niir=Jlir^Mr^iir^ir^J|EJ|[:^|L:i||L=U|La|L=U|L=U|L=J|U=J|l=J|U=J|t=JH B CLASSICAL LIBRARY Compkte list of Locb titlcs can he Jound at thc end ofeach vohime PLINY the Elder, Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D. 23-79), a Roman oi equestrian rank of Transpadane Gaul (N. ItaK ), was iincle of Pliny the letter writer. He pur- sued a career partlv miiitary in Germany, jiartlv administrative in Gaul and Spain under the emperor Vespasian, became prefect of the fleet at Misenum, and died in the eruption of Vesuvius when he went to get a closer view and to rescue friends. Tireless worker, reader, and writer, he was author of works nov, lost, but his S^reat haturaJis Hiswria in 37 books with its vast collection of facts (and alleged facts) survives-a mine ot intormation despite its uncritical character. Book 1 : table of contents of the cjthers and ol authorities ; 2 : mathematical and metro- logical survev ot the universe; 3-6: geographv and ethnoaraphv of the known world; 7: anthropolojjv and the phvsio- logy of man ; 8-1 i : zooloav; 12-19: botanv, agriculture and horticulture ; 20-27 : plantproductsasusedinmedicine; 28-32 medical zoologv; 33-37: minerals (and medicine), the hne arts and gem- stones. LIER ARY 1 f" ^070 1 :■ > :- •', FO.l $i„ THE LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARY FOUNDED BY JAME3 LOEB, LL.D. EDITED BY tT. E. PAGE, C.H., LITT.D. tE. CAPPS. PH.D., LL.D. tW. H. D. ROUSE, litt.d. L. A. POST, L.H.D. E. H. WARMINGTON, m.a., f.r.hist.soc. PLINY NATURAL HISTORY VII LIBRI XXIV-XXVII 393 PLINY NATURAL HISTORY WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION IN TEN VOLUMES VOLUME VII LIBRI XXIV-XXVII BT W. H. S. JONES, LiTT.D., F.B.A., IIONORAHY PEIAOW, ST. CATHAK1NE'S LOLLEGE, OAMBRIDQE CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS LONDON WILLIAM HEINEMANN LTD MCMLXVI First pTinted 1956 Reprinted 1966 Printed in Great Britain CONTENTS P&QK PREFACE Vii INTRODUCTION ix BOOK XSIV 1 BOOK XXV 135 BooK XXVI 263 BOOK xxvn 387 ADDITIONAL NOTES 482 INDEX OF PLANTS 485 LIST OF DISBASES AND AFFECTIONS 647 INDEX OF NAMES 555 PREFACE I wiSH to thank Professor A. C. Andrews of the University of Miami for the great help he has been in the preparation of this volume. I sometimes refer to him as A.C.A. Expert botanical knowledge is essential for the sokition of many problems that have arisen, esj^ecially in the compilation of the Index of Plants. My rough draft of this he revised, making many additions : these amount to several pages. For the errors that inevitably remain in my work I alone am responsible. My thanks are also due to the stafF of the Cam- bridge School of Botany and to Professor C. O. Brink of the same University. INTRODUCTION The Manuscripts ov these Books (Chiefly from Mayhoff) N Nonantulanus (Sessorianus) 5th or 6th century, a palimpsest, now in Rome, once in a Benedictine Monastery at Nonantula, near Modena. Later Manuscripts Ist fa^nily V Leidensis Vossianus, llth century or earlier. R codex Florentinus Riccardianus, about 1100 A.D. d codex Parisinus latinus, 6797, 13th century. F codex Leidensis, llth century. T codex Toletanus, 13th century. X the better parts of X, ex exemplari prioris familiae (MayhofF). 2ndfamily E codex Parisinus latinus 6795, lOth or llth century. r coiTCctions from an unknown MS. noted in R. a codex Vindobonensis CCXXXIV. X codex Luxemburgensis, the parts not included in X. Codd." in the apparatus criticus is usually the same as Mayhoffs //., i.e., a consensus of VR(r)dE, some- ix INTRODUCTION times only a consensus of several MSS. of the more reliable kind. Vulg. = the textus receptus of the early editions. Of FTx MayhofF says : " lectiones ita tantum adnotatae sunt, ut e silentio nihil co)icludendum sit." The edition of Dalecamp (1587) has in the margin : (1) readings of a lost MS. ; (2) readings of a lost edition or conjectures of an miknown scholar. In the critical notes (1) is called " cod. Dal." and (2) " vet. Dal." As to the value of these MSS., I have generally followed Mayhoff. The method adopted in fixing the text has been to accept as correct the parts where Detlefsen and MayhofF agree, except in a few places where internal evidence or the text of Dioscorides pointed to another reading. Where these two editors differ I have tried to choose the HkeHer of the two readings. If I felt that neither alternative could be accepted, I have sometimes ventured on an emendation suggested by a fViend or thought out by myself, but never, I hope, where a reasonable reading is found in at least one MS. of fair authority. Such a method as this would be unsafe were it not for the fact that Mayhoffs apparatus criticus is both full and trustworthy. Although one who has not collated, or at least personally examined,the MSS.in Mayhoffs apparatus, cannot claim to appreciate fully their relative im- portance, yet he must acquire, as he studies their various readings, some conception of the weight to be attached to them. Such a critic, however, should exercise even greater caution than the critic fully equipped for his task. For his judgment, however gi-eat his knowledge is of PHnian usage, of the parallel passages in Theophrastus and Dioscorides, INTRODUCTION and of the principles of textual criticism, is certain to be influenced unduly by the subjective element in his reasoning. A translator, however, although he would prefer to spend all his tirae and care on his proper task of translating, is sometimes compelled to defend a new reading or suggest an emendation, because in his opinion such a course is required by the sense of the passage. But the extra caution neces- sary in these cases has made me refrain from mention- ing some emendations of my own that I thought possible or even hkely. It is, moreover, often for- gotten that an ancient author — and this perhaps appHes especially to PHny — may himself have made mistakes, even bad ones, that escaped the notice of his corrector, if he had one. SOME DlFFICULT WoRDS IN PlINY. THE ADJECTIVE PINOUIS APPLIED TO LEAVES There are in PUny few words more perplexing than pinguis when applied to leaves. ForcelUni says " pinguia folia: crassa et veluti carnosa." PHny, however, uses it to translate Xnrapog, which is very common in Dioscorides, and is rendered by Hort " glossy " (leaves) in his edition of Theophrastus. It is therefore tempting to use " glossy " to trans- late PHny's pinguis (and the Xnrapog of Dioscorides) on all occasions, but there are difficulties. The latter has (IV 170) : KXcova? Xnrapovg, and " glossy twigs " seems unUkely ; while PHny in XXV § 124 speaks of radicibus pinguibus, which is surely " juicy roots." It would appear that " juicy " is at least a possible translation of pinguis, especially as PHny often speaks of leaves having a sucus. Examples are : sucus INTRODUCTION foUorum (XXIV §§ 47 and 131) ; foliis exprimitur sucus (XXIV § 70) ; fit etfoliis sucus (XXIV § 109) ; sucus e fronde (XXV § 68). The claims of " fleshy " have to be considered. On the face of it, perhaps, it is a more natural epithet for leaves than either " glossy " or " juicy," and it is the only meaning given by ForcelUni. Against the rendering must be put the frequent use of aapKcohrjg by our Greek authorities in this sense, often in close conjunction wath XLTrapog. In Phny XXV § 161 occurs a phrase which seems at flrst sight to settle the matter. He speaks of folia . . . carnosa, pinguia^ larga suco. Does this mean " fleshy, glossy, juicy leaves "? The last two epithets, however, may be connected, which would give the sense: " rich with copious juice." This is perhaps unlikely, but cannot be ruled out as im- possible. The parallel passage in Dioscorides (IV 88, 89) does not help in deciding the question. Hort may be right in translating Xnrapog by " glossy," but what did PUny take it to mean when apphed to leaves ? A consideration of all the per- tinent passages suggests a combination of " glossy " and " fleshy," i.e., not necessarily large, but " sleek and plump." Perhaps, if a single word must be chosen to render pijiguis whenever it occurs, " rich gets as near to Phny's idea of the meaning as the Enghsh language will permit. But unfortunately modern botanists are opposed to this rendering. It may seem that the best course would be to identify the leaf referred to, and to vary the trans- lation to suit the actual facts. Botanists, however, ^ Littre translates pinguia (into the French) " grasses " ; Bostock and Rilej " unctuous." xii INTRODUCTION point out (1) that identification is often uncertain ; (2) that we may know the genus, but not the species of the plant mentioned, and (3) that a leaf is often both fleshy and glossy. On the whole, perhaps " fleshy " is the best trans- lation, except in cases where another rendering is obviously desirable. Words signifying colours are very troublesome in the botanical parts of Phny ; niger, candidus, alhus, purpureus, bewilder the translator nearly every time they occur. I have used " black " and " white " unless there is something in the context that makes " dark " and " hght " more appropriate ; the comparative ?iigrior, for instance, is more hkely to be " darker " than " blacker " when apphed to leaves or stalks. Phny has quite a long section (IX, 124-141) deaUng vvith purpura. It is plain from this that the colour referred to was usually a deep red tinged with more or less blue, our " purple " in fact, the most esteemed variety being hke clotted blood. There were many shades of it, a common one being bright red. The word purpureus covered a very wide range of meanings ; Pliny applies it to the violet (XXI, 64), to plums (XX, 41), to figs (XV, 69) and to lettuce (probably a form of headed lettuce) (XIX, 126). The last suggests our " brown cos " and " continu- ity." In books XX-XXVII Pliny is mostly trans- lating Greek, and TTopcfivpeos seems to be a some- what wider term than purpureus, which is Phny's equivalent. To these elements of uncertainty must be added the possibihty that flowers may have varied their shades in the last two thousand xiii INTRODUCTION years, so that modern plants are not an infallible guide. On the whole it seems best to keep " purple " (Littre has regularly " pourpre ") unless the context shows that such a rendering is impossible or absurd. Fero in PUny is often neither intensive nor ad- versative, neither " indeed " nor " however," but almost a mere connective pai*ticle equivalent to item. Sometrmes, but by no means always, it introduces a climax. Usually, however, a slight, generally a very shght, adversative force remains, and I have always tried " however " and " indeed " before falUng back on a purely connective word. Oleum, translated " oil," was usuaUy, perhaps always, oUve oil. When another kind of oil is indicated an epithet is added. The Latin names of plants have been kept unless to do so would be absurd ; I wTite for instance sideritis and ageraton, but " rose " and " plantain." In other words, EngUsh names are used only when they are famiUar and also correct identincations. The Jndex of Plants should clear up most of the difficulties that may occur. PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY BOOK XXIV PLINII NATURALIS HISTORIAE LIBER XXIV I. Ne silvae quidem horridiorque naturae faeies medicinis carent, sacra illa parente rerum omnium nusquam non remedia disponente homini, ut medi- cina ^ fieret etiam solitudo ipsa, ad ^ singula ^ illius discordiae atque concordiae miraculis occursantibus. quercus et olea tam pertinaci odio dissident ut altera in alterius scrobe depacta emoriantur, quercus vero et iuxta nucem iuglandem. pernicialia et brassicae cum vite odia, ipsum olus quo vitis fugatur adversum 2 cvclamino et origano arescit. quin et annosas iam et quae sternantur arbores difficilius caedi, celerius marcescere tradunt, si prius manu quam ferro at- tingantur. pomorum oncra iumenta statim sentire * ■ medicina Vdx, Mayhoff : medicinae Detlefsen. ^ ipsa, ad ego : ipsa, et ad Mayhoff : ipsa, sed ad multi codd. Fortasse sed per dittographiani est ortum. 3 singula i)e^Ze/se«, J/a^/Ao// : singiilas, corf. a : stgulaV^: est gula V^. Nu7ti lalet singulariis vel singularibus sine ad ? * iumenta statim sentire cod. a, Detlefsen : a iumentis statim sentiri Vdx, Mayhoff. " The tense oi fxeret shows that the participle disponente is imperfect, referring to the time of the actual creation. The td might be final : " for the Terv desert to become a drug store." PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY BOOK XXIV I. NoT even the woods and the wilder face of The sym- Nature are without medicines, for there is no place anh'p?^if,i"s'i!( where that holy Mother of all things did " not ^oinre. distribute remedies for the heaUng of mankind, so that even the very desert was made a drug store,'' at every point occurring wonderful examples of that well-known antipatliy and sympathy. The oak and the oHve are parted by such inveterate hatred that, if the one be planted in the hole from which the other has been dug out, they die, the oak indeed also dying if planted near the wahiut. Deadly too is the hatred between the cabbage and the vine ; the very vegetable that keeps the vine at a distance itself withers away when planted opposite cyclamen or wikl marjoram. Moreover, trees it is said, that are now old and being felled are more difficult to cut down, and decay more quickly, if man's hand touch them before the axe. There is a behef that beasts of * 1 think that medicina here means the shop or booth {officina) where the physician prescribed and sold his medicines. Cf. Pliny XXIX. § 12 : Cassius Hemina , . . auctor est primwn e medicis venisse Romam . . . Archagathum . . . eique . . . lahernam in compito Acilio emptam. This sense occurs in Plautus, and Pliny, in a rather poetic passage, may well have so used it metaphorically. PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY ac, nisi prius ostendantur his, quamvis pauca portent, sudare ilico. ferulae asinis gratissimo sunt in pabulo, ceteris vero iumentis praesentaneo veneno, qua de causa id animal Libero patri adsignatur, cui et 3 ferula. surdis etiam rerum sua cuique sunt venena ac minimis quoque. philyra coci et polline nimium salem cibis eximunt, praedulcium fastidium sal temperat. nitrosae aut amarae aquae polenta addita mitigantur, ut intra duas horas bibi possint, qua de causa in saccos vinarios additur polenta. similis vis Rhodiae cretae et argillae nostrati. con- cordia valent, cum pix oleo extrahitur, quando utrumque pinguis naturae est. oleum solum calci miscetur, quando utrumque aquas odit. cummis aceto facilius eluitur, atramentum aqua, innumera praeterea alia quae suis locis dicentur adsidue. 4 Hinc nata mcdicina. haec sola naturae placuerat esse remedia parata vulgo, inventu faciUa ac sine inpendio et quibus vivimus. postea fraudes hominum et ingeniorum capturae officinas invenere istas in quibus sua cuique homini venalis promittitur vita. statim compositiones et mixturae inexplicabiles de- 5 cantantur, Arabia atque India remedia ^ aestimantur, ulcerique parvo medicina a Rubro mari inputatur,^ cum remedia vera cotidie pauperrimus quisque ^ remedia Mayhojf: in media plerique codd. : in medio cod. a, Detlefsen vel Media coni. Mayhoff. ^ inputatur codd., Mayhoff : inportatur Detlefsen. " Creta was perhaps fuller's earth. * The sentence in form is similar to § 1 : ut medicina fieret eliam solitudo ipsa. With Mayhoffs ingenious emendation : " Arabia, India or Media are highly commended." ' With the reading inportatur : " for a tiny sore a medicine is imported from the Red Sea " (Arabiaa and Persian Gulfs). BOOK XXIV. T. 2-5 burden know at once when their load consists of fruit, and unless it is first shown to them straightway begin to sweat, however small thcir load may be. Fennel- giant makes very agreeable fodder for the ass ; to other beasts of burden, however, it is a quick poison. For this reason the animal is sacred to Father Liber, as is also fennel-giant. Lifeless things also, even the most insignificant, have eacli their ov.n special poisons. By means of Unden bark and fine flour cooks extract excessive salt from food ; salt reduces the sickH- ness of over-sweet things ; water that is nitrous or bitter is sweetened by the addition of pearl barley, so that within two hours it is drinkable, and for this reason pearl barley is put into linen wine-strainers. Thechalk^of Rhodes and the potter's earth of our own country possess a similar property. Affinities show their power when pitch is taken out by oil, both being of a greasy nature. Oil alone mixes with Ume, both hating water. Gum is more easily removed by vinegar, ink by water, and countless other examples besides wiU be carefuUy given in their proper place. Hence sprang the art of medicine. Such things The arigm oj alone had Nature decreed shouldbe our remedies,pro- ""^ ''"'"' vided evervwhere, easy to discover and costing noth- ing — the things in fact that support our Ufe. Later on the deceit of men and cunning profiteering led to the invention of the quack laboratories, in which each customer is promised a new lease of his own life at a price. At once compound prescriptions and mysteri- ous mixtures are gUbly repeated, Arabia and India * are judged to be storehouses of remedies, and a smaU sore is charged '^ with the cost of a medicine from the Red Sea, although the genuine remedies form the PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY cenet. nam si ex horto petantur, aut herba vel frutex quaeratur, nulla artium vilior fiat. ita est profecto, magnitudine populi R. periit ritus, vin- cendoque victi sumus. paremus externis, et una artium imperatoribus quoque imperaverunt. verum de his alias plura. II. Loton herbam itemque Aegyptiam eodem nomine alias et Syrticam arborem diximus suis locis. haec lotos, quae faba Graeca appellatur a nostris, alvum bacis sistit, ramenta Ugni decocta in vino prosunt dysintericis, menstruis, vertigini, comitia- libus, cohibent et capillum. mirum his ramentis nihil esse amarius fructuque dulcius. fit et e scobe eius medicamentum ex aqua myrti decocta, subacta et divisa in pastillos, dvsintericis utilissimum pondere victoriati cum aquae cyathis tribus. III. Glans intrita duritias quas cacoethe vocant cum salsa axungia sanat. vehementiores ilignae ^ et in omnibus cortex ipse corticique tunica subiecta. haec decocta iuvat coeliacos. dysintericis et inlinitur ^ ilignae Detlefsen : iligna Sillig, MayJioff : ligna aut lichenas codd. " The ordinary meaning of nam would make good sense, but the Plinian usage fits better the logic of the passage. » See XXI. § 103 and XIII. §§ 104 ff. Perhaps Syriacam, referring to the faba Sj/riaca, should be read for Syrticam. ' This weight and coin is first mentioned by Pliny in XX. § 264. It was half a denarius, that is, half a drachma. ^ This chapter is difficult to translate, or even to under- stand, because Pliny, after beginning with the medicinal uses of glans, proceeds, without telling the reader that he has passed on to the oak, to talk of folia et bacae. Accordingly, it is imcertain whether cortex means the peel of the acom or the bark of the tree. Dioscorides is quite clear. Under 8pvs he says (I. 106, Wellmann) : fxdXiara Be avTi]s aTvet/ir]iLa 8e avTutv Kai tov ^Xolov PoTjOel TO^iKU) ixerd ydXaKTos ^oelov TTLVOjievov. . . . LOxvpoTepai Se TU)v hpvivuiv al npivLvaL ttj Snra/iet elaL There is no confusion here between tbe acorn and the oak. 7 PLIXY : NATURAL HISTORY vel ipsa glans. eadem resistit serpentium ictibus. rheumatismis, suppurationibus. folia et bacae vel cortex vel sucus decocti prosunt contra toxica. cortex inlinitur decoctus lacte vaccino serpentis plagae, datur et ex vino dysintericis. eadem et ilici vis. IV. Coccum ilicis vulneribus recentibus ex aceto inponitur, epiphoris ex aqua, oculis subfusis sanguine instillatum.^ est autem genus ex eo in Africa fere et Asia nascens celerrime in vermiculum ^ se mutans, quod ideo scoleciurn vocant inprobantque. princi- palia eius genera diximus. V. Nec pauciora gallae genera fecimus, soHdam perforatam, item albam nigram, maiorem minorem. \is omnium simihs, optima Commagena. excres- centia in corpore tollunt, prosunt gingivis, uvae, oris exulcerationi. crematae et vino extinctae ^ coeliacis, dysintericis inlinuntur, paronychiis ex melle, et unguibus scabris, ptervgiis, ulceribus manantibus, condvlomatis, ulceribus * quae phagedaenica vocantur. in vino autem decoctae auribus instillantur, oculis ' instillatum cold. : instillatur vulg., Mayhoff. - vermiculum EX vulg. : vermiculum id Mayhoff : vermis subtilis Sillig, Dellefsen : vermis ultimis aliquot codd. ^ Posl extinctae lacunam indicat Mayhoff, qui coll. Dioscor- ide (I. 107) sanguinem sistunt; ex aqua aut vino tritae excidisse putat. * uleeribus cod. Dal., Sillig, Mayhoff: vulneribus Dellef- sen, codd. " Or : — " It is used in an application for cases of dysentery, or the acom itself is so used." " See note d on p. 6. The " berries " may be the gails caused by the gall-fly Neuroterus baccarum. ' Either poisons generally or those used to poison arrows (To^a) and other weapons. See ako note a on p. 20. BOOK XXIV. III. 7-v. 9 the acorn itself is applied." The same deeoction is a remedy for snake bites, fliixes and suppiirations. The leaves '^ and berries, or the bark,* or the liquid of a decoction, counteract poisons.*^ A decoction of the bai-k * in cows' milk is applied to snake bites, and the bark in wine is given for dysentery. The holm- oak has the same properties. IV'. The scarlet berry "^ of the holm oak is applied to rioim-oak fresh wounds in vinegar and to fluxes of the eyes in ^*'' water ; it is dropped into eyes that are blood-shot. There is also a kindred berry, found commonly in Africa and Asia, quickly turning into a Httle worm ; for this reason it is called scolecium,^ and is in low esteem. The main varieties of it I have ah-eady/ given. y. We have classified/ just as many varieties oi' Gaii-mu^ gall-nut — the solid and the perforated, the white and the dark, the larger and the less. The properties of all are alike, although the best kind comes from Commagene. They remove excrescences of flesh, and are good for the gums, the uvula, and an ulcer- ated mouth. Burnt and then extinguished with wine they are applied? for coeliac affections and dysentery, in honey to whitlows, scabrous nails, hangnails, running sores, condylomata, and the sores called " phagedaenic." A decoction moreover in wine is dropped into the ears and also used as an appUcation ■^ The kermes insect of the Quercus coccifera. ' " Worm beiTy." f Book XVI. §'§ 32 and 26. " MayholT thinks that there is a lacuna here, because of certain words in Dioscorides I. 107. But Pliny by no means corresponds to Dioscorides closely in this chapter, and has left out much that is found in the Greek. Accordingly it is unsafe to postulate a lacuna in any particular passage. PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY inlinuntur, adversus eruptiones, panos cum aceto. 10 nucleus commanducatus dentium dolorem sedat, item intertrigines et ambusta. inmaturae ex his ex aceto potae lienem consumunt. eaedem crematae et aceto salso extinctae menses sistunt vulvasque procidentes fotu. omnis capillos denigrat.^ 11 VI. Viscum e robore praecipuum diximus haberi, et quo conficeretur modo. quidam contusum in aqua decocunt,^ donec nihil innatet. quidam comman- ducantes acinos expuunt cortices. optimum quod sine cortice quodque levissimum, extra fulvum, intus porraceum. nihil est glutinosius. emollit, discutit tumores, siccat strumas. cum resina et cera panos 12 mitigat omnis generis. quidam et galbanum adiciunt pari pondere singulorum, eoque modo et ad vulnera utuntur. unguium scabritias expolit, si septenis diebus solvantur ^ nitroque conluantur. quidam id religione efficacius fieri putant prima luna coUectum e robore sine ferro, si terram non attigerit,comitiahbus ^ denigrat VEX, Mayhojf : denigrant dT vnlg., Deilejsen. ^ Nvm decocunt posl. innatet transponendum ? ^ solvantur codd. : illinantur coni. Maylwff, qui conferl Dios- cor. III. 89 et Plin. XX. §§ 39. 93, 101. 103. XXI. § 142. <• See XVI. §§ 30 and 245-248. Viscum is used of the plant, of the berries, and also of the birdlime made from these. See XVI. § 248, viscum fit ex acinis. ' Dioscorides III. 89 : KOTTTerai Se o Kapnos, elra TrXvverai, eiTa eiperai ev uSarf evioi 8e ixaowfievoL avTov epyd^ovrai., " the fruitis crushed, then washed, then boiled in water; some work it up by chewing." This is clear sense, but Pliny's text scarce- ly agrees with it. There is nothing in Pliny to correspond to TrXvveTai OT epydCovTai, and nothing in Dioscorides to correspond to donec nihil innaiet and expuunt cortices. It is possible that donec nihil innatet should be transposed : " crushed in water BOOK XXIV. V. 9-vi, 12 for the eyes ; with vinegar it is used for eruptions and superficial abscesses. The inner part of the nut when chewed reheves toothache, and also chafing of the skin and burns. Taken unripe in vinegar gall- nuts reduce a swoUen spleen ; then again, burnt and extinguished in salt and vinegar. they check excessive menstruation and prolapse of the uterus if used as a fomentation. All kinds of gall-nut blacken the hair. VI. I have ah-eady said " that the choicest mistle- iii>.ih'toe. toe is thought to come from the hard-wood oak, and I have given the way of preparing it. Some crush it and boii in water until none of it floats on the surface ; othei-s chew the berries and spit out the skins.'' The best birdlime from mistletoe is without any skin, and very smooth,*^ yellow on the outside and leek-green within. Nothing is more sticky than this birdUme. Itis emolUent, disperses tumours, and dries up scrofulous sores ; with resin and wax it softens superficial ab- scesses of every sort. Some add galbanum also, equal in weight to each of the other ingredients, and this mix- ture they use also for the treatment of wounds. The hme smooths scabrous nails, but the appUcation must be taken off «^ every seven days and the nails washed with a solution of soda.*" Some superstitiously beheve that the mistletoe proves more efficacious if it be gathered from the hard-wood oak at the new moon v.ithout the use of iron, and without its touching until nothing floats on the surface," crushing and washing being thus combined. More probably Pliny is translating, not the passage as it appears in Dioscorides, but one closely related to it. " Dioscorides has Aetor. ^ With Mayhotfs conjecture, " apphed (again)." * Niirum was sodium carbonate mixed with chlorides and calcium carbonate. It was brought from pools N.-W. of Cairo. PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY mederi, conceptum feminarum adiuvare, si omnino secum habeant, ulcera commanducato inpositoque efficacissime sanari. 13 VII. Roboris pilulae ex adipe ursino ^ alopecias capillo replent. cerri folia et cortex et glans siccat coilectiones suppurationesque, fluctiones sistit. torpentes membrorum partes conroborat decoctum eius fotu, cui et insidere expedit siccandis adstrin- gendisque partibus. radix cerri adversatur scorpi- onibus. VIII. Suberis cortex tritus ex aqua calida potus sanguinem fluentem ex utralibet parte sistit. eiusdem cinis ex vino calido sanguinem excreantibus magnopere laudatur. 14 IX. Fagi folia manducantur in gingivarum lab- rorumque vitiis. calculis glandis fagineae cinis inlinitur, item cum melle alopeciis. 15 X. Cupressi folia trita recentibus vulneribus ^ inponuntur, et capiti cum polenta, si a sole doleat, item ramici, qua de causa et bibuntur. testium quoque tumori cum cera inlinuntur, capillum deni- ^ ursino V2tlg. Mayhoff: vere ursino Detlefsen, Strackium secutus : vero ursino codd. Vide notam (b). ^ recentibus vulneribus ex Plinio iun. 74, 7 coni. Mayhoff; ego quoqiie ipse ex Dioscoride iia susjAcatus sum : serpentibus ulceribus Mayhoff in textu : serpentium ictibus Detlefsen : serpentibus avt serpentis aut serpentium codd. Cf. Dios- corides I. 74 ra Se oak dry up gatherings and suppurations, and check fluxes. Paralysed parts of hmbs are strengthened by fomenting with a decoction of it, which as a sitz bath is useful for drying and bracing these parts. The root of this tree counteracts the poison of scorpions. VIII. The bark of the cork-tree, pounded and taken Cork. in hot water, arrests hacmorrhage from either part <* of the body, and the ashes of the same taken in heated wine are highly praised as a cure for spitting of blood. IX. Beech leaves are chewed for affections of the Beechiem gums and of the Ups. The ashes of the beech nut make a Uniment for stone in the bladder, and with honey for mange. X. The pounded leaves of the cypress are apphed Cyipress to fresh " wounds, and with pearl barley to the head in cases of sunstroke ;/ they make an apphcation also for hernia, for which too they are taken in drink. With wax they make an ointment also for swollen "* Usually taken to be mouth and nose. In view of the fact that jiars often means " side," perhaps mouth and nose make one qmrs, and the anus (piles, etc.) the other. • Eecentibus vulneribus seems the most likely restoration of the MSS. serpentibus. It is supported by Dioscorides I. 74, and if vulneribus were omitted (haplography), serpentibus might naturally be written for the now meaningless recentibus. Cf. § 8 of this book. ^ " Headache after exposure to the sun," perhaps. 13 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY grant ex aceto. eadem trita cum duabus partibus panis mollis e vino Ammineo subacta pedum ac nervorum dolores sedant. pilulae adversus serpen- tium ictus bibuntur, aut si eiciatur sanguis, coUection- ibus inlinuntur. ramici quoque tenerae tusae cum axungia et lomento prosunt. bibuntur ex eadem causa. parotidi et strumae cum farina inponuntur. exprimitur sucus tusis cum semine ^ qui mixtus oleo caliginem oculorum aufert. item victoriati pondere in vino potus inlitusque ^ cum fico sicca pingui, exemptis granis, vitia testium sanat, tumores discutit et cum fermento strumas. radix cum foliis trita pota vesicae et stranguriae medetur, et contra phalangia. ramenta pota menses cient, scorpionum ictibus adversantur. XI. Cedrus magna, quam cedrelaten vocant, dat picem quae cedria vocatur, dentium doloribus utilissimam. frangit enim eos et extrahit, dolores sedat. cedri sucus ex ea quomodo fieret diximus, magni ad volumina ^ usus, ni capiti dolorem in- ^ Post semine 'punctnm Mayhoff. ^ inlitusque codcl. : inlitusve e Plinio iun. Mayhojf. ^ volumina plerique codd., Sillig, Mayhoff : collyria Detlefsen : duo lumina X : lumina imlg. " Perhaps merely " darken," though denlgro is a strong word. See § 10. " See XX. § 153, XXII. § 119, XXVI. § 49, XXVIII. § 177, XXX. § 71, XXXIV. § 103. ■^ " Cedar-fir." The ordinary cednis was theprickly juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus), not cedar of Lebanon. But the " big cedar " was Juniperus excelsa. What is the subject of vocant 1 Presumably the Greek botanists. ■* SeeXVI. §52. But in this chapter the method is described of extracting resin from pitch-pine (taeda). Pliny says there that this resin is called cedrium in Syria, adding that the Egyptians use it for embalming corpses. 14 BOOK XXIV. X. 15-X1. 17 testicles ; applied in vinegar they turn the hair black." The same, pounded with twice the quantity of soft bread and kneaded in Amminean ^ wine, soothe pains in the feet and sinews. The globules on this tree are taken in drink for snake bites or for the bringing up of blood, and used as an application for gatherings. Gathered while soft, and pounded with axle-grease and bean meal, they are also good for hernia. For the same purpose they are taken in drink. Mixed with meal they are appHed to parotid tumours and to scrofulous sores. Pounded with the seed these globules yield a juice, which mixed with oil takes away films on the eyes. Taken too in doses of one victoriatus in wine and used as an ointment with a rich dried fig, from which the seeds have been rernoved, it cures alFections of the testicles, disperses tumours, and with leaven heals scrofulous sores. Cypress root, pounded with the leaves and taken in drink, cures affections of the bladder and strangury, and counteracts the poison of spiders. The shavings taken in drink act as an emmenagogue, and neutra- lize the stings of scorpions. XI. The big cedrus, which they call cedrelate,'^ Thebig yiekls a pitch which is called cedria, very useful for toothache ; for it breaks the teeth and brings them out, easing the pain. I have ah-eady described '^ how cedrus juice is extracted from the wood, of great use for book-rolls « Avere it not for the headache it causes. ' The reading [volumina) of the great majority of the MSS. is slightly coniirmed by Pliny's speaking in the context of the preserving qualities of cedar resin. The headache apparently is that said to be givcn to those using the rolls for writing or reading. Detlefsen's collyria would be moro attractive were redria among the ingredients of Celsus' prescriptions (VI. vi. M 2 ff) for eye salves. Lumina (tapers, torches) is possible. 15 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY ferret. defuncta corpora incorrupta aevis servat, viventia corrumpit, mira difFerentia, cum vitam 18 auferat spirantibus defunctisque pro vita sit. vestes quoque con-umpit et animalia necat. ob haec non eenseam in anginis hoc remedio utendum neque in cruditatibus.i quod suasere aliqui, gustatu. dentes quoque conluere ex aceto in dolore timuerim vel gravitati aut vermibus aurium instillare. portentum est quod tradunt abortivum fieri in venere ante per- fusa virilitate. phthiriasis perunguere eo non dubita- verim, item porrigines. suadent et contra venenum 19 leporis marini bibcre in passo. facilius in elephantiasi iniinant.^ et ulcera sordida et excrescentia in his auctores quidam et oculorum albugines caliginesque inunxere eo et contra pulmonis ulcera cyathum eius sorberi iusserunt, item adversus taenias. flt ex eo et oleum quod pisselaeon vocant, vehementioris ad omnia eadem usus. cedri scobe serpentes fugari certum est, item bacis tritis cum oleo si qui perun- guantur. 1 cruditatibus codd., edd. : raucitatibus coll. Dioscoride coni. Mayhoff; nescio an recle. ^ inlinant V* Sillig, Mayhoff : inlinunt Brofier, Dellefsen : varia codd. " An instrumental ablative, although Pliny uses this case to express duration. Pliny also has in aevum XXXV. § 4. * Though there are no signs of variants in the MSS., it is likely enough that the conjecture raucitatibus (sore throat) of Mayhofif is correct, for Dioscorides has Trapiodyilojv (f>Xeyfj.ovais. Corresponding to gnstatu, however, is 7repi'xpiCTroj. ' A moUusc, Aply-sia vnlgaris. Above, phthiriasis is (Greek (f)detpidaeis) acc. pl. " " Pitch oil." - The mention of berries makes some commentators think that Pliny is here confusing cedar and juniper. But the " cedars " of this chapter are junipers. i6 BOOK XXIV. XI. 17-19 It preserves dead bodies uncorrupted by time," but causes living ones to decay — a strange inconsistency, to i-ob the living of their Hfe and to give a quasi-life to the dead ! It also makes clothes decay and kills animal Ufe. For this reason I should not think it ought to be used as a remedy for quinsy, or for indigestion,'' as some have recommended, taken by the mouth. I should also be afraid to rinse the teeth with it in vinegar, when they ache, or to drop it into the ears for hardness of hearing or worms. Gossip records a miracle : that to rub it all over the male part before coition prevents conception. I should not hesitate to use it as an ointment for phthiriasis or for scurf. It is also recommended to take it in raisin wine to counteract the poison of the sea hare,'' but more readily it might be used as Hniment for leprosy. For foul sores and excrescences in them, and for spots and films on the eyes, certain authorities have prescribed it as an ointment, and have directed that a cyathus of it be drunk for sores on the lung, as well as for tapeworm. There is prepared from it an oil also, which they call pisse- laeon,'' used for all the same purposes, but of greater potency. It is well ascertained that snakes are kept away by the sawdust of cedrus, and that to rub the body with the crushed berries ^ mixed with oil has the same result.-'^ ' There is a great similarity between tliis chapter and Dioscorides I. 77 (Wellmann). A few sentences may be quoted : arjTniKriv /xev rwv efj.tpvxcuv, (f>vXaKTiK^v 8e rcjv veKpwv awfidrojv. . . . ovv o^ei 8e ey/cAf^o^ieVi^ aKcuXTjKas rovv ev ojai Kreivei. . . . etj re e^ppu>ixara obovros evorayelaa dpavei [xev rov ohovra, rravei 8e T151' aXyy]?)6va . . . TrepL-x^pt.aOelaa Se aiSoiw TTpo rfjs ovvovaios droKiov ean, avvayxi-Kwv re TrepixP"'''""'? ean Kai ■napiadp.iwv ^ similis. tertia eodem odore et ideo nomine quoque, parvula, cauliculo digitali, foliis scabris, exilibus, albis, in petris nascens, omnes herbae, sed propter cognationem nominis non differendae. pro- sunt advei'sus scorpionum ictus, item iocineri inlitae cum palmis aut cotoneis ; renibus et vesicae decoctum 30 earum cum farina hordeacea. morbo quoque regio et urinae difficultatibus ex aqua decoctae bibuntur. novissima contr.a serpentes valet cum melle, sic et adpositu vulvas purgat. sanguinem densatum extra- hit pota. sudores facit perunctis ea, peculiariter renibus utilis. fiunt ex ea et hydropicis pilulae cum fico alvum trahentes. lumborum dolorem victoriati pondere in vino finit et tussim recentem. mortuos partus ex aceto cocta et pota eicere protinus dicitur. 31 XXI. Cum honore et pityusa simili de causa dicetur, quam quidam in tithymali genere numerant. frutex est similis piceae, flore parvo purpureo. bilem et pituitam per alvum detrahit radix decocti ^ hemina aut seminis lingula in balanis. foUa in aceto decocta furfures cutis emendant, mammas quoque mixto rutae decocto et tormina et serpentium ictus et in totum coUectiones incipientes. 1 incurva, AU three are flants, with a name derived from the tree mrvg. " " Sive conglohatum . . . qnod in praecipitatis potissimum evenit." (Didot edition from Hardouin.) 26 BOOK XXIV. XX. 29-xxi. 31 aizoiim." A thivd variety has the same smell, and therefore also the same name ; it is rather small, with a stem as thick as a finger, and with rough, slen- der, pale leaves, gi-owing on rocky soils. All three are * plants, not trees, but should be considered here because their names are derived from that of the pine. They are good for the stings of scorpions, and also for the Uver when apphcd with dates or quinces, as is a decoction of them with barley meal for the kidneys and bladder. Decoctions of them in water are taken also for jaundice and for strangury. The last men- tioned kind mixed with honey counteracts the poison of serpents, and in this form too purges the uterus when used as a pessary. Taken as drink it draws away extravasated blood.*^ Rubbing witli it promotes per- spiration, and it is particularly good for the kidneys. It is also made up into pills with figs for dropsy ; these purge the bowels."^ In doses of one victoriatus bv weight in wine it ends lumbago, and also coughs if taken in good time. A decoction in vinegar taken as a drink is said to expel at once the dead foetus. XXI. For a Uke reason honourable mention shall Pityusu be made of pityusa also, which some include in the same class as tithymalus. It is a shrub Uke the pitch- pine, with a small, purple '^ flower. 15ile and phlegm are carried ofFin the stools by a decoction of the root, the dose being one hemina, and by suppositories made of a spoonful of the seed. A decoction of the leaves in vinegar removes scaly eruptions on the skin and, mixed with a decoction of rue, is good for aflfections of the breasts, for griping pains, for snake bites and for gatherings in general in their early stages. ^ Or, " pills, which with fig purge etc." It is implied that this relieves the dropsy. ' A mistake. 27 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY 32 XXII. Resinam e supra dietis arboribus gigni docuimus et genera eius et nationes in ratione vini, ae postea in arboribus. summae species duae, sicca et liquida. sicca e pinu et picea fit, liquida tere- bintho, larice, lentisco, cupresso. nam et hae ferunt .33 in Asia et Syria. falluntur qui eandem putant esse e picea atque larice. picea enim pinguem et turis modo sucosam fundit, larix gracilem ac mellei coloris, virus redolentem. medici liquida raro utuntur et in ovo fere e larice propter tussim ulceraque viscerum 34 — nec pinea magnopere in usu — ceteris non nisi coctis. et coquendi genera satis demonstravimus. arborum differentia placet terebinthina odoratis- sima atque levissima, nationum Cypria et Syriaca, utraque mellis Attici colore, sed Cypria carnosior crassiorque. in sicco genere quaerunt ut sit candida, pura, perlucida, in onmi autem ut montana potius quam campestris, item aquilonia potius quam ab alio vento. resolvitur resina ad vulnerum usus et malag- 35 mata oleo, in potiones ^ amygdalis amaris. natura in medendo contrahere vulnera, purgare, discutere collectiones ; item pectoris vitia terebinthina.^ inlinitur eadem calida membrorum doloribus spatia- ^ Fortasse ezcidil cum ajile amygdalis. ^ item pectoris vitia terebinthina] disf. ego : item pectoris vitia. terebinthina Detlefsen : lenit pectoris vitia terebin- thina; Mayhoff. « See XIV. § 122. » See XVI. § 38. * To which does hae refer ? <* See XVI. § 54. *■ The bare ablative appears strange. Perhaps the juice of the almonds has, or was supposed to have, a softening eSect. Perhaps almond oil is meant. See XXV § 118. 28 BOOK XXIV. XXII. 32-35 XXII. That resin is derived from the trees men- ff«m. tioned above, with its varioiis kinds and native regions, I have stated in my account of wine," and afterwards ** when deahng with trees. The most general classes are two — the dry resin and the Hquid. Dry resin comes from the pine and the pitch-pine, the liquid fi-om the terebinth, larch, lentisk and cypress. For in Asia and Syria these last '^ also produce it. They are mistaken who think that the same resin comes from the pitch-pine as comes from the larch. For the pitch-pine exudes a resin that is rich, and Hke frankincense in consistency, while the larch produces a thin resin with the colour of honey and a very ofFensive odour. Medical men use hquid resin only occasionally, generally that from the larch and administered in egg, for coughs and ulcerated bowels, nor is that from the pine much used ; the others are only employed after boiling. The various ways of boil- ing I have fully explained.'' Of the various trees pro- ducingresin, the favourite is the terebinth, which yields one highly scented and very light ; of the regions, Cyprus and Syria are most favoured ; both resins are of the colour of Attic honey , but the Cyprian is thicker, with more body in it. In the dry kind the qualities looked for are whiteness, pui-ity and transparency ; in every kind, however, that from a mountain soil is preferred to that from the plains, and a noi-th-east aspect produces more highly esteemed resin than any other. Resin is dissolved in oil for the treatment of wounds and for poultices ; by means of« bitter almonds when used for draughts. Its medical pro- perties are to close wounds, to act as a detergent, and to disperse gatherings ; terebinth resin is also good for chest complaints. The last when warmed is used as 29 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY tisque ^ in sole avellitur,^ et totis corporibus man- gonum maxime ^ cura ad gracilitatem emendandam, spatiis ita laxantium cutem per singula membra, 36 capacioraque ciborum facienda corpora. proximum locum optinet e lentisco. inest ei vis adstringendi, movet at ante ceteras urinam. reliquae ventrem molliunt, cruda concocunt, tussim veterem sedant, vulvae onera extrahunt etiam suffitae. privatim adversantur visco, panos et similia cum sebo taurino et melle sanant. palpebras lentiscina commodissime replicat, fractis quoque utilissima et auribus puru- lentis, item in pruritu genitalium. pinea capitis vulneribus optime medetur. 37 XXIII. Pix quoque unde et quibus conficeretur modis indicavimus, et eius duo genera, spissum liquidumque. spissarum utilissima medicinae Bruttia, quoniam pinguissima et resinosissima utras- que praebet utilitates, ob id magis rutila quam ceterae. id enim quod in hoc adiciunt, ex mascula arbore meliorem esse, non arbitror posse intellegi. 38 picis natura excalfacit, explet. adversatur privatim cerastae morsibus cum polenta, item anginae cum ' spatiatisqiie] spasticisque Mnyhojf; sed vide irifra spatiis. 2 avellitur plures codd., Detlefsen : abluitur Mayhoff, qui in sole abluitur in 'parenthesi ponit. ^ maxime] An masima ? " Maylioff 's text : ' ' and for cramps — it is washed off in the sun — ." ^ For privalim see note b XXIV. 28, p. 24. ' See XIV. § 127 foll., and XVI. § 52 foll. "* That is, of resin and of pitch. 30 BOOK XXIV. XXII. 35-xxiii. 38 an ointment for pains in the limbs ; it is removed after a walk has been taken " in the sun. Slave-dealers especially are anxious to use this ointment for rubbing over the whole bodies of their slaves, with the object of correcting thinness ; by walks afterwards they loosen the skin of every limb, and they have the further object of making possible the assimilation of a greater quantity of food. Next in popularity after terebinth resin comes that from the lentisk, which has an astringent quality and is more diuretic than the others. The rest of the resins loosen the bowels, cure indigestion, relieve chronic coughs, and also, when used as a fumigation, remove obstructions in the uterus. These are specific *" for the poison of mistletoe, and with beef suet and honey thev heal superficial abscesses and similar aifections. Lentisk resin is a most excellent remedy for turning outwards ingrowing eye-Iashes, and is also very useful for frac- tures and for pus in the ears, and also for irritation of the genitals. Pine resin is a very good remedy for wounds in the head. XXIII. Pitch too, its source and the methods ot' Pitch. preparing it, I have already " mentioned, as well as its two kinds, the thick and the thin. Of the thick pitches the most useful in medicine is the Bruttian, because being both very rich and very resinous it combines the useful properties of both,'* the yellow-red kind being of higher valiie than any other because of this combination. For the further opinion about pitch, that the male tree produces a better kind, cannot I think be entertained. The nature of pitch is to warm, and to fill out the flesh. Mixed with pearl barley it is a specific antidote for the bite of the horned viper, and with .31 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY melle, destillationibus et sternutamentis a pituita. auribus infunditur cum rosaceo, inlinitur cum cera.^ sanat lichenas, alvum solvit, excreationes pectoris adiuvat ecligmate aut inlitis tonsillis cum melle. sic et ulcera purgat, explet. cum uva passa et axungia carbunculos purgat et putrescentia ulcera, quae vero serpunt cum pineo cortice aut sulpure. 39 phthisicis cyathi mensura quidam dederunt et contra veterem tussim. rhagadas sedis et pedum panosque et ungues scabros emendat, vulvae duintias et con- versiones, odore item lethargicos.^ strumas cum farina hordeacea et pueri inpubis urina decocta ad suppurationem perducit. et ad alopecias sicca pice utuntur, ad mulierum mammas Bruttia ex vino subfervefacta cum polline farraceo quam calidissimis ' inpositis. 40 XXIV. Liquida pix oleumque quod pisselaeon vocant quemadmodum fieret diximus. quidam iterum decocunt et vocant paUmpissam. liquida anginae perunguntur intus. iuvat * aurium dolores, claritatem oculorum, oris circumlitiones, suspiriosos,^ vulvas, tussim veterem et crebras exscreationes 1 inlinitur ciim cera.] Haec verba post pituita ponenda esse pvtal Maylioff, fortasse recle. ^ lethargicos.] Ita disf. Urlichs. ^ calidissimis] hic linteis add. Mayhoff. * iuvat aurium Detlefsen : et uva, aurium coni. Mayhoff. * s,ns^iv[oHOS Alexander Benedictus (1507), Mayhoff : suspi- riosas multi codd. " Mayhoff would transpose the second part of this sentence to the end of the preceding. 32 BOOK XXIV. xxiii. 38-xxiv. 40 j honey a good remedy for quinsy, catarrhs and sneez- ing caused by phlegm. Mixed with rose oil it is poured into the ears, and with wax it is compounded into an ointment." It heals lichen and relaxes the bowels ; expectoration it eases if used as an electuary or applied to the tonsils in combination with honey. So used it also cleanses sores and fills them out. With raisins and axle-grease it cleanses carbuncles and festering sores ; for creeping sores, however, it is combined with pine bark or sulphur. Some authorities have prescribed it in doses of one cyathus for consumption and chronic cough. It cures chaps in the seat, and on the feet, superficial abscesses, scabrous nails, indurations and displacements of the uterus, and lethargus by inhalation.*' Scrofulous sores it causes to suppurate if boiled with barley meal and the urine of a child not yet adolescent. Dry pitch is also used for mange ; Bruttian pitch heated in wine, with wheat meal, is applied to the breasts of women, the applications being as hot as can be borne.'^ XXIV. How liquid pitch and the oil called J-mi^ /"'« pisselaeon <' are made has been described ah-eady.^ Some boil it down twice and call it palimpissa./ Liquid pitch is employed for painting quinsy internally. It is good for ear-ache, for promoting clearness of vision, for use as a lip-salve, for asthmatics, the uterus, chronic cough, frequent expectoration, cramp, ner- ^ Perhaps the comma should be transferred from conver- siones to odore, thus makiiig " by inhalation " apply to uterine troubles. •^ Mayhoffs linleis means linen swabs used for the ajjpli- cations. ■^ I.e. " pitch oil." * See XVI. § 52. ^ I.e. " pitch (boiled) twice." 2>3 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY pectoris, spasmos, tremores, opisthotonos, paralysis, nervorum dolores, praestantissimum ad canum et iumentorum scabiem. 41 XXV. Est et pissasphaltos mixta bitumini pice naturaliter ex ApoUoniatarum agro. quidam ipsi miscent. praecipuum ad scabiem pecorum reme- dium aut si fetus mammas laeserit matrum.^ opti- mum ex eo quod cum fervet innatat. XXVI. Zopissam eradi navibus diximus cera marino sale macerata. optima haec a tirocinio navium. addi- tur autem in malagmata ad discutiendas collectiones. XXVII. Taeda decocta ^ in aceto dentium dolores efficaciter conluunt. 42 XXVIII. Lentisci ex arbore^ et semen et cortex et lacrima urinam cient, alvum sistunt. decoctum eorum ulcera quae serpunt fotu. inlinitur umidis * et igni sacro, gingivas conluit. foUa dentibus in dolore ^ atteruntur, mobiles decocto conluuntur, capillum tinguit.^ lacrima sedis vitiis prodest, cum quid siccari excalfierive opus sit. decoctum et e lacrima ' stomacho utile, ructum et urinam movens, ^ matrum veterem lectionem secuti Sillig, Detlefsen : nativum Mayhojf, qui punctum post laeserit ponit: matui'um codd. ^ taeda decocta Detlefsen : taedae decoctae May- hoff, qui ex Plinio iuniore lacunam sic explet, in astulas con- cisae : varia codd. ^ lentisci ex arbore Dellefsen : lentisci arboris Mayhoff : lentiscis EX : arbores EV vulg. * umidis Warmington : in umidis codd. ^ in dolore viilg., Mayhoff : dolore codd., Detlefsen. ® tinguit codd., Detlefsen : tingunt vulg., Mayhoff. ^ e lacrima codd. : in uncis Mayhoff : et delere vult Sillig. " See Dioscorides I. 7i § 1 (Wellmann) : iv 'ATToXXcovia tt} TTpos E7n§a/xva>. * With Mayho2's reading : " The best natural kind is that which, etc." 34 BOOK XXIV. XXIV. 40-xxviii. 42 voiis tremors, opisthotonic tetanus, paralysis, pains in the sinews, and most effectively for itch-scab in dogs and beasts of burden. XXV. There is also pissasphaltos, that is pitch J'issasphat- combined with bitumen, found in a natural state in the territory of Apollonia ; " it is sometimes made artificially. It is a specific for itch-scab in cattle and for the sores caused by the young on the teats of their mothers. The best part ^ of it is that which floats on the surface when it is boiled. XXVI. Zopissa, as I have said,'' is scraped off ships, Zopissa. wax being soaked in sea brine. The best is taken from ships after their maiden voyage. It is also added to poultices to disperse gatherings. XXVII. A decoction in vinegar of pitch pine '^ makes an efficacious wash for aching teeth. | XXVIII. Of the lentiiLk tree the seed, bark and rhe lentisk gum-drops are diuretic, and astringent to the bowels. A decoction of them is a useful fomentation for creep- ing sores. It makes a hniment for moist sores and also for ervsipelas, and it rinses the gums. The leaves are rubbed on the teeth when ^" they ache ; loose teeth are rinsed with the decoction, which also dyes the hair. The gum-drops are good for troubles of the seat, when there is a call for a drying and warming remedy. The decoction too of the gum is useful for the stomach, being carminative and diuretic, and is ' See XVI. § 56. Has pice cum been lost before cera ? See ibid. : zopissam vocari derasam navibus maritimis picem cum cera. •^ Mayhoff from Pliny Junior : " Pitch pine cut into shavings and boiled in vinegar." * In the MSS. the preposition in is found before itmidis, where it is not wanted, and omitted before dolore, where it is. Perhaps it got misplaced in the archetype. 35 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY quod et capitis doloribus cum polenta illinitur. 43 folia tenera oculis inflammatis illinuntur. mas- tiche lentisci replicandis palpebris et ad extend- endam cutem in facie et zmegmata adhibetur, et sanguinem reicientibus, tussi veteri, et ad omnia quae acaciae vis.^ medetur et attritis j)artibus sive oleo e semine eius facto ceraeque mixto, sive foliis ex oleo decoctis, sive cum aqua ita ^ foveantur. scio Democratem medicum in valitudine Considiae M. Servili consulai-is filiae omnem curationem austeram recusantis diu efficaciter usum lacte caprarum quas lentisco pascebat. 44 XXIX. Platani adversantur vespertilionibus, pilulae earum in vino potae denariorum iiii pon- dere omnibus serpentium et scorpionum venenis, item ambustis. tunsae autem cum aceto acri magisque scilhte sanguinem omnem sistunt et lenti- ginem et carcinomata malandriasque veteres addito 45 melle emendant. folia autem et cortex inlinuntur collectionibus et suppurationibus, et decoctum eorum, corticis autem in aceto dentium remedium est, foliorum tenei-rima in vino albo decocta oculorum. lanugo florum ^ et auribus et oculis inutilis. cinis pilularum sanat ambusta igni vel frigore. cortex e vino scorpionum ictus restinguit. ^ quae acaciae vis tx Dioscoride Sillig, Dellejsen, Mayhoff : quaevis, qua eius, quae eis, que vis codd. : quae hammoiiiaci vis vulg. ^ ita, Mayhoff : utitaVdT: utilia X : virilia Hermolatts Bar- barus. Mayhoff ita emendui : si hae cum aqua ita foveantur. * florum coni. Warmington : foliorum codd. 36 BOOK XXIV. XXVIII. 42-xxix. 45 also applied with pearl barley for headache. The tender leaves are applied to inflamed eyes. The Tnastic of the lentisk is applied for bending back the eye-lashes, for filling out and smoothing the skin of the face, being also useful for spitting of blood, chronic cough, and in all cases where the medical properties of gum acacia are called for. Abrasions are treated by applying the oil made from the seed of lentisk mixed with wax, or a decoction of the leaves in oil ; or they may be fomented with these prepara- tions and water. I know for a fact that when the iUness of Considia, daughter of Marcus Servilius, a consular, long " resisted all rigorous treatment, it was cured by the physician Democrites, who used the milk of goats which he fed on the lentisk. XXIX. The plane tree neutralizes the poison of the Tkepiane. bat ; its seed-globules taken in wine in a dose of four denarii act similarly on all poisons of serpents and scor- pions, besides healing burns. Pounded moreover with strong vinegar, especially squill-seasoned vinegar, it checks all bleeding, and with the addition of honey removes freckles, cancerous sores and chronic pustules on the neck. The leaves moreover and bai-k make ointment for gatherings and suppurations, and so does a decoction of them ; a decoction of the bark in vinegar is a remedy for sore teeth, but for the eyes a decoction of the most tender leaves in white wine must be made. The down of the flowers is harmful both to the ears and to the eyes. The ashes of the burnt globules heal burns and frost-bites. The bark in wine allays the stings of scorpions. " Littre takes diu with usum. Query : " who refused rigorous treatment." 37 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 46 XXX. Fi-axinus quam vim adversus serpentes haberet indicavimus. semen foliis eius inest, quae ^ medentur iocineris, laterum doloribus in vino, aquam quae subit cutem extrahunt. corpus obesum levant onere sensim ad maciem reducentia,^ isdem foliis cum vino tritis ad virium portionem, ita ut puero quinque foHa tribus cyathis diluantur,^ robustioribus septem folia quinis vini. non omittendum ramenta eius et scobem a quibusdam cavenda praedici. XXXI. Aceris radix contunsa e vino iocineris doloribus efficacissime inponitur. 47 XXXII. Populi albae uvarum in unguentis usum exposuimus. cortex potus ischiadicis et stranguriae prodest, foliorum sucus calidus aurium dolori. virgam popuH in manu tenentibus intertrigo non metuatur.* populus nigra efficacissima habetur quae in Creta nascitur. comitialibus semen ex aceto utile.^ fundit illa et resinam exiguam, qua utuntur ad malagmata. foHa podagris in aceto decocta inponuntur. umor e cavis popuH nigrae effluens et ® ^ quae cu7n duobits codd., vulg., Sillig, Detlefsen : quo cit7n dvobus Mayhqff. ^ reducentia codd. : reducentibus MayJiojf. ^ diluantur cnm duobus codd. Detlejsen : dirivantur E : dentur vttlg. : diribeantur Maylioff qui confert XI. § 44 et XXXVI. §118. * metuatur aiit metuitur codd. ^ utile Mayhoff : inditur Detlefsen : in codd. ^ et attritu odoratus] jmst papulasque (sed cum vv. II.) codd.; iransposuil Urlichs; est attritu odoratus tn pare«/^esi Mayhoff. " See XVI. § 64. ' I.e. the "wings," in each of which a seed lies. ' I.e. winged seeds. "* Book XII. § 132. Vvarum seems to refer to catkins. ' Dioscorides I. 83 (Welhnami) says : t6 e^ airrGiv SaKpvov 38 BOOK XXIV. XXX. 46-xxxii. 47 XXX. The power of the ash-tree to neutrahze the The ask. poison of snakes I have already mentioned." The seed lies between its leaves,^ which in wine are used for pains in the Uver and sides, and draw off the subcutaneous water of dropsy. They lessen corpulence, gradually reducing the body to leanness. These leaves '^ are also beaten up with wine in proportion to the strength of the body ; for a child live leaves are soaked in three cyathi of wine, for stronger patients seven leaves in five cyathi. I must not forget the warning of some authorities, who declare that the shavings and saw- dust of the ash ai'e to be avoided. XXXI. The root of the maple crushed in wine Themapie. makes a very efficacious application for pains of the Hver. XXXII. The clusters of the white poplar, as I have The white ah-eady described,'^ are used in making unguents. A p"'"^''- draught made from the bark is good for sciatica and strangury, and the juice of the leaves, warmed, for ear-ache. Those who hold in their hand a twig of poplar need not fear chafing between the legs. The The biack black poplar that grows in Crete is considered the '^"^ "'^' most efficacious ; the seed in vinegar is good for epilepsy. It also discharges a small quantity of resin, which is used for poultices. A decoction of the leaves in vinegar is applied locally for gout. The moisture exuding from the hoUows of the black poplar, and giving out an odour « when appHed with rubbing, . . . KaTaxe6iJ.evov vT^yvvadai Kal ylveadai t6 KaAovixevov rjXeK- Tpov . . . evcoSes ev t§ TrapaTpiipei. This points to a lacuna in the text of Pliny (or possibly to a mistake or omission on the part of Pliny himself), for though rjXeKTpov could easily be rubbed, an umor could only be used in rubbing something else. Yet Pliny's attrilii odoratiis is obviously a translation of something like evuBes ev tjj TrapaTpitjjei. 39 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY attritu odoratus verrucas papulasque tollit. populi ferunt et in foliis guttam ex qua apes propoUm faciunt. gutta quoque ad quae propolis ex aqua efficax. 48 XXXIII. Ulmi et folia et cortex et rami vim habent spissandi et volnera contrahendi. corticis utique interior tilia lepras sedat et folia ex aceto inlita. corticis denarii pondus potum in hemina aquae frigidae alvum purgat pituitasque et aquas privatim trahit. inponitur et coUectionibus lacrima et vol- neribus et ambustis quae decocto fovere prodest. 49 umor in folliculis arboris huius nascens cuti nitorem inducit faciemque gratiorem praestat. cauliculi foUorum primi vino decocti tumores sanant extra- huntque per fistulas. idem praestant et tiUae corticis. multi corticem commanducatum vohieribus utiUs- simum putant, foUa trita aqua adspersa pedum tumori. umor quoque e medulia, uti diximus, castratae arboris effluens capillum reddit capiti inUtus defluentesque continet. 50 XXXIV. Arbor tiUa lenius ad eadem fere utiUs est atque ^ oleaster. foUa autem tantum in usu et ad infantium ulcera et in ore, et commanducata et decocta urinam cient, menses sistunt inUta, sanguinem pota detrahunt. ' atque cum codd. fere omnibus Dellejsen : ad quae cum X Mayhojf, qui atque contra Plinii usum esse dicit. " This seems to be the meaning of spissare here be- cause of volnera contrahendi immediately following. Spissare is a common word in Pliny, usually without an expressed ob- ject, but in XXVI. § 46 ad spissanda corpora seems 1,o mean " to give tone to (harden?) the body," as in Celsus U. i. § 10. 40 BOOK XXIV. XXXII. 47-xxxiv. 50 removes warts and pimples. Poplars also pi*oduce 011 their leaves drops from which bees make bee-ghie. With water these drops also have the same heaUng properties as bee-glue. XXXIII. The leaves, bark and branches of the e!m The eim. are styptic," and have the property of closing wounds. The inner bark in particular relieves leprous sores, as also does a local application of the leaves soaked in vinegar. One denarius of the bark, taken in a hemina of cold water, purges the bowels, being specific for carrying off phlegms and watery humours. Its tear is also appUed locally to gatherings, wounds and burns, which it is good to foment with a decoction. The moisture forming in the pods of this tree brings a brightness to the skin and makes the looks more pleas- ing. The tips of the Uttle stalks of the leaves boiled down in wine cure tumours and draw out the pus through fistulas. The same property is shown by the inner barks. Many hold that the bark when chewed is very good for wounds, and that the leaves, pounded and sprinkled with water, are so for swoUen feet. An appUcation of the moistui-e too, that exudes, as I have said,^ from the pith of the tree when lopped, restores hair to the scalp and prevents it from faUing out. XXXIV. The Unden tree is good for practicaUy The Hnden. the same purposes as the wild oUve, but its action is milder. Only its leaves, however, are used both for babies' sores and for those in the mouth ; thej^ wiay be chewed or a decoction may be made of them ; they are diuretic. AppUed locally they check men- struation ; taken in drink they draw oif extravasated blood. * Book XVI. § 192. 41 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 51 XXX\ \ Sabucus habet alterum genus magis silvestre quod Graeei chamaeacten, alii helion ^ vocant, multo brevius. utriusque decoctum in vino veteri, foliorum vel seminis vel radicis, ad cyathos binos potum stomacho inutile est,^ alvo detrahens aquam. refrigerat etiam inflammationem, maxime recentis ambusti,"' et canis morsum cum polenta mollissimis foliorum inUtis. sucus cerebri collec- tiones privatimque membranae quae circa cerebrum 52 est lenit infusus. acini eius infirmiores quam rehqua ; tingunt capillum, poti acetabuli mensura urinam movent. foliorum moUissima ex oleo et sale eduntur ad pituitam bilemque detrahendam. ad omnia efficacior quae minor. radicis eius decoctae in vino duo cyathi poti hydropicos exinaniunt, volvas emolHunt, has et foliorum decocta * insidentium. caules teneri mitioris ^ sabuci in patinis cocti alvum solvunt, resistunt folia et serpentium ictibus in 53 vino pota. podagricis cum sebo hircino vehementer prosunt caulicuh inhti ; iidem in aqua macerantur ut sparsa ea pulices necentur. foHorum decocto si locus spargatur, muscae necantur. boa appellatur morbus papularum, cum rubent corpora; sabuci ramo verberatur. cortex interior tritus ex vino albo potus alvum solvit. ^ helion] add. acten e Dioscoride (eAeioj aKTfi) H. HafFter. * est cum codd. Detlefsen : set ex Dioscoride (fievroi) coni. Mayhoff. Pro inutile /ortasse utile, quod in X invenitur. ' recentis ambusti codd. : recentla ambusta Mayhoff. * decocta codd. : decoctum Mayhojf. * minoris coni. W armington coll. § 51 : mitioris codd. » Infundo is used of administering food and drink generally or of medicine in particular. Sometimes, but not as often as might be expected, it is used of injections. Here it seems to be used, not of injections into the skull, but of anointing. 42 BOOK XXIV. XXXV. 51-53 XXX\^. The elder has a second, a much smaller The dder. species, growing wilder and called by the Greeks chamaeacte, by others heUon. A decoction in old wine of the leaves, seed, or root, of either species, taken as drink up to two cyathi for a dose, is bad for the stomach, though carrying ofF watery humours from the bowels. It also reduces inflammation, especially that of a recent burn, and a dog-bite is relieved by a poultice of its most tender leaves with pearl barley. An appUcation " of the juice softens gatherings on the brain, being specific when these are on the membrane that surrounds it. Its berries have weaker properties than the other parts. They dye the hair. A dose of one acetabulum taken in drink is diuretic. The softest of the leaves are eaten with oil and salt to bring away phlegm and bile. For all purposes the smaller kind is the more efficacious. A decoction of the root in wine, taken in doses of two cyathi, draws ofF the water of dropsy ; it also softens the uterus, as does also sitting in baths of a decoction of the leaves. The tender stalks of the cultivated elder boiled in a saucepan relax the bowels ; the leaves taken in wine also counteract the bites of snakes. An appUcation of young shoots with goat-suet is very good for gout ; these are also steeped in water to kill fleas by sprinkUng. If a place is sprinkled with a decoction of the leaves flies are killed. Boa * is the name given to a disease when the body is red with pimples ; beating with a branch of elder is admin- istered as a remedy. The inner bark pounded and taken in white wine relaxes the bowels. * Hardouin was wrong in supposing it to be measles, because that disease was probably uot known until the time of Rhazes. See list of diseases. 43 PLIN^': NATURAL HISTORY 54 XXXVI. lunipirus vel ante cetera omnia excalfacit, extenuat, cedro alias similis. et huius duo genera, altera minor altera. utraque accensa serpentes fugat. semen stomachi, pectoris, lateris doloribus utile. inflationes algoresque discutit, tusses, con- 55 coquit duritias. inlitum tumores sistit, item alvum bacis ex nigro vino potis, item ventris tumores inUtis. miscetur et antidotis, oxyporis ; urinas ciet. inlinitur et oculis in epiphoris. datur convolsis, ruptis, tor- minibus, volvis, ischiadicis cum vino albo potum pilulis quaternis aut decoctis viginti in vino. sunt qui et perunguant corpus ^ e semine eius in serpen- tium ictus.2 56 XXXVH. Salicis fructus ante maturitatem in ara- neam abit, sed, si prius colUgatur, sanguinem reici- entibus prodest. corticis e ramis primis cinis clavum et caUum aqua mixta sanat. vitia cutis in facie emen- 57 dat, magis admixto suco suo. est autem hic trium generum : unum arbor ipsa exsudat cujnmium modo, altero manat in plaga, cum floret, exciso cortice trium digitorum magnitudine. hic ^ ad expurganda quae obstent oculis, item ad spissanda quae opus sunt ciendamque urinam et ad omnes coUectiones intus extrahendas. tertius sucus est detruncatione ramo- 1 Post corpus excidisse suco puiat Maijhoff. * ictus VT f, Detlefsen : metu vidg., Mayhoff : metus EX. ^ hic codd. : vis Mayhoff. ° Hard swellings or abscesses. * Galen uses o^vTTopov (or o^vTTopiov) of a carminative, a sense that suits very weU XX. § 65 and § 256. MayhofiE is surely right in putting a comma after aniidotis, avoiding in this way the awkwardness of taking oxyporus as an adjective (" quick-acting "j. Cf. Dioscorides III. 57 : fieiyvvfievov ratr dvTtSoToi? Kai oivnopois xpr}(jlp.ws. ^- Mayhofi's vis would mean : " Its property is to clear away, etc." 44 BOOK XXIV. XXXVI. 54-xxxvii 57 XXXVI. Thejuniper,evenaboveallotherremedies, The juniper. is warming and alleviates symptoms ; for the rest, it resembles the cedrus. Of it there are two species, one smaller than the other. Either kind when set on fire keeps offsnakes. The seed is beneficial for pains in the stomach, chest and side, dispels flatulence and the feeling of chill, relieves coughs and matures indurations.'* Applied locally it checks tumours ; the berries taken in dark wine bind the bowels, and a local application reduces tumours of the belly. The fruit is also an ingredient of antidotes and of digestive remedies,* and is diuretic. It is also applied locally to the eyes for fluxes, and it is used for sprains, ruptures, colic, uterine disorders and sciatica, either in doses of four berries with white wine, or a decoction of twenty in wine. There are also some who smear the body with an extract of the seed as a protection against snake-bite. XXXVII. The fruit of the willow before maturity The wuiow. develops a kind of cobweb, but if it be gathered earlier it is good for the spitting of blood. Mixed with water, the ash from the burnt bark of the tips of the branches cures corns and callosities. It removes spots on the face, more thoroughly when mixed with willow juice. This juice, however, is of three kinds : one exudes like gum from the tree itself ; the second flows from an incision, three fingers wide, made in the bai-k while the tree is in blossom. This sort " is useful for clearing away humours that obstruct the eyes, also for thickening <^ where that is necessary, for promoting urine and for draining outwards all gather- ings. The third kind of juice is obtained by lopping ■^ The word spissare is difficult. See note on XXIV §48. 45 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY rum a falce distillans. ex his ergo aliquis cum rosaceo in calyce punici calfactus auribus infunditur vel folia 58 cocta et cum cera trita imponuntur.^ item poda- gricis cortice et foliis in vino decoctis foveri nervos utilissimum. flos tritus cum foliis furfures purgat in facie. folia contrita et pota intemperantiam libidinis coercent atque in totum auferunt usum saepius sumpta. Amerinae nigrae semen cum spuma argenti pari pondere a balneo inlitum psilotrum est. 69 XXX^TII. Non multum a salice vitilium usu distat vitex, foliorum quoque adspectu, nisi odore gratior esset. Graeci Ivgon vocant, alias agnon, quoniam matronae Thesmophoriis Atheniensium castitatem custodientes his fohis cubitus sibi sternunt. duo genera eius : maior in arborem salicis modo adsurgit, minor ramosa, foliis candidioribus, lanuginosis. prima album florem mittit cum purpureo, quae et candida vocatur, nigra quae tantum purpureum. 60 nascuntur in palustribus campis. semen potum vini quendam saporem habet et dicitur febres solvere et, cum unguantur oleo admixto, sudorem facere, sicut lassitudinem dissolvere. urinam cient et menses. caput temptant vini niodo — nam et odor similis est ^ — inflationes pellunt in inferiora, alvum sistunt, 61 hydropicis et henibus perquam utiles. lactis uber- tatem faciunt, adversantur venenis serpentium, ^ Ita dist. Mayhoff, Dioscoridem el Serenum secutus. Comma post imponuntur, punctum post podagricis Detlefsen. 2 est cum tribus codd. Detlefsen : et cum duobus Sillig: set Mayhoff. " Or, " from " or "after using." Cf. a halneo § 58. * The plural verb seems to imply that either kind of agnus may be used. 46 BOOK XXIV. xxwii. 57-xxxviii. 6i oiF the branches, when it drips iinder " the sickle. One, then, of these juices wai'med in a poniegranate rind with rose oil is poured into the ears, or a local application is made of the boiled leaves beaten up with wax. For gout too it is most useful to foment the sinews with a decoction of the bark and leaves in wine. The blossom beaten up with the leaves removes scurf on the face. The leaves thoroughly pounded and taken in drink check over-lustful desire ; too many doses produce absolute impotence. The seed of the black willow of Ameria with an equal weight of litharge, applied after the bath, acts as a depilatory. XXXVIII. The agnus castus is not very different The agnm from the willow, either for its use in wickerwork or in '^'"''"•*- the appearance of its leaves, but it has a more pleasant smell. The Greeks call it lygos, sometimes agnos, because the Athenian matrons, presei-ving their chastity at the Thesmophoria, strew their beds with its 'leaves. There are two kinds of it. The larger grows up to be a tree Hke the willow ; the smaller is branchy, with paler, downy leaves. The first bears pale blossom with some purple in it, and is called the white agnus ; the other, which bears only purple blossom, is called the dark agnus. They grow on marshy plains. The seed taken in drink has a taste somewhat Hke wine ; it is said to reduce fevers, to stimulate perspiration when applied as embrocation with oil, and also to dispel lassitude. The trees * furnish medicines that promote urine and menstru- ation. They go to the head like wine — for the smell too is similar — drive flatulence into the lower bowels, check diari-hoea, and greatly benefit dropsy and splenic diseases. They * encourage abundant rich milk, and neutralize the poisons of serpents, especially 47 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY maxime quae frigus inferunt, minor efficacior ad serpentes, bibitur seminis drachma in vino vel posca aut duabus foliorum tenerrimorum. et inlinuntur utraque adversus araneorum morsus ; vel perunctis tantum, suffitu quoque aut substratu fugant venenata. 62 ad venerem impetus inhibent, eoque maxime phalangiis adversantur, quorum morsus genitale excitat. capitis dolorem ex ebrietate sedant cum rosaceo flos tenerique cauHculi. seminis decoctum vehementiorem capitis dolorem dissolvit fotu, et vulvam etiam suffitu vel adpositu purgat, ah'um cum puleio et melle potum. vomicas et panos difficile 63 concoquentes ^ cum farina hordeacea molUt. Hchenas et lentigines cum aphronitro et aceto semen sanat, et oris ulcera et eruptionum ^ cum melle, testium cum butvro et foUis vitium, rhagadas sedis cum aqua ilhtum, luxata ^ cum sale et nitro et cera. cum* semine et foHum ^ additur in malagmata ^ nervorum et podagras. semen instillatur in oleo decoctum capiti in lethargia et phrenesi. virgam qui in manu habeant aut in cinctu negantur inter- triginem sentire. ^ concoquentes excepfo X codd. : concoquent tusi X : concoquens Maijhoff. ^ eruptionum] eruptiones ulcerum vel eorum coni. Mayhoff. ^ luxata E, Detlejsen : luxatis cum multis codd. Mai/hoff, qui ila emendai : cum sale et nitro et cera et semine et foHo. additur in malagmata <(ad vitia> nervorum etc. * cum ego ; et codd. et edd. * foHum E : foHo ceteri codd. * Ezcidit hic aliquid, ad dolorem vel ad vitium. " ForcelHni s.v. concoquo suppHes collecium pus. If the reading be correct this wiU be the right explanation. as concoqvo seems never to be used intransitively. The MS. X has facile 48 BOOK XXIV. xxxviii. 61-63 those that bring on chill. The smaller kind niakes the more eftective remedies for the bite of serpents ; one drachma of the seed, or two of the most tender leaves, is taken in wine, or in vinegar and water. Either kind makes a liniment for the bites of spiders ; mere smearing drives away poisonous creatures, as does fumigation also, or placing some of the plant under the bed. They check violent sexual desire, and for this reason in particular they act as antidotes to the venomous spider, the bite of which excites the genitals. The blossom and tender shoots mixed with rose oil clear away headache due to intoxication. The seed takes away by fomentation with a decoction the more severe type of headache, purges the uterus also by fumigation or a pessary, and the bowels if drunk with pennyroyal and honey. Boils and super- ficial abscesses that refuse to come to a head " are softened by an application of it with barley meal. With saltpetre and vinegar the seed cures Uchens and freckles, with honey sores of the mouth and of eruptions,^ those of the testes with butter and vine leaves, chaps in the seat when applied with water, dis- locations when applied with salt, soda and wax. With the seed the leaves too are added to plasters <(for the relief of painful) sinews and of gout. A decoction of the seed in oil is poured in di-ops 011 the head of sufFerers from lethargus or phrenitis. It is said that those who keep a twig in their hand or in their girdle do not suifer from chafing between the thighs. concoquent iusi, showing that some scribes felt the difficulty. With Mayhoffs conjecture translate : " With barley meal it softens, though it matures them with difficulty, boils, etc." ' Mayhoffs conjecture would give : " sores in the mouth and eruptions of them." He compares XXII § 54 ulcerum eruptiones. 49 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY 64 XXXIX. Ericen Graeci vocant fruticem non raultum a vitice ^ differentem, colore roris marini et paene folio. hoc adversari serpentibus tradunt. 65 XL. Genista quoque vinculi usum praestat, floris apibus gratissimi. dubito an haec sit quam Graeci auctores sparton appellavere, cum ex ea lina pisca- toria apud eos factitari docuerim, et numquid hanc designaverit Homerus, cum dixit navium sparta dissoluta. nondum enim fuisse Hispanum Africa- numve spartum in usu certum est, et cum fierent sutiles naves, lino tamen, non sparto umquam sutas. semen eius, quod Graeci eodem nomine appellant in folliculis passiolorum modo nascens purgat hellebori vice drachma et dimidia pota in aquae mulsae cyathis 66 quattuor ieiunis. rami simul et frondes ^ aceto macerati pluribus diebus et tunsi sucum dant ischiadicis utilem cyathi unius potu. quidam marina aqua macerare malunt et infundere clystere. perun- guntur eodem suco ischiadici addito oleo. quidam et ad stranguriam utuntur semine. genista tunsa cum axungia genua dolentia sanat. 1 a vitice § 67 collato Mayhoff : a myrice E, Detlefsen. ^ simul et frondes ego ex 3{ayhoffi.i co7iiectnris : similiter frondei lanus, Detlefsen : similiter fronde codd. " With the reading myrice, " tamarisk." » Book XIX. § 15. " See Iliad II. 135, aTrapra XeXvvrai.. Pliny, as Varro in 5° BOOK XXIV. XXXIX. 64-XL. 66 XXXIX. The Greeks Ccall erice (heath) a shrub Erice. ' differing only a Httle from the agnus castus ; " it has the same colour and very nearly the same leaf as rosemary. Report says that it counteracts the 1 poison of serpents. XL. Genista also is used for cords, and has a flower anenweea of which bees are very fond. I wonder whether this is the plant that Greek writers have called sparton, because, as I have mentioned,'' from it the Greeks are wont to make their fishing Hnes, and whethcr Homer had it in mind when he said that " the ships' cords ° {sparta) were loosed." It is certain that the Spanish or African esparto grass was not yet in use, and though ships were made with sewed seams, 1 yet it was with flax that they were sewed and never with esparto. The seed of this plant, which the Greeks call by the same name, grows in pods Uke those of the cowpea, and purges instead of helle- bore if a drachma and a half with four cyathi of hydromel are drunk on an empty stomach. The branches, together with the leaves, soaked in vinegar for several days and then beaten up, yield a juice beneficial for sciatica in doses of one cyathus. Some prefer to soak them in sea-water and inject as an enema.'' The same juice with the addition of oil is used as an embrocation for sciatica. Some too use the seed for stranguiy. Pounded genista with axle- grease cures painful knees. Aulus Gellius XVII. 3, takes aiTapTa to be the cords with which the planks of a ship were bound together, and not the rigging. ■* See Dioscorides Euporista I. 231 (238): OTrdpTov OaXdaarj jSpe^a? e' iKavag -qfxipas elTa eyKoipag Kal ;^iiAi'aas eves. This shows that pluribus diebits means "for several days." With the reading of Jan, " The ieafy branches likewise." 51 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY 67 XLI. Myricen ^ ericam vocat Lenaeus similem scopis Amerinis ; sanari dicit ea carcinomata in vino decocta tritaque cum melle inlita. eandem esse arbitrantur quidam tamaricen. sed ad lienem praecipua est,^ si sucus eius expressus in vino bibatur. adeoque mirabilem eius antipathian contra solum hoc viscerum faciunt, ut adfirment, si ex ea alveis 68 factis bibant sues sine liene inveniri. et ideo homini quoque splenico cibum potumque dant in vasis ex ea factis. gravis autem auctor in medicina virgam ex ea defractam, ut neque terram neque ferrum attin- geret, sedare ventris dolores adseveravit inpositam ita ut tunica cinctuque corpori adprimeretur. volgus infelicem arborem eam appellat, ut diximus, quoniam nihil ferat nec seratur umquam. 69 XLII. Corinthus et quae circa est Graecia bryan vocat eiusque duo genera facit, silvestrem plane sterilem, alteram mitiorem. haec fert in Aegypto Syriaque etiam abundanter lignosum fructum maiorem galla, asperum gustu, quo medici utuntur vice gallae in compositionibus quas antheras vocant. et lignum autem et flos et foUa et cortex in eosdem 70 usus adhibentur, quamquam remissiora. datur sanguinem reicientibus cortex tritus et contra pro- fluvia feminarum, coehacis quoque. idem tunsus ^ Myrlcen ericam Mayhoff : Myricen iam ericam lanus, Lellefsen : muricen eam ericam codd. ^ sed ad lienem praecipua est] ita Detlefsen cvm codd. : et ad lienem praecipuam Mayhoff, qui fost tamaricen panctum . iollit. " See XVI. § 108. Perhaps, " never grows from seed." ' For coeliacus morhus see Celsus IV. 19 § 1. W. G. Spencer in his last note on that passage saj^s that Celsus appears to 52 BOOK XXIV. xLi. 67-XLii. 70 XLI. Lenaeus calls the myrice (tamarisk) erica Tamansk. (heath), comparing it to the brooms of Ameria. He says that boiled in wine, beaten up with honey, and appHed to cancerous sores it heals them. Some authorities consider it to be the same as tamarice. But it is specific for splenic trouble if its juice is extracted and drunk in wine ; so wonderful do they make out its antipathy to be to this internal organ, and to this only, that they affirm that if pigs drink out of troughs made of this wood they are found to be without a spleen. And for that reason they give to a man also, if he has an enlarged spleen, food and drink in vessels made of tamarisk. A respected medical authority, moreover, has asserted that a twig, broken off from it without its touching the ground or iron, reUeves belly-ache, if it be so appUed as to be pressed to the body by the tunic and the girdle. The common people, as I have said, call this tree imlucky, because it bears no fruit and never is planted.