Delphi Complete Works of Pliny the Elder

by Pliny the Elder

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  CHAP. 31.

  THE CENTAURION LEPTON, OR LIBATION, KNOWN ALSO AS FELL TERRÆ: TWENTY-TWO REMEDIES.

  There is another centaury also, with diminutive leaves, known by the additional name of “lepton.” By some persons it is called “libadion,” from the circumstance that it grows upon the borders of fountains. It is similar to origanum in appearance, except that the leaves are narrower and longer. The stem is angular, branchy, and a palm in height; the flower is like that of the lychnis, and the root is thin, and never used. It is in the juice that its medicinal properties are centred: it being gathered in the autumn, and the juice extracted from the leaves. Some persons cut up the stalks, and steep them for some eighteen days in water, and then extract the juice.

  In Italy this kind of centaury is known as “gall” of the earth,” from its extreme bitterness. The Gauls give it the name of “exacum;” from the circumstance that, taken in drink, it purges off all noxious substances by alvine evacuation.

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  CHAP. 32.

  THE CENTAURIS TRIORCHIS: TWO REMEDIES.

  There is a third kind of centaury also, known as the “centauris triorchis.” It is but rarely that a person cuts it without wounding himself. The juice emitted is just the colour of blood. Theophrastus relates that this plant is under the protection of the triorchis, a kind of hawk, which attacks those who gather it; a circumstance to which it owes its name. Ignorant persons are in the habit of confounding all these characteristics, and attributing them to the centaury first named.

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  CHAP. 33. (7).

  CLYMENUS : TWO REMEDIES.

  Clymenus is a plant so called, after a certain king. It has leaves like those of ivy, numerous branches, and a hollow, jointed stem. The smell of it is powerful, and the seed like that of ivy: it grows in wild and mountainous localities. We shall have to state hereafter, of what maladies it is curative, taken in drink, but it is as well to take the present opportunity of remarking that, while effecting a cure, in the male sex it neutralizes the generative powers.

  The Greeks speak of this plant as being similar to the plantago in appearance, with a square stem, and a seed in capsules, interlaced like the arms of the polypus. The juice of this plant, too, is used, being possessed of refreshing pro- perties in a very high degree.

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  CHAP. 34.

  GENTIAN: THIRTEEN REMEDIES.

  Gentian was first discovered by Gentius, king of Illyria. It is a plant to be found everywhere, but that of Illyria is the finest. It has a leaf like that of the ash, but equal in size to a lettuce-leaf: the stem is tender, about the thickness of the thumb, hollow and empty, and covered with leaves at regular intervals. This stem is sometimes three cubits in length, and the root is flexible, swarthy, and inodorous. It is found in the greatest abundance in humid localities at the foot of the Alps. The root and juice are the parts of it that are used: the root is possessed of certain warming pro- perties, but it should never be taken by women in a state of pregnancy.

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  CHAP. 35.

  THE LYSIMACHIA: EIGHT REMEDIES,

  King Lysimachus first discovered the plant which from him has received the name of lysimachia, and the merits of which have been so highly extolled by Erasistratus. This plant has green leaves resembling those of the willow, and a purple blossom: it has all the appearance of a shrub, the branches are erect, and it has a pungent smell. It is found growing in watery soils. The properties of it are so extremely powerful, that if placed upon the yoke when beasts of burden are restive, it will be sure to overcome all stubbornness on their part.

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  CHAP. 36.

  ARTEMISIA, PARTHENIS, BOTRYS, OR AMBROSIA: FIVE REMEDIES.

  Women too have even affected an ambition to give their name to plants: thus, for instance, Artemisia, the wife of King Mausolus, adopted the plant, which before was known by the name of “parthenis.” There are some persons, however, who are of opinion that it received this surname from the goddess Artemis Ilithyia, from the fact of its being used for the cure of female complaints more particularly. It is a plant with numerous branches, like those of wormwood, but the leaves of it are larger and substantial.

  There are two varieties of it; one has broader leaves than the other, which last is of a slender form, with a more diminutive leaf, and grows nowhere but in maritime districts.

  Some persons again, give this name to a plant which grows more inland, with a single stem, extremely diminutive leaves, and numerous blossoms which open at the ripening of the grape, and the odour of which is far from unpleasant. In addition to this name, this last plant is known as “botrys” to some persons, and “ambrosia” to others: it grows in Cappadocia.

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  CHAP. 37.

  NYMPHÆA, HERACLEON, RHOPALON, OR MADON; TWO VARIETIES OF IT: FOUR REMEDIES.

  The plant called “nymphæa,” owes its name, they say, to a Nymph who died of jealousy conceived on account of Hercules, for which reason it is also known as “heracleon” by some. By other persons, again, it is called “rhopalon,” from the resemblance of its root to a club. * * * * and hence it is that those who take it in drink become impotent for some twelve days, and incapacitated for procreation. That of the first quality is found in Orchomenia and at Marathon: the people of Bœotia call it “madon,” and use the seed for food. It grows in spots covered with water; the leaves of it are large, and float upon the surface, while others are to be seen springing from the roots below. The flower is very similar to a lily in appearance, and after the plant has shed its blossom, the place of the flower is occupied by a head like that of the poppy. The stem is slender, and the plant is usually cut in autumn. The root, of a swarthy hue, is dried in the sun; garlic manifests a peculiar antipathy to it.

