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CHAP. 83.—THE NATRIX: ONE REMEDY.

"Natrix"1 is the name of a plant, the root of which, when taken out of the ground, has just the rank smell of the he-goat. It is used in Picenum for the purpose of keeping away from females what with a singular credulity they call by the name of "Fatui."2 For my own part, however, I should think that persons requiring to be treated with such medicaments as these, must be labouring under a sort of mental hallucination.

1 Possibly a fabulous plant; though it is generally identified with the Ononis natrix of Linnæus. Poinsinet de Sivry derives its name from the Celto-Germanic words, nat, "night," and ris, "wand;" a name given to it, according to him, for its efficacy in dispelling the illusions of the night.

2 Or "Fauni," the same as our nightmare.

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