* XLII. Corinth and the part of Greece around it call Brya. brya a tree of which they distinguish two kinds : the wild, which is absolutely barren, and the cultivated. The latter in Egypt and Syria bears, and that abun- dantly, large-stoned fruit bigger than a gall-nut and bitter to the taste, which physicians use instead of gall-nuts in the medical mixtures which they call antherae. The wood also, and the blossom, leaves and bark, are used for the same purposes, although they are less potent. The pounded bark is given for the spitting of blood and for excessive menstruation, also to sufferers from coeliac disease.'' An appHcation of describe pyloric spasm and intestinal atony, referring also to Aretaeus II. 7 TTepl Koi.XiaK^s SiaSeaioj. See list of diseases, 53 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY inpositusque collectiones omnes inhibet. foliis ex- primitur sucus ad haec eadem. et in vino decocun- tur,^ ipsa vero adiecto melle gangraenis inlinuntur. decoctum eorum in vino potum vel ipsa ^ imposita 71 cum rosaceo et cera ^ sedant. sic et epinyctidas sanant, dentium dolori et aurium decoctum eorum salutare est, radix ad eadem similiter. folia hoc amplius ad ea quae serpunt inponuntur cum polenta. semen drachmae pondere adversus phalangia et araneos bibitur, cum altilium vero pingui furunculis inponitur. efficax et contra serpentium ictus praeter- 72 quam aspidum. nec non morbo regio, phthiriasi, lendibus decoctum infusum prodest abundantiamque muheruni sistit. cinis arboris ad omnia eadem pro- dest. aiunt, si bovis castrati urinae immisceatur vel in potu vel in cibo, venerem finiri. carbo ex eo genere urina ea restinctus in umbra conditur. idem cum libeat accendere "1" resolvitur j.* Magi id et spa- donis urina fieri tradiderunt. ^ deoocuntur: decoquitur com. Mayhoff puncto post eaidem deleto. ^ ipsa add. Sillig : lacunam indicat Mayhoff lanum secutus. ^ cera codd. : ceria Detlefsen. Fortasse ulcera pro et cera. * resolvitur codd. : restituitur Mayhoff : igni add. lo. Miiller. Vossius coni. carbo extincta venere \u-ina ea restinctus in umbra conditur, idem, si libeat accendere rursum, uritur. " Sedant here is apparently without a direct object. Detlef- sen has ceria, for which follicular abscesses see Celsus V. 28 § 13. Maj-hoff, recording this conjecture, adds non conveniens sedandi verho. But Pliny has tumorem and scabiem as direct objects of sedare. Perhaps we should read ulcera for et cera. * Either " night rash from flea bites " or an eye disease. See list of diseases. ' Two views have been taken of this sentence. One is that it gives the method of preparing the mixture to be used as an antaphrodisiac. This is the only meaning, I think, to be 54 BOOK XXIV. xLii. 70-72 the same bark pounded checks all kinds of gatherings. From the leaves is extracted a juice employed for the same purposes. The leaves ai-e also decocted in Mine ; but bv themselves with honey added thev are applied to gangrenous sores. A decoction of them taken in wine or the leaves themselves applied locally with rose oil and wax are soothing." So used they also cure epinyctis ; ^ a decoction of them is heal- ing to tooth-ache and ear-ache ; the root is similarly used for the same purposes. The leaves furthermore are apphed with pearl barley to spreading ulcers. A drachma by weight of the seed is taken in drink for the poison of phalangia and other spiders ; it is appHed however with chicken fat to boils. It is an antidote also to the poison of serpents except that of the asp. It is also good for jaundice, phthiriasis and nits, if a decoction is used as a Hniment, and this too checks excessive menstruation. The ash from the tree is good for all the same purposes. They say that if it is mixed with the urine of a castrated ox and taken in either drink or food it is antaphrodisiac. A burning coalof this wood is quenched with the urine mentioned and kept in the shade. This, when you want to hght it, crumbles to powder.'' The Magi have recorded that the urine of a eunuch also has the same effect. extracted from the reading of the MSS. Mayhofi's reslituitur requires venerem as the understood direct object oi accendere; in other words, the sentence gives, not a method of preparing the mixture, but one of counteracting it. The conjectures of Voss put this view far more ciearly. " A buming coal, when desire is quenched, is put out by such urine and stored in a shady place; if the wish to kindle desire comes back, the same coal is burned." The rekindling of the coal rekindles sexual desire by imitative magic. This interpretation com- mends itself to students of folk-lore, but is based on bokl and dubious conjecture. 55 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY 73 XLIII. Nec virga sanguinea felicior habetur. cortex eius interior cicatrices quae praesanuere aperit. XLIV. Sileris folia inlita fronti capitis dolores sedant. eiusdem semen contritum in oleo phthiria- sis coercet. serpentes et hunc fruticem fugiunt baculumque rustici ob id ex eo gerunt. 74 XLV. Ligustrum si eadem arbor est quae in oriente cypros, suos in Europa usus habet. sucus eius nervos, articulos, algores, folia ubique veteri ulceri, cum salis mica et oris exulcerationibus prosunt, acini contra phthiriasim, item contra intertrigines vel folia. sanant et gallinaceorum pituitas acini. XLVI. Folia alni ex ferventi aqua remedio sunt tumoris. 75 XLVII. Hederae genera viginti demonstravinius. natura omnium in medicina anceps. mentem turbat et caput purgat largius pota, nervis intus nocet, iisdem nervis adhibita foris prodest. eadem natura, quae aceto est, omnia genera eius refrigerant. urinam cient potu, capitis dolorem sedant, praecipue eerebro continentique cerebrum membranae utiliter " Inlinere is nearly always used of liniments and ointments, which can be smeared on the parts affected. Here apparently it is iised of leaves just placed on the forehead, tibe word used in such cases being generally imponere (see also § 76 below). Perhaps, however, the leaves are to be applied in some liquid or oily base. * Phthiriasis (phiral) in the Latin is a transliteration of the Greek deipiiaei^. ' Some verb seems to have fallen out here. Mayhoff con- jectures discuiit, which suits algores but not nervos or articulos. Curat would suit all three nouns; but, although curare ("to treat ") is used several times in Celsus with the meaning "to treat successfully," it is apparently not so found in Pliny. Brakman would supply sanat. See Mnemosyne 1930. 56 BOOK XXIV. xLiii. 73-.\Lvii. 75 XLIII. Nor is the red-twigged tree considered Cornet. more lucky. Its inner bark opens scars which have healed too soon. XLIV. The leaves of siler applied" to the fore- niur. head relieve headache. The seed of it too crushed in oil checks phthiriasis.** Serpents keep away from this shrub also, and for this reason rustics carry a walking stick made of it. XLV. Privet, if it is the same tree as the cypros of Privet. the East, has its own uses in Europe. Its juice benefits '^ sinews, joints and chills ; its leaves every- where are used to treat chronic ulcer and, with a sprinkhng of salt, sores in the mouth ; the berries are employed for phthiriasis, and the berries or the leaves for chafing between the thighs. The berries also cure the pip in chickens. XLVI. The leaves of the alder in very hot water rheaider. are a remedy for tumours. XLVII. I have pointed ouf twenty kinds of ivy. i»y. The medicinal properties of all are twofold in action. Ivy deranges the mind and also clears the head when taken too copiously in drink ; '^ taken internally it in- jures sinews, while an external appHcation does them good. All kinds of ivy, being of the same charac- ter as vinegar, are of a cooUng nature. They are diu- retic when taken in drink ; they relieve headache ; especially beneficial to the brain and to the membrane <* Book XVI. § 141 ff. « The word o.nceps in the preceding sentence, and the con- trasted nocet . . . prodest in the second clause of this, indicate that there is also a contrast in the first clause. The translation given above suggests that a strong dose is mentaUy harmful but physically beneticial, but it must be admitted that in the Latin the contrast would be plainer if for et were to be read at or sed (Mayhoff often reads set). But the MSS. show no variants. 57 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY mollibus inpositis foliis cum aceto et rosaceo tritis et 76 decoctis, addito postea rosaceo oleo. inlinuntur autem fronti, et decocto eorum fovetur os caputque perunguitur. lieni et pota et inlita prosunt. decoc- untur et contra horrores febrium eruptionesque pituitae aut in vino teruntur. corymbi quoque poti vel inliti lienem sanant, iocinera autem inliti. tra- hunt et menses adpositi. sucus hederae taedia narium graveolentiamque emendat, praecipue albae 77 sativae. idem infusus naribus caput purgat, effica- cius addito nitro. infunditur etiam purulentis auribus aut dolentibus cum oleo. cicatricibus quoque decorem facit. ad lienes efficacior albae ferro cale- factus. satis est acinos sex in vini cyathis duobus sumi. acini ex eadem alba terni in aceto mulso poti taenias pellunt, in qua curatione ventri quoque inposuisse eos utile est. hedera quam chrysocarpon appellavimus bacis aurei coloris viginti in \-ini sextario tritis, ita ut terni cyathi potentur, aquam quae cutem subierit urina educit. Erasistratus eiusdem acinos quinque tritos in rosaceo oleo calefactosque in cortice punici instillavit dentium dolori a contraria aure. 78 acini qui croci sucum habent praesumpti potu a crapula tutos praestant, item sanguinem excreantes • See XVI. § 147. 58 BOOK XXIV. xLvii. 75-78 enclosing it is an application of soft leaves pounded and boiled with vinegar and rose oil, more rose oil being added afterwards. They are also applied to the forehead, and a decoction of them is used to foment the mouth and to rub the head. They are good for the spleen whether taken in drink or used as Uniment. They are also boiled or beaten up in wine for the shivers of ague and for outbursts of phlegm. Clusters also of ivy berries cure splenic trouble, either taken in drink or appUed locally ; for Uver trouble, however, they must be appUed. Pessaries of berries promote menstruation. Ivy juice, especiaUy that of the white cultivated ivy, cures complaints and oifensive smeU of the nostrils. The same poured into the nostrils clears the head, more thoroughly if soda is added. It is also poured with oil into purulent or painful ears. It furthermore removes the ugly marks of scars. For troubles of the spleen the juice of the white kind warmed with hot iron is more efficacious. A sufficient dose is six ben-ies taken in two cyathi of wine. Berries of white ivy taken three at a time in oxymel expel tapeworms, and in this treatment it is also beneficial to apply the berries to the beUy. The ivy that I have caUed golden-berried " draws off in the urine the sub- cutaneous water of dropsy, if twenty of the golden berries are beaten up in a sextarius of wine and the mixture is drunk in doses of three cyathi. Erasis- tratus prescribed five berries of the same ivy, pounded in rose oil and warmed in the rind of a pomegranate, for tooth-ache, the injection to be made drop by drop into the ear opposite to the pain. If the berries that have a saftVon juice are taken in drink beforehand, they keep otFthe headache that foUows drinking ; they are Ukewise good for the spitting of blood and for 59 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY aut torminibus laborantes. hederae nigrae candi- diores corymbi poti steriles etiam \-iros faciunt. inlinitur decocta quaecumque in vino omni^ 79 ulcerum generi, etiamsi cacoethe sint. lacrima hederae psilotrum est phthiriasimque tolUt. flos cuiuscumque generis trium digitorum captu dysinte- ricos et al\"um citam emendat in vino austero bis die potus. et ambustis inhnitur utiliter cum cera. denigrant capillum corj^mbi, radicis sucus in aceto potus contra phalangia prodest. huius quoque Hgni 80 vaso splenicos bibentes sanari invenio. et acinos terunt moxque comburunt et ita inlinunt ambusta prius perfusa aqua calida. sunt et qui incidant suci gratia eoque utantur ad dentes erosos, frangique tradunt, proximis cera munitis ne laedantur. gummi etiam in hedera quaerunt, quam ex aceto utilissimam dentibus promittunt. 81 XLVIII. Graeci vicino vocabulo cisthon appellant fruticem maiorem thymo, foliis ocimi. duo eius genera : flos masculo rosaceus, feminae albus. ambo prosunt dysintericis et solutionibus ventris in vino austero ternis digitis flore capto et simihter bis die poto, ulceribus veteribus et ambustis cum cera et per se oris ulceribus. sub his maxime nascitur hypo- cisthis, quam inter herbas dicemus. ^ omni Mayhojf (Appendix) : omnium codd. " See XXVI. § 49. 6o BOOK XXIV. xLvii. 78-xLviii. 81 colic. The whiter clusters of the dark ivy taken in drink make even men sterile. A decoction in wine of any kind of ivy is applied locally to every kind of ulcer, even if it is malignant. The tears of the ivy act as a depikatory and remove phthiriasis. The blos- som of any sort of ivy, taken in dry wine twice a day, a three-finger pinch at a time, corrects dysentery and looseness of the bowels. With wax it is useful as an ointment for burns. The clustei-s turn the hair black. The juice of the root, taken in vinegar, is good for the bite of poisonous spiders. I find also that patients with diseases of the spleen are cured if they drink from a vessel made of this wood. They crush too the berries, then burn them, and in this way apply them to burns that have previously been bathed with warm water. There are also some who make incisions in ivy for the sake of the juice, which they use for decayed teeth ; they say that the teeth break otf, those nearest being protected by wax lest they should be injured. They obtain also a gum from ivy, which in vinegar is recommended as very useful for the teeth. XLVIII. The Greeks give the name cisthos, which Cisthos. is very hke cissos (ivy), to a shrub larger than thyme and with leaves hke those of ocimum. There are two kinds of it ; the flower of the male is rose-coloured, of the female, white. Both are good for dysentery and looseness of the bowels, the dose being as much of the blossom as can be taken in three fingers, this quantity to be swallowed in a dry wine twice a day ; for chronic ulcei's and for burns the blossom is appHed with wax, and by itself for ulcers in the mouth. It is especially under these shrubs that there grows the hypocisthis, which I shall describe "■ when I treat of herbs. 61 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY 82 XLIX. Cissos erythranos ab iisdem appellatur similis hederae, coxendicibus utilis e vino potus, item lumbis, tanta vi acini ut sanguinem urina detrahat. item chamaecisson appellant hederam non attol- lentem se a terra. et haec contunsa in vino acetabuli mensura lieni medetur, folia ambustis cum axungia. milax quoque, quae ^ anthophoros cognominatur, similitudinem hederae habet, tenuioribus foliis. coronam ex ea ^ factam inpari foliorum numero aiunt 83 capitis doloribus mederi. quidam duo genera milacis dixere : alterum ^ inmortalitati proximum ^ in con- valhbus opacis, scandentem arbores,* comantibus acinorum corymbis, contra venenata omnia efficacis- simum in tantum ut acinorum suco infantibus saepe instillato nuUa sint ^ postea venena nocitura. alterum genus culta amare et in his gigni, nullius effectus. illam esse milacem priorem cuius lignum ad aures 84 sonare diximus. similem huic aliqui clematida appellaverunt, repentem per arbores, geniculatam et ipsam. foha eius lepras purgant ; semen alvum solvit acetabuli mensura in aquae hemina aut aqua mulsa. datur ex eadem causa et decoctum eius. ^ quae Mayhoff : qul aut quia aut qui et codd. ^ ea Mayhojf : eo codd. * alterum proximum] alteram proximam Mayhoff. ^ arbores Ilermolaus Barharus : arborum codd. : arborem coni. Mayhoff. Inter arborum et comantibus lacunam statuit Urlichs, quem sequitur Detlefsen. ^ efficacissimum in tantum ut nulla sint etc. ego conicio: efficacissimi sine ut et sint cum codd., Detlef- sen : ut et {post nocitura) sint vidg. : efficacissime iuvantem Mayhoff, qui jjost suco dist. et quippe pro saepe coni. 62 BOOK XXIV. xLix. 82-84 XLIX. The plant called cissos erythranos by the Piants lUe Greeks is Uke ivy. Taken in wine it is good for '^' sciatica and lumbago ; so strong is the property of the berry that it brings away blood in the urine. Chamaecissos again is the name they give to an ivy that never rises from the ground. This too crushed in wine and taken in doses of an acetabulum cures splenic trouble ; the leaves with axle-grease are applied to bm-ns. The milax also, which has the further name of anthophoros (flower-bearer), has a Ukeness to the ivy, though the leaves are more slender. A chaplet of it made with an odd number of leaves is said to be a cure for headache. Some authorities have declared that there are two kinds of milax. One is very nearly everlasting, grows in shaded valleys, is a cUmberof treesjbearsberriesin luxuriant clusters,and is most efficacious against all poisonous things to such a degree that, if the juice of the berries is repeatedly administered " in drops to babies, no poison will here- after do them anv harm. The other kind is said to be fond of cultivated ground and to grow there, having no medicinal value. The former milax they state to be the one the wood of which, we said,** gives out a sound when placed close to the ear. Like it is the plant that some have called clematis,'^ which cUmbs along trees and is itself jointed. Its leaves cleanse leprous sores ; its seed loosens the bowels if an acetabulum of it is taken in a hemina of water or in hydromel. A decoction of it is administered for the same purpose. " Instillato is difficult. The verb is often used of dropping into the ears, and that may be the meaning here, but aurihus would be expeeted. Perhaps Pliny wrote infantium auribus, which might easily be " telescoped " into injantibus. * See XVI. § 155. "" See Index of Plants. 63 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 85 L. Harundinis genera xxviii demonstravimus, non aliter evidentiore illa naturae vi quam continuis his voluminibus tractamus, siquidem harundinis radix contrita inposita filicis stirpem corpore extrahit, item harundinem filicis radix. et quo plura genera faciamus,^ illa quae in ludaea^ Syriaque nascitur odorum unguentorumque causa. urinam movet cum gramine aut apii semine decocta, ciet et menstrua 86 admota. medetur convulsis duobus obolis pota, iocineri, renibus, hydropi, tussi etiam suffitu magisque cum resina, furfuribus ulcerumque manantibus cum murra decocta. excipitur et sucus eius fitque elaterio similis. efficacissima in omni harundine quae pro- xima radici,^ efficaciora genicula. harundo Cypria, quae donax vocatur, corticis cinere alopecias emen- 87 dat, item putrescentia ulcera. foliis eius ad extra- hendos aculeos utuntur, efficacibus et contra ignes sacros coUectionesque omnes. vulgaris harundo extractoriam vim habet * recens tusa, non in radice tantum, multi ^ enim et ipsam harundinem tradunt. medetur et luxatis et spinae doloribus radix in aceto inhta, eadem recens trita et in vino pota venerem concitat. harundinum lanugo inlata auribus obtun- dit auditum. ^ faciamus Detlefsen : facimus aut fecimus codd. ^ ludaea MayJiojf, Detlefsen, ciim codd. : India Herniolaus Barbarus. ^ radici aut radice codd. : a radice Detlefsen. * Hic in codd. et scriptum est. ' multi Detlefsen : in mulso Mayhoff, qui Cels. V. 26, 35 coHJert : multu codd. 64 BOOK XXIV. L. 85-87 L. I have pointed out ^ twenty-eight kinds of reed, Heeds. and nowhere is more obvious that force of Nature which I describe in these books one after an- other, if indeed the root of the reed, crushed and applied, draws a fern stem out of the flesh, while the root of the fern does the same to a sphnter of reed. To increase the number of the various reeds there is that which grows in Judaea and Syria and is used for scents and unguents ; boiled down with grass or celery seed this is diuretic, and when made into a pessary acts as an emmenagogue. A cure for sprains, for troubles of the Hver and of the kid- neys, and for dropsy, is two oboU taken in drink ; for a cough also inhalation is used, the addition of resin being an improvement ; for scurf and running sores is used a decoction with myrrh. Its juice also is collected and made into a drug Uke elaterium. Of aU reeds the parts nearest the root are the most efiicacious, and the joints are more efficacious ** than other parts. The Cyprian reed, caUed donax, has a bark which, reduced to ash, is a remedy for mange and also for festering sores. Its leaves are used for extracting splinters, and are also good for erysipelas and for aU gatherings. The common reed has the power to extract if freshly pounded, and not the root only, for many hold that the reed itself too has this property. The root appUed in vinegar cures dislocations and pains of the spine ; the same ground fresh and taken in wine is aphrodisiac. The down on reeds placed in the ears deadens the hearing. " See XVI. § 156 ff. *" Another possible rendering is " the parts nearest the root are very elficacious and the joints are more efficacious stiU." 65 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 88 LI. Cognata in Aegypto res est harundini papy- rum/ praecipuae utilitatis, cum inaruit, ad laxandas siccandasque fistulas et intumescendo ad introitum medicamentorum aperiendas. charta quae fit ex eo cremata inter caustica est. cinis eius ex vino potus somnum facit, ipsa ex aqua inposita callum sanat. 89 LII. Ne in Aegypto quidem nascitur hebenus, ut docuimus, nec tractamus in medicina alienos orbes, non omittetur tamen propter miraculum. scobem eius oculis unice mederi dicunt, lignoque ad cotem trito cum passo caliginem discuti, ex aqua vero radice albugines oculorum, item tussim pari modo dracun- culi radicis adiecto cum melle. hebenum medici et inter erodentia adsumunt. 90 LIII. Rhododendros ne nomen quidem apud nos invenit Latinum, rhododaphnen vocant aut nerium. mirum folia eius quadripedum venenum esse, homini vero contra serpentes praesidium ruta addita e vino pota. pecus etiam et caprae, si aquam biberint in qua folia ea maduerint, mori dicuntur. 91 LIV. Nec rhus Latinum nomen habet, cum in usum pluribus modis veniat. nam et herba est silvestris, fohis myrti, cauUculis brevibus, quae taenias ' Nonnulli papyrus malint. " Both Littre and the Bohn translators understand herba with ipsa, translating as in the text. But the sudden change of gender from neuter to feminine is startUng, and perhaps with ipsa is to be understood charta. » See XII. § 17. ' These are all Greek words : pohoSevSpos or poSoSevSpov (rose tree), poSoSa^vTj (rose bay) and vqpiov. The shrub is 66 BOOK XXIV. Li. 88-Liv. 91 LI. Akin to the reed is a plant growing in Egypt, Papyrus. the papyrus, which, when it has been dried, is especi- ally useful for expanding and drying fistulas, and, by swelling, for opening them to admit medicaments. The paper made fi-om it is, when burnt, one of the caustic remedies. Its ash taken in wine induces sleep. The plant " itself appUed with water cures callosities. LII. Not even in Egypt does the ebony-tree grow, EOony. as I have stated,* and in my medical research I omit foreign regions ; yet I must not pass it by, as it is a great marvel. Its sawdust is said to be a sovereign remedy for the eyes ; its wood, ground on the whet- stone and mixed with raisin wine, to dispel dimness of vision ; its root, appHed however in water, to dis- perse white specks on the eyes ; cough too to be cleared away if an equal measure of dracunculus root is added along with honey. Physicians include ebony among erosive remedies. LIII. The rhododendros <^ has not even found a. oiemder. Latin name among the Romans, names for it being rhododaphne " or nerium.'' It is a strange fact that, while its leaves are poisonous to quadrupeds, to man on the other hand, if rue is added and the mixture taken in wine, they are a protection against the poison of snakes. Sheep too and goats, if they drink water in which these leaves have been steeped, are said to be killed by it. LIV. Neither has rhus received a Latin name, rims. although many uses are made of it. For it is both a wild plant with myrtle-like leaves and short stems, which expels tapewoi'ms, and also the shi-ub called desciibed by Dioscorides (IV. 81, Wellmann). See Index of Plants. 67 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY pellit, et frutex coriarius appellatur, subrutilus, cubitalis, crassitudine digitali, cuius aridis foliis ut 92 malicorio coria perficiuntur. medici autem rhoicis utuntur ad contusa, item coeliacos et sedis ulcera aut quae phagedaenas vocant. trita cum melle et inlita cum aceto * * * decoctum eorum instillatur auribus purulentis. fit et stomatice decoctis ramis ad eadem quae ex moris, sed efficacior admixto alumine. inlinitur eadem hydropicorum tumori. 93 LV. Rhus qui erythros appellatur semen est huius fruticis. vim habet adstringendi refrigerandique. adspergitur pro sale obsoniis alvo soluta, omnesque carnes cum silphio sua^iores facit. medetur ulceri- bus manantibus cum melle, asperitati hnguae, per- cussis Uvidis, desquamatis ; eodem modo capitis vulnera ad cicatricem celerrime perducit, feminarum abundantiam sistit cibo. 94 LVI. Aha res ei-ythrodanum, quam aliqui ereutho- danum vocant, nos rubiam, qua tinguntur lanae pellesque perficiuntur. in medicina urinam ciet, morbum regium sanat ex aqua mulsa, et hchenas ex aceto inhta, ischiadicos, paralyticos ita ut bibentes laventur cotidie. radix semenque trahunt menses, alvum sistunt et collectiones discutiunt. contra " Dioscorides (I. 108, Wellmann) has Trrepvyid re Kal (^aycSatVas eTrej^et KaTaTrAaCTaofxeva to. ^JAAa /xer' o^ovs t] f^eXiTos. This suggests pteryrjia sistunt or sanant as part of the lost ■words. * The corresponding sentence in Dioscorides (I. 108, Well- mann) is interesting. K-ai o Kapiros 8e to. avTo. TToiel, apno^cuv ev TTpoaothrifxaai KOLXiaKois Kai BvaevTepiKOis, a(f>XeyfiavTd re rrjpei avv fieXiri KaraTrXaadels dXdafiara, drroavpfiara, TTeAito/iara, yXwTTTfs re TpaxvTrjras api.rixei avv fieXiTi Kai XevKov povv laTrjaiv. 68 BOOK XXIV. Liv. 91-LV1. 94 " the tanner's ", of a reddish colour, a cubit high, and of the thickness of a finger, the leaves of which when dried are used as is pomegranate rind in the tanning of leather. Physicians moreover use the leaves of rhus for bruises, hkewise for coeliac trouble, sores in the seat and for what they call eating (phagedaenic) ulcers. Pounded with honey and appHed with vine- gar . . .'' a decoction of them is dropped into sup- purating ears. A decoction of the branches makes a mouth-wash, which is used for the same purposes as that made from mulberries, but it is more efficacious when mixed with alum. This is also apphed to drop- sical swellings. LV. What is called rhus erythros (red sumach) is Rhuseryih the seed of this shrub. It has astringent and cooUng '^"'^" properties. It is sprinkled on viands instead of salt when the bowels have been relaxed, and with silphium added makes all meat sweeter. With honey it cures running sores, roughness of the tongue, and Hvid or excoi'iated bruises ; applied in the same way it very quickly causes wounds on the head to cicat- rize.'' Taken as food it checks excessive menstru- ation. LVI. A different plant is erythrodanum, called by Ert/thro- some ereuthodanum, and rubia by the Romans, which is used to dye wool and to tan leather. As a medicine it is diuretic, and taken in hydromel cures jaundice (lichen too if applied with vinegar), sciatica and paralysis if the patient bathes daily while taking the draught.'^ The root and the seed are emmenagogues, check diarrhoea and disperse gatherings. The " The qualifying clause may be taken with paralyticos only or with it and ischiadicos. From et to inliia is a parenthesis, and is marked as such by Mayhoflf. 69 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY serpentes rami cum foliis inponuntur. folia et capillum inficiunt. invenio apud quosdam morbum regium sanari hoc frutice etiam si alligatus spectetur tantum. 05 LVII. Distat ab eo qui alysson vocatur foliis tantum et ramis minoribus ; nomen accepit quod a cane morsos rabiem sentire non patitur ex aceto potus adalligatusque ; mirum est quod additur, saniem conspecto omnino frutice eo siccari. 96 LVIII. Tinguentibus et radicula lanas praeparat quam struthion a Graecis vocari diximus. medetur morbo regio et ipsa pota ^ et decoctum eius, item pectoris vitiis ; urinam ciet, alvum solvit, vulvas purgat, quamobrem aureum potorium medici vo- cant. ea et ex melle pi-odest^ magnifice ad tussim, orthopnoeae coclearis mensura, cum polenta vero et 97 aceto lepras tollit. eadem cum panace et capparis radice calculos frangit pellitque, panos discutit cuni farina hordeacia et vino decocta. miscetur et malag- matis et collyriis claritatis causa, sternutamento ^ pota et decoctum eius, item pectoris vitiis ; urinam ciet, alvum solvit, vulvas purgat, quamobrem aureum potorium medici vocant. ea et ex melle prodest ego : et decoctum eius potu, item pectoris vitiis. urinam ciet, alvum solvit. et vulvas purgat, quam ob rem aureum neaaov medici vocant ex ea. e melle prodest Mayhoff: decocto eius poto, item pectoris vitiis. urinam ciet, alvum solvit et vuivas purgat, quamobrem aureum poterion medici vocant. ea et ex melle prodest Dellefsen : ipsa aitt ipsam sine et ante decoctum; decoeta; potu aut poto aut pota; pecion aut pectori aut petition; ex ea et codd. Cf. XXXIII. § 136 mille convivas totidem aureis potoriis. « Sanies is said by Celsus (V. 26, 20) to be thinner than blood, varying both in thickness and colour, while pus is the thickest and whitest of the three, more stieky than either sanies or blood. Pliny is thinking of the discharge from a dog-bite. 70 BOOK XXIV. Lvi. 94-Lviii. 97 branches with the leaves are applied for snake-bites. The leaves also dye the hair. I find in some author- ities that jaundice is cured if this shrub is merely looked at while worn as an amulet. LVII. The plant called alysson diifers from the last Aiysson. only in having smaller leaves and bi-anches. It has received its name because it prevents persons bitten by a dog from going mad if they take it in vinegar and wear it as an amulet. The authorities add the wonderful marvel that the mere sight of this shrub dries up sanies." LVIII. Radicula too prepares wools for the dyers ; Radicuia. I have said** that it is called struthion by the Greeks. It cures jaundice both when taken by itself in drink and in the form of a decoction, and likewise chest troubles ; it promotes urine, loosens the bowels and purges the uterus, for which reason physicians call it " golden goblet " .' With honey too it is a splendid remedy for a cough, and in doses of a spoonful for orthopnoea ; but with pearl barley and vinegar it removes leprous sores. Again, with panaces ^ and caper root it breaks up and expels stone in the bladder, and a decoction with barley meal and wine disperses superficial abscesses. It is used as an in- gredient of poultices, and of eye-salves to improve * See XIX. § 48. ° The text has suSered in this sentence through probably the sleepiness of a scribe. I have tried to restore the sense and the gramniar while retaining as many vvords of the MSS. as possible. I suggest foiorium because of XXXIII. § 136; otherwise polerion (Sillig and Detlefsen) or poculwm (the vulgate reading) would suit the passage. The objection to Mayhoff's ingenious Treaaov is that it would apply only to vulvas purgal. ^ See Index of Plants. 71 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY utilis inter pauca, lieni quoque ac iocineri. eadem pota denarii unius pondere ex aqua mulsa suspiriosos sanat, sic et pleuriticos et omnes lateris dolores. 98 Apocyni semen ex aqua — frutex est folio hederae, molliore tamen, et minus longis viticulis, semine acuto, diviso, lanuginoso, gravi odore — canes et omnes quadripedes necat in cibo datum. 99 LIX. Dictum ^ rosmarinum est. duo genera eius : alterum sterile, alterum cui et caulis et semen resinaceum, quod caehrys vocatur. foliis odor turis. radix vulnera sanat viridis inposita et sedis proci- dentia, condylomata, haemorrhoidas, sucus et fruticis et radicis morbum regium et ea quae repurganda 100 sunt. oculorum aciem exacuit. semen ad vetera pectoris vitia datur potui et ad vulvas cum vino et pipere, menses adiuvat, podagris inhnitur cum aerina farina, purgat etiam lentigines et quae excalfacienda sint, aut cum sudor quaerendus, inlitum, item con- vulsis. auget et lacte in vino potum, item radix. ipsa herba strumis cum aceto inhnitur, ad tussim cum melle prodest. 101 LX. Cachrys multa genera habet, ut diximus. sed haec quae ex rore supra dicto nascitur, si frice- tur, resinosa est. adversatur venenis et venenatis praeterquam anguibus. sudores movet, tormina discutit, lactis ubertatem facit. 1 dictum add. Urlichs : post rosmarinum irans. Mayhoff. « See XIX. § 187. * See Celsus VI. 18, 8. ' See XVI. § 30, where the cachrys is said to be the pilula of the oak, fir, larch, pitch pine, linden, nut (chestnut ?) and plane. Pliny also uses the word for the capsule of rosemary. Theo- phrastus IX. xi. 10 calls Kaxpv (neuterj the fruit of the libanotis. 72 BOOK XXIV. Lviii. 97-Lx. loi the vision ; it is especially useful for making the patient sneeze, and also for troubles of the spleen and Hver. The same plant taken in hydromel in doses of one denarius by weight cures asthma and pleurisy and all pains in the side. Dog's-bane is a shrub having a leaf like that of ivy Dog's-bane but softer ; the tendrils are shorter, and the seed is pointed, grooved, dow^ny, and strong smelling. If | ffiven in their food this seed in water kills doffs and all other quadrupeds. LIX. Rosemary has been mentioned ah-eady.'' Hosemaiy. There are two kinds of it ; one is barren, and the other has a stalk and a resinous seed called cachrys. The leaves have the smell of frankincense. A local application of the fresh root heals wounds, prolapsus of the anus, condylomata,'' and haemorrhoids. The juice both of the shrub and of the root cures jaun- dice and such conditions as call for cleansing. It sharpens the eyesight. The seed is given in drink for chronic complaints of the chest and with wine and pepper for uterine trouble ; it is an emmenagogue, and with darnel meal is applied locally for gout ; an application also clears away freckles, and is used when a calorific or sudorific is called for, also for sprains ; milk is increased when it, and when the root, is taken in wine. The herb itself is applied with vinegar to scrofuloiis sores, and with honey is good for a cough. LX. There are, as I have said, many kinds o( Cachrys. cachrys.'' But the one growing on rosemary, the plant just described, is resinous if rubbed. It neutralizes poisons, and the venom of all creatures except snakes. It promotes perspiration, dispels coUc, and produces a rich supply of milk. 73 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY 102 LXI. Herba Sabina brathy appellata a Graecis duorum generum est, altera tamarici folio similis, altera cupressi. quare quidam Creticam cupressum dixerunt. a multis in suffitus pi-o ture adsumitur, in medicamentis vero duplicato pondere eosdem effec- tus habere quos cinnamum traditur. collectiones minuit et nomas conpescit, inlita ulcera purgat, partus emortuos adposita extrahit et suffita. inli- nitur igni sacro et carbunculis cum melle ^ ; ex vino pota regio morbo medetur. galHnacii generis pituitas fumo eius herbae sanari tradunt. 103 LXII. Similis herbae huic Sabinae est selago appellata. legitur sine ferro dextra manu per tunicam qua ^ sinistra exuitur ^ velut a furante, candida veste vestito pureque lautis nudis pedibus, sacro facto prius quam legatur pane vinoque. fertur in mappa nova. hanc contra perniciem omnem habendam prodidere Di'uidae Gallorum et contra omnia oculorum vitia fumum eius prodesse. 104 LXIII. Idem samolum herbam nominavere nas- centem in umidis, et hanc sinistra manu legi a ieiunis ^ lia dist. Val. Rose et Mayhoff : ex codd. : carbunciilis, cum melle et vino viilg., Detlejsen. ^ qua plerique codd., Detlefsen: operta Maylioff: fortasse quieta. ' exuitur codd., Detlefsen : eruitur vulg., Mayhoff : exeritur C. F. W. Miiller, fortasse recte. " I do not think that there is any need to depart from the MSS., except, perhaps, to alter exnitur to exeritur with C. F. W. Miiller. The reason for the proposed changes is to make sinistra ablative, some old editions and the MS. X actually adding manu. It is true that the left hand is usually the one used in this kind of magic (XXI. § 176, XXVII. §§ 36, 117), but 74 BOOK XXIV. Lxi. I02-LXIII. 104 LXI. Sabine herb, called brathy by the Greeks, is of sarm. two kinds. One has a leaf like that of the tamarisk, the other hke that of the cypress, for which reason some have called it the Cretan cypress. Many use it instead of frankincense for fumigations ; in medicines moreover a double dose is said to be equivalent in strenffth to a sing-le dose of cinnamon. It reduces gatherings and checks corroding sores ; an appHcation cleanses ulcers, and used as a pessary or for fumigation it bi-ings away the dead foetus. With honey it is used as an ointment for erysipelas and carbuncles ; taken in wine it cures jaundice. By fumigation sabine herb is said to cure the pip in chickens. LXII. Like this sabine herb is the plant called selago Seiago. It is gathered without iron with the right hand, thrust under the tunic through the left arm-hole, as though the gatherer were thieving." He should be clad in white, and have bare feet washed clean ; before gathering he should make a sacrificial offering of bread and wine. The plant is carried in a new napkin. The Druids of Gaul have recorded that it should be kept on the person to ward off all fatalities, and that the snioke of it is good for all diseases of the eyes. LXIII. The same authorities have called samolus Samolus. (brook-weed) a plant growing in moist regions,'' which (they say) is to be gathered with the left hand here the right hand pretends to be the left and deceives the plant, taking it by surprise bcfore its virtue can slip away. Such deception of e.g. rice is still common in the East. MayhoS's text gives : " the right hand being covered by the tunic, it is torn off by the left hand etc." ' I think that e( before hanc is " and " not " also." The latter meaning would make necessary a radical reconstruction of § 103. But there seem to be contrasts between the two cases, chx(ra){sinislra and sacro fac(o pa7ie vinoque){a ieiunis. One is tempted to suggest at for et. 75 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY contra morbos suum boumque, nec respicere legen- tem, neque alibi quam in canali deponere, ibi con- terere poturis. 105 LXIV. Cummium genera diximus. in his maiores effectus melioris cuiusque erunt. dentibus inutiles sunt, sanguinem coagulant et ideo reicientibus sanguinem prosunt, item ambustis, arteriae vitiis inutiles, urinam cient, amaritudines hebetant.^ adstrictis ceteris, quae ex amygdala amara est spissandisque visceribus efficacior, habet excalfac- 106 torias vires. postponuntur ^ prunorum autera et cerasorum ac vitium. siccant inlitae et adstringunt, ex aceto vero infantium lichenes sanant, prosunt et tussi veteri quattuor obolis in musto ^ potis. creduntur et colorem gratiorem facere ciborumque adpeten- ^ Sic dist. Mayhoff. hebetant, adstrictis ceteris. quae ex amygdala amara est, spissandique (sic multi codd.) viribus efficacior vulg. : adstrictis ceteris visceribus, quae ex amygdala amara est, spissandique efficacior Detlefsen ( Urlichs secutus) : hebetant. adstrictoriis ceteris, quae ex amygdala amara est spissandisque visceribas efficacior Mayhoff. ^ postponuntur Dellefsen coll. XIII. § 66 : deterior ex amygdalis amaris et ceraso, pessima e prunis : proponuntur codd., Maylioff. ^ musto Sillig, lanus, vet. Dal. : mixto codd., Mayhoff. « Book XIII. §§ 66 fF. * If with Mayhoff we put a fuU stop at hebetant and a comma at ceteris we can malie sense of this passage without emendation. As is pointed out in Forcellini, adstrictu^ some- times means " astringens, acerbus, arpv(f>v6s." Cf. XXVII § 121, gustu adslricto. If the fuU stop is put at celeris, some word meaning " properties ", e.g. viribus, must be understood with it : " gums deaden bitterness, and their properties generally are astringent." The other pimctuation seems better. Possibly there is a lacuna after amara. Dioscorides I 123, ro 8e Koixyn avr^s (sc. dfivyBoArjS mKpds) arv<^ei Kdi /6 BOOK XXIV. Lxiii. 104-LXIV. 106 by fasting persons to keep ofF the diseases of swine and oxen. As one gathers it one must not look at it, nor place the plant anywhere except in the trough, where it should be crushed for the animals to drink. LXIV. I have raentioned ^* the different kinds of Gnms. gums. The better the sort of each kind the more potent its effect. Gums are injurious to the teeth, coagulate blood and therefore benefit those who spit blood ; they are also good for burns though bad for affections of the trachea ; they promote urine and lessen the bitter taste in things. Gums generally are acrid,* but the gum that comes from bitter almonds, and is more efficacious for giving astringency to the internal organs, possesses heating properties. The gums from plums, cherries and vines are less esteemed. An application of gum has drying and astringent pi-operties, in vinegar moreover it cures lichens on babies, and four oboU taken in must "^ are good for a chronic cough. Gums are beUeved to improve the complexion and also the appetite ; they Oepnaivei, shows that the bitter almond is referred to, but the riin of the sentence makes us expect a nominative adjective to be joined to efficacior. Perhaps — it is only a guess — the sentence should run : adstriclis celeris, qiiae ex amygdala amara (excipitur amaray est spissandisque visceribus efficacior ; habet excalfactorias vires. The logic of the passage would be that other gums lessen bitter tastes, but gum from bitter almonds is itself bitter. ' It is difRcult to make sense here of in mixto, " in a mix- ture." Moreover, in is not the usual preposition in such phrases, but ex or citm. This objection, of course, applies to mnsto as much as to mixto. Musto, however, is probably right, although immixtarum, " four oboli of mixed gums " would suit the sense of the passage and avoid the difficulty of in. But were immixtaru the original reading, it is hard to understand why it was altered to in mixto. 77 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY tiam, et calculosis prodesse cum passo potae. ocu- lorum et vulnerum utilitatibus maxime conveniunt. 107 LXV. Spina Arabica — spinae Aegyptiae ^ laudes in odorum loco diximus — et ipsa stringit spissatque destillationes omnes et sanguinis excreationes men- suinque gibundantiam, etiamnum radice valentior. 108 LX\T. Spinae albae semen contra scorpiones auxiliatur. corona ex ea inposita capitis dolores minuit. est huic similis quam Graeci acanthion vocant, minoribus multo foliis, aculeatis per extremi- tates et araneosa lanugine obductis, qua collecta etiam vestes quaedam bombycinis similes fiunt in oriente. ipsa folia vel radices ad remedia opistho- toni bibuntur. 109 LXVII. Et acacia e^ spina fit in Aegypto alba nigra- que arbore, item viridi,^ sed longe meliore ^ prioribus. fit et in Galatia deterrima spinosiore arbore. semen 1 Spina Arabica — spinae Aegj'ptiae Mayhojf: spinae Arabicae Urlichs, Detlefsen: spina (-ae) aegyptia(-ae) spinae arabicae codd. 2 acacia e Hard., Mayhojf : acaciae plerique codd., Detlefsen. ^ viridi EX i-ulg., Mayhoff: viridis reliqni codd., Dellefsen. * meliore Urlichs, Mayhoff: melior e aliquot codd., Sillig : melior Detlefsen. " Book XIII. § 63, where, however, Pliny makes no mention of the Arabian thom. The text in § 107 is obviously corrupt in the MSS. ; Mayhofi" (Appendix p. 484) calls it a locus des- peratus. Either Pliny spoke of both thorns or he mentioned only the Arabian, forgetting what he had said in XIII. 63. A scribe was likely enough, if Pliny made this mistake, to add a mention of the Egj^ptian thom ; but if Pliny had spoken only of the Egvptian a scribe would not be likely to add the Arabian. So we caneithertry to harmonize what issaid of the two thorns, with Mayhoff, or omit all reference to the Egyptian thorn, with Urlichs and Detlefsen. That Pliny is thinking of the spina Arabica is shown by Dioscorides III. 13 : aTV(f>ovaa, Kal irpos 78 BOOK XXIV. Lxiv. 106-LXV11. 109 are good for stone when taken with raisin wine. They are espeeially useful for the eyes and for wounds. LXV. The Arabian thorn — I have mentioned" the jrabian merits of the Egyptian thorn in my section on scents — even by itself by its thickening nature checks all fluxes, spitting of blood and excessive menstruation, and there is even more potency in its root. LXVI. The seed of the white thorn is a help whUeihc against the stings of scorpions, and a crown of it when worn lessens headache. Like it is the plant called acanthion by the Greeks, but this has much smaller leaves, which have prickly points and are covered \Aith down like cobweb. In the East this is even gathei*ed to make a silk-Uke cloth.'' The leaves by themselves,<^ or the roots, are taken in drink as a cure for opisthotonic tetanus. LXVII. A gum also is produced in Egypt from the Acacias. acacia-thorn, from a pale tree and a dark, and hke- wise from a green tree, which is far better than the former two.'^ Gum is also produced in Galatia ; it is very inferior, and comes from a more thorny tree than povv •yvvaiKeZov koX TTpos dvaYUjyrjv alfiaros Kal TTpos aXXovs pev- fxaTiafiOvs rj ol^a TTapaTT\r}aiws evOiTel (of the aKavOa ApajSihrij). For spina see Index of Plants. * Not real silk, but obtained from the caterpillar of Lasio- campa otus, from which vesfes Coae were made. ' Ipsa seems here, as often in Pliny, to mean that no other ingredient is added to the remedy. It is uncertain, however, whether the leaves are to be swallowed, perhaps beaten up, in water or wine, or whether an infusion is to be made of leaves or root. The latter way of preparing the medicine would be more natural, but the usual verb for it is decoquere. "* The text seems to be corrupt here beyond reconstruction. I print Mayhoff's text. Detlefsen's would give : " An acacia thorn grows in Egypt, both with a palo and with a dark tree : and also a green one, which is far superior to the others." Acacia can mean either the tree or the gum from it. 79 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY omnium lenticulae simile, minore tantum et grano et folliculo. colligitur autumno, ante collectum nimio validius spissat. sucus ex folliculis aqua caelesti perfusis, mox in pila tusis exprimitur organis, tunc densatur in sole mortariis in pastillos. fit et ^ foliis minus efficax. ad coria perficienda semine pro 110 galla utuntur. folioi-um sucus et Galaticae acaciae nigerrimus inprobatur, item qui valde rufus. pur- purea aut leucophaea et quae facillime diluitur — \is ^ summa ad spissandum refrigerandumque est — oculorum medicamentis ante alia utiles^. lavantur in eos usus pastilli, ab alils torrentur, ab aliis perur- untur. capillum tingunt, sanant ignem sacrum, ulcera quae sei-punt et umida vitia corporis, col- lectiones, articulos contusos, perniones, pterygia. abundantiam mensum in feminis sistunt vulvamque et sedem procidentes, item oculos, oris ulcera et genitalium. 111 LXVIII. Vulgaris quoque haec spina ex qua aenae fulloniae inplentur radicis * usus habet. per Hispanias quidem multi et inter odores et ad un- guenta utuntur illa aspalathum vocantes. est sine 1 et codd. et edd. ; a« ex ? Posl mortariis add. et digeritur Warmington. ^ vis cum aliquot codd. Mayhoff, qui dist. td in textu. Fortasse: vi . . . TeMgeT&ndum sunt, ut ipse 3Iayhoff coni. ' utiles codd., Mayhoff : utilis Sillig, Detlefsen. * radicis] a/i radiculae legendurnl Sed vide XII. § 110 radix {sc. aspalathi) unguentis expetitur. " Perhaps mortariis should be deleted as a gloss on either pila or organis. 8o BOOK XXIV. LXVII. lOQ-LXVIII. III the others. The seed of all the trees is like the lentil, only both grain and pod are smaller. It is gathered in autumn ; if gathered earlier, its tonic pro- perties are too powerful. The pods are steeped in rain-water and then pounded in a mortar. The juice is then extracted from them by presses, and finally thickened into lozenges by exposure to the sun in basins." A juice is also extracted from the leaves, but it is less efficacious. For tanning leather they use the seed instead of gall-nuts. The juice of the leaves and of the Galatian acacia is very dark, and considered of httle vahie, as is also the juice of the deep-red kind. The purple gum, the dun- coloured, and that which dissolves most easily — these have the highest tonic and cooling quali- ties '^ — are particularly useful for eye-salves. For these purposes the lozenges are washed by some, roasted by others and by others thoroughlv burnt. Thev dye the hair, and cure erysipelas, creeping ulcers, moist complaints of the body,*^ gather- ings, bruised joints, chilblains and hangnails.'' They check excessive menstruation in women and are good for prolapsus of the uterus and anus, also for the eyes and for sores of the mouth and of the genitals. LXVm. Our common thorn also, from which the uiher thom fullers' coppers are filled, has a root with uses. Throughout the Spains, man}' use it as a scent and as an ingredient of ointments, calHng it aspalathus. * Mayhoffs conjecture, sunl for esl, with vi of the MSS. retained, is perhaps simpler. The sense, however, is not altered. ' Perhaps excessive or offensive persjiiration. " The eye-complaint may be referred to here. PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY dubio hoc nomine spina silvestris in oriente, ut diximus, candida, magnitudine et ai-boris iustae, 112 (LXIX) sed et frutex humilior, aeque spinosus, in Nisyro^ et Rhodiorum insulis,quem alii erysisceptrum, alii sphagnon,^ Syri diaxylon vocant. optimus qui minime ferulaceus, rubens aut in purpuram vergens 113 detracto cortice. nascitur pluribus locis, sed non ubique odoratus. quam vim haberet caelesti arcu in eum innixo diximus. sanat taetra oris ulcera et ozaenas, genitaha exulcerata aut carbunculantia, item rhagadia, inflationes potu discutit et strangurias. cortex sanguinem reddentibus medetur. decoctum eius alvum sistit. similia praestare silvestrem quoque putant. 114 LXX. Spina est appendix appellata, quoniam bacae puniceo colore in ea appendices vocantur. hae crudae per se et aridae in vino decoctae alvum citam ac tormina conpescunt. pyracanthae bacae contra serpentium ictus bibuntur. 115 LXXI. Pahurus quoque spinae genus est. semen eius Afri zuram vocant, contra scorpiones efficacissi- mum, item calculosis et tussi. folia adstrictoriam vim ^ Hic coll. Diosc. Syria add. Warmington. ^ sphagnon] phasganon Pintianus, Mayhoff. " See Book XII. § 110. Dioscorides (I. 20, Wellmann) has : dandXados , ol 8e ipvoiaKrjTTTpov, oi Se a nubeculas inuncta vulg. in vino cocta ante inuncta addito : utilissimum [cum lacunae signo] — inunctus lanus, Detlefsen : utilis suco ad cicatrices, caligines, nubeculas invmcto Mayhoff: utilissimum et . . . inuncto rtM< inunctaa^/i iniunctus cof?(i. ^ Sic dist. Mayhoff. ^ septem Detlefsen, codd. : septenis Mayhoff. " The text of this sentence is most uncertain, Perhaps Pliny wrote hurriedly or carelessly ; in aridis, petrosis, a loose ablative with nothing to depend on, suggests that he did so. The text of Detlefsen is impossible to translate without filling 96 BOOK XXIV. Lxxxii. 133-LXXXV. 135 An application of the leaves also cleanses ulcers. It is said that if anyone before sunrise says while phick- 1 ing it that he does so " to cure vvhite spots in the eyes," it disperses this affection if worn as an amulet; but that, in whatever way it is gathered, it is beneficial for the eyes of beasts of burden and of cattle. LXXXIII. The chamaesyce (" ground fig ") has chamjnorrho,ior. attracted her the day before in a shrubbery. Opera- phoMa. tions were going on in Lacetania, the part of Spain nearest to Italy, and by chance it happened that the soldier, after being bitten by a dog, was beginning to show a horror of water, when a letter arrived from the mother, who begged him to obey the heavenly warning. So his life was unexpectedly saved, as was that of al) who afterwards tried a similar remedy. Elsewhere among our authorities the only medicinal use of cynorrhodon to be found is that the ash of the spongy substance * that forms in the middle of its thorns was mixed with honey to make hair grow on the head where mange had left it bare. In the same province, on the land of my host, I learned of a recent discovery there, a stalk called dra- DracuncuUn cunculus, of the thickness of a thumb, with spots of many colours Uke those of a viper, which people said was a remedy for the bites of all creatures, a dif- ferent plant from those I have called dracunculus in the preceding <^ book. This one has a different 149 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 19 alia figura, aliud miraculum exerenti se terra ad primas serpentium vernationes bipedali fere alti- tudine, rursusque cum isdem in terram condenti, nec omnino occultato eo apparet serpens, vel hoc per se satis officioso naturae munere, si tantum prae- moneret tempusque formidinis demonstraret. 20 Nec bestiarum solum ad nocendum scelera sunt, sed interim aquarum quoque ac locorum. In Germania trans Rhenum castris a Germanico Caesare promotis maritimo tractu fons erat aquae dulcis solus, qua pota intra biennium dentes deciderent com- pagesque in genibus solverentur. stomacacen medici vocabant et scelotyrben ea mala. reperta auxilio est herba quae appellatur britannica, non nervis modo et oris malis salutaris, sed contra anginas quoque et contra serpentes. folia habet oblonga nigra, radicem 21 nigram. sucus eius exprimitur et e radice. florem vibones vocant, qui collectus prius quam tonitrum audiatur et devoratus securos in totum annum a metu anginae praestat. Frisi gens tum fida, in qua castra erant, monstravere illam, mirorque nominis causam, nisi forte confines oceano Britanniae veluti propin- quae ^ dicavere. non enim inde appellatam, quoniam ibi plurima nasceretur, certum est etiamtum Britan- nia libera. ' veluti propinquae cum multis codd. et vulg. Maylwjf : velut e propinquo Detlcfsen, qui Urlichs sequitur. " A Greek word, oTOfiaKdKr), meaning scurvy of the gums. * Another Greek word, oKeXoTvpPrj, meaning disorder or paralysis of the legs. •^ Possibly, " oblong." •* Or : " bordering on the ocean, they dedicated the plant to Britain, as it were to a neighbour." I once took Britanniae to be the subject, having in agreement with it both BOOK XXV. VI. 19-21 shape, and is an amazing plant in other ways ; for when snakes begin to cast their slough it springs up to the height of about two feet, and then buries itself in the ground when snakes do so, and while it is con- cealed no snake at all is anywhere to be seen. This by itself would be a kindly service of Nature, if it only warned us and pointed out the time of danger. Nor is it beasts alone that are guilty of causing injury; at times waters also and regions do the ^'j^J^^"'^'^^ same. When Germanicus Caesar had moved for- tcatcrs am ward his camp across the Rhine, in a maritime dis- "^ions. trict of Germany there was only one source of fresh water. To drink it caused within two years the teeth to fall out and the use of the knee-joints to fail. Physicians used to call these maladies stoma- cace " and scelotyrbe.^ A remedy was found in the plant called britannica, which is good not only for the sinews and for diseases of the mouth, but also for the reUef of quinsy and snake-bite. It has dark, rather long" leaves, and a dark root. Its juice is extracted even from the root. The blossom is called vibones ; gathered before thunder is heard, and swallowed, it keeps away the fear of quinsy for a whole year. It was pointed out to our men by the Frisians, at that time a loyal tribe, in whose terri- tory our camp lay. Why the plant was so called I greatly wonder, unless perhaps, Uving on the shore of the British ocean, they have so named the britannica Ijecause it is, as it were, a near neighbour of Britain."* It is certain that the plant was not so named because it grew abundantly in that island : Britain was at that time an independent state. confines oceano and propingiuie (" being as it were a neighbour "). 151 I PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 22 VII. Fuit qiiidem et hic quondam ambitus nomini- bus suis eas adoptandi, ut docebimus fecisse reges. tanta res videbatur herbam invenire, vitam iuvare, nunc fortassis aliquis curam hanc nostram frivolam quoque existimaturis ; adeo dehciis sovdent etiam quae ad salutem pertinent. auctores tamen quarum inveniuntur in primis celebrari par est effectu earum 23 digesto in genera morborum. qua quidem in repu- tatione misereri sortis humanae subit, praeter fortuita casusque et quae nova omnis hora excogitat, milia morborum singulis mortalium timenda. qui gravis- simi ex his sint discernere stultitiae prope videri possit, cum suus cuique ac praesens quisque atro- cissimus videatur. et de hoc tamen iudicavere aevi experimenta, asperrimi cruciatus esse calculorum a stillicidio vesicae, proximum stomachi, tertium eorum quae in capite doleant, non ob aUos fere morte conscita. 24 A Graecis et noxias herbas demonstratas miror equidem, nec venenorum tantum, quoniam ea con- ditio vitae est ut mori plerumque etiam optimis portus sit, tradatque M. Varro Servium Clodium equitem Romanum magnitudine doloris in podagra coactum veneno crura perunxisse et postea caruisse " A common phrase in Pliny is nomine adoptare, " to give a name to a thing." " See §§ 70 foll. of this Book. BOOK XXV. VII. 22-24 VII. It was one of the ambitions of the past to Piants > „ . it i-ii-j.4.h named after give one s name " to a plant, as we snall ponit out " persons. was done by kings. It was thought a great honour to discover a plant and be of assistance to human Hfe, although now perhaps some will think that these researches of mine are just idle trifling. So paltry in the eyes of Luxury are even the things that con- duce to our health. It is but right, however, to mention in the first place the plants whose j discoverers can be found, with their properties classified according to the kinds of disease for which they are a remedy. To reflect indeed on this makes one pity the lot of man ; besides chances and j changes and the strange happenings that every hour brings, there are thousands of diseases that every mortal has to dread. To distinguish which are the most grievous of them might be considered almost an act of folly, since every man considers that the particular disease from which he is suffering at The mosi the moment is the most awful. On this point, ^Zeases. however, the experience of time has concluded that the disease causing the sharpest agony is strangury from stone in the bladder ; next comes disease of the stomach, and after that pains pro- duced by diseases of the head; these being about the only diseases that are responsible for suicides. I myself am amazed that the Greeks have de- Harmfui scribed even harmful plants, and not the poisonous ^'""*- ones only, since the state of human Hfe is such that death is frequently a hai-bour of i-efuge even for the most excellent of men, Marcus Varro relating that the Roman knight Servius Clodius, owing to the severe pain of gout, was forced to rub his legs all over with , a poison, after which that part of his body was as free ' 153 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY sensu omni aeque quam dolore in ea parte corporis. 25 sed quae fuit venia monstrandi qua mentes solveren- tur, partus eliderentur, multaque similia? ego nec abortiva dico ac ne amatoria quidem, memor Lucul- lum imperatorem clarissimum amatorio perisse, nec alia magica portenta, nisi ubi cavenda sunt aut coarguenda, in primis fide eorum damnata. satis operae fuerit abundeque praestatum, vitae salutares dixisse ^ ac pi"o ea inventas. 26 VIII. Clarissima herbarum est Homero teste quam vocari a dis putat moly et inventionem eius Mevcurio adsignat contraque summa veneficia demonstra- tionem. nasci eam hodie circa Pheneum et in Cyllene Arcadiae tradunt specie illa Homerica, radice rotunda nigraque, magnitudine cepae, foho scillae, 27 effodi autem haud^ difficulter. Graeci auctores florem eius luteum pinxere, cum Homerus candidum scripserit. inveni e peritis herbarum medicis qui et in Itaha nasci eam diceret, adferrique e Campania mihi ^ ahquot diebus <^posse *)> effossam inter difficultates ^ dixisse] hic lacunam indicat lanus, guem sequitur Mayhoff: " excidisse videntiir a dis priscisve " : non pro ea sed postea codd. ^ autem haud ego : haud SiUig : autem Detlefsen : autem non (i.e. aute h) Mayhoff. Cf. Theophrasti H.P. IX, 15, § 7 ov nrjv opVTTiiv y' eimt xaXcTTov. ^ mihi codd. : memini lanus, Detlefsen : autumni Mayhoff. * posse ego addidi. " The negatire is added because of the words of Theo- phrastus given in the critical note. Homer's description is : pit^ri pikv fj,€\av eoKe, ydXaKTi Be eiKeXov dvOos' fiu)Xv 8e' fiLV KaXeovoL Oeoi. ^^aAcTrov 8e' t opvaaeiv dvSpdoi ye dvrjrolai' deoi Se re TrdvTa laaatv. Odyssey X 304-306. ' The difficulties of this sentence seem to me to be lessened, but not fully solved, by emending mihi to memini or autumni. 154 BOOK XXV. VII. 24-viii. 27 from sensation as it was from pain. But what excuse was there to point out the means of deranging the mind, of causing abortion, and of many similar crimes ? I personally do not mention abortives, nor even love- philtres, remembering as I do that the famous general Lucullus was killed by a love-philtre, nor yet any other unholy magic, unless it be by way of warning or denunciation, especially as I have utterly condemned all faith in such practices. Enough pains, and more than enough, will have been taken if I point out plants healthful to hfe and discovered in order to preserve it. VIII. The most renowned of plants is, according to Homer, the one that he thinks is called by the gods moly, assigning to Mercury its discovery and the Moii/. teaching of its power over the most potent sorceries. Report says it grows today in Arcadia round Pheneus and on Cyllene ; it is said to be hke the description in Homer, with a round, dark root, of the size of an onion and with the leaves of a squill, and not " difticult to dig up. Greek authorities have painted its blossom yellow, though Homer describes it as white. I have met a herbaUst physician \vho said that the plant was also to be found in Italy, and that one could * be brought for me from Campania within a few days, as it had been dug out there in spite of the difficulties of rocky ground, with a root These make the present tense of adferri easier to understand, but leave untouohed the main difficulty — that in the first clause of the sentence a general statement is made, while in the second the reference is to a particular specimen. So I propose to keep mihi, but to add posse before effossam : it might easily be omitted. Perhaps the sentence could be construed (without any emendation) : " and that one was being brought for me from Campania etc." But a root of 30 feet ! PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY saxeas radicis xxx pedes longae ae ne sic quidem solidae, sed abruptae. 28 IX. Ab ea niaxima auctoritas herbae est quam dodecatheon vocant omnium deorum maiestatem commendantes. in aqua potam omnibus morbis mederi tradunt. foHa eius septem lactucis similUma exeunt a lutea radice. 29 X. Vetustissima inventu paeonia est, nomenque auctoris retinet, quam quidam pentorobon appellant, ahi glycysidem. nam haec quoque difficultas est quod eadem aHter alibi nuncupatur. nascitur opacis montibus caule inter folia digitorum quattuor ferente in cacumine veluti Graecas nuces quattuor aut quinque. inest his semen copiosum, rubrum ni- grumque. haec medetur et Faunorum in quiete ludibriis. praecipiunt eruere noctu, quoniam si picus Martius videat tuendo ^ in oculos impetum faciat. 30 XI. Panaces ipso nomine omnium morborum remedia promittit, numerosum et dis inventoribus adscriptum. unum quippe asclepion cognominatur, a quo is filiam Panaciam appellavit. sucus est coactus ferulae qualem diximus, radice multi corticis et salsi. hac evolsa scrobem repleri vario genere 31 frugum rehgio est ac terrae piamentum. ubi et quonam fieret modo ac quale maxime probaretur ^ tuendo codd., Mayhoff : volando coni. SilHg : eruentem Detlefsen. Mayhoff etiam coni. vel ad tuendum (tuendfi) vel interdiu. " Mayhoff's inaieslate would give : " investing it with the grandeur ete." Dodecatheon means " plant of the twelve (greater) gods." ^" volando will mean " by fl\'ing at them "; eruentem, "the person uprooting it." ' See Xn. § 127. 1^6 BOOK XXV. VIII. 27-xi. 31 thii*ty feet long, and even that not entire, but broken ofF short. IX. After moly the plant wth the highest repu- The dodec tation they call the dodecatheon, as a compliment to the grandeur " of all the twelve gods. It is said that taken in water it cures all diseases. Its leaves are seven, very like those of lettuce and sprouting from a yellow root. X. The first plant to be discovered was the peony, The pemi which still retains the name of the discoverer ; it is called by some pentorobon, by others glycyside, for an added difficulty in botany is the variety of names given to the same plant in different districts. It grows on shaded mountains, having a stem among the leaves about four fingei-s high, which bears on its top four or five growths Hke almonds, in them being a large amount of seed, red and black. This plant also prevents the mocking dehisions that the Fauns bring on us in our sleep. They recommend us to uproot it at night-time, because the woodpecker of Mars, should he see the act, will attack the eyes in its defence.'' XI. The plant panaces by its very name promises Panaces. to be a cure for every disease ; it has many varieties, and to the gods have been ascribed the discovery of its properties. One variety in fact has the additional name of asclepion, after which Asclepius called his daughter Panacia. The juice of this plant when curdled is like that, ah-eady described,'^ of fennel- giant, coming from a root with a thick and salty skin. When it has been pulled up it is a pious duty to fill in the hole with various cereals as an atone- ment to the earth. Where the juice is prepared, and how, and the most esteemed kind, I have already 157 I PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY inter peregrina docuimus. id quod e Macedonia adfertur bucolicon vocant armentariis sponte erum- pentem sucum excipientibus ; hoc celerrime evanescit. et in aliis autem generibus inprobatur maxime nigrum ac molle. id enim argumento est cera adulterati. 32 XII. Alterum genus heracleon vocant et ab Hercule inventum tradunt, alii origanum heracleo- ticum aut silvestre, quoniam est origano simile, radice inutili ; de quo origano diximus.^ XIII. Tertium panaces chironium cognominatur ab inventore. folium eius simile lapatho, maius tamen et hirsutius, flos aureus, radix parva. nascitur pinguibus locis. huius flos efficacissimus, eoque amplius quam supra dicta prodest. 33 XIV. Quartum genus,^ panaces ab eodem Chirone repertum centaurion cognominatur, sed et pharna- ceon in controversia inventionis a Pharnace rege deductum. seritur hoc, longioribus quam cetera fohis et serratis. radix odorata in umbra siccatur ^ simile de quo diximus, radice inutili. coni. Warmington. * genus] in uncis ponit Mayhoff : servat Brakman. " See the whole of XII. §§ 127, 128, especially the latter partof§127: semine muscariis dependente ut ferulae. excipi- tur sv/^us inciso caule messibus, radice autumno. lavdatur BOOK XXV. XI. 31-XIV. s^ described" in my account of exotic plants. The kind imported out of Macedonia they call buco- licon,^ because herdsmen collect the sap as it exudes of its own accord ; this evaporates very rapidly. As to the other kinds, the least popular is the dark and soft, for these quaHties are signs of adulteration with wax. XII. A second kind they call heracleon, and say neradeon. that it was discovered by Hercules ; others call it Heracleotic or wild origanum, because it is hke the origanum I have already described ; " the root is of no value.** XIII. A third kind of panaces has the surname chironium. chironium from Chiron the centaur who discovered it. Its leaf is Hke that of lapathum, but larger and more hairy. The blossom is golden and the root small. It grows in rich soils. The blossom of this kind is very efficacious, and therefore has a wider range of usefulness than that of the kinds mentioned above. XIV. The fourth kind is the panaces discovered by Centaurion. the same Chiron and surnamed centaurion, but also pharnaceon, a name derived from king Pharnaces, as there is a controversy whether he was, or was not, the discoverer. This kind is grown from seed, having longer leaves than the other kinds, and with serrated edges. Its scented root is dried in the candor eius coacti ; sequens pallido statera, niger colos inpro- batur. * " Biicolic," " pastoral," " pertaining to oxen." " See XX. § 170. ^ I think that a semicolon should be put at iimtili. If with Detlefsen and Mayhoff we put a comma only, we get the sense : " the origanum I have ah-eady described, whose root is of no value." PLIXY : XATURAL HISTORY ^•inoque. gratiam adicit. eius genera duo fecere alia aliqui, alterum lato folio, alterum tenui.^ 34 XV. Heracleon siderion et ipsum ab Hercule in- ventum est, caule tenui digitorum quattuor altitu- dine, flore puniceo, foliis coriandri. iuxta lacus et amnes invenitur omniaque vulnera ferro inlata efficacissime sanat. X^^I. Est Chironis inventum ampelos quae vocatur chironia, de qua diximus inter \ites, sicuti de herba cuius inventio adsignatur Minervae. 35 XVII. Herculi eam quoque adscribunt quae apol- linaris apud alios, apud nos ^ altercum,^ apud Graecos vero hyoscyamos appellatur. plura eius genera: unum nigro semine, floribus paene purpureis, spinoso ' eius genera duo fecere alia aliqui, alterum lato folio, alterum tenui ego : eius genera duo fecere aliqui, levis folii, alterum tenuius Dethfsen : alia eius genera etc. Mayhoff : alia omittunt codd., in quihus non eius sed huius scriptum est. Sunt aliae lerAiones, sed parvi momenti. Cf. dAAa 8e TravdKrj t6 fzev Xe-ToivXXov t6 Se ov. Tkeophr. H.P. IX. 11, 4. * apud alios, apud nos Urlichs : aut Mayhoff : apud aut aput codd. : del. Detlefsen. ^ Hic (ante altercum) a rabulis Urlichs : ab alis Detlefsen : a rabie aliis Mayhoff: arabilis aut arbilis aut arabas codd.: ego delevi : apud Arabas altercum sive altercangenum vulg. " The corresponding passage in Theophrastus implies a reference to two other sorts of panaces; the ordinary text of Pliny refers to two sorts of " this " kind, that is, of cen- taurion. Either Pliny has muddled once more, or his text must be emended. I have adopted the second alternative, thinking with Mayhoff that alia has dropped out, although i6o BOOK XXV. XIV. 33-xvii. 35 shade, and adds a pleasing taste to wine. Some hold that there are two other kinds of panaces, one with a broad, the other with a slender, leaf." XV. Heracleon siderion (" ironwoi't ") is yet another Heradeon discovery of Hercules. It has a slender stem about " ^"'^' four fingers high, a flower of a deep red and leaves like those of coriander. It is found near ponds and rivers, and heals very thoroughly all wounds inflicted by iron.** XVI. A discovery of Chii'on's was the vine called chironia, which I have mentioned in my section on the vines ; "^ I have also mentioned a plant, the discovery of which is attributed to Minerva.*^ XVII. To Hercules too they ascribe the plant ApoiHnaru which is called apollinaris by some, altercum by us 1 Ronians,* but by the Greeks hyoscyamos (" pig's bean "). There are several kinds of it: one has black seed, \vith flowers that are ahiiost purple, and a I would insert it before aliqui and not after adicit, and agree with Detlefsen that huius should be changed to eius orpanacis. My other emendations are based on folio, the reading of the MSS. V and R, and on the XeTTT6(f>vXXov of Theophrastus. * Hence the name siderion, derived from the Greek atSTjpoy, iron. " See XXIII. § 27. " See XXII. § 43. ' I have adopted here the emendation of UrUchs, omitting, however, his a rabulis. Pseudo-Dioscorides, IV. RV 68 (WeU- mann), has twenty names for hyoscyamos, inclucUng iix^aves, 'ATroXXtvdpis and ivadva. A copyist or commentator might be tempted to add a few of these, and perhaps the vulgate text arose in this way. To see in the corrupt arabilis or arbilis of three MSS. a reference to the madness supposed to be caused by hyoscyamos is natural ; hence the a rabie of Mayhoff. But the variations in the MSS. have the appearance of corrupt glosses. The curious a rabulis of UrUchs supposes a connection between altercum and altercor. 161 VOL. VII. O PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY calyce ; ^ nascitur in Galatia. vulgai-e autem candi- dius est et fruticosius, altius papavere. tertii semen irionis semini simile, sed omnia insaniam gignentia 36 capitisque vertigines. quartum genus moUe, lanu- ginosum, pinguius ceteris, candidi seminis, in mari- timis nascens. hoc recepere medici, item rufi seminis. nonnumquam autem candidum rufescit, si non ematuruit, inprobaturque, et alioqui nullum nisi cum inaruit legitur. natura vini ideoque mentem caputque infestans. usus seminis et per se et suco expresso. exprimitur separatim et caulibus foliis- que. utuntur et radice, temeraria in totum, ut arbi- 37 tror, medicina. quippe etiam foliis constat mentem corrumpi, si plura quam quattuor bibant; bibebant ^ etiam antiqui in vino febrim depelli arbitrantes. oleum fit ex semine, ut diximus, quod ipsum auribus infusum temptat mentem, mireque ut contra vene- num remedia prodidere iis qui id bibissent et ipsum pro remediis, adeo nullo omnia experiendi fine ut cogerent ^ etiam venena prodesse. ^ spinoso calyce ego : spinosum calice Mayhoff : spinosum — talis etc. Detlefsen : spinosum talis aut tale codd. 2 bibebant ego addidi : lacunam indicat lanus, quem sequitur Mayhoff, qui tot bibi iubebant supplere malit. Brak- man quoque (Mnemosyne 1930) bibebant coni. * cogerent lanus ; cogant Mayhoff : cogerentur vulg. : cogeret codd. " Mayhoff's emendation was suggested by Dioscorides IV. 68 : 6 fj.ev yap . . . ^epet . . . rovs kvtlvovs okXtjpovs kuI aKavdwSeLs. I have, however, slightly altered the emendation and the construction. * In pseudo-Dioscorides Ivodva is given as the Roman name for hyoscyamos. This is the reason why I am doubtful about the text of § 35 in initio. ^ Etiam : " even though it is so dangerous." 162 BOOK XXV. XVII. 35-37 thorny calyx,'* growing in Galatia. The common kind, however, is whiter and more biishy ; it is taller than the poppy. The seed of the third kind is Uke the seed of irio ; but all kinds cause insanity ^ and giddiness. A fourth kind is soft, downy, richer in juice than the others, with a white seed, and growing in places near the sea. This is a kind that medical men have adopted, as they have that with a red seed. Sometimes, however, the white seed turns red if gathered before getting ripe, and then it is rejected; and generally no kind is ever gathered before it has become dry. It has the character of wine, and therefore injures the head and brain. Use is made of the seed as it is or when the juice has been extracted from it. The juice is extracted separately also from the stems and leaves. They also use the root, but the drug is, in my opinion, a dangerous medicine in any form. In fact, it is well known that even the leaves aifect the brain if more than four are taken in drink ; yet '^ the ancients used to take them in wine under the impression that fever was so brought down. An oil is made from the seed, as I have said,<* which by itself if poured into the ears deranges the brain. It is a wonderful thing that they have prescribed remedies for those who have taken the drink, which implies that it is a poison, and yet have included it among remedies ; so unwearied have been researches in making every possible experiment, even to com- pelling '^ poisons to be helpful remedies. <* See XV. § 30 and XXIII. § 94. "^ It makes very little difFerence whether we read cogerent with Jan or cogant with Mayhoff. The first takes its sequenee trom the idea of past time, the second from the idea of present time, both imphcit in nullojine. 163 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 38 X\'III. Linozostis sive parthenion Mercurii inven- tum est. ideo apud Graecos Hermu poan multi vocant eam, apud nos omnes mercurialem. duo eius genera : masculus et femina, quae efficacior. caule est ^ cubitali, interdum ramoso in cacumine, ocimo angustioribus foliis, geniculis densis, alarum cavis multis, semine in geniculis dependente feminae copioso, mari iuxta genicula stante rariore ac brevi 39 contortoque, feminae soluto et candido. folia maribus nigriora, feminis candidiora, radix super- vacua, praetenuis. nascuntur in campestribus cultis. mirumque est quod de utroque eorum genere pro- ditur : ut mares gignantur hunc facere, ut feminae illam. hoc contingere, si a conceptu protinus bibatur sucus in passo edanturve foHa decocta ex oleo et sale, vel cruda ex aceto. quidam decocunt eam in novo fictili cum heliotropio et duabus vel tribus spicis, 40 donec cogatur. decoctum dari iubent et herbam ipsam in cibo altero die purgationis mulieribus per triduum, quarto die a balineo coire eas. Hippocrates miris laudibus in mulierum usum praedicavit has ; ^ est Detlefsen : et unus cod. et Matjhojf, qui aliter dist. et lacunam post geniculis indicat. Ego Detlefsen sequor. Desunt §§ 38^1 in codd. VRdT. " Dioscorides has (IV. 189) : exei Se vXXov o^ioiov c1ikiix(}) ■npos t6 TTJs eX^Lvrjs, eXaTTOv 8e, KXutvia hiyovaTa, fiaaxa.Xas TToXXds, TTVKvds exovra' tov Se Kapnov -q fiev drjXeia ^OTpvoeLBrj Kai TToXvv rj be dpprjv Trpos toI? TreTaAot? fUKpov, OTpoyyvXov, diOTTep opxiBia KaTa Svo TTpooKeiixeva. This is SO unlike the Phny passage in detaUs, although parts are very similar (particularly densis, alaruni cavis multis and piaoxdXas TroAAas, 164 BOOK XXV. xviii. 38-40 XVIII. Linozostis or parthenion was discovered lAnozostUc by Mercury, and so many among the Greeks calP""'^'''"'"'- it " Hermes' grass ", but all we Romans agree in calling it mercurialis. There are two kinds of it, the male and the female, the latter having the more powerful properties. It has a stem which is a cubit high and sometimes branchy at the top, leaves narrower than those of ocimum, joints close together and many hoUow axils. The seed of the female hangs down in great quantity at the joints ; while that of the male stands up near the joints, less plentiful, short and twisted ; the female seed is loose and white.'' The leaves of the male plant are darker, those of the female Hghter ; the root is quite useless and vei-y slender. It grows in flat, cultivated ■ country. A remarkable thing is recorded of both kinds : that the male plant causes the generation of males and the female plant the generation of females. This is efFected if immediately after conceiving the woman drinks the juice in raisin wine, or eats the leaves decocted in oil and salt, or raw in vinegar. Some again decoct it in a new earthen vessel with hehotropium and two or three ears of corn until the contents become thick. They recommend the de- coction to be given to women in food, with the plant itself, on the second day of menstruation for three successive days ; on the fourth day after a bath intercourse is to take place. Hippo- crates ^ has bestowed very high praise on these plants for the diseases of women ; no medical man TTVKvds), that I hesitate to emend Pliny so as to harmonize ! his account with Dioscorides. ' See Littre's vol. X. pp. 690, 691 for references to the herb mercury in the Hippocratic Corpus. 165 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY ad ^ hunc modum medicorum nemo novit. ille eas volvae cum melle vel rosaceo vel irino vel lilino admovit, item ad ciendos menses secundasque. idem praestare potu fotuque dixit. instillavit auribus olidis ^ sucum. suco ^ inunxit cum vino vetere 41 alvum.* folia inposuit epiphoris. stranguriae et ve- sicis decoctum eius dedit cum murra et ture. alvo quidem solvendae vel in febri decoquatur ^ quantum manus capiat in duobus sextariis aquae ad dimidias. bibitur sale et melle admixto nec non cum ungula suis aut gallinaceo decocta ^ salubrius. purgationis causa putavere aliqui utramque dandam per se sive ' cum malva decoctam.^ thoracem purgant, bilem detrahunt, sed stomachum laedunt. reliquos usus dicemus suis locis, 1 ad E cod. a, vulg., Detlefsen : at vet. Dal., Mayhoff. ^ olidis Gelen., Detlefsen, Mayhoff : solidis E a : surdis vulg. ^ sucum. suco ego : suco duo codd., Detlefsen : sucum v^lg., Mayhqff. * alvum (aivu) ego : alvo aut albo codd. ^ decoquatur E a, vulg., Detlefsen : decoquitur Basileensis editio, Mayhoff. ® decocta vet. Dal., Sillig, Mayhoff : decoctae E : decoctum vulg. : mixtum cod. a, Detlefsen. ' per se sive vet. Dal. : sive codd., vulg., edd. : in cibo coni. Maylioff. * decoctam vet. Dal., Mayhoff : decocta a, Detlefsen : decoctum E vulg. " With the reading at : " but no medical man recognises now this method of treatment." i66 BOOK XXV. xviii. 40-41 recognises its virtues after this fashion." He used them as pessaries for uterine troubles, adding thereto honey, or oil of roses or of iris or of Hhes, also as an emmenagogue and to bring away the after-birth. The same elfects, he said, resulted from taking them in di-ink and from using them for fomen- tations. He dropped the juice into foul-smelUng ears, and with the juice and okl wine made an embrocation for the abdomen. The leaves he applied to fluxes from the eyes. A decoction of it with myrrh and frankincense he prescribed for strangury and bladder troubles. For loosening the bowels, however, or for fever, a handful of the plant should be boiled down to one half in two sextarii of water. This is drunk with the addition of salt and honey, and if the decoction has been made with a pig's foot or a chicken added, the draught is all the more beneficial. Some have thought that as a purge both kinds should be administered, either by themselves or with mallows added to the decoction.'' They purge the abdomen « and bring away bile, but they are injurious to the stomach. Their other uses we shall give in the appropriate places.'* * With Mayhoff' s conjecture in cibo : " both kinds should be given in food, boiled down with mallows." •= This seems to be the meaning here of tliorax, as it is of 6u)pa^ very often in Greek. Cf. Festugiere on [Hippocrates] Ancient Medicine XXII, who quotes many passages proving that 0a)pa$ meant the entire cavity of the torso. •^ Throughout this chapter the translator misses the four good MSS. VRdT. In many pkxces the reading is uncertain, and I have by emendations and changes of punctuation tried to produce a better text than either Detlefsen or Mayhoff, with an uneasy feehng that I have made no improvement, or perhaps even made bad worse. 