Delphi Complete Works of Pliny the Elder

by Pliny the Elder

  CHAP. 38.

  THE CIRCÆA: THREE REMEDIES.

  The circæa resembles the cultivated trychnon in appearance. It has a small swarthy flower, a diminutive seed, like millet, growing in small horn-shaped pods, and a root half a foot in length, generally triple or fourfold, white, odoriferous, and hot in the mouth. It is found growing upon rocks exposed to the sun. An infusion of it is prepared with wine, and administered for pains and affections of the uterus: to make it, three ounces of the pounded root should be steeped in three sextarii of wine a day and a night. This potion is effectual also for bringing away the after-birth. The seed of this plant, taken in wine or hydromel, diminishes the milk in nursing women.

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  CHAP. 39.

  THE CIRSION: ONE REMEDY.

  The cirsion is a plant consisting of a diminutive and delicate stem, two cubits in height, of a triangular form, and covered with prickly leaves. The prickles on the leaves are downy, and the leaves themselves resemble those of buglos- sos in shape, but are smaller, and of a whitish colour. At the summit of the plant there are small purple heads, which fall off in the shape of down. This plant or the root of it, worn as an amulet, it is said, is curative of the pains attendant upon varicose veins.

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  CHAP. 40.

  THE CRATÆGONON; TWO KINDS OF IT: EIGHT REMEDIES.

  The cratægonon is similar to an ear of corn in appearance. It is formed of numerous shoots, springing from a single root, and full of joints. It grows in umbrageous localities, and has a seed like that of millet, with a remarkably acrid taste. If a man and woman, before the evening meal, take three oboli of this seed in three cyathi of water, for forty days consecutively, before the conception of their issue, it will be sure to be of the male sex, they say.

  There is another cratægonon, known also as “thelygonos,” and distinguished from the last mentioned plant by the mildness of the taste. Some persons assert that females, if they take the blossom of this plant in drink, will be sure to conceive before the end of forty days. These plants, used in combination with honey, are curative of black ulcers of a chronic nature; they also fill the concavities made by fistulous ulcers with new flesh, and restore such parts of the body as are wasted by atrophy. They act as a detergent upon purulent sores, disperse inflammatory tumours, and alleviate gout and all kind of abscesses, those of the mamillæ in particular.

  Under the name of “cratægos” or “cratægon,” Theophrastus speaks of the tree known in Italy as the “aquifolia.”

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  CHAP. 41.

  THE CROCODILEON: TWO REMEDIES.

  The crocodileon resembles the black chamæleon in shape: the root is long, of an uniform thickness, and possessed of a pungent smell. It is found growing in sandy soils. Taken in drink, it causes a copious discharge of coagulated blood at the nostrils, and in this way, it is said, diminishes the volume of the spleen.

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  CHAP. 42.

  THE CYNOSORCHIS OR ORCHIS: FOUR REMEDIES.

  The cynosorchis, by some called “orchis,” has leaves like those of the olive, soft, three in number, half a foot in length, and lying upon the ground. The root is bulbous, oblong, and divided into two portions, the upper one hard, and the lower one soft. These roots are eaten boiled, like bulbs, and are mostly found growing in vineyards. If males eat the upper part, they will be parents of male issue, they say; and females, if they eat the lower part, of female. In Thessaly, the men take the soft portion in goats’ milk as an aphrodisiac, and the hard part as an antaphrodisiac. Of these parts, the one effectually neutralizes the action of the other.

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  CHAP. 43.

  THE CHRYSOLACHANUM; TWO VARIETIES OF IT: THREE REMEDIES. COAGULUM: TERAÆ: TWO REMEDIES.

