Delphi Complete Works of Pliny the Elder

by Pliny the Elder

Silaus is a plant which grows in running streams with a gravelly bed. It bears some resemblance to parsley, and is a cubit in height. It is cooked in the same manner as the acid vegetables, and is of great utility for affections of the bladder. In cases where that organ is affected with eruptions, it is used in combination with root of panaces, a plant which is otherwise bad for the bladder.

  The erratic apple, too, is an expellent of calculi. For this purpose, a pound of the root is boiled down to one half in a congius of wine, and one hemina of the decoction is taken for three consecutive days, the remainder being taken in wine with sium. Sea-nettle is employed too for the same purpose, daucus, and seed of plantago in wine.

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  CHAP. 57.

  THE PLANT OF FULVIUS.

  The plant of Fulvius too — so called from the first discoverer of it, and well known to herbalists — bruised in wine, acts as a diuretic.

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  CHAP. 58.

  REMEDIES FOR DISEASES OF THE TESTES AND OF THE FUNDAMENT.

  Scordion reduces swellings of the testes. Henbane is curative of diseases of the generative organs. Strangury is cured by juice of peucedanum, taken with honey; as also by the seed of that plant. Agaric is also used for the same purpose, taken in doses of three oboli in one cyathus of old wine; root of trefoil, in doses of two drachmæ in wine; and root or seed of daucus, in doses of one drachma. For the cure of sciatica, the seed and leaves of erythrodanum are used, pounded; panaces, taken in drink; polemonia, employed as a friction; and leaves of aristolochia, in the form of a decoction. Agaric, taken in doses of three oboli in one cyathus of old wine, is curative of affections of the tendon known as “platys” and of pains in the shoulders. Cinquefoil is either taken in drink or applied topically for the cure of sciatica; a decoction of scammony is used also, with barley meal; and the seed of either kind of hypericon is taken in wine.

  For diseases of the fundament and for excoriations plantago is remarkably efficacious; for condylomata, cinquefoil; and for procidence of the rectum, root of cyclaminos, applied in vinegar. The blue anagallis reduces procidence of the rectum, while, on the contrary, that with a red flower has a tendency to bear it down. Cotyledons is a marvellous cure for condylomatous affections and piles; and root of acoron, boiled in wine and beaten up, is a good application for swelling of the testes. According to what Cato says, those who carry about them Pontic wormwood, will never experience chafing between the thighs.

  (9.) Some persons add pennyroyal to the number of these plants: gathered fasting, they say, and attached to the hinder part of the body, it will be an effectual preservative against all pains in the groin, and will allay them in cases where they already exist.

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  CHAP. 59.

  INGUINALIS OR ARGEMO.

  Inguinalis again, or, as some persons call it, “argemo,” a plant commonly found growing in bushes and thickets, needs only to be held in the hand to be productive of beneficial effects upon the groin.

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  CHAP. 60.

  REMEDIES FOR INFLAMED TUMOURS. CHRYSIPPIOS: ONE REMEDY.

  Panaces, applied with honey, heals inflammatory tumours; an effect which is equally produced by plantago applied with salt, cinquefoil, root of persolata used in the same way as for scrofula; damasonium also, and verbascum pounded with the root, and then sprinkled with wine, and wrapped in a leaf warmed upon ashes, and applied hot. Persons of experience in these matters have asserted that it is of primary importance that the application should be made by a maiden, as also that she must be naked at the time, and fasting. The patient must be fasting too, and the damsel must say, touching him with the back of her hand, “Apollo forbids that a disease shall increase which a naked virgin restrains.” So saying, she must withdraw her hand, and repeat to the above effect three times, both of them spitting upon the ground each time.

  Root, too, of mandragora is used for this purpose, with water; a decoction of root of scammony with honey; sideritis beaten up with stale grease; horehound with stale axlegrease; or chrysippios, a plant which owes its name to its discoverer — with pulpy figs.

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  CHAP. 61. (10.)

  APHRODISIACS AND ANT APHRODISIACS.

