Syrup jar used for Aqua Scorzonarie (Viper's Grass Water) from possibly Rome, blue and white, Italy, 1620-1730

The words Aqua Scorzonarie painted on the front of this jar translate from Latin as “Viper’s Grass Water”. Scorzonera is a plant of the daisy family with purple-brown edible roots and is commonly called ‘viper’s grass’. It would have formed the basis for this treatment when infused in water.

Drinking the liquid was said to help cure fevers by making the patient sweat out the infection. It was also recommended to treat ‘sadness’ and ‘passions and tremblings of the heart’.