ress were both used to make hair grow, and in
_Leech Book_ I. there is this prescription:--

"If a man's hair fall off, work him a salve. Take the mickle
wolf's bane and viper's bugloss and the netherward part of
burdock, work the salve out of that wort and out of all
these and out of that butter of which no water hath come. If
hair fall off, boil the polypody fern and foment the head
with that so warm. In case that a man be bald, Plinius the
mickle leech saith this leechdom: 'Take dead bees, burn them
to ashes, add oil upon that, seethe very long over gledes,
then strain, wring out and take leaves of willow, pound
them, pour the juice into the oil; boil again for a while on
gledes, strain them, smear therewith after the
bath.'"--_Leech Book_, I. 87.

The two prescriptions for hair which is too thick are in the same
chapter:--

"In order that the hair may not wax, take emmets' eggs, rub
them up, smudge on the place, never will any hair come up
there." Again: "if hair be too thick, take a swallow, burn
it to ashes under a tile and have the ashes shed on."

There are more provisions against diseases of the eye than against any
other complaint, and it is probably because of the prevalence of these
in olden days that we still have so many of the superstitions
connected with springs of water. Both maythen (camomile) and wild
lettuce were used for the eyes. In the following for mistiness of eyes
there is a touch of pathos:--

"For mistiness of eyes, many men, lest their eyes should
suffer the disease, look into cold water and then are able
to see far.... The eyes of an old man are not sharp of
sight, then shall he wake up his eyes with rubbings, with
walkings, with ridings, either so that a man bear him or
convey him in a wain. And they shall use little and careful
meats and comb their heads and drink wormwood before they
take food. Then shall a salve be wrought for unsharpsighted
eyes; take pepper and beat it and a somewhat of salt and
wine; that will be a good salve."

One prescription is unique, for the "herb" which one is directed to
use is not to be found in any other herbal in existence. This is "rind
from Paradise." There is a grim humour about the scribe's comment, and
one cannot help wondering what was the origin of the prescription:--

"Some teach us against bite of adder, to speak one word
'fau