167 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY 42 XIX. Invenit ^ et Achilles discipulus Chironis qua volneribus mederetur. quae ob id achilleos vocatur. hac sanasse Telephum dicitur. ahi primum aeru- ginem invenisse utilissimam emplastris, ideoque pingitur ex cuspide decutiens eam gladio in volnus Telephi, alii utroque usum medicamento volunt. aliqui et hanc panacem Heracham, ahi sideriten et apud nos millefoliam vocant, cubitali scapo, ramosam, minutioribus quam feniculi fohis vestitam ab imo. 43 ahi fatentur quidem illam vulneribus utilem, sed veram aehilleon esse scapo caeruleo pedah, sine ramis, ex omni parte singuhs foliis rotundis eleganter vestitam ; ahi quadrato caule, capituhs marrubii, fohis quercus, hac etiam praecisos nervos glutinari.^ faciunt alii et ' sideritim in maceriis nascentem, cum 44 teratur, foedi odoris, etiamnum aliam similem huic sed candidioribus fohis et pinguioribus, teneriorem cauhcuhs, in vineis nascentem ; aham * vero binum cubitorum, ramuhs exilibus, trianguhs, foho fihcis, pediculo longo, betae semine ; omnes volneribus praecipuas. nostri eam quae est latissimo folio scopas regias vocant. medetur anginis suum. 45 XX. Invenit et Teucer eadem aetate teucrion, quam quidam hemionion vocant, spargentem iuncos ^ invenit vulg., Detlefsen : invenisse coni. Maylwjf, qui et ac non hac postea scribit et quae . . . vocatur in parentkesi ponit. 2 glutinari Urlichs, Detlefsen, Maylioff, qui et glutinant coni. : ghitinare codd. ^ alii et Mayhoff : et Detlefsen cum VR d : alia (ali et ?) E : alii vulg. * aliam vulg., Detlefsen : aliqui Mayhoff : alioqui aut alioque codd. l68 BOOK XXV. XIX. 42-xx. 45 XIX. Achilles too, the pupil of Chiron, discovered " Achuieos. a plant to heal wounds, which is therefore called achilleos, and by it he is said to have cured Telephus. Some have it that he was the first to find out that copper-rust is a most useful ingredient of plasters, for which reason he is represented in paintings as scraping it with his sword from his spear on to the wound of Telephus, while others hold that he used both remedies. This plant is also called by some Heraclean panaces, by others siderites, and by us millefoHa ; the stalk is a cubit high, and the plant branchy, covered from the bottom with leaves smaller than those of fennel. Others admit that this plant is good for wounds, but say that the real achilleos has a bkie stalk a foot long and without branches, grace- fully covered all over with separate, rounded leaves. Others describe achilleos as having a square stem, heads hke those of horehound, and leaves hke those of the oak ; they claim that it even unites severed sinews. Some give the name sideritis to another plant, which grows on boundary walls and has a foul smell when crushed, and also to yet another, Hke this but with paler and more fleshy leaves, and with more tender stalks, growing in vineyards ; finally to a third, two cubits high, with thin, triangular twigs, lcaves Hke those of the fern, a long foot-stalk and seed Hke that of beet. All are said to be excellent for wounds. Roman authorities call the one with the broadest leaf i*oyal broom ; it cures quinsy in pigs. ^ XX. Teucer too in the same age discovered Teucnm. teucrion, called by some hemionion ; it spreads out " By " discovering " a plant Pliny seems to mean discovering its value iu medicine. 169 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY tenues, folia parva, asperis locis, austero sapore, numquam florentem, nec quae ^ semen gignit. medetur lienibus, constatque sic inventam : cum exta super eam proiecta essent, adhaesisse lieni eumque exinanisse. ob id a quibusdam splenion 46 vocatur. narrant sues qui radicem eius edint sine splene inveniri. quidam ramis hysopi surculosam, folio fabae, eodem nomine appellant et colHgi cum floreat iubent — adeo florere non dubitant — maxime- que ex Ciliciae et Pisidiae montibus laudant. 47 XXI. Melampodis fama divinationis artibus nota est. ab hoc appellatur unum hellebori genus melampodion. aliqui pastorem eodem nomine in- venisse tradunt, capras purgari pasto illo animadver- tentem, datoque lacte earum sanasse Proetidas furentes.2 quamobrem de omnibus eius generibus 48 dici simul convenit. prima duo sunt, candidum ac nigrum. hoc radicibus tantum intellegi tradunt plerique, alii folia nigri platano similia sed minora nigrioraque et pluribus divisuris scissa, albi betae incipientis, haec quoque nigriora et canalium dorso ^ florentem, nec quae Detlejsen cum uno cod. : florem neque Mayhojf. * furentes] Hic lacunam indicat Mayhojf. " See note on §42. * ilayhoff supposes that there is a lacuna here with the following sense : '" our authorities are not agreed about the differences between the various kinds of hellebore." 170 BOOK XXV. XX. 45-xxi- 4« thin, rush-like twigs with small leaves, grows on rough localities, has a harsh taste, never flowers and never produces seed. It is a cure for splenic troubles, a property discovered," as is well known, in the following way ; they say that when sacrificial entrails had been thrown on the plant, this stuck to the spleen and coiisumed it. On account of this the plant is called by some splenion. It is said that pigs which eat its root are found to be without a spleen. There are some who call by the same name a ligneous phint with branches like those of hyssop and leaves like those of the bean, and recommend it to be gathered when it is in flower — so these certainly hold that the plant has a flower — and they praise most highly the sort that comes from the mountains of CiHcia and Pisidia. XXI. Melampus is well known for his skill in the iteiampo- arts of divination. From him one kind of hellebore '^"^"" is called melampodion. Some hold that the dis- covery is due to a shepherd called Melampus, who noticed that his she-goats were purged after browsing upon the plant, and by administering the milk of these goats cured the daughters of Proetus of their madness.* Wherefore it is well to give here to- gether an account of every kind of hellebore. The chief kinds are two, the white and the black. Kinds of This difference, most authorities say, applies only to ''^"^'"^^- the roots, others say that the leaves of black hellebore are Hke those of the plane but smaller, darker and with more indentations ; that the leaves of white hellebore are Hke those of sprouting beet, but also darker and turning to red on the under side of its grooves, and that both have a stem a span high, resembling that of fennel-giant, wrapped up in skins 171 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY rubescentia, utraque caule palmeo ^ ferulaceo, bulbo- rum tunicis convoluto, radice fimbriata ceparum modo. nigro equi, boves, sues necantur, itaque cavent id, cum candido vescantur. tempestivum 49 esse tradunt messibus. plurimum autem nascitur in Oete monte, et optimum uno eius loco circa Pyram. nigrum ubique provenit, sed melius in Helicone, qui mons et aliis laudatur herbis. candidum probatur secundum Oetaeum Ponticum, tertio loco Eleaticum quod in vitibus nasci ferunt, quarto Parnasium quod adulteratur Aetolico ex vicino. nigrum ex his melampodium vocant, quo et domus suffiunt pur- gantque, spargentes et pecora, cum precatione 50 sollemni. hoc et reHgiosius colHgitur, primum enim gladio circumscribitur, dein qui succisurus est ortum spectat et precatur ut id Kceat sibi concedentibus diis facere, observatque aquilae volatus, fere enim secantibus interest et, si prope advolavit, moriturum illo anno qui succidat augurium est. nec album facilc colligitur, caput adgravans maxime, nisi praesumatur alium et subinde vinum sorbeatur celeriterque 51 fodiatur. nigrum alii ectomon ^ vocant, ahi pol}T- rhizon. purgat per inferna, candidum autem vomi- tione, causasque morborum extrahit, quondam terribile, postea tam promiscuum ut plerique studio- 1 palmeo coni. Mayhoff XXVI. § 95 coll. : palmari Urlichs, Detlefsen : palmi codd. et Mayhoff. 2 ectomon Hard. ex Theophrasto et Dioscoride : encymon plures codd., Dethjsen, Mayhoff : euchymon vulg. " Cf. Theophrastus H.P. IX. iv\Xa Kal ras pdpSovs, r) §e XerrTOTepa {"! XerrTOTepa), dvdrj fiiKpd, XeTTrd, ^apvoana. The reading in the text implies that PUny translated evepvi^s by altior and that altera has been lost before altior. Mayhoff suggests valdior for altior, and perhaps Pliny BOOK XXV. XXXIV. yi-xxx-vi. 74 XXXIV. It was a king of the Illyrians named nentian. Gentius who discovered gentian, which, though it grows everywhere, is most excellent when it grows in Illyria. The leaf is Hke that of the ash but of the size of a lettuce leaf ; the stem is tender and of the thickness of a thumb, hoUow and empty, with leaves at intervals, sometimes three cubits in height, and growing from a pHant root, which is darkish and without smell. It grows abundantly " on watery slopes near the foot of the Alps. The parts used are the root and the juice. The nature of the root is warming, but it should not be taken in drink by women with child. 1 XXXV. Lysimachus too discovered a plant, still Lysimachia. nam.ed after him, the praises of which have been sung by Erasistratus. It has green leaves like those of the willow, a purple flower, being bushy, with small upright branches and a pungent smell. It grows in watery districts. Its power is so great that, if placed on the yoke when the beasts of burden are quarrelsome, it checks their bad temper. XXXVI. Women too have been ambitious to Artemisia. gain this distinction, among them Artemisia, the wife of Mausolus, who gave her name to a plant which before was called parthenis. There are some who think that the surname is derived from Ai-te- mis Ilithyia, because the plant is specific for the troubles of women. It is also bushy, resembling wormwood, but with larger and fleshy leaves. Of the plant itself there are two kinds : one higher ^ and with broader leaves, the other soft and with more wrote altera valida contrasted with altera ienera. This is perhaps what he ought to have written, but the steps by which altera valida could become altior are conjectural. j PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY tenera tenuioribus, et non nisi in maritimis nascens. sunt qui in mediterraneis eodem nomine appellent, simplici caule, minimis foliis, floris copiosi erumpentis cum uva maturescit, odore non iniucundo. quam ^ quidam botryn, alii ambrosiam vocant, talis in Cappadocia nascitur. 75 XXXVII. Nymphaea nata traditur nympha zelo- typia erga Herculem mortua — quare heracleon vocant aliqui, aUi rhopalon a radice clavae simiH — ideoque eos qui biberint eam xii diebus coitu genituraque privari. laudatissima in Orchomenia 76 et Marathone. Boeoti mallon vocant et semen edunt. nascitur in aquosis, foliis magnis in summa aqua et ahis ex radice, flore HUo simili et, cum defloruit, capite papaveris, levi ^ caule. secatur autumno radix nigra, in sole siccatur. adversatur Ueni.^ est et aUa nymphaea in ThessaUa, amne Penio, radice alba, capite luteo, rosae magnitudine. ^ quam vulg., Mayhoff : quem plerique codd., Detlefsen. 2 levi e Dioscoride Mayhoff : in codd., vulg., Detlefsen. ' lieni egfo : ita lieni J/a?//io/^: ea. a\vima,\isIanus,Detlefsen: et alium d E vulg. : ceteri codd. omittunt. ° Dioscorides III. 114: d/x,Spoata, tjv Ifiot porpvv, ol Se dpTe^ioiav KoXovai. . . . KaTaTrXcKeraL Se ev ls.aTT7raBoKia OTfddvoL^. * Dioficorides (III. 132 Wellmann) has : droviav re ipya- teraL alhoiov rrpos oXiyas rjp-€pas, ei tls eV8eAe;^i;o? rrivoL. If this is the kind of Greek that PUny was translating, his words should mean, not what I have written iii the transla- tion, but "are incapable of intercourse and procreation for twelve days." . But a passage in XXVI. § 94 shows that PUny IQO BOOK XXV. XXXVI. 74-xxxvii. 76 slender leaves, growing only near the sea-side. There are some who in inland districts call by the same name a plant with a single stem, very small leaves, abundant blossom bursting out when the grapes are ripening, and with a not unpleasant smell. The sort that some call botrys, and others ambrosia, grows in Cappadocia." XXXVII. According to tradition nymphaea was Nymphaea. born of a nymph who died of jealousy about Hercules — for this reason some call it heracleon, others rhopalon because its root is Hke a club — and therefore those who have taken it in drink for twelve days are incapable of intercourse and procreation.'' The most valued kind grows in the district of Orchomenos and at Marathon. The Boeotians call it mallon,'^ and eat the seed. It grows in watery places, with large leaves on the top of the water and others growing out of the root ; the flowers are hke the hly, and when the blossom is finished a head forms like that of the poppy ; the stem is smooth.'' In autumn is cut the root, which is dark, and is dried in the sun. It reduces the spleen. There is another kind of nymphaea growing in the River Penius '^ in Thessaly. It has a white root, and a yellow head of the size of a rose. thought that permanent impotence followed several doses, for he adds that a single dose produces it for forty days. " Hermolaus Barbarus conjectured madoyi from Theophrastus IX. 13, 1. "* If we read in caule the translation will be " a head hke a poppy's forms on the stem." Hardouin adopted an old conjecture tenui : " the stem is slender." • The Penius is a river of Colchis : the ThessaHan river is the Peneus. Probably the mistake is PHny'8, but one MS. (d) reads Peneo. 191 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 77 XXXVIII. Invenit et patrum nostrorum aetate rex luba quam appellavit euphorbeam medici sui nomine. frater is fuit Musae a quo divum Augustum coiiservatum indicavimus. iidem fratres instituere a balineis frigida multa corpora adstringere. antea non erat mos nisi calida tantum lavari, sicut apud 78 Homerum etiam invenimus. sed lubae volumen quoque extat de ea herba et clarum praeconium. invenit eam in monte Atlante, specie thyrsi, foHis acanthinis. vis tanta est ut ^ e longinquo sucus excipiatur incisa conto ; subitur excipuUs ventriculo haedino. umor lactis videtur defluens ; ^ siccatus cum coiit, turis effigiem habet. qui colUgunt clarius vident. contra serpentes medetur, quacumque parte percussa vertice inciso et medicamento addito ibi. 79 Gaetuli qui legunt taedio lacte adulterant, sed discernitur igni, id enim quod sincerum non est fastidiendum odorem habet. multum infra hunc sucum est qui in GaUia fit ex herba chamelaea granum cocci ferente. fractus hammoniaco simiUs est, etiam levi gustu os accensum diu detinens et magis ex intervallo, donec fauces quoque siccet. ^ ut e longinquo Mayhojf: vel e longinquo codd. et Detlefsen, qui postea excipitur cum V scrihit. * defluens Salmasius, Mayhojf : defluere codd. " Juba is probably the son of the Juba who committed suicide after Thapsus. He was brought to Rome by Caesar and carefuUy educated. * See note on § 42 of this book. 192 BOOK XXV. xxxviii. 77-79 XXXVIII. In the age too of our fathers King Euphorbea. Juba " discovered ^ a plant to which he gave the name euphorbea, calHng it after his own physician Euphorbus. This man was the brother of the Musa we have mentioned <= as the saviour of the life of the late Emperor Augustus. It was these brothers who first adopted the plan of bracing the body by copious douches of cold water after the bath. Before this the custom was to bathe in hot water only, as we find that it is also in Homer. But the treatise also of Juba on this plant is still extant, and it makes a splendid testimonial. He discovered it on Mount Atlas : it has the appearance of a thyrsus and the leaves of the acanthus. Its potency is so great that the juice, obtained by incision ^vith a pole, is gathered from a distance ; it is caught in receivers made of kids' stomachs placed underneath. Fhiid and like milk as it drops down, when it has dried and con- gealed it has all the features of frankincense. The collectors find their vision improved. It is em- ployed as treatment for snake-bite. In whatever part of the body the bite may be, an incision is made in the top of the skull and the medicament in- serted there. The Gaetulians who gather the juice adulterate it out of weary disgust by adding milk, but fire is a test of genuineness, for that which is adulterated emits a nauseating smell. Far inferior to the Atlas juice is that which in Gaul comes from the ground-oUve, which bears a red berry like kermes. Broken it resembles hammoniacum, and even a slight taste leaves for a long time a burning sensation in the mouth ; after a while this increases until it dries up even the throat. ' See XIX. § 128. 193 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 80 XXXIX. Celebravit et Themiso medicus vulgarem herbam plantaginem tamquam inventor volumine de ea edito. duo eius genera : minor angustioribus foliis et nigrioribus, linguae pecorum similis, caule anguloso in terram inclinato, in pratis nascens. altera maior, foliis laterum modo inclusa, quae quia septena sunt, quidam eam heptapleuron vocavere. huius et caulis cubitalis est ; quae^ in umidis nascitur multo efficacior. mira vis in siccando densandoque corpore, cauterii vicem optinens. nulla res aeque sistit fluctiones quas Graeci rheumatismos vocant. 81 XL. lungitur huic buglossos boum Hnguae similis, cui praecipuum quod in vinum deiecta animi volup- tates auget, et vocatur euphrosynum. XLI. lungitur et cynoglossos caninam Unguam imi- tata, topiariis operibus gratissima. aiunt quae tres thyrsos seminis mittat eius radicem potam ex aqua ad tertianas prodesse, quae quattuor ad quartanas. est et aha simiHs ei quae fert lappas minutas. eius radix pota ex aqua ranis et serpentibus adversatur. 82 XLII. Est et buphthalmus simiHs boum ocuHs, foHo fenicuH, circa oppida nascens, fruticosa, . . . . ^ ^ est ; quae in ego : est et uva api. in Detlefsen : est. et ipsa in Maijhojf, qui lacunam et radiees crassitudine digitali esse coniecit : est et vapi in codd. Pro vapi coni. napi lanm (napi similis vidg.). ^ Post fruticosa lacunam esse pvto : post caulibus Mayhoff. " As MayhofF says, this sentence cannot be restored with any certainty. The reading of the JISS., vapi, is a voz nihili. Of the many emendations proposed that of Detlefsen is the nearest to it, and next comes that of Jan. Mayhofifs text is but a stop-gap, and the same must be said of my quae, which is fairly near to the MSS., but is most unhkely to have been changed by a scribe to et vapi. Phny took heplapleuron to mean "with seven sides," but the greater plantain has seven ribs on the leaf. See also Mayhoff's Appendix. 194 BOOK XXV. xxxix. 80-xLii. 82 XXXIX. The physician Themiso too has spread The the fame of a common plant, the plantain, having ?''«"''""• pubHshed a treatise aboiit it as though he were the discoverer. There are two kinds of it : the smaller, with narrower and darker leaves, resembles the tongue of a sheep ; the stem is angular and bends downward. It grows in meadows. The other kind is larger and enclosed with leaves as it were with sides. Since these leaves are seven in number the plant is sometimes called heptapleuron. The stem too of this is a cubit high ; when " it grows on wet soils it is much more efficacious. It has a wonderful power to dry and brace the body, having a cauterizing property. There is nothing that checks so well the fluxes called by the Greeks rheumatismoi, that is, catarrhs. XL. Akin to the plantain is buglossos, which is Bngiossos. Uke the tongue of an ox. The most conspicuous quahty of this is that thrown into wine it increases the exhilarating effect, and so it is also called euphro- synum, the plant that cheers. XLI. Akin too is cynoglossos, which is Hke a dog's Cynogiossos. tongue, and a most attractive addition to ornamental gardens. It is said that the root of the kind with three seed-bearing stems, if taken in water, is good for tertians, and that with four for quartans. There is also another plant Hke this which bears tiny burs. Its root taken in water neutraHzes the poison of frogs * and snakes. XLII. Another plant is buphthalmus, which is Hke Buphthai- the eyes of oxen, having leaves Hke those of fennel, a bushy plant gromng around towns, with «... ' Ranae includes toads. "^ Mayhofi suggests mollibus, " tender ", as the missing word. PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY caulibus qui et manduntur decocti. quidam calchan^ vocant. haec cum cera steatomata discutit. XLIII. Invenere herbas et universae gentes, Scvthia primam eam quae scvthice vocatur, circa Maeotim nascens, praedulcem ahas utihssimamque ad ea quae asthmata vocant. magna et ea com- mendatio, quod in ore eam habentes sitim famem- que non sentiunt. 83 XLIV. Idem praestat apud eosdem hippace, dis- tincta, quod in equis quoque eundem efFectum habeat, traduntque his duabus herbis Scythas etiam in duodenos dies durare in fame sitique. XLV. Ischaemonem Thracia invenit, qua ferunt sanguinem sisti non aperta modo vena sed etiam praecisa. serpit in ^ terra miHo simiUs, foHis asperis et lanuginosis. farcita ^ in nares quae in Italia nascitur, et eadem adalhgata, sanguinem * sistit. 84 XLVI. Vettones in Hispania eam quae vettonica dicitur in Galha, in Itaha autem serratula, a Graecis cestros aut psychrotrophon, ante cunctas laudatis- sima. exit anguloso caule cubitorum duum e radice spargens folia fere lapathi, serrata, semine purpureo. foha siccantur in farinam plurimos ad usus. fit vinum ex ea et acetum stomacho et claritati ocu- 1 calchan mv.Ui codd., Detlefsen : chalcan E. MayJioff : cach- lam H ermolav s Barharus ex Dioscoride. - in Mayhoff : e aut et codd. ^ farcita (e parcita) ego : farcitur E : parcitum R : par- citam V^ : parcituram V. * Ante eadem in codd. sanguinem ; ego transposui. Inter et et sanguinem sujiplet ciet Mayhoff. Distinxi ego. ° The editors suggest that Pliny has ■wrongly thought that 177770.^7], mare's-milk cheese, was a plant. The cheese is mentioned by Hippocrates, Airs, Waters, Places, ch. XVIII, but there may have been a plant of the same name. 196 BOOK XXV. xLii. 82-xLvi. 84 stems that are boiled and eaten. Some call it calchas. This plant with wax added disperses fatty tumours. XLIII. Whole tribes too have discovered plants. Scythice. Scythia first found out about the one ealled scythice, which grows x*ound Lake Maeotis. One of its quaUties is great sweetness, and it is very beneficial for the complaint called asthma. Another great merit of it is the freedom from hunger and thirst enjoyed by those who keep it in their mouths. XLIV. The same people find the same property in their hippace," which has the unique quality of affecting horses in the same way. It is said that on these two plants the Scythians can fast from food and drink even for as long as twelve days at a time. XLV. Thrace found out about ischaemon, which is ischaemon. saidtostanchbleedingwhena veinhas not merelybeen cut but even severed. It creeps along the ground as does millet ; the leaves are rough and downy. The kind that grows in Italy, stuffed into the nostrils, and also when used as an amulet, stanches bleeding.'' XLVI. The Vettones in Spain discovered the plant Vetio7iica. called vettonica in Gaul, serratula " in Italy, and cestros or psychrotrophon by the Greeks, a plant more highly valued than any other. It springs up with an angular stem of two cubits, spreading out from the root leaves rather like those of lapathum, ser- rated, and with a purple fruiting-head. Its leaves are dried into a powder and used for very many purposes. From it ^ are made a wine and a vinegar, good for the "^ Mayhoffs reading means : " stufiFed into the nostrils it causes bleeding; used as an amulet it stanches it." Farcitus is a very late form, but Pliny may have used it. " " The plant with leaves like a saw." ^ Ea may refer to the plant or to the powder made from the leaves, probably to the latter. 197 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY lorum, tantumque gloriae habet ut domus in qua sata sit tuta existimetur a periculis ^ omnibus. 85 XLVII. In eadem Hispania inventa est cantabrica per divi Augusti tempora a Cantabris reperta. nascitur ubique caule iunceo pedali, in quo sunt flosculi oblongi veluti calathi, in his semen perquam minutum. nec ahas defuere Hispaniae herbis ex- quirendis, ut in quibus etiamnunc hodie in more sit laetiore convictu potionem e centum herbis mulso additis credere saluberrimam suavissimamque. nec quisquam genera earum iam novit aut multitudinem, numerus tamen constat in nomine. 86 XLVIII. Nostra aetas meminit herbam in Marsis repertam. nascitur et in Aequicolis circa vicum Nervesiae, vocatur consiligo. prodest, ut demon- strabimus suo loco, deploratis in phthisi. 87 XLIX. Invenit nuper et Servilius Democrates e primis medentium quam appellavit hiberida, quam- quam ficto nomini inventione^ eius adsignata carmine. nascitur maxime circa vetera monumenta parietinas- que et inculta itinerum. floret semper, foHo nasturtii, caule cubitali, semine vix ut aspici possit. radici odor nasturtii. usus aestate efficacior et recenti ^ periculis V^ Detlefsen : piaculis MayJioff : piculis V^. * inventione Salmasius, Sillig: inventioni codd. : aliae hctiones nomine [coni. homini Mayhoff) et assignato. " Mayhoffs reading {'piacidis) is attractive because difficult, and is different from V^ by one letter only. It would mean " crime " or " sin ". * The calathus was trumpet-shaped, and so dblongus cannot here mean " oblong ". ■^ I.e., the potion is called the " hundred-plant drink ". <* See XXVI. § 38. ♦ An obscurely expressed sentence, which led some scribes iq8 BOOK XXV. xLvi. 84-xLix. 87 stomach and the eyesight. So great is its fame that the home in which it has been planted is considered to be safe from all dangers.'* XLVII. In Spain too was discovered cantabrica, cantabriei found by the Cantabri in the period of the late Emperor Augustus. It grows everywhere, having a rush-hke stem a foot in length, on whieh are small, longish * flowers, shaped Hke a work-basket, in which are very tiny seeds. Nor have the Spains been backward in other search after plants ; for example, even now today it is the custom at the more festive gatherings, to mix a drink, the " hundred- plant potion ", by adding to honev wine a hundred plants, in the behef that such is both very healthful and very pleasant. Nobody, however, now knows the kinds of plants used and their exact number, although a definite number is given in the name."^ XLVIII. Our own generation remembers the ConsiUgo. discovery of a plant among the Marsi. It grows also among the AequicoU around the village of Nervesia, and is called consiligo. It is beneficial, as we shall point out in its own place,'' in desperate cases of consumption. ' XLIX. Servilius Democrates also, one of our fore- mberis. most physicians, recently discovered the value of what he called hiberis, although in the verses he wrote on its discovery he assigned this to an imaginary person.* It grows chiefly near old monuments, ruins, and the waste land beside highways. It is an ever- green, with leaves hke cress, a stem a cubit high, and with seed/ that can scarcely be seen. The root has the smell of cress. It is used more efiicaciously in sum- to think that the meaning is: "dedicating a poem to its dia- covery under a fictitious name ". f Or " fruiting-head". 199 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY 88 tantum. tunditur difficulter. coxendicibus et arti- culis omnibus cum axungia modica utilissima, viris plurimum quaternis horis, feminis minus dimidio adalligata, ut deinde in balineis descendatur in cali- dam et postea oleo ac vino perunguatur corpus, die- busque vicenis interpositis idem fiat, si qua ad- monitio doloris supersit. hoc modo rheumatismos omnes sanat occultos. inponitur non in ipsa inflam- matione, sed inminuta. 89 L. Animaha quoque invenere herbas, in primisque chelidoniam. hac enim hirundines oculis ^ pullorum in nido {medentur)' restituuntque ^ visum, ut quidam volunt, etiam erutis oculis. genera eius duo : maior fruticosa, folio pastinacae erraticae ampliore, ipsa altitudine duum cubitorum, colos albicans, flos luteus. minori foha hederae rotundiora, minus candida. 90 sucus croci mordax, semen papaveris. florent ad- ventu hirundinum, discessu marcescunt.^ sucus florentibus exprimitur, et in aereo vase cum melle Attico leniter cinere ferventi decoquitur, singulari remedio contra caligines oculorum. utuntur et per se suco et in collyriis quae cheUdonia appellantur ab ea. ^ oculis Mayhoff : ocules V^ : oculos Detlefsen. * restituuntque E, Mayhoff, gui lacunam post nido indicat et medentur co7ii. Ego supplementum addo Dioscoridem secutiis : restituunt dantque V-, Detlefsen. Non medentur sed prosunt supplet Brakman. ^ marcescunt R E vulg., Mayhoff : inarescunt Detlefsen : arescunt d T. " I have adopted the suggestion of Mayhoff, which he does not print in his text, because of Dioscorides II 180 : riveg 8e TTpooiaroprjoav otl, idv tls TV(f)Xv, al ^r]Tipe? TTpoa^jiepovaai. ttjv ttoov uovTai ttjv TTrjpoiOLV airrov. Pliny took TTTJpwaiv to mean that the eyes were actually gouged 200 BOOK XXV. xLix. 87-L. 90 mer, and only when freshly gathered will it serve. There is difficulty in pounding it. For sciatica and all complaints of the joints it is, with a little axle-grease added, very beneficial. The longest appUcation is four hours for men and half as long for women ; then the patient must go down to the hot water of the baths, and afterwards must be rubbed all over the body with wine and oil. The treatment should be repeated at intervals of twenty days, if any hint of pain persists. This treatment cures all hidden fluxes. The appHcation is not made when inflammation is acute, but only when it has gone down. L. Animals too have discovered plants, and among the chief is the cheHdonia. For by means of it swallows cure the eyes of the chicks in the nest, and restore the sight, as some hold, even when the eyes have been torn out." There are two kinds of it. The larger kind is bushy, and its leaf is Hke that of the wild carrot, but bigger, the pkant itself being two cubits high, the colour light and the blossom yellow. The smaller has leaves Hke those of ivy, rounder and less pale.^ The juice is Hke saffron juice and pungent ; the seed resembles that of the poppy. Both plants blossom when the swallow arrives and wither when he departs. The juice is extracted while the plants are flowering, and is gently boiled down with Attic honey in a copper vessel over hot ashes, being a sovereign remedy for dimness of vision. The juice is used both by itself and in the eye-salves called cheHdonia after the plant. out, whereas it merely means " blindness ", as can be seen from TV(f>\cD9fj. The reading ocules of V^ probably arose from tbe ending of hirundines, the word immediately before it. * I.e., than the larger plant. PLIXY : NATURAL HISTORY 91 LI. Inverierunt et canes qua fastidium vincunt eamque in nostro conspectu mandunt, sed ita ut numquam intellegatur quae sit. etenim depasta cernitur. notata est haec animalis eius malignitas in alia herba maior. percussus enim a serpente mederi sibi quadam dicitur, sed illam homine spec- tante non decerpit. 92 LII. SimpUcius cervae monstravere elaphoboscon, de qua diximus, item sesehn ^ a partu et tamnum,^ (LIII.) ostendere, ut indicavimus, et ^ dictamnum * vulneratae pastu statim teUs decidentibus. non est aUbi quam in Creta, ramis praetenue, puleio simile, fervens et acre gustu. foUis tantum utuntur, flos nullus aut semen aut cauUs, radix tenuis ac super- vacua. et in Creta autem non spatiosa nascitur, mire- 93 que capris expetitur. pro eo est et pseudodictamnum multis in terris nascens, foUo simile, ramuUs minor- ibus, a quibusdam chondris vocatum. minoris 1 seselin coni. Mayhoff : seseli enixae Hermolaus Bar- barns : helxinen Mayhoff in textu et Detlefsen : helxine aut helsine codd. ^ et tamnum coni. Mayhoff VIII. § 112 collato : dictamnum Hermolaus Barbarus : dictam Mayhoff in textu, Detlefsen, codd. ^ et ego addidi. * dictamnum del. Hernwlaus Barbarm. ' See XXII. § 79. " VIII. §112. " VIII. § 97. The readingof theMSS. is very corrupt in this sentence, and the means of an approximate restoration are to be found in the foUowing passages : XXII. § 41 : unde et helxinen dietam volunt; VIII. § 112: a partu duas, quae tamnus et seseUs appellantur, pastae redeunt ad fetum ; VIII. § 97 : dictamnum herbam extrahendis sagittis cervi monstra- 202 BOOK XXV. Li. 91-L111. 93 LI. Dogs too have found a plant by which they Piants found cure loss of appetite, and eat it in our sight, but in ^ "''*■ such a way that it can never be identified, for it is seen only when chewed up. This animal shows yet greater spitefulness in its secrecy about another plant ; for there is one by which it is said to cure itself when bitten by a snake, but it does not crop it when a human being is looking on. LII. With greater frankness deer have shown us Pianisfuund elaphoboscon, about which we have written," and ^ "'"' after yeaning have made known seseHs and the black bryony, as we have pointed out ^ ; (LIII.) dittany also by feeding on it when wounded, the weapons at once falling out.'' The latter grows nowhere except in Crete, with branches very slender; it resembles pennyroyal and is burning and harsh to the taste. Only the leaves are employed ; it has no flower, no seed and no stem ; its root is slender and without medicinal value. Even in Crete it does not grow widely, and the goats are wonderfuUy eager to hunt it out. A substitute for it is false dittany, which grows in many lands, like true dittany in leaf but 1 with smaller branches, and called by some chondris. vere percussi eo telo pastuque herbae eius eieeto. A scribe with an aural memory of XXII. § 41 may have had it suggested to him by tlie similarity of dictam to et tamnum with diciamnum foUowing a httle later. Seselin is sufficiently like helxinen to the eye to set in motion latent aural memory, and the other change, the omission of a connecting particle before dictamnum, would follow naturaUy. Hermolaus Barbarus in 1492 saw that some restoration of the text was necessary, and would delete dictammim before imlneratae and emend dictam to dictamnum. Whatever the details of the correct emendation may be, the corruption took place very early, before the archetype of our existing MSS. was written, as none of them has any sign that helxine(n) and dictam are wrong. 203 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY efFectus statim intellegitur. dictamnum enim min- ima potione accendit os. qui legere eas in ferula aut harundine condunt praeligantque ne potentia evanes- cat. sunt qui dicant utramque nasci multifariam, sed deteriores in agris pinguibus, veram quidem dic- 94 tamnum ^ non nisi in asperis. est et tertium genus dictamnum vocatum, sed neque facie neque effectu simile, folio sisymbri, ramis maioribus, praecedente persuasione illa quicquid in Creta nascatur infinito praestare ceteris eiusdem generis alibi genitis, proxime quod in Parnaso. alioqui herbiferum esse et Pelium montem in Thessalia et Telethrium in Euboea et totam Arcadiam ac Laconicam tradunt, Arcades quidem non medicaminibus uti sed lacte circa ver, quoniam tum maxime sucis herbae turgeant medicenturque ubera pascuis. bibunt autem vacci- num, quoniam boves omnivori fere sunt in herbis. potentia earum per quadripedes etiamnum duobus claris exemphs manifesta fit. circa Abderam et Umitem qui Diomedis vocatur equi pasti inflam- mantur rabie, circa Potnias vero et asini. yo LIV. Inter nobilissimas aristolochiae nomen dedisse gravidae videntur, quoniam esset apiarr] Xexovaais. nostri malum terrae vocant et quattuor genera eius ' dictamnum glossema esse putat Mayhojf. " Or, if etiamnum goes with duobus, " by two further examples." 204 BOOK XXV. Liii. 93-Liv. 95 It is recognised at once, as its properties are less potent, for the smallest quantity oftruedittany,takenindrink, burns the mouth. Those who gather them store them in a piece of fennel-giant or reed, which they tie up at the ends, to prevent their losing efficacy. There are some who say that both plants grow in many places, but that while the inferior kinds are found on rich soils, true dittany is only seen on rough ground. There is also a third plant called dittany, unhke the others in appearance and properties ; the leaves are those of sisymbrium and the branches are larger, but there is the established conviction that whatever simple grows in Crete is infinitely superior to any of the same kind to be found elsewhere, and that the next best herbs are those to be found on Mount Parnassus. Report says that simples grow besides on Mount Pelion in Thessaly, on Mount Telethrius in Euboea, and throughout Arcadia and Laconia, and that the Arcadians indeed use, not medicines, but milk in the spring season, because it is at this time chiefly that herbs are swollen with juices which, when the beasts graze, medicate their udders. But the milk they drink is cow's milk, since kine will feed on almost any kind of plant. The potency of plants becomes clear from two striking examples of their action even" on quadrupeds : horses that have grazed around Abdera and what is called " the bounds of Diomedes " go raving mad, as do also the asses that graze around Potniae. LIV. Among the most celebrated plants aristo- Aristoiochia,\ lochia received its name, as is clear, from women with child, because they considered it to be apLGTrf Xexovcratg, that is, " excellent for women in child- bed." Latin writers call it " earth apple," dis- 205 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY servant : unum tuberibus radicis rotundis, foliis inter malvam et hederam, nigrioribus mollioribusque, alterum masculae, radice longa, quattuor digitorum longitudine, baculi crassitudine, tertium longissimae, tenuitate vitis novellae, cuius sit praecipua vis, quae 96 et clematitis ^ vocatur, ab aliis cretica. omnes colore buxeo, caulibus parvis, flore purpureo. ferunt baculas parvas ut cappari. valent radice tantum. est et quae plistolochia vocatur, quarti generis, tenuior quam proxime dicta, densis radicis capilla- mentis, iunci plenioris crassitudine. hanc quidam 97 polyrrhizon cognominant. odor omnium medicatus, sed oblongae radici tenuiorique gratior, carnosi enim est corticis, unguentis quoque nardinis conveniens. nascuntur pinguibus locis et campestribus. efFodere eas messibus tempestivum, desquamato ^ terreno ser- vantur. maxime tamen laudatur Pontica et in quo- cumque genere ponderosissima quaeque, medicinis aptior rotunda, contra serpentes oblonga, in summa 1 clematitis (ex Dioscoride) Hard., vulg., MayJioff : clematis codd. et Detlefsen. ^ desquamato Detlefsen -. in desquamato Mayhoff : ita desquamato vidg. : ita e squama plerique codd. " Masculae and longissimae agree with aristoJochiae under- stood. Perhaps radicis has fallen out before longissimae. ^ Or " oblong " (so Littre), but this rendering seems un- Buitable in view of § 95. Dioscorides (III 4. § 3) has : rJTis Kal «■ATj/iaTtTij KaAelTai exovaa - pL^as fiaKpoTaTas, AeTTTay, imprimitur coni. Warmington. ^ fricatur Mayhoff, qui XXII 121 confert : nectitur Dellef- sen: ligatur vulg. : necatur codd. 256 BOOK XXV. cvi. 168-CV111. 171 hand some have given it with wine for jaundice, and as a cure for all complaints of the bladder, heart, and Hver. They have said that it brings away gravel from the kidneys. They prescribed for sciatica a drachma with oxymel after a walk, this dose being also very useful in raisin wine for coHc ; they re- commended it also as a salad with vinegar for the internal organs '^ generally, and they planted it in gardens. There have been some who distinguished a second variety, but without pointing out its quali- ties, prescribing it to be taken in water for snake bite, and to be eaten by epileptics. I myself shall treat of it only in so far as the Romans have found out by experiment how to use it. Its down, with safFron and a little cold water, is applied crushed to eye fluxes and, roasted with a grain of salt, to scrofulous sores. CVII. Ephemeron has the leaves of a lily, but ^^¥^1}^?'' smaller, a stem of the same length, a blue flower, a donia. seed of no value, and a single root of the thickness of a thumb, a sovereign remedy for the teeth if it is cut up into pieces in vinegar, boiled down, and used warm as a mouth wash. And the root also by itself arrests decay if forced into the hollow of a decayed tooth. Root of chelidonia is crushed in vinegar and kept in the mouth, dark hellebore is plugged into decayed teeth, and loose teeth are strengthened by either of these boiled down in vinegar. CVIII. A plant that grows in rivers they call the Y^eneriuin bath of Venus. In it is a worm which is rubbed round the teeth or plugged with wax into the hollow of a tooth. Care must be taken that the plant does not touch the ground after being puUed up. " See note on XXV. § 41. 257 VOL. VII. K PLIXY: NATURAL HISTORY 172 CIX. Ranunculum vocamus quem Graeci batra- chion. genera eius IIII : unum pinguioribus quam coriandri foliis et ad latitudinem malvae accedenti- bus, colore livido, caule alto gracili et radice alba. nascitur in limitibus umidis et opacis. alterum folio- sius, pluribus foliorum incisuris, altioribus ^ caulibus. tertium minimum est, gravi odore, flore aureo. 173 quartum simile huic flore lacteo.^ omnibus vis caustica, si cruda folia inponantur, pusulasque ut ignis faciunt. ideo ad lepras et psoras iis utuntur et ad tollenda stigmata, causticisque omnibus miscent. alopeciis inponunt celeriter removentes. radix in dolore commanducata diutius rumpit dentes, eadem 174 sicca concisa sternutamentum est. nostri herbarii strumum eam vocant, quoniam medetur strumis et panis parte ^ in fumo suspensa, creduntque ea rursus sata rebellare quae curaverint vitia,* quo scelere et plantagine utuntur. oris ulcera intus sucus planta- ginis emendat et foha radicesque commanducata, vel si rheumatismo laboret os, ulcera faetoremque quinquefolium, ulcera psylHum. 175 CX. Conposita quoque contra faetores, vel maxime pudendum vitium, trademus. ergo folia myrti et lentisci pari pondere, gallae Syriacae ^ altioribus coni. Warmington : altius codd. 2 lacteo (e Dioscoridt) Brotier, Littre, Detkfsen, Mayhoff : luteo codd. ^ parte vult delere Warmington, fortasse per dittographiam ortum. * vitia in Mayhoff. " " Employee en fumigation sur la partie malade " (Littre). This is surely vfTong, for the whole plant was not burnt, but sometimes replanted. Perhaps the plant was smoked before use, or perhaps the eustom had a magical origin. BOOK XXV. cix. 172-CX. 175 CIX. VVe eall ranunculus a plant which the Greeks RanunaiUis call batrachion. There are four kinds of it : one with {°^.' ^ '^*'"' fatter leaves than those of coriander and nearly as broad as those of mallows, of a leaden colour, with a tall, graceful stem and a whitish root. It grows on moist and shaded cross-paths. The second is more leafy, with more indentations in the leaves, and with taller stems. The thii-d is the smallest, with a strong smell and a golden flower. The fourth is Uke it, but the flower is of the colour of milk. All have a caustic property ; if leaves are appHed raw, they raise bHsters as does fire. Accordingly they are used for leprous sores and itch, and to remove scars on the skin ; they are ingredients of all caustic preparations. They are appHed to mange, but are removed quickly. The root if chewed up for tooth- ache too long breaks off the teeth, and the dried root chopped fine makes a snuff. Roman herbaHsts call it strumus, because it cures scrofula and super- ficial abscesses, if a piece of it is hung up in the smoke." They beHeve that if it is replanted the maladies they have cured ^ break out again, a similar criminal use being made of the plantain. Sores inside the mouth are cured by juice of plantain, and also by the chewed-up leaves and roots, even if the mouth is suffering from a flux ; sores and bad breath are removed by cinquefoil, sores by psylHum. CX. I shall also give some prescriptions for offensive offensive breath, which is a very embarrassing ^''^""'- complaint. For this purpose myrtle leaves are taken and an equal weight of leaves of lentisk with half the quantity of Syrian gaH-nuts. This com- The nearest instance I have found to cmare in Phny in thc strict sense of " cure." 259 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY dimidium pondus simul terere et vino vetusto sparsa mandere matutino ex usu est, vel hederae bacas cum casia et murra pari pondere ex vino. naribus utilissimum est dracontii semen contritum ex melle, etiamsi carcinomata in iis sint. suggillata hysopo emendantur, stigmata in facie mandragoras in- litus delet. 260 BOOK XXV. cx. 175 pound, when beaten up and sprinkled with old wine, may with benefit " be chewed in the morning, or one may be made of ivy berries, cassia and myrrh, in equal quantities, added to \vine. If the nostrils are the seat of the trouble, even though a cancer-like growth is present, dracontium seed beaten up with honey is very useful. Bruises disappear under appHcations of hyssop, and scars on the face are removed by rubbing with mandrake.* " Cf. XXVII § 81 ex usji est fovere. * Possibly " by the use of mandrake ointment." 261 BOOK XXVI LIBER XXVI 1 I. Sensit facies hominum et novos omnique aevo priore incognitos non Italiae modo verura etiam uni- versae prope Europae morbos, tunc quoque non tota Italia nec per Illyricum Galliasve aut Hispanias magno opere vagatos, aut alibi quam Romae circa- que, sine dolore quidem illos ac sine pernicie vitae, sed tanta foeditate ut quaecumque mors prae- ferenda esset. 2 II. Gravissimum ex his Hchenas appellavere Graeco nomine, Latine, quoniam a mento fere oriebatur, ioculari primum lascivia, ut est procax multorum natura in alienis miseriis, mox et usurpato vocabulo mentagram, occupantem multis et totos ^ utique voltus, ocuhs tantum inmunibus, descenden- tem vero et in colla pectusque ac manus foedo cutis furfure. ^ et totos vulg., Detlefsen : et latius totos Mayhoff : pro latius in codd. invenimus intus VRdTf, intuitus E cod. Dal., intutus V^. JJ a yhoff inteutius coni. : ego intensius malim. " Lichen, from the Greek XeiXTjv, is in its medical sense the despair of the medical historian. Skin diseases are even today hard to diagnose ; in ancient times it was still harder; hardest of all is it to understand now ancient diagnosis. Lichen included ringworm and many kinds of eczema, especially when 264 BOOK XXVI I. The face of man has also been afflicted with new New diseases, unknown in past years not only to Italy but also to almost the whole of Europe, and even then they did not spread all over Italy, or through Illyricum, the Gauls, and the Spains to any great extent, or in fact anywhere except in and around Rome. Though they are painless and with- out danger to life, yet they are so disfiguring that any kind of death would be preferable. II. The most severe of these they called by a LUhens. Greek name Uchens " ; in Latin, because it generally began on the chin, it was called mentagra,* at first Mentagra. h\ way of a joke — so prone are many men to make a jest of the misfortunes of others — the name passing presently into common use. The disease seized in many cases ^ at least the whole of the face, with the eyes only unaffected, but passed down how- ever also to the neck, chest and hands, covering the skin with a disfiguring, scaly eruption. it resembled thc botanical lichen in forra. Here it may be some form of leprosy. See also Hst of diseases. * I.e. " chin gout," as podagra is " foot gout " and chiragra " hand gout." The joke, Like most Roman jokes, is a feeble one. " Mayhoff 's latius would mean that the disease spread from the chin. It seems unnecessary with descendentem. My intensius would mean that the djsease became more violent as it spread from the chin. I believe that it could easily have been changed to intus. 265 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY 3 III. Non fuerat haec lues apud maiores patresque nostros, et primum Ti. Claudi Caesaris principatu medio inrepsit in Italiam quodam Perusino equite Romano quaestorio scriba, cum in Asia adparuisset, inde contagionem eius inportante. nec sensere id malum feminae aut servitia plebesque humilis aut media, sed proceres veloci transitu oscuh maxime, foediore multorum qui perpeti medicinam tolera- verant cicatrice quam morbo. causticis namque curabatur, ni usque in ossa corpus exustum esset, 4 rebellante taedio. adveneruntque ex Aegvpto genetrice tahum vitiorum medici hanc solam operam adferentes magna sua praeda, siquidem certum est Manilium Cornutum e praetoriis legatum Aqui- tanicae provinciae HS CC elocasse in eo morbo curandum sese. acciditque ^ contra ^ saepius ut nova genera morborum gregatim sentirentur. quo mira- bilius quid potest reperiri ? aUqua gigni repente vitia terrarum in parte certa membrisque hominum ^ acciditque codd. et edd. : accidit quoque Mayhoff. * contra ego transposui : om. V^RT Detlefsen : post nova posuit Mayhoff cum codd.V^dEr vulg. " Littre translates maxime by " surtout," " especially through the quick contact of the kiss," which suggests that kissing was more common among the nobles than elsewhere. I think that the cursus verborum points to the translation : " but the nobles through the momentary contact (speedy infection) of a kiss sufFered very much." This is rather obscure, and perhaps vel, " even," has fallen out before veloci. ' The omission of contra in several MSS. shows that the logic of the passage, which is certainly oddly expressed, has been long misimderstood. The sequence of thought here, as I understand the passage, is : 266 BOOK XXVI. iii. 3-4 III. This plague was unknown to our fathers and forefathers. It first made its way into Italy in the middle of the principate of Tiberius Claudius Caesar, when a Roman knight of Perusia, a quaestor's secretary, inti-oduced the infection from Asia Minor, where he had taken up his duties. Women were not Hable to the disease, or slaves and the lower and middle classes, but the nobles were very much infected " through the momentary contact of a kiss. The scar left on many who had been hardy enough to endure the treatment was more unsightly than the disease, for caustics were the method employed, and the loathsome complaint broke out afresh unless the fiesh was burnt through right to the bones. There arrived from Egypt, the parent of such diseases, physicians who devoted all their attention to this complaint only, to their very great profit, since it is a fact that Manilius Cornutus, of praetorian rank and legate of the province of Aquitania, laid out two hundred thousand sesterces in getting himself treated for that disease. On the other hand * it has more usually happened that new kinds of disease on their first appearance have been epidemic. What can be found more marvellous than this, that some diseases should ai'ise suddenly in a special part of the woi'ld, should attack special Umbs of human " Mentagra attacked a special class of people m Rome itself, although it was a new disease to Italy ; new diseases on their first introduction usually attack whole masses indiscriminately. How stiange it is for a disease sometimes to pick as it were its victims ! " It is hard for me to beheve that contra is an insertion of a scribe, or that gregathn can mean " among the common people " (Lewis and Short), or in fact anything except " whole masses at a time." See VIII. § 11 : elephanti gregatim semper ingrediuntur. 267 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY certis vel aetatibus aut etiam fortunis, taniquam malo eligente, haec in pueris grassari, illa in adultis, haec proceres sentire, illa pauperes ? 5 IV. L. Paullo Q. Marcio censoribus primum in Italiam carbunculum venisse annalibus notatum est, pecuhare Narbonensis provinciae malum, quo duo consulares obiere condentibus haec nobis eodem anno, lulius Rufus atque Laecanius Bassus, ille medicorum inscientia sectus, hic vero t pollici laevae manus evulso acu ab semetipso tam parvo f ut vix cerni 6 posset. nascitur in occultissimis corporum partibus et pleriunque sub lingua duritia rubens vari modo, sed capite nigricans, alias livida, in corpus intendens neque intumescens, sine dolore, sine pruritu, sine alio quam somni indicio, quo gravatos in triduo aufert ; aliquando et hoiTorem adferens circaque pusulas » The Pontifex Maximus compiled each year the official list of important events. These lists made up the Annales. " 164 B.c. ' These men were consuls in a.d. 65 and 62 respectively. ^ The words within daggers seem corrupt, although the general sense of the passage is clear. We expect a participle meaning " thrust in," not " phicked out," and there is no noun to go with parvo and evulso. There is no satisfactory restoration of the passage, which may possibly be, not corrupt, but badly written by Pliny himself. It may be that punctu (XXVIII § 198) has faUen out after parvo (the viilgate text has vulnere after it), but the difficulty of evulso 268 BOOK XXVI. iii. 4-iv. 6 beings or special ages, or even people of a special position in life, (just as if a plague chose its victims), one children, another adults, one making the nobihty especially Hable, another the poor. IV. It is noted in the Annals " that it was in the censorship * of Lucius Paulhis and Quintus Marcius that there appeared for the fii-st time in Italy the carbuncle, a disease pecuHar to the province of Carbimcies. Galha Narbonensis. There died of it in the same year as I compose my work two men of consular rank, JuHus Rufus <^ and Laecanius Bassus," the former through the ignorance of his pliysicians, who tried lancing ; the latter, however, through his own tearing out with a needle from his left thumb a spUnter (boil) so small that it could scarcely be seen.<* The carbuncle fonns in the most hidden parts of the body, and usually as a red hardness under the tongue, hke a pimple but blackish at the i top, occasionally of a leaden colour, spreading into 1 the flesh but without swelhng, pain, irritation, or any other symptom than sleep, overcome by which the patient is carried off in three days. Sometimes also the disease, bringing shivering, small pustules around the sore, and more rarely fever, has reached remains. The MS. E has eviilsa to agree with acu. After acu a word may have been lost, perhaps aculeo (splinter) or furunculo (boil). Carbunculus (when not anthrax) was a malignant pustule or ulcer. Celsus (V 28a) says that it should be cauterized, but does not mention cutting. " If acus does not mean ' head ' here it is probably coriupt. There are two ways of transforming a simple boil into a genei-al infection. One is to lance with a knifc (Rufus), the other is to squeeze the head out with a dirty thumb (Bassus)." A.C.A. 269 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY parvas, rarius febrem, stomachum faucesque invasit, ^ oeissime exanimans. 7 y. Diximus elephantiasim ante Pompei Magni aetatem non accidisse in Italia, et ipsam a facie saepius incipientem, in nare prima veluti lenticula, mox inarescente ^ per totum corpus maculosa variis coloribus et inaequali cute, alibi crassa, aHbi tenui, dura alibi ceu scabie aspera, ad postremum vero nigrescente et ad ossa carnes adprimente, intumes- 8 centibus digitis in pedibus manibusque. Aegypti peculiare hoc mahmi et, cum in reges incidisset, populis funebre, quippe in balineis soHa tempera- bantur humano sanguine ad medicinam eam. et hic quidem morbus celeriter in Italia restinctus est, sicut et ille quem gemursam appellavere prisci inter digitos pedum nascentem, etiam nomine oblitterato. 9 \T. Id ipsum mirabile, aHos desinere in nobis, alios durare, sicuti colum. Ti. Caesaris principatu inrepsit id malum, nec quisquam id prior imperatore ipso sensit, magna civitatis ambage, cum in edicto eius excusantis valetudinem legeret nomen incog- ^ faucesque invasit VR : paucisque E r : faucesque cum invasit d(?) vulg., Detlefsen : faucesque ut invasit Mayhoff, qui VIII L5S, IX 122, 152, 153, XV 85, XVIII 115, XX 38, XXX 63, XXXI 109, XXXIII 29, XXXVI 127 confert. ^ inarescente Detlefsen cum codd. : increscente lanus, Mayhoff. " In spite of the vulgate cuin before invasit, and of Mayhoffs formidable list of parallel passages in support of ut, which he substitutes for cum, I am inclined to believe that a new sentence begins after aufert ; in other words that two forms of the disease are mentioned, one which kills by producing coma, the other in which death is due to sufFocation and clioking. 270 BOOK XXVI. IV. 6-vi. 9 the oesophagus and pharynx,'' causing death very quickl)^ V. I have said that leprosy * did not occur in Lepmsy. Italy before the time of Pompeius Magnus, and that though the plague usually begins on the face, a kind of freckle on the tip of the nose, yet presently the skin dries up "^ over all the body, covered with spots of various colours, and uneven, in places thick, in others thin, in others hard as with rough itch-scab, finally however going black, and pressing the flesh on to the bones, while the toes and fingers swell up. This plague is native to Egypt. When kings wei-e attacked, it was a deadly thing for the inhabitants, because the tubs in the baths used to be prepared with warm human blood for its treatment. This disease indeed quickly died out in Italy, as also did that called by the ancients gemursa,'^ which appeared between the toes, the very name being now obsolete. VI. This itself is a wonderful fact, that some Coiunu diseases should disappear from among us while others remain endemic, as for example cohim.* It was in the principate of Tiberius Caesar that this malady made its wav into Italy. Nobody sufFered from it before the Emperor himself, and the citizens were greatly puzzled when they read in his edict, in which he begged to be excused because of illness, a Unfortunately there are no simiUa in the medical writings by which the text rnight have been settled. * See XX § 144 and list of diseases. ' With the reading increscente : " it increases over all the body, the skin being, etc." I suggest " plague," to bring out the force of the emphatic ijisam. ^ We do not know what gemursa was, this being the only place (except once in Festus) where the word occurs. ' An intestinal disease. See list of diseases. 271 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY nitum. quid hoc esse dicamus aut quas deorum iras ? parum enim erant homini certa morborum genera, cum supra trecenta essent, nisi etiam nova timerentur ? neque ipsi autem homines pauciora sibi 10 opei-a sua negotia inportant. haec apud priscos erant quae memoramus ^ remedia, medicinam ipsa quodammodo rerum natura faciente, et diu fuere. Hippocratis certe, qui primus medendi praecepta clarissime condidit, referta herbarum mentione in- venimus volumina. nec minus DiocH Carysti, qui secundus aetate famaque extitit, item Praxagorae 11 et Chrysippi ac deinde Erasistrati Cei,^ Herophilo quidem, quamquam subtihoris sectae conditori, ante omnes ^ . . . celebratam rationem eam, paulatim * usu efhcacissimo rerum omnium magistro, pecuHa- riter utique medicinae, ad verba garrulitatemque descendente.^ sedere namque in schoHs auditioni operatos gratius erat quam ire per sohtudines et quaerere herbas ahas ahis diebus anni. 12 VII. Durabat tamen antiquitas firma magnasque confessae rei vindicabat rehquias, donec Asclepiades aetate Magni Pompei orandi magister nec satis in arte ea quaestuosus, ut ad aha quam forum ^ sagacis 1 memoramus Maijhoff cum codd. : memoravimua Urlichs, Detlefsen. 2 Cei Detlefsen, Mayhoff e Strabone (X v 6) : Co codd. 3 omnes vulg. : omnis codd., Deilefsen, Mayhoff. Post omnes cxcidit fortasse scimus. ^ eam, paulatim codd. : , iam paulatim Mayhoff. ^ descendente vulg. : descendentem V^ d t Mayhoff. ^ quam forum fere omnes codd. : om. vulg. " This emendation of the Co of the MSS. is certain, unless Pliny has made one of his characteristic blunders. * Or, " far-fetched doctrine." 272 BOOK XXVI. VI. 9-vn. 12 name they had never heard before. What are \ve to say that this means, wJiat wrath of the gods ? Were the recognised kinds of human disease, more than three hundred, too few, that they must be increased by new ones also to add to man's fears ? No fewer either are the troubles which man brings upon him- self by his own agency. These remedies that I Theoid record were those used by the ancients, Nature in a medicine. way making medicine herself, and their vogue was a long one. Certainly the works of Hippocrates, who was the first to put together, and that \vith great distinction, rules for medical practice, we find full of references to herbs, equally so the works of Diocles of Carystus, who comes next after Hippocrates in time and reputation, hkewise those of Praxagoras and Chrysippus, and then comes Erasistratus of Ceos " ; while Herophilus indeed, although the founder of an over-subtle sect,* <(we know) recommended before all others this method of treatment." But httle by httle experience, the most efficient teacher of all things, and in particular of medicine, de- generated into words and mere talk. For it was more pleasant to sit in a lecture-room engaged in Hstening, than to go out into the wilds and search for the various plants at their proper season of the year. VH. However, the ancient system of medicine remained unshaken, and claimed as its own con- siderable remains of its once acknowledged sphere, until, in the time of Pompeius Magnus, one Asclepiades, a professor of rhetoric, who found his Asciepiadc gains in that profession too small, but had a brain " These physicians floiirished after Hippocrates, the last two at Alexandria in the early part of the third century b.c. 273 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY ingenii, huc se repente convertit atque, ut necesse erat homini qui nec id egisset nec remedia nosset ocuHs usuque percipienda, torrenti ac meditata cotidie oratione blandiens omnia abdicavit totamque medi- 13 cinam ad causas revocando coniecturae fecit, quinque res maxume communium auxiliorum professus, abstinentiam cibi, alias vini, fricationem corporis, ambulationem, gestationes, quae cum unusquisque semet ipsum sibi praestare posse intellegeret, faven- tibus cunctis velut^ essent vera quae facillima erant, universum prope humanum genus circumegit in se non alio modo quam si caelo demissus advenisset. 14 YIll. Trahebat praeterea mentes ^ artificio inani ^ iam * vina promittendo aegris dandoque tempestive, iam frigidam aquam, et quoniam causas morborum scrutari prius Herophilus instituerat, vini rationem inhistraverat Cleophantus apud priscos, ipse cognomi- nari se frigida danda praeferens, ut auctor est M. Varro. aha quoque blandimenta excogitabat, iam ^ velut Warmington : ut codd. * mentes plerique codd., Maijhoff : mentis V, Detlefsen. ^ inani coni. Mayhoff, sed alias addit : animos iam Detlefsen : mirabili vulg. et fortasse d : animalia plures codd., Urlichs : aliae coniecturae sunt anili, animae, amabili. Vide notam. * iam coni. plures : om. codd. " It is supposed that Pliny here confuses Asclepiades the physician with Asclepiades the rhetorician. See ClifiFord Allbutt, Greek Medicine at Rome, p. 180. " With the MSS. reading: " were inclined to beiieve that the easiest etc," hutfavere ut = " to favour the behef that" is dubious. ' MayhoiT's inajii is perhaps the least unlikely of the pro- posed emendations of the animalia of the MSS. His atias, however, with iam following will commend itself to few. The vulgate mirabili gives excellent sense, but would not be 274 BOOK XXVI. VII. I2-VIII. 14 brilliant enough for success in otlier professions, suddenly abandoned rhetoric for medicine." A man vvho neither had practised it nor knew anything of remedies that call for sharp eyes and personal experience, but could attract by his eloquent and daily-practised oratoiy, was forced to reject all simples, and reducing the whole of medicine to the discovery of causes, made it a matter of guess- work. He recognised especially five principles of general appHcation : fasting from food, in other cases abstinence from wine, massage, walking, and the various kinds of caiTiage-rides. Since everv man realised that he could provide these things for himself, and since all applauded *• him as if the easiest things were also triie, Asclepiades hrought round to his view almost all the human race, just as if he had been sent as an apostle from heaven. VIII. He iised, moreover, to attract men's minds by the empty artifice " of promising the sick, now wine, which he administered as opportunity occurred, while now he woukl prescribe cold water ; and since Herophihis had anticipated him in inquiring into the causes of diseases, and Cleophantus among the ancient physicians had brought to prominent notice the treatment by wine, he preferred, according to Marcus Varro, to win for himself the surname of " cold-water giver."'* He devised also other attrac- corrupted to animalia. Personally I thought for a time that amabili (" alhiring ") might be right, and fricnds have sug- gested anili (" old woman's trick ") and animae (" psycho- logical trick "). Perhaps promitlendo is " by prescribing." See XXIV § 80. ■* Asclepiades was actually nicknamed " wine-giver." See Anonymus Londinensis XXIV 30 'KoKXriTnahrjs 6 olvoh'?- chondris,also called pseudodictamnum. Hypocisthis, called by some orobothron, which is like an unripe pomegranate, grows as I have said «^ under the cisthus, and from this fact derives its name.'' Either kind of hypocisthis (there are two ; the white and the red), dried in the shade and taken in dark-red, dry wine, checks looseness of the bowels. The part used is the juice, which braces and dries, and it is the red kind that arrests better stomach catarrhs, spitting of blood when three oboli are taken with starch in drink, and dysentery when taken in drink or« injected; similarly vervain given in water, or in ] Aminnean wine if there is no fever, the dose I being five spoonfuls added to three cyathi of wine. between the two languages being idiomatic; at other times (as here) there is a real ambiguity, and nobody can decide whether et is equivalent to " and " or " or." PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 50 XXXII. Laver quoque nascens in rivis condita et cocta torminibus medetur, XXXIII. potamogiton vero ex vino disintericis etiam et coeliacis, similis betae foliis, minor tantum hirsutiorque, paulum semper eminens extra aquam. usus in foliis : refrigerant, spissant, peculiariter cruribus vitiosis utilia et contra ulcerum nomas cum melle vel aceto. 51 Castor hanc aliter noverat, tenui folio velut equinis saetis, thyrso longo et levi, in aquosis nascentem. radice sanabat strumas et duritias. potamogiton adversatur crocodiUs, itaque secum habent eam qui venantur eos. alvum sistit et achillea. eosdem effectus praestat et statice, septem caulibus veluti rosae capita sustinens. 52 XXXIV. Ceratia uno folio, radice nodosa et magna, in cibo coeliacis et dysintericis medetur. leontopodion ahi leuceoron, ahi dorypetron, aUi thorybethron vocant, cuius radix alvum sistit purgat- que bilem, in aquam mulsam addito pondere denariorum duorum. nascitur in campestri et graciU solo. semen eius potum lymphatica somnia facere dicitur. lagopus sistit alvum e vino pota aut 53 in febri ex aqua. eadem inguini adalUgatur in tximore. nascitur in segetibus. multi super omnia laudant ad deploratos dysintericos quinquefoUum " Bostock and Riley have : " neutralizes the effects of the bite of tlie crocodile," a translation which fits in with the usual sense of adversari in Pliny, and, absurd as it sounds, may be right. Perhaps the plant was used as an amulet. * Xot that it would be taken with that object. Cf. § 57. 302 BOOK XXVI. XXXII. 5o-x\xiv. 53 XXXII. Laver also, which grows in streams, when preserved and boiled cures gripings, XXXIII. potamogiton, however, taken in wine, cures dysentery as well and coehac affections. The latter is a plant with leaves Uke those of beet, only it is a smaller and more haiiy plant, never rising more than a httle above the surface of the water. Only the leaves are used. which have a cooHng and bracing quaUty, being especially useful for bad legs, and, with honey or vinegar, for corroding ulcers. The plant known to Castor under this name was diffcrent ; it had slender leaves Uke horse-hair, a long, smooth stem, and grew in mai-shy districts. With its root Castor used to cure scrofulous sores and indurations. The crocodile has an antipathy " to potamogiton, so that crocodile hunters carry some of it on their persons. Achillea too checks looseness of the bowels. Statice also has the same properties, a plant that bears seven heads, Uke the heads of a rose, upon seven stems. XXXIV. Ceratia, a plant with one leaf, and a large, knotted root, taken in food cures sufferers from coeUac disease and dysentery. Leontopodium, called by some leuceoron, by others dorypetron, by others thorybethron, is a plant the root of which, in doses of two denarii by weight added to hydromel, checks looseness of the bowels and cames off bile. It grows on flat land with a thin soil. Its seed, taken in drink, is said to cause nightmares.* Lagopus taken in wine, or in water if there is fever, checks looseness of the bowels. It is also attached to the groin when there is swelUng there. It grows in cornfields. Many recommend above all else for desperate cases of dysentery doses of a decoction 303 PLINY : NATURAI. HISTORY decoctis in lacte radicibus potis, et aristolochiam victoriati pondere in cyathis vini tribus. quae ex supra dictis calida sumentur, haec candente ferro temperari aptius erit. e diverso purgat alvum sucus 54 centaurii minoris drachma in hemina aquae cum exiguo saHs et aceti bilemque detrahit, maiore tormina discutiuntur. vettonica alvum solvit drach- mis quattuor in hydromelitis cyathis novem, item euphorbeum vel agaricum drachmis duabus cum sale modico potum ex aqua aut in mulso oboHs tribus. solvit et cyclaminos ex aqua pota aut balanis subditis, item chamaecissi balanus. hysopi manipulus de- coctus ad tertias cum sale et pituitas trahit ^ vel tritus in oxymeHte et sale, pellitque ventris animaHa. pituitam et bilem detrahit peucedani radix. 55 XXXV. Alvum purgant anagalHdes ex aqua mulsa, item epithymum, qui est flos e thymo satureiae simiH. diiferentia, quod hic herbaceus est, alterius thymi albus ; quidam hippopheon vocant. stomacho minus utiHs vomitiones movet, sed tormina et in- flationes discutit. sumitur et ecHgmate ad pectoris 56 vitia cum melle et aHquando iride. alvum solvit a quattuor drachmis ad sex cum melle et exiguo saHs atque aceti. quidam aHter epithymum tradunt sine radice nasci, capite tenui ^ simiHtudine paHioH, rubens, siccari in umbra, bibi ex aqua acetabuH parte dimidia, detrahere pituitam bilemque, alvo leniter ' Post trahit d(?) et vulg. inlitus addunt. ^ capite tenui coni. Mayhoff sed in textu tenue citm Har- duino : tenuis Detlefsen : tenui codd. " In this chapter, as in most prescriptions given by Pliny, although the dosage is often given, the frequency of the doses is omitted, as is the length of the treatment. These important points are often left to chance or common sense. 304 BOOK XXVI. XXXIV. 53-xxxv. 56 in milk of the roots of cinquefoil, or aristolochia, a victoriatus by weight in three cyathi of wine. When the pi-escriptions mentioned above are to be taken warm, it will be found best to heat them with red-hot iron. On the other hand a drachma of the juice of the lesser centaury taken in a hemina of water with a httle salt and vinegar purges the bowels and carries off bile ; <* the greater centaury dispels griping pains. Betony acts as an aperient, four drachmae being added to nine cyathi of hydromel; so also euphorbeum or agaric, in doses of two drachmae with a Httle salt, taken in water or in three oboH of honey wine. Cyclamen too is an aperient, either taken in water or used as a suppository ; the same in its action is a suppository of chamaecissos. A handful of hyssop, boiled dowTi to one third with salt, or pounded in oxymel and salt, both carries ofF phlegm and expels worms from the intestines. Root of peucedanum carries oif both phlegm and bile. XXXV. Both kinds of anagalUs, taken in hydromel, are purgative, as is also epithymum, which is the blossom of the thyme Uke satureia. The only differ- ence is that this has a grass-green flower, the other thyme a white one. Some call it hippopheos. Less beneficial to the stomach, it causes vomitings, but dispels coUc and flatulence. As an electuary it is also taken with honey, and sometimes with iris, for chest troubles. From four to six drachmae with honey and a Uttle salt and vinegar move the bowels. Others give a difFerent account of epithymum : that it grows without a root, has a small head Uke a Uttle hood, is red in colour and is dried in the shade, and a dose of half an acetabulum, taken in water, carries ofF phlegm and bile, acting as a gentle aperient. 305 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 57 soluta. XXXVI. et nymphaea in vino austero solvit et pyenocomon, erucae foliis crassioribus et acrioribus, radice rotunda lutei coloris terram olente, caule quadriangulo, modico, tenui, flore ocimi. invenitur in saxosis locis. radix eius in aqua mulsa ^ ii pondere et alvum et bilem et pituitam exinanit. semen somnia tumultuosa facit una drachma in vino potum. et capnos ^ trunca ^ deti'ahit bilem. 58 XXXVII. Polypodi, quam nostri filiculam vocant, siniihs fihcis, radix in usu, pilosa, coloris intus her- bacei, crassitudine digiti minimi, acetabuhs cavernosa ceu polyporum cirri, subdulcis, in petris nascens aut sub arboribus vetustis. exprimitur sucus aqua madefactae, et ipsa minute concisa inspergitur oleri vel betae vel malvae vel salsamento aut cum pulticula coquitur ad alvum vel in febri leniter solvendam. detrahit bilem et pituitam, stomachum ofFendit. aridae farina indita naribus polypum consumit. florem et semen non fert. ^ et capnos Vd, MayJioff : et carnos E r : diseutit panos Dellefsen. * trunca lanu-s, Mayhoff: struma d: strumam V Detlefsen: tru E r unde Mayhoff esu coni. XX 178 collato : per urinam coni. Sillig. " Dioscorides has Spifiea (IV. 174). \ ^' Perhaps deliberately induced for diagnostic purposes as by the cult of Aesculapius. The next senlence is corrupt in ' 306 i BOOE XXVI. xxxvi. 57-xxxvn. 58 XXXVI. Nymphaea too in a dry wine loosens the bowels, as also does pycnocomon, which has leaves Hke rocket, but thicker and more acrid," a round root of a yellow colour and an earthy smell, a quadrangular stem, of moderate length and slender, and the blossom of basil. It is found on stony ground. Its root, taken in hydromel in doses of two denarii by weight, thoroughly purges the bowels of bile and phlegm. A drachma of the seed, taken in wine, causes wild dreams.'' Capnos trunca also carries away bile. XXXVII. Of polypodium, a plant called by Poiypodium. Romans filicula, being like a fern (Jilijc), the root is medicinal, haiiy, grass-green inside, as thick as the little finger, with indented edges so as to look Uke a polypus's arms, of a sweetish taste, and to be found " in stony soils or under old trees. The juice is extract- ed from the root soaked in water, and chopped up fine the root itself is sprinkled on cabbage, beet, mallows and pickled fish, or else boiled with gruel to make a gentle aperient usable even in fever. It brings away bile and phlegm, although injurious to the stomach. Dried and reduced to powder it eats away polypus if pushed up the nostrils. There is no flower and no seed." the MSS. with no convincing emendation. I have followed Mayholf without confidence, believing that tliere is a lacuna after facit : " although the seed causes nightmares yet ." ' In both thcse places there is a kind of confusion between the root and the piant. It is the lcaves that are indented. Only the root was used medicinally, as we see from radiz in usu, and all the cliapter applies to it except the phrases acetabulis . . . cirri and iii j^etris . . . vetustis and the sen- tence ^orew et semen nonfert. Although, however, the style is faulty, yet the senae is quite clear. PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY 59 XXXVm. Scamonium quoque dissolutione ^ sto- machi ^ bilem detrahit, alvum solvit, praeterquam si adiciantur aloes drachmae duae oboUs eius duobus. est autem sucus herbae ab radice ramosae pinguibus foliis, triangulis, albis, radice crassa, madida, nausiosa. 60 nascitur pingui et albo solo. radix circa canis ortum excavatur, ut in ipsam confluat sucus qui sole siccatus digeritur in pastillos. siccatur et ipsa vel cortex. laudatur natione Colophonium, Mysium, Prienense, specie autem nitidum et quam similUmum taurino glutini, fungosum tenuissimis fistuUs, cito Uquescens, virus redolens, cumminosum, Unguae tactu lactescens, quam levissimum, cum diluatur albescens. hoc evenit et aduUerino quod fit ervi farina et tithymaUi marini suco fere in ludaea, quod etiam strangulat 61 sumptum. deprehenditur gustu, tithymallus enim Unguam excalefacit. usus bimo, nec ante nec postea utile, dedere et per se ex aqua vel ^ mulsa et sale quaternis oboUs, sed utiUssime cum aloe ita ut inci- piente purgatione mulsum bibatur. fit et decoctum ^ dissolvitione Detlefsen : dissolutiones (aut-em) multi codd. : non sine dissolutione coni. Mayhojf : fortasse cum dissolu- tione. * stomachi] facit addit Gelenii editio. ^ vel multi codd., Detlefsen, Mayhoff, qui ex Dioscoride pura vel coni: vel ante ex aqua trans. E. Wistrand [Eranos, 1931.) " The Latin of this sentence would be made more normal by the addition of non sine or cum before dissolutione. It would be perhaps more " Plinian " if we kept the dissolutionem or dissolutiones of the MSS. and added facit after stomachi. Then from hilem to solvit would be a parenthesis characteristic of Pliny, and the subordinate clause beginning with praeter- quam would depend logically and grammatically on dis- solutionem stomachi facit. * Littre has : " On fait secher aussi la plante meme ou Tecorce." 308 BOOK XXVI. XXXVIII. 59-61 XXXVIII. It is by relaxing the stomach that scamonium. seamonium too brings away bile and loosens the bowels, unless indeed to two oboh of it are added two drachmae of aloes." This is the juice of a plant with many branches at the root, fleshy, three-cornered, pale leaves, and a thick, wet, nauseating root. It grows in rich, pale soil. Near the rising of the Dogstar a hollow is made in this root, so that the juice may collect in it automatically ; this is dried in the sun and worked into lozenges. The root itself or the skin is also dried.* The kind most approved grows in the regions of Colophon, Mysia and Priene. This is shiny, as Uke as possible to bull ghie," spongy with very fine cracks,*^ quickly melting,^ with a poison- ous smeil, gummy, becoming Uke milk at a touch of the tongue, extremely hght, and turning white when dissolved. This happens too with bastard scamon- ium, which is made, generally in Judaea, -with flour of bitter vetch and juice of sea spurge, and even chokes those who take it. The bastard kind is detected by the taste, for the genuine burns the tongue. It is ' to be used when two years old, being of no use either before or after. It has been prescribed by itself in water or in hydromel and salt,/ the dose being four oboU, but most effectively with aloes, though honey wine must be taken as soon as purging begins. The root too is boiled down in vinegar to the consistency of honey, the decoction ' For this see XXVIII, § 236. •* Dioscorides has (IV, 170) arjpayya? e;^daXp.ols, 310 BOOK XXVI. XXXVIII. 61-XXXIX. 64 being applied to leprous sores, and with oil it is used as an ointment for the head when there is headache. XXXIX. Tithymallus is called " milky plant " by Tithymailm. us Romans, sometimes " goat lettuce." It is said that, if letters are traced on the body with its milk and then allowed to dry, on being sprinkled with ash the letters become visible. And it is by this means, rather than by a letter, that some lovers have preferred to address unfaithful wives. The kinds of it are many, the first being surnamed characias, which is also considered the male plant. It has five or six branches, a cubit long, as thick as a finger, red and juicy ; the leaves at the root are very Uke those of the oHve, and on the top of the stem is a head " Hke that of the rush. It grows on rough ground near the sea. The seed is gathered in autumn together with the head ; after being left to get dry in the sun it is pounded and stored away ; as to the juice, as soon as down begins to form on fruit,* twigs are broken ofF, and juice therefrom is caught on meal of bitter vetch or on figs and left to get diy with them. Five drops are enough to be caught on each fig, and it is reported that a dropsical patient on taking a fig has as many motions as the fig has caught drops of juice. When the juice is being collected care must be taken that it does not touch the eyes.* A juice is also extracted fi'om pounded leaves, but one less efficacious than the former. A decoction too is made from the branches. The seed is also used, boiled down with honey, to make purgative pills. The seed is also inserted with wax into hollow teeth. A decoction too of the root in wine or oil is used as a mouth-wash. The juice is 3" PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY oleo. inlinunt et lichenas suco, bibuntque eum ut purget vomitione et alvo soluta, alias stomacho 65 inutilem. trahit pituitam sale addito in potu, bilem aphronitro, si per alvum purgari libeat, in posca, si vomitione, in passo aut aqua mulsa. media potio tribus obolis datur. ficos a cibo sumpsisse mehus est. fauces urit leniter, est enim tam ferventis naturae ut per se extra corpori inposita ^ pusulas ignium modo faciat et pro caustico in usu sit. 66 XL. Alterum genus tithvmalH m}Ttiten vocant, alii caryiten, foUis m}Tti acutis et pungentibus, sed maioribus,- et ipsum in asperis nascens. colliguntur comae eius hordeo turgescente siccataeque in umbra diebus novem in sole inarescunt. fructus non pariter maturescit, sed pars anno sequente, et nux vocatur. 67 inde cognomen Graeci dedere. demetitur cum ^ messium maturitate lavaturque, deinde siccatur et datur cum papaveris nigri duabus partibus ita ut sit totum acetabuli modus, minus hic vomitorius * quam superior, ceteri item.^ aUqui sic et foHum eius dedere, ^ inposita cod. a, Detlefsen : inpositus Mayhoff : inpositum plerique codd., vulg. ^ maioribus e Dioscoride IV 164 {(f>vXXa . . . fiel^a) 8e Kai OTeped) Mayhoff : mollioribus codd., vulg., edd. * cum plerique codd., Mayhoff : om. cod. a, Detlefsen. * vomitorius C. F. W. Muller, Mayhoff : vomitionibus codd., vulg. * ceteri item Mayhoff : ceterum idem Detlefsen : (centum a : idem V x a). Fortasse ceteri usus iidem, ut Mayhoff coni. " Mayhoff's conjecture inpositus (scil. sucus) is what Pliny ought to have •WTitten, but I think that he wrote the feminine because he had natura, or perhaps herba, in mind. The better attested reading inpositum can scarcely be right, as there is 312 BOOK XXVI. XXXIX. 