  Nymphæa heraclia, used as already stated, acts most powerfully as an ant aphrodisiac; the same too if taken once every forty days in drink. Taken in drink fasting, or eaten with the food, it effectually prevents the recurrence of libidinous dreams. The root too, used in the form of a liniment and applied to the generative organs, not only represses all prurient desires, but arrests the seminal secretions as well; for which reason, it is said to have a tendency to make flesh and to improve the voice.

  The upper part of the root of xiphion, taken in wine, acts as an aphrodisiac. The same is the case too with the wild crethmos, or agrees as it is called, and with holmium, beaten up with polenta.

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  CHAP. 62.

  THE ORCHIDS OR SERAPES: FIVE MEDICINAL PROPERTIES. SATYR ION.

  But there are few plants of so marvellous a nature as the orchids or serapias, a vegetable production with leaves like those of the leek, a stem a palm in height, a purple flower, and a twofold root, formed of tuberosities which resemble the testes in appearance. The larger of these tuberosities, or, as some say, the harder of the two. taken in water, is provocative of lust; while the smaller, or, in other words, the softer one, taken in goat’s milk, acts as an antaphrodisiac. Some persons describe this plant as having a leaf like that of the squill, only smoother and softer, and a prickly stem. The roots heal ulcerations of the mouth, and are curative of pituitous discharges from the chest; taken in wine they act astringently upon the bowels.

  Satyrion is also a powerful stimulant. There are two kinds of it: the first has leaves like those of the olive, but longer, a stem four fingers in length, a purple flower, and a double root, resembling the human testes in shape. This root swells and increases in volume one year, and resumes its original size the next. The other kind is known as the “satyrios orchis,” and is supposed to be the female plant. It is distinguished from the former one by the distance between its joints, and its more branchy and shrublike form. The root is employed in philtres: it is mostly found growing near the sea. Beaten up and applied with polenta, or by itself, it heals tumours and various other affections of the generative organs. The root of the first kind, administered in the milk of a colonic sheep, causes tentigo; taken in water it produces a contrary effect.

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  CHAP. 63.

  SATYRION: THREE MEDICINAL PROPERTIES. SATY- RION ERYTHRAÏCON: FOUR MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.

  The Greeks give the name of “satyrion” to a plant with red leaves like those of the lily, but smaller, not more than three of them making their appearance above ground. The stem, they say, is smooth and bare and a cubit in length, and the root double; the lower part, which is also the larger, pro- moting the conception of male issue, the upper or smaller part, that of female.

  They distinguish also another kind of satyrion, by the name of “erythraïcon” it has seed like that of the vitex, only larger, smooth, and hard; the root, they say, is covered with a red rind, and is white within and of a sweetish taste: it is mostly found in mountainous districts. The root, we are told, if only held in the hand, acts as a powerful aphrodisiac, and even more so, if it is taken in rough, astringent wine. It is administered in drink, they say, to rams and he-goats when inactive and sluggish; and the people of Sarmatia are in the habit of giving it to their stallions when fatigued with covering, a defect to which they give the name of “prosedamum.” The effects of this plant are neutralized by the use of hydromel or lettuces.

  The Greeks, however, give the general name of “satyrion” to all substances of a stimulating tendency, to the cratægis for example, the thelygonon, and the arrenogonon, plants, the seed of which bears a resemblance to the test
es. Persons who carry the pith of branches of tithymalos about them, are rendered more amorous thereby, it is said. The statements are really incredible, which Theophrastus, in most cases an author of high authority, makes in relation to this subject; thus, for instance, he says that by the contact only of a cer- tain plant, a man has been enabled, in the sexual congress, to repeat his embraces as many as seventy times even! The name and genus, however, of this plant, he has omitted to mention.

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  CHAP. 64.

  REMEDIES FOR THE GOUT AND DISEASES OF THE FEET.

  Sideritis, attached to the body as an amulet, reduces varicose veins, and effects a painless cure. Gout used to be an extremely rare disease, not in the times of our fathers and grandfathers only, but within my own memory even. Indeed, it may justly be considered a foreign complaint; for if it had been formerly known in Italy, it would surely have found a Latin name. It should, however, by no means be looked upon as an incurable malady; for before now, in many instances, it has quitted the patient all at once, and still more frequently, a cure has been effected by proper treatment.

