Delphi Complete Works of Pliny the Elder
Page 195
The black seed is useful as a preventive of night-mare, being taken in wine, in number above stated: it is very good, too, to eat this seed, and to apply it externally, for gnawing pains of the stomach. Suppurations are also dispersed, when recent, with the black seed, and when of long standing, with the red: both kinds are very useful, too, for wounds inflicted by serpents, and in cases where children are troubled with calculi, being employed at the crisis when strangury first makes its appearance.
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CHAP. 61.
GNAPHALIUM OR CHAMÆZELON: SIX REMEDIES.
Gnaphalium is called “chamæzelon” by some: its white, soft, leaves are used as flock, and, indeed, there is no perceptible difference. This plant is administered in astringent wine, for dysentery: it arrests looseness of the bowels and the catamenia, and is used as an injection for tenesmus. It is employed topically for putrid sores.
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CHAP. 62.
THE GALLIDRAGA: ONE REMEDY.
Xenocrates gives the name of “gallidraga” to a plant which resembles the leucacanthus, and grows in the marshes. It is a prickly plant, with a tall, ferulaceous stem, surmounted with a head somewhat similar to an egg in appearance. When this head is growing, in summer, small worms, he says, are generated, which are put away in a box for keeping, and are attached as an amulet, with bread, to the arm on the side on which tooth-ache is felt; indeed it is quite wonderful, he says, how soon the pain is removed. These worms, however, are of no use after the end of a year, or in cases where they have been allowed to touch the ground.
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CHAP. 63.
HOLCUS OR ARISTIS.
Holcus is a plant that grows in arid, stony, spots: it has an ear at the end of a fine stem, and looks like barley that has put forth again when cut. Attached to the head or around the arm, it extracts spikes of corn adhering to the flesh; for which reason, some persons give it the name of “aristis.”
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CHAP. 64.
HYOSERIS: ONE REMEDY.
Hyoseris resembles endive in appearance, but is a smaller plant, and rougher to the touch: pounded and applied to wounds, it heals them with remarkable rapidity.
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CHAP. 65.
THE HOLOSTEON: THREE REMEDIES.
The holosteon, so called by the Greeks by way of antiphrasis, (in the same way that they give the name of “sweet” to the gall,) is a plant destitute of all hardness, of such extreme fineness as to resemble hairs in appearance, four fingers in length, and very similar to hay-grass. The leaves of it are narrow, and it has a rough flavour: it grows upon elevated spots composed of humus. Taken in wine, it is used for ruptures and convulsions. It has the property, also, of closing wounds; indeed, if applied to pieces of meat it will solder them together.
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CHAP. 66.
THE HIPPOPHÆSTON: EIGHT REMEDIES.
The hippophæston is one of those prickly plants which fullers use in their coppers; it has neither stem nor flower, but only diminutive, empty heads, numerous small leaves of a grass-green colour, and small, soft, white roots. From these roots a juice is extracted in summer, which, taken in doses of three oboli, acts as a purgative; being used for this purpose in cases of epilepsy, fits of trembling, dropsy, vertigo, hardness of breathing, and incipient paralysis.
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CHAP. 67. (11.)
THE HYPOGLOSSA: ONE REMEDY.
The hypoglossa is a plant with leaves like those of the wild myrtle, of a concave form, prickly, and presenting another small leaf within, resembling a tongue in shape. A wreath made of these leaves, placed upon the head, alleviates headache.
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CHAP. 68.
HYPECOÖN.
Hypecoön is a plant found growing in corn-fields, with leaves like those of rue. Its properties are similar to those of juice of poppies.
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CHAP. 69.
THE IDÆA HERBA, OR PLANT OF IDA: FOUR REMEDIES.
The Idæan plant has leaves like those of the oxymyrsine; to which leaves a sort of tendril adheres, that bears a flower. This plant arrests diarrhœa, the catamenia, when in excess, and all kinds of hæmorrhage. It is of an astringent and repercussive nature.
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CHAP. 70.
THE ISOPYRON OR PHASIOLON: TWO REMEDIES.
The isopyron is called “phasiolon” by some, from the circumstance that the leaf of it, which resembles that of anise, assumes a spiral form like the tendrils of the phasiolus. At the summit of the stem, it bears small heads full of a seed like that of melanthium. These heads, taken with honey or hydromel, are good for cough and other affections of the chest; they are extremely useful also for liver complaints.
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CHAP. 71.
THE LATHYRIS: TWO REMEDIES.
The lathyris has numerous leaves like those of the lettuce, with numbers of small buds, in which the seed is contained, enclosed in envelopes like that of the caper. When these buds are dry, the seeds, about the size of a peppercorn, are taken out: they are white, sweet, and easily cleansed from the husk. Twenty of them, taken in pure water or in hydromel, are curative of dropsy, and carry off bile. Persons who require a stronger purgative, take them with the husks on. They are apt, however, to be injurious to the stomach; for which reason a plan has been adopted of taking them with fish or else chicken broth.
