leaves and berries pos
sessed such subtle properties that. given in
powder for forty days together. 1t was sure
panaCea for ap0pleXy, palsy and falling sick
ness; but he was by no means willing to admit
that such virtues belonged only to OAK miStle-
toe. 81 do not question" says he, "that 1t is
under the dominion OF the sun, and can also
participates something of the nature Of Jupiter,
because an oak 1s one OF his trees; as also that
which grows upon pear trees and apple trees
partakeS something OF this nature, because he
rules those trees, and 1t draws sap from the tree
1t grows on. having no root OF its own. But
why that should have most virtues that grows
upon oaks l know not unless because 1t Ii
leges opinion Is In this contrary to the Scrip
lures, which saith: Gods tender mercies are on
all His works. and so 1t Is. Let the College OF
Physicians walk contrary to Him as they please
and that is as contrary as the east Is TO the
west."-AH the Pear Rof,'d,