  There is another nymphæa also, which grows in the river Peneus, in Thessaly: the root of it is white, and the head yellow, about the size of a rose.

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  CHAP. 38.

  TWO VARIETIES OF EUPHORBIA: FOUR REMEDIES. THE CHAMELÆA.

  In the time, too, of our fathers, King Juba discovered a plant, to which he gave the name of “euphorbia,” in honour of his physician, Euphorbus, the brother of the same Musa, whom We have mentioned as having saved the life of the late Emperor Augustus. It was these brothers who introduced the practice of douching the body with large quantities of cold water, immediately after the bath, for the purpose of bracing the system: whereas in former times, as we find stated in the works of Homer even, it was the practice to wash the body with warm water only. With reference to euphorbia, there is a treatise still in existence, written upon it by King Juba, in which he highly extols its merits: he discovered it growing upon Mount Atlas, and describes it as resembling a thyrsus in appearance, and bearing leaves like those of the acanthus.

  The properties of this plant are so remarkably powerful, that the persons engaged in collecting the juices of it are obliged to stand at a considerable distance. The incisions are made with a long pole shod with iron, the juice flowing into receivers of kid-leather placed beneath. The juice has all the appearance of milk, as it exudes, but when it has coagulated and dried, it assumes the form and consistency of frankincense. The persons engaged in collecting it, find their sight improved thereby. This juice is an excellent remedy for the stings of serpents: in whatever part of the body the wound may have been inflicted, the practice is to make an incision in the crown of the head, and there introduce the medicament. The Gætuli who collect it, are in the habit of adulterating it with warm milk; a fraud, however, easily to be detected by the agency of fire, that which is not genuine emitting a most disgusting smell.

  Much inferior to this is the juice extracted, in Gaul, from the chamelæa, a plant which bears the grain of Cnidos. When broken asunder, it resembles hammoniacum in appearance; a
nd however slightly tasted, it leaves a burning sensation in the mouth, which lasts a considerable time, and increases every now and then, until, in fact, it has quite parched the fauces.

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  CHAP. 39. (8.)

  TWO VARIETIES OF THE PLANTAGO: FORTY-SIX REMEDIES.

  The physician Themiso, too, has conferred some celebrity upon the plantago, otherwise a very common plant; indeed he has written a treatise upon it, as though he had been the first to discover it. There are two varieties; one, more diminutive than the other, has a narrower and more swarthy leaf, strongly resembling a sheep’s tongue in appearance: the stem of it is angular and bends downwards, and it is generally found growing in meadow lands. The larger kind has leaves enclosed with ribs at the sides, to all appearance, from the fact of which being seven in number, the plant has been called “heptapleuron” by some. The stem of it is a cubit in height, and strongly resembles that of the turnip. That which is grown in a moist soil is considered much the most efficacious: it is possessed of marvellous virtues as a desiccative and as an astringent, and has all the effect of a cautery. There is nothing that so effectually arrests the fluxes known by the Greeks as “rheumatismi.”

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  CHAP. 40.

  BUGLOSSOS: THREE REMEDIES.

  To an account of the plantago may be annexed that of the buglossos, the leaf of which resembles an ox tongue. The main peculiarity of this plant is, that if put into wine, it pro- motes mirth and hilarity, whence it has obtained the additional name of “euphrosynum.”

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  CHAP. 41.

  CYNOGLOSSOS: THREE REMEDIES.

  To this plant we may also annex an account of the cynoglossos, the leaf of which resembles a dog’s tongue, and which produces so pleasing an effect in ornamental gardening. The root, it is said, of the kind which bears three stems surmounted with seed, is very useful, taken in water, for tertian, and of that with four stems, for quartan, fevers.

  There is another plant very similar to it, which bears diminutive burrs resembling those of the lappa: the root of it, taken in water, is curative of wounds inflicted by frogs or serpents.

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  CHAP. 42.

  THE BUPHTALMOS OR CACHLA: ONE REMEDY.

  There is the buphthalmos also, so called from its resemblance to an ox’s eye, and with a leaf like that of fennel. It grows in the vicinity of towns, and is a branchy plant, with numerous stems, which are boiled and eaten. Some persons give it the name of “cachla.” In combination with wax, it disperses scirrhi.

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  CHAP. 43.

  PLANTS WHICH HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED BY CERTAIN NATIONS. THE SCYTHICE: ONE REMEDY.

  Entire nations, too, have been the discoverers of certain plants. The Scythæ were the first to discover the plant known as “scythice,” which grows in the vicinity of the Palus Mæotis. Among its other properties, this plant is remarkably sweet, and extremely useful for the affection known as “asthma.” It is also possessed of another great recommendation — so long as a person keeps it in his mouth, he will never experience hunger or thirst.

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  CHAP. 44.

