The message
from "JennyC" contains these words:

/snip/

The plant is also known as Mercury Goosefoot, English Mercury and
Marquery (to
distinguish it from the French Mercury), because of its excellent remedial
qualities in indigestion, hence the proverb: 'Be thou sick or whole,
put Mercury
in thy Koole.'

The name 'Smear-wort' refers to its use in ointment. Poultices made of the
leaves were used to cleanse and heal chronic sores, which, Gerard
states, 'they
do scour and mundify.'

The roots were given to sheep as a remedy for cough and the seeds have found
employment in the manufacture of shagreen.

The plant is said to have been used in Germany for fattening poultry and was
called there Fette Henne, of which one of its popular names, Fat Hen, is the
translation.

Excellent - but the last paragraph is in my understanding, erroneous.

--
Rusty
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