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CHAP. 72.
THE LEONTOPETALON OR PARDALION: TWO REMEDIES.
The leontopetalon is called “pardalion” by some: it has a leaf like that of the cabbage, and a stem half a foot in height, with numerous lateral branches, and a seed at the extremities of them, enclosed in pods like those of the chick-pea. The root resembles that of rape, and is large and black: it grows in plough lands. The root, taken in wine, neutralizes the venom of all kinds of serpents; indeed, there is nothing known that is more speedily efficacious for that purpose. It is given also for sciatica.
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CHAP. 73.
THE LYCAPSOS: TWO REMEDIES.
The lycapsos has longer and thicker leaves than those of the lettuce, and a long, hairy stem, with numerous offshoots a cubit in length; the flower is diminutive, and of a purple colour; it grows in champaign localities. In combination with barleymeal, it is used as an application for erysipelas: the juice of it, mixed with warm water, is employed as a sudorific, in fevers.
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CHAP. 74.
THE LITHOSPERMUM, EXONYCHON, DIOSPYRON, OR HERACLEOS: TWO REMEDIES.
Among all the plants, however, there is none of a more marvellous nature than the lithospermum, sometimes called “exonychon,” “diospyron,” or “heracleos.” It is about five inches in height, with leaves twice the size of those of rue, and small ligneous branches, about the thickness of a rush. It bears close to the leaves a sort of fine beard or spike, standing by itself, on the extremity of which there are small white stones, as round as a pearl, about the size of a chick-pea, and as hard as a pebble. These stones, at the part where they adhere to the stalk, have a small cavity, and contain a seed within.
This plant is found in Italy, no doubt, but that of Crete is the most esteemed. Among all the plants, there is none that I ever contemplated with greater admiration than this; so beauteous is the conformation, that it might be fancied that the hand of an artist had arranged a row of lustrous pearls alternately among the leaves; so exquisite too the nicety in thus making a stone to grow upon a plant! The authorities say that this is a creeping plant, and that it lies upon the ground; but for my own part, I have only seen it when plucked, and not while growing. It is well known that these small stones, taken in doses of one drachma, in white wine, break and expel urinary calculi, and are curative of strangury. In
deed, there is no plant that so instantaneously proclaims, at the mere sight of it, the medicinal purposes for which it was originally intended; the appearance of it, too, is such, that it can be immediately recognized, without the necessity of having recourse to any botanical authority.
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CHAP. 75.
LAPIDIS MUSCUS, OR STONE MOSS: ONE REMEDY.
There grows near running streams, a dry, white moss, upon ordinary stones. One of these stones, with the addition of human saliva, is rubbed against another; after which the first stone is used for touching impetigo, the party so doing uttering these words: — φεύγετε χανθαρίδες, λύχος ἄγριος αἷμα διώχει.
“Cantharides begone, a wild wolf seeks your blood.”
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CHAP. 76.
THE LIMEUM: ONE REMEDY.
Limeum is the name given by the Gauls to a plant, in a preparation of which, known to them as “deer’s poison,” they dip their arrows when hunting. To three modii of salivating mixture they put as much of the plant as is used for poisoning a single arrow; and a mess of it is passed down the throat, in cases where oxen are suffering from disease, due care being taken to keep them fastened to the manger till they have been purged, as they are generally rendered frantic by the dose. In case perspiration supervenes, they are drenched all over with cold water.
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CHAP. 77.
THE LEUCE, MESOLEUCON, OR LEUCAS: THREE REMEDIES.
Leuce, a plant resembling mercurialis, has received its name from the circumstance that a white line runs through the middle of the leaf; for which reason also, some give it the name of “mesoleucon.” The juice of this plant is curative of fistula, and the plant itself, bruised, is good for carcinomata. It is probably the same plant as that called “leucas,” so remarkably efficacious for the venom of all kinds of marine animals. Authors have not given a description of it, beyond telling us that the wild leucas has larger leaves than the other, and has properties more strongly developed: they state also that the seed of the cultivated kind is the more acrid of the two.
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CHAP. 78.
THE LEUCOGRAPHIS: FIVE REMEDIES.
I have not found a description given by any writer of the leucographis; a thing I am the more surprised at, as they tell us that it is good for the cure of spitting of blood, taken in doses of three oboli with saffron; as also that it is useful for cœliac affections, applied beaten up in water, and in cases of excessive menstruation. They state also that it enters into the composition of ophthalmic preparations, and that it fills up ulcers on the more tender parts of the body with new flesh.
