Paedotrophia, or, The art of nursing and rearing children. A poem, in three books / translated from the Latin of Scevole de St. Marthe ; with medical and historical notes; with the life of the author, from the French of Michel and Niceron ... by H.W. Tytler.

Date:
1797
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Paedotrophia, or, The art of nursing and rearing children. A poem, in three books / translated from the Latin of Scevole de St. Marthe ; with medical and historical notes; with the life of the author, from the French of Michel and Niceron ... by H.W. Tytler. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    The beauteous plant, that Paeony we name, For healing juices chief renown d in fame. 885 The Ver. 885. For healing juices chief reno-wn^d i»fame.'] It is much to be regretted that the plant, for which St. Marthe compofed this fine epifode, ftould be fo little worthy of the pains he has -taken to recommend it. For it fcarcely anfwers his defcription in any thing, except the beauty of its 'lowers, for which it is cultivated in gardens ; and from which, as well as the healing ■virtues formerly afcribed to it, it was named Pa:oaia, or the daughter of the fun, being fuppofed to come more immediately under his proteftion. It is ftill an article in the Materia Medica, and fometimes given as a remedy for the epilepfy, but with very little efFeft ; and certainly, in no way, deferves the enco- miums here bellowed on it. It is likely that the great virtues^ sfcribed both to this herb, and the milletoe, were in a great meafure owing to fuperftition. The epilepfy was thought to be occafioned by the immediate anger of the gods, and therefore there muft be fomething rniraculous ia the cure of it. The an- cients knew nothing of the cultivation of the mifletoeby art, nor how it was produced by nature. It is now difcovered that it proceeds from the dung of birds, who fwallow the berries, and being dropped on oak-trees, which more particularly fofler this plant, the indigefted feeds adhere to the bark, and being covered with manure, foon take root, and fpring up to an herb. This herb being found growing on a tree, and not from the ground, was Ukewife fuppofed to be planted by a deity, and therefore to contain fome extraordinary virtue. Hence the moft wonderful of plants was reckoned a fpecific againft the mofl terrible of dif- eales. In the fame manner the Pseony, being more, beautiful than other flowers, muft poflefs the fame properties. Thefe opi- nions continued through the ignorance of the niiddle ager, till the