64-xL. 67 applied locally for lichen ; it is taken internally as a purge, being both an emetic and an aperient ; apart from this it is bad for the stomach. Taken in drink with the addition of salt it brings away phlegm, but to bring away bile saltpetre must be added ; if it is desired that the purging shall be by stool, the drink should be vinegar and water ; if by vomiting, raisin wine or hydromel. A moderate draught is made up with three oboH. It is better taken on a fig, and after food. The juice burns the throat shghtly ; for it is of so heating a nature that, apphed " externally by itself to the body, it raises bhsters as fire does, and so it is sometimes used as a cautery. XL. The second kind of tithymallus is called f""''"'' 1 1 • 1 ■ i_ T_ • hinds of myrtites by some, and caryites by others, havmg lUhymaUu leaves hke those of the myrtle, pointed and prickly, but larger, and growing hke the first kind in rough ground. Its heads are gathered when the barley is beginning to swell, dried in the shade for nine days and thoroughly dried in the sun. The fruit does not ripen all together, but a part in the following year. It is called the nut, and for this reason the Greeks have surnamed this tithymallus caryites.'' It is gathered when the harvest is ready, washed, and then dried. It is given with twice the amount of black poppy,'' the dose being one acetabulum alto- gether. It is a less violent emetic than the preceding, as are also the others. Some have given the leaf also in a similar dose, the nut however by itself in no neuter noun it eould refer to, but inpositu might have been written by a scribe who was worried by inposita. * The Greek word Kapvov means " a nut." * Hort on Theophrastus IX, xi, 9, from which Pliny took his account, says that "/iieAaira must here mean ' dark,' i.e. red." PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY nucem vero ipsam in mulso aut passo vel cum sesima. trahit pituitam et bilem per alvum. oris ulcera sanat, ad nomas oris folium cum melle estur. 68 XLI. Tertium genus tithymalli paralium vocatur sive tithymalUs folio rotundo, caule palmum alto, ramis rubentibus, semine albo, quod colhgitur in- cipiente uva et siccatum teritur sumiturque acetabuli mensura ad purgationes. 69 XLII. Quartum genus hehoscopion appellant, foHis porcillacae, ramuHs stantibus a radice quattuor aut quinque rubentibus, semipedaU altitudine, suci plenis. hoc circa oppida nascitur semine albo columbis gratis- simo ; nomen accepit, quoniam capita cum sole cir- cumagit. trahit bilem per inferna in oxymeHte dimidio acetabulo, ceteri usus qui characiae. 70 XLIII. Quintum cyparittian vocant propter foHo- rum simiHtudinem, caule gemino aut tripHci, nascen- tem in campestribus. eadem vis quae helioscopio aut characiae. XLIV. Sextum platyphyllon vocant, aHi corym- biten, aHi amygdaHten a simiHtudine. nec ulHus latiora sunt folia. pisces necat, alvum solvit radice vel foHis vel suco in mulso aut aqua mulsa drachmis quattuor. detrahit privatim aquas. " An adjective meaning : " by the sea." * An adjective meaning : " looking at the sun." See infra. ' For privatim see note on XXIV, § 28. 314 BOOK XXVI. XL. 67-xuv. 70 honey wine or raisin wine, or with sesame. It carries ofF phlegm and bile by stool. Sores in the mouth it cures, but for corroding ulcers in the mouth the leaf is eaten with honey. XLI. The third kind of tithymallus is called parahus " or tithymalHs. It has a round leaf, a stem a span high, reddish branches, and a white seed, which is gathered when the grape begins to form, and after being dried and pounded is taken in doses of one acetabulum as a purgative. XLII. The fourth kind of tithymallus is called hehoscopios.'' It has the leaves of purslane, and four or five small branches standing out from the root, which are reddish, half a foot high and full of juice. This kind grows around towns, and has a white seed of which pigeons are very fond. The name heUo- scopios has been given to this plant because it moves its heads round to follow the sun. Bile it carries away by urine or stool when taken in doses of half an acetabulum in oxymel. Its other uses are the same as those of characias. XLIII. The fifth kind is called cyparittias, because its leaves are hke those of cypress. It has a double or triple stem, and grows in flat country. Its properties are the same as those of hehoscopios or characias. XLIV. The sixth kind is called by some platy- phyllos, by others corymbites, and by others amygdahtes from its hkeness to the almond tree. Its leaves are broader than those of any other. It kills fish. Root, leaves or juice are purgative if a dose of four drachmae is taken in honey wine or hydromel. It is specific <^ for carrying away morbid fluids. 315 PLIXY: NATURAL HISTORY 71 XLV. Septimum dendroides cognominant, alii cobion, alii leptophyllon, in petris nascens, comosis- simum ex omnibus, maximis ^ cauliculis rubentibus, et semine copiosissimum, eiusdem efFectus cuius characias.^ 72 XLVI. Apios ischas sive raphanos agria, iuncos duos aut tres spargit in terra rubentes, foliis rutae. radix cepae, sed ampHor, quare quidam raphanum silvestrem vocant. intus habet mammam candidam, extra cortices nigros. nascitur in montosis asperis, 73 aliquando et in herbosis. efFoditur vere tusaque in fictili mergitur, deiectoque quod supematat reliquus sucus purgat utraque parte sesquiobolo in aqua mulsa. sic et hydropicis datur acetabuli mensura. inspargitur et aridae radicis farina potioni. aiunt superiorem ^ maximis phrique codd., Detle/sen, Mayhoff : maxime r a, Mayhoff coni. comosum [corruptum in comosissimum (como- sumosum) per dittographiani] maxime. 2 characias] characian coni. Mayhoff : characia aut caracia codd. " Maximis is perhaps a strange epithet to be applied to the diminutive cauliculis. It may mean that the minor stems are comparatively large, but the conjecture of Mayhoff is plausible, that Pliny wrote comosum . . . mazime, with no epithet 316 BOOK XXVI. xLv. 71-XLV1. 73 XLV. The seventh kind is surnamed dendi'oides, and is called by some eobios, and by others lepto- phyllos. It grows among rocks, and is the most thickly headed of all the kinds. It has very large," reddish stems, and an abundance of seed. The properties are the same as those of characias. XLVI. Apios ischas or raphanos agria spreads out ^vios ischas. on the ground two or three rush-like stalks of a reddish colour with leaves Uke those of rue. The root is Uke that of an onion, but bigger, and this is the reason why some call it the wild radish. Inside it has a white pap, outside, dark skins. It grows in rough, hiUy spots, sometimes also in grass land. Dug up in spring, it is pounded and immersed in an earthen vessel.'' After throwing away what floats on the surface they use the juice that remains as a purge and emetic, the dose being an obolus and a half in hydromel. Prepared after this fashion a dose of an acetabulum is also given for dropsy. The dried root powdered is also sprinkled in a draught. They going with cmdiculis except the participle rubentibus. Dioscorides is not of much help; he says (IV, 164, 9) : o Se eV Tois Trirpais (f>v6fi€vo';, BevSpoeiSrjs 8e KaXovfxevos, d/x^iAa^i7? dvwOev Kai TToXvKOfios, onov jxeoTos, vnepvOpos tovs KXdSovs. ^ Theophrastus does not help us in deciding the meaning of mergitur and supernatat, but Dioscorides is suggestive. His words are (IV, 175) : omaai Se ^ovXTfOels KOTne Tas pil,as koI ^aXojv els KpaTTjplav vSaTos avvrdpaTTe, koI tov eLaTdp.evov OTTOV TTTepu) avaXeyiov ^rjpaive- tovtov Tpia rjfiiwPoXLa TroOeirra dvoi Kal KdToi KadaipeL. In Pliny we have " immersed in an earthen vessel," in Dioscorides " throw into a bowl of water and stir." In Pliny again the floating part is thrown away and the remainder used; in Dioscorides (unless, unnaturaUy, ^Tjpatve governs pi^as) it is collected, dried and used. Did Pliny follow a different account or did he read ciTro^aAajj' where now is read draAeyojv ? PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY partem eius vomitione biles extrahere, inferiorem per alvum taquaf.^ 74 XLVII. Tormina diseutit quodcumque panaces, vettonica praeterquam a cruditate, peucedani sucus et inflationes, ructus gignens, item acori radix daucumve, si lactucae modo sumatur. ladanum Cyprium potum interaneorum vitiis occun'it, gentianae farina ex aqua tepida fabae magnitudine, plantago mane sumpta duabus lingulis et tertia papaveris in vini cyathis quattuor non veteris. datur et in somnum euntibus addito nitro vel polenta, si multo post cibum detur. colo infunditur hemina suci vel in febri. ^ taquaf codd. : aquam lanus : aeque Detlefsen : in aqua Mayhoff, qui coni. (e Dioscoride) sed totam utraque. ° Dioscorides (IV, 175) has : Tavrrjs t6 fiev dvwOev fiepos Trjs pi^rjg X-qndev St' efxeTOJv dyeL ^^oAtjt Kal Xeyfia, t6 8e Trpos Trj pil,r) KaTco Kadalpet, oXrj §e Xr]p.(f>9eiaa dp.4>oTepas Taj Kaddpaei.s Kt-vel. The last clause has only aqua to correspond to it in the MSS. of Pliny; hence Mayhoff's conjecture (for the MSS. aqua) sed totam utraque. This suggestion implies that a scribe's eye passed from alvum to utr]aque. This is the least unsatisfactory solution yet proposed of this particular difficulty, but there are other perplexing features of the chapter besides the one mentioned here. (] ) KovTe Tas piias shows that tusa is tusa radix, but nascitur in the sentence above refers to the plant. This change of subject causes no difficulty, but the last sentence of Plinj', eorresponding to the first sentence in the section of Dioscorides, contains an ambiguous and perplexing eius. Does this refer to the plant or to the root ? Littre translates it " de la racLne," but the words of Dioscorides, to 8e Trpos tjJ pltr) (scil. p.epos) Kdro} KaOaipei, can only mean " the part near the root pxu-ges by stool " ; it cannot mean " the lower part of the root purges by stool." Pliny translates as though it were to Se Kdro) p.epos Trjs pitjts. The fiev clause may mean " the upper part of this root," although Tavrrjs is strangely placed and could more naturally be translated : " Of this plant the part above the root etc." Furthermore, it is odd to BOOK XXVI. xLvi. 73-xLvii. 74 say tliat the upper part of it brings away the biles by vomiting, the lower part by stool." XLVII. Cohc is cured by any kind of panaces, by Digestive betony, except when the cause is indigestion, by the ['^i^ued. '""*' juice of peucedanum, which also, being carminative, dispels flatulence, by the root of acoron, or by daucum, if it is taken as a salad hke lettuce. Cyprian ladanum, taken in drink, is good for intestinal com- plaints, as also is powdered gentian, of the size of a bean, taken in warm water, or plantain taken in the morning, the dose being two spoonfuls with one of poppy in four cyathi of wine which is not old. It is also given before going to sleep with the addition of soda or pearl barley, provided that it is long after the last meal. For cohtis a hemina of the juice is injected, even when fever is present. speak of the upper part of the root and its lower part as acting differently ; but it is natural enough for the upper part of the plant to act in one way and its lower part in another. Cf., however, § 79. May it be that a KaTu) has been lost before Trpo? owing to the vicinity of KaTw before KaOaipei. ? nepog, too, may have been originally before Xr]iJ.(f>dev. This trans- position of ^epo? and omission of «•dTw, if pre-Phny, might well have caused him to misunderstand the passage. What I have said is mere speculation, and I have not thought it wise to alter the Latin text in any way. On the other hand, it is perhaps useful to point out, from an excellent example, the intricate nature of the problems that everywhere meet the translator of PHny, who is often bewildered and reduced to guesses in which he can have little confidence. (2) Dioscorides has Xol6v exovaa (pt^a) e^a)9ev ^eXava, ev8o9ev 8e XevKTj : Pliny : (radix) intus Jiabet mammavi (May- hoff suggests medullam) candidam, extra cortices nigros. A little later the Greek has xoXijv /cai Xeyfxa, the Latin bile^s (i.e. black and yellow). Pliny in fact seems to have had a Greek text very similar to that of Dioscorides but not verbally identical with it. So perhaps the difficulties dealt with above are even more complicated than they seem at first sight to be. PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 75 XLVIII. Agaricum potum obolis tribus in vini veteris cyatho uno lieni medetur, e panace omnium generum radix in mulso, sed teucria praecipue pota arida et decocta quantum manus capiat in aceti heminis tribus ad heminam.^ inlinitur eadem ex aceto aut, si tolerari non possit, ex fico vel aqua. polemonia bibitur ex vino, vettonica drachma in oxymeHtis cyathis tribus, aristolochia ut contra ser- 76 pentes. argemonia septem diebus in cibo sumpta Uenem consumere dicitur, agaricum in aceto mulso oboUs duobus. nymphaeae heracUae radix in vino pota et ipsa consumit. cissanthemus drachma bis die sumpta in vini albi cyathis duobus per dies xl lienem dicitur paulatim emittere per urinam. pro- dest et hysopum cum fico decoctum, lonchitidis radix decoctapriusquam semen demittat, peucedani quoque 77 radix et Ueni et renibus. Uen suco acori poto ^ con- sumitur — praecordiis et iUbus utiUssimae radices ^ — clyTneni semen potum diebus xxx pondere denarii in vino albo, vettonicae farina ex melle et aceto scilUte pota, radix lonchitidis in aqua. teucrium inUnitur, item scordium cum cera, agaricum cum farina e feno Graeco. ^ tribus ad heminam. Sic dist. Mayhoff : tribua. ad flemina Detlefsen. ^ lien suco acori poto Maylioff : lien acori potu Detlefsen : lienis acori (uco om. ante aco) V R d x : poto vel potu codd. ^ utilissima radice coni. Mayhoff, qui lacunam ante clymeni in textu ponit. " Ad flemina is a clever emendation, but the chapter deals with diseases of the spleen. 320 BOOK XXVI. xLviii. 75-77 XLVIII. Agavic taken in drink, the dose being Splmic three oboli in one cyathus of old vrine, is good for '™" **' disorders of the spleen, as is the root in honey wine of all kinds of panaces, but best of all is teucria, dried and taken in drink by boihng down to one hemina * a handful of it with three heminae of vinegar. In vinegar it is also used as a Hniment, or, if that cannot be borne, in figs or water. Polemonia is taken in wine, or a drachma of betony in three cyathi of oxymel, or aristolochia as used for snake bite. Argemonia, taken in food on seven consecutive days, is said to reduce the spleen, and so are two oboli of agaric in oxymel. It is reduced also by the root of nymphaea heracHa taken in wine or by itself. Ciss- anthemus, if a drachma is taken twice daily in two cyathi of white wine for forty days, is said to carry off the spleen gradually in the urine. Useful too is a decoction of hyssop with fig, or of the root of lonchitis before it sheds its seed, while a decoction of root of peucedanum is good for both spleen and kidneys. The spleen is reduced by the juice of acoron taken by the mouth — the roots are very useful for trouble of the hypochondria and groin * — by the seed of clymenus taken in drink for thirty days, the dose being a denarius by weight in white wine, by powdered betony taken in honey and squill vinegar, and by root of lonchitis in water. Teucrium <^ is used as Uniment, Ukewise scordium with wax, or agaric with powdered fenugreek. * It seems most natural to mend the grammar of this passage by making praecordiis . . . radices a parenthesis, a favourite trick of Pliny, and understanding consumit or utile before clymeni. "^ Notice both forms, teucria and teucrium, in the same chapter. 321 VOL. VII. M PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 78 XLIX. Vesicae malis contraque calculos, gravis- simis cruciatibus, ut diximus, auxilio est polemonia ex vino pota, item agaricum, plantago foliis vel radice potis ex passo, vettonica ut in iocinere diximus, item ramiti pota atque inlita, eadem ad strangurias efficacissima. quidam ad calculos vettonicam et verbenacam et millefolium aequis portionibus ex aqua 79 pro singulari remedio bibere suadent. strangui-ias discuti et dictamno certum est, item quinquefolio decocto ad tertias in vino. hoc et enterocelicis dari atque inlini utilissimum est. xiphi quoque radix superior urinam ciet. infantibus enterocelicis ^ datur ex aqua et inlinitur ; vesicae vitiis peucedani sueus, infantium ramiti et umbilicis eminentibus psyllion 80 inlinitur. urinam cient anagalUdes, acori radicis decoctum vel ipsa trita potaque, et omnia vesicae vitia,^ calculos et herba et radix cotyledonis itemque genitalium inflammationem omnem pari pondere et 81 cauHs et seminis et murrae. ebulum teneris cum foUis tritum ex vino potum calculos peUit, inpositum testes sanat. erigeron quoque cum farina turis et vino dulci testium inflammationes sanat. symphyti radix inUta enterocelas cohibet, genitaUum nomas hypo- ^ infantibus enterocelicis] Sic dist. Mayhoff e Dioscoride IV 20 : €VTepoKT]XiKols re Traibtois ttjv eVavco plt,av (sc. tov ^iZ° BOOK XXVI. Lv. 87-Lviii. 89 and a rose-coloured flower. The roots pounded by themselves . . ." laver, raw. LVI. Silaus ^ grows in running streams with gravelly bottoms ; a cubit high it resembles celery. It is boiled as is an acid vegetable, and is very good for the bladder, which if it suffers from scabies '^ is cured by the root of panaces, a plant otherwise injurious** to the bladder. Stone is expelled by the wild apple,^ a pound of the root being boiled down to one half in a congius of wine — a hemina of it is taken daily for three days, the rest is taken in wine f — by sea-nettle, by daucum, and by the seed of phmtain in wine. LVII. The plant of Fulvius, beaten up with wine, is another remedy for stone. It is one of the plants named after the discoverer, and Is well known to botanists.fi" LVIII. Scordion is diuretic ; hyoscyamus reduces .scorciion . swollen testicles ; the genitals are effectively treated ^rmedies. by juice of peucedanum, and by its seed in honey ; ' A symptom of scabies of the bladder was urine containing scaly concretions. ■* Perliaps here " useless." • The commentators take this to be the same as the malum terrae of XXV § 95 = aristolochia. ^ After vino some MSS. add conicio or cumcio. Some editors think that the addition conceals the name of a par- ticular wine, but Mayhoff seems to be right in taking the words to be corruptions of congio, which might be, as he says, prave iteratum. » Perhaps " those who treat the disease," i.e. physicians. Tractare is a very common word in the sense of " to deal with," but in the present context, with no expressed object, rather strange; it is stranger still tliat tliis seems to be tho only mention of the plant. Hence Mayhoff' s con- jecture nostratia. Z3^ PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY sucus, ex melle semen, stranguriae agaricum obolis tribus in vini veteris cyatho uno, trifolii radix drachmis duabus in vino, dauci una drachma vel seminis. ischiadici semine et foliis erythrodani tritis sanantur, panace poto et infricato, polemonia, 90 aristolochiae decocto fohi. agarico quidem et nervus qui platus appellatur et umerorum dolor sanatur oboUs tribus in vini veteris cvatho uno poto. quinque- fohum ischiadicis et bibitur et inponitur, item scamonia^ decocta, et cum hordei farina. semen hyperici utriusque bibitur ex vino. sedis vitia et adtritus celerrime sanat plantago, condylomata quinquefoHum, sed ea in ^ callum iam^ conversa* cyclamini radix ex aceto. anagalhdum caerulea procidentiam sedis retro agit, e diverso rubens 91 proritat. cotyledon condylomata et haemorrhoidas mire curat, testium tumores acori radix decocta in vino tritaque inUta. intertrigines negat fieri Cato absinthium Ponticum secum habentibus. ahi adi- ciunt et puleium, quod ieiunus quis ^ legerit, si post se alHget, inguinis dolores prohibet aut sedat coeptos. 92 LIX. InguinaHs, quam quidam argemonion vocant, passim in vepribus nascens ut prosit in manu tantum habenda est. 1 scamonia] Ante decocta vult addere in aceto {ex Dioscoride) Mayhoff. Ante cum om. et vulg. '^ sed ea in Detlefsen, Mayhoff : sed eam VRE. ^ callum iam Detlefsen, MayJwff : calumniam aut om. codd. * conversa Detlefsen, Mayhoff : conversam (-um) codd. ■^ quis codd. : qui Geleniws. Ante ieiunus add. si V Sillig. Detlefsen. " The Achilles tendon. *■ Mayhoff would add " in vinegar," suggested by a parallel passage in Dioscorides. This addition would make more natural the et before cum. BOOK XXVI. Lviii. 89-Lix. 92 stranorury by three-oboli doses of agaric in one cyathus of old wine, by two-drachmae doses of root of trefoil in wine, and by one-drnchma doses of daucum or of its seed. Sciatica is cured by pounded seed and leaves of erythiodanus, by panaces taken in drink and rubbed on the affected part, by polemonia, and by a decoction of the leaves of aristolochia. Agaric indeed cures both the tendon called " broad " " and pain in the shoulders, the dose being three oboh taken in one cyathus of old wine. For sciatica cinquefoil is both taken in drink and appHed, as is also a decoction of scammony * with barley meal added. The seed of either kind of hypericum is taken in wine. Affections and chafings of the seat are cured very quickly by plantain, condylomata by cinquefoil ; if however these have already become callous, by cyclamen root in vinegar. The blue anagalhs pushes back prolapsus of the anus ; the red anagaUis on the contrary makes it worse. Cotyledon is wonderfully good treatment for condylomata and for piles ; so is, for swollen testicles, the apphcation of root of acoron, pounded and boiled down in wine. Cato '^ says that those carrying on their persons Pontic wormwood never suffer from chafing between the thighs. Other authorities add pennyroyal to the hst of remedies ; this, gathered by a fasting man and tied behind him, prevents pains in the groin or reUeves those which have begun ah*eady. LIX. InguinaUs (" groin-wort "), caUed by some inguinaHs. argemonion, a plant growing anywhere in briar patches, needs only to be held in the hand to be of benefit. See R.R. 159. m PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY LX. Panos sanat panaces ex melle, plantago cum sale, quinquefolium, persoUatae radix ut in strumis, item damasonium, verbascum cum sua radice tusum, vino aspersum folioque involutum et ita in cinere 93 calefactum ut inponatur calidum. experti adfirma- vere plurimum referre, si virgo inponat nuda ieiuna ieiuno et manu supina tangens dicat ; Negat Apollo pestem posse crescere cui nuda virgo restinguat, atque ita retrorsa manu ter dicat totiensque despuant ambo. medetur et radix mandragorae ex aqua, radicis scamoniae decoctum cum melle, sideritis cum adipe vetere contusa, marruvium cum axungia vetere, vel chrysippios cum ficis pinguibus. et haec ab inventore habet nomen. 94 LXI. Venerem in totum adimit, ut diximus, nymphaea Heraclia, eadem semel pota in XL dies, insomnia quoque veneris a ieiuno pota et in cibo sumpta. inhta quoque radix genitaUbus inhibet non solum venerem sed et afiluentiam geniturae. ob id corpus alere vocemque dicitur. adpetentiam veneris facit radix e xiphio superior data potui ^ in vino, item quam cremnon agrion appellant, ormenos agrios cum polenta contritus. ^ potui cod. d, Mayhojf: potu ceteri codd., Dethfsen. " See XXV § 75 and the note in which it is pointed out that Pliny diifers (as the present passage clearly shows) from Dioscorides. In fact in the present section of XXVI the two are very unlike. ' Or, " or." The conjunction et often has to be translated in this way. 334 BOOK XXVI. Lx. 92-Lxi. 94 LX. Superficial abscess is cured by panaces in Curesfor honey, plantain with salt, cinquefoil, root of persol- ''^absefsses lata administered as for scrofula ; also by dama- sonium and by verbascum, pounded with its root, sprinkled with wine, wi-apped i'ound with its leaves, and heated, thus prepared, on embers, so that it may be apphed hot. Those with experience have assured us that it makes all the difference if, while the patient is fasting, the poultice is laid upon him by a maiden, herself fasting and naked, who must touch him with the back of her hand and say : " Apollo tells us that a plague cannot grow more fiery in a patient if a naked maiden quench the fire ; " and with her hand so reversed she must repeat the formula three times, and both must spit on the ground three times. Other cures are man- drake root in water, a decoction of scammony root with honey, sideritis crushed with stale grease, marruvium with stale axle-grease, or chrysippios — another plant named after its discoverer — with plump figs. LXI. Nymphaea heracUa, as I have said,** takes A"ymphaei away altogether sexual desire ; a single draught of it does so for forty days ; sexual dreams too are prevented if it is taken in drink on an empty stomach and * eaten with food. AppHed to the genitals the root also checks not only desire but also excessive accumulation of semen. For this reason it is said to make flesh and to improve the voice. Sexual desire is excited by the upper part of xiphium root given in wine as a draught ; also by the plant called cremnos agrios and by ormenos agrios crushed with pearl barley. 335 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY 95 LXII. Sed inter pauca mirabilis est orchis herba sive serapias, foliis porri, caule palmeo, flore pur- pureo, gemina radice testiculis simiU, ita ut maior sive, ut aHqui dicunt, tenuior ^ ex aqua pota excitet hbidinem, minor sive mollior e lacte caprino in- hibeat. quidam folio scillae esse dicunt leviore ac minore, caule spinoso. radices sanant oris ulcera, thoracis pituitas, alvum sistunt ex vino potae. 96 concitatricem vim habet - satyrion. duo eius genera : una longioribus foHis quam oleae, caule quattuor digitorum, flore purpureo, radice gemina ad formam hominis testium alternis annis intumescente ac residente. altera satyrios orchis cognominatur et ffeminam ^ esse creditam.t distinguitur inter- nodiis et ramosiore frutice, radice fascini. nascitur fere iuxta mare. haec tumores et vitia partium ^ tenuior codd. : durior Ca^sarius : plenior ex Dioscoride coni. Mayhoff. Vide notam. ^ habet codd. : habet et Mayhoff. ^ feminam esse creditam codd. : feminam esse creditur Detlefsen : femina esse credita est Mayhoff, qui invenio excidisse coni. : feminam esse credunt coni. Warmington. Fortasse femina esse creditur. " All the MSS. have tenuior, a word that is scarcely a contrast to mollior. Dioscorides says of one opp^is, not the one equated with aepaTrias, («X^') pi-i<^v ^oXpoeLhrj, eTnfiriKTj, 8L7TXrjv, aTevqv, ws eXalav, ttjv /xev dvw, ttiv Se KaTioTepco, Kal ttjv fiev TrXrjp-q, ttjv Se pLoXaKTjv Kal pvarjv (III 126). There wouid be much to be said for the conjectures durior and plenior were it not that tenuior, the reading of all MSS., is far harder to vmderstand. Perhaps Pltny had a Greek text with oTev^ as epithet of ij avw pi^a. Pliny's words imply the existence of differences in nomenclature. * I have left the ungrammaticai reading of the MSS, ULnaltered, but obelized. BOOK XXVI. Lxii. 95-96 LXII. But very high on the list of wonders is the Orchu. plant orchis, or serapias, which has the leaves of leek, a stem a span high, and a purple flower. The root has two tubers, Uke testicles, so that the larger, or, as some put it, the thinner," taken in water excites desire ; the smaller, or softer, taken in goat's milk checks it. Some say that this orchis has leaves hke those of the squill, only smoother and smaller, and a prickly stem. The roots cure sores in the mouth and phlegm on the chest ; taken in wine they are constipating. Satyrion is a sexual Satyrion. stimulant. There are two kinds of it : one with longer leaves than those of the olive, a stem four fingers high, pui-ple blossom, and a double root shaped Hke human testicles, which swells and sub- sides again in alternate years. The other kind has the further name of satyrios orchis, and is thought to be female.'' It is distinguished from the former kind by the spaces between the joints, by its more branchy, bushy shape «^ ; also by its root's being Hke a phallus.'* The plant is generally found near the sea. ' Or, " by its stein's having many branches." The word Jrulex sometimes = caulis, but here I think it means the " skeleton " as it were of a small bush or shrub. ■* To judge from Mayhoff's critical note the MS. E has fascinis, the vulgate before Sillig fascinis utili, and the other MSS. (radice) fascini. The mcaning is surely that the root is not, like the former kind, ad formam hominis testium, but like a phallus. So the Latin Thesaurus. I think, however, that the MSS. reading, retained without comment by both Detlefsen and Mayhoff, can scarcely be quite right. Perhaps we should add simili, which would explain the fascinis utile of the vulgate, fascini simili being not very unlike fascinis utili. It is strange that this account of satjTion should appear here, just before the chapter (LXIII) in which that plant is described. Commentators think that Pliny has been con- 337 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY earum cum polenta inlita sedat vel per se trita. superioris radix in lacte ovis colonicae data nervos intendit, eadem ex aqua remittit. 97 LXIII. Graeci satyrion foliis lilii rubris, minoribus et tribus non amplius e terra exeuntibus tradunt, caule levi, cubitali, nudo, radice gemina, cuius inferior pars et maior mares gignat, superior ac minor feminas. et aliud genus satyrii erythraicon appel- lant, semine viticis maiore, levi, duro, radicis cortice rufo ; intus album includi sapore subdulce. fere ^ in 98 montuosis inveniri. venerem, etiam si omnino manu teneatur radix, stimulari, adeo ^ si bibatur in vino austero, arietibus quoque et hircis segnioribus in potu dari, et a Sarmatia ^ equis ob adsiduum laborem pigrioribus in coitu, quod vitium prosedamum vocant. restinguit vim eius aqua mulsa aut lactuca sumpta. 99 in totum quidem Graeci, cum concitationem hanc volunt significare, satyrion appellant, sic et cra- taegin cognominantes et thelygonon et arreno- gonon, quarum semen testium simile est. tithy- malH quoque ramorum medullam habentes ad 1 fere VRd, Mayhoff : fertur E, Detlefsen. * adeo codd. : magis adeo vulg. : at eo magis coni. Mayhoff. ^ Sarmatia lanus, Detlefsen, Mayhoff : Sarmata aut Sarmat codd. : Sarmatis vulg. fused by the fact that Greeks gave the name satyrion to all plants supposed to be aphrodisiac. See § 99 : in totum quidem Graeci . . . testium simile est. Indeed the whole of § 96, concitatricem . . . remittit, reads like a hasty after- thought, and contains two ungrammatical phrases, if we can trust our best MSS. " The punctuation of the Latin text is that of MayhofiF; it is based on the Greek of Dioscorides. * The reading is very uncertain. We should certainly expect the vulgate a Sarmatis, " by the Sarmatians," but a BOOK XXVI. Lxii. 96-Lxin. 99 This latter kind, if applied with pearl barley or by itself after being pounded, reUeves swellings and affections of the privy parts. The root of the former kind, taken in the milk of a farm-yard sheep, causes erections ; taken in water, however, it makes them subside. LXIII. The Greeks speak of a satyrion that has leaves hke those of the hly, but red, smaller, and springing from the ground not more than three in number, a smooth, bare stem a cubit high, and a double root, the lower, and larger, part favouring the conception of males, the upper, and smaller, the con- ception of females. Yet another kind of satyrion they call erythraicon, saying that its seed is hke that of the vitex, but larger, smooth and hard ; that the root is covered with a red rind, and contains " a white substance with a sweetish taste, and that the plant is generally found in hilly country. They tell us that sexual desire is aroused if the root is merely held in the hand, a stronger passion, however, if it is taken in a dry wine, that rams also and he-goats are given it in drink when they are too sluggish, and that it is given to stalhons from Sarmatia ^ when they are too fatigued in copulation because of prolonged hibour ; this condition is called prosedamum. The effects of the plant can be neutrahzed by doses of hydromel or lettuce. The Greeks indeed always, when they wish to indicate this aphrodisiac nature of a plant, use the name satyrion, so applying it to crataegis, thelygonon, and arrenogonon, the seeds of which resemble testicles. Again, those carrying on their persons the pith of tithymalhis branches are Sarmatia, " from Sarmatia " (i.e. Sarmatian stallions), gives a good sense. 339 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY venerem proniores fieri dicuntur. prodigiosa sunt quae circa hoc tradit Theophrastus, auctor ahoqui gravis, septuageno coitu durasse libidinem contactu herbae cuiusdam cuius ^ nomen genusque non posuit. 100 LXIV. Sideritis adalligata varices minuit et sine dolore praestat.^ podagrae morbus rarior solebat esse non modo patrum avorumque memoria, verum etiam nostra, peregrinus et ipse, nam si Italiae fuisset antiquitus, Latinum nomen invenisset. insanabilis non est credendus, quippe quoniam et in multis sponte desiit et in pluribus cura. medentur radices panacis cum uva passa, sucus hyoscyami cum farina vel semen, scordion ex aceto, hiberis uti dictum est, verbenaca cum axungia trita, cyclamini radix, cuius 101 decoctum et pernionibus. podagras refrigerat radix e xiphio, semen e psyllio, cicuta cum lithargyro aut axungia, aizoum in primo impetu podagrae rubentis, hoc est cahdae. utrilibet vero convenit erigeron cum axungia, plantaginis folia trita addito sale modico, argemonia tusa ex melle. medetur et verbenaca inhta, aut si pedes in aqua macerentur in qua decocta 102 sit, LXV. et lappago, similis anagallidi, nisi esset ramosior ac pluribus foliis, gravis odoris. quae talis ^ cuiusdam cuius multi codd. : cuius VE, Mayhoff. * praestat] persanat f, Hard. » See H.P. IX 18, 9. * Book XXV § 88. * The phrase quae talis e-st is generally taken to mean that mollugo is the name of the lappago which is like anagallis. But the Latin can scarcely mean that there are more than 340 BOOK XXVI. Lxiii. 99-Lxv. 102 said to become thereby more excited sexually. The remarks on this subject made by Theophrastus," generally a weighty authority, are fabulous. He says that the lust to have intercoui'se seventy times in succession has been given by the touch of a certain plant whose name and kind he has not mentioned. LXIV. Tied to the part as an amulet sideritis reduces varicose veins and does its work without pain. Gout was a rarer disease within the memory, not only of our fathers and grandfathers, but also of our own generation. It is also itself a foreign complaint ; had it existed in Italy in early times it would have received a Latin name. It must not be considered incurable, for many cases have been cured without treatment, and yet more with it. Useful remedies are roots of panaces with raisins, juice of henbane with meal, or the seed of henbane, scordion in vinegar, hiberis as already prescribed,* vervain beaten up with axle-grease, and the root of cyclamen, a decoction of which is also good for chillolains. Coohng appHcations for gouty pains are made from xiphion root, psyllion seed, hemlock with Utharge or axle-grease, and aizoiim for the first onset of red, that is hot, gout. Good for either kind how- ever is erigeron with axle-grease, plantain leaves beaten up with a Httle salt added, and argemonia pounded with honey. Vervain too may be apphed as a remedy — or the feet may be soaked in the water in which it has been boiled — LXV. or the lappago that is like anagaUis, but more branchy and leafy, and with a strong smell. This kind of plant " is one kind of lappago, and I feel certain that the hiatus of 76 letters after gravis in E once contained a description of a plant to which talis refers. 341 PLIXY: NATURAL HISTORY est mollugo vocatur ; similis, sed asperioribus foliis, asperugo. superioris et sucus p X 1 in vini duobus cyathis cotidie sumitur. 103 LXVI. Praecipue vero liberat eo malo phycos thalassion, id est fucus marinus, lactucae similis, qui conchvHis substernitur, non podagrae modo sed omnibus articulorum morbis inpositus priusquam arefiat.^ tria autem genera eius : latum et alterum longius, quadamtenus rubens, tertium crispis foHis, quo in Creta vestes tingunt, omnia eiusdem usus. 104 Nicander ea et adversus serpentes in vino dedit. salutare est et semen eius herbae quam psyllion appellavimus madefactum aqua, admixtis in heminam seminis resinae Colophoniae coclearibus duobus, turis uno. laudantur et mandragorae foha cum polenta tunsa. tahs vero tumentibus hmus aquaticus cum oleo subactus mire prodest, articuhs sucus ex cen- taurio minore, idem nervis utihssimus, item cen- 105 tauris. vettonica nervis discurrentibus per scapulas, umeris, spinae, lumbis, pota ut in iocinere, articuhs quinquefolium inpositum, mandragorae foha cum polenta vel radix recens tusa cum cucumere silvestri vel decocta in aqua, digitorum in pedibus rimis polypodii radix, articuhs sucus hyoscyami cum ^ arefiat VT lanu-s, Detlefsen, Mayhoff : exarefiat d r vulg. " Apparently mollugo, but the possibility of a hiatus makes one uncertain. " Or, with ezarefiat, " quite dry." '^ See Dioscorides IV 99 : yaerat rd /xeV rt avroO nXarv, ro Se v~6fj.r]K€s Kal v7to^olvlkiI,ov, t6 Se ovXov (" curly "). Pliny's latuni and longius, therefore, mav refer to the leaves and not to the whole plant. See XIII §§ 135 foll. 342 BOOK XXVI. Lxv. I02-LXVI. 105 called mollugo ; like it, but with rougher leaves, is asperugo. The juice of the former " is taken daily, the dose being one denarius by weight in two cyathi of wine. LXVI. The sovereign remedy, however, for this complaint is phycos thalassion, or seaweed, which is Hke lettuce, and is used as a ground-colour for the purple of the murex ; it is sovereign, not for gout only, but for all diseases of the joints, if appHed before it becomes dry.* There are moreover three kinds of it : one is broad,'^ the second is rather long and inclining to red, and the third, which has curly leaves, is used in Crete to dye cloth. They have all the same medi- cinal uses. Nicander '^ gave these too in wine for snake bite. A further remedy is the seed, soaked in water, of the plant I have called ^ psylHon : one hemina of such seed is compounded with two spoon- fuls of Colophonian resin and one spoonful of frankin- cense. Another highly valued remedy is made from leaves of mandrake pounded with pearl barley. When however ankles swell, water-mud kneaded with oil makes a wonderfully good plaster ; for the joints the juice of the smaller centaury is very beneficial, as it is also for the sinews ; beneficial too is centauris. For the sinews running across the shoulder blades, for the shoulders, for the backbone and the loins, a good remedy is betony, taken as pi*escribed for the liver/; for the joints an appHcation of cinquefoil, leaves of mandrake with pearl barley, or its root pounded fresh with wild cucumber or boiled down in water ; for chaps on the toes the root of polypodium ; for the joints juice of henbane with axle-grease, Theriaca 845. « Book XXV § 140. f See XXVI § 35. 343 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY axungia, amomon suco decocto, item centunculus decocta vel muscus recens ex aqua obligatus donec inarescat, item lappae boariae radix e vino pota. 106 cvclaminos decocta in aqua perniunculos curat omniaque alia frigoris vitia. perniunculos et cotyledon cum axungia, folia ex batrachio, epithymi sucus. clavos pedum extrahit ladanum cum castoreo, verbenaca ex vino. 107 LXVII. Nunc peractis malis quae membratim sentiuntur dicemus de iis quae totis corporibus grassantur. remedia autem haec communia in- venio : ante omnes ^ potandam ^ dodecatheum, de qua diximus, deinde panacis omnium generum radices, peculiariter longinquis morbis et semen interaneorum vitiis, ad omnes vero dolores corporis sucum e scordio, item vettonicae quae pota colorem phimbeum corporis privatim emendat, gratiorem reducit. 108 LXVIII. Geranion ahqui myrrin, ahi myrtidan appellant. simihs est cicutae, minutioribus fohis et caule brevior, rotunda, saporis et odoris iucundi. ^ ante omnes codd., Dethfsen : aput auctores Mayhoff, qui multa similia citat ex Plinio, et colon post invenio om. ^ potandam Hard., cod. Dal., Detlefsen : potanda E, Mayhoff : ^tota^m aut Tpotu multi codd. " There are a few peculiarities in this part of Pliny that should be mentioned, although no explanation (except haste) suggests itself. We have the formless structure of § 105, the repetition of perniunculu-s, and its (apparently) sole use in this section. * With Mayho£F's reading : " I find in my authorities that the following should be taken in drink." The deinde of the next claxise suggests that the MSS. reading ante omnes is correct, and the gender of potandam is explained by the fact that dodecatheum is a herba. 344 BOOK XXVI. Lxvi. 105-LXV111. 108 I the decocted juice of amomum, a decoction too of centunculus, or fresh moss soaked in water and bound round the part until the water dries off, and also root of lappa boaria taken in wine. Cyclamen boiled down in water is a good remedy for chilblains and for all other afFections caused by cold ; for chilblains cotyledon too with axle-grease, leaves of batrachion and the juice of epithymum. Corns are extracted froni the feet by ladanum mixed with beaver-oil, and by vervain in wine." LXVII. Having now finished the complaints that Remedifs, affect separate limbs I shall go on to describe those f^j^^X//'' that attack the whole body. Of remedies that are bodi/. generally useful I learn that the best is dodecatheum, to be given in drink,'' a plant I have already de- scribed <^ ; next the roots of all kinds of panaces, especially good for long illnesses, and the seed is used for intestinal complaints ; for general bodily pains however juice of scordion and also of betony, which taken in drink is specific^ for removing a leaden colour of the skin and restoring a more pleasing complexion. LXVIII. Geranion is called by some myrris ^ and by othei-s myrtidas. It resembles hemlock, but with smaller leaves and shorter in the stem, round, and of a pleasant taste and smell. In this way « See XXV § 28. ^ For privatim see note on XXIV § 28. * According to Dioscorides another plant; he says (IV 115) : eoiKe KO}V€LU), pi^av Se e;^ci. inrofi-qKr), aTraXrjv, TrepKJiep'^, evwBT), rjSelav Ppwdijvat.. " Round " is a strange word to apply to the plant, and Urlichs would add (cf. the ■nepi^eprj of Dioscorides) radice before rotunda. Others have emended to rotundo (sc. caule). The leaves however are round. 345 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY nostri sic eam tradunt, Graeci foliis paulo candi- dioribus quam malvae, caulibus tenuibus, pilosis, ramosam ex intervallis, binum palmorum. et in his folia ^ inter quae in cacuminibus capitula sint gruum. 109 alterum genus foliis anemones, divisuris longioribus, radice mali modo rotunda, dulci, reficientibus se ab imbecillitate utilissima, et fere talis vera est. bibitur contra phthisis drachma in cyathis vini tinbus bis die, item contra inflationes, et cruda idem prae- stat. sucus radicis auribus medetur, opisthotonis semen drachmis quattuor cum pipere et murra 110 potum. phthisis sanat et plantaginis sucus, si biba- tur, et ipsa decocta in cibo ^ ; ex sale et oleo a somno matutino refrigerat. eadem datur iis quos atrophos vocant interpositis diebus, vettonica vero phthisicis ecHgmate cum melle, fabae magnitudine, agaricum potum obolis duobus in passo, vel daucum cum cen- taurio maiore in vino. phagedaenis — quod nomen sine modo esurientium est, et alias ulcerum — tithy- malU medentur cum sesamis sumpti. 111 LXIX. Inter mala universi corporis vigiUae sunt plerisque. harum remedio monstratur panaces, clymenos, aristolochia odore et peruncto capite, ^ folia VR : folius E inilg. : esse in his folia coni. Mayhojf. - decocta in cibo;] sic ex Dioscoride (Eup. II 38) dist. Mayhoff. " Dioscorides (III 116) describes two kinds of y€pdvt.ov. Of the first he says vXAov ofioiov dveficovrj, ia^^iafievov, fiaKpo- repov Be. This is Pliny's second kind, and divisuris longioribus looks as though he mistranslated eaxi-afievov, fiaKpoTepov M, unless we emend Pliny, and read divisis, longioribus. Of Pliny's first kind, the second of Dioscorides; the latter says : KavXia XeiTrd, )(vow6t], hiaTrldafia, (^vXXa fj.oXox'!] «V^^P^ '^'^^ *"' BOOK XXVI. Lxviii. 108-LXIX. III it is described by our Roman authorities ; but Greeks " say that it has leaves a little Hghter in colour than those of the mallow, thin stems, and downy, with branches at intervals and two spans long ; on them are the leaves, among which on the tips of the stems are miniature heads of cranes. A second kind has leaves like those of anemone, which are marked with rather long incisions, and a round root Hke an apple, sweet, and very beneficial to convalescents. The last seems to be the true geranion. It is taken in drink for consumption twice a day in doses of one drachma in three cyathi of wine ; the same prescription is good for flatulence, and eaten raw tlie plant has the same effect. The juice of the root is good for ear trouble ; for opistho- tonic tetanus four-drachmae doses of seed are taken in drink with pepper and myrrh. Consumption is cured too by drinking plantain juice, and by plantain itself boiled and taken as food. Eaten with salt and oil on waking from sleep in the morning it is very refreshing. It is also given every other day to those who we say are " wasting away," but to consump- tives we give betony made up with honey into an electuary of the size of a bean, or agaric in raisin wine in two-oboli doses, or daucum with the greater centaury in wine. Cases of phagedaena, a word meaning bulimia as well as rodent ulcer, are treated by tithymalkis with sesame. LXIX. Of the maladies that affect the whole body sleeplessness is the most common. As remedies for it are recommended panaces, clymenos, aristolochia — by the smell or by bathing the head — aizoiim, that is dKpmv Toiv fiaa;^aAaJv i^oxds rivas dvavevevKvias, ois yepdvojv K€aAds. 347 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY aizoum sive sedum, si involutum panno nigro ie^no- rantis pulvino subiciatur, et onothera sive onear, hila- ritatem adferens in vino, amygdalae folio, flore rosaceo, fruticosa, longa radice et, cum siccata est, vinum olente. haec in potu data feras quoque miti- 112 gat. cruditates quae nausiam faciunt digerit vetto- nica, eadem pota a cena concoctionem facit, in oxy- melitis cyathis tribus drachmae pondere et crapulam discutit, item agaricum post cibum in aqua cahda potum. paralysin vettonica sanare dicitur, item hiberis ut dictum est. eadem et torpentibus mem- bris prodest, item argemonia omnia quae ^ secari perichtentur discutiendo. 113 LXX. Comitiales sanantur ^ panacis ^ quam hera- cUon diximus radice * pota cum coagulo vituh marini ita ut sint panacis tres partes. sanat et ^ plantago ^ pota, vettonica in oxymehte ' drachma vel agai-icum ® ^ omnia quae R (?), Gelenii editio Basileensis ; omnia quae- que VdE : omnia quaequae Detlefsen : omniaque, quae MayJwjf, vulg. ^ sanantur Vd vulg. : sanant aliquot codd. * panacis codd., vulg. : panaces Sillig, Detlefsen, * radiee VRd Sillig : radices E. * sanat et ego transposui; ante archezostis codd. * plantago codd. : plantagine Mayhoff. ' oxymelite Gelenius : oxymeliti aut oxymelitis codd. ^ agaricum Gelenius : agaricon Sillig : agarico VRd : agarici E r vulg. " Or, " because taken in wine it dispels depression." Per- haps Pliny knew that depression was a common cause of sleeplessness. In any case it is a strange phrase to be applied to a cure for insomnia, although there can be no doubt about the reading, for Theophrastus has (IX 19 § 1) : jj Se tov 6vod~qpa pita Bodelaa iv olvip TrpaoTepov koI IXapwTepov ttoici t6 BOOK XXVI. Lxix. iii-Lxx. 113 houseleek, wrapped in black cloth and placed under the pillow without the knowledge of the patient. Onothera also, that is onear, is soporific although exhilarating in wine," having leaves like those of the almond tree, rose-coloured blossom, a bushy shape and a long root, which when dried smells of wine, and given in their drink soothes even wikl beasts. Indigestion causing nausea is reUeved by betony ; it also if taken in drink after dinner promotes digestion ; in doses of one drachma by weight in three cyathi of oxymel it also removes the after- effects of drink, as does agaric too taken in hot water after food. Betony is said to cure paralysis and so does hiberis as prescribed previously.'' It is also good for numbness of the limbs ; so also is arge- monia, by removing all symptoms indicating that surgical treatment (i.e. venesection) may be neces- sary.'' LXX. Epilepsy is cured by the root of the panaces EpUeps 1 have called herachon <^ taken in drink with seaFs rennet ; three quarters of the mixture must be panaces. Other cures are plantain in drink, doses of one drachma of betony or thi-ee oboU of agaric in 17^0?. The language of Dioscorides (IV 117) does not help much, although he mentions the soothing effect on wild beasts. It might be thought that not all the remedies given in this chapter are soporific. After crvditates, indeed, come some miscellaneous ones, but onothera is surely added (by the et) to the list of soporifics. * See XXV § 88. " I have kept the reading of R (queried as doubtful by Mayhoff) and of Gelenius because it avoids the dislocation of thought (violent even for Pliny) involved in the vulgate and accepted by Mayhoff. The use of argemonia is thus confined to the cure of paralysis, or partial paralysis. ■* See XXV § 32. 349 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY obolis tribus, folia ^ quinquefolii ex aqua, arche- zostis, sed anno pota. sanat et baccaris radix arida in pulverem contrita cyathis tribus cum coriandri 114 uno in aqua caUda, et centunculus trita in aceto aut melle aut in aqua calida, verbenaca ex vino pota, hysopi bacae ternae contritae in aqua potae diebus XVI, peucedanum cum coagulo vituli marini aequis portionibus potum, quinquefohi contrita foUa ex vino pota diebus xxx, vettonicae farina p. X iii cum aceti scilUtici 2 cyatho, melUs Attici uncia, scamonium oboUs duobus cum castorei drachmis quattuor. 115 LXXI. Febres frigidas leviores facit agaricum potum in caUda aqua, tertianas sideritis cum oleo, item ladanum quod in segetibus nascitur contusum, plantago ex aqua mulsa duabus horis ante acces- sionem pota binis drachmis vel sucus radicis made- factae vel tusae, vel ipsa radix trita in aqua ferro calfacta. quidam ternas radices in tribus cyathis 116 aquae dedere. eadem in quartanis quaterna fece- runt. buglosso inarescente, si quis medullam ex ^ folia codd. : foliis Mayhoff. 2 scillitici V^dEr vulg. : sciUitis Detlefsen : scillini Mayhoff, qui scillitae coni. " The text here is in a very disturbed state, and the editors are divided, Detlefsen adopting sanant followed by nomina- tives and Mayhoif sanantur followed by ablatives. The disturbance may have been caused by the accidental omission of sanat et before plantago and its later re-insertion two lines further on. The various readings of our MSS. were probably due to conscious efforts to restore the grammar. Both Detlefsen and Mayhofif adopt ozymelitis ; but both drachma and obolus are weights, not measures of capacity, and the sense requires that the amount of betony and agaric should be given, not the amount of oxymel in which they were taken. Professor Andrews would keep the order of words in the MSS., com- 35° BOOK XXVI. Lxx. 113-LXXI. 116 oxymel," leaves of cinquefoil in water, and also archezostis, but the last must be taken in drink for a year. Other cures are dried root of baccar crushed to powder and taken in hot water in doses of three cyathi with one of coriander, pounded centunculus in vinegar or honey or hot water,^ vervain taken in wine, three crushed berries of hyssop taken in water for sixteen days, equal quantities of peucedanum and sears rennet taken in drink, crushed leaves of cinquefoil taken in wine for thirty days, powdered betony in doses of three denarii by weight with a cyathus of squill vinegar and an ounce of Attic honey,*^ scammony in doses ** of two oboli with four drachmae of beaver-oil. LXXI. The chills of fever are reUeved by agaric Fevers. taken in hot water, tertian fevers by sideritis with oil, by crushed ladanum, a plant found in grain fields, by plantain in hydromel taken in two-drachma doses within two hours before a paroxysm, juice of its root soaked or pounded, or by the root itself beaten up in water * heated with hot iron. Some physicians have prescribed doses of three roots in three cyathi of water, changing three to four if the fever is quartan. If one takes, when bugloss is withering, menting that Pliny secms to say : " Yes, archezostis does cure, but it takes a long time." *" It is often difficult to see whether in such phrases the adverbial expression goes with the participle tritus or not. Here for instance the Bohn translators have " bruised in vinegar." See note § 115. " I take uncia to be ablative with cum understood, but as far as the grammar is concerned, meUis Attici uncia might be a new remedy, with uncia nominative. "* Littre translates as I do, but the Bohn translators think that the numbers refer to the proportions of the prescription. ' Perhaps, " pounded root itself in water etc." 351 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY caiile eximat dicatque ad qiiem liberandum febri id faciat et alliget ei septem folia ante accessionem, aiunt febri liberari, item vettonicae drachmam ^ in aquae mulsae cyathis tribus vel agaricum, maxime in iis febribus quae cum horrore veniant. quinque- foUi foha quidam terna tertianis dedere, quaterna quartanis, plura ceteris, aUi omnibus tres obolos cum 117 pipere ex aqua mulsa. verbenaca quidem et iumen- torum febribus in vino medetur, sed in tertianis a tertio geniculo incisa, quartanis a quarto. bibitur et semen hyperici utriusque in quartanis et horroribus, vettonicae farina, quae omnes horrores coercet, item panaces adeo excalefactoria natura ut per nivem ituris bibere id perunguique eo praecipiant. et aristolochia perfrictionibus resistit. 118 LXXII. Phreneticos somnus sanat, qui continget ^ peucedano ex aceto capiti infuso, anagallidum suco. e diverso lethargicos excitare labor est ; hoc praestant euphorbeum ex aceto naribus tactis, peucedani sucus. contra insanias vettonica bibitur. car- bunculos rumpit panaces, sanat vettonicae farina ex * Ante drachmam lacunam indicat Mayhoff, qui dari supplendum esse putat. 2 continget aliquot codd., Detlefsen : contingit E r vulg., MaTjhoff. " Mayhoff supposes that there is a lacuna before drachmam : " excidit dari vel aliud quid, unde pendeat drachmam.^' Possibly drachmam is governed by dedere above. Both eadem . . . facerent and buglosso . . . liberari — especially the latter — look like later additions. Pliny, who was fond of parentheses, may have added one or both of them as an after- thought, overlooking the fact that so doing upset the syntax of the passage. BOOK XXVI. Lx.\i. ii6-Lxxn. ii8 the pith out of a stem and says that he does it to free so and so from fever, attaching to the patient seven leaves before a paroxysm begins, he is freed, it is said, from the fever. Another remedy is betony in doses of one drachma " in three cyathi of hydromel, or agaric, especially in fevers attended with violent shivers. Some have prescribed doses of three cinque- foil leaves for tertians, of four for quartans, and of more for the other fevers ; others prescribe for all three oboH with pepper in hydromel. Vervain in wine indeed is a remedy for fever even of beasts of burden, but for tertians the plant must be cut at the third joint, and for quartans at the fourth. For quartans and feverish shivers is taken in drink the seed of either kind of hypericum, powdered betony, which checks all shiverings, and panaces also, which is of such a heating nature that those about to travel through snow are recommended to take it in drink and to be rubbed with it. Violent chills ^ are also checked by aristolochia. LXXII. Phrenitis <^ is cured by sleep, which will be PhrerUtu. induced by pouring on the head an infusion of peucedanum in vinegar, or the juice of either ana- galhs. On the other hand it is difficult to awaken sufferers from lethargus <^ ; this is done by touching the nostrils with euphorbeum in vinegar, or with the juice of peucedanum. For dehrium ' betony is taken in drink. Carbuncles are made to burst by panaces, and cured by powdered betony in water, or " Either the chills of malarial fever, or perhaps the shiver- ings of a violent cold. ' Phrenitis, lethargus, and insaniae seem to be used in this chapter of mild symptoms, and not of the severe diseases often denoted by the terms. 353 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY aqua aut brassica cum ture, frequenti potu calidae, vel e carbone in conspectu restincto favilla digito sublata et inlita, vel plantago tusa, tithymallus characites.'^ 119 LXXIII. Hydropicos sanat panaces, plantago in cibo, cum prius panem siccum comederint sine potu, vettonica drachmis duabus in duobus cyathis vini aut mulsi, vel agaricum vel semen lonchitidis duabus linguhs ex aqua potum, psyUion ex vino, anagalUdum sucus, cotyledonis radix e mulso, ebuU recentis radix excussa tantum nec coUuta, quod duo digiti conpre- hendant, ex vini veteris caldi hemina, trifoUi radix drachmis duabus in vino, tithymallum platyphyllon cognomine, semen hyperici quod caros appellatur, 120 acte, quam esse ebulum putant quidam, radice contrita in vini cyathis tribus, si febris absit, vel semine ex vino nigro, item verbenaca fasciculo manus plenae in aqua decocta ad dimidias. prae- cipue tamen chamaeactes sucus aptissimus creditur. eruptiones pituitae emendant plantago, cyclamini radix e melle, ebuU foUa trita e vetere vino — inposita etiam boam sanant, id est rubentes papulas — pruri- ginem sucus strychni inUtus. ^ characites codd., Detlefsen : characias Hard., Mayhoff. Cf. §§ 62, 146. " The carbo acts on the carbuncultcs by imitative magic. * Or, " the crushed seed in dark (ix red) wine," contrito being understood from contrita above, 354 BOOK XXVI. Lxxii. 118-LXXI11. 120 by cabbage and frankincense with frequent draughts of hot water ; or the ash from a burning coal " ex- tinguished in the patient's presence may be picked up with a finger and applied. Other remedies are pounded plantain and tithymallus characites. LXXIII. Remedies for dropsy are : panaces ; Dmpsy. plantain as food, after dry bread without any drink ; two-drachma doses of betony in two cyathi of wine or honey wine ; agaric, or lonchitis seed, two spoon- fuls for a dose taken in water ; psyllion in wine ; juice of either anagalHs ; root of cotyledon in honey wine ; root of fresh ebukmi, shaken only and not washed, a two-finger pinch for a dose, taken in a hemina of old wine and hot water ; root of trefoil in wine, two drachmae for a dose ; the tithymallus called platyphyllon ; seed of the hypei-icum known as caros ; acte, which some identify with ebulum, the root, if there is no fever, being crushed in three cyathi of wine, or the seed ^ being taken in dai*k wine ; vervain also, a good handful being boiled down in water to one half. The most efiicacious reniedy however is believed to be the juice of chamaeacte. An outbreak '^ of phlegm is reUeved by plantain, by cyclamen root in honey, and by pounded leaves of ebulum in old wine. An apphcation of the last cures boa** also, an eruption of red pimples, and the juice of strychnos apphed as Hniment cures itch. ' See list of diseases. Here perhaps nasal catarrh, but else- where (XXV § 61) pituitous eruptions on the body. ■^ The Latin Thesaurus gives a full list of references to boa, which was the name of more than one complaint. In Pliny it means some kind of eczema. The name was supposed to be connected with bos, because ox dung was used as a remedy. See XXVIII § 244. 355 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY 121 LXXIW Igni saci-o medentur aizoum, folia trita cicutae, mandragorae radix — secatur ^ in asses ut cucumis, primumque super mustum suspenditur, mox in fumo, dein tunditur ^ — e vino aut aceto. prodest et vino myrteo fovere, mentae sextans, vivi sulpuris uncia, ex aceto simul trita, fuligo ex aceto. ignis sacri plura sunt genera, inter quae medium hominem ambiens qui zoster vocatur et enecat,'' si cinxit. medetur plantago cum creta Cimolia et peristereos per se, radix persollatae, aliis quae serpunt cotvle- donis radix cum mulso, aizoum, sucus e linozosti ex aceto. 122 LXXV. Radix polypodi inlita * luxatis medetur doloremque et tumores tollunt semen psyllii, folia plantaginis trita, sale modice addito, verbasci semen ex vino decoctum tritum, cicuta cum axungia. folia ^ secatur Hard. ex cod. Murb. : siccatur codd. ^ tunditur (aut tuditur) codd. : teritur coni. Mayhoff. Cf. Theophrasti H.P. IX ix 1 : ttjv 8e pllav [tov fiavSpayopov) •npos epvaiTreXas ^voOelaav re Kal o^ei hevdelaav . * et enecat E r. Mayhoff, vulfj. : et necat multi codd. : enecat lanus, Dethfsen. * radix polj^podi inlita cum priore sententia coniungit Detlefsen. " Or, " are gourds." * The emendation teritur is supported by Theophrastus IX ix 1 : pilav . . . ^vadelaav " scraped " ; but though he and Pliny are very similar they are also in some respects strangely unlike. Contrast for instance secatur in asses vt cucumis etc. with renvovai. §e rpoxLaKOVs (Lanep pa(f>avLbos Kal iveipavTes VTrep yXevKOVS eKpep.aaav eVt KaTTvw. Hort translat^S : " they cut little balls of it, as of radishes, and making a string of them hang them up in the smoke over must." Mayhoff joins his teritur with e vino aut aceto. But as teritur has no iLS. authority, and the parenthesis gives a very Plinian BOOK XXVI. Lxxiv. i2r-Lxxv. 122 LXXIV. Erysipelas is treated with aizoiim, Ery.npeias. pounded leaves of hemlock, and root of mandrake — it is cut into slices as is cucumber, " hung first over must, then in smoke, and finally pounded * — taken in wine or vinegar. It is beneficial too to foment with myrtle wine, or to use as an ointment two ounces of mint with one ounce of native sulphur beaten up together in vinegar, or soot mixed with vinegar. There are several kinds of erysipelas, among them one called zoster,'' which goes round the patients waist, and is fatal if the circle becomes quite complete. Kemedies are : plantain with Cimohan chalk, peri- stereos by itself and the root of persollata ; as remedies for the creeping forms can be used root of cotyledon with honey wine, aizoiim, and the juice of Hnozostis with vinegar. LXXV. Root of polypodium made up into Hniment is a remedy ^ for dislocations, and the pain and swel- h'ng are taken away by seed of psylhon, plantain leaves beaten up with a httle salt, ground seed of ver- bascum boiled in wine, and hemlock witli axle-grease. character to the sentence, it seems unwise to resort to emendation. Mayhoff himsclf suggests that the text may be tundilur, datur, " is poundecl and administered." It is difficult to discriminate between tero, tundo, contero in this connection, except that the first seems to denote less thorough and violent pounding. " Assume that the original text had secatur after radix and siccattir after fumo. Take tunditur with the following phrase. There is then no difficulty in translating." A. C. A. " " The girdle," probably shingles. The Latin erysipelas is a much wider term than the English. ''■ The reading medentur is more strongly supported than medetur. Detlefsen, retaining medentur, took the words radix polypodi inlita as the end of the preceding sentence (§ 121), This change does not agree with Dioscorides. 357 PIJNY : NATURAL HISTORY ephemeri tuberibus tumoribusque inlinuntur quae etiamtum discuti possunt. 123 LXXVI. Morbum regium in oculis praecipue mirari est, tenuitatem etiam ^ densitatemque tuni- cularum felle subeunte. Hippocrates a septimo die in febri mortiferum signum esse dicit : nos scimus vixisse aliquos etiam ab hac desperatione. fit vero et citra febres expugnaturque centaurio maiore ut diximus poto, vettonica, agarici obolis tribus ex vini veteris cyatho, item verbenacae foHa obolis tribus ex 124 vini calidi hemina quadriduo. sed celerrime quinque- folii sucus medetur tribus cyathis potus cum sale et melle.2 cyclamini radix drachmis tribus bibitur in loco cahdo et a perfrictionibus tuto — sudores enim felleos movet — folia tussilaginis ex aqua, semen linozostis utriusque inspersum potioni vel cum absinthio aut cicere decoctum, hysopi bacae cum aqua potae, lichen herba, si, cum sumitur, cetero olere abstineatur, polythrix in vino data, struthion in mulso. 125 LXXVII. Passim et in quacumque parte sed maxime incommoda nascuntur qui furunculi vocantur, mortiferum aliquando malum consectis ^ corporibus. 1 etiam VRT f, Sillig, Mayhoff -. illam d (?) E vulg. : etiam illam lanus, Detlefsen. 2 cum sale et melle V^Er vulg., Detlefsen : om. ViRTf Mayhoff. ^ consectis VTfE Detlefsen, Mayhoff: confectis Rd(?) vulg. " See e.g. Aphorisms IV 62. * See XXV § 67. ' Maj'hofF with many MSS. would omit " with salt and honey," perhaps rightly, as Dioscorides has nothing to corres- pond. ^ Or, "random" (A. C. A.). Or, " over a wide area" (of the body). BOOK XXVI. Lxxv. I22-LXXVII. 125 The leaves of ephemeron are applied in the form of Hniment to tumours and swelHngs that are still able to be dispersed. LXXVI. The most striking symptom of jaundice Jawuiice is the efFect upon the eyes ; the bile penetrates even betv^^een the membranes, thin and close to- gether as they are. Hippocrates " says that if jaundice supervenes from the seventh day of a fever it is a fatal symptom. I however know of recoveries even from this desperate condition. But cases of jaundice occur without fever, and can be overcome by the greater centaury, taken in drink as I have pre- scribed,* by betony, by three-oboli doses of agai-ic in a cyathus of old -wine, and by three-oboU doses of vervain leaves taken for four days in a hemina of warmed wine. The quickest remedy however is juice of cinquefoil taken in doses of three cyathi with salt and honey.'' Three-drachmae doses of i'oot of cyclamen are taken in drink while the patient is in a warm place protected from chilly draughts — the medicine induces sweats full of gall — , and good is done by leaves of tussilago in water, by seed of Hno- zostis of either kind sprinkled in drink or boiled down with wormwood or chick peas, by hyssop berries taken \vith water, by the herb Hchen, the patient during the treatment abstaining from all other vegetables, by polythrix administered in wine, and by struthion in honey mne. LXXVII. A common'' complaint, affecting any Boils. part of the body, but especially an inconvenient part, is what are called boils, sometimes a fatal mal- ady after surgical operations.« Pounded leaves of ' Confectis : " when the body is run down." 359 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY remedio sunt pycnoeomi folia trita cum polenta, si nondum caput fecerint. discutiunt et folia ephedri inlita. 126 LXXVIII. Fistulae quoque in omni parte serpunt medicorum vitio male sectis corporibus. auxilio est centaurium minus collyriis cum melle decocto additis, plantaginis sucus infusus, quinquefolium cum sale et melle, ladanum cum castoreo, cotyledon cum medulla cervina calefacta et inposita ; verbasci radicis medulla collyrii tenuitate in fistulam additur vel aristolochiae radix vel sucus tithymalli. 127 LXXIX. Collectiones inflammationesque sanant argemoniae folia inHta, duritias et collectiones omnes verbenaca vel quinquefolium decoctum in aceto, verbasci folia vel radix, hysopum e vino inpositum, acori radix decocto eius foventibus, aizoum, item quae contusa sint duritiasque et in sinu ^ corporis ^ illecebra. omnia infixa corpori extrahunt folia 128 tussilaginis, daucum, semen leontopodii tritum in aqua cum polenta. suppurationibus inponuntur pycnocomi folia trita cum polenta vel semen, item orchis. vitia quae sint in ossibus satyrii radice inposita efficacissime sanari dicuntur, nomae et 1 in sinu VdT Detlefsen : sinus E r vulg., MayJioff. 2 corporis] Cf. § 141 sinus uJcerum. Urlichs del. corporis et ulcerum scribit. " Literally " creep," from the shape of the fistula. Littre has " se creusent." * The meaning of collyriis here is uncertain. It might be " salves " or " suppositories," but additis, and the common occurrence of rectal fistulas, suggest the latter. See too the last sentence of this chapter. ' Prof. Andrews suggests : " supplemented by suppositories made with boiled honey." But cf. in fistulam additur below. 360 BOOK XXVI. Lxxvii. 125-LXXIX. 128 pycnocomon with pearl barley are a remedy if the boil has not yet come to a head. Boils are also dispersed by apphcations of leaves of ephedron. LXXVIII. Fistulas also form " in any part of the Fistuias. body through the careless use of the surgeon's knife. The lesser centaury, if suppositories ^ made from it are inserted ^vith boiled honey,'^ is a help ; so is plantain juice poured into them, cinquefoil with salt and honey, ladanum with beaver-oil, and cotyledon with deers marrow warmed and appHed ; the pith of verbascum root, cut as slender as a suppository, is inserted into the fistula, or there may be used root of aristolochia or juice of tithymalkis. LXXIX. Gatherings and inflammations are cured Suppura- by an appHcation of argemonia leaves, all indurations '^ ^g^^H ^"^. and gatherings by vervain, or by cinquefoil boiled ptaints. down in vinegar, by leaves or root of verbascum, by an appUcation of hyssop in wine, by fomenting with a decoction of acoron root, and by aizoiim ; for bruises, indurations, and for pitted sores <^ in the flesh the remedy is illecebra. All foreign bodies buried in the flesh may be extracted by leaves of tussilago, by daucum, or by seed of leontopodium beaten up in water with pearl barley. To suppurations are appUed leaves, or seed, of pycnocomon beaten up with pearl barley, Ukewise orchis. For affections of the bones a very efficacious cure is said to be an appUcation of ■* Perhaps in this context " hard abscesses." Cf. Celsus V 25, 11 : l^abscessus) rubet cum calore et paulo post etiam cum duritia. ' In sinu, "in the case of a (sore) hollow," is the harder, and therefore perhaps the more hkely reading. See (§ 141) siniis ulcerum and (XXVII § 63) explent sinus ulcerum. Sinus is the hollow or cavity formed by a deep ulcer. Perhaps ' sores in a fold (sinus) of the body.' 361 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY coUectiones omnes fuco maris, priusquam inarescat. et alcimae ^ radix collectiones discutit. 129 LXXX. Ambusta sanantur plantagine, arctio ita ut cicatrix fallat. folia eius in aqua decocta contrita inlinuntur, radices cyclamini cum aizoo, herba ipsa hvperici quod corissum appellavimus. 130 LXXXI. Nervis et articuhs convenit plantago trita cum sale, argemonia tusa ex melle. peucedani suco perunguntur spastici, tetanici. nervorum duritiae aegilops suco, doloribus erigeron ex aceto inhnitur, epithymum. spasticis et opisthotonicis perungui semine hvperici, quod caros vocatur, itemque bibere prodest. phrynion dicitur etiam abscissos sanare nervos, si confestim inponatur trita vel mansa. spasticis, tremuhs, opisthotonicis alcimae ^ radix bibitur ex aqua mulsa. sic et rigores excalfacit. 131 LXXXII. Sanguinis profluvia sistit herbae paeoniae semen rubrum — eadem et in radice vis — clymenus vero, sive ore sanguis reiciatur sive naribus, sive alvo fluat sive feminarum utero, item Ivsimachia pota vel inhta vel naribus indita, item plantaginis semen, quinquefohum potum et inhtum, cicutae semen in nares, si inde fluat, tritum ex aqua inditura, ^ alcimae V f Sillig: aleeae Caesarius: algmae RE: alginae d T. 2 alcimae Sillig, Detlefsen, Mayhof}: alceae Caesarius: algmae V : alginae d T : algme ceteri codd. " See § 85 of this book. * There seems to be here a distinction between trita and tusa, which are sometimes strengthened into contrita and contusa. Perhaps the former points to breaking up into bits, and the latter merely to cnishing. Any distinction is sometimes hard to observe in a translation. 362 BOOK XXVI. Lxxix. T28-LXXX11. 131 satyrion root, and for corroding sores and gatherings of all kinds an application of sea-weed used while it is still wet. Root of alcima too disperses gatherings. LXXX. Burns are healed by plantain, and by Burns. arctium so well that no scars are seen. A decoction in water of crushed arctium leaves is used as Uniment for burns, and so are cyclamen roots with aizoum, and the plant itself of the hypericum I have called " corissum. LXXXI. Good for sinews and joints are plantain sinews. beaten up with salt and argemonia pounded '^ in honey. Juice of peucedanum is rubbed all over« those suifering from spasms or tetanus. For in- durations of the sinews juice of aegilops is used as liniment, and for pains of the sinews erigeron (or epithymum) is so used in vinegar. Spasms and opisthotonic tetanus are benefited by thorough rub- bing with seed of the hypericum known as caros, and this seed also benefits if taken in drink. Sinews even when severed are said to be healed by phrynion, beaten up or chewed, if it is appHed immediately. Spasms, palsy, and opisthotonic tetanus are treated by root of alcima taken in hydromeh So taken it also warms rigors. LXXXII. Haemorrhage is checked by the red seed Haemor- of the plant paeonia — the root also is styptic — but ''''"^'^' by clymenus when blood is discharged from the mouth or nostrils, or when it flows from the bowels or the uterus ; by lysimachia too taken in drink, or apphed as Hniment, or inserted into the nostrils, also by plantain seed, by cinquefoil taken in drink and*^ apphed, by hemlock seed beaten up in water and inserted into the nostrils should there be ' Or, " thoroughly on." "^ Perhaps " or ". 3^3 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY aizoum, astragali radix. sistit et ischaemon et achillia. 132 LXXXIIL Equisaetum hippuris Graecis dicta et in pratis vituperata nobis — est autem piius terrae equinae saetae similis — lienes cursorum extinguit decocta fictili novo ad tertias quantum vas capiat et per triduum heminis pota. unctis esculentis ex ante diem unum interdicitur. Graecorum varia circa hanc 133 opinio : alii pinus foliis similem nigricantem eodem nomine appellant, vim eius admirabilem tradentes, sanguinis profluvia vel tacto tantum ea homine sisti, aHi hippurin, ahi ephedron, aUi anabasim vocant, traduntque iuxta arbores nasci et scandentem eas dependere comis iunceis multis nigris ut ex equorum cauda, geniculatis ramuHs, foha habere pauca, tenuia, exigua, semen rotundum, simile coriandro, radice 134 Hgnosa, nasci in arbustis maxime. vis eius spissare corpora. sucus sanguinem e naribus fluentem in- clusus sistit, item alvum. medetur dysintericis in vino dulci potus cyathis tribus, urinam ciet, tussim, orthopnoeam sanat, item rupta et quae serpunt. intestinis et vesicae foHa bibuntur, enterocelen cohibet. faciunt et aHam hippurim brevioribus et molHoribus comis candidioribusque, perquam utilem ischiadicis et vulneribus ex aceto inpositam pi*opter « See X\^II § 259. * Perhaps " thin." ■^ See Celsus II i, 10, aquilo sanum corpus spissat. Cf. p. 40, note. Professor Andrews prefers : " to make the flesh more compact." Dr. Spencer uses " brace " for the Celsus passage. ^ Perhaps ex aceto goes only with vulneribus. So Littre. " In this passage at least a distinction seems to be drawn between vulnus and plaga, the former being a cut or thrust, and the latter a blow that breaks the flesh. But the distinction is not always strictly observed. 364 BOOK XXVI. Lxxxii. 131-LXXX111. 134 epistaxis, by aizoiim and by root of astragalus. Ischaemon too and achillia check bleeding. LXXXIII. Equisaetum, called hippuris by the Equuaettm Greeks, and found fault with by me when I discussed meadow land ^ — it is in fact " hair of the earth " resembhng horse hair — reduces the spleen of runners if as much as the pot will hold is boiled down to one third in new earthenware, and taken in drink for three days in doses of one hemina. There must be ab- stinence from fattv foods for at least one day previously. The Greeks hold various views about this plant ; some under the same name speak of a dark plant wth leaves hke those of the pine, assuring us that, so wonderful is its nature, its mere touch stanches a patient's bleeding; some call it hippuris, others ephedron, others anabasis. Their account is that it grows near trees, which it cUmbs, and hangs down in many dark, rush-like hairs as if from a horse's tail ; that its httle branches are jointed, and its leaves few, slender ^* and small; that the seed is round, resembhng that of coriander, that its root is hgneous, and that it gi'Ows mostly in plantations. Its property is to brace ' the body. Its juice, kept in the nostrils, checks haemorrhage therefrom, and it also checks looseness of the bowels. Taken in a sweet wine, in doses of three cyathi, it is good for dysentery, promotes passing of urine, and cures cough and orthopnoea, ruptures also and spreading sores. The leaves are taken in | drink for complaints of the bowels and bladder; tlie plant itself i-educes intestinal hernia. The Greeks recognise yet another hippuris, which has shorter, softer and paler hairs, making a very useful apphcation in vinegar ^ for sciatica, and also for cuts,* 365 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 135 sistendum sanguinem. et nvniphaea trita plagis inponitur. peucedanum cum semine cupressi bibi- tur, si sanguis per os redditus est fluxitve ab infernis. sideritis tantam ^dm habet ut quamvis recenti gladiatoris vulneri inligata sanguinem claudat, quod facit et ferulae cinis vel carbo, fungus vero etiam efficacius, qui secundum radicem eius nascitur. 136 LXXXIV. per nares autem fluenti et cicutae semen tritum ex aqua additumque efficax habetur, item stephanomelis ex aqua. vettonicae farina e lacte caprino pota sistit ex ubere fluentem, plantagoque contusa. eiusdem sucus vomentibus sanguinem datur. ad erraticum autem radix persollatae cum 137 axungia vetere inlita probatur. LXXXV. ruptis convulsisque, ex alto deiectis centaurium maius, gentianae radix trita vel decocta vel sucus, vettonica et hoc amplius a vocis aut lateris contentionibus panaces,^ scordium, aristolochia pota, agaricum item - contusis et eversis potum duobus obolis in mulsi cvathis tribus aut, si febris sit, in aqua mulsa, ver- bascum cuius flos similis auro est, acori radix, aizoum omne, sed maioris sucus efficacissime, item symphyti ius ^ vel radicis decoctum, daucos cruda, erysithales 1 sucus, vettonica et hoc . . . contentionibus panaces, Diosc. coll. Mayhoff : sucus vettonicae, et hoc . . . con- tentionibus, panaces, Detlefsen. - item codd., Deilefsen : idem Mayhoff. ^ sjTnphji;! ius lanus coll. xx 234 : symphyti ipsius coni. Mayhoff : symphyticius d : sjTuphitius V : sj^mphjiii E : symphyti sucus SiUig. " By farina apparently is meant dried betony ground to powder. It might mean the ground seeds. 366 BOOK XXVI. Lxxxiii. 134-LXXXV. 137 as it stanches the flow of blood. Nymphaea also Lesions, beaten up is applied to wounds from blows, and ^sjv-ahu.' peucedanum with cypress seed is taken in drink if blood is brought up through the mouth or flows from the lower passages. Sideritis has such a powerful effect that if bandaged to a gladiator's wound, how- ever recent, it stops the bleeding, as does also the ash or cinders of fennel-giant, though more efficacious still is the fungus that grows about its root. LXXXIV. For epistaxis however hemlock seed also beaten up in water and inserted into the nostrils is held to be efficacious, and so is stephanomehs in water. Ground " betony taken in goat's milk checks haemor- rhage from the breasts, as does crushed plantain. The juice of the latter is given to those who vomit blood. For sporadic bleeding ** however is recommended an apphcation of persollata root with stale axle-grease. LXXXV. For ruptures, sprains, and falls from a heiglit remedies are : the greater centaury, gentian root beaten up or boiled down, or its juice, betony, and especially when the lesion is caused by straining the voice or sides, panaces, scordium, aristolochia in drink, agaric also for bruises and falls, the dose being two oboh taken in three cyathi of honey wine or, if there is fever, in hydromel, the verbascum with the golden flower, root of acoron, all the kinds of aizoiim ; the most efficacious preparation however being the juice '^ of the greater aizoiim, the broth too of symphytum or a decoction of the root, raw daucos, erysithales — the flower is yellow, the leaves * Hardouin saw a reference in erraticus sanguis to the effects of erysipelas. It is more likely that some form of purpura is meant. "■ For suctis and ius see note on XXIV § 146. PUny may be translating dififerent Greek words {xvXos, x^fios). 367 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY flore luteo, foliis aeanthi e vino, item chamaerops et in sorbitione irio vel plantago omnibus modis, item. . . . 138 LXXXVI. Phthiriasi Sulla dictator consumptus est, nascunturque in sanguine ipso hominis animalia exesura corpus. resistitur ^ uvae taminiae suco aut veratri cum oleo perunctis corporibus. taminia quidem in aceto decocta etiam vestes eo taedio liberat. 139 LXXXVII. Ulcera multorum sunt generum ac multis modis curantur. panacis omnium generum radix ex vino calido inlinitur manantibus. siccat privatim quam chironiam diximus, cum melle trita tubera aperit ulceribusque quae serpunt depioratis auxiUo est, cum aeris flore vino temperata omnibus modis, vel semine vel flore vel radice. eadem cum 140 polenta vetustis volneribus prodest ; herachon quo- que siderion, apoUinaris, psyllium, tragacantha. scordotis cum melle purgat. farina eius camis excrescentes per se inspersa consimiit. polemonia ulcera quae cacoethe vocant sanat ; centaurium maius inspersimi vel inUtum, item minoris coma decocta vel trita vetera quoque ulcera purgat et persanat. folUcuU clymeni recentibus plagis in- ponuntur. inUnitur autem gentiana ulceribus quae serpunt radice tusa vel decocta in aqua ad meUis crassitudinem vel suco, volneribus ex ea factum 1 Post item lacunam indicat SiUig, quem sequitur Mayhoff: modis, item phthiriasi qua SuUa dictator consumptus est — nascunturque . . . corpus — resistitur Detlefsen. " The text of Mayhoff (which I follow) is here smoother than that of Detlefsen, but leaves one difficulty — the que after na-scuntur. One would rather expect quo morho nascuntur or the hke. Perhaps there is another lacuna after consumptus est. 368 BOOK XXVI. Lxxxv. 137-LXXXV11. 140 those of the acanthus— taken in Avine, chamaerops also and irio in soup, or any preparation of plantain, likewise. . . . LXXXVI. Sulla the dictator perished from Phihiriasis. phthiriasis ; in the very blood of the patient creatures come to Hfe that will eat up his flesh." The disease is combated by rubbing the whole body with juice of the taminian grape, or with hellebore juice and oil. Taminian grapes indeed boiled down in vinegar remove this nuisance even from garments. LXXXVII. Ulcers are of many kinds, and the uicers. methods of treatment are many . To running sores is appHed in warmed wine the root of any kind of panaces. A specific for drying them is the herb I have called * chironia ; beaten up with honey it opens hard swelHngs, and affords reUef to desperate cases of spreading ulcers ; it is diluted with wine and combined with flower of copper, and seed, flower or root may be used indiscriminately. This plant with pearl barley is also good for old wounds, so too is heraclion siderion, apolUnaris, psylUum and traga- cantha. Scordotis with honey cleanses them ; its powder consumes morbid excrescences of flesh, if sprinkled on them bv itself. Polemonia heals ulcers that are called malignant ; the greater centaury, whether spi-inkled or appUed as Uniment, the tuft"^ also of the lesser centaury, boiled down or beaten up, cleanses and thoroughly heals even chronic ulcers. The seed pods of clymenus are applied to fresh wounds. From gentian too is made a Uniment for spreading ulcers ; the pounded root is boiled down in water to the consistency of honey or the juice may be used ; from gentian is made a lycium ' See XXV § 32, ' Or, " top." PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY 141 lycium. lysimachia recentibus plagis medetur, plan- tago omnium generum ulceribus, peculiariter senum et infantium. igni emollita melior et cum cerato crassa ulcerum labra purgat, nomas sistit. tritam suis foliis integere oportet. suppurationes, collec- tiones, sinus ulcerum chelidonia quoque siccantur, volnera adeo ut etiam pro spodio utantur, eadem iam 142 desperatis cum axungia inponitur. dictamnum pota sagittas pelUt et alia tela extrahit inlita — bibitur ex aquae cyatho foliorum obolo — proxime pseudo- dictamnum ; utraque et suppurationes discutit. aristolochia quoque putria ulcera exest, sordida purgat cum melle vermesque extrahit, item clavos in ulcere natos et infixa corpori omnia, praecipue sagit- 143 tas et ossa fracta cum resina, cava vero ulcera explet per se et cum iride, recentia volnera ex aceto, vetera ulcera verbenaca, quinquefohum cum sale et melle. radices persollatae volneribus ferro inlatis recentibus inponuntur, folia veteribus, cum axungia utrumque, et suo folio operitur, damasonium ^ ut in 144 struma, folia verbasci ex aceto aut vino. peristereos ^ veteribiis; cum axungia utrimque et suo folio operitur damasonium Mayhoff. " For lycium see XXIV §§ 124 foll. * The difference between plaga {TrXrjy^) and volnus {rpavjxa) seems here to be nil. Littre has filaie for both. ' Mayhoffs emendation here seems to give the sense : " damasonium with axle-grease on both sides is covered over with its own leaves." It is difFicult to state with confidence what is, or is not, possible in a passage so amorphous in style as the present, but there can hardly be any objection to utrmnque in the sense of " either application," especially when the words referred to (radices, folia) are of different genders, and each of BOOK XXVI. Lxxxvii. 