  For the cure of gout, roots of panaces are used, mixed with raisins; juice of henbane, or the seed, combined with meal; scordion, taken in vinegar; iberis, as already mentioned; vervain, beaten up with axle-greaseor root of cyclaminos, a decoction of which is good also for chilblains.

  As cooling applications for gout, root of xiphion is used; seed of psyllion; hemlock, with litharge or axle-grease; and, at the first symptoms of red gout, or, in other words, hot gout, the plant aizoüm. For either kind of gout, erigeron, with axle-grease, is very useful; leaves of plantago, beaten up with a little salt; or argemonia, pounded with honey. An. application of vervain is also remedial, and it is a good plan to soak the feet in a decoction of that plant in water.

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  CHAP. 65.

  LAPPAGO OR MOLLUGO: ONE REMEDY. ASPERUGO: ONE REMEDY.

  Lappago is employed also for this disease; a plant similar to the anagallis, were it not that it is more branchy, bristling with a greater number of leaves, covered with rugosities, full of a more acrid juice, and possessed of a powerful smell. The kind that resembles anagallis most closely, is known as mollugo. Asperugo is a similar plant, only with a more prickly leaf. The juice of the first is taken daily, in doses of one denarius, in two cyathi of wine.

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  CHAP. 66.

  PHYCOS THALASSION OR SEA-WEED: THREE VARIETIES OF IT. LAPPA BOARIA.

  But it is the phycos thalassion, or sea-weed, more particularly, that is so excellent a remedy for the gout. It resembles the lettuce in appearance, and is used as the basis in dyeing tissues with the purple of the murex. Used before it becomes dry, it is efficacious as a topical application not only for gout, but for all diseases of the joints. There are three kinds of it; one with a broad leaf, another with a longer leaf of a reddish hue, and a third with a crisped leaf, and used in Crete for dyeing cloths. All these kinds have similar properties; and we find Nicander prescribing them in wine as an antidote to the venom of serpents even. The seed also of the plant which we have spoken of as “psyllion,” is useful for the cure of gout: it is first steeped in water, and one hemina of the seed is then mixed with two spoonfuls of resin of Colophon, and one spoonful of frankincense. Leaves of mandragora, too, are highly esteemed for this purpose, beaten up with polenta.

  (11.) For swellings of the ankles, slime, kneaded up with oil, is wonderfully useful, and for swellings of the joints the juice of the smaller centaury; this last being remarkably good also for diseases of the sinews. Centauris, too, is very useful; and for pains in the sinews of the shoulder-blades, shoulders, vertebræ, and loins, an infusion of betony is taken in drink in the same way as for diseases of the liver. Cinquefoil is applied topically to the joints, and a similar use is made of the leaves of mandragora, mixed with polenta, or else the root, beaten up fresh with wild cucumber or boiled in water. For chaps upon the toes, root of polypodion is used; and for diseases of the joints, juice of henbane with axle-grease; amomum, with a decoction of the plant; centunculus, boiled; or fresh moss steeped in water, and attached to the part till it is quite dry.

  The root, too, of lappa boaria, taken in wine, is productive of similar effects. A decoction of cyclaminos in water, is curative of chilblains, and all other affections resulting from cold. For chilblains, cotyledon is also employed with axle-grease, leaves of batrachion, and juice of epithymum. Ladanum, mixed with castoreum, and vervain applied with wine, extract corns from the feet.

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  CHAP. 67.

  MALADIES WHICH ATTACK THE WHOLE OF THE BODY.

  Having now finished the detail of the diseases which are perceptible in individual parts of the body, we shall proceed to speak of those which attack the whole of the body. The following I find mentioned as general remedies: in preference to anything else, an infusion of dodecatheos, a plant already described, should be taken in drink, and then the roots of the several kinds of panaces, in maladies of long standing more particularly: seed, too, of panaces should be used for intestinal complaints. For all painful affections of the body we find juice of scordium recommended, as also that of betony: this last, taken in a potion, is particularly excellent for removing a wan and leaden hue of the skin, and for improving its gene- ral appearance.

