that the oil of
Valerian overcomes chronic constipation.

Preparations of Valerian act admirably for the relief of nervous
headache associated with flatulence, and in a person of sensitive
temperament. They likewise do good for infantine colic, and they
diminish the urea; when the urine contains it in excess.

[586] The Greek Valerian is another British species, found growing
occasionally in the North of England and in Scotland, being known
as the blue Jacob's Ladder. It is also named "Make bate," because
said to set a married couple quarrelling if put in their bed. This must
be a play on its botanical name _Polemonium_, from the Greek
_polemos_, war. It is called Jacob's Ladder from its successive pairs
of leaflets.

VERBENA.

The Verbena, or Common Vervain, is a very familiar herb on waste
ground throughout England, limited to no soil, and growing at the
entrance into towns and villages, always within a quarter of a mile
of a house, and hence called formerly the Simpler's joy. Of old,
much credit for curative virtues attached itself to this plant, though
it is without odour, and has no taste other than that of slight
astringency. But a reputation clings to the vervain because it used to
be held sacred, as "Holy Herb," and was employed in sacrificial
rites, being worn also around the neck as an amulet. It was called
"Tears of Isis" "Tears of Juno" "Persephonion" and "Demetria." The
juice was given as a remedy for the plague. Vervain grew on
Calvary: and Gerard says "the devil did reveal it as a secret, and
divine medicine."

It is a slender plant with but few leaves, and spikes of small lilac
flowers, when wild; but its cultivated varieties, developed by the
gardener, are showy plants, remarkable for their brilliant colours.

The name Frogfoot has been applied to the Vervain because its leaf
somewhat resembles in outline the foot of that creature. Old writers
called the plant _Verbinaca_ and _Peristerium_:--

"Frossis fot men call it,
For his levys are like the frossy's fet."

[587] The practice of wearing it round the neck became changed
from a religious observance to a medicinal proceeding, for which
reason it was ordered that the plant should be _bruised_ before
being appended to the person; and thus it gained a name for curing
inveterate headaches. Presently also it was applied to other parts as a
cataplasm.

Nevertheless, the Vervain has fallen of late years into disfavour as a
British H