140-144 for wounds." Lysimachia is good treatment for fresli wounds,* and plantain for ulcers of all kinds, especially for those of old men and babies. It is better when softened by fire, and with wax-salve cleanses the thickened Hps of ulcers and arrests corrosive sores. The pounded plant when appUed should be covered with its own leaves. Suppui-ations, gather- ings and pitted ulcers are also dried up by chelidonia, wounds are healed so well that it is even used instead ofspodium. It is also appUed with axle-gTcase to sores that are already despaired of. Dittany taken in drink forees out aiTows ; an external appUcation causes to fall out other kinds of weapons — the dose for a draught is an obokis of the leaves in a cyathus of water — and bastard dittany is almost as effective ; both too disperse suppurations. Aristo- lochia also eats away festering ulcers, with honey cleanses those that are foul, expels worms, the callosities also that form in ulcers and all things embedded in the fiesh, especially with resin arrows and bone spUnters ; but the pits of ulcers it fills up by itself or with the addition of iris. For fresh wounds it is used in vinegar ; for chronic ulcers vervain is used, or cinquefoil with salt and honey. The roots of persollata are appUed to fresh wounds that have been inflicted by iron, and the leaves to old wounds, axle-grease being added to both '^ \\\t\\ a covering of the plant's leaves.*^ Other appUcations are damasonium, used as for scrofula, and the leaves of verbascum in vinegar or wine. Peris- them is an impositum. So rather reluctantly I have not adopted this brilliant atterapt to restore the true text. ■^ Or, " with axle-grease as a base for either, and a pledget oi' the plant's leaves" (A. C. A.). PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY ad omnia genera vel callosorum putrescentiumque ulcerum facit. manantia nymphaeae heracliae radix sanat, item cyclamini radix vel per se vel ex aceto vel cum melle. eadem et contra steatomata efficax, sicut ad ulcera manantia hysopum, item peucedanum, et ad recentia volnera vis tanta est ut squamam ossibus extrahat. praestant hoc et anagalHdes cohibentque quas vocant nomas et rheumatismos, utiles et recentibus plagis, sed praecipue senum cor- pori. cum cerato apostemata et ulcera taetra folia 145 mandragorae recentia, radix volnera cum melle aut oleo, cicuta cum sihgine mixta mero, aizoum herpe- tas quoque ac nomas ac putrescentia, sicut erigeron verminosa, recentia autem volnera astragaU radix et vetera ulcera quae purgat hypocisthis utraque. leontopodii semen tritum in aqua et cum polenta inhtum spicula sagittarum extrahit, item pycnocomi 146 semen. tithymallus characites suco gangraenas, phagedaenas, putria vel decocto ramorum cum polenta et oleo, orchis radices hoc ampUus et cacoethe cum melle, siccae et recentes per se vulnera, onothera efferantia sese ulcera sanat. Scythae vulnera ^ Scythica curant. ad carcinomata argemonia ex 147 melle efficacissima est. ulceribus praesanatis aspho- deU radix decocta ut diximus, trita cum polenta et 1 vulnera codd. : ulcera Mayhoff ex Theophrasto (H.P. IX 13, 2). " From herpetas to putrescentia may be considered a paren- thesis : " — herpes too, nomae and festering sores — ." In most of this chapter however the sentences are almost formless, and resist eiforts to make them conform to the normal. ' Mayhoff may be right in reading tdcera from Theophrastus. As however the MSS. have vulnera, Pliny, rather loose in his renderings of his Greek authorities, probably wrote it. BOOK XXVI. Lxxxvii. 144-147 tereos is good for all kinds of ulcers, even when hard and festering. Running ulcers are cured by root of nymphaea heracHa, also by the root of cyclamen, by itself, in vinegar, or with lioney. This last is also excel- lent for fatty tumours, as is hyssop for running ulcers, and peucedanum also, which when used for fresh wounds is so powerful as to exfoHate bones. The two kinds of anagalhs also have this property, and check fluxes and the sores called nomae, being useful for fresh wounds, but especially for those on the flesh of the aged. Abscesses and foul ulcei*s ■(may be treated with) fresh leaves of mandrake and wax-salve, wounds with its root and honey or oil, or with hemlock added to wheat and neat wine. For herpes also, nomae and festeving ulcers," aizoiim may be used, as may erigeron for verminous sores, for fresh wounds root of astragalus, and for chronic ulcers either kind of hypocisthis, which cleanses them. The seed of leontopodium, beaten up in water and appHed \vith pearl barley, extracts the heads of arrows, as does also the seed of pycnocomon. The juice of tithymallus characites heals gangrenes, phagedaenic sores and purulent ulcers, as does a decoction of the branches with pearl barley and oil ; the roots of orchis moreover with honey cure even maHgnant sores, heahng wounds without further addition, and whether dry or freshly gathered. Onothera heals ulcers that are becoming virulent. The Scythians treat wounds ^* with scythice. For carcinoma argemonia appHed vvith honey is very efficacious. For ulcers prematurely healed root of asphodel, boiled down as I have said,*" beaten up with pearl barley and appHed, is good ; but apolHnaris is ' See XXIT § 70. 373 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY inlita, quibuscumque vero apollinaris, astragali radix in pulverem trita umidis uleeribus prodest, item callithrix decocta in aqua, privatim vero his quae calciamento facta sint verbenaca, nec non et lysi- machia contrita ac nymphaea arida infriata. poly- thrix inveteratis isdem utilior est. 148 LXXXVIII. Polycnemon cunilae bubulae similis est, semine pulei, surculosa, multis geniculis, corymbo odorato,^ acri et dulci odore, ferro factis conman- ducata inponitur, quinto die solvitur. symphyton ad 149 cicatricem celen'ime perducit, item sideritis. haec inponitur ex melle. verbasci semine ac foliis ex vino decoctis ac tritis omnia infixa corpori extra- huntur, item mandragorae foliis cum polenta, cyclamini radicibus cum melle. trixaginis foUa in oleo contrita his maxime adhibentur ulceribus quae serpunt, et alga in ^ melle trita, vettonica ad car- cinomata et malandrias veteres addito sale. 150 LXXXIX. Verrucas tolHt argemonia ex aceto vel batrachii radix, quae et ungues scabros aufert, linozostidis utriusque folia vel sucus inhtus. tithy- malH omnes genera veiTucarum omnia, item ptery- gia, varos tolkmt. cicatrices cum elegantia ad colorem reducit ladanum. artemisiam et elelis- phacum alUgatas qui habeat viator negatur lassitu- dinem sentire. ^ odorato Gelenius, Detlefsen : odorata codd. : in uncis Maylwff. ^ alga in vulg. Detlefsen : alcima in Mayhoff : algam in VE. " For malandria see list of diseases ; and XXIV § 44, 374 BOOK XXVI. Lxxxvii. 147-LXXXIX. 150 good for any kind of sore, and root of astragalus, beaten to powder, for ulcers that are running, and so is callithrix boiled down in water ; specific however for sores caused by footwear is vervain, crushed lysimachia also, and dried nymphaea reduced to powder. But when these last have become chi'onic polvthi-ix proves more useful. LXXXVIII. Pol^xnemon is like ox cunila, and its seed resembles that of pennyroyal ; it has a wood- Uke stem wth many joints, and its clusters are scented, with a pungent but sweet smell. When chewed it is apphed to cuts made by iron, but is taken off on the fifth day. Symphyton very quickly causes a scar to form, as also does sideritis, which is appUed with honey. The seed and leaves of verbascum, boiled down in wine and beaten up, bring away everything embedded in the flesh, as do mandrake leaves with pearl barley, or cyclamen roots with honey. Trixago leaves crushed in oil are appUed especially to spread- ing ulcers, as is also sea-weed beaten up in honey ; betony, with the addition of salt, is used for carci- noma and chronic pustules " on the neck. LXXXIX. Warts are removed by argemonia in warts. vinegar, by root of batrachium, which also brings away scabrous nails, and by an appUcation of the leaves or juice of either kind of Unozostis. All kinds of tithymalUis remove all kinds of warts, hangnails, and pimples ** on the face. Ladanum smooths away scars and restores the colour. A traveller who has artemisia and '^ eleUsphacus tied on him does not, they say, feel any fatigue. * Or, " eruptions." ' Is et here equivalent to " or " ? The pkiral (alligatas) seems against this. 375 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY 151 XC. Muliebribus morbis medetur maxime in universum paeoniae herbae semen nigrum ex aqua mulsa. eadem et in radice vis. menses ciet panacis semen cum absinthio, menses et sudores scordotis potu et inhtu. vettonica drachma in vini cyathis tribus bibitur contra omnia volvarum vitia aut quae a partu fiunt. menses nimios sistit achilha inposita ^ et 152 decoctum eius insidentibus. mammis inponitur hyos- cyami semen ex vino — locis radix in cataplasmate — et 2 chehdonia. secundas morantes vel partus emortuos radices panacis adpositae extrahunt. ip- sum panaces e vino potum volvas purgat adpositum- que cum melle. polemonia pota ex vino secundas 153 pelht, nidore comgit volvas. centauri minoris sucus potu fotuque menses ciet, item maioris radix in vol- vae doloribus isdem modis prodest, derasa vero et adposita extrahit partus emortuos. plantago ad- ponitur in lana in dolore volvae, in strangulatu bibitur. sed praecipua dictamno vis est; menses ciet, partus emortuos vel traversos eicit — -bibitur ex aqua fohorum obolo — adeo ad haec efficax ut ne in cubiculum quidem praegnantium inferatur. nec potu tantum sed et inhtu et suffitu valet. proxime pseudodic- ^ inposita E Detlefsen : adposita V Mayhoff. ^ et Detlefsen : mammis et MayJioff : et mammis et codd. " The word et here may mean either " and " or " or." * The parenthesis removes the difficulty of this sentence. "^ Littr6 has : " bonne pour rhysterie," but I find it hard to distinguish the phrase from vulvas conversas corrigit in XXIV §22. ^ The Latin Thesaurus glves many examples of adponere in Phny used of uterine applications, but it is hard to see how it differs from subdere and subiectus in § 154. The Greek worda corresponding are TTpoadeTov and TtpoaTidrjjn. BOOK XXVI. xc. 151-153 XC. For diseases of women a very good general Diseases of remedy is the black seed, taken in hydromel, of the '^'''"^"- plant paeonia ; its root also has the same property. An emmenagogue is seed of panaces ^vith wormwood, and a sudorific emmenagogue is scordotis, taken internally or " appUed locally. Betony in doses of one drachma to three cyathi of wine is taken for all uterine affections, and for those that result from child-birth. Excessive menstruation is checked by an application of achiUia or " a sitz bath in a decoction of it. To the breasts is appUed henbane seed in wine — but to the uterus henbane root in a plaster ^ — and also cheUdonia. A pessary of panaces roots brings away retai-ded after-birth or the dead foetus. The uterus is purged by panaces, taken by itself in wine, and by a pessary of it with honey. Polemonia taken in wine forces out the after-birth, and the fumes of it when burnt correct the uterus.'^ Juice of the lesser centaury taken in drink or used as a fomentation is an emmenagogue, and the root of the greater centaury, used in the same ways, is good for uterine pains, while if it is scraped and appUed as a pessary it brings away a dead foetus, Plantain is appUed as a pessary <* in wool for pain in the uterus ; for hysterical suffocation it is taken in drink. But it is dittany that is of the greatest efficacy ; it is an emmenagogue, and forces out the foetus when dead or lying transversely — an obolus of the leaves is taken in water — being so efficacious in these respects that it is not even intro- duced into the bedroom of pregnant women. Not only when taken in drink but also when used as embrocation or a fumigation it has medicinal power. Bastard dittany is very nearly as good, but for an emmenagogue it is boiled down with neat wine, the 377 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY tamnum, sed menses ciet cum mero decoctum denarii 154 pondere. plurimis tamen modis aristolochia prodest, nam et menses et secundas ciet et emortuos partus extrahit, murra et pipere additis pota vel subdita. volvas quoque procidentes inhibet fotu vel suffitu vel 155 subiectu, maxime tenuis. strangulatum ab his mensumque difficultatem agaricum obohs tribus in vini veteris cyatho potum emendat, peristereos ad- posita in adipe suillo recenti, antirrhinon cum rosaceo et melle. item adposita nymphaeae Thessalae radix dolori medetur, in vino nigro pota profluvia inhibet ; e diverso ciet cyclamini radix pota et adposita, et 156 vesicae insidentium decocto medetur. secundas pota cissanthemos pelHt, volvam sanat. e xiphio radix superior menses ciet drachma ex aceto pota. peuce- danum strangulatus volvae nidore ustum recreat, menses albos ^ praecipue psylUon drachma in cyathis tribus aquae, semen mandragorae potum volvam purgat, menses ciet sucus adpositus et emortuos par- 157 tus. nimia rursus profluvia sistit semen cum vivo sulphure, contra ea ciet batrachium potu vel cibo, ardens ahas, ut diximus, cruda, sed cocta commen- datur sale et oleo et cumino. daucum et menses et secundas potu facillime pelHt, ladanum suffitu ^ albos T Detlefsen, Mayhoff : albo Vd : alvos E : alvosque vulg. " Again. et may mean here " and. » See XXV § 173. 378 BOOK XXVI. xc. 153-157 dose being one denarius by weight. Very many however are the ways in which aristolochia does good, for it is an emmenagogue, hastens the after- birth, and brings away a dead foetus ; myrrh and pepper being added it is taken in drink or used as a pessary. It also checks prolapsus of the uterus, whether used as fomentation, fumigation or pessary, especially the slender aristolochia. Hysterical sufFo- cations and delayed menstruation are reheved by agaric taken in doses of three oboU to a cyathus of old wine, by a pessary of peristereos in fresh lard, and by antirrhinon wdth rose oil and honey. The root also of Thessalian nymphaea cures uterine pain when used as a pessary ; taken in dark-red wine it checks ex- cessive menstruation ; on the contrary, root of cycla- men is an emmenagogue if taken in drink or " used as a pessary ; a sitz bath in the decoction is a remedy for troubles of the bladder. Cissanthemos taken in drink forces out the after-birth and heals the uterus. The upper part of the root of xiphium is an emmena- gogue, the dose being a drachma taken in vinegar. Peucedanum calms hysteincal sufFocations by its smell when burnt ; leucon-hoea is purged especially by psylHon in doses of one drachma to three cyathi of water. Seed of mandrake taken in drink purges the uterus ; a pessary of its juice is an emmenagogue and brings away a dead foetus. Excessive menstruation again is checked by mandrake seed with live sulphur ; on the contrary, menstruation is promoted by batra- chium, taken in drink or food, a plant which, though when raw it has, as I have said,'' a burning taste, is made agreeable, when cooked, by salt, oil and cummin. Daucum in drink readily acts as an emmenagogue, and readily brings away the after-birth ; fumigation 379 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY corrigit volvas, dolori earum exulceratisque inponi- tur. emortua scamonium pellit potum vel adposi- 158 tum. menses ciet hvpericum utrumque adpositum, ante alia vero, ut Hippocrati videtur, crethmos e vino semine vel radicis cortice,^ trahit et secundas, succurrit et strangulationibus ex aqua pota, item radix e geranio pecuHariter secundis inflationibusque volvarum conveniens. purgat hippuris pota et ad- posita volvas, polygonus pota.- menses ciet et alcimae radix, foHa plantaginis pellunt, item agari- 159 cum ex aqua mulsa. artemisia volvae medetur trita, ex oleo irino aut cum fico aut cura murra ad- posita. eiusdem radix pota in tantimi purgat ut partus enectos extrahat. menses et secundas ciet ramorum decoctum insidentibus, item foHa pota drachma. ad eadem omnia prosunt vel inposita 160 ventri imo cum farina hordeacia. acoron quoque utile est interioribus feminarum morbis et conyza uti'aque et crethmos. et anthylHdes ^ duae vulvis utiHssimae torminibusque et secundarum morae in vino potae. calHthrix fotu locis medetur, albugines in capite tolHt, capillos inficit oleo trita. geranion in ^ radicis cortice vet. Dal., Mayhoff: radice, cortice aliquot codd., Dethfsen : radice corticis T E f . * pota] ita dist. Mayhoff ex Dioscoride. ' anthyllides Mayhoff, Htrmolaum Barbarum secutu-s : canthyllides V, Detlefsen. " Cf. Dioscorides I 97 § 4 (of ladanum) : vTTodvjxia-Tai 8e koX npos BevTfpwv eV^oAaj. This sentence (not referred to by MayhofF) has Trpos BevTepcov eK^oXdg for Pliny's corrigit volvas, a warning to editors who try to bring the two writers into too close agreement. ' Littre has " guerit rhysterie." See however the note on § 152of this book. ' See Littre's index (Vol. X) suh voce, 380 BOOK XXVI. xc. 157-160 with ladanum " corrects the uterus,'' and the plant is applied locally for pain there and ulceration. Scam- mony taken in drink or used as a pessary forces out a dead foetus. Either kind of hypericum, used as a pessary, acts as an emmenagogue ; pre-eminently so, however, as Hippocrates beheves, does crethmos,'' the seed, or the skin of the root, being taken in wine ; it also brings away the after-birth, and taken in water is helpful in hysterical suffocations, as is the root of geranion, which is specific for the after-birth and for inflation of the uterus. Hippuris, taken in drink and '^ apphed as a pessary, purges the uterus, as does polygonus taken in drink. The root of alcima too is an emmenagogue, leaves of plantain a violent one, as is also agaric in hydromel. Artemisia beaten up is good for the uterus, applied as a pessary in iris oil or with fig or with myn-h.^ Its root taken in drink purges the uterus so violently that it expels a dead foetus. A sitz bath of a decoction of the branches is an emmenagogue, and also hastens the after-birth ; so too acts a drachma of the leaves taken in drink. For all the same purposes the leaves are also good when merely apphed with. barley meal to the base of the abdomen. Acoron too is beneficial for internal diseases of women, and so is either kind of conyza, and also crethmos. The two kinds of anthylhs, taken in wine, are very useful for uterine troubles, for griping pains there, and for delay of the after-birth. Calhthrix used for fomentations is heaUng to the uterus, removes al- bugo on the head, and beaten up in oil/ stains the ^ Perhaps " or." • Note both ex and cum in a single phrase. ' Here oho seems equivalent to the usual ex oleo. 381 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY vino albo potum, hypocisthis in rubi'o profluvium sistunt. hysopum suffocationes laxat. radix ver- benacae pota ex aqua ad omnia in partu aut ex partu 161 mala praestantissima est. peucedano quidam mis- cent in \ino nigro semen cupressi contritum. nam semen psylUi defervefactum in aqua, cum intepuit, epiphoras omnes uteri lenit. symphyton tritum in vino nigro evocat menses. partus accelerat scordotis pota drachma suci in aquae mulsae cyathis iiii. dictamni foHa praeclare dantur ex aqua. con- stat unius oboli pondere, vel si mortui sint in utero infantes, protinus reddi sine vexatione puerperae. similiter prodest pseudodictamnum, sed tardius, cyclaminos adalHgata, cissanthemos pota, item vettonicae farina ex aqua mulsa. 162 XCI. Arsenogonon et thelygonon herbae sunt habentes uvas floribus oleae similes, palhdiores ^ tamen, semen album papaveris modo. thelygoni potu feminam concipi narrant; arsenogonon ab ea semine oleae, nec aUo distat ; huius potu mares generari, si credimus. aUi utramque ocimo similem tradunt, arsenoffoni autem semen creminum esse testibus simile. 163 XCII. Mammarum vitiis aizoum quod digitillum appellavimus unice medetur. erigeron ex passo mammas uberiores facit, soncum cum farre coctum,^ ^ pallidiores d(?) vulg. : pallidioris Detlefsen, Mayhojf. 2 soncum cum farre coctum ego : sonci cum farre cocti ius Mayhoff : sonehum in farre coctum Detlefsen et codd. " See XXV § 160. 382 BOOK XXVI. xc. 160-XC11. 163 hair. Geranion taken in a wliite wine, and hypo- cisthis taken in a red, check excessive menstruation. Hyssop relieves hysteria. The root of vervain, taken in water, is a sovereign remedy for all troubles at or after child-birth. Some physicians prescribe peuce- danum in dark-red wine mixed with crushed cypress seed. But seed of psylUum, boiled in water and taken while still warm, reUeves all fluxes of the uterus. Symphyton beaten up in dark-red wine promotes menstruation. Scordotis taken in drink hastens deUvery, the dose being a drachma of the juice in four cyathi of hydromel. Leaves of dittany given in water are exceUent for this purpose. It is an estabUshed fact that a single obolus of them by weight inmiediately brings away the foetus, even if it is dead in the uterus, without any distress to the lying-in woman. Good in a similar way is bastard dittany, but slower, also cyclamen used as an amulet, cissanthemos taken in drink, and powdered betony in hydromel. XCI. Arsenogonon and thelygonon are plants bearing clusters Uke the flowers of the oUve, but paler, and a white seed Uke that of the poppy. It is said that thelygonon, taken in drink, causes the conception of a female ; ai'senogonon differs from it in having a seed Uke that of the oUve, but in no other way ; taken in drink this plant is said to cause the generation of males, if we care to beUeve it. Some hold that both plants are Uke basil, but that the seed of arsenogonon is double, resembUng testicles. XCII. For affections of the breasts the aizoiim I have caUed " digitiUum is an outstanding remedy. Erigeron in raisin wine makes the breasts richer in milk, as does soncum boiled with emmer wheat ; the 383 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY quae vero mastos voeatur inlita. pilos mammarum partu nascentes,! testas in facie aliaque cutis vitia emendat gentiana, nymphaea heraclia inhta, cycla- mini radix maculas omnes. caccahae grana mixta cerae hquidae extendunt cutem in facie erugantque, vitia omnia acori radix emendat. 164 XCIII. Capillum lycium suco ^ flavum facit, denigrat hypericum quod et corissum vocatur, item ophrys herba denticulato oleri simihs, fohis duobus. nigritiam dat et polemonia in oleo decocta. psilot- rum nos quidem in muhebribus medicamentis trac- tamus, verum iam et viris est in usu. efficacissimum autem habetur archezostis, item tithymalh, suco vel in sole cum oleo inhto crebro vel evolsis pihs. quadripedum scabiem sanat hysopum ex oleo, suum anginas pecuhariter sideritis. verum et rehqua genera herbarum reddamus. 1 nascentes vet. Dal., Mayhoff : nascentium codd. ^ lycium suco e Dioscoride [(Xvklov) ^avBitei hk kuI rpixa^, I 100 § 3] Mayhoff : lysimace VE : lysimachia vulg. 384 BOOK XXVI. xcii. 163-xcin. 164 plant called mastos, however, is applied as liniment. The hairy afFection appearing on the breasts at child-birth, brick-red spots on the face, and other skin troubles, are removed by gentian, or by an application of nymphaea heraclia, and all kinds of spots by root of cyclamen. The grains of caccalia, mixed \vith melted wax, smooth the face, taking away the ^vrinkles, and all facial troubles are removed by root of acoron. XCIII. Lycium" juice dyes the hair flaxen ; Dyesand hypericum, also called corissum, dyes it black, as does '^^p^^'^'""^^- ophrys, a plant Uke indented cabbage, but with only two leaves. Polemonia, too, boiled down in oil, imparts a black colour. Depilatories I myself indeed regard as a wonian's cosmetic, but now today men also use them. But very efficacious is held to be archezostis, as also the tithymalU, the juice being appHed frequently with oil either in the sun or when the hairs have been pulled out. Hyssop in oil heals the itch in quadrupeds, and sideritis is specific for the quinsy in swine. But I must go on to describe the remaining kinds of plants. " See XXIV §§ 124 ff. VOL. VII. O BOOK XXVII LIBER XXVII 1 I. Crescit profecto apud me certe tractatu ipso admiratio antiquitatis, quantoque maior copia her- barum dicenda restat, tanto magis adorare priscorum in inveniendo curam, in tradendo benignitatem subit. nec dubie superata hoc modo posset videri etiam rerum naturae ipsius munificentia, si humani operis 2 esset inventio. nunc vero deorum fuisse eam apparet aut certe divinam, etiam cum homo inveniret, ean- demque omnium parentem et genuisse haec et ostendisse, nullo vitae miraculo maiore si verum fateri volumus. Scythicam herbam a Maeotis paludibus, et euphorbeam e monte Atlante ultraque Herculis columnas ex ipso rerum naturae defectu, parte alia britannicam ex oceani insuHs extra terras positis, itemque aethiopidem ab exusto sideribus 3 axe, ahas praeterea aHunde ultro citroque humanae saluti in toto orbe portari, inmensa Romanae pacis maiestate non homines modo diversis inter se terris gentibusque verum etiam montes et excedentia in " Scythicam herbam . . . portari seems to be exclamatory. 388 BOOK XXVII I. Thk mere treatment of this subject undoubtedly Tkebounty increases the admiration that I at least feel for the "/^«'"'■'^- men of old ; the greater the number of plants waiting to be described, the more one is led to revere the careful research of the ancients and their kindness in passing on the results. Without a doubt even the bounteousness of Nature herself might seem to have been surpassed by them in this way if the dis- coveries had been the result of human endeavour. But as it is, it is clear that this bounteousness has been the work of the gods, or at least due to their inspiration, even when the actual discoverer was a man, and that the same Mother of all things both produced the herbs and made them known to us. This is the greatest miracle of hfe, if we care to admit the truth. To think that" the Scythian plant, for example, is brought from the marshes of Maeotis, euphorbea from Mount Atlas and from beyond the pillars of Hercules, where the works of Nature actually begin to fail ; on another side britannica, from islands in the ocean lying beyond the mainland, aethiopis too from the chme scorched by the constellations of heaven, and other plants more- over passing hither and thither from all quarters throughout the whole world for the welfare of man- kind, all owing to the boundless grandeur of the Roman Peace, which displays in turn not men only with their difFerent lands and tribes, but also moun- 389 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY nubes iuga partusque eorum et herbas quoque in- vicem ostentante. aeternum quaeso. deorum sit munus istud ! adeo Romanos velut alteram lucem dedisse rebus humanis videntur. 4 II. Sed antiquorum curam diligentiamque quis possit satis venerari ? constat omnium venenorum ocissimum esse aconitum et tactis quoque genitalibus feminini sexus animalium eodem die inferre mortem. hoc fuit venenum quo interemptas dormientes a Calpurnio Bestia uxores M. Caelius^ accusator obiecit. hinc illa atrox peroratio eius in digitum. ortum fabulae naiTavere e spumis Cerberi canis extrahente ab inferis Hercule ideoque apud Heracleam Ponti- 6 cam, ubi monstratur is ad inferos aditus, gigni. hoc quoque tamen in usus humanae salutis vertere scorpionum ictibus adversari experiendo datum in vino caUdo. ea est natura ut hominem occidat nisi invenerit quod in homine perimat. cum eo solo conluctatur, fveluti^ praesentius^ invento.t sola haec pugna est, cum venenum in visceribus reperit,* ^ Caelius Ruhnken ad Vell. Pat. II 68, Mayhoff : Caeciliua codd., Detlefsen. ^ veluti] velum V^. ^ praesentius V^ vulg., Detlefsen : parte intus multi codd. : pari intus Hermolaus Barbarus. ■* sola . . . reperit in uncis I. Muller, Mayhoff. " Detlefsen and MayhofF agree in reading eum eo solo con- luctatur, veluti praesejititis invento. Mayhoff adds " invento = quam inventum." Aiter J. MiilJer, Mayhoff bracliets sola . . . reperit, -which certainly looks like a marginal explanation of the preceding sentence added to the text by a subsequent scribe. Sola haec pugna est corresponds to cum eo solo conluctatur, and reperit to invento. We should therefore expect in the first sentence something to correspond to venenum and to in visceribus. It might be veneno for the first and infus for the second. The whole would be veneno praesenti intus in- vento, " the quick-aeting poison found inside." In XVI 51 39° BOOK XXVII. I. 3-II. 5 tains, and peaks soaring into the clouds, their ofFspring and also their plants. May this gift of the gods last, I pray, for ever ! So truly do they seem to have given to the liunian race the Romans as it were a second Sun. II. But who could revere enough the diUgent A.conite. research of the ancients ? It is estabUshed that of all poisons the quickest to act is aconite, and that death occurs on the same day if the genitals of a female creature are but touched by it. This was the poison that Marcus CaeHus accused Calpurnius Bestia of using to kill his wives in their sleep. Hence the damning peroration of the prosecutor's speech ac- cusing the defendant's finger. Fable has it that aconite sprang out of the foam of the dog Cerberus when Hercules di-agged him from the underworld, and that this is why it grows around Heraclea in Pontus, where is pointed out the entrance to the underworld used by Hercules. Yet even aconite the ancients have turned to the benefit of human health, by finding out by experience that administered in warm \vine it neutralizes the stings of scorpions. It is its nature to kill a human being unless in that being it finds something else to destroy. Against this alone it struggles, tregarding it as more pressing than the find.t [This is the only fight, when the aconite discovers a poison in the viscera.] " What a marvel ! occurs praesentis veneni. The reading of Hermolaus Barbarus is brilliant, but if it is the original how did praesentius arise ? I leave the text and translation within daggers, as I con- sider my own suggestion too conjectural. The sense, however, of the text of Hermolaus Barbarus is excellent : " as though it had found inside a foe to match it." Professor Andrews thinks that the text is sound, with the sense : " as though it had found something more urgent, and so fights solely with this." PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY mirumque, exitialia per se ambo eum sint, duo venena 6 in homine conmoriuntur ut homo supersit. immo vero etiam ferarum remedia antiqui prodiderunt demonstrando quomodo venenata quoque ipsa sana- rentur. torpescunt scorpiones aconiti tactu stupent- que pallentes et vinci se confitentur. auxiUatur his helleborum album tactu resolvente, ceditque aconi- tum duobus malis, suo et omnium. quae si quis ulla forte ab homine excogitari potuisse credit, 7 ingrate deorum munera intellegit. tangunt carnes aconito necantque gustatu earum pantheras, nisi hoc fieret, repleturas illos situs. ob id quidam pardalianches appellavere. at illas statim liberari morte excrementorum hominis gustu demonstratum. quod certe casu repertum quis dubitet et quotiens fiat etiam nunc ut novum nasci, quoniam feris ratio et 8 usus inter se tradi non possit ? hic ergo casus, hic est ille qui plurima in vita invenit deus, hoc habet nomen per quem intellegitur eadem et parens rerum omnium et magistra,^ utraque coniectura pari, sive ista cotidie feras invenire sive semper scire iudicemus. pudendumque rursus omnia animaha quae sint salu- 9 taria ipsis nosse praeter hominem. sed maiores ^ hoc habet . . . magistra in parenthesi Mayhoff. " Perhaps " poisoned." * After carnes MayhofF would supply Hyrcani, and the name of a people seems omitted (because of illos situs at the end of the sentence). BOOK XXVII. II. 5-9 Although by themselves both are deadly, yet the two poisons in a human being perish together so that the human survives. Moreover even remedies used by wild beasts have been handed down by the ancients, who have shown how venomous « creatures also by them- selves obtain heaHng. Scorpions, touched by aconite, become numbed, and are pale and stupefied, acknow- ledging their defeat. They find a help in white hellebore, its touch dispelhng the torpor ; the aconite yields to two evil foes, one pecuhar to itself and one common to all creatures. If anyone beheves that these discoveries could, by any chance, have been made by a man, he shows himself ungrateful for the gods' gifts. They touch ^ flesh with aconite, and kill panthers by a mere taste of it, otherwise panthers would overrun the regions where they are found. For this reason some have called aconite pardahanches, that is panther-strangler. But it has been proved that panthers are at once saved from this death by tasting human excrement ; surely nobody doubts that this remedy has been found by Chance, and that on every occasion it is even today a new find, since wild animals have neither reason nor experience for results to be passed from one to another. This Chance therefore, this is that great deity who has made most of the discoveries that enrich our Hfe, this is the name of him by whom is meant she who is at once the Mother and the Mistress of all creation. Either guess is equally Hkely, whether we judge that wild animals make these discoveries every day or that they possess a never-faiHng instinct. Again it is shameful that all animals except man know what is health-giving for themselves. Our ancestors however advertised the 393 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY oculorum quoque medicamentis aconitum misceri saluberrime promulgavere aperta professione malum quidem nullum ^ esse sine aliquo bono. fas ergo nobis erit qui nulla diximus venena monstrare quale sit aconitum, vel deprehendendi gratia. folia habet cyclamini aut cucumeris non plura quattuor, ab radice, leniter hirsuta, radicem modicam cammaro similem marino, quare quidam cammaron appella- vere, ahi thelyphonon, ex qua diximus causa. cauda ^ radicis incurvatur paulum scorpionum modo, quare et scorpion aUqui vocavere. nec defuere qui myoctonon appellare mallent, quoniam procul et e longinquo 10 odore mures necat. nascitur in nudis cautibus quas aconas nominant, et ideo aconitum aliqui dixere, nullo iuxta ne pulvere quidem nutriente. hanc aUqui rationem nominis adtulere, aUi, quoniam vis eadem esset in morte quae cotibus in ferri acie deterenda, statimque admota velocitas sentiretur. 11 III. Aethiopis foUa habet phlomo simiUa, magna ac multa et hirsuta ab radice, caulem quadriangulum, - malum quidem nullum d(?) vulg., Detlefsen : ne malum quidem ullum Mayhoff. ' eauda V, Mayhoff : arida E: cauda arida Detlefsen: radix sitie cauda radicis d, v^ulg.,fortasse recte. " There is perhaps little to choose between the two readings. Mayhoff 's ne is quite as likely as the vulgate text. " I.e. " mouse-killer." * I.e. k6vi9 dust and a privative. ^ A whetstone is in Greek aKovr). ' It is interesting to compare Plinys account of aconite with Dioscorides IV 76 (WeUmann). In the latter is given the effect of aconite on scorpions with its antidote in the touch of white hellebore. The preceding sentence is : pV^a oiioLa oKopmov ovpa, arlX^ovaa aXa^aoTpofLBws. For this last Pliny has only : 394 BOOK XXVII. II. 9-III. II view that aconite is also a very health-giving in- gredient of preparations for the eyes, openly declaring their belief that no evil " at all is without some ad- mixture of good. It will therefore be right for me, who have described no poisons, to point out the nature of aconite, if only for the purpose of detecting it. It has leaves Hke those of cyclamen or of cucumber, not more than four, i-ising from the root and shghtly hairy, and a root of moderate size, Uke a crayfish (cammarus), whence some have called it cammaron, and others thelyphono7i, for the reason I have given ah-eady. The end of the root curves up a Httle Hke a scorpion's tail, whence some have called it also scorpion. There have been some who would prefer to call it inyoct07ios,^ since at a distance, even a long distance, its smell kills rats and mice. The plant grows on bare crags which are called aco7iae, and for that reason some have given it the name of aconite, there being nothing near, not even dust,*^ to give it nourishment. This then is the reason for its name given by some ; others have thought it was so named because it had the same power to cause rapid death as whetstones ^ had to give an edge to an iron blade ; no sooner was the stone appHed than its rapid action was noticeablc^ III. Aethiopis has leaves Hke those of phlomos, AetMopis. large, numerous and hairy, growing from the root. The stem is quadrangular, rough, Hke that of arction cauda radicis incurvatur paulum scorpionum modo. The phrase cauda radicis is peculiar, and suggests that PHny had a Greek text before him in which pt^a and ovpa (or some case of it) were side by side. There is nothing in Dioscorides corresponding to arida, which appears to have arisen from its partial likeness to vauda. 395 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY scabrum, similem arctio, multis concavum alis, semen ervo sLmile, candidum, geminum, radices numerosas, longas, plenas, molles, glutinosas gustu, siccae nigrescunt indurescuntque ut cornua videri 12 possint. praeter Aethiopiam nascuntur et in Ida monte Troadis et in Messenia. colliguntur autumno, siccantur in sole aliquot diebus ne situm sentiant. medentur volvis potae in vino albo, ischiadicis, pleui-iticis, faucibus scabris decoctae potui dantur, sed quae ex Aethiopia venit eximie atque iUico prodest. 13 I\^ Ageraton ferulacea est, duorum palmorum altitudine, origano similis, flore buUis aui-eis. huius ustae nidor urinam ciet volvasque purgat, tanto magis insidentibus. causa nominis [non haec, sed]^ quoniam diutissime non marcescit. 14 V. Aloe scillae similitudinem habet, maior et pinguioribus foliis, ex obliquo striata — cauhs eius tener est, rubens medius, non dissimilis antherici, radice una ceu palo in terram demissa ^ — gravis odore, gustu amara. laudatissima ex India adfertur, sed nascitur et in Asia, non tamen ea utuntur nisi ^ non haec sed in uncis ponunt Pintianus, Sillig, Mayhoff. * Hic ipsa add. Mayhoff. " " With numerous axillary concavities " (Bostock and Riley), " offrant de nombreux goussets " (Littre). Dios- corides has : KavXov T€Tpdyct)vov . . . /u.aff^^dAas' avievra TroAAds (IV. §104). * pi^a? . . . TToAAds-, fjiaKpds, TTaxeias, yevofievcp KoXXwBeis (Dioscorides). ' Strictly the subject of nascuntur is radices. ^ Scabris is rather difficiilt. Bostock and Riley translate " eruptions of the throat," and Littre has (vaguely) " les maux de gorge." Perhaps it is a loose term, Uke our " sore throat." BOOK XXVII. III. ii-v. 14 and hollowed by many axils.<* The seed is Hke that of vetch, white and geminate ; the roots are numerous, long, fleshy, soft, and gluey to the taste.*" When dry these become black and hard, so that they might be taken for horns. This plant " grows not only in Aethiopia, but also on Mount Ida in the Troad and in Messenia. The roots are gathered in autumn and dried in the sun for some days to prevent their growing mouldy. Taken in white wine they are a remedy for uterine troubles, and a decoction is given by the mouth for sciatica, pleurisy and rough ^ throats. The Aethiopian kind, however, gives the greatest, and immediate, rehef. IV. Ageraton resembles fennel-giant, is two spans Ageram. high and like origanum, and the flowers are golden knobs. The fumes when the plant is burnt are diuretic and purge the uterus : used in a sitz bath the plant does this more effectively. The reason for the name is [not this but] * because it lasts for a long time without fading./ V. The aloe bears a resemblance to the squill, ^ioe. but it is larger, and has more fleshy leaves, and with slanting streaks. Its stem is tender, red in the centre, and not unlike anthericus ; the root is single, as it were a stake sunk into the ground.? It has an oppressive smell, and a bitter taste. The most valued kind is imported from India, but it also grows in the province of Asia. This kind is used only for ' Bracketed by some, but may be an allusion to a supposed derivation from ayeiv, or from agere " to drive " (i.e. " purge "). ^ In Greek the plant is ayrjpaTov, " not growing old." » Mayhoff puts a full stop at striaki and a scmicolon at demissa, adding ipsa. Dioscorides (III 22) has 0A77. The parenthesis, however, is after the manner of Pliny. 397 PLINY : XATURAL HISTORY ad volnera, mirifice enim conglutinat recentibus foliis ^ vel suco. ob id in turbinibus cadorum eam 15 serunt ut aizoum maius. quidam et caulem ante maturitatem seminis incidunt suci gratia, aliqui et folia. invenitur et per se lacrima adhaerens. ergo pavimentandum ubi sata sit censent, ut lacrima non absorbeatur. fuere qui traderent in ludaea super Hierosolvmam metallicam eius naturam, sed nulla magis inproba est, neque alia nigrior est aut umidior. 16 erit ergo optima pinguis ac nitida, rufi coloris, friabilis et iocineris modo coacta, facile liquescens, inprobanda nigra et dura, harenosa quaeque gustu intellegitur cummi adulterata et acacia. natura eius spissare, densare et leniter calfacere ; usus multi,^ sed principalis alvum solvere, cum paene sola medica- mentorum quae id praestant confirmet etiam sto- 17 machum, adeo non infestet ulla vi contraria. bibitur drachma, ad stomachi vero dissolutionem in duobus cvathis aquae tepidae vel frigidae coclearis mensura bis terve in die ex intervalHs, ut res exigit, purga- tionis autem causa plurimum tribus drachmis, efl^cacior, si pota ea sumatur cibus. capillum fluentem continet cum vino austero capite contra ^ recentibus foliis] in codd. post volnera. Transponenda esse coni. Jfayhoff, qui in textu conglutinant suco scribit. 2 multi Mayhoff : multis V E Detlefsen : multis et d T. " MayhofF suggests, but does not adopt, the transposition, which certainly eases the construction. See critical note ^. * Mayhoff suggests ne for Tum. Prof. Andrewa takes this clause as consecutive. ' I.e. the borders of the Dead Sea. PUny refers to asphalt or bitumen. At this point Pliny turns from the plant to the preparations from it. BOOK XXVII. V. 14-17 wounds, the freshly gathered leaves," or the juice, having a wonderful power of uniting. For this reason it is planted in conical jars, as is the greater aizoiim. Some, before the seed ripens, make an incision in the stem to get the juice ; some do so in the leaves as well. Drops too form spontaneously on it, and adhere. Some therefore recommend that the ground where the aloe has been planted should be beaten down hard, so as to prevent ^ absorption. Some have reported that in Judaea beyond «^ Jeru- salem can be found mineral aloes. This however is the most inferior kind of all, and no other is darker or more moist. So the best aloes will be fatty and shiny, of a ruddy ** colour, friable, compact Uke Hver,« and easily melted. The kind to be rejected is dark and hard, gritty, and adulterated with gum and acacia, the adulteration being easily detected by the taste. The nature of an aloe is bracing, astringent,/ and gently warming. There are many uses for it, but the chief is to relax the bowels, for it is almost the only laxative that is also a stomach tonic, no ill eifects whatever resulting from its use. A drachma is taken in drink, but for fluxes of the stomach a spoonful in two cyathi of warm or cold water is taken twice or three times a day at intervals, as cii'cum- stances require ; but for purging the bowels the maximum dose is three drachmae, which is more effective if food is taken after the draught. With a dry wine it prevents the hair from faUing out, the '^ Dioscorides III 22, has vnoiavdov. " Dioscorides has (.vOpvTnov Kal rjTTaTi^ovaav. f Spissare and densare are difficult words. Dioscorides has : BvvafMV 8' e;^ei arvTTTLK^qv, ^rjpavTLK-qv, TTVKVo}Tt,Kfjv tuiv awfidTcov. 399 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY pilum peruncto. dolorem capitis sedat temporibus et fronti inposita ex aceto et rosaceo dilutiorque in- 18 fusa. oculorum vitia omnia sanari ea convenit, pri- vatim prurigines et scabiem genarum, item insignita ae livida inlita cum melle, maxime Pontico, tonsillas, gingivas et omnia oris ulcera, sanguinis excreationes, si modicae sint, drachma ex aqua, si minus, ex aceto pota. volnerum quoque sanguinem et undecumque 19 fluentem sistit per se vel ex aceto. alias etiam est volneribus utilissima ad cicatricem perducens. eadem inspergitur exulceratis genitalibus virorum, condylomatis rimisque sedis, alias ex vino, alias ex passo, alias sicca per se, ut exigat mitiganda curatio aut coercenda. haemorrhoidum quoque abun- 20 dantiam leniter sistit. dysinteriae infunditur et, si difficiUus concoquantur cibi, bibitur a cena modico intervallo, et in regio morbo tribus obolis ex aqua, devorantur et pilulae cum mellis decocto aut resina terebinthina ad purganda interiora. digitorum pterygia tolHt, oculorum medicamentis lavatur ut quod sit harenosissimum subsidat, aut torretur in testa pinnaque subinde versatur ut possit aequaUter torreri. 21 VI. Alcea foUa habet simiUa verbenacae quae aristereon cognominatur, caules tres aut quattuor foUorum plenos, florem rosae, radices albas cum plurumum sex, cubitales, obUquas. nascitur in 400 BOOK XXVII. V. 17-V1. 21 head being thoroiighly rubbed in the contrary way to the hair. It relieves headache if it is apphed in vinegar and rose oil to the temples and forehead, or a more dilute solution may be poured over them. All eye troubles, it is agreed, are cured by the aloe, but it is specific for itch and scahness of the eye- lids ; " it is also good, apphed with honey, especially Avith Pontic honey , for marks and bruises ; for diseased tonsils or gums, for all sores in the mouth, and for spitting of blood, the dose is a drachma, taken in water if the spitting is not excessive, and in vinegar if it is. Haemorrhage due to wounds also, or to any other cause, it arrests if used by itself or in vinegar. In other ways too it is very useful for wounds, as it promotes cicati*ization. It is also sprinkled on ulcerated male genitals, condylomata and chaps of the anus, sometimes in wine, in raisin wine, or else dry by itself, according as the treatment may need mild measures or coercive. It also gently arrests excessive bleeding from haemorrhoids. For dysen- tery it is injected, and for indigestion it is taken in drink shortly after the evening meal. For jaundice the dose is three oboh in water ; for internal purgings pills also are swallowed made up with boiled honey or turpentine resin. It removes hangnails ; for eye preparations it is washed, to let the most gi'itty parts settle, or else it is roasted in an earthen vessel and occasionally stirred with a feather so that the roasting may be even throughout. VI. Alcea has leaves hke those of the vervain Akea. called aristereon, three or four stems covered with leaves, flowers hke a rose, and white roots, six at most, a cubit long, and slanting. It grows in a soil " Professor Andrews thinks " cheeks." 401 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY pingui solo nec sicco. usus radicis ex vino vel aqua dysintericis, alvo citae, ruptis, convulsis. 22 VII. Alypon cauliculus est molli capite, non dissimile betae, acre gustatu ac lentum mordensque vehementer et accendens. alvum solvit in aqua mulsa addito sale modico. minima potio duarum drachmarum, media quattuor, maxima sex, tea purgationi quibust ^ datur e gallinaceo iure.^ 23 VIII. Alsine, quam quidam myosoton appellant, nascitur in lucis, unde et alsine dicta est. incipit a media hieme, arescit aestate media. cum prorepit, musculorum aures imitatur foliis. sed aliam doce- bimus esse quae iustius myosotis vocetur. haec eadem erat quae helxine, nisi minor minusque hirsuta esset. nascitur in hortis et maxime in parieti- bus. cum teritur, odorem cucumeris reddit. usus 24 eius ad collectiones inflammationesque et in eadem ^ omnia in quae* helxine,^ sed infirmius. epiphoris ^ ea purgationi quibus Jo. Muller : eximia purgatione quibus Mayhoff : ea purgatio quibusdam vet. Dal., Littre. Fortasse purgationi a quibusdam. ^ iure Herviolaus Barbarus, edd. : fere d E r : ffere R : fferre V : malit datiu- in iure e gallinaceo vetere Mayhoff. ^ et in eadem (ni E) V R E : emendat d T : item eadem Mayhoff. * in quae ego : quae codd. et edd. ^ helxine Hermolaus Barbarus : lielxines Mayhoff : varia codd. " It is difiicult to suggest a restoration of this sentence, but the general sense, I think, is that when used as a purge and not as a laxative alypon should be administered in chicken broth. Dioscorides tells us that the bowels might be injured by the use of alypon, and in § 95 we leam that chicken broth was used to mitigate such harmful effects. The various readings show that the text is corrupt. It is very strange that iure, the practically 402 BOOK XXVII. VI. 2i-vin. 24 which is rich but not dry. The root is used in \vine or water for dysentery, diarrhoea, ruptures and sprains. VII. Alypon is a small sprout with a soft head, and Alypon. not unhke beet, sharp to the taste and viscous, very pungent and burning. In hydromel with a Uttle salt added it loosens the bowels. The smallest dose is two drachmae, a moderate one four, the maximum being six. When given as a purge it is taken in chicken broth." VIII. Alsine, which some call myosoton, is found AUine. in groves ; hence its name.* It begins to grow just after midwinter, and withers at midsummer. When it puts forth its leaves, they are hke the ears of Httle mice. However, I shall describe another plant," to which more properly would be given the name myosotis. Alsine would be just the same as helxine, were it not that it is smaller and less hairy. It grows in gardens and especially on walls.'' When being bruised it smells like cucumber. It is used for gatherings and inflammations, and for all pui-poses for which helxine is employed, but with less efficacy. certain emendation of Hermolaus Barbarus, should appear in no extant MS. ; the variants give some support to May- hoff's suggestion vetere. It may be that ea arose from a misplaced a, that lo. MuUer's jmrgationi is right, and that quibusdam (datur follows) should replace quibus. I print between daggers, as no emendation is very convincing. Dioscorides' account of dXvTTov is different from this chapter, and affords httle or no help. " From the Greek dAaos (grove). « See § 105. ^ Piiny says in the iirst sentence that it grows in groves. He has expressed himself carelessly, but the first habitat is displaced in order to explain the name alsine, but the plant commonly grows in all the places named. 403 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY peculiariter inponitur, item verendis ulceribusque cum farina hordeacia. sucus eius auribus infunditur. 25 IX. Androsaces herba est alba, amara, sine foliis, folliculos in cirris habens et in his semen. nascitur in maritimis Syriae maxime. datur hydropicis drachmis duabus tusa aut decocta in aqua vel aceto vel vino. vehementer enim urinas ciet. datur et podagricis inliniturque. idem effectus et seminis. 26 X. Androsaemon sive, ut alii appellavere, ascyron non absimile est hyperico, de qua diximus, cauhcuhs maioribus densioribusque et magis rubentibus. folia alba rutae figura, semen papaveris nigri. comae ti*itae sanguineo suco manant. odor eis resinosus. gignitur in vineis, fere medio autumno effoditur 27 suspenditurque. usus ad purgandam alvum tusae cum semine potaeque matutino vel a cena duabus drachmis in aqua mulsa vel vino vel aqua pura, potionis totius sextario. trahit bilem, prodest ischiadi maxime, sed postera die capparis radicem resinae permixtam devorare oportet drachmae pondere, iterumque quadridui intervallo eadem facere, a purgatione autem ipsa robustiores vinum bibere, infirmiores aquam. inponitur et podagris et ambustis et volneribus cohibens sanguinem. 28 XI. Ambrosia vagi nominis et circa aUas herbas fluctuati unam habet certam, densam, ramosam, ° See XXVI § 85. * It seems uncertain whether this sentenee applies to both the preceding remarks or only to the latter. Littre, followed by Bostock and Riley, make the sed clause apply only to sciatica. On the other hand, a purgatione ipsa would, I think, suggest that the clause trahit bilem is also included. Dios- corides is of no help here. '^ E.g. in XXV 160 it — aizoiim maius, and in XXV 74 it = artemisia. 404 BOOK XXVII. VIII. 24-xi. 28 Especially is it applied to eye fluxes, and with barley meal to sore genitals and ulcers. Its juice is poured into the ears. IX. Androsaces is a whitish plant, bitter, leafless, Androsaces. with seed pods in hairy tufts. It grows especially along the sea coast of Syria. For dropsy are pre- scribed two-drachma doses of the plant pounded or boiled do^vTi in water, vinegar, or wine, for it is a powerful diuretic. It is also prescribed for dropsy and apphed locally. The seed too has the same properties. X. Androsaemon, or, as others have called it, Androsae- ascyron, is not unhke hypericum, about which I have '"""■ ah-eadv spoken," but the stalks are larger, closer together, and redder. Its leaves are pale and shaped Hke those of rue ; the seed resembles that of the dark poppy. The stalk tops when crushed give out a juice of the colour of blood. Their smell is resinous. It grows in vineyards ; about the middle of autumn it is dug and hung up. When used as a purge it is pounded with the seed and taken early in the morning or after dinner, the dose being two drachmae in hydromel, wine, or plain water, and the whole draught a sextarius. It brings away bile, and is excellent for sciatica, but ^ on the following day should be swallowed a drachma of caper root well mixed with resin. This dose should be repeated after an interval of four days. After the actual purging wine should be drunk by the stronger patients and water by the weaker. The plant is applied also to gouty Hmbs, to burns, and, as it stanches blood, to wounds. XI. Ambrosia, an indeterminate name loosely AmbTosia. given to other'^ plants, is the primary name of one in particular, which is branchy and close set, 405 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY tenuem, trium fere palmorum, tertia parte radice breviore, foliis rutae circa imum caulem. in ramulis semen est uvis dependentibus, odore vinoso qua de causa botrys a quibusdam vocatur, ab aliis artemisia. coronantur illa Cappadoces. usus eius ad ea quae discuti opus sit. 29 XII. Anonim quidam ononida malunt vocare ramo- sam, similem feno Graeco, nisi fruticosior hirsutiorque esset, odore iucunda, post ver ^ spinosa. estur etiam muria eondita, recens vero margines ulcerum erodit. radix decoquitur in posca dolori dentium. eadem cum melle pota calculos pellit. comitialibus datur in oxymelite decocta ad dimidias. 30 XIII. Anagyros, quam aliqui acopon vocant, fruti- cosa est, gravis odore, flore oleris, semen in comiculis non brevibus gignit, simile renibus, quod durescit per messes. folia collectionibus inponuntur difficulterque parientibus adalligantur ita ut a partu statim auferantur. quod si emortuus haereat et secundae mensesque morentur, drachma bibuntur in passo folia. sic et suspiriosis dantur, et in vino vetere ad phalan- giorum morsus. radix discutiendis concoquendisque adhibetur, semen commanducatum vomitiones facit. 31 XIV. Anonvmos non inveniendo nomen invenit. adfertur e Scythia, celebrata Hicesio non parvae ^ ver R d vulg., Mayhoff : vero V Detlefsen. " Dioscorides (III 114) has no such epithet for the plantas a whole, but saj^s that the root is XeTmj, hLOTridafjLOs. The similarity of Stam^a/xos and TpLaniQa^o? probably eaused the error. ^ The word in Greek means " grape-cluster." 406 BOOK XXVII. XI. 28-xiv. 31 slender," about three spans high, with a root one span less, and with leaves around the bottom of the stem resembling those of rue. The seed is on the twigs, hanging down in elusters, and has a vinous smell; and so the plant is called botrys ^ by some, although others call it artemisia. The Cappadocians use it for chaplets. In medicine it is used as a discutient. XII. Anonis, which some prefer to call ononis, Anonis. is branchy, and Hke fenugreek, except that it is more bushy and more hairy. It has an agreeable smell, and becomes prickly after spring. Preserved in bi-ine it is also used as food, while the fresh plant cauterizes the edges of ulcers. The root is boiled down in vinegar and water for tooth-ache, and taken in drink with honey It also expels stone from the bladder. For epilepsy it is given in oxymel boiled down to one half. XIII. Anagyros, which some call acopon, is bushy, Anagyros. with a strong smell and a flower Hke that of cabbage. The seed grows in Httle horn-Hke pods of some length ; it is kidney-shaped and becomes hard during the harvests. The leaves are placed on gatherings, and tied as an amulet on women in difficult labour, care being taken to remove them immediately after deHvery. But if a dead foetus does not come away, or if the after-birth or men- struation is retarded, the leaves are taken in raisin- wine, a dose being a drachma. Similar doses are given for asthma, and in old wine the leaves are given for the bites of poisonous spiders. The root is em- ployed to disperse or mature boils ; the seed chewed acts as an emetic. XIV. Anonymus has found a name by not finding Anonymus. one. It is imported from Scythia. Hicesius, a 407 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY auctoritatis medico, item Aristogitoni, in volneribus praeclara, ex aqua tusa inposita, pota vero mammis praecordiisve percussis, item sanguinem excreantibus. putavere et bibendam volneratis. fabulosa arbitror quae adiciuntur, recente ea si uratur ferrum aut aes feruminari. 32 XV. Aparinen aliqui omphalocarpon, alii philan- thropon vocant, ramosam, hirsutam, quinis senisve in orbem circa ramos foliis per intervalla. semen rotundum, durum, concavum, subdulce. nascitur in frumentario agro aut hortis pratisve, asperitate etiam vestium tenaci. efficax contra serpentes semine poto ex vino drachma et contra phalangia. sanguinis abundantiam ex vohieribus reprimunt foha inposita, sucus aui'ibus infunditur. 33 XVI. Arction aliqui potius arcturum vocant. simihs est verbasco fohis, nisi quod hirsutiora sunt, caule longo, molh, semine cumini. nascitur in petrosis, radice tenera, alba dulcique. decoquitur in vino ad dentium doloi-em ita ut contineatur ore.^ decoctum bibitur propter ischiada et stranguriam. ex vino ambustis inponitur et pernionibus. foventur eadem cum radice semine trito in \ino. 34 XVII. Asplenon sunt qui hemionion vocant, fohis trientahbus multis, radice hmosa, cavernosa sicut 1 ita ut contineatur ore vulg. : ut ore ita contineatur May- hoff : ita sine ut codd. " Praecordia is a difficult word. It may mean : (1) the diaphragm, or the region just above it; (2) the two hypo- chondria; (3) tlie chest; (4) viscera generally. Here (2), the usual meaning, is perhaps to be preferred to (1). * Dioscorides III 90 : vttokolXov sk ^eaov ws 6fx(f>aX69. ' The reading seems to be settled by § 108 of this book : dwoctum . . . medetur ita, ut contineatur ore. 408 BOOK XXVII. XIV. 31-XV11. 34 physician of no small authority, spread its fame, as did Aristogiton ; it is excellent for wounds if appUed pounded in water ; taken however in drink it is equally good for blows on the breasts or on the hypochondria," Hkewise for spitting of blood. Some authorities have held that wounded patients should take it in drink. The further statement I think fabulous, that if burnt fresh it acts as solder for iron or copper. XV. Apai-ine, called by some omphalocarpos, by Apanne. others philanthropos, is branchy, hairy, and with five or six leaves arranged at intervals in a circle around the branches. The seed is round, hard, hollowed,'' and rather sweet. It grows in cornfields, or gardens, or meadows, and is so prickly as even to cling to the clothes. The seed, taken in drachma doses in wine, is efficacious against the bite of serpents and poisonous spiders. The leaves, apphed locally, check excessive bleeding from wounds. The juice is poured into the ears. XVI. Arction, which some prefer to call arcturus, Arctiun. has leaves Hke those of verbascum, except that they are more hairy. The stem is long and soft, and the seed Hke that of cummin. It grows on rocky soils, and has a tender root, whitish and sweet. A decoc- tion of it in wine is given for tooth-ache, but it must be retained in the mouth.<^ The decoction is drunk for sciatica and strangury. In wine the root '^ is appHed to burns and chilblains, which are also fomented with the seed pounded in wine with the root. XVII. Asplenon, called by some hemionion, has Asphnon. many leaves four inches long, a slimy root, pitted as is ■* It is necessary to put a full stop at stranguriam and to understand herba or radix as the subject of inponitur. 409 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY filicis, candida, hirsuta, nec caulem nec florem nec semen habet. nascitur in petris parietibusque opa- cis, umidis, laudatissima in Creta. huius foHorum in aceto decocto per dies xx\ poto Uenem absumi aiunt, et illinuntur autem eadem. sedant et singultus. feminis non danda, quoniam sterihtatem facit. 35 X\'III. Asclepias folia hederae habet, ramos longos, radices numerosas, tenues, odoratas, floris virus grave, semen securiclatum.^ nascitur in mon- tibus. radices torminibus medentur et contra ser- pentium ictus non solum potu, sed etiam inUtu. 36 XIX. Aster ab aliquis bubonion appellatur, quo- niam inguinum praesentaneum remedium est. cauliculus foliis oblongis duobus aut tribus, in cacu- mine capitula stellae modo radiata. bibitur et adversus serpentes. sed ad inguinum medicinam sinistra manu decerpi iubent et iuxta cinctus alUgari. prodest et coxendicis dolori adalUgata. 37 XX. AscvTon et ascyroides simiUa sunt inter se et hyperico, sed maiores habet ramos quod ascjToides vocatur, ferulaceos, tomniat ^ rubentes, capituUs parvis, luteis. semen in caUcuUs pusillum, nigrum, resinosum. comae tritae veUit cruentant, qua de * securklatum V. Detlefsen, Mayhoff: securidacae Hermo- laus Barbarus. Cf. XVIII, § 155. 2 omnia codd. : omnino vulg. : coma Mayhoff. " Dioscorides (III 134), says it is the leaves that are evreTfiijfieva and dvaiOev xXwpa. ^ Dioscorides has rmepas reaaapaKOvTa. ' The Greek ^ov^wv means " groin." ** I have left the omnia of the MSS. within daggers, as the coma of MayhofF does not convince me. Dioscorides says (III 155) that it is the Kap-6s of ascyron that stains red, and of 410 BOOK XXVII. XVII. 34-xx. 37 a fern's, whitish and hairy." There is no stem, flower or seed. It grows on rocks and on shaded, damp walls, the most approved kind in Crete. A decoction of its leaves in vinegar, taken as a draught for thirty days,* is said to reduce the spleen, the leaves being also apphed locally. They relieve too hiccoughs. This plant, as it causes barrenness, must not be given to women. XVIII. Asclepias has leaves like those of ivy, long Asdepias. branches, numerous roots that are slender and scented, stinking flowers, and a hatchet-shaped seed. It grows on hills. The roots cure coHc and are used for snake bite ; they are not only taken in drink but also apphed locally. XIX. Aster is called by some bubonion, because Aster. it is a sovereign remedy for affections of the groin.*^ Its stem has two or three oblong leaves, and on the top are Uttle heads with rays Hke stars. In drink it is also taken for snake bites. But as medicine for the groin it is enjoined to be plucked with the left hand, and to be tied as an amulet next the girdle. As an amulet it is also good for sciatica. XX. Ascyron and ascyroides are Hke one another Ascywn. and also Hke hypericon, but what is called ascyroides has larger branches, which are Hke fennel-giant, red<^ . . . and with small yellow heads. The seed, in Httle cups, is very small, black, and resinous. The hairy tufts when crushed cause stains Hke blood, and androsaemon (III 156) he says : neoi.viyixevos to. papSia. So possibly some word meaning " altogether " may be right. Professor Andrews writes : " It looks as if he were being more specific than Dioscorides, locahsing the staining substance in the filament, the hair-hke part of the stamen that supports the anther." 411 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY causa quidam hanc androsaemon vocavere. usus seminis ad ischiadicos poti duabus drachmis in hydromeUtis sextario. alvum solvit, bilem detrahit. inlinitur et ambustis. 38 XXI. Aphaca tenuia admodum folia habet et ^ pusilla. altior lenticula et^ siliquas maiores fert in quibus terna aut quaterna semina sunt nigriora et minora lenticula. nascitur in arvis. natura ad spissandum efficacior quam lenti, reliquos usus eosdem habet. stomachi alvique fluctiones sistit semen decoctum. 39 XXII. Alcibium qualis esset herba non repperi apud auctores, sed radicem eius et foha trita ad serpentis morsum inponi et bibi, folia quantum manus capiat trita cum vini meri cyathis tribus aut radicem drachmarum trium pondere cum vini eadem mensura. 40 XXIII. Alectoros lophos, quae apud nos crista dicitur, foha habet similia gallinacei cristae plura, caulem tenuem, semen nigrum in sihquis. utiUs tussientibus cocta cum faba fresa, melle addito et cahgini oculorum. solidum semen coicitur in ocu- lum, nec turbat, sed in se cahginem contrahit, mutat colorem et ex nigro albicare incipit et intumescit ac per se exit. 41 XXIV. Alum nos vocamus, Graeci symphyton petraeum simile cunilae bubulae, foHis parvis, ramis ^ et post habet coni. Mayhoff. ^ et VRd Mayhoff : est Er vulg., Detlefsen. ° I.e. " man's blood." ' A diflBcult sentence; perhaps Mayhoffs punctuation and conjecture (he adds et before pusilla) are tlie best solution. Pusilla might be taken with the next sentenee, to explain the abrupt introduction of the lentil : " Though small it is yet taller than the lentil," but Dioscorides (II, 148) has merely : 412 BOOK XXVII. XX. 37-xxiv. 41 therefore some have called the plant andi'osaemon." Two-drachmae doses of the seed, taken in a sex- tarius of hydromel, are used for sciatica. It loosens the bowels, brings away bile, and is appHed to burns. XXI. Aphaca has very slender and tiny * leaves. Aphaca. Taller than the lentil it also bears larger pods, in which are three or four seeds, darker and smaller than those of the lentil. It grows in cultivated fields, and has bracing*^ quaUties more powerful than those of the lentil, its other uses being the same. A de- coction of the seed checks fluxes of the stomach and bowels. XXII. In my authorities I have found no descrip- Akibimn. tion of alcibium, but only that its pounded root and leaves are applied locally, and taken in drink, for snake bite ; a handful of the pounded leaves with three cyathi of neat wine, or three drachmae by weight of the root with the same measure of wine. XXIII. Alectoros lophos, which we Romans call Aiecioros " comb " (crista), has several leaves Uke a cock's comb, '^p'"'^- a slender stem, and black seed in pods. Boiled with ground beans it is useful for cough, and with the addition of honey for film on the eyes. The seed is cast whole into the eye ; it does no harm but attracts the film to itself. Changing colour it begins to turn from black to white, swells, and works out by itself. XXIV. We Romans call alum what the Greeks call Aium. symphyton petraeum. It is Uke ox cunila, with small leaves and three or four branches gromng from aKov vtprjXorepos, AeTrrdc^uAAo?. The Greek suggests that pusilla may be an addition (either by Pliny himself or by a scribe) to explain tenuia, but Pliny may have had before him a different Greek text. •^ Or " astringent." 413 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY tribus aut quattuor a radice, cacuminibus thymi, surculosum, odoratum, gustu dulce, salivam ciens, radice longa rutila. nascitur in petris ideo petraeum cognominatum, utilissimum lateribus, renibus, tor- minibus, pectori, pulmonibus, sanguinem reicientibus, faucibus asperis. bibitur radix trita et in vino 42 decocta, et aliquando superlinitur. quin et com- manducata sitim sedat praecipueque pulmonem refrigerat. luxatis quoque inponitur et contusis, lenit interanea. alvum sistit cocta in cinere detrac- tisque foUiculis trita cum piperis granis novem et ex aqua pota. volneribus sanandis tanta praestantia est ut carnes quoque, dum cocuntur, conglutinet addita, unde et Graeci nomen inposuere. ossibus quoque fractis medetur, XXV. alga rufa scorpionum ictibus. 43 XXVI. Actaea gravi foliorum odore, caulibus asperis geniculatis, semine nigro ut hederae, bacis molUbus, nascitur in opacis et asperis aquosisque. datur acetabulo pleno intei'ioribus feminarum morbis. 44 XXVII. Ampelos agria vocatur herba fohis duris cineracei coloris, qualem in satis diximus, viticuHs longis, callosis, rubentibus, qualiter flos quem lovis flammam appellamus. in uvohs ^ fert semen simile Punici mali acinis. radix eius decocta in aquae cvathis ternis, additis vini Coi cyathis duobus, alvum solvit leniter ideoque hydropicis datur. uvolae vitia cutis in facie muUerum emendant. ischiadicos quo- ^ uvolis lanus e Dioscoride : varia codd. " I.e. " coalescing," " grown together." * See XXIII § 19. The word safis is strange, as sata includes all cultivated plants and trees, and the reference accordingly seems vague. Perhaps PHny means that this wild vine is described in his account of cultivated vines. 414 BOOK XXVII. XXIV. 41-XXV11. 44 the root, which have tips Hke those of thyme ; a Hgneous plant, scented, sweet to the taste, pro- moting saHva, and with a long, red root. It grows on rocks (hence its surname petraeum, " rocky "), and is very useful for afFections of the sides and kidneys, for coHc, chest, lungs, spitting of blood, and sore throat. The root is pounded and taken in drink or boiled down in wine ; sometimes too this is used as embroca- tion. Moreover, chewed it allays thirst, and is especially cooHng to the lungs. It is also appHed to dislocations and bruises, and it soothes the in- testines. Cooked in hot ashes, pounded, after removal of the pods, with nine peppercorns and taken in water, it is binding to the bowels. So excellent is it for heaHng wounds that, added even to pieces of meat that are being boiled, it binds them together, Hence its Greek name symphyton." It is also good for broken bones. XXV. Red seaweed for scorpion stings. Aiga mfa. XXVI. Actaea has leaves with an ofFensive smell, Actaea. rough and jointed stems, black seed Hke that of ivy, and soft berries. It grows on shaded, rough, watery ground. In doses of a full acetabulum it is given for internal diseases of women. XXVII. Ampelos agria is a name given to a plant Ampeios vvith hard leaves of an ashy colour, as I have described '^^"'^' in my account of cultivated trees.* It has long, hard-skinned twigs, of a red colour Hke the blossom we call flame of Jupiter. It bears in Httle clusters seed Hke pomegranate pips. Its root, boiled down in three cyathi of water with the addition of two cyathi of Coan wine, is a gentle aperient, and there- fore is given to dropsical patients. The clusters remove the spots on women's faces. Sciatica too is 415 PLINY : NATURAL HLSTORY que uti hac herba prodest tusa cum fohis et inUta cum suco suo. 45 XXVI IL Absinthii genera plura sunt : Santonicum appellatur e Galliae civitate, Ponticum e Ponto, ubi pecora pinguescunt illo et ob id sine felle reperiuntur, neque aliud praestantius,multoque Italicum^ amarius, sed medulla Pontici dulcis. de usu eius convenit, herbae facilUmae atque inter paucas utihssimae, praeterea sacris populi Romani celebratae peculiari- ter, siquidem Latinarum feriis quadrigae certant in Capitolio victorque absinthium bibit, credo, sanitatem praemio dari honorifice arbitratis maioribus. sto- 46 machum corroborat, et ob hoc sapor eius in vina transfertur, ut diximus. bibitur et decoctum aqua ac postea nocte et die refrigeratum sub divo,^ fdecoctis sex drachmis fohorum cum ramis suis in caelestis aquae sextarii tribus, oportet et salem addi. vetustissimum usu estf .^ bibitur et madefacti dilu- tum, ita enim appelletur hoc genus. diluti ratio ut, quisquis fuerit modus aquae, tegatur per triduum. * Italicum d Hard., Mayhoff -. Italico VRE Detlefsen. ' divo E vulg., Detlefsen : diu V^Rd lanus, Mayhoff. ^ tdecoctis . . . usu estt] Sic Detlefsen post Urlichs : decoci VI drachmis foliorum cum rairtis suis in caelestis aquae sextariis III oportet, nec non salem addi vetustissimi usus est Mayhoff : in codd. decocti aut decoctis, nec {pro et) vetus- tissime aut vetus sine usu est. " See XIV § 109. * I have kept Detlefsen's text within daggers because no proposed emendation is quite satisfactory. The negative nec is probably genuine, but seems to require sine usu afterwards, leaving vetus without grammatical connection unless a full stop is put at addi. It is just possible to make sense of the MSS. reading if we do this and also accept the attractive decoci of MayhofF : " six drachmae . . . ought to be boiled down 416 BOOK XXVII. XXVII. 44-xxviii. 46 relieved by this plant ground up with the leaves and appHed with its own juice. XX\^III. There are several kinds of wormwood. Absmthium. The Santonic comes from the state of the Santoni in Gaul, the Pontic from Pontus, where cattle fatten on it, and so are found to be without gall ; there is no finer wormwood than this, the ItaHan being far more bitter, but the pith of Pontic wormwood is sweet. About its use there is general agi-eement, for it is a plant very easily found, and one of the most useful, being moreover especiaHy honoured at the reHgious rites of the Roman people, seeing that at the Latin festival there is a race for four-horse chariots on the CapitoHne Hill, the winner of which takes a draught of wormwood, our ancestors thinking, I beHeve, that health was a very grand prize to give. It strengthens the stomach and for this reason it is used, as I have said," to give a flavour to wines. A decoction in water, which is afterwards cooled in the open for a day and a night, is also taken ; six drachmae of the leaves with their branches are boiled down in three sextarii of rain water; salt too should be added. When very old it can still be used.'' There is also adminis- tered an infusion of wormwood in water ; for this preparation should be styled " infusion," and an essential of the infusion is that, whatever quantity'^ of water is used, for three days the preparation should be wholly enclosed. Pounded wormwood is rarely without the addition of salt. When old the decoction cannot be used." Perhaps the nec looks to the occasions (§ 48) when we are told that salt is added. Mayhoffs emendations give us : " six drachmae . . . should be boiled down, and to add salt is a very old usage." ' Perhaps " kind." 417 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 47 tritum raro in usu est, sicut et sucus expressi. ex- primitur autem, cum primum semen turgescit, madefactum aqua triduo recens aut siccum septem diebus, dein coctum in aeneo vaso ad tertias decem heminis in aquae sextariis xlv iterumque per- colatum, herba electa,^ coquitur ad crassitudinem mellis, qualiter ex minore centaurio quaeritur sucus. sed hic [absinthii] ^ inutiUs stomacho capitique est, 48 cum sit ille decoctus ^ saluberrimus. namque ad- stringit stomachum bilemque detrahit, urinam ciet, alvum emolht et in dolore sanat, ventris animaha pelht, malaciam stomachi et inflationes discutit cum sile et nardo Galhco, aceti exiguo addito. fastidia absterget, concoctiones adiuvat, cruditates detrahit cum ruta et pipere et sale. antiqui purgationis causa dabant cum marinae aquae veteris sextario seminis sex drachmas cum tribus sahs^melHs cyatho. 49 efficacius purgat dupHcato sale. dihgenter autem teri debet propter difficultatem. quidam et in polenta dedere supra dictum pondus, addito puleio, aUi pueris foha * in fico sicca, ut amaritudinem fal- lerent. thoracem purgat cimi iride sumptum. in regio morbo crudum bibitur cum apio aut adianto. adversus inflationes caUdum paulatim sorbetur ex ^ herba electa Mayhoff : herbae lecta V : herba elisa Urlichs, Detlefsen : herba lente vnlg. : fortasse eiecta. ^ absinthii] In uncis Dal., Mayhoff. ^ decoctus cod. Dal., vulg., Mayhoff : decocti T Detlefsen : decoctis codd. * folia] In uncis Hard., Mayhoff. » Literally " the juice of the squeezed wonnwood." 418 BOOK XXVII. XXVIII. 46-49 employed ; rarely too the extracted" juice. It is extracted, however, as soon as the seed begins to swell, the plant * being soaked in water for three days when fresh and for seven when dried ; it is then boiled dovvn to one third in a bronze vessel, ten heminae to forty-iive sextarii of water ; and after being strained to remove the soUd pieces it is boiled down again to the thickness of honey, just Uke juice obtained from the lesser centaury. But this juice is injurious to the stomach and head, while the decoc- tion I mentioned is very wholesome. For it is astringent to the stomach, and with sil, GalHc nard and a Httle vinegar, brings away bile, promotes urine, soothes the bowels, curing them when in pain, drives out worms from the belly, and removes nausea and flatulence. With rue, pepper and salt, it takes away the distaste for food, and aids digestion, bringing away undigested food. As a purge, the old custom was to give six drachmae of the seed, three of salt, and a cyathus of honey, in a sextarius of sea water kept for a time, the pui-ge being more efficacious if the amount of salt is doubled. The pounding however must be carefully done, as it is a difficult task. Some have also given the aforesaid weight in pearl barley with the addition of pennyroyal ; some the leaves in a dried fig to chikh'en, so that the bitter taste is not noticed. Taken with iris it pui'ges the thorax. For jaundice it is taken raw in drink vvith celery or adiantum. For flatulence it is slowly sipped hot in water ; for the hver it is taken with * Littre and the Bohn translators say the seecl. This is possible with their reading lente coquihir, but scarcely so with herba electa, which I think must mean that the plant, and not the seed only, is used for the decoction. 419 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY aqua, iocineris causa cum Gallico nardo, lienis cum 50 aceto aut pulte aut fico suinitur. adversatur fungis ex aceto, item visco, cicutae ex vino et muris aranei morsibus, draconi marino, scorpionibus. oculormn claritati multum confert. epiphoris cum passo in- ponitur, suggillatis cum melle. aures decocti ^ eius vapor suffitu sanat aut, si manent sanie, cum melle tritum. urinam ac menses cient tres quat- tuorve ramuli cum Gallici nardi radice una, cyathis aquae sex, menses privatim cum melle sumptum 51 et in vellere adpositum. anginae subvenit cum melle et nitro. epinyctidas ex aqua sanat, volnera recentia prius quam aqua tangantur inpositum, praeterea capitis ulcera. peculiariter ilibus inponitur cum 52 Cypria cera aut cum fico. sanat et pruritus. non est dandum in febri. nausias maris arcet in naviga- tionibus potum, inguinum tumorem in ventrali habi- tum. somnos adlicit olfactum aut inscio sub capite positum. vestibus insertum tineas arcet. culices ex oleo perunctis abigit et fumo, si uratur. atramentum librarium ex diluto eius temperatum litteras a muscu- hs ^ tuetur. capillum denigrat absinthii cinis un- guento rosaceoque permixtus. 53 XXIX. Est et absinthium marinum, quod quidam seriphum vocant, probatissimima in Taposiri Aegypti. huius ramum Isiaci praeferre soliemne habent. ^ decocti Mayhoff : decoctae multi codd., Detlefsen: decocte R d. 2 musculis d(?) Hermolaus Barbarus e Dioscoride : muscis plerique codd., vulg. " See XXVI § 31. ^ Or "and." ' The ilia are the upper abdomen from the ribs to the pubes ; the inguen is the lower abdomen on either side of the pubes. 420 BOOK XXVII. XXVIII. 49-xxix. 53 Gallic nard ; for the spleen, -with vinegar, pottage or fig. In vinegar it is an antidote to poisonous iungi, as also to mistletoe ; in wine, to hemlock, the poison of the shrew mouse, sea weever ° and scorpions. It is a great aid to clear vision. With raisin wine it is appHed to eye fluxes, and with honey to bruises. Ear trouble is cured by fumigation A^dth the steam of the decoction, or when bloody pus exudes, by pounded wormwood wdth honey. Three or four twigs, with one root of GalHc nard and six cyathi of water, are diuretic and an emmenagogue ; it is specific for faulty menstruation if taken A\ith honey or* appHed as a pessary in wool. With honey and soda it is helpful for quinsy. In water it cures night rashes. Recent wounds it heals if appHed before they have been touched with water ; it cures, more- over, sores on the head. With Cyprian wax or with fig it makes an exceptionally good appHcation for affections of the flanks.*^ It also cures pruritus, but must not be given to feverish patients. Taken in drink on sea voyages it prevents nausea ; worn under a beUy-band, swelHngs of the groin."^ It induces sleep if inhaled through the nose or placed secretly under the sufferer's head. Put into clothes it keeps away moth. Rubbing the body all over with it in oil drives away gnats, as does the smoke of it when burnt. Writing ink mixed with the infusion protects the writing from mice. Ashes of worm- wood mixed with ointment and rose-oil stain the hair black. XXIX. There is also a sea wormwood, called by some seriphum, the most approved growing at Taposiris in Egypt. At the ceremonies of Isis the priests cai-ry a branch of it rituaHy before them. 421 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY angustius priore minusque amarum, stomacho ini- micum, alvum mollit pellitque animalia interaneo- rum. bibitur cum oleo et sale aut in farinae tri- mestris sorbitione dilutum. coquitur quantum manus capiat in aquae sextario ad dimidias. 54 XXX. Balloten alio nomine porrum nigrum Graeci vocant, herbam fruticosam angulosis caulibus nigris, hirsutis foliis vestientibus, maioribus quam porri et nigrioribus, graveolentibus. vis eius efficax adversus canis morsus ex sale foliis tritis inpositae, item ad condylomata coctis cinere in folio oleris. purgat et sordida ulcera cum melle. 