  The chrysolachanum grows in pine plantations, and is similar to the lettuce in appearance. It heals wounds of the sinews, if applied without delay. There is another kind of chrysolachanum mentioned, with a golden flower, and a leaf like that of the cabbage: it is boiled and eaten as a laxative vegetable. This plant, worn as an amulet by a patient suffering from jaundice, provided it be always kept in sight, is a cure for that disease, it is said. I art not certain whether this is all that might be said about the chrysolachanum, but, at all events, it is all that I have found respecting it; for it is a very general fault on the part of our more recent herbalists, to confine their account of plants to the mere name, with a very meagre description of the peculiar features of the plant, — just as though, forsooth, they were universally known. Thus, they tell us, for instance, that a plant known as “coagulum terræ,” acts astringently upon the bowels, and that it dispels strangury, taken in water or in wine.

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  CHAP. 44.

  THE CUCUBALUS, STRUMUS, OR STRYCHNON: SIX REMEDIES.

  The leaves of the cucubalus, they tell us, bruised with vinegar, are curative of the stings of serpents and of scorpions. Some persons call this plant by the name of “strumus,” while others give it the Greek name of “strychnon:” its berries are black. The juice of these berries, administered in doses of one cyathus, in two cyathi of honied wine, is curative of lumbago; an infusion of them with rose oil is used for head- ache, and they are employed as an application for scrofulous sores.

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  CHAP. 45.

  THE CONFERVA: TWO REMEDIES.

  The conferva is peculiar to running streams, those of the Alpine regions more particularly; receiving its name front “conferrumino,” to solder together. Properly speaking, it is rather a fresh-water sponge than a moss or a plant, being a dense, porous mass of filaments. I know an instance where a man, who fell to the ground while lopping a tree of considerable height, and broke nearly every bone of his body, was cured by the agency of this plant. The patient’s body was covered all over with conferva, the application being continually sprinkled with water the moment it began to dry, and only removed for the purpose of changing it when the plant gave signs of losing its virtues. It is hardly credible with what rapidity he recovered.

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  CHAP. 46. (9.)

  THE COCCUS CNIDIUS, OR GRAIN OF CNIDOS: TWO REMEDIES.

  The Cnidian grain has just the colour of the kermes berry. It is larger than a peppercorn, and has very heating properties: hence it is that when used, it is taken in crumb of bread, that it may not burn the throat in passing downwards. It is a sovereign remedy for hemlock, and arrests looseness of the bowels.

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  CHAP. 47.

  THE DIPSACOS: TWO REMEDIES.

  The dipsacos has leaves like those of the lettuce, with prickly tubercles on the middle of the back. The stem of it, two cubits in length, is bristling all over with prickles of a similar nature. The joints of the stem are closely covered with two leaves, which form a concave axil in which a saltish dew-like liquid collects. At the summit of the stem there are small heads covered with prickles: it grows in watery localities.

  This plant is used for the cure of chaps of the fundament and of fistula; in which latter case the root is boiled down in wine to the consistency of wax, to allow of its being introduced into the fistula in the form of a salve. It is employed; too, for the cure of all kinds of warts: as a liniment for which, the juice collected in the axils, as above mentioned, is also used by some.

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  CHAP. 48.

  THE DRYOPTERIS: TWO REMEDIES.

  The dryopteris, which resembles fern in appearance, is found growing upon trees; the leaves are of a somewhat sweetish flavour and marked with slight indentations, and the root is hairy. This plant is possessed of caustic properties, and hence the root is pounded and used as a depilatory. In using it the skin is rubbed with it till perspiration is excited, the operation being repeated a second and a third time, care being taken not to remove the perspiration.
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  CHAP. 49.

  THE DRYOPHONON.

  The dryophonon is a similar plant, with thin stems a cubit in length, and surrounded on either side with leaves about as large as the thumb and like those of the oxymyrsine in appearance, only whiter and softer: the blossom is white, and similar to that of the elder. The shoots of it are eaten boiled, and the seed is used as a substitute for pepper.

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  CHAP. 50.

  THE ELATINE: TWO REMEDIES.

  The elatine has leaves like those of the helxine, diminu- tive, round, and hairy; its branches are small, half a foot in length, five or six in number, and covered with leaves from the root upwards. It grows in corn-fields, and has a rough flavour: hence it is found very useful for defluxions of the eyes, the leaves being beaten up and applied with polenta in a linen pledget. A decoction of this plant with linseed, taken in pottage, is good for dysentery.

