The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-30
PLANTS HANE)
BY TIE hI9 ..NI5
Homer and His Famed
Nefeuthe Drink.
COULD 1T HAVE BEEN TEA?
Other Plants Named are Very
Common Now.
COULD 1T HAVE BEEN TEA?


or under certain conditions Among then
were various species of Hyoscyamus. in
Guiding Il. muticus. DESCRIBED as a com
mon weed in the Egyptian desert. prob
ably the Nepenthes of Homer. Thus
we have a semi-ofcial pronouncement
upon a question much debated. Two thou
sand years ago. when the professors OF
the Alexandra University began to read
Homer critically they as1e- what Nepen-
thes might be. and we are stil specul-
ating-those who feel an interest in such
Old World puzzles. Noderns generally
cut the GOrdian knot b. assuming that
the poet meant nothing in particular; his
account Of Nepenthes was Just an item in
the fairy tale of the Odyssey Some Of
those antique commentators mentioned
took the same view But it was and is
Indignantly rejected by enthusiasts. For
them any statement OF fact made by
Homer represents the belief of the time.
II not always a positive truth.
He invented nothing in the way Of folk
lore-at TnOst he embroidered. Nepenthes.
therefore, was a real drug, which Helen
mixed with .Ie wine to cheer her husbands
guests. The arrival Of Telemachus had
recalled the sorrows Of the return from
Troy and she would put of care to the
morrow. The effect is described in terms
which would apply to opium or hasheesh.
Indian bhang" or Siberian fungus But
fl would not apply to any Hyoscyamus.
unles with extreme exaggeraton. Most
peopls viii think however that this is
not q grave objection. In historic times
the Greeks used Hyoscyamus as an
anaesthetic-expeTts have Identified It
among the interesting records OF cases
discovered some years ago in the ruins
Of the Tempe hospital at Epidaurus. our
British variety of the plant was apprecia-
ted by wise women" and herbalists, espe-
ciaily in child birth
The Egyptian species IS more effective,
no doubt, since we are told that it is now
exported for making hyoscyamine used
IN medicine And Homer states that
Helen had learned the virtue OF her potion
in Egypt There is another hit of evidence
that of Sir Henry Halfo1d Sir Henry
Halford first suggested Hyoscyamus be-
cause he observed that the drug sellers Of
Constantinople call the plant "Ncbensch''
certainly that word Is as like -Nepen-
thes" as could be expected at the present
day if derived from it, IN the Morca.
also. it IS the recognized name Of Hyos-
cyamus. Perhaps we may take it that the
little problem is solved. But It is not to
be hoped that the amiable fanatics who
have an odd explanation Of their own
devising. such as tea coffee. for Improving
conversation. which have actually been
urged. will accept this easy solution.
But Homer left us another puzzle of the
same sort. even more renowned What
was this Lotus or what Gid ne mean? II
the incident be metaphorrical there is
OF course. a boundIess field for specula-
ton; some critics who have interpreted it
in that sense abused their privilege all
the same. But ordinary mortals take il
for granted that Homer was referring TO
9 substantial fruit or some kind The
ancients thought Lotus such a blessed
word that They bestowed it on tree.
shrub. an herb and an aquatic; resolved.
perhaps, to identify the genuine article in
one class Of vegetables or another. Three
OF these titles we still recognize. bat
applied to a species only The aquatic
however Nelumblum spec.osurn. is not 10
be seriously considered and the herb is
no less than ridiculous. In Switzerland il
IS valued for navos1ng the eccentric cheese
called Schabzeiger- what IaIl,-from the
epic TO the cheese pressi The fruit of
the tree is not regarded as edible nova
days The shrub. however. remains and
this It was. no doubt. wh;ch Homer had
in his mind
by storms toward the unknown west ana
wrecked on the coast of TripoH. had
supported life upon is fruit and mace
yarn" about il. BY such an accident
Spain was discovered in historic time.
Herodotus says the Lotus eaters lived
in the neighborhood Of Greater Syrtis-
that is, in TrlpoH. They ate nothing
else. but it does not appear thar they
were specially calm or meditative or
Pliny knew an about the fruit
lit was shaped like an olive with
flavor OF dates or figs. agreeable when
raw. excellent when ground and hakcG
Modern travellers describe Il as deli
Cious. Callie. the first European who
visited Timhuctoo-3t least the first who
returned to ten what ne had seen
pronounced The bread very pleasant in
taste. rather acid ana in color resemb-
ling gingerbread From all accounts. in
deed. We should ali like TO be Lotus eat
ers on account 81 any enJernrising impor-
ter would supply the wherewlthal Bet
the poetry has vanished with the mystery
OF the plant Science classes il among
our familiar Observation-Disclosures lotus.
But there is one problem If this order
~ =
Of the utmost Importance To the Aryans
OF India IN Ned'c times.
one may venture 10 say that no article
OF food or drink was ever treated win
Eneh intensity of affection ana rssne,r
BY human beings. Il Was Indispensable
for daily life and worship Allus.ens
are numberless and. OF course. they con-
tain hints OF its appearance and uature
Scholars and botanists and uisceIlare- J
Gus savants have studied these zeaIouslv
but they cannot agree. Those who have
not glanced at the subject would think
II impossible that SO many various ex-
psanations could be offered when -he-e
~ such z mass Of iuformarion-srp
ito guide the inquirer A general visn
~ the evidence suggests tnat soma nust
De the vine. bat when we come 10 psrtic-
uiars that seems to be out r. the cuesto1
The identincation would ros De- amin
teresting or un!mportaut o. mankind 81
iarge-if Soma possesses but a mo6.cu-u /
o. the virtues ascribed TO it in Sanscslt
literature.
But mythical plants lose their fascina-
ton as soon as We recognize them. Toe
under the modern name. How charming
b the thought Of resting weary llra3s