55 XXXI. Botrys fruticosa herba est hiteis ramulis. semen circa totos nascitur, foha cichorio simiha. invenitur in torrentium ripis, medetur orthopnoicis. hoc Cappadoces ambrosiam vocant, ahi artemisiam. XXXII. Brabilla spissandi vim habet cotonei mali modo, nec amphus de ea tradunt auctores. 56 XXXIII. Brvon marinum herba sine dubitatione est lactucae foHis sunihs, rugosa velut contracta, sine caule ab una radice exeuntibus fohis. nascitur in scopuhs maxime testisque terra conprehensis. prae- " Tliat this is the meaning of dilutum seems to be likely from the phrase in Dioscorides (III 23) avv porjiiaTi ^aKfis Kade- ipTjdeicja. ' Dioscorides has (III 10.3) : KavXovs avl-qai TerpaycLvovs. ' Dioscorides (loc. cit.) Svauibr). * It is uncertain -nhether infolio oleris goes with coctis or with ivipositae (understood). There is nothing in Dioscorides to correspond. ' Sometimes spelt brahyla. f Or, " bracing," or, " thickening." » Not mere seaweed, as Theophrastus {H.P, IV vi 6) seems to suggest. 422 BOOK XXVII. XXIX. 53-xxxiii. 56 Narrower than the former, and less bitter, it is injurious to the stomach, but softens the bowels and expels intestinal worms. It is taken in drink with oil and salt, or infused " into gruel of three-month wheat. A handful is boiled down in a sextarius of water to one-half. XXX. Ballote has a second name, black leek, given Baihte. to it by the Greeks. It is a bushy plant, with quad- rangulate,'' dark stems, covered with hairy leaves, larger and darker than those of leek, and with an ofFensive smell.'^ It proves an effective antidote to dog-bites, the pounded leaves being laid with salt on the wound ; cooked also in hot ashes and ^vrapped in a cabbage leaf '^ they are appHed to condylomata. With honey the plant also cleanses foul ulcers. XXXI. Botrys is a bushy plant with yellow twigs. Botrys. Seed grows all round them, and the leaves are Hke those of chicory. It is found on the banks of torrents, and is used as treatment for orthopnoea. The Cappadocians call it ambrosia, others artemisia. XXXII. Brabilla « has an astringent/ property like BrabUla. the quince ; apart from this my authorities tell me nothing about it. XXXIII. Sea bryon is without doubt a plant?; it Brnon has leaves like those of lettuce, wrinkled, and as it '"'*'■'"'""■ were crumpled.^ It has no stem, the leaves growing out of a single root. It grows more especially upon rocks and on shells sunk in the ground.* Its special ^* See Theophrastus loc. cit. : pxrTL^wMaTepov Kai (MOTnp avveaTTaof^Uvov. ' See Theophrastus loc. cit. : iiTX twv Xldiov . . . Trpd? T17 yrj Kal Tu>v oaTpaKcov, and Dioscorides (IV 98) : ^yeroi eTrt Xidcov Kal oaTpaKoiv napa daXduarj. Is PUny's terra conprehensis a mistranslation ? 423 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY cipua siccandi spissandique vis ei et collectiones inflammationesque omnes inhibendi, praecipue poda- grae et quicquid refrigerari opus sit. 57 XXXIV. Bupleuri semen ad ictus serpentium dari reperio foverique plagas decocta ea herba adiectis foliis mori aut origani. XXXV. Catanancen Thessalam herbam qualis sit describi a nobis supervacuum est, cum sit usus eius ad amatoria tantum. illud non ab re est dixisse ad detegendas magicas vanitates, electam ad hunc usum coniectura. quoniam arescens contraheret se ad speciem unguium milvi exanimati. eadem ex causa et cemos silebitur nobis. 68 XXXVI. Calyx duorum generum est. una simiUs aro nascitur in arationibus, colHgitur antequam inarescat, usus eosdem habet quos aris.^ bibitur quoque radix huius ad exinaniendas alvos mensesque mulierum, item caules cum foliis in leguminibus 59 decocti sanant tenesmon. XXXVII. alterum genus eius quidam anchusam vocant, alii rhinocliam.^ folia^ lactucae longiora, plumosa, radice rubra, quae ignes sacros cum flore polentae sanat inposita, iocine- ris autem vitia in vino albo pota. 60 XXXVIII. Circaea trychno sativo similis est, flore nigro pusillo, parvo semine miUi nascente in quibus- dam cornicuUs, radice semipedaU, tripUci fere aut quadrupUci, alba, odorata, gustus caUdi. nascitur in ^ aris Hard. : ars aut hars codd. : post ars in codd. a, unde at coni. Mayhoff : om. Detlefsen. - rhinocliam lanus e Plinii indice : onocliam Sillig e Dioscoride : varia codd. ^ folia d E vulg., Mayhoff : folio VR Detlefsen, qui longiore et plumoso coni. " Or, " to thicken." 424 BOOK XXVII. xxxin. 56-xxxviii. 60 properties are to dry, astringency, " and to reduce all gatherings and inflammations, in particular those of gout, and whenever there is need of coohng apphcations. XXXIV. The seed of bupleuron I find is given for Bupienro». snake bite, and that wounds are fomented with a decoction of this plant to which has been added leaves of mulberry or of origanum. XXXV. Catanance, a ThessaHan plant, it would be Catanance. a waste of time for me to describe, since it is used only for love-potions. One thing it is quite per- tinent to say in order to show up the fraud of sorcery : the plant was chosen for this purpose through an inference * because as it withers it crumples up into the shape of the claws of a dead kite.<= For the same 1 reason I shall say nothing about cemos. XXXVI. There are two kinds of calyx. One is caiyx. Hke arum, and grows on ploughed land. It is gathered before it withers, and has the same uses as aris. Its root is also taken in drink as a powerful aperient and emmenagogue, while its stahvs, boiled down with the leaves in pulse, cures tenesmus. XXXVII. The other kind of it is called by some anchusa, by others rhinocHa, having leaves Hke those of lettuce, but longer and downy, and a red root. This appHed with the finest pearl barley cures erysipeias, and, taken in white wine, Hver complaints. XXXVIII. Circaea is Hke cultivated trychnos, circaea. having a tiny, dark flower, small seed Hke that of millet forming in a sort of Httle horn, a six-inch root, generally triple or quadruple, whitish, scented, and with a hot taste. It grows on sunny rocks. An * Coniectura is an interpretation of a diviner. * By imitative magic it hooks its vietim. 425 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY apricis saxis. diluitur in vino bibiturque ad dolorem vulvae et vitia. macerari oportet in sextariis tribus quadrantem radicis tusae nocte et die ^ ; trahit eadem potio et ^ secundas. semine lac minuit ^ in vino aut mulsa aqua poto. 61 XXXIX. Cirsion cauliculus est tener duum cubi- torum, triangulo similis, foliis spinosis circumdatus. spinae molles sunt. folia bovis linguae similia, minora, subcandida, in cacumine capitula purpurea quae solvuntur in lanugines. hanc herbam radicemve eius adalHgatam dolores varicum sanare tradunt. 62 XL. Crataegonon spicae tritici simile est, multis calamis ex una radice emicantibus multorumque geniculoi-um, in opacis, semine milii, vehementer aspero gustu, quod si bibant ex vino ante cenam tribus obohs in cyathis aquae totidem mulier ac vir ante conceptum diebus xl, virilis sexus partum futurum aiunt. et alia est crataegonos quae thely- 63 gonos vocatur. differentia intellegitur lenitate gus- tus. sunt qui florem crataegoni bibentes muUerum intra xl diem concipere tradant. eaedem sanant ulcera vetera nigi-a cum melle, explent sinus ulcerum et atropha carnosiora faciunt, purulenta expurgant, panos discutiunt, podagi^as collectionesque omnes 1 nocte et die plures codd., Mayhojf : noctem et diem E Detlefsen. * potio et codd., Detlefsen : potione Mayhoff. ^ minuit in uncis ponit Mayhoff, Dioscoridem secutus. " Dioscorides (III 119) has yciAa KaTaa-na, and therefore Mayhotf brackets minuit. Perhaps Pliny thought that KaraaTra means " keeps (draws) away from the breasts." * A " soft prickle " may sound strange, but is quite in- telligible. Perhaps here " spine " might be better. 426 BOOK XXVII. XXXVIII. 60-xL. 63 infusion of it in wine is taken foi' uterine pains and affections. Three ounces of the pounded root should be steeped for a night and a day in three sextarii of wine. The same draught also brings away the after- birth. The seed taken in wine or hydromel reduces * the supply of milk. XXXIX. Cirsion is a tender, Uttle sprout, two cubits cirsion. high, triangular, and surrounded by prickly leaves, the prickles * being soft. The leaves ai-e like those of bugloss, but smaller, and whitish. At the tip are small, purple heads, which fall ofF as down.'' It is said that this plant, or its root, used as an amulet, cures the pain of varicose veins. XL. CrataegononisUke an ear of wheat, withmany craiaegonc reed-Uke shoots, full of joints, springing from a single root. It is found in shaded places. The seed is Uke that of millet, with a very sharp taste. If three oboU of it in three cyathi of water are taken in ^vine before supper by the woman, and also by the man, for forty days before conception*^ takes place, the child they say will be of the male sex. There is another crataegonos, which is called thelygonos ; it is distinguished from the other by its mild taste. There are some who maintain that women who take the flower of crataegonos in drink conceive within forty days. These plants with honey also heal chronic black ulcers, fill up the pits of ulcers, add flesh to atrophied parts, thoroughly cleanse purulent sores, disperse superficial abscesses, and soothe gout and every kind of gathering, in particular those on ' Littre : " qui tombent en duvet " ; so the Bohn trans- lators. Perhaps better : " which break up (turn) into down." ■* Littre takes ante to be an adverb and conceptum a par- ticiple : " Tenfant, meme con^u depuis quarante jours." 427 PLIXY: NATURAL HISTORY leniunt, peculiariter mammarum. Theophrastus ar- boris genus intellegi voluit crataegon ^ sive cratae- gona, quam Itali aquifolium vocant. 64 XLI. Crocodileon chamaeleonis herbae nigrae figuram habet, radice longa aequaliter crassa, odoris asperi. nascitur in sabuletis. pota sanguinem per nares pelHt copiosum crassumque ; item ^ lienes consumere dicitur. 65 XLII. Cynosorchim ahqui orchim vocant, foliis oleae, molhbus, temis per semipedem longitudinis in terra stratis, radice bulbosa, oblonga, duphci ordine, superiore quae durior est, inferiore quae mollior, eduntur ut bulbi coctae, in vineis fere inventae. ex his radicibus si maiorem edant viri, mares generari dicunt, si minorem feminae, alterum sexum. in Thessaha molhorem in lacte caprino viri bibunt ad stimulandos coitus, duriorem vero ad inhibendos. adversantur altera alteri. 66 XLIII. Chrvsolachanum in pineto lactucae simile nascitur. sanat nervos incisos, si confestim in- ponatur. et ahbi genus chrysolachani traditur, flore aureo, fohis oleris. coctum estur ut olus molle. haec herba adalhgata morbum regium habentibus ita ut spectaii ab his possit sanare id malum traditur. ^ crataegon Hard. e Theophrasto, Mayhoff: crataegonon Detlefsen cum multis codd. ^ item Urlichs, Detlefsen : ita et Mayhoff : ita aut ida codd. " See Theophrastus, H.P. III 15, 6. The tree desoribed there is a type of thorn, perhaps Crataegus Heldreichii. But aquifolium is our holly. A mistake apparently of Pliny. * The ita of the MSS. may be right, but it generally refers to some more elaborate preparation than the single word pota. 428 BOOK XXVII. XL. 63-xLiii. 66 the breasts. By crataegos or crataegon Theo- phrastus " would have us understand the tree which in Italy is called aquifoHum. XLI. Crocodileon is Uke black chamaeleon in CrocodiUon. shape, with a long root uniformly thick, and a pun- gent smell. It grows in sandy places. Taken in drink it causes copious epistaxis of thick blood ; it is also ^ said to reduce the spleen. XLII. Cynosorchis, called by some orchis, has CynosorcMs. leaves like oUve leaves, soft, three <^ in number and lying on the ground to the length of half a foot. The root is bulbous, longish, and in two parts, the upper being harder and the lower softer. Found generally in vineyards these are boiled and eaten as are bulbs. If men eat the larger of these roots, male children are said to be conceived, but female if the smaUer is eaten by women. In Thessaly men take in goat's milk the softer root as an aphrodisiac, but the harder as an antaphrodisiac. The one part neutraUzes the other. XLIII. Chrysolachanum, growing in pine woods, is chryso- Uke lettuce. If appUed at once it heals cut sinews. andother Elsewhere too is said to grow a kind of chrysola- ?>''""*• chanum \vith a golden flower and leaves Uke those of cabbage. It is eaten boiled as a soft '^ vegetable. This plant, tied on as an amulet so that the patient can look at it, is said to cure jaundice. I know that ' Parts of the description are notin Dioscorides (III 126), but the two authorities in this chapter are remarkably ahke, though with starthng diiTerences. E.g., Dioscorides has : TTpocriaTopelTai 8' Iti Kal ra? «V QecraaXla yvvalKas rov piev oLTTaXov K.T.X., where Pliny has viri. ^ So Littre. The Bohn translators say " laxative " ; but I can find only one instance oimollis in (almost) that sense, being used however as an epithet oialvus, i.e., "relaxed bowels." 429 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY 67 de chrysolachano nec satis dici scio nec plura reperio, namque et hoc vitio laboravere proximi utique her- barii nostri, quod ipsis notas veluti vulgares strictim et nominibus tantum indicavere, tamquam coagulo terrae alvum sisti, stranguriam dissolvi, si bibatur ex 68 aqua aut vino, XLIV. cuculh ^ foHa trita cum aceto serpentium ictibus et scorpionum mederi. quidam hanc aho nomine strumum appellant, ahi Graece strychnum, acinos habet nigros. ex his cyathus suci cum mulsi duobus medetur lumbis, item capitis dolori cum rosaceo infusus, ipsa strumae ^ inUta. 69 XL\\ Pecuharis est Alpinis maxime fluminibus conferva appellata a conferuminando, spongea aquarum dulcium verius quam muscus aut herba, villosae densitatis atque fistulosae. curatum ea scio omnibus fere ossibus confractis prolapsum ex arbore alta putatorem, circumdata universo corpori, aquam suam adspergentibus quotiens inaresceret, raroque nec nisi deficientem herbam mutationis causa resol- ventibus, convaluisse vix credibih celeritate. 70 XLVI. Cocco Cnidio color cocci, magnitudo grano piperis maior, vis ardens. itaque in pane devoratur ne adurat gulam transitu. vis praesentanea contra cicutam, sistit alvum. ^ cuculli coni. Detlefsen, queni sequitur Mayhoff : aliae coniecturae sunt cucubali et cacubali : cuculi aut culiculi codd. 2 strumae lanus, Mayhoff : struma codd., Detlefsen. " Or, " arrests diarrhoea," " binds the bowels. * Literally, " cures strangury." 430 BOOK XXVII. xLiii. 67-xLvi. 70 this account of chrysolachanum is inadequate, yet I find no more detail given, for a further fault of which our modern herbahsts, at least, are guilty is that they have described but briefly, and even by a mere name, plants well known to themselves just as if these were generally famiHar. They say, for instance, that coagulum terrae (earth rennet) is constipating " and diuretic ^' if taken in water or wine, and that (XLI\^ the pounded leaves of cuculhis with vinegar cure the bites of serpents and the stings of scorpions. Some give this plant another name, strumus, others the Greek name of strychnus. It has bhick berries ; a cyathus of juice from these, with two of honey wine, is good treatment for lumbago, as also for headache if used with rose oil for bathing the brow, while for scrofulous sores the plant itself is appUed locally. XLV. Conferva is pecuhar to running streams, Conferva. Alpine in particuLar, so named from conferuminare, to solder together. It is more Hke a fresh-water sponge than a moss or vascular plant, being a hairy, dense, and porous mass. To my knowledge a man who, prun- ing a very high tree, fell and broke nearly all his bones, was treated with this plant. His entire body was en- veloped in it ; whenever it dried it was sprinkled with its native water but rarely taken off, only in fact for renewals when the plant lost its strength. The patient recovered in an almost incredibly short time. XLVI. The Cnidian grain has the colour of kermes- Coccns red, and in size is larger than a peppercorn. Its '^'" *"*" heating properties are so great that it is swallowed in bread, lest it should scorch the throat in its passage. A sovereign remedy for hemlock poisoning, it also checks looseness of the bowels. 431 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY 71 XLV^II. Dipsacos folia habet lactucae bullasque spinosas in dorsi medio, caulem duum cubitorum isdem spinis horridum, genicula eius binis foliis amplectentibus concavo alarum sinu in quo subsistit ros salsus. in caeumine capitula sunt echinata spinis. nascitur in aquosis. sanat rimas sedis, item fistulas decocta in vino radice usque dum sit crassitudo cerae, ut possit in fistulas colljirium mitti, item verrucas omnium generum. quidam et alarum quas supra diximus sucum inUnunt his. 72 XLVIII. Dryopteris felicis similis in arboribus nascitur, tenui foliorum subdulcium incisura, radice hirsuta. vis ei caustica est, ideo et psilotrum est radix tusa, inlinitur enim usque dum sudores evocet iterum et tertium ita ne sudor abluatur. 73 XLIX. Drabe phono ^ similis herba est cauliculis tenuibus cubitalibus, circumdatis utrimque foliis poUicari amplitudine qualia oxymyrsines, sed candi- dioribus mollioribusque, flore candido sabuci. edunt cauHculos decoctos, semine vero eius pro pipere utuntur. 74 L. Elatine folia habet casiae,^ pusilla, pilosa, rotunda, semipedaUbus ramuUs quinis senisque a radice statim foliosis. nascitur in segete, acerba gustu et ideo oculorum fluctionibus efficax foliis cum polenta tritis et inpositis, subdito Unteolo. eadem ' drabe phono Detlefsen coll. indice Pl. et XXI § 95 : draeffono VRE : draphono d : dryophonon Caesarius. ^ casiae codd. : helxinae e Dioscoride Hermolaus Barbarus. 432 BOOK XXVII. xLvii. 71-L. 74 XLVII. Dipsacos has leaves like those of lettuce, Dipsacus. with prickly knobs on the middle of their backs. The stem, two cubits long and rough with the same prickles, has joints enfolded by pairs of leaves, forming hollow axils in which collects a salt, dewy fluid. On the top of the stem are httle heads, which bristle with prickles. The plant grows on watery ground. A decoction of the root in wine heals chaps of the anus ; fistulas as well, but the decoction must be reduced to the consistency of wax, so that a suppository may be inserted into the fistula. It also removes warts of all kinds, for which purpose some apply the juice that is found in the axils which I mentioned above. XLVIII. Dryopteris, which is hke fern, grows on Dryopteris trees ; it has sw eetish leaves with a shght indentation and a hairy root. It has caustic properties, so that its crushed root is also used as a depilatory, for it is rubbed on until the skin sweats, and then again and a third time without Mashing the sweat away." XLIX. Drabe is a similar plant to phonos, with Drabe. slender stalks a cubit high surrounded on either side by leaves the size of a thumb, similar to those of oxymyrsine, but whiter and softer. The blossom is white and hke that of the elder. The stalks are eaten boiled, but its seed is used instead of pepper. L. Elatine has leaves hke those of cassia, very Eiaiine. small, shaggy and round, with five or six httle branches, half a foot long, which are covered with leaves right from the root. The plant grows among the corn, is harsh to the taste and therefore good for fluxes of the eyes ; the leaves are pounded with pearl barley and apphed, a napkin being placed under- " Or, " 80 that the sweating may not be interrupted." 433 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY cum lini semine cocta sorbitionis usu dysinteria liberat. 75 LI. Empetros, quam nostri calcifragam vocant, nascitur in montibus maritimis, fere in saxo. quae propius mari fuit salsa est potaque trahit bilem ac pituitas, quae longius magisque terrena amarior sentitur. trahit aquam, sumitur autem in iure aliquo aut in hydromeHte, vetustate vires perdit, recens urinas ciet decoctum in aqua vel tritum calculosque frangit. qui fidem promisso huic quae- runt, adtirmant lapillos qui subfervefiant una rumpi. 76 LII. Epicactis ab aliis elleborine vocatur, parva herba, exiguis foHis, iocineris vitiis utilissima et contra venena pota. LIII. Epimedion caulis est non magnus hederae fohis denis atque duodenis, numquam florens, radice tenui, nigra, gravi odore ac^ . . . in umidis nascitur. et huic spissandi refrigerandique natura, feminis cavenda. foha in vino trita virginum mammas cohibent. 77 LIV. Enneaphyllon longa foha novena habet causticae naturae. inponitur lana circumdatima ne urat latius, continuo enim pusulas excitat, lumborum doloribus et coxendicum utihssimum. 78 LV. Fihcis duo genera. nec florem habent nec semen. pterim vocant Graeci, aUi blachnon, cuius ex ^ ac VdT : hac R : om. E Sillig, Detlefsen : lacunam indicat Mayhojf e Diosc. IV 19 (pl^ai. . . . yevaaijUva) [uopai). " Littre : " entre deux linges." * Littre : " prise en potage." ' Of dropsy ? ^ This seems to be the force of atjue, but Dioscorides has only ^. 434 BOOK XXVII. L. 74-Lv. 78 neath." The plant boiled vvith linseed makes a gruel ** that cures dysentery. LI. Empetros, called calcifraga by us Romans, Empetws. is found on coastal mountains, generally on a rock. When it has grown near the sea it is salt, and taken in drink brings away bile and phlegms ; when farther ofF and in deeper soil it tastes moi'e bitter. It brings away fluid,*^ and is taken in broth of some kind or in hydromel. When stale it loses its potency, but when fresh and boiled down in water or beaten up it is diuretic and breaks up stone in the bladder. Those who seek to vvin belief in this assurance assert that pebbles boiled with it are broken up. LII. Epicactis, called by some elleborine, is a EykacHs. small plant with tiny leaves ; taken in drink it is very useful for Hver complaints and to counteract poisons. LIII. Epimedion is a stem, not large, with ten or Epimedion. even ^ twelve leaves like ivy leaves. It never flowers, has a slender, blackish, evil-smelHng root, and . . .* This plant, which grows in damp soils, is one of those with braeing and cooHng properties, and should be avoided by women. Its leaves, beaten up in wine, check the growth of maidens' breasts. LIV. Enneaphyllon has nine long leaves, and is oi Enneaphyi- a caustic nature. When appUed it is wrapped up in ""* wool, lest it cauterize too far,/ for it raises bhsters immediately . It is very good for the pains of lumbago and sciatica. LV. Ferns are of two kinds, neither having blossom FiUx. or seed. Some Greeks call pteris, others blachnon, the kind from the sole root of which shoot out several ' MayhofF would fill u]} the lacuna by gustu languido, " an insipid taste," from Dioscorides. f Perhaps, " too deeply." 435 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY una radice conplures exeunt filices bina etiam cubita excedentes longitudine, non graves odore. hanc marem existimant. alterum genus thelypterim Graeci vocant, alii nymphaeam pterim, est autem singularis atque non fruticosa, brevior molUorque et 79 densior, foliis ad radicem canahculata. utriusque radice sues pinguescunt, folia utriusque lateribus pinnata, unde nomen Graeci inposuere. radices utriusque longae in oblicum, nigrae, praecipue cum inaruere. siccari autem eas sole oportet. nascuntur ubique, sed maxime frigido solo. effodi debent vergiUis occidentibus. usus radicis in trimatu tan- tum, neque ante nec postea. pellunt interaneorum animaHa, ex his taenias cum meUe, cetera ex vino dulci triduo potae, utraque stomacho inutiUssima. alvum solvit primo bilem trahens, mox aquam, meUus 80 taenias cum scamonii pari pondere. radix eius pondere duum obolorum ex aqua post unius diei abstinentiam bibitur, meUe praegustato, contra rheumatismos. neutra danda muUeribus, quoniam gravidis abortum, ceteris steriUtatem facit. farina earum ulceribus taetris inspergitur, iumentorum quo- que in cervicibus. foUa cimicem necant, serpentem non recipiunt, ideo substerni utile est in locis sus- pectis, usta etiam fugant nidore. fecere medici « Dioscorides (IV 184) has inroBvawST], " rather rank." ' The Greek Trrepov means " feather." ' Both Detlefsen and Mayhoff omit the comma after praegustafo. To do so improves the run of the sentence : " taking honey beforehand to prevent fluxes." But it leaves unmentioned the ailment for which this particular treatment 436 BOOK XXVII. Lv. 78-80 other ferns exceeding even two cubits in length, with a not unpleasant smel]." This is considered male. The other kind the Greeks call thelypteris, some nymphaea ptei-is. It has only one stem, and is not bushy, but shorter, softer and more compact than the other, and channelled with leaves at the root. The root of both kinds fattens pigs. In both kinds the leaves are pinnate on either side, whence the Greeks have named them " pteris." * The roots of both are long, slanting, and blackish, especially when they have lost moisture ; they should, however, be dried in the sun. Ferns grow every- where, but especially in a cokl soil. They ought to be dug up at the setting of the Pleiades. The root must be used only at the end of three years, neither earher nor later. Ferns expel intestinal worms, tape- worms when taken with honey, but for other worms they must be taken in sweet wine on three consecutive days ; both kinds are very injurious to the stomach. Fern opens the bowels, bringing away first bile, then fluid, tapeworms better with an equal weight of scammony. To treat catan-hal fluxes two oboH by weight of the root are taken in water after fasting for one day, with a taste of honey beforehand." Neither fern should be given to women, since either causes a miscarriage when they are pregnant, and barrenness when they are not. Reduced to powder they are sprinkled over foul ulcers as well as on the necks of draught animals. The leaves kill lice and will not harbour snakes, so that it is well to spread them in suspected places ; by the smell too when burnt they drive away these creatures. Among ferns also was a remedy ; it is naturally, in spite of the order of words, rheumatismi. 437 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY huius quoque herbae discrimen, optima Macedonica est, secunda Cassiopica. 81 LVI. Femur bubulum appellatur herba nervis et ipsa utilis recens in aceto ac sale trita. LVII. Galeopsis aut, ut aHi, galeobdolon vel gaHon caulem et folia habet urticae leviora et quae gravem odorem trita reddant, flore purpureo. na^citur circa saepes ac semitas ubique. foHa caulesque duritias et carcinomata sanant ex aceto trita et inposita, item strumas, panos, parotidas discutiunt. ex usu est et decoctae suco fovere. putrescentia quoque et gangraenas sanat cum sale. 82 LVIII. Glaux antiquitus eugalacton vocabatur, cytiso et lenticulae foHis simiHs ; aversa candidiora. rami in terram serpunt quini seni admodum tenues a radice. floscuH purpurei exeunt.^ invenitur iuxta mare. coquitur in sorbitione similaginis ad exci- tandam ubertatem lactis. eam qui ^ hauserint baHneis uti convenit. 83 LIX. Glaucion in Syria et Parthia nascitur, humilis herba densis foHis fere papaveris, minoribus tamen sordidioribusque, odoris taetri, gustus amari cum adstrictione. granum habet crocei coloris. hoc in olla fictiH luto circumHta in cHbanis calfaciunt, deinde exempto sucum exprimunt eiusdem nominis. usus et suci et foHorum, si terantur, adversus epiphoras ^ exeunt] Ut Mayhoff hic distinguo. 2 qui codd., Detlefsen, Mayhoff : quae vet. Dal., Sillig : May- hoff coni. cumque. " A town in Corcyra. * Et ipsa might mean " even by itself," " without further addition." The translation takes it to be : " itself also." ' Xote this meaning of ez itsu est. See XXV § 175. ** The qui is strange, and may be an early mistake for quae. 438 BOOK XXVII. Lv. 80-Lix. 83 physicians have their preference ; the Macedonian is the best, the next best comes from Cassiope." LVI. Femur biibulum (" ox thigh ") is the name Fmnr given to a plant which, appHed fresh and beaten up in " " '""' vinegar and salt, is one of the remedies ^ beneficial for the sinews. LVII. Galeopsis, called by some galeobdolon or Gaieopsis. gaHon, has stem and leaves like those of the nettle, but smoother, and giving ofF when beaten up an offensive smell ; the flower is purple. It grows along hedges and lanes eveiywhere. Its leaves and stalks, beaten up in vinegar and appHed, cure indurations and maHgnant growths, dispersing scrofulous sores, superficial abscesses and parotid swellings. It is also beneficial <^ to use the juice of a decoction as a fomen- tation. With the addition of salt moreover it heals festering sores and gangrenes. LVIII. Glaux, called of old eugalacton, has leaves aimix. Hke those of cytisus and the lentil ; they are whiter underneath. The branches, five or six in number, extremely slender and springing from the root, He along the ground ; on them form small, purple blossoms. It is found near the sea, and is boiled in similago porridge to stimulate a rich supply of milk ; those who <^ have drunk a dose should proceed to a bath. LIX. Glaucion grows in Syria and Parthia, a low oiaucion. plant, with tightly packed leaves, rather Hke those of the poppy but smaller and dirtier looking ; it has a foul smell and a bitter, astringent taste. The seed, of a saffron colour, is put into a pot luted mth fuller's clay and heated in an oven. Then it is taken out, and a juice of the same name is extracted from it. Both the juice and beaten-up leaves are used for the 439 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY quae universo impetu cadant. hinc temperatur collvrium quod medici dia glauciu vocant. lactis quoque ubertas intermissa restituitur. sumitur huius rei causa ex aqua. 84 LX. Glycyside, quam aliqui paeoniam aut pentoro- bon vocant, caulem habet duum palmorum,^ comi- tantibus duobus aut tribus, subrutilum, cute lauri, foHa qualia isatis, pinguiora rotundioraque et minora, semen in siliquis, aHud grano rubente, aliud nigro. 85 duo autem genera sunt : femina existimatur cuius radicibus ceu balani longiores circiter octo aut sex adhaerent. mas plures non habet, quoniam una radice nixus est palmi altitudine, candida, quae gustu adstringit. feminae foHa murram redolent et densiora sunt. nascuntur in silvis. tradunt nocte effodiendas, quoniam interdiu periculosum sit pico Martio inpetum in oculos faciente ; radix vero cum efFodiatur, periculum esse ne sedes procidat, magna vanitate ad ostentationem rei flctum arbitror. usus 86 in his diversus. rubra grana rubentes menses sistunt XV fere pota in vino nigro. nigra grana vulvis medentur ex passo aut vino totidem pota. radix omnes ventris dolores sedat in vino alvumque purgat, sanat opisthotonum, morbum regium, renes, vesicam, arteriam autem et stomachum decocta in vino, alvumque sistit. estur etiam in alimentis,^ sed in 1 palmorum phriqiie codd. (sic Dioscorides), Mayhoff : cubi- torum Er, vulg., Detlefsen. 2 in alimentis lanus, Mayhoff, cod. Murbacensis : contra malum mentis RE mUg., Dethjsen. ^ Some old editions have universae uno impetu cadunt, " all together, at one rush." ' The Greek 8ia yXavKiov, " made from glaucion." ' See Book X § 40. 440 BOOK XXVII. Lix. 83-Lx. 86 fluxes that fall in streams from the whole eye." There is made from it a salve called by physicians diaglauciu.^ It also restores a rich supply of milk if this fails. When taken for this purpose, water is the medium. LX. Glycyside, called by some paeonia or pentoro- Giycyside. bon, has a stem two spans high ; two or three others go with it. This stem is reddish, with bark Hke that of bay ; the leaves resemble those of isatis, only more fleshy, rounder, and smaller. The seed is in pods, with some grains red, some black. There are however two kinds of the plant. The one to the roots of wliich are attached about six or eight rather long bulbs hke acorns is regai-ded as female. The male has no more bulbs, since it is supported only by a single root, a span deep, white, and astringent to the taste. The leaves of the female smell of myn-h, and are closer together. The plants grow in woods. It is said that they should be dug up by night, because to do so in the daytime is dangerous, for the woodpecker called " bird of Mars " «^ assaults the eyes. That there is a danger, however, of prolapsus of the anus when a root is being dug up, I hold to be a very fraudulent lie, calculated to exaggerate the real facts. These plants are of manifold use. The red grains check red menstrual discharge, about fifteen being taken in dark-red wine. The black grains are healing to the uterus, the same number being taken in raisin or ordinary ^\ine. The root in wine relieves all pains of the belly, opens the bowels, cures opisthotonic tetanus, jaundice, and complaints of the kidneys and bladder ; for the trachea and the stomach however a decoction in wine is used, which also acts astringently on the bowels. It is eaten too as a food, but as a 441 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 87 medendo quattuor drachmae satis sunt. grana nigra auxiliantur et suppressionibus nocturnis in vino pota quo dictum est numero, stomachicis vero et rosionibus et esse eam et inlinere prodest. suppurationes quo- que discutiuntur, recentes nigro semine, veteres rubro. utrumque auxiliatur a serpente percussis et pueris contra calculos incipiente ^ stranguria. 88 LXI. Gnaphalium aliqui chamaezelon vocant, cuius foliis albis molUbusque pro tomento utuntur, sane et similia sunt. datur in vino austero ad dysinteriam, ventris solutiones mensesque muherum sistit. infunditur autem tenesmo. inUnitur et putrescentibus ulcerum. 89 LXII. Gallidragam vocat Xenocrates leucacantho similem, palustrem et spinosam, caule ferulaceo alto, cui summo capite inhaereat simile ovo. in hoc crescente aestate vermiculos nasci tradit quos pyxide conditos adalligari cum pane bracchio ab ea parte qua dens doleat, mireque ilico dolorem tolH. valere non diutius anno et ita si ten'am non adtigerint. 90 LXIII. Holcus in saxis nascitur siccis. aristas habet in cacumine, tenui culmo, quale hordeum restibile. haec circa caput alligata vel circa lacertum educit e corpore aristas. quidam ob id aristida vocant. LXIV. Hyoseris intubo simiUs, sed minor et tactu asperior, volneribus contusa praeclare medetur. ^ incipiente codd. : incipientes MayhojJ, qui confert Diosc. III 140 apxas XidLdaeojs ■napai.TOvvTaL. ° The emendation of Mayhoff, though easy and ingenious, is not necessary, for the passage in Dioscorides is rather vague and makes no mention of strangury. 442 BOOK XXVII. Lx. 86-Lxiv. 90 medicine tbur drachmae are enough. The black grains, taken in wine to the number mentioned, also prevent nightmares, while for stomach ache and for gnawing colic it is beneficial both to eat them and to apply them locally. Suppurations too are dispersed, recent by the black seed and old by the red. Both kinds are good for snake bites, and to cure stone in children when strangury is beginning." LXI. Gnaphahum is called by some chamaezelon ; GnaphaUvm. its pale, soft leaves are used as flock ; the two indeed are similar. It is given in a dry wine for dysentery, arrests fluxes of the belly and excessive menstruation, is injected for tenesmus and applied to festering ulcers. LXII. Xenocrates calls galUdraga a prickly marsh- Oaiudraga. plant like leucacanthus, with a tall stem Hke fennel- giant, on the top of which is perched an egg-shaped ball. In this, he says, as summer advances, are bred maggots, which are kept in a box and attached with bread, as an amulet, to the arm on the same side as an aching tooth, and the pain disappears at once in a wonderful manner. These maggots, he says, retain their potency for not more than a year, and then only if they have not touched the ground. LXIII. Holcus grows on dry rocks. The plant is hoIcus. Hke barley that has grown again after cutting, with ears at the top of a slender straw. Tied round the head or round the arm this plant ^ draws ears (aristas) from the flesh, for which reason some call it aristis. LXIV. Hyoseris is like endive, but smaller and Hyoseris. rougher to the touch ; crushed it is a splendid remedy for wounds. * Haec might be arisia. 443 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY 91 LXV. Holosteon sine duritia est herba ex adverso appellata a Graecis, sicut fel dulce, radice tenui ^ usque in capillamenti speciem, longitudine quattuor digitorum, ceu gramen foliis angustis, adstringens gustu. nascitur in collibus terrenis. usus eius ad vulsa, rupta in vino potae. et volnera quoque conglutinat, nam et carnes, dum coquuntur, addita. 92 LXVI. Hippophaeston nascitur in spinis ex quibus fiunt aenae fulloniae, sine cauHculo, sine flore, capitulis tantum inanibus et foHis parvis multis, herbacei coloris, radiculas habens ^ albas, molles. sucus earum exprimitur aestate ad solvendam alvum tribus obolis, maxime in comitialibus morbis et tre- mulis, hydropicis, contra vertigines, orthopnoeas, paralysis incipientes. 93 LXVII. Hypoglossa foHa habet figura silvestris myrti, concava,^ spinosa et in his ceu Hnguas foHa parva exeuntia e* foHis. capitis dolores corona ex his inposita minuit. LXVIII. Hypecoon in segetibus nascitur foHis rutae. natura eius eadem quae papaveris suco. ^ radice tenui ego, q-ui Hermolai Barbari tenui radice invcrio : radice tenuis MayhofJ : tenuis codd., Detlefsen. Dioscorides (IV 11) pL^av Se a(fi68pa XenTTjv cuj Tpixa. 2 habens vulg. Dellefsen : om. codd. : radiculae albae Maylwff. ^ concava codd., vulg. : coma e Dioscoride Mayhoff, qui eiiam comantia coni. * folia parva exeuntia e foliis co7ii. Mayhoff : folio parvo exeunte de foliis codd., Dcilefsen, Mayhoff in textu. " A strange phrase, which should mean : " grows among etc." * The sense is the same whichever reading is adopted. 444 BOOK XXVII. Lxv. 91-LXV111. 93 LXV. Holosteon (all-bone) is a plant with nothing Hoiosieon. hard about it, the name being an antiphrasis coined by the Greeks, just as they call gall sweet. Its root is so slender as to look like hair. Four fingers long, the plant has naiTow leaves like grass and an astrin- gent taste, growing on hills with deep soil. Taken in wine for sprains and ruptures it also closes wounds, for it even fastens together pieces of meat when boiled with them. LXVI. Hippophaeston is to be found " among the Hippo- tliorns out of which fullers' pots are made up, having ^ "'* "'"' no stem, no blossom, but only Httle, hollow heads and many small leaves of the colour of grass. Its httle roots are whitish and soft.* Their juice is extracted in summer ; the dose to open the bowels is three oboU, being used especially in epilepsy, palsy, dropsy, and to treat giddiness, oi-thopnoea, and incipient paralysis. LXVII. Hypoglossa has leaves shaped Uke those of Hypogiossa. wild myrtle, concave, prickly, and on them as it were tongues, small leaves growing out of the leaves proper. A chaplet made from these and placed on the head reUeves headache.' LXVIII. Hypecoon grows in cornfields and has Hypecoon. leaves Uke those of rue. Its properties are those of Poppy juice. ' Dioscorides has (IV 129) : daixvloKOs eWt fxvpaivr) dypia Kai XeTTTTJ exciiv tcl cf^vXXa o/xota, Koyurjv §e aKavOwSr] Kal en' aKpov Oiovel yXo^TTiSas, Ttapa^vaeis pi.iKpd'; Trapd. toIs (fivXXoLS. So/cet 8e ij Kofxri T7epiap.ua elvai XPV'^'-!^^^ KC6Ta avTov, inroXevKa, KLaaoei8ij Kai. Trapa to. vXXa eK^XaoTrjaeL^, e(j) wv Kapnos Ktaaa> TrapaTrX-qaios , olovei emKeip.evos Ta> vXXa), aKXrjpos Kal BvaaTToaTTaaros. ' Peri- clymenon fruticat seems to mean ' Periclymenon forms a shrub.' This fits honeysuckle, Lonicera etrusca, to which the name is usually referred. Pliny is inclined to treat any plant name as feminine, regardless of what it is, probably with herba in his mind. Ipsa therefore means ' this plant.' As I study 462 BOOK XXVII. xcii. 118-XCIV. 120 boil it down until the water becomes sweet, pour this ofF, pound the root, and work it into lozenges, which they dry in the sun and use afterwards for sores on the head and all other ailments that call for a deter- gent. Moreover, they give in wine a three-finger pinch for cough, and an electuary made of it for pleurisy or pneumonia. They also give it to be taken in wine for sciatica, for colic, and as an emmenagogue. XCIII. Peplis, called by some syce, by others PepHs. meconion or mecon aphrodes, grows into a shrub from one slender root, and has leaves Hke those of rue but a Httle broader. Under the leaves is a round seed, smaller than that of the white poppy. It is generally gathered among vines at harvest time, and is dried with its seed after a vessel has been placed beneath to catch this. Taken in drink it relaxes the bowels, bringing away bile and phlegm. A moderate dose is an acetabuhim in three heminae of hydromel. It is sprinkled over foods and rehshes to loosen the bowels. XCIV. Periclymenon too is a plant which grows Periciy- into a shrub, having after an interval two leaves '"*"""• which are whitish and soft. And at the top among the leaves is a seed which is hai*d, and difRcult to pluck.* The plant grows in cultivated fields and in hedges, cUmbing round supports of any kind. Its seed is dried in the shade, pounded, and worked up this passage, it seems to me that Pliny in condensing probably omitted a description of the flower-head after fruticat. There is one odd feature of the genus Lonicera. Quite a few of the species have a flower growing on an axillary bracted peduncle. A httle below the flower-head {ex intervaUo) there are two pairs of these bracts, so conjoined that each seems to be a single leaf. This is a fairly distinctive feature, one hkely to be noted for purposes of recognition." (A.C.A.) 463 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY siccatum tunditur et in pastillos digeritur. hi resoluti dantur in vini albi cyathis temis tricenis diebus ad Henem, eumque urina cruentata aut per alvum absumit, quod intellegitur a decimo statim die. urinam cient et folia decocta, quae et orthopnoicis prosunt. partum quoque adiuvant secundasque pellunt pota simili modo. 121 XCV. Pelecinon in segetibus diximus nasci, fruti- cosam cauliculis, foliis ciceris. semen in siliquis fert corniculorum modo aduncis ternis quaternisve, quale git novimus, amarum, stomacho utile. additur in antidota. XCVI. Pol} gala palmi altitudinem inplet, in caule summo foliis lenticulae, gustu adstricto, quae pota lactis abundantiam facit. 122 XCVII. Poterion aut, ut alii vocant, phrynion vel neuras large fruticat, spinis retorrida, lanugine spissa, fohis parvis, rotundis, ramuHs longis, mollibus, lentis, tenuibus, flore longo, herbacei coloris, seminis nullius usus sed gustu acuto et odorato. invenitur in aquosis 123 collibus. radices habet duas aut tres binum cubi- torum in altitudinem, nervosas, candidas, firmas. circumfoditur autumno et praeciso frutice ^ radix ^ dat sucum radix gummis similem. mira vulneribus sanandis traditur praecipueque nervis vel praecisis inHta. decoctum quoque eius ciun melle potum dissolutiones nervorum et infirmitates et incisuras iuvat. ^ praeciso frutice codd. : praecisa radice MayJioff. ^ radix del. Detlejsen. " See Book XVIII § 155. * What is the force ofnovimu,s ? " Like git as we know it," t.e. in the form of imported seed. (A.C.A.) ' Polygala = much milk. 464 BOOK XXVII. xciv. I20-XCVII. 123 into lozenges. These, dissolved in three cyathi of white wine, are given for thirty days to cure splenic alFections, the spleen being reduced either by blood in the urine or thi-ough the bowels, as is plain immedi- ately from the tenth day. The boiled leaves too are diuretic, and also beneficial to asthmatics ; they aid delivery and bring away the after-birth if taken in drink in a similar way. XCV. Pelecinos I have said " grows in comfields. Pelednos. It makes a bushy plant with its stalks, and has leaves Hke those of the chick-pea. It bears seed, Hke git seed as we know it,** in three or four pods curved Hke little horns. This seed is bitter, a good stomachic, and an ingredient of antidotes. XCVI. Polygala is a full span in height, with Poiygaia. leaves, like those of lentil, on the top of the stem, and with an astringent taste. Taken in drink it promotes an abundant supply of milk." XCVII. Poterion, or as some call it, phrynion PoteHon. or neuras, is a spreading shrub, shrivelled and prickly, with thick down, small round leaves, long branches that are soft, flexible and slender, and a long flower of a grass-green colour. The seed is not used in medicine, but has a shai-p, aromatic taste. The plant is found on moist hills. It has two or three roots, two cubits in depth, sinewy, white and firm. It is dug up in autumn, and when the shrub has been cut away,<^ the root yields a juice Hke gum. An appHca- tion of the root is said to be a wonderful healer of wounds, especially of sinews even when they have been severed. A decoction of the root also, taken with honey, is good for relaxed, weak, or cut sinews. ■* There seems no need for Mayhoff's correction. When the top was cut off the root would " bleed." 465 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 124 XCVIII. Phalangitis a quibusdam phalangion vocatur, ab ahis leucanthemum vel, ut in quibusdam exemplaribus invenio, leucacantha. ramuh sunt ei numquam pauciores duobus in diversa tendentes, flos candidus, Hho rubro simihs, semen nigrum, latum,^ ad lenticulae dimidiae figuram, multo tenuius,^ radice tenui, herbacei coloris. huius foho vel flore vel semine auxihantur contra scorpionum phalangiorum- que et serpentium ictus, item contra toiTnina. 125 XCIX. Phyteuma quale sit describere supervacuum habeo, cum sit usus eius tantum ad amatoria. C. Phyllon a Graecis vocatur herba in saxosis montibus. femina magis herbacei coloris, caule tenui, radice parva. semen papaveris ^ rotundo simile. haec sui sexus facit partus, mares autem mas,* semine tantum differens quod est incipientis ohvae. utrumque bibitur in vino. 12(i CI. Phelandrion nascitur in palustribus foho apii. bibitur semen eius propter calculos et vesicae in- commoda. CII. Phaleris thyrsum habet longum, tenuem ceu calamum, in summo florem inchnatimi, semen simile sesamae. et hoc calculos frangit potum ex vino vel aceto vel cum melle et lacte, idem et vitia vesicae sanat. ' semen nigrum latum, Mayhoff : semine nigro !ato, codd. ^ tenuius Jlayhoff : tenuis codd. ' papaveris ego : papaveri codd. * mas Brotier : a codd. " Dioscorides III 108 : aTrepyia 8e TrAaTi), fieXav, woTrep (f^aKov ■^p.Lov, laxvoTepov fievTOL ttoXXo). The Greek decides the readings of the Latin, and also explains the apparent incon- sistency between latum and tenuius. 466 BOOK XXVII. xcviii. 124-cn. 126 XCVIII. Phalangitis is called by some phalangion, PhaXangUis. by others leucanthemum, or, as I find in some copies, leucacantha. It has Httle branches, never fewer than two, which grow in opposite directions ; white flowers hke the red hly in shape, a black, broad seed, of the shape of half a lentil, but much thinner,* and a slender root of a grass-green colour. The leaves, flowers or seed of this plant are of help for the treatment of wounds inflicted by scorpions, poison- ous spiders, and serpents ; they are also good for griping coHc. XCIX. To describe phyteuma is in my opinion a Phyteuma. waste of time, because it is used only for love- philtres. C. Phyllon is the name given by the Greeks to a Phyiion. plant that grows on rocky heights. The female is more grass-green in colour than the male, with a slender stem and a smal! i-oot. The seed is Hke the round seed of a poppv. This kind causes births of its own sex, the male those of males, differing from the female merely in its seed, which resembles that of the oHve when it is just beginning to form. Both kinds are taken in wine. CI. Phelandrion grows in marshy places, and has Phelandrion. leaves resembhng celery. Its seed is taken in drink for *" stone and troubles of the bladder. CII. Phalei-is has a stalk which is long and slender Phaieris. as a reed ; at the top is a drooping flower ; the seed resembles sesame seed, and is one of the remedies that break up stone in the bladder, being taken in wine, vinegar, or with honey and milk ; it also cures complaints of the bladder. * It seems impossible to distinguish in such phrases, propter, contra, ad, adversus. 467 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY CIII. Polyrrhizon folia habet myrti, radices multas. hae tusae dantur e vino contra serpentes, prosunt et quadripedibus. 127 CIV. Proserpinaca herba vulgaris est, eximii adversus scorpiones remedii. eadem contrita, addita muria et oleo e menis,^ anginam eximie curari tradunt, praeterea et in quantalibet lassitudine recreari defessos, etiam cum obmutuerint, si subi- ciatur Hnguae ; si devoretur, vomitionem sequi salutarem. 128 CV. Rhecoma adfertur ex his quae supra Pontum sunt regionibus. radix costo nigro similis, minor et rufior paulo, sine odore, calfaciens gustu et adstrin- gens. eadem trita vini colorem reddit ad crocum incUnantem. inhta collectiones inflammationesque sedat, vulnera sanat, epiphoras oculorum sedat ex passo, insignita cum melle et alia liventia ex aceto. 129 farina eius inspergitur contra cacoethe et sanguinem reicientibus drachmae pondere in aqua, dysintericis etiam et coeliacis, si febri careant, in vino, sin aliter, ex aqua. faciUus teritur nocte antecedente made- facta. datur et decoctum eius bibendum duplici mensura ad rupta, convolsa, contusis, ex sublimi 130 devolutis, si pectoris sint dolores, additur piperis aliquid et murrae, si dissolutio stomachi, ex frigida aqua sumitur, sic et in tussi vetere ac purulentis excreationibus, item hepaticis, splenicis, ischiadicis, ad ^ renium vitia, suspiria, orthopnoeas. arteriae ^ et oleo e menis hoc ordine codd. : e menis et oleo Mayhoff. * ad codd. : at Mayhoff, qui post isehiadicis punctum, post orthopnoeas comma ponit. " Mayhoff's reading : " oil and sprats-brine. 468 BOOK XXVII. ciii. 126-CV. 130 CIII. Polyrrhizon has leaves like those of myrtle, PoiyrrMion. and many roots These are pounded and given in wine for snake bite. They are also of benefit when I quadrupeds are bitten. CIV. Proserpinaca is a common plant, and an Proser- excellent remedy for scorpion stings. It also, they ''"""^''' say, when thoroughly crushed and mth the addition of brine and sprats-oil," makes an excellent remedy for quinsy ; moreover, however tired one may be, even so weary as to lose ones voice, to put it under the tongue is said to dispel the fatigue ; also that to swallow it results in healthful vomiting. CV. Rhecoma is imported from the regions beyond nhecoma. Pontus. The root resembles dark costus, but is smaller and a httle redder, without smell but vAth a hot, astringent taste. When pounded it also is of a wine-hke colour, but incHning to saffron. Used as Hniment it reduces gatherings and inflammations, and heals wounds ; in raisin wine it reHeves eye- fluxes ; ^^dth honey it removes dark bruises, and in vinegar other livid marks. Powdered it is sprinkled over maHgnant sores ; for spitting of blood a drachma by weight is taken in water ; for dysentery too and coeHac disease, should no fever be present, it is given in wine, but where there is fever, in water. It is easier to pound if it is steeped the night before. Its decoction too is given, to be drunk in double doses, for ruptures, sprains, bruises, and tumbles frora a height. Should there be pains in the chest, a Httle quantity of pepper and myrrh is added ; should the stomach be relaxed, it is taken in cold water; so also for chronic cough and spitting of pus, Hke- wise for Hver complaints, spleen complaints, sciatica, kidney ti-oubles, asthma, and orthopnoea. Rough- 469 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY scabritias sanat ex passo tribus obolis potis trita aut decoctum eius. lichenas quoque ex aceto inposita purgat. bibitur contra inflationes et perfrictiones, febres frigidas, singultus, tormina, herpetas, capitis gravitates, melancholicas vertigines, lassitudinum dolores et convolsiones. 131 CVI. Circa Ariminum nota est herba quam rese- dam vocant. discutit collectiones inflammationesque omnes. qui curant ea addunt haec verba : Reseda, morbis reseda, scisne, scisne quis hic puUus egerit radices? nec caput nec pedes habeat. haec ter dicunt totiensque despuunt. CVII. Stoechas in insuHs tantum eiusdem nominis gignitur, odorata herba coma hvsopi, amara gustu. menses ciet potu, pectoris dolores levat. antidotis quoque miscetur. 132 CVIII. Solanum Graeci oTpvxvov vocant, ut tradit Cornelius Celsus. huic vis reprimendi refrigerandi- que. 133 CIX. Smvrnion caulem habet apii, foHa latiora et maxime cii-ca stolones multos quorum a sinu exiliunt, pinguia et ad tei*ram infracta, odore medicato cum quadam acrimonia iucundo, colore in luteum langue- " A pun on the noun and the verb. *" Dioscorides says thyme, III 26 : o^iolav exovaa Bvfiw Kofi-qv, but vaacoTTos occurs a few ■words later. See also the note on coma, p. 482. ' See Book II 33. In Book \'I 6, 2 Celsua speaks of medi- camenta reprim^ntia. ■* Perhaps " parsley." 470 BOOK XXVII. cv. 130-CIX. 133 ness of the trachea is cured by three-oboli doses of it pounded and taken in raisin wine, or by its decoction. Lichen also is cleared away by an appHcation of the root in vinegar. It is taken in drink for flatulence, chills, feverish shivers, hiccough, coUc, herpes, heavi- ness of the head, bilious giddiness, tired pains, and sprains. C\^I. Around Ariminum is well known the plant Reseda. called reseda. It disperses all gatherings and in- flammations. Those who use it in treatment add these words : Reseda, allay " diseases ; Dost know, dost know, what chick here uprooted thee ? May he have neither head nor feet. They say these words three times, and spit three times on the ground. CVII. Stoechas grows only in the islands of the stoechas. same name, a fragrant plant with the foliage of hyssop ^ and a bitter taste. Taken in drink it is an emmenagogue, and relieves pains in the chest. It is also an ingredient of antidotes. C\TII. Solanum according to CorneUus Celsus <^ is Sohwim. called arpvxvov by the Greeks. It has repressive and cooling properties. CIX. Smyrnion has a stem Uke that of celery,'' and Smyrnion. rather broad leaves, which grow mostly about its many shoots, from the curve of which they spring; they are juicy,« bending towards the ground, and with a drug-Uke smell not unpleasing with a sort of sharpness. The colour shades off to yeUow ; the heads * Dioscorides for pinguia has inroXiTrapa. 471 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY scente, capitibus caulium orbiculatis ut apii, semine rotundo nigroque ^ ; arescit incipiente aestate. radix quoque odorata gustu acri mordet, sucosa, mollis. cortex eius foris niger, intus pallidus. odor murrae 134 habet qualitatem, unde et nomen. nascitur et in saxosis collibus et in terrenis. usus eius calfacere, extenuare. urinam et menses cient folia et radix et semen, alvum sistit radix, collectiones et suppura- tiones non veteres item duritias discutit inlita. prodest et contra phalangia ac serpentes admixto cachry aut poho aut mehssophyllo in vino pota, sed particulatim, quoniam universitate vomitionem movet : qua de causa ahquando cum ruta datur, 135 medetur tussi et orthopnoeae semen vel radix, item thoracis aut henis aut renium aut vesicae vitiis, i-adix autem ruptis, convolsis. partus quoque adiuvat et secundas pellit. datur et ischiadicis cum crethmo in vino. sudores ciet et ructus, ideo inflationem stomachi discutit, vulnera ad cicatricem perducit. 136 exprimitur et sucus radici utihs feminis et thoracis praecordiorumque desideriis, calfacit enim et conco- quit et purgat. semen pecuhariter hydropicis datur potu, quibus et sucus inhnitur. et ad malagmata ^ cortice arido et ad obsonia utuntur cum mulso et oleo et garo, maxime in ehxis carnibus. sinon concoctiones facit sapore similhma piperi. eadem in dolore stomachi efficax. * nigroque Mayhoff : nigro quod Basileensis editio, Detlef- sen : nigro qui codd. 2 ad malagmata ego : in malagmate Mayhoff : malagmate aut malagmata sine praepositione codd. " E.g. a cough, catarrh or induration. * Professor Andrews thinks that there is a lacuna after arido. 472 BOOK XXVII. cix. 133-136 of the stems are umbellate, as ave those of celery; the seed is round and black. It withers at the begin- ning of summer. The root too has a smell, and a sharp, biting taste, being soft and full of juice. Its skin is dark on the outside, but the inside is pale. The smell has the character of myrrh, whence too the plant gets its name. It grows on rocky hills, and also on those with plenty of earth. It is used for warming and for reducing." Leaves, root, and seed are diuretic and emmenagogues. The root binds the bowels, and an apphcation of it disperses gatherings and suppurations, if not chronic, as well as indura- tions ; mixed with cachry, poHum, or meHssophyllum, it is also taken in wine to counteract the poison of spiders and serpents, but only a Httle at a time, for if taken all at once it acts as an emetic, and so is some- times given with rue. Seed or root is a remedy for cough and orthopnoea, also for affections of thorax, spleen, kidneys or bladder, and the root is for rup- tures and sprains ; it also faciHtates deHvery and brings away the after-birth. In wine with crethmos it is also given for sciatica. It promotes sweating and belching, and therefore dispels flatulence of the stomach. It causes wounds to cicatrize. There is also extracted fi'om the root a juice useful for female ailments, and for affections of the thorax and of the hypochondi-ia, for it is waiTning, digestive and cleansing. The seed is given in drink, especially for dropsy, for which the juice also is used as Hniment. The dried skin is used in plasters, and also as a side- dish ^ with honey wine, oil and garum, especiaUy when the meat is boiled. Sinon tastes veiy Hke pepper and aids digestion. sino7i. It also is very good for pain in the stomach. 473 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY 137 CX. Telephion porcilacae similis est et caule et foliis. rami a radice septeni octonique fruticant foliis ci-assis, carnosis. nascitur in cultis et maxime inter vites. inlinitur lentigini et, cum inaruit, deteritur. inlinitur et vitiligini ternis fere mensibus, senis horis noctis aut diei,^ postea farina hordeacia inUnatur. medetur et vuhieribus et fistuhs. 138 CXI. Ti-ichomanes adianto simile est, exihus modo nigriusque, fohis lenticulae densis, parvis,^ adversis inter se. decoctum eius strangurias sanat in vino albo potum addito cumino rustico. esum ^ cohibet capillos fluentes, aut si effluxerint, repai'at, alopecias- que densat tritum et in oleo inhtum. sternumenta quoque gustatu movet. CXII. Thahctrum foha coriandri habet pinguiora paulo, caulem papaveris. nascitur ubique, praecipue in campestribus. medentur ulceribus foha cum melle. 139 CXIII. Thlaspi duorum generum est : angustis fohis digitah latitudine et longitudine in teiTam versis, in cacumine divisis, cauhculo semipedah, non sine ramis, peltarum specie semine incluso lenticulae effigie, nisi quod infringitur, unde nomen. flos albi- cat. nascitur in semitis et saepibus. semen asperi gustus bilem et pituitam utrimque extrahit, modus ^ Hic et ut add. Mayhoff : aut VRd^ - parvis e Theophrasto (VII 14. 1) Mayhoff : amaris codd. ^ esum lanus : lienem Mayhoff coll. Diosc. : iesum codd. " With Mayhoff's adclition of lienem, " and also splenic disease." * See hst of diseases. * Dioscorides IV 97 : (f>vXXa . . . Xmapwrepa. ^ See Dioscorides II 156 : olovel ivredXaayiivov. Pelta:. were 474 BOOK XXVII. cx. 137-CX111. 139 CX. Telephion resembles purslane in both stem TeiepMon. and leaves. Seven or eight branches from the root make a bushy plant \vith coarse, fleshy leaves. It grows on cultivated ground, especially among vines. It is used as hniment for freckles and rubbed ofFwhen dry ; it makes Hniment also for psoriasis, to be apphed for about three months, six hours each night or day ; afterwards barley meal should be apphed. It is also good treatment for wounds and fistulas. CXI. Trichomanes resembles adiantum, but is Tricho- thinner and darker ; the leaves are hke those of ""*"^*- the lentil, closely set, small, and opposite one another. The decoction, taken in white \vine, with wild cummin added, cures strangury." Eaten as food it prevents hair ftilhng oif, or if it has already done so, restores it. Beaten up and apphed in oil it makes a thick growth when there is mange.'' Sneezing too is provoked by the taste. CXII. Thalictrum has coriander-hke leaves, but a TkaUctmm. httle more fleshy ,<= and the stem of a poppy. It grows everywhere, but particularly in flat, meadowy country. The leaves with honey are good treatment for ulcers. CXIII. Thlaspi is of two kinds. One has narrow Thiaspi. leaves, a finger in breadth and length, turned towards the ground, and divided at the tip. The stem is half a foot long, not without branches, and with seed enclosed in shield-hke pods and shaped hke a lentil, except that — hence comes the name — it is indented.'* The blossom is white, and the plant grows in lanes and in hedges. The seed has a sliarp taste and brings away bile and phlegm by both vomit and crescent-shaped shields. Either half of pepper-wort seed-pod is so shaped. 475 PLINY : NATURAL HISTORY sumendi acetabuli mensura. prodest et ischiadicis infusum donec sanguinem trahat. menses quoque 140 ciet, sed partus necat. alterum thlaspi aUqui Per- sicon napy vocant, latis foliis, radicibus magnis, et ipsum utile ischiadicorum infusioni. prodest et inguinibus utraque. praecipitur ut qui colHgat dicat sumere se contra inguina et contra omnes collectiones et contra vulnera, una manu tollat. 141 CXIV. Trachinia herba qualis sit non traditur. credo falsum et promissum Democriti portentosum esse, adalhgatam triduo absumere lienes. CXV. Tragonis sive tragion nascitur in Cretae tantum insulae maritimis, iunipiro simiUs et semine et foUo et ramis. sucus eius lacteus in cummim spissatus vel semen in potione spicula e corpore eicit. tunditur recens et cum vino inUnitur aut siccae farina cum melle. eadem lactis abundantiam facit mam- misque unice medetur. 142 CXVI. Est et aUa herba tragos quam aUqui scorpion vocant, semipedem alta, fruticosa, sine foUis, pusilUs racemis rubentibus grani tritici, acuto cacumine, et ipsa in maritimis nascens. huius racemorum^ x aut xii cacumina trita ex vino pota coeUacis, dysintericis, sanguinem excreantibus men- sumque abundantiae auxiUantur. ^ racemorum e Diosc. Mayhoff : ramorum codd., Detlefsen. * I.e. like an enema. * Probably a mistake of Pliny's. Dioscorides (II 156) has only ayet 8e /cal at/aa. MayhofF would change donec to potione, but the TToOev after alfia is, according to Wellmann, a part of the next clause. ' " Persian mustard." ■* MayhofF's emendation racemorum for the raniorum of the MSS. is confirmed by Dioscorides IV 51 : e-nl Se twv KAaScov 476 BOOK XXVII. cxiii. 139-CXVI. 142 stools. The measure of a dose is an aeetabulum. In- jections " are good for sciatica, if continued until they draw blood.* It is also an emmenagogue but kills the foetus. The other thlaspi is called by some Persicon napy ; " it has broad leaves and large roots, while the plant itself is useful to make an injection for sciatica. Both kinds are good for aflPections of the groin. The picker is recommended to say that he is taking it as a remedy for the groin, all kinds of gatherings, and wounds. He should hft it with one hand. CXIV. We are not told the nature of the plant Trachinia. trachinia. I think it untrue, and the assurance of Democritus fantastic, that used as an amulet it con- sumes the spleen in three days. CXV. Tragonis, or tragion, grows only on the Tragonis. shores of the island of Crete, and resembles juniper in seed, leaf and branches. Its milky juice, hardened into gum, or its seed taken in drink, brings away sharp points embedded in the flesh. For use as Uniment it is beaten up when fresh and apphed ^vith wine, or it is dried, powdered, and applied \vith honey. It also promotes abundance of milk, and is a specific for ailments of the breasts. CXVI. There is also another plant, tragos, called Tragos. by some scorpion, half a foot high, bushy, without leaves, and bearing tiny red clusters with wheat-like seeds, and pointed at the extremity. This plant too grows in coastal districts. Ten or twelve extremities of clusters,'^ pounded and taken in wine, are good for coehac affections, dysentery, spitting of blood, and excessive menstruation. TrpooKtivTat, olovel pdyes p.iKpai, TTVppai, Kara neyedos ■nvpov, o|€tai €77 aKpov . . . rovTov 6 KapiTos, coj payej heKa, aiiv otvw TToOeiai h-oiAia/cot)? Kal poiKas d)(f>e\ovat,. 477 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY CX^^^II. Est et tragopogon quem alii comen vocant, caule parvo, foliis croci, radice longa dulci, super caulem calice lato nigro. nascitur in asperis manditurque, sine usu. 143 CXVIII. Et de herbis quidem memoria digna hactenus accepimus aut comperimus. in fine earum admonere non ab re iudicamus ahas aliis virium aetates esse. longissimo tempore durat elaterium, ut diximus, chamaeleon niger xl annis, centaurium non ultra xii, peucedanum et aristolochia ad vi, vitis silvestris anno, in umbra si serventur. et animalium quidem exterorum nullum ahud radices a nobis dictas adtingit excepta sphondyle quae omnes persequitur. genus id serpentis est. 144 CXIX. Ne illud quidem dubitatur, omnium radi- cum vim efFectusque minui, si fructus prius ematures- cant, item seminum ante radice propter sucum incisa, resolvitur autem omnium vis consuetudine, et desinunt prodesse, cum opus est, quae cottidie in usu fuere aeque quam nocere. omnes vero herbae vehementiores effectu viribusque sunt in frigidis et in aquilonis, item siccis. 145 CXX. Sunt et gentium differentiae non mediocres, sicut accipimus de taeniis lumbi-icisque,inesse Aegypti, Arabiae, Syriae, CiHciae popuUs, e diverso Threciae, Phrygiae omnino non innasci. minus id mirum quam quod in confinio Atticae et Boeotiae Thebanis " See Book XX § 5. * This phrase is probably an interpolation, a marginal note added to the text. ' Or " seed." 478 BOOK XXVII. cxvii. 142-CXX. 145 CXVII. There is also tragopogon, called by some Tragopogon. come, with a small stem, leaves Uke those of saffron, a long, sweet root, and at the top of the stem a broad, dark calyx. It grows on rugged soils, and is eaten but never used in medicine. CXVIII. Such is all that I have been told or dis- Ageand covered worth recoi-ding about plants. At the close, ^pianu! I think it not out of place to add a warning that their properties vary with their age. As I have said,* elaterium lasts longest, dark chamaeleon forty years, centaury not more than twelve, peucedanum and aristolochia up to six, and the w\\d vine one year — that is, if they are kept in the shade. And of ex- ternal animals indeed none attack the roots that I have mentioned except the sphondyle, a kind of creeping thing,* which infests them all. CXIX. There is no doubt either that the potency Dmgs md and efficacy of all roots are lessened if the fruit "^ ^"^*'" ripens before they are dug, and it is the same with seeds if the root has been cut previously for the sake of the juice. The properties moreover of all plants are weakened by habit, and they cease to be bene- ficial when needed if they have been in daily use ; similarly with harmful plants. All plants however have greater efficacy and potency when they grow in cold regions subject to north-east winds, and likewise those that grow in dry. CXX. There are also considerable differences between races. I have heai-d for instance about tapeworms and maw-worms, that they infest the peoples of Egypt, Arabia, Syria and Cilicia, while on the contrary they are never found at all among those of Thrace and Phrygia. This is less remarkable than their being found among the Thebans, but not among 479 PLINY: NATURAL HISTORY innascuntur, cum absint Atheniensibus. quae con- 146 templatio aufert nos ad ipsorum animalium naturas ingenitasque his vel certiores morborum omnium medicinas. rursus enim cum rerum ^ parens nullum animal ad hoc tantum ut pasceretur aut alia satiaret nasci voluit, artesque salutares inseruit et visceribus, quippe cum surdis etiam rebus insereret, tum vero illa animae auxiha praestantissima ex alia anima esse voluit contemplatione ante cuncta mirabili. ' rursus enim cum rerum Mayhoff : rursus enim eam rem tractabimus, quandoquidem natura omnium rerum Detlefsen : rursus enim eam rem (ea re d T) codd. 480 BOOK XXVII. cxx. 145-146 the Athenians, although Attica and Boeotia are adjoining temtories. That thought brings me to the nature of animals themselves, and to the remedies for all diseases, of even greater reHability, that are implanted in them at birth. For again, the Mother of all creation both willed that no animal should be born merely to eat or to satisfy the appetites of others, implanting also healthful medicines in their vitals, be- cause she was implanting them even in unconscious things, and she also willed that those outstanding aids to Ufe should come from another life, a thought be- yond all else most wonderful. VOL. VII. ADDITIONAL NOTES The word coma in Plinj', like Kofir] in Greek, is sometimes perplexing when it is used, not literally, but of a part of a plant or tree. This is especiaUy true when the word folium oecurs in the immediate context. When used in its strict sense coma is the hair of the head, and so can be coupled with barba. We should expect, there- fore, to find it used figuratively of anything that grows at the top of a plant or tree, such as the tuft of a bulrush ; see PUny XXVI § 62 in cacuminibus coma iunci. In several passages, however, coma seems to be foliage generaUj', while folium is used of a single leaf. Examples are : XII § 113. folium proximum tuberi, perpeiua coma. XVI § 84. neque his autem quae semper retinent comwi eademfolia durant. XIX § 102. schislam hieme cum coma sua relinquunt, vere folia detrahunt. In Dioscorides IV § 129 there is a distinct contrast between (f>vXXa and Koiir], which leads MayhofiF in the paraUel passage of PUny (XXVII § 93) to substitute coma for the concava of the MSS. Here Mayhoff suggests, without adopting it, comantia, citing as a paraUel XIII § 59, semper comantibus foliis. Here, however, the addition of semper makes a difference. Leaves can be semper comantia, " evergreen," but one could hardly say that the leaves are " like those of wild myrtle, comantia, spinosa." The passage of Dioscorides reads : yivpaivrj aypiq. . . . exav ra ivXXa o^toia, KopL-qv §€ dKavdwS-q k.t.X. Here there seems to be a real difference between the two words, nor can /cdftT) be a filament, as that could hardly be aKavdwbTjs. There remain those passages where comae means " hair- Hke fiJaments," the clearest being XXVI § 133 : dependere comis iunceis multis, nigris, ut ex eq-uorum cauda. Two dubious instances near the beginning of Book XXVII caU for special notice. In § 26 we have : comae tritae sanguineo suco 482 ADDITIONAL NOTES ■manant, the corresponding words in Dioscorides being (III 156) TTe(f>oimyfievos ra pa/3Sta ; in § 37 : conuie tritae velut cruentant, the Greek being (III 155) dvdr} . . . ev tu) TTapaTpi^rjvai olovel aifxdaaovTa tovs SaKTvXovs. Apparently Pliny here may be locahzing the staining substance. He seems to put it in the filament, the hair-like part of the stamen that supports the anther. Summing up we may say that conia means : (1) everything except the bare skeleton of stem (trunk) and branches, i.e. fohage and its appendages; (2) a tuft; (3) any hair-like part of a plant. Additional Note on XXIV § 166 It is obvious from the phrases pulchros bonosque of this section and pvlchri bonique et fortunati of XXVI § 19, both of which profess to report Democritus, that Pliny had before him some case of KaXos Kayados, and that it, or some variant of it, gives the general sense here. Why the text has been corrupted, as it obviously has, is a puzzle, for the meaning is both clear and easy. The reading of Detlefsen and Mayhofl', with bonis, is hard to translate, implying that the parents must be boni. 1 have printed (within daggers) the vulgate text, which is that of the MS. X. Perhaps the excellcntis of the MS. d is right, and the original was merely excellentis animi et formae with parlum (Mayhoff' suggests excellentem for excel- lentes) understood. Bonos or bonis may be later insertions. Alternatively, formae may be a corruption of formosos or fortunatos. Improbable as this is, it is less improbable than the actual corruptions which occurred in a phrase so plain and so simple. 483 INDEX OF PLANTS Problems incidental to the identification of plants mentioned by Pliny have already been discussed (Vol. VI, Introd., pp. xvi-xviii). The identtfications of such early editors of the Natural Hi&tory as Hardouin (1713), Fee (1826), Bostock and Riley (1855), and Littre (1855) are unreliable, since data on the actual fiora of Italy and Greece were then inexact ; and there has been no systematic, comprehensive approach to the problem in the succeeding century. Many of the plants mentioned by Pliny are discussed also by Dioscorides ; but the more recent editions of Dioscorides, such as those of Berendes (1902) and Gunther (1934), mostly list the identifi- cations of such early scholars as Sprengel, Fraas, and Daubeny. As for Theophrastus, only in the case of Sir William Thiselton- Dyer's rndex of plants in the LCL edition of his Enquiry into Plants by Sir Arthur Hort is consideration given to the scientific enumeration of the native plants of Greece byE.de Halacsy in his Conspectus florae Graecae (1901-1904, supple- ments 1908 and 1912) and special research prosecuted by De Candolle, Hanbury, Yule, Schweinfurth, Bretzl, and others. Halacsy's work has been refined by M. Rikh and E. Rubel in their article, " Uber Flora und Vegetation von Kreta und Griechenland " {Vierteljahrsschrift der naturjorschenden Gesell- schaft in Zurich, 68 [1923], pp. 103-227), and there is also available RikU's general survcy of the Mediterranean flora, Das Pflanzenkleid der Mittelmeerldnder (1943 and 1946). As for Italy, we now have Adriano Fiori's comprehensive survey, Ntiovaflora analitica ^''Italia (1923-1929), and Eugenio Baroni"s briefer compendium, Guida botanica d^Italia (1932). Problems relative to cultivated plants have been considerably clarified by the work of Elisabeth Schiemann {Die Entstehunr/ 485 INDEX OF PLANTS der KnUurpflanzen, 1932) and Karl and Franz Bertsch (Geschichfe nnserer Kulturpilanzen, 2nd ed., 1949). The new edition of the Greek-English Lexicon of Liddell and Scott draws upon most of these sources and is very helpful in those instances in which Pliny cites Greek plant names. Nevertheless, identification of Pliny's plant names is still often diSicult and sometimes impossible. It is necessary frequently to qualify the identiJfication by " probably," " possibly," or " perhaps," or simply to say " unknown." Pliny's practice of citing several secondarv names for a plant, adopted from certain of the pharmaceutical sources he con- sulted, involves much overlapping. In the index, the identifi- cation is regularly coupled with the primary name, and with this the secondary names are equated. Abellana (nux), hazelnut, esp. Conjlus avellana, XV 88, XVI 120, 121, XVII 96, 136, XXII 152, XXIII 145, 150, XXV 138, 148, XXIX 44, XXX 87, 105, XXXVII 56, 81. Abies, silver fir, Abies cephalo- nica and A. pectinata, XII 134, XIII 137, XV 67, XVl 30, 38, 41, 42, 46, 48, 74, 80, 90, 91, 100, 106, 122, 125, 128, 127, 128, 129, 138, 187, 195, 196, 201, 203, 221, 222, 225, 245, XVII 26, 91, 235. Abies as a seaweed (XIII 127) is Cystoseira ahies-m-arina. Abiga = chamaepitys, XXIV 29. Absinthium, wormwood, Arte- misia absinthium, sometimes perhaps A. santonica or pon- tica, XI 194, XII 31, XIV 109. XVIII 305, XIX 179, 186, XX 15, XXI 135, 160, XXII 65, 147, XXm 52, 123, 146, XXIV 133, XXV 73, 145, XXVI 91, 124, 151, XXVII 45-53, XXVIII 203, XXIX 133; = seriphum, XXXH 100. 486 Acacia, Egyptian acacia, Acacia arabica, XX 48, 208, 233, XXIII 65, XXIV 43, 109, XX\T:I 16, XXX 56, 57. Acanthion, usually cotton tliistle, Onopordon acanthium, and probably also O. illyri- cum, but in XXIV 108 a thorn-tree, perhaps Acacia arabica. Acanthis = senecio = erigeron, groundsel, Senecio vulgaris, XXV 168. Acanthus, bear's foot, Acanthus spinosus and moUis, XXII 76, XXV 62, 78, XXVI 137. Acanus, pine-thistle, Atractylis gummifera, or perhaps cotton thistle, Onopordon acanthium, XXII 23. Acer, Montpelier maple, Acer monspessulanum, XII 56, X^T 66-69, 74, 91, 97, 106, 119, 185, 206, 211, 231, 233, XVII 201, XXIX 46, XXXIII 146. Achaemenis, perhaps a variety of ancient milkwort, Euphor- bia antiquorum, XXIV 161, XXVI 18. INDEX OF PLANTS Achilleos (aleo achillea and achillia), Achilles' wound-wort, Achillea ionientosa, A. mille- folium, A. ptannica, and A. magna, XXV 42, 164, XXVI 61, 131, 151. Achne p^rros, mezerlon, Daphne mezereum, XIII 114. Achynops, rib grass, a plantain, Plantago lanceolata ( "'kvvoiIi Theophrastus VII 7, 3), XXI 89, 101 (eraended). Acinos, perhaps wild basil, Ocimum basilicum, or (Littre) acinos, Thymus acinos, XXI 174. Aconitum, wolfs bane, Aconi- twn anthora, VI 4, VIII 100, XX 50, 132, XXII 18. XXIII 43, 92, 135, XXV 16.3, XXVII 4-10, XXVIII 161, XXIX 74, 105. Acopon ( -os) = anagyros, XXVII 30. Acorna, a thistle, perhaps welted thistle, Cnicus acarna, XXI 94, 95. Acoron (-um), yellow flag iris, Iris pseudacorus, or sweet flag, Acorus calamus, XIV 111, XXV 157, 164, XXVI 28, 35, 45, 74,77, 80, 91, 127, 137, 160, 163. In XXV 144 prob- abJy a mistake for corchoron ; in XV 27 = chamaemyrsine ; in XXV 158 = root of oxy- myrsine. Actaea, baneberry, Actaea spic- ata, XXVII 43. Acte, usually the elder, Satn- bucus nigra, identified in XXVI 120 with ebuluni, usu- ally the dwarf elder, S. ebulus. Adamantis,unknown,XXIV 162. Adiantum, black maidenhair, Adiantum capillus Veneris, or maidenhair spleenwort, As- plenium trichomanes, XXI 100, XXII 62-65, XXVII 49, 1.38, XXVIII 163. Adipsos, (1) a kind of date, XII 103; (2) =glycyrrhiza,XXII 26. Ador (adoreum), emmer wheat, Triticum dicoccum, XVIII 14, 81, 103, 166, 191. Aegilops in XVI 22 and 33, Turkey oak, Quercus cerris, elsewhere the grass Aegilops ovata, XVIII 155, XXI 103, XXV 146, XXVI 130. Aegocoras, fenugreek, Trigonella foenum graecum, XXIV 184. Aegolethron, rosebay, chiefiy common azalea, Rhododendron ponticwn, XXI 74. Aera, darnel, Lolium temulen- tum, XVIII 155, 156. XXI 129 (emend.), XXII 125, XXIV 100. Aeschynomene, sensitive plant, Mimosa asperata, XXIV 167. Aesculus, chestnut oak, Quercus sessiliflora, XII 3, XVI 11, 17, 19, 20, 25, 37, 106, 127, 219, XVII 151. Aethalium, a kind of grape, XIV 74. Aethiopis, perhaps silver sage, Salvia argentea, or Ethiopian sage, S. aethiopis, XXIV 163, XXVI 18, XXVII 2, 11, 12. Aetites = clematis, XXIV 139. Agaricum, a tree fungus, such as Boletus igniarius, B. laricis, B. flavus, or B. hepaticus, XVI 33, XXV 103, 119, 128, XXVI 32, 33, 34, 38, 42, 54, 75, 76, 77, 78, 89, 90, 110, 112, 113, 115, 116, 119, 123, 137, 155, 158, XXVIII 158. Ageraton, pot-marjoram, Origa- num onites ; has also been identified as Hypericum or- 487 INDEX OF PLANTS ganifolium or swoet yarrow, Achillea ageratum, XXVII 13. Aglaophotis, magical plant, per- haps peony, Paeonia officinalis, XXIV 160. Agnos, chaste-tree, Vitex agnus- castus, XIII 14, XXIV 59. Aizoiim, maius = house-leek, Sempervivum arboreum, and minus = stone-crop, Sedum album, XVIII 159. XIX 179, XXIV 169, 182, XXV 160, 162, XXVI 32, 45, 100, 111, 121, 127, 129, 131. 137, 145, 163, XXVII 14, XXXII 40. Alaternus, the alaternus, Rham- 71US alaternus, XVI 108. Albicera, a kind of olive, XV 20. Albucus = aspliodelus, XXI 109, XXVI 21. Albuelis, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 31. Alcea, a species of mallow, perhaps Malope malachoidea, XXVI 25. XXVII 21. Alcibium, possibly Cretan bu- gloss, Echium parviflorum, XXVII 39. Alcima = alisma, XXVI 25 (emend.), 45. 83, 128, 130, 158. Alcima is the jMS. reading in XXV 124 and XXVI 128, kept by Mayhoff. The reading restored from Dioscorides is alisma. Alectoros lophos, yellow rattle, Rhinanthus major, XXVII 40. Alga, sea-weed, XIII 135, XXV 130, XXVI 149, XXVII 42, XXXI 115, XXXII 66, 111. Alica, nearly always the pre- paration, usually made from emmer, Triticum dicoccum, sometimes from naked wheat ; in rare instancea the wheat itself. III 60, XIII 106, XVIII 60, 71, 106, 109, 112, XXII 110, 116, 124, 128, 136, XXVI 32, 44, XXVIII 231. Alisma, water-plantain, Alisma planUigo, XXV 124. AJium, garHc, Allium sativum, X 157. XIII 133, XIX 99, 101, 106, 111-116, XX 50-57, XXII 140, XXV 50, 76, XXVIII 200, 265, XXIX 78, 133, XXXII 128, XXXVI 79. Alnus, alder, Betula alnus, XVI 69, 77, 90, 98, 108, 173, 210, 218, 219, 224, 231, XVII 68. 91, XXIV 74, XXXI 44. Aloe, bitter aloes, Aloe vera, XIV 68, XX 142, XXI 76, XXVI 59, 61, XXVII 14. Alopecis, a kind of grape, XIV 42. Alopecurus, " fox-tail ", rabbit- foot grass. Polypogon mons- peliensis, XXI 101. Alsine. perhaps lich-wort. Parie- taria lusitanica, XXVII 23. Altercum or altercangenum =» hyoscyamos. XXV 35. Althaea. marsh mallow. Althaea officinalis, XX 129, 222, 229. Alum, a term applied to several different plants, in XIX 116 given as a term for a wild form of garlic, in XXVII 41 a type of comfrey, Symphytum. Alypon, globe daisy, Globularia alypum, XXVII 22. Alysson, madwort, Aaperugo procumbens, XXIV 95. Amaracus, sweet marjoram, Origanum marjorana, XIII 5, i3, 14, 18, XXI 37, 59, 61. 67, 163, 176. In XXI 176 a secondary name for pellitory, Parietaria officinalis. Amarantus, cockscomb or amar- anth, Celosia cristata, XXI 47, 68. INDEX OF PLANTS Ambrosia = aizoum maius, XXV 160; = artemisia, XXV 74, XXVII 28. 55; a kind of grape, XIV 40. Ambubaia = intubus erraticus, wild chicory, Cichorium sp., XX 73. Amerimnon, house-leek, Sem- pervivum tectoriim, XXV 160. Ami, has been identified as bishop's weed, Cariim copticum (Ammi copticum), and pick- tooth, Ammi visnaga, XX 163, 264. Amomis, an inferior type of amomum, XII 49. Amomiim, a product probably of one or more of the usual car- damom substitutes, such as Amomum subulatum, A. car- damomum, and A. krevanh, XII 48, 50, XIII 15, 16, 18, XIV 107, XVI 135, XXVI 34, 105, XXXVII 204. Ampelodesmos, esparto, Lygeum spartum, XVII 209. Ampeloprason, wild leek, Alli- um ampeloprasum, XXIV 136. Ampelos agria, probably black bryony, Tamus communis, XXVII 44. In XXIII 19 = labrusca. Ampelos leuce = vitie alba, XXIII 21. Amygdala, almond, Prunus amygdalus, XII 25, 36, 37, 56, 125, XIII 8, 19, 60, 66, XV 26, 42, 89, 109, 114, XVI 83, 86, 103, 109, 117, XVII 11, 63, 88, 131, 135, 237, 248, 252, XXIII 85, 144-145, XXIV 22, XXVI 111, XXVIII 254. Amygdalites = platyphyllos, XXVI 70. Anabasis = ephedra, XXVI 36; = equisaetum, XXVI 133. Anacampseros, perhaps Sedum anacampseros, XXIV 167. Anagallis, pimpernel, Anagallis arvensis, incl. subsp. phoenicea and caerulea, XXV 144, 166, XXVI 35, 55, 80, 90, 102, 118, 119, 144. Anagyros, stinking bean-trefoil, Anagyris Joetida, XXVII 30. Anarrinon, v.l. for pararinon aut sim., XXV 129. Anchusa, alkanet, Anchusa offi- cinalis, XIII 7, 9, 10, XXI 85, 99, 121, XXII 48, 50, XXVII 59, 110, XXVIII 151, XXXII 85, XXXVII 48. In XXII 51 a socondary name for onochilon. Andrachle (andrachne), (1) an- drachne, Arbutus andrachne, XIII 120, XVI 80, XVII 234; (2) purslane, Portulaca oleracea, XIII 120, XXV 162. Androsacos, sea-navel, Acetabu- laria mediterranea, XXVII 25. Androsaemon, perfoliate St. John's wort, Hypericum perfoliatum, XXVII 26, 37. Anemone, usually poppy ane- mone, Anemone coronaria, XXI 64, 65, 99, 164, XXV 102, 151, XXVI 109; = oth- onna, XXVII 109. Anesum, anise, Pimpinella ani- sum, XIX 167, XX 185-195, 249, 253, 264, XXVII 94, XXVIII 100, XXX 115. Anetum, dill, Atieihum graveo- lens, XIII 123, XIX 62, 117, 119, 123, 124, 167, 170, 186, 188, XX 21, 87, 110, 191, 196, 260, XXII 77, XXVIII 97, 208, XXIX 47, 70, 80, 121, XXXI 119, XXXII 94, 101. Angemon, Avens, Goum ur- bazium, but in XXIV 6 = Lappa canaria. 