In pre-Linnsean botany plants were valued chiefly for their medical properties, and little attention was given to those that had no "virtues," other than form and beauty. In the description of plants, the last note, and the most important as well, was the table of virtues, and it must be admitted that some of the plants now considered worthless had most remarkable medical properties. They also had the remarkable power of changing dispositions and characters. Where plants are not known to possess any medical virtues they are dismissed like the iris, by Parkinson in his "Garden of Pleasant Flowers," 1629, as follows: "There is not anything extant or to be heard, that any of these kinds of Flower-de-luces hath been used to any Physical purposes, and serve only to deck up the gardens of the curious".

In an old Herbal written by Johannes Mediolano, a celebrated doctor at the Academy of Salerno, we find some very curious plant attributes. Rue, for example, according to the learned doctor, merits all sorts of consideration. " It diminishes the force of love in man, and, on the contrary, increases the flame in woman." " This plant clears both the sight and the perceptions of the mind, when eaten raw; but when cooked, it destroys fleas." This aphorism was put forth and respected by all the old physicians, and people were advised to use rue according to their needs; "if you fall in love imprudently, and, by a strong effort of your own good sense, or by advice of sincere friends, you perceive your folly, eat your rue raw ; if you are tormented by fleas, boil it".

Valuable as rue may have been it was nothing in comparison to sage. Sage, according to the school of Salerno, preserves the human race. Among its other virtues, "it cureth the Palsie; healeth filthy wounds and sores ; griefs of the liver; drink it with wine to procure an appetite, and strengthen the stomach ; for pain in the sides, and shaking of the hands by palsy ; to comfort a hot liver, and put away frenzy; to heal scurf, ulcers and venomous bitings ; to make the hair black; to comfort the hearte and asswage headach; it strengthens weak members; cureth bitings of mad-dogs ; to warrae and strengthen aged cold sinews, and lengthen the strength of the younger." It is highly recommended, "when being beaten and juiced it is put to a roasted pigges braines, with currans for sauce thereunto." After a list of more than one hundred virtues like these enumerated, this learned doctor seriously exclaims: "How can it happen that a roan who has sage in his garden, yet ends by dying." His philosophy came to his aid, and he replied: "It is a proof of the necessity of death, which nothing can enable us to avoid".

This good old doctor in speaking of walnuts said, 'The first walnut is good, the second injurious, the third kills." Modern walnuts do not have the same effect.

Now comes a maxim full of good practical sense, and as appropriate now as 350 year ago. "Wash your hands often," says the learned doctor Johannes, "wash your hands often if you wish to live in good health. Wash your hands after meals; it clears the sight." Very impressively he then adds: "To wash the hands, not only promotes health and clears the sight, but it also, incontestably cleans them." Of course a few sage leaves are to be added to the water. - Linnaeus.