is a magical torch made from a dead man’s hand, usually cut from a criminal on the gibbet, to cast people into deep sleep, a charm much used by thieves. It is mentioned in this context because VERVAIN played a part in its preparation, for one set of instructions (Radford & Radford) required the hand to be wrapped in a piece of winding sheet, drawing it tight so as to squeeze out the little blood that might remain. Then it had to be placed in an earthenware vessel with saltpetre, salt and pepper, all well dried and carefully powdered. It should remain a fortnight in the pickle, and then it had to be exposed to the sun in the dog days, till completely parched, or it could be dried in an oven heated with VERVAIN and fern.
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