269 HYSSOP.-HYSSOPUS. Natural order, Verticillata. A genus of the Didynamia Gymnospermia class. HYSSOP bears nearly the same name in most of the European languages, and is derived from the Hebrew Ezeb, signifying a holy herb, or herb for purifying holy places. When the Passover was instituted, Moses commanded the Israelites to take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood of a lamb, and to sprinkle the lintel and the door-posts, after which none were to pass out until the morning.* It was also used by the priest at the cleansing of persons afflicted with leprosy, as well as for purifying the house of the leper.† David also mentions this herb in the *Exodus, chap. xii. verse 22. beautiful prayer he made after being rebuked by Nathan's parable: "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean."* St. John informs us, that at the crucifixion of our Saviour, "there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth."† From these customs of the Hebrews we may conclude, that hyssop grew naturally both in Egypt and in Syria. Some authors have surmised, that the hyssop of scripture is the shrub we call Winter Savory; but Pliny has not only described the savory distinctly, but he says also, that the best hyssop grows on Mount Taurus in Cilicia, and next to that is the hyssop of Pamphylia, both in Asia Minor. It grew also in Smyrna. This author says, it is an herb not friendly to the stomach. The Romans used it with figs as a purgative, and with honey as an emetic; and a plaster was formed of it for the sting of serpents. Pliny gives the following simple receipt, as an excellent drink to discharge the chest of phlegm: five sprigs of hyssop, two sprigs of rue, boiled with three figs.* Aiton notices three species of hyssop, and four varieties of the common sort, the earliest of which was cultivated in this country in 1548. The same author mentions four species of hedge hyssop, Gratiola, all of which are exotics; but Gerard informs us, that he found the broad-leafed hedge hyssop growing wild as early as the year 1590; and as it was upon an interesting occasion to the citizens of London, I shall give his own words. "It groweth in moist places. I found it growing vpon the bog or marrish ground, at the further end of Hampsteed Heath, and vpon the same heath towards London, neere vnto the head of the springs that were digged for water to be conueied to London, 1590, attempted by that careful citizen, Sir John Hart, Knight, Lord Maior of the Citie of London: at which time myselfe was in his lordship's company, and viewing for my pleasure the same goodly springs. I found the said plant not heretofore remembered." The same author says, he "experimented this herb," and found it a powerful purgative." *Book xxvi. c. 6. Dodoens wrote much on the medicinal virtues of hyssop, and says, "the decoction of this plant with figs, rue, and honey, boiled together, is good for the complaints of the chest, shortness of breath, and hard dry coughs. He recommends it to be given to children with figs to destroy worms, as also to be used as a gargle to break tumours in the mouth and throat. He states also, that hyssop boiled in vinegar, and held in the mouth, eases the tooth-ache; and that the decoction removes congealed blood occasioned by bruises, and takes off the black or blue marks. Later authors have greatly commended it in cases of bruises from falls, blows, &c., either by way of cataplasm, or only a little bundle of the plant put into a linen rag, and applied to the part. Ray gives an account from Mr. Boyle, of a violent contusion of the thigh, from a kick of a horse, which was happily cured by this herb, boiled and applied as a cataplasm. He tells us, the violent pain was almost instantly removed, and the very mark and blackness taken off in a few hours. The leaves and flowers are of a warm pungent taste, and of an agreeable aromatic smell therefore, the tops and blossoms are sometimes reduced to powder, and used with cold salad herbs, having a comforting and strengthening virtue; they are salutary against melancholy and phlegm. Besides the general virtues of aromatics, hyssop is greatly recommended in humoral asthmas, coughs, and other disorders of the breast and lungs; and is said to promote expectoration. The leaves infused in the manner of tea and sweetened with sugar or honey, have been found good in diseases of the breast and lungs, being of a detergent, attenuant, expectorant, and corroborant quality. This exotic may be raised either by seed or cuttings. It thrives best in a poor dry soil, and will also bear the severities of winter much better in such soil, than where its pores are filled with moisture in a richer soil. The hedge hyssop is said to be good in dropsical cases, but it is so powerful a medicine, and its operations are so violent, that it can only be given to persons of robust constitutions, although it is rendered more mild by being boiled in milk. M. Geoffroy, a French physician, who studied in England about the end of the 17th |