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CHAP. 79. (12.)
THE MEDION: TREE REMEDIES.
The medion has leaves like those of the cultivated seris, a stem three feet in length, and a large, round, purple flower, at its extremity. The seed is diminutive, and the root half a foot in length: it grows upon umbrageous, sheltered rocks. The root, taken in doses of two drachmæ with honey, arrests the catamenia, the electuary being used for some days. The seed, too, is administered in wine for a similar purpose.
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CHAP. 80.
THE MYOSOTA OR MYOSOTIS: THREE REMEDIES.
The myosota or myosotis is a smooth plant, throwing out from a single root numerous hollowed stems, of a somewhat reddish colour; and bearing at the lower extremities swarthy, narrow, oblong leaves, sharp on the back, arranged in pairs at regular distances, and springing from delicate branches attached with axils to the main stems. The flower is blue, and the root, a finger in length, is provided with numerous filaments like hairs. This plant possesses certain septic and ulcerating properties, and hence is used for the cure of fistula of the eye. The Egyptians say that if upon the morning of the twenty-eight day of their month Thoth, a day which generally falls in our month of August, a person rubs himself with the juice of this plant before speaking to any one, he will be sure to have no diseases of the eyes all that year.
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CHAP. 81.
TE MYAGROS: ONE REMEDY.
The myagros is a ferulaceous plant, with leaves like those of madder: the seed is of an oily nature-indeed, an oil is extracted from it. Ulcerations of the mouth are cured by rubbing them with the juice of this plant.
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CHAP. 82.
THE NYMA: ONE REMEDY.
The plant called “nyma” bears three long leaves, like those of endive: applied to scars, it restores the skin to its natural colour.
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CHAP. 83.
THE NATRIX: ONE REMEDY.
“Natrix” is the name of a plant, the root of which, when taken out of the ground, has just the rank smell of the he-goat. It is used in Picenum for the purpose of keeping away from females what with a singular credulity they call by the name of “Fatui.” For my own part, however, I should think that persons requiring to be treated with such medicaments as these, must be labouring under a sort of mental hallucination.
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CHAP. 84.
ODONTITIS: ONE REMEDY.
Odontitis is a sort of hay-grass, which throws out from a single root numerous, small, jointed. stems, of a triangular form and of a swarthy hue. At the joints there are small leaves, somewhat longer than those of the polygonos; and in the axils formed by these leaves is the seed, similar to barley in appearance. It has a purple, diminutive flower, and is found growing in meadows. A handful of the stems, boiled in astringent wine, is used for the cure of tooth-ache, the decoction being retained for some time in the mouth.
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CHAP. 85.
THE OTHONNA: ONE REMEDY.
The othonna is a Syrian plant, resembling rocket in appearance; its leaves are pierced with numerous holes, and its flower resembles that of saffron, for which reason some persons have given it the name of “anemone.” The juice of this plant is employed in ophthalmic preparations; it is slightly pungent, of a warming nature, and astringent as it dries. It acts as a detergent upon cicatrizations, films on the eyes, and all impediments of the sight. Some say that the plant is washed and dried, and then divided into lozenges.
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CHAP. 86.
THE ONOSMA: ONE PROPERTY.
The onosma has leaves some four fingers in length, lying upon the ground, and indented like those of the anchusa: it has neither stem, blossom, nor seed. A pregnant woman, they say, if she eats of this plant, or even walks over it, will be sure to miscarry.
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CHAP. 87.
THE ONOPORDON: FIVE REMEDIES.
The onopordon, it is said, has strongly carminative effects upon asses, when they eat of it. It acts as a diuretic and as an emmenagogue, arrests diarrhœa, and disperses abscesses and suppurations.
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CHAP. 88.
THE OSYRIS: FOUR REMEDIES.
The osyris bears small, swarthy, flexible branches, covered with dark leaves like those of flax. The seed, which grows upon the branches, is black at first, but afterwards changes its colour and turns red. Cosmetics for females are prepared from these branches. A decoction of the roots, taken in drink, is curative of jaundice. The roots, cut in pieces before the seed ripens, and dried in the sun, act astringently upon the bowels: gathered after the seed has ripened, and boiled in pottage, they are curative of defluxions of the abdomen: they are taken also by themselves, bruised in rain water.
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CHAP. 89.
THE OXYS: TWO REMEDIES.
The oxys is a plant with three leaves; it is given for derangement of the stomach, and patients eat it who are suffering from intestinal hernia.
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CHAP. 90.
THE POLYANTHEMUM OR BATRACHION: THREE REMEDIES.
The polyanthemum, by some persons called “batrachion,” by virtue of its caustic properties has an excoriating effect upon scars, and restores the skin to its proper colour. It heals white morphew also.
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