rn Woundwort, and the Downy Woundwort.

The Hedge Woundwort was named by Gerard, Clown's all heal, or
the Husbandman's Woundwort, because a countryman who had cut
his hand to the bone with a scythe, healed the wound in seven days
with this plant.

It is called by some the Hedge Dead Nettle, from its nettle-like
leaves, and the place of its growth.

"The leaves," says Gerard, "stampt (pounded) with hog's grease, and
applied unto green wounds in the manner of a poultice, heal them in
such short time and such absolute manner, that it is hard for anyone
that hath not had the experience thereof to believe. For instance, a
deep and grievous wound in the breast with a dagger, and two others
in the abdomen (or nether belly), so that the fat commonly named
the caul, issued forth, the which mortal wounds, by God's
permission, and the virtues of this herb, I perfectly cured within
twenty days--for the which the name of God be praised."

The name _Stachys_ given to this herb, is from the Greek _stakos_,
a bunch, because of the arrangement of the flowers. It contains a
volatile oil, and a bitter principle undetermined.

The _Stachys Germanica_ (Downy Woundwort) is so called from
its soft, downy leaves having been employed instead of lint as a
surgical dressing to wounds. The plant grows on a chalky soil in
Bedfordshire, [616] Berkshire, and Oxfordshire: being named also
"Lamb's Ear."

This _Stachys lanata_ (Woolly Woundwort) is known as Saviour's
blanket, in Sussex; also in Devonshire and Somersetshire, as
Mouse's ear, Donkey's ear, and Lamb's tongue.

The Knights' Water Woundwort (_Statiotes aloides_) was supposed
from its blade-like leaves, acting on the doctrine of signatures,
to heal sword wounds.

YARROW.

The Yarrow, from _hiera_, holy herb (_Achillea millefolium_), or
Milfoil, is so called from the very numerous fine segments of its
leaves. It is a Composite plant very common on waysides and in
pastures throughout Britain.

The name _Achillea_ has been bestowed thereupon because the
Greek warrior, Achilles, is said to have disclosed its virtues which
he had been taught by Chiron, the Centaur. This herb is the
_Stratiotes chiliophullos _of the Greek botanists, by whom it was
valued as an excellent astringent and vulnerary. But Gerard
supposes it may have been the _Achillea millefolium nobile_, which
grows with a thick root and longer leaves, on a fat and fruitful soil,
a stranger in England, "and the very sa