489 INDEX OF PLANTS Anicetum = anesum, XX 1 86. Anonis (see also Ononis), rest- harrow, Ononis ayitiquorum, XXI 91, 98, XXVII 29. Anonymos, " namele.s8 plant," XXVII 31. Anthalium, earth-almond, Cy- perus esculeyitus. XXI 88, 175. Anthedon, Oriental thorn, Cro- taegua orienialis, XV 84. Anthemis, wild chamomile, 3/a(- ricaria chamomilla, also Anthe- mis chia, XXI 99, 103, XXVI 87. Otherspecies of -47!t/iemis may be referred to in XXII 53. Anthericus, stalk of asphodel, XXI 109, XXII 67, XXVII 14. Anthophoros = smilax, XXIV 83. Anthvllis, herb ivy, Ajuga iva, XXVI 84, 160. Anthyllium, Cretan pitch-plant, Cressa cretica, XXI 175, XXVI 84. Anthvllum = antliyllium, XXI 175. Anticyricon, the second tj-pe of sesamoides, s.v., XXII 133. Antirrhinum, snapdragon, Antir- rhimim orontium, XXV 129, XXVI 1.55. Antiscorodon, Cyprian garlic, a form of Allium sativum, XIX 112. Aparine, bedstraw, Galium apa- rine, XXVII 32. Aphaca, tare, Vicia sativa, XXI 89, 99, 100, 105, XXVII 38. Apharce, hybrid arbutus, Arbut- us hyhrida, XIII 121. Aphron = mecon aphrodes (1), XX 207. Apiaca brassica, " celery " cab- bage, from its crisped leaves, Savoy cabbage, Brassica oleracea sabauda, XIX 136. 490 Apiana, a kind of grape, XIV 81. Apiastrum, balm, Melissa offi- cinalis, XX 116, XXI 53; 1 in XXI 70 perhaps Selinum palustre. The poisonous type mentioned in XX 116 is perhaps a Ranunculus. \ Apios ischas, a spurge, Euphor- bia apios, XXVI 72. Apium, celery, Apium graveolens, perhaps to some extent also i parslev, Petroselinum sativum, XIV 105, XVI 38, 164, XIX 1 42, 98, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, ! 122, 124, 158, 168, 183, 185, I 186, 188, XX 79, 111, 112- 115, 189, 191, 253, 264, XXII 62, 84, XXIV 85, XXV 102, 141, XXVI 88, XXVII 49, , 133, XXIX 42, 80, XXXH 94, 132. j Apocynon, dog's-bane, Mars- \ denia erecta, XXIV 98. XXXII 52. Apollinaris = hyoscyamus, XXV 35, XXVI 140, 147. Appendix, barberry, Berberis vulgaris, XXIV 114. Apronia = vitis nigra, i.e., white bryony, Bryonia alba, XXIII 27. Aproxis, uncertain, white dit- tany, Dictamnus albus, sug- gested, XXIV 158. Apyrenum, " pipless " pome- granate, Punica granatum, a tvpe with soft seeds, XIII 112"^, XXm 106. Aquif oHum. hollv-tree, Ilex aqui- folium, XV 101, XVI 32, 73, 80, 90, 91, 98, 230, 231, XXIV 116, XXVII 63. Arachidna, ground-pease, Lath- yriis amphicarpus, XXI 89. Aracia (-tia), a kind of fig-tree, XV 70. Aracos, a vetch of uncertain INDEX OF PLANTS identity, possibly Lathyrus sativua, Vicia lillosa, or V. Sihthorpii, XXI 89. (Arbor) ianigera, cotton-plant, Gossypium arboreum, VI 54, XII 17, 25, 38. Tlie arbor lanifera of Ethiopia (XIII 90 ; cf. XII 38) is probably also the cotton-plant, and perhiips also the lanatum of Italy (XV 48). Arbutus, strawberry-tree, Arbu- tus unedo, XV 57, 99, XVI 116, XXIII 151. See also Unedo. Arceraca, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 35. Archebion = onochilon, XXII 61. Archezostis = vitis alba, XXIII 21; see also XXVI 113, 164. Arcion, (1) = persolata (perso- nata), XXV 113; (2) a Becondary name for bechion, colfs foot, Tussilago Jarjara, XXVI 30. Arction, bearwort, Inula can- dida, XXVI 129, XXVII 11, 33. Arcturus = arction, XXVII 33. Argemon, avens, Geum urbanum, XXIV 176. Argemonia, wind-rose, Papaver argemone, XXI 165, XXV 102, XXVI 23, 76, 101, 112, 127, 130, 146, 150. Argemonion, probably identical with preceding, = inguinalis, XXVI 92, perhaps = bubo- nion, XXVII 30. Argitis vitis, grape-vine with white grapes, XIV 35. Arianis, a wild plant of Ariana, XXIV 162. Ariena, fruit of the Indian tree pala, XII 24. Arinca, a soft type of emmer. Triticum dicoceum, XVIII 61, 81, 92, XXII 121. Aris, an arum, perhaps hooded arum, Arisarum vulgare, XXIV 151, XXVII 58. Aristereon = verbenaca, XXV 105, XXVII 21. Aristis = holcus, XXVII 90. Aristolochia, birthwort, Aristo- lochia sp., esp. A. rotU7ida, lovga, clematitis, and creticn, XXV 95-98, 101, 119, 128, 134, 141, 143, 165, 166, XXVI 32, 33, 41, 53, 75, 90, 111, 117, 126, 137, 142, 154, XXVII 143, XXVIII 254. Armeniaca (arbor), apricot-tree, Armeniaca vulgaris, XV 40, 41, XVI 103. Armon = armoracia, XIX 82. Armoracia, a type of wild radish, Raphanus raphanistrum, XIX 82, XX 22. Aron. See Arum. Arrhenogonon, perennial mer- cury, Mercurialis perennis, XXVI 99. Areen, white-rooted mandrago- ras, perhaps Atropa bella- donna, XXV 148. Arsenogonon, probably = ar- rhenogonon, XXVI 162. Artemisia, mugwort, Artemisia vulgaris, XXV 73, 74, 130, XXVI 24, 26, 81, 150, 152, 159, XXVII 28, 55. Arum (or aron), (1) cuckoo-pint, Arurn italicum, (2) edderwort, Aru7n dracunculus, VIII 129, XXIV 142-148; in XIX 96 probably tho Indian lotus, Nelumbo nucijera. Asarura, hazelwort, Asarum europaeu7n, XII 47, XIV 107, 111, XXI 30, 134. Asclepias, swallow-wort, Fmj- cetoxicum officinale, XXVII 35. 491 INDEX OF PLANTS Asclepion, probably hairy laser- wort, Laserpitinm hirsutiim, or sea parsnip, Echinopkora tenui^ folia, XXV 30. AsevToides, probably a species of St. John's wort, Hyperi- cum, XXVII 37. Ascyron, common St. John's wort, Hypericum perforatum, XXVII 26, 37. Asia, rye, Seeale cereale, XVIII 141. Asinusca, a kind of grape, XIV 42. Aspalathos, (1) in XII 110 and XXIV 111 camerB thorn, Alhagi maurorum ; (2)inother authors, and perhaps in some of the following passages, also thorny trefoil, Calycotome tnllosa, and Genista acantho- clada, XIII 12, 18, XIV 107, XV 30, XXI 122. Asparagus, used (1) generically as a term for any tender shoot put forth by a spinous plant before development of the leaves, and (2) as a term for asparagus in particular, both (a) cultivated, mostly Asparagus officinalis and A. acuiifolius, and (b) wild, A. acutifolius, A. tenuifolius, and A. albus in Italy, and A. acutifoliu-s, A. aphyllus, and A. verticillatus in Greece, XIV 105, XVI 173, XIX 54, 145-151, XX 108-111, XXI 86, 91, 165, XXII 39, XXIII 21, 27, XXVI 84. Aspendios, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 117. Asperugo, madwort, Asperugo procumbens, XXVI 102. Asphaltion, treacle clover, Psor- alea bituminosa, XXI 54. Asphodelus, branching asphodel, 492 Asphodelus ramosus, in Greece also A. fi-stulosns, A. albus, and A. microcarpus, XXI 108, XXII 31, 67-72, 73, XXVI 147. Asplenon, scale fem, Asplenium ceterach, XXVII 34. Astaphis = staphis, XXIII 17. Aster, Italian aster, Aster amel- lus, XXVII 36. Astercum, wall-pellitory, Pariet- aria officinalis, XXII 43. Astragalus, Spanish tragacanth, Astragalus baeticus, XXVI 46, 131, 145, 147. Asvla = felis oculus, unknown, XXV 145. Ateramon, see Teramon. Atinia, loose-fiowering elm, Ulmus effusa, XVI 72, 108, XVII 200, 208. Atractylis, distafl-thistle, Car- thamus lanatus, XXI 95 ; = cnecos, XXI 90, 184. Atriplex, orache, Atriplex hor- tense, XIX 99, 117, 119, 120, 123, 170, 181, XX 219. The wild form (XIX 117, XX 219- 221) is perhaps Atriplex nitena or Chenopodium album. Auleticon, a kind of reed, XVI 169. Avena, oats, Avena sativa, IV 95, vj 188, xvn 56, xvm 61, 143, 149-150, 205, XXI 129, XXII 137, 161, XXIX 143, XXX 38, 75. See also Bromos. Babbia, a kind of olive, XV 15. Baccar, hazelwort, Asarum euro- paeum, XXI 29, 30, 132, 133, 135, XXVI 113. Baccaris (XII 45, XXI 29) = baccar. Bacchica, a kind of ivy, XVI 147. INDEX OF PLANTS Balanitis, chestnut, Castanea vesca, XV 93. Balanos, normally a term for an aeorn, in XII 121, XIII 8, 12, 13, 15, XXII 149 rather the fruit of the Egyptian balsam, Balanites aegyptiaca, or per- haps the behen-nut, Moringa oleifera, in XIII 61 the tree. Balanos Sardianos and Dios balanos (XV 92) are the chest- nut, Castanea vesca. Balis, perhaps the squirting cu- cumber, Momordica elaterium, XXV 14. Balisca, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 30. Ballote = porrum nigrum, black liorehound, Ballota nigra, XXVII 54. Balsamodes, a type of cassia, XII 97. Balsamum, balsam of Mecca, Comtniphora opohalsamum, XII 111-123, XIII 8, 11, 13, 15, XV 30, XVI 111-123, 135, XXIII 92. Bananica, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 37. Barba lovis, silver-leaved wool- blade, Anthyllis barba jovis, XVI 76. Basilicon (caryon), walnut, Juglans regia, XV 87. Batis hortensis, saraphire or sea fennel, Crithmum maritimurn, and batis marina, sea-kale, Crambe maritima, XXI 86. See also XXI 174. Batrachion, celandine, Ranun- culus sp., XXVI 106, 150, 157 ; = ranunculus, XXV 172 ; = polyanthemum, XXVII 112. Bdellium, vine-palm, Borassus fiabelliformis, XII 35. Pliny is vague in this passage, and apparently uses bdellium of both tree and gum. Bechion, colfs foot, Tussilago farfara,XXVI 30. Thesecond type, also called salvia (XXVI 31), is perhaps Verbascum lychnitis. Bellio, yellow ox-eye daisy, Chrysanthemum segetum, XXI 49. Bellis, white daisy, Bellis peren- nis, XXVI 26. Beta, beet, Beta vulgaris, XIX 86, 98, 113, 117, 118, 119, 122, 132-136, 181, 182, XX 69-72, 220, XXII 61, 143, 144, XXIV 150, XXV 44, 48, XXVI 50, 58, XXVII 22, XXVIII 209, 214, XXIX 40. BetuIIa, birch, Betula alba, XVI 74, 176, 209. Bimammia, a kind of grape- vine, XIV 41. Blachnon (blechnon), male fern, Aspidiumjilixmas, XXVII 78. Blattaria, moth mullein, Ver- bascum blattaria, XXV 108. Blechon, pennyroyal, Mentha pulegiuni, XX 156. Blitum, primarily blite, Amaran- thus blitum, secondarily A. retroflexus, Blitum Bonus- Henricus, and Euxolus viridis, XIX 99, 117, 119, XX 252. Boletus, mushroom, usually Agaricus caesarius, but pro- bably also Boletus edulis, XVI 31, XXII 92, XXIII 115, XXIX 103. Bombycia, a kind of reed, XVT 169. Botane hiera = verbenaca, XXV 105. Botrys, usually denotes a grape cluster, but = artomisia, XXV 74, XXVII 28, 55. Brabilla, probably the sloe, 493 INDEX OF PLANTS Prunus apinosa, or the bullace, P. insititia, XXVII 55. Brace, perhaps spelt, Triticum spelta, otherwise a soft emmer, T. dicoccujn, XVIII 62. Brassica, cabbage, Brassica oleracea, XIX 135, 136, 137, 143, 167, 176, XX 78-96, 127, XXII 151, XXIV 158, XXV 120, XXVI 118, XXVII 96, XXVIII 81, XXIX 106, XXX 24, 30. Brassica selinas, or " celery " cabbage, is Savoy cabbage, Brassica oleracea sahauda, XX 79. The wild form (e.g., XX 92) is generally Brassica cretica. Brassica marina in XX 96 is perhaps Concolvulus solda- nella. Brathv, savin, Juniperus sabina, XXIV 102. Bratus, a tree resembling the cj-press, XII 78. Britannica, grainless dock, Ru- mex aquaticus, XXV 20, 99, XXVII 2. Brochos or brochon = fruit (gum) of bdellium, XII 35. Bromos, oats, Avena sativa, XVIII 93, XXII 161. Brya, tamarisk, Tamarix afri- ca7ia and orientaiis, XIII 116, XXIV 69. Bryon, green laver, Ulva lac- tuca, XII 108, 132, XIII 2, 137, XXIII 137, XX Vn 56, XXXII 110. InXXrV27 = sphagnos (1). Bryonia, bryony. ( 1 ) the black tj^pe is white bryony, Bry- onia alba, (2) the white type, coinmon bryony, B. dioica, or perhaps Cretan brvony, B. cretica. See XXIII 21-28 with many altemative names to each. 494 Bubonion = aster, XXVII 36. Buceras, fenugreek, Trigonella foenum-graecum, XXI 37, XXIV 184. Bucolicon, a kind of panaces, XXV 31. Buconiates, a kind of grape, XIV 39. Buglossos, Italian alkanet, An- chusa italica, XXV 81, XXVI 116. Bulapathon, patience dock, Rumex patientia, XX 235. Bulbine (or bolbine), star of Bethlehem, Ornithogalum um- bellatum, XIX 95, XX 107. Bulbus (or bolbos), the bulb of anv small, onion-like plant (XIX 60, 93), or of the reed, Arundo donax (XVII 144), or the plant itself (XVII 87, XIX 95, XX 102), or Pan- cratium tnaritimum (XIX 32), but most of all the tassel- hyacinth, Leopoldia comosa. See XVIII 34, XIX 93, 97, 99, 109, 121, 134, XX 102- 106, 107, XXI 107, XXIII 62, XXV 131, XXVIII 192, 197, XXIX 44, XXX 73. Bumastus, a kind of grape, XIV 15, 42. Bumelia, an ash, Fraxinus excelsior, XVI 63. Bimias, French tumip, Brassica napus, XX 21. Bunion, cited as a term for a kind of navew, actually probably Bunium pumilum or B. bulbocastanum, XX 21. Buphthalmus. In XXV 82 the yellow daisy, Chrysanthemum coronarium ; in XXV 160 a type of house-leek, probably Sempervivum arboreum. Bupleuron, of uncertain identity, Ammi majus, Bupleurum ri- INDEX OF PLANTS gidum, and B. baldense suggea- ted, but dubious, XXII 77, XXVII 57. Buprestis, hare's ear, Bupleurum protractum, XXII 78. Buselinum, Cretan alexanders, Smynnum perfoliatum, XX 118. Buxus, box-tree, Buxus semper- virens, VI 79, XI 46 (emend. Detlef.), XVI 70, 71, 73, 80, 92, 120, 121, 172, 183, 204, 212, 221, 226, 227, 230, 231, XVII 163, XXI 83, XXIII 28, XXX 97, XXXIV 133, XXXV 77. Caccaiia = leontice, Mercurialis tomentosa, XXV 135, XXVI 29, 163. Cachla {v.l.) = buphthalmus, XXV 82. Cactos, cardoon, Cynara cardun- culus, XXI 97. Cadytas, a dodder, Cuscuta fili- Jormis, XVI 244. Caerefolium, chervil, Anthriscus cerefoUum, XIX 170. Caesapon, a kind of vvild lettuce, Lactuca, XX 59. Calabrix, perhaps buckthorn, Rhamnus infectorius, XVII 75, Calamus, (1) reed, Arundo donax, V 44, VI 166, XII 104- 106, XIII 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 18, 73, XIV 92, 107, 112, XV 30, XVI 80, 157, 159, XVII 102, 107, 114, 168, XXIX 56, XXX 104, XXXII 141; (2) as a foreign plant, sweet flag, Acorus calamus, V 44, XII 22, 104, XIII 8, 11, 18, 73. Calcotum, ikI. for chalcetum, *•."., XXVI 40. Calchas = buphthalmus, XXV 82. Oalcifraga, perhaps hartstongue, Asplenium scolopendrium, XXVII 75. Calicia, a plant supposed to make water freeze, unknown, XXIV 156. See p. 110, note a. Callion = vesicaria, XXI 177. Callithrix, maidenhair spleen- wort, Asplenium trichomanes, XXV 132, 135, XXVI 87, 147, 160. Callitrichon = adiantum, XXII 62. Caltha, perhaps marigold, Calen- dula officinalis, XXI 28. Calventina, a kind of grape- vine, XIV 38. Calyx (calsa in IMSS.), (1) per- haps monk's-hood, Arum arisarum, XXVII 58; (2) = anchusa, alkanet, Anchusa officinalis, XXVII 59. Camararium, climbing gourd, Cucurbita longior, XIX 70. Cammaron = aconitum, XXVII 9. Cancamum, an Arabian gum, from Balsamodendron Katuf, XII 98. Cannabis, hemp, Cannabis sativa, XIX 29, 63, 173, XX 259, XXV 65. Cantabrica, Cantabrian bind- weed, Convolvulus cantabrica, XXV 85, 101. Canthareos, a kind of grape- vine, XIV 75. Canthyllion, v.l. for anthyllion, XXVI 84. Canthvlhs, v.l. for anthyllis, s.v., XXVI 160. Capnos, a kind of grape, XIV 39. Capnos fruticosa, XXV 156, fumitory, Furnaria officinalis (Littre), and capnos trunca, XXV 155, XXVI 57, Cory- dalis digitata (Littre). In XXVI 35 meroly capnos. 495 INDEX OF PLANTS Both are fumitories. See note on XXV 155. Dioscorides gives only one kind (IV 109). Capparis (cappari), caper, Cap- paris spirwsa, XIII 127, XV 15, 117, XIX 163, XX 165- 167, XXIV 97, 121, XXVII 27, 95, XXVIII 242, XXIX 80. Caprificus, the male fig-tree or caprifig, Ficus carica, XI 40, 118, XII 35, XIV 134, XV 79, 80, XVI 95, 114, 227, XVII 225, 242, 254, 256, XXIII 126-130, XXXIV 13.3. Carbonica, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 43. Carcinothron = poIygonus, linot- grass, Polygonum aviculare, XXVII 113. Cardamomum, cardamom, esp. Elettaria cardamomum, XII 50, XIII 8, 12, XV 30. Cardamum, garden cress, Lepi- dium sativum, XIX 118. Carduus, (1) a thistle-like growth, XII 72; (2) a generic term for thistles, XVIII 153, XXI 91, 94, 96; (3) thegolden thistle, Scolymus hispanicus, XX 262; (4) the cardoon, Cynara cardunculus, wild or cultivated, XIX 55, 152-153, XX 262. Careum, caraway, Carum carui, XIX 164. Caro(s) = hjTiericon, XXVI 86. 119, 130. Carphos = fenum Graecum, XXIV 184. Carpinus, hombeam, Carpinus betulus, XVI 67, 73, 74, 75, 193, 206, 226, 230, XVII 201, XXVIII 191. Carpophyllon, kind of laurel, XV 13"l. Carvites, a kind of tithymalus, XXVI 66. 496 Caryon = iuglans, XV 87. Caryophj-llon, dried flower-bud of clove-tree, Eugenia caryo- phyllata, XII 30. Casia (cassia), cassia, the bark of various species of Cinnamo- mum, perhaps especially C. iners, C. zeylanicum, and C. lamala, X 4, XII 82, 85, 95- 98, 99, XIII 10, 11, 13, 18, XIV 107, XVI 136, XXI 70, XXV 175, XXIX 55, XXXVII 204. As a term for a native European plant, probably common marjoram, Origanum vulgare, as in XII 98, XVI 136, XXI 70, XXVII 74. In XXI 53 a term for cneorum. Casignete = hestiateris, XXIV 165. Cassiopica filix, " fem of Cassi- ope," unknown, XXVII 80. Castanea, chestnut-tree, Cas- tanea vesca, XIII 110, XV 28, 92, 93, 112, 114, XVI 20, 74, 76, 98, 138, 206, 212, XVII 59, 122, 136, 147-1.50, XXIII 150. Catanance, a vetch, Ornithopus compressus, XXVII 57. Caucalis, of uncertain identity, perhaps Tordylium apulum, T. officinale, Caucalis grandi- folin, or Pimpinella saxifraga, XXI 89, XXII 83, XXVI 25 (v.L). Caulis, in Pliny generally synonymous with brassica, as a term for a particular type, kale, Brassica uleracea ace- phala, XIX 54, 57, 136, 139. Caulodes, kale, Brassica ole- racea acephala, XX 79. Cedrelate, Greek juniper, Juni- perus excelsa, XIII 53, XXIV 17. Cedrosis = vitis alba, XXIII 21. INDEX OF PLANTS Cedrus, chiefly prickly juniper, J uniperus axycedrus, XII 125, XIII 2, 52, 53, 100, XIV 112, 122, XV 28, XVI 62, 73, 80, 90, 91, 137, 186, 187, 197, 203, 207, 212, 213, 216, XVII 236, XXIV 17-20, 54, XXVIII 118, XXXI 98, XXXII 76, 135, XXXIV 177. In XIII 62 the Phoenieian type of cedrus is the Phoenician cedar, Juniperus phoenicea, and the SjTian type is the Syrian cedar, J. excelsa. Cedrus magna = cedrelate, XXIV 17. Cedrys, juniper, Juniperus com- munis, XIII 53. Celthis, nettle-tree, Celtis austra- lis, XIII 104. Cemos, of uncertain identity, perhaps Plantago cretica, Micropus erectus, or everlast- ing, Onaphalium leontopodium, XVII 57. Centauris, a kind of centaury, Erythraea centaurium, XXV 69, XXVI 104. Centaurium, centaury, ( 1 ) maius, Centaurea salonitana or C. centaurium, XIX 186, XX 52, XXV 66, 100, 142, XXVI 27, 33, 41, 54, 110, 123, 137, 140, 153; (2) minvis, Genliana centaurium, XXV 68, 142, 164, XXVI 54, 104, 126, 140, 153, 185, XXVII 47. See also XIX 186, XX 52, XXV 33, XXVI 32, XXVII 143. Centigranium triticum, hundred- grain vvheat, XVIII 95. Centum capita, eryngo, Eryn- gium campestre, XXII 20. Centunculus = clematis, XXIV 138. See also XXVI 105, 114. Cepa (caepa), onion, Allium cepa, II 10, XIII 133, XIX 99-107, 111, 115, 117, 121, XX 39-43, XXIII 147, 148. XXV 26, 53, XXIX 108, 133, 134, XXX 30, XXXVI 179. The Ascalonian onion (cepa Ascalonia) (XIX 101), often identified as the shallot, Allium ascalonicum, is actu- ally a form of the onion. Cepaea, an orpine, Sedum cepaea, XXVI 84. Cerais, a type of wild radish, Raphanus raphanistrum, XIX 82. Cerasus, cherry-tree, more es- pecially the svveet cherry, Prunus avium, and the sour cherry, P. cerasus, but also the mahaleb, P. mahaleb, and the bog cherry, P. padus, XII 14, XIII 66, 105, XV 57, 101, 102, 104, 105, 109, 111, 113, XVI 74, 104, 124, 125, 126, 138, 181, 183, 210, 219, XVII 65, 88, 99, 110, 135, 234, 260, XVIII 232, XXIII 141, XXIV 106, XXXVII 42. Ceratia, carob-tree, Ceratonia siliqua, XXVI 52. Ceratitis, horned poppy, Olau- cium flavum, XX 206. Ceraunion, a truffle, probably Tuber aestivum, XIX 36. Cerinthe, vvax-fiower, Cerinthe major, XXI 70. Ceronia, carob-tree, Ceratonia siliqua, XIII 59. Cerrus, Turkey oak, Quercus cerris, XVI 17, 19, 20, 25, 218, 230, XXIV 13, XXX 92. Cestros, betony, Betonica offici- nalis, XXV 84. Chalceos, yellow fish thistle, Car- lina corymhosa, XXI 94. Chalcetum, unknown, perhaps Valeriana locusta, XXVI 40. 497 INDEX OF PLANTS Chamaeacte, dwarf elder, Sam- bucus ebulus, XXIV 51, XXVI 120. Chamaecerasus, dwarf cherry- tree, Prunus proslrata, XV 104. Chamaecissos, (1) ground-ivy, Glecotna hederacea, XVI 152, XXIV 82, 135, XXVI 54; (2), sowbroad, Cyclamen euro- paeum, XXV 116. Chamaecyparissos, " ground- cypress," lavender cotton, Santolina chamaecyparissus, XXIV 136. Chamaedaphne, " dwarf laurel," periwinkle, Vinca herbacea, or double-tongue, Ruscus hy- pophyllum, XV 131, XXI 08, 172, XXIV 132. Chamaedrys, wall-germander, Teucrium chamaedrys, XIV 112, XXIV 130. Chamaeleon, (1) pine-thistle, Atractylis gummifera; (2) the black type probably Cardo- patium corymbosum, XXI 94, XXII 45-47, 85, 157, XXIII 75, XXVII 64, 143, XXVIII 115, 162, XXX 30. Chamaeleuce, colt's-foot, Tussi- lago Jarjara, XXIV 135, XXVI 30. Chamaemelon, wild chamomile, Matricaria chamomilla, XXII 53, 157. Chamaemyrsine, " dwarf myr- tle," butcher's broom, Ruscus aculeatus, XV 27, XXIII 88, 165. Chamaepeuee, probably fish- bone thistle, Chamaepeuce mutica, XXIV 136. Littre says Serratula chamaepeuce, Sprengel Staehelina chamae- peitce. Chamaepitys, " ground pine," 498 perhaps ycllow bugle, Ajuga chamaepitys, or herb ivv, A. iva, XIV 112, XXI " 175, XXIV 29. Littre suggests herb ivy, Ajuga iva, Passerina hirsuta, and chia bugle, Ajuga chia. In XXVI 85 = hjrperi- con. Chamaeplatanus, " dwarf plane," a stunted form of the Oriental plane, Platanus ori- entalia, XII 13. Chamaerops, (1) dwarf-palm, Chamaerops humilis, XIII 39, XXVI 42, 137 ; (2) = chamae- drys, XXIV 130. Chamaesyce, " ground fig," wolf 's milk, Euphorbia chamae- syce,XXIV 134. Chamaezelon = quinquefolium, XXV 109; = gnaphaUum, XXVII 88. Chamelaea, " dwarf olive," mezerlon, Daphne mezereum, or possibly spurge olive, D. oleoides, XIII il4, XIV 112, XV 24, XXIV 133; in XXV 79 an herb rather than a shrub, of uncertain identity. Characias, (1) a type of spurge, perhaps wood spurge, Euphor- bia Sibthorpii, XXVI 62-65, 71 ; (2) a species of reed, XVI 168. Characites, probably = chara- cias (1), XXVI 118, 146. Chelidonia, great celandine, Chelidonium niajus, VIII 97, XXV 89, 90, 101, 142, 170, XXVI 24, 141, 152. The small type in XXV 89 is probably Ranunculus ficaria. Chenamvche = nyct«greton, XXI 62. Chiliodynamia = polemonia, perhaps Greek valerian, Pole- monium caeruleum, or a type INDEX OF PLANTS of St. John's wort, Hypericum olympicum, XXV 64. Chironia = vitis nigra, XXIII 27, XXV 34. In XXV 165, XXVI 139 perhaps rather = the panaces called chironiiim. Chironium = centanrium, XXI 66 ; = panaces, XXV 32, 99, 131, in this case elecampane, Inula helenium. Chondris = pseudodictamnum, XXV 93, XXVI 49. Chondrylla, gum succory, Chon- drilla juncea, XXI 89, 105. Chreston = cichorium, XX 74. Clirysallion = psyllion, XXV 140. Chrysantliemon, ( 1 ) probably the yellow daisy, Chrysanthe- tnum coronarium, in XXVI 87 ; (2) = heliochrysua in XXI 168. Chrysippios, plant named after Chrysippus, its discoverer, unknown, XXVI 93. Chrysitis = chrysocome, XXI 50. Chrysocarpum, a golden-berried type of ivv, Hedera helix, XVI 147, XXlV 77. Chrysocome, immortelle, Heli- chrysum orientale, or possibly goldylocks, Chrysocoma lino- syris, XXI 50, 148. Chrysolachanum, orach, Atri- plex hortense, XXVII 66. Chrysomelum, quince, Cydonia vulgaris, XV 37. Cicer, chickpea, Cicer arietinum, XVI 110, XVII 56, XVIII 10, 50, 51, 57, 58, 59, 60, 124, 125, 152, 154, 155, 165, 185, 198, 307, 308, XIX 179, XXII 148-150, XXVI 124, XXVII 96, 98, 121. Cicercula, a vetch, probably chickling vetch, Lathyrus saiivus, XVIII 103, 124, 198, 304, XIX 186, XXII 148. Cichorium, chicory, Cichorium intybus or divaricatum, XIX 129, XX 73, 74, XXI 88, 101, XXVII 55. Cici, castor-oil tree, Ricinua communis, XII 25, XV 25, XVI 85, XXIII 83, 84, 89, XXVIII 173. Cicuta, hemlock, Coyiium macu- latum, XIV 58, 138, XVII 55, XVIII 47, XIX 124, XX 131, XXII 31, XXIII 30, 43, XXIV 24, 154, 158, XXV 131, 151-154, XXVI 101, 108, 121, 122, 131, 136, 145, XXVII 50, 70, XXVIII 74, 129, 158, 161, XXX 132. Cinara, probably the dog-rose, Rosa canina, in VIII 101, although commonly the car- doon, Cynara cardunculus. Cinerea, a kind of grape, XIV 42. Cinnamomum (cinnamum), the bark of various species of Cinnamomum, perhaps especi- ally C. iners, C. zeylanicum, and C. tamala, VI 174, X 65, XII 51, 82, 85-95, 99, XIII 10-12, 15, 18, XIV 107, XV 30, XVI 135, XXI 29, 51, XXIV 102, XXIX 55, XXXVII 204. In XII 135 = comacum. Circaea, a plant used as a charm, perhaps Asclcpias nigra, black swallow-wort, V incetoxicum nigrum, or enchanter's night- shade, Circaea lutetiana, XXVII 60. Circaeon = mandragoras, XXV 147. Cirsion, a kind of thistle, per- haps Carduus parvijiorus, or cotton thistle, Onopordon acanthium, XXVII 61. 499 INDEX OF PLANTS Cissanthemos, perhaps perf ohate honeysuckle, Lonicera capri- foliurn, biit many other sug- gestions have been made, XXV 116, XXVI 34, 76, 156, 161. Cissos erythranos, " red-berried ivy," Hedera helix, XXIV 82. Cisthos, rock-rose, Cistufi villosua ("male") and G. salvifolius ("female"), XXIV 81, XXVI 49. Citrus, (1) citron-tree, Citrus medica, XII 15, XIII 103, XV 47, XVI 107, XVII 64, XXIII 105; (2) thyine-wood, Callitris quadrivalvis, V 12, XIII 2, 91, 95, 99, 100, 101, 102, XV 28, 110, XVI 66, 68, 69, 129, 185, 231, 233, XXXIII 146, XXXVII 204. See also Thya. Clema = polygonon, XXVII 113. Clematis, various types of bindweed, such as bearbind, Convolvulus arvensis, XXIV 84, 138-141; in XXIV 139 perhaps C. scatnmonia. Clematitis (clematis MSS.), a kind of aristolochia, probably Aristolochia clematitis^t XXV 95. Cleonicon, v.l. for cleopiceton = clinopodion, XXIV 137. Cleopiceton = chnopodion, XXIV 137. Clinopodion, wild basil, Cala- mintha clinopodium, XXIV 137. Clymenus, scorpion'B tail, Scor- piurus vermiculata, XXV 70, XXVI 41, 77, 111, 131, 140. Cnecos, cultivated, safHower, Carthamus tinctorius ; wild, the same or perhaps Car- thamus leucocaulos or blessed thistle, Cnicus benedictus, XXI 94, 184. In XXI 90 one of the two wild types is Carthamus lanatus. Cneorum, widow-wail, Daphne gnidium, XXI 63, 55 ; in XIII 114 perhaps mezerlon, Daphne mezereum. Cnestor, mezerlon, Daphne tnezereum, XIII 114. Cnidinum, oil from stinging nettle, Urtica urens, XV 31. Coagulum terrae, imknown, XXVII 67. Cobios = dendroides, XXVI 71. Coccolobis, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 30. Coccus Cnidius, berry of the shrub cneorura, Daphne gnid- ium, XXVII 70. Coccygia, a kind of sumach, perhaps wig-tree, Rhus coti- WMs, XIII 121. Coccus gnidius and Daphne gnidium have also been suggested. Coeca or coix, doum-palm, Hyphaene thebaica, XIII 47. Colocasia, taro, Colocasia anti- quorum, XXI 174; in XXI 87 apparently erroneously applied to the Indian lotus, Nelumbo nucifera. Colocynthis, colocynth, Citrullus colocynthis, XX 14-17. Columbina, a kind of grape- vine, XIV 40. Comacum, perhaps spice-nut- meg, Myristica fragrans, or ailanthus, Ailanthus mala- barica, XII 135, XIII 18. Comaros, Greek for arbute-tree, Arbutus unedo, wrongly taken by Pliny to be the fruit, XV 99. Combretum, a reed, perhaps JunciM maximuB, XXI 30, 133. Soo INDEX OF PLANTS Come = tragopogon, XXI 89, XXVII 142. Commagene, an unknown plant, XXIX 55. Condrion = eondrille = ehon- drille, gum succory, Chon- drilla juncea, XXII 91. Condurdum, perhaps a soapwort, cow basil, Saponaria vaccaria, XXVI 26. Conferva, probably some species of Confcrva, a water-plant, XXVII 69. Conseminea, a kind of grape- vine, XIV 36. Consiligo, lungwort, Pulmonaria officinaUs, XXV 86, XXVI ,38. Convolvulus, hedge bind-weed, Convolvulus sepium, XVII 264, XXI 23. Conyza, (1) viscous elecampane, InuJa viscosa; (2) fleabane, I. pulicaria, XIX 165, XXI 53, 58, 70, XXVI 160. Coracesia, a magical plant that makes water freeze, XXIV 156. See p. 110, note a. Corchorum (-us, -os), (1) blue pimpernel, Anagallis caerulea, and red pimpernel, A. phoeni- cea, XXV 144 (assuming acoron to be an error for corchoron); (2) Jew's mallow, Corchorus olitorius, XXI 89, 183. Coriandrum, coriander, Cori- andrum sativum, XII 109, XVIII 13, XIX 117, 118, 119, 123, 170, 181, XX 52, 57, 80, 81, 87. 102, 149, 170, 216-218, 256, XXIII 16, 43, XXV 34, 111, 151, 156, 172, XXVI 113, 133, XXVII 138, XXIX 60, XXX 90, XXXII 78, 94. Coriarius, a type of sumach used in tanning leather, perhaps myrtle-leaved tan- ner's tree, Coriaria myrtifolia, XXIV 91. Corinthia = minyas, XXIV 157. Coris, r.l. for caro, XXVI 86. Corissum = hypericon, XXVI 85, 129, 164. Cornus, primarily the cornelian cherry, Cornus mas, secondar- ily the cornel, C. sanguinea, XIV 103, XV 101, 105, 109, XVI 74, 97, 103, 105, 18,3, 186, 206, 211, 226, 228, XVII 201, XXI 72, XXIII 151, XXIV 150. Coronarium, a kind of grape, XIV 42. Coronopus, hartshorn, Plantago coronopus, XXI 99, XXII 48. Corruda, wild asparagus, per- haps especiallv Asparagus acutifolius, XVI 173, XIX 54, 145, 151, XX 110. Corylus (corulus), the hazel, Corylus avellana, XVI 74, 75, 178, 228, XVII 67, 151, 240, XXXI 83. Corymbia, a kind of ferula, XIX 175. Corymbites = platyphyllum, a kind of tithymalus, XXVI 70. Costus, costus, Saussurea lappa, XII 41, 50, XIII 15, 16, 18, XIV 107, XXII 118, XXVII 128. Cotinus, Venetian sumach, Rhus cotinus, XVI 73; but usually a term for a wild olive-tree. Cotonea, secondary name for halus, XXVI 42. Cotoneum, quince, Cydonia vul- garis, XII 38, 103, 124, XIII 11, 110, XV 37-38, 49, 58, 60, 110, XVII 67, 68, 75, 136, XIX 34, 92, XXI 38, 142, XXII 122, 142, 143, 144, 146, INDEX OF PLANTS XXIII 97, 100-103, XXIV 29, 129, XXVII 55, 116, XXX 50, XXXIV 133. Cotyledon, navelwort, Cotyledon umbilicua ; the other kind perhaps C. sterilis or Saxijraga media, XXV 159, 164, XXVI 32, 80, 91, 106, 119, 121, 126, XXVIII 242. Cracca, a kind of wild vetch, possibly Vicia cracca, XVIII 142. Crambe, in Greek, a generic terra for cabbage ; in XX 79 a tenn for a form of cultivated cabbage, Brassica oleracea. Crataegis, of uncertain identity, perhaps by error for cratae- gonon, XXVI 99. Crataegonon (-os), fleawort, Polygonum peraicaria, XXVII 62, 6'3(y./.). Crataegos=aquifolium, XXVII 63 ; but properly is a type of thorn, perhapa Crataegus Hel- dreichii. CremnoB agrios, wild samphire, Crithmum maritimum, XXV 155, XXVI 94. Crepis, ox-tongue, Helminthia echioides, XXI 99. Crethmum (-os), samphire, Crithmum maritimum, XXVI 82. 158, 160. XXVII 135. Cretica, a type of aristolochia, equated with clematitis, but probably rather Aristolochia cretica, XXV 95. Crinon, a lily, Lilium sp., XXI 24. Crista = alectoros lophos, i.e., yellow rattle, Rhinanthus maj- or, XXVII 40. Crocis, unknown, possibly catch- flv silene, Silene muscipula, XXIV 167. Crocodileon, sea-holly, Eryn- 502 gium maritimum, or perhaps teasel, Dipsacus fullonum, XXVII 64. Crocus, saffron, Crocus sativus, as a wild plant, the spring crocus, C. vernus, XII 129, XIII 5-11, 12. 16, 18, 21. 95, XIV 107, 135, XVII 38, XIX 98, 100, XX 187, 208, XXI 31-34, 36, 53, 63, 67, 89, 106, 118. 131. 137-139, XXII 104, XXIII 8, 84, 97, 108, 136, XXIV 78, 129, 165, 166, XXV 90, 102, 169, XXVII 103, 142, XXVIII 94. 219, 245, 248, XXIX 39, 42, 120, 138, XXX 126, XXXII 58. XXXIV 114, XXXVI 145, 147. 158, 177, XXXVII 185. Croton = cici, XV 25, XVI 85. Crystallion = psyllion, XXV 140. Cuci, doum-palm, Hyphaene thebaica, XIII 62, XV 114. Cucullus (v.l. cucubalus) = etrychnos, XXVII 68. Cucumis, usually the cucumber, Cucumis sativus ; as a wild form. the squirting cucumber, Ecballum elaterium; also used generically to include the colocjTith, the melon, and the watermelon, IX 3, XII 71. XIV 110. XIX 61, 64-70. 71, 74, 117, 118, 144, 181, 184, 186, XX 3-10, 12, 103, 194, 237, 250, XXII 51, 89. XXIII 143. XXVI 105, 121, XXVII 9, 23. XXVIII 219, XXXII 99, 147, XXXVII 58. Cucurbita, the large gourd, Cucurhita maxima, and the bottle-gourd, Lagenaria vul- garis, XIX 61, 69-74. 117, 118. 181. 186, XX 13, XXV 113, XXVIII 205, XXXII 123. INDEX OF PLANTS Culix, iinknown ; flea-wort, Plan- lago psyllium, and Inula puli- caria have been suggested, XIX 68. Cuminum, cummin. Cuminum apnininn, XVIII 96, XIX 119. 120, 153, 160, 176, XX 10, 82, 108, 111, 117, 137, 159. 161, 162, 163, 213, 218, 237, XXII 59, 159. XXIII 16, XXV 111, 136, XXVI 41, 87, 157, XXVII 33, 138, XXVIII 175, 205, 208, 211, XXIX 47, XXXI 119. Cunila, probably usually summer savory, Satureia hor- iensis, perhapa in some instances S. thymbra, the cimila gallinacea of XX 170, probably sweet winter mar- joram, Origanum heraclcoti- cum, X 'l95, XIV 105, XIX 117, 118, 165, 177, 181, 182, 184, 186, XX 168-173, 175, XXI 70. XXV 99, XXVIII 187, XXXII 126, 130. Oxcunila(cunilabubula) mav be origanum, or penny- royal, VIII 98, XIX 165, XX 169, XXV 99, XXVI 42, 148, XXVII 41. Cunilago, a kind of cunila. Seo XIX 165. 186 and XX 171, with XXVIII 151. In XXI 53 = conyza. Cupressus, the cypress, Cu- pressus sempervirens, XI 77, XIII 9, 53, 95, XIV 112, 122, XV 28, XVI 31, 41, 76, 79, 90, 104, 115, 125, 128, 139-142, 211-215, 221, 223, 236, XVII 60, 71, 73, 89, 151, 174, 236, 247, XVIII 158, XX 16, XXII 75, 97, XXIII 88, 139. XXIV 15, 32, 102, 135, XXVI 135, 161. Cupressus Cretica = brathy, XXIV 102. Cyamos(i.e., Kvaixos ' AiyvirTios), the Indian lotus, Nelumbo nucifera, XXI 87; cf. XVIII 121-122. Cyanus, blue cornflower, Ctn- taurea cyanus, XXI 48, 68, 147. Cyclaminus (-os, -on). cycla- men, Cyclamen sp., XXI 51, 64, XXIV 1, XXV 114-116, 122, 125, 133, 134, 143, XXVI 54, 90, 100, 106, 120, 124, 129, 144, 149, 155, 161, 163, XXVII 9, XXVIII 164, 203, XXIX 47. Cydoneum, quince, Cydonia vulgaris, XV 37. Cyix, a bulbous plant, unidenti- fiod, XIX 95. Cyma, the spring sprouta of cabbage (XVIII 127, XIX 137-138, XXIV 119) or speci- fically broccoli, Brassica cym- osa (XX 90). Cynacantha, identity uncertain, perhaps = cynosbatos, s.v., XI 118. Cynapanxis =cyTiosbatos, XXIV 121. Cynas, " dog's hair," a fibre plant of Arabia, perhaps Bombas ceiha, XII 39. Cynocephalia, perhaps a species of snapdragon, Antirrhinum, XXX 18. Cynoglossos, hound's tongvie, Cynoglossum offlcinale and C. pictum, XXV 'Sl. Cynoides = psyllion, XXV 140. Cynomorion = orobanche, XXII 162. Cynomyia = psyllion, XXV 140. Cynops, " dog's eye," a v.l. for achynopa, XXI 89, 101. Cynorrhodon (cynorrhoda). dog- rose. Rosa canina, VIII 153, XXI 24, XXIV 121, XXV 17, 18, 125, XXIX 94. INDEX OF PLANTS Cynosbatos, (1) white rose, Rosa sempervirens, XVI 180; (2) black-currant, Ribes nigrum, XXIV 121; (3) secondary name for cappari, XIII 127, XXIV 121. Cynosorchis, a species of Orchis, XXVII 65, probably identical with the orchis eatyrios of XXVI 96. Cynozolon, black type of chamaeleon, Cardopatium corymbosu7n, XXII 47. Cyparittias, a type of spurge, perhaps Euphorbia aleppica, XXVI 70. Cyperus (or cypirus), basically a term for Cyperus sp., the exact species unidentifiable without descriptive details, extended sometimes to sirailar plants, as in XXI 107, 111, 115 to gladiolus, corn-flag, Oladiolus segelum. See XII 42, 43, XIII 13, 18, XVII 95, 209, XXI 88, 107, 111, 115, 116, 117, 118, XXII 40, XXV 165. Cypira, an unJdentified Indian plant, XXI 117. Cypros (-us), henna plant, Law- sonia inermis, XII 30, 108, 109, 121, XIII 9, 11, 12, 13, 18, XXIII 90, XXIV 74, XXIX 106, XXX 21, 110, 126, XXXV 195. Cvtisus, tree-medick, Medicago 'arborea, XII 20, XIII 130- 134, XVI 92, 186, 204, XVII 52, 239, XVIII 145, 148, 165. XXI 70, XXVII 82. Dactylus, (1) dog's-tooth grass, Cynodon dactylon, XXIV 182; (2) a kind of grape, XIV 15. Damasonion = alisma, XXV 124, XXVI 25, 92, 143. Danae, a type of laurel, XV 131. Daphnidis, a type of cassia, XII 98. Daphnoides, ( 1 ) mezerlon, Daph- ne mezeremn, XV 132, XXIII 158; (2) an Egyptian type of clematis, XXIV 141. Daucos (-um), a generic term applied to several plants, including the wild carrot (Daucus carota subsp. carota), various species of Athamanta, Malabaila aurea, and Bu- pleurmn fruticosum. See XIV 111, XIX 89, XXV 110, 112, 119, 134, XXVI 28, 35, 41, 45, 74, 83, 88, 89, 110, 128, 137, 157, XXXII 101. In XXV 110-112 four kinds are mentioned, but can be reduced to two or at most three. Dendroides, a kind of spurge, wolfs milk, Euphorbia den- droides, XXVI 71. Dialeucon, a kind of saffron, Crocus sativus, XXI 33. Diaxvlos = aspalathos (1), XXIV 112. Dictamnos, in XX 156 a eeeondary name for a wild type of pennyroyal, Meniha pulegimn. Dictamnum, dittany, Origanum dictnmnus, VIII 97, XIV 111. XXV 92-94, 101, XXVI 79. 142, 153, 161. Dicte = dictamnum, XXIV 164. Digitellum, house-leek, Semper- vivum arboreum, XVIII 159, XXV 160, XXVI 163. Dionysonvmphas = hestiateris, XXIV 165. Dios balanum, chestnut, Cas- tanea vesca, XV 93. Diospyron, usually the fruit of the false lote-tree, Diospyrus INDEX OF PLANTS ebenum, but in XXVII 98 = lithospermon. Dipsacos, teasel, Dipsacus Jullo- 7umi, XXVII 71. Dodecatheon, probably common primrose, Frimula acaulis, XXV 28, XXVI 107. Dolichos, black-eyed cowpea, Dolichos melanophthahnus, XVI 244. Donax, reed, Arundo donax, XVI 165, XXIV 86, XXXII 141. In XXXII 151 not the plant, bnt the razor-shell. Doripetron = leontopodion, XXVI 52. Doris = pseudoanchusa, XXII 50. Dorycnion (-vim), thom-apple, Datura stramonium, ov metel- nut, D. mctd XXI 179, XXIII 30, XXVIII 74, 129, 158, XXXII 68, 59, 97. In other authors, also denotos Convol- vulus oleaejolius, Melissa offici- nalis, and Anacychis pyrethrmn. Drabe (cmend. Detlef.), Arabian mustard, Lepidium draba, XXVII 73. Dracontias, a type of wheat, perhaps poulard, Triticum turgidum, XVIII 64. Dracontium (-ion), generic terra for various typcs of arum, especially the edderwort, Aru7n draeuncuhis, and the Italian arum, A. italicum, XXIV 142, XXV 175, XXVIII 151, three types de- scribed in XXIV 150. Dracunculus, essentially the Latin equivalent of dracon- tion, and used in the same wav, XXIV 89, 142, 149, XXV 18, XXXII 148. Druppa, a half-ripe olive, XII 130, XV 6, 26, XVII 230. Dryopteris, a fern similar to felix, XXVII 72. Duracinum, a hard-skinned or hard-berricd type of peacli, Amygdalus persica, XV 39. Ebulum, dwarf elder, Sambucus ebuhts, XVII 55, XVIII 34, XXV 119, 164, XXVI 81. 119, 120. Ecliinopus, a prickly plant, probably a type of broom, Oenista acanthoclada, XI 18. Echios, two kinds, perhaps small-flowered catchfly, Silene galUca, and red-flowered viper's bugloss, Echium rub- rum, or E. plantugineum, XXV 104. Echios = personata ibid. is perhaps common burdock, Arctiu7n lappa. Echis = pseudoanchusa, XXII 50. Echitos, a doubtful reading in XXIV 139, where Detlefsen and Mayhoff read aetites, a type of clematis. Soe Clematis. Ectomon, black hoUebore, Hel- leborns 7iiger, XXV 51. Elaplioboseon, parsnip, Pasti^i- aca sativa, XXII 79, XXV 92. Elate, silver-fir, Abies cepha- lo7iica or pectinata, XXIX 56. In XXIII 99 given as a term for the dwarf-palm, Chamae- rops humilis, but actually a term for the cabbage of this palm ; in XII 134 the term in this sense misapplied to the fir ; in XXVI 81 perhaps a MS. error. Elatine, cankorwort, Linaria spiiria, XXVI 82 (emend. Urlichs), XXVII 74. Elelisphacus, a sage, but of uncertain identity, perhaps Salvia officinalis, S. triloba. INDEX OF PLANTS iS. calycina, or S. pomifera, XIV 111, XXII 146, XXIII 145. XXV 120, XXVI 150. Elleborine, rupture-wort, Herni- aria glabra, XXVII 76. Elleborum. See Helleborum. Emarcus, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 32. Emboline = epicactis, XIII 114. Empetros = calcifraga, perhaps hartstongue, Asplenium scolo- pendrium, XXVII 75. Enchrj-sa = onochilon, XXII 51. Enneaphyllon, perhaps tooth- wort, Dentaria enneaphylla, XXVII 77. Enthryscum, a species of chervil, Scandix australis, XXI 89, XXII 81. Ephedra (-on, -um) = anabasis, XXVI 36; mentioned, XXVI 125; = equisaetum, XXVI 133. See also Hippuris. Epheraeron, a poisonous plant, meadow saffron, Colchicum autumnale, XXV 170, XXVI 122, XXVIII 160. Epicactis (probably by error for epitactis), rupture-wort, Herniaria glabra, XIII 114, XXVII 76. Epimedion, an unknown plant which Pltny says never flowers. It has been identified with Marsilea quadrifolia, and moonwort, Botrychium lun- aria, XXVII 76. Epipetron, of uncertain iden- tity, perhaps the house-leek, Sempervivum tectorum or ar- boreum, or a type of stone- crop, Sedum rupestre or var. anopetalum, XXI 89. Epithymum, a parasitic plant on thyme, clover dodder, Cuseuta epithymum, XXVI 55, 56, 106, 130. 506 Equisaetis (-um), horse-tail, Equisetum arvense or m/ixi- mum, XVIII 259, XXVI 132-133. Eranthemis = anthemis, XXII 53, a species of Anthemis. Ereuthodanum =erythrodanum, madder, Eubia tinctorum, XXIV 94. Erica, heath, Erica arborea, XI 41, XIII 114, XXIV 64; = mjTice, XXIV 67. Erigeron, groundsel, Senecio vulgaris, XXII 133, XXV 167, XXVI 81, 101, 130, 145, 163. Erineos, wild fig-tree, Ficus caprificus, XXIII 131. Eriphia. unknown, probably a niistake of PIiny's, XXIV 168. Erithales, wliite stone-crop, Sed- uni album, XXV 160. Eruca, rocket, Eruca sativa, X 182, XIX 77, 117, 123, 154, 168, 169, 171, 181, 185, XX 19, 125-126, XXII 158, XXV 168, XXVI 57, XX\ai 109, XXVIII 119, XXX 101. Ervilia, a type of chick-pea, Cicer arietinum, or perhaps chickling vetch, Lathyrus sativus, XVIII 58, 98, 143, XIX 47, XXI 70. Ervum, bitter vetch, Ervum ervilia, XIII 130, XVII 56, 240, XVIII 57, 59, 103, 124, 139, 155, 156, 198, XIX 179, XX 20, 264, XXII 29, 151- 153, 162, XXIII 26, 127, XXVI 60, 63, XXVII 11, 118, XXVIII 65. ErjTige or eryngium, eryngo, Eringium campestre, XXI 91, 94, XXII 18-24. Sea holly, E. maritimum, is apparently described in XXII 19. INDEX OF PLANTS Erysimon =» irio, XVIII 96, XXII 158. Erysisceptrum = aspalathos (1), XII 110. Mentioned also in XXIX 56. Erysithales, in XXVI 137 per- haps Cnicus erysithales ; in XXV 160 an emend. for eri- thales, s.v. Erythraicon, a kind of satyrion, fritillarv, Fritillaria graeca, XXVI 97. Erythranus, red-berried ivy, Hedera helix, XVI 147, XXIV 82. Erythrocomus, a type of pome- granate-tree, Funica grana- tum, XIII 113. Erythrodanum, madder, Ruhia ti)ictorum, XXIV 94, XXVI 89. Erythron = dorycnion, XXI 179. Escaria, a kind of grape, XIV 42. Etesiaca, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 36. Euclea, euclia or euplia, un- known, possibly Pliny has mistaken Greek eijKXeia (glory ) for a plant, XXV 130. Eugalacton = glaux, wart cress, Coronopus procutnbens, XXVII 82. Eugenia, a Idnd of grape-vine, XIV 25, 46. Euonymos, spindle-tree, Euon- ymus europaeus, XIII 118. Eupatoria, agrimony, Agrimonia eupatorium, XXV 65, XXX 121. Eupetalon, spurge laurel, Daphne mezereum, XV 132. Euphorbea (-eum), ancient milk-wort, Euphorbia anti- quorum, V 16, XXV 77, 143, 145, XXVI 64, 118, XXVII 2. See also Spina. Euphrosynum = buglossos, XXV 81. Euplia, imknown. See Euclea. Euripice, unknown reed, XXI 119. Euthalon, v.l. for eupetalon, s.v. Eutheriston," easily harvested," a variety of balsam-tree, Com- miphora opobalsamum, XII 114. Euzomon, rocket, Eruca sativa, XX 126. Exacum, type of centaurium, XXV 68. Exedum, unknown, possibly tanner's sumach, Rhus cori- aria, XXIV 175. Exonychon, gromwell. Litho- spermum officinale, XXVII 98. Faba, field bean, Faba vulgaris, IV 97, XI 14, XII 23, 126, XIII 54, 105, 107, XIV 43, XVI 123, XVII 55, 56, 72, 240, XVIII 10, 50, 51, 57, 58, 59, 60, 62, 95, 101, 117-122, 126, 143, 155, 157, 164, 181, 184, 185, 187, 191, 193, 198, 205, 228, 241, 245, 253, 257, 259, 304, 305, 307, XIX 40, 118, 133, 157, XX 53, 56, 89, 203, 211, XXI 70, XXII 91, 140-141, XXIV 22, XXV 46, XXVII 40, XXIX 63, XXX 67, XXXIII 109, XXXVI 133. Faba Aegyptia, Indian lotus, Nelumbo nucijera, XVIII 121. Faba Graeca, the fruit of the nettle-tree, Celtis australis, XVI 123, XXIV 6. Fagus, beech-tree, Fagus silva- tica, XVI 16, 18, 19, 25, 35, 36, 37, 74, 185, 218, 229, 242, XXIV 14, XXVIII 191. Far, emmer or two-grained wheat, Triticum dicoccum, IX INDEX OF PLANTS 174, X 157, XIII 114, XVIII 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 17, 49, 52, 56, 61, 62, 66, 81, 82, 83, 88, 92, 93, 97, 108, 111, 141, 142, 166, 184, 185, 187, 198, 202, 205, 241, 298, XX 57, 242, XXII 121, XXIV 30, 39, XXVI 39, 163, XXX 148, XXXIII 118. Farfarus, colfs foot, Tussilago farfara, XXIV 135. Farfugium = farfarus = tussi- lago, XXIV 135. Fel terrae = centauxium minus, XXV 68. Felicula, a rock-fem = poly- podion, XXVI 68. Felis oculus, emendation of ferus oculus = asyla, XXV 145. Felix, bracken fern, Pteris aqui- lina, and male fern, Aspidium filix.mas, XVII 29, 54, XVIII 45, XXIV 85, XXV 44, XXVI 58, XXVII 34, 72, 78-80, XXXVI 187. Fomur bubulum, unknown. It has been thought, without probability, to be motherwort, Leonurua cardiaca, XXVII 81. Feniculum (fseniculum), fennel, Foeniciilum vulgare, VIII 99, XIII 136, XIX 119, 173, 186, XX 43, 194, 242, 254, 264, XXIV 152, XXV 82, 110, 117, XXIX 119, XXXII 129. Fenum Graecum, fenugreek, Trigonella faenum graecum, XIII 10, 13, XVII 56, XVIII 140, XX, 88, 251, XXI 37, XXII 123, 125, XXIII 117, 122, 126, XXIV 184, XXVI 77, XXVII 29, XXVIII 177, XXX 127. Ferula, fennel giant, Ferula communis, VI 203, VII 198, XII 127, XIII 122-126, XV 25, 117, XVI 170, XIX 175, 508 XX 260, XXI 54, 80, XXII 97, XXIV 2, XXVI 135. Ferula in XII 126 is Ferula galbanifiua and in XII 128 is Heracleum spondylium. Ferus oculus. See Felis oculus. Ficus, fig-tree, usually Ficus carica, VII 21, VIII 209, X 32, XI 17, 118, XII 22-24, 34, 38, 40, XIII 49, 51, 56, 58, 138, XIV 102, 133, XV 43, 60, 66, 68-72, 74, 77, 81-83, 109, 110, 116, 117, 186, XVI 84, 90, 116-118, 121, 126, 127, 128, 1.30, 137, 181, 186, 209, 241, XVII 67, 84, 87, 88, 89, 95, 96, 100, 103, 112, 113. 118, 119, 120, 121, 123, 137, 154, 155, 200, 221, 222, 223, 225, 231, 233, 238, 241, 242, 244, 247, 253, 255-256, 258, 259, 260, 261, 263, XVIII 17, 188, 243, 245, XIX 156, XX 52, 127, 129, 136, 178, 180, 237, 238, 250, XXI 82, 108, XXII 97, 103, 120, 122, 123, 157, 158, XXIII 25, 26, 64, 80, 117-130, 135, 149, XXIV 16, 30, XXV 121, XXVI 21, 23, 29, 63, 65, 75, 76, 93, 159, XXVII 49, 51, XXVIII 126, 186, XXIX 69, 102, 106, XXX 32, XXXI 116, 118, 119, XXXIV 133, XXXVI 181. The Indian ficus (VII 21, XII 22) is the banyan, Ficu^ benghalensis ; a second type, called pala (XII 24) is the banana, Musa paradisiaca ; a tliird type, unnamed (ibid. ), is the mango, Mangifera indica ; the Idaean ficus of the Troad (XV 68) is perhaps the snow- pear, Pyrus nivalis, or the amelanchier, Amelanchier vul- garis; and tlie ficus Aegyptia is the carob-tree, Ceratonia INDEX OF PLANTS siliqua (XIII 59) and syca- more-fig, Ficus sycamorus (XIII 56). The ficus de- scribed as a seaweed (XIII 138) is perhaps an alcyonidian polyp. Filix = felix, fern. Flamma lovis, possibly Agros- temma coronaria, XXVII 44. Flammeum = phlox, XXI 64. Flos lovis, Jove's flower, Agros- temma flos Jovis, XXI 59, 67. Forensis, a kind of grape, XIV 42. Fraga, strawberry, Fragaria vesca, XV 98, XXI 86, XXV 109. Fraxinus, ash-tree, Fraxinus excelsior, XI 77, XIII 117, XV 67, XVI 62-64, 69, 74, 83, 106, 210, 219, 228, 229, 230, XVII 67, 78, 81, 151, 200, XVIII 240, XXII 95, XXIV 46, XXV 71, XXIX 94. Frumentum, in Pliny's time, usually a generie term for grain, occasionally for wheat, II 211, VII 64, 191, XVI 49, 176, XVII 14, 40, 46, XVIII 14, 16, 48, 49, 51, 52, 56, 58, 69, 60, 61, 62, 65, 67, 69, 70, 71, 79, 81, 88, 91, 93, 96, 97, 101, 117, 126, 140-157, 163, 164, 166, 170, 188, 191, 192, 196, 198, 223, 259, 296, 298, 301-308, 322, 341, XIX 79, XXI 98, XXIV 158, XXVIII 28, XXXII 35, XXXVII 201. Frutex coriarius = rhus (1), XXIV 91. Frutex sanguineus, cornel, Comus sanguinea, XVI 74, 176. Fucus raarinus. See phycos. Fungus, mushroom, tree-fungus, usualiy Agaricus, XIII 139, XVI 33, 85, 208, XIX 38, 63, XX 25, 47, 86, 94, 132, 236, XXI 126, 184, XXII 31, 96- 100, 108, XXIII 43, 65, 115, 159, 162, XXV 103, 131, XXVI 135, XXVII 50, XXIX 103, XXXI 119, XXXII 44, XXXVI 138. Gabalium, Arabian aromatic shrub, unknown, XII 99. Galbanum, galbanum, a gum resin obtained from galbanum giant fennel, Ferula galhani- flua, XI 16, XII 121, 126, XIII 9, XV 8, XIX 180, XXIV 12, 21, 22, XXXI 121. Galeobdolon, brownwort, Scro- phularia peregrina, XXVII 81. Galeopsis = galeobdolon, ihid. Galion = galeobdolon, ihid. Gallidraga, hairy teasel, Dip- sacus pilosus, XXVII 89. Gelotophyllis, Indian hemp, Can- 7iahis sativa, XXIV 1 64. Genista, greenweed, Oenista tinc- toria or pilosa, XVI 74, 176, XVII 136, XVIII 240, XIX 15, XXI 51, 72, 82, XXIV 65. Gentiana, gentian, eome species of Gentiana, XIV 111, XXV 71, 100, 142, XXVI 29, 32, 36, 74, 137, 140, 163, XXXII 54. Geranion, crane'8 bill, Oeranium sp., XIX 36, XXVI 108, 158, 160. In XXVI 108 the first type is probably round-leafed crane's bill, O. rotundifolium, or perhaps a species of heron'8 bill, such as Erodium mala- choides, and the second is probably tuberous crane's bill, O. tuberosum. Gethyon (getion, getium, geth- yum), long onion, a variant bf Allium cepa, XIX 100, 105, 107, 117, 118, 121, 181, 183. INDEX OF PLANTS Geum, avens, Oeum aativum, XXVI 37. Gingidion, French carrot, Dau- cus gingidium, XX 33. Git, Roman coriander, Nigella aativa,XlX 168, XX 182-184, XXVII 121. See Melanthion. Gladiolus, corn-flag, Oladiolus segetum. XXI 65, 107, 108, 111, 115. In XXI 111 Pliny speaks of another gladiolus = cypiros. Glans, acorn, as in XXIV 7 ; but glans faginea, beechnut, as in XXIV 14. Glastum, greenweed, Qenista tinctoria, XXII 2. Glaucion, greater celandine, Che- lidonium glaucium, XXVII 83. In XX 206 it is the horned poppy, Qlaucium flavum. Glaux = eugalacton, wartcresa, Coronopus procumbens, XXVII 82. Glinon, a kind of maple, Acer creticum, XVI 67. Glycyrrhiza, Uquorice, Olycyr- rhiza glabra and echinata, XI 284, XXII 24, XXVIII 97. In XXI 91 an error for cnecos, s.v, Glycvside, peony, Paeonia offici- nalis, XXV 29, XXVII 84- 87. Gnaphahon, cotton-weed, Diotis maritima, XXVII 88. Gossipion, cotton-tree, Qossyp- ium arboreum. See Appendix p. 546 (XIX 15), also Gossy- pinus and Arbor lanigera. Gossypinus = gossipion, XII 39. Gramen, grass, particularly dog'8 tooth grass, Cynodon dactylon, XVII 89, XVIII 259, XIX 98, XXII 8, XXIV 178-183, XXVII 113. Granatum, pomegranate, Punica \ granatum, XIII 9, 10, 112, \ XV 115, XVI 84, 86, XX 149, ! XXVI 49. ,' Gromphaena, perhaps a kind of amaranth, Amaranthus tri- • color, XXVI 40. ; Gynaecanthe = vitis nigra. i XXIII 27. j Habrotonum, southernwood, 1 Artemisia arborescens, XIII | 12, XIV 105, XIX 100, XX j 68, XXI 37, 59, 60, 61, 160- \ 162, 168, 170. ; Hadrobolon, black gum of tree ■ bdelhum, XII 35. i Hadrosphaerum, type of nardus, \ XII 44. " ' Haemodorum, broom-rape, I Orobanche cruenta or caryo- phyllacea, XIX 176. ' Hahcacabum (-os, -us), (1) = ! vesicaria, XXI 177; (2) : strawberry tomato, Physalis ' alkekengi, XXI 180, 182, j XXII il2. In XXI 180 it ia { a sleepy nightshade, also . called moly and raorion. Hahmon, sea oracho, Atriplex '■ halimua, XVII 239. XXIT i 73. Haliphloeos, sea-bark oak, Quer- \ c.us pseudosuber, XVI 24. j Halmyris, sea fennel, Crambe ] maritima, XIX 142. J Hakis, perhaps comfrey, Sym- 1 phytum officinale, XXVI 42. I F6e says Montpeher coris, ; Coris monspeliensis, others i self-heal, Prutiella vulgaris, or I common hyssop, Hyssopus officinalia. See also Alum. Harundo, reed, the genus 1 Arundo, VII 21, 206, VIII 96, . IX 56, X 9, 84, XI 14, 32, 1 XII 32, 124, XIII 122, XVI j INDEX OF PLANTS 90. 92, 125, 126, 156-173, 174, 262, 267, XVIII 46, 122, 240, 341, XIX 92, XX 56, XXIII 28, 68, XXIV 85-87, 150, XXV 93, XXVI 30, XXVIII 230, XXIX 108, XXX 88, 101, XXXI 44, 83, XXXV 46. The Indian harundo of XVI 162, 163 is the bamboo, Bam- husa arundinacea ; that of XXV 46 is one or more species of indigo-plant, Indigofera. Hastula regia = asphodelus, XXI 109. Hebenus, wood of false lote-tree, Diospyros ebenum, when the tree is native, otherwise ebony, D. melanoxylon, VI 197, XII 17-20, XVI 186, 204, 212, 213, 214, XXIV 89. Hedera, ivy, Hedera helix, VIII 98, XII 47, 74, XV 100, 115, XVI 9, 79, 85, 86, 88, 90, 92, 144-153, 155, 207, 208, 243, XVII 96, 101, 239, XVIII 245, XXI 52, 55, 78, 177, XXII 75, XXIII 21, XXIV 75-80, 82, 83, 98, XXV 70, 89, 95, 114, 116, 175, XXVI 30, XXVII 35, 43, 76, XXVIII 79, 130, 219, XXXI 44. Hedyosmum, water mint, Mentha aquatica, XIX 160, XXXV 181. Hedypnois, ox-tongue, Helmin- thia echioides, XX 75. Heleniura, generic torm for a nuraber of similar plants ; in XIV 108, elecarapane, Inula helenium; in XXI 59, 159, probably Thymus incana, biit perhaps Teucrium marum ; applied also to calamint, Calamintha incana ; identity uncertain in XV 30, XXVIII 117. Heleoselinum (helioselinnm), wild celery, Apium graveolens, XIX 124, XX 117. Helia, kale, Brassica oleracea acephala, XX 79. Helianthes, laudanum plant, Cistus laurifolius, XXIV 165. Heliocallis = helianthes, XXIV 165. Heliochrysus, cassidony, Heli- chrysuni sioechas, or annual tansy, Tanacetum annuum, XXI 65, 66, 168. Helion, dwarf elder, Sambucus ebulus, XXIV 51. Helioscopios, sun-spurge, Eu- phorbia helioscopia, XXII 57, XXVI 69. Holioscopiura, a kind of helio- tropium, XXII 57 ; a kind of tithymalus, XXVI 69. Heliotropium, heliotrope, (1) Heliotropium villosum; (2) (helioscopium) H. europaeum; (3) (tricoccum) turnsole, Chrozophora tinctoria, II 109, XII 100, XVIII 252, XIX 100, 178, XX 7, XXI 46, 100, XXII 57-61, XXV 39, XXXVII 83, 165. Helix, ivy, Hedera helix, XVI 145, 148. In XVI 177 a kind of willow. Helleborum (-os), hellebore, the white, probably Veratrum album, and the blaek, sorae species of Hclleborus, such aa H. niger, H. cyclophyllus, H. orientalis, or H. officinalis, XIV 110, XXI 134, XXII 133, XXIV 22, 65, XXV 47-61, 122, 150, XXVI 40, XXVII 6, XXVIII 140. XXIX 110, XXXI 63, XXXII 31, 79. Helvennaca, a kind of grape- vine, XIV 32, 84. 511 INDEX OF PLANTS Helvia, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 46. Helvola, a kind of grape, XIV 29. Helxine, VIII 101, XXI 94. 96, XXII 41, 42 ,XXV 92 {v.l.), XXVII 23, XXVIII 220, XXX 77. (1) A thistle, Atractylis gunimifera, XXI 94. (2) sea-side knotweed, Poly- gonum maritiyniim, XII 41. (3) pellitory, Parietaria offi- cinalis, VIII 101. (4) Convolvulus arvensis in Diosc. 4.39 W., and possibly in some passages in Pliny. Hemeris, usually the gall-oak, Quercus infectoria, XVI 22, 26. Hemerocalles, Martagon lily, Lilium martagon, XXI 59, 158. Hemionion, scale fem, Asplen- ium ceterach, XXV 45, XXVI 41, XXVII 34. Heptapleuron = plantago, XXV 80. Heracleon = origanum heracleo- ticum, XXV 32 ; heracleon (-ion) siderion, Cretan fig-wort, Scrophularia lucida, XXV 34, XXVI 140; = nymphaea, XXV 75. Heracleus pyros = lithosperraon, XXVII 98. Herachon, wild purslane, Eu- phorbia peplis, XX 207 ; a type of panaces, XXVI 113. Heraclium, see origanum, XX 177-180. Herba Fulviana, unidentified, XXVI 88. Herba lactaria = tithymalus, XXVI 62. Herba lanaria, probably = radicula, s.v., XXIV 168. Cf. XIX 48, XXV 52. Herba Sabina = brathy, XXIV 102. See also XXIX 103. 512 Herba Scythica. See Scythica. Hermupoa = linozostis, XXV 38. Heroum = asphodelus, XXII 67. Hesperis, night-scented stoek, Matthiola tristis, XXI 39. Hestiateris, areca nut, from areca-palm, Areca catechu, XXIV 165. Hexastichas, a type of myrtle, perhaps Myrtus angustifolia boetica, XV 122. Hiberis. See Iberis. Hibiscum (-us), marsh-mallow, Althaca officinalis, XIX 89, XX 29, XXVI 21. Hieracion, hawkweed, the large type Urospermum picroides, the small type Hymenonema graecum, XX 60. Hippace, in XXV 83 a Scythian herb ; usually mare'8 milk cheese, as in XI 284, XXVIII 131, 204. Hippolapathum, horse-sorrel, Rumex aqiiaticus, XX 232. Hippomarathum, horse-fennel, Prangos ferulacea, XX 255, 258, XXI 54. Hippophaes, see tithymalus, XXI 91, XXII 29. Hippophaeston, a knapweed, Centaurea spiyiosa, XVI 244, XXVII 92. Hippopheos, a spurge, Euphor- bia acanthothamnos, XXI 91 (emend.), XXVI 55. It is wrongly identified by Pliny with epithymum. Hippophlomos = white-rooted mandragoras, perhaps deadly nightshade, Atropa belladonna, XXV 148. Hippophobas, " horse-fear," a fabulous plant, XXIV 161. Hipposelinum, alexanders, INDEX OF PLANTS Smyrnium oliisatrum, XIX 124, 162, XX 117, XXI 24. Hippuris, horsetail, Equisetum arvense or jnaximum, XXVI 132, 133, 158. Hirculus, imknown, XII 46. Holcus, mouse-barley, Hordeum murinum, XXVII 90. Holochrysos, perhaps cassidony, Helichrysum stoechas, XXI 48, 148. Holoschoenus, club-rush, Scirpus holoschoenus, XXI 113, 119. Holosteon, all-bone, Plantago Bellardi, XXVII 91. Horconia, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 35. Hordeum, barley, Hordeum dis- tichum, H. vulgare, and H. hexastichum, VI 158, VIII 23, XIII 117, 130, 1.32, XVII 31, 54, 56, 260, XVIII 49-51, 56, 68, 60-62, 71, 72-74, 75, 78- 80, 98, 100, 103, 142, 146, 149, 151, 152, 155, 156, 164, 165, 166, 184, 191, 192, 198, 202, 250, 295, 299, 304, XIX 169, XX 20, 39, 81, 88, 135, 139, 167, 173, 179, 180, XXI 161, XXII 103, 121, 122, 124, 126, 134-136, 161, XXIII 3, 63, 78, 123, XXIV 29, 39, 55, 62, 97, 149, 186, XXV 55, 146, 156, XXVI 83, 85, 90, 159, XXVII 24, 90, 97, 108, 137, XXVIII 81, 137, 166, 183, 206, 264, XXIX 40, 143, XXX 38, 75, 97, 113, 122, XXXI 63, 103, XXXII 36, 78, 110, 137, XXXIII 108, XXXIV 170, XXXV 181. Hordoum murinum = phoe- nicea, XXII 135. Perhaps mouse-barley, Hordeum mur- inum. Horminos, a kind of wild as- paragus, perhaps Asparagus acutijolius, XIX 151. Horminum, clary, Salvia hor- minum, XVIII 49, 96, XXII 159. Hyacinthus, corn-flag, Gladiolus segetum, XXI 34, 65, 66, 67, 170, XXV 129, XXVI 146. In XXI 170 Scilla bifolia. Other plants may be included, but never our hyacinth. Hydrolapathon, " water sorrel," a species of Rumex, perhaps R. aquaticus, XX 231. Hyoscyamus, henbane, Hyos- cyamus nigcr, XV 30, XX 25, 50, 184, 193, 203, 210, XXI 127, XXII 31, 72, 112, 124, XXIII 94, XXV 35, 37, 104, 142, 164, 165, XXVI 27, 41, 76, 89, 100, 105, 152, XXVIII 74, 158, 256, XXXIV 126. Hyoseris, " swine'8 chicory," hawksbeard, Crepis neglecta, XXVII 90. Hypecoon, horned cumin, Hypecoum procumbens, XXVII 93. Hypelate, a type of laurel, Laurus nobilis, XV 131. Hypericon, St. John's wort, Hypericum crispum or revolu- tum, XII 118, XXVI 85, 86, 90, 117, 119, 129, 130, 158, 164, XXVII 26, 37. Hyphear, mistletoe, Viscum al- bum, XVI 120, 245. Hypoclioeris, cafs ear, Hypn- chocris radicata, XXI 89. Hvpocisthis, hypocist, Cytinus \ypocistis, XX 208, XXIV 81, 120, XXVI 49, 81, 145, 160, XXVIII 177, 219. Hypogeson, a house-Ieek, Sempervivum tectorum, XVIII 159, XXV 160. INDEX OF PLANTS Hypoglossa, double-tongue, Ru3- ciis hypoglossum, XXVII 93. Hypoglottion, a kind of laurel, Laurus, XV 131. Hysopum (hyssopum), perhaps a type of marjoram, Ori- ganum, but probably hyssop, Hyssopus officinalis, XIV 109, XX 28, 136, 175, 178, 188, XXII 33, 52, XXIII 55, 122, XXV 46, 136, 166, 175, XXVI 23, 29, 31, 32, 34, 40, 41, 54, 76, 114, 124, 127, 144, 160, 164, XXVII 131, XXVIII 246, XXIX 103, XXXI 98, 100, 103, XXXII 131. lasine or iasione, hedge bind- weed, Convolvulus sepium, XXI 105, XXII 82. Iberis, pepperwort, Lepidium graminifolium, XXV 87, 88, 134, 143, XXVI 45, 100, 112. Idaea, (1) a type of laurel, Laurus, XV 131; (2) prob- ably elecampane, Inula helen- ium, XIV 108; (3) perhaps a species of butcher's broom, Ruscus hypoglossum, XXVII 93. Idaeus rubus, raspberry bush, Ruhus idaeus, XVI 180, XXIV 123. Ilex, holm-oak, Quercus ilex, XIII 98, 104, XVI 11, 16, 19, 25, 32, 34, 73, 74, 80, 82, 90, 91, 92, 95, 107, 108, 120, 186, 206, 229, 230, 231, 237, 242, 245, XVII 55, 89, 236, XIX 27, XXIV 7. Impia, perhaps French ever- lasting, Onaphalium gallicum, XXIV 173. Inguinalis = argemonion, XXVI 92. Inlecebra (illecebra)=andrachle agria, wild purslane, Sedum stellaium, XXV 162, XXVI 127. Intubus, generic term for chicory, Cichorium sp., de- noting endive, C. endivia, when it is a cultivated form, XIX 123, 129, 185, XX 65, 73, XXI 88, XXII 91, 144, XXXVI 84, XXXVII 90. Inula, elecampane, Inula helen- ium, XIX 62, 91-92, 100, XX 38. lon, a kind of violet, Viola odorata, XXI 64. Iphyon, spike-lavender, Lavan- dula spica, XXI 67. Irio, Iris pallida and hedge- mustard, Sisymhrium poli/- ceratium, XVIII 49, 58 96, XXII 158, XXV 35, XXVI 40, 137. Iris, iris, more especially Ger- man iris, Iris germanica and 7. pallida, XIII 5, 14, 18, XIV 128, 135, XV 30, XX 244, XXI 39-42, 67, 140-144, XXII 67, XXIII 63, 122 (emend.), 152, XXV 40, 157, 159, XXVI 55, 143, 159, XXVII 49, 104 {v.l.), XXVIII 188, XXX 127, XXXI 116, XXXII 101. Isatis, woad, Isatis tinctoria, XX 59, XXVII 84. It is classed by Pliny among lac- tucae. Ischaemon, a styptic plant, perhaps Andropogon ischae- mum, or manna grass, Pani- cum sanguinale, XXV 83, XXVI 131. Ischas, secondary name for leucacantha, XXII 40, usually a type of fig. Isocinnamon, a type of cassia, XII 98. INDEX OF PLANTS Isoetes, a stone-crop, = aizoiim minus, XXV 160. Isopyron, fumitory, Fumaria capreolata, XXVII 94. Iton, an unidentified type of truffle, XIX 36. Itriola, a lund of grape-vine, XIV 37. luglans (usually nux iuglans), ■walnut, Juglans regia, XIV 136, XV 28, 86-91, 109, 114, XVI 74, 76, 116, 131, 205, 212, 218, 224, 248. XVII 59, 64, 89, 91, 136, XX 7, XXIII 88, 147, 149, XXIV 1, XXX 101. luncus, rusli, Juncus sp., VIII 101, 201, XII 104, 106, XIII 8-11, 13, 15, 18, 140. XIV 107, 111, XV 30, 66, XVI 4, XVII 31, 209, XVIII 46, 108, XIX 31, XXI 112-121, 122, XXII 98, XXVII 98, XXXI 44, 83. luniperus, juniper-tree, Juni- perus sp., VIII 99, XII 26, 29, 67, XIII 62, 67, XIV 112, XVI 73, 80, 90, 96, 107, 186, 198, 212, 216, 218, XVII 174, XXIII 52, XXIV 27, 51, 54, XXVIII 214. Ixia = chamaeleon ; (1) alba, pine-thistle, Atractylis gum- mifera, XXII 45; (2) nigra, black chamaeleon, Cardopa- iium corymbosum, XXII 47. Labrum Veneris, the teasel, Dip- sacus fullonum, or the wild teasel, D. silvestris, XXX 24. Labrum Venerium, XXV 171, is an unknown river-plant. Labrusca, wild vine, Vitis la- hrusca, XII 48, 132, XIV 37, 98, XVI 154, 208, XVII 213, XXIII 8, 17, 19, XXVII 143. Laburnum, laburnum, Cytisus laburnum, XVI 76, XVII 174. Lactoris, a milky plant, un- known, perhaps = herba lac- taria, XXIV 168. Lactuca, lettuce, Lactuca sativa. Wikl lcttuce is probably generallv acrid lottuce, L. virosa, as in VIII 99, XIX 126; but Pliny applies the term lactuca to many plants that are not lottuces. See VIII 99, IX 128, XIX 117, 120, 122, 125-128, 130, 131, 132, 134, 154, 168, 177, 183, 185, 186, 199, XX 58-68, 199, XXII 88, XXV 28, 71, 147, XXVI 74, 98, 103, XXVII 66, 59, 66, 71, 95, 97, XXXII 101, 111. Lactuca caprina = tithymalus, XXVI 62. See also XIX 128, XX 58. Lacuturris, a kind of cabbage or kale, XIX 141. Lada, a type of cassia, XII 97. Ladanum, perhaps Qaleopsis ladanum, ahemp nettle, some- times the resin (collected by goats' beards) of the plant leda, XII 73-76, XIII 18, XXVI 47, 74, 106, 115, 126, 150, 157, XXVIII 163, XXXVII 204. Lagine, secondarv name for cle- matis, XXIV 139. Lagopus, unknown, XXVI 52. Lamium, dead-nettle, Lamium album. purpuremn, or macula- twn, XXI 93, XXII 37-38, 43. Lapathum, dock and sorrel, species of Rmnex, XIX 46, 98, 123, 170, 184, XX 59, 231- 235, XXI 125, XXV 84, 148, 156, XXXII 131. Lappa. bur, Arctium lappa, XVIII 153, XXI 104, XXIV 176, XXV 81, 104, XXVI 105. Lappa boaria, perhaps INDEX OF PLANTS Lappa canina, XXVI 105. Lappa canaria, perhaps Lappa canaria, XXIV 176. Lappago, a sort of bur, XXVI 102. Lapsana, hoary mustard, Hirsch- feldia incana, XIX 144, XX 96. Larix, larch-tree, Lariz com- munis, XIII 100, XVI 24, 30, 32, 43, 45, 46, 48, 49, 58, 73, 80, 91, 95, 100, 125, 127, 186, 187, 190, 195, 200, 204, 212, 218, 219, 222, 245, XXIV 28, 32, 136, XXVIII 195. Laser or laserpicium, the resin- ous juice of silphium, s.v., XVI 143, XVII 259, XVHI 308, XIX 38-48, XX 34. 56, 80, 90, 141, XXn 101-106, XXXI 120. Latace, a magic herb, XXVI 18. Lathyris, chickling vetch, Lathy- rus sativus, XXVII 95. Laurus, bay, Laurus nobilis, II 146, VI 79, VIII 101, X 157, XII 3, 34, 57, 98, XIII 10, 118, 139, 141, XIV 112, XV 26, 27, 101, 104, 109, 113, 115, 126, 127-138, XVI 63, 74, 79, 92, 97, 104, 120, 126, 127, 128, 130, 137, 207, 208, 230, 239, 241, XVII 60, 62, 64, 65, 88, 96, 99, 131, 151, 239, 244, XVIII 19, 161, XIX 166, XX 137, 138, 142, 174, 193, XXIII 86, 152-158, XXIV 132, 141, 148, XXVII 84. Laver, perhaps water cress, Nasturtium officinale, XXVI 50, 87. Leda, Cretan rock-rose, Cistus creticua, XII 75. Ledanum = ladanum, XII 75. Ledon, a plant ( = leda) in Cyprus, from which a resin (ladanum) was obtained, XXVI 47. Lemonium, v.l. f or molemonium, XXV 108. Lens, lentil, Ervum lens, XII 129, XIII 54, 55, XVI 201, XVIII 10, 50, 57, 98, 123, 155, 164, 198, 202, 228, 308, XIX 133, XX 75, XXII 61, 142- 147, XXIV 59, 134, 155, XXV 59, XXVI 32, 84, XXVII 30, XXVIII 209. The lenticula (XVIII 123, XX 71. 221, XXI 175, XXIV 109, XXV 135, XXVI 44, XXVII 38, 82. 121, 124, 138, 139)isprobably var. microsperma. Lentiscus, mastic-tree. Pistacia lentiscus, XII 56, 71, 72, 121. XIII 9, XIV 112. 122, XV 21, 28, 101, 105, XVI 55, XVII 256, 261, XVIII 228, 244. XXIII 89, XXIV 32. 36, 42, XXV 175, XXVIII 151. 232, XXXII 57, XXXIV 133. See also Mastiche. Leo, unknown tree, XIII 119. Leontice = cacalia, XXV 135. Leontopetalon, Iion's leaf, Leon- tice leontopetalum, XXVII 96. Leontopodion, probably lion's leaf, Leontice leontopetalutn, XXVI 52, 128. 145. Lepidium, dittander, Lepidium latijolium, XIX 166, XX 181. Lepton = centaurium minus, XXV 68. Leptophyllos = dendroides. XXVI 71. Leucacantha, milk-thistle, Sily- bum marianum, XXII 40 ; in XXVII 124 a secondary name for phalangitis. Leucacanthos (-us), milk-thistle, Silybum marianum, XXI 94, XXVII 89. Leucanthemis, a species of INDEX OF PLANTS ch&momile,Antherms,'X.X.I15S. Leucanthemum, (1) chamomile, a species of Anthemis, XXII 63; (2) secondarv namo for phalangitis, XXVII 124; (3) a plant with a scent like that of habrotonum, XXI 60 and probably XXI 163. Leucanthes, pellitory, Parietaria officinalis, XXII 76, XXVII 89. Leueas or leuce, white dead- nettle, Larnium album, XXVII 102. In XIX 82 leuce is a secondary name f or armoracia. Leuceoron = leontopodion, XXVI 52. Leucocomus, a kind of pome- granate, Punica granatum, XIII 113. Leucographis, a thistle, Carduus leurographus, XXVII 103. Libadion = centaurium minus, XXV 68. Libanodes, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 117. Libanotis, Lecokia cretica, XX 172; in XIX 187 and XXIV 101 apparently rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis. In XXI 58 = root of male conyza. See also XXVI 82. Lichen, not our lichen, but perhaps common liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha. and M. stellata. Some authorities think that in XXIII 133 Pliny has confused the disease lichon with a gum supposed to cure it, XXVI 22, 124. Ligusticum, lovage, Levisticum officinale, XIX 165. XX 168, 187. Ligustrum, (1) privet, Ligustrum vulgare, XVI 77; (2) wrongly applied to the henna-plant, Lawsonia inermis, XII 109, XXIV 74. Lihum, white lily, Lilium candi- dum, XIII 10, 1 1, XV 31, XVI 154, XXI 22-26. 37, 64, 67, 68, 70, 126, 127, 133, XXV 40, 76, 170, XXVI 97, XXVII 118, 124, XXVIII 223, 235, XXX 50, 110, XXXII 40, 109. Limeum, a poisonous plant, XXVII 101. Limodoron, a broom-rape, strangleweed, Orobanche cruenta, XIX 176. Limonia, golden thistle, Scoly- mus hispanicus, XXII 86. In XXI 65 a kind of anemone. Limonion (-um), wild beet, Beta 7naritima, XX 72. Lingua. Some say hart's tongue fern, Scolopendrium vulgare, or Lingua cervina, but prob- ably identical with lingulaca, XXIV 170. Lingua bovis, probably = I. bu- bula, XXVII 61. Lingua bubula, Italian alkanet, Anchusa italica, XVII 112. Lingulaca, a buttercup, perhaps great spear-wort, Ranunculus Ungua, XXV 133. Linostrophon = marrubiura, XX 241. Linozostis, annual mercury, Mercurialis annua, and per- ennial mercury, M. perennis, XXV 38-41, XXVI 121, 124, 150. Linum, flax, Linum usitatissi- mujn and L. angustifolium, VII 196, X 96, XVII 56, XVIII 73, 108, 165, 205, 229, XIX 2-25, XX 164, 194, 207, 212, 249, XXI 161, XXII 33, 125, XXIV 65, 139, 186, XXV 129, XXVII 74, 111, XXVIII 61, 79, XXX 52, 65, 90, 107, XXXI 99, XXXIV 127, XXXVII 202. In XIII INDEX OF PLANTS 114 it means the seed of the thymelaea. Lithosperraon, gromwell, Litho- spermum officinale,^X.VII 98. Lolium, darnel, Lolium teynulen- tum, XVIII 153, XXII 160. Lonchitis, wood-fern, Aspidium linguum, or holly-fern, A. lonchitis, XXV 137, XXVI 76, 119. Lotometra, a meal made from the seeds of the white lotus, Nymphaea lotus, and the blue lotus, A'. caerulea, XXII 56. Lotos : (1) As a term for a tree, probably originally denoted the Jew thorn, Zizyphus lotus, later extended to the nettle- tree, Celtis australis, and even to the elove-tree of India, Eugenia caryophyllata (XII 30); Jew thorn and nettle- tree confused in XIII 104- 106 ; Jew thorn mentioned in XIV 101 (shrub); nettle- tree mentioned or described in XIV 101 (tree), XV 101 (bore berries), XVI 235, 236, XVII 5 (grew at Rome), XXIV 6 (grew in Syria), XV 116 (grew in Egj^pt and Meso- potamia), XIII 61, XVI 172 (wood used for flutes), XVI 186, 204, 212 (wood de- scribed). (2) The herb lotos is usually a trefoil, perhaps especiallv Trifolium fragi- ferum (XIII 107, XIV 101, XXI 34, 99, 103, XXIV 6), bnt sometimes the trefoil Lotus corniculatus (XXI 34, XXII 55). (3) The Egvptian lotos inPliny (XIII 107-110, XXII 56, XXIV 6) is the white lotus, Nymphaea lotus, and the blue lotus, N. caerulea, although elsewhere it is sometimes the Indian lotus, Nelumbo nucifera. (4) The lotos used as an ingredient in an im- guent (XIII 18) is of uncertain identity. Lupinus, lupin, especially Lupi- nus hirsutus, L. albus, and L. icrmis, XII 38, XIII 141, XV 30, XVII 54, 55, 56, 260, 266, XVIII 47, 50, 57, 59, 125, 133-136, 163, 185, 187. 198, 252, 257, 304, XX 20, XXII 154-157, XXIII 75, 94, XXXII 87, XXXV 102. Lupus salictarius, perhaps hop, Humulus lupulus, XXI 86. Lutum, weld, dyer's weed, Re- seda luteola, XXXIII 87, 91. Lycapsos, viper's herb, Echium italicum, XXVII 97. Lyclmis, rose-campion, Lychnis coronaria, XXI 18, 67, 171, XXV 68 ; lychnis agria = antirrhinum, XXV 129. Lychnitis, the third type of phlomis, S.V., XXV 121. Lycium, a juice obtained from the buck-thorn, Bhamnus lyci- oides, XII 31, XXII 25 (emend.), XXIII 109, XXIV 124-126, XXVI 164. See also Pysacanthus chironius. Lygos = vitex, XXIV 59. Lynx, unknown plant, XXXVII 34. Lyron = alisma, XXV 124. Lysimachia, purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria, XXV 72, 100, XXVI 131, 141, 147, 164. Macir, red bark of the root of an Indian tree, probably Holarrhena antidysenterica, XII 32. Mados = vitis alba, XXIII 21. Magydaris, (1) the stalk (more exactly the leaf-Iike seed) of INDEX OF PLANTS silphium, XIX 45; (2) asa- foetida, especially Scorodosma foetida, XIX 46. Malacha, gum of the tree bdellium, XII 35. Malache, in XX 122 apparently Malva nicaeensis or M. ro- tundifolia, but in Greek a generic term for mallows. Maldacon = malacha, XII 35. Malicorium = Punica, XXIII 107. Mallon, Boeotian name of nymphaoa, XXV 75. Malobathrum, usually the leaves of a plant of uncertain iden- tity growing in tlie Far East, perhaps Cinnamomum tamala, XII 129, XIII 14, 18, XIV 108, XXIII 93. Malope, a kind of mallow, XX 222. Mahnidrum, unknown, possibly Lychnis silvestris or dioica, XXVI 40. Mahis, apple-tree, usually Malus domestica, VII 25, 83, XII 14, 16, XV 39, 42, 57, 58, 69, 64, 65, 109, 110, 116, XVI 74, 77, 84, 90, 92, 98, 103, 106, 109, 114, 115, 117, 122, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 137, 181, 211, 241, XVII 59, 67, 71, 72, 88. 95, 96, 100, 111. 119, 120, 136, 151, 220, 221, 227, 230, 238, 266, XVIII 34. XXIII 100. XXVI 109. Malus Assyria, citron, Citrus medica, XI 278, XII 15-16, XIV 7, XVI 135; malum cotoneum, see Coton- eum ; malum cydoneum, see Cydoneum ; malum erraticum perliaps = mahim terrae, XXVI 88 ; malum granatum, see Granatum ; malus Medica, citron, Citrus mtdica, XII 15- 16, XV 47; malum Persicum, see Persicum ; malus Punica, see Punica (arbor Punica, XIII 118); malum strutheum, see Strutheum ; malum ter- rae = aristolochia, XXV 95. XXVIII 37. Malva, (1) as a cultivated plant, usually the cheese-flower, Malva silvestris, probably sometimes M. nicaeensis (note two cultivated types in XX 222); (2) as a wild plant, usually the dwarf mallow, M. rotundifolia, but sometimes the marsh-mallow. Althaea officinalis (generally called althaea). and the tree-mallow, Lavatera arborea (as in XIX 62-63); see XIX 62, 98, 170, XX 221-230, XXI 46, 78, 81, XXII 34. XXIV 175. 187, XXV 41, 95. 172, XXVI 68, 82 {emend.), 108. XXVIII 189. 206. 209, XXIX 62, XXX 24, XXXVII 114. Mandragoras, ( 1 ) mandrake, Mandragora officinarum ; (2) perhaps also deadly night- shade, Atropa belladonna, VIII 101, XIV 111, XXV 147- 150, XXVI 24, 93. 104. 105. 121. 145. 149. 156. Manicon = dorycnion. XXI 179. Marathum or marathrum, fen- nel, Foeniculum vulgare, VIII 99, XX 1 10. XXI 54, XXX 27. Marcus. a kind of grape-vine. XIV 32. Margaris, a kind of palm-tree, XIII 41. Mariscus, type of iuncus, XXI 112. Marmaritis = aglaophotis, XXIV 160. Maron, a kind of marjoram, Orir/anum sipyleum, XII 111, Xlil 13, 18. INDEX OF PLANTS Marrubium (marruvium), hore- hound, Marrubium vulgare and AI. peregrinum, XIV 105, XX 118, 241-244, XXII 41, XXV 43, XXVI 93. Massaris, a product of the flower chisters of the labrusca, XII 133, XXIII 2, 9. Mastiche, mastioh, Pistacia lentiscus, XII 72, XXIV 42, XXXVII 51. Mastos, unknown, XXVI 163. Mecon ( 1) usually a generic term for poppy, Papaver, especially P. somniferum ; (2) in XX 209 = tithymalus. Mecon apliro- des ( 1 ) usually the frothy " poppy'" Silene venosa, as in XX 207 ; in XXVII 119 small purple spurge, Euphorhia pe- plis, conf used with a poppy be- cause of its juice. Sometimes called heraclion. Meconion = pephs, XXVII 119; = a product of the mecon, XXIII 43, 61, 80, XXV 143. Meconis, probably acrid lettuce, Lactuca virosa XIX 126, XX 67. Mediea, lucerne, Medicago sativa, XVIII 144-148; in XIV 108 probably elecampane, Inula helenium. Medion, perhaps a bellflower, such as Campanula lingulata, or perhaps Convolvulus al- thaeoides, XXVII 104. Melamphyllum = paederos, XXII 76. Melampodion, black type of helleborum, XXV 47. Melancranis, bog-rush, Schoetius nigricans, XXI 112. Melanion, perhaps by error for melanthion, otherwise violet, Viola odorata, XXI 65. Melanthion (-um), Roman cori- 520 ander, Nigella sativa, XX 182, XXIII 67, XXVIII 188, 217, XXXI 84, XXXIII 85, XXXV 185; = anthemis, XXII 53. Melaspermon = melanthion, XX 182. Mehlotos, an aromatic fenu- greek, Trigonella graeca, XIII 13, XV 30, XXI 39, 53, 63. 70, 151, XXII 123, 142, XXIII 85, XXIX 37. Melimelum, often a type of quince, but in XV 51, 59, XXIII 104 a type of apple, Malus domestica. Mehssophvllum, balm, Melissa officinaiis, XX 116, XXI 53, 70, 82, 149-150, XXVII 134. See also Apiastrum. Melittaena = melissophyllum, XXI 149. Melopcpo, perhaps the melon, Cucumis melo, XIX 67. Melothron (melotrum), bryony, Bryonia cretica, XXI 53, XXIII 21. Memaecylon, fruit of the straw- berry-tree, Arbutus unedo, XV 99. Menta, usually water mint, Mentha aquatica, sometimes sueh similar species as Satureia calamintha, XIX 100, 159, 176, 177, XX 44, 80, 147-151, 191, XXI 38, XXII 126, XXIII 144, XXIV 130, XXVI 121. Mentastrum, usually horse mint, Mentha silvestris, XIV 105, XIX 123, 159, XX 124, 144- 146, XXV 63. Mercurialis, annual mercury, Mercurialis annua, and peren- nial mercury, M. perennis, XXV 38, XXVII 102, XXIX 80. Merois = aethiopis, XXIV 163. INDEX OF PLANTS Mesa, a kind of cannabis, XIX 174. Mesoleucon, secondary name for leuee, XXVII 102. Mesosphaerum, type of nardus, XII 44. Mespila, generic term for various thorn trees. In XV 84 the setania is the medlar, Mes- pilus germanica ; the an- thedon is the Oriental thorn, Craetaegus orietitalis; and the one similar to it, called Gallic, is the oxyacant}i, C. oxyacantha. See XIV 103, XV 65, 84, 112, 115, XVII 59, 67, 221, 230, XXI 88, XXIII 141. Metopium, the gum of the meto- pon, XII 123, XIII 6, 8. Metopon, an African tree from which the gum hammonia- cum is distilled, XII 107. Mettica, a kind of grape-vino, XIV 35. Meum, bear-wort, spignel, Meum athamanticum, XX 253, 264. Microsphaerum, type of nardus, XII 44. Milax. See Smilax. Miliaria, herb injurious to millet, XXII 161. Militaris = lactoris, XXIV 168. Milium, common millet, Pani- cum miliaceum, XI 112, XIII 108, XIV 101, XV 63, XVIII 49, 50, 52, 53, 54, 60, 61, 74, 96, 99, 100, 101, 102, 158, 160, 163, 182, 185, 191, 192, 198, 250, 259, 297, 299, 304, 307, XXII 56 {emend.), 116, 130, XXV 83. The milium intro- duced into Italy from India (XVIII 55) is a type of sorghum, perhaps common sorghum, Sorghum vulgare. Millefolium, (1) a secondary name for Achilleos, XXV 42; (2) Latin term for myriophyl- Ion,XXIV152; (3)mentioned, XXIV 176, XXVI 78; (4) in Diosc. 3.138 W., a type of Parietaria or Chrysanthemum. Mintha. See Menta. Mmyanthes, treacle clover, Psoralea bituminosa, XXI 54, 152. Minyas, magic herb, XXIV 157. Misy, truffle, Tuber aestivum or T. niveum, XIX 36. Mitliridatia, probably Erythroni- um dens canis, XXV 62, 127. Molemonium, a plant that pro- duces vomiting, XXV 108 ; XXVI 40. Mollugo, a kind of lappago, XXVI 102. Molocho agria = hibiscum, XX 29. Molon = syron, XXVI 33, identified by many withmoly. Molv, perhaps Allium nigrum, XXV 26, 127, but in XXI 180, sleepy nightshade, Withania somnifera. Molybdaena = plumbago, lead- wort, Plumbago europaea, XXV 155. Morion, (1) white type of man- dragoras, perhaps Atropa bella- donna, XXV 148, (2) sleepy nightshade, Withania som- nijera, XXI 180, XXV 148. Morus, mulberry-tree, Morus nigra and M. alba, XIII 56, XV 52, 96, 97, 101, 109, 113, 116, XVI 28, 74, 83, 102, 119, 182, 186, 207, 210, 218, 227, XVII 124, 136, XVIII 253, XXI 183, XXIV 120, 122, XXVII 57, XXX 23, XXXIV 133. But morum denotes INDEX OF PLANTS either a mulberry or a black- berry {e.g., XV 97, XXIV 117). The Egyptian morus (XXIII 134-136) is the sycamore, Ficus sycamorus. Murahs, pellitory, Parietaria officinalis, XXI 176. Murra (sometimes myrra), myrrh or the tree that pro- duces it, Balsamodendron myrrha, VI 174, XII 33, 51, 66-71, 81, XIII 8, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, XIV 91, 92, 93, 107, 134, XIX 162, 187, 188, XX 164, 212, 249, 251, XXI 38, 131, XXIII 109, 136, 139, XXIV 22, 86, 164, 166, 179, XXV 41, 175, XXVI 81, 109, 154, 159, XXVII 85, 130, 133, XXVIII 118, 120, 174, 175, 179, 214, 245, XXIX 41, 46, 115, 137, XXX 24, 87, 88, 93, 105, 116, 140, 145, XXXI 100, XXXII 101, XXXIV 153, XXXV 181. Muscus, generic term for moss, esp. sphagnura, X 96, XIX 24, XXVI 22, 105, XXVII 69, 100. Musteum, quince, Cydonia vul- garis, XV 38. Jlyacanthus, a kind of wild asparagus, perhaps Asparagus acutifolius, XIX 151. Myagros, ball-mustard, Neslia pa^iiculata, XXVII 106. Myoctonos = aconitum, XXVII 9. Myophonon, wolfs bane, Acon- itura anthora, or perhaps Alyssum sativum, XXI 54. Myosota or myosotis, mad- wort, Asperugo procumbens, XXVII 23, 105. Myosoton = alsine, XXVII 23. Myrice, tamarisk, Tamarix tet- randra or T. articulata, XIII 522 116, XXIV 64; = erica, XXIV 67. Myriophyllon, water-milfoil, Myriophyllum spicatum, XXIV 152. Myrobalanum, bohen-nut and the tree, Moringa oleifera. Oil of ben is extracted from the fruit, XII 100-103, Xm 18, XXIII 98. MjTra = myrris, XXIV 154; = murra, VI 174. Myrris, sweet cicely, Myrrhis odorota, XXIV 154; = geran- ion or myrtidas, XXVI 108. MjTriza = mjTris, XXIV 154. Myrsineum = feniculum sil- vestre, wild fennel, XX 255. Myrtidanum, an excrescence on the stem of the myrtle, XIV 104, XV 118, XXIII 164. Myrtidas (perhaps better mer- trj-x, cf. Diosc. 3.116 W.) = geranion, XXVI 108. Myrtites, a type of spurge, per- haps Euphorbia myrsinites, XXVI 66-67. Myrtopetalum (-s), a kind of polygonus, XXVII 113. Myrtus, myrtle-tree, Myrtus commuyiis, XII 3, 29, 76, 112, 115, 121, XIII 9, 10, 18, 52, 105, 114, XIV 104, XV 27, 34, 101, 109, 118-126, XVI 74, 79, 90, 92, 112, 121, 137, 234, XVII 62, 88, 95, 96, 123, 124, 257, XX 158, XXI 69, XXII 139, 144, XXIII 87, 159-166, XXIV 6, 165, XXV 159-166, 175, XXVI 42, 66, 121, XXVII 93, 126, XXVIII 81, 137, 194, 207, 209, 260, XXIX 100, 108, XXX 56, 58, 68, 105, 140, XXXII 30, XXXIII 110, XXXIV 133, XXXV 116. 160. INDEX OF PLANTS Myxa, sebesten, Cordia myxa, XIII 51, XV 45, 97, XVII 75, XXII 120. Napus, navew, Brassica napa, XIV 106, XVIII 50, 131-132, 192, 314, XIX 62, 75-77, 85, 100, 117, 177, 179, 183, XX 21, XXI 109, XXIII 52, XXIV 153, XXVII 96 {v.L). Napy, miistard, Brassica nigra and Sinapis alba, XIX 171; napy Persicum = alterum thlaspi, XXVII 140. Narcissus, pheasant'8-eye nar- cissus, Narcissus poeticus, perhaps also N. serotinus, XIII 6, XV 30, XVIII 244. XXI 25, 64, 128-129, XXIII 94, XXVIII 72. Nardus, (1) as an import, the rootstock of spikenard, Nar- dostachys Jatamansi; (2) nar- dus Celticus or " Celtic nard " (XIV 107) and nardus Galh- cus or " Galhc nard " (XII 45, XIII 18, XIV 106, XV 30, XXI 135, XXVII 48, 49) are French spikenard, Valeriana celtica; (3)nardusrusticus, also called baccaris (XII 45, XXI 30, 135), is hazelwort, Asarum europaeum, as is nardus sil- vestris (XIV 106). See also XII 42-46, 47, 129, XIII 10, 15. 18, XIV 106, 107, XV 30, XVI 135, 214, XXI 11, 29. 129, 135, XXIII 97, XXIV 21, XXVII 48-50, XXVIII 164, 178, 226, 256. XXIX 135. Reference to nardi folia {e.g., XII 42, 129, XXI 11) may involve confusion with malo- bathrum. Narthecia, ferula. Ferula com- munis, XIII 123. NarHiex, ferula, Ferula com- munis, XIII 123. Nasturtium. garden cress. Lepi- dium sativum, XIX 117, 123, 154, 155, 181, 185, 186. XX 127-130, 134, 251. XXII 84, 158, XXIV 27, 186, XXV 87, XXVI 27, 40, XXVIII 130. 197, XXIX 48. Natrix, goat-root. Ononis natrix, XXVII 107. Nectaria, probably elecampane, Inula helenium, XIV 108. Nepenthes, opium poppy, Papa- ver sotnniferum, XXI 159, XXV 12. Nepeta, Satureia calamintha, especially var. nepeta, XIV 105, XIX 123, 160, XX 158. Nerium = rliododendron, XVI 79, XXIV 90. Neuras, (1) = dorycnion, XXI 179; (2) = phrynion, XXV 123; (3) = poterion, XXVII 122. Neuroides, wild beet, Beta mari- tima, XX 72. Neurospastos = cynosbatos, XXIV 121. Nicolai, a kind of large date, XIII 45. Nigina, false reading for nyma, XXVII 106. Notia. possibly tanner's sumach, Rhus coriaria, XXIV 175. Nucleus, generieally, a kernel, often specifically a pinekernel, XV 35, 86, XVI 30, XXIII 142. XXIV 164. 166. properly nucleus pineus, XIV 103, XVII 64, XXII 89, XXIII 142, 150. Nummulus, possibly money- wort. Lysimachia nummularia, XVIII 259. Nux. (1) generic term for a nut; (2) without epithet, as a term INDEX OF PLANTS for a particular kind of nut, usually walnut, Juglans regia ; (3) nuxabellana, see Abellana; (4) nux amara, almond, Prunus amygdalus, XX 185, 188, 195; (5) nux basilica = iuglans, XV 87; (6) nux cas- tanea, see Castanea; (7) nux Graeca, almond, Prunus amyg- dalus, XI 17, XV 90, XVI 138, XVII 136 ; (8) nux Persica = iuglans, XV 87; (9) nux pinea, pine cone, esp. of the stone pine, Pinus pinea, VI 205, XV 35, 86, XVII 71, 13G, XXIII 142-143, XXIV 164, 166, XXVI 28, XXIX 40; (10) nux Pontica = abellana, XV 88 ; ( 1 1 ) nux Praenestina, hazelnut, Corylus avellaiia, XV 90, XVII 96. See also balanos and Dios balanos. Nj'Ctalops = nyctegreton, XXI 62. Nj^ctcgreton, Oriental plant al- leaedly luminous at night, perhaps Caesalpinia pulcher- rima, XXI 62. Nyma, unknown herb, XXVII 106. Nymphaea, yellow water-lily, Nuphar luteum, and white water-lily, Nymphaea alba, XXV 75, 132, XXVI 32, 44, 45, 57, 76, 81, 94, 135, 144, 147, 155, 163. The nym- phaea Heraclia is specifically tlie wliite waterhly, XXV 132, XXVI 32, 44, 45, 76, 81, 93, 94, 144, 163. In XXVII 78 nymphaea pteris is the male fern, Aspidium filix mas. Occhus, perhaps manna sain- foin, Alhagi Maurorum, XII 34. Ocimoides = clinopodion, wild basil, Calamintha clino- podium, XXIV 137. Ocimum, basil, Ocymum basili- ' cutn, XIX 98, 100, 117, 119- j 123, 154, 157, 176, 177, 181, 1 183, XX 119-124, 144, XXI | 100, 174, 178, XXII 43, XXIII 131, XXIV 81, XXVI I 162, XXVIII 169, 175, 185, j XXX 139, XXXII 53, 55. 