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  CHAP. 51.

  EMPETROS. BY OUR PEOPLE CALLED CALCIFRAGA: FOUR REMEDIES.

  Empetros, by the people of our country called “calcifraga,” grows on mountains near the sea, and is generally found upon rocks: the nearer it grows to the sea the salter it is, acting as an evacuant of bile and pituitous secretions. That, on the other hand, which grows at a greater distance and more inland, is of a more bitter flavour. It carries off the aqueous humours of the body, being taken for that purpose in broth of some kind, or else hydromel. When old, it loses its strength; but used fresh, either boiled in water or pounded, it acts as a diuretic, and disperses urinary calculi. Authorities who wish full credence to be given to this asserted property, assure us that pebbles boiled with it will split asunder.

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  CHAP. 52.

  THE EPIPACTIS OR ELLEBORINE: TWO REMEDIES.

  The epipactis, called “elleborine” by some, is a diminutive plant with small leaves. Taken in drink, it is extremely useful for diseases of the liver, and as an antidote to poisons.

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  CHAP. 53.

  THE EPIMEDION: THREE REMEDIES.

  The epimedion consists of a stem of moderate size, with ten or twelve leaves like those of ivy: it never flowers, and has a thin, black root, with a powerful smell. It grows in humid soils. This plant also has certain astringent and cooling properties, but females must be on their guard against it. The leaves, beaten up in wine, prevent the bosom from growing too large in young girls.

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  CHAP. 54.

  THE ENNEAPHYLLON: TWO REMEDIES.

  The enneaphyllon has nine long leaves, and is of a caustic nature. It is employed topically, but when used it is wrapped in wool to prevent it from cauterizing further than desirable, for it blisters immediately. For lumbago and sciatica it is of the greatest utility.

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  CHAP. 55.

  TWO VARIETIES OF FILIX OR FERN, KNOWN TO THE GREEKS AS PTERIS, OR BLACHNON, AND AS THELYPTERIS, OR NYMPHÆ PTERIS: ELEVEN REMEDIES.

  Of fern there are two varieties, equally destitute of blossom and of seed. The Greeks give the name of “pteris,” and sometimes “blachnon,” to the kind in which numerous shoots take their rise from a single root, exceeding two cubits even in length, and with a not unpleasant smell: this plant is thought to be the male fern.

  The other kind is known to the Greeks as “thelypteris,” and sometimes, “nymphæa pteris:” it has a single stem only, with comparatively few branches, is shorter, softer, and more tufted than the other, and has channelled leaves growing near the root. Swine are fattened upon the roots of either kind. The leaves of both kinds are arranged on either side in the form of wings, whence the Greek name “pteris.” The roots are long, run obliquely, and are of a swarthy colour, more par- ticularly when dried: when wanted for use,. they should be dried in the sun. These plants are found growing everywhere, but in cold soils more particularly; they should be taken up, too, at the setting of the Vergiliæ. The root is only used at the end of three years, neither before that period nor after. They act as an expellent of intestinal worms; for tapeworm honey is taken with them, but in other cases sweet wine, for three days.

  They are, both of them, extremely detrimental to the stomach, but are laxative to the bowels, carrying off first the bile and then the aqueous humours of the body. When used for tapeworm, it is the best plan to take scammony with them, in equal proportions. For rheumatic defluxions, the root is taken in doses of two oboli, in water, after a day’s abstinence from food, a little honey being taken first. Neither kind must ever be given to females; for in pregnancy they are productive of abortion, and in other cases entail sterility. Powdered fern is sprinkled upon sordid ulcers, as also upon the necks of beasts of burden, when chafed. Fern-leaves kill bugs, and serpents will never harbour among them: hence it is a good plan to strew them in places where the presence of those reptiles is suspected. The very smell, too, of burnt fern will put serpents to flight. Medical men have made this distinction as to ferns; that of Macedonia, they say, is the best, and that of Cassiope the next.