  THE HIPPACE: THREE REMEDIES.

  The hippace, another plant that grows in Scythia, is possessed of similar properties: it owes its name to the circumstance that it produces the like effect upon horses. By the aid of these two plants, the Scythæ, they say, are enabled to endure hunger and thirst, so long as twelve days even.

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  CHAP. 45.

  THE ISCHÆMON: TWO REMEDIES.

  The Thracians were the first to discover the ischæmon, which, it is said, has the property of stanching the flow of blood, not only when a vein has been opened, but when it has been cut asunder even. This is a creeping plant; it is like millet in appearance, and the leaves of it are rough and lanuginous. It is used as a plug for the nostrils. The kind that grows in Italy, attached to the body as an amulet, has the property of arresting hæmorrhage.

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  CHAP. 46.

  THE CESTROS, PSYCHOTROPEION, VETTONICA, OR SERRA- TULA: FORTY-EIGHT REMEDIES.

  The Vettones, a people of Spain, were the original discoverers of the plant known as the “vettonica” in Gaul, the “serratula” in Italy, and the “cestros” or “psychotrophon” in Greece. This is a plant more highly esteemed than any other: it puts forth an angular stem two cubits in height, and throws out leaves from the root, with serrated edges, and closely resembling those of lapathum. The seed of it is purple: the leaves are dried and powdered, and used for numerous purposes. There is a wine also prepared from it, and a vinegar, remarkably beneficial to the stomach and the eyesight. Indeed, this plant enjoys so extraordinary a reputation, that it is a common be- lief even that the house which contains it is insured against misfortunes of every kind.

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  CHAP. 47.

  THE CANTABRICA: TWO REMEDIES.

  In Spain, too, is found the cantabrica, which was first dis- covered by the nation of the Cantabri in the time of the late Emperor Augustus. It grows everywhere in those parts, having a stem like that of the bulrush, a foot in height, and bearing small oblong flowers, like a calathus in shape, and enclos- ing an extremely diminutive seed. Nor indeed, in other respects, have the people of Spain been wanting in their researches into the nature of plants; for at the present day even it is the custom in that country, at their more jovial entertainments, to use a drink called the hundred-plant drink, combined with a proportion of honied wine; it being their belief, that the wine is rendered more whole- some and agreeable by the admixture of these plants. It still remains unknown to us, what these different plants are, or in what number exactly they are used: as to this last question, however, we may form some conclusion from the name that is given to the beverage.

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  CHAP. 48.

  CONSILIGO: ONE REMEDY.

  Our own age, too, can remember the fact of a plant being discovered in the country of the Marsi. It is found growing also in the neighbourhood of the village of Nervesia, in the territory of the Æquicoli, and is known by the name of “consiligo.” It is very useful, as we shall have occasion to mention in the appropriate place, in cases of phthisis where recovery is considered more than doubtful.

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  CHAP. 49.

  THE IBERIS: SEVEN REMEDIES.

  It is but very lately, too, that Servilius Democrates, one of our most eminent physicians, first called attention to a plant to which he gave the name of iberis, a fanciful appellation only, bestowed by him upon this discovery of his in the verses by him devoted to it. This plant is found mostly growing in the vicinity of ancient monuments, old walls, and overgrown footpaths: it is an evergreen, and its leaves are like those of nasturtium, with a stem a cubit in height, and a seed so diminutive as to be hardly perceptible; the root, too, has just the smell of nasturtium. Its properties are more strongly developed in summer, and it is only used freshgathered: there is considerable difficulty in pounding it.

  Mixed with a small proportion of axle-grease, it is extremely useful for sciatica and all diseases of the joints; the application being kept on some four hours at the utmost, when used by the male sex, and about half that time in the case of females. Immediately after its removal, the patient must take a warm bath, and then anoint the body all over with oil and wine the same operation being repeated every twenty days, so long as there are any symptoms of pain remaining. A similar method is adopted for the cure of all internal defluxions; it is never applied, however, so long as the inflammation is at its height, but only when it has somewhat abated.

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  CHAP. 50.

  PLANTS WHICH HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED BY CERTAIN ANIMALS. CHELIDONIA: SIX REMEDIES.

  The brute animals also have been t
he discoverers of certain plants: among them, we will name chelidonia first of all. It is by the aid of this plant that the swallow restores the sight of the young birds in the nest, and even, as some persons will have it, when the eyes have been plucked out. There are two varieties of this plant; the larger kind has a branchy stem, and a leaf somewhat similar to that of the wild parsnip, but larger. The plant itself is some two cubits in height, and of a whitish colour, that of the flower being yellow. The smaller kind has leaves like those of ivy, only rounder and not so white. The juice of it is pungent, and resembles saffron in colour, and the seed is similar to that of the poppy.

  These plants blossom, both of them, at the arrival of the swallow, and wither at the time of its departure. The juice is extracted while they are in flower, and is boiled gently in a copper vessel on hot ashes, with Attic honey, being esteemed a sovereign remedy for films upon the eyes. This juice is employed also, unmixed with any other substance, for the eyesalves, which from it take their name of “chelidonia.”

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