1 Ocinum, a mixed fodder crop, probablv mostly vetches, XVII 196, 198, XVIII 143. Oculus, house-Ieek, Semper- \ vivum arboreum, XXV 160. | Odontitis, perhaps red eye- bright, Euphrasia odontites, XXVII 108. Oenanthe, (1) in XXI 65, 167 drop-wort, Spiraea filipendula ; (2) apparently a product ob- tained from the flower clusters of the labrusca in XII 132, ' 133, XIII 18. XXIII 2, 8-9, 18, 80, 91. Oenobreches (ovo^pvxis in Diosc), sainfoin, Onobrychis viciaefolia, XXIV 155, Oetum, unknown, perhaps earth nut, Arachis hypogaea, XXI 88. ! Oistos, arrowhead, Sagitta sagit- tifolia, XXI 111 {emend.). ' Olea, ohve-tree, Olea europaea, II 108, 226, III 41, VI 131, VIII 204, XI 18, XII 3, 35, 40, 77, 130, XIII 67, 141, ' XIV 7, XV 1-8, 11, 19, 34, 1 78, 134, 135, XVI 19, 79, 87- : 91, 104, 127, 128, 131, 176, ' 183, 186, 206, 212, 219, 222, | 230, 234, 239, 240, 241, XVn , 11, 17, 30, 31, 47, 53, 81, 93, ' 96, 97, 103, 112, 113, 119, 125, | 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 133, 137, 174, 200, 223, 228, 229, 230, 232, 233, 237, 241, 242, j INDEX OF PLANTS 243, 257, 262. 263. XVIII 162, 188, 240, 243, 254, 266, 287, 2S8, 329, 337, XIX 48, XXI 51, 57, XXII 73, XXIII 69-75, 96, 97, XXVI 90, 162, XXVII 65, XXXIV 1, 133, XXXV 160. The Arabian olea (XII 77) is the white mangrove, Avicennia offici- nalis, also described, but not naraed, in XII 37. Oleaginea, a kind of grape, XIV 38. Oleaster, oleaster, Olea oleaster, V 3. VIII 101, XII 26. XIII 114, XV 19, 24, XVI 70, 74, 199, 206. 212, 219, 230, 240, 244, XVII 129, 242, XXIII 72, 76-78, 129, 242, XXIV 50, XXXIV 133. Oleastrum, a kind of buxus, XVI 70. Oliva, olive-berry, Olea europaea, VIII 204, XI 18, 46 {emend. Detlef.), XII 26, 67, 130, XIII 32, 54, 63, 139, 141, XV 4-6, 9-17, 18, 20, 34, 68, 90, 101, 104, 109, 111-113, 115, XVI 28, 108, 121, 234, XVII 229, 230, 237, 241, XVIII 38, 254, 273, 320, 329, XIX 79, XXI 71, XXIII 73, XXVI 82, XXXVII 161, 184, 188. The oliva of India (XII 26) is Olea cuspidata. Ohis, originally a generic term for potherbs, in Phny usualiy specifically the eabbage, Bras- sica oleracea, XVII 177, 240, XVIII 165, 188, XIX 79, 133, 134, 136-144, 177, 179, 180, 188, XX 33, XXII 74, 77, 80, 82, XXIV 1. 139. XXVI 58, 83, 88, 164, XXVII 54, 66, XXVIII 171, XXIX 80, XXXI 115, XXXII 94, XXXV 189. Ohis maritimum, sea orach, Afriplex halimus, XXII 73-74, XXXII 94. Cf. olus mari- num, XXIX 79. Ohisatrum, alexanders, Smyr- nium olusatrum, XII 67, XIX 162, 164, 187, XX 117. XXII 79. Olyra, two-grained wheat, Triti- cum dicoccum, XVIII 62, 75, 92, XXII 121; in XVIII 75 wrougly equated with oryza ; in XVIII 81 mentioned as oryza. Omphalocarpos = aparine, XXVII 32. Onear = onothera, XXVI 111. Onitis, a type of raarjoram, per- haps Origanum creticum, XX 175. In XX 177 = heraclium heracleoticum. Onochehs, onochilis in XXI 100, XXII 51, probably identical with onochilon. Onochilon, bugloss, Echium diff- usum, called also anchusa, archebion, enchrysa, ono- chelis, rhexia, XXII 51. Ononis (see also Anonis), rest- harrow, Ononis antiquorum, XXVII 29. Onopordon or onopradon, a thistle, perhaps the cotton thistle, Onopordon acanthium, XXVII 110. Onopyxos, a thistle, Onopordon illyricum, XXI 94. Onosma, stone bugloss, Onosma echioides, XXVII 110. Onothera, oleander, Nerium oleander, XXVI 111, 146. Onothuris, oleander, Nerium oleander, XXIV 167, XXVI 18. Ophiostaphyle, probably the capor, Capparis spinosa, XIII 127. Elsewhere, also bryony, Bryonia dioica. INDEX OFPLANTS Ophiusa, a magical plant, XXIV 163. Ophrys, ivy-blade, Ophrys ovata OT bifolia, XXVI 164. Opition, earth-nut, Buniiimferu- laceum (in Greece, but not in Italy), XIX 95. Opobalsamum, balsam of ISIecca, the juice of the balsam-tree, Commiphora opobalsamum, XIII 18. Opulus, a kind of maple, Acer, XIV 12, XVII 201. Orchis, (1) generic term for orchis, Orchis ep., many species of whioh grow in the Mediterranean region, XXVI 95, 96, 128, 146, XXVII 65, (2) a kind of ohve, XV 4, 13, 20, 21. Oreoselinum, perhaps wild pars- ley, Petroaelinum sativum, XIX 124, XX 117. Orestion, probably elecampane, Inula helenium, XIV 108. Origanum, ( 1 ) white tj^pe is sweet winter marjoram, Ori- ganum heracleoticum, (2) black type is probably common marjoram, O. vulgare, (3) ori- ganum heracleoticum is O. heracleoticum, VUl 98, X 195, XII 89, 91, XIV 105, XIX 100, 117, 118, 121, 165, 184, 186, XX 55, 128, 156, 170, 175, XXI 53, 55, 56, XXII 46, XXIV 1, XXV 32, 68, XXVII 13, 57. XXVIII 152, 156, XXXI 98, 101. Orion, a kind of polygonus, perhaps Equisetum pallidum, XXVII 115. Orminos or orminus, wild as- paragus, perhaps especially Asparagus acutifolius, XIX 151, XX 110, XXVI 94 (ormeaos agrios). 526 Ornithogala, star of Bethlehem, I Ornithogalum sp., especially | O. umbellatum, XXI 102. Ornus, mountain ash, Fraxinus 1 ornus, XVI 74, XVII 201. | Orobanche, probably a species of Orobanche, perhaps O. caryo- phyllacea, XVIII 155, XXII 162. In Theophrastus, usual- \ !y dodder, Cuscuta europaea. ' Orobothron = hypocisthis, 1 XXVI 49. 1 Orsinus, perhaps a mistake for 1 cSpetvoj. XXI 67. Ortyx = stelephuros, XXI 101. Oryza, rice, Oryza sativa, XV 28, XVIII 71, 75. 93, XXVIII 110. In XVIII 81 probably i an error f or olyra. Osiritis, Egyptian name for cynocephaha, XXX 18. 1 Ostrys (or ostrya), hop liorn- ! beam, Ostrya carpinifolia, < XIII 117. Os\Tis, poet's cassia, Osyris \ aZ6a, XXVII 111. Othonna, perhaps the greater ! celandine, Chelidonium majus, XXVII 109. ; Oxalis, sour dock, Rumex ace- toaa, XX231. 1 Oxycedrus, prickly cedar, Juni- perus oxycedrus, XIII 52. , Oxylapathon, sharp-pointed j dock, Rumex crispus, XX 231, 233. I Oxymyrsine, butcher'8 broom, 1 Ruscus aculeatus, XXIII 88, I 158, 165, XXV 158, XXVII ! 73, 93. In XV 27, 122, and ] XXIII 88 = chamaemyrsine. I Oxys, (1) wood-sorrel, Oxalis i acetosella, XXVII 112; (2) a ! form of the great sea-rush, 1 Juncus acutus, XXI 112. | Oxyschoenos, great sea-rush, 1 Juncus acutus, XXI 112. 1 INDEX OF PLANTS Oxytriphyllon, a type of tri- folium with pointed leaf, probably a species of trefoil, Trifolium, XXI 54. Padus, Gallic term for picea, III 122. Paederos, ( 1 ) = caerefolium, Anthriscus cerefoUum, XIX 170; (2) = melamphyHum, a type of acanthus, Acanthua mollis, XXII 76. Paeonia, peony, Paeonia offici- nalis. XXV 29. XXVI 131, 151, XXVII 84. Pala, the banana or plantain- tree, Musa paradisiaca, XII 24. Pahurus, Chrisfs thorn ; when thehabitatisAfrica{XIII 111, XXIV 115), Zizyphus spina Christi ; when the habitat is southern Europe {XVI 98, 121), Paliurus aculeatus. Pallacana, horn onion, a variant of Allium ccpa, XIX 105. Palma, palm, chiefly the date- palm, Phoenix dactylifera, sometimes the dwarf-palm, Chamaerops humilis, V 73, VI 131, 161,205, VIII 29, XII 19, 40, 103 {= elate), 108, 134, XIII 26-30, 62, 69, 90, 111, 119, 125, 138, XIV 102, 107, XV 67, 109, 113, 115, 116, XVI 79, 80, 90, 109, 112, 119, 125, 126, 13.5, 211, 223, 231, 240, XVII 31, 58, 60, 65, 228, 244, 245, 261, XVIII 188, XIX 31, XXIII 52, 97, 98, 99, 111, XXIV 29, 165, XXVIII 118, 255, XXX 55. Palma as a seaweed (XIII 138) is Callo- phyllis laciniata. Panacoa = cunila bubula, XX 169. Panaces (panax), " all-heal," sometimes galbanum plant, Ferula galbaniflua, at other times = ligusticum; in XII 121 a kind of pastinaca. XII 127, XIII 12, 14, 18, XIV 111, XV 30, XIX 187, XX 169, 178, XXIII 16, XXIV 97, XXV 30-33, 42, 99, 131, 134, 142, 165, XXVI 27, 74, 75, 88, 89, 92, 100, 107, 111, 117, 118, 119, 137, 139, 151, 152, XXVIII 258, XXXII 30, 133. The type called chironium (XXV 32, 99) is elecampane, Inula helenium. The type called Heracleon (XXV 32), Heraclion (XXVI 113), or Heraclia (XXV 42) is Ori- ganum heracleoticum. Cunila bubula was sometimes called panax (XIX 165). Pancration (-um), (1) = cichor- ium, XX 74; (2) Pancratium maritimuyn, XXVII 118. Panicum, Italian millet, Setaria italica, XVIII, 49, 50, 52-54, 60, 61, 91. 96, 99, 101, 107, 111, 116, 153, 160, 163, 182, 185, 192, 198, 250, 297, 314, XX 241, XXII 131. Papaver, generic term f or poppy, Papaver sp., including P. somniferum, P. rhoeas, P. hybridum, and P. argemone, XIII 98, 107, XVII 56, XVIII 53, 59, 122, 205, 229, XIX 21, 167-169, XX 20, 61, 188, 198- 209, XXI 70, 165, XXII 123, XXIII 119, 128, XXV 35, 66, 76, 90, 102, 131, XXVI 44, 67, 74, XXVII 26, 83, 119, 125, 138, XXIX 43, XXX 53, 59, 71, XXXII 77, XXXVII 71. Pappus = erigeron, XXV 168. Papyrus, papyrus, Cyperus papy- rus, V 44, VI 82, 205, VII 206, XIII 68-89, 128, XV 117, 527 INDEX OF PLANTS XVI 157, 178, XVIII 108, XXII 48, XXIV 88, XXVIII 61, 168, XXIX 43, XXXIII 94, XXXIV 112. Paralium, ( 1 ) horned poppy, Glaucium flavum, XX 206 (2) sea spiirge, Euphorbia paralias, XX 209; (3) sun spurge, Euphorbia helioscopia XXVI 68. Pararinon or paranarrhinon = antirrhinum, wild lion's mouth, Antirrhinum orontium XXV 129. Pardalianches = aconitum, VIII 99, XX 50, XXVII 7. Parthenis = artemisia, XXV 73 Parthenium (parthenion), a term for a variety of similar plants including (1) pelhtory, Parie taria officinalis (XXI 176 XXII 43, 44), (2) seaside knotweed, Polygonum mari timum (XXI 89, XXII 41 ), and (3) annual mercury, Mercuri alis anyiua (XXV 38). See also XXI 176. Passiolus (phasiolus, phaseolus). probably usually the black eyed cowpea, Dolichos melanophthalmus, sometimes perhaps other similar legumes XII 26, XVIII 58, 125, 186 198, 202, 314, XXIV 65. Pastinaca, a generic term for the carrot, Daucus carota, and carrot-like plants, including Althaea officinalis, Athamanta cretensis, A. cervaria, Seseli • ammoides, and Malabaila aurea, the identity in some instances very uncertain, XIX 62, 88, 90, 92, XX 29, 30, XXI 86, 167, XXV 89, 112. Pecten Veneris, shepherd's needle, Scandix pecten-veneris, XXIV 175. Pedes gallinacii = capnos trun- ca, XXV 155. Pelasgum, spurge laurel, Daphn.e mezereum, XV 132. Pelecinus, axe-weed, Securigera coronilla, XVIII 155. XXVII 121. Pentapetes, pentaphyllon = quinquefolium, XXV 109. Pentorobon = paeonia, XXV 29, XXVII 84. Pephs, small purple spurge, Euphorbia pepHs, XX 210- 215, XXVII 119. Pepo, perhaps the water-melon, Citrullus vulgaris, XIX 65, XX 11-12. Peraticum, gum of the tree bdellium, XJI 35. Perdicium, (1) pelHtory, Parie- taria officitialis, XXI 176, XXII 43; (2) seaside knot- weed, Polygonum maritimum, XXI 102, XXII 41 ; (3) un- certain, XIX 100, XXVIII 219. Pericarpum, a bulb, XXV 131. PericljTnenon, honeysuckle, Lonicera, perhaps L. etrusca or L. caprifolium, XXVII 120. Perisson = dorycnion, XXI 179. Peristereos, ver\'ain, Verbena officinalis, XXV 126, 134. 143, XXVI 121, 144, 155; = hierabotane, XXV 105. Perpressa = baccar. XXI 132, XXVI 87. Persea, a sacred tree of Egypt and Persia, Mimusops Schim- peri, XIII 60, 63, XV 45. Persicon napy, " Persian mus- tard," perhaps Lunaria annua, XXVII 140. Cf. Thlaspi. Persicum (caryon) = iuglans, XV 87. Persicus, peach tree, Amygdalus persica, XII 14, XIII 60. INDEX OF PLANTS XV 39-45, 48, 109, 110, 111- 114, 115, XVI 111, 138, XVII 136, 151, XXIII 132. Persolata or personata, probably common bur-dock, Arctinm lappa, XXV 104, 113, XXVI 24, 28, 92, 113, 121, 136, 143. Pesoluta, Egyptian plant used for ehaplets, XXI 184. Petellium, unknown ; Sprengel says water avens, Geum rivale, XXI 49. Petroselinum, parsley, Petro- selinmn sativiim, XX 118, XXVIII 197, XXXII 101. Peuce, ( 1 ) generic term for firs and pines, XI 118; (2) a kind of grape, XIV 75. Peucedanum, sulphur-wort, Peucedanum officinale, XXV 117, 118, 139, 143, 164, 166, XXVI 23, 28, 32, 34, 41, 54, 74, 76, 79, 89, 114, 118, 130, 135, 144, 156, 161, XXVII 143, XXXII 28, 68. Pezica, a mushroom, perhaps MorchcJla esculenta or Lyco- perdon bovista, XIX 38. Phalangion or phalangitis, Greek alplily, Lloydia graeca, XVIII 156, XXVII 124. Phalaris, perhaps canary grass, Phalaris canariensis, but more likely P. nodosa, XXVII 126. Pharnaceon, great centaury, Centaurea centaurium, XXV 33. Phascos = sphagnos, XXIV 27. Phaselion = isopyron, XXVII 94. Phaseolus and phasiolus, see Passiolus. Phasganion = xiphium, corn- fiag, Oladiolus segetum, XXV 137, 138. Phaunus, probably actually a coarse olive, rather than a plant (cf. Theophr. H. Pl. 2.2.12), XVI 244. Phelandrion, an unknown plant, XXVII 126. Pheos = stoebe, a bvirnet, Poterium spinosum, XXI 91, XXII 28. Philanthropos, goose-grass, Oalium aparine, XXIV 176, XXVII 32. Philetaeris or philetaeria = polemonia, Olympic St. John's wort, Hypericum olympicum, or Greek valerian, Polemonium caerulcum, XXV 64, 99. Philochares = marrubium, XX 241. PhiIopais=marrubium, XX 241. Phlomis, phlome, Phlomis samia, XXV 121. Phlomos = verbascum, s.v., XXV 120. Phlox, wall flower, Cheiranthus Cheiri. Some say roso-cam- pion, Lychnis coronaria, or Silene vespertina, XXI 69, 64. Phocis, a kind of pear-tree, XVII 237. Phoenicea, perhaps rye-grass, Lolium perenne, XXII 135. Phoenix elate, dwarf-palm, Chamaerops h iimilis, XXIX 66. Phonos, distafT-thistle, Car- thamus lanatus, XXI 95, XXVII 73. Phragmites, probably pole-reed, Arundo donax, XXXII 141. Phrenion = anemone, XXI 164. Phrynion, perhaps Cretan milk- vetch, Astragalus creticus, XXV 123, XXVI 130; = potcrion, XXVII 122. Phthirophoros, erect cone Aleppo pine, Pinus brutia, XVI 49. INDEX OF PLANTS Phu, Caucasian valerian, Valeri- ana phu, XII 45, XXI 136. Phycos, sea-weed generically ; one type of litmiis described, Cystoseira foeniculosa, and two types of grass-wrack, Posi- donia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa, XIII 135-136, XXVI 103, 128. Phyllanthes ; Pliny probably took the adjective a-147, XXVI 39, XXVII 134. Polyacanthos, welted thistle, Cardiius acanthoides, XXI 94. Polyanthemum, a crowfoot, Ranunculus polyanthemus, XXVII 112. Polycnemon, field basil, Zizy- phora capitata, XXVI 148. Polygala, a milkwort, Polygala venulosa, XXVII 121. Polygonaton, perhaps Solomon's seal, Convellaria polygonatum, XXVII 113. In XXII 40 a secondary namo for leuca- cantha, milk-thistle, Silybum marianum. Polygonoides, a kind of clematis, XXIV 141. Polygonon (-os, -us), knotgrass, Polygonum aviculare, XXVI 158, XXVII 108, 113-117. Polypodium, polypody, Poly- podium vulgare, XVI 244, XXVI 68, 80, 105, 122, XXIX 80. Polyrrhizon, (1) black helle- bore, Helleborus niger, XXV 51; (2) = plistolochia, XXV 96, 98; (3) in XXVII 126 uncertain. Polythrix = polytrichon, XXV 132, XXVI 124, 147. Polvtrichon = adiantum, XXII 62. Populus, (1) abele, Populus alba; (2) black poplar, Popu- lus nigra, II 108, XI 16, XII 3, 132, XIII 58, 141, XIV 10, XV 67, XVI 73, 77, 85-87, 91, 92, 97, 108, 119, 126, 133, 173, 176, 206, 209, 223, 231, XVII 68, 78, 90, 143, 151, 200, 242, XVIII 240, 266, 360, XXIV 47, 135, XXXV 160, XXXVII 31. Porcillaca, purslane, Portulaca oleracea, XIII 120, XIX 167, XXIII 143, XXVI 69, 84, XXVII 137, XXX 111. The type called peplis (XX 210) is Euphorbia peplis. Porphyritis, a type of fig, XV 71. Porrum, leek, Allium porrum, 531 INDEX OF PLANTS Xni 132, XVIII 71, XIX 107, 108-110, 118, 120, 177, 181, 183, 185, XX 44-49, XXI 109, XXII 105, 159, XXIV 136, XXV 137, XXVII 54, XXVIII 65, 108, 173, 176, 199, 233, 241, 248, XXIX 47, 123, 136, XXXI 117, 129, XXXII 94, 124, XXXIV 118, XXXVII 109, 113. Porrum nigrum = ballote, XXVII 54. Posia (or posea), a kind of olive, XV 4, 13, 17, 20, 21. Potamaugis = thalassaegle, a narcotic plant of India, XXIV 164. Potamogiton, pondweed, Pota- mogeton natans, water milfoil, Myriophyllum sp., or feather- foil, Hottonia palustris, XXVI 50, XXXII 53. Poterion, goafs thom, Astra- galus creticus or poterium, XXV 123, XXVII 122. Poterion aureum = radicula, XXIV 96. Pothos, the asphodcl, especially Asphodelus ramosus, XXI 67. Praecia, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 29. Praecox, peach, Amygdalus per- aica, XVI 103. Prasion, (1) white horehound, Marruhium vulgare, XX 241; (2)= onitis, XX 175; (3) sweet winter marjoram, Ori- ganum heracleoticum, XX 177. Prason, usual Greek term for the leek, Allium porrum ; in XIII 136 a term for Ligurian grass- wrack, Posidonia oceanica. Pressum, a kind of sili, XXXIII 158, 160. Proserpinaca = polygonon, XXVI 23, XXVII 127. Protomedia =hestiateris, XXIV 165. 532 Prunus, usually the plum-tree, Prunus domestica, sometimes the blackthorn, P. spinosa, XIII 51, 64, 66, XV 41, 42, 44, 46, 58, 109, 112, XVI 74, 104, 245, XVII 65, 75, 9.5, 96, 136, XVIII 34, XIX 92, XXIII 132, 133, XXIV 106. The prunus Aegj^ptia (XIII 64) is the sebesten, Cordia myxa. Pseudoanchusa, Itahan alkanet, Anchusa italica, XXII 50. Pseudobunion, probably Cretan pimpinella, Pimpinella cretica, XXIV 153. Pseudocypirus, " false c^Tjirus," XVII '95, XXXIV 133. Pseudodictamnum, perhaps false dittanv, Ballota acetabulosa, XXV 93, XXVI 49, 142, 153, 161. Pseudonardus, spike lavender, Lavandula spica, XII 43. Psilotrum = vitis alba, XXIII 21, XXVI 164, XXVIII 250, 255. Psithia, a kind of grape, XIV 81. Psychotrophon = vettonica, betony, Betonica officinalia, XXV 84. Psyllion, fieawort, fleabane, Plantago psylUum, XXV 140, 143, 174. XXVI 32, 45, 79, 101, 104, 119, 122, 140, 156, 161. Pteris, a fem, probably male fem, Aspidium Jilix mas, XXVII 78. Pteris nymphaea, probably bracken, Pteris aquilina, XXVII 78. Pvdeium, peunyroyal, Mentha pulegium, II 108, XVIII 227, XIX 123, 160, XX 144, 152- 158, XXIV 62, XXV 92, 104, XXVI 91, 148, XXVn 49, XXXII 38. INDEX OF PLANTS Pumila, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 37. Puniea, pomegranate, Punica granatum XII 48, 49, XIII 112, 113, 118, XIV 103, XV 39, 60, 100, 112, 115, XVI 74, 90, 99, 104, 109, 112, 137, 241, XVII 17, 65, 67, 86, 88, 95, 96, 113, 120, 121, 123, 230, 238, 241, 247, 257, 259, XVIII 188, XIX 135, XX 218, XXI 72, XXII 90, 103, 143, XXIII 85, 86, 106-114, 123, 157, XXIV 57, 77, 129, XXVII 44, XXVIII 102, 182, XXIX 136, XXX 50, XXXI 117, XXXII 112, XXXV 184, 189, XXXVI 145. Pycnoeomon, proVjably a species of motherwort, Leonurus marrabiastrum or cardiaca. Others say meadow siiccisa, Succisa pratensis, or woodland angehca, Angelica silvestris, XXVI 57, 125, 128, 145. Pyracantha, fire-thorn, Coton- eastcr pyracnntha, XXIV 114. Pyrethrum. identified by soma as Anthemis pyrethrum, biit on the basis of liabitat perhaps rather Anthemis tinctoria var. pallida, XXVIII 151. Pyros aohne = thymelaea, XIII 114. Pyxacanthus chironius, buck- thorn, Rhamnus lycioides, XII 30, XXIV 125. Qiiercus, oak-tree, esp. Quercus robur, IV 18, VIII 81, XI 32, 77, XII 108, XIII 63, 137, 138, XIV 126, XVI 5, 11, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, 25, 31, 37, 74, 81, 92, 116, 130, 218, 238, 245, XVII 55, 89, 130, 201, 235, 236, XVIII 34, XXIV 1, 7, 130, XXV 43, 106, XXXI 83, 107, XXXVI 203. Quercus as a seaweed (XIII 137) is Cystoseira ericoides (shore typo) and Sargassum vulgare (deepwator tj^pe). Quinquefolium, cinquefoil, Po- tentilla reptaiis. No doubt the name included Tormen- tilla reptans and Potentilla rupestris. It = pentaphyllon, pentapotes and chamaezelon, XXV 65, 109, 119, 128, 143, 166, 174, XXVI 21, 23, 24, 26, 35, 53, 79, 90, 92, 105, 113, 114, 116, 124, 126, 127, 131, 143, XXVIII 140. Rabuscula, a kind of grape, XIV 42. Radicula, perhaps soapwort, Saponaria officinalis ; others say dyer's weed, Reseda luteola, or Egyptian soaproot, Oypso- phila struthium, XIX 48, XXIV 96, XXV 52, XXIX 39. See also Struthion. Radius or radius maior, a type of olive, XV 4, 20. Ranunculus, celandine, Ranun- culus sp., the four types described in XXV 172-174 perhaps R. asiaticus, R. lan- uginosus, R. tnuricatus, and R. aquatilis. Rapa (-um), turnip, Brassica rapa, XVII 114, XVIII 50, 125-132, 163, 191, 192, 259, 314, XIX 62, 75, 86, 87, 98, 122, 171, 176, 183, XX 18-20, 21, XXV 114, XXVII 96. Rapadion = leontopetalon, XXVII 96. Raphanitis iris, perhaps Iris biflora, XXI 41. Raplianus, cultivated radish, Raphanus sativus, XI 112, XV 30, XVII 239, 240, XVIII 533 INDEX OF PLANTS 130, 163, XIX 62, 78-87, 98, 100, 117, 119, 122, 177, 182, 183, XX 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, XXII 125, XXIII 16, 21, 65, 94, XXV 59, XXXI 65, 79, 115, XXXVI 79. Raphanos agria is properly a term for charlock, Raphanus raphan- istrum subsp. segetum, but in XXVI 72 is erroneously given as a synonym of apios ischas. Regia oliva, a kind of olive, XV 13, 15. Reseda, white mignonette, i?e- sedaalha, XXVII 131. Rhamnos, probably a buek- thom, Rhamnus sp., XXIV 124. Rhapeion = leontopetalon, a v.l. of rapadion, XXVII 96. Rhaphanidion = leontopetalon, a v.l. of rapadion, XXVII 96. Rhecoma, the root of a speciea of rhubarb, Rheum ribes, XXVII 128-130. Rhexia = onochilon, XXII 51. Rhinoclia = anchusa, XXVII 59. Rhododaphne = rhododendron, oleander, Xerium oleander, XVI 79, XXIV 90. Rhododendron (-os), oleander, Xerium oleander, XVI 79, XVII 98, XXI 51, 77, XXIV 90. Rhoea, red poppy, Papaver rhoeas, XIX 169, XX 204, XXI 165. Rhopalon = njTnphaea, XXV 75. Rhus, species of sumach, (1) mjTtle-leaved sumach, Cori- aria myrtifolia and (2) tan- ner's sumach, Rhus coriaria, XII 31, XIII 55, XXIV 91, 93, 120, 129, XXIX 50. Robur, usually the Valonia oak, 534 Quercus aegilops, XI 151, XII 35, XIII 119, XVI 6, 17, 19, 20, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 36, 5.3, 91, 100, 122, 126, 127, 130, 182, 186, 189, 204, 207, 212, 218, 222, 226, 227, 245, 249, XVII 57, 121, 174, 220, 235, 236, 253, XXII 97, XXIV 11, 12, 13, XXV 168, XXVIII 113, XXXIV 95. Rodarum, perhaps meadow- sweet, Spiraea ulmaria, XXIV 172. Rosa, rose, Rosa centijolia and other species, XI 118, 279, XII 40, 110, 121, XIII 2, 9, 18, 26, XIV 106, XV 30, XVI 79, 145, 180, XVIII 111, 236, 242, XX 152, XXI 8, 11, 14- 21, 22, 36, 37, 45, 49, 55, 59, 64, 65, 69, 70. 120, 121-125, XXIII 102, XXIV 121. XXV 17, 76, 164, XXVI 42, XXIX 94, 95, XXXIV 168. XXXV 129. Rosmarinum, rosemary, Ros- marinus officinalis, XI 39, XVII 98, XIX 187, XXIV 99-101, 173, XXXIII 76. Rubia, madder, Rubia iincto- rum, XIX 47, XXIV 94, XXVII 106, XXXV 45. Rubus, any bramble, includ ing the wild rose and rasp- berry, but usually black- berrv-bush, Rubus Jruticosus, Vlli 189, 201, XII 89, XV 97, XVI 80, 91, 176, 179. 180, XVII 68, 96, XVIII 34, 153, XIX 68, XXI 14. 19. XXII 65. XXIV 117-124, XXVIII 214, XXXIV 133. Rumex (rumix), (1) = oxahs, XX 231; (2) patience dock. Rumex patientia, XIX 184. See also XI 18, XXVI 21. Rumpotinus, a kind of maple. INDEX OF PLANTS Acer, XIV 12. See XXIV 172. Ruscum, butcher'3 broom, Rus- cus aculeatus, XXI 86, 173, XXIII 166. Ruta, rue, Ruta graveolens, VIII 98, XIV 105, XVII 261, XIX 100, 121, 123, 156-157, 177, 182, 184, XX 43, SO, 81, 89, 131-143, 149, 217, XXI 38, 60, 76, 147, XXII 53, 103, 15.5, XXIII 4, 16, 81, 123, 148, 149, 152, XXIV 25, 31, 90, XXV 64, 100, 118, 121, XXVI 29, 31, 32, 85, XXVII 20, 28, 48, 93, 98, 113, 134, XXVIII 79, 152. 174, 207, 211, 216, 231. XXIX 30, 47, XXX 120, XXXI 119, XXXII 30. 102, 117, 131, XXXIII 110. Sabellieum, a kind of cabbage, XIX 141. Sabina, savin, Jimiperus sabina, X 157, XVI 79, XVII 98. XXIV 102. Sabucua or sambueus. elder- tree, Sambucus nigra, XV 64, 100, 115, XVI 74, 83, 103, 122, 179, 180, 183, 187, 209, 231, XVII 68, 151, 174, XXIV 51, XXVII 73. Saccharon, tabascliir, produced principally by the spiny bam- boo, Bambusa arundinacea, and the berry bamboo, Melo- canna bambusoides, XII 32. Saeopenium, of uncertain iden- tity, not tho same plant as sagopemon, XII 126, XIX 40, 167, XX 197, XXVIII 177. Sagapcmon, the juice of Ferula persica, XX 197. Sagitta, arrowhead, Sagitta sagittijolia, XXI 111. Sagittarium, a kind of reed, XVI 166. SaHcastrum, a plant growing in willow-beds, perhaps the melothron of Theophrastus, bryony, Bryonia cretica, XXIII 20. Saliunca, probably French spikenard, Valeriana celtica, XXI 40, 43, 44, 144. Salix, willow, various species of Salix, II 108, XI 14, XIV 110, XVI 77, 87, 90, 97, 110, 133, 173-177, 201, 209, XVII 28, 68, 95, 99, 109, 136, 141-143, 147, 201, 209, XVIII 99, 240, 267, XXIV 56, 58, XXV 72, XXXI 44. Salvia, (1) = elelisphacus, XXII 147; (2) secondary name for a type of bechion, perhaps V erbascum lychnitis, XXVI 31. Samolus, perhaps brook-weed. Samolua Valerandi ; some think pasque-flower, Anernone pulsaiilla, XXIV 104. Sampsuchum, sweet marjoram, Origantim marjorana, XIII 10. XV 29, 30. XX 177. XXI 61, 163. Sanguinaria = polygonus. XXVII 113. Sarcocolla. a Persian tree. Penaea sarcocolla, XIII 67. XXIV 128. Sariplia. an Egyptian water- plant. perliapa Cyperus auri- comus, XIII 128. Satureia. usually summer savo- ry, Satureia hortensis, XIX 107. 165. See also XXVI 55. Satyrion (-ios). Four types de- scribed in XXVI 96-98: (1) man orchis. Acera anthro- pophora ; (2) probably a speeies of Orchis ; (3) a Greek type, of uncertain identity; and (4) fritillary, Fritillaria 535 INDEX OF PLANTS graeca, mentione'1 also in XX\T 128 and XXVIII 119. Modem nomenclatare indi- cates term was applied also to Himantoglossum hircinum, Serapias cordigera, and PhaUus impudicus. In XXV 98 = aristolochia polyrrhizos. Saurion, cited as a term for mustard as a result of careless reading of Diosc. 2. 156 W. on 0Aa<777t,orhissource,XIX 171. Saxifragum = adiantum, XXII 64. Scammonia, scammony, Con- volvulus scamrnonia, XIV 110, XXV 54, XXVI 59, 90, 93, 1 14, 157, XXVII 79. Scammonia tenuis = lagine, XXIV 139. Scandix, wild chervil, Scandix pecien-veneris, XXI 89, XXII 80-81. Scandula, perhaps spelt, Triti- cum spelta, otherwise emmer, T. dicoccum, XVIII 62. Scapula, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 34. Sceptrum = aspalathos (1), XII 110. Schist-a cepa, a kind of onion, XIX 101. Scilla, sea onion or squill, Urginea rrmritima, XIV 106, XV 63, XVII 87, XVIII 244, XIX 93,96,99, 101 121, XX 97-101, XXI 106, 108, XXIII 59, XXIV 44, XXV 26, 115, XXVI 95, 114, XXVII 14, XXX 23, 52, XXXII 101, 135; scilla pusilla (XXVII 118), Pancrafium maritimum; scilla Epimenidii (XIX 93), Omithogalum pyrenaicum. Scirpula (v.L), a kind of grape- vine, XIV 81. Scirpus, a bulrush, VII 206, XIII 76, XVI 178. ScoljTQus, golden thistle, Scohjmus hispanicus, XX 262, XXI 94-96, XXII 86-87. Scopa regia, probably Cheno- podium scoparia, XXI 28, XXV 44. Scordastum, an unknown tree, XII 36. Scordion, germander, Teucrium scordium, XXV 63, XXVI 77, 89, 100, 107, 137. Scordotis = scordion, XXV 63, 100. 127, XXVI 27, 32, 44. 140, 151. Scorpio, a term appUed to several different plants, of uncertain identity, in some instances apparently Aconi- ium anthora, Asparagus acuti- foliu-s, Scorpiurus sulcata, scorpion furze, Genista acan- thoclada, and scorpion root, Doronicum cordatum. Two types described in XXII 39; a secondary name for tragos, XIII 116, XXVII 142; a secondary name for thely- phonon, XXV 122; a second- arj' name for aconitum, XXVII 9 ; a tj-pe of cucumis, XX 8 ; a spinous plant, XXI 91, 93. Scorpiuron = tricoccum, XXII 60. Scripula, a kind of grape, XIV 81. Scythica or scythice, = gly- cvrrhiza, XXV 82, XXVI 28. 146, XXVII 2. Secale, rve, Secale cereale, XVIIl 141. "In XVIII 140 a kind of fenugreek. Securiclata, axeweed, Securi- gera coronilla, XVIII 155. Sedum, house-leek, the usual type Sempervivum iectoruni, the large tj-pe iS. arboreum. INDEX OF PLANTS XVIII 159, XIX 179, XXV 160,XXVI111. SeeAizoiim. Selago, fir clubmoss, Lycopudium seiago, XXIV 103. Semen, emmer, Triticum dicoc- cum, XVIII 82, 102, 112, 184, 198. Semnion = theobrotion, XXIV 162. Senecio = erigeron, XXV 167. Serapias = orchis, XXVI 95. Serichatum, Arabian aromatic shrub, unknown, XII 99, XIII 18. Sericum, a type of tuber ( 1 ), s.v., XV 47. Seriphum, sea wormwood, Arte- misia 7naritima, XXVII 53, XXXII 100. Seris, the cultivated form en- dive, Cichoriinn endivia, the wild form chicory, especially C. intybus, XX 73, 76, XXVII 104. Serpylkim (serpullum), creeping thyme, Thymus serpyllum, XIV 105, XVI 244, XIX 100, 172, 176, XX 138, 173, 176, 245, 264, XXI 59, XXIV 137, XXX 148. Serrata = chamaedrys, XXIV 130. Serratula = vettonica, XXV 84. Sertvila eampana, Latin name formelilotus, TrifjoiieUu araeca, XXI 53. Sesama (sesima, sesamon), se- same, Sesame indicum, VI 161, XIII 11, 12, 118, XV 25, 28, 30, XVIII 49, 53, 58, 60, 96, 98, 99, 304, XXII 132, 158, XXllI 95, XXVI 67, 110, XXVII 126, XXVIII 103, 130, 168. Wild sesa- mon = cici, XV 25. Sesamoides. Two kinds men- tioned in XXII 133 (see also XXV 52) : (1) perhaps purple rock-cress, Aubrieta deltoidea, Astragalus sesameus, or Reseda canescens; (2) perhaps i?escc?a mediterranea, Helleborus cyclo- phyllus, or herb terrible, Daphne tartonraira. Sesoli, small hartwort, Tordy- lium officinale,VUI 112, XX 238, XXV 92. Setania, (1) medlar, Mespilus germanica, XV 84, XXIII 14 1 ; (2) the " annual " onion, a small, sweet form of Allium cepa, XIX 101. Setanion, (1) a spring wheat, club wheat, Triticum com- pactum, or perhaps common wheat, T. vulgare, XVIII 70; (2) an "annual" type of bulb, unidentitied, XIX 95. Sibi = cici, XV 25. Sicelicon = psyllion, XXV 140. Siderion, epithet of heracleon, s.v. Sideritis, perhaps usually Sta- chys heraclea, perhaps some- times Sideritis romana, VIII 101, XXV 42, 100, 142, 164, XXVI 24, 93, 100, 115, 135, 148, 164. In XXII 41 Poly- gonum maritimum and in XXII 43 Parietaria officinalis. Dioscorides (IV 33-36) nien- tions four kinds, including ' lipaiANTS Sili, castor-oil tree, Ricinua communis, XV 25. Silicia, fenugreek, Trigonella Joe- num graecum, XVIII 140, 165, 166, XXIV 184. Siligo, probably usually common wheat, Triiicum vulgare, or club wheat, T. compactum, XVIII 61, 76, 81, 85, 86, 87, 88-91, 93, 106, 164, 184, 198, 205, 298, XXII 119, XXVI 145, XXVIII 8. Siliqua, carob, Ceratonia sili- qua, XIII 59, XIV 103, XV 95, 117, XVII 136, XXIII 151. Siliquastrum=piperitis, XIX 187, 188, XX 174. Sillybum (syllibum), milk thistle, Silybum marianum, XXII 85, XXVI 40. Silphium, an extinct species of the asafoetida-producing group, similar in appearance to Narthex asa foetida and closely related to Scorodosma foetida. If a reference in Phny is contemporary, not historical, it is to asafoetida, obtained from Scorodosma foetida and similar plants. See XIX 38-46, XX 104, XXII 100-106, XXIV 93. Sinapi, white mustard, Brassica alha, and blaek mustard, B. niger, XII 28, XVI 167, XVIII 128, XIX 117, 119, 133, 138, 170, 171, 181, 186, XX 25, 129, 236-241, XXI 71, 155, XXVIII 165, 219, 220, XXIX 108. Sinon, stone-parsley, Sison amo- mum, XXVII 136. Sion (sium), probably water speedwell, Veronica anagallis, or perhaps broad -leaved water- parsnip, Sium latifolium, XXII 84 (emend.), XXVI 88. In other authors, it also de- notes water cress, Nasturtium officinale. Siser, probably not the skirret, Sium sisarum, but rather the parsnip, Peucedanum sati- vum, or the carrot, Daucus carota, XIX 62, 90-92, XX 34. Sisymbrium, bergamot mint, Mentha aquatica, XIX 172, 176, XX 247, XXI 59, XXV 94. The first type in XX 247 is water cress, Nasturtium officinale. Sisyrinchion, Barbary nut, Iria sisyrinchium, XIX 95. SisjTum = erica, XI 42. Sium. See Sion. Smilax (or milax), a term for several plants of twining character, including bindweed, especially hedge bindweed, Convolvulus sepium (XVI 153, XXI 52, XXIV 82). A second possibility is Smilax^ aspera. The cultivated smi- lax of Diosc. 2.146 W. is the black-eyed cowpea, DoUchos melanophthalmus. In XVI 51 milax is a term for the yew, and in XVI 19 a term for a type of holra-oak. Smyrniura (or smyrnion, also zrajTnium and zrayrnion), (1) usually Cretan alexanders, Smyrnium perfoUatuyn, XIX 187, XX 186, XXVII 133- 136; (2) sometimes common alexanders, S. olusatrum, XIX 162, 188. Solanum = strychnon, XXVII 132. Somphos = cucurbita silvestris, XX 13. Sonchos (-cus, soncum), sow- INDEX OF PLANTS thistle, Sonchus Nymani and S. oleraceus, XXII 88-90. XXVI 163. Sopina, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 36. Sorbus, .service-tree, Sorhus doniestica, XIII 68, XIV 103, XV 43, 61, 62, 84, 85, 114, XVI 74, 92, 183, 226, 228, XVII 64, 67, 75, 136, 221, 242, 253, XIX 92, XXI 72, XXIII 141, XXIV 129, XXVIII 132, XXXIII 117. Spalax, possibly meadow saff- ron, Colchicum parnassicum, XIX 99. Sparganion,floweringrush, £Mto- mus umbellatus, and burweed, Spargamum sp., XXV 109. Spartum (-on), esparto, Stipa tenacissima, XI 18, XIII 73, XVII 29, XIX 26-31, XXIV 65, XXVIII 46, 49, XXXV 137, XXXVII 203. Spathe, a term for the so-ealled eabbage of the dwarf-palm, Chamaerops humilis (XVI 112), erroneously given by Pliny for the palm itself (XXIII 99), and even con- fused with the silver fir (XII 134). Sphacos, a sage, Salvia calycina or S. officinalis, XXII 146. Sphagnos, (1) Tree-moss, Usnea barbata, XII 108, XXIV 27; (2) = aspalathos (1), XXIV 112. Spica, the mass of fibres sur- rounding the upper end of the rootstock of spikenard, Nardostachys Jatamansi, XII 43, XIII 18. Spina, (1) generically, a term for a thorn-bush (XV 57, 101, XVI 244, XVII 62, XVIII 360, XXI 68); (2) the Egyptian spina (XIII 66) is tlio acacia, Acacia sp., the white type (spina candida or alba) being A. albida and the black type (spina nigra) A. arabica (XIII 63, XXIV 109); (3) the usual Arabian spina (XXIV 107) is Acacia arahica ; (4) the spina sitiens of the Arabian desert (XIII 139) is Acacia tortilis; (5) the spina regia (XIII 129) is probably Acacia albida; (6) the spina alba of Europe (XIII 115, XV 117, XXI 68, XXIV 108) is probably the oxyacanth, Cra- taegus oxyacanthus; (7) the spina that grew with the service-tree and the birch in Gaul (XVI 75)isprobably also the oxyacanth ; (8) spina alba in XXIV 108 and XXVIII 185 is perhaps the pine- thistle, Atractylis gummifera ; (9) spina silvestris in XVII 75 = calabrix, i.e., buckthorn, Rhajnnus infectorius, but in XXIV 111 = aspalathos (1), i.e., camers thorn, Alhagi maurorum; (10) spina ap- pendix (XXIV 1 14) is the bar- berry, Berheris vulgaris ; (11) tho spina of India producing lycium = pyxaeanthus chiro- nius, i.e., the buckthorn, Rhamnus lycioides (X 100, 205, XII 30-31, XXIV 125; cf. XXIV 124); (12) spina eandida in XII 1 10 and XXIV 111 = aspalathos (I); (13) the spinae growing in Aria (XII 33-34) are Balsamoden- dron Mukul and asafoetida, Scorodosma foetidum ; ( 1 4 ) the spina growing in Gedrosia (XII 34) is aneient milkwort, Euphorbia antiquorum; (15) 539 INDEX OF PLANTS the spina of India with trans- lucent, ebony-lilfe wood (XII 21) is of uncertain identity; and (16) the spina fullonia (XVI 244; cf. XXIV 111, XXVII 92) is the teasel, Dipsacus fullonum. Spinea, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 34. Spionia, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 34. Spiraea, (1) drop-wort, Spiraea filipendula ; (2) meadow-sweet, Spiraea ulmaria, XXI 53. Splenion = hemionion, XXV 45. Spondylium, bear's foot, Herac- leum spondylium, XII 128, XXIV 22, 25. Stachys, in XXIV 136 perhaps downy woundwort, Stachys germanica. Stacte, a type of murra, XII 68, XIII 17. Stagonitis, galbanum giant fen- nel, Ferula galbaniflua, and the resin obtained from it, XII 126. Staphis, a type of larkspur, Delphinium staphis agria, XXm 17. Staphyle = vitisalba, XXIII 21. Staphylinus, the cultivated carrot, Daucus carota, XIX 88, XX 30, 32, 33, XXV ] 12, XXVIII 232. Staphylodendron, bladder-nut, Staphylea pinnata, XVI 69. Statice, perhaps common thrift, Armeria vulgaris, XXVI 51. Stelephuros (also called ortyx and plantago), a plantain, probably Plantago lagopus, XXI 101. Stelis, mistletoe, Viscum album, XVI 245. Stephanitis, a kind of grape- vine, XIV 42. Stephanomelis, perhaps goose grass, Potentilla anserina, XXVI 136. Stephanon Alexandri, spurge laurel, Daphne mezereum, XV 132. Stergethron, house-Ieek, Semper- vivum arboreum, XXV 160. Stobrus, a tree imported from Carmania for fumigation, un- identified, XII 79. Stoebe = pheos, XXI 91, XXII 28. Stoechas, French lavender, Lav- andula stoechas, XIV 111, XXVI 42, XXVII 131. Storax (styrax), officinal storax, a resinous gum, or the tree producing it, Storax officinalis, X 195, XII 81, 98, 124, 125, XIII 18, XV 26, XXIV 24, XXVI 48. Storbon, the resin of ladanum, S.V., XII 74. Strangias, a kind of wheat, XVIIl 64. Stratiotes, the great duck-weed, Fistia stratioles (a tropical plant), XXIV 169. Streptis, a kind of grape, XIV 39. Strumus, (1) = ranunculus, XXV 174; (2) = strychnos, XXVII 08. Strutheum, quince, Cydonia vul- garis, XIII 11, XV 38, 48, 58, XXI 142, XXIII 91, 103. Struthion = radicula, s.v., XIX 48, XXIV 96, XXVI 124. Strychnos, basically and gener- ally a terra for the night- shade, especially the black nightshade, Solanum nigrum, sometimes synonymous with halicacabum, s.v., in some cases with dorycnion, s.v. SeeXXI 177, 181, XXVI 120, INDEX OF PLANTS XXVII 60, 68, 132, XXVIII 177. Styrax. See Storax. Suber, cork-oak, Quercus suber, XVI 19, 25, 34, 80, 98, 106, 126, 189, 204, 211, 212, XVII 234, XXIV 13. Suillus, a mushroom, probably Boletus edulis, XVI 31, XXII 96, 98. Surcula, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 34. Syagrus, a kind of date, XIII 41. Syce = peplis, XXVII 119. Syllibum. See Sillybum. Symphytum, usually comfrey, Symphytum officinalc, XXVI 45, 81, 137, 148, 161, XXX 115. In XXVII 4 1 symphy ton petraeum is probably S. tube- rosum, and in XIV 108 it is equivalent to helenium and therefore probably elecam- pane, Inula helenium. Sjrreon = tordylon, small hart- wort, Tordylium officinale, XXIV 177. Syriaca sihqua, XXIII 151. See Sihqua. Syringias, a reed for making fiutes, XVI 164. Syron = molon, XXVI 33. Syrtica arbor, nettle-tree, Celtis australis, XXIV 6. Taeda, stone pine, Pinus cembra, XVI 44, 62, 58, 61, 73, XVII 253, XXIV 41, XXIX 34, XXX 24, XXXV 41, 43. Talpona, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 36. Tamarice = myrice, tamarisk, Tamarix articulata, XXIV 67, 102. Tamarix = tamarice, XIII 116, XVI 80, 90, 108, XXVI 86, XXVIII 81, 165, XXX 97. Tamnus, black bryony, Tamus communis, VIII 112, XXI 86, XXV 92. Tarum, aloe-wood, Aloe vera, XII 98. Taxa, v.l. for tliasia, XV 130. Taxus, y'ew-tree, Taxus baccala, XVI 50, 51, 80, 212, XXII 97, XXIV 116. Telephion, a plant like purslane, perhaps orpine, Sedum tele- phium, XXVII 137. Telis, fenugreek, Trigonella foenum graecum, XIII 13, XXIV 184. Teramon and ateramon, given by Phny (XVIII 155) as names of weeds in bean crops, through careless reading of Theophr. H. P. VIII 8, 6, where the bean is charao- terized as " cookable " (repa- /xevjor " uncookable " (clTepa- fiov). Terebinthus, terebinth, Pistacia terebinthus, XI 77, XII 25, 56, 121, XIII 9, 54, 115, XIV 112, 122, XVI 55, 68, 73, 80, 98, 106, 203, 204, 205, 231, 233, 245, XXIII 145, XXIV 27, 32, 34, 35, XXVII 20, XXVIII 205, 252, XXX 40, 76, 114, XXXI 121, XXXIV 115, 133, 176, XXXV 176. Tetradice = erica, XI 42. Tetrahx, yellowstar-thistle, Cen- iaurea solstitialis, XXI 95. Teuchitis, sweet-scented rush, Andropogon schoenanthus, XXI 120. Teucria = teucrion, XXIV 130, XXV 99, XXVI 35, 76. Teucrion, in XXIV 130, ger- mander, Teucrium chamaedrys, in XXV 46 and XXVI 77, spleen wort, Teucrium flavum. See XXVII 77. 541 INDEX OF PLANTS Teuthalis, a v.l. for thalattias, XXVII 113. Teutrion = polium, XXI 44. Thalassaegle = potamaugis, XXIV 164. Thalattias =polygonum, XXVII 113. So Detleisen and ^lay- hoff, but the MSS. have halat- tas, alattas and balattas. Thalictrum, meadow-rue, either Thalictrum flavum or T. minus, XXVII 138. Thapsi, v.l. for thlaspi, XIX 171. Thapsia, a poisonous shrub, drias plant, Thapsia garganica, XIII 124-126, XIX 173, XXVI 22. Tharrupia, a kind of grape, XIV 39. Thasia, a kind of laurel, Lauru-s nobilis,XV 130. Theangelis, an intoxicating herb, imknown, XXIV 164. Thelygonon, ( 1 ) perennial mer- cury, Mercurialis perennis, or Mercurialis tomentosa, XXVI 162; (2) = satyrion, XXVI 99. Thelygonos = crataegonos, XXVII 62. See also XXVI 99. Tlielyphonon = scorpio, XXV 122 ; = aconitum, XXVII 4, 9. Thelypteris, bracken, Pteris aquilina, XXVII 78. Theobrotion, probably ancient milk-wort, Euphorbia anti- ^MorMm, XXIV 162, 166. Theriaca, a Idnd of grape-vine, XIV 117. Therionarca (theronarca), prob- ably oleander, Xerium olean- der, see XXIV 163 and XXV 113. Thesium, holewort, Corydalis 542 densiflora, XXI 107, XXII 66. Thlaspi, a kind of cress, variously identified with ( 1 ) pepper- wort, Lepidium campestre ; (2) shepherd's purse, Capsella hursa pastoris ; (3) Cochlearia draba, and (4) Lunaria annua, XXVII 139. In XIX 171 Pliny cites thlaspi as a secoudary name for mustard through careless reading of Diosc. 2. 156 W. or his source, and his reference in XXVII 140 to a second type of thlaspi, also called " Per- sian mustard," is another garbling of the same account. Thorvbethron = leontopodion, XXVI 52. Tliryallis, a secondary name for the third type of phlomis, s.v.,XXI loi, XXV 121. Thrj'selinum, perhaps a kind of sion, XXV 141. Thya = thyon, thyine-wood tree, CaUitris quadrivalvis, XIII 100. See also Citrus. Thymbra, savorj', Satureia hor- tensis, XIX 165. Thvmbraeum = sisvmbrium s"ilvestre, XX 247. Thymelaea, mezerlon, Daphne mezereum,XHI 114. Thyraum, ( 1 ) garden thyme, Thymus vulgaris ; (2) Cretan thvme, Thymbra capitata, XI 34", 38, 39, 242, XIV 111, XIX 92, 186, XXI 56-57, 70. 147, 154-157, XXIII 20, XXIV 81, XXVI 42, 55, XXVII 41. Thyon = thya. Tibialis, a kind of reed, XVI 168. Tibulus, a kind of pine-tree, XVI 39. Tilia, linden, Tilia tomentosa, XI INDEX OF PLANTS 32, XVI 30, 35, 65, 74, 87, 97, 126, 207, 209, 226, XVII 201, 234, 235. XVIII 266, XXIV 60. Tinus, laurustinus, Viburnum tinus, XV 128, XVII 60. Tiphe, one-grained wheat, Triti- cum monococcum, XVIII 81, 93. Tiphyon, a v.l. for iphyon, XXI 67. Tithymalis, a type of 8pi:rge, Euphorhia helioscopia, XXVI 68. Tithymalus, spurge, Euphorbia sp., XX 209, XXIV 31, XXVI 21, 60, 62-71, 90, 99, 110, 116, 118, 119, 126, 146, 1.50, 164. Tordylon, in part, small hart- wort, Tordylium officinale, XX 238, XXIV 177. Toxicum, a kind of ladanum. XXVI 47. TrachLnia, unknown, XXVII 141. Trachy, species of Commiphora, XII 114. Tragacantha, " goat's thorn," tragacanth, especially As- tragalus tragacantha, XIII 115, XXVI 140, XXX 78, 126. Tragion, " goatwort," perhaps lentisk, Pistacia lentiscus, or perhaps goat-scented St. John's wort, Hypcricum hir- cwMW, XIII 115, XXVII 141. Tragonis = tragion, XXVII 141. Tragopogon, goat's-beard or sal sify, including the purple- flowered Tragopogon porri- folius and crocifolius and per- haps the yellow-fiowered T. pratensis, XXI 89, XXVII 142. Tragoriganum, goafs origanum, Thymus tragoriganum, XIV 111, XX 176. Tragos, (1) a kind of wheat. perhaps emmer, Triticum di- coccum, XVIII 93; (2) a thorny plant, of uncertain identitv, also called scorpion, XIII fl6, XXVII 142. Tribulus, (1) land caltrop, Tri- bulus terrestris, XVIII 153, XXI 91, XXII 27; (2) water cliestnut, Trapa natans, XXI 98, XXII 27; (3) in other authors also the caltrop, Fagonia cretica. Trichomanes, maidenhairspleen- wort, Asplenium trichomanes, XXII 63, XXVII 138. Tricoccum, a heliotrope. Helio- tropium, and perhapsscorpion grass, Scorpiurus sulcata, XXII 57, 60. TrifoHum, usually strawberry- headed trefoil, Trifoliumfragi- ferum, XVIII 34, 144, 259, 365, XX 264, XXI 54 (three kinds deseribed), 152-153, XXVI 87, 89, 119. Triorchis = centauris, XXV 69. Tripedanea, a kind of grape- vine, XIV 41. Tripolion (-um), a Plumbago, or tripoly, Aster tripolium, or sea lavender, Statice limonium, XXVI 39. Trithales, house-leek, Semper- vivum tectorum, XXV 160. Triticum, used in three senses, depending on context, (1) wheat generically, (2) naked wheat generically, and (3) poulard, Triticum iurgidum, in particular, XVII 72, XVIII 48, 49, 50, 56, 61-70, 76, 79, 81, 82, 85, 89, 94, 97, 98, 102, 104, 106, 116, 155, 164, 165, 166, 184, 189, 191, 198, 202, 298, 299, 304, 305, 307, XIX 17, XX 20, XXI 127, XXII 543 INDEX OF PLANTS 119, 120, 121, 124, 136, 161, XXIII 23, XXIV 135, XXVII 62, XXXIII 108. Trixago, germander, Teucrium chamaedrys, XXIV 130, XXV 167, XXVI 149. Trychnos = strychnos, XX 141, XXI 89, 177. XXVII 60. Trygonis = pastinaca, IX 155. Tuber, ( 1 ) probably a form of the common jujube, Zizyphus vulgaris, XII 113, XV 47, XVI 103, XVII 75; (2) truffle, chiefly the black trufile, Tuber cibarium, XIX 33-37, 03. Tuber terrae, a species of Cycla- men, XXV 115. Tus, as a term for a tree, the frankincense-tree, Boswellia Carteri, XII 55-57, 67, 76, 81, XVI 136, XIX 187. Tus terrao = chamaepitys, XXIV 29. Tussilago, colt's foot, Ttissilago Jarjara, XXVI 30. 124, 128, XXXI 44. Ulex, a shrub like rosemary, XXXIII 76. Ulmus, elm, Ulmus glabra, XI 14, XIII 65, 58, 67, XIV 12, XV 57, XVI 72, 74, 87, 92, 97, 108, 123, 125, 132, 176, 181, 193, 210, 218, 219, 228-230, XVII 65, 76, 77, 90, 116, 124, 200, 201, 210, 252, XVIII 240, 243, 266, 286, XXI 98, XXIV 48. Ulophonon, black type of cham- aeleon, Cardopatium corym- bosum, XXII 47. Ulpicum, Cyprian garhc, a forra of Alliurn sativum, XIX 112. Ulva, sedge, Ulva conjerva, XVI 4, XVII 55, 209, XXI 111. Unciahs, a kind of grape, XIV 42. Unedo, strawberry-tree, Arbutus unedo, XII 15, 37, 67, XIII 120, XV 96, 98, XVI 80, 126, XXIII 151. See Arbutus. Urceolaris, wall pellitory, Par- ietaria officinalis, XXII 43. Urtica, the nettle, chiefiy the stinging nettle, Urtica urens, and the large nettle, U. dioica, but also U. pilulijera, U. membranacea, U. rupestris, and U. atrovirens, X 163, XVI 91, XXI 92-93 (various kinds), XXII 31-38, XXIV 172, XXVII 81, XXIX 68, XXX 52, 78, 90, XXXII 102, 135; U. urens, XV 31. The urtica marina (IX 146, XXVT 88, XXXI 96, XXXII 102, 135, 146) is not a plant, but the sea-nettle. Uva taminia, the fruit of the tamnus, XXIII 17, 19, XXVI 138, XXVIII 152. 161, XXIX 94, XXX 82. Vaccinium, whortleberry, Vac- cinium myrtillus, XVI 77. Vela = irio, XXII 158. Venicula, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 34. Vepris, thorn-bush, XVIII 226, XXI 51, XXVI 92, XXXII 50. Veratrum = hellebortmi, VIII 152, XIV 110, XXV 52, 124, 133, 139, 170, XXVI 138, XXVIII 171. Verbaseum, (1) mullein, Verbas- cvmthapsus; (2) V.sinuatum; (3) V. phlomoides or perhaps Phlomis lychnitis or Jruticosa, XXV 120, 121, 143, 166, XXVI 23, 28, 31, 32, 44, 92, 122, 126, 127, 137, 144, 149, XXVII 33. 544 INDEX OF PLANTS Verbena, in plural the leaves or twigs of plants used for sacred purposes, usually ver- vain, Verbena officinalis, V 119, XXII 5. Verbenaea, vervain, Verhena officinalis, XXV 105, 107, 112, 119, 160, 164, 166, XXVI 26, 37, 49, 78, 87, 100, 101, 106, 114, 117, 120, 123, 127, 143, 147, 160, XXVII 21, XXX 35. Verrucaria = helioscopium, XXII 59. Vesicaria, perhaps bladder-wort, Utricularia sp., or strawberry tomato, Physalis alkekengi, XXI 177. Vettonica, betony, Betonica officinalis, XXV 84, 101, 122, 125, 127, 128, 145, XXVI 28, 31, 32, 33, 35, 38, 40- 42, 44, 45, 54, 74, 75, 77, 78, 105, 107, 110, 112-114, 116-119, 123, 136, 137, 149, 151, 161. Vibones, flowers of britannica herba, XXV 21. Vicapervica ( = chamaedaphne), periwinkle, Vinca herbacea, or double-tongue, Ruscus hypo- phyllum, XXI 68, 172. Vicia, tare, Vicia sativa, XI 165, XVI 246, XVIII 60, 58, 137, 138, 139, 142, 143. 156, 164, 181, 187, 198, 202, 257, 314. Viminalis salix, willow bearing twigs for plaiting, XVI 177, XVII 143. Vinaciola, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 38. Viola, (1) stock, Matthiola in- cana; (2) sweet violet, Viola odorata, XI 39, XII 39, XIII 141, XXI 14, 27, 35, 37, 45, 46, 64, 68-70, 130-131, XXIV 128, 135, 159, XXXIII 163. XXXVII 116. Virga sanguinoa, cornel, Corniis sanguinea, XIX 180, XXIV 73. See also Frutex sangui- neus. Viscum, mistletoe, Loranthus europaeus and Viscum album, XIII 119, 129, XVI 31, 120, 243, 245-251, XVII 239, XX 25, 132, 170, XXII 45, 47, 103, XXIII 43, 61, XXIV 11, 36, XXVI 21, XXVII 50, XXVIII 158, 161, 162, 245, XXX 111, XXXII 31, XXXIII 94. Visulla, a kind of grape-vine, XIV 28, 31. Vitex, the chaste-tree, Vitex agnus castus, XVI 209, XXIV 59-64, XXVI 97, XXX 35, 50, XXXI 44, XXXII 29. Vitis, grape-vine, Vitis vinifera, III 41, VI 46, 79, 91, XII 40, 112, 130-131, XIII 54, 67, 138, XIV 8-43, 50, 52, 88, 110, 117, 119, 126, XV 4, 66, 78, XVI 72, 81,90, 91,99, 101, 102, 104, 115, 117, 118, 121, 125, 126, 140, 173, 176, 178, 181, 180, 209, 214, 241, XVII 11, 14, 17, 19-23, 25, 29, 30, 33, 40, 47, 49, 65, 69, 67, 78, 84, 90, 91, 96, 103, 114-117, 119, 120, 121, 133, 152-216, 217, 222, 223, 226-229, 232, 233, 234, 238, 239, 240, 241, 246, 247, 250, 254, 257, 258, 261, 264, 266, XVIII 24, 29, 101, 138, 154, 177, 188, 189, 232, 236, 240, 243, 249, 254, 257, 266, 272, 275, 280, 287, 288, 293, 294, 315, 328, 329, 334, 336, 337, 338, XIX 87, 159, XX 4, 84, 92, XXIII 2, 3-6, 14, 21-27, 51, 97, 135, 137, XXIV 1, XXV 49, 106, 545 INDEX OF PLANTS XXVII 119, XXVIII 79, XXX U6, XXXII 70, 75, XXXIII 51, 137, XXXIV 138. Vitis as a seaweed (XIII 138) is Fucus apiralis. Vitis alba, common bryony, Bryonia dioica, or Cretan bryony, B. cretica ; vitis nigra, white bryonv, B. alba, X 157, XXI 82, XXIII 21-28. Xiphion, com-flaK, Gladiolus segetum, XXV 137, 138, XXVI 44, 79, 94, 101, 156. Xylobalsamum, balsam-wood, Commiphora opohalsamum, XII 118, XIII 13, 15, XXIX 56. Xylocinnamomum, cinnamon- wood, XII 91. Xylon, wood of cotton-tree, Gos- sypiutn arhoreum, XIX 14. Xypris, stinking iris, Iris Joe- iidissima, XXI 143. Zea, two-grained wheat, Triti- cum dicoccum, in some passages perhaps einkorn, T. mono- coccum, XVIII 81, 82, 93, 112, 115, 116, 184, 198, XXII 124. Zeugita, a kind oi reed, XVI 169. Zingiberi or zinpiberi, ginger, Zingiber officinalis, XII 28, 29, XXI 117. Zizyphus, common jujube, Zizy- phus vulgaris, XII 109, XV 47, XVn 75, XXI 51. Zmilax, v.l. for smilax, s.v., XVI 153, XXI 52. Zmintlia. See Menta. Zmyrnion or zmymium, see Smymium. Zoophthalmos = aizoijm majus, great house-leek, Semper- vivum tectorum. See XXV 160 for several other Latin names of this plant. Zopvrontion = clinopodium, XXIV 137. Zostera = prason, a type of sea- weed, XIII 136. Zygia = carpinus, hom-beam, Carpinus betulus, XVI 67. APPENDIX Plants described or indicated, but not named. XU 37 : wliite mangrove, Avi- cennia officinalis. XII 39 : tamarind, Tamarindus indica. Also XII 40. XII 47 (plant in Thrace similar to Indian nard) : Valeriana Dioacoridis. XUI 65 : Mimosa asperata (called aeschynomene in XXIV 167). XIII 129 : a species of dodder, perhaps Cuacuta fdijormis. Cf. cadytas, XVI 244. XIII 138 : (1) (a leaf like leek) Ligurian grass-wrack, Posi- donia oceanica; (2) (foUage of bay and thjrme) a madre- pore. XVI 221 : teak, Tectona grandis. XVI 221 : calamander-wood, Diospyros quaesita. XIX 15 (thread made from apples and gourds) : cotton- tree, Gossypium arboreum, usually called gossipion. LIST OF DISEASES AND AFFEC- TIONS MENTIONED BY PLINY To equate modern diseases with the names used by ancient physicians is a task full of uncertainty. In some cases indeed there is no difficulty; a disease may have such distinctive symptoms, and be so unlike any other, that its description in Celsus or Galen points clearly to one, and only one, diag- nosis, examples being intermittent malarial fevers and the common cold. Pneumonia again in both Greek and Latin writings is usually easy to detect (although there is some chance of confusion with acute bronchitis), and so are also dropsy and pleurisy. Often, however, we can do no more than divide into groups : (1) diseases and (2) the ancient names of diseases, and then identify a group from one with a group from the other. Many quite different diseases are so ahke symptomatically that identification can be estab- hshed, even today, only by a microscopic examination con- ducted with a technique quite unknown to the ancients. Great care is needed with eye diseases and skin diseases, both of which were far more common in earlier days than they are with us, for dust was everywhere and disinfecting cleansing was practically unknown. The principle of grouping is nearly always the safest one to adopt ; to attempt more is hazardous. For example, we have on the one hand collectio, furuncidvs, panus, vomica and tumor ; on the other we have " boil," " abscess," " gathering " and " carbuncle." The group of complaints covered by the Latin terms is nearly, if not quite, the same as that covered by the English, but any attempt to make more specific identification is attended with much uncertainty ; perhaps fanus is the only one we can isolate more completely. 547 LIST OF DISEASES More important for our appreciation of antiquity than the identilication of specific diseases is to ascertain vvhich, if any, modern diseases were unknown in the Hellenistic age. Here the evidence, especially that relating to infectious fevers, is most disappointing. These fevers are endemic in the modern world, and figure largely in treatises on pathology. But the old medical writers — " Hippocrates," Celsus, Galen and the many comj:»ilers who succeeded Galen — do not describe, or give treatment for, small-pox, chicken-pox, measles, scarlatina, typhoid or even influenza. The most that can be said is that in isolated chnical histories or in chance aphoristic remarks one or other of them may be referred to ; the evidence is strongest for diphtheria. Moreover, in the pseudo-Aristotelian Problems {VII 8) it is said that con- sumption, ophthalmia and the itch are infectious, but that fevers are not. It is difficult to believe that a people who knew that consumption is infectious would have caUed scarla- tina non-infectious if it had been endemic among them. The Romans borrowed many names of diseases from the Greeks. Usually, of course, the Latin word refers to the same disease as does the Greek, especially in tlie works of medical writers. But care must be exercised; Xenpa, for instance, seems to be much narrower than lepra. Celsus is by far the most trustworthy authority to follow in identifying the diseases mentioned by Phny, for both were Romans, both (probably) laymen and nearly con- temporaries. Aegilops. — A lacrimal fistula at count of it, saying that it the angle near the nose. occurred in the hair and Albugo. — An unknown kind of beard. He distinguishes it white ulcer on the eye. In from 6(f>iaais, probably ring- XXVI § 160 used of a head worm, for this had a winding ulcer. Theword occurs only in shape, whereas alopecia ^' sub the Vulgate Bible and in Pliny. qualibet figura dilatatur." Alopecia. — A disease in wliich A^nphemerinos. — Quotidian ma- the hair fell out. Meaning laria. literally " fox mange," it is .'ingina. — An acute swelling in translated " niange " in the the neck, generally quinsy. A text. It is perhaps unsafe to loose term like our " sore limititto thomodernalopecia. throat." Sometimes possibly Celsus (VI 4) has a brief ac- diphtheria. LIST OF DISEASES Aposlema. — Greek for abscess. Argema. — A small white ulcer, partl y on tlie comea, partly on the sclerotic coat of the eye. Articularius morbus. — ^This in XXII 34 is joined to poda- gricus, and so means probably not gout but arthritis. Asthma. — Apparently only XXVI 34. See also XXV 82.^ Atrophus.—" Wasting away," of all such conditions, of which phthisis is one. Boa. — " A disease when the body is red with pimples," XXIV 53. See also XXVI 120. An exanthem not cer- tainly identified. Shingles is localised. It cannot be, as Hardouin thought, measles, because that disease seems to havo been first described by Rhazes. Cachecta. — A patient who is in a very bad state of health ; some- times a " consumptive " patient is meant. Cacoethes. — A Greek adjective appHed to sores that are very difificult or impossible to cure ; ' ' maUgnant ' ' is the nearest,but not quite exact, equivalent. Calculus. — Stone or gravel in the bladder. Caligo. — Dimness of the eyes, hard to distinguish from nuhecula (film) and caligatio (mistiness). Carbunculus. — In XXVI 5, 6 seems certainly to be anthrax, and Pnny's description re- serables that of Celsus V 28, 1. The word was, however, used of minor affections ; for example, carhunculus oculi is a styo, and it is often used of a bad abscess. Carcinoma. — Superficial malig- nant disease, severe forras of which are called cacoethe. It soems impossible to dis- tinguish, at least in Pliny, carcinoma from ulcera cacoethe, phagedaena and gangraena. Cardiacus. — The adjective refers to either disease or patient. Sometimes a siraple ailment, heartburn, is referred to, at other times a serious complaint, said by W. G. Spencer on Celsus III 19 to be a kind of syncope. In fact the reforence may be to any ailment supposed to be con- nected with the heart. Cephalaea. — Aretaeus (III 2) calls this a severe, chronic headache, and says that there are iSeai /xuptat- Persistent neuralgia, except when it means malarial headache, must be the complaint referred to. Cerium. — Described by W. G. Spencer on Celsus V 28, 13 as a follicular abscess among hair. Its appearance — Kijptov means " honeycomb " — en- ables us to distinguish it from panus ; it was also often more severe. Chiragra. — Gout or gouty pains in the hands. But see podagra. Cholera. — Perhaps never Asiatic cholera, but cholera nostras and possibly certain types of dysentery and severe diar- rhooa. The word is derived from X°^V' "bile." Clavus. — Wart, corn or callus. Coeliacus morbus. — W. G. Spencer on Celsus IV 19, 1 (last note) says that the author appears to be de- 549 LIST OF DISEASES scribing pyloric spasm and intestinal atony. Cf. Aretaeus IV 7. Collectio. — The most general term for a boil or abscess, a " gathering." Colostratio. — Disease of babies caused by the first milk. Colum. — Colitis, or inflammation of the colon. Comitialis morbus. — Epilepsy and sometimes other fits. Condyloma. — A small tumour in the anus due to infJam- mation. See Celsus VI 18, 8. Convulsa. — Sprains. Cotidiana. — Quotidian ague, malaria with fever oocurring every day. Destillatio. — A "running" cold in the head. Sometimes in- ternal catarrh. Duritia. — An induration, from whatever cause, in any part of the body. Dysinteria. — Usually dysentery, but probably also severe diarrhoea, however caused. Dyspnoea. — Difficulty of breath- ing, however caused. Elephantiasis. — The usual name of leprosy. See XXVI 7 and 8, where it is said to have quickly died out in Italy. Enterocele. — Hernia . Epinyctis. — Either ( 1 ) a sore on the ej'e-lid or (2) an eruption caused by fleas or bugs. Epiphora. — Running from the eyes as the result of some ailment. Eruptio. — A bursting out of morbid matter, either through the skin or sometimes in other ways. Extuberatio. — A fleshy ex- crescence, perhaps not morbid. 55° The word apparently occurs only in XXXI 104. Febris. — Feverishness, or else one of the recognised types of malaria. Fistula. — Praetically synonyra- ous with the raodern term. Flemina. — A severe congestion of blood around the ankles. It is neuter plural. Fluctio and fluxus. — Thore seems to be little if any difference in the meaning of theso words ■ — any flow, but usually a mor- bid one. Pliny pref ora Jluctio. Formicatio. — An irritating wart. See Celsus V 28, 14. Furjur. — Scurf (anywhere). Furuyiculus. — A boil, said by Celsus (V 28, 8) not to be dangerous, whereas Pliny (XXVI 125) says that it is sometimes morliferurn malum. Oangraena. — Gangrene, hard to distinguish from phagedaena and iiicera serpentia. Oemursa. — A disease the seat of which was between the toes. It is said by Pliny (XXVI 8) to have died out quickly in Italy. See Littre's note. Olaucoma. — Opaqueness of the crystalline lens. Oravedo. — The usual term for the common cold. Qremia. — Rheum. Hepaticus. — A sufferer from any liver complaint. Herpes. — A spreading eruption on the skin. Hydrocelicus. — A sufierer from hydrocele. Hydropisis. — Dropsy. Hypoch ysis . — Cataract. Ictericus. — A sufTerer from jaundice. Ignis sacer. — Erysipelas. Per- LIST OF DISEASES haps also some form of eczema or lupus. Also = shingles. Ileus. — Severe colic. Possibly appendicitis was inchided under tliis term. ItHpetigo. — The Romans used this term of various kinds of eczema. Celsus (V 28. 17) mentions four, the last being incurable. Impelus. — Inflammation or an infiamed swelhng ; PHny has impetxis ociilorum. With the genitive of a word meaning a specific disease it denotes an attack of it. Intei-trigo. — Chafing, especially between the legs. Ischias. — Sciatica. Laterum dolor. — " Severe pain in the sido," nearly always pleurisy. Lentiqo. — Freckles. Leproe.— Seems to be used of any scaly disease of the skin ; PHny gives cures. There was a kind regarded as incurable, but this is not mentioned by Pliny, who has forty-six references, all to cures. Lethargus (lethargia). — In Hip- pocrates probably the coma- tose form of pernicious nia- laria, but later perhaps also prolonged coma of any kind. Lichen. — This is said by Ph'ny (XXVI 2-4) to be a new disease to Italy, usually boginning on the chin. Hence the name mentagra (cliin disease). Littre diagnoses it as leprosy, but PUny says (XXVI § 1) sine dolore quidem illos, ac sine pernicie vitae. This state- ment, as Pliny puts it, apphes also to carhunculus and elephantiasis, but Pliny's own account of these diseases is quite inconsistent with si?ie pernicie. So Pliny's remark is carelessly inaccurate, or applies only to lichenes. Lippitudo. — Inflammation of the eye, generally ophthalmia. Luxata. — Dislocations. MaJandria. — Pustules on the neck. M elancholicus . — One suffering from melancholia, which in- cluded malarial cachexia and many molancholic conditions, even mere nervousness. In fact it included any disease supposed to be caused by " black bile " (/ie'Aan'a x°^l)- Mentagra. — In XXVI 2 called a lichen beginning on the chin. See iichen. Nome (pl. 7iomae).—A spreading ulcer, much the same as ulcus serpens. Nuhecula. — A cloudy film on the eye, somotimes cataract. Nyctalops. — One afilicted with night blindness. Opisthotonus. — The form of tetanus in which the body curves backwards. Orthopnoea.- — Serious asthma, when the patient cannot breathe unloss upright. Panus. — Spencer in a note on Celsus V 18, 19 calls this a " superficial abscess in a hair follicle." It occurred chiefly on the scalp, on the groin and under the arm. Paronychia {-um). — Whitlow. Parotis. — A swelling of the glands by the ears. Some authorities think that it may have included mumps, which is described in Hippo- crates, Epidemics 1. 551 LIST OF DISEASES Perfrictio. — Sometimes a severe chill. Peripleumonicus. — A sufferer from pneumonia. Pemio . — Chilblain . Peetilentia. — Plague ; a term as vague as the English, but usually bubonic. Phagedaena. — Gangrene, hard to distinguish from gangraena. In XXVI 100 an abnormal diseased appetite. Phlegmon. — InfJammation be- neath the skin. Phreniticus, — Properly a sufferer from phrenitis or phrenesi^, pemicious malaria accom- panied by raving. It also refers to the sjanptom when not caused by malaria, for in post-Hippocratic medical works it often seems equi- valent to "brain fever." Per- haps sometimes meningitis. Phthiriasis. — Phthiriasis, skin dLsease caused by lice. Phthisis. — Pulmonary consump- tion. Pituita. — Excessive mucus, in any part of the bodj'. Pleuriticus. — A sufferer from pleurisy. Plumbitm in XXV 155, points to the leaden bluish colour of certain eye diseases. Serenus XrV 33 : si vero horrendum ducent glaucomata plumbum. Podagra. — Gout or gouty pains in the foot. Sometimes per- haps the result of lead poisoning. See Spencer's Celsus 1 464. Pliny (XXVI 100) saj'S that the disease was on the increase in his day. The word (often with chiragra) refers sometimes to pains caused by senile degeneration. 552 Porrigo. — Dandruff or scurf (on hairy parts). Prurigo and pruritus. — Itch ; the words can scarcely be dis- criminated, although perhaps pruritus tends to be used of the symptom, prurigo of the infection. Psora. — Several skin diseases are included under this term among which are itch and perhaps leprosy. Pterygium. — An inflammatory swelling at the inner angle of the lower eyelid ; another name for it is unguis. It also means a whitlow. Pusula. — Pustule or blister. Quartana. — Quartan ague, or malaria occurring after inter- vals of two days. It was reckoned the mildest form of the disease. Ramex. — Hernia. Begius morbus. — Jaundice. Rhagades. — Chaps. Rh eumatismus . — Catarrb, whether of the nose, throat or stomach. Rosio. — Gnawing pain in the chest or bowels. Rupta. — Tom muscles etc. Scabies. — Xot our scabies, which is caused by the itch mite, but described by Celsus (V 28, 16) as a hardening of the skin. which grows mddy and bursts into pustules with itching ulceration. It in- cludes many t\-pes of eczema. Scabies of the bladder, a dis- ease of which the sjTnptom was scaly concretions in the urine. Scabritia. — Diseased roughness of fingers, nails, eyes, etc. Scelotyrbe. — Lameness of the knee or ankle. LIST OF DISEASES Siriasis. — Probably some form of simstroke. Spasma. — Cramp. Splenicus. — Suffering from en- larged or diseased spleen. Enlargement of the spleen is a common after-effect of repeated attacks of malaria. Stegiia. — See note on XXIII 120. Stomacace. — Scurvy of the mouth. Stomachicus. — It is doubtful whether tliis means " one with stomach trouble " or " one with disease of the oesophagus." It is a word not mueh used by medical writers, but Caelius Aurelianus has a section on disease of the oesophagus. Although the Romans dis- tinguished (Celsus IV 1) stomach from oesophagus {stomachus can mean either), thoy appear to have described undor the same name their morbid conditions. In English " stomaeh," at least in popu- lar speech, is equally vague. Stranguria. — Strangury. Struma. — A scrofulous sore. Suffusio. — Usually cataract. Suspiriosus. — Asthmatic. Ap- parently a popular word, as it is rarely found in the medical writers. Syntecticus. — One wasting away, frora whatever cause. Tertiana. — Tertian ague, ma- laria with an onset every other day. Testa. — A brick-coloured spot on the face. See XXVI 163 and XXVIII 185. Tetanus. — Tetanus. See Celsus IV 6, 1 with Spencer's notes on opisthotonus and empros- thotonus. Tormina (neut. pl.). — A general word for colic. It also some- tiraes means strangury. Treynidus. — One with morbid tremors, palsied. See XX 85 paraiyticis et iremulis. Tuber. — A hard tumour. Tumor. — Any morbid swelling. Tussis. — A cougli — the com- plaint rather than the act. Tympanicus. — One afflicted with tympanites, a kind of dropsy, which makes the belly swell. Ulcus. — A favourite word with Pliny, usually used in the plural. Ulcera manantia are " running " sores, and ulcera putrescentia {serpentia) in- clude gangrene and super- ficial malignant diseases. Unguis. — Another name for pterygium, an infiammatory swelling at the inner angle of the lower eyelid. Varix. — Varicose vein. Varus. — A pimple on the face. Verruca. — Wart, a less wide term than clavus. Vertigo.—Vertigo, usually giddi- ness caused by illness. Vitiligo. — This includes more tlian one kind of psoriasis. The Romans distinguished the dull white, the dark, and the bright white. Sometimes perhaps leprosy. Vomica. — Abscess ; any gather- mg of pus, but apparently larger than furimculus. It was sometimes internal, but panics was superficial. Zoster. — This ("girdle disease") was herpes round the waist, possibly shingles. Pliny calls it a forra of erysipelas {ignis aacer), XXVI 121. 553 INDEX OF NAMES Abdera, XXV 94. Achaia, XXV 110. Achilles, XXV 42. Aegyptia, Aegyptus, XXIV 6, 09, 88, 89, 109, 142, 151, 169; XXV 11, 13; XXVI 4, 7; XXVII 53, 105, 145. Aemihamis, Seipio, XXVI 19. Aequicoli, XXV 86. Aeschyhis, XXV 11. Aesculapius, XXV 13. Aethiopia, XXIV 163; XXV 13; XXVII 12. Africa, Afri, XXIV 8, 115; XXVI 46. Alpes, XXV 67. Anaxilaus, XXV 154. Anticyra, XXV 52. Antonius Castor, XXV 9 ; see also XXVI 51. Apollo, XXV 13; XXVI 93. Apollodorus. XXIV 167. Arabia, XXIV 5, 160; XXV 13, 14; XXVI 46; XXVII 145. Arcades, Arcadia, XXV 26, 67, 94, 117; XXVI 46. Ariani, XXIV 162. Ariminum, XXVII 131. Aristogiton, XXVII 31. Armenia, XXIV 162. Arretium, XXVI 87. Artemis Ilithyia, XXV 73. Artemisia, XXV 73. Asclepiades, XXV 6; XXVI 12, 16, 20. Asia, XXIV 8, 33 ; XXVI 3. Athenienses, XXV 151; XXVII 145. Atlaa, nion.i, XXV 78; Attica, XXVII 2, 145. Augustus, XXV 4, 77, 85. Babylon, XXIV 164, 183. Bactria. XXIV 164. Bassus, Laecanius, XXVI 5. Boeotia, XXVII 145; Boeoti, XXV 75. Borysthenes, XXIV 164. Bosporus. XXV 103. Britannia. XXV 21. Caelius. M., XXVII 4. Caesar, Germanicus, XXV 20 ; JuUus, XXVI 19; Ti. CL, XXVI 3. 9. Callimachus, XXV 167; XXVI 82. Calpurnius Bestia, XXVII 4. Campania, XXV 27. 98. Cantabri, XXV 85. Capitolium, XXVII 45. Cappadoces, Cappadocia. XXIV 162. 163; XXV 64. 74; XXVII 28. 65. Carneades, XXV 51. Carthago, XXVI 19. Cato. XXV 4; XXVI 91. Celsus, Cornelius, XXVII 132. Cerberus. XXVII 4. Chiron. XXV 33, 34, 42, 66. Chrysippus, XXVI 10. Cilicia, XXIV 165; XXVII 145. Cimbri, XXVI 19. Circe, XXV 10, 11. Circeii. XXV 11. Cleemporus, XXIV 159. 555 INDEX OF NAMES Cleophantus, XXVI U. Clodius, Servius, XXV 2-i. Colchis, XXV 157. Columnae, cf. Hercules. Considia, XXIV 43. Corinthus, XXIV 69. Cornutus, Manilius, XXVI 4. Crateuas, XXIV 167; XXV 8, 62. Creta, XXIV 47, 153, 164; XXV 92,94, 103, 110; XXVII 34, 99, 141. Cyllene, XXV 26. Cyprus, XXVI 47. Democrates, Servilius, XXIV 43; XXV 87. Democritus, XXIV 15C, 160; XXV 13, 14; XXVI 19; XXVII 141. Dicte, XXIV 164. Dieuches, XXIV 145. Diocles. XXIV 185; XXVI 10. Diodotus, (1), XXIV 145; (2), ef. Petronius. Diomedes, cf. Limes. Dionysius, XXIV 8. Druidae, XXIV 103. Drusus, XXV 52. Elephantine, XXIV 163. EHs, XXV 67. Erasistratus, XXIV 77; XXV 72; XXVI 10. Etruria, XXIV 152. Euboea, XXV 94. Europa, XXIV 74; XXVI 1. Fauni, XXV 29. Frisi, XXV 21. Gaetuli, XXV 79. Galatia, XXIV 109 ; XXV 35, 157. Galli, Gallia, XXIV 103 ; XXV 25, 28, 79, 84, 103, 106; XXVI 1, 42; XXVII 45, 101. Gentius, XXV 71. Germania, XXV 20. Germanicus, cf. Caesar. Glaucias, XXIV 142, 145. Graeci, Graecia, XXIV 51, 64, 69, 81, 96, 102, 105, 124, 129, 138, 139, 143, 150, 169, 176; XXV 8, 16, 24, 26, 35, 38, 80, 84, 109, 113, 120, 154, 168, 172; XXVI 97, 108, 132, 133; XXVII 41, 42, 54, 78, 79, 91, 113, 125, 132. Hecale, XXVI 82. Helena, XXV 12. Helicon, XXV 49. Heraclea, XXVII 4. Hercules, XXV 32, 34, 35, 75; XXVII 4 ; columnae H., XXVII 2. Herophilus, XXV 15, 58 ; XXVI 11. Hesiod, XXV 12. Hicesius, XXVII 31. Hierosolyma, XXVII 15. Hippocrates, XXIV 147 ; XXV 40; XXVI 10, 82, 123, 158. Hispania, XXIV 111; XXV 17, 84, 85; XXVI 1. Homerus, XXV 11, 13, 26, 27 77. Ida, XXIV 123; XXVII 12. Illyrii, Illyricum, XXV 71; XXVI 1, 87. Indi, India, XXIV 5, 161. Indus/., XXIV 164. Isiaci, XXVII 53. Itah, Itaha, XXV 11, 27, 52, 83, 84, 160, 162; XXVI 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 16, 19, 100; XXVII 63, 99. Juba, XXV 14, 77, 78. Judaea, XXIV 85; XXVI 60; XXVII 15. Lacetania, XXV 17. Laconica, XXV 94. INDEX OF NAMES Laecanius, cf. Bassus Lenaeua (Pompeius), XXV 5, 7. Lenaeus, XXV 63. Libanus, XXIV 164. Liber, XXIV 2. Liraes Diomedis, XXV 94. Lucullus, XXVI 19. Lycaeus, XXV 67. Lycia, XXV 67. Lysimachus, XXV 72. Macedonia, XXV 31. Maeotis, XXV 82 ; XXVII 2. Magnus, cf. Pompeius. Magus, Magi, XXIV 72, 156, 160, 164, 165, 167; XXV 13, 106. 129; XXVI 19, 20. Manilius, cf. Cornutus. Marathon, XXV 75. Marcius, Q., XXVI 5. Marsi, XXV 11, 86; Marsicum bellum, XXV 52. Mausolus, XXV 73. Medea, XXV 10. Melampous, XXV 47. Mercurius, XXV 26, 38. Meroe, XXIV 163. Messenia, XXV 67; XXVII 12. Metrodorus, XXV 8, Minerva, XXIV 176; XXV 34. Mithridates, XXV 5, 62. Musa, XXV 77. Musaeus, XXV 12. Mysia, XXIV 163. Narbonensis, XXVI 5. Nervesia, XXV 86. Nicander, XXVI 103. Nilus, XXIV 169. Nisyrus, XXIV 112. Oeta, XXV 48. Orchomenia, XXV 75. Orpheus, XXV 12. Panacia, XXV 30. Parnasus, XXIV 178. 179; XXV 94. Parthi. Parthia, XXV 154; XXVII 83. Paullus, L., XXVI 5. Pelius, Mons, XXV 94. Penius, XXV 76. Persae, XXIV 162, 165; XXVI 18, 19. Persis, XXIV 164, 165 ; XXV 13. Petronius Diodotus, XXV 110. Pharnaces, XXV 33. PharsaUa, XXVI 19. Pliasis, XXV 127; XXVI 43. Pheneus, XXV 26 ; XXVI 46. Pholoe, XXV 67. Phrygia, XXVII 145. Picenum, XXVII 107. Pisidia, XXV 46. Pompeius, (1), cf. Lenaeus ; (2), Magiuis, XXV 5, 7 ; XXVI 7. Pomptinae, paludes, XXVI 19. Pontus, XXV 63 ; XXVII 45. Potniae, XXV 94. Praxagoras, XXVI 10, 22 Proetides, XXV 47. PsylH, XXV 123. Pyra, XXV 49. Pythagoras, XXIV 116, 150, 158, 159, 160; XXV 13. Rhenusfl., XXV 20. Rhodii, XXIV 112. Roma, Romani, XXIV 5 ; XXV 6, 108, 169; XXVI 1. Rubrum, mare, XXIV 5. Rufus, Julius, XXVI 5. Samothrace, XXV 117. Sarmatia, XXVI 98. Scythae, Scytliia, XXV 83; XXVI 146; XXVII 31. Servilius (Marcus), XXIV 43. Sulla, XXVI 138. Susa, XXIV 164; XXV 154. 557 INDEX OF NAMES Syria, S\Ti, XXIV 33, 69, 85, 112,164; XXVI 47; XXVII 25, 83, 109, 145. Taposirie, XXVII 53. Taradastili, XXIV 161. Taurus, XXV 136. Telephus, XXV 42. Telethrius. XXV 94. Teucer, XXV 45. Teutones, XXVI 19. Thebani, XXVII 145. Themison, XXV 58, 80. Theodorus, XXIV 186. Theopbjastus, XXV 14, 69; XXVI 99 ; XXVII 63. ThessaHa, XXV 76, 94 ; XXVII 65. Thraeia, XXV 83; XXVII 145. Timon, XXIV 187. Troas, XXVII 12. Tylo, XXV 14. Valgius, C, XXV 4. Varro, M., XXV 24; XXVI 14. Veneti, XXVI 42. Vettones, XXV 84. Xanthus, XXV 14. Xenocrates, XXVII 89. Zeno, XXV 50. 558 Printed in Great Britain hy Richard Clay {The Chaucer Press), Ltd., Bungay, Sujfolk THE LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARY VOLUMES ALREADY PUBLISHED Latin Authors Ammianus Mabecllinus. Translated by J. C. Rolfe. 3 Vols. Apuleius: The Golden Ass (Metamorphoses). W. Adling- ton (1566). Revised by S. Gaselee. St. Augustine: City of God. 7 Vols. Vol. I. G. E. McCracken. Vol. II. W. M. Green. Vol. IV. P. Levine. Vol. V. E. M. Sanford and W. M. Green. Vol. VI. W. C, Greene. St. Augustine, Confessions of. W. 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Walter Miller. CicERO: De Republica and De Legibus; Somnium Scipionis. Clinton W. Keyes, 1 CiCEBO: De Senectute, De Amicitia, De Divtnatione. W. A. Falconer. CiCEKO : In Catilinam, Pko Flacco, Pro Mubena, Pbo Sulla. Louis E. Lord. CiCEKO: Lettebs to Atticus. E. O. Winstedt. 3 Vols. CiCEBO: Lettebs to His Fbiends. W. Glynn Williams. 3 Vols. CicEBO: Philippics. VV. C. A. Ker. CicERO: Pbo Abchia Post Reditum, De Domo, De Harus- FicuM Responsis, Pro Plancio. N. H. Watts. CiCEBO: Pro Caecina, Pbo Lege Manilia, Pbo Cluentio, Pro Rabibio. H. Grose Hodge. CicEKO: Pbo Caelio, De Pbovinciis Consularibus, Pro Baxbo. R. Gardner. CicERO: Pro MiLONE, In Pisonem, Pro Scauro, Pro Fonteio, Pro Rabirio Postumo, Pro Marcello, Pro Ligario, Pro Rege Deiotaro. N. H. Watts. CicERO: Pro Quinctio, Pro Roscio Amerino, Pbo Roscio Comoedo, Contra Rullum. J. H. Freese. CiCEKO: Pro Sestio, In Vatinium. R. Gardner. ClCERO: TUSCULAN DlSPUTATIONS. J. E. King. CicERO: Verrine Orations. L. H. G. Greenwood. 2 Vols. Claudian. M. Platnauer. 2 Vols. Columella: De Re Rustica. De Arboribus. H. B. Ash, E. S. Forster and E. Heffner. 3 Vols. CuRTius, Q.: History of Axesandeb. J. C. Rolfe. 2 Vols. Florus. E. S. Forster; and Cornelius Nepos. J. C. Rolfe. Feontinus: Stratagems and Aqueducts. C. E. Bennett and M. B. McElwain. Fronto: Cokrespondence. C. R. Haines. 2 Vols. Gellius, J. C. Rolfe. 3 Vols. Hobace: Odes and Epodes. C. E. Bennett. HoEACE: Satires, Epistles, Ars Poetica. H. R. Fairclough. Jerome: Selected Letters. F. A. Wright. JuvENAL and Persius. G. G. Ramsay. Livy. B. O. Foster, F. G. Moore, Evan T. Sage, and A. C. Schlesinger and R. M. Geer (General Index). 14 Vols. LucAN. J. D. Duff. Lucbetius. W. H. D. Rouse. Martiax. W. C. A. Ker. 2 Vols. MiNOR Latin Poets: from Publixius Sybus to RuTixins Namatianus, including Grattius, Calpuknius Siculus, Nemesianus, Avianus, and others with " Aetna " and tho " Phoenix." J. Wight Duff and Amold M. Duff. OviD : The Art of Love and Other Poems. J. H. Mozley. 2 OviD: Fasti. Sir James G. Frazer. OviD: Heboides and Amores. Grant Showerman. OviD : Metamorphoses. F. J. Miller. 2 Vols. OviD: Tristia and Ex Ponto. A. L. Wheeler. PeBSIUS. Cf. JUVENAL. PETRONros. M. Heseltine; Seneca; Apocolocyntosis. W. H. D. Rouse. Phaedrus and Babrius (Greek). B. E. Perry. Plautus. Paul Nixon. 5 Vols. Pliny: Lettbrs. Melmoth's Translation revised by W. M. L. Hutchinson. 2 Vols. Pliny: Natural History. 10 Vols. Vols. I.-V. and IX. H. Rackham. Vols. VI.- VIII. W. H. S. Jonos. Vol. X. D. E, Eichholz. Propertius. H. E. Butler. Pbudentius. H. J. Thomson. 2 Vols. Quintilian. H. E. Butler. 4 Vols. Remains of Old Latin. E. H. Warmington. 4 Vols. Vol. I. (Ennius and Caecilius.) Vol. II. (Livius, Naevius, Pacuvius, Accius.) Vol. III. (Lucilius and Laws of XII Tables.) Vol. IV. (Archaic Inscriptions.) Sallust. J. C. Rolfe. ScRiPTOREs HiSTORiAE AuousTAE. D. Magie. 3 Vols. Seneca: Apocolocyntosis. Cf. Petronius. Seneca: Epistulae Morales. R. M. Gummere. 3 Vols. Seneca: Moral Essays. J. W. Basore. 3 Vols. Seneca: Tbagedies. F. J. Miller. 2 Vols. Sidonius: Poems and Letters. W. B. Anderson. 2 Vols. SiLius Italicus. J. D. Duff. 2 Vols. Statius. J. H. Mozley. 2 Vols. SuETONius. J. C. Rolfe. 2 Vola. Tacitus: Dialogues. Sir Wm. Peterson. Agricola anJ Germania. Maurice Hutton. Tacitus : HiSTOBiES AND Annals. C. H. Moore and J. Jackson. 4 Vols. Terbnce. John Sargeaunt. 2 Vols. Tertullian: Apologia and De Spectaculis. T. R. Glover. MiNUCius Felix. G. H. Rendall. Valebius Flaccus. J. H. Mozley. Vabro: De Linqua Latina. R. G. Kent. 2 Vols. Velleius Patebculus and Res Gestae Divi Augusti. F. W. . Shipley. ViRGiL. H. R. Fairclough. 2 Vols. ViTEUVius: De Aechitectuba. F. Granger. 2 Vols, 3 Greek Authors AcHTLLES Tattcts. S. Gaselee. Aeliax: On the Nattjbe of Akimals. A. F. Scholfield. 3 Vols. Aeneas Tacticus, Asclepiodotus and Onasandeb. The Ilhnois Greek Club. Aeschines. C. D. Adams. Aeschylus. H. Weir Smyth. 2 Vols. AxciPHRON, Aelian, Philostratus : Lettebs. A. R. Benner and F. H. Fobes. Andocides, Antiphon, Cf. Minob Attic Obatobs. Apollodobus. Sir Jaraes G. Frazer. 2 Vois. Apollonius Rhodius. R. C. Seaton. The Apostolic Fathebs. Kirsopp Lake. 2 Vols. Appian: Roman Histoby. Horace White. 4 Vols. Abatus. Cf. Callimachus. Aristophanes. Benjamin Bickley Rogers. 3 Vols. Verse trans. Aeistotle: Abt of Rhetobic. J. H. Freese. Aristotle: Athenian Constitution, Eudemian Ethics, Vices and Vibtues. H. Rackham. Aristotle: Genebation of Animals. A. L. Peck. Abistotle: Histobia Animalium. A. L. Peck. Vol. I. Abistotle: Metaphysics. H. Tredeimick. 2 Vols. Abistotle: Meteorolooica. H. D. P. Lee. Abistotle: JIinob Wobks. W. S. Hett. On Colours, On Things Heard, On Phj-siognomies, On Plants, On Marvellous Things Heard, Mechanical Problems, On Indivisible Lines, On Situations and Names of Winds, On Melissus, Xenophanes, and Gorgias. Abistotle: Nicomachean Ethics. H. Rackham. Abistotle: Oeconomica and Magna Mobalia. G. C. Arm. strong; (with Metaphysics, Vol. II.). . Abistotle: On the Heavens. W. K. C. Guthrie. Abistotle: On the Soul. Pabva Natubalia. On Bbeath. W. S. Hett. Aristotle: Categories, On Intebpbetation, Pbiob Analytics. H. P. Cooke and H. Tredennick. Aristotle: Postebiob Analytics, Topics. H. Tredeimick and E. S. Forster. Abistotle: On Sophistical Refutations. On Coming to be and Passing Away, On the Cosmos. E. S. Forster and D. J. Furley. Abistotle: Pabts of Animals. A. L. Peck; Motion and Pbogbession of Animals. E. S. Forster. 4 Aeistotle: Physics. Rev. P. Wickstecd and F. M. Cornford. 2 Vo!s. Aristotle: Poetics and Longinus. W. Hamilton Fyfe; Demeteius on Style. W. Rhys Roberts. Aeistotle: Politics. H. Rackham. Aeistotle: Peoblems. W. S. Hett. 2 Vols. Aristotle: Rhetorica Ad Alexandeum (with Peoblems. Vol. II.) H. Rackham. Arrian: Histoey of Alexandeb and Indica. Rev. E. Iliffe Robson. 2 Vols. Athenaeus: Deipnosophistae. C. B. Gulick. 7 Vols. Babeius and Phaedrus (Latin). B. E. Perry. St. Basil: Letters. R. J. Deferrari. 4 Vols. Callimachus: Feagments. C. A. Trypanis. Callijiachus, Hymns and Epigrams, and Lycophron. A. W. Mair; Aratus. G. R. I\L\ie. Clement of Alexandeia. Rev. G. W. Butterworth. COLLUTHUS. Cf. OpPIAN. Daphnis and Chloe. Thornley's Translation revised by J. M. Edmonds; and Paethenius. S. Gaselee. Demosthenes I.: Olynthiacs, Philippics and Minor Ora- TiONS. I.-XVII. AND XX. J. H. Vince. Demosthenes II.: De Corona and De Falsa Legatione. C. A. Vince and J. H. Vinee. Demosthenes III.: Meidias, Androtion, Aristocrates, Timocrates and Aristogeiton, I. and II. J. H. Vince. Demosthenes IV.-VI.: Private Orations and In Neaeram. A. T. Murray. Demosthenes VII. : Funeeal Speech, Erotic Essay, Exordia and Letters. N. W. and N. J. DeWitt. Dio Cassius: Roman History. E. Cary. 9 Vols. Dio Chrysostom. J. W. Cohoon and H. Lamar Crosby. 5 Vols. DiODORUs SicuLus. 12 Vols. Vols. I.-VI. C. H. Oldfather. Vol. VII. C. L. Sherman. Vol. VIII. C. B. Welles. Vols. IX. and X. R. M. Geer. Vol. XI. F. Walton. Diogenes Laeeitius. R. D. Hicks. 2 Vols. DiONYSius OF Halicarnassus : RoMAN Antiquities. Spel- man's translation revised by E. Cary. 7 Vols. Epictetus. W. A. Oldfather. 2 Vols. Eueipides. A. S. Way. 4 Vols. Verse trans. EusEBius: EccLESiASTicAL HiSTORY. Kirsopp Lake and J. E. L. Oulton. 2 Vols. Galen: On the Natueal Faculties. A. J. Brock. The Geeek Anthology. W. R. Paton. 5 Vols. Greek Elegy and Iambus with the Anacreontea. J. M. Edmonds. 2 Vols. 5 The Gbeek Bucolic Poets (Theocritus, Bion, Moschus). J. 51. Edmonds. Gkeek Mathematical Works. Ivor Thomas. 2 Vols. Herodes. Cf. Theophrastus : Chaeacters. Heeodotus. A. D. Godley. 4 Vols. Hesiod and The Homeric Hymns. H. G. Evelyn White. HiPFOCRATES and the Fragments of Heracleitus. W. H. S. Jones and E. T. Withington. 4 Vols. Homer: Iliad. A. T. Murray. 2 Vols. HoMER: Odyssey. A. T. Murray. 2 Vols. Isaeus. E. W. Forster. IsocRATES. George Norlin and LaRue Van Hook. 3 Vols. St. John Damascene: Barlaam and Ioasaph. Rev. G. R. Woodward and Harold MattLngly. JosEPHUS. 9 Vols. Vols. I.-IV.; H. Thackeray. Vol. V.; H. Thackeray and R. Marciis. Vols. VI.-VII.; R. Marcus. Vol. VIII.; R. Marcus and Allen Wikgren. Vol. IX. L. H. Feldman. JuLiAN. W'ilmer Cave Wright. 3 Vols. LuciAN. 8 Vols. Vols. I.-V. A. M. Harmon. Vol. VI. K. Kilbum. Vol. VII. M. D. Macleod. Lycophron. Cf. Callimachus. Lyea Geaeca. J. M. Edmonds. 3 Vols. Lysias. W. R. M. Lamb. Manetho. W. G. Waddell: Ptolemy: Teteabiblos. F. E. Robbins. Maecus Aueelius. C. R. Haines. Menander. F. G. Allinson. MiNOR Attic Orators (Antiphon, Andocides, Lycurous, Demades, Dinarchus, Hypeeides). K. J. Maidment and J. O. Burrt. 2 Vols. NoNNOs: DiONYSiACA. W'. H. D. Rouse. 3 Vols. Oppian, Colluthus, Teyphiodoeus. A. W. Mair. Papyri. Non-Literaey Selections. A. S. Hunt and C. C. Edgar. 2Vols. Literary Selections (Poetry). D. L. Page. Parthenius. Cf . Dafhnis and Chloe. 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Plato: Statesman, Philebus. H. N. Fowler; Ion. W. R. M. Lamb. Plato: Theaetetus and Sophist. H. N. Fowler. Plato: Tim.\eus, Critias, Clitopho, Menexenus, Epistul.4.e. Rev. R. G. Bury. Plotinus: A. H. Armstrons;. V"ols. I.-III. Plutarch: Moralia. 15 Vols. Vols. I.-V. F. C. Babbitt. Vol. VI. W. C. Helmbold. Vol. VII. P. H. De Lacy and B. Einarson. Vol. IX. E. L. Minar, Jr., F. H. Sandbach, W. C. Helmbold. Vol.X. H. N. Fowler. Vol. XI. L. Pearsonand F. H. Sandbach. Vol. XII. H. Cherniss and W. C. Helmbold. Plutarch: The Parallel Lives. B. Perrin. II Vols. PoLYBius. W. R. Paton. 0 Vols. Procopius: History of the Wars. H. B. Dewing. 7 Vols. Ptolemy: Tetrabiblos. Cf. Manetho. Quintus Smyrnaeus. A. S. Way. Verse trans. Sextus Empiricus. Rev. R. G. Bury. 4 Vols. SopHOCLEs. F. Storr. 2 Vols. Verse trans. Strabo: Geography. Horace L. Jones. 8 Vols. Theophrastus: Characters. J. M. Edmonds. Herodes, etc. A. D. Knox. Theopheastus: Enquiry into Plants. Sir Arthur Hort, Bart. 2 Vols. Thucydides. C. F. Smith. 4 Vols. Tryphiodorus. Cf. Oppian. Xenophon: Cyropaedia. Walter Miller. 2 Vols. Xenophon: Hellenica, Anabasis, Apology, and Sy.mposium. C. L. Brownson and O. J. Todd. 3 Vols. Xenophon: Memorabilia and Oeconomicus. E. C. Marchant. Xenophon: Scripta Minora. E. C. Marchant. 7 DESCRIPTIVE PROSPECTVS ON APPLICATION London WILLIAM HEINEMANN LTD Cambridge, Mass. HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS tJ/^0 K/^iJOIN M.( C.l Pliny # Natural history. 3 0005 02002758 0 The R.W.B. Jackson Library 0!SE S7 VI V. Other authors who are connected with natural historj in the Loeb Series ARISTOTLE THEOPHRASTUS CATO VARRO (de re rustica) VIRGIL COLUMELLA