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  CHAP. 68.

  THE GERANION, MYRRHIS, OR MYRTIS; THREE VARIE- TIES OF IT: SIX REMEDIES.

  The plant geranion has the additional names of “myrrhis” and “myrtis.” It is similar to hemlock in appearance, but has a smaller leaf and a shorter stem, rounded, and of a pleasant taste and odour. Such, at all events, is the description given of it by our herbalists; but the Greeks speak of it as bearing leaves a little whiter than those of the mallow, thin downy stems, and branches at intervals some two palms in length, with small heads at their extremities, in the midst of the leaves, resembling the bill of a crane. There is also another variety of this plant, with leaves like those of the anemone, but with deeper incisions, and a root rounded like an apple, sweet, and extremely useful and refreshing for invalids when recovering their strength; this last would a- most seem to be the true geranion.

  For phthisis this plant is taken, in the proportion of one drachma to three cyathi of wine, twice a day; as also for flatulency. Eaten raw, it is productive of similar effects. The juice of the root is remedial for diseases of the ear; and for opisthotony the seed is taken in drink, in doses of four drachmæ, with pepper and myrrh. Juice of plantago, taken in drink is curative of phthisis, and a decoction of it is equally good for the purpose. Plantago taken as a food with oil and salt immediately after rising in the morning, is extremely refreshing; it is prescribed, too, in cases of atrophy, on alternate day. Betony is given with honey, in the form of an electuary, for phthisis, in pieces the size of a bean; agaric, too, is taken in doses of two oboli in raisin wine, or else daucus with the greater centaury in wine. For the cure of phagedæna.a <*>une given in common to bulimia and to a corrosive kind of ulcer, tithymalos is taken in combination with sesame.

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  CHAP. 69.

  THE ONOTHERAS OR ONEAR: THREE REMEDIES.

  Among the various evils by which the whole of the body in common is afflicted, that of wakefulness is the most common. Among the remedies for it we find panaces mentioned, clymenus, and aristolochia, the odour of the plant being inhaled and the head rubbed with it. Aizoü, or houseleek, is beneficial, wrapped in black cloth and placed beneath the pillow, without the patient being aware of it. The onotheras too, or onear, taken in wine, has certain exhilarating pro- properties; it has leaves like those of the almond tree, a rose-coloured flower, numerous branches, and a long root, with a xinous smell when dried: n infusion of this root has a soothing effect upon wild beasts even.

  For fits of indigestion attended with nausea, betony is taken in drink: used sim
ilarly after the evening meal, it faci- litates the digestion. Taken in the proportion of one drachma to three cyathi of oxymel, it dispels crapulence. The same is the case, too, with agaric, taken in warm water after eating. Betony is curative of paralysis, it is said; the same, too, with brais, as already stated. This last is good, too, for numbness of the limbs : the same being the case with argemonia, a plant which disperses those affections which might otherwise necessitate the application of the knife.

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  CHAP. 70.

  REMEDIES FOR EPILEPSY.

  Epilepsy is cured by the root of the panaces which we have spoken of as the “heraclion,” taken in drink with sea-calf’s rennet, the proportions being three parts of panaces and one of rennet. For the same purpose an infusion of plantago is taken, or else betony or agaric, with oxymel, the former in doses of one drachma, the latter in doses of three oboli; leaves of cinquefoil are taken, also, in water. Archezostis is also curative of epilepsy, but it must be taken constantly for a year; root of bacchar, too, dried and powdered, and taken in warm water, in the proportion of three cyathi to one cyathus of coriander; centunculus also, bruised in vinegar, warn water, or honey; vervain, taken in wine; hyssop berries, three in number, pounded and taken in water, for sixteen days consecutively; peucedanum, taken in drink with sea-calf’s rennet, in equal proportions; leaves of cinquefoil, bruised is wine and taken for thirty days; powdered betony, in doses of three denarii, with one cyathus of squill vinegar and an ounce of Attic honey; as also scammony, in the proportion of two oboli to four drachmæ of castoreum.