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Croll, Oswald - Preface of Signatures – 11
Identifier
016029
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Wikipedia
Arum maculatum is a common woodland plant species of the Araceae family. It is widespread across most of Europe as well as Turkey and Caucasus. It is known by an abundance of common names including snakeshead, adder's root, arum, wild arum, arum lily, lords-and-ladies, devils and angels, cows and bulls, cuckoo-pint, Adam and Eve, bobbins, naked boys, starch-root, wake robin, friar's cowl and jack in the pulpit. The name "lords-and-ladies" and other gender related names refer to the plant's likeness to male and female genitalia symbolising copulation.
The root of the cuckoo-pint, when roasted well, is edible and when ground was once traded under the name of Portland sago. It was used like salep (orchid flour) to make saloop — a working class drink popular before the introduction of tea or coffee. It was also used as a substitute for arrowroot. If prepared incorrectly, it can be highly toxic so should be prepared with due diligence and caution.
A description of the experience
Croll, Oswald - Preface of Signatures – 11
Yet this one only example hereof I shall offer, touching the Root of Aron, which confirms the truth of the above said.
The Root of Aron in our more cold climate, is so hot and biting, that it inflames the mouth and jaws of those that chew it; but that in Lydia, which grows near the city of Cyrene, in the exterior form plainly answering ours, is said to be sweet and pleasant to the taste, that men may use it like Rapes in their food without detriments.
And although the foreign have greater virtues, as those who are negligent to inquire into our own, and always with a peregrine arrogance hunting after outlandish things, affirm; which seek not common health, but a compendium of their own business, persuading us, that none but precious things can profit: yet we judge those healthful only to men living in those climates, where they are created and produced. For if peregrine medicaments be so convenient to our bodies, without doubt Nature would have so ordered (which for all hath provided in abundance) that with us also the same should be brought forth.
Therefore transmarine medicaments, and such as in our own country are not produced, by reason of the diversity of climates, and influence, they cannot be so friendly, and familiar, and also because they are either not in due time and place gathered (whence often great peril ensues) or else the worst and dead parts of them only are by barbarous merchants sent to us; or by age, corruption, putrefaction, longitude of the ways, and frauds of sophistications, the greatest part of all their invisible internal virtues are depraved, eaten out, consumed, corrupted, and adulterated.
Domestics, which God hath in abundance furnished us with, begin to wax vile, both because in preparing they required the faith and proper diligence of silken physicians declining labour, and also because the greatest part of vulgar apothecaries, cited by the spurs of glory and avarice, neglect their proper duties often and more frequently intend evacuation of the wealth of the sick, than the refection of the body.
[And although rewards are commendable, yet that which by physicians ought most to be aimed at, is the cure of the sick.]
Hence great detriment ensues to the whole commonwealth, and shipwreck is made of the lives of many, (withness those who buy their death for much money) whilst with us nothing almost is worthy of any acceptation or esteem, that is not believed to be brought from the Red Sea, as I may say, or from the farthest Gades, or Indians, or else of what the world, desirous and willing to be deceived, is so persuaded.