July 8 - Common Name

[pompey_01]

 Title: Common Name

Author: Pompey

Universe: Basil of Baker Street

Rating: PG

Warnings: use of unverified herbal lore

Word count: 221B

Summary: How can Basil help Dawson if he doesn’t know what medicine to use?

Prompt: July 8 – flowers/plants

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If we had been at Baker Street, I would have summoned Dr. Anderson.  Even having Dawson’s medical bag here with us in Surrey would have been helpful.  He had lost it in our frantic race to escape a hawk.  Unfortunately, because of said hawk, he was also losing blood at an alarming rate.

 

I nipped a few blades of grass, curled them into pads, and pressed them against the deep punctures in Dawson’s back.  Unsurprisingly, they were nearly useless.  “The bleeding won’t stop,” I told him, panic rising.

 

“Woundwort,” he replied. 

 

“Woundwort,” I repeated, and paused.  “What plant is that?” 

 

“It’s . . . woundwort,” Dawson said again, his words beginning to slur.  “Nosebleed plant. Thousand-seal.” 

 

None of those names were helpful in the slightest.  “Do you remember its Latin name?”

 

He was quiet for a moment, long enough for me to truly worry.  Then he mumbled, “Ach . . . Achill . . . Achillae . . .”

 

“Achillae? You mean yarrow!” I exclaimed in relief.  I could see some stalks of yarrow not too far from us. “A plant with feathery leaves and many tiny, flat, white florets?”   

 

“Mmm hmm.” 

 

I scarcely waited to hear his confirmation before I ran.  I would call that blessed plant by any name Dawson wished, so long as it could stop his bleeding.