Originally the exorcisms for this were heathen charms, but in the Leech Book Christian rites have to a large extent been substituted. Periwinkle was a herb endued with mysterious powers against demoniac possession. Mandrake was also held to be efficacious for the same purpose. See also Leech Book I. 62, 63; III. 64. Of Periwinkle we read in Herb. Ap.: "This wort is of good advantage for many purposes, that is to say first against devil sicknesses or demoniacal possessions, and against snakes and wild beasts and against poisons and for various washes and for envy and for terror, and that thou may have grace and if thou hast the wort with thee thou shalt be prosperous and ever acceptable. This wort thou shalt pluck thus saying, I pray thee vinca pervinca, thou that art to be had for thy many useful qualities that thou come to me glad blossoming with thy mainfulness that thou outfit me so that I be shielded and ever prosperous and undamaged by poisons and by water; when thou shalt pluck this thou shalt be clean by every uncleanness and thou shalt pick it when the moon is nine nights old and eleven nights and thirteen nights and thirty nights and when it is one night old." We find numerous other examples of herbs being used to cure demoniac possession. See Leech Book I. 63; Herb. Ap., 132; Leech Book III. 64.
Temptations of the devil. Quite distinct from the belief in demoniacal possession was the belief in the temptations of a personal devil. There are various herb drinks against the evil temptings of a fiend. See Leech Book II. 65 and Leech Book III. 41. In passing, it is curious to note how frequently typhus fever is associated with demoniac possession and temptations of the devil, i.e. the same herbs are used in the cures.
Beliefs in connection with the curing of disease.
Smoking the patient with the fumes of herbs. An interesting form of exorcism of the demon was that done by smoking