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  CHAP. 56.

  FEMUR BUBULUM, OR OX THIGH.

  The name of femur bubulum is given to a plant which is good for the sinews, applied fresh, and beaten up with salt and vinegar.

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  CHAP. 57.

  GALEOPSIS, GALEOBDOLON, OR GALION: SIX REMEDIES.

  Galeopsis, or as some call it, “galeobdolon” or “galion,” is a plant with a stem and leaves like those of the nettle, only smaller; and which, when bruised, emit a powerful smell. The flower is purple, and the plant is found growing everywhere, about hedges and foot-paths. The leaves and stems, bruised in vinegar, and applied topically, are curative of indurations, carcinomata, and scrofulous sores. They disperse also inflam- natory tumours and imposthumes of the parotid glands, and it is found a useful plan to foment the parts affected with a decoction of them. Applied with salt, this plant is curative of putrid ulcers and gangrenous sores.

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  CHAP. 58.

  THE GLAUX: ONE REMEDY.

  The glaux was known in ancient times as the “eugalacton.” In the leaves it resembles the cytisus and the lentil, only that they are whiter beneath. The branches, five or six in number, are extremely thin, and, springing from the root, creep upon the ground, with small purple blossoms upon them. This plan is found in localities near the sea. It is boiled in a pottage made of similago, to increase the milk: females, however, after taking it, must immediately use the bath.

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  CHAP. 59. (10).

  GLAUCION: THREE REMEDIES. DIAGLAUCIA: TWO REMEDIES.

  Glaucion grows in Syria and Parthia; it is a plant of stunted growth, and thickly covered with leaves, like those of the Poppy in appearance, only smaller and of a more repulsive aspect: it has an offensive smell, and a bitter, astringent taste. The seed, which is of a saffron colour, is put into a vessel coatd with potter’s clay, and heated in an oven; when taken out, a juice is extracted, which is known by the same name as the plant. This juice and the leaves, bruised, are used for defluxins of the eyes, which disappear in an instant, under this treatment: an eye-salve, too, is prepared from the juice, known as “diaglaucia,” to medical men. The milk, when the secretion of it is stopped, is restored by the agency of this plant, for which purpose it is taken in water.

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  CHAP. 60.

  THE GLYCYSIDE, PÆONIA, OR PENTOROBOS: TWENTY REMEDIES.

  The glycyside, by some called “pæonia” or “pentorobos,” has a stem two cubits in length, accompanied by two or three others, and of a reddish colour, with a bark like that of the laurel. The leaves are similar to those of isatis, but more unctuous, rounder, and more diminutive; the seed is enclosed in capsules, some being red and some black, there
being two varieties of the plant. The female plant is generally thought to be the one to the root of which some six or eight bulbs are attached, of an elongated form; those of the male plant being more in number, as it throws out more roots than one, a palm in length, and of a white colour: it has also an astringent taste. The leaves of the female plant smell like myrrh, and lie closer together than those of the male.

  Both plants grow in the woods, and they should always be taken up at night, it is said; as it would be dangerous to do so in the day-time, the woodpecker of Mars being sure to attack the eyes of the person so engaged. It is stated also that the person, while taking up the root, runs great risk of being attacked with procidence of the anus: all this, however, I take to be so much fiction, most frivolously invented topuff off their supposed marvellous properties. Both plants are used for various purposes: the red seed, taken in red wine, about fifteen in number, arrest menstruation; while the black seed, taken in the same proportion, in either raisin or other vine, are curative of diseases of the uterus. The root, taken in vine, allays all kinds of pains in the bowels, and acts as a purgaive; it cures opisthotony also, jaundice, nephritic diseases, and affections of the bladder. Boiled in wine, it is used for diseaes of the trachea and stomach, and acts astringently upon the bowels. It is eaten also by beasts of burden, but when wanted for remedial purposes, four drachmæ are sufficient.