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Hidden Treasures
A prominent flower blooming in late Spring is the Fox Glove (Digitalis purpurea). Introduced from Europe, this plant has been the source of digitalis, the drug that both strengthens the heart beat and slows down the rate of beating, resulting in increased blood flow AND more time for the heart muscle to rest between contractions. Folks who suffer from heart attacks keep a vial of small white tablets of digitalis to place under their tongue at the onset of chest pain. It's medicinal qualities have been known from the Dark Ages but it's major growth to prominence as a heart medication came with it's 'discovery' by William Withering, a Scottish physician, in 1775. His 'discovery' was the result of his inability to treat a patient who, independently, sought help from a Gypsy. Her potion promptly treated his pain. He told this to Withering who sought out the Gypsy, bargained with her for the secret remedy, and quickly became the richest doctor outside of London.
Is this akin to someone buying an operating system called DOS for $50,000 and turning